7) Next Year
It seems like I am writing about this topic for Ultimus Week every season and I really hope that I don’t have to for the next. Last season was about my Kansas City Coyotes that I have now handed the reins over to TropicaliaCC and mcgriddleluver. This season I’ll be talking about the San Jose Sabercats. Last season we ended with a mid range record and lost in the first round of the playoffs to the now champs, the Arizona Outlaws. I would say our biggest issue last season was getting burnt by receivers. The Otters consistently tore up the field with them having an MVP caliber Quarterback in Showbiz, and two outstanding receivers in Valentine and Sunnycursed. This upcoming season is going to be different. We’re going to fill our holes on defense and build on a team that just a couple seasons ago, were champs. Sadly, that was the season before I got there, so I’m still hungry. I think we take it next season. We have a stout offense with a unique playstyle and our defense is going to bounce back with full force. Also, I think Cameron Olsen breaks 1000 yards next season finally. Barely missed it because of a few rough games.
8) Strategies
The San Jose Sabercats had their share of shortcomings this season due to some major losses from expansion and free agency. Our secondary was hands down the weakest part of our team throughout the entire season and going against quarterbacks like Showbiz and Reese were a nightmare. We constantly got smoked by receivers and it wasn’t uncommon for some teams to have multiple 100+ yard receivers in a game. The entire OCO receiving core was a nightmare to go against getting massive gains per catch while we couldn’t chase them down. We did some moving around and strategy changing but in the end it’s going to have to be personnel changes that really make a difference. This draft and free agency period are full of great talent that we could definitely use this upcoming season. Every position aside from QB has multiple active players with a lot of great talent and ability. This past recruiting push was a great success and will definitely shake up the league not this season but the season after. If there are any needs left to fill on this team, then that draft will surely contain the pieces. Hopefully we can take an Ultimini in my first season as Co-GM alongside ckroyal.
1) Playoff Review
The Ultimus Championship game itself was actually a fantastic game. Two underdog teams with Philly and Arizona going at it for the big one. The game seemed evenly matched from the beginning with the first quarter ending with two short touchdown runs for both sides. One by Seer Zephyrous for Arizona and one by Farley Hank for Philly. The second quarter is where things started to get away from Philly. Arizona started early in the second quarter with big Jeffery Murphy touchdown passes from Andrew Reese, while Philly left the second quarter only netting two field goals. The half ended with the score at 24-13 in favor of Arizona. Philly knew they had to come out of the half swinging or else the game would get even more away from them. Philly gets the ball for their first drive of the half and take it all the way down to the 1 yard line where Vander Jones catches a touchdown from Falconi to get them back into striking distance. Both team went back and forth in the third quarter after that with each team getting a field goal. The 4th quarter was a nail biter as Richard D’Attoria V intercepted Andrew Reese and took it to the house to give Philly their first lead of the entire game. With the way both defenses were playing it seemed like Philly could pull out the win but with only 1 minute and 30 seconds left on the clock Andrew Reese passes to Jeffery Murphy in the red zone where he took it in for 11 yards and the final scoring play of the game. The Arizona Outlaws had won the Ultimus with a nail-biter finish.
11) Trades
Vinny Valentine was signed by the Orange County Otters in the offseason and he absolutely made them proud. He took on the number one receiver spot both on the team and for the entire league. He finished the season with an astonishing 1392 yards on 81 catches and 12 touchdowns. This did however leave a sour taste in Sunnycursed mouth as he his now going to be testing free agency this offseason. He understandably wants to be on a team where he will be the number one receiver and I feel like he’ll get his wish. Valentine absolutely took over that offense catching pass after pass from the MVP caliber Gus Showbiz. Valentine is going to continue regressing but will still be a major piece in that offense for at least one or two more seasons. It’s just going to be a matter of is Showbiz going to last as long as he is? Right now there’s not a clear cut answer but I think whoever is throwing him the ball is going to have their work cut out for them with the talent that Valentine possesses. Hopefully the San Jose Sabercats defense can stop him in his final years before retirement. We definitely didn’t this past season.
It seems like I am writing about this topic for Ultimus Week every season and I really hope that I don’t have to for the next. Last season was about my Kansas City Coyotes that I have now handed the reins over to TropicaliaCC and mcgriddleluver. This season I’ll be talking about the San Jose Sabercats. Last season we ended with a mid range record and lost in the first round of the playoffs to the now champs, the Arizona Outlaws. I would say our biggest issue last season was getting burnt by receivers. The Otters consistently tore up the field with them having an MVP caliber Quarterback in Showbiz, and two outstanding receivers in Valentine and Sunnycursed. This upcoming season is going to be different. We’re going to fill our holes on defense and build on a team that just a couple seasons ago, were champs. Sadly, that was the season before I got there, so I’m still hungry. I think we take it next season. We have a stout offense with a unique playstyle and our defense is going to bounce back with full force. Also, I think Cameron Olsen breaks 1000 yards next season finally. Barely missed it because of a few rough games.
8) Strategies
The San Jose Sabercats had their share of shortcomings this season due to some major losses from expansion and free agency. Our secondary was hands down the weakest part of our team throughout the entire season and going against quarterbacks like Showbiz and Reese were a nightmare. We constantly got smoked by receivers and it wasn’t uncommon for some teams to have multiple 100+ yard receivers in a game. The entire OCO receiving core was a nightmare to go against getting massive gains per catch while we couldn’t chase them down. We did some moving around and strategy changing but in the end it’s going to have to be personnel changes that really make a difference. This draft and free agency period are full of great talent that we could definitely use this upcoming season. Every position aside from QB has multiple active players with a lot of great talent and ability. This past recruiting push was a great success and will definitely shake up the league not this season but the season after. If there are any needs left to fill on this team, then that draft will surely contain the pieces. Hopefully we can take an Ultimini in my first season as Co-GM alongside ckroyal.
1) Playoff Review
The Ultimus Championship game itself was actually a fantastic game. Two underdog teams with Philly and Arizona going at it for the big one. The game seemed evenly matched from the beginning with the first quarter ending with two short touchdown runs for both sides. One by Seer Zephyrous for Arizona and one by Farley Hank for Philly. The second quarter is where things started to get away from Philly. Arizona started early in the second quarter with big Jeffery Murphy touchdown passes from Andrew Reese, while Philly left the second quarter only netting two field goals. The half ended with the score at 24-13 in favor of Arizona. Philly knew they had to come out of the half swinging or else the game would get even more away from them. Philly gets the ball for their first drive of the half and take it all the way down to the 1 yard line where Vander Jones catches a touchdown from Falconi to get them back into striking distance. Both team went back and forth in the third quarter after that with each team getting a field goal. The 4th quarter was a nail biter as Richard D’Attoria V intercepted Andrew Reese and took it to the house to give Philly their first lead of the entire game. With the way both defenses were playing it seemed like Philly could pull out the win but with only 1 minute and 30 seconds left on the clock Andrew Reese passes to Jeffery Murphy in the red zone where he took it in for 11 yards and the final scoring play of the game. The Arizona Outlaws had won the Ultimus with a nail-biter finish.
11) Trades
Vinny Valentine was signed by the Orange County Otters in the offseason and he absolutely made them proud. He took on the number one receiver spot both on the team and for the entire league. He finished the season with an astonishing 1392 yards on 81 catches and 12 touchdowns. This did however leave a sour taste in Sunnycursed mouth as he his now going to be testing free agency this offseason. He understandably wants to be on a team where he will be the number one receiver and I feel like he’ll get his wish. Valentine absolutely took over that offense catching pass after pass from the MVP caliber Gus Showbiz. Valentine is going to continue regressing but will still be a major piece in that offense for at least one or two more seasons. It’s just going to be a matter of is Showbiz going to last as long as he is? Right now there’s not a clear cut answer but I think whoever is throwing him the ball is going to have their work cut out for them with the talent that Valentine possesses. Hopefully the San Jose Sabercats defense can stop him in his final years before retirement. We definitely didn’t this past season.
