(S1) - Ultimus Week

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Offensive Comparison: TEs Ricky Maddox and Rich Gucci: NSFC Conference Championship

This conference championship between the Wraiths and Yeti looks very one-sided from the stat-sheet. The Yeti dominated with 17 first downs, 10/21 3rd down conversions, and around 13-minutes longer time of possession. The scoreboard, however, tells a different story. The game ended in a 13 - 6 victory for Colorado and they went on to the NSFL Championship.

The game was up for grabs until the Yeti sealed the deal in the 3rd quarter, and a big reason for the Yeti's success was their passing game. TE Rich Gucci and QB Logan Noble were on the same page all day, connecting 6 times for 32 yards. Rich Gucci was a big factor in the Yeti picking up so many 1st downs by constantly moving the chains a bit, and his sure hands helped to get Noble's passer-rating to a nice 93.2 for this game Gucci's 3 pancakes ultimately helped lead a potent Yeti rushing attack which gained 132 yards on the day. A very well-rounded multi-dimensional performance for the young TE.

For the Wraiths, it was hard for QB Chris Orosz to find his receivers, having only completed 11 passes in the outing. Ricky Maddox, while only being targeted a few times, still managed to haul in two solid bombs for 18 and 11 yards. He ended his day with a loss and maybe a disappointing performance by his standards, but it goes to show that while under pressure, his QB could rely on him and he could convert each of his receptions into 1st downs at 14+ yards per reception. Ricky Maddox is a serious threat in the passing game, and with more targets, could put up scary numbers.

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Defensive Comparison: CBs Philippe Carter and Dirk Cutter: NSFC Conference Championship

On defense, this was a showdown between some of the top Cornerbacks of the NSFL. The potent aerial attack of the Wraiths coming to town meant Colorado's CB Philippe Carter had to prepare. Carter put in a lot of work at the training facility and upgraded speed (80) and intelligence (72) before the beginning of the playoffs. This proved to be a great improvement for Carter as he had lock-down coverage all day, whether lining up against All-Pro Josh Garden, or one of the better #2's in LeClair. Carter stepped up to the challenge, and with fellow CB Alex Hayden, they were able to completely shut down the volatile passing game of the Wraiths in a dominant fashion.

This was somewhat of a coming out party for Carter, having been overshadowed and sometimes being unfavorably matched up with explosive WRs. In this playoff meeting, Carter showed why he was picked in the first round, and why his work ethic can make a difference.

In contrast, Wraiths CB Dirk Cutter has not trained his intelligence, and it showed when the Yeti passing game which is sometimes anemic still managed to toss up 229 and a TD. Cutter was not entirely absent from the meeting as he did manage to draw two penalties which made big differences for the Yeti, and also managed to swat down one of Logan Noble's passes. If I'm Cutter heading into S2, I'm going to put everything I've got into intelligence.

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Defensive Comparison: Dirk Cutter vs. Philippe Carter



Playoff Series MVP: CB Jason Williams: ASFC Conference Championship

If you didn't know it by now, Jason Williams of the Arizona Outlaws is the most prominent playmaker in the league, taking 2 of his 5 interceptions during S1 to the house for pick-sixes. He has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and ultimately plays the ball better than some of the receivers he's tasked with covering. He's not the most athletic guy by any means, but can read a QB like a picture-book. His success wasn't just limited to the regular season...

In the ASFC showdown between powerhouses Arizona and Orange County, Williams was simply the difference maker. While teammate Jaylon Lee also had a huge game, I would give the game ball to Williams as he consistently got the best of opposing QB Mike Boss. It seems like whenever the Outlaws can put a decent amount of pressure on opposing QBs, Williams is there to take advantage of the bad passes and bad judgement. If you're facing this Outlaws defense, you better take notes from some of the more intelligent passers and learn to throw the ball away or try to scramble for a positive gain.

Let this be a lesson for other CBs to work on their football IQ (intelligence) as well at their athleticism. Jason Williams is a great example of a player who took the path less traveled and ended up benefiting hugely.

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Championship Game Recap: Flock pick-6

This entire post is full of defensive backs, this DB arguably made the biggest difference for his team in the most important game of his career. FS Ryan Flock moved up in the box to cover WR Kendrick Hendrix in the slot. Quarterback Logan Noble was scrambling out of the pocket and evading would-be sacks while trying to find an open receiver downfield. A defender wrapped up Noble and as he was going down, he noticed his favorite target Hendrix was attempting to get open behind the LOS for a screen pass. This looked like a prime opportunity to convert on 3rd and long after forcing Arizona to punt the series before. With the game still tied at this point, Noble pulled the trigger and Hendrix was in a great position to possibly take it for a 1st down with a run-after-catch. At the last second, FS Ryan Flock swooped in and grabbed the pass right from Hendrix's hands and took it to the house while Hendrix desperately chased behind.

This set the tone for the rest of the game, as the Yeti failed to do much of anything in the passing game. Noble seemed shook by the pick-6 and looked like a shell of himself thereafter. This play was demoralizing, but shined a bright light on the Yeti's problems while facing the league's top defense.

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