12) It’s once again expansion season in the ISFL. Reflect on the additions of the New York Silverbacks and Berlin Fire Salamanders and discuss how these teams will affect the league. How do you see scheduling or playoff seeding potentially changing? How will these teams change the power balances in their respective conferences? How do you think each team should go about building their roster, whether it’s through the expansion draft, regular draft, or many seasons down the line?
With another monster class on the horizon (114 players.. I think!) this was certainly the right time for the ISFL to expand. And while it's great to see an international team, I don't think there it was a necessity for the league to mandate two international teams like some have suggested. Woelkers and Bwestfield have nailed it by making the NY branding pretty spectacular. The mascot is iconic, and makes you think of NY. The color scheme is clearly inspired by the Statue of Liberty. The logo design screams of Broadway. All of these elements put together instantly put it very near the top in terms of a joined up team identity, and I think that gives it enough merit to outweigh a need for a second international team.
In terms of the playoff seedings, a 2 x 7 structure definitely creates a dilemma for HO. Previously, 50% of teams made the playoffs, and to keep that the same would require different numbers of teams making it from each conference, and only really allows for 1 team to receive a bye. It would also present a major headache with regards to working around DDSPF16's built in playoff settings.
I believe the best solution is to keep the playoff seedings how they are, with the top team in each conference receiving byes and the next 2 best teams qualifying. I'm not personally a fan of the 50% structure as it stands, as it often results in losing teams (see the 7-9 Butchers this season) to make the postseason, so 6 out of 14 teams making it feels like a better balance anyway.
As for scheduling, this one's a bit more tricky. Playing each team in the conference twice already takes us up to 12 games. I think that requirement is important enough that the remaining 4 games just need to be against random opponents from the opposite conference, with each team not facing 3 other teams during the season.
It's also tough to say at this point how each team will go about building their rosters. The only indication we have at this point is a trade apiece. NY's trade gives them the absolute best QB from the last 3 classes (S23-25) to build their franchise around. That indicates they might look to peak in the next couple of years. However, Berlin's trade indicates that they may be taking a similar approach, although perhaps targeting a slightly later peak. Saying that, it's much harder to tell for Berlin without a QB to build around.
One thing's for sure though, both teams will lose out if they target the same type of players in the expansion draft.
13) This task is exclusive to non-recreate rookies of the S24 class and later. In 400 words or more, how has your experience been in the league? Who have you met that has made your time here more fun, friendly, and exciting? Have you been satisfied with your player’s early start? What was it like being drafted for the first time? Do you have any comments or suggestions for the entire league that you think should be implemented?
I've had an absolute blast in my first 2 months in the league. I thought the forum format worked well (even if it was jcink) in terms of figuring out what there was to do, but the league definitely wouldn't be what it is without Discord. The very few scouting conversations I had over PM were more clunky, and the Google Forms, while super efficient for scouting a large class, were a little impersonal and didn't really draw me to the teams who sent them. And just for the record, I think making brand new rookies uncomfortable by asking them bizarre questions is not necessarily a good thing. Or maybe it is, and I'm just not the right kind of user for that particular LR, I dunno!
However, the scouts who reached out and had a conversation rather than sending a list of questions that I didn't yet understand really made the whole rookie experience come alive. Maglubiyet was the first to start a conversation with me on Day 2, which is what put London top of my list, but special shout outs to TheCC, NicholasTheGreat, CalvinGolladay, J0EB with whom I had great early chats with that made me feel very welcome.
In terms of my player's start, I am very happy with how Swantavius Jones has begun life in the league. In the early days, he was being played mostly at NB, which, while great for individual player stats, was just sort of a 'getting up to speed' role. Once Swanty's speed was at a decent level, he was free to start marking out wide. Obviously the tackle numbers dropped off but a couple of interceptions and a good number of PDs for a CB2 makes for a good debut season. I don't expect to be nominated for any of the awards this year as there are definitely more than 5 CBs who have done better jobs, but we've defended well as a team and are gearing up for an Ultimini showdown against Norfolk tomorrow night, which is far more important.
The DSFL draft experience was really fantastic. I really wish I had been awake to watch it live, as the chat seemed like great fun. And the the moment my name was called, Maglubiyet had already prepared a really nice and detailed introduction to the closed sections of the London locker room. I woke up to a sea of congratulations and welcomes to my new teammates which was a really fantastic feeling.
The detail that went into the actual presentation of the draft was astounding, from the team commentating live and explaining their picks, to the graphics team who put in a tremendous amount of effort for each draft card. I'd be very hard pressed to find anything that could be improved about the whole experience.
With another monster class on the horizon (114 players.. I think!) this was certainly the right time for the ISFL to expand. And while it's great to see an international team, I don't think there it was a necessity for the league to mandate two international teams like some have suggested. Woelkers and Bwestfield have nailed it by making the NY branding pretty spectacular. The mascot is iconic, and makes you think of NY. The color scheme is clearly inspired by the Statue of Liberty. The logo design screams of Broadway. All of these elements put together instantly put it very near the top in terms of a joined up team identity, and I think that gives it enough merit to outweigh a need for a second international team.
In terms of the playoff seedings, a 2 x 7 structure definitely creates a dilemma for HO. Previously, 50% of teams made the playoffs, and to keep that the same would require different numbers of teams making it from each conference, and only really allows for 1 team to receive a bye. It would also present a major headache with regards to working around DDSPF16's built in playoff settings.
I believe the best solution is to keep the playoff seedings how they are, with the top team in each conference receiving byes and the next 2 best teams qualifying. I'm not personally a fan of the 50% structure as it stands, as it often results in losing teams (see the 7-9 Butchers this season) to make the postseason, so 6 out of 14 teams making it feels like a better balance anyway.
As for scheduling, this one's a bit more tricky. Playing each team in the conference twice already takes us up to 12 games. I think that requirement is important enough that the remaining 4 games just need to be against random opponents from the opposite conference, with each team not facing 3 other teams during the season.
It's also tough to say at this point how each team will go about building their rosters. The only indication we have at this point is a trade apiece. NY's trade gives them the absolute best QB from the last 3 classes (S23-25) to build their franchise around. That indicates they might look to peak in the next couple of years. However, Berlin's trade indicates that they may be taking a similar approach, although perhaps targeting a slightly later peak. Saying that, it's much harder to tell for Berlin without a QB to build around.
One thing's for sure though, both teams will lose out if they target the same type of players in the expansion draft.
Code:
445 words13) This task is exclusive to non-recreate rookies of the S24 class and later. In 400 words or more, how has your experience been in the league? Who have you met that has made your time here more fun, friendly, and exciting? Have you been satisfied with your player’s early start? What was it like being drafted for the first time? Do you have any comments or suggestions for the entire league that you think should be implemented?
I've had an absolute blast in my first 2 months in the league. I thought the forum format worked well (even if it was jcink) in terms of figuring out what there was to do, but the league definitely wouldn't be what it is without Discord. The very few scouting conversations I had over PM were more clunky, and the Google Forms, while super efficient for scouting a large class, were a little impersonal and didn't really draw me to the teams who sent them. And just for the record, I think making brand new rookies uncomfortable by asking them bizarre questions is not necessarily a good thing. Or maybe it is, and I'm just not the right kind of user for that particular LR, I dunno!
However, the scouts who reached out and had a conversation rather than sending a list of questions that I didn't yet understand really made the whole rookie experience come alive. Maglubiyet was the first to start a conversation with me on Day 2, which is what put London top of my list, but special shout outs to TheCC, NicholasTheGreat, CalvinGolladay, J0EB with whom I had great early chats with that made me feel very welcome.
In terms of my player's start, I am very happy with how Swantavius Jones has begun life in the league. In the early days, he was being played mostly at NB, which, while great for individual player stats, was just sort of a 'getting up to speed' role. Once Swanty's speed was at a decent level, he was free to start marking out wide. Obviously the tackle numbers dropped off but a couple of interceptions and a good number of PDs for a CB2 makes for a good debut season. I don't expect to be nominated for any of the awards this year as there are definitely more than 5 CBs who have done better jobs, but we've defended well as a team and are gearing up for an Ultimini showdown against Norfolk tomorrow night, which is far more important.
The DSFL draft experience was really fantastic. I really wish I had been awake to watch it live, as the chat seemed like great fun. And the the moment my name was called, Maglubiyet had already prepared a really nice and detailed introduction to the closed sections of the London locker room. I woke up to a sea of congratulations and welcomes to my new teammates which was a really fantastic feeling.
The detail that went into the actual presentation of the draft was astounding, from the team commentating live and explaining their picks, to the graphics team who put in a tremendous amount of effort for each draft card. I'd be very hard pressed to find anything that could be improved about the whole experience.
Code:
468 words