“Sim Gonna Sim” is one of the most iconic phrase in all of ISFL history. It is used to describe the wackiest, craziest, and most unbelievable plays thought up by the sim in general. Just last season we saw a QB run past the line of scrimmage and attempt to throw the ball down the field, resulting in a penalty. Sure it has happened before in other leagues, but in a simulation you have to think there is some unwritten rule preventing it. As for this season, I feel that the sim really screwed over the entire Philadelphia franchise – we have one of the unluckiest max TPE QBs in history, combined with the highest capped defense in the league, yet we ended up 8 and 8 in overall record. Sometimes the sim really just hates playing by the rules.
Let’s take Negs for example – Negs has helmed the Liberty offense for several seasons now – but in that time he has thrown an inordinate amount of interceptions relative to his TPE earnings this season he threw 13 interceptions, a middle of the road statistic. Additionally, his completion percentage remains solidly at the league average as well. You might think to yourself “why is average such a big deal? What’s wrong with this guy? Why is he so salty that his team lost? What a cry baby,” when you take a look at these stats – but the stats don’t tell the whole story. One might not realize that this team is constructed incredibly well, we have two max wide receivers and a solid tight end to boot. You have to imagine that it is a statistical anomaly for a QB with max TPE throwing primarily to two max TPE receivers to have anything but a magical, if not record breaking, season. For us to have any problems whatsoever on offense is a joke – I’m not saying we should have steamrolled everyone or anything, but the fact that our offense struggled against less than stellar defenses all year strikes me as a classic “Sim gonna sim” issue.
On top of that, lets take a look at this defense – taking a look at the raw stats, you would think that this team did pretty well. Taking a closer look, though, reveals that this team really should have done much better than it turned out. We have a stout defensive line, a fantastic Linebacker core (shout out to Xavier Walls for MVP), and a strong secondary unit that really should have dominated during nearly every game. It wasn’t always the case though – I believe (do not fact check me) we are the highest TPE defensive unit in the league, yet we performed only slightly above league average in a number of important statistical categories (Turn over plus / minus, tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks). For a team of this caliber to struggle as much as they have, it really is a marvel how the sim can screw you.
Lets take a look at some real statistical outliers – I am taking a look at you Baltimore Hawks Defense. Baltimore led the league in turnovers, with an absolutely absurd turnover rate of nearly 3 a game (45 total possessions generated by the defense in 16 games), you have to wonder how much of this entire league is based off of luck. Baltimore’s defense, while not terrible, is not a high earning defense quite yet, but they still operated at a significantly higher level than that of the Liberty.
At the end of the day, all I want is to bring home a championship to Philly – it may take some time, but a closer look reveals that luck is also a major factor in winning these games. It is about being in the right place at the right time, calling the right plays, and overall not getting screwed up by the weighted coinflip that is this simulation.
Isn’t that what also brings the excitement, though? Knowing that despite everything, despite all of the odds and statistics being against you, your team can win on any given day. It reminds me of the most improbable game I have ever played in the league – my first championship game as the Kiwis in the S27 prospect bowl. My team quickly went down early in the game, not scoring a touchdown for most of the game, down 20 going into the 4th quarter things were looking bleak – trash was being talked and excuses were being made, but despite it all we made a comeback, scoring the final, game winning points with just a few seconds to spare. That is part of the excitement of the league – something that keeps you enraptured even during a rebuild – anything can happen at any time, you just have to sit back and watch it all unfold.
All that being said, I think next year is our year. Go Philly!
(814 words)
Let’s take Negs for example – Negs has helmed the Liberty offense for several seasons now – but in that time he has thrown an inordinate amount of interceptions relative to his TPE earnings this season he threw 13 interceptions, a middle of the road statistic. Additionally, his completion percentage remains solidly at the league average as well. You might think to yourself “why is average such a big deal? What’s wrong with this guy? Why is he so salty that his team lost? What a cry baby,” when you take a look at these stats – but the stats don’t tell the whole story. One might not realize that this team is constructed incredibly well, we have two max wide receivers and a solid tight end to boot. You have to imagine that it is a statistical anomaly for a QB with max TPE throwing primarily to two max TPE receivers to have anything but a magical, if not record breaking, season. For us to have any problems whatsoever on offense is a joke – I’m not saying we should have steamrolled everyone or anything, but the fact that our offense struggled against less than stellar defenses all year strikes me as a classic “Sim gonna sim” issue.
On top of that, lets take a look at this defense – taking a look at the raw stats, you would think that this team did pretty well. Taking a closer look, though, reveals that this team really should have done much better than it turned out. We have a stout defensive line, a fantastic Linebacker core (shout out to Xavier Walls for MVP), and a strong secondary unit that really should have dominated during nearly every game. It wasn’t always the case though – I believe (do not fact check me) we are the highest TPE defensive unit in the league, yet we performed only slightly above league average in a number of important statistical categories (Turn over plus / minus, tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks). For a team of this caliber to struggle as much as they have, it really is a marvel how the sim can screw you.
Lets take a look at some real statistical outliers – I am taking a look at you Baltimore Hawks Defense. Baltimore led the league in turnovers, with an absolutely absurd turnover rate of nearly 3 a game (45 total possessions generated by the defense in 16 games), you have to wonder how much of this entire league is based off of luck. Baltimore’s defense, while not terrible, is not a high earning defense quite yet, but they still operated at a significantly higher level than that of the Liberty.
At the end of the day, all I want is to bring home a championship to Philly – it may take some time, but a closer look reveals that luck is also a major factor in winning these games. It is about being in the right place at the right time, calling the right plays, and overall not getting screwed up by the weighted coinflip that is this simulation.
Isn’t that what also brings the excitement, though? Knowing that despite everything, despite all of the odds and statistics being against you, your team can win on any given day. It reminds me of the most improbable game I have ever played in the league – my first championship game as the Kiwis in the S27 prospect bowl. My team quickly went down early in the game, not scoring a touchdown for most of the game, down 20 going into the 4th quarter things were looking bleak – trash was being talked and excuses were being made, but despite it all we made a comeback, scoring the final, game winning points with just a few seconds to spare. That is part of the excitement of the league – something that keeps you enraptured even during a rebuild – anything can happen at any time, you just have to sit back and watch it all unfold.
All that being said, I think next year is our year. Go Philly!
(814 words)
![[Image: roman_brothers.png]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/174730327724523521/799727975682539520/roman_brothers.png)
