Bottom Half: Write about why two of the four teams were not able to make the playoffs.
Times are always tough in first seasons for expansion teams, and the Legion were the bottom of the barrel in terms of the regular season. Their offense just would not click all season - just 211 points - which is vital. Everything for them starts at quarterback, where Bercovici fell last in almost every category. This could be a mix of a bad line, or bad recieving corps as well, but the blame will fall on the quarterback, and that's the result of the bad offense for the Legion. You'd have to think that Season 3's free agency will be offense-heavy.
There was one point in the season where the media were praising the Sabercats after a 3-1 start to the season. Things seemed to take a positive turn to the franchise, despite problems with their QB, Ethan Hunt. After that spotlight hit them, they went to lose their next eight games, finishing 4-10. A lot of it can be placed on both Hunt's performance down the line, and the lack of defense. Hunt just seemed to fall back to earth after starting off as one of the most efficient quarterbacks to start. He finished the season with a 1:1 TD to Games ratio, which just doesn't cut it for a team wanting to succeed. Meanwhile, on the other side of the football, San Jose's defense was just awful all year, finishing last in points allowed (374). They need to cut that number in half to become the elite team they wanted to be at the start of the year.
Playoff Series MVP: Choose an MVP for one of the playoff series and write about why you chose them.
SOLIS TROPHY MVP: Jackson Harris
Despite losing the game, Jackson Harris played the game of his life, recording 11 tackles, 2 sacks, and a pass deflection. As a corner, having 11 tackles in the game means that you've been moving all over the place in the game, and busting your ass for the team. The Otters managed to grab three interceptions in the game, and while Harris wasn't one of them, he played a major impact in the passing game, forcing King Bronko to pass elsewhere, and stray away from his key target.
An honorable mention goes to Marc Spector, with his 6 tackles, 2 deflected passes and his interception. The Otters defense overall had a very nice game, it was just unfortunate that the Otters offense couldn't capitalize on some of the opportunities. It was just the case of bad luck for the Otters this go around, expect them to be stronger next year on both sides of the football.
Offensive Comparison: Compare one offensive player from each team in a series.
ULTIMUS TROPHY - TALE OF THE SLINGERS TAPE
KING BRONKO VS. SCRUB KYUBEE
King Bronko came into the beginning of the playoffs as the middle of the line quarterback, posting numbers around the middle of every department. His 3130 yards passing was 5th in the NSFL, but he did record the most touchdown passes of the season (25), and the longest pass connection (54 yards). With Bronko flinging TD passes, and the defense stopping the ball, the Outlaws finished the season with an unprecedented 12-2 record, which goes to show that passing yards doesn't tell the whole story of a quarterback.
Meanwhile, with the Baltimore Hawks, Scrub Kyubee was far from a scrub this season. Kyubee ranks 4th in the NSFL in passing, with quite literally 51 yards more than Bronko (3181 yards). While his 14 TD passes may look like he isn't a threat under center, the one thing that did feel like a threat was his 336 yards in the NSFC Championship game against Yellowknife. Sometimes, it comes from unsuspecting people that throw for the big games.
In this battle, I expect Bronko to be the main attraction in terms of passing game, but don't be too surprised if the roles are reversed. Kyubee showed to us just recently that he can step up in big games, but can he do it on the big stage, the Ultimus Trophy game?
Championship Game Recap: Do a recap of the best play from the championship game.
Wait, what do you mean 'the best play'? The Arizona Outlaws absolutely manhandled Baltimore from start to finish.
What is this about 'doing a recap of a play' when essentially it was Arizona who had the ball for 3/5ths of the game, and took Baltimore to school? I mean, we can look back and say 'hey, Scrub Kyubee got sacked twice for safeties', but that happened so many times with other teams, that it doesn't really matter. All that we can take away from this game is that Arizona is the team to beat for about 15 seasons to come, and if anyone can take them off their pedestal, it will need to be a team that has multiple star defensive players and multiple star offensive players. Whatever happens this upcoming offseason is going to be interesting, because everybody is going for Arizona's jugular. Expect a bunch of key signings by one team whose goal is to topple down the Outlaws. Who knows what team that will be, but good luck to whoever it is.
Future Talent: Write about which S3 waiver pickup will or did have the biggest impact in the playoffs.
The Baltimore Hawks only picked up two S3 waiver pickups during the season. The first man, Wallace Stone, hasn't made much of an impact since his signing. However, I feel like although he doesn't look like it now, J.D. Boom has a ton of upside with his ability to run past linemen and get to the run stopper. I feel like if he makes the necessary steps for next season's games, he could be one of those guys that can be an essential stopper for any team looking to fill out their need at the defensive line. His stat sheets in the playoffs weren't too huge, four tackles and a sack in the conference championship and only three tackles in the championship game, but there's moments where he could have had an extra sack or two at key moments, and he's just a step or two short of that happening. J.D. Boom, again, has a lot of upside to being both a run stopper and a QB stopper if he takes the necessary steps during training camp. I can't wait to see what happens to him next season.
Times are always tough in first seasons for expansion teams, and the Legion were the bottom of the barrel in terms of the regular season. Their offense just would not click all season - just 211 points - which is vital. Everything for them starts at quarterback, where Bercovici fell last in almost every category. This could be a mix of a bad line, or bad recieving corps as well, but the blame will fall on the quarterback, and that's the result of the bad offense for the Legion. You'd have to think that Season 3's free agency will be offense-heavy.
There was one point in the season where the media were praising the Sabercats after a 3-1 start to the season. Things seemed to take a positive turn to the franchise, despite problems with their QB, Ethan Hunt. After that spotlight hit them, they went to lose their next eight games, finishing 4-10. A lot of it can be placed on both Hunt's performance down the line, and the lack of defense. Hunt just seemed to fall back to earth after starting off as one of the most efficient quarterbacks to start. He finished the season with a 1:1 TD to Games ratio, which just doesn't cut it for a team wanting to succeed. Meanwhile, on the other side of the football, San Jose's defense was just awful all year, finishing last in points allowed (374). They need to cut that number in half to become the elite team they wanted to be at the start of the year.
Playoff Series MVP: Choose an MVP for one of the playoff series and write about why you chose them.
SOLIS TROPHY MVP: Jackson Harris
Despite losing the game, Jackson Harris played the game of his life, recording 11 tackles, 2 sacks, and a pass deflection. As a corner, having 11 tackles in the game means that you've been moving all over the place in the game, and busting your ass for the team. The Otters managed to grab three interceptions in the game, and while Harris wasn't one of them, he played a major impact in the passing game, forcing King Bronko to pass elsewhere, and stray away from his key target.
An honorable mention goes to Marc Spector, with his 6 tackles, 2 deflected passes and his interception. The Otters defense overall had a very nice game, it was just unfortunate that the Otters offense couldn't capitalize on some of the opportunities. It was just the case of bad luck for the Otters this go around, expect them to be stronger next year on both sides of the football.
Offensive Comparison: Compare one offensive player from each team in a series.
ULTIMUS TROPHY - TALE OF THE SLINGERS TAPE
KING BRONKO VS. SCRUB KYUBEE
King Bronko came into the beginning of the playoffs as the middle of the line quarterback, posting numbers around the middle of every department. His 3130 yards passing was 5th in the NSFL, but he did record the most touchdown passes of the season (25), and the longest pass connection (54 yards). With Bronko flinging TD passes, and the defense stopping the ball, the Outlaws finished the season with an unprecedented 12-2 record, which goes to show that passing yards doesn't tell the whole story of a quarterback.
Meanwhile, with the Baltimore Hawks, Scrub Kyubee was far from a scrub this season. Kyubee ranks 4th in the NSFL in passing, with quite literally 51 yards more than Bronko (3181 yards). While his 14 TD passes may look like he isn't a threat under center, the one thing that did feel like a threat was his 336 yards in the NSFC Championship game against Yellowknife. Sometimes, it comes from unsuspecting people that throw for the big games.
In this battle, I expect Bronko to be the main attraction in terms of passing game, but don't be too surprised if the roles are reversed. Kyubee showed to us just recently that he can step up in big games, but can he do it on the big stage, the Ultimus Trophy game?
Championship Game Recap: Do a recap of the best play from the championship game.
Wait, what do you mean 'the best play'? The Arizona Outlaws absolutely manhandled Baltimore from start to finish.
What is this about 'doing a recap of a play' when essentially it was Arizona who had the ball for 3/5ths of the game, and took Baltimore to school? I mean, we can look back and say 'hey, Scrub Kyubee got sacked twice for safeties', but that happened so many times with other teams, that it doesn't really matter. All that we can take away from this game is that Arizona is the team to beat for about 15 seasons to come, and if anyone can take them off their pedestal, it will need to be a team that has multiple star defensive players and multiple star offensive players. Whatever happens this upcoming offseason is going to be interesting, because everybody is going for Arizona's jugular. Expect a bunch of key signings by one team whose goal is to topple down the Outlaws. Who knows what team that will be, but good luck to whoever it is.
Future Talent: Write about which S3 waiver pickup will or did have the biggest impact in the playoffs.
The Baltimore Hawks only picked up two S3 waiver pickups during the season. The first man, Wallace Stone, hasn't made much of an impact since his signing. However, I feel like although he doesn't look like it now, J.D. Boom has a ton of upside with his ability to run past linemen and get to the run stopper. I feel like if he makes the necessary steps for next season's games, he could be one of those guys that can be an essential stopper for any team looking to fill out their need at the defensive line. His stat sheets in the playoffs weren't too huge, four tackles and a sack in the conference championship and only three tackles in the championship game, but there's moments where he could have had an extra sack or two at key moments, and he's just a step or two short of that happening. J.D. Boom, again, has a lot of upside to being both a run stopper and a QB stopper if he takes the necessary steps during training camp. I can't wait to see what happens to him next season.
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