(S3) - Weekend PT #6 - Highs and Lows

[Zoone16]

Code:

232 words

Alexandre LeClair had a solid start to the season, amassing the same amount of yards in both his past seasons in only 9 games. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that LeClair’s condition and performance were at their peak when he scored 3 TDs against the Otters in Week 9. Despite losing that game 29-21, LeClair was not the highlight player of that game, as Otters WR Westfield raked in 171 yards in spite of not scoring a TD. LeClair put up 90 yards of his own that game. At that point, LeClair was 2nd in the league for yards received and it looked like the Legion player would be able to challenge a Pro Bowl spot for the ASFC. In the following games, a coaching and strategy change came along and in spite of being the #1 receiver on the Legion, LeClair was getting fewer passes, recording 100 yards received in his last 3 games combined. It is true however that the Legion’s offense is improving and has now a lot more options than only LeClair, with the rise of Savea & Tanner and the solid performance of Ross as the #2 WR on the team. With LeClair re-signed with the Legion for another 3 seasons, chances are that there will be more highs on an already rebuilding team. But to get there will mean to cross the desert of lows that lay before them.

[ErMurazor]

The high of Jayce Tuck’s season was the extremely crazy start to the season where he was absolutely dominating the league in sacks. After the first quarter or so of the season Jayce Tuck was on pace for racking up around 140 sacks on the year. Tuck had to back to back 5 sack games and a bunch of other monster games early in the season. It is no surprise that these numbers were way too out of the world to last and Tuck had no expectation to actually achieving 140 sacks but it was fun while the speculation lasted. The low point, which to be honest wasn’t all that low at all, would have been when Tuck’s numbers started to come back to reality and other defenders were in the same ball park of sacks and Tuck’s pace came back to a semi-reasonable level. There were a few weeks in the second half and middle portions of the season where Tuck failed to make an impact in stopping the passing game and let opposing quarterbacks have some time in the pocket. Fortunately, even in the slow part of the season and the few games where Tuck wasn’t terrorizing the opposing quarterback he was still able to make an impact in the running game by racking up some serious tackles, including tackles for loss. The other negatives that came with these low points were Tuck’s failure to record a safety or force a fumble this season, despite getting over 80 tackles and 30 sacks, the QB never managd to drop the ball.

[BrotherP]

[kckolbe]

This is a really tough PT, because this season has gone EXACTLY as Kevin Cushing thought it would. There weren’t any heartbreaking losses or morale-boosting wins, no games where he absolutely dominated against high-profile opponents, and most certainly not any significant bets made with players on other teams that he lost.

The high point would have to be Week 14 against the Otters. Not because it helped our record, since we were already eliminated. Not because I had a great game, because I gave up 125 yards to the combination of Atasuke, Phelps, and Westfield, but because that game reminded us all what we were starting to forget. We had flaws and would make mistakes, but were also capable of greatness. Beating the playoff-bound Otters by 15 in Orange County, causing 1/6th of Boss’ interceptions (and getting my first pick six in the process) was a great way to end the season.

The worst moment I wasn’t even on the field for. It was watching the Legion beat the SaberCats. That loss made my bet just a matter of time, but it wasn’t even that the Legion won so much as the PERFECT game Bercovici played against a superior opponent on the road. 22/25, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

[jaskins811]

The high point for myself this season was in week 3 when the Yellowknife Wraiths completely dismantled the Otters 34-9. It was a huge turning point in our season after losing the first 2 weeks on the road, both in very close fashions. Although I myself did not have a great game, only catching 3 balls for 17 yards and drawing 2 penalties, watching my teammates perform at such a high level was amazing and a great experience for me. It was my first career win in the NSFL and a high point in my first season.

The lowest point in the season had to have been week 12. Up to this point, we were still hopeful for the playoffs and had a decent shot. But then the San Jose Saber Cats came into town and beat us in overtime in a heartbreaker. This was a major low point because the playoffs seemed out of reach at this point in a game we should have won. Some of the blame for this game has to go on my back since I drew 2 penalties for 20 yards total which was a major mistake on my part. If we had won this game, we may have been making a playoff appearance, so a loss here was a major bummer.

[ralz9]

There’s no question that Nicholas Pierno’s rookie campaign was full of high and low points, but two moments stick out to him the most.

Starting low, Nicholas Pierno traveled to Orange County in his second-ever professional game. Fresh off a 14-10 stunning victory in his debut that many called just a fluke, Pierno was ready to prove he was a winner and the win over the Legion wasn’t just luck. Rather, he tried to do too much as the Yeti was thrashed 34-6 by the Otters. Pierno went 11-for-25 for 109 yards and turned the ball over four times.

It’s hard to choose a high point—the 16-7 win over the Yellowknife Wraiths (the team that drafted Pierno) definitely sticks out, but it was the season finale that was the high point. Hosting the San Jose SaberCats, Pierno managed the game as the Yeti blew out the opposition 34-6 in front of a home crowd. He only threw the ball 11 times, but it was the first game all year that he didn’t turn the ball over and he threw a beauty of a 23-yard back shoulder pass to Damien West for a touchdown with 1:23 to go in the game that served as the cherry on top.

[NUCK]

[JBLAZE_THE_BOSS]

[RedCydranth]

The NSFL Season started out really strong for Marc Spector. Week 1 was a solid start for any CB, having 3 tackles, 3 passes defended and an interception against the Philadelphia Liberty. It looked as if Marc was finally going to break out as a top CB in the league. Especially when the following week against the Colorado Yeti, he had 4 tackles, 2 passes defended and another interception. This unfortunately was the high point of his season.

The rest of the season became very malaise week in and out. He did not get another interception all season. Week 8 against the Baltimore Hawks was pitiful. He failed to get a single pass defense and only got 2 tackles. He had very little impact in the teams huge 32 point victory, and None Stormblessed scored two touchdowns against Marc's coverage. It did not get much better the weeks after, as after week 8, Marc got 0 passes defended in his next 3 games. He got out of his slump by getting 5 pass defenses in his final 3 games.

Marc can take solace that despite his mediocre year, the rest of his team's defense improved and he in some way helped his team make playoffs. He hopes that moving forward, he'll have a much larger impact every week.

(218 words)

[JuOSu]

This season had many highs and lows. Losing against the Wraiths was a definite low, but making the playoffs in my first season was an amazing thing to happen! I love that even in my first season, I already made the playoffs. And now we have a chance to shock the world and beat Arizona.

Some other highs include having my first game in general. It was amazing to come onto the field as a Pro. After that, my first tackle, my first sack, my first pass deflected, my first interception and my first touchdown! So many amazing firsts and getting an interception and touchdown especially stood out. I do believe I gave my team a lot and helped them win. It was beautiful and amazing for me. I can't believe how good it felt to do that.

Looking at my overall stats also fills me with joy. Seeing the many tackles I got so that I am relatively high in the league in terms of tackle. I am looking forward to my second season and being able to build on that and to become even better as a player. I hope next year I can have even more highlights and less lows!