(S25) - PT 5 - Playoffs? You Kidding Me?

[Jmac NCheese]

I wish I could be one of the ones that says this last few weeks would hopefully get us in or out of the playoffs, but the Berlin Fire Salamanders are last in NSFC. The other expansion team, New York Silverbacks, are in a similar situation in the ASFC and ironically both teams have a 3-12 record. The last week Berlin gets a little bit of an easier opponent in the 6-9 Secondline, while New York get a 9-6 Cats team, and Berlin could not be dead last in the league if they win. Now everyone knew going into this season with expansion teams, that they are not going to really be able to complete with every teams’ best players, but they could hang around and throw an upset here and there. I would like to say that happened, slower for New York to get their 3 upsets, but still could be the reason another team does not make the playoffs. Cannot really pinpoint one reason that Berlin struggled, because there was plenty, and it is no one’s fault it is just a young (TPE) team on the rise. I was with Chicago Butchers last few season and this is about what they went through and look at them now that they had time to develop! For next season I feel like Berlin and New York will be near the bottom, if not the bottom again, but will be stronger as all the young players develop a little more! Like I said I learned this being in Chicago the past few years and that it just takes some time, but look out for the Berlin Fire Salamanders next season for some more upsets and in the future to running this league!!

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[SlurmsMckenzie]

The only problem the Dallas Birddogs got is why is the league keeping us down? Bird. It’s in the name, and you know what…we got to fly. Maybe we did not make it to the play-offs this year, maybe we weren’t even close, but you know what? The Dallas Birddogs got more heart than any other team out there, and you just wait. Next year they will be back, more tenacious than ever and hungry as a dog for the Ultimini trophy.

Some of you may scoff, but you have obviously never seen a birddog chase down it’s prey. They’re unstoppable, unshakeable, there’s nothing you can do to get the Birddogs off your scent if they’ve committed to birddogging you. You’re toast (heh, sorry kid), might as well just give up where you stand.

My detractors will say I’m mad. I’d say you all are barking up the wrong tree. Mark my words, Dallas will reign supreme next year as Ultimini champions. In the meantime, everyone is invited to Slurms McKenzie’s post season Birddog Bash sponsored by Slurm Loco®, don’t just get your Slurm on, go LOCO! Slurm’s will be back to see everyone next season, hope you’re ready to party! Whimmy wham wham wozzle!

[MrStennett]

The Royals are playoff bound for sure at this point, and have a very good opportunity to lock up the DSFL's best record come the end of the regular season. They are tied with the Buccaneers at 10-3 as I am writing this, but are up at least three games on all of their division counterparts. London has been great on both sides of ball this season, boasting the league's top scoring offense and the third best scoring defense. In order to go the whole way this season and complete the coveted back-to-back championship run, there is something that needs to improve, and that is quarterback play. Charlemagne Cortez, the Royals third year quarterback, started the season off as hot as you can get. At about the halfway point, he was leading the league in both touchdown passes and passer rating. He was also among the league's best when it comes to completion percentage. Since that point, Cortez has dropped off at an alarming rate, however. Over the last two games, he hasn't thrown a touchdown, has been picked off twice, and has completed just a paltry 56% of his passes. While London has still managed to win both of these games, Cortez really needs to step up when his team needs him most, because these numbers just aren't going to get it done in the postseason.

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[PMoney]

As the season comes to a close, Yellowknife have unfortunately missed the playoffs for the second season in a row. The team showed good away form but sadly slipped up and lost a couple of games at home where bookies had them as heavy favourites. Sadly, that means even before week 16 games that we are already out of the playoff race, and if results all fall in a certain way, we could be the #3 pick in the draft. With a few very good prospects in the draft, this could be a very valuable pick in adding a top user.

This season was another difficult one roster wise for Yellowknife. Although they look like future stars, Mark Walker and Dan Foster were both called up immediately post draft at positions where a little more TPE was needed, in the defensive backfield and at wide receiver. However more TPE will come during the offseason and going into their second year they should be strong players. The stagnation of WR Chris Kross and S L’Carpetron Dookmarriot left room for improvement and compounded on the lower TPE of the rookies. They could look to try improve these positions in Free Agency but also have a great class of rookies down in the DSFL still so have a variety of options. With only a few players regressing, Yellowknife are beginning to get to their strongest and should be an excellent team next season.

[Alucas]

PBE CW PT

[toivo]

PBE PT Kahn on PBE

[Cody]

Baltimore just missed out on the playoffs in Season 25. It was a season of exceeded expectations though as they only had 3 wins the previous season. It was heart breaking but the team is definitely headed in the right direction. 

The biggest strength for Baltimore is definitely it is passing game Campbell and Howlett look set to light up opposing defenses for years to come. If Baltimore is not leading the league in passing yards and TDs in Season 26, I would be shocked.

The biggest weakness was definitely the running game. Baltimore only finished with 6 rushing touchdowns on the season and were second to last in rushing yards. The Hawks had some issues converting on short yard conversions and it cost them some games overall this season.

This offseason I think Baltimore needs to focus on trying to find some more defensive gems to shore up the defense and try to create some shorter fields for the offense. creating points off turnovers. If the Hawks could have scored some points off short fields, they definitely would have made a playoff appearance in Season 25. If there able to add some decent players, this team has a shot at the top seed going into next season.

[Tesla]

Affiliate PBE PT

[pauadrian]

Well, my career at Norfolk Seawolves did not get off to a great start. We are one of the worst teams in the league sadly and whilst I’m finally getting stats I would actually like to win a few in this upcoming season. So I have the perfect solution for the wonderful team named Norfolk Seawolves who indeed are best folk. The solution? Draft all my friends, yes you heard it right here all you need to do is draft all my friends in the draft. That includes people like H0PPY, Bagel, numbers, Griff etc. Sorry if I missed you but these are the people I know. The reason you should draft these people is because it would be good for team morale. My team morale so me. I just wanna be happy playing with friends. In all seriousness though I do hope they draft people I know cause I like hanging around Norfolk people and a happy locker room keeps people active. I hope with a locker room that is active and happy we can have people max earning and getting in those point tasks and training in as much as possible to help ourselves out. Hopefully I’ll be there to help them out

[Jonny2x]

There was a lot of discussion flying around the Philadelphia locker room this week.  First off, we thought we were eliminated from the playoffs.  Then it was discovered we were still not only mathematically alive but that we had a real shot only needing two other teams to lose and to win a tough game against the Colorado Yeti.  As it happened the other two teams lost but we lost as well in a real heartbreaker.  We had taken a one point lead, only to give up a 50 yard kickoff return.  This lead to a field goal by the Yeti to take the lead back but we still had time.  Our all-everything quarterback was leading what looked to be a game winning and playoff spot clinching field goal drive.  We had a first and 15 after a killer “too many men on the field” penalty when Brock took the ball up the middle and found a seam for a big gainer.  He crossed the first down marker, assuring a first and ten very near field goal range when he was caught off guard by a vicious hit from the side by the rookie J Drake.  The ball popped loose and bounced around before being recovered by the Yeti and 3 rushes later, that was ball game.