I spent some time interviewing the London Royals GMs to see what their thoughts were on a few topics. I will be using Discord names. So, enjoy!
*Quick Disclaimer: Slate likes to talk, like alot.*
Slate
Dolphins: Ok so first question, what are your expectations for our team these next few years?
Slate: Obviously we've just come off a great season winning the Ultimini, but we also had a lot of star players called up to the ISFL this past offseason leaving the roster a little bit bare. This coming season I think we've added enough offensive talent through the draft to once again be in contention for playoffs. It's always hard to predict further in advance in the DSFL because of the potential for more players to get called up, but at the very least I expect to see London consistently having a good chance at playoffs, and we should be making it more often than not. But for me being a developmental league GM, the key measure of success is really setting players up to have successful careers in the ISFL more than on-field success. So off the field my expectations are to maintain a positive environment in the locker room that enables new players to get their footing at the DSFL level and to keep developing talent that can get drafted high to ISFL teams that they have success with even after they stop playing for the Royals.
Dolphins: Ok, good answer. Next question is, what are your thoughts on the other teams in this league?
Slate: Oh boy how honest should I be
Dolphins: Completely honest
Slate: I really think the DSFL is at one of the strongest places I've seen it in a while in terms of how competitive all of the teams are. Even teams that have struggled recently like Norfolk have had some strong drafts recently and have solid rosters that should keep them in contention, so I really think we'll see a lot of close games this season and it's tough to predict who will come out ahead. In terms of personal feelings, Dallas and Portland are London's biggest rivals because they have a similar approach to us I think in terms of evaluating talent and who we prioritize in the draft. I think every season there's a lot of picks we make that Dallas especially is upset with us for taking their favorite prospect, and we feel the same about a lot of their picks. My player used to play on Kansas City, so I still have a lot of love for that organization and I definitely root for them when we're not playing each other or fighting for playoffs with them. Tijuana's also a really great team, I've gotten to know the managers of that team more recently and we get along very well, and our games are always really exciting on the field. Minnesota, Bondi Beach, and Norfolk I don't know as well and we don't have much historic rivalries with them. I think we have a bit different approaches in terms of building our rosters and our locker room environments so when we play them it's always kind of a way to demonstrate that London's way is better, but of course it's still friendly with them as well.
Dolphins: Wow, sounds like you guys have a lot of fun with each other. Next question is, What are your thoughts and expectations for me? Both on and off the field.
Slate: On the field I'm really excited to see what Welch can do as the primary receiver for the Royals! We've retooled the entire offense this year basically, with a new QB, RB, and two new WRs, and I think Welch's skillset as a speedy deep threat will create a lot of explosive plays for the offense that will be a lot of fun to watch and hopefully lead to a lot of wins for the team. I definitely think you could be in contention for some postseason awards with the way the team is set up! Off the field, like I said earlier my hope for all of our players is to set you up to have a successful time in the ISFL! I hope that you enjoy the locker room environment and get along well with your teammates, and I expect with where you went in the DSFL draft and how active you've been for us already you could be a high pick in the ISFL draft next offseason.
Dolphins: Thank you, I actually have already begun to get to know my teammates and have had fun in the locker room so far. OK, next question: what do you think of our new cornerback Savior Hawkins?
Slate: I think he's great! Definitely another user like yourself who caught our eye in scouting due to their activity level around the league. It was a shallow class in terms of cornerback availability and I think we got one of the top tier in the class later in the draft with that pick, should be a great player for us.
Dolphins: Good, I love him too, he’s a great guy. Alright so last question: how has the history of this team affected how you are moving forward towards the future of this team?
Slate: That's a great question. London is actually one of the youngest teams in the DSFL, it's only been around since S21, so there's not a very long history to go off of. But I think in that short time the team has found a pretty clear identity and so definitely whenever I make a decision I want to keep that identity intact and help build that foundation for the future, I guess. At the same time there's a lot of freedom in not having too much history behind us weighing us down.
Dolphins: That is very true, well thank you for taking time out of your day to answer my questions, and Go Royals. I got my mind set on high expectations and I’m ready to fulfill them
Slate: That's great to hear! Thanks for the questions. Looking forward to the media!
Katarn
Dolphins: Ok so first question, what are your expectations for our team these next few years?
Katarn: It definitely tough to predict more than a year out in the DSFL. That being said, I expect the team to be competitive this year. We have some veterans returning on the defense and the offense is completely revamped.
Dolphins: Ok, makes sense. Next question is, what are your thoughts on the other teams in this league? Be completely honest
Katarn: I think the majority of the other teams in the DSFL are perfectly fine. To be honest, the only ones I really think about are Portland, Dallas, and Tijuana. The Royals have a bit of a rivalry with each of them
Dolphins: Nice, some cool history between you guys it sounds like. Next question is, What are your thoughts and expectations for me? Both on and off the field.
Katarn: As was said during the draft stream, off the field we were very impressed with your activity, both on the forums and on Discord, for a brand new user. We hope that activity level continues as you learn more about the league and the Royals. On the field, we expect you to see plenty of targets. The offense is brand new and you figure to slot in as the primary receiver on the team.
Dolphins: Thank you and I hope I achieve your goals and become who you are hoping I become. OK, next question: what do you think of our new cornerback Savior Hawkins?
Katarn: Savior is fantastic. Almost like the defensive version of you, we were impressed by his forum and Discord activity. We have high hopes and expectations for him, especially since he was our only defensive draftee.
Dolphins: Cool, I love him too, he’s a great guy that I can relate to and have gotten to know very well. So last question: how has the history of this team affected how you are moving forward towards the future of this team?
Katarn: Great question. I think the history of the Royals definitely affects how Slate and I manage the team. Obviously you always want to do the best job possible, but since the Royals have only had 2 losing seasons, and have appeared in the Ultimini 4 times out of their 8 seasons of existing, the pressure to do well is even higher. I am confident though that we can lead the team to wins this season. We always draft well and make the most of what we have.
Dolphins: Nice to hear that, well thank you for taking time out of your day to answer my questions, and Go Royals. I got my mind set on high expectations and I’m ready to fulfill them
Katarn: We're excited to see what you can do
Thank you again to katarn and slate for answering my questions. Let’s go win back-to-back Ultiminis, and many more. Go Royals!!
*Quick Disclaimer: Slate likes to talk, like alot.*
Slate
Dolphins: Ok so first question, what are your expectations for our team these next few years?
Slate: Obviously we've just come off a great season winning the Ultimini, but we also had a lot of star players called up to the ISFL this past offseason leaving the roster a little bit bare. This coming season I think we've added enough offensive talent through the draft to once again be in contention for playoffs. It's always hard to predict further in advance in the DSFL because of the potential for more players to get called up, but at the very least I expect to see London consistently having a good chance at playoffs, and we should be making it more often than not. But for me being a developmental league GM, the key measure of success is really setting players up to have successful careers in the ISFL more than on-field success. So off the field my expectations are to maintain a positive environment in the locker room that enables new players to get their footing at the DSFL level and to keep developing talent that can get drafted high to ISFL teams that they have success with even after they stop playing for the Royals.
Dolphins: Ok, good answer. Next question is, what are your thoughts on the other teams in this league?
Slate: Oh boy how honest should I be
Dolphins: Completely honest
Slate: I really think the DSFL is at one of the strongest places I've seen it in a while in terms of how competitive all of the teams are. Even teams that have struggled recently like Norfolk have had some strong drafts recently and have solid rosters that should keep them in contention, so I really think we'll see a lot of close games this season and it's tough to predict who will come out ahead. In terms of personal feelings, Dallas and Portland are London's biggest rivals because they have a similar approach to us I think in terms of evaluating talent and who we prioritize in the draft. I think every season there's a lot of picks we make that Dallas especially is upset with us for taking their favorite prospect, and we feel the same about a lot of their picks. My player used to play on Kansas City, so I still have a lot of love for that organization and I definitely root for them when we're not playing each other or fighting for playoffs with them. Tijuana's also a really great team, I've gotten to know the managers of that team more recently and we get along very well, and our games are always really exciting on the field. Minnesota, Bondi Beach, and Norfolk I don't know as well and we don't have much historic rivalries with them. I think we have a bit different approaches in terms of building our rosters and our locker room environments so when we play them it's always kind of a way to demonstrate that London's way is better, but of course it's still friendly with them as well.
Dolphins: Wow, sounds like you guys have a lot of fun with each other. Next question is, What are your thoughts and expectations for me? Both on and off the field.
Slate: On the field I'm really excited to see what Welch can do as the primary receiver for the Royals! We've retooled the entire offense this year basically, with a new QB, RB, and two new WRs, and I think Welch's skillset as a speedy deep threat will create a lot of explosive plays for the offense that will be a lot of fun to watch and hopefully lead to a lot of wins for the team. I definitely think you could be in contention for some postseason awards with the way the team is set up! Off the field, like I said earlier my hope for all of our players is to set you up to have a successful time in the ISFL! I hope that you enjoy the locker room environment and get along well with your teammates, and I expect with where you went in the DSFL draft and how active you've been for us already you could be a high pick in the ISFL draft next offseason.
Dolphins: Thank you, I actually have already begun to get to know my teammates and have had fun in the locker room so far. OK, next question: what do you think of our new cornerback Savior Hawkins?
Slate: I think he's great! Definitely another user like yourself who caught our eye in scouting due to their activity level around the league. It was a shallow class in terms of cornerback availability and I think we got one of the top tier in the class later in the draft with that pick, should be a great player for us.
Dolphins: Good, I love him too, he’s a great guy. Alright so last question: how has the history of this team affected how you are moving forward towards the future of this team?
Slate: That's a great question. London is actually one of the youngest teams in the DSFL, it's only been around since S21, so there's not a very long history to go off of. But I think in that short time the team has found a pretty clear identity and so definitely whenever I make a decision I want to keep that identity intact and help build that foundation for the future, I guess. At the same time there's a lot of freedom in not having too much history behind us weighing us down.
Dolphins: That is very true, well thank you for taking time out of your day to answer my questions, and Go Royals. I got my mind set on high expectations and I’m ready to fulfill them
Slate: That's great to hear! Thanks for the questions. Looking forward to the media!
Katarn
Dolphins: Ok so first question, what are your expectations for our team these next few years?
Katarn: It definitely tough to predict more than a year out in the DSFL. That being said, I expect the team to be competitive this year. We have some veterans returning on the defense and the offense is completely revamped.
Dolphins: Ok, makes sense. Next question is, what are your thoughts on the other teams in this league? Be completely honest
Katarn: I think the majority of the other teams in the DSFL are perfectly fine. To be honest, the only ones I really think about are Portland, Dallas, and Tijuana. The Royals have a bit of a rivalry with each of them
Dolphins: Nice, some cool history between you guys it sounds like. Next question is, What are your thoughts and expectations for me? Both on and off the field.
Katarn: As was said during the draft stream, off the field we were very impressed with your activity, both on the forums and on Discord, for a brand new user. We hope that activity level continues as you learn more about the league and the Royals. On the field, we expect you to see plenty of targets. The offense is brand new and you figure to slot in as the primary receiver on the team.
Dolphins: Thank you and I hope I achieve your goals and become who you are hoping I become. OK, next question: what do you think of our new cornerback Savior Hawkins?
Katarn: Savior is fantastic. Almost like the defensive version of you, we were impressed by his forum and Discord activity. We have high hopes and expectations for him, especially since he was our only defensive draftee.
Dolphins: Cool, I love him too, he’s a great guy that I can relate to and have gotten to know very well. So last question: how has the history of this team affected how you are moving forward towards the future of this team?
Katarn: Great question. I think the history of the Royals definitely affects how Slate and I manage the team. Obviously you always want to do the best job possible, but since the Royals have only had 2 losing seasons, and have appeared in the Ultimini 4 times out of their 8 seasons of existing, the pressure to do well is even higher. I am confident though that we can lead the team to wins this season. We always draft well and make the most of what we have.
Dolphins: Nice to hear that, well thank you for taking time out of your day to answer my questions, and Go Royals. I got my mind set on high expectations and I’m ready to fulfill them
Katarn: We're excited to see what you can do
Thank you again to katarn and slate for answering my questions. Let’s go win back-to-back Ultiminis, and many more. Go Royals!!
![[Image: IMG-7211.jpg]](https://i.postimg.cc/y8CF2ztV/IMG-7211.jpg)
![[Image: sebmiller.png]](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/797501811576668160/1116078856835715183/sebmiller.png)
