*Red Zone

[PDXBaller]

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Welcome to the second issue of Red Zone, an online magazine covering all the latest National Simulation Football league news, headlines, highlights and insights. This will be a bi-weekly article series that will also include interviews from GMs, players, and prospects. In our second issue of Red Zone, we review the results of the Ultimus, an interview with General Manager Bogdan Podarok, both NSFL and DSFL drafts, and an interview with newly drafted NSFL player Noah Goodson.

[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Ultimus Review

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The Arizona Outlaws reign of villainy continues, as the “Bad Boys” of the NSFL cruised to their 3rd Ultimus championship for season 3. The Outlaws decimated the Baltimore Hawks, who many believed had the most capable chance to overthrow the defending champions. Arizona played one of their best games of the year with both sides of the ball showcasing an elite level of football.

The gunslinger, King Bronko, threw for 249 yards for 4 touchdowns and threw no interceptions. The offense was incredibly effective at running up the score despite a 26 minute and 14 second possession time. Receiver Charles Arthur Chess caught 3 touchdowns and Charlie Law had a 15 yard pass from Bronko early in the fourth quarter.

Cornerback Franklin Harris Jr. was easily the defensive player of the game. He had a 24 yard interception touchdown return at the end of the first quarter and ended the game by filling up the defensive stat sheet with: 7 tackles, 3 pass deflections, and 2 interceptions to go along with the return. Jayce Tuck and Godfrey King were in prime form with 6 tackles and 3 sacks each.

It’s safe to say the Arizona Outlaws have created a dynastic team and their reign of dominance will continue into season 4. How they react to the recent league changes remains to be seen. The emergence of the android offensive lineman should give many teams an even playing field in terms of offensive strategy and the shifting of roles on every NSFL team will change the landscape of the league drastically. It will certainly be an unpredictable season 4, but look for the Outlaws to be around the top of the league by the end of it.

[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Interview with Arizona Outlaws GM: Bogdan Podarok (@ADwyer87)

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In continuing with the Ultimus theme, we had an opportunity to interview Outlaws General Manager Bogdan Podarok, in between his cocaine and champagne fueled stripper laden championship parties.

What are the major factors contributing to your 3rd championship in a row?
I think the biggest contributing factors is our continued success at the draft. In S2, we had 7 of our draftees pan out and make rosters. Erikson became a top player in Colorado's defense. Schmarchetype became a solid 6th offensive lineman. And the other 5 were able to grab starting roles. We just keep adding valuable players and I think that’s the biggest reason for our success

What would you say was be your biggest challenge in S3?
Trading all of my S4 draft picks I had previously traded for lol. Honestly, I was very upset when the HO made the decision to wreck the S4 draft in order to make a new draft format. Many teams, and the Outlaws most of all, had already traded for S4 picks, so it screwed us. Luckily at least we were able to get out of this by trading all our S4 picks away besides first overall.

Were you targeting Josh Garden for this offseason? What other candidates caught your eye?
Yup, we were targeting Garden from the start, though we had no clue we would be able to get him though. We targeted pretty much every free agent, even some QBs as an alternative to Bronko. We just have only hit on one so far.

As a perennial championship team, how will you to integrate Garden to an already successful scheme?
Pretty much this just means we are going to be passing a lot more! Garden is a big upgrade for us.

Which players do you think have been vital to your success this year?
Franklin Harris Jr. Easily has made the biggest difference for us this year. DB was our only weakness over the years. Not anymore.

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Cornerback Franklin Harris Jr. making a run towards the end zone after an interception[/div]


Fav Four Questions

Favorite place to eat in Phoenix?
Definitely Durant's. That place is amazing.

Favorite place to play other than The Bandit Pit?
Wraiths stadium. No one comes to the games! Really easy to concentrate with no opposing fans to bother you.

Favorite old school jam?
There’s this song called Butterfly. It’s a one hit wonder. Growing up it was my JAM.

Favorite fun fact about yourself?
I am a 3 time dabbing world champion.

Say 1 nice thing about every other team in the league
: They are fun to play in the Ultimus game.
: Pierno helped Harris Jr. pad his stats a lot, most likely because he knew he was going for DRotY, we appreciate it.
: They complain more than any other team in the league, which shows you how much they care.
: We were worried about facing them in the Ultimus game, so they did the nice thing and missed the playoffs. Thanks guys.
: They have really nice first round picks.
: Mike Boss helps us out a lot.
: Thanks for taking Durden off our hands.


[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Get your official NSFL Trading Cards from the NSFL Football Card Store! Visit the store here:
Football Card Store[/div]


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The Red Zone is giving away a free pack of cards (digital) for three lucky readers! Comment on the article with your favorite player or play from the Season 3 playoffs and include the words “Red Zone Best Zone” to enter the contest. The winner will be selected at random and receive a pack of cards and notified through private message.


[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Red Zone NSFL Draft Review
Here are the official grades and review of all the first round picks in the S4 NSFL Draft.


NSFL Number 2 draft pick, Blackford Oakes, making a tackle[/div]

1) - Noah Goodson (LB)
RZ Grade: A+
Goodson was considered the unanimous number one pick heading into this draft with good reason. The linebacker put up monstrous stats in the DSFL and was one of the hardest working DSFL players in the league. Goodson helps fill the gap that Jaylon Lee left after getting traded and will fit in perfectly with the Outlaws secondary.

2) - Blackford Oakes (S)
RZ Grade: A+
Oakes could have easily been the top pick in this draft despite not playing a DSFL game. His level of activity and build makes him a versatile Safety for the Legion gives their backfield a much needed boost. Oakes will easily rise to become of the Legion’s top defensive players if he continues his work ethic in the NSFL.

3) - Haruki Ishigawa (LB)
RZ Grade: A+
The Yeti are rebuilding and drafting Ishigawa at number 3 was a great selection to help their front line. Ishigawa joins Jonathon Saint and Reginald Hampshireton at linebacker next season and this will drastically improve their line. Ishigawa has exemplified a strong work ethic as well and has been active since his introduction to the league.

4) - Steven O’Sullivan (TE)
RZ Grade: A
The Legion ended up trading the newest NSFL O’Sullivan family member to the Otters for William Sean so we’ll grade both picks based on their new teams. O’Sullivan joins his brother Julian on the Otters and gives the Otters a true Tight End for their offense. O’Sullivan, much like his brothers, are very active members of the league and the Otters have strengthened their offense even further with Mike Boss opting to stay in Orange County.

5) - William Sean (WR)
RZ Grade: B+
The Legion are probably sending Sean down to work on developing his game, but the wide receiver is showing some signs of activity in the recent week. The red zone threat has great speed, agility, and hands. However, he doesn’t appear ready for the next level and will need to increase his training to earn a spot on the main Legion roster.

6) - Trey Lonzac (CB)
RZ Grade: B+
Trey Lonzac is an excellent all around cornerback and gives the Legion a dynamic player who can help their backfield immensely. He’s picked up his activity and his potential is on the upswing based on his recent training updates. He’s probably going back to the DSFL, but this pick by Legion helps secure them some depth should Philippe Carter or Timote Shoate leave Las Vegas.

7) - Andres Waiters (DE)
RZ Grade: B
A DSFL stud on secondary, defensive end Waiters will probably be going back to the DSFL. Last season, he led the league in sacks and provided the Portland Pythons some much needed bite in the secondary. It’ll be tough for Waiters to crack the main roster lineup if he continues on his trajectory of activity. He’ll need to pick up his work ethic to train harder if he hopes to make get called up to Vegas.

8) - Shawn Ariel (RB)
RZ Grade: B-
In a shallow draft class, the pickings typically get slim towards the end of the second round. However, this class could be measured at a few inches of water when it comes to depth. Ariel was a DSFL all-star and was one of the top running backs in the DSFL. He will most likely remain in the DSFL and continue to develop his game.


[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Red Zone DSFL Draft Review

DSFL Number 4 draft pick, Andre Bly Jr., getting the crowd hyped up
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Here is a review of the first-round draft choices of the S4 DSFL Draft that occurred over a week ago. The passing week has provided an opportunity for the prospects to prove their value. It was hard for GMs to miss on first round talents in a very strong draft class.

1) – Wolverine Justice (QB)
RZ Grade: A-
It’s always good to see an active player with loads of potential get selected by a team with a need. The blue-chip quarterback of the draft class was expected to be taken early on, and Norfolk saw an opportunity to grab a good player now and one to develop for the future. Norfolk put up the most points in the league last year, but the previous quarterback threw 19 interceptions. Norfolk should expect Justice’s recent work in arm accuracy to help cut down on turnovers, while still maintaining a high-octane offense. Having accumulated a total of 111 TPE before preseason is a testament to how much Justice is willing to improve to show he deserved the draft position.

2) – John Wachter (WR)
RZ Grade: A
Maybe to some surprise, Wachter was selected second overall. But when you look at this prospect, you see that the build, the work ethic, and the skills all come together to form an excellent prospect. He’s 6’2, 220 lb, has good hands, and is a very active receiver who has accumulated up to 108 TPE before preseason. Combined, it’s a tremendous gift for a team that scored the tied-for-least amount of points in the DSFL. The Pythons needed an infusion of talent, and since the addition of Christ at quarterback and Wachter at wide receiver, expect the Portland offense climb its way out of the basement of the DSFL. The Pythons addressed a need and grabbed a prospect that most GMs had very high on the draft boards.

3) – Egor Medved (DT)
RZ Grade: A+
The Tijuana Luchadores, whether it was planned or not, grabbed a great player in Medved at number 3. Good defensive line men can dominate the DSFL in both the run and pass games. Medved, having already played last season during the playoffs, proved he is very capable of playing at this level. Now, after some great offseason improvement, he joins a team where he will be a cornerstone on defense. Medved provides much needed assistance to the Luchadores team that managed to record a lowly 37 sacks last year, good enough for second worst in the league. The Luchadores team also managed to allow 2.0 more pts per game that anyone else in the league while being tied for the worst offense. All in all, they needed help everywhere. So why not grab the best interior front 7 player in the draft. The value at draft pick 3, along with the need on defense gives Medved the highest grade of the first round.

4) – Andre Bly Jr. (CB)
RZ Grade: A
Drama aside, another great value pick. While some around the league were irritated about the draft fiasco and the fall down the draft board, it’s hard to argue that Kansas City didn’t get exactly what they wanted. Bly Jr. had the expectation of being taken #1 in the draft but in the end, he was selected by the team that picked him up on waivers last year. One of the best defensive prospects in the draft, selected later than his perceived value, Bly Jr. now gets to re-join a familiar team and locker room. This could result in the Coyotes stealing a few more wins throughout the season just by reducing the time of possession and scoring rates of the other teams from a continued above-average pass defense. The Coyotes already had the tied-for-most interceptions in the league last year, but with many dynamic offensive talents going early in the draft, why not shore up on defensive talent? Bly Jr. should be able to contribute to the league’s best pass defense this coming season.

5) – Bastion Barnhardt (DE)
RZ Grade: A
Another instance of the wealthy getting wealthier. The Marshals already had the best defense in the league, and they proceed to shore up a devastating defensive line with Barnhardt. With the chance of the NSFL stealing away the better players on last year’s team, the San Antonio front office decided to ensure they kept the title of stingiest defense. Barnhardt is already at a point where his speed and strength are above league average. Like Medved, a good defensive lineman can dominate an offense. Expect Barnhardt to be atop the defensive leaderboards at the end of the year. Did the Marshals necessarily need another defensive player? Probably not. Did they get the best edge rusher in the draft? Yes.

6) – Fresh Booter (WR)
RZ Grade: B
Booter was the other controversial pick of the first round, but there was no draft day fallout between this prospect and the other teams. Booter was simply drafted much higher that what the scouting reports valued him as. Booter has worked hard on improving his speed and hands during the offseason. One problem is how far behind he is compared to the other draft picks of the first round. He is the only first round draft choice to have not accumulated 100 TPE so far. The other problem is how he fits on the team. While insight into the Blue locker room is limited, it seems like Booter has the build of half tight end, half wide receiver. How the Blues use him will determine his value. Used in the correct situations, a hybrid receiver could be an awesome red zone weapon. Sadly, that is a limited role as of right now for a 6th overall pick. The problem with this pick is further compounded when looking at the talent left on the board, especially in the tight end and receiver pool. The silver lining is that this build can be very well utilized at the NSFL level. Look at a player like DiMirio on the Liberty. DiMirio ended up as a top 15 receiver in yards and top 4 in catches last season. If Booter can model his game after a player like DiMirio, expect Booter to lead the league in catches in a few years. A few years being the key word.


[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Interview with Noah Goodson (@toivo)
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As an integral part of the defensive line in Portland, linebacker Noah Goodson provided the defensive stalwartness for the Pythons. Although a quiet member of the locker room, Goodson has proven to be a leader within the Pythons organization with a drive to become the best linebacker in the league. His selection at number one shouldn’t have surprised anyone and the Red Zone had an opportunity to speak with Goodson shortly after his selection.

How does it feel to be drafted number one overall?
Feels great to be recognized as a top player. The work I’ve done, the reputation of my name, it’s all being rewarded by going first overall to one of the best football teams of all time.

Many people had picked Blackford Oakes over you in the mock draft. Did you think you were going to be drafted number one?
I always expect the best out of myself, so yeah I did expect going first overall. I wouldn’t have beaten myself up if I was drafted second or third, but it would have surprised me. Some people had Oakes going first, a lot of people had Goodson going first, it was talked about in different places, and it’s funny how the rumors spread around.

Describe the moments leading up to the draft and how you felt as you heard your name called?
I was on a call with a General Manager of another team. They told me there was a delay, and the draft didn’t get started until several minutes after the start time. At this point, I was wondering what was going on. Was Arizona having a change of heart? Was a team making a big move to get the 1st pick? It turns out there was a problem with Arizona’s getting to the draft on time, a slight delay. Then I was notified by the other General Manager that I was selected, and that was really exciting. I had to hang up and it was off to celebrations and congratulations from a long list of people.

How do you think you'll fit in with the Outlaws defense?
We’ll see when we get started. Before the draft, I had many discussions with the coaches, talking about what they like in their players, asking how I plan to develop. I was honest with them, and they were upfront with what they expected. I think it’ll work well for both parties, but to see exactly how much chemistry we have, we’ll need to actually get on the field.

Who are you looking forward to playing with?
Guys like Luke Luechly, Harris Jr., and Ernston are some of the players I look most forward to playing with. We're going to do some great things this season. I'm excited to join this defense core and get back on the field. Had a long off-season since Portland didn't make the DSFL playoffs, so I'm ready to get with these guys and get back to action.

What advice do you have for new rookies starting out in the DSFL?
Seek out your teammates, make connections; it’ll help in the long run. When you feel a part of a team, you want to keep progressing so that you don’t let your teammates down. I was very excited to go to Portland in the first DSFL draft, but halfway through the season, there was only one or two other people in the locker room talking, and it didn’t help boost my interest in the league at all.


[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Official Red Zone Recommendations
Sabercast Studios(@Sweetwater) Interviews Ballerstorm: Link
Not Famous Yet: Post-S4 DSFL Draft Recap, A DSFL Podcast (@Roly): Link
Pace versus Offensive Efficiency Statistical Analysis Article (@sapp2013):Link[/div]


[div align=\\\"center\\\"]***Be sure to check out the Red Zone in a few weeks for more NSFL content!***[/div]

$500k to both @ADwyer87 and @toivo for their interviews
$2M to @CDub2 for his help with the draft analysis
Remaining to myself

[cosbornballboy]

Trey Wille's Kickoff Return vs PHI in the NSFC Championship

Red Zone Best Zone

[bovovovo]

Just wanted to say this is awesome. I love high quality articles like this.

Good work! :cheers:

[7hawk77]

Absolutely amazing.

I feel like your red zone articles have better quality than some paid media on real sports websites.

[ItsJustBarry]

TIL I kind of have a trading card although I don't think my character has been unlocked yet.

[ADwyer87]

C.A. Chess' 3 TD Ultimus Performance #RedZoneBestZone

[ExemplaryChad]

Fantastic read. Like I said with the last article, I could definitely see this being THE place I come to in keeping up with the league happenings.

Great job.


Quick question to everyone else: Are linebackers a part of the secondary? I always thought that was limited to defensive backs. But I fully allow for the possibility that I'm wrong.

[sapp2013]

The red zone best zone play of the year was the one where they scored.

[iamslm22]

Fantastic read. Like I said with the last article, I could definitely see this being THE place I come to in keeping up with the league happenings.

Great job.


Quick question to everyone else: Are linebackers a part of the secondary? I always thought that was limited to defensive backs. But I fully allow for the possibility that I'm wrong.

Linebackers are front 7. Secondary is corners and safeties.

[PDXBaller]

Linebackers are front 7. Secondary is corners and safeties.

Sorry for the goof there @ExemplaryChad . I revised the article description about your player.