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+---- Thread: *Week One Recap (/showthread.php?tid=4765)
*Week One Recap - kckolbe - 09-19-2017
Hey folks, kckolbe here, and I am stoked that the season finally kicked off. So stoked, in fact, that I wanna talk about the games that happened last night.
We’ll start off in Colorado, where rookie QB Nicolas Pierno made his start against the Las Vegas Legion, who showed up ready to win, then got tired of it, then gave it one exciting try at the end. Pierno definitely struggled to connect with the top Yeti receiver from last year. Kendrick Hendrix somehow ended up with ZERO yards, and it wasn’t because Pierno never looked his way. The big man was targeted SIX times for five incomplete passes and one interception. Not a good way to earn your QB’s trust, though since Pierno had two other interceptions, maybe they’ll chalk that up to lack of chemistry. Fortunately, the Yeti had Boss Tweed to lead them to victory with 110 rushing yards (despite a horrible line and a FB who needs to be fired immediately) and another 41 through the air. Jonathan Saint also stepped up big, with three sacks on Bercovici and a pass deflection. The Legion, despite going up 10-7 in the second quarter, ended up accomplishing nothing on offense. Even their only TD was thanks to a possession starting on the one yard line (though the Yeti got that same benefit). The lone star of the game was Devin Speed, who picked off Pierno twice, though some mention should go to Stormblessed who had three catches for 60 yards, including one when it was really needed. This game had an amazingly exciting finish, with the Legion moving down the field and getting stopped on the 4 yard line without enough time for one more play. This game was a huge moral victory for the visiting Legion, but had to make the Yeti front office worry that maybe too much harm had been done.
Next up we went to Baltimore, where the Wraiths tried to wrest control of the conference from the Season Two conference champion Hawks. Despite being close, this game was really more boring until the 4th quarter, lacking the exciting turnovers of the previous game. The level of play was more respectable, but also less captivating. Still, a game with two lead changes in the final 6 minutes is well worth watching, though everything about the way both teams played was trade offs from what was expected. Season Two rushing leader Darlane Farlane lost some of his efficiency from last year (though he did record probably the longest short gain in league history), but he didn’t fumble the ball. Chris Orosz managed not to throw an interception, but also didn’t move the ball that well. The Wraiths defense didn’t give up a ton of yards, but they also didn’t have the red zone stops. All in all, a game that neither team can feel too good or too bad about.
The next two games were…less close. While the Legion went on the road against a team adapting to a TON of changes, and the Wraiths were expected to be a fight on the road against the Hawks, I think the general consensus was that Liberty was going to lose by over a touchdown. What happened, though, was brutal. Clifford Rove had an absolute nightmare of a rookie debut, despite being considered far more NSFL-ready and having better blocking. Technically, his passer rating was better than that of Pierno’s, but opening the game with two interceptions in the first four minutes doomed the team from the beginning, leading to a 0-14 deficit that was never recovered from. Leroy Jenkins and Erlich Burnsman combined for FIVE touchdowns, but Mike Boss was the star of the show. He had four different receivers with 5 or more receptions as he passed for 398 yards over what was being boasted as the best secondary in the league. Meanwhile, the Liberty kept giving more chances to Rove, who dropped back 46 times and yet only totaled 140 yards, this despite the fact that Omar Wright was averaging 4.7 yards a carry and newly acquired backup runner Kieran O’Connell had ZERO carries. Philadelphia can put some blame on being on the road, but this is not the kind of start you want to have with playoff ambitions.
Last up we go to what was unfortunately the most predictable game, even if it did happen quite oddly. San Jose was just no match for the Outlaws as they defended their house in beautiful form, refusing to allow the SaberCats into the end zone ONCE. With San Jose boasting an impressive receiving corps of Jackson, Weston, and Smallwood, that seems impossible, but the Cats had to punt an impressive TEN times, with Blewitt putting that first round power into each of them. Blewitt punted for 524 yards, forcing Arizona to work hard to capitalize off the San Jose mistakes, and most of the time they just couldn’t do it. On 17 possessions, the Outlaws visited the end zone only twice, perhaps because too much was being asked of Reg Mackworthy, who had 41 carries, 2 receptions, 1 kick return and 2 punt returns. Jaxon Tuck, on the other hand, had 10 carries, 3 receptions, and…4 cups of Gatorade.
Which game was your favorite to watch? Vote in the poll and let us know!
GRADED
*Week One Recap - Muford - 09-19-2017
Can't be to mad at the #SaberSaberSaberCats Defense, the two touchdowns Arizona scored came off of Ethan Hunt Interceptions in our Red Zone. Otherwise, holding them to 6 FGs I'm not to mad about. trending upwards
EDIT: The best game to watch to me was either the Yeti / Legion or the Wraiths / Hawks. I will have to be a homer and go with the Wraiths, just because of Orosz
*Week One Recap - tlk742 - 09-19-2017
I think it's a real testament to our defense being able to slow the Outlaws down like that.
*Week One Recap - ErMurazor - 09-19-2017
I've got to give another shout out to @enigmatic. Carter looks like he's going to be utilized effectively in Arizona and in his debut game put on a corner back clinic. A lot of people are claiming to be lock down corners that put receivers on an island, but in this game it looked like Jackson was playing in a black hole where dreams go to die.
Carter finished with 5 PDs and an interception against a very good receiver that didn't record a catch. Talk about coverage sacks! :bowdown: :bowdown:
*Week One Recap - SimmerDownBruhh - 09-19-2017
Well, it wasn't fun getting nothing but an Offsides penalty. Lmaooo
But overall, that whole Hawks/Wraiths game was awesome.