From inception, it wouldn't have been a stretch to say the Baltimore Hawks were perhaps more than a little overlooked by a large proportion of the football-watching fanbase. It's understandable, to an extent. Setting up in a city with another, decorated football team; issues with their general manager and front office leading up to the inaugural NSFL draft; and then completing what many thought to be a somewhat mediocre draft. It's difficult for most to argue that the Hawks were treated unfairly, when all of this is considered in context. Things did not look good on paper.
But paper does not win football games, and the players signed to the Baltimore franchise are not most. "I felt personally attacked," reveals cornerback Antoine Delacour, selected in the eleventh round of the draft. He is referring to an article published prior to the first week of preseason games, in which the Hawks' secondary was labelled the league's worst. Delacour, and his starting cornerback partner Matthew Peterson, were both described as "#2 corners" and projected to struggle against tougher receivers. Both responded emphatically, with Delacour limiting the consensus best receiver in the league -- Josh Garden -- to just fifty seven yards and five receptions in the Hawks' surprisingly one-sided matchup with the Wraiths. Peterson, to his credit, rendered the giant red zone threat of Lincoln Jefferson a near-non-factor in their clash with the Outlaws. No mean feat, considering Jefferson has a four inch, thirty-seven pound advantage over the Baltimore corner.
There is still something to be said for the number of completed passes allowed by the Hawks' secondary -- forty-nine of eighty-one attempts; roughly sixty percent -- suggesting they could struggle later in the season, when quarterbacks and receivers have had time to gel, but for now, their average yards allowed per catch (4.67) and solitary touchdown against through four games sets them in great stead.
The Hawks' strong overall defensive showing so far -- just thirty points allowed through preseason, a league best -- is reliant on every member of a well-drilled, tightly-knit roster playing their part. This includes the offense, as the tandem of Scrub Kyubee -- whose performances defied his hilariously ironic name -- and Damian West combined for 292 yards and 2 TDs. West's best performance came against the Wraiths, where he grabbed both of his touchdowns and almost half of all his preseason yards. Not surprisingly, this was also the Hawks' best offensive showing, as they torched their NSFC rivals for thirty-one points.
Kyubee himself was impressive through preseason, throwing seven touchdowns to two interceptions, and completing 69 of his 117 attempts for 797 yards. When factoring in the threat of a Robinson-Novel backfield -- who combined for 358 yards and a touchdown, behind an offensive line of questionable strength; rated as the league's worst, and perhaps justifiably after giving up sixteen sacks in preseason -- and the lack of proper time to gel with his receivers, Kyubee's performances can seemingly only get better.
All things considered, the Hawks are easily the surprise package of the NSFL after preseason, and look like they will only get better as the season progresses. Currently prohibitive favourites to win their regular season opener against the Colorado Yeti, the Hawks may well be early favourites to contest the first season's championship game. It's a long way away, though, and seeing how dramatically public opinion of the fledgling franchise has flipped in the past month, it's probably best to err on the side of caution.
After speaking to the guys in the Hawks' locker room after their hard-fought win over the Outlaws, though... it's hard to bet against them.
But paper does not win football games, and the players signed to the Baltimore franchise are not most. "I felt personally attacked," reveals cornerback Antoine Delacour, selected in the eleventh round of the draft. He is referring to an article published prior to the first week of preseason games, in which the Hawks' secondary was labelled the league's worst. Delacour, and his starting cornerback partner Matthew Peterson, were both described as "#2 corners" and projected to struggle against tougher receivers. Both responded emphatically, with Delacour limiting the consensus best receiver in the league -- Josh Garden -- to just fifty seven yards and five receptions in the Hawks' surprisingly one-sided matchup with the Wraiths. Peterson, to his credit, rendered the giant red zone threat of Lincoln Jefferson a near-non-factor in their clash with the Outlaws. No mean feat, considering Jefferson has a four inch, thirty-seven pound advantage over the Baltimore corner.
There is still something to be said for the number of completed passes allowed by the Hawks' secondary -- forty-nine of eighty-one attempts; roughly sixty percent -- suggesting they could struggle later in the season, when quarterbacks and receivers have had time to gel, but for now, their average yards allowed per catch (4.67) and solitary touchdown against through four games sets them in great stead.
The Hawks' strong overall defensive showing so far -- just thirty points allowed through preseason, a league best -- is reliant on every member of a well-drilled, tightly-knit roster playing their part. This includes the offense, as the tandem of Scrub Kyubee -- whose performances defied his hilariously ironic name -- and Damian West combined for 292 yards and 2 TDs. West's best performance came against the Wraiths, where he grabbed both of his touchdowns and almost half of all his preseason yards. Not surprisingly, this was also the Hawks' best offensive showing, as they torched their NSFC rivals for thirty-one points.
Kyubee himself was impressive through preseason, throwing seven touchdowns to two interceptions, and completing 69 of his 117 attempts for 797 yards. When factoring in the threat of a Robinson-Novel backfield -- who combined for 358 yards and a touchdown, behind an offensive line of questionable strength; rated as the league's worst, and perhaps justifiably after giving up sixteen sacks in preseason -- and the lack of proper time to gel with his receivers, Kyubee's performances can seemingly only get better.
All things considered, the Hawks are easily the surprise package of the NSFL after preseason, and look like they will only get better as the season progresses. Currently prohibitive favourites to win their regular season opener against the Colorado Yeti, the Hawks may well be early favourites to contest the first season's championship game. It's a long way away, though, and seeing how dramatically public opinion of the fledgling franchise has flipped in the past month, it's probably best to err on the side of caution.
After speaking to the guys in the Hawks' locker room after their hard-fought win over the Outlaws, though... it's hard to bet against them.
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597 words
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