I enjoyed putting together the offensive line stats and writing the article for the previous 'Eye on the O-Line' post, so I'm going to make it a 'weekly' (i.e. after each regular season game) thing!
Eye on the O-Line: Week One
The first week of regular season football in the NSFL has concluded, and it was a week full of surprises. The Baltimore Hawks, unbeaten in the preseason, lost in a tight contest against the Colorado Yeti, who were underwhelming in their first four games. The Orange County Otters, tipped by many NSFL pundits as the team to beat in the competition's inaugural season, were beaten handily by Arizona Outlaws. This would be Arizona's first ever franchise win, after suffering four straight losses in the preseason.
So, how did the performance of the offensive lines factor into these results? D'Brickashaw Ferguson, the standout performer of the preseason, brought his scintillating form into the regular season for the Wraiths, producing 9 pancakes without conceding a single sack or penalty. Add that to the strong showings from fellow linemen Matt Akselen and Jogn Floggity, who as a unit didn't allow a single sack against the SaberCats, and it's no surprise they came out as victors.
On the other side of that match-up were SaberCats O-Linemen Ben Longshaw, Daniel Robicheaux, Connor MacManus, and Tim Tebow. While as a unit they only gave up 2 sacks (3 if you include the sack from the camp body), the reports that latecomer Connor MacManus has mentally checked out appears to be true, as he was the only real O-Lineman to allow a sack, and was the cause of both that the unit conceded. This dysfunction certainly didn't help QB Jamies Christ, who completed 58.83% of passes and threw for 1 TD and 1 INT in the team's loss. The SaberCats will hope that the other linemen around MacManus can pick up the slack. Robicheaux looks to be well on the way, producing 8 pancakes in the game, but will need to work on his discipline after conceding 24 penalty yards.
In the Outlaws upset victory, it wouldn't be right to overlook the defense's contributions, after they picked off opposing QB Mike Boss six times on their way to their first ever victory. Despite throwing two TD's, Outlaws QB Vincent Draxel was underwhelming, completing only 8 of 22 and throwing an interception. This is likely due to the pressure Draxel faced on every dropback, as his only dependable protection is Alex Thomas. While Thomas had a respectable day with no errors, he needs to reach the heights he did in the preseason to make up for the camp bodies around him, and to prevent Saggitariutt Jefferspin from single-handedly leading to the death of Draxel.
Despite the horrific performance of Otters QB Mike Boss leading to their shock loss, it appears none of that blame can be placed on their offensive line. Anchored by Angus Winchester - who was the highest-rated offensive lineman on many draft boards - and Marcus Boyd, the Otters O-Line's only errors were some unfortunate penalties.
Finally, what went on in the trenches that determined the outcome between the Hawks and the Yeti? Scrub Kyubee had an impressive showing for the Hawks, despite his offensive line's underwhelming total of 1 pancake, 1 sack allowed, and 1 penalty for 5 yards. While the protection wasn't awful, more will need to be done if the Hawks want to continue their winning form.
For the Yeti, Bender Rodriguez looks to have steal written all over him, as his 6 pancakes, 0 sacks allowed and single penalty for 2 yards helped QB Logan Noble have an accurate, if not entirely blemish-free, day. Completing 21/28 (75%) for 1 TD and 2 INT's, Noble was an important piece of the victory. But as Rodriguez is a self-proclaimed run blocker, and the RB duo of Boss Tweed and Kieran O'Connell combined for 179 yards and 2 TD's behind the star offensive lineman, it's clear it was his run-blocking talent that had the biggest impact. While he was buoyed by a solid 3 pancake, 0 sack and 0 penalty performance from fellow lineman Bernard Forthward, I believe the Yeti simply couldn't have won without Rodriguez's efforts.
Now it's time for the Anchor of the Week!
Anchor of the Week (1): D'Brickashaw Ferguson
The Anchor of the Week is awarded to the offensive lineman whose play was most influential in securing his team a victory. While an argument can certainly be made for Bender Rodriguez, D'Brickashaw Ferguson's efforts simply can't be overlooked. The Wraith's RB's enjoyed similar success to that of the Yeti, and the QB play was fairly level, too. The telling factor in the end was that the Wraiths offensive line unit didn't allow a single sack in the game. And Ferguson's 9 pancakes is simply phenomenal. Congratulations, D'Brickashaw!
S1 'Anchor of the Week' Tally
Eye on the O-Line: Week One
The first week of regular season football in the NSFL has concluded, and it was a week full of surprises. The Baltimore Hawks, unbeaten in the preseason, lost in a tight contest against the Colorado Yeti, who were underwhelming in their first four games. The Orange County Otters, tipped by many NSFL pundits as the team to beat in the competition's inaugural season, were beaten handily by Arizona Outlaws. This would be Arizona's first ever franchise win, after suffering four straight losses in the preseason.
So, how did the performance of the offensive lines factor into these results? D'Brickashaw Ferguson, the standout performer of the preseason, brought his scintillating form into the regular season for the Wraiths, producing 9 pancakes without conceding a single sack or penalty. Add that to the strong showings from fellow linemen Matt Akselen and Jogn Floggity, who as a unit didn't allow a single sack against the SaberCats, and it's no surprise they came out as victors.
On the other side of that match-up were SaberCats O-Linemen Ben Longshaw, Daniel Robicheaux, Connor MacManus, and Tim Tebow. While as a unit they only gave up 2 sacks (3 if you include the sack from the camp body), the reports that latecomer Connor MacManus has mentally checked out appears to be true, as he was the only real O-Lineman to allow a sack, and was the cause of both that the unit conceded. This dysfunction certainly didn't help QB Jamies Christ, who completed 58.83% of passes and threw for 1 TD and 1 INT in the team's loss. The SaberCats will hope that the other linemen around MacManus can pick up the slack. Robicheaux looks to be well on the way, producing 8 pancakes in the game, but will need to work on his discipline after conceding 24 penalty yards.
In the Outlaws upset victory, it wouldn't be right to overlook the defense's contributions, after they picked off opposing QB Mike Boss six times on their way to their first ever victory. Despite throwing two TD's, Outlaws QB Vincent Draxel was underwhelming, completing only 8 of 22 and throwing an interception. This is likely due to the pressure Draxel faced on every dropback, as his only dependable protection is Alex Thomas. While Thomas had a respectable day with no errors, he needs to reach the heights he did in the preseason to make up for the camp bodies around him, and to prevent Saggitariutt Jefferspin from single-handedly leading to the death of Draxel.
Despite the horrific performance of Otters QB Mike Boss leading to their shock loss, it appears none of that blame can be placed on their offensive line. Anchored by Angus Winchester - who was the highest-rated offensive lineman on many draft boards - and Marcus Boyd, the Otters O-Line's only errors were some unfortunate penalties.
Finally, what went on in the trenches that determined the outcome between the Hawks and the Yeti? Scrub Kyubee had an impressive showing for the Hawks, despite his offensive line's underwhelming total of 1 pancake, 1 sack allowed, and 1 penalty for 5 yards. While the protection wasn't awful, more will need to be done if the Hawks want to continue their winning form.
For the Yeti, Bender Rodriguez looks to have steal written all over him, as his 6 pancakes, 0 sacks allowed and single penalty for 2 yards helped QB Logan Noble have an accurate, if not entirely blemish-free, day. Completing 21/28 (75%) for 1 TD and 2 INT's, Noble was an important piece of the victory. But as Rodriguez is a self-proclaimed run blocker, and the RB duo of Boss Tweed and Kieran O'Connell combined for 179 yards and 2 TD's behind the star offensive lineman, it's clear it was his run-blocking talent that had the biggest impact. While he was buoyed by a solid 3 pancake, 0 sack and 0 penalty performance from fellow lineman Bernard Forthward, I believe the Yeti simply couldn't have won without Rodriguez's efforts.
Now it's time for the Anchor of the Week!
Anchor of the Week (1): D'Brickashaw Ferguson
The Anchor of the Week is awarded to the offensive lineman whose play was most influential in securing his team a victory. While an argument can certainly be made for Bender Rodriguez, D'Brickashaw Ferguson's efforts simply can't be overlooked. The Wraith's RB's enjoyed similar success to that of the Yeti, and the QB play was fairly level, too. The telling factor in the end was that the Wraiths offensive line unit didn't allow a single sack in the game. And Ferguson's 9 pancakes is simply phenomenal. Congratulations, D'Brickashaw!
S1 'Anchor of the Week' Tally
- D'Brickashaw Ferguson: 1
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754 words - ready for grading
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Update Page
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[div align=center][SELECT style="background-color:maroon; color:white; font-family:Arial; font-size: 12px; width: 400px; "][br]
[OPTION]Scott Michaels || Colorado Yeti General Manager || #YetiNoises
[OPTION]Birthplace: Scranton, Pennsylvania
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION] NSFL Regular Season Record
[OPTION] S9: 3 - 1
[OPTION] S10: 9 - 5
[OPTION] S11: 8 - 6
[OPTION] S12: 6 - 8
[OPTION] S13: 8 - 6
[OPTION] Career: 34 - 26 (.567)
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]NSFL Playoff Record
[OPTION] S9: 0 - 1
[OPTION] S10: 0 - 1
[OPTION] S11: 0 - 1
[OPTION] S12: DNQ
[OPTION] S13: 1 - 1
[OPTION] Career: 1 - 4 (.200)
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION] DSFL Regular Season Record
[OPTION] S8: 10 - 4
[OPTION] S9: 9 - 5
[OPTION] Career: 19 - 9 (.792)
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]DSFL Playoff Record
[OPTION]S8: 1 - 1
[OPTION]S9 0 - 1
[OPTION] Career: 1 - 2 (.333)
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]Accolades
[OPTION]S11 NSFL GM of the Year
[OPTION]S9 DSFL NFCN Division Champions
[OPTION]S8 DSFL NFC Conference Champions
[OPTION]S8 DSFL NFCN Division Champions
[OPTION]===========================================
Update Page
[div align=center][/align]
[div align=center][SELECT style="background-color:maroon; color:white; font-family:Arial; font-size: 12px; width: 400px; "][br]
[OPTION]Scott Michaels || Colorado Yeti General Manager || #YetiNoises
[OPTION]Birthplace: Scranton, Pennsylvania
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION] NSFL Regular Season Record
[OPTION] S9: 3 - 1
[OPTION] S10: 9 - 5
[OPTION] S11: 8 - 6
[OPTION] S12: 6 - 8
[OPTION] S13: 8 - 6
[OPTION] Career: 34 - 26 (.567)
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]NSFL Playoff Record
[OPTION] S9: 0 - 1
[OPTION] S10: 0 - 1
[OPTION] S11: 0 - 1
[OPTION] S12: DNQ
[OPTION] S13: 1 - 1
[OPTION] Career: 1 - 4 (.200)
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION] DSFL Regular Season Record
[OPTION] S8: 10 - 4
[OPTION] S9: 9 - 5
[OPTION] Career: 19 - 9 (.792)
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]DSFL Playoff Record
[OPTION]S8: 1 - 1
[OPTION]S9 0 - 1
[OPTION] Career: 1 - 2 (.333)
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]Accolades
[OPTION]S11 NSFL GM of the Year
[OPTION]S9 DSFL NFCN Division Champions
[OPTION]S8 DSFL NFC Conference Champions
[OPTION]S8 DSFL NFCN Division Champions
[OPTION]===========================================