Ladies and gentleman, welcome again to ESPNSFL. My name is Zerin Nandrews and this is episode number 20 of our “Thoroughfare to Glory” (TTG) saga, bringing you the life of Season 18 QB, the “Portuguese Phenom”, Jay “Football” Cue.
Season 21 is almost upon us and tonight the Arizona Outlaws travel to Chicago, to face the Butchers. Last season was not the best for both teams, as they ended without a post season ticket, with Chicago finishing last in the NSFC, while Arizona finished 4th in the ASFC.
But new season, new objectives, so we traveled to Arizona to check Cue's ideas for this season and what he is hoping to achieve with his team.
Dirk - Hey Jay, nice to be back after a long off season. Excited about the first game of the season?
Jay - Hey Dirk, i am very happy the day has finally come and i cannot wait to get on the field with my teammates on an official game. We finished last season on a high, with 3 straight wins and we want to build on that feeling.
Dirk - Tonight you guys face the team that finished season 20 with the worst NSFL record. Do you feel it is a certain win for Arizona?
Jay - Definitely not Dirk. We know that every off season brings a lot of changes to NSFL teams, so there is no way in knowing any of tonight's results. New players are expected to perform, some will, some will not. Still, we are going into the game with high expectations, trying to get a result and bring the win back to Arizona.
Dirk - You played versus Chicago last season and it was an unbelievable game, and an absolute shootout that ended 44-42, with you throwing for 310 yards and 4 TDs. Do you think something similar will happen?
Jay - I don't think so, no. That game was on week 11, so the teams were consolidated by that time. Today it is the first game of the season, teams will be trying to translate what happened on training camp into and official game, and it is hard to get things going this early. I expect a tough game, teams will score but not nearly as much as on the last game.
Dirk - But are you confident on winning?
Jay - We go into every game with a win on our minds. Not many thought that last season we could start 3-0, but we did, with 2 very hard battles away from home. So we will do our game, try to take our opportunities, hopefully our defense forces a few turnovers as well, if everything goes according to plan, we have a very good chance in starting the season with the right foot. But the Butchers changed a few things, new players came in to help some others that are top of the league on their respective positions, so i expect nothing less than a very hard battle. But we know that starting the league in a positive fashion sets the tone for the rest, as morale boosts are really important for a locker room.
Dirk - And what about your individual stats, are you expecting a better season than the last? I mean, you were MVP runner up, so if you want to do better...
Jay - Every player wants their season to be better than the last one Dirk, that is given. While i know that not many expected me to perform like i did last season, the main thing i took from it was the experience and the ability to be able to read defenses faster. The game is soo much faster than the DSFL, and it takes a very big adjustment to be able to succeed. I did that in my rookie year, things have gone very well for me personally, the team balled out, but unfortunately that was not enough to get us in the playoffs. We lost a couple of one possession games and if we did not, we could be here talking about our playoff games last season. But it is what it is, and as a rookie, i am ecstatic i over performed. Now i need to try and get over the "sophomore slump", try to be able to make the same plays i did and to get confident enough to try new ones. We will see how that goes. No one expected me to have the numbers i did as a rookie, so maybe i can fool destiny again and do good again.
Dirk - And the team's objectives for this season, can you shed a little bit more light about it?
Jay - There is not really much to say about that Dirk. We are on the ASFC, where most of the Ultimus Champions are, so we know that to have a good season you really need to be very regular with results. Our 7-6 record last season was pretty decent and still did not take us to the playoffs, while on the NSFC the Yeti did it with the same record and the Hawks got in with 6 wins. Hell, we finished with the same record as NOLA, and they were 2nd while we finished 4th. So, we will take this one game at a time like we did last year, try to get some wins when no one expects it to happen, use the home field advantage as well, and after 13 weeks we will look into the conference and check if we get to play in the playoffs. I will level with you, it is going to be really hard for that to happen, but who knows?
Dirk - What do you feel it can be the secret to Arizona's success?
Jay - There is not really a "recipe", but i feel we have a pretty well rounded team. Our defense looks pretty solid and on offense i feel like i can break down teams with the help of my team mates. If you see that we have Jay Cue, Ruff Ruff, Jammerson Irving, Saba Donut, Jah Burberry and Willie B.Hardagain lining up, that is not bad is it? Are there better teams? Possibly. But on a good day, on a day that things go the way we want it to go, trust me, things will become very difficult for our opponents. Is that enough for a good season? We will see.
Dirk - Looking at other teams, who do you feel as favorites for Season 21?
Jay - Like i said, it is still a bit early to predict something like that, without seeing any kind of games. But there are teams who are perennial candidates for the Ultimus. The Orange County Otters definitely want to make amends after a complicated season, the Yellowknife Wraiths are looking into finally getting into a final game and win it, NOLA has what i think is the best roster in the league and want to transform that into titles, Austin wants to show that last year was not a fluke, the Yeti also have a fantastic team. Even if we look at both teams that finished last in their respective conferences, the San Jose Sabercats had a great draft and their team is really getting better and the Chicago Butchers really are improving, they left the "scandals" behind and are now building a very impressive team for the future. Even with me being in the league for a short amount of time, I would risk saying that Season 21 is probably the most balanced season in a while, with a lot of very similar teams talent wise. A win or loss might mean a big difference in standings in the end.
Dirk - What about the draft Jay, how do you feel it went for Arizona?
Jay - I think we did pretty well if we look into it. Our first round pick was Desmond Scarlett pretty much and the rest of the picks were to take care of some of the teams needs. And from what i already saw, even though some of the players returned to DSFL, we have a few gems in there that will help the team. We will be a force to be reckoned soon and maybe with a couple of free agency moves, some players staying with us, i really feel we can do well.
Dirk - Still related to the draft, there were rumors of the team being in a place that was considering trading you for picks and a full rebuild, or make you change positions, as they drafted another QB. Were they true?
Jay - I can't really go into team internal decisions Dirk, as you can imagine. But you know how i roll, i just get into the facility, practice hard, do all i can to help the team and my team mates, study the playbook and the opponent and then get in the game and do my best. If the team feels like a change is needed, i am here to talk about what can be done. I have just signed a new contract as well, so i feel like i am in a good place going forward. But that can change in a moment.
Dirk - Well, thank you for your time Jay, looking forward to see you tonight in Chicago.
Jay - Thanks Dirk, see you next time.
And this is all the time we have for today, stay tuned for more interviews and information on our TTG. This was Zerin Nandrews, for ESPNSFL at the Arizona Outlaws training facility, goodbye, see you next time.
Season 21 is almost upon us and tonight the Arizona Outlaws travel to Chicago, to face the Butchers. Last season was not the best for both teams, as they ended without a post season ticket, with Chicago finishing last in the NSFC, while Arizona finished 4th in the ASFC.
But new season, new objectives, so we traveled to Arizona to check Cue's ideas for this season and what he is hoping to achieve with his team.
Dirk - Hey Jay, nice to be back after a long off season. Excited about the first game of the season?
Jay - Hey Dirk, i am very happy the day has finally come and i cannot wait to get on the field with my teammates on an official game. We finished last season on a high, with 3 straight wins and we want to build on that feeling.
Dirk - Tonight you guys face the team that finished season 20 with the worst NSFL record. Do you feel it is a certain win for Arizona?
Jay - Definitely not Dirk. We know that every off season brings a lot of changes to NSFL teams, so there is no way in knowing any of tonight's results. New players are expected to perform, some will, some will not. Still, we are going into the game with high expectations, trying to get a result and bring the win back to Arizona.
Dirk - You played versus Chicago last season and it was an unbelievable game, and an absolute shootout that ended 44-42, with you throwing for 310 yards and 4 TDs. Do you think something similar will happen?
Jay - I don't think so, no. That game was on week 11, so the teams were consolidated by that time. Today it is the first game of the season, teams will be trying to translate what happened on training camp into and official game, and it is hard to get things going this early. I expect a tough game, teams will score but not nearly as much as on the last game.
Dirk - But are you confident on winning?
Jay - We go into every game with a win on our minds. Not many thought that last season we could start 3-0, but we did, with 2 very hard battles away from home. So we will do our game, try to take our opportunities, hopefully our defense forces a few turnovers as well, if everything goes according to plan, we have a very good chance in starting the season with the right foot. But the Butchers changed a few things, new players came in to help some others that are top of the league on their respective positions, so i expect nothing less than a very hard battle. But we know that starting the league in a positive fashion sets the tone for the rest, as morale boosts are really important for a locker room.
Dirk - And what about your individual stats, are you expecting a better season than the last? I mean, you were MVP runner up, so if you want to do better...
Jay - Every player wants their season to be better than the last one Dirk, that is given. While i know that not many expected me to perform like i did last season, the main thing i took from it was the experience and the ability to be able to read defenses faster. The game is soo much faster than the DSFL, and it takes a very big adjustment to be able to succeed. I did that in my rookie year, things have gone very well for me personally, the team balled out, but unfortunately that was not enough to get us in the playoffs. We lost a couple of one possession games and if we did not, we could be here talking about our playoff games last season. But it is what it is, and as a rookie, i am ecstatic i over performed. Now i need to try and get over the "sophomore slump", try to be able to make the same plays i did and to get confident enough to try new ones. We will see how that goes. No one expected me to have the numbers i did as a rookie, so maybe i can fool destiny again and do good again.
Dirk - And the team's objectives for this season, can you shed a little bit more light about it?
Jay - There is not really much to say about that Dirk. We are on the ASFC, where most of the Ultimus Champions are, so we know that to have a good season you really need to be very regular with results. Our 7-6 record last season was pretty decent and still did not take us to the playoffs, while on the NSFC the Yeti did it with the same record and the Hawks got in with 6 wins. Hell, we finished with the same record as NOLA, and they were 2nd while we finished 4th. So, we will take this one game at a time like we did last year, try to get some wins when no one expects it to happen, use the home field advantage as well, and after 13 weeks we will look into the conference and check if we get to play in the playoffs. I will level with you, it is going to be really hard for that to happen, but who knows?
Dirk - What do you feel it can be the secret to Arizona's success?
Jay - There is not really a "recipe", but i feel we have a pretty well rounded team. Our defense looks pretty solid and on offense i feel like i can break down teams with the help of my team mates. If you see that we have Jay Cue, Ruff Ruff, Jammerson Irving, Saba Donut, Jah Burberry and Willie B.Hardagain lining up, that is not bad is it? Are there better teams? Possibly. But on a good day, on a day that things go the way we want it to go, trust me, things will become very difficult for our opponents. Is that enough for a good season? We will see.
Dirk - Looking at other teams, who do you feel as favorites for Season 21?
Jay - Like i said, it is still a bit early to predict something like that, without seeing any kind of games. But there are teams who are perennial candidates for the Ultimus. The Orange County Otters definitely want to make amends after a complicated season, the Yellowknife Wraiths are looking into finally getting into a final game and win it, NOLA has what i think is the best roster in the league and want to transform that into titles, Austin wants to show that last year was not a fluke, the Yeti also have a fantastic team. Even if we look at both teams that finished last in their respective conferences, the San Jose Sabercats had a great draft and their team is really getting better and the Chicago Butchers really are improving, they left the "scandals" behind and are now building a very impressive team for the future. Even with me being in the league for a short amount of time, I would risk saying that Season 21 is probably the most balanced season in a while, with a lot of very similar teams talent wise. A win or loss might mean a big difference in standings in the end.
Dirk - What about the draft Jay, how do you feel it went for Arizona?
Jay - I think we did pretty well if we look into it. Our first round pick was Desmond Scarlett pretty much and the rest of the picks were to take care of some of the teams needs. And from what i already saw, even though some of the players returned to DSFL, we have a few gems in there that will help the team. We will be a force to be reckoned soon and maybe with a couple of free agency moves, some players staying with us, i really feel we can do well.
Dirk - Still related to the draft, there were rumors of the team being in a place that was considering trading you for picks and a full rebuild, or make you change positions, as they drafted another QB. Were they true?
Jay - I can't really go into team internal decisions Dirk, as you can imagine. But you know how i roll, i just get into the facility, practice hard, do all i can to help the team and my team mates, study the playbook and the opponent and then get in the game and do my best. If the team feels like a change is needed, i am here to talk about what can be done. I have just signed a new contract as well, so i feel like i am in a good place going forward. But that can change in a moment.
Dirk - Well, thank you for your time Jay, looking forward to see you tonight in Chicago.
Jay - Thanks Dirk, see you next time.
And this is all the time we have for today, stay tuned for more interviews and information on our TTG. This was Zerin Nandrews, for ESPNSFL at the Arizona Outlaws training facility, goodbye, see you next time.
![[Image: jay_banker_sig_500.png]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/324284917485797398/1069128807656726679/jay_banker_sig_500.png)
![[Image: Jay_Cue_III_Sig.png]](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/736700931864920064/1117125068653350972/Jay_Cue_III_Sig.png)
