05-25-2020, 05:45 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-29-2020, 03:02 PM by Fordhammer.)
Agent Tesla: Hello and good time appropriate greeting to you dear viewer! My client and I are here today to go over some highlights from the New Orleans Second Line's game against the Honolulu Hahalua from week thirteen, and also possibly talk some more about the game in general. This article series is pretty set in the ways now as far as what segments we do each game, but we may do more this time depending on how we feel at the end of it. Now our first play comes courtesy of the Hahalua, but as you have done routinely I will leave you to take it from here Magnus.
Magnus Rikiya: I appreciate that. Our first highlight comes five and a half minutes into the game and sees Honolulu face a first and ten on their own twenty yard line. Ruff Ruff gets the ball and gets blockers in front of them that manage to control the field. This play is equal part Ruff Ruff making great decisions on where to go and the offensive line being there to pick up the block. Manages to make it fourteen yards before getting hit and powers forward for one more for a fifteen yard run. Powerful play there to start that drive.
Agent Tesla: I have to agree with you there that it was equal parts Ruff Ruff and the offensive line, but credit to all of them for making a good play happen. Our next highlight comes in the second quarter showing a slow start for the big plays, but there are quite a few in the second quarter I promise. Honolulu has a third and nine on their own thirty-three yard line when Corvo Havran drops back to pass. The line is tilted and so they go with just the softest of chip blocks against Ben Tu’inukuafe that does not slow him down in the slightest as he rushes Havran for the ten yard sack. Got to protect your star quarterback better.
Magnus Rikiya: Ben Tu’inukuafe is a good player and to think a chip block would stop him here is a bit ridiculous. Credit to him through for proving why it is a bit ridiculous. They did get a highlight out of it though as on the next play Venus Powers had a good fifty-seven yard punt. Gump managed to return it due to poor play by the rest of the special teams, but credit to Venus Powers for that good punt.
Agent Tesla: Good job by Venus Powers there. Our next highlight is a confusing one if I am honest, but I will try to explain it to the best of my abilities. New Orleans second and ten on their own thirty-one yard line when Stan Francisco drops back to pass. The coverage is incredible as every player is tightly marked, however the line is holding up well enough that Stan should have some time to wait for someone to get open. Stan slings it early though and Mack Arianlacher is there to capitalize. Mack picks it off and gets a few yards back before being dropped to the turf by the pile of bodies. I say this is a confusing play as Stan threw it to the most covered player and got the result you would expect from him doing that.
Magnus Rikiya: I love Stan so no comment on that part of it, but good job by Arianlacher to make a play out of it. Especially getting a bit of a return with everyone so tightly packed together. Next highlight comes six minutes into the second quarter and comes on a New Orleans second and six on the Honolulu forty-two yard line. Stan Francisco drops back into a clean pocket and finds Austin McCormick wide open past the secondary who he is able to connect with in stride. McCormick is off to the races on his way to a forty-one yard reception as he got tackled just one yard short of the end zone by a group of defenders. Great play McCormick and I am so sorry you just missed out on the touchdown.
Agent Tesla: Huge credit to Austin for the amazing play there, but also some props to the defenders for managing to delay the touchdown. Catching Ausin McCormick from behind is not an easy task. Our next highlight came in just about a minute later on a Honolulu first and ten from their own thirty-eight yard line. Ruff Ruff gets the ball and takes it wide to the left where they able to find room to run. Evades four defenders to make it forward nineteen yards before a defender is finally able to get a hand on them. Excellent evasive maneuvers there to get the first down for their team.
Magnus Rikiya: Slippery player that Ruff Ruff and they did a good job finding their way through the gaps. Now I would normally cover the next highlight, but I believe my agent would be quite disappointed if I took it. So I will leave it to you to cover.
Agent Tesla: Thank you so much! Honolulu's ball with a first and goal on the New Orleans eight yard line when Corvo Havran drops back to pass. New Orleans puts on the blitz, but it is mostly picked up by the offensive line readjusting. Until Magnus Rikiya and Bjørn Ironside break free to put the pressure on Havran who rolls out to his left and throws clear across the field to a covered receiver. A receiver covered by the delightful Deon Taylor who picks it off and runs it back ninety nifty yards before getting stopped just shy of the end zone. That is a fourteen point swing off of one play and the exact reason why I love stellar secondary players so much. Magnificent job Deon and we appreciate your efforts!
Magnus Rikiya: Absolutely amazing job by Deon Taylor there and he deserves all of the credit for that phenomenal play. Although I will say it was a fourteen point swing because Marcella was able to pound it in just three plays later. Now this next play is one that happened right next to me, but I am still not sure I am going to be able to describe it well so I apologize up front for that. Honolulu has it with less than a minute to play on a first and ten from their own twelve yard line when Havran drops back to pass. Before he has so much as time to blink Mason Blaylock flies in from behind Ironside to get the seven yard sack.
Agent Tesla: Another good demonstration of why I love good secondary play as that kind of speed can do serious damage to an offense. Good job by Blaylock there to effectively finish off the half on a high note. Now this next play might seem a bit odd based on the placement, but I promise it is worthy of being highlighted. Just about two minutes left in the third quarter and Stan Francisco drops back to pass on a second and goal from the Honolulu three yard line. Two defenders go unblocked and manage to get their hands on Stan who refuses to go down until he finds Forrest Gump in the end zone for the three yard touchdown. Super strong play there by Stan Francisco who managed to withstand two pass rushers to find his target for the touchdown.
Magnus Rikiya: Stan is a tough guy to bring down and I am happy to say I only have to try to do it in practice. Always happy to see I am not the only one who struggles to get him to the turf though! I hate this next play, but we try to talk about all the highlight worthy plays so I will cover it nonetheless. New Orleans faces a fourth and nine on their own twenty-one yard line so elect to punt. Prohaska hits it with power booting it fifty-three yards before it is fielded by Ke?oke?o K?ne-Maika?i the running back formerly known as White Goodman. Ke?oke?o K?ne-Maika?i returns it up the middle of the field and makes two members of the Second Line miss on his way to the house for a seventy-four yard punt return touchdown. He is good I will give him that.
Agent Tesla: He is quite good given how rare special teams touchdowns are in this league. Especially good I would say given how good Prohaska has been as a punter this season. Now our next highlight is two consecutive plays for the New Orleans second line that are not exactly highlights on their own. First and ten on their own twenty yard line and Forrest takes it up the gut for an eleven yard gain as he managed to break a few tackles to get the team in good position. A good play that is followed by a first and ten on their own thirty-one yard line where Marcella manages to maneuver her way around half the defense to pick up blockers for a ten yard gain. Neither are exactly a highlight on their own, but together they go to show just good the running game is for New Orleans.
Magnus Rikiya: I love our running backs and I am happy to sing their praises here. Even if neither quite measures up to our usual highlight standards I will say they both go to show the skills those two have on the field. Going to follow it up with more pseudo highlights as I have to give credit to a few members of the defense here for keeping us in the game. Honolulu got to first and goal with just over three minutes to play and on the following three plays the New Orleans defense was able to stop them two yards shy of the end zone. Andrew Witten made the tackle on first down, Bjørn Ironside made the tackle on second down, and Ben Tu’inukuafe made the tackle on third down. Props to them for doing what good defenders do and guarding every blade of grass to keep Honolulu from scoring a touchdown.
Agent Tesla: That defensive stand is a large part of why New Orleans was able to win the game and I have no problem giving those three some props for the accomplishment. Now this next play is tremendously impressive in part because of what it meant for the team. Just over a minute left in the game and New Orleans has a third and eight on their own forty-nine yard line. Stan Francisco drops back into as perfect a pocket as you can have, but there is no time for him to waste to find a target. Luckily Austin McCormick does not take long to get open and Stan Francisco finds him similarly swiftly for the reception. McCormick makes it twenty-one yards and into field goal range before getting brought to the turf. Outstanding job by these two, although at this point in the season we kind of expect this level of play from these two.
Magnus Rikiya: McCormick is just a magnificent tight end and Stan's style works so well with him that I have to agree we kind of expect this level of play from then now. They have made the highlight reel just about every game and usually more than once after all. Another similar highlight based off the pressure of the situation is Prohaska managing to hit that thirty-nine yard field goal to give us the lead that would ultimately win us the game. The fact they then managed a solid kickoff just lends more credit to them, but an outstanding job in such a high pressure situation.
Agent Tesla: Yes indeed! That level of mental toughness is the exact kind of thing you want to see from your kicker. Our next highlight comes just after the kickoff and is eerily enough almost the exact same as one of our earlier highlights. Honolulu gets the ball back after the kickoff with a first and ten on their own eighteen yard line when Corvo Havran drops back to pass. He never gets a chance though as Mason Blaylock comes flying in like an archangel to drop him to the turf and end the game with a win for New Orleans. You love to see it.
Magnus Rikiya: I have to wholeheartedly agree that I very much loved getting to see that. Sorry to my Hahalua friends, but you know how it goes.
Agent Tesla: Indeed. Now our next segment is usually the players of the game. Where we would talk about the offensive player of the game and the defensive player of the game. Their stats and maybe some of the stats of other people who were close to winning the award. This time we are doing something a bit different though given the particular stats of this game. Do you want to take it from here Magnus?
Magnus Rikiya: I am happy to do so. Our offensive player of the game and defensive player of the game is Deon Taylor! That fourteen point swing generated by one of their plays would probably be enough by itself to win an award, but they were a consistent contributor throughout the game. Four tackles, two passes defended, and an interception returned for almost a touchdown make Deon just the player of the game. You have announced your retirement already, but I wish we could get you another ring this year before you ride off into the sunset.
Agent Tesla: Well said! Definitely did what he had to here to get the opportunity for one at least and we will wish them well in their retirement. Now onto potentially our last segment of the day. Which for those who decided to join us for our last article of the regular season is where we cover who my client Magnus Rikiya swapped jerseys with after the game. It has been a great season for it so far with Magnus being able to swap with a few different legends and a number of just fantastic players thus far. This time around who did you get to swap jerseys with Magnus?
Magnus Rikiya: I got to swap with another legend of the game this time around and one of the most efficient quarterbacks of all time; Corvo Havran. He was super casual about it all and was really nice about it all. Though I may have forgotten to mention exactly why I wanted his jersey, but with how cool he was about it I am sure he will not mind. Especially as it will be going to a big fan of his as thanks for them helping us out on the last article.
Agent Tesla: Well going to them to give to their father assuming we read their reaction the news right. Thank you Corvo for agreeing to the jersey swap and for being such a cool customer overall. A second thanks to you Corvo and to everyone who agreed to swaps during this season as this is our first time doing this for a media series. Thrilled to see how nicely everyone responded to the requests and we look forward to doing it again next season.
Magnus Rikiya: We would do it in the playoffs this season, but as this is my first time making the playoffs as a member of the New Orleans Second Line all these jerseys will be going into my collection along with the ones from preseason. Cherish those memories. That said I will second the thank you to everyone who agreed to swap jerseys with me this season. You are all great and I look forward to our future games.
Agent Tesla: Yes, yes, now is there anything else you would like to say before we sign off?
Magnus Rikiya: I appreciate anyone who reads this and stay safe out there everyone.
Agent Tesla: Seconded. Thank you to anyone who took the time to read any of these articles as we appreciate you taking some time out of your day to notice our content, and especially to anyone who took the time to comment. We wish you all a most joyous day and we will see you next time with playoff highlights!
Magnus Rikiya: I appreciate that. Our first highlight comes five and a half minutes into the game and sees Honolulu face a first and ten on their own twenty yard line. Ruff Ruff gets the ball and gets blockers in front of them that manage to control the field. This play is equal part Ruff Ruff making great decisions on where to go and the offensive line being there to pick up the block. Manages to make it fourteen yards before getting hit and powers forward for one more for a fifteen yard run. Powerful play there to start that drive.
Agent Tesla: I have to agree with you there that it was equal parts Ruff Ruff and the offensive line, but credit to all of them for making a good play happen. Our next highlight comes in the second quarter showing a slow start for the big plays, but there are quite a few in the second quarter I promise. Honolulu has a third and nine on their own thirty-three yard line when Corvo Havran drops back to pass. The line is tilted and so they go with just the softest of chip blocks against Ben Tu’inukuafe that does not slow him down in the slightest as he rushes Havran for the ten yard sack. Got to protect your star quarterback better.
Magnus Rikiya: Ben Tu’inukuafe is a good player and to think a chip block would stop him here is a bit ridiculous. Credit to him through for proving why it is a bit ridiculous. They did get a highlight out of it though as on the next play Venus Powers had a good fifty-seven yard punt. Gump managed to return it due to poor play by the rest of the special teams, but credit to Venus Powers for that good punt.
Agent Tesla: Good job by Venus Powers there. Our next highlight is a confusing one if I am honest, but I will try to explain it to the best of my abilities. New Orleans second and ten on their own thirty-one yard line when Stan Francisco drops back to pass. The coverage is incredible as every player is tightly marked, however the line is holding up well enough that Stan should have some time to wait for someone to get open. Stan slings it early though and Mack Arianlacher is there to capitalize. Mack picks it off and gets a few yards back before being dropped to the turf by the pile of bodies. I say this is a confusing play as Stan threw it to the most covered player and got the result you would expect from him doing that.
Magnus Rikiya: I love Stan so no comment on that part of it, but good job by Arianlacher to make a play out of it. Especially getting a bit of a return with everyone so tightly packed together. Next highlight comes six minutes into the second quarter and comes on a New Orleans second and six on the Honolulu forty-two yard line. Stan Francisco drops back into a clean pocket and finds Austin McCormick wide open past the secondary who he is able to connect with in stride. McCormick is off to the races on his way to a forty-one yard reception as he got tackled just one yard short of the end zone by a group of defenders. Great play McCormick and I am so sorry you just missed out on the touchdown.
Agent Tesla: Huge credit to Austin for the amazing play there, but also some props to the defenders for managing to delay the touchdown. Catching Ausin McCormick from behind is not an easy task. Our next highlight came in just about a minute later on a Honolulu first and ten from their own thirty-eight yard line. Ruff Ruff gets the ball and takes it wide to the left where they able to find room to run. Evades four defenders to make it forward nineteen yards before a defender is finally able to get a hand on them. Excellent evasive maneuvers there to get the first down for their team.
Magnus Rikiya: Slippery player that Ruff Ruff and they did a good job finding their way through the gaps. Now I would normally cover the next highlight, but I believe my agent would be quite disappointed if I took it. So I will leave it to you to cover.
Agent Tesla: Thank you so much! Honolulu's ball with a first and goal on the New Orleans eight yard line when Corvo Havran drops back to pass. New Orleans puts on the blitz, but it is mostly picked up by the offensive line readjusting. Until Magnus Rikiya and Bjørn Ironside break free to put the pressure on Havran who rolls out to his left and throws clear across the field to a covered receiver. A receiver covered by the delightful Deon Taylor who picks it off and runs it back ninety nifty yards before getting stopped just shy of the end zone. That is a fourteen point swing off of one play and the exact reason why I love stellar secondary players so much. Magnificent job Deon and we appreciate your efforts!
Magnus Rikiya: Absolutely amazing job by Deon Taylor there and he deserves all of the credit for that phenomenal play. Although I will say it was a fourteen point swing because Marcella was able to pound it in just three plays later. Now this next play is one that happened right next to me, but I am still not sure I am going to be able to describe it well so I apologize up front for that. Honolulu has it with less than a minute to play on a first and ten from their own twelve yard line when Havran drops back to pass. Before he has so much as time to blink Mason Blaylock flies in from behind Ironside to get the seven yard sack.
Agent Tesla: Another good demonstration of why I love good secondary play as that kind of speed can do serious damage to an offense. Good job by Blaylock there to effectively finish off the half on a high note. Now this next play might seem a bit odd based on the placement, but I promise it is worthy of being highlighted. Just about two minutes left in the third quarter and Stan Francisco drops back to pass on a second and goal from the Honolulu three yard line. Two defenders go unblocked and manage to get their hands on Stan who refuses to go down until he finds Forrest Gump in the end zone for the three yard touchdown. Super strong play there by Stan Francisco who managed to withstand two pass rushers to find his target for the touchdown.
Magnus Rikiya: Stan is a tough guy to bring down and I am happy to say I only have to try to do it in practice. Always happy to see I am not the only one who struggles to get him to the turf though! I hate this next play, but we try to talk about all the highlight worthy plays so I will cover it nonetheless. New Orleans faces a fourth and nine on their own twenty-one yard line so elect to punt. Prohaska hits it with power booting it fifty-three yards before it is fielded by Ke?oke?o K?ne-Maika?i the running back formerly known as White Goodman. Ke?oke?o K?ne-Maika?i returns it up the middle of the field and makes two members of the Second Line miss on his way to the house for a seventy-four yard punt return touchdown. He is good I will give him that.
Agent Tesla: He is quite good given how rare special teams touchdowns are in this league. Especially good I would say given how good Prohaska has been as a punter this season. Now our next highlight is two consecutive plays for the New Orleans second line that are not exactly highlights on their own. First and ten on their own twenty yard line and Forrest takes it up the gut for an eleven yard gain as he managed to break a few tackles to get the team in good position. A good play that is followed by a first and ten on their own thirty-one yard line where Marcella manages to maneuver her way around half the defense to pick up blockers for a ten yard gain. Neither are exactly a highlight on their own, but together they go to show just good the running game is for New Orleans.
Magnus Rikiya: I love our running backs and I am happy to sing their praises here. Even if neither quite measures up to our usual highlight standards I will say they both go to show the skills those two have on the field. Going to follow it up with more pseudo highlights as I have to give credit to a few members of the defense here for keeping us in the game. Honolulu got to first and goal with just over three minutes to play and on the following three plays the New Orleans defense was able to stop them two yards shy of the end zone. Andrew Witten made the tackle on first down, Bjørn Ironside made the tackle on second down, and Ben Tu’inukuafe made the tackle on third down. Props to them for doing what good defenders do and guarding every blade of grass to keep Honolulu from scoring a touchdown.
Agent Tesla: That defensive stand is a large part of why New Orleans was able to win the game and I have no problem giving those three some props for the accomplishment. Now this next play is tremendously impressive in part because of what it meant for the team. Just over a minute left in the game and New Orleans has a third and eight on their own forty-nine yard line. Stan Francisco drops back into as perfect a pocket as you can have, but there is no time for him to waste to find a target. Luckily Austin McCormick does not take long to get open and Stan Francisco finds him similarly swiftly for the reception. McCormick makes it twenty-one yards and into field goal range before getting brought to the turf. Outstanding job by these two, although at this point in the season we kind of expect this level of play from these two.
Magnus Rikiya: McCormick is just a magnificent tight end and Stan's style works so well with him that I have to agree we kind of expect this level of play from then now. They have made the highlight reel just about every game and usually more than once after all. Another similar highlight based off the pressure of the situation is Prohaska managing to hit that thirty-nine yard field goal to give us the lead that would ultimately win us the game. The fact they then managed a solid kickoff just lends more credit to them, but an outstanding job in such a high pressure situation.
Agent Tesla: Yes indeed! That level of mental toughness is the exact kind of thing you want to see from your kicker. Our next highlight comes just after the kickoff and is eerily enough almost the exact same as one of our earlier highlights. Honolulu gets the ball back after the kickoff with a first and ten on their own eighteen yard line when Corvo Havran drops back to pass. He never gets a chance though as Mason Blaylock comes flying in like an archangel to drop him to the turf and end the game with a win for New Orleans. You love to see it.
Magnus Rikiya: I have to wholeheartedly agree that I very much loved getting to see that. Sorry to my Hahalua friends, but you know how it goes.
Agent Tesla: Indeed. Now our next segment is usually the players of the game. Where we would talk about the offensive player of the game and the defensive player of the game. Their stats and maybe some of the stats of other people who were close to winning the award. This time we are doing something a bit different though given the particular stats of this game. Do you want to take it from here Magnus?
Magnus Rikiya: I am happy to do so. Our offensive player of the game and defensive player of the game is Deon Taylor! That fourteen point swing generated by one of their plays would probably be enough by itself to win an award, but they were a consistent contributor throughout the game. Four tackles, two passes defended, and an interception returned for almost a touchdown make Deon just the player of the game. You have announced your retirement already, but I wish we could get you another ring this year before you ride off into the sunset.
Agent Tesla: Well said! Definitely did what he had to here to get the opportunity for one at least and we will wish them well in their retirement. Now onto potentially our last segment of the day. Which for those who decided to join us for our last article of the regular season is where we cover who my client Magnus Rikiya swapped jerseys with after the game. It has been a great season for it so far with Magnus being able to swap with a few different legends and a number of just fantastic players thus far. This time around who did you get to swap jerseys with Magnus?
Magnus Rikiya: I got to swap with another legend of the game this time around and one of the most efficient quarterbacks of all time; Corvo Havran. He was super casual about it all and was really nice about it all. Though I may have forgotten to mention exactly why I wanted his jersey, but with how cool he was about it I am sure he will not mind. Especially as it will be going to a big fan of his as thanks for them helping us out on the last article.
Agent Tesla: Well going to them to give to their father assuming we read their reaction the news right. Thank you Corvo for agreeing to the jersey swap and for being such a cool customer overall. A second thanks to you Corvo and to everyone who agreed to swaps during this season as this is our first time doing this for a media series. Thrilled to see how nicely everyone responded to the requests and we look forward to doing it again next season.
Magnus Rikiya: We would do it in the playoffs this season, but as this is my first time making the playoffs as a member of the New Orleans Second Line all these jerseys will be going into my collection along with the ones from preseason. Cherish those memories. That said I will second the thank you to everyone who agreed to swap jerseys with me this season. You are all great and I look forward to our future games.
Agent Tesla: Yes, yes, now is there anything else you would like to say before we sign off?
Magnus Rikiya: I appreciate anyone who reads this and stay safe out there everyone.
Agent Tesla: Seconded. Thank you to anyone who took the time to read any of these articles as we appreciate you taking some time out of your day to notice our content, and especially to anyone who took the time to comment. We wish you all a most joyous day and we will see you next time with playoff highlights!
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