10-13-2017, 02:47 AM
(This post was last modified: 10-15-2017, 06:55 PM by cosbornballboy.)
Hey folks
Rich Thighsen here with a final review of our teams for the regular season. 14 weeks have come and gone and now only 4 teams stand ready to go toe-to-toe to see who is crowned Ultimus champion! Will the Outlaws go 3-0 in Title games? Will the Liberty get a maiden playoff win? Can the Hawks turn things around after a late season slump from Scrub Kyubee? Will the Otters make it out of the desert alive? All these questions and more are burning on the lips of football fans nationwide. Just like a bald, footballin’ Willy Wonka I’m here to guide you through the football factory of the NSFL; except hopefully more than one of you makes it out alive.
Arizona Outlaws (13-1)
I suppose I could talk ad nauseum about the Outlaws and their dominance over the regular season, how their 3 point loss against the Hawks was a blip on the radar for the team. Honestly this team goes beyond meagre compliments. Allowing 11.9 points per game the Outlaws defence just keeps getting better. With Jayce Tuck leading the defence; and the Outlaws using the early stages of the draft to keep the bulk of their defence together. Tuck, Godfrey King, Dental Dam, and Big Bot, and laid a platform for the Outlaws to bring down the opposition Quarterback 108 times, besting the next closest team by 32 sacks (the exact number of sacks Jayce Tuck finished the regular season). Having a team finish first in sacks, even if you removed your teams sack leader, is crazy. Although Jayson Lee is moving on after this season, it is difficult to imagine the Outlaws struggling to find a suitable replacement though, especially with an almost guaranteed Ultimus ring if a free agent signs there.
Highlight Player:
Franklin Harris Jr has exploded onto the scene, with the rookie leading the league in Interceptions and tying first in the league with 2 touchdowns. It would be very easy to highlight Jayce Tuck, however for a young player to come into the league and make a huge impact in an already stacked defence is testament to the Outlaws for finding a way to utilise this talented man. Harris Jr has to be the frontrunner for rookie for the year.
Baltimore Hawks (9-5)
The Baltimore Hawks had a bit of a slump since my midseason review, the Hawks finished the back half of the season 3-4 with a win in Arizona being the crowning achievement of the season. Many wrote off the Hawks chances before the season (myself included) and the common belief was last years NSFC champs would stand no chance of repeating this season. A date with the Liberty at Aviation Field is all that stands between the Hawks and silencing their haters. One developing storyline for the Hawks is Scrub Kyubee’s slip from red hot form with a 95.3 Quarterback Rating to averaging 74.6 for the remainder of the season. Whilst not a drop off a cliff, it still saw a massive impact on the remaining results for the season, Baltimore and Kyubee are both counting on early season play from their QB1.
Highlight Player:
My midseason highlight player Trey Willie still captures the hearts and minds of the Baltimore faithful. However, a midseason trade which saw Legion star Stormblessed arrive in The City of Firsts. Stormblessed came in and dominated his opponents, having a more consistent quarterback in Kyubee tossing him the ball, Stormblessed has flourished. His speed creates matchup nightmares for opposition cornerbacks and the Liberty will need to be on high alert to nullify his impact.
Philadelphia Liberty (8-5-1)
What a difference 7 games makes. Sitting at 2-4-1 during my midseason review the Liberty were teetering on the verge of a disappointing season. Many dubbed the Liberty as down and out, however the belief in the squad was high and Philadelphia lost only one game in that span of time. Clifford Rove has been a slow starter all season, and the playoffs will be a different feeling from the atmosphere Rove faced in week 4 where the Liberty lost narrowly in Aviation Field. The Liberty defence has been stout, however they still are leaking points late and allowing teams back into the game. All facets of the Liberty line-up will need to be firing to overcome home field advantage and book themselves a date with the Ultimus.
Highlight Player:
Micah Hendrix is has cemented his spot as one of the premier offensive tackles in the game. The first offensive lineman to make this list, ranking 5th in pancakes, and tied first amongst starting O-Lineman for in sacks allowed with 0. The reason Hendrix gets a shout out here and not Pest or Winchester is that Hendrix support cast allowed a total of 65 sacks this season, with Orange County and Arizona allowing a meagre 36 and 34 respectively. The Liberty will be holding onto hope that Hendrix will be their offensive line leader for a long time to come.
Orange County Otters (8-6)
One thing you can count on with the Orange County Otters is consistency. 4-3 in both halves of the season, Mike Boss throwing the ball around like it’s on a rope, and the Otters make their way into second place. Averaging a touch under 400 Yards of offense per game (398.4) the Otters take out first place in moving the ball. The Otters still have a rushing problem in the sense of not having enough attempts to not easily game plan against Mike Boss and the star studded receiving corps. The Otters play against the heavily favoured Outlaws, the Otters haven’t had a lot of joy in Arizona, and they will be hoping on a near flawless game from their offensive line if they want to taste ASFC glory.
Highlight Player:
You can’t talk about the Otters without talking about Mike Boss, the man must be a machine. Everything in the offense runs through Boss, and with 624 passing attempts (44.6 per game) Boss is slinging. With 30 touchdowns and an axe to grind, Boss rolls into the playoffs looking to improve on the second place of seasons past. Much can be said of Boss’ recent contract issues; and a decision will need to be made regarding Boss’ playing future, and if the Otters are still the best fit for the organisation.
Yellowknife Wraiths (7-7)
Yellowknife had a topsy turvy season; the Wraiths slipped in and out of playoff contention, and seemed to have a great opportunity to secure a playoff spot, until losses to Colorado and San Jose sunk Yellowknife’s chances for 3rd consecutive playoff berth. It truly is difficult to pinpoint where the Wraiths went wrong this season, a lot of close games going the other way, a few missed opportunities during key drives. However, the statistics show the Wraiths should have been in the playoffs, finishing Top 4 in all categories with the exception of Pass Defence (they came 5th). The football gods can be a cruel mistress sometimes, but that’s just the rub of the green sometimes.
Highlight Player:
In a world where Jayce Tuck doesn’t exist, Bork Bjornsson is the most dominant defensive end in the game. 23 sacks (tied for last seasons record) and 68 tackles. Bjornsson provides some context on how Yellowknife’s much derided defence managed to be in the top 4 in all but 1 statistical category. Defensive line play has been particularly strong this season, and Bork Bjornsson has been a big contributor.
San Jose SaberCats (5-8-1)
What promise the season started with; the SaberCats were always going to have an uphill battle to make the playoffs. The Outlaws and Otters were always going to be tough to overcome and but the early season SaberCats appeared to be up to the task. It was hard to watch San Jose win 2 of their last 7 games to finish in the same position as last year, albeit 1.5 games better off. Before the season the San Jose front office held a survey and asked the question if they believe the SaberCats are headed in the right direction; the majority of people answered positively, and it is hard to argue with that looking at their performances this season.
Highlight Player:
Big Bad Dan Miller, an easy nod for most improved player in the league. The Cats rode his performances early in the season, and while San Jose faltered down the stretch Miller continued being the dominant force in the middle. 1st in forced fumbles and 2nd in sacks, Miller’s impact is easy to identify. For an undersized linebacking core, having a big disruptive force in the middle made the job of stopping opposition offences significantly easier.
Colorado Yeti (3-11)
The Yeti surprised many critics winning 2 additional games after the midseason point. Pierno continues to develop, and despite a rocky start he began to wrangle this offense a little better towards the end of the season. An NSFL offseason will help develop Pierno further. Early indications indicate the Yeti will be staying with Pierno after Noble’s return, and the biggest question this offseason is where the quarterback carousel will spin out with Boss, Orosz, and Hunt all coming off contract, how Noble plays into this will be a big question leading into Season 4.
Highlight Player:
A controversial pick, but I have to select Logan Noble, I know, “booooooo”, I hear you. It is difficult to identify a player who has had a larger impact on their team this season. After the disappointment of Season 2 the Yeti were gearing up for another run into the playoffs and hopefully another shot at the Ultimus, however the Noble (ego) steroids saga soured the Yeti in the early season and the subsequent fall out saw a mass exodus of players chasing championships with teams they didn’t see as a sinking ship. Big props to the front office of the Yeti for allowing players to leave when they did and essentially harpoon their season, it could be a while before the Yeti make a comeback to the playoff hunt in a big way, however it will be nice to see them back in contention.
Las Vegas Legion (2-12)
The Legion continue their run along the bottom of the league. Long suffering Legion fans will have a significantly longer wait to come if they hope to see their team lift the Ultimus. The boys in yellow and black suffered another long season, however their passing offense did improve, and if they can manage to lure another quarterback into the desert, this team could quickly become a SaberCats level of competitive.
Highlight Player:
The player I want to highlight today is Ardie Savea. Savea isn’t the best back in the league, however he is constantly improving, pushing himself to improve with his team. The biggest highlight for me is knowing Savea is committed to taking the Legion to the playoffs. The Legion need people who are going to keep the faith and persist, and Ardie Savea is the personification of that.
Thank you for joining me for my end of season review. The NSFL never sleeps so I’m sure you’ll be hearing from me again before Season 4 kicks off. I'm Rich Thighsen, until next time.
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GRADED
Rich Thighsen here with a final review of our teams for the regular season. 14 weeks have come and gone and now only 4 teams stand ready to go toe-to-toe to see who is crowned Ultimus champion! Will the Outlaws go 3-0 in Title games? Will the Liberty get a maiden playoff win? Can the Hawks turn things around after a late season slump from Scrub Kyubee? Will the Otters make it out of the desert alive? All these questions and more are burning on the lips of football fans nationwide. Just like a bald, footballin’ Willy Wonka I’m here to guide you through the football factory of the NSFL; except hopefully more than one of you makes it out alive.
Arizona Outlaws (13-1)
I suppose I could talk ad nauseum about the Outlaws and their dominance over the regular season, how their 3 point loss against the Hawks was a blip on the radar for the team. Honestly this team goes beyond meagre compliments. Allowing 11.9 points per game the Outlaws defence just keeps getting better. With Jayce Tuck leading the defence; and the Outlaws using the early stages of the draft to keep the bulk of their defence together. Tuck, Godfrey King, Dental Dam, and Big Bot, and laid a platform for the Outlaws to bring down the opposition Quarterback 108 times, besting the next closest team by 32 sacks (the exact number of sacks Jayce Tuck finished the regular season). Having a team finish first in sacks, even if you removed your teams sack leader, is crazy. Although Jayson Lee is moving on after this season, it is difficult to imagine the Outlaws struggling to find a suitable replacement though, especially with an almost guaranteed Ultimus ring if a free agent signs there.
Highlight Player:
Franklin Harris Jr has exploded onto the scene, with the rookie leading the league in Interceptions and tying first in the league with 2 touchdowns. It would be very easy to highlight Jayce Tuck, however for a young player to come into the league and make a huge impact in an already stacked defence is testament to the Outlaws for finding a way to utilise this talented man. Harris Jr has to be the frontrunner for rookie for the year.
Baltimore Hawks (9-5)
The Baltimore Hawks had a bit of a slump since my midseason review, the Hawks finished the back half of the season 3-4 with a win in Arizona being the crowning achievement of the season. Many wrote off the Hawks chances before the season (myself included) and the common belief was last years NSFC champs would stand no chance of repeating this season. A date with the Liberty at Aviation Field is all that stands between the Hawks and silencing their haters. One developing storyline for the Hawks is Scrub Kyubee’s slip from red hot form with a 95.3 Quarterback Rating to averaging 74.6 for the remainder of the season. Whilst not a drop off a cliff, it still saw a massive impact on the remaining results for the season, Baltimore and Kyubee are both counting on early season play from their QB1.
Highlight Player:
My midseason highlight player Trey Willie still captures the hearts and minds of the Baltimore faithful. However, a midseason trade which saw Legion star Stormblessed arrive in The City of Firsts. Stormblessed came in and dominated his opponents, having a more consistent quarterback in Kyubee tossing him the ball, Stormblessed has flourished. His speed creates matchup nightmares for opposition cornerbacks and the Liberty will need to be on high alert to nullify his impact.
Philadelphia Liberty (8-5-1)
What a difference 7 games makes. Sitting at 2-4-1 during my midseason review the Liberty were teetering on the verge of a disappointing season. Many dubbed the Liberty as down and out, however the belief in the squad was high and Philadelphia lost only one game in that span of time. Clifford Rove has been a slow starter all season, and the playoffs will be a different feeling from the atmosphere Rove faced in week 4 where the Liberty lost narrowly in Aviation Field. The Liberty defence has been stout, however they still are leaking points late and allowing teams back into the game. All facets of the Liberty line-up will need to be firing to overcome home field advantage and book themselves a date with the Ultimus.
Highlight Player:
Micah Hendrix is has cemented his spot as one of the premier offensive tackles in the game. The first offensive lineman to make this list, ranking 5th in pancakes, and tied first amongst starting O-Lineman for in sacks allowed with 0. The reason Hendrix gets a shout out here and not Pest or Winchester is that Hendrix support cast allowed a total of 65 sacks this season, with Orange County and Arizona allowing a meagre 36 and 34 respectively. The Liberty will be holding onto hope that Hendrix will be their offensive line leader for a long time to come.
Orange County Otters (8-6)
One thing you can count on with the Orange County Otters is consistency. 4-3 in both halves of the season, Mike Boss throwing the ball around like it’s on a rope, and the Otters make their way into second place. Averaging a touch under 400 Yards of offense per game (398.4) the Otters take out first place in moving the ball. The Otters still have a rushing problem in the sense of not having enough attempts to not easily game plan against Mike Boss and the star studded receiving corps. The Otters play against the heavily favoured Outlaws, the Otters haven’t had a lot of joy in Arizona, and they will be hoping on a near flawless game from their offensive line if they want to taste ASFC glory.
Highlight Player:
You can’t talk about the Otters without talking about Mike Boss, the man must be a machine. Everything in the offense runs through Boss, and with 624 passing attempts (44.6 per game) Boss is slinging. With 30 touchdowns and an axe to grind, Boss rolls into the playoffs looking to improve on the second place of seasons past. Much can be said of Boss’ recent contract issues; and a decision will need to be made regarding Boss’ playing future, and if the Otters are still the best fit for the organisation.
Yellowknife Wraiths (7-7)
Yellowknife had a topsy turvy season; the Wraiths slipped in and out of playoff contention, and seemed to have a great opportunity to secure a playoff spot, until losses to Colorado and San Jose sunk Yellowknife’s chances for 3rd consecutive playoff berth. It truly is difficult to pinpoint where the Wraiths went wrong this season, a lot of close games going the other way, a few missed opportunities during key drives. However, the statistics show the Wraiths should have been in the playoffs, finishing Top 4 in all categories with the exception of Pass Defence (they came 5th). The football gods can be a cruel mistress sometimes, but that’s just the rub of the green sometimes.
Highlight Player:
In a world where Jayce Tuck doesn’t exist, Bork Bjornsson is the most dominant defensive end in the game. 23 sacks (tied for last seasons record) and 68 tackles. Bjornsson provides some context on how Yellowknife’s much derided defence managed to be in the top 4 in all but 1 statistical category. Defensive line play has been particularly strong this season, and Bork Bjornsson has been a big contributor.
San Jose SaberCats (5-8-1)
What promise the season started with; the SaberCats were always going to have an uphill battle to make the playoffs. The Outlaws and Otters were always going to be tough to overcome and but the early season SaberCats appeared to be up to the task. It was hard to watch San Jose win 2 of their last 7 games to finish in the same position as last year, albeit 1.5 games better off. Before the season the San Jose front office held a survey and asked the question if they believe the SaberCats are headed in the right direction; the majority of people answered positively, and it is hard to argue with that looking at their performances this season.
Highlight Player:
Big Bad Dan Miller, an easy nod for most improved player in the league. The Cats rode his performances early in the season, and while San Jose faltered down the stretch Miller continued being the dominant force in the middle. 1st in forced fumbles and 2nd in sacks, Miller’s impact is easy to identify. For an undersized linebacking core, having a big disruptive force in the middle made the job of stopping opposition offences significantly easier.
Colorado Yeti (3-11)
The Yeti surprised many critics winning 2 additional games after the midseason point. Pierno continues to develop, and despite a rocky start he began to wrangle this offense a little better towards the end of the season. An NSFL offseason will help develop Pierno further. Early indications indicate the Yeti will be staying with Pierno after Noble’s return, and the biggest question this offseason is where the quarterback carousel will spin out with Boss, Orosz, and Hunt all coming off contract, how Noble plays into this will be a big question leading into Season 4.
Highlight Player:
A controversial pick, but I have to select Logan Noble, I know, “booooooo”, I hear you. It is difficult to identify a player who has had a larger impact on their team this season. After the disappointment of Season 2 the Yeti were gearing up for another run into the playoffs and hopefully another shot at the Ultimus, however the Noble (ego) steroids saga soured the Yeti in the early season and the subsequent fall out saw a mass exodus of players chasing championships with teams they didn’t see as a sinking ship. Big props to the front office of the Yeti for allowing players to leave when they did and essentially harpoon their season, it could be a while before the Yeti make a comeback to the playoff hunt in a big way, however it will be nice to see them back in contention.
Las Vegas Legion (2-12)
The Legion continue their run along the bottom of the league. Long suffering Legion fans will have a significantly longer wait to come if they hope to see their team lift the Ultimus. The boys in yellow and black suffered another long season, however their passing offense did improve, and if they can manage to lure another quarterback into the desert, this team could quickly become a SaberCats level of competitive.
Highlight Player:
The player I want to highlight today is Ardie Savea. Savea isn’t the best back in the league, however he is constantly improving, pushing himself to improve with his team. The biggest highlight for me is knowing Savea is committed to taking the Legion to the playoffs. The Legion need people who are going to keep the faith and persist, and Ardie Savea is the personification of that.
Thank you for joining me for my end of season review. The NSFL never sleeps so I’m sure you’ll be hearing from me again before Season 4 kicks off. I'm Rich Thighsen, until next time.
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GRADED