Season eight was an incredible season for the Yeti seeing their first hopeful playoff run in many seasons, ending season eight with 6 wins, which trounces anything they’ve been close to in recent memory. This year the Colorado Yeti saw some new faces emerge and fill key roles such as rookie running back Mark Grau, newly acquired veteran defensive tackle Eli Kamaka, and veteran running back Kroetch. The Yeti also saw some important growth among returning talent such as quarterback Ryan Applehort, wide receivers Howard Miller and Dwayne Aaron, and defensive talent such as Bly Jr., and Haruki Ishigawa. Unfortunately the Yeti also saw production drop in some players that were high prospects such as Desta Danger and Ryan LeFevre.
Today we’re going to take a look at the Colorado Yeti offense going forward.
Quarterback | Ryan Applehort | 512 TPE
Season 7
231 completions, 482 attempts, 2,430 yards, 47.8% completion percentage, 4 touchdowns, 21 interceptions
Season 8
331 completions, 570 attempts, 3,565 yards, 58.1% completion percentage, 13 touchdowns, 14 interceptions
A strong contender for NSFL’s breakout player of the year, though will likely be overlooked as he was in the bottom half of much of the league’s stats for quarterbacks. Regardless he surpassed every statistic to put together a respectable year. Some say that he’s a product of his weapons, or newly added offensive game planner, but those in the Yeti locker room know that’s a farse. Ryan Applehort is a dedicated leader in the locker room and on the field. An anonymous teammate was quoted as saying, “I had doubts about Ryan after his first year, but it’s now clear that I was incredibly wrong, he has drive and work ethics that are tough to match.”
Season 9 Prediction
380 completions, 580 attempts, 4,253 yards, 61% completion percentage, 20 touchdowns, 12 interceptions
I predict a pattern of growth emerging for Applehort as he settles into his role in the NSFL. He’s got a great supporting cast that is only going to get better and he’s got an excellent gameplanner now in PDXballer who was known for his success with the Portland Pythons and recently the Philadelphia Liberty.
Running Back | Mark Grau | 419 TPE
Season 7
Not applicable, was in the DSFL
Season 8
227 attempts, 799 yards, 3.5 yards per carry, 4 touchdowns
42 receptions, 277 yards, 6.6 yards per catch, 1 touchdown
There’s some controversy as to whether Grau should be considered a rookie or not due to him being drafted in season 7 by the Yeti, but choosing to stay in the DSFL. He’s currently listed as a rookie though and is a strong contender for offensive rookie of the year. Previously a league leading wide receiver for the Portland Pythons he made the transition to running back when he came to the NSFL. It wasn’t pretty, he was clearly raw, but as the season went on we saw progress with him ending in a respectable 3.5 yards per carry from is 3.0 early in the season.
Mark Grau is going to be a key contributor to the Yeti offense next year as their current 1a running back Kroetch will slide to a 1b or a 2 role and Grau will assume either a 1a role of a clear 1 role. It remains to be seen what will happen, but it’s hard to imagine him splitting carries next year with the progress he made this year.
Season 9 Prediction
305 attempts, 1,234 yards, 4.0 yards per carry, 6 touchdowns
45 receptions, 350 yards, 7.8 yards per catch, 2 touchdowns
I predict that Grau will begin the season as the 1a back with Kroetch taking the 1b, but by mid-season I expect Grau will be the clear 1 back for the Yeti. He’s been flashing great speed and has reliable hands as a wide receiver vet, he will see plenty of opportunities in a high-powered Yeti offense in season 9.
Wide Receiver | Howard Miller | 575 TPE
Season 7
45 receptions, 590 yards, 13.1 yards per catch, 1 touchdown
Season 8
68 receptions, 1,129 yards, 16.6 yards per catch, 5 touchdowns
With the growth of Applehort comes the rise of the Yeti receivers, a 1-2 punch in Dwayne Aaron and Howard Miller. Howard Miller has shown tremendous growth from his rookie year in season 7 almost doubling his yards and solidifying himself as one of the league’s best deep threats in the game. He has been electric, showing flashes of greats like Willie from Baltimore. He had an amazing season and is a top tier contender for this years breakout player of the year..
Season 9 Prediction
79 receptions, 1,364 yards, 17.3 yards per catch, 8 touchdowns
With Applehort on the rise and another elite receiver lined up with him in Aaron, Miller will see a lot of single coverage and will make the opposing teams pay for not keeping a deep safety in zone. Even so, Miller is a hard to tackle wide receiver with tons of speed. He will have an incredible year next year.
Wide Receiver | Dwayne Aaron | 568 TPE
Season 7
42 receptions, 554 yards, 13.2 yards per catch, 3 touchdowns
Season 8
70 receptions, 923 yards, 13.2 yards per catch, 3 touchdowns
Aaron saw an increase in production, though not efficiency. He’s shown to be a highly reliable wide receiver and an integral part of the Yeti offense, making the duo of Aaron and Miller very hard to cover. A lot of teams have tried cover 2, but that will leave the running game wide open next year with an improved Grau and it’s going to be feasting season for Aaron if he’s not seeing as many double coverages next year.
Season 9 Prediction
75 receptions, 1,145 yards, 15.3 yards per catch, 6 touchdowns
Aaron might not see much more in terms of targets, but I expect efficiency to go up as the Yeti offense becomes more dynamic. He saw a lot of double coverages and despite that he put up respectable numbers. Aaron is going to be fantastic next year.
(1057 words, ready for grading)
Today we’re going to take a look at the Colorado Yeti offense going forward.
Quarterback | Ryan Applehort | 512 TPE
Season 7
231 completions, 482 attempts, 2,430 yards, 47.8% completion percentage, 4 touchdowns, 21 interceptions
Season 8
331 completions, 570 attempts, 3,565 yards, 58.1% completion percentage, 13 touchdowns, 14 interceptions
A strong contender for NSFL’s breakout player of the year, though will likely be overlooked as he was in the bottom half of much of the league’s stats for quarterbacks. Regardless he surpassed every statistic to put together a respectable year. Some say that he’s a product of his weapons, or newly added offensive game planner, but those in the Yeti locker room know that’s a farse. Ryan Applehort is a dedicated leader in the locker room and on the field. An anonymous teammate was quoted as saying, “I had doubts about Ryan after his first year, but it’s now clear that I was incredibly wrong, he has drive and work ethics that are tough to match.”
Season 9 Prediction
380 completions, 580 attempts, 4,253 yards, 61% completion percentage, 20 touchdowns, 12 interceptions
I predict a pattern of growth emerging for Applehort as he settles into his role in the NSFL. He’s got a great supporting cast that is only going to get better and he’s got an excellent gameplanner now in PDXballer who was known for his success with the Portland Pythons and recently the Philadelphia Liberty.
Running Back | Mark Grau | 419 TPE
Season 7
Not applicable, was in the DSFL
Season 8
227 attempts, 799 yards, 3.5 yards per carry, 4 touchdowns
42 receptions, 277 yards, 6.6 yards per catch, 1 touchdown
There’s some controversy as to whether Grau should be considered a rookie or not due to him being drafted in season 7 by the Yeti, but choosing to stay in the DSFL. He’s currently listed as a rookie though and is a strong contender for offensive rookie of the year. Previously a league leading wide receiver for the Portland Pythons he made the transition to running back when he came to the NSFL. It wasn’t pretty, he was clearly raw, but as the season went on we saw progress with him ending in a respectable 3.5 yards per carry from is 3.0 early in the season.
Mark Grau is going to be a key contributor to the Yeti offense next year as their current 1a running back Kroetch will slide to a 1b or a 2 role and Grau will assume either a 1a role of a clear 1 role. It remains to be seen what will happen, but it’s hard to imagine him splitting carries next year with the progress he made this year.
Season 9 Prediction
305 attempts, 1,234 yards, 4.0 yards per carry, 6 touchdowns
45 receptions, 350 yards, 7.8 yards per catch, 2 touchdowns
I predict that Grau will begin the season as the 1a back with Kroetch taking the 1b, but by mid-season I expect Grau will be the clear 1 back for the Yeti. He’s been flashing great speed and has reliable hands as a wide receiver vet, he will see plenty of opportunities in a high-powered Yeti offense in season 9.
Wide Receiver | Howard Miller | 575 TPE
Season 7
45 receptions, 590 yards, 13.1 yards per catch, 1 touchdown
Season 8
68 receptions, 1,129 yards, 16.6 yards per catch, 5 touchdowns
With the growth of Applehort comes the rise of the Yeti receivers, a 1-2 punch in Dwayne Aaron and Howard Miller. Howard Miller has shown tremendous growth from his rookie year in season 7 almost doubling his yards and solidifying himself as one of the league’s best deep threats in the game. He has been electric, showing flashes of greats like Willie from Baltimore. He had an amazing season and is a top tier contender for this years breakout player of the year..
Season 9 Prediction
79 receptions, 1,364 yards, 17.3 yards per catch, 8 touchdowns
With Applehort on the rise and another elite receiver lined up with him in Aaron, Miller will see a lot of single coverage and will make the opposing teams pay for not keeping a deep safety in zone. Even so, Miller is a hard to tackle wide receiver with tons of speed. He will have an incredible year next year.
Wide Receiver | Dwayne Aaron | 568 TPE
Season 7
42 receptions, 554 yards, 13.2 yards per catch, 3 touchdowns
Season 8
70 receptions, 923 yards, 13.2 yards per catch, 3 touchdowns
Aaron saw an increase in production, though not efficiency. He’s shown to be a highly reliable wide receiver and an integral part of the Yeti offense, making the duo of Aaron and Miller very hard to cover. A lot of teams have tried cover 2, but that will leave the running game wide open next year with an improved Grau and it’s going to be feasting season for Aaron if he’s not seeing as many double coverages next year.
Season 9 Prediction
75 receptions, 1,145 yards, 15.3 yards per catch, 6 touchdowns
Aaron might not see much more in terms of targets, but I expect efficiency to go up as the Yeti offense becomes more dynamic. He saw a lot of double coverages and despite that he put up respectable numbers. Aaron is going to be fantastic next year.
(1057 words, ready for grading)
WR/RB | Portland Pythons | Colorado Yeti Star RB | Awards Committee Member