With the introduction of the stock market a whole new world enters the ISFL. The possibility of trading team stocks can be extremely valuable and users can generate decent profit of it. But there is also the other side, as you also can lose a decent amount of money on betting on the wrong horse. Take Philadelphia for example. They came into the season with the 4th highest opening value. Since then they went on a losing streak, not being able to win one of their 7 games. For their stocks that means a devastating loss of 47%. But if you are holding stocks from the liberty you definitely should not sell. The financial loss comes when you sell and as i think that they eventually will win a few games, their stock will also rise again.
The team you are angry for not having invested in are the Sailfish. In their third year it took the league 7 rounds to make them lose a game. I would be lying if i said that i saw that coming. But i think that you should think about selling stocks in the near future. Yes they are flying high, but they just lost at home against new Orleans and the next games are pretty tough as they face San Jose away. After that they welcome the otters and the outlaws who both are trying to stay in the race for the playoffs, followed by visiting Honolulu.
Remember when the ISFL Stock Market was first announced, and the phone lines were absolutely flooded by ISFL corporate fat cats looking to sink their teeth in the market? Remember how many of them flocked to the Chicago Butchers, hoping that perhaps the slaughterhouse in the Windy City might be able to make them some money? Well, admittedly, since then things have not gone to plan for the aforementioned fat cats. The Chicago Butchers have managed to win just three games this season, although their most recent win was against a convincingly stout San Jose Sabercats team. The other two wins came against a Baltimore Hawks team that still seems to be finding its identity, and a Philadelphia Liberty team that seems like it would love any identity other than the one it currently has. Prior to this week, the Butchers were the only ISFL team whose offense had yet to score 100 points through the first seven weeks. All of this is to say: hang onto your Butcher stock! Those of you who hold Butcher stock haven't lost any money yet; it is in the act of settling and selling for a loss that you lose your money. The Chicago Butchers' day will come, but until then, remain steadfast. Trust in the Chicken Nugget Makers, and eventually, they just might lead you to the promised land.
Coming into his 3rd season, Julio Tirtawidjaja is expecting to have an actual breakout season with the Chicago Butchers. Although never one to chase personal accolades, he still has personal goals and ambitions that he wants to pursue. He believes personal performance helps his team to win games. Although the signing of Baby Yoda in the off-season might render him as the 2nd running back, he was hoping both Yoda and him will be one of the best duos in the league. Both have the abilities to help the Butchers turn around last season’s stale offense into one of the best in the league, especially with the addition of Bender Rodriguez from free agency.
However, in reality the Butchers offense have started quite slow, scoring barely any touchdowns outside of one or two games so far. The rushing offense especially has been quite horrendous. Yoda and Tirtawidjaja have only combined for more than 100 rushing yards once. So far Tirtawidjaja has only scored 1 touchdown, while averaging an inefficient 3.9 yards per carry. This has been quite a letdown, given his experience in the ISFL compared to his peers such as Jamar Lackson, Tatsu Nakamura and Acura Skyline. Each one of them have received award nominations or wow’ed people in the league with their performance. Meanwhile, Tirtawidjaja has been dwelling in mediocrity and only accumulated his yards from the volume he had because the other running back on the roster previously was an inactive Farley Hank. There is still time to turn things around for Tirtawidjaja but with three seasons left under his belt before regression starts, he might only become one of the many average running backs the ISFL have seen come and go.
The Philadelphia Liberty have suffered a severe streak of both misfortune and failure. Before the season started, Philly was seen by many to be in a position to make another good playoff run, after they finished third in their conference the previous year. However, an abysmal start has already all but crushed any dreams of a chance. Opening the season and going 0-7 was an event nobody could have predicted. Games they were the favorites, games they were the underdogs, it didn't matter, they lost them all. And the issues this team is facing mostly does not make sense. The offense, lead by veterans Brock Phoenix and Sam Torenson, has been, to put it frankly, disappointing. The offense has been inefficient and sloppy throughout the whole year, and they've squandered many opportunities in important moments. Although the defense isn't innocent either, giving up the most points in the league at 203. The front 7 has been a major point of issue for the Liberty, with only 10 sacks on the season (lowest in the league), and while the rookie secondary has matured, they're still outmatched against many high powered offenses across the league. It's impossible to pinpoint a single place where this team has failed, whether the offense not driving has caused the defense to tire out during games and allow points, or if the defense letting up and allowing points has put the offense in situations they can't recover from because they're forced to abandon the run and change game plans. Either way, these first 7 weeks for Philly have been a mess.
How does one follow up an MVP season? You can't go much higher than that, being the most valuable player in the entire league. Well, how about following it up by being the last bell cow running back in a league of running back by committee? How about following it up with insane efficiency numbers despite getting the ball nearly 26 times a game? Hanyadi has been doing just that. Through seven weeks, Hanyadi has the most rushing yards by a land slide, has the 2nd best efficiency out of all eligible running backs and is tied for 4th in most rushing touchdowns in the league. On a team that has had to deal with a massive amount of turnover on offense, with two-time MVP Cooter Bigsby retiring and veteran receivers Bender B. Rodriguez and Nate Swift to Chicago and San Jose respectively, Hanyadi has stepped up his game to power the Yellowknife offense and give them a chance in an extremely top heavy NSFC. Looking at Yellowknife's offense so far, Hanyadi has taken the ball on nearly half the team's snaps overall. In a league where every team has at least two running backs and some teams have as many as 4 people carrying the ball, what Hanyadi has managed to do is certainly remarkable.
There is, of course, the obvious fact of not one, but both of the newest expansion teams being among the most competitive in the league right now. That said, I would rather discuss the boring three-win, four-loss Austin Copperheads. This is absolutely par for the course, because they have never been a supremely exciting team to watch, and I feel like it is for that very reason that they tend to turn heads here and there when they make deep playoff pushes. Why does this happen though?
I am of the firm belief that the Copperheads frequent post-season success is in large part due to the brilliant minds at work game-planning and strategizing. There is a heavy emphasis on data analysis in planning for each team. As the season presses onward, that data builds up. Ways in which each team can and have been beaten piles up throughout the season, and not utilizing analytics when they are available would be a sure fire way to cripple your team. So yes,s what I am saying is that perhaps at the moment the Copperheads are not entirely surprising in their apparent mediocrity, but I believe that they will continue to impress as the season comes to a close, and a playoff push becomes imminent.
Acura Skyline, coming off of a down season with the Yellowknife Wraiths, has had a mixed start to the year. His stock was at an all time low after a sophomore campaign where he failed to make a lot of individual noise despite 3 touchdowns in the Ultimus, but what can be expected when your rookie season features a pro bowl appearance and an offensive rookie of the year award. Naturally, year three is the time for Skyline to take a step forward and grow his reputation, stats, and legend. Still running behind workhorse (and league best) runningback Hanyadi, Skyline still finds himself getting a reduced load. Despite this, he has shown out with multiple 100+ yard from scrimmage performances by dominating on both the ground and in the air. His connection with rookie quarterback Colby Jack is apparent, and as their chemistry grows they are certain to be one of the more potent one-two punches in the league. Ultimately, however, his personal stats will largely be dictated by the number of touches he gets, and on a team with an extremely dynamic and talented young receiving group and the big bad Hanyadi himself, Skyline’s strong 4 yards per carry will only go so far. Keep on the lookout, as the third year running back is sure to see his stock rise further as he hunts for a second Ultimus win.