Week 7 is a bad week to remember for the members of Berlin's defense. To put it bluntly, we fell asleep on an opponent that we should not have lost to. We went up quickly on Baltimore with a 10-0 first quarter lead, but we then relaxed and allowed an 86 yard touchdown to Luke Quick (who, by the way, lives up to his name). After falling behind 13-10, we got the lead back 17-13 and then the defense made the same mistake, allowing a huge play, this time a 48 yard touchdown to Preston Parker. The offense got us back to a tie 20-20 and when you'd think we'd learned our lesson, we allowed a 44 yard touchdown run to Busch Goose to put the Hawks up 10 points and seal the game. It was an extremely disappointing performance by a defense that has generally overachieved this year. Not only that, if we had won this game, we'd be tied with Chicago instead of a game back from the 1 seed and would have a much better chance at the envied first round bye. We'll see how things play out, but that botched game could very well come back to haunt us if we miss the 1 seed by thiiiiiiis much.
In week 8 of this season, we had a rough start against Minnesota. We were behind 3 to 14 in the 2nd quarter. Minnesota had the ball on their 44 yard line at 3rd and 10. I was alone on that half of the field covering both number 89 and number 10 on the Minnesota offense. While I covered 89, 10 broke free and the pass to him was uncontested. I wasn't able to catch up to him until our 4 yard line, conceding a 52 yard gain to Minnesota.
Our offense was also struggling in this game and we never managed to score a touchdown. So it's unlikely that my mistake was the sole reason we lost. But regardless, the defense totally blew it in terms of coverage on that play. And I personally blew it by covering 1 of the 2 opponents while the other moved down field past me, instead of backpedaling to keep myself between both open opponents and the end zone so that I could more swiftly tackle whichever receiver caught the pass and give up less yards. Had we won this game, we would be at the top of the conference instead of in a 3 way tie with MINN and KCC. And with how tight of a race we're having this season, this 1 loss might be the difference between making it to the playoffs or not. Code: 226
I think back to our most recent game against the Norfolk Seawolves and I keep replaying in my mind the opening drive of the fourth quarter. We had scored a touchdown on our last series and needed another one to take the lead. Our defense forces a punt, we trot out and the very first play I take an easy completion and drop it, completely destroying any momentum we had, and subsequently we punt. Now, our defense is still rolling and force a punt, but on our next series I'm completely out of it, and we only get a field goal. I can't help but think if I had been on my game that we score a TD there. But with the game winding down, we exchange late touchdowns with Norfolk and end up losing 35-32. All of my failure can be traced back to that one play, sure I made a play late in the game, but it was too little, too late.
Is it not enough that Christian Marciano is destined for mediocrity, that you decide to rub salt in the wounds of his failures?
Season 34 has been nothing if not a rollercoaster of up and down results for the Mad Dog in Dallas. After starting off the season 3-1, the Birddogs have lurched to a 5-5 record, tied for second in their division with only four games left. Marciano, a potential MVP candidate early in the season pretty much killed any shot he had at personal recognition after a week 6 games against the Kansas City Coyotes, which Dallas lost 38-16. In the 22 point lost, many players did not perform up to their usual standards, but no one laid an egg quite like the QB, who tossed an unimaginable 4 interceptions in the contest, crippling his team in the process. Now, how embarrassing was the performance for Marciano? Well, in the nine other games he has played, he has thrown only TWO interceptions. TWO! In one game he threw 66% of his total interceptions.
Well its been a season of mistakes. Triple Option has been playing Tight End most of the season instead of Fullback. And well it's been a learning experience. Its different blocking from the line rather than getting a head start. There's been a lot of dropped passes as growing up a Fullback, Option has never really worked on his hands. In fact the QB really has to throw him soft passes, as being a chair, he doesn't have hands. He also has an amazing 1 yard rushing this season. But its all part of the growing process. The Luchadores are giving Triple Option a safe place to make these mistakes and improve himself as the Road to Glory as the say. It'll be more seasons down in the DSFL and a lot more mistakes will happen. But as long as Option is looking forwards and trying his best, I'm sure he will find a home anywhere.
[OPTION]S24 (PHI): 16 GP, 73 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 FF, 3 sacks, 5 INTs, 10 PDs, 2 TDs
[OPTION]S25 (PHI): 16 GP, 67 tackles, 4 INTs, 13 PDs, 1 TD [OPTION]S26 (OCO): 16 GP, 68 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INTs, 10 PDs [OPTION]S27 (OCO): 16 GP, 116 tackles, 4 INTs, 23 PDs, 1 TD [OPTION]S28 (OCO): 16 GP, 84 tackles, 1 FF, 1 FR, 3 INTs, 20 PDs, 1 TD [OPTION]S29 (OCO): 16 GP, 99 tackles, 3 FF, 1 FR, 5 INTs, 23 PDs, 1 TD [OPTION]============================================================= [OPTION]ISFL Playoff Stats: [OPTION]S23 (PHI): 1 GP, 2 tackles [OPTION]S26 (OCO): 1 GP, 5 tackles, 2 PDs [OPTION]============================================================= [OPTION]Trophies and Achievements: [OPTION]Drafted 35th Overall by Myrtle Beach in the S21 DSFL Draft [OPTION]S21 Ultimini Champion [OPTION]S21 DSFL Pro Bowl Selection [OPTION]S21 DSFL Defensive Back of the Year Nominee [OPTION]Drafted 4th Overall by Philadelphia in the S22 ISFL Draft [OPTION]S23 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection [OPTION]S23 ISFL Cornerback of the Year Nominee [OPTION]S23 ISFL Defensive Performance of the Year Nominee [OPTION]S24 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection [OPTION]S24 ISFL Cornerback of the Year Nominee [OPTION]S26 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S26 ISFL Returner of the Year Nominee [OPTION]S29 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection [OPTION]S29 ISFL Cornerback of the Year Nominee [OPTION]============================================================= Player | Update | Wiki | Twitter |
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