Robbed
I get it, it’s an easy topic, Yellowknife was robbed, but were they really? Actually, no. Akselsen finished with 9 fewer touchdowns in the air than Applehort and it ended up being their undoing as the Wraiths abandoned their passing game for the run. When the Wraiths won, they boasted a strong defense that could take advantage of burning down the clock by running out the game, but the fact is that while their ground game was good, the Yeti were just superior in the air by a large margin, and so they could come back and keep games close in ways that Yellowknife could not. It’s also no doubt that Yellowknife actually collapsed in ways that Colorado did not. The Wraiths managed to lose the other playoff teams, but also threw in a loss to Arizona and Philadelphia, which to me says that the Yellowknife Roster over performed in other games rather than underperformed here. Here’s where it’s damming though, and back to the data, the Wraiths had nearly 400 more yards on the ground than the second most (san jose) but they didn’t have a stellar YPC compared to the other teams, and it showed. Yellowknife needed more to succeed and make it to the postseason.
That Magic Moment
In the Fourth Quarter, Darren Smallwood scored first, giving the New Orleans Second Line a lead. That was not the moment; the moment was 2 seconds later, as the New Orleans Second Line scored a two-point conversion. It more or less game the Second Line a 3 point lead, but that was the last time the lead would change. What this score did, was however, change the Hawks attack plan. Where Owen Taylor averaged and absurd 4.9 Yard Per Carry that game, The Balitmore Hawks needed magic from Avon Blocksdale, and what happened was a drive that resulting in a penalty, a 1st and 20, and not enough fourth quarter heroics. This allowed the Second Line to keep the Hawks in their own territory, get a punt and drive it down the field to result in a touchdown. They say momentum is key in games of football. I believe that, they can change how a team is doing from a missed field goal to a touchdown. It’s a good look. But what the Hawks needed was to kill that momentum that Smallwood and the 2 pointer (it does not tell me anything else) created and they could not stop the Second Line after that on either side of the ball.
Unsung Hero
Everyone all season has been talking about New Orleans stud from last season Darren Smallwood. Despite the fact that the Most Outstanding Player, Most Valuable Player, Runningback of the Year, and Offensive Player of the Year was in the spotlight, Borkus Maximus has been kinda hiding in the shadows and having a sneaky good year. While Smallwood led the league in Rushing touchdowns, Maximus had far and away a better season. Mike Boss had 3 more touchdowns with nearly 70 more throws, and Maximus was the only quarterback in the league to finish with single digit interceptions. I do not know about you but that’s about as good as a quarterback can get. Maximus also finished with the highest Rating, something he maintained in the playoffs, finishing with a rating over one hundred and ten both games. Maximus also showed that he could pass in the air winning both offensive player of the games in each game and throwing for a combined six touchdowns in the air. He spread the ball around and was able to hit multiple receivers, that as unsung as heroes get, as Smallwood is still getting all the praise, it is pretty appalling to me that Maximus is being left out of the conversations. @bovo
PBE
I get it, it’s an easy topic, Yellowknife was robbed, but were they really? Actually, no. Akselsen finished with 9 fewer touchdowns in the air than Applehort and it ended up being their undoing as the Wraiths abandoned their passing game for the run. When the Wraiths won, they boasted a strong defense that could take advantage of burning down the clock by running out the game, but the fact is that while their ground game was good, the Yeti were just superior in the air by a large margin, and so they could come back and keep games close in ways that Yellowknife could not. It’s also no doubt that Yellowknife actually collapsed in ways that Colorado did not. The Wraiths managed to lose the other playoff teams, but also threw in a loss to Arizona and Philadelphia, which to me says that the Yellowknife Roster over performed in other games rather than underperformed here. Here’s where it’s damming though, and back to the data, the Wraiths had nearly 400 more yards on the ground than the second most (san jose) but they didn’t have a stellar YPC compared to the other teams, and it showed. Yellowknife needed more to succeed and make it to the postseason.
That Magic Moment
In the Fourth Quarter, Darren Smallwood scored first, giving the New Orleans Second Line a lead. That was not the moment; the moment was 2 seconds later, as the New Orleans Second Line scored a two-point conversion. It more or less game the Second Line a 3 point lead, but that was the last time the lead would change. What this score did, was however, change the Hawks attack plan. Where Owen Taylor averaged and absurd 4.9 Yard Per Carry that game, The Balitmore Hawks needed magic from Avon Blocksdale, and what happened was a drive that resulting in a penalty, a 1st and 20, and not enough fourth quarter heroics. This allowed the Second Line to keep the Hawks in their own territory, get a punt and drive it down the field to result in a touchdown. They say momentum is key in games of football. I believe that, they can change how a team is doing from a missed field goal to a touchdown. It’s a good look. But what the Hawks needed was to kill that momentum that Smallwood and the 2 pointer (it does not tell me anything else) created and they could not stop the Second Line after that on either side of the ball.
Unsung Hero
Everyone all season has been talking about New Orleans stud from last season Darren Smallwood. Despite the fact that the Most Outstanding Player, Most Valuable Player, Runningback of the Year, and Offensive Player of the Year was in the spotlight, Borkus Maximus has been kinda hiding in the shadows and having a sneaky good year. While Smallwood led the league in Rushing touchdowns, Maximus had far and away a better season. Mike Boss had 3 more touchdowns with nearly 70 more throws, and Maximus was the only quarterback in the league to finish with single digit interceptions. I do not know about you but that’s about as good as a quarterback can get. Maximus also finished with the highest Rating, something he maintained in the playoffs, finishing with a rating over one hundred and ten both games. Maximus also showed that he could pass in the air winning both offensive player of the games in each game and throwing for a combined six touchdowns in the air. He spread the ball around and was able to hit multiple receivers, that as unsung as heroes get, as Smallwood is still getting all the praise, it is pretty appalling to me that Maximus is being left out of the conversations. @bovo
PBE
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[SIZE=4]Player Page || Anoa'i Update Page ||
Quote:We didn't reach out because we didn't want you.
[SIZE=4]Player Page || Anoa'i Update Page ||
Quote:everyone’s favorite mediocre wide receiver, Darren Smallwood.[/align]