1) Playoff Predictions, Reviews:
In the opening round of the NSFL playoffs, our Sabercats got absolutely thumped by the eventual champion Outlaws, 41-21. And honestly, the game wasn't even that close. Following a second quarter pick-six, the score was already 24-0 barely 20 minutes into the game, and everyone in attendance knew our season was pretty much done. Joliet Christ had a very strong day aside from that back-breaking INT, finishing with more than 350 passing yards and two scores. And our receiving corps was great. Both Xavier Flash and Cameron Olsen hit the century mark, and even I had my best game of the season: six receptions, 69 yards (nice). But the Outlaws were just plain better. Slim Shady scored on us twice. Brock Landers and Jeffrey Murphy tore our asses up regularly, and Raymond Vans ate our O-Line for lunch, picking up his 20th and 21st sacks of the season. And even though Alex Reese didn't do much (he honestly didn't have to, his team was never behind), he was efficient and tactful with the ball, and even still hit 250 yards passing. Just a crummy game for us all-around that left a lot of us wondering if our window just slammed shut.
213 words
3) All About The QBs
For me, the biggest matchup of the entire playoffs actually came in the first round, when Philadelphia took on Yellowknife. Two of the strongest offenses in the league coming to blows with a couple of gunslingers at the helm in Adriana Falconi and Cooter Bigsby, and it sure lived up to the hype. Both scored with regularity, and nobody was ever able to take more than a 10 point lead. But in the end, Falconi's Liberty just barely came out on the winning side, 35-34. Falconi scorched the Yellowknife defense to the tune of 394 passing yards (a Liberty playoff record) on 66% completion for three TDs and a single pick. Cooter wasn't too far behind though, keeping pace with Falconi through the whole game. He finished with 271 yards, two TDs, and no turnovers. For these two QBs to combine for only one turnover is a bit surprising, since they both through a lot of them during the season. Yellowknife held a 10 point lead in the third, but a rushing score from Vander Jones, and a passing score from Falconi to Nacho Varga put the Liberty back on top, and they wouldn't lose it for the remainder of the game.
211 words
5) Spotlight on Youth (S15 edition)
The S15 Draft will go down in history as one of the biggest in the history of our league. So many new stars came in and made their mark right away. Brock Landers, Emondov Emoji, Lanzer Grievous, Lightsout Lewis, I could go on. But in this years playoffs, there was someone who really stood out in my eyes, Richard D'Attoria V. He started the playoffs pretty quietly against Yellowknife, however that game was such an offensive explosion that their defense didn't se much action. As a result, D'Attoria's six tackles and a sack were still good enough for Defensive Player of the Game. Next week, another offensive showcase, this time against Chicago, but D'Attoria still left his mark, leading both teams in tackles with nine. Finally, the Ultimus, and this was D'Attoria's big moment. Against Arizona, D'Attoria was flying all over the field, collecting 17 tackles, which tied the all-time record for most tackles in a playoff game. But wait, there's more. He also pulled down an interception midway through the fourth and took it back to the house to give Philadelphia a late 30-27 lead. A crazy final drive for the Outlaws negated all of D'Attoria's hard work, but he still deserves credit for his outstanding playoff run, especially in the Ultimus.
225 words
8) Strategies
The Sabercats are at a crossroads. Do we splurge this offseason and try to make another run for the title? Or do we recognize that the S18 Draft will likely be close to the size of the S15 Draft and try to tank for it. Honestly, as much as it pains me to say this, I think we should try to tank the season. Our team is getting older and we should be focusing on getting younger, especially with all of the other team's entering their primes. Orange County, Chicago, and Philly likely aren't going anywhere. Arizona, Yellowknife, and even New Orleans is on the rise, and Baltimore is trying to force their way back into contention. There's no guarantee that we can hang with that bunch, so it might be time to get jettison some of our older talent, especially ones that are already IA. Guys like Jorel Tuck and Chris Orosz could be of value to a team that want to make that final all-in push. Maybe even some of our actives like Xavier Flash or the Penningtons need to be shopped if the return would be worth it. After that, we just play our season like we normally would. In the first three rounds, the only pick we have that originally belonged to us is our first, so having a terrible record won't net us too much. But hopefully, those picks will help us usher in a new era of Sabercat football.
258 words
In the opening round of the NSFL playoffs, our Sabercats got absolutely thumped by the eventual champion Outlaws, 41-21. And honestly, the game wasn't even that close. Following a second quarter pick-six, the score was already 24-0 barely 20 minutes into the game, and everyone in attendance knew our season was pretty much done. Joliet Christ had a very strong day aside from that back-breaking INT, finishing with more than 350 passing yards and two scores. And our receiving corps was great. Both Xavier Flash and Cameron Olsen hit the century mark, and even I had my best game of the season: six receptions, 69 yards (nice). But the Outlaws were just plain better. Slim Shady scored on us twice. Brock Landers and Jeffrey Murphy tore our asses up regularly, and Raymond Vans ate our O-Line for lunch, picking up his 20th and 21st sacks of the season. And even though Alex Reese didn't do much (he honestly didn't have to, his team was never behind), he was efficient and tactful with the ball, and even still hit 250 yards passing. Just a crummy game for us all-around that left a lot of us wondering if our window just slammed shut.
213 words
3) All About The QBs
For me, the biggest matchup of the entire playoffs actually came in the first round, when Philadelphia took on Yellowknife. Two of the strongest offenses in the league coming to blows with a couple of gunslingers at the helm in Adriana Falconi and Cooter Bigsby, and it sure lived up to the hype. Both scored with regularity, and nobody was ever able to take more than a 10 point lead. But in the end, Falconi's Liberty just barely came out on the winning side, 35-34. Falconi scorched the Yellowknife defense to the tune of 394 passing yards (a Liberty playoff record) on 66% completion for three TDs and a single pick. Cooter wasn't too far behind though, keeping pace with Falconi through the whole game. He finished with 271 yards, two TDs, and no turnovers. For these two QBs to combine for only one turnover is a bit surprising, since they both through a lot of them during the season. Yellowknife held a 10 point lead in the third, but a rushing score from Vander Jones, and a passing score from Falconi to Nacho Varga put the Liberty back on top, and they wouldn't lose it for the remainder of the game.
211 words
5) Spotlight on Youth (S15 edition)
The S15 Draft will go down in history as one of the biggest in the history of our league. So many new stars came in and made their mark right away. Brock Landers, Emondov Emoji, Lanzer Grievous, Lightsout Lewis, I could go on. But in this years playoffs, there was someone who really stood out in my eyes, Richard D'Attoria V. He started the playoffs pretty quietly against Yellowknife, however that game was such an offensive explosion that their defense didn't se much action. As a result, D'Attoria's six tackles and a sack were still good enough for Defensive Player of the Game. Next week, another offensive showcase, this time against Chicago, but D'Attoria still left his mark, leading both teams in tackles with nine. Finally, the Ultimus, and this was D'Attoria's big moment. Against Arizona, D'Attoria was flying all over the field, collecting 17 tackles, which tied the all-time record for most tackles in a playoff game. But wait, there's more. He also pulled down an interception midway through the fourth and took it back to the house to give Philadelphia a late 30-27 lead. A crazy final drive for the Outlaws negated all of D'Attoria's hard work, but he still deserves credit for his outstanding playoff run, especially in the Ultimus.
225 words
8) Strategies
The Sabercats are at a crossroads. Do we splurge this offseason and try to make another run for the title? Or do we recognize that the S18 Draft will likely be close to the size of the S15 Draft and try to tank for it. Honestly, as much as it pains me to say this, I think we should try to tank the season. Our team is getting older and we should be focusing on getting younger, especially with all of the other team's entering their primes. Orange County, Chicago, and Philly likely aren't going anywhere. Arizona, Yellowknife, and even New Orleans is on the rise, and Baltimore is trying to force their way back into contention. There's no guarantee that we can hang with that bunch, so it might be time to get jettison some of our older talent, especially ones that are already IA. Guys like Jorel Tuck and Chris Orosz could be of value to a team that want to make that final all-in push. Maybe even some of our actives like Xavier Flash or the Penningtons need to be shopped if the return would be worth it. After that, we just play our season like we normally would. In the first three rounds, the only pick we have that originally belonged to us is our first, so having a terrible record won't net us too much. But hopefully, those picks will help us usher in a new era of Sabercat football.
258 words