11-11-2019, 01:14 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-11-2019, 05:31 PM by Dylandeluxe.)
#7 Next Year:
With the conclusion of the S18 season The Liberty found themselves 4-9 and the bottom of their conference. But a closer looks at their schedule shows that 4 of their 9 losses were one score games. I believe this shows that Philly has the core of young players to compete as soon as next year for a playoff berth and once in the playoffs anything can happen. On the offensive side of the ball Philly likely has Jake Dropson, Fuzzy Dotson coming up from the DSFL two high TPE earners to give the offense some depth and more firepower. On the defensive side of the ball Stuart Little and likely Mike Franchet. This coupled with Thudd Kassel and Zach Hall give Philly a bright future next season. The younger get better while the older teams in NSFC get older and regress allowing Philly to make up ground. Now with perennial regular season champs Yellowknife standing in the way, some would find that formidable for any team to over come but more often than not we can count on a Wraith's post-season collapse to let the Cinderella Liberty squeeze past them into the S19 Ultimus. Next year is the season Philly returns to the promise land.
#9 Enemies:
It has been 10 seasons since the Yellowknife Wraiths won it all against New Orleans 24-13. The likes of legends DiMirio and Brian Mills squared off against Pennington, Lavelle and Rainey. This was also the last time Yellowknife won a playoff game of any kind. They were absent for 8 seasons until they were upset by the Philadelphia Liberty in heart-breaking fashion 35-34. They returned to the playoffs the next year and were promptly upset by Baltimore 27-24 and once again kept out of the championship. And I am here to tell you it will be another 10 seasons before Yellowknife gets another playoff win. As history shows, "Super-Teams" are often disappointing and don't capitalize on opportunities. And with an aging roster the clock is ticking. The old geezers run out of steam by the time the playoffs roll around and can't play up to their expectations. Someone call life-alert because these senior-citizens are going to be on the heart attack watch list as the Baltimore Hawks do the league a favor and kick these boomers into retirement.
They call the Yellowknife Wraiths the spookiest team in the NSFL. I guess it's only fitting they are cursed in the playoffs.
#11 Trades:
At the trade deadline Philly and NOLA made a deal to move yours truly, Linebacker Thudd Kassel. This was a mutual decision by NOLA and Thudd but none the less the trade happened. At the time NOLA was 5-3 and comfortably seated in a playoff berth while Philly was sitting at 2-6 and most didn't even consider a factor in the playoff push. What happened next is NOLA dropped their next 5 games to finish one spot outside of a playoff finish. It is easy to write it off due to the tough schedule as they faced 4 playoff teams in the last 5 games. But I think the impact Kassel had on the defense can't be discounted.
NOLA D# with Thudd: 20.8 ppg allowed, 5-3
NOLA D# without Thudd: 32 ppg allowed, 0-5
If Thudd stays in NOLA, is he the difference maker in just one of their games that could have slid them up to the last playoff spot? I think there is an argument for it and it is also to note that Philly also saw a slight improvement to their defense after the trade so that just adds more substance to the argument.
Philly pre-Thudd: 25.1, 2-6
Philly with Thudd: 23.2 ppg, 2-3
NOLA is also set up with the #1 pick of the S19 draft from the trade so not all is lost obviously or even the argument of who won the trade is settled. I think 3 to 4 seasons from now we can really see the impact for both teams. #RingTheBell
#12 Sit down with a Star: Maurice Virtanen @`BaconBrother`
DD: "How does it feel being in the playoffs as a rookie? Feel any pressure?"
MV: "Man it feels awesome! Of course it’s all the big names on the team that have got us here and I’m just trying to do my part and help as much as I can. The pressure tries to get to you when you know the stakes are high on the biggest stage. Luckily for me I’m in a locker room filled with people who have been here before and know how to handle it so I just take my advice from them"
DD: "Speaking of veterans I think it is safe to say that Yellowknife did not expect you to fall to #7 in the draft as many considered you a top 2 prospect going into the draft. They drafted you and have been playing out at defensive end as they have two talented Linbackers already. How has that transition been for you and is this a long term switch for The Finnish Nightmare?"
MV: "Yeah it seemed to shock quite a few people but I am happy I landed here in Yellowknife, they have welcomed me so well and me feel like one of the gang. So yeah this year has been me at defensive end as you mention. There was some weight put on in the off-season and some different focus during practice but overall I think it has gone well and just trying to help my team out as much as I can although this isn’t a long term switch and I feel I’ll be back at my more usual linebacker position pretty soon"
DD:"What do you think of fellow rookie linebackers Net Gaines and Thudd Kassel's seasons?"
MV: "Oh man the fearsome linebacker trio of our class. What I’ve seen of them it seems they are both having great rookie seasons and are both showing their teams that they are valuable pieces now and in the future. Especially seen by what Philadelphia gave up for Kassel."
DD: "Last question for you. I know you have not been here for the last two seasons disappointing playoff exits but what do you think the Wraiths can do different this time around?"
MV: "I think it’s important to just play our own game and not let the past or the opponent get into your head. We need to start strong on offense and let our defense then kill off the Hawks"
With the conclusion of the S18 season The Liberty found themselves 4-9 and the bottom of their conference. But a closer looks at their schedule shows that 4 of their 9 losses were one score games. I believe this shows that Philly has the core of young players to compete as soon as next year for a playoff berth and once in the playoffs anything can happen. On the offensive side of the ball Philly likely has Jake Dropson, Fuzzy Dotson coming up from the DSFL two high TPE earners to give the offense some depth and more firepower. On the defensive side of the ball Stuart Little and likely Mike Franchet. This coupled with Thudd Kassel and Zach Hall give Philly a bright future next season. The younger get better while the older teams in NSFC get older and regress allowing Philly to make up ground. Now with perennial regular season champs Yellowknife standing in the way, some would find that formidable for any team to over come but more often than not we can count on a Wraith's post-season collapse to let the Cinderella Liberty squeeze past them into the S19 Ultimus. Next year is the season Philly returns to the promise land.
#9 Enemies:
It has been 10 seasons since the Yellowknife Wraiths won it all against New Orleans 24-13. The likes of legends DiMirio and Brian Mills squared off against Pennington, Lavelle and Rainey. This was also the last time Yellowknife won a playoff game of any kind. They were absent for 8 seasons until they were upset by the Philadelphia Liberty in heart-breaking fashion 35-34. They returned to the playoffs the next year and were promptly upset by Baltimore 27-24 and once again kept out of the championship. And I am here to tell you it will be another 10 seasons before Yellowknife gets another playoff win. As history shows, "Super-Teams" are often disappointing and don't capitalize on opportunities. And with an aging roster the clock is ticking. The old geezers run out of steam by the time the playoffs roll around and can't play up to their expectations. Someone call life-alert because these senior-citizens are going to be on the heart attack watch list as the Baltimore Hawks do the league a favor and kick these boomers into retirement.
They call the Yellowknife Wraiths the spookiest team in the NSFL. I guess it's only fitting they are cursed in the playoffs.
#11 Trades:
At the trade deadline Philly and NOLA made a deal to move yours truly, Linebacker Thudd Kassel. This was a mutual decision by NOLA and Thudd but none the less the trade happened. At the time NOLA was 5-3 and comfortably seated in a playoff berth while Philly was sitting at 2-6 and most didn't even consider a factor in the playoff push. What happened next is NOLA dropped their next 5 games to finish one spot outside of a playoff finish. It is easy to write it off due to the tough schedule as they faced 4 playoff teams in the last 5 games. But I think the impact Kassel had on the defense can't be discounted.
NOLA D# with Thudd: 20.8 ppg allowed, 5-3
NOLA D# without Thudd: 32 ppg allowed, 0-5
If Thudd stays in NOLA, is he the difference maker in just one of their games that could have slid them up to the last playoff spot? I think there is an argument for it and it is also to note that Philly also saw a slight improvement to their defense after the trade so that just adds more substance to the argument.
Philly pre-Thudd: 25.1, 2-6
Philly with Thudd: 23.2 ppg, 2-3
NOLA is also set up with the #1 pick of the S19 draft from the trade so not all is lost obviously or even the argument of who won the trade is settled. I think 3 to 4 seasons from now we can really see the impact for both teams. #RingTheBell
#12 Sit down with a Star: Maurice Virtanen @`BaconBrother`
DD: "How does it feel being in the playoffs as a rookie? Feel any pressure?"
MV: "Man it feels awesome! Of course it’s all the big names on the team that have got us here and I’m just trying to do my part and help as much as I can. The pressure tries to get to you when you know the stakes are high on the biggest stage. Luckily for me I’m in a locker room filled with people who have been here before and know how to handle it so I just take my advice from them"
DD: "Speaking of veterans I think it is safe to say that Yellowknife did not expect you to fall to #7 in the draft as many considered you a top 2 prospect going into the draft. They drafted you and have been playing out at defensive end as they have two talented Linbackers already. How has that transition been for you and is this a long term switch for The Finnish Nightmare?"
MV: "Yeah it seemed to shock quite a few people but I am happy I landed here in Yellowknife, they have welcomed me so well and me feel like one of the gang. So yeah this year has been me at defensive end as you mention. There was some weight put on in the off-season and some different focus during practice but overall I think it has gone well and just trying to help my team out as much as I can although this isn’t a long term switch and I feel I’ll be back at my more usual linebacker position pretty soon"
DD:"What do you think of fellow rookie linebackers Net Gaines and Thudd Kassel's seasons?"
MV: "Oh man the fearsome linebacker trio of our class. What I’ve seen of them it seems they are both having great rookie seasons and are both showing their teams that they are valuable pieces now and in the future. Especially seen by what Philadelphia gave up for Kassel."
DD: "Last question for you. I know you have not been here for the last two seasons disappointing playoff exits but what do you think the Wraiths can do different this time around?"
MV: "I think it’s important to just play our own game and not let the past or the opponent get into your head. We need to start strong on offense and let our defense then kill off the Hawks"