Let's talk about the future. As we've seen in the ISFL and DSFL, things can go from rock bottom to the absolute top in just one quick season and vice versa. With that said, tell us about your predictions for next season. Were there any big moves made late in the season or the offseason that you believe could really shake things up? Are there any players hitting the season with a noticeably improved TPE pool or hitting regression hard that you believe could seriously factor into a team's potential success? And lastly, which team do you expect to be hoisting the trophy for either the ISFL or DSFL, and which teams do you expect will be struggling to stay away from the bottom on the pack?
I know this seems as though it's biased, but I do actually believe that San Jose could be that team to hoist the trophy in Season 39. I'll point to the way last season went as my primary reasoning. The SaberCats started off the first half of the year 3-5 with a lifeless 245-197 scoring differential. They were also one of the most penalized teams in the league and routinely had costly penalties take away critical first downs and extend drives for their opposition. San Jose was in fifth place in the ASFC standings and had many fans looking forward to the draft and the offseason.
What followed was one of the most exciting winning streaks in recent ISFL memory, with the SaberCats ripping off an incredible 7 straight wins en route to the second seed in the ASFC and a home playoff berth. The wins weren't all against bottom-feeders either; with convincing wins over the Silverbacks, Otters, Wraiths, and eventual champion Outlaws. Every phase of the game seemed to improve overnight for the Cats, and the week 15 bludgeoning of the #1 overall seed Arizona showed that the team was ready to compete for a championship. While the entire organization was disappointed and frankly a little shocked by the disastrous home playoff loss to the Silverbacks, there's plenty to believe in going forward.
S38 Offensive Player of the Year Owen Farrell came into his own as a superstar under center. Ferrell started off the streak by posting a near-perfect 151.2 passer rating against the Yeti, on his way to a league-high 42 passing touchdowns. Ferrell is just finishing his second season in the ISFL and already looks like the next face of the league. He is one of the biggest reasons why San Jose should come into Season 39 as one of the favorites to hoist the trophy. Next to Ferrell, second-team All Pro running back Deandre King is poised to continue his production in this offense. WR Jaycee Higgins should also be celebrated as a superstar in his own right, with over 1200 yards and 9 TDs in 2053.
The defense is also due to improve as it has every year in the last three. The stats often do lie in football, as witnessed by the defense giving up 412 points last season. Untimely turnovers by the offense repeatedly put the defense in short-field situations, and the punt unit pinned opposing offenses inside their own 20 yard line the fewest times in the league. Ball security, complimentary football from the offense, an improved pass rush, and a special teams group that can't help but perform better should allow the defense to be above average this season.
The ASFC looks to be incredibly competitive this year, with defending champion Arizona looking to hold off San Jose, a resurgent New York Silverbacks squad, and talented Otters and Secondline teams. Each of these teams plays different styles and has different expectations coming into this season. Overall, I'll take the team with the most balance on offense and the team who turns the ball over the least, which I do expect to be San Jose. In the NSFC, I expect the Fire Salamanders (is it Rhinos now?) to continue to improve.
Bottom line, this season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive ISFL seasons yet, and I think that a team that showed huge heart heading into the end of last season is going to carry that success over into season 39. They have a superstar QB, they have a good line (ok, very biased), the have great skill position talent, and the defense is improving. Lock it into your season predictions now, the SaberCats will be champions once more.
I know this seems as though it's biased, but I do actually believe that San Jose could be that team to hoist the trophy in Season 39. I'll point to the way last season went as my primary reasoning. The SaberCats started off the first half of the year 3-5 with a lifeless 245-197 scoring differential. They were also one of the most penalized teams in the league and routinely had costly penalties take away critical first downs and extend drives for their opposition. San Jose was in fifth place in the ASFC standings and had many fans looking forward to the draft and the offseason.
What followed was one of the most exciting winning streaks in recent ISFL memory, with the SaberCats ripping off an incredible 7 straight wins en route to the second seed in the ASFC and a home playoff berth. The wins weren't all against bottom-feeders either; with convincing wins over the Silverbacks, Otters, Wraiths, and eventual champion Outlaws. Every phase of the game seemed to improve overnight for the Cats, and the week 15 bludgeoning of the #1 overall seed Arizona showed that the team was ready to compete for a championship. While the entire organization was disappointed and frankly a little shocked by the disastrous home playoff loss to the Silverbacks, there's plenty to believe in going forward.
S38 Offensive Player of the Year Owen Farrell came into his own as a superstar under center. Ferrell started off the streak by posting a near-perfect 151.2 passer rating against the Yeti, on his way to a league-high 42 passing touchdowns. Ferrell is just finishing his second season in the ISFL and already looks like the next face of the league. He is one of the biggest reasons why San Jose should come into Season 39 as one of the favorites to hoist the trophy. Next to Ferrell, second-team All Pro running back Deandre King is poised to continue his production in this offense. WR Jaycee Higgins should also be celebrated as a superstar in his own right, with over 1200 yards and 9 TDs in 2053.
The defense is also due to improve as it has every year in the last three. The stats often do lie in football, as witnessed by the defense giving up 412 points last season. Untimely turnovers by the offense repeatedly put the defense in short-field situations, and the punt unit pinned opposing offenses inside their own 20 yard line the fewest times in the league. Ball security, complimentary football from the offense, an improved pass rush, and a special teams group that can't help but perform better should allow the defense to be above average this season.
The ASFC looks to be incredibly competitive this year, with defending champion Arizona looking to hold off San Jose, a resurgent New York Silverbacks squad, and talented Otters and Secondline teams. Each of these teams plays different styles and has different expectations coming into this season. Overall, I'll take the team with the most balance on offense and the team who turns the ball over the least, which I do expect to be San Jose. In the NSFC, I expect the Fire Salamanders (is it Rhinos now?) to continue to improve.
Bottom line, this season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive ISFL seasons yet, and I think that a team that showed huge heart heading into the end of last season is going to carry that success over into season 39. They have a superstar QB, they have a good line (ok, very biased), the have great skill position talent, and the defense is improving. Lock it into your season predictions now, the SaberCats will be champions once more.
