S16-S18 was a very successful period for the Outlaws, so we spent much of the previous offseason getting ready to continue that trend in S19. However, what made this season different is that many of our older players were starting to take a step back and open up new roles for younger players. Andrew Reese is getting older and slower, so he's spending time working with young QB Jay Cue. Bucky Barnes, Hike Mughes, and Beau Montgomery are older as well, but they've been happy to see superstar DBs Lucas Knight and Lamont McKinnie continue to take massive leaps forward as players. Young upstart DT Shane Masters has become a favorite of the defensive unit and is excelling on the practice field; many suspect he will soon be the team's top lineman despite some tough competition over the last season. RB Ruff Ruff has been a stellar breakout, impressing the team management so much that they were comfortable trading away long-time start Slim Shady, a move that shocked experts across the league. And, of course, it's impossible to deny the talent of young WR Saba Donut, who made his debut last season and missed the Offensive Rookie of the Year award by only a hair. He's primed to be the future of the team and has been working in tandem with Kazimir Oles, the team's veteran and current top WR. It's been an exciting offseason so far and the team is ready for the season to start.
McMorris had a really rough season last year. After winning DRotY 2 seasons ago he failed to live up to his standard. This offseason he took a different approach in his training regime. Instead of hitting the weight room he started taking yoga and watched more film. Physically he felt like he was good but mentally he wasnt. Putting in 6 hours of film while also working out 2 hours a day he feels like he is reaching his peak form. The most important thing was the team bonding he did with his fellow Liberty Defense. Part of a successful defense is having all players on the same page. While they worked out together they also watched film and bounced off what everyone would do in the situation and they learned from each other. After signing a 3 year extension with the Liberty McMorris also spent time inside the community and helped coach at some local high schools. McMorris also changed his diet and cut out carbs. He also hired a running coach to help him max out speed and work on his endurance knowing these were 2 of his weaker traits. McMorris is looking to replicate his rookie season and return to the pro bowl but most importantly make the Liberty D the top defense in the league and bring an Ultimus to the city of Philadelphia
Quote:Written Option: A new season means renewed optimism for everyone! Write about how you and your teammates spent the offseason forgetting last season and preparing for the new one. It can be a training regimen, studying, team-bonding, what they did over the holiday, etc.
After falling to the Wraiths in the NSFC conference final, in a season which the Hawks would rather forget, with lackluster play and excecution. The Hawks headed home with a bit of a dip. It was a long journey, but a Hawk never lets another hawk feel down for a long time.
The group starting talking about how they could overcome this sad season. The result was a brainstorm session of how the team could bond and grow closer together in an effort to come out stronger next season.
The result of that brainstorm session was the idea to go camping. A true test of nature of the Hawks, get back to their roots.
They traveled to the beautiful nature parts of New England and heading into the wild to set up camp somewhere. They decided to keep it nice and casual and just take it easy. They brought along footballs to toss around and just play with. Canoes to make use of the many rivers around the area and all kinds of past time activities. The highlight was the campfire ghost story night which got some of the guys in a terrified mood.
All in all a great trip which they will all remember for a long time.
I spent my off-season focused on two things. The first, which sadly did not come to fruition was to bring my best good friend Bubba to New Orleans. Colorado is doin’ real well and I get why he chose to stay, but bein’ teammates with Bubba again would’ve been something. The second thing, which did work out very well for me, was to find a partner for the backfield. Now I love runnin’, and I likely wouldn’t have been running back of the year last season with a partner, but we struggled as a team last season and that’s been way more my focus. Plus I was gettin’ real lonely back there all on my own.
Fortunately for us, another one of my best good friends also hit the free agency market this off-season. Marcella is an amazing athlete and a better person, and I could not be prouder to be sharing a backfield with her for the next two seasons (and hopefully many more after that). Once she arrived we’ve been doin’ training together every day. The running back position room is a lot more fun when it’s not just me and a robot who sees the field once or twice a season.
The managers did a ton of work in the draft as well to bring some new faces and voices to the locker room. We got a great team now, everyone on the roster is ready to go, and this season should be a good one for us.
Well last season wasn't even that bad. Of course, it would have been nice to win some more games, but we are a growing team here in Chicago. Lots of young players, especially after loading up on offensive talent in the most recent draft. SJJ looks to be an offensive dynamo of the future. Very happy to have him. That being said, we did lose out on a couple pieces in the off season. We were very optimistic that Bex would join us, but we understand why she went the other way. The other loss, but not really a loss, was losing Action Jackson. We traded for him and gave him a new home and he decided to leave us to join an even worse team. Oh well, can't teach brains. Luckily, we've already replaced him with better locker room presences and players on the field. The best part of the off season was watching the Philadelphia Liberty struggle to remain relevant in this league. They've never been anything important in this league and they've continued their run of mediocrity. And that is something we all bonded over during the off season. We might not be great this year, but at least we aren't the Liberty. It would be horrible to be in Philly. 215.