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After the former Baltimore GM stepped down, I was approached to take over the team after showing strong interest in signing on as an expansion GM. After confirmation that things were finally done, I wanted to take the time to answer questions that people may have. The show is now on the road, go ahead and ask away.
QUESTIONS:
After the former Baltimore GM stepped down, I was approached to take over the team after showing strong interest in signing on as an expansion GM. After confirmation that things were finally done, I wanted to take the time to answer questions that people may have. The show is now on the road, go ahead and ask away.
QUESTIONS:
Quote:1. How would you say this effects the team draft strategy?
I'm not sure of the discussions had previously between both my co-gm and the former GM, so I'm not sure where their head was at, however it's obvious at this point that we've got an offensive player in myself and a defensive player in the co-gm, so now it's time for us to figure out what our next top need is,
and work from there. I'm quite happy with our draft position as we almost pick back to back and with such a stacked draft class this will help us in obtaining two top players right off the bat.
Quote:2. Will there be a rename of the Baltimore franchise ?
If Yes care to share?
If No have they found the logo?
There was going to be a whole rebrand all together, but it's more of a WIP then something that'll happen right away. Baltimore is here to stay for the present time, however like I said they will not be a permiment team in this league. I can share with you that the league has approved a move to Toronto,
Ontario and that we will be adjusting accordingly to figure out the rest of the team information including a branding and team logo/name within the coming weeks. More of these details will be released as they are figured out.
Quote:3. The offensive philosophy of the Baltimore team ...Spread, RunN Shoot, Two back Pro set?
It'll be hard to say until the full offensive unit is made, as of right now we do have our runningback in myself, however I'm going to make sure there is a balance regardless of who I draft and make sure the playing time is there. I'd love to go run-heavy, but it's all going to be about how we draft and more-so how the opposition drafts, if their team is built to defend against run, then there can only be one counter, am I correct?
Quote:4. Draft philosophy..BPA....Line first building out...Secure the Star player at all cost?
In any other draft, BPA could be the way to go, but with this being such a deep draft, we certainly have to go with trying to just fill-out the key positions and then add to the depth of the team. When it comes down to it and I feel like I've gotten the players I need in their respective positions, that's when we'll seek out other players to join the team and hopefully make this squad one of the hardest to compete against. Stay tuned for more on that come draft time.
Quote:5. Why did the previous GM step down?
It's a great question with an answer I was not informed of. One minute I was a draftee, the next I was messaged about the opportunity to manage a team,
and it went from there. I wasn't going to question the intentions, however from what I seen in the previous GM's player thread is that he may have been inactive, too much for the leagues liking, but not sure if it was just a joke between friends.
Quote:6. Where you considered for a GM job at the very start?
I wasn't actually around when the league first started up, so I didn't know they needed GM's, thus I was not selected, however I did throw my hat in the pile of names for a potential expansion that was going to happen, however when it fell flat, I was presented with this chance instead, which I gladly accepted.
Quote:7. What's your experience in football sims?
Well Shaka, I've been in all your leagues if you must know. I've been in SSN, VFL, as well as many other leagues including SHL, VHL, SBA, so on and so-forth, the list is very broad. I've been doing sim leagues since I was very naive and little and influenced, and you know me very well, truth be told, I even helped you with one of your leagues.
Quote:8. RB's kinda an easy position, don't think it'll hurt having a GM player at RB?
Being that I was expecting to be a draftee, it could possibly hurt that RB is such an easy position, but I'm going to work around it. I may have chosen differently if I was selected to take the team from the get-go, but I was under the impression I would be getting drafted, not doing the drafting. We'll see how it plays out but this is a very deep first draft so I'm not too worried.
Quote:9. How do you like your draft position?
I'm happy with myself and evryday being where we are. We made two solid players so I wasn't worried about getting the top pick despite that meaning getting Ballerstrom and his soon-to-be outstanding player. Getting almost back-to-back picks ensures that we'll get two players we want at that specific time, as only one team can really get in our way. With so many options, this position may suck for a little while throughout the early parts of the later rounds, but getting back to us will only make it sweeter. Only thinking positively as we go into the draft, so that's my take on it.
Quote:10. How difficult is it to catch up on scouting as a late addition to the GM office?
Both myself and my co-gm have been in intensive talks to get me up to speed, but needless to say a draft board has been created and we've taken a lot of data into account. It's nice that my co-gm was already the co-gm so he had some initial thoughts on the draft as a whole and we've just been able to expand those thoughts into real ideas and here we are, come draft day we'll be fully prepared.
Quote:11. What has been the biggest surprise for you since taking over?
I think the biggest surprise was taking over. Obviously I wasn't expecting it despite trying to become an expansion GM, so being messaged randomly really took me by surprise. Thankfully with my new found free time by switching IRL jobs, it's allowed me to focus a lot on the site, the league and especially the team planning. Very happy with how everything has panned out thus far, thanks for asking.
Quote:12. What is your primary draft target?
Partially this will depend on whose taken before our pick, and partially on the needs we have as a team. I can't give away too much but I will say that our targets for the first couple of picks will likely be offensive again unless our primary targets are taken early, but with the picks we have, we should be able to nab at worst one of the two top guys we're aiming to draft with the first couple picks.
Quote:13. What is the most important attribute in potential draftees?
I'd say it's a toss-up between activity and loyalty. I want them to want to be here, I also want them to be active. At the very least if I can't have the loyalty which I'll respect, I'd at least like every person I draft to be personable, and not just leave us in the dust and never talk to the team in our chats. Half the battle of winning a ring is getting a team willing to grow as a team and communicate, something I'll strive to make a big deal in our LR and even around the league showing our presence.
Quote:14. How do you feel about the draft order?
This is a 50/50 answer here, 50% we like right off the bat for ourselves and some of the other teams, 50% we shall see when the draft is done. If our position allows us to get our targets, I'll be happy but if somehow all the people we want get picked before all of our picks, we'll be in a dilemma but we'll do best with what we can do. If it means going weak in one department to stock up on another so be it, but again we shall see once it's all said and done.
Quote:15. What have the first few days in Baltimore been like?
It's been really good, a lot of talks, a lot of discussions, a lot of scouting being done, I think it's been very time consuming but very easy-going. I've found the staff has been great to interact with, I've also found that the fans are ready for something new to happen here in Baltimore, so it's just been busy but it's been good.
Quote:16. Have any other GMs reached out to you since you got the job?
Surprisingly, or not surprisingly, they have not. I haven't heard from a single GM granted I guess there isn't much to talk about right now, as we can't make trades or transactions with the draft picks and we have no players at the current time.
Quote:17. How well prepared for being a GM were you when you got the call?
I'd be lying if I said I was 100% prepared when I got the call, it took me by surprise for sure. When I put my name in for expansion and then expansion got cut, I figured that despite being a high listed candidate for a GM, that it would come so soon. But once I was told this position opened up I wasn't even hesitating to take over, I made myself readily available.
Quote:18. How do you approach the draft?
We approach it with a positive mindset, we've got a good draft board going, a lot of discussions going and it's all good vibes. We're really hyped with the people we're hoping to land during this draft and if we can get everyone we're aiming for, it'll be lights out. We cannot wait for draft day, thankfully we won't have to wait too long.
Quote:19. Can you give a surprise prediction for the draft?
The surprise is that Baltimore is going to come out on top. I have no doubt in my mind that with the knowledge of previous football leagues that I've been around, helped GM, helped build, I know my stuff, and because of that people weren't expecting me to be the GM and they likely weren't prepared.
It'll be hella funny when I see their reactions by our picks, but just wait until the roster is finalized, they won't be laughing by the end of the night.
Quote:20. This is going to be one big ass draft class. How have you approached scouting for it?
A lot of time and research has gone into this draft class, despite having short notice, we've done a lot. Regardless of the fact that we've made a big draft board, I've also taken the time to take into account the pre-draft game that occurred, I have opened 100% of the player profiles to see initial builds,
and I've also seen whose updated and who hasn't. There is a lot that has gone into making our picks, there is a nice blend of past experience and so much more that I won't reveal, all I can say is that we're ready.
Quote:21. How has the city of Baltimore been treating you so far?
As I said previously, the city is awesome, I love being here despite it being my first time actually in Baltimore, it's been nothing but a great experience and I'm super happy with how the time here has been spent. While we've been inside a lot having conferences and getting things together for this important draft, I've been staying out here and just going sight-seeing, we actually were taken around town by some fans of the team and it was an awesome time,
great experience I won't forget.
Quote:22. If you hadn't taken up the job of gm and were a player in the draft. Where would you have liked to go?
There was a few methods to my madness that would have went into a decision of who I'd like to play for. Part of me wanted to play for just whatever team wanted me, let fate do fate and take me where I go. However another part of me wanted to go to a Canadian team which obviously there is only one,
so representing my home country would have been awesome. Honestly though had I not gotten the job, I would have been happy anywhere, as long as they helped me grow, and I helped them win. I'm in it to win it, I'm not in it for myself, so whether I'm the best RB or the worst RB, if my team wins,
I'm satisfied.
Quote:23. Early prediction of how you will fair this season? Hard to say predraft, but what the heck.
There is an obvious answer to this that we'll "blow this out of the water" but it's such a crapshoot, I wish I could answer any other way. If and only if our plans work out, our draft ends up being perfect to how we want it, and all of our players max out and just stay active, we'll have a good season, but it's more about how the team we draft bands together. We're only going to be as strong as the team we have in front of us, so I'm hoping to draft the strongest squad possible.
Quote:24. Are you ready to get some very nice steals this draft?
Short answer is yes, I am certainly prepared to get some of those steals!
Quote:25. How would you define your relationship with the Yellowknife Wraiths management?
As of right now, this guy hasn't even talked to me yet, which is disappointing cause we used to be BFF"s, but anyways right now it's neutral, but I'm sure in the foreseeable future, we'll be BFF's again and the relationship will take off. Unless he takes my players, then I'll scorn him forever and screw it, I'll have to hate them.
Quote:26. Why do you think you're the man for the job?
Not only have I been in leagues since I was about 13-14 (so about 11-12 years now?), I've also been a GM in multiple leagues both in the minor leagues and major leagues from hockey to baseball to basketball to football and all over the place, it's just been something I've enjoyed doing and I know I can build a winning squad. With the football experience, having made a football league and so on, I know I can make things work in a GM environment.
Quote:27. Why do you think you're the man for the job?
Bushito and I have a hate-hate relationship with a bit of likefulness in there, so I mean it's likely we'll have a rivalry, or he'll just call it something else I'm sure, but other than that I can't tell until we start beating people and they start beating us. I'm hoping we can have a fun rivalry though, not some crappy rivalry that exists for no reason.
Quote:28. If you had to pick one user to be your Co-GM besides your current, who do you pick?
There are a few people in the league I'd love to take on as a co-gm, but I won't name them simply because I'm very happy with my current co-gm. However just beknown that I had the option to choose a new co-gm as evryday gave me the option, but I'm not an ass like that. I would have chosen someone else simply because I've teamed up with them in the past, but evryday has surprised me with how awesome he is to work with, he's very knowledgeable.
Quote:29. Elephants or Llamas?
Llamas!
Quote:30. If Baltimore has great success this season, will there be any chance the team stays put?
It's possible, however with a football team already in Baltimore, I just wanted something a little more original. And while Toronto may have some kind of a football organization, they would have never had something as big as the team we'd move there, as this league just matters more than the CFL. Regardless, I wouldn't not stay here if we won a ring in season one, I'd want to keep the history here, but if we have a tragic season, it'll be very likely we move right away.
Quote:31. Will the be a Canadian rivalry with the Wraiths if you do move?
I'd like that to happen, and I'm sure there could be since we'll be the only two, but time will tell if the move happens and if the rivalry will exist, who knows us Canadians are very nice so it could turn out to be a friendship where we hate the rest of the league and like one another, stay tuned for that one haha.
Quote:32. Which combo of GM players scares you the most?
I think most of the teams that have one defensive and offensive player are the most well-off, as like us they're prepared to have someone that could carry both ends of the ball, and can have a solid force around them or even built with them included. Any team that has two offensive or two defensive could be good too, but realistically it's going to be harder in the draft because those teams will then be forced to go one way or the other and not be able to just get the steals or the best of the other positions, so we'll see how it works out, but as of right now I think most teams are balanced, not really scared by any.
Quote:33. You seem to be a big graphics guy, do you ever write media articles? (Besides pressers, of course)
I do see myself doing media pieces, but obviously not as much as my graphics. I love my graphics, went to school for them but I also love the English language and literature despite being French. So we'll see how many I do, but I doubt it'll be close to as much as my graphics and sig making.
Quote:34. Do you prefer summer or winter?
Love the cold, love the snow, just love winter. I don't hate Summer, especially because it's the season of my birthday, but I hate feeling warm and for some reason I'm warm all the time. I literally sleep with three fans in the winter and sometimes still feel warm, idk what it is but when winter comes around,
I'm all for it.
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