Welcome to our preview of Wednesday’s upcoming Ultimus Championship, where the reigning champions, the Arizonal Outlaws, will defend their Season 1 Championship against the Baltimore Hawks. The Outlaws have represented themselves well this season, putting together a dominant 12-2 record while the Hawks find themselves at 8-6. Regardless, it now comes down to one game and both teams are in reach of the Ultimus. Will the Outlaws retain? Or will the Hawks upset the defending champions?
Today, we’ll look at three categories based on how each team and its key players performed this season.
* * * * *
OFFENSIVE COMPARISON - PASSING
KEY STATS - ARIZONA OUTLAWS:
Under QB King Bronko, the Outlaws put together 3228 passing yards, ranking 4th in the league. They threw for 25 passing Touchdowns, the most in the league by far. Bronko also ranked 5th in completions with 285 successful pass attempts. However, the team did throw 17 interceptions, 15 coming from Bronko and 2 coming from back-up QB Mark Strike. Bronko boasts a QB Rating of 77.1, the 4th highest in the league. Arizona’s wide receivers have also played a big role with 20 of its touchdowns being shared by three players, Mayran Jackson (8), C.A. Chess (6), and Dustin Evans (6). Jackson in particular has stood out, racking up 83 catches (tied for 2nd in the league) and 1201 yards (tied for 4th). Evans also picked an impressive number of yards, ranking 10th in the league with 871 yards.
KEY STATS - BALTIMORE HAWKS:
Led by QB Scrub Kyubee, the Hawks threw for 3181 yards this season, ranking them 5th in the league. They also threw for 14 Touchdowns and 15 interceptions, both of which can be attributed directly to Kyubee, who holds a QB Rating of 74.0. The receiving portion of the Hawks’ game is led by WR Cooper Christmas, who picked up 1073 yards this season, ranking him 7th in the league. Cooper Christmas also holds claims to 5 Touchdowns, which ties him for 9th in the league.
ANALYSIS:
For the most part, both teams rank around 4th-5th in most passing categories. Neither team is known for standing out in most areas of the passing game, but both QBs are also solid and have served their teams effectively. The one stat that puts the Outlaws ahead is their impressive number of passing Touchdowns. Quite frankly, while their overall performance compares to other teams, the Outlaws’ passing game becoming exceptionally efficient in the red zone. At the end of the day, games are won by points scored, not yards gained, and so the Outlaws get the nod. Look for the Hawks to try to keep the Outlaws out of the red zone at all costs.
ADVANTAGE: Arizona Outlaws
* * * * *
OFFENSIVE COMPARISON - RUSHING
KEY STATS - ARIZONA OUTLAWS:
The Outlaws rank 2nd in the league with 1330 yards. They also hold 9 rushing touchdown, ranking 2nd in the league. Of those stats, Reg Mackworthy is responsible for 1089 yards and 7 Touchdowns, also ranking 2nd in both categories as an individual player. In addition, Mackworthy is consistently effective with 3.3 yards per carry.
KEY STATS - BALTIMORE HAWKS:
The Hawks lead the league in rushing yards with 1630 total yards, 1257 of which came from the league’s leading rusher, Darlene Farlane. The Hawks also hold claim to 7 rushing touchdowns, ranking them 3rd in the league; 5 of those touchdowns came directly from Farlane, who ranks 2nd in rushing touchdowns. He also boasts 3.4 yards per carry, ranking him in the top 10 in YPC.
ANALYSIS:
Both team boast impressive rushing stats, but perhaps just as importantly, those numbers don’t come purely on the backs of a single rusher. Farlane and Mackworthy are obvious star players that will no doubt lead the backfield in volume, but back-ups Jaxon Tuck and Marcus Tuck have been effective when called upon. This allows both teams to keep opposing defenses guessing and it’s served them well in the march to the championship. Both teams can make a valid argument for being the best rushing team overall in the NSFL, but the sheer volume of yards picked up by the Hawks this season is leaps and bounds above any other team and has made quite an impact in helping them reach the goal line. For that reason, we’ll give the advantage to the Hawks on this one.
ADVANTAGE: Baltimore Hawks
* * * * *
DEFENSIVE COMPARISON
KEY STATS - ARIZONA OUTLAWS:
The Outlaws lead the league in several categories, including Tackles for Loss (53), Sacks (83), Pass Deflections (67), and defensive Touchdowns (7). They excel also in turnovers, holding claim to 23 interceptions, the 2nd-highest interceptions made by any defense, and 9 forced fumbles, ranking 3rd among all teams. While it is no doubt a team effort, a lot of the credit has to go to LB Harrif Ernston, who is directly responsible for 16 sacks, ranking 3rd among all individual defensive players. He also ranks 6th in the league in interceptions (5) and 9th in tackles (110). SS Ryan Flock also stands out after scoring 4 defensive touchdowns, which is more than most teams picked up as a collective unit. Flock also lays claim to 6 interceptions, tying him for the 2nd most in the league. Other notable players… DE Dental Dam: 14 Tackles For Loss (3rd); LB Jaylon Lee: 139 Tackles (1st in league); CB Isaiah Rashad: 6 Interceptions (2nd), 19 Pass Deflections (2nd); DE Jayce Tuck: 19 Tackles For Loss (1st in league), 3 Forced Fumbles (2nd).
KEY STATS - BALTIMORE HAWKS:
While not leading in any category, the Outlaws do perform well in a few key areas, ranking 3rd in Sacks (63) and Interceptions (18). They also rank 5th in Forced Fumbles (7) and Pass Deflections (60), but rank last in Tackles (655) and Tackles For Loss (32). Despite this, a few key players certainly do stand out as potential difference-makers based on their performance this season. DB Antoine Delacour is responsible for both of the team’s defensive touchdowns, which puts him equal to the number of defensive touchdowns scored by most teams… all on his own. He ranks 2nd in defensive touchdowns scored by a player, second only to the Outlaws’ Ryan Flock. Delacour is also responsible for 2 Forced Fumbles (6th), 5 Interceptions (6th), and 13 Pass Deflections (7th). Another clear standout is LB Erasmo Broadway, who lays claim to 12 of the teams’ 32 Sacks, ranking him 6th in the league. He also picked up 115 Tackles, ranking 6th, and 13 Pass Deflections, tying with Delacour and a small group of other players with the 7th most in the league. In terms of Sacks, DE Kurt Hendrix also stands out with 13, ranking 4th in the league in Sacks. Other notable players… LB Stephen Harrison: 116 Tackles (5th); CB Rafael Reyes: 5 Interceptions (6th); CB Darnell Turner: 16 Pass Deflections (3rd); LB James Wright: 2 Forced Fumbles (6th).
ANALYSIS:
On paper, it’s hard to rival the impressive stats put up by the Outlaws’ defense this season. They are considered by many to be the best defense in the league and, out of the teams that could rival them for that spot, the Hawks aren’t one of them. However, the Hawks do excel in making Sacks, creating turnovers, and scoring defensive Touchdowns. While the Outlaws have the overall better defense, the Hawks can be credited with creating opportunities for their offense to retake the field. All it takes is a few big plays to put them the ball back in the hands of the offense, which is where they really shine. Obviously, we’re going to have to score this one for the Outlaws, but that doesn’t mean we’re ready to write the Hawks’ defense off just yet. In order to stay competitive, they don’t need to be better on every snap; they just need to make the right plays count when the opportunity arises. However, the numbers speak for themselves.
ADVANTAGE: Arizona Outlaws
* * * * *
FINAL VERDICT
When it comes down to it, both offenses are solid, but neither looks primed to outclass the other. The Outlaws are more effective in the red zone, racking up more touchdowns in both passing and rushing. However, the Hawks lead by a wider margin in overall yards and are more likely to reach the red zone, which may result in more opportunities to score. Ultimately, the real difference-maker here is the Outlaws’ defense. The value of the two offenses can be fairly debated, but the gap in defense is far more clear. For the Outlaws, it was the defense that brought them to the dance and they’re likely to continue to trust in that defense to bring back home the Ultimus. For the Hawks, it all comes down to making a few big plays on defense and getting as much mileage out of their offense as they can, particularly in the running game. We’re expecting a close game and the Hawks have a shot at pulling off an upset, but if the Outlaws can continue to play at the level that they’ve been playing at, the odds are in their favor. We’re predicting that the Outlaws bring the Ultimus back home to Arizona.
1,548 Words
GRADED
Today, we’ll look at three categories based on how each team and its key players performed this season.
* * * * *
OFFENSIVE COMPARISON - PASSING
KEY STATS - ARIZONA OUTLAWS:
Under QB King Bronko, the Outlaws put together 3228 passing yards, ranking 4th in the league. They threw for 25 passing Touchdowns, the most in the league by far. Bronko also ranked 5th in completions with 285 successful pass attempts. However, the team did throw 17 interceptions, 15 coming from Bronko and 2 coming from back-up QB Mark Strike. Bronko boasts a QB Rating of 77.1, the 4th highest in the league. Arizona’s wide receivers have also played a big role with 20 of its touchdowns being shared by three players, Mayran Jackson (8), C.A. Chess (6), and Dustin Evans (6). Jackson in particular has stood out, racking up 83 catches (tied for 2nd in the league) and 1201 yards (tied for 4th). Evans also picked an impressive number of yards, ranking 10th in the league with 871 yards.
KEY STATS - BALTIMORE HAWKS:
Led by QB Scrub Kyubee, the Hawks threw for 3181 yards this season, ranking them 5th in the league. They also threw for 14 Touchdowns and 15 interceptions, both of which can be attributed directly to Kyubee, who holds a QB Rating of 74.0. The receiving portion of the Hawks’ game is led by WR Cooper Christmas, who picked up 1073 yards this season, ranking him 7th in the league. Cooper Christmas also holds claims to 5 Touchdowns, which ties him for 9th in the league.
ANALYSIS:
For the most part, both teams rank around 4th-5th in most passing categories. Neither team is known for standing out in most areas of the passing game, but both QBs are also solid and have served their teams effectively. The one stat that puts the Outlaws ahead is their impressive number of passing Touchdowns. Quite frankly, while their overall performance compares to other teams, the Outlaws’ passing game becoming exceptionally efficient in the red zone. At the end of the day, games are won by points scored, not yards gained, and so the Outlaws get the nod. Look for the Hawks to try to keep the Outlaws out of the red zone at all costs.
ADVANTAGE: Arizona Outlaws
* * * * *
OFFENSIVE COMPARISON - RUSHING
KEY STATS - ARIZONA OUTLAWS:
The Outlaws rank 2nd in the league with 1330 yards. They also hold 9 rushing touchdown, ranking 2nd in the league. Of those stats, Reg Mackworthy is responsible for 1089 yards and 7 Touchdowns, also ranking 2nd in both categories as an individual player. In addition, Mackworthy is consistently effective with 3.3 yards per carry.
KEY STATS - BALTIMORE HAWKS:
The Hawks lead the league in rushing yards with 1630 total yards, 1257 of which came from the league’s leading rusher, Darlene Farlane. The Hawks also hold claim to 7 rushing touchdowns, ranking them 3rd in the league; 5 of those touchdowns came directly from Farlane, who ranks 2nd in rushing touchdowns. He also boasts 3.4 yards per carry, ranking him in the top 10 in YPC.
ANALYSIS:
Both team boast impressive rushing stats, but perhaps just as importantly, those numbers don’t come purely on the backs of a single rusher. Farlane and Mackworthy are obvious star players that will no doubt lead the backfield in volume, but back-ups Jaxon Tuck and Marcus Tuck have been effective when called upon. This allows both teams to keep opposing defenses guessing and it’s served them well in the march to the championship. Both teams can make a valid argument for being the best rushing team overall in the NSFL, but the sheer volume of yards picked up by the Hawks this season is leaps and bounds above any other team and has made quite an impact in helping them reach the goal line. For that reason, we’ll give the advantage to the Hawks on this one.
ADVANTAGE: Baltimore Hawks
* * * * *
DEFENSIVE COMPARISON
KEY STATS - ARIZONA OUTLAWS:
The Outlaws lead the league in several categories, including Tackles for Loss (53), Sacks (83), Pass Deflections (67), and defensive Touchdowns (7). They excel also in turnovers, holding claim to 23 interceptions, the 2nd-highest interceptions made by any defense, and 9 forced fumbles, ranking 3rd among all teams. While it is no doubt a team effort, a lot of the credit has to go to LB Harrif Ernston, who is directly responsible for 16 sacks, ranking 3rd among all individual defensive players. He also ranks 6th in the league in interceptions (5) and 9th in tackles (110). SS Ryan Flock also stands out after scoring 4 defensive touchdowns, which is more than most teams picked up as a collective unit. Flock also lays claim to 6 interceptions, tying him for the 2nd most in the league. Other notable players… DE Dental Dam: 14 Tackles For Loss (3rd); LB Jaylon Lee: 139 Tackles (1st in league); CB Isaiah Rashad: 6 Interceptions (2nd), 19 Pass Deflections (2nd); DE Jayce Tuck: 19 Tackles For Loss (1st in league), 3 Forced Fumbles (2nd).
KEY STATS - BALTIMORE HAWKS:
While not leading in any category, the Outlaws do perform well in a few key areas, ranking 3rd in Sacks (63) and Interceptions (18). They also rank 5th in Forced Fumbles (7) and Pass Deflections (60), but rank last in Tackles (655) and Tackles For Loss (32). Despite this, a few key players certainly do stand out as potential difference-makers based on their performance this season. DB Antoine Delacour is responsible for both of the team’s defensive touchdowns, which puts him equal to the number of defensive touchdowns scored by most teams… all on his own. He ranks 2nd in defensive touchdowns scored by a player, second only to the Outlaws’ Ryan Flock. Delacour is also responsible for 2 Forced Fumbles (6th), 5 Interceptions (6th), and 13 Pass Deflections (7th). Another clear standout is LB Erasmo Broadway, who lays claim to 12 of the teams’ 32 Sacks, ranking him 6th in the league. He also picked up 115 Tackles, ranking 6th, and 13 Pass Deflections, tying with Delacour and a small group of other players with the 7th most in the league. In terms of Sacks, DE Kurt Hendrix also stands out with 13, ranking 4th in the league in Sacks. Other notable players… LB Stephen Harrison: 116 Tackles (5th); CB Rafael Reyes: 5 Interceptions (6th); CB Darnell Turner: 16 Pass Deflections (3rd); LB James Wright: 2 Forced Fumbles (6th).
ANALYSIS:
On paper, it’s hard to rival the impressive stats put up by the Outlaws’ defense this season. They are considered by many to be the best defense in the league and, out of the teams that could rival them for that spot, the Hawks aren’t one of them. However, the Hawks do excel in making Sacks, creating turnovers, and scoring defensive Touchdowns. While the Outlaws have the overall better defense, the Hawks can be credited with creating opportunities for their offense to retake the field. All it takes is a few big plays to put them the ball back in the hands of the offense, which is where they really shine. Obviously, we’re going to have to score this one for the Outlaws, but that doesn’t mean we’re ready to write the Hawks’ defense off just yet. In order to stay competitive, they don’t need to be better on every snap; they just need to make the right plays count when the opportunity arises. However, the numbers speak for themselves.
ADVANTAGE: Arizona Outlaws
* * * * *
FINAL VERDICT
When it comes down to it, both offenses are solid, but neither looks primed to outclass the other. The Outlaws are more effective in the red zone, racking up more touchdowns in both passing and rushing. However, the Hawks lead by a wider margin in overall yards and are more likely to reach the red zone, which may result in more opportunities to score. Ultimately, the real difference-maker here is the Outlaws’ defense. The value of the two offenses can be fairly debated, but the gap in defense is far more clear. For the Outlaws, it was the defense that brought them to the dance and they’re likely to continue to trust in that defense to bring back home the Ultimus. For the Hawks, it all comes down to making a few big plays on defense and getting as much mileage out of their offense as they can, particularly in the running game. We’re expecting a close game and the Hawks have a shot at pulling off an upset, but if the Outlaws can continue to play at the level that they’ve been playing at, the odds are in their favor. We’re predicting that the Outlaws bring the Ultimus back home to Arizona.
1,548 Words
GRADED
Thanks to Jangorhino for the sig.