What helped my development over the season was my burning desire to be great. It isn’t something that just progressed over the season, but it is something I have had my whole life, it just happens that this season is where it all came together. I started off the season hot with 6 sacks through the first 4 games of the season and after that I felt like if I could keep pushing harder I could break records and more importantly help the team earn some wins. So as the season progressed and I kept racking up sacks the fire inside of me kept burning hotter and brighter. I felt like I became a freight train that couldn’t be stopped and was picking up speed game after game. Unfortunately the train came off the rails at the end of the season and I fell just short of leading the league in sacks.
PT #5
So this week they want to know how I've been progressing. well to tell you the truth it has been pretty rough because the regression monster has been just smoking my next season I'll have a 50% regression and pretty much the end of my career has signed one more contract for one year. but the prompt is what did I do this season I think I pumped a lot into getting just my stats backed up to full strength full agility I didn't take anything away from the speed or speed rusher so just trying to get that tackling all the way up again and just be in somewhat even across the board trying to keep the stats as high as I can while the regression monster slowly eats my feet away. Now this prompt will be really hard to answer next season after 50% regression.. will I finally have to get rid of a speed rusher? Finally eat into my strength and speed. I mean what will be left of me?
Kumquat may have regressed a bit when it comes to rushing stat lines this season, but he has progressed a good deal as receiver, a blocker, and perhaps most importantly as a teammate. After winning last year's Most Valuable Player award, Kumquat had high hopes on continuing to improve as a runner. Just as Kumquat saw a breakout last season that had the whole league talking about him, his teammate Adebayo Akinfenwa has had a very similar breakout this season, and thus Kumquat has had to learn how to act in a supporting role rather than being the star of the offense. Much of this support has come in the form of lining up wide to catch passes - to train for this, Kumquat plays a daily game of hot potato with fellow Yellowknife pass catchers. Kumquat wanted to progress in his ability to block for teammates as well, so he has been training in that department by dressing up like a tackling dummy and eating hits from Wraith linebackers and other defenders.
Goat Tannk realized earlier this season something needed to change. The past couple seasons he was not living up to expectations and I guess just sitting around and eating candy bars and not working out wasn't doing it for the naturally gifted body he had. So he decided to start chasing goats back at the farm and see if that would increase his speed off the line or not. Turned out it ended up helping as this season he was able to really burst past those linemen and went from 3 sacks a season to 9 sacks this season effectively tripling his output. It definitely seemed to turn him into what we like to call a speed rusher and you could tell it definitely made a big difference between having that kind of ability and not having that kind of ability. The next thing that helped him was also being able to pick up the goats have chasing them, teaching him the ways of forcing some more fumbles.
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Alex started the season on a low note. After being taken in the first round, the exciting defensive end struggle to get tackles or make plays behind the line of scrimmage. The media even asked him about it which lead to a huge dramatic fiasco. Alex took a look at his training regime and aks his coaches for some help. They decided to bring in expert Patches O'Houlihan. Patches unique philosophy was "If you can dogde a ball, you can dodge an OL". Alex was very skeptical about this training not believing it could actually help him get more sacks and tackles for loss, but he trusted his coaches. Day in and Day out Alex would dodge balls that patches would through. then he progressed to dodging wrenches. then to dodging cars. And it worked. Alex started to dodge offensive linemen and make huge plays in the back field. As a rookie Alex finished the season with 5 sacks and 9 tfls
"If you're not fast enough, you're not good enough!" Coach @Repgnar's voice bellowed through the training room. "So pump that speed! Anyone who says ‘F Speed’ in here can leave for all I care!”
An almost daily ritual this season, Billy Jor-El would find his way to the Minnesota Gray Ducks training facilities to work on whatever he could. And ever present, the training staff was always there to offer tips and pointers on the best ways to boost his abilities to succeed in the league. “If you're not strong enough, you're not good enough!" Coach’s voice raised in rhythm as Billy continued his deadlifts. "Strength and Speed! Strength and Speed! You’re a Defensive Lineman! You wanna blow past the O-line? Get stronger, and get faster! But don’t forget, if you don't have the endurance, you can't help your team!” He turned and started to walk towards his office, leaving Billy to his workout. “And if all of you aren’t smart enough, well that's just a shame, ain't it." Leonardo Da Pinchi S48: Roster Page | Most Recent Update | Wiki Billy Jor-El S41: Roster Page | Wiki
+ TPE - SHL Affiliate
At this point in my career I'm considered an old man, a veteran of the sport. I get called that so often it's easy to forget that I'm only 31 years old. So when it's time to do maintenance work in the weight room (that's what my last strength and conditioning coach called in-season workouts) I'm pretty much expected to handle my business. The difference this year is that I'm in a new locker room and these guys weren't with me when I was still building up. It's easy to think that the new vet on the team is just coasting on reputation and experience, and sure in some ways I don't have to work as hard as the rookies because some things come as naturally as breathing. But still, there are days like today when I'm feeling good and decide to show these kids exactly what I can do.
After a few warm-up sets, I put four plates on the bar and settle into my bench press position. On an easy day this is usually my single rep weight. Not today. I slam out three reps, rack the bar, and sit back up. Immediately I grab two more plates and slide them on, followed by some clamps. This is 495 pounds now, serious weight. Most of the weight room is now looking my way. I make a point to slam my three reps out with no delays in-between, then sit up again. I'm casual, like this is still my warm-up set. The strength coach has a grin on his face. "What now, Dane?" I silently grab two more plates. 585 pounds. No more pretending this is easy weight. Two teammates set up to spot the bar, and this time I have to grit and slowly press out one rep, finishing with a loud yell at the top. Many high-fives and back slaps follow the racking of the bar, and I feel like I've proven myself to my new team once again.
Season one was a tough year for Jason Steele. Between the Coyotes abysmal record and a scandalous accusation at the beginning of the season, it certainly was a "Welcome to the ISFL" moment for the rookie. Hardships aside, there was one place the first round pick called sanctuary, the weight room. At the beginning of the season, the all purpose DT was fast and slender. Reaching max speed right out of the gate but found little in terms of on the field results. Frustrated, Steele turned his goals toward the weight room in order to start competing with some of the DSFL's offensive linemen. Starting the season out at a meager 70 strength, Steele was able to put his nose to the grindstone and bring that number all the way up to 80 strength heading into the Coyotes last game. While his on the field stats have yet to skyrocket, we're clearly starting to see this young prospect come into his own on the field. It's going to continue to take time but if Steele can continue to make strides in the weight room, we may be witnessing a future All Pro DT in the making.
Zayne Dangle | Wide Receiver | Berlin Fire Salamanders
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