The Plight of a Quarterback: Understanding One’s Place in the Stacked DSFL Draft
Hello there everyone. For those of you who don’t know, my name is Suleiman Ramza, and I am a quarterback prospect for the upcoming Developmental Simulation Football League draft. For the further uninitiated, this looks to be one of the most active drafts with an incredible influx of new players joining the league and preparing to be drafted. Also notable is the number of quarterback prospects declaring for the draft, of which, I am one. According to a quarterback prospect rating piece conducted by J0EB, there are currently fifteen undrafted quarterbacks, of which, seven have showed development at least by the end of February. This has left me with one burning question.
How is one to stand out in such a large pool?
Of course, the obvious answer that stands out is through training, showing good character and moreover and most importantly, showing dedication to this league and dedication to improving. However, as has been pointed out to me, this draft also features many huge recreates that will surely draw the eyes of many franchises, especially the new Dallas Birddogs and London Royals.
Leading up to the Prospect Bowl, Susan Cash Jr penned an excellent feature looking over our team, the Miami Grenadiers. Cash Jr pointed out specifically how our teammate Colby Jack is bound to go either ‘first or second in the draft’. J0EB further pointed out that Colby was leading the quarterback class in TPE (as of February 28th, 2020) with a head start on the other prospects. This has led me wonder if it is in fact possible to stand out when surrounded by such gigantic prospects. And to this end, as a completely new player to the league, I found myself welcomed with open arms by many, whilst also being told, and then reminded of the uphill battle I faced as a quarterback in this class. Some even recommended I change my position in order to better fit into the league. All in all, I was appreciative of this advice. I could tell it was coming from a good place, but I knew deep down that I did not want to play another position. I wanted to be a quarterback. And a damn good one, at that.
And as far as the Prospect Bowl has been, day one was a rousing success, and our Miami Grenadiers were able to secure a place in the upcoming playoffs. Personally, I was incredibly happy to be around my teammates and watch the astounding performances of Jack, Apollo, Cash Jr and Kehla. However, I did find myself a bit disappointed by the lack of game time I received, and a bit resigned to the side lines. I hosted a press conference soon after the game and the recurring topic of the large QB presence was once again thrust into my thoughts.
After pondering the tough subject matter of ‘breakfast’ and subsequently responding with the greatest answer in press conference history (I’m of course exaggerating, but seriously, try those eggs, they will blow your mind) I found myself having to reflect again on this incredible pool of quarterbacks and how I could stand out besides them. Haha Mango-Panda’s question about the toughness of this QB class did spring some doubt into my mind about my effectiveness of being more than a backup quarterback. Cash Jr’s subsequent question about my lack of playing time in the Prospect Bowl reinforced this sinking feeling of drudgery. However, the more I reflect on this, and these aspects, the more I find myself excited and motivated to move forward. As I said to Mango-Panda, the further down the draft I go, the harder I see myself working to make sure that I surpass those that came before me and to prove to whatever franchise that does draft me that I was absolutely the right choice; as a player, as a teammate, and potentially as a locker room leader. And to refer back to Cash Jr’s question, I understand that ultimately the team comes first, and so if the tag ‘backup quarterback’ remains a perennial status for me during my time in the Developmental Simulation Football League, then so be it. But I would be remiss to not point out how I plan to develop exponentially and improve keep at the heels of any quarterback who does not develop as they should.
I fear that I may be coming off as too ‘against the world’ in my sentiments, so I would like to end with a focus on an inspiration of mine. Three-time Ultimus winner and most valuable player, Franklin Armstrong. Franklin had been kind enough to chat with me and inundate me into the National Simulation Football League when I joined, and having read and learnt more about him, I find that his story of being an eleventh round draft pick, turned Ultimini and subsequently three-time Ultimus winner to be the most damning piece of evidence that when questioning one’s place in a stacked draft class, more importantly than anything else, one must take any and every opportunity one gets, and make the most of it.
Thank you all for reading. Have a great day.
872 Words
Hello there everyone. For those of you who don’t know, my name is Suleiman Ramza, and I am a quarterback prospect for the upcoming Developmental Simulation Football League draft. For the further uninitiated, this looks to be one of the most active drafts with an incredible influx of new players joining the league and preparing to be drafted. Also notable is the number of quarterback prospects declaring for the draft, of which, I am one. According to a quarterback prospect rating piece conducted by J0EB, there are currently fifteen undrafted quarterbacks, of which, seven have showed development at least by the end of February. This has left me with one burning question.
How is one to stand out in such a large pool?
Of course, the obvious answer that stands out is through training, showing good character and moreover and most importantly, showing dedication to this league and dedication to improving. However, as has been pointed out to me, this draft also features many huge recreates that will surely draw the eyes of many franchises, especially the new Dallas Birddogs and London Royals.
Leading up to the Prospect Bowl, Susan Cash Jr penned an excellent feature looking over our team, the Miami Grenadiers. Cash Jr pointed out specifically how our teammate Colby Jack is bound to go either ‘first or second in the draft’. J0EB further pointed out that Colby was leading the quarterback class in TPE (as of February 28th, 2020) with a head start on the other prospects. This has led me wonder if it is in fact possible to stand out when surrounded by such gigantic prospects. And to this end, as a completely new player to the league, I found myself welcomed with open arms by many, whilst also being told, and then reminded of the uphill battle I faced as a quarterback in this class. Some even recommended I change my position in order to better fit into the league. All in all, I was appreciative of this advice. I could tell it was coming from a good place, but I knew deep down that I did not want to play another position. I wanted to be a quarterback. And a damn good one, at that.
And as far as the Prospect Bowl has been, day one was a rousing success, and our Miami Grenadiers were able to secure a place in the upcoming playoffs. Personally, I was incredibly happy to be around my teammates and watch the astounding performances of Jack, Apollo, Cash Jr and Kehla. However, I did find myself a bit disappointed by the lack of game time I received, and a bit resigned to the side lines. I hosted a press conference soon after the game and the recurring topic of the large QB presence was once again thrust into my thoughts.
After pondering the tough subject matter of ‘breakfast’ and subsequently responding with the greatest answer in press conference history (I’m of course exaggerating, but seriously, try those eggs, they will blow your mind) I found myself having to reflect again on this incredible pool of quarterbacks and how I could stand out besides them. Haha Mango-Panda’s question about the toughness of this QB class did spring some doubt into my mind about my effectiveness of being more than a backup quarterback. Cash Jr’s subsequent question about my lack of playing time in the Prospect Bowl reinforced this sinking feeling of drudgery. However, the more I reflect on this, and these aspects, the more I find myself excited and motivated to move forward. As I said to Mango-Panda, the further down the draft I go, the harder I see myself working to make sure that I surpass those that came before me and to prove to whatever franchise that does draft me that I was absolutely the right choice; as a player, as a teammate, and potentially as a locker room leader. And to refer back to Cash Jr’s question, I understand that ultimately the team comes first, and so if the tag ‘backup quarterback’ remains a perennial status for me during my time in the Developmental Simulation Football League, then so be it. But I would be remiss to not point out how I plan to develop exponentially and improve keep at the heels of any quarterback who does not develop as they should.
I fear that I may be coming off as too ‘against the world’ in my sentiments, so I would like to end with a focus on an inspiration of mine. Three-time Ultimus winner and most valuable player, Franklin Armstrong. Franklin had been kind enough to chat with me and inundate me into the National Simulation Football League when I joined, and having read and learnt more about him, I find that his story of being an eleventh round draft pick, turned Ultimini and subsequently three-time Ultimus winner to be the most damning piece of evidence that when questioning one’s place in a stacked draft class, more importantly than anything else, one must take any and every opportunity one gets, and make the most of it.
Thank you all for reading. Have a great day.
872 Words