Proving Ground: Life in the DSFL
Season 1: Episode 3 S1E03
Zed Keppler has granted an unprecedented level of access to HOBO Sports to film and chronicle the life of a budding athlete trying to make his mark on professional football.
“There's no day better than game day.” Keppler says as he is leaving the facility. “ Except maybe the day before game day. That's a good day as well.” We are on the precipice of the Python’s first preseason game. The fans may not be as excited about preseason but the players sure are. It's a time to try out new things, it's a time to see what progress you made over the offseason, and it's also a Time to make new friends. And enemies. it is a time to stop thinking about what's going to happen in a couple of weeks and actually put in it to happen the next day. The Pythons have quite a turnover, having quite a few Playmakers move up to the NFL. Gone is the number one running back, and the outspoken number one defensive back. While he was outspoken he always pushed people to do better, he always made it a point to put you in your place when you weren't doing your job.
Coming into the second season could not set up better for Zed Keppler. He sits at the top of the running back position. The team has a couple of new guys in that he considers great teammates and a good group in the study room. Even though there has been some turnover, the playoffs are still the goal. Just two years removed from a truly awful season it seems like the Pythons are hit or stay with contending for the title. For the veterans on the team it is playoffs or bust. Title or Bust. Tomorrow it gets real and you put action after preparation.
I asked Keppler if he was excited. “ how could you not be. It's literally the only thing we live for. It's our job and we get to show up in front of thousands of fans who paid money to watch us play a game. Best job in the world.”
“Are you nervous at all?” I try to bait him. “ no I'm not nervous at all. I only have one goal and that's to show up to help my team win and hopefully do really well on the ground that's it. Once you have done it once it's just the same thing over and over. We'll be just fine.” and just like that he wished me on his way and headed into the hotel.
Preseason Game 1 - Portland Pythons Vs Kansas City Coyotes
The DSFL for the most part is pretty run-heavy. One of the reasons why when asked to change positions Keppler said he would but he expressed his desire to stay as a running back. Even if it meant coming in as running back to and maybe not being the Bell cow. This year he enters Camp as running back 1 and gets his first start tonight. Even though it is just preseason starting is something that Keppler does not take lightly. It's an honor. The first quarter turns out to be quite a defensive battle. The Pythons put 10 points on the board but seven of those coming from a punt return touchdown. Keppler only has three carries in the first half. I catch up to him on the way to the locker room. “ we just gotta keep going. Keep doing our thing. I'm not worried about it we're up 17 to 7 so what can you really complain about.” It was a very odd first half the Pythons only rushed the football 11 times with seven carries going to the rookie running back. Even though he said the right thing I could see that he was disappointed in himself. The second half is probably a half a football all the Pythons and even the coyotes would much less forget. No points scored in the second-half. Turns out the Pythons only ran the ball 27 times Keppler only got 10 of them. He finished the day 10 carries for 48 yards. “ not a good day. But we got the dub and that's fine. We did a lot of things schematically that were not used to doing and that's really what the preseason is all about.”
“You can’t dance in the middle.”
The day after the game the Pythons have off, which is a nice change you have to recuperate and rest but it's 7:30 a.m. and Keppler has been at the team facility for 2 hours. He is running through film study from yesterday's game. Of course, it's sloppy, of course, it needs work. It is the first game of the preseason. Being sloppy isn't an excuse. Midway through the morning, the running backs coach comes in and he's not that surprised to see Keppler already there. They went through and watched the second half. Keppler got seven carries in the second half but still did not do much with his chances. That is what upsets me the most. “ You have to pick a hole and hit it and don't look left or right you have to make one cut and go.” Davis said, the Portland Pythons running back coach. He's right And Keppler knows it. He wanted to wait instead of burst and in this life that just won't cut it. “ You can't dance in the middle, you have the speed, you have the agility if you have to break it, you break it out but you can not sit there. We don't have the line for you to be as patient as you showed.” Said Davis.
“he's right,” Keppler said on the way to the truck. “Sometimes you're looking for the perfect opportunity but you really don't have the time to do that, you don't have the luxury. Those are the times that separate the good backs from the regular backs. Making something from nothing.”
Keppler requested a few days off from filming so the next time I see him it is the hours leading up to the second preseason game. He looks refreshed, ready to go. on the way over to the stadium he cuts loose with a few stories. He's the only one from Mississippi so of course, the team jokes about him growing up with no shoes or they find it pretty surprising he still has all of his teeth. He tells about the time his grandfather cut his own index finger off because it was infected from working in the cotton gin. He holds up basically his hand with his finger bent down past the first knuckle. “He would jab me with that thing and I promise you it hurt worse than a regular finger pointing. It was the weirdest damn thing I've ever seen,’ he laughed as he recalled those memories. as the stadium comes into view the story has died down in the focus raises. Tonight they're going against the defending champs preseason or not they want the win
Preseason Game 2 - Portland Pythons VS Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
Keppler did not get the start of this game. He took it in stride, suited up and played hard regardless. The Champs come out swinging, scoring on their opening drive. The Pythons did hold them to a field goal. On the next offensive series Keppler did not get in the game. It was a three-and-out. The ball went straight back to Myrtle Beach. They strike quickly with a touchdown run. The Pythons are down to nothing but they don't panic. They know again it's preseason but also you want these types of situations to see how your squad will respond when it really does count. At the end of the first quarter is 10 to 3 Myrtle Beach. Portland is not backing down there fighting tooth and nail giving Myrtle Beach all they can get. Early in the second quarter Myrtle Beach extended their lead by three with a 29-yard field goal. Keppler enters the game And has one short carry and please pass protection. Portland carrying on from the first game are not scheming to be run heavy as they were last season. Their quarterback is slinging and they look to be developing their wide receivers and seeing how far this quarterback and carry them. They finally get the big strike with a touchdown pass with one minute to go in the second quarter. At the half 13 to 10 Myrtle Beach. “ Nothing is given you have to earn it every day. We're in this we're trying out new things it's not a big deal looking to come out strong in the second half,” Keppler said as they walked off the field for halftime. in the second half the python seem to implode they have two turnovers and a Litany of penalties, much like their playoff loss a year ago. They lose 27 to 17 but it was closer than the score reads at the end. Keppler finished the day with only five carries for 26 yards. He's quiet for the rest of the night but he does not try to let the disappointment paint his face.
The Pythons have two days off following road games in the preseason than the normal season. “Tough to take two days off after a loss,” Keppler laments. The next time he is due at the facility is on install day.
He did take one day off, but today he is at X-Ath with Dirk. They are reviewing both weeks of film. Here, they just look at his plays, not the entire game. The review goes much more quicker. But it's also a little selfish, but he's doing it on his own time so he views it as putting in the work without a single goal in mind. The rest of the day is spent on agility drills and making one cuts. Keppler is determined Not to waste the opportunities that he gives squander away like he has in the first 2 weeks.
“The Third time is the Charm”
Preseason Game 3 - Portland Pythons Vs Tijuana Luchadores
Two intense games in a row even for pre-season. The defending champs are just that, the champs. But Tijuana presents their biggest challenge to repeat. Portland would like to think of themselves as a challenge as well and to do that they're going to have to beat Tijuana tonight. Tijuana is led by what some consider the best quarterback in the DSFL and then an absolute bell cow for running back. Keppler is excited and wants to prove that he can belong and hopefully be spoken in the same breath as Tijuana's rb1. But Keppler again does not get the start. He is running back 2 for the game. The first quarter starts out very slow; there is just one score and that's a touchdown pass from Tijuana's quarterback. The python can't get anything going in the game even with Keppler in the backfield. Tijuana's defense is stifling. their game plan again appears to be quite pass-heavy. Not really bucking the trend of the first two games and going against what brought the Pythons much success last season. The second quarter it's much like the first, Tijuana takes control scoring two touchdowns. If there were going to be a lot of opportunities to run the ball in this game that's seemingly over as Portland is down 21 to nothing late in the second quarter. No words from Keppler as he walks into the locker room 4/2 time. In the second quarter Tijuana pulls their starters, Portland starters are still in trying to make something of this horrific night. The luchadores pull away with one more touchdown from their backup QB going up 27 and nothing. In what seems like the! On the night the last score is an interception Pick 6. Keppler ends the day 12 carries, a preseason high, for 39 yards. He also had two catches for 22 yards from the backfield but overall a very disappointing night with most of his carries coming with the game far out of reach.
On the way home Keppler offers a few thoughts, what I'm sure most of the locker room echoed.
“It just wasn't our night to be honest. Preseason or not they showed that they are a much better team schematically either we are at this point. Which is okay because this point doesn't matter but it does ring a sense of urgency to get better. And that is really what you can take away from the preseason.”
Preseason Game 4 - Portland Pythons Vs Minnesota Grey Ducks
It is the preseason finale. This one means a little more than the others. Even though most of the starters will not play in the second half, the first half is all about getting off to the right start and building momentum for that week 1 game. It's about the time where trying out new things turns into meticulously planning out the game plan for the next week. Keppler gets the start for this game.. Hopefully a sign of things to come. Or maybe just switching up from the terrible outing that was last week in Tijuana. With the importance of the first half so high, it is very disappointing that the first quarter goes and only a field goal is the score. It belongs to Portland, They Are Up 3 to nothing. The second quarter goes same as the First, with Portland only adding a field goal. Keppler has seven carries in the first half for 26 yards. So he's getting some work at least. He holds his head a little higher as a team enters the tunnel for halftime. They do have the lead, and their night’s seemingly done. So the starters can hold their head high and consider this a win. It doesn't go to plan though, the Portland coach not happy with a 6-0 lead continues with the starters in the third quarter. This doesn't seem to have a negative effect on the team, it looks like they legitimately do want to come out and score and put this thing to bed. And that's exactly what they do. Keppler on the first drive of the third quarter has eight carries for 20 yards in which the team scores a touchdown to go up 13 and nothing. This would be the end of the night for the starters. Keppler finished the game with 15 carries for 46 yards adding one catch for 5 yards. Although much like the first three games of the preseason he has been carried and outgained by the other running backs in the stable.
“When does the season depth chart get posted?” I asked Keppler. The Pythons get 10 days before the start of the regular season. He shrugs with that smirk like he acts like he doesn't care but I know he does. He's probably pretty nervous. It's been a toss-up so far between the off season in the preseason performance. Worst case scenario the two top running backs split carries evenly too much success. “ As long as we are winning, I don't care. I just want to help the team and I want to win some ball games.” Keppler says to me when I press him again and where he thinks he'll end up. And that's the truth. I spend enough time around him to know that he really doesn't care but he does want to win and does want to prove his worth. This entire job is a Proving Ground, and it's one that he intends to make his mark in.
Season 1: Episode 3 S1E03
Zed Keppler has granted an unprecedented level of access to HOBO Sports to film and chronicle the life of a budding athlete trying to make his mark on professional football.
“There's no day better than game day.” Keppler says as he is leaving the facility. “ Except maybe the day before game day. That's a good day as well.” We are on the precipice of the Python’s first preseason game. The fans may not be as excited about preseason but the players sure are. It's a time to try out new things, it's a time to see what progress you made over the offseason, and it's also a Time to make new friends. And enemies. it is a time to stop thinking about what's going to happen in a couple of weeks and actually put in it to happen the next day. The Pythons have quite a turnover, having quite a few Playmakers move up to the NFL. Gone is the number one running back, and the outspoken number one defensive back. While he was outspoken he always pushed people to do better, he always made it a point to put you in your place when you weren't doing your job.
Coming into the second season could not set up better for Zed Keppler. He sits at the top of the running back position. The team has a couple of new guys in that he considers great teammates and a good group in the study room. Even though there has been some turnover, the playoffs are still the goal. Just two years removed from a truly awful season it seems like the Pythons are hit or stay with contending for the title. For the veterans on the team it is playoffs or bust. Title or Bust. Tomorrow it gets real and you put action after preparation.
I asked Keppler if he was excited. “ how could you not be. It's literally the only thing we live for. It's our job and we get to show up in front of thousands of fans who paid money to watch us play a game. Best job in the world.”
“Are you nervous at all?” I try to bait him. “ no I'm not nervous at all. I only have one goal and that's to show up to help my team win and hopefully do really well on the ground that's it. Once you have done it once it's just the same thing over and over. We'll be just fine.” and just like that he wished me on his way and headed into the hotel.
Preseason Game 1 - Portland Pythons Vs Kansas City Coyotes
The DSFL for the most part is pretty run-heavy. One of the reasons why when asked to change positions Keppler said he would but he expressed his desire to stay as a running back. Even if it meant coming in as running back to and maybe not being the Bell cow. This year he enters Camp as running back 1 and gets his first start tonight. Even though it is just preseason starting is something that Keppler does not take lightly. It's an honor. The first quarter turns out to be quite a defensive battle. The Pythons put 10 points on the board but seven of those coming from a punt return touchdown. Keppler only has three carries in the first half. I catch up to him on the way to the locker room. “ we just gotta keep going. Keep doing our thing. I'm not worried about it we're up 17 to 7 so what can you really complain about.” It was a very odd first half the Pythons only rushed the football 11 times with seven carries going to the rookie running back. Even though he said the right thing I could see that he was disappointed in himself. The second half is probably a half a football all the Pythons and even the coyotes would much less forget. No points scored in the second-half. Turns out the Pythons only ran the ball 27 times Keppler only got 10 of them. He finished the day 10 carries for 48 yards. “ not a good day. But we got the dub and that's fine. We did a lot of things schematically that were not used to doing and that's really what the preseason is all about.”
“You can’t dance in the middle.”
The day after the game the Pythons have off, which is a nice change you have to recuperate and rest but it's 7:30 a.m. and Keppler has been at the team facility for 2 hours. He is running through film study from yesterday's game. Of course, it's sloppy, of course, it needs work. It is the first game of the preseason. Being sloppy isn't an excuse. Midway through the morning, the running backs coach comes in and he's not that surprised to see Keppler already there. They went through and watched the second half. Keppler got seven carries in the second half but still did not do much with his chances. That is what upsets me the most. “ You have to pick a hole and hit it and don't look left or right you have to make one cut and go.” Davis said, the Portland Pythons running back coach. He's right And Keppler knows it. He wanted to wait instead of burst and in this life that just won't cut it. “ You can't dance in the middle, you have the speed, you have the agility if you have to break it, you break it out but you can not sit there. We don't have the line for you to be as patient as you showed.” Said Davis.
“he's right,” Keppler said on the way to the truck. “Sometimes you're looking for the perfect opportunity but you really don't have the time to do that, you don't have the luxury. Those are the times that separate the good backs from the regular backs. Making something from nothing.”
Keppler requested a few days off from filming so the next time I see him it is the hours leading up to the second preseason game. He looks refreshed, ready to go. on the way over to the stadium he cuts loose with a few stories. He's the only one from Mississippi so of course, the team jokes about him growing up with no shoes or they find it pretty surprising he still has all of his teeth. He tells about the time his grandfather cut his own index finger off because it was infected from working in the cotton gin. He holds up basically his hand with his finger bent down past the first knuckle. “He would jab me with that thing and I promise you it hurt worse than a regular finger pointing. It was the weirdest damn thing I've ever seen,’ he laughed as he recalled those memories. as the stadium comes into view the story has died down in the focus raises. Tonight they're going against the defending champs preseason or not they want the win
Preseason Game 2 - Portland Pythons VS Myrtle Beach Buccaneers
Keppler did not get the start of this game. He took it in stride, suited up and played hard regardless. The Champs come out swinging, scoring on their opening drive. The Pythons did hold them to a field goal. On the next offensive series Keppler did not get in the game. It was a three-and-out. The ball went straight back to Myrtle Beach. They strike quickly with a touchdown run. The Pythons are down to nothing but they don't panic. They know again it's preseason but also you want these types of situations to see how your squad will respond when it really does count. At the end of the first quarter is 10 to 3 Myrtle Beach. Portland is not backing down there fighting tooth and nail giving Myrtle Beach all they can get. Early in the second quarter Myrtle Beach extended their lead by three with a 29-yard field goal. Keppler enters the game And has one short carry and please pass protection. Portland carrying on from the first game are not scheming to be run heavy as they were last season. Their quarterback is slinging and they look to be developing their wide receivers and seeing how far this quarterback and carry them. They finally get the big strike with a touchdown pass with one minute to go in the second quarter. At the half 13 to 10 Myrtle Beach. “ Nothing is given you have to earn it every day. We're in this we're trying out new things it's not a big deal looking to come out strong in the second half,” Keppler said as they walked off the field for halftime. in the second half the python seem to implode they have two turnovers and a Litany of penalties, much like their playoff loss a year ago. They lose 27 to 17 but it was closer than the score reads at the end. Keppler finished the day with only five carries for 26 yards. He's quiet for the rest of the night but he does not try to let the disappointment paint his face.
The Pythons have two days off following road games in the preseason than the normal season. “Tough to take two days off after a loss,” Keppler laments. The next time he is due at the facility is on install day.
He did take one day off, but today he is at X-Ath with Dirk. They are reviewing both weeks of film. Here, they just look at his plays, not the entire game. The review goes much more quicker. But it's also a little selfish, but he's doing it on his own time so he views it as putting in the work without a single goal in mind. The rest of the day is spent on agility drills and making one cuts. Keppler is determined Not to waste the opportunities that he gives squander away like he has in the first 2 weeks.
“The Third time is the Charm”
Preseason Game 3 - Portland Pythons Vs Tijuana Luchadores
Two intense games in a row even for pre-season. The defending champs are just that, the champs. But Tijuana presents their biggest challenge to repeat. Portland would like to think of themselves as a challenge as well and to do that they're going to have to beat Tijuana tonight. Tijuana is led by what some consider the best quarterback in the DSFL and then an absolute bell cow for running back. Keppler is excited and wants to prove that he can belong and hopefully be spoken in the same breath as Tijuana's rb1. But Keppler again does not get the start. He is running back 2 for the game. The first quarter starts out very slow; there is just one score and that's a touchdown pass from Tijuana's quarterback. The python can't get anything going in the game even with Keppler in the backfield. Tijuana's defense is stifling. their game plan again appears to be quite pass-heavy. Not really bucking the trend of the first two games and going against what brought the Pythons much success last season. The second quarter it's much like the first, Tijuana takes control scoring two touchdowns. If there were going to be a lot of opportunities to run the ball in this game that's seemingly over as Portland is down 21 to nothing late in the second quarter. No words from Keppler as he walks into the locker room 4/2 time. In the second quarter Tijuana pulls their starters, Portland starters are still in trying to make something of this horrific night. The luchadores pull away with one more touchdown from their backup QB going up 27 and nothing. In what seems like the! On the night the last score is an interception Pick 6. Keppler ends the day 12 carries, a preseason high, for 39 yards. He also had two catches for 22 yards from the backfield but overall a very disappointing night with most of his carries coming with the game far out of reach.
On the way home Keppler offers a few thoughts, what I'm sure most of the locker room echoed.
“It just wasn't our night to be honest. Preseason or not they showed that they are a much better team schematically either we are at this point. Which is okay because this point doesn't matter but it does ring a sense of urgency to get better. And that is really what you can take away from the preseason.”
Preseason Game 4 - Portland Pythons Vs Minnesota Grey Ducks
It is the preseason finale. This one means a little more than the others. Even though most of the starters will not play in the second half, the first half is all about getting off to the right start and building momentum for that week 1 game. It's about the time where trying out new things turns into meticulously planning out the game plan for the next week. Keppler gets the start for this game.. Hopefully a sign of things to come. Or maybe just switching up from the terrible outing that was last week in Tijuana. With the importance of the first half so high, it is very disappointing that the first quarter goes and only a field goal is the score. It belongs to Portland, They Are Up 3 to nothing. The second quarter goes same as the First, with Portland only adding a field goal. Keppler has seven carries in the first half for 26 yards. So he's getting some work at least. He holds his head a little higher as a team enters the tunnel for halftime. They do have the lead, and their night’s seemingly done. So the starters can hold their head high and consider this a win. It doesn't go to plan though, the Portland coach not happy with a 6-0 lead continues with the starters in the third quarter. This doesn't seem to have a negative effect on the team, it looks like they legitimately do want to come out and score and put this thing to bed. And that's exactly what they do. Keppler on the first drive of the third quarter has eight carries for 20 yards in which the team scores a touchdown to go up 13 and nothing. This would be the end of the night for the starters. Keppler finished the game with 15 carries for 46 yards adding one catch for 5 yards. Although much like the first three games of the preseason he has been carried and outgained by the other running backs in the stable.
“When does the season depth chart get posted?” I asked Keppler. The Pythons get 10 days before the start of the regular season. He shrugs with that smirk like he acts like he doesn't care but I know he does. He's probably pretty nervous. It's been a toss-up so far between the off season in the preseason performance. Worst case scenario the two top running backs split carries evenly too much success. “ As long as we are winning, I don't care. I just want to help the team and I want to win some ball games.” Keppler says to me when I press him again and where he thinks he'll end up. And that's the truth. I spend enough time around him to know that he really doesn't care but he does want to win and does want to prove his worth. This entire job is a Proving Ground, and it's one that he intends to make his mark in.