The Norfolk Seawolves are the darlings of last season, having taken home the Ultimini and with gusto as well. With a fairly stellar draft class, but also a legion of call up's to the next level how are they going to fair this season? The pre season should give us a good look at what to expect along with some first performances from newly drafted rookies along with some longer standing members of the team. The mood in the locker room is tense leading up to these games with the expected explosion of energy once they begin. What were the feelings once the dust had settled and the games were in the books? Not to mention how did the team look in those games as well.
Game 1: Luchadores -13 vs Seawolves - 16
If you'd watched this game you'd know the final score was not quite reflective of the overall performance. This would imply that the game was tighter than bark on a tree. Not the case. Norfolk sprung out to an early 16-0 lead, with the thunder and lightning punch of Rogers and Skrills enough to secure 146 yards on 35 attempts on the ground. This would prove to be the Luchadores undoing as they struggled manfully to contain the running backs all game long. Not to be outdone, however, the masked men from Tijuana produced their own running back combo on the ground almost matching the numbers of the Norfolk pair, but not quite the scoreboard success. Both teams looked to knock the rust off at this juncture, not least of all the Norfolk QB Ramza, chucking a pair of Int's to go along with his TD. Pre season is pre season for a reason. Both Schell and Rucker put up quite the effort on the defensive side of the ball, posting 11 and 10 tackles with a sack each to the good. A late attempt at a rally wasn't enough for the Tijuana men and the game was Norfolks with a late pick six and field goal not enough.
Grade B-: A win's a win, but must try harder
Game 2: Portland - 9 vs Seawolves - 14
You'd be forgiven, if you watched Portland last year, for looking at this roster and going "Well holy smokes who are these blokes?" The answer is a series of tight ends bolstered into whatever gap or hole they fit. Special note must be given to Darren Pama, starting at tight end and converted to running back going for 59 yards on 14 carries as part of a four headed monster at running back for the Pythons. Avoid them in fantasy, bring the bellcow! A scoreless first half resulted in a mad scramble to win it in the final quarter, with Norfolk pulling a QB run in the final 2:30 for the go ahead, and winning, score. Another three picks in this game, 2 for Norfolk and 1 for Portland. For those of you who've played Dungeons & Dragons we're just rolling out the bad ones right now. Natty 20's are coming soon and in full flow. Defensively another good game from the linebackers, Jimi DeSoto and D'Avril Lavigne pulling off a decent chunk of change in the stat sheets. On the Offensive side of the ball Portland successfully put together a plethora of pancakes, 29 to be exact. A sickening tally and a line that I think even the body of Al Davis could run behind. An element of this game that flew under the radar was the punting prowess of Murder-Moose, the longest of the day careering 62 yards through the air. With the ability to flip the field like that it's going to be a long season for opposing offenses.
Grade C+: Can't rely on the final 3 minutes to win it.
Game 3: Seawolves - 10 vs Birddogs - 23
The pre season reunion of the Four Horsemen and, I believe, a borderline bankruptcy of the fireworks budget whilst only in preseason. What can we say about Zoe Watts that hasn't already been said about Adrian Peterson. Absolute downhill thumper with the speed to do the damage outside. Scoring two in the first quarter put the Seawolves in a 14-0 hole they wouldn't recover from. In an unbridled bout of anime inspired rage Rusty Rucker finished the game as Defensive Player of the Game, a bittersweet reward, but managing to have the combined stats of all three other Horsemen. Ramza with a pick free game this game, great sign taking care of the ball whilst throwing >15 times. Decent day at the office for the receiving core, Dre Matthews taking a 46 yarder to the crib for the only score of the game for the Seawolves.
A quiet day for the remainder of the Horsemen over at Dallas, Crowder leading the way with four tackles, Rumper with three and Thebaw with two. The emotion of the occasion clearly getting to all four of the S24 DSFL defensive cabal. Most telling part of this game was that Murder-Moose was 50 yards off our total yards offensively via punts. A bad sign that you're not getting the job done offensively. A good pre season wake up call for the boys.
Grade D: D for Dallas Doesn't Do This.
Game 4: Seawolves - 23 vs Grey Ducks - 13
Now you're talking! 339 yards through the air for a tudder and a pick. Way to air it out Ramza. A ludicrous display of power. Dre Matthews continues his unabated assault on pre season with another tudder grab and six snags. The Grey Ducks attack was rather one dimensional, but what a dimension it was. J. Vermillion picking up a tonne on the ground over 29 carries. 3.4 per carry. You know what they say, if you can't find it, grind it. And he ground it out all day. Overall a great dub to end the pre season campaign for the Seawolves whilst avoiding the dreaded 4-0 pre season curse. Jimi DeSoto performing strongly at linebacker paving the way for a new generation of defense over in Norfolk. Of specific note as well Ramza managed to run the ball sixteen times this game. No mean feat for a QB and picked up a tudder along the way. Quite an alarming amount of a QB to be running, but with the injury resiliency all players have shown thus far nothing to worry about. Adyan sitting consistently on 5 pancakes across every pre season game is a great sign and there's going to be nothing but positives from this man going forward. Expect big things and a single digit next to his name come ISFL draft time
Grade B+: You don't get A's in PreSeason
Game 1: Luchadores -13 vs Seawolves - 16
If you'd watched this game you'd know the final score was not quite reflective of the overall performance. This would imply that the game was tighter than bark on a tree. Not the case. Norfolk sprung out to an early 16-0 lead, with the thunder and lightning punch of Rogers and Skrills enough to secure 146 yards on 35 attempts on the ground. This would prove to be the Luchadores undoing as they struggled manfully to contain the running backs all game long. Not to be outdone, however, the masked men from Tijuana produced their own running back combo on the ground almost matching the numbers of the Norfolk pair, but not quite the scoreboard success. Both teams looked to knock the rust off at this juncture, not least of all the Norfolk QB Ramza, chucking a pair of Int's to go along with his TD. Pre season is pre season for a reason. Both Schell and Rucker put up quite the effort on the defensive side of the ball, posting 11 and 10 tackles with a sack each to the good. A late attempt at a rally wasn't enough for the Tijuana men and the game was Norfolks with a late pick six and field goal not enough.
Grade B-: A win's a win, but must try harder
Game 2: Portland - 9 vs Seawolves - 14
You'd be forgiven, if you watched Portland last year, for looking at this roster and going "Well holy smokes who are these blokes?" The answer is a series of tight ends bolstered into whatever gap or hole they fit. Special note must be given to Darren Pama, starting at tight end and converted to running back going for 59 yards on 14 carries as part of a four headed monster at running back for the Pythons. Avoid them in fantasy, bring the bellcow! A scoreless first half resulted in a mad scramble to win it in the final quarter, with Norfolk pulling a QB run in the final 2:30 for the go ahead, and winning, score. Another three picks in this game, 2 for Norfolk and 1 for Portland. For those of you who've played Dungeons & Dragons we're just rolling out the bad ones right now. Natty 20's are coming soon and in full flow. Defensively another good game from the linebackers, Jimi DeSoto and D'Avril Lavigne pulling off a decent chunk of change in the stat sheets. On the Offensive side of the ball Portland successfully put together a plethora of pancakes, 29 to be exact. A sickening tally and a line that I think even the body of Al Davis could run behind. An element of this game that flew under the radar was the punting prowess of Murder-Moose, the longest of the day careering 62 yards through the air. With the ability to flip the field like that it's going to be a long season for opposing offenses.
Grade C+: Can't rely on the final 3 minutes to win it.
Game 3: Seawolves - 10 vs Birddogs - 23
The pre season reunion of the Four Horsemen and, I believe, a borderline bankruptcy of the fireworks budget whilst only in preseason. What can we say about Zoe Watts that hasn't already been said about Adrian Peterson. Absolute downhill thumper with the speed to do the damage outside. Scoring two in the first quarter put the Seawolves in a 14-0 hole they wouldn't recover from. In an unbridled bout of anime inspired rage Rusty Rucker finished the game as Defensive Player of the Game, a bittersweet reward, but managing to have the combined stats of all three other Horsemen. Ramza with a pick free game this game, great sign taking care of the ball whilst throwing >15 times. Decent day at the office for the receiving core, Dre Matthews taking a 46 yarder to the crib for the only score of the game for the Seawolves.
A quiet day for the remainder of the Horsemen over at Dallas, Crowder leading the way with four tackles, Rumper with three and Thebaw with two. The emotion of the occasion clearly getting to all four of the S24 DSFL defensive cabal. Most telling part of this game was that Murder-Moose was 50 yards off our total yards offensively via punts. A bad sign that you're not getting the job done offensively. A good pre season wake up call for the boys.
Grade D: D for Dallas Doesn't Do This.
Game 4: Seawolves - 23 vs Grey Ducks - 13
Now you're talking! 339 yards through the air for a tudder and a pick. Way to air it out Ramza. A ludicrous display of power. Dre Matthews continues his unabated assault on pre season with another tudder grab and six snags. The Grey Ducks attack was rather one dimensional, but what a dimension it was. J. Vermillion picking up a tonne on the ground over 29 carries. 3.4 per carry. You know what they say, if you can't find it, grind it. And he ground it out all day. Overall a great dub to end the pre season campaign for the Seawolves whilst avoiding the dreaded 4-0 pre season curse. Jimi DeSoto performing strongly at linebacker paving the way for a new generation of defense over in Norfolk. Of specific note as well Ramza managed to run the ball sixteen times this game. No mean feat for a QB and picked up a tudder along the way. Quite an alarming amount of a QB to be running, but with the injury resiliency all players have shown thus far nothing to worry about. Adyan sitting consistently on 5 pancakes across every pre season game is a great sign and there's going to be nothing but positives from this man going forward. Expect big things and a single digit next to his name come ISFL draft time
Grade B+: You don't get A's in PreSeason
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