12) It’s once again expansion season in the ISFL. Reflect on the additions of the New York Silverbacks and Berlin Fire Salamanders and discuss how these teams will affect the league. How do you see scheduling or playoff seeding potentially changing? How will these teams change the power balances in their respective conferences? How do you think each team should go about building their roster, whether it’s through the expansion draft, regular draft, or many seasons down the line?
I expect that with 7 teams in each conference the schedule will change to 12 games in the conference and 4 outside of the conference. How those 4 will be determined I'm not sure. Personally, I would change the schedule to 19 games and have a double week sim every week. Have every team play all the other teams in their conference twice and all the teams in the other conference once. In terms of the playoffs, I think keeping the current structure is the best way to go. 6 out of 14 teams making the playoffs is enough as it is. In terms of building the roster I think the best move is to draft a mix of young and older players in the expansion draft. While many people will argue for drafting only young players, when they all get older the team won't be able to afford the contracts. Finding a good mix is the key to having a successful team. In the regular draft, the smart move is to draft positions that both the team and the draft are weak in. Generally this will be both the offensive and defensive lines as well as maybe safeties and cornerbacks. Another option would be to draft only young players and tank to get good draft picks over the next couple years. Then they could trade those draft picks to rebuilding teams to get some older players to mix with their younger players. It would depend on how soon they intend to contend. The easiest way would be to tank due to the lack of a draft lottery in the ISFL (Preferably something like a 5 team draft lottery where the 5th worst team would have the best chance at the 1st overall pick). I don't think it will change the power balance in the ISFL at least for a few years. The only thing I know that will be the same in a few years is San Jose being one of the best teams. New York will have a tougher time than Berlin as the ASFC is a stronger conference. Assuming that both teams are going to try and rebuild from the beginning, I think that Berlin will make the playoffs in 2-3 years whereas New York will make the playoffs in 3-5. In the end, it will all come down to the skill of the GMs. That is something that I can't predict. Soon we will see just how talented they are.
16) Choose your favorite non-playoffs game of this season, whether your own team or another. Explain what was so special and why the winner ultimately came out victorious, including key players and moments.
The finals Sabercats game of the season is definitely my favorite. Everything had gone right so far in terms of the Sabercats getting the #1 seed and all they had to do was beat New Orleans to lock up that #1 seed. However, if we lost then we wouldn't be in the playoffs at all. It was a very strong defensive first quarter as only 3 points were scored. San Jose and New Orleans traded touchdowns in the second quarter and it looked like that would be all for the first half until a 56 yard Field Goal by Herbert Prohaska as time expired. New Orleans led 13-7 at the half. The second half had a lot more offense. New Orleans scored midway through the 3rd quarter to take a 20-7 lead. Many people thought it was over but the game was only just beginning. San Jose scored a touchdown late in the 3rd to close the gap to 6. Prohaska made a chip shot field goal to extend the lead to 9 but no one expected what happened next. Deondre Thomas Fox, who had scored a touchdown earlier, returned the ensuing kick 105 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 2. The greatest kicker ever Matty McDairmid made a 47 yard field goal with 4 minutes left to give San Jose the lead. San Jose was unable to mount a comeback and San Jose won 24-23 guaranteeing San Jose not only made the playoffs, but also were given the #1 Seed and the bye that came with it.
27) Some positions are still under appreciated. Talk about the offensive linemen and/or special teamers on your squad. Show how they have contributed to the team, both on and off the field, and why they deserve recognition.
KICKERS AND PUNTERS ARE PEOPLE TOO. Matty Mcdairmid is our Kicker and Punter. He won 3 games for us with his foot this season. The first one was our week 5 win over the New Orleans Second Line. We won 17-14 and a huge part of that win was Matty's 3 Field Goals. The next week we beat the Philadelphia Liberty 20-17. Matty's 2 field goals helped us pick up the win. The final one was the most important game of the season. The Week 16 win 24-23 over New Orleans. His field goal with 5 minutes left helped San Jose not only make the playoffs but also get the #1 seed. While his punting can't be directly connected to wins but his overall performance this season has been amazing. He has the most yards per punt and is the only punter averaging over 50 yards per punt (50.6). Matty's ability to do well especially in the clutch is why he is so important to this team. In the final game of the season we had to punt with the 20 seconds left. That doesn't seem like a big deal but we were punting from our own 16. A 40 yard punt puts the ball on New Orleans' 44 which is definitely within a QB's arm range. With the season on the line Matty kicked a 62 yard punt putting New Orleans way out of hail mary range and ended the game.
I expect that with 7 teams in each conference the schedule will change to 12 games in the conference and 4 outside of the conference. How those 4 will be determined I'm not sure. Personally, I would change the schedule to 19 games and have a double week sim every week. Have every team play all the other teams in their conference twice and all the teams in the other conference once. In terms of the playoffs, I think keeping the current structure is the best way to go. 6 out of 14 teams making the playoffs is enough as it is. In terms of building the roster I think the best move is to draft a mix of young and older players in the expansion draft. While many people will argue for drafting only young players, when they all get older the team won't be able to afford the contracts. Finding a good mix is the key to having a successful team. In the regular draft, the smart move is to draft positions that both the team and the draft are weak in. Generally this will be both the offensive and defensive lines as well as maybe safeties and cornerbacks. Another option would be to draft only young players and tank to get good draft picks over the next couple years. Then they could trade those draft picks to rebuilding teams to get some older players to mix with their younger players. It would depend on how soon they intend to contend. The easiest way would be to tank due to the lack of a draft lottery in the ISFL (Preferably something like a 5 team draft lottery where the 5th worst team would have the best chance at the 1st overall pick). I don't think it will change the power balance in the ISFL at least for a few years. The only thing I know that will be the same in a few years is San Jose being one of the best teams. New York will have a tougher time than Berlin as the ASFC is a stronger conference. Assuming that both teams are going to try and rebuild from the beginning, I think that Berlin will make the playoffs in 2-3 years whereas New York will make the playoffs in 3-5. In the end, it will all come down to the skill of the GMs. That is something that I can't predict. Soon we will see just how talented they are.
16) Choose your favorite non-playoffs game of this season, whether your own team or another. Explain what was so special and why the winner ultimately came out victorious, including key players and moments.
The finals Sabercats game of the season is definitely my favorite. Everything had gone right so far in terms of the Sabercats getting the #1 seed and all they had to do was beat New Orleans to lock up that #1 seed. However, if we lost then we wouldn't be in the playoffs at all. It was a very strong defensive first quarter as only 3 points were scored. San Jose and New Orleans traded touchdowns in the second quarter and it looked like that would be all for the first half until a 56 yard Field Goal by Herbert Prohaska as time expired. New Orleans led 13-7 at the half. The second half had a lot more offense. New Orleans scored midway through the 3rd quarter to take a 20-7 lead. Many people thought it was over but the game was only just beginning. San Jose scored a touchdown late in the 3rd to close the gap to 6. Prohaska made a chip shot field goal to extend the lead to 9 but no one expected what happened next. Deondre Thomas Fox, who had scored a touchdown earlier, returned the ensuing kick 105 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 2. The greatest kicker ever Matty McDairmid made a 47 yard field goal with 4 minutes left to give San Jose the lead. San Jose was unable to mount a comeback and San Jose won 24-23 guaranteeing San Jose not only made the playoffs, but also were given the #1 Seed and the bye that came with it.
27) Some positions are still under appreciated. Talk about the offensive linemen and/or special teamers on your squad. Show how they have contributed to the team, both on and off the field, and why they deserve recognition.
KICKERS AND PUNTERS ARE PEOPLE TOO. Matty Mcdairmid is our Kicker and Punter. He won 3 games for us with his foot this season. The first one was our week 5 win over the New Orleans Second Line. We won 17-14 and a huge part of that win was Matty's 3 Field Goals. The next week we beat the Philadelphia Liberty 20-17. Matty's 2 field goals helped us pick up the win. The final one was the most important game of the season. The Week 16 win 24-23 over New Orleans. His field goal with 5 minutes left helped San Jose not only make the playoffs but also get the #1 seed. While his punting can't be directly connected to wins but his overall performance this season has been amazing. He has the most yards per punt and is the only punter averaging over 50 yards per punt (50.6). Matty's ability to do well especially in the clutch is why he is so important to this team. In the final game of the season we had to punt with the 20 seconds left. That doesn't seem like a big deal but we were punting from our own 16. A 40 yard punt puts the ball on New Orleans' 44 which is definitely within a QB's arm range. With the season on the line Matty kicked a 62 yard punt putting New Orleans way out of hail mary range and ended the game.
BIG BUBBA HOG