7) I am making the case this offseason for Zoe Watts to be considered for the DSFL Offensive Player of the Year. Zoe has been a game changer since the moment she entered this league, and this year was no different. She has absolutely dominated, both as a user (check out her Twitter, it’s all kinds of fun over there) and as a player. Watts led the league this year in rushing with an insane clip of 1303 rushing yards, averaging 4.9 YPC and knocking out some long runs, including a 62 yarder. She wasn’t a huge weapon in the receiving game, but did account for 8 receptions for 49 yards and even added 7 pancakes to her resume in the blocking department. She was a serious game changer all season long, carrying her team as far as she could take them, and while they are not competing for an Ultimini, I can vouch that she required the undivided attention of every defense that she faced this season. I’ve yet to mention it, but not only did she lead the league in rushing yards, she also had the most rushing touchdowns with 10 to her name this season. Double digit rushing TDs and over 1300 yards are both HUGE accomplishments for a DSFL running back, and since the MVP award is more or less reserved for quarterbacks who have a huge season, and Howitzer did that this year no doubt, I think the Offensive Player of the Year should go to another extremely worthy candidate in Zoe Watts. The biggest hurdle to her winning this award, in my opinion, is the lack of success that her team had this season. However, it is to be noted that although they finished last in the SFC, Dallas’ record was tied with Portland, who made the playoffs in this year’s relatively weak NFC. Had Dallas been in the SFC, I’ve got to think they would have hit 8+ wins this season, but they ran up against a conference full of studs and simply weren’t versatile enough to keep up with that pace. However, I’ve got to say that for a team that was consistently behind in games to have the league’s top running back is once again a testament to her incredible performance this season. Not only did she lead the league in rushing yards and rushing TDs, she did it with her team trailing the majority of the season and forced to play catch up early and often this year. All in all, hats off to you, Zoe for another great season. I’m looking forward to watching your career in the ISFL!
12) First of all, I am not an expert in the slightest when it comes to building a successful ISFL team. I am a contributor who is not in charge of anything in this league except for trying to make a positive impact and encourage my teammates when I’m able to. I do not know all of the ins and outs of this league nor should my advice be taken in any way as authoritative or really worth much of anything on this subject…All that to say, when I saw this question I knew that I had to answer it as one of the first few members of the Berlin Fire Salamanders! I am extremely excited to get to see and be a part of building this team from the ground up! To answer the above questions, I don’t think there is a need at this point to restructure the playoffs; I wouldn’t be upset if another wild card is added to each conference, but I also don’t see it as a necessity. I’d prefer to see the first seed keep a bye round and make a playoff birth something worth celebrating rather than something assumed if competent. I think that the upcoming expansion draft will tell us more than anything about how these teams are going to reshape their respective conferences. It is certain that there will be growing pains and these relatively smaller teams will be at a bit of a handicap getting started, but the key is going to be getting newly acquired and drafted team members to BUY IN. You have the chance to START a legacy and become and inaugural member of the Mount Rushmore of a brand new franchise. I know that’s my goal for Schell as I get started in Berlin. I think the key to building these teams is to be aggressive, but within the context of knowing that the Las Vegas Knights going to the Stanley Cup in their first season was an insane outlier, not the norm. The expectation is to build a competitive team slowly, looking at maybe years 3-5 as the window to enter Ultimus competition. To overperform that is great! But to expect immediate success is going to result in forfeiting valuable prospects and draft picks that are incredibly necessary when getting started. So let’s go get some killer players, Berlin (not biased at all, no, why do you ask?)! Can’t wait to raise our first banner soon!
12) First of all, I am not an expert in the slightest when it comes to building a successful ISFL team. I am a contributor who is not in charge of anything in this league except for trying to make a positive impact and encourage my teammates when I’m able to. I do not know all of the ins and outs of this league nor should my advice be taken in any way as authoritative or really worth much of anything on this subject…All that to say, when I saw this question I knew that I had to answer it as one of the first few members of the Berlin Fire Salamanders! I am extremely excited to get to see and be a part of building this team from the ground up! To answer the above questions, I don’t think there is a need at this point to restructure the playoffs; I wouldn’t be upset if another wild card is added to each conference, but I also don’t see it as a necessity. I’d prefer to see the first seed keep a bye round and make a playoff birth something worth celebrating rather than something assumed if competent. I think that the upcoming expansion draft will tell us more than anything about how these teams are going to reshape their respective conferences. It is certain that there will be growing pains and these relatively smaller teams will be at a bit of a handicap getting started, but the key is going to be getting newly acquired and drafted team members to BUY IN. You have the chance to START a legacy and become and inaugural member of the Mount Rushmore of a brand new franchise. I know that’s my goal for Schell as I get started in Berlin. I think the key to building these teams is to be aggressive, but within the context of knowing that the Las Vegas Knights going to the Stanley Cup in their first season was an insane outlier, not the norm. The expectation is to build a competitive team slowly, looking at maybe years 3-5 as the window to enter Ultimus competition. To overperform that is great! But to expect immediate success is going to result in forfeiting valuable prospects and draft picks that are incredibly necessary when getting started. So let’s go get some killer players, Berlin (not biased at all, no, why do you ask?)! Can’t wait to raise our first banner soon!