09-08-2021, 01:05 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-13-2021, 09:54 AM by allbetsonjames. Edited 1 time in total.)
Wow. So you could say this is a little late and that might be in contention for the understatement of the century, but thankfully my severe delay in completing the S29 review actually lasted so long that the bonus media pay came back around lol. Guess that goes to show sometimes the turtle really does come out on top with a nice slow pace. Anyway, time to get back in and finish out the rookie season review for Colorado Yeti wide receiver Cole Maxwell. We stopped the last post in the midst of an impressive win streak with the final four games being reviewed (Weeks 8 through 11) having Cole average well over 100 yards per game, only falling under the 100 yard threshold once in that span. Since this is the third part of the year in review there isn’t much need for anymore context so we shall continue with week 12 to see if the Yeti can keep riding that winning streak and if Cole can keep up the superb numbers he’s been having.
Week 12 at Baltimore Hawks (52-17 Win):
The wins keep coming and the Yeti are in a groove. For the second time in this win streak Colorado is able to top Baltimore to keep in the playoff race. After a quick turnover deep in Hawk territory, the first Yeti play is nullified by a Cole Maxwell pass interference penalty (14:35 Q1). On the next drive, Cole’s lone target is broken up by a Hawk defender (9:10 Q1). Cole’s last target of the first quarter became his first reception, picking up an 8 yard gain (2:00 Q1). The second quarter starts off with a misconnection between Caliban and Maxwell on a second down incompletion (13:29 Q2). A long drought ensues for Cole until a two yard completion near the end of the quarter rounds out his first half (1:25 Q2). The first play of the third quarter has Caliban targeting Maxwell for a catch and six yard completion (14:55 Q3). Cole’s next two looks however are both drops (12:58 Q3, 9:56 Q3), before finally getting back into the swing of things with a 15 yard completion to start off the next series (5:51 Q3). A couple plays later Maxwell makes another catch, reeling in an 8 yard completion this time around (2:28 Q3). Just two plays later Cole makes his third mistake for the hat trick of drops in the game (1:09 Q3). On a critical third down in the red zone Caliban targets Cole again, but the Hawk defender Stackinpaper is able to make a play to break up the pass (0:31 Q3). The Yeti’s first offensive play in the fourth quarter, as well as Cole’s last target in the game, is a big 31 yard gain by Maxwell to put the Yeti in Hawk territory(7:38 Q4). Overall not a super inspired game for Maxwell, with just six catches for 70 yards and three ugly drops. Thankfully the team didn’t much need him today as they wiped the floor with the Hawks regardless.
Week 13 at Berlin Fire Salamanders (28-18 Loss):
The 7 game win streak finally comes to an end after a long road trip to the European continent to play the Fire Salamanders. Maxwell’s first look in the game comes about halfway through the first quarter, but falls incomplete (7:15 Q1). For his second target of the game just a few plays later, Caliban throws the pass to Maxwell, but the Fire Salamander defender Jones is able to step in and make the interception on the pass (5:54 Q1). For his last target of the first quarter, Cole is able to make the catch on a Caliban pass for 10 yards and a Yeti first down (1:56 Q1). With the first Yeti pass of the second quarter, the Berlin defender Jones makes a play on the ball to break up the pass intended for Maxwell (14:37 Q2). Later in the same drive Cole is targeted again by Caliban and makes an 8 yard catch to set up a 3rd and inches situation (12:20 Q2). With his last target of the first half, Cole is able to reel in a 14 yard catch for a Yeti first down (1:21 Q2). Cole gets his third quarter started with another first down on a 10 yard completion (5:50 Q3). Later on in the drive Cole is Caliban’s target three plays in a row, with the first falling incomplete, the second pass an 18 yard gain on third down to get a new set of downs, and the third a broken up pass from a play made by Berlin defender Schell (3:21 Q3, 3:10 Q3. 2:51 Q3). Cole’s last target of the game falls incomplete (3:26 Q4). Another humble statline for the rookie with only 60 yards on five catches, although there were no drops this week. While just the third loss on the season, this felt like a winnable game for the Yeti, but the team just wasn’t running on all cylinders and let a victory slip away.
Week 14 vs Chicago Butchers (21-13 Win):
A real defensive slugfest of a game, the Yeti were able to come out on top despite neither offense really clicking due to stellar defensive gameplay. Thankfully the Yeti were able to pound the ball on the ground just enough to eke out the win against a stout defensive team like Chicago. Cole finally gets his day started deep into the second quarter with a 19 yard grab on his first target of the game (8:26 Q2). The second half of the game was more active for Maxwell, starting off with a target on the first play of the half, albeit the pass was broken up by the Chicago defender Muhammad (14:56 Q3). Two plays later Caliban again targets Cole, who makes the catch for a 7 yard gain (14:35 Q3). For the final play of the quarter, Maxwell again reels in a 7 yard catch (0:06 Q3). Maxwell’s third catch is again a 7 yard gain, with the added benefit of a first down on the reception (10:03 Q4). The 7 yard streak would end on the next target though, as Caliban and Maxwell were unable to connect on a third down, with the pass falling incomplete (8:19 Q4). Maxwell’s final impact of the game was an offensive pass interference penalty that nullified the play (3:14 Q4). Just barely beating out his week 5 performance against the Wraiths, Cole had another lackluster performance with only 4 catches for 40 yards. Granted the whole offense was underwhelming and Cole can’t force the ball to himself, he didn’t create opportunities to get the ball more and ended his night with a penalty that could’ve been avoided.
Week 15 at Sarasota Sailfish (30-13 Win):
A much better offensive week for the Yeti, the team picks up its second straight victory against a strong Sarasota team fighting for a playoff spot. After a very rough start on offense featuring two turnovers on two plays, the Yeti finally got something going, with Cole getting his first target of the game, although the pass was broken up by Sailfish defender Witheblock (9:07 Q1). Cole’s next pass headed Maxwell’s direction would be another dropped pass that has plagued the rookie all year (1:12 Q1). Not one to lose faith though, Caliban returned to the rookie the very next play for an 18 yard pickup and a first down (1:03 Q1). Two plays later Caliban would again look to Cole for the pass, but this time around the ball would end up incomplete (0:19 Q1). The next pass would be better, albeit after a total hiatus of the second quarter, as Cole reels in an 8 yard completion (13:00 Q3). The defense strikes again though, as the next attempt towards Maxwell would be knocked away by Sarasota’s defender Lover (5:45 Q3). A second deflection in a row while targeting Maxwell, this time it’s Witheblock who breaks up the pass for the Sailfish (0:32 Q3). The very next play is another Caliban pass to Maxwell, although it also falls incomplete (0:22 Q3). A fourth pass in a row finds the turf when Caliban is looking Maxwell’s direction (10:58 Q4) before the pair are finally able to make another connection, this time for a 5 yard gain (10:11 Q4). The next series features two back to back plays on second and third down with the offense far behind the sticks where Caliban and Cole link up to make the conversion, first with an 11 yard catch followed by a 10 yard grab (5:59 Q4, 5:14 Q4). The next series starts off with a bang as Caliban is able to find Maxwell for a big 43 yard gain for his final impact of the game (2:57 Q4). Overall a very solid win for the Yeti, beating a very good team despite a horrendous start. Cole also put up a better statline than the previous few weeks with 6 catches for 95 yards, although he did have one drop as well.
Week 16 at New Orleans Secondline (13-37 Loss):
With a spot in the playoffs secured, the Yeti entered the final week of the regular season riding high and feeling loose, which was apparent by the sloppy play that led to a loss against a middling New Orleans team that was fighting for their playoff lives. Cole’s night started off with a bonehead penalty for illegal motion, setting the Yeti back even deeper in their own territory (9:20 Q1), but made up for the mistake with a 7 yard catch for a first down two plays later (8:40 Q1). On the next series Caliban and Maxwell hook up for an 8 yard gain (3:39 Q1), followed shortly by another pitch and catch for 7 more yards just a few plays later (2:52 Q1). For his last target in an eventful first quarter, Cole is able to reel in another pass for a 9 yard gain (0:15 Q1). The second quarter begins for Cole with a pass broken up by the Secondline defender Witten (9:53 Q2), but later in the drive Caliban and Maxwell find each other for an 8 yard gain that gives the Yeti a first and goal situation from the 1 yard line (6:33 Q2). The first Yeti play of the second half is a Caliban to Maxwell pass and catch for a 9 yard gain (8:56 Q3). The only other target for Cole in the quarter is another pass broken up by the New Orleans defender Witten (3:56 Q3). Similarly the first play targeting Cole in the fourth quarter is broken up by another New Orleans defender, Blaylock this time around (13:47 Q4). Later in the same drive though, Caliban completes a pass to Maxwell on third down for a 12 yard gain and a first down (10:14 Q4). The next pass to Cole comes on the next drive, where he gains 7 yards on the reception for another first down (3:15 Q4). Cole’s next target from Caliban is intercepted by the New Orleans defense (2:03 Q4) before his final target of the game, a 29 yard gain and a first down on the second to last Yeti drive of the game (1:25 Q4). A poor effort by the Yeti in a meaningless game for them led the Secondline to be able to capitalize on multiple turnovers and secure their seat in the playoffs, however Cole himself put up a respectable stat line with 9 catches for 96 yards. He did fall one yard short of collecting another touchdown but that wouldn’t have really changed the game at all this time around.
Playoffs Week 1 vs Sarasota Sailfish (33-13 Loss):
With the playoffs starting the Yeti look to be in a great position after sweeping Sarasota in the regular season matchups, however the down week in the regular season finale carried over and the Yeti took home a second straight defeat while only scoring 13 points. Maxwell’s first target comes on the first Yeti third down of the game, however the pass falls incomplete leading to a punt (12:22 Q1). Cole’s next target comes on another third down, where is able to make the catch for 5 yards and the first down, with an additional 15 yards tacked on for a facemask penalty on the defense (5:00 Q1). The very next play though Cole has another rookie mistake on a dropped pass (4:48 Q1). The first target for Maxwell in the second quarter results in an 11 yard gain and a first down (10:54 Q2). Unfortunately on the first play of the Yeti’s next possession, Caliban's pass to Maxwell was intercepted by Sailfish defender Clemente (6:12 Q2). Maxwell makes a big play on the first play of the ensuing possession by taking a Caliban pass 46 yards to set the team up deep in Sailfish territory (2:44 Q2). On his first target in the second half, Maxwell is able to make a 15 yard catch and run for a first down (14:10 Q3). It would take all the way until the last Yeti possession in the game for Cole to see another target, and the first of which is a pass broken up the Sailfish Lover (0:55 Q4). The second and last target would come the very next play and result in a 12 yard gain and a first down (0:51 Q4). A terrible loss for a team that had the Sailfish’s number in the regular season, but the “any given Sunday” rule is especially applicable in the playoffs. Cole made big plays on his limited opportunities, racking up 90 yards on only 5 receptions. It could've been a bigger day without the drop but it is what it is at this point.
I would say this was a very successful season by a first year player and one I’m proud of. Looking at the season as a whole I find it hard to believe that Cole Maxwell didn’t even land on the ballot for Rookie of the Year despite leading all rookies in receiving yards and coming in second in total receptions and yards per catch for rookies. I mean come on, it’s really quite embarrassing that the awards committee left him off the ballot, and while he also likely led the ISFL in drops with a gnarly 17 (yikes) he also absolutely crushed opponents with 26 pancakes, proving that he was a well rounded player. Yes he had faults but he was also a rookie and I think that should’ve been enough to at least put his name in the conversation, but whatever. That said this is now all super irrelevant because Season 30 has already concluded so I’ll just take my sweet, sweet media money and see myself out. Later y’all.
Week 12 at Baltimore Hawks (52-17 Win):
The wins keep coming and the Yeti are in a groove. For the second time in this win streak Colorado is able to top Baltimore to keep in the playoff race. After a quick turnover deep in Hawk territory, the first Yeti play is nullified by a Cole Maxwell pass interference penalty (14:35 Q1). On the next drive, Cole’s lone target is broken up by a Hawk defender (9:10 Q1). Cole’s last target of the first quarter became his first reception, picking up an 8 yard gain (2:00 Q1). The second quarter starts off with a misconnection between Caliban and Maxwell on a second down incompletion (13:29 Q2). A long drought ensues for Cole until a two yard completion near the end of the quarter rounds out his first half (1:25 Q2). The first play of the third quarter has Caliban targeting Maxwell for a catch and six yard completion (14:55 Q3). Cole’s next two looks however are both drops (12:58 Q3, 9:56 Q3), before finally getting back into the swing of things with a 15 yard completion to start off the next series (5:51 Q3). A couple plays later Maxwell makes another catch, reeling in an 8 yard completion this time around (2:28 Q3). Just two plays later Cole makes his third mistake for the hat trick of drops in the game (1:09 Q3). On a critical third down in the red zone Caliban targets Cole again, but the Hawk defender Stackinpaper is able to make a play to break up the pass (0:31 Q3). The Yeti’s first offensive play in the fourth quarter, as well as Cole’s last target in the game, is a big 31 yard gain by Maxwell to put the Yeti in Hawk territory(7:38 Q4). Overall not a super inspired game for Maxwell, with just six catches for 70 yards and three ugly drops. Thankfully the team didn’t much need him today as they wiped the floor with the Hawks regardless.
Week 13 at Berlin Fire Salamanders (28-18 Loss):
The 7 game win streak finally comes to an end after a long road trip to the European continent to play the Fire Salamanders. Maxwell’s first look in the game comes about halfway through the first quarter, but falls incomplete (7:15 Q1). For his second target of the game just a few plays later, Caliban throws the pass to Maxwell, but the Fire Salamander defender Jones is able to step in and make the interception on the pass (5:54 Q1). For his last target of the first quarter, Cole is able to make the catch on a Caliban pass for 10 yards and a Yeti first down (1:56 Q1). With the first Yeti pass of the second quarter, the Berlin defender Jones makes a play on the ball to break up the pass intended for Maxwell (14:37 Q2). Later in the same drive Cole is targeted again by Caliban and makes an 8 yard catch to set up a 3rd and inches situation (12:20 Q2). With his last target of the first half, Cole is able to reel in a 14 yard catch for a Yeti first down (1:21 Q2). Cole gets his third quarter started with another first down on a 10 yard completion (5:50 Q3). Later on in the drive Cole is Caliban’s target three plays in a row, with the first falling incomplete, the second pass an 18 yard gain on third down to get a new set of downs, and the third a broken up pass from a play made by Berlin defender Schell (3:21 Q3, 3:10 Q3. 2:51 Q3). Cole’s last target of the game falls incomplete (3:26 Q4). Another humble statline for the rookie with only 60 yards on five catches, although there were no drops this week. While just the third loss on the season, this felt like a winnable game for the Yeti, but the team just wasn’t running on all cylinders and let a victory slip away.
Week 14 vs Chicago Butchers (21-13 Win):
A real defensive slugfest of a game, the Yeti were able to come out on top despite neither offense really clicking due to stellar defensive gameplay. Thankfully the Yeti were able to pound the ball on the ground just enough to eke out the win against a stout defensive team like Chicago. Cole finally gets his day started deep into the second quarter with a 19 yard grab on his first target of the game (8:26 Q2). The second half of the game was more active for Maxwell, starting off with a target on the first play of the half, albeit the pass was broken up by the Chicago defender Muhammad (14:56 Q3). Two plays later Caliban again targets Cole, who makes the catch for a 7 yard gain (14:35 Q3). For the final play of the quarter, Maxwell again reels in a 7 yard catch (0:06 Q3). Maxwell’s third catch is again a 7 yard gain, with the added benefit of a first down on the reception (10:03 Q4). The 7 yard streak would end on the next target though, as Caliban and Maxwell were unable to connect on a third down, with the pass falling incomplete (8:19 Q4). Maxwell’s final impact of the game was an offensive pass interference penalty that nullified the play (3:14 Q4). Just barely beating out his week 5 performance against the Wraiths, Cole had another lackluster performance with only 4 catches for 40 yards. Granted the whole offense was underwhelming and Cole can’t force the ball to himself, he didn’t create opportunities to get the ball more and ended his night with a penalty that could’ve been avoided.
Week 15 at Sarasota Sailfish (30-13 Win):
A much better offensive week for the Yeti, the team picks up its second straight victory against a strong Sarasota team fighting for a playoff spot. After a very rough start on offense featuring two turnovers on two plays, the Yeti finally got something going, with Cole getting his first target of the game, although the pass was broken up by Sailfish defender Witheblock (9:07 Q1). Cole’s next pass headed Maxwell’s direction would be another dropped pass that has plagued the rookie all year (1:12 Q1). Not one to lose faith though, Caliban returned to the rookie the very next play for an 18 yard pickup and a first down (1:03 Q1). Two plays later Caliban would again look to Cole for the pass, but this time around the ball would end up incomplete (0:19 Q1). The next pass would be better, albeit after a total hiatus of the second quarter, as Cole reels in an 8 yard completion (13:00 Q3). The defense strikes again though, as the next attempt towards Maxwell would be knocked away by Sarasota’s defender Lover (5:45 Q3). A second deflection in a row while targeting Maxwell, this time it’s Witheblock who breaks up the pass for the Sailfish (0:32 Q3). The very next play is another Caliban pass to Maxwell, although it also falls incomplete (0:22 Q3). A fourth pass in a row finds the turf when Caliban is looking Maxwell’s direction (10:58 Q4) before the pair are finally able to make another connection, this time for a 5 yard gain (10:11 Q4). The next series features two back to back plays on second and third down with the offense far behind the sticks where Caliban and Cole link up to make the conversion, first with an 11 yard catch followed by a 10 yard grab (5:59 Q4, 5:14 Q4). The next series starts off with a bang as Caliban is able to find Maxwell for a big 43 yard gain for his final impact of the game (2:57 Q4). Overall a very solid win for the Yeti, beating a very good team despite a horrendous start. Cole also put up a better statline than the previous few weeks with 6 catches for 95 yards, although he did have one drop as well.
Week 16 at New Orleans Secondline (13-37 Loss):
With a spot in the playoffs secured, the Yeti entered the final week of the regular season riding high and feeling loose, which was apparent by the sloppy play that led to a loss against a middling New Orleans team that was fighting for their playoff lives. Cole’s night started off with a bonehead penalty for illegal motion, setting the Yeti back even deeper in their own territory (9:20 Q1), but made up for the mistake with a 7 yard catch for a first down two plays later (8:40 Q1). On the next series Caliban and Maxwell hook up for an 8 yard gain (3:39 Q1), followed shortly by another pitch and catch for 7 more yards just a few plays later (2:52 Q1). For his last target in an eventful first quarter, Cole is able to reel in another pass for a 9 yard gain (0:15 Q1). The second quarter begins for Cole with a pass broken up by the Secondline defender Witten (9:53 Q2), but later in the drive Caliban and Maxwell find each other for an 8 yard gain that gives the Yeti a first and goal situation from the 1 yard line (6:33 Q2). The first Yeti play of the second half is a Caliban to Maxwell pass and catch for a 9 yard gain (8:56 Q3). The only other target for Cole in the quarter is another pass broken up by the New Orleans defender Witten (3:56 Q3). Similarly the first play targeting Cole in the fourth quarter is broken up by another New Orleans defender, Blaylock this time around (13:47 Q4). Later in the same drive though, Caliban completes a pass to Maxwell on third down for a 12 yard gain and a first down (10:14 Q4). The next pass to Cole comes on the next drive, where he gains 7 yards on the reception for another first down (3:15 Q4). Cole’s next target from Caliban is intercepted by the New Orleans defense (2:03 Q4) before his final target of the game, a 29 yard gain and a first down on the second to last Yeti drive of the game (1:25 Q4). A poor effort by the Yeti in a meaningless game for them led the Secondline to be able to capitalize on multiple turnovers and secure their seat in the playoffs, however Cole himself put up a respectable stat line with 9 catches for 96 yards. He did fall one yard short of collecting another touchdown but that wouldn’t have really changed the game at all this time around.
Playoffs Week 1 vs Sarasota Sailfish (33-13 Loss):
With the playoffs starting the Yeti look to be in a great position after sweeping Sarasota in the regular season matchups, however the down week in the regular season finale carried over and the Yeti took home a second straight defeat while only scoring 13 points. Maxwell’s first target comes on the first Yeti third down of the game, however the pass falls incomplete leading to a punt (12:22 Q1). Cole’s next target comes on another third down, where is able to make the catch for 5 yards and the first down, with an additional 15 yards tacked on for a facemask penalty on the defense (5:00 Q1). The very next play though Cole has another rookie mistake on a dropped pass (4:48 Q1). The first target for Maxwell in the second quarter results in an 11 yard gain and a first down (10:54 Q2). Unfortunately on the first play of the Yeti’s next possession, Caliban's pass to Maxwell was intercepted by Sailfish defender Clemente (6:12 Q2). Maxwell makes a big play on the first play of the ensuing possession by taking a Caliban pass 46 yards to set the team up deep in Sailfish territory (2:44 Q2). On his first target in the second half, Maxwell is able to make a 15 yard catch and run for a first down (14:10 Q3). It would take all the way until the last Yeti possession in the game for Cole to see another target, and the first of which is a pass broken up the Sailfish Lover (0:55 Q4). The second and last target would come the very next play and result in a 12 yard gain and a first down (0:51 Q4). A terrible loss for a team that had the Sailfish’s number in the regular season, but the “any given Sunday” rule is especially applicable in the playoffs. Cole made big plays on his limited opportunities, racking up 90 yards on only 5 receptions. It could've been a bigger day without the drop but it is what it is at this point.
I would say this was a very successful season by a first year player and one I’m proud of. Looking at the season as a whole I find it hard to believe that Cole Maxwell didn’t even land on the ballot for Rookie of the Year despite leading all rookies in receiving yards and coming in second in total receptions and yards per catch for rookies. I mean come on, it’s really quite embarrassing that the awards committee left him off the ballot, and while he also likely led the ISFL in drops with a gnarly 17 (yikes) he also absolutely crushed opponents with 26 pancakes, proving that he was a well rounded player. Yes he had faults but he was also a rookie and I think that should’ve been enough to at least put his name in the conversation, but whatever. That said this is now all super irrelevant because Season 30 has already concluded so I’ll just take my sweet, sweet media money and see myself out. Later y’all.