10.
Every year I like to use this time allotted in the Ultimus point task to look back at my own players’ season. I’ve discovered that I’ve often been overly harsh, perhaps expecting too much from a player limited by position (and body type?) Despite my best efforts to be disappointed, Season 31 was a bonafide success for Honky Tonk Haywood. Although I could certainly nit-pick (only 3 tackles for a loss? I mean c’mon!!), The big boi out of Nashville again lead the league in total tackles for a DT at 77, and topped out the group with the most sacks at 10. The only defensive tackle to reach double digits in sacks. This combined with the 3 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles again showed the league that Haywood is a force in the middle. Although some of the combined stats for DT Chuck Roth will give voters a lot to think about during awards season, a defensive tackle of the year nomination is all but certain for Haywood. The accolades continue to come in, as Haywood has now won breakout defensive player of the year and defensive tackle of the year, in back to back years, as well as pro bowl nominations. A third year of similar results would be quite something, and would perhaps start conversations of where he ranks in the annals of history. While time does fly in the ISFL, we’ve certainly come a long way from HTH’s much maligned days of 26 total tackles and 3 combined sacks/tackles for a loss in an entire season. Despite heading into regression, there’s not much for me to regret any longer, with Haywood averaging 69 tackles and 9 sacks over the past 3 years. Even if regression knocks him down several notches, there’s no doubt he’ll still be an impact player. My only hope is that Haywood’s impact doesn’t go in vain – as the Liberty are beginning to finally find its stride, I’d like Honky Tonk to still be a part of the future success that should come much sooner rather than later. After an impressive, yet somewhat disappointing (second half collapse) 8-8 season. Expectations are still high for both the Liberty and ol man Honky Tonk Haywood heading into season 32. I trust this is the year that we finally get over the hump and make a visit to the playoffs, thanks to the great teambuilding and strategizing of Cody and Pat.
(407)
12.
So I believe it’s only fair for me to highlight the play of our Liberty offensive captain in a Season 31 retrospective. The heralded QB has finally begun to live up to expectations in the city synonymous with Freedom, after several years falling short of perhaps too high of expectations. Season 28 saw the Liberty turn their Quarterback position over to Negs. The rookie finished the year with 13 TDs and 14 picks, and the only QB to throw for less than 4,000 yards. Dead last in QBR in the ISFL. The team was also in a transitory phase in many ways, as the roster was dominated with season 25 players looking to grow into their roles. The results were unsurprising, and the Liberty were happy to have Negs just come out in one piece after miraculously winning 6 games. Negs definitely found his legs in Season 29. Despite winning only 5 games that season, Negs had a 20:13 TD:INT ratio, putting him in the mid-tier for QB stats. Not bad at all for a sophomore QB still with an uninspiring supporting cast. Again, Negs took a pounding, as the Liberty offense allowed 28 sacks, second most in the league. This early improvement, mixed with a Liberty team finally finding its stride, lead to some higher expectations come Season 30. But it was not to be. The team again failed to clear the win total set the previous year, as they only managed 4 this go around. Much of that blame fell squarely on the Liberty QB, who took a large stride backwards in his junior year. Negs had the third worst QBR in the league, was one of only 2 QBs who failed to total 4,000+ passing yards, yet still tied for 6th in the league with 14 interceptions. It was a somber year for the city. Expectations were luke-warm coming into season 30, as Liberty fans continued to fail to see results in the extended rebuild; however, season 31 was a rousing success, for both team and QB. Despite failing to make the playoffs, the Liberty were a .500 team for the first time in a long time. This time credit is due largely to the QB, as Negs tossed an impressive 38 TDs, good for second in the league. His career high QBR of 96 was also impressive. Negs has finally reached the expectation level that fans, fairly or not, had for him coming into his career. Now heading into his 5th season, he’s a seasoned vet he should be a prime breakout player candidate, especially with the weapons the Liberty have finally developed around him.
(439)
Every year I like to use this time allotted in the Ultimus point task to look back at my own players’ season. I’ve discovered that I’ve often been overly harsh, perhaps expecting too much from a player limited by position (and body type?) Despite my best efforts to be disappointed, Season 31 was a bonafide success for Honky Tonk Haywood. Although I could certainly nit-pick (only 3 tackles for a loss? I mean c’mon!!), The big boi out of Nashville again lead the league in total tackles for a DT at 77, and topped out the group with the most sacks at 10. The only defensive tackle to reach double digits in sacks. This combined with the 3 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles again showed the league that Haywood is a force in the middle. Although some of the combined stats for DT Chuck Roth will give voters a lot to think about during awards season, a defensive tackle of the year nomination is all but certain for Haywood. The accolades continue to come in, as Haywood has now won breakout defensive player of the year and defensive tackle of the year, in back to back years, as well as pro bowl nominations. A third year of similar results would be quite something, and would perhaps start conversations of where he ranks in the annals of history. While time does fly in the ISFL, we’ve certainly come a long way from HTH’s much maligned days of 26 total tackles and 3 combined sacks/tackles for a loss in an entire season. Despite heading into regression, there’s not much for me to regret any longer, with Haywood averaging 69 tackles and 9 sacks over the past 3 years. Even if regression knocks him down several notches, there’s no doubt he’ll still be an impact player. My only hope is that Haywood’s impact doesn’t go in vain – as the Liberty are beginning to finally find its stride, I’d like Honky Tonk to still be a part of the future success that should come much sooner rather than later. After an impressive, yet somewhat disappointing (second half collapse) 8-8 season. Expectations are still high for both the Liberty and ol man Honky Tonk Haywood heading into season 32. I trust this is the year that we finally get over the hump and make a visit to the playoffs, thanks to the great teambuilding and strategizing of Cody and Pat.
(407)
12.
So I believe it’s only fair for me to highlight the play of our Liberty offensive captain in a Season 31 retrospective. The heralded QB has finally begun to live up to expectations in the city synonymous with Freedom, after several years falling short of perhaps too high of expectations. Season 28 saw the Liberty turn their Quarterback position over to Negs. The rookie finished the year with 13 TDs and 14 picks, and the only QB to throw for less than 4,000 yards. Dead last in QBR in the ISFL. The team was also in a transitory phase in many ways, as the roster was dominated with season 25 players looking to grow into their roles. The results were unsurprising, and the Liberty were happy to have Negs just come out in one piece after miraculously winning 6 games. Negs definitely found his legs in Season 29. Despite winning only 5 games that season, Negs had a 20:13 TD:INT ratio, putting him in the mid-tier for QB stats. Not bad at all for a sophomore QB still with an uninspiring supporting cast. Again, Negs took a pounding, as the Liberty offense allowed 28 sacks, second most in the league. This early improvement, mixed with a Liberty team finally finding its stride, lead to some higher expectations come Season 30. But it was not to be. The team again failed to clear the win total set the previous year, as they only managed 4 this go around. Much of that blame fell squarely on the Liberty QB, who took a large stride backwards in his junior year. Negs had the third worst QBR in the league, was one of only 2 QBs who failed to total 4,000+ passing yards, yet still tied for 6th in the league with 14 interceptions. It was a somber year for the city. Expectations were luke-warm coming into season 30, as Liberty fans continued to fail to see results in the extended rebuild; however, season 31 was a rousing success, for both team and QB. Despite failing to make the playoffs, the Liberty were a .500 team for the first time in a long time. This time credit is due largely to the QB, as Negs tossed an impressive 38 TDs, good for second in the league. His career high QBR of 96 was also impressive. Negs has finally reached the expectation level that fans, fairly or not, had for him coming into his career. Now heading into his 5th season, he’s a seasoned vet he should be a prime breakout player candidate, especially with the weapons the Liberty have finally developed around him.
(439)