04-14-2022, 11:41 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-19-2022, 09:46 AM by allbetsonjames. Edited 1 time in total.)
With the S34 Ultimus matchup being set in place, we have the remains of championship hopefuls to pick through, and by god there is a lot to look at. Some shined massively under the pressure, while others flopped massively.
- IsHe ReallyInvisible vs Arizona: 25/39, 199 yards, 1 Interception
To get the frauds out of the way first, New Orleans. The Turnover Bakery was up and running from kickoff vs Arizona. The good news is that ReallyInvisible did not live up to his name and be a non-factor in this contest. The bad news is that his contributions helped the other team massively. The only times he did get down the field included checkdown after checkdown to the point where Joe Flacco would be tearing his hear out at the ultra-conservative play. With the offense failing to launch early and Arizona jumping to an early double-digit lead that meant beating your head against the wall until the end of the game. Not like you could run the ball if you wanted to.
- The Stig vs Arizona: 13 carries, 25 yards
Arizona's defensive line was a brick wall and Stig could not get anything on the ground Monday. Coupled with the Outlaws getting ahead early and Stig having untimely giveaways, the run game was abandoned for almost the entire second half of the game.
- Carter Knight vs Berlin: 23/39, 237 yards, 1 Touchdown, 2 Interceptions
A very un-Knight performance for Carter vs Berlin all things considered. This is further confusing considering that the Fire Salamanders gave up the 2nd most passing yards per game in the league this season (there's a reason why I predicted Sarasota to advance to the NSFC Final.) The Sailfish were stuck in reverse by, you guessed it, being forced to throw frequently when the passing game is stuck in the mud. Doesn't help that Carter Knight then decided to throw ball to the other team twice, one of them going for a pick six. The other one was just as bad as it put Berlin inside Sarasota's 25 ending with another Salamanders touchdown.
- Wendell Sailor vs Honolulu: 22/36, 299 yards, 4 Touchdowns, 3 Interceptions
Neither team in this game was that disciplined with ball control this game, especially Sailor. His first interception was on the opening drive which Honolulu took and made seven points (charred toast thy name is the Arizona secondary). His second interception was in the redzone while they were down seven. Fortunately Arizona immediately picked it off themselves the next play and Sailor was able to hold the ball and get to the endzone. Sailor then threw the game sealing interception inside 90 seconds down ten (let's ignore taking a sack on 4th down when down three, the next play turned into seven points for Honolulu again.) Sailor wasn't the biggest offender for Arizona however
- Outlaws Defense vs Honolulu: 41 points allowed
This secondary decided to do things like Europe does nowadays; no defense. There multiple, countless, inexcusable, completely absurd blown coverages that led to touchdowns. One passing touchdown the receiver (who was the running back Cobra Kai) literally had no one within twenty yards of him en route to a 55 yard touchdown. Multiple times the secondary decided to crash giving wide open passing lanes for Dexter Zaylren. Not like the front seven was much better, with Dexter only getting sacked once. His pocket was so clean he could've taken a goddamn nap before the pass rush could get to him. Kai also ran over that front seven like they were a pack of high school junior varsity kids. This was especially confusing that the Outlaws' defensive metrics have them at worst league average in defense this season, so it isn't like this unit was normally nonexistent (just watch the New Orleans game if you're skeptical.)
- Goat Tank: 25 carries, 51 yards, 2 Touchdowns
While unsurprising that Goat Tank had issues with that #1 rushing defense the Butchers have, barely getting over 2 yards per carry was definitely not in the cards for Tank. Dexter Hall and Co. absolutely shut down Tank. Tank however is nowhere near the main culprit for the Fire Salamander's loss however...
- 17 4th Quarter Points Allowed vs Chicago
Berlin had everything. Momentum, time, and a better performance for the first three quarters vs Chicago. You had 12 minutes left after kicking the field goal to go up 13 points. What do the Fire Salamanders do? First you allow Chicago to get up to their own 42 on the kickoff. Then you let them score a touchdown in three plays to make is a one possession game. Then Christ Jr. decides to give the damn ball on the next drive because what the hell is ball security? Of course turning the ball over on your own half of the field will turn into another seven points and Chicago ties the game with three minutes remaining. Then let's go down the list of what happens on the next drive
- IsHe ReallyInvisible vs Arizona: 25/39, 199 yards, 1 Interception
To get the frauds out of the way first, New Orleans. The Turnover Bakery was up and running from kickoff vs Arizona. The good news is that ReallyInvisible did not live up to his name and be a non-factor in this contest. The bad news is that his contributions helped the other team massively. The only times he did get down the field included checkdown after checkdown to the point where Joe Flacco would be tearing his hear out at the ultra-conservative play. With the offense failing to launch early and Arizona jumping to an early double-digit lead that meant beating your head against the wall until the end of the game. Not like you could run the ball if you wanted to.
- The Stig vs Arizona: 13 carries, 25 yards
Arizona's defensive line was a brick wall and Stig could not get anything on the ground Monday. Coupled with the Outlaws getting ahead early and Stig having untimely giveaways, the run game was abandoned for almost the entire second half of the game.
- Carter Knight vs Berlin: 23/39, 237 yards, 1 Touchdown, 2 Interceptions
A very un-Knight performance for Carter vs Berlin all things considered. This is further confusing considering that the Fire Salamanders gave up the 2nd most passing yards per game in the league this season (there's a reason why I predicted Sarasota to advance to the NSFC Final.) The Sailfish were stuck in reverse by, you guessed it, being forced to throw frequently when the passing game is stuck in the mud. Doesn't help that Carter Knight then decided to throw ball to the other team twice, one of them going for a pick six. The other one was just as bad as it put Berlin inside Sarasota's 25 ending with another Salamanders touchdown.
- Wendell Sailor vs Honolulu: 22/36, 299 yards, 4 Touchdowns, 3 Interceptions
Neither team in this game was that disciplined with ball control this game, especially Sailor. His first interception was on the opening drive which Honolulu took and made seven points (charred toast thy name is the Arizona secondary). His second interception was in the redzone while they were down seven. Fortunately Arizona immediately picked it off themselves the next play and Sailor was able to hold the ball and get to the endzone. Sailor then threw the game sealing interception inside 90 seconds down ten (let's ignore taking a sack on 4th down when down three, the next play turned into seven points for Honolulu again.) Sailor wasn't the biggest offender for Arizona however
- Outlaws Defense vs Honolulu: 41 points allowed
This secondary decided to do things like Europe does nowadays; no defense. There multiple, countless, inexcusable, completely absurd blown coverages that led to touchdowns. One passing touchdown the receiver (who was the running back Cobra Kai) literally had no one within twenty yards of him en route to a 55 yard touchdown. Multiple times the secondary decided to crash giving wide open passing lanes for Dexter Zaylren. Not like the front seven was much better, with Dexter only getting sacked once. His pocket was so clean he could've taken a goddamn nap before the pass rush could get to him. Kai also ran over that front seven like they were a pack of high school junior varsity kids. This was especially confusing that the Outlaws' defensive metrics have them at worst league average in defense this season, so it isn't like this unit was normally nonexistent (just watch the New Orleans game if you're skeptical.)
- Goat Tank: 25 carries, 51 yards, 2 Touchdowns
While unsurprising that Goat Tank had issues with that #1 rushing defense the Butchers have, barely getting over 2 yards per carry was definitely not in the cards for Tank. Dexter Hall and Co. absolutely shut down Tank. Tank however is nowhere near the main culprit for the Fire Salamander's loss however...
- 17 4th Quarter Points Allowed vs Chicago
Berlin had everything. Momentum, time, and a better performance for the first three quarters vs Chicago. You had 12 minutes left after kicking the field goal to go up 13 points. What do the Fire Salamanders do? First you allow Chicago to get up to their own 42 on the kickoff. Then you let them score a touchdown in three plays to make is a one possession game. Then Christ Jr. decides to give the damn ball on the next drive because what the hell is ball security? Of course turning the ball over on your own half of the field will turn into another seven points and Chicago ties the game with three minutes remaining. Then let's go down the list of what happens on the next drive
- Illegal block above waist; 10 yard penalty
- Unnecessary roughness; 5 yard penalty and loss of down when if unpenalized would've made it a 3rd and 1, now 3rd and 16
- 49 YARD COMPLETION FROM CHRIST JR, INSIDE CHICAGO 35
- False start; five yard penalty
- Two zero yard gains
- Checkdown on 3rd and 15
- Missed 49 yard field goal