10-08-2022, 03:42 PM
(This post was last modified: 10-11-2022, 05:17 PM by dude_man. Edited 1 time in total.)
So you didn’t make the playoffs this year. It’s never a good feeling watching all the other teams play January ball in front of big crowds while you’re stuck on your couch watching tv or going golfing. It’s like Christmas time in a Charles Dickens novel and you’re the poor child looking at the painted wonders inside the ISFL toy shop. While I leave you to figure out and discuss amongst yourselves whether or not that analogy works for you or not, there are teams that we need to discuss. So while Arizona party into the night, lets talk about the left behinds. Important questions will need to be asked and answered, heads may need to roll and changes to lineups will need to happen. These are the six that missed the playoffs, and these are their stories:
New York Silverbacks
The number one ranked pass defence in the league did not make the playoffs. Sure it was only by one game and there are scenarios where New York makes it in but that's not the point. I know the phrase is defence wins championships but you still need to score points in order to get to the dance itself. There was only one game where you won by more than one score and that was week 5. Your defense did its damn best to keep you in games but the offense could never score in key situations. You win that game Honolulu in Week 6 and Yellowknife in week 15 and it's you that goes to the playoff ball and not Orange County. Then again the Otters just deserved it more down the stretch. That’s what happens when you have three separate three game losing streaks.
There is, however. hope for the future and it is coming up on offense. Mandrews McHollywood looks like a bonafide #2 receiver to Oath. McTurtle is a bonafide stud running back in the making. Keep the crew together on defense and get yourself some help on offense Silverbacks. This may just be a fluke. Next year, we will be paying closer attention.
San Jose Sabercats
You flashed true brilliance on occasion but could never do it consistently enough. That's what doomed you in the end. You are a team that could stomp the Silverbacks and hang close with Arizona all game but then lose 23-3 against New Orleans. A team that could get its revenge on the Second Line in week 14 but then lose a must win game against Orange County the next week. That's the way the football world works.
I know some people will call this season a failure but I am not one of them. There are versions of this story where it's San Jose who makes it in as a fourth seed over Orange County. They have an underrated offense that can put up points in spades. All they need is a few key young pieces to go far, but unfortunately this is the end for one cat. Mason Malone is retiring. He heads off with 50+ touchdowns and 8000+ yards and not a bad word about anyone in the organisation. His replacement is coming up from the DSFL along with other key pieces. Just keep the ship upright, San Jose, you got this.
Austin Copperheads
I… I… I don’t understand. I made jokes down the stretch about you just tanking the year away but then I actually looked into the numbers. Tight End Eighty-Two was one of the best Quarterbacks this season, your pass offense was the best in the league, Buckshank emerging as a quality back and Patey proving he’s a number one receiver. Yet you go and have a season like that? What the heck is going on here?
Then I dug a little deeper and realized your problem was the exact opposite of New York’s. Your defence was woeful all year long. You were torched no less than seven times over the course of the year by massive margins. You could put up points and get a lead but you could never hold it. It was getting to the point that I, a person who has no connections to the Austin Copperhead organisation, was shaking my head in confusion.
I hope you have the picks to revamp the defence because you need to draft all defensive players. Start building that up again and give your players something to work with. You have the offense to go far Austin, don’t let it down that badly again!
Baltimore Hawks
Well any progress is good progress I suppose, even if it wasn’t showing up in the wins column all that much. I’m jesting mostly because Baltimore did show some really good progress when it comes to improving on last season. Rushing offense was more consistent as was the pass game. One of the best pass defence units and starting the year 4-1 seemed like everything was going your way. Then week 6 against Yellowknife happened and the team seemingly ran out of drive after that.
Sure there were the highlights just as the beat down on Bourbon Street and then that following week barn burner against the Silverbacks but after that they just seemed to play really… flat. It was like I was watching a balloon deflate before my eyes and my inner child just felt empty. All I can really say is just don’t give up on the team. Find some good defenders in the draft and maybe free agency. No point in blowing it up, you were only one game out anyway… even if you totally choked away your playoff chances by losing to Berlin with 13 seconds left. Next time, don’t allow your opponents to score within 90 seconds.
Berlin Fire Salamanders
Talk about getting hot at the wrong time. Don’t get me wrong it was looking pretty dire heading into week 11. You needed to show signs of progress and quite frankly you were giving your fans nothing. You had won two games and fans were already calling for the managers' heads. Then you found your stride and your team came together.
You played some inspired football down the stretch, Berlin. Including that defensive classic against Yellowknife in Week 12. Suddenly all that youthful talent found their sea legs and started rattling off wins. It was like watching your toddler learning to walk, it was beautiful to see. You were required to show progress and ending with a 7-9 record is indeed progress. Quite a big step forward as well. Hold your heads high and keep the train on track, Berlin. You have something fun developing there. Maybe get yourself some nice pieces on offense to work with? Thanks.
Colorado Yeti
Oh boy, this was a rough season for Colorado. Like, really rough. Like, you're lucky that you won more games than Austin rough. At least Austin can say that their offense scored points and is only missing a few key pieces to go far, the Yeti was the worst team in the league by most metrics. This isn’t really much to say with this team that hasn’t already been brought up.
It’s time to start thinking long and hard about the future of this organisation, because you need absolutely everything right now. Offensive tools, defensive players, everything that could go wrong did go wrong this year. It’s gonna be a long offseason for Yeti fans and I wish I could offer some semblance of light but I don’t know where to find it. I wish I had more to say, but I really don’t on this one. Bottom’s up, Yeti!
New York Silverbacks
The number one ranked pass defence in the league did not make the playoffs. Sure it was only by one game and there are scenarios where New York makes it in but that's not the point. I know the phrase is defence wins championships but you still need to score points in order to get to the dance itself. There was only one game where you won by more than one score and that was week 5. Your defense did its damn best to keep you in games but the offense could never score in key situations. You win that game Honolulu in Week 6 and Yellowknife in week 15 and it's you that goes to the playoff ball and not Orange County. Then again the Otters just deserved it more down the stretch. That’s what happens when you have three separate three game losing streaks.
There is, however. hope for the future and it is coming up on offense. Mandrews McHollywood looks like a bonafide #2 receiver to Oath. McTurtle is a bonafide stud running back in the making. Keep the crew together on defense and get yourself some help on offense Silverbacks. This may just be a fluke. Next year, we will be paying closer attention.
San Jose Sabercats
You flashed true brilliance on occasion but could never do it consistently enough. That's what doomed you in the end. You are a team that could stomp the Silverbacks and hang close with Arizona all game but then lose 23-3 against New Orleans. A team that could get its revenge on the Second Line in week 14 but then lose a must win game against Orange County the next week. That's the way the football world works.
I know some people will call this season a failure but I am not one of them. There are versions of this story where it's San Jose who makes it in as a fourth seed over Orange County. They have an underrated offense that can put up points in spades. All they need is a few key young pieces to go far, but unfortunately this is the end for one cat. Mason Malone is retiring. He heads off with 50+ touchdowns and 8000+ yards and not a bad word about anyone in the organisation. His replacement is coming up from the DSFL along with other key pieces. Just keep the ship upright, San Jose, you got this.
Austin Copperheads
I… I… I don’t understand. I made jokes down the stretch about you just tanking the year away but then I actually looked into the numbers. Tight End Eighty-Two was one of the best Quarterbacks this season, your pass offense was the best in the league, Buckshank emerging as a quality back and Patey proving he’s a number one receiver. Yet you go and have a season like that? What the heck is going on here?
Then I dug a little deeper and realized your problem was the exact opposite of New York’s. Your defence was woeful all year long. You were torched no less than seven times over the course of the year by massive margins. You could put up points and get a lead but you could never hold it. It was getting to the point that I, a person who has no connections to the Austin Copperhead organisation, was shaking my head in confusion.
I hope you have the picks to revamp the defence because you need to draft all defensive players. Start building that up again and give your players something to work with. You have the offense to go far Austin, don’t let it down that badly again!
Baltimore Hawks
Well any progress is good progress I suppose, even if it wasn’t showing up in the wins column all that much. I’m jesting mostly because Baltimore did show some really good progress when it comes to improving on last season. Rushing offense was more consistent as was the pass game. One of the best pass defence units and starting the year 4-1 seemed like everything was going your way. Then week 6 against Yellowknife happened and the team seemingly ran out of drive after that.
Sure there were the highlights just as the beat down on Bourbon Street and then that following week barn burner against the Silverbacks but after that they just seemed to play really… flat. It was like I was watching a balloon deflate before my eyes and my inner child just felt empty. All I can really say is just don’t give up on the team. Find some good defenders in the draft and maybe free agency. No point in blowing it up, you were only one game out anyway… even if you totally choked away your playoff chances by losing to Berlin with 13 seconds left. Next time, don’t allow your opponents to score within 90 seconds.
Berlin Fire Salamanders
Talk about getting hot at the wrong time. Don’t get me wrong it was looking pretty dire heading into week 11. You needed to show signs of progress and quite frankly you were giving your fans nothing. You had won two games and fans were already calling for the managers' heads. Then you found your stride and your team came together.
You played some inspired football down the stretch, Berlin. Including that defensive classic against Yellowknife in Week 12. Suddenly all that youthful talent found their sea legs and started rattling off wins. It was like watching your toddler learning to walk, it was beautiful to see. You were required to show progress and ending with a 7-9 record is indeed progress. Quite a big step forward as well. Hold your heads high and keep the train on track, Berlin. You have something fun developing there. Maybe get yourself some nice pieces on offense to work with? Thanks.
Colorado Yeti
Oh boy, this was a rough season for Colorado. Like, really rough. Like, you're lucky that you won more games than Austin rough. At least Austin can say that their offense scored points and is only missing a few key pieces to go far, the Yeti was the worst team in the league by most metrics. This isn’t really much to say with this team that hasn’t already been brought up.
It’s time to start thinking long and hard about the future of this organisation, because you need absolutely everything right now. Offensive tools, defensive players, everything that could go wrong did go wrong this year. It’s gonna be a long offseason for Yeti fans and I wish I could offer some semblance of light but I don’t know where to find it. I wish I had more to say, but I really don’t on this one. Bottom’s up, Yeti!