12-14-2022, 09:54 AM
(This post was last modified: 12-17-2022, 11:58 AM by Aneeqs. Edited 1 time in total.)
Congratulations to the Season 38 Sim Football Writers Guild All-Pro Team!
Numerical ranks (1st, 2nd, 3rd…) are stated for that position group, unless otherwise noted as an overall rank.
QUARTERBACK
1st team:Wendell Sailor
Key Stats: 380/570 (66.7%, 1st), 4274 yards, 38 TD (2nd), 3.17 TD/INT (3rd), 102.3 rating (1st), 6.81 ANY/A (1st)
2nd team: Owen Farrell
Key Stats: 392/608 (64.5%, 3rd), 4281 yards, 42 TD (1st), 3.50 TD/INT (2nd), 100.0 rating (2nd), 6.60 ANY/A (2nd)
As the driving force behind now back to back Ultimus titles for the Arizona Outlaws, Wendell Sailor put together a second straight season of superb efficiency en route to his second straight 1st team All Pro award. Despite only finishing 9th in total passes thrown, Sailor notched the 2nd most TDs and was among the league leaders in every category for efficiency. There simply was no weakness in Sailor’s resume, making him a solid choice for the All Pro 1st team.
Of course, he faced stiff competition from second year QB Owen Farrell. The young star didn’t quite match Sailor’s efficiency, relying more on volume instead to put up numbers. However, that doesn’t diminish the San Jose Sabercat’s achievement of leading the league in passing TDs. The fact that he finished 2nd in TD/INT ratio as well proves that his production wasn’t just a product of volume, either. Farrell was effective in his own right, and is someone to keep an eye on as his career advances.
RUNNING BACK
1st team: The Stig (Unanimous Selection)
Key Stats: 1564 rush yds (2nd), 16 rush TD (3rd), 5.00 yds/carry (3rd), 2074 scrimmage yds (2nd), 19 total TDs (t-2nd), 12 plays >20 yards (t-1st), 0 fumbles
1st team: Michelangelo McTurtle
Key Stats: 1112 rush yds, 17 rush TD (2nd), 5.08 yds/carry (1st), 20 total TDs (1st)
2nd team: Jay Cue Jr
Key Stats: 1446 rush yds (4th), 5.02 yds/carry (2nd), 1896 scrimmage yards (3rd), 6 rec TD (2nd), 11 plays >20 yds (t-2nd)
2nd team: Deandre King
Key Stats: 950 rush yds, 767 rec yds (1st), 10 rec TD (1st), 15 total TD, 1721 scrimmage yds (6th), 34.2% rush 1st-down% (1st*), 36.5% scrimmage 1st-down% (1st*)
*among RBs with >50 touches
There’s a new king in town. There is once again a unanimous 1st team All Pro running back, but this time it’s New Orleans Second Line running back The Stig. Stig had a monster season, finishing 2nd in all purpose yards and TDs while maintaining the 3rd highest yards per carry mark and 4th highest yards per reception mark among all ISFL running backs. Even more incredible, he didn’t fumble once all season. Making The Stig a unanimous 1st team All Pro was one of the easiest decisions we faced this season.
Joining The Stig on the 1st team squad is Michaelangelo McTurtle. For the second straight year, McTurtle’s yardage totals might not have jumped off the page, but his efficiency did. McTurtle led the league with a 5.08 yards per carry clip and finished just behind Stig in yards per reception. McTurtle also added 20 total touchdowns to his final stat line, enough for the New York Silverback to lead the league in the category.
Jay Cue Jr. may not be the perennial unanimous 1st team lock like he was in his heyday, but the Arizona Outlaw star isn’t giving into regression without a fight. Cue’s bid for another 1st team appearance was thwarted by merely average receiving efficiency, but he still finished the season with the 2nd best yards per carry mark while finishing 3rd in total scrimmage yards. The production was still good enough to earn the veteran 2nd team All Pro honors.
Joining Cue on the 2nd team is San Jose SaberCat DeAndre King. King was the textbook definition of dual threat back, notching almost as many receiving yards as rushing yards en route to posting the 6th most scrimmage yards in the league. King led all running backs in receiving yards and receiving TDs, and he made up for a lower rushing total with the 5th highest yards per carry mark.
WIDE RECEIVER
1st team: Johnny Patey (Unanimous Selection)
Key stats: 1554 yards (1st), 12 TD (t-4th), 16.9 yds/catch (2nd), 10.3 yds/target (1st*), 21 plays >20 yds (1st), 8 plays >40 yards (3rd)
*among WRs with >50 targets
1st team: Kotoni Staggs
Key stats: 1346 yards (4th), 15 TDs (1st), 9.41 yards/tar (3rd), 18 plays >20 yards (t-2nd)
1st team: Jaycee Higgins
Key stats: 1236 yards, 9 TD, 71.4% catch rate (1st*), 9.29 yds/target (5th)
2nd team: Leek Mai-Heinous
Key stats: 1347 yards (6th), 13.5 yards/catch, 14 TD (t-2nd), 9 plays >40 yards (2nd)
2nd team: Captain Billy Stinkwater
Key stats: 1100 yards, 12 TD (t-4th), 14 plays >20 yards, 7 plays >40 yards (4th)
2nd team: Zayne Dangle
Key stats: 1493 yards (2nd), 10 TD, 177 targets (2nd), 111 catches (t-2nd), 18 plays >20 yards (t-2nd)
Wide Receiver, as is tradition here, was a bit of a mess to get through in Season 38. Through it all, one name stood out from the pack, and that was Austin’s Johnny Patey. In Season 37 he led the league in receptions and yards, while putting up double digit touchdowns. Season 38 he stepped it up even further, as you can see from his stats listed above.
It tends to go without saying that if you have a QB get MVP and First Team All-Pro that their pass catchers will most likely show up, too. That’s why it should be no surprise to see Kotoni Staggs show up on the First Team. She finished fourth in yards, led the league in touchdowns, and had a stupid 18 plays over 20 yards.
Owen Farrell finished Season 38 taking home Offensive Player of the Year, so it makes sense that his top target, Jaycee Higgins, also made the First Team. He may not have some of the volume stats the other WRs do, but he was insanely efficient - leading all WRs in catch rate nd posting up over 9 yards per target.
During discussions on the Wide Receiver crop for this season were happening, Leek Mai-Heinous was referred to as, “budget Kotoni Staggs.” When you see the season both he and Staggs had, you then realize that in no way is that meant to be a slight. Honolulu was not great this season by any stretch of the imagination, but Leek showed that he’s ready to be a star in the league for a long time.
Showing that a great QB can elevate those around them, we have Sailor’s other top target in the desert, Billy Stinkwater. Stinkwater did play second fiddle in some ways to Staggs this season, but all the focus defenses had to give his partner afforded him many one-on-one coverages, which he used to his benefit as he posted 7 catches over 40 yards and finished 4th in the league in receiving touchdowns.
One of the biggest surprises in Season 38 was the Berlin Fire Salamanders making it all the way to the Ultimus, and Zayne Dangle was absolutely a reason for it. He was their top weapon on offense, a title he proved he deserved, as he finished second in the league in catches, yards, and receptions over 20 yards. He also had a nose for the end zone as he found paydirt 10 times on the year.
TIGHT END
1st team: American Boot
Key stats: 872 receiving yards (2nd), 68.70% catch rate (4th), 7.58 yards/tar (2nd)
2nd team: Deshawn Penne
Key stats: 85 receptions (1st), 7 TDs (t-1st), 698 yards, 59 pancakes (1st)
On paper, you might look at American Boot’s stats and think they’re nothing special, as he doesn’t lead his position group in any one category. What put him on the First Team this season wasn’t being a standout in one way or another, but his overall resume as a consistent and dependable receiving option. Not only did he cruise past so many true Tight Ends in yards per target, but he also paced the position in first downs achieved, showing a knack for moving the sticks.
Deshawn Penne has become somewhat of a staple on the All-Pro team, and he has been a face of reliability for the Sabercats during his career. While he may have taken a step back in explosiveness, Penne showed he still has great hands, hauling in the most catches by any TE this season. What really set him apart, however, was his ability as a blocker, where his 59 pancakes were 10 more than any other Tight End.
FULLBACK
First Team: Leandre Diarra (Unanimous Selection)
Key Stats: 55 pancakes (1st), 29 rush attempts (1st), 4.34 yds/carry (1st), 1 TD, 44 rec yds
Second Team: Triple Option
Key Stats: 42 pancakes, 9 rush attempts, 1 TD, 13 catches (t-2nd), 55 rec yds (3rd)
Fullback can be a very thankless role within an offense. If you do your job well, no one should really hear your name. Well, that’s not the case with our Unanimous First Team selection, Leandre Diarra. Diarra was a man on a mission in Season 38, and his beyond impressive ability to knock defenders on their backs helped make OCO’s rushing attack among the best in the league. He also was not just a blocker, as he was handed the ball nearly 30 times and showed great athleticism, posting over 4.3 yards per carry (for reference, that’s over 0.5 yards more than any other FB).
The Colorado Yeti of the last decade have not had a reputation as a running team. However, with the standout play of their Fullback, Triple Option, maybe they should consider the ground and pound a little more. His pancake numbers might not look amazing, but he put those numbers up while also playing 3rd least amount of snaps for FBs.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE
1st team: Swantavius Payne
Key Stats: 111 pancakes (4th), 0 sacks allowed
1st team: Stumpy Jones
Key Stats: 122 pancakes (2nd), 2 sacks allowed, 1 penalty (10 yds, t-2nd fewest), 1 fumble recovery
2nd team: D’Nickishaw Mangoldson
Key Stats: 102 pancakes (6th), 1 sack allowed, 0 penalties
2nd team: Theo Awardsystemisbad
Key Stats: 119 pancakes (3rd), 1 sack allowed
The most important job an Offensive Tackle has is to protect their QB, and for all of the top end OTs this season, only one did not allow their Quarterback to take a sack, and that was Swantavius Payne of the Philadelphia Liberty. His pancake numbers may not pop off the screen at you (though 111 is very respectable nonetheless) but he was handily voted to the first team for his overall clean season.
Stumpy Jones just doesn’t know how to quit. Another season older and he’s still tossing defenders around like ragdolls. He did, however, give up two sacks this season; but, he showed he still has the smarts as he was only flagged one time all season - much less than other potential candidates.
D’Nickishaw Mangoldson in many ways was a budget Payne this season. He still put up over 100 pancakes, but whereas Swanty did not give up a sack, Mangoldson was not penalized a single time all season. An ability to avoid negative plays of any kind cannot be overlooked, especially at a position like OT.
Theo Awardsystemisbad at face value had a good case for making the First Team this season, as he finished top 3 in pancakes and only allowed 1 sack. What hurt his case was his love of the color yellow. Theo was penalized twice as many times over the season as our other three OT were combined (8 penalties to 4), which held him back from making the First Team.
INTERIOR OL
1st team: Manhattan Project (Unanimous Selection)
Key Stats: 97 pancakes (1st), 0 sacks allowed
2nd team: Jimmy Holding
Key Stats: 80 pancakes (3rd), 2 sacks allowed, 3 penalties (Fewest among IOL)
Talk about going out with a bang (pun intended). During his time in the league, Manhattan Project was, without question, one of the best OL around - and this writer would argue one of the best to ever do it - so it is almost fitting that as his final act he would get one more Unanimous First Team selection. Not only did his 97 pancakes lead all Interior OL (Guards and Centers) but he once again put up those numbers without giving up a single sack, which is the seventh time in his career he has not allowed his Quarterback to be taken down.
This might come as a surprise, but a man with a penalty for a name was the least-flagged IOL during the Season 38 campaign. Pair that with his knack for knocking over defenders - his 80 pancakes were third-most for all IOL - and it’s easy to see how he made his way to the All-Pro Team this past season.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
1st team: Christian Marciano (Unanimous Selection)
Key stats: 62 tackles (3rd), 3 TFL, 13 sacks (1st), 4 FF/1 FR, 1 punt block
1st team: Raphael McTurtle (Unanimous Selection)
Key stats: 67 tackles (2nd), 8 TFL (2nd), 12 sacks (2nd), 4 FF/1 FR, 1 safety
2nd team: Solace Avenger
Key stats: 29 tackles, 4 TFL, 6 sacks, 1 FF, 0 penalties
2nd team: Lennay Kekua
Key stats: 69 tackles (1st), 10 sacks (3rd), 6 TFL (t-3rd), 4 FF
Last season’s Second Team All-Pro defensive tackles both took a step forward this year, becoming our unanimous First Team pairing. Marciano and McTurtle finished with remarkably similar statline, making them almost impossible to separate. They were 2nd and 3rd in total tackles, 1st and 2nd in sacks, each forced 4 fumbles, and each had a unique difference-making play, a safety by McTurtle and that rare feat, a punt block, by Marciano.
Lennay Kekua, a 1st Team All-Pro last season, delivered an even better statistical season on the interior of the Sailfish defensive line, leading all DTs in tackles, recording double-digit sacks for the second consecutive year, and forcing 4 fumbles of their own. That a player with this level of production appears on the 2nd team indicates that it was truly an exceptional year for defensive line play across the league! Joining Kekua as a 2nd Team All-Pro is the Second Line’s Solace Avenger, who stands out for mastery of their craft, as perfect technique on virtually every play made them one of the few players never to draw a penalty flag this season. An especially difficult feat on the interior of the line, where officials are always vigilant for illegal hands to the face and roughing the passer.
DEFENSIVE END
1st team: Daron Arnold (Unanimous Selection)
Key stats: 52 tackles (2nd), 7 TFL (3rd), 11 sacks (3rd)
1st team: Morpheus Czargyros (Unanimous Selection)
Key stats: 39 tackles (t-5th), 9 TFL (t-1st), 13 sacks (1st), 2 FF, 1 safety
2nd team: Xavier Valorian
Key stats: 37 tackles (t-6th), 3 TFL, 8 sacks (5th), 3 FF/1 FR
2nd team: Miles Weperom
Key stats: 36 tackles (t-7th), 2 TFL, 10 sacks (t-4th), 2 FF, 1 penalty (t-fewest)
After an impressive Season 37 campaign which saw him bring home a Unanimous First Team selection, many wondered if Daron Arnold would be able to carry that momentum into Season 38. He answered that question by turning in a performance worthy of another Unanimous First Team Selection. Finishing top three in tackles, TFL, and sacks, Arnold was one of the most consistent Defensive Ends we saw this past season.
One of the blockbuster trades prior to Season 38 was New Orleans making a move for the Czargyros Brothers out of Baltimore, and their risk paid off in the form of Morpheus’s play. He led all DE in sacks and TFL as well as forcing two fumbles and racking up a safety. New Orleans might have stumbled in the win-loss column, but Morpheus was not a reason why.
Coming onto the scene in the Season 36 draft, experts pegged Xavier Valorian as one of the next great Defensive Ends of the ISFL. After showing promise his first two seasons, Season 38 was a breakout for Valorian as his 8 sacks were good enough for 5th best amongst all Defensive Ends. Those in the know understand that the Second Team is only the beginning for Valorian.
After bulking up and making a move to the defensive line, Weperom left the sunny isles of Hawaii and relocated to dark and cold Canada for the final season of his career looking to prove that he could be an impact player at any position. Season 38 might have been the last of his playing days, but Weperom went out riding high, finishing with 10 sacks on the year as his play helped the Wraiths finish with the top scoring defense in football.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
1st team: Ioe Torrent
Key stats: 136 tackles (3rd), 24 TFL (1st), 7 sacks, 6 FF/3 FR, 1 INT, 7 PD
1st team: Bender Rodriguez
Key stats: 137 tackles (2nd), 15 TFL (3rd), 14 sacks (t-5th), 2 FF/2 FR, 13 PD (1st)
2nd team: Kahn Cussion
Key stats: 98 tackles, 8 TFL, 19 sacks (1st), 3 FF/1 FR, 2 INT, 10 PD (t-3rd)
2nd team: Sheriff Woody
Key stats: 130 tackles (4th), 8 TFL, 16 sacks (t-3rd), 8 FF (1st), 2 INT, 5 PD
More casual ISFL fans might look at Ioe Torrent’s stats from Season 38 and question how he made it to the First Team with only 7 sacks.What they fail to notice is that Torrent’s 24 tackles for loss not only tied a single season record; but, it is the first time a player has eclipsed 20 in a season since the sim swap happened. On top of that he also totalled the third most tackles in the league and also knocked the ball out six times during the year.
The other OLB to make the First Team might not have tied any league records, but he was nothing short of a playmaker at every level for the Otters. Bender Rodriguez finished in the top 5 in almost every category for his position group, as well as led all OLB in passes defended. His stats in some way might not jump out at you, but his season was arguably better than any defender’s in Season 38.
The first of our Second Team selections, Kahn Cussion, is the definition of a pass rusher. Season after season, Cussion has been in the sack leader race, and in Season 38 he captured the title, leading the league with an outstanding 19 sacks. He also showed an ability to play the passing lanes, intercepting two passes on the season.
Sheriff Woody quietly had one of the best seasons of any defender in Season 38, finishing in the top 4 in both tackles and sacks. What really set Woody apart this season was his ability to force fumbles, leading the league with 8 forced fumbles. Not satisfied with being just a tackler and pass rusher, Woody also picked off two passes on the season.
INSIDE LINEBACKER
1st team: Carissa van Campen (Unanimous Selection)
Key stats: 106 tackles (2nd), 9 TFL (1st), 9 sacks (1st), 1 FF/1 FR, 1 INT, 9 PD (t-2nd)
2nd team: Jack McPherson
Key stats: 102 tackles (4th), 1 TFL, 7 sacks (2nd) 1 FR, 1 INT, 11 PD (1st), 59.8% catch allowed (2nd)
Roaming the middle of the NOLA defense, van Campen showed off an impressive knack for finding the ball carrier. Her 18 negative tackles (TFL and Sacks) were far and away the most by any Inside Linebacker in Season 38, so it should be no surprise to see her awarded with a Unanimous First Team selection. The New Orleans defense is in good hands for a long time with van Campen holding down the middle of the field.
Yellowknife’s defense in Season 38 employed one of the best front 7’s we’ve seen in recent memory, with two defensive linemen and two linebackers making the All-Pro team. McPherson may not have put up the same sort of numbers as his fellow Wraiths, but he was asked to do very different things, and he did them well. He was most impressive in pass defense, where he was often asked to cover RBs and TEs and he held them to under 60% CtA, and knocked away 11 passes.
CORNERBACK
1st team: Dax Dangerfield
Key stats: 100 tackles (2nd), 3 FF/1 FT, 70.1% catch allowed, 6 INT (t-1st), 33 PD (t-1st), 0.214 PD/tgt (2nd), 0.717 PD/inc (1st), 2 DefTD, 0 penalties
1st team: Mark Goodhead
Key Stats: 93 tackles (5th), 6 FF (1st), 62.1% catch allowed, 3 INT (t-4th), 28 PD (t-2nd), 0.193 PD/tgt (3rd), 0.509 PD/inc (4th), 1 DefTD, 0 penalties
1st team flex DB: Ace McAlister
Key stats: 97 tackles (4th), 1 FF, 65.8% catch allowed, 6 INT (t-1st CB, t-2nd overall), 28 PD (t-2nd), 2 DefTD
2nd team: De’Aaron Harper II
Key stats: 101 tackles (1st), 1 sack, 4 FF/3 FR, 63.1% catch allowed, 4 INT (t-3rd), 22 PD (t-7th), 1 DefTD
2nd team: Guy Gibson
Key stats: 83 tackles, 56.2% catch allowed (5th), 3 INT, 27 PD (3rd)
2nd team Flex DB: Willie Miller
Key Stats: 42 tackles, 50.54% catch allowed (2nd), 3 FF/2 FR, 2 INT, 17 PD, 0 penalties
As you can see from this list here, Cornerbacks were kind of all the rage this season. So, grab a drink and let’s dive in.
First up we have Dax Dangerfield. The Silverbacks star finished in the top two among all CBs in just about every statistical category this past season, as you can see. The only knock that kept him from being a Unanimous Selection this season was his unimpressive 70% catches allowed rate. Danger is not only is his name, but also in his playing style, as he tended to sell out for the big play often and sometimes got caught out for it. Most voters, however, thought that his entire body of work made up for this one shortcoming.
The other First Team CB we had this season was the man who took home the Defensive Player of the Year Award, Arizona’s Mark Goodhead. Goodhead played a less risky version of defense than Dangerfield this past season, instead deciding to sit on routes and try first to stop the pass from being completed, as evidenced by his 62% CtA rate. He was a master at punching out the ball, though, forcing 6 fumbles on the season.
For the first of our Flex DBs, the Committee selected Ace McAlister from the Orange County Otters. There really isn’t much to say about McAlister that the numbers don’t already. When looking at the CB group this season, it was pretty apparent that these three First Teamers were in a group all their own, and it was just the ordering that needed to be sorted out. McAlister had a remarkable season, tying Dangerfield in both INTs and TDs, as well as putting up 28 PDs.
De’Aaron Harper II had arguably the most well-rounded resume of any CB this past season, putting up strong numbers in CtA Rate and INTs, as well as forcing fumbles and knocking away passes. While being an all-around solid player is nothing to be disappointed in, he didn’t really shine in any one area, which hurt his case a little bit in the eyes of some of the voters.
Guy Gibson didn’t put up some of the crazy all-around stats the other CBs did, but what he did do was deny the ball. He allowed just over 56% of the targets in his direction to be converted, as well as batting away 27 PDs on the season. Sometimes playing it safe and denying the pass instead of going for the big play can pay off, and for Gibson it paid of in spades.
Showing that old men can still do it, our final Flex DB spot went to Willie Miller of the Philadelphia Liberty. Playing Nickel Back all season, Willie did an amazing job of shutting down anyone who came into his zone, as just barely half of the passes in his direction were completed. He may not have the same speed he had as a younger man, but he showed that he still had the mental edge, as he picked off two passes and knocked away 17.
SAFETY
1st team: Orpheus Czargyros (Unanimous Selection)
Key stats: 57 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 FF/3 FR, 65.2% catch allowed, 6 INT, 14 PD (t-5th), 2 DefTD
1st team: Pasta the Turtle
Key stats: 52 tackles, 5 sacks (t-2nd), 1 FF, 64.1% catch allowed, 7 INT (led league), 10 PD, 1 DefTD
2nd team: Rocky Rhoads
Key stats: 79 tackles (4th), 8 sacks (t-1st), 3 FF/2 FR, 63.4% catch allowed, 1 INT, 9 PD
2nd team: Sam Sung
Key stats: 36 tackles, 8 sacks (t-1st), 1 FF/1 FR, 66.1% catch allowed, 4 INT, 10 PD, 1 DefTD
“A little bit of everything” is the theme for the 1st Team All-Pro safeties this season. Orpheus Czargyros and Pasta the Turtle delivered results at every level of the defense. They were nightmares for opposing QBs this season, as each took advantage of the roving nature of the safety position to record multiple sacks and league-leading interception totals. Pasta the Turtle led all players with 7 picks, and Czargyros was right behind, joining All-Pro DBs Dax Dangerfield and Ace McAlister at 6 interceptions. And it wasn’t just the interceptions: both players immediately looked to cash in on turnovers. Turtle’s 142 INT return yards and Czargyros’ 136 were 3rd and 4th in the entire league, with Turtle finding the endzone once and Czargyros getting there twice. With outstanding coverage statistics, these two players were true ballhawks, but weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty stacking the box against the run or rushing the passer either, as each recorded multiple sacks and more than 50 tackles.
Where the 1st Team safeties stand out for their versatility, the 2nd team pairing were specialists: masters of the DB blitz and getting to the quarterback. The Sailfish and Wraiths were among the league’s best defenses this season, and disruptive play at the safety position certainly contributed to that. Rhoads and Sung always required special attention from opposing offenses, as they could step in as an extra pass rusher off the edge on any given play. Primarily lining up as the strong safety, Rocky Rhoads was a force in the middle of the field, delivering punishing hits that jarred loose 3 fumbles. Sam Sung played more free safety, nabbing 4 interceptions including a pick-6, but frequently appeared as a blitzer in specialty packages, where he was perhaps even more effective. Many full-time pass rushers would be happy to record 8 sacks in a season; that Rhoads and Sung were able to do it on limited snaps makes them worthy All-Pros.
KICKER
1st team: Known Acquaintance (Unanimous Selection)
Key stats: 28/28 FG (100%, 1st), 42/42 XP, 4/4 50+ (1st), 14.97 Points Above Replacement (1st)
2nd team: Jeremy Crouse Jr
Key stats: 30/33 FG (90.9%, 2nd), 45/45 XP, 4/4 50+ (1st), 8.02 PAR (2nd)
Known Acquaintance and Jeremy Crouse Jr. clearly stood out as the league’s two best kickers this season. Acquaintance was the only kicker without a miss from any distance. Crouse was perfect on extra points and his 30/33 mark on field goals still put him above 90% accuracy for the season. Where each kicker really stood out was from distance, as each went 4/4 from beyond 50 yards. Every other kicker had at least one miss from long distance, except for Savathun Witchqueen, who went 3/3.
PAR is an advanced metric that compares a kicker’s performance against the league average. Positive PAR indicates above average performance, negative PAR is below average, and a kicker who is exactly average will have a PAR of 0. (For the curious, Season 38’s most average kicker was New Orleans’ Alfonso Dos Santos, at 0.05 PAR.) Jeremy Crouse Jr.'s 8.02 PAR was nearly double the next highest, and Known Acquaintance’s 14.97 PAR indicates a truly phenomenal season. Interestingly, Crouse Jr. was a rookie and Acquaintance a sophomore this season, which suggests that the ISFL will be rich in kicking talent for many seasons to come!
PUNTER:
1st team: Levy Tate
Key Stats: 47.38 average (3rd), 67-yard long (t-3rd), 34/72 inside 20 (47.2% i20, 1st)
2nd team: Swantavius King
Key Stats: 49.53 average (1st), 69-yard long (2nd), 34/77 inside 20 (44.2% i20, 4th)
The All-Pro voters agreed on who the season’s two best punters were, but were almost evenly split on who was better. In the end slightly more voters favored Levy Tate’s precision (highest i20% by 2.5 percentage points) over Swantavius King’s raw power (longest punting average by 2 full yards). Punter is a notoriously difficult position to assess given the limited data available: unfortunately the league doesn’t record a whole slew of helpful metrics: hang time, inside 10, inside 5, average field position, total touchbacks, or total return yards against. The data that is available shows that Tate and King were the best of what was a very good group this season; 7 punters recorded an i20 of at least 40%, and 10 punters averaged better than 45 yards per boot. With only 2 of the league’s 14 K/Ps set to regress this off-season, is the ISFL about to enter a Golden Age of Punting? Fans of special teams, rejoice!
RETURNER:
1st team: Deandre King
Key Stats: 29.4 average KR yards (2nd), 107-yard long (2nd), 1 KR TD
2nd team: The Stig
Key Stats: 32.0 average KR yards (1st), 103-yard long (3rd), 1 KR TD
Unusually for this category, both of this season’s All-Pro returners focused exclusively on kick returns, as opposed to returning both kicks and punts. (The Stig did have 2 punt returns for 9 total yards.) It’s possible that this indicates a trend towards greater specialization among kick and punt returners; time will tell. DeAndre King stood out to All-Pro voters for his remarkable effectiveness on high usage, averaging the 2nd-longest average return on the 3rd-most attempts. By contrast, The Stig returned just 18 kickoffs, but was dangerous on each and every one. With a league-best 32.0-yard average return, New Orleans could count on great field position every time he touched the ball. Perhaps the best way to demonstrate how effective The Stig was is to remove the 103-yard TD from his total kick return yards. Without the touchdown he still averaged 27.8 yards per kick return, which would be the 3rd-highest average in the league.
Reflecting something of a theme among All-Pros this season, it was an unusually good year for return specialists, with 4 players scoring kick return touchdowns. Besides the two All-Pros, returners Bean Delphine Jr. (108 yards) and Lalu Muhammad Zohri (97 yards) took kicks all the way back; kudos to them for this rare accomplishment!
SFWG All-Pro First Team
FIRST TEAM
QB - Wendell Sailor
RB - The Stig (U)
RB - Michelangelo McTurtle
FB - Leandre Diarra (U)
TE - American Boot
WR - Johnny Patey (U)
WR - Kotoni Staggs
WR - Jaycee Higgins
OT - Swantavius Payne
OT - Stumpy Jones
IOL - Manhattan Project (U)
DT - Christian Marciano (U)
DT - Raphael McTurtle (U)
DE - Daron Arnold (U)
DE - Morpheus Czargyros (U)
OLB - Ioe Torrent
OLB - Bender Rodriguez
ILB - Carissa van Campen (U)
CB - Dax Dangerfield
CB - Mark Goodhead
S - Orpheus Czargyros (U)
S - Pasta the Turtle
FLEX - Ace McAlister
K - Known Acquaintance (U)
P - Levy Tate
RET - Deandre King
SECOND TEAM
QB - Owen Farrell
RB - Jay Cue Jr.
RB - Deandre King
FB - Triple Option
TE - Deshawn Penne
WR - Captain Billy Stinkwater
WR - Leek Mai-Heinous
WR - Zayne Dangle
OT - D’Nickishaw Mangoldson
OT - Theo AwardsSystemIsBad
IOL - Jimmy Holding
DT - Solace Avenger
DT - Lennay Kekua
DE - Xavier Valorian
DE - Miles Weperom
OLB - Kahn Cussion
OLB - Sheriff Woody
ILB - Jack McPherson
CB - De’Aaron Harper II
CB - Guy Gibson
S - Rocky Rhoads
S - Sam Sung
FLEX - Willie Miller
K - Jeremy Crouse Jr.
P - Swantavius King
RET - The Stig
(U) = Unanimous selection
Other Players Receiving Votes:
QB Malcolm Savage, RB Lalu Muhammad Zohri, RB Zane Cold, FB Udo E. Beaty, FB The Incredible Bulk, WR Escanor Sama, WR Bernd D Brot, WR Delores Bickerman, TE Lenard Graf, TE Lucius Salem, OL JT Kurbis, DE Carly Rae Jensen, DE JR Frankenstero, DE Mrs McHits, DE Arnie Rufus, DE/ILB Harley Andrews, OLB Zephyr Greywolf, ILB Ignatius Reilly, ILB Jordan Hartline, CB Tony Demonson, CB Doc Holliday, CB King Zeus, S Dee Walt, S Amari Springer, DB Jazzy Fontaine, RET Dax Dangerfield, RET Zayne Dangle, RET Lalu Muhammad Zohri
Summary by team:
7 All-Pros (4 1st Team, 3 2nd Team)
7 All-Pros (4 1st Team, 3 2nd Team)
7 All-Pros (3 1st Team, 4 2nd Team)
5 All-Pros (1 1st Team, 4 2nd team)
4 All-Pros (3 1st Team, 1 2nd Team)
4 All-Pros (3 1st Team, 1 2nd Team)
4 All-Pros (1 1st team, 3 2nd Team)
3 All-Pros (1 1st Team, 2 2nd Team)
2 All-Pros (2 1st Team)
2 All-Pros (1 1st Team, 1 2nd Team)
2 All-Pros (1 1st Team, 1 2nd team)
2 All-Pros (1 1st team, 1 2nd Team)
2 All-Pros (1 1st Team, 1 2nd Team)
1 All-Pro (2nd Team)
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Thank you again for reading this season’s SFWG All-Pro Team!
In the name of transparency, here is a link to the All-Pro final ballot: Season 38 ISFL All-Pro Votes.
Thank you again to all of the members of the ISFL All-Pro Committee, and to the members of the ISFL Community for reading these every season!
© 2022 Simulation Football Writers’ Guild
Grader, please split the payout for this article in the following way:
@Michiganonymous - 40%
@TubaDeus - 30%
@Pat - 30%
Numerical ranks (1st, 2nd, 3rd…) are stated for that position group, unless otherwise noted as an overall rank.
QUARTERBACK
1st team:Wendell Sailor
Key Stats: 380/570 (66.7%, 1st), 4274 yards, 38 TD (2nd), 3.17 TD/INT (3rd), 102.3 rating (1st), 6.81 ANY/A (1st)
2nd team: Owen Farrell
Key Stats: 392/608 (64.5%, 3rd), 4281 yards, 42 TD (1st), 3.50 TD/INT (2nd), 100.0 rating (2nd), 6.60 ANY/A (2nd)
As the driving force behind now back to back Ultimus titles for the Arizona Outlaws, Wendell Sailor put together a second straight season of superb efficiency en route to his second straight 1st team All Pro award. Despite only finishing 9th in total passes thrown, Sailor notched the 2nd most TDs and was among the league leaders in every category for efficiency. There simply was no weakness in Sailor’s resume, making him a solid choice for the All Pro 1st team.
Of course, he faced stiff competition from second year QB Owen Farrell. The young star didn’t quite match Sailor’s efficiency, relying more on volume instead to put up numbers. However, that doesn’t diminish the San Jose Sabercat’s achievement of leading the league in passing TDs. The fact that he finished 2nd in TD/INT ratio as well proves that his production wasn’t just a product of volume, either. Farrell was effective in his own right, and is someone to keep an eye on as his career advances.
RUNNING BACK
1st team: The Stig (Unanimous Selection)
Key Stats: 1564 rush yds (2nd), 16 rush TD (3rd), 5.00 yds/carry (3rd), 2074 scrimmage yds (2nd), 19 total TDs (t-2nd), 12 plays >20 yards (t-1st), 0 fumbles
1st team: Michelangelo McTurtle
Key Stats: 1112 rush yds, 17 rush TD (2nd), 5.08 yds/carry (1st), 20 total TDs (1st)
2nd team: Jay Cue Jr
Key Stats: 1446 rush yds (4th), 5.02 yds/carry (2nd), 1896 scrimmage yards (3rd), 6 rec TD (2nd), 11 plays >20 yds (t-2nd)
2nd team: Deandre King
Key Stats: 950 rush yds, 767 rec yds (1st), 10 rec TD (1st), 15 total TD, 1721 scrimmage yds (6th), 34.2% rush 1st-down% (1st*), 36.5% scrimmage 1st-down% (1st*)
*among RBs with >50 touches
There’s a new king in town. There is once again a unanimous 1st team All Pro running back, but this time it’s New Orleans Second Line running back The Stig. Stig had a monster season, finishing 2nd in all purpose yards and TDs while maintaining the 3rd highest yards per carry mark and 4th highest yards per reception mark among all ISFL running backs. Even more incredible, he didn’t fumble once all season. Making The Stig a unanimous 1st team All Pro was one of the easiest decisions we faced this season.
Joining The Stig on the 1st team squad is Michaelangelo McTurtle. For the second straight year, McTurtle’s yardage totals might not have jumped off the page, but his efficiency did. McTurtle led the league with a 5.08 yards per carry clip and finished just behind Stig in yards per reception. McTurtle also added 20 total touchdowns to his final stat line, enough for the New York Silverback to lead the league in the category.
Jay Cue Jr. may not be the perennial unanimous 1st team lock like he was in his heyday, but the Arizona Outlaw star isn’t giving into regression without a fight. Cue’s bid for another 1st team appearance was thwarted by merely average receiving efficiency, but he still finished the season with the 2nd best yards per carry mark while finishing 3rd in total scrimmage yards. The production was still good enough to earn the veteran 2nd team All Pro honors.
Joining Cue on the 2nd team is San Jose SaberCat DeAndre King. King was the textbook definition of dual threat back, notching almost as many receiving yards as rushing yards en route to posting the 6th most scrimmage yards in the league. King led all running backs in receiving yards and receiving TDs, and he made up for a lower rushing total with the 5th highest yards per carry mark.
WIDE RECEIVER
1st team: Johnny Patey (Unanimous Selection)
Key stats: 1554 yards (1st), 12 TD (t-4th), 16.9 yds/catch (2nd), 10.3 yds/target (1st*), 21 plays >20 yds (1st), 8 plays >40 yards (3rd)
*among WRs with >50 targets
1st team: Kotoni Staggs
Key stats: 1346 yards (4th), 15 TDs (1st), 9.41 yards/tar (3rd), 18 plays >20 yards (t-2nd)
1st team: Jaycee Higgins
Key stats: 1236 yards, 9 TD, 71.4% catch rate (1st*), 9.29 yds/target (5th)
2nd team: Leek Mai-Heinous
Key stats: 1347 yards (6th), 13.5 yards/catch, 14 TD (t-2nd), 9 plays >40 yards (2nd)
2nd team: Captain Billy Stinkwater
Key stats: 1100 yards, 12 TD (t-4th), 14 plays >20 yards, 7 plays >40 yards (4th)
2nd team: Zayne Dangle
Key stats: 1493 yards (2nd), 10 TD, 177 targets (2nd), 111 catches (t-2nd), 18 plays >20 yards (t-2nd)
Wide Receiver, as is tradition here, was a bit of a mess to get through in Season 38. Through it all, one name stood out from the pack, and that was Austin’s Johnny Patey. In Season 37 he led the league in receptions and yards, while putting up double digit touchdowns. Season 38 he stepped it up even further, as you can see from his stats listed above.
It tends to go without saying that if you have a QB get MVP and First Team All-Pro that their pass catchers will most likely show up, too. That’s why it should be no surprise to see Kotoni Staggs show up on the First Team. She finished fourth in yards, led the league in touchdowns, and had a stupid 18 plays over 20 yards.
Owen Farrell finished Season 38 taking home Offensive Player of the Year, so it makes sense that his top target, Jaycee Higgins, also made the First Team. He may not have some of the volume stats the other WRs do, but he was insanely efficient - leading all WRs in catch rate nd posting up over 9 yards per target.
During discussions on the Wide Receiver crop for this season were happening, Leek Mai-Heinous was referred to as, “budget Kotoni Staggs.” When you see the season both he and Staggs had, you then realize that in no way is that meant to be a slight. Honolulu was not great this season by any stretch of the imagination, but Leek showed that he’s ready to be a star in the league for a long time.
Showing that a great QB can elevate those around them, we have Sailor’s other top target in the desert, Billy Stinkwater. Stinkwater did play second fiddle in some ways to Staggs this season, but all the focus defenses had to give his partner afforded him many one-on-one coverages, which he used to his benefit as he posted 7 catches over 40 yards and finished 4th in the league in receiving touchdowns.
One of the biggest surprises in Season 38 was the Berlin Fire Salamanders making it all the way to the Ultimus, and Zayne Dangle was absolutely a reason for it. He was their top weapon on offense, a title he proved he deserved, as he finished second in the league in catches, yards, and receptions over 20 yards. He also had a nose for the end zone as he found paydirt 10 times on the year.
TIGHT END
1st team: American Boot
Key stats: 872 receiving yards (2nd), 68.70% catch rate (4th), 7.58 yards/tar (2nd)
2nd team: Deshawn Penne
Key stats: 85 receptions (1st), 7 TDs (t-1st), 698 yards, 59 pancakes (1st)
On paper, you might look at American Boot’s stats and think they’re nothing special, as he doesn’t lead his position group in any one category. What put him on the First Team this season wasn’t being a standout in one way or another, but his overall resume as a consistent and dependable receiving option. Not only did he cruise past so many true Tight Ends in yards per target, but he also paced the position in first downs achieved, showing a knack for moving the sticks.
Deshawn Penne has become somewhat of a staple on the All-Pro team, and he has been a face of reliability for the Sabercats during his career. While he may have taken a step back in explosiveness, Penne showed he still has great hands, hauling in the most catches by any TE this season. What really set him apart, however, was his ability as a blocker, where his 59 pancakes were 10 more than any other Tight End.
FULLBACK
First Team: Leandre Diarra (Unanimous Selection)
Key Stats: 55 pancakes (1st), 29 rush attempts (1st), 4.34 yds/carry (1st), 1 TD, 44 rec yds
Second Team: Triple Option
Key Stats: 42 pancakes, 9 rush attempts, 1 TD, 13 catches (t-2nd), 55 rec yds (3rd)
Fullback can be a very thankless role within an offense. If you do your job well, no one should really hear your name. Well, that’s not the case with our Unanimous First Team selection, Leandre Diarra. Diarra was a man on a mission in Season 38, and his beyond impressive ability to knock defenders on their backs helped make OCO’s rushing attack among the best in the league. He also was not just a blocker, as he was handed the ball nearly 30 times and showed great athleticism, posting over 4.3 yards per carry (for reference, that’s over 0.5 yards more than any other FB).
The Colorado Yeti of the last decade have not had a reputation as a running team. However, with the standout play of their Fullback, Triple Option, maybe they should consider the ground and pound a little more. His pancake numbers might not look amazing, but he put those numbers up while also playing 3rd least amount of snaps for FBs.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE
1st team: Swantavius Payne
Key Stats: 111 pancakes (4th), 0 sacks allowed
1st team: Stumpy Jones
Key Stats: 122 pancakes (2nd), 2 sacks allowed, 1 penalty (10 yds, t-2nd fewest), 1 fumble recovery
2nd team: D’Nickishaw Mangoldson
Key Stats: 102 pancakes (6th), 1 sack allowed, 0 penalties
2nd team: Theo Awardsystemisbad
Key Stats: 119 pancakes (3rd), 1 sack allowed
The most important job an Offensive Tackle has is to protect their QB, and for all of the top end OTs this season, only one did not allow their Quarterback to take a sack, and that was Swantavius Payne of the Philadelphia Liberty. His pancake numbers may not pop off the screen at you (though 111 is very respectable nonetheless) but he was handily voted to the first team for his overall clean season.
Stumpy Jones just doesn’t know how to quit. Another season older and he’s still tossing defenders around like ragdolls. He did, however, give up two sacks this season; but, he showed he still has the smarts as he was only flagged one time all season - much less than other potential candidates.
D’Nickishaw Mangoldson in many ways was a budget Payne this season. He still put up over 100 pancakes, but whereas Swanty did not give up a sack, Mangoldson was not penalized a single time all season. An ability to avoid negative plays of any kind cannot be overlooked, especially at a position like OT.
Theo Awardsystemisbad at face value had a good case for making the First Team this season, as he finished top 3 in pancakes and only allowed 1 sack. What hurt his case was his love of the color yellow. Theo was penalized twice as many times over the season as our other three OT were combined (8 penalties to 4), which held him back from making the First Team.
INTERIOR OL
1st team: Manhattan Project (Unanimous Selection)
Key Stats: 97 pancakes (1st), 0 sacks allowed
2nd team: Jimmy Holding
Key Stats: 80 pancakes (3rd), 2 sacks allowed, 3 penalties (Fewest among IOL)
Talk about going out with a bang (pun intended). During his time in the league, Manhattan Project was, without question, one of the best OL around - and this writer would argue one of the best to ever do it - so it is almost fitting that as his final act he would get one more Unanimous First Team selection. Not only did his 97 pancakes lead all Interior OL (Guards and Centers) but he once again put up those numbers without giving up a single sack, which is the seventh time in his career he has not allowed his Quarterback to be taken down.
This might come as a surprise, but a man with a penalty for a name was the least-flagged IOL during the Season 38 campaign. Pair that with his knack for knocking over defenders - his 80 pancakes were third-most for all IOL - and it’s easy to see how he made his way to the All-Pro Team this past season.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
1st team: Christian Marciano (Unanimous Selection)
Key stats: 62 tackles (3rd), 3 TFL, 13 sacks (1st), 4 FF/1 FR, 1 punt block
1st team: Raphael McTurtle (Unanimous Selection)
Key stats: 67 tackles (2nd), 8 TFL (2nd), 12 sacks (2nd), 4 FF/1 FR, 1 safety
2nd team: Solace Avenger
Key stats: 29 tackles, 4 TFL, 6 sacks, 1 FF, 0 penalties
2nd team: Lennay Kekua
Key stats: 69 tackles (1st), 10 sacks (3rd), 6 TFL (t-3rd), 4 FF
Last season’s Second Team All-Pro defensive tackles both took a step forward this year, becoming our unanimous First Team pairing. Marciano and McTurtle finished with remarkably similar statline, making them almost impossible to separate. They were 2nd and 3rd in total tackles, 1st and 2nd in sacks, each forced 4 fumbles, and each had a unique difference-making play, a safety by McTurtle and that rare feat, a punt block, by Marciano.
Lennay Kekua, a 1st Team All-Pro last season, delivered an even better statistical season on the interior of the Sailfish defensive line, leading all DTs in tackles, recording double-digit sacks for the second consecutive year, and forcing 4 fumbles of their own. That a player with this level of production appears on the 2nd team indicates that it was truly an exceptional year for defensive line play across the league! Joining Kekua as a 2nd Team All-Pro is the Second Line’s Solace Avenger, who stands out for mastery of their craft, as perfect technique on virtually every play made them one of the few players never to draw a penalty flag this season. An especially difficult feat on the interior of the line, where officials are always vigilant for illegal hands to the face and roughing the passer.
DEFENSIVE END
1st team: Daron Arnold (Unanimous Selection)
Key stats: 52 tackles (2nd), 7 TFL (3rd), 11 sacks (3rd)
1st team: Morpheus Czargyros (Unanimous Selection)
Key stats: 39 tackles (t-5th), 9 TFL (t-1st), 13 sacks (1st), 2 FF, 1 safety
2nd team: Xavier Valorian
Key stats: 37 tackles (t-6th), 3 TFL, 8 sacks (5th), 3 FF/1 FR
2nd team: Miles Weperom
Key stats: 36 tackles (t-7th), 2 TFL, 10 sacks (t-4th), 2 FF, 1 penalty (t-fewest)
After an impressive Season 37 campaign which saw him bring home a Unanimous First Team selection, many wondered if Daron Arnold would be able to carry that momentum into Season 38. He answered that question by turning in a performance worthy of another Unanimous First Team Selection. Finishing top three in tackles, TFL, and sacks, Arnold was one of the most consistent Defensive Ends we saw this past season.
One of the blockbuster trades prior to Season 38 was New Orleans making a move for the Czargyros Brothers out of Baltimore, and their risk paid off in the form of Morpheus’s play. He led all DE in sacks and TFL as well as forcing two fumbles and racking up a safety. New Orleans might have stumbled in the win-loss column, but Morpheus was not a reason why.
Coming onto the scene in the Season 36 draft, experts pegged Xavier Valorian as one of the next great Defensive Ends of the ISFL. After showing promise his first two seasons, Season 38 was a breakout for Valorian as his 8 sacks were good enough for 5th best amongst all Defensive Ends. Those in the know understand that the Second Team is only the beginning for Valorian.
After bulking up and making a move to the defensive line, Weperom left the sunny isles of Hawaii and relocated to dark and cold Canada for the final season of his career looking to prove that he could be an impact player at any position. Season 38 might have been the last of his playing days, but Weperom went out riding high, finishing with 10 sacks on the year as his play helped the Wraiths finish with the top scoring defense in football.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
1st team: Ioe Torrent
Key stats: 136 tackles (3rd), 24 TFL (1st), 7 sacks, 6 FF/3 FR, 1 INT, 7 PD
1st team: Bender Rodriguez
Key stats: 137 tackles (2nd), 15 TFL (3rd), 14 sacks (t-5th), 2 FF/2 FR, 13 PD (1st)
2nd team: Kahn Cussion
Key stats: 98 tackles, 8 TFL, 19 sacks (1st), 3 FF/1 FR, 2 INT, 10 PD (t-3rd)
2nd team: Sheriff Woody
Key stats: 130 tackles (4th), 8 TFL, 16 sacks (t-3rd), 8 FF (1st), 2 INT, 5 PD
More casual ISFL fans might look at Ioe Torrent’s stats from Season 38 and question how he made it to the First Team with only 7 sacks.What they fail to notice is that Torrent’s 24 tackles for loss not only tied a single season record; but, it is the first time a player has eclipsed 20 in a season since the sim swap happened. On top of that he also totalled the third most tackles in the league and also knocked the ball out six times during the year.
The other OLB to make the First Team might not have tied any league records, but he was nothing short of a playmaker at every level for the Otters. Bender Rodriguez finished in the top 5 in almost every category for his position group, as well as led all OLB in passes defended. His stats in some way might not jump out at you, but his season was arguably better than any defender’s in Season 38.
The first of our Second Team selections, Kahn Cussion, is the definition of a pass rusher. Season after season, Cussion has been in the sack leader race, and in Season 38 he captured the title, leading the league with an outstanding 19 sacks. He also showed an ability to play the passing lanes, intercepting two passes on the season.
Sheriff Woody quietly had one of the best seasons of any defender in Season 38, finishing in the top 4 in both tackles and sacks. What really set Woody apart this season was his ability to force fumbles, leading the league with 8 forced fumbles. Not satisfied with being just a tackler and pass rusher, Woody also picked off two passes on the season.
INSIDE LINEBACKER
1st team: Carissa van Campen (Unanimous Selection)
Key stats: 106 tackles (2nd), 9 TFL (1st), 9 sacks (1st), 1 FF/1 FR, 1 INT, 9 PD (t-2nd)
2nd team: Jack McPherson
Key stats: 102 tackles (4th), 1 TFL, 7 sacks (2nd) 1 FR, 1 INT, 11 PD (1st), 59.8% catch allowed (2nd)
Roaming the middle of the NOLA defense, van Campen showed off an impressive knack for finding the ball carrier. Her 18 negative tackles (TFL and Sacks) were far and away the most by any Inside Linebacker in Season 38, so it should be no surprise to see her awarded with a Unanimous First Team selection. The New Orleans defense is in good hands for a long time with van Campen holding down the middle of the field.
Yellowknife’s defense in Season 38 employed one of the best front 7’s we’ve seen in recent memory, with two defensive linemen and two linebackers making the All-Pro team. McPherson may not have put up the same sort of numbers as his fellow Wraiths, but he was asked to do very different things, and he did them well. He was most impressive in pass defense, where he was often asked to cover RBs and TEs and he held them to under 60% CtA, and knocked away 11 passes.
CORNERBACK
1st team: Dax Dangerfield
Key stats: 100 tackles (2nd), 3 FF/1 FT, 70.1% catch allowed, 6 INT (t-1st), 33 PD (t-1st), 0.214 PD/tgt (2nd), 0.717 PD/inc (1st), 2 DefTD, 0 penalties
1st team: Mark Goodhead
Key Stats: 93 tackles (5th), 6 FF (1st), 62.1% catch allowed, 3 INT (t-4th), 28 PD (t-2nd), 0.193 PD/tgt (3rd), 0.509 PD/inc (4th), 1 DefTD, 0 penalties
1st team flex DB: Ace McAlister
Key stats: 97 tackles (4th), 1 FF, 65.8% catch allowed, 6 INT (t-1st CB, t-2nd overall), 28 PD (t-2nd), 2 DefTD
2nd team: De’Aaron Harper II
Key stats: 101 tackles (1st), 1 sack, 4 FF/3 FR, 63.1% catch allowed, 4 INT (t-3rd), 22 PD (t-7th), 1 DefTD
2nd team: Guy Gibson
Key stats: 83 tackles, 56.2% catch allowed (5th), 3 INT, 27 PD (3rd)
2nd team Flex DB: Willie Miller
Key Stats: 42 tackles, 50.54% catch allowed (2nd), 3 FF/2 FR, 2 INT, 17 PD, 0 penalties
As you can see from this list here, Cornerbacks were kind of all the rage this season. So, grab a drink and let’s dive in.
First up we have Dax Dangerfield. The Silverbacks star finished in the top two among all CBs in just about every statistical category this past season, as you can see. The only knock that kept him from being a Unanimous Selection this season was his unimpressive 70% catches allowed rate. Danger is not only is his name, but also in his playing style, as he tended to sell out for the big play often and sometimes got caught out for it. Most voters, however, thought that his entire body of work made up for this one shortcoming.
The other First Team CB we had this season was the man who took home the Defensive Player of the Year Award, Arizona’s Mark Goodhead. Goodhead played a less risky version of defense than Dangerfield this past season, instead deciding to sit on routes and try first to stop the pass from being completed, as evidenced by his 62% CtA rate. He was a master at punching out the ball, though, forcing 6 fumbles on the season.
For the first of our Flex DBs, the Committee selected Ace McAlister from the Orange County Otters. There really isn’t much to say about McAlister that the numbers don’t already. When looking at the CB group this season, it was pretty apparent that these three First Teamers were in a group all their own, and it was just the ordering that needed to be sorted out. McAlister had a remarkable season, tying Dangerfield in both INTs and TDs, as well as putting up 28 PDs.
De’Aaron Harper II had arguably the most well-rounded resume of any CB this past season, putting up strong numbers in CtA Rate and INTs, as well as forcing fumbles and knocking away passes. While being an all-around solid player is nothing to be disappointed in, he didn’t really shine in any one area, which hurt his case a little bit in the eyes of some of the voters.
Guy Gibson didn’t put up some of the crazy all-around stats the other CBs did, but what he did do was deny the ball. He allowed just over 56% of the targets in his direction to be converted, as well as batting away 27 PDs on the season. Sometimes playing it safe and denying the pass instead of going for the big play can pay off, and for Gibson it paid of in spades.
Showing that old men can still do it, our final Flex DB spot went to Willie Miller of the Philadelphia Liberty. Playing Nickel Back all season, Willie did an amazing job of shutting down anyone who came into his zone, as just barely half of the passes in his direction were completed. He may not have the same speed he had as a younger man, but he showed that he still had the mental edge, as he picked off two passes and knocked away 17.
SAFETY
1st team: Orpheus Czargyros (Unanimous Selection)
Key stats: 57 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 FF/3 FR, 65.2% catch allowed, 6 INT, 14 PD (t-5th), 2 DefTD
1st team: Pasta the Turtle
Key stats: 52 tackles, 5 sacks (t-2nd), 1 FF, 64.1% catch allowed, 7 INT (led league), 10 PD, 1 DefTD
2nd team: Rocky Rhoads
Key stats: 79 tackles (4th), 8 sacks (t-1st), 3 FF/2 FR, 63.4% catch allowed, 1 INT, 9 PD
2nd team: Sam Sung
Key stats: 36 tackles, 8 sacks (t-1st), 1 FF/1 FR, 66.1% catch allowed, 4 INT, 10 PD, 1 DefTD
“A little bit of everything” is the theme for the 1st Team All-Pro safeties this season. Orpheus Czargyros and Pasta the Turtle delivered results at every level of the defense. They were nightmares for opposing QBs this season, as each took advantage of the roving nature of the safety position to record multiple sacks and league-leading interception totals. Pasta the Turtle led all players with 7 picks, and Czargyros was right behind, joining All-Pro DBs Dax Dangerfield and Ace McAlister at 6 interceptions. And it wasn’t just the interceptions: both players immediately looked to cash in on turnovers. Turtle’s 142 INT return yards and Czargyros’ 136 were 3rd and 4th in the entire league, with Turtle finding the endzone once and Czargyros getting there twice. With outstanding coverage statistics, these two players were true ballhawks, but weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty stacking the box against the run or rushing the passer either, as each recorded multiple sacks and more than 50 tackles.
Where the 1st Team safeties stand out for their versatility, the 2nd team pairing were specialists: masters of the DB blitz and getting to the quarterback. The Sailfish and Wraiths were among the league’s best defenses this season, and disruptive play at the safety position certainly contributed to that. Rhoads and Sung always required special attention from opposing offenses, as they could step in as an extra pass rusher off the edge on any given play. Primarily lining up as the strong safety, Rocky Rhoads was a force in the middle of the field, delivering punishing hits that jarred loose 3 fumbles. Sam Sung played more free safety, nabbing 4 interceptions including a pick-6, but frequently appeared as a blitzer in specialty packages, where he was perhaps even more effective. Many full-time pass rushers would be happy to record 8 sacks in a season; that Rhoads and Sung were able to do it on limited snaps makes them worthy All-Pros.
KICKER
1st team: Known Acquaintance (Unanimous Selection)
Key stats: 28/28 FG (100%, 1st), 42/42 XP, 4/4 50+ (1st), 14.97 Points Above Replacement (1st)
2nd team: Jeremy Crouse Jr
Key stats: 30/33 FG (90.9%, 2nd), 45/45 XP, 4/4 50+ (1st), 8.02 PAR (2nd)
Known Acquaintance and Jeremy Crouse Jr. clearly stood out as the league’s two best kickers this season. Acquaintance was the only kicker without a miss from any distance. Crouse was perfect on extra points and his 30/33 mark on field goals still put him above 90% accuracy for the season. Where each kicker really stood out was from distance, as each went 4/4 from beyond 50 yards. Every other kicker had at least one miss from long distance, except for Savathun Witchqueen, who went 3/3.
PAR is an advanced metric that compares a kicker’s performance against the league average. Positive PAR indicates above average performance, negative PAR is below average, and a kicker who is exactly average will have a PAR of 0. (For the curious, Season 38’s most average kicker was New Orleans’ Alfonso Dos Santos, at 0.05 PAR.) Jeremy Crouse Jr.'s 8.02 PAR was nearly double the next highest, and Known Acquaintance’s 14.97 PAR indicates a truly phenomenal season. Interestingly, Crouse Jr. was a rookie and Acquaintance a sophomore this season, which suggests that the ISFL will be rich in kicking talent for many seasons to come!
PUNTER:
1st team: Levy Tate
Key Stats: 47.38 average (3rd), 67-yard long (t-3rd), 34/72 inside 20 (47.2% i20, 1st)
2nd team: Swantavius King
Key Stats: 49.53 average (1st), 69-yard long (2nd), 34/77 inside 20 (44.2% i20, 4th)
The All-Pro voters agreed on who the season’s two best punters were, but were almost evenly split on who was better. In the end slightly more voters favored Levy Tate’s precision (highest i20% by 2.5 percentage points) over Swantavius King’s raw power (longest punting average by 2 full yards). Punter is a notoriously difficult position to assess given the limited data available: unfortunately the league doesn’t record a whole slew of helpful metrics: hang time, inside 10, inside 5, average field position, total touchbacks, or total return yards against. The data that is available shows that Tate and King were the best of what was a very good group this season; 7 punters recorded an i20 of at least 40%, and 10 punters averaged better than 45 yards per boot. With only 2 of the league’s 14 K/Ps set to regress this off-season, is the ISFL about to enter a Golden Age of Punting? Fans of special teams, rejoice!
RETURNER:
1st team: Deandre King
Key Stats: 29.4 average KR yards (2nd), 107-yard long (2nd), 1 KR TD
2nd team: The Stig
Key Stats: 32.0 average KR yards (1st), 103-yard long (3rd), 1 KR TD
Unusually for this category, both of this season’s All-Pro returners focused exclusively on kick returns, as opposed to returning both kicks and punts. (The Stig did have 2 punt returns for 9 total yards.) It’s possible that this indicates a trend towards greater specialization among kick and punt returners; time will tell. DeAndre King stood out to All-Pro voters for his remarkable effectiveness on high usage, averaging the 2nd-longest average return on the 3rd-most attempts. By contrast, The Stig returned just 18 kickoffs, but was dangerous on each and every one. With a league-best 32.0-yard average return, New Orleans could count on great field position every time he touched the ball. Perhaps the best way to demonstrate how effective The Stig was is to remove the 103-yard TD from his total kick return yards. Without the touchdown he still averaged 27.8 yards per kick return, which would be the 3rd-highest average in the league.
Reflecting something of a theme among All-Pros this season, it was an unusually good year for return specialists, with 4 players scoring kick return touchdowns. Besides the two All-Pros, returners Bean Delphine Jr. (108 yards) and Lalu Muhammad Zohri (97 yards) took kicks all the way back; kudos to them for this rare accomplishment!
SFWG All-Pro First Team
FIRST TEAM
QB - Wendell Sailor
RB - The Stig (U)
RB - Michelangelo McTurtle
FB - Leandre Diarra (U)
TE - American Boot
WR - Johnny Patey (U)
WR - Kotoni Staggs
WR - Jaycee Higgins
OT - Swantavius Payne
OT - Stumpy Jones
IOL - Manhattan Project (U)
DT - Christian Marciano (U)
DT - Raphael McTurtle (U)
DE - Daron Arnold (U)
DE - Morpheus Czargyros (U)
OLB - Ioe Torrent
OLB - Bender Rodriguez
ILB - Carissa van Campen (U)
CB - Dax Dangerfield
CB - Mark Goodhead
S - Orpheus Czargyros (U)
S - Pasta the Turtle
FLEX - Ace McAlister
K - Known Acquaintance (U)
P - Levy Tate
RET - Deandre King
SECOND TEAM
QB - Owen Farrell
RB - Jay Cue Jr.
RB - Deandre King
FB - Triple Option
TE - Deshawn Penne
WR - Captain Billy Stinkwater
WR - Leek Mai-Heinous
WR - Zayne Dangle
OT - D’Nickishaw Mangoldson
OT - Theo AwardsSystemIsBad
IOL - Jimmy Holding
DT - Solace Avenger
DT - Lennay Kekua
DE - Xavier Valorian
DE - Miles Weperom
OLB - Kahn Cussion
OLB - Sheriff Woody
ILB - Jack McPherson
CB - De’Aaron Harper II
CB - Guy Gibson
S - Rocky Rhoads
S - Sam Sung
FLEX - Willie Miller
K - Jeremy Crouse Jr.
P - Swantavius King
RET - The Stig
(U) = Unanimous selection
Other Players Receiving Votes:
QB Malcolm Savage, RB Lalu Muhammad Zohri, RB Zane Cold, FB Udo E. Beaty, FB The Incredible Bulk, WR Escanor Sama, WR Bernd D Brot, WR Delores Bickerman, TE Lenard Graf, TE Lucius Salem, OL JT Kurbis, DE Carly Rae Jensen, DE JR Frankenstero, DE Mrs McHits, DE Arnie Rufus, DE/ILB Harley Andrews, OLB Zephyr Greywolf, ILB Ignatius Reilly, ILB Jordan Hartline, CB Tony Demonson, CB Doc Holliday, CB King Zeus, S Dee Walt, S Amari Springer, DB Jazzy Fontaine, RET Dax Dangerfield, RET Zayne Dangle, RET Lalu Muhammad Zohri
Summary by team:
7 All-Pros (4 1st Team, 3 2nd Team)
7 All-Pros (4 1st Team, 3 2nd Team)
7 All-Pros (3 1st Team, 4 2nd Team)
5 All-Pros (1 1st Team, 4 2nd team)
4 All-Pros (3 1st Team, 1 2nd Team)
4 All-Pros (3 1st Team, 1 2nd Team)
4 All-Pros (1 1st team, 3 2nd Team)
3 All-Pros (1 1st Team, 2 2nd Team)
2 All-Pros (2 1st Team)
2 All-Pros (1 1st Team, 1 2nd Team)
2 All-Pros (1 1st Team, 1 2nd team)
2 All-Pros (1 1st team, 1 2nd Team)
2 All-Pros (1 1st Team, 1 2nd Team)
1 All-Pro (2nd Team)
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Thank you again for reading this season’s SFWG All-Pro Team!
In the name of transparency, here is a link to the All-Pro final ballot: Season 38 ISFL All-Pro Votes.
Thank you again to all of the members of the ISFL All-Pro Committee, and to the members of the ISFL Community for reading these every season!
© 2022 Simulation Football Writers’ Guild
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@Michiganonymous - 40%
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