Following the 3-1 finish to the Yellowknife Wraiths, I took a trip to Yellowknife to interview some of the players in their locker room to see how they are feeling about the upcoming season. With their front 7 being bolstered this offseason, they showed definite signs of improvement this offseason and they managed to beat the Otters on the road which is a major accomplishment! I was sure the players would have a lot to say about this start to their third season in the NSFL so I asked a few of them the following five questions:
1) What are your thoughts on how the preseason went for the Yellowknife Wraiths?
2) Who was the most exciting rookie during the preseason from your perspective? What makes you excited about them?
3) Do you have any worries for the upcoming season or are you completely ready for it?
4) What game are you most looking forward to playing in next season? Which player are you most looking forward to line up against?
5) What is your season projection for the Wraiths this upcoming season?
I posed these questions to DE Ricky Maddox, OL Francois Lamoreux, FB Eric Kennedy, LB Kevin Cushing, and TE Joseph Askins. They responded with the following:
Maddox:
1) "I think it went around the area that I expected. Content the defense played well with all of the new editions, the offense showed that they can move the ball effectively. The run game looks NAAAAASTY! Going 3-1 proves what we already know. Yeah, I know it's just preseason but wins are wins. In my book, I don't go out there to lose. Lol"
2) "On our team, offensively, it has to be Francois Lamoreux. His addition from day one has been giving Orosz plenty of time in the pocket and Nuck appears to be ready to be back in the hunt to get his second MVP and another Best RB award. Don't forget to mention Eric Kennedy being the PERFECT compliment to Nuck, I love this O-Line as a whole. We were the best last year and it appears to be one of the things that'll propel us up the ranks.
On defense, gotta be one of our editions on the D-Line, for here, I'll choose Eidur Gusttavson, he's tore it up this off season and he's one of the main reasons why my switch to Defensive End has been mostly seamless. Along with Bork and the rest of the crew when we all headed to Iceland. Our Defense just been exceptional both in chemistry and performance. We've shown that so far and it's gonna be a spectacle to see how we get to the QB."
3) "My biggest worry will mostly be offensive consistency. Which shouldn't be an issue at face value. We have the most talented offense in the NSFL, based on TPE and Star power. Even with myself becoming a defensive end, there should be no slack in our offense no matter who we play. Luckily enough for the offense, our defense will help keep us in games much more often than not."
4) "Every game against the Outlaws. They're the team to beat, we're the new revamped football team, they're the standard of the NSFL and we're attempting to build our own standard. We belong up there. Similar to the Otters, we've been to the playoffs both years but unlike them, two different teams knocked us out, only to fail against the Outlaws. Haha Thats why we gotta show that #WraithsNation is the real deal, was the real deal, and forever will be the real deal!"
5) "I think 10 wins is very achievable. I believe we can contend for a our first division title, win home field for our division and then upset the world when we take off the Outlaws for this year but at the very least, a trip to fight for the Ultimus is within reach with this team."
Lamoreux:
1) "I thought preseason was an unqualified success. Our playbook was quite different than how it will look in the regular season and we still came out 3-1. I think our offensive line was outstanding, given that Bubba Nuck averaged over 4 yards per carry in the first two games and over 3 yards per carry in the second two games. We also gave up very few sacks. I would say the main thing to work on is shoring up the secondary, which we appear to have accomplished with the signing of Luke Tiernan and reducing the number of interceptions thrown by Chris Orosz."
2) "I love the whole Wraiths rookie class that I've had the honor of being part of. I'm not sure I could choose a favorite because the entire team has really come together to work towards a championship this year. The energy in the Wraiths locker room, especially from fellow rookies, is what keeps me engaged and coming back day after day."
3) "Of course I worry, I'm on the offensive line next to Mat Askelsen who has a few hundred more TPE than me! I can't be embarrassing the line, but if preseason has been an indicator then the line can hold its own just fine. I'm not worried about any other position, on offense we have a great line, Chris Orosz, Bubba Nuck, Eric Kennedy, Josh Garden, and Bailey Cook. As long as the line holds, we will be gaining yards and scoring touchdowns."
4) "The season opener against the Hawks! I have a very contentious history with Baltimore and they would like nothing more than give me a season-ending injury. I think the winner of that game will have bragging rights for a while. Not sure if I'd call it a personal grudge match, but that's pretty much exactly what it is for me. I'd love to beat Arizona and Philly and Orange County but no matter what happens at the end of the season I'll call it a victory if we can go 2-0 against the Hawks."
5) "We're going to win it all! I think we have the energy and motivation and we definitely have the top minds in football deciding our strategy. Kevin Cushing is an absolute genius when it comes to tactics and him, Bork Bjornsson, and Dermot Lavelle advising our GM Spike Crown means we have the biggest brain trust in the league. Plus we have Ricky Maddox to admire himself in the mirror all day which has to be worth something. Also we've got the greatest kicker in the league, Archibald Booter, so I fully expect us to win the Ultimus. Ryan Fitzfatrick and Wyatt Fulton would expect nothing less."
Kennedy:
1) "I’m really pleased with the overall result. 4-0 is nice, but I feel like we were able to try out a few new things and a lot of it worked. You’re seeing a different team out there than you saw in Season 2 and I consider that a positive, especially on the defensive side. Previously, we had a reputation as being a more one-dimensional team, but I think that perception has been challenged and we’re going to continue to challenge it as the season goes on."
2) "Gustavsson really impressed me on the defensive side of the ball. He didn’t get all of the opportunities that I think he would have liked to, but when they came along, he definitely made the most of it. And he’s someone who’s only going to improve over the course of the season. Offensively, Joseph Askins has been super consistent, which is exactly what we need out of him at this point. He’s a strong blocker, but he’s also able to move the ball when called upon. Francois Lameroux is also laying defenders out with pancakes left and right, which is impressive. You don’t typically see offensive linemen make a big impact like that right out of the gate, but he’s very motivated and it shows on the field."
3) "To be honest, the passing completion was a bit shaky, but we’ve also introduced a few new pieces into our offense and are trying out some new plays, so it’s going to take some time to work out the kinks. There’s a lot of focus on getting that done by the start of the regular season and it’s possible, but I think that’s probably the first thing on everyone’s mind. That said, the fact that it’s the first thing that comes to mind says a lot about how much our defense has improved."
4) "Personally, I’m looking to face off against Brice Boggs and the Yeti. Boggs was a key player for us last year when he joined up as a free agent prospect and we did a lot to bring him back, but then things took an unexpected turn and we traded him for Wyatt Fulton. That got a mixed reaction from the analysts out there. To a lot of them, Boggs was the future and I think he was the guy they saw us building this team around. On the other hand, Fulton is a guy with a lot of experience and the perception in our locker room, at least, is that he’s the guy we need right now. So, while I like Boggs, I think we’ve got to prove that we can move on without him and I think he’s someone I’ll be matching up with quite a bit when we play the Yeti."
5) "I think we’re better than we were last year. We went 8-6 then, so logically, I must expect us to move up to at least 9-5 or 10-4. I don’t want to get ahead of myself on that. We need to take each game on its own merit, but if I truly believe we’re a better team… And I do… I think it’s only fair to expect our record to reflect those improvements. Personally, I think the Ultimus championship is the perfect way to solidify that, but a better record is certainly a step in the right direction."
Cushing:
1) "Honestly, better than expected. I'd say we had one of the easiest schedules, so a three and one start isn't something to get wildly excited about, but beating the Otters on the road is definitely a good sign. Our defense was much better than expected and is still getting better. I think we've show it won't be the liability is was last year by a long shot."
2) "I'd have to say Gustavsson. Honestly, all I wanted him to be able to do over preseason was not get pancaked or spun around. "Don't let the tackle run up and block me," I told him. He did that and SO much more. He had 12 tackles, 3 of them for a loss, and got his first sack. For a rookie, that is remarkable production. And then you see how he is quickly getting better, and it's hard not to get excited about that. Hell, I was hyped a lot more than he was, and I only had one sack in the first nine games of last season."
3) "Well, I think our secondary is still a little weaker than I would like, but with all the improvements to our front seven, I think we can get to the QB before anyone gets open. Also, while our offense is amazingly talented, I felt there were way too many mistakes. We gave up a lot of sacks and threw a lot of interceptions. I'm sure both of those can be traced to Maddox moving to defense, as he was a great blocker as well as Orosz's safety net on broken plays, which is why he led the team in receptions last year. "
4) "I would say our games against Arizona. I mean, that is the team that matters. Last year we lost at home and on the road, and definitely didn't look like we deserved to face them in the Ultimus, not that the Hawks did, either. This year, we have to show what we're made of."
5) "According to ELO, we are gonna win 8 games again, but I think that's our floor. We'll find out pretty soon, though. Three of our first four games are on the road, so if we walk out of that 3-1, the league will know to watch out for us. I would say we are in the range of 8-10 wins."
Askins:
1) "I think the preseason went very well for us! We won 3 games which was way better than expected, especially winning in Orange County! The loss to the SaberCats hurt a little but we came back swinging the following two weeks! Personally I was pleased with my own personal performance on the team. Obviously filling the shoes of the GOAT Tight End Ricky Maddox is a very hard task, but I have been put in a great position to hopefully perform up to that level. I felt very good about my blocking in the preseason and I think that was a large reason why our rushing attack felt so much more improved from last season!"
2) "The most exciting rookie to me is my buddy Francois! We are both new members to this team and working together with our blocking schemes has been great so far! Through four games he had 11 pancake blocks and only gave up two sacks (!) which is amazing for a rookie lineman in this league. I am very excited to see him continue to improve throughout our careers here in Yellowknife because he has the potential to be an all time great already just from what I have seen from him the preseason!"
3) "I am not worried at all about the upcoming season! It has been a dream of mine since I was little to play professional football and now I finally have the opportunity too! At the end of the day I just want to win some football games for my team and I will finally get the opportunity to do so starting next week! Our team is 100% prepared for the regular season and we should have no worries at all!"
4) "I am most looking forward to play against the Outlaws. Many experts predict them to be the number one team in the season this year, but I think they might have it wrong because we have a great squad here in Yellowknife and we are coming prepared for this season. Every game against the Outlaws will be a close one but I think we have the best shot at winning these games! I am most looking forward to lining up against Brice Boggs of the Colorado Yetis. He is a former teammate of mine, and although I only knew him for a short amount of time, he was a great guy and a great player! It will be fun duking it out with him in our games and seeing who will get the better end of our battle!"
5) "The Wraiths went 8-6 last year, and we have improved so much this offseason that I think an expectation of 10-4 or 11-3 is very realistic for our squad. The only games I am really worried about is our road games against the Outlaws and the Liberty! Every other game I think we hold an edge in and should get the win. Obviously flukes happen but I am very confident in our squad! It should be interesting to see how the season turns out!"
As you can see, the Wraiths have a very positive outlook on their season and what the future will hold. It will be very interesting to see how the season progresses for the team and to see if these expectations will be met! Personally, being in the locker room with these guys I could already tell the strong presence of the team and the positive energy being given to every member of the team. I think that this alone will help propel them into the playoffs and possibly even to their first Ultimus!
2,684 words.
Payout $100,00 to @kckolbe. Give the rest to me.
GRADED
1) What are your thoughts on how the preseason went for the Yellowknife Wraiths?
2) Who was the most exciting rookie during the preseason from your perspective? What makes you excited about them?
3) Do you have any worries for the upcoming season or are you completely ready for it?
4) What game are you most looking forward to playing in next season? Which player are you most looking forward to line up against?
5) What is your season projection for the Wraiths this upcoming season?
I posed these questions to DE Ricky Maddox, OL Francois Lamoreux, FB Eric Kennedy, LB Kevin Cushing, and TE Joseph Askins. They responded with the following:
Maddox:
1) "I think it went around the area that I expected. Content the defense played well with all of the new editions, the offense showed that they can move the ball effectively. The run game looks NAAAAASTY! Going 3-1 proves what we already know. Yeah, I know it's just preseason but wins are wins. In my book, I don't go out there to lose. Lol"
2) "On our team, offensively, it has to be Francois Lamoreux. His addition from day one has been giving Orosz plenty of time in the pocket and Nuck appears to be ready to be back in the hunt to get his second MVP and another Best RB award. Don't forget to mention Eric Kennedy being the PERFECT compliment to Nuck, I love this O-Line as a whole. We were the best last year and it appears to be one of the things that'll propel us up the ranks.
On defense, gotta be one of our editions on the D-Line, for here, I'll choose Eidur Gusttavson, he's tore it up this off season and he's one of the main reasons why my switch to Defensive End has been mostly seamless. Along with Bork and the rest of the crew when we all headed to Iceland. Our Defense just been exceptional both in chemistry and performance. We've shown that so far and it's gonna be a spectacle to see how we get to the QB."
3) "My biggest worry will mostly be offensive consistency. Which shouldn't be an issue at face value. We have the most talented offense in the NSFL, based on TPE and Star power. Even with myself becoming a defensive end, there should be no slack in our offense no matter who we play. Luckily enough for the offense, our defense will help keep us in games much more often than not."
4) "Every game against the Outlaws. They're the team to beat, we're the new revamped football team, they're the standard of the NSFL and we're attempting to build our own standard. We belong up there. Similar to the Otters, we've been to the playoffs both years but unlike them, two different teams knocked us out, only to fail against the Outlaws. Haha Thats why we gotta show that #WraithsNation is the real deal, was the real deal, and forever will be the real deal!"
5) "I think 10 wins is very achievable. I believe we can contend for a our first division title, win home field for our division and then upset the world when we take off the Outlaws for this year but at the very least, a trip to fight for the Ultimus is within reach with this team."
Lamoreux:
1) "I thought preseason was an unqualified success. Our playbook was quite different than how it will look in the regular season and we still came out 3-1. I think our offensive line was outstanding, given that Bubba Nuck averaged over 4 yards per carry in the first two games and over 3 yards per carry in the second two games. We also gave up very few sacks. I would say the main thing to work on is shoring up the secondary, which we appear to have accomplished with the signing of Luke Tiernan and reducing the number of interceptions thrown by Chris Orosz."
2) "I love the whole Wraiths rookie class that I've had the honor of being part of. I'm not sure I could choose a favorite because the entire team has really come together to work towards a championship this year. The energy in the Wraiths locker room, especially from fellow rookies, is what keeps me engaged and coming back day after day."
3) "Of course I worry, I'm on the offensive line next to Mat Askelsen who has a few hundred more TPE than me! I can't be embarrassing the line, but if preseason has been an indicator then the line can hold its own just fine. I'm not worried about any other position, on offense we have a great line, Chris Orosz, Bubba Nuck, Eric Kennedy, Josh Garden, and Bailey Cook. As long as the line holds, we will be gaining yards and scoring touchdowns."
4) "The season opener against the Hawks! I have a very contentious history with Baltimore and they would like nothing more than give me a season-ending injury. I think the winner of that game will have bragging rights for a while. Not sure if I'd call it a personal grudge match, but that's pretty much exactly what it is for me. I'd love to beat Arizona and Philly and Orange County but no matter what happens at the end of the season I'll call it a victory if we can go 2-0 against the Hawks."
5) "We're going to win it all! I think we have the energy and motivation and we definitely have the top minds in football deciding our strategy. Kevin Cushing is an absolute genius when it comes to tactics and him, Bork Bjornsson, and Dermot Lavelle advising our GM Spike Crown means we have the biggest brain trust in the league. Plus we have Ricky Maddox to admire himself in the mirror all day which has to be worth something. Also we've got the greatest kicker in the league, Archibald Booter, so I fully expect us to win the Ultimus. Ryan Fitzfatrick and Wyatt Fulton would expect nothing less."
Kennedy:
1) "I’m really pleased with the overall result. 4-0 is nice, but I feel like we were able to try out a few new things and a lot of it worked. You’re seeing a different team out there than you saw in Season 2 and I consider that a positive, especially on the defensive side. Previously, we had a reputation as being a more one-dimensional team, but I think that perception has been challenged and we’re going to continue to challenge it as the season goes on."
2) "Gustavsson really impressed me on the defensive side of the ball. He didn’t get all of the opportunities that I think he would have liked to, but when they came along, he definitely made the most of it. And he’s someone who’s only going to improve over the course of the season. Offensively, Joseph Askins has been super consistent, which is exactly what we need out of him at this point. He’s a strong blocker, but he’s also able to move the ball when called upon. Francois Lameroux is also laying defenders out with pancakes left and right, which is impressive. You don’t typically see offensive linemen make a big impact like that right out of the gate, but he’s very motivated and it shows on the field."
3) "To be honest, the passing completion was a bit shaky, but we’ve also introduced a few new pieces into our offense and are trying out some new plays, so it’s going to take some time to work out the kinks. There’s a lot of focus on getting that done by the start of the regular season and it’s possible, but I think that’s probably the first thing on everyone’s mind. That said, the fact that it’s the first thing that comes to mind says a lot about how much our defense has improved."
4) "Personally, I’m looking to face off against Brice Boggs and the Yeti. Boggs was a key player for us last year when he joined up as a free agent prospect and we did a lot to bring him back, but then things took an unexpected turn and we traded him for Wyatt Fulton. That got a mixed reaction from the analysts out there. To a lot of them, Boggs was the future and I think he was the guy they saw us building this team around. On the other hand, Fulton is a guy with a lot of experience and the perception in our locker room, at least, is that he’s the guy we need right now. So, while I like Boggs, I think we’ve got to prove that we can move on without him and I think he’s someone I’ll be matching up with quite a bit when we play the Yeti."
5) "I think we’re better than we were last year. We went 8-6 then, so logically, I must expect us to move up to at least 9-5 or 10-4. I don’t want to get ahead of myself on that. We need to take each game on its own merit, but if I truly believe we’re a better team… And I do… I think it’s only fair to expect our record to reflect those improvements. Personally, I think the Ultimus championship is the perfect way to solidify that, but a better record is certainly a step in the right direction."
Cushing:
1) "Honestly, better than expected. I'd say we had one of the easiest schedules, so a three and one start isn't something to get wildly excited about, but beating the Otters on the road is definitely a good sign. Our defense was much better than expected and is still getting better. I think we've show it won't be the liability is was last year by a long shot."
2) "I'd have to say Gustavsson. Honestly, all I wanted him to be able to do over preseason was not get pancaked or spun around. "Don't let the tackle run up and block me," I told him. He did that and SO much more. He had 12 tackles, 3 of them for a loss, and got his first sack. For a rookie, that is remarkable production. And then you see how he is quickly getting better, and it's hard not to get excited about that. Hell, I was hyped a lot more than he was, and I only had one sack in the first nine games of last season."
3) "Well, I think our secondary is still a little weaker than I would like, but with all the improvements to our front seven, I think we can get to the QB before anyone gets open. Also, while our offense is amazingly talented, I felt there were way too many mistakes. We gave up a lot of sacks and threw a lot of interceptions. I'm sure both of those can be traced to Maddox moving to defense, as he was a great blocker as well as Orosz's safety net on broken plays, which is why he led the team in receptions last year. "
4) "I would say our games against Arizona. I mean, that is the team that matters. Last year we lost at home and on the road, and definitely didn't look like we deserved to face them in the Ultimus, not that the Hawks did, either. This year, we have to show what we're made of."
5) "According to ELO, we are gonna win 8 games again, but I think that's our floor. We'll find out pretty soon, though. Three of our first four games are on the road, so if we walk out of that 3-1, the league will know to watch out for us. I would say we are in the range of 8-10 wins."
Askins:
1) "I think the preseason went very well for us! We won 3 games which was way better than expected, especially winning in Orange County! The loss to the SaberCats hurt a little but we came back swinging the following two weeks! Personally I was pleased with my own personal performance on the team. Obviously filling the shoes of the GOAT Tight End Ricky Maddox is a very hard task, but I have been put in a great position to hopefully perform up to that level. I felt very good about my blocking in the preseason and I think that was a large reason why our rushing attack felt so much more improved from last season!"
2) "The most exciting rookie to me is my buddy Francois! We are both new members to this team and working together with our blocking schemes has been great so far! Through four games he had 11 pancake blocks and only gave up two sacks (!) which is amazing for a rookie lineman in this league. I am very excited to see him continue to improve throughout our careers here in Yellowknife because he has the potential to be an all time great already just from what I have seen from him the preseason!"
3) "I am not worried at all about the upcoming season! It has been a dream of mine since I was little to play professional football and now I finally have the opportunity too! At the end of the day I just want to win some football games for my team and I will finally get the opportunity to do so starting next week! Our team is 100% prepared for the regular season and we should have no worries at all!"
4) "I am most looking forward to play against the Outlaws. Many experts predict them to be the number one team in the season this year, but I think they might have it wrong because we have a great squad here in Yellowknife and we are coming prepared for this season. Every game against the Outlaws will be a close one but I think we have the best shot at winning these games! I am most looking forward to lining up against Brice Boggs of the Colorado Yetis. He is a former teammate of mine, and although I only knew him for a short amount of time, he was a great guy and a great player! It will be fun duking it out with him in our games and seeing who will get the better end of our battle!"
5) "The Wraiths went 8-6 last year, and we have improved so much this offseason that I think an expectation of 10-4 or 11-3 is very realistic for our squad. The only games I am really worried about is our road games against the Outlaws and the Liberty! Every other game I think we hold an edge in and should get the win. Obviously flukes happen but I am very confident in our squad! It should be interesting to see how the season turns out!"
As you can see, the Wraiths have a very positive outlook on their season and what the future will hold. It will be very interesting to see how the season progresses for the team and to see if these expectations will be met! Personally, being in the locker room with these guys I could already tell the strong presence of the team and the positive energy being given to every member of the team. I think that this alone will help propel them into the playoffs and possibly even to their first Ultimus!
2,684 words.
Payout $100,00 to @kckolbe. Give the rest to me.
GRADED
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