Hello and welcome back to the Baltimore Beat, with your right James McNulty. Here in Baltimore the city is a abuzz with talk about the undefeated Baltimore Hawks, the defending NSFC champions. Many people in the NSFL universe expected the Hawks to regress this year. The Hawks were thought by many people to be the third best team in the NSFC, behind the Wraiths and the Liberty. The Hawks themselves never doubted, and nearly every player on the Hawks picked them to the win the conference again. But what has lead to this team's great success? There are many reasons why the Hawks have started out 4-0.
First off, as many have mentioned the schedule has been incredible. The Hawks last season had the best home field advantage in the NSFL being one of two teams to finish undefeated at home, and this season the Hawks started out with two home games against their biggest divisional foes, the Philadelphia Liberty and the Yellowknife Wraiths. The road games against those teams come later, and the Hawks will be underdogs in those games. The two home games the Hawks had were against arguably the two worst teams in the league, the Las Vegas Legion and the rebuilding Colorado Yeti. So when looking at Baltimore's success you have to consider the schedule.
However there is obviously more to it than the schedule. Lets look at the factors behind Baltimore's success, in the ways that they have been better than last year.
Scrub Kyubee has been excellent
Scrub Kyubee was a Pro Bowler last year, but many people outside of the Baltimore organization have wondered if he is the Quarterback to lead the Hawks to the Ultimus. So far Kyubee has quieted those critics. Kyubee has been extraordinarily efficient so far this season. He's leading the league in QB rating, tied for the lead in Touchdown passes, tied for the lead in least interceptions thrown, second in the league in completion percentage and second in yards per attempt. Kyubee has done all the Baltimore coaching staff has asked of him and more. He's on track for another Pro Bowl season, and perhaps this year a QB of the year award.
Rookie Trey Willie has been a star
Coming into the season there were a ton of concerns about the Hawks receiving core. Cooper Christmas has had a very sporadic work effort, and Matthew Vincent announced he's going to retire at the end of the season. Enter Trey Willie. Trey Willie has been incredible this year. Willie somehow fell to the second round in the S3 draft and has made every team look stupid for passing on him. Willie is on pace to easily be the second Hawk in a row to win offensive rookie of the year. Willie is tied for fifth in receptions, and fifth in the league in yards. He's been the leading receiver on Baltimore, and who knows where the Hawks or Kyubee would be.
The Offensive Line has been Better
Last year the Hawks had a very solid offensive line, but this year it is even better. While the Hawks are last in the league in pancakes, they are tied for first in least sacks allowed. While some people would argue the lack of pancakes have been disappointing, howeveri t has not mattered for the Hawks. The offensive line lead by Brokk Lee and Avon Blocksdale this year have been great. Blocksdale and Lee have combined for 27 pancakes and zero sacks allowed.
Owen Taylor is emerging as a star
Owen Taylor had a solid season last year, but this year he in on pace for his first Pro Bowl this season. Owen Taylor is tied for fifth in the league in sacks with five, and tied for third in the league in tackles for a loss. He's been an absolute force for this Baltimore Defense so far this year.
The Hawks are improved from a year ago, and look to be on pace to win the NSFC for the second year in a row.
679 - in this article are @ItsJustBarry @manicmav36 @DollarAndADream @BrokkLee
GRADED
First off, as many have mentioned the schedule has been incredible. The Hawks last season had the best home field advantage in the NSFL being one of two teams to finish undefeated at home, and this season the Hawks started out with two home games against their biggest divisional foes, the Philadelphia Liberty and the Yellowknife Wraiths. The road games against those teams come later, and the Hawks will be underdogs in those games. The two home games the Hawks had were against arguably the two worst teams in the league, the Las Vegas Legion and the rebuilding Colorado Yeti. So when looking at Baltimore's success you have to consider the schedule.
However there is obviously more to it than the schedule. Lets look at the factors behind Baltimore's success, in the ways that they have been better than last year.
Scrub Kyubee has been excellent
Scrub Kyubee was a Pro Bowler last year, but many people outside of the Baltimore organization have wondered if he is the Quarterback to lead the Hawks to the Ultimus. So far Kyubee has quieted those critics. Kyubee has been extraordinarily efficient so far this season. He's leading the league in QB rating, tied for the lead in Touchdown passes, tied for the lead in least interceptions thrown, second in the league in completion percentage and second in yards per attempt. Kyubee has done all the Baltimore coaching staff has asked of him and more. He's on track for another Pro Bowl season, and perhaps this year a QB of the year award.
Rookie Trey Willie has been a star
Coming into the season there were a ton of concerns about the Hawks receiving core. Cooper Christmas has had a very sporadic work effort, and Matthew Vincent announced he's going to retire at the end of the season. Enter Trey Willie. Trey Willie has been incredible this year. Willie somehow fell to the second round in the S3 draft and has made every team look stupid for passing on him. Willie is on pace to easily be the second Hawk in a row to win offensive rookie of the year. Willie is tied for fifth in receptions, and fifth in the league in yards. He's been the leading receiver on Baltimore, and who knows where the Hawks or Kyubee would be.
The Offensive Line has been Better
Last year the Hawks had a very solid offensive line, but this year it is even better. While the Hawks are last in the league in pancakes, they are tied for first in least sacks allowed. While some people would argue the lack of pancakes have been disappointing, howeveri t has not mattered for the Hawks. The offensive line lead by Brokk Lee and Avon Blocksdale this year have been great. Blocksdale and Lee have combined for 27 pancakes and zero sacks allowed.
Owen Taylor is emerging as a star
Owen Taylor had a solid season last year, but this year he in on pace for his first Pro Bowl this season. Owen Taylor is tied for fifth in the league in sacks with five, and tied for third in the league in tackles for a loss. He's been an absolute force for this Baltimore Defense so far this year.
The Hawks are improved from a year ago, and look to be on pace to win the NSFC for the second year in a row.
679 - in this article are @ItsJustBarry @manicmav36 @DollarAndADream @BrokkLee
GRADED