After two weeks of football, there is a lot to be excited about in Yellowknife. Entering the season, many fans expected the season to be a wash, with a current rebuild apparently occurring for the Wraiths. The schedule was not looking favorable to the Wraiths either, as 4 of their first 6 games are on the road, and their other two games being at home against the two best teams in the league, the Arizona Outlaws and Orange County Otters.
However, after two weeks, there is new hope for the Canadian football team. For starters, they stayed very competitive with their main NSFC competitors, the Baltimore Hawks, in Baltimore. This showed the grit of the team as they were able to stay in the game, only losing 20-17, once again, while playing on the road. The following week, the Wraiths traveled to California and shocked the Orange County Otters when they beat them 20-17, with this time Yellowknife winning.
With these two games in mind there are a couple reasons to believe that Yellowknife is the best team in the NSFC at the moment. First, they have the best point differential in their conference. This is a big one, because even after two tough road games, the Wraiths still have a better point differential than the Hawks, Liberty, and Yeti, proving that they have a better team at the moment. Secondly, they are the only team in the NSFC with a win on the road currently. Road wins are tough to come by in the NSFL, and having a few under your sleeve can really help edge you into the playoffs when the end of the season comes around.
Now, let's look at individual players and units to reason why Yellowknife is the best team in the NSFC. The most important position on the football team is the quarterback, and the Wraiths took a chance this past offseason by trading away Chris Orosz and converting former offensive lineman Mat Akselsen to QB. However, the move appears to have at least not failed them yet, as Akselsen has performed better than any other QB in his conference. When compared to his counterparts in the NSFC, he has a better completion percentage and passer rating than anyone else, while also throwing less interceptions than anyone else in his conference. Akselsen also has the most rushing yards in the league by a quarterback which really adds an extra dimension to his game and is part of the reason why Yellowknife is doing so well. When the most important position is outperforming his counterparts, that is generally a good sign, but let's look at other reasons why Yellowknife is performing so well.
As far as rushing goes, Yellowknife has the second best rushing attack in the NSFC so far. They are far behind the Colorado Yeti for rushing, but since this is the only aspect of Colorado's play, it makes the Yeti nearly irrelevant in the conference. So once again, the Yellowknife Wraiths have a better rushing attack than both the Baltimore Hawks and Philadelphia Liberty who are both contenders for the conference.
On defense, the Wraiths have more tackles for loss, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries and interceptions than the Liberty and Yeti. Although Baltimore's defense has been playing slightly better than Yellowknife up to this point, it is not a significant amount better, and the Wraiths beat them on the offensive side of the ball which is arguably much more important in the NSFL.
On special teams, the new Yellowknife kicker Joseph Lombardi has been doing a fantastic job. He has been completely perfect of everything he has been asked to do for kicking duties this year, a major improvement from last year for the Wraiths. Both the Liberty and Yeti can't say the same about their kicker this season, which is why the Wraiths are better than them in this aspect as well. Although Baltimore has been perfect on field goals as well, Lombardi has nailed 2 punts inside the 20, whereas Baltimore has only pinned 1 inside the 20, so I give this one to Yellowknife as well.
On returns, Yellowknife has been the only team in the entire league to return a punt or kickoff for a touchdown, which is why they have the best return team in not only the NSFC, but the entire NSFL.
And finally, the Yellowknife offensive line has seen major improvement this season. They have only given up 2 sacks through 2 games, which is tied with only the Yeti for least in the NSFL, once again a reason why they are better than both the Hawks and Liberty.
All in all, Yellowknife has completely surpassed all expectations that were given to them for this season, and it is obviously apparent to most sports fans that the Wraiths are in prime position right now to take control of the NSFC, win the division, and return once again to their rightful place in the playoffs.
829 words
GRADED
However, after two weeks, there is new hope for the Canadian football team. For starters, they stayed very competitive with their main NSFC competitors, the Baltimore Hawks, in Baltimore. This showed the grit of the team as they were able to stay in the game, only losing 20-17, once again, while playing on the road. The following week, the Wraiths traveled to California and shocked the Orange County Otters when they beat them 20-17, with this time Yellowknife winning.
With these two games in mind there are a couple reasons to believe that Yellowknife is the best team in the NSFC at the moment. First, they have the best point differential in their conference. This is a big one, because even after two tough road games, the Wraiths still have a better point differential than the Hawks, Liberty, and Yeti, proving that they have a better team at the moment. Secondly, they are the only team in the NSFC with a win on the road currently. Road wins are tough to come by in the NSFL, and having a few under your sleeve can really help edge you into the playoffs when the end of the season comes around.
Now, let's look at individual players and units to reason why Yellowknife is the best team in the NSFC. The most important position on the football team is the quarterback, and the Wraiths took a chance this past offseason by trading away Chris Orosz and converting former offensive lineman Mat Akselsen to QB. However, the move appears to have at least not failed them yet, as Akselsen has performed better than any other QB in his conference. When compared to his counterparts in the NSFC, he has a better completion percentage and passer rating than anyone else, while also throwing less interceptions than anyone else in his conference. Akselsen also has the most rushing yards in the league by a quarterback which really adds an extra dimension to his game and is part of the reason why Yellowknife is doing so well. When the most important position is outperforming his counterparts, that is generally a good sign, but let's look at other reasons why Yellowknife is performing so well.
As far as rushing goes, Yellowknife has the second best rushing attack in the NSFC so far. They are far behind the Colorado Yeti for rushing, but since this is the only aspect of Colorado's play, it makes the Yeti nearly irrelevant in the conference. So once again, the Yellowknife Wraiths have a better rushing attack than both the Baltimore Hawks and Philadelphia Liberty who are both contenders for the conference.
On defense, the Wraiths have more tackles for loss, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries and interceptions than the Liberty and Yeti. Although Baltimore's defense has been playing slightly better than Yellowknife up to this point, it is not a significant amount better, and the Wraiths beat them on the offensive side of the ball which is arguably much more important in the NSFL.
On special teams, the new Yellowknife kicker Joseph Lombardi has been doing a fantastic job. He has been completely perfect of everything he has been asked to do for kicking duties this year, a major improvement from last year for the Wraiths. Both the Liberty and Yeti can't say the same about their kicker this season, which is why the Wraiths are better than them in this aspect as well. Although Baltimore has been perfect on field goals as well, Lombardi has nailed 2 punts inside the 20, whereas Baltimore has only pinned 1 inside the 20, so I give this one to Yellowknife as well.
On returns, Yellowknife has been the only team in the entire league to return a punt or kickoff for a touchdown, which is why they have the best return team in not only the NSFC, but the entire NSFL.
And finally, the Yellowknife offensive line has seen major improvement this season. They have only given up 2 sacks through 2 games, which is tied with only the Yeti for least in the NSFL, once again a reason why they are better than both the Hawks and Liberty.
All in all, Yellowknife has completely surpassed all expectations that were given to them for this season, and it is obviously apparent to most sports fans that the Wraiths are in prime position right now to take control of the NSFC, win the division, and return once again to their rightful place in the playoffs.
829 words
GRADED
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