12-04-2017, 10:30 PM
(This post was last modified: 12-10-2017, 10:25 AM by TheMemeMaestro.)
Interview a Player: I sat down with Star Yellowknife Cornerback Dermott Lavelle.
How are you getting prepared for the NSFC championship game?
DL: Really I'm going through all my usual routines. Consistency is key in the big leagues, whether you're playing in the ultimus or the preseason. If you don't got your head on a swivel then you're going to have a tough time. Obviously resting is a major part of it too because you don't want to overexert yourself and risk injury in the build up to the big game.
Do you feel like you want to be with the Wraiths for your entire career?
DL: I mean it's the dream of any professional athlete really, I'm extremely happy to be in Yellowknife and for the foreseeable future I can't see myself playing in any other jersey.
You are one of the league's top Cornerbacks, however that doesn't necessarily show in the statbook. Do you feel like you make an impact beyond any quantifiable measure?
DL: Funny you should mention it, I actually had my greatest season in terms of stats this year of my career (5INT 20PD , 2 TD)'s. I feel that yards allowed is a greater measurement for cornerbacks and I used to LOVE ready a series about it on NSFL.com. When your job is literally to stop others catching the ball, shouldn't you be measured by your capacity to carry out that role? Deion Sanders did used to say you don't pay me to tackle.
How does being a Cornerback compare to being a Returner?
DL: Well , I've had the pleasure of playing in both positions so I feel qualified to answer this. Being a cornerback is really how much you fit into a team role where being a kick returner/punt returner is more of an individual role. Generally when I make plays it's because of a huge cut that I DO, or a shimmy that I make. Sure my team is picking up blocks downfield but the heavy work is really on my shoulders. Being a corner is so much more, how the coach draws up your coverage rather than if I can make a play.
Robbed: Write about why a team that failed to make the playoffs should have over somebody else. Can be completed at any point
It is well known that the ASFC is generally better than the NSFC. It has the three best teams in the league, and has won the Ultimus every year since the conception of the NSFL. This fact is further exemplified by the fact that the San Jose SaberCats were unable to make the playoffs, despite having a better record than not one, but BOTH of the NSFC playoff teams. The Philadelphia Liberty had a 7-7 record and was the 2nd seed. However, the SaberCats did not only have a better record than the 2nd NSFC seed, but also the 1st seed in the NSFC, the Yellowknife Wraiths. The Wraiths had a 8-6 record. That means that the 3rd best team in the league by record did not make the playoffs. There is no other valid answer to this prompt besides the San Jose SaberCats. If the Cats were in the NSFC, they would be in the Ultimus instead of watching the playoffs from the outside looking in. This shows that the Cats were robbed of the chance to compete in the NSFL playoffs and maybe even, due to the any given Sunday way of football, win the Ultimus championship game.
Playoff Series MVP: Choose an MVP for one of the playoff series and write about why you chose them. Must be completed after the playoff series you write about
The Most Valuable Player of the ASFC Championship Game must be Mike Boss. Although he didn't throw a single touchdown, he still had a tremendous game that allowed his team to be in the proper position to win the game, taking them to the Ultimus. Mike Boss threw for 469 yards with 32 completions on 51 attempts for a 62.7% completion percentage. The main argument you could make against Boss being the Most Valuable Player of this game is that he did not throw any touchdowns, thus not directly contributing to the win in this game. However, one can massively impact a game without throwing a touchdown. What Boss did was get his team into the right field position to make things happen. The amount of yards that he had is enough to make up for the fact that he did not throw a touchdown. As you can see, there is a very strong argument to be made for Mike Boss as MVP of the ASFC. Even without directly impacting the game with a touchdown, he made the biggest impact on this game. The MVP of the actual league also deserves to be the MVP of the ASFC Championship Game.
Unsung Hero:Who was the unsung hero of the playoffs, convince us. (Can be completed after the Ultimus game)
The Unsung Hero of the Season 4 NSFL Playoffs is Orange County Otters Running Back Leroy Jenkins. Looking at the box score of the ASFC championship game, you may notice that Mike Boss had a tremendous performance in terms of yards. However, there was only one Offensive touchdown for the Orange County Otters, and that was in the 4th quarter. Down by one point, with time winding down, the Otters needed a score. One would assume that they allow their MVP Quarterback Mike Boss, who had been playing tremendously, throw it to one of their many amazing Wide Receivers, such as Robert Phelps or Bradley Westfield. Well you know who else was probably thinking that? The Arizona Outlaws. This allowed Boss to step back in the pocket, and then hand it off to the soon to be retired Jenkins. Jenkins took it in for a score, giving the Otters a 5 point lead that they would hold for the rest of the game. Without this, the Outlaws would have headed to the Ultimus, and we may have seen the dreaded 4-peat. Instead, Jenkins was able to get the touchdown, get a ring, and ride off into the sunset with a championship.
How are you getting prepared for the NSFC championship game?
DL: Really I'm going through all my usual routines. Consistency is key in the big leagues, whether you're playing in the ultimus or the preseason. If you don't got your head on a swivel then you're going to have a tough time. Obviously resting is a major part of it too because you don't want to overexert yourself and risk injury in the build up to the big game.
Do you feel like you want to be with the Wraiths for your entire career?
DL: I mean it's the dream of any professional athlete really, I'm extremely happy to be in Yellowknife and for the foreseeable future I can't see myself playing in any other jersey.
You are one of the league's top Cornerbacks, however that doesn't necessarily show in the statbook. Do you feel like you make an impact beyond any quantifiable measure?
DL: Funny you should mention it, I actually had my greatest season in terms of stats this year of my career (5INT 20PD , 2 TD)'s. I feel that yards allowed is a greater measurement for cornerbacks and I used to LOVE ready a series about it on NSFL.com. When your job is literally to stop others catching the ball, shouldn't you be measured by your capacity to carry out that role? Deion Sanders did used to say you don't pay me to tackle.
How does being a Cornerback compare to being a Returner?
DL: Well , I've had the pleasure of playing in both positions so I feel qualified to answer this. Being a cornerback is really how much you fit into a team role where being a kick returner/punt returner is more of an individual role. Generally when I make plays it's because of a huge cut that I DO, or a shimmy that I make. Sure my team is picking up blocks downfield but the heavy work is really on my shoulders. Being a corner is so much more, how the coach draws up your coverage rather than if I can make a play.
Robbed: Write about why a team that failed to make the playoffs should have over somebody else. Can be completed at any point
It is well known that the ASFC is generally better than the NSFC. It has the three best teams in the league, and has won the Ultimus every year since the conception of the NSFL. This fact is further exemplified by the fact that the San Jose SaberCats were unable to make the playoffs, despite having a better record than not one, but BOTH of the NSFC playoff teams. The Philadelphia Liberty had a 7-7 record and was the 2nd seed. However, the SaberCats did not only have a better record than the 2nd NSFC seed, but also the 1st seed in the NSFC, the Yellowknife Wraiths. The Wraiths had a 8-6 record. That means that the 3rd best team in the league by record did not make the playoffs. There is no other valid answer to this prompt besides the San Jose SaberCats. If the Cats were in the NSFC, they would be in the Ultimus instead of watching the playoffs from the outside looking in. This shows that the Cats were robbed of the chance to compete in the NSFL playoffs and maybe even, due to the any given Sunday way of football, win the Ultimus championship game.
Playoff Series MVP: Choose an MVP for one of the playoff series and write about why you chose them. Must be completed after the playoff series you write about
The Most Valuable Player of the ASFC Championship Game must be Mike Boss. Although he didn't throw a single touchdown, he still had a tremendous game that allowed his team to be in the proper position to win the game, taking them to the Ultimus. Mike Boss threw for 469 yards with 32 completions on 51 attempts for a 62.7% completion percentage. The main argument you could make against Boss being the Most Valuable Player of this game is that he did not throw any touchdowns, thus not directly contributing to the win in this game. However, one can massively impact a game without throwing a touchdown. What Boss did was get his team into the right field position to make things happen. The amount of yards that he had is enough to make up for the fact that he did not throw a touchdown. As you can see, there is a very strong argument to be made for Mike Boss as MVP of the ASFC. Even without directly impacting the game with a touchdown, he made the biggest impact on this game. The MVP of the actual league also deserves to be the MVP of the ASFC Championship Game.
Unsung Hero:Who was the unsung hero of the playoffs, convince us. (Can be completed after the Ultimus game)
The Unsung Hero of the Season 4 NSFL Playoffs is Orange County Otters Running Back Leroy Jenkins. Looking at the box score of the ASFC championship game, you may notice that Mike Boss had a tremendous performance in terms of yards. However, there was only one Offensive touchdown for the Orange County Otters, and that was in the 4th quarter. Down by one point, with time winding down, the Otters needed a score. One would assume that they allow their MVP Quarterback Mike Boss, who had been playing tremendously, throw it to one of their many amazing Wide Receivers, such as Robert Phelps or Bradley Westfield. Well you know who else was probably thinking that? The Arizona Outlaws. This allowed Boss to step back in the pocket, and then hand it off to the soon to be retired Jenkins. Jenkins took it in for a score, giving the Otters a 5 point lead that they would hold for the rest of the game. Without this, the Outlaws would have headed to the Ultimus, and we may have seen the dreaded 4-peat. Instead, Jenkins was able to get the touchdown, get a ring, and ride off into the sunset with a championship.