1.)
New Talent:
The Yellowknife wraiths are going to the Ultimus. Lets look at the new talent that they have which got them there.
First up is Gosh Jarden who was acquired in free agency. This player used to be the quarterback for the San Jose Sabercats but now is a wide receiver for the Yellowknife Wraiths.
During the normal season, he put up 737 yards and 6 touchdowns which is a respectable stat line. It helps that their QB is playing well.
In the big play off game, he had 4 receptions for 49 yards. Not the best stat line but he does enough to allow Bailey Cook to feast.
Another new talent that that team acquired is an unsung hero. Clee Hardrool. He was a very respectable safety that used to play on the San Jose Sabercats but now plays for Yellowknife.
During the normal season he accumulated 74 tackles, 1 forced fumble and fumble recovery, 1 sack, 6 interceptions and 7 passes defended.
In the playoff game, he had 7 tackles which worked as a good safety valve.
Interestingly enough, some wraith players ended up on the sabercats and some sabercat players ended up on the wraiths, and overall it seems like both teams benefitted greatly from these trades.
209 words
2.)
Hate the player or the game:
It's really unfortunate that the sabercats did not make the playoffs. The ASFC is just a better diviion than the NSFC.
The Outlaws, Otters and Sabercats are all very competitive teams. The Legion aren't great but they've gotten a little better.
Unfortunately the Otters and the Sabercats ended the season 9 and 5. They both had division records of 3-3 and the same home and road splits.
The only difference between the two teams was points for and against. Points for the otters we're 421 vs sabercats 373. The points against for the otter's were 238 vs sabercats 264.
If you take a look at the NSFC teams, You have the top team at 8 wins and 6 losses. The sabercats 9-5 win looks much better than this.
The NSFC also had two teams tied with a team to get in to the play offs on tie breakers. The Liberty and Hawks are both 7 wins, 7 losses. The big difference is the Liberty are undefeated against NSFC teams. That's pretty impressive and seems like an impactful tiebreaker.
If the Sabercats replaced any team in the NSFC, it seems like they would be in the play-offs, and probably the ultimus.
Every time the ASFC won the divison, they've gone on to win the ultimus. I don't see this deviating any time soon.
222 words
3.)
Robbed:
The Baltimore Hawks we're robbed. There, I said it.
How we're they robbed? Well they've been a highly competitive team consistently performing at the highest level. They just lost a bit too many games that should have been in their favor. Really just unlucky and here are the stats to prove it.
Lets look at them compared to the teams above them. They've scored 315 points total and allowed 324. This negative differential is bad. However lets look at the team above them. The Philadelphia liberty scored 265 points and allowed 350 points.
That team has scored less points and allowed more points than any other team. They scored 59 points which is more than the differential between the otters and the sabercats. They allowed 26 less points than philadelphia liberty.
So how did this highway robbery happen?
Well, The hawks needed to win division games. They managed to only win 2 out of the 6 division games. They faired pretty well against the much stronger ASFC but managed to really screw the pooch as far as NSFC games are concerned.
Ultimately, I think really this comes down to planning. I think that they thought some of the division games we're going to be easier and didn't plan accordingly. Playing up or down to your opponent isn't ideal if you get unlucky.
222 words
4.)
Unsung hero:
The Otters have defeated the Outlaws in what everyone thought was going to win the Ultimus again. How did the Otters pull this upset off?
The answer is two players. Mike Boss and Dominic Verns. He threw for 469 yards without throwing a single interception. Sure, he didn't get a single throwing touchdown, but that's a ton of yards and he never once turned the ball over.
Mike boss had a pass rating of 92.7 vs Bronko's rating of 72.5. The average yard per throw was 14.7 for Mike Boss and 13.2 for Bronko.
Bronko did throw for 1 touchdown and 1 interception. But really, I think that throwing for more yards without a touchdown and no turnovers is a much better stat line.
Next up is Dominic Verns. He scored a defensive touchdown after intercepting the ball. Without this play, I don't think the Otters could have won the game.
The rest of the defense played alright. Angus Winchester picked up a sack. Really there was a defensive struggle in this game and the Otter's defense was the one that scored.
If arizona had any chance, it was because of LB, Noah Goodson. He picked up 9 tackles and 2 sacks which is a great statline for a linebacker.
210 words
5.)
Sit down with a Fan:
@ExemplaryChad Interviewed me.
Sit Down With a Fan
356 words
Interviewed @ExemplaryChad
1.) How do you like playing for the yeti? Who is your favorite teamate?
(on the field, in the locker room)
Playing for the Yeti has been great. We’re obviously in a rebuild, brought about by some unfortunate shadiness in our recent past. But that means players like me get a chance for some real playing time, and I’m able to learn at a rate that not many rookies are. It’s a great locker room, and it’s been a really good experience all around.
As far as my favorite teammate is concerned, it’s really hard to single out guys. But just by virtue of our position groups, I’d have to say the guy that I’ve gotten closest to has been Saint. He’s really taken me under his wing and helped me to have the season that I’ve had. I look forward to playing with him for years to come.
2.) How do you feel your performance was for your first year in the NSFL?
I have mixed emotions here. I’m happy because my individual performance was, I think, pretty solid. I had one game with 13 tackles and a sack, and that’s a stat line that I’ll aim for in every game for the rest of my playing days. On the other hand, our team had very little success, so I’m not too happy about that. I’d rather get wins than tackles, so I’m hoping we can do more of that next year.
3.) What are your long term aspirations?
I want to have a positive impact on the community and on the game. It would be great to be another excellent player in the long list of my predecessors and contemporaries, but doing something bigger is really my goal. Whether it’s coaching, activism, front office work, or anything else, I want my legacy to be more than tackling dudes.
4.) What is something that few people know about you that you would like to share?
I was named after the postmodern Japanese author Haruki Murakami. He’s been writing novels and short stories for decades, and they’re truly transformative works of literature. I’d like more people to know I’m named after him because then they might read his books, and then we could have something to talk about on planes and buses, haha.
New Talent:
The Yellowknife wraiths are going to the Ultimus. Lets look at the new talent that they have which got them there.
First up is Gosh Jarden who was acquired in free agency. This player used to be the quarterback for the San Jose Sabercats but now is a wide receiver for the Yellowknife Wraiths.
During the normal season, he put up 737 yards and 6 touchdowns which is a respectable stat line. It helps that their QB is playing well.
In the big play off game, he had 4 receptions for 49 yards. Not the best stat line but he does enough to allow Bailey Cook to feast.
Another new talent that that team acquired is an unsung hero. Clee Hardrool. He was a very respectable safety that used to play on the San Jose Sabercats but now plays for Yellowknife.
During the normal season he accumulated 74 tackles, 1 forced fumble and fumble recovery, 1 sack, 6 interceptions and 7 passes defended.
In the playoff game, he had 7 tackles which worked as a good safety valve.
Interestingly enough, some wraith players ended up on the sabercats and some sabercat players ended up on the wraiths, and overall it seems like both teams benefitted greatly from these trades.
209 words
2.)
Hate the player or the game:
It's really unfortunate that the sabercats did not make the playoffs. The ASFC is just a better diviion than the NSFC.
The Outlaws, Otters and Sabercats are all very competitive teams. The Legion aren't great but they've gotten a little better.
Unfortunately the Otters and the Sabercats ended the season 9 and 5. They both had division records of 3-3 and the same home and road splits.
The only difference between the two teams was points for and against. Points for the otters we're 421 vs sabercats 373. The points against for the otter's were 238 vs sabercats 264.
If you take a look at the NSFC teams, You have the top team at 8 wins and 6 losses. The sabercats 9-5 win looks much better than this.
The NSFC also had two teams tied with a team to get in to the play offs on tie breakers. The Liberty and Hawks are both 7 wins, 7 losses. The big difference is the Liberty are undefeated against NSFC teams. That's pretty impressive and seems like an impactful tiebreaker.
If the Sabercats replaced any team in the NSFC, it seems like they would be in the play-offs, and probably the ultimus.
Every time the ASFC won the divison, they've gone on to win the ultimus. I don't see this deviating any time soon.
222 words
3.)
Robbed:
The Baltimore Hawks we're robbed. There, I said it.
How we're they robbed? Well they've been a highly competitive team consistently performing at the highest level. They just lost a bit too many games that should have been in their favor. Really just unlucky and here are the stats to prove it.
Lets look at them compared to the teams above them. They've scored 315 points total and allowed 324. This negative differential is bad. However lets look at the team above them. The Philadelphia liberty scored 265 points and allowed 350 points.
That team has scored less points and allowed more points than any other team. They scored 59 points which is more than the differential between the otters and the sabercats. They allowed 26 less points than philadelphia liberty.
So how did this highway robbery happen?
Well, The hawks needed to win division games. They managed to only win 2 out of the 6 division games. They faired pretty well against the much stronger ASFC but managed to really screw the pooch as far as NSFC games are concerned.
Ultimately, I think really this comes down to planning. I think that they thought some of the division games we're going to be easier and didn't plan accordingly. Playing up or down to your opponent isn't ideal if you get unlucky.
222 words
4.)
Unsung hero:
The Otters have defeated the Outlaws in what everyone thought was going to win the Ultimus again. How did the Otters pull this upset off?
The answer is two players. Mike Boss and Dominic Verns. He threw for 469 yards without throwing a single interception. Sure, he didn't get a single throwing touchdown, but that's a ton of yards and he never once turned the ball over.
Mike boss had a pass rating of 92.7 vs Bronko's rating of 72.5. The average yard per throw was 14.7 for Mike Boss and 13.2 for Bronko.
Bronko did throw for 1 touchdown and 1 interception. But really, I think that throwing for more yards without a touchdown and no turnovers is a much better stat line.
Next up is Dominic Verns. He scored a defensive touchdown after intercepting the ball. Without this play, I don't think the Otters could have won the game.
The rest of the defense played alright. Angus Winchester picked up a sack. Really there was a defensive struggle in this game and the Otter's defense was the one that scored.
If arizona had any chance, it was because of LB, Noah Goodson. He picked up 9 tackles and 2 sacks which is a great statline for a linebacker.
210 words
5.)
Sit down with a Fan:
@ExemplaryChad Interviewed me.
Sit Down With a Fan
356 words
Interviewed @ExemplaryChad
1.) How do you like playing for the yeti? Who is your favorite teamate?
(on the field, in the locker room)
Playing for the Yeti has been great. We’re obviously in a rebuild, brought about by some unfortunate shadiness in our recent past. But that means players like me get a chance for some real playing time, and I’m able to learn at a rate that not many rookies are. It’s a great locker room, and it’s been a really good experience all around.
As far as my favorite teammate is concerned, it’s really hard to single out guys. But just by virtue of our position groups, I’d have to say the guy that I’ve gotten closest to has been Saint. He’s really taken me under his wing and helped me to have the season that I’ve had. I look forward to playing with him for years to come.
2.) How do you feel your performance was for your first year in the NSFL?
I have mixed emotions here. I’m happy because my individual performance was, I think, pretty solid. I had one game with 13 tackles and a sack, and that’s a stat line that I’ll aim for in every game for the rest of my playing days. On the other hand, our team had very little success, so I’m not too happy about that. I’d rather get wins than tackles, so I’m hoping we can do more of that next year.
3.) What are your long term aspirations?
I want to have a positive impact on the community and on the game. It would be great to be another excellent player in the long list of my predecessors and contemporaries, but doing something bigger is really my goal. Whether it’s coaching, activism, front office work, or anything else, I want my legacy to be more than tackling dudes.
4.) What is something that few people know about you that you would like to share?
I was named after the postmodern Japanese author Haruki Murakami. He’s been writing novels and short stories for decades, and they’re truly transformative works of literature. I’d like more people to know I’m named after him because then they might read his books, and then we could have something to talk about on planes and buses, haha.