1. Robbed: Write about why a team that failed to make the playoffs should have over somebody else. Can be completed at any point
This will be a bit biased as it will be coming from the Baltimore GM, but the Baltimore Hawks got robbed this season. They were robbed by the sim gods. The Hawks lost several games this season when they were prohibitive favorites. But in all of them untimely interceptions for fumbles in the red zone killed them. Special teams were also damaged by this mysterious force. Throughout the year the most talented kicker in the league had five missed extra points. Five! The guy is able to kick 59 and 61 yarders with ease but he missed 5 twenty yard extra points? Robbed. Then there was the kick returns. Too often the Hawks KR got tackled within the five yard line, pinning the Baltimore offense against their own goal line. In then in the season finale against the Liberty at home, with a playoff berth on the line, the Liberty returned not just one but TWO kick returns for touchdowns, a simply incredible occurrence. I might sound like Jules from Pulp Fiction, but the only way that could have happened was divine intervention. The Hawks might send the most players to the pro-bowl out of any team, but they were not good enough for the sim gods this season. (209)
2. 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
It is quite obvious the series MVP of the ASFC championship game was QB Mike Boss of the Orange County Otters. The game plan was simple on paper: pass a lot. Which is the same plan as it has been the last two seasons. OC has supreme confidence in their signal caller. Putting the ball in his hands as often as possible is their best game plan. On the day he completed 32 out of 51 passes for 469 yards. It is surprising for him not to throw a touchdown pass, but the OC offense was moving up and down the field all game long. They only attempted 16 rushes, with a few of those being on the goal line, and then a few more at the end of the game when they were draining the clock. He also didn't have a turnover despite that kind of work load. Very impressive. He carved up the Outlaws defense. Wide receivers Phelps and Westfield were getting open all day on the outside while TE O'Sullivan worked the middle of the field and hauled in ten catches. Those 469 passing yards by Boss is a new playoff record in the NSFL. For that he deserves the ASFC game MVP. (206)
3. Matchup Nightmares: Pick an offensive and defensive player who will be going up against each other and why it will be a nightmare for one of them.(Must be completed before the playoff series you write about)
If the Yellowknife Wraiths want to shock the world and win the Ultimus trophy, I have a feeling Wraiths WR Bailey Cook is going to have to dominate his matchup with Orange County Otters CB Marc Spector. Cook is a bigger and stronger athlete, so he'll have to rely on positioning and jumping ability to beat Spector. Because in flat out speed Spector has a significant advantage. Over the course of the season Cook accumulated 84 receptions, 1267 yards, and 9 touchdowns. On the flip side Spector amassed a league leading twenty-two pass deflection along with five interceptions. Look for Cook to work the middle of the field a lot to keep the chains moving for Yellowknife. In the two previous matchups between these two teams each won a game, and Cook did Cook things totaling 9 catches, 146 yards, and a touchdown. That's a solid two game total. In the NSFC championship game against Philadelphia's strong secondary Cook had 5 catches, 104 yards, and a touchdown. So he has great momentum going into this season finale. It is arguable Spector is a lesser player than either Oles or Cushing, so the Wraiths would be smart to target him early and often. (202)
4. Root for the Underdog: Pick an away team in an upcoming game and try to convince yourself (and us) why they can win. (Must be completed before the playoff series you write about)
The Yellowknife Wraiths are huge underdogs tonight against the Orange County Otters in the Ultimus, however, they could pull out the win. They don't have the overall depth throughout their roster like OCO does, but they do have several players that are the best, or near the best at their respective positions. On offense let's start with QB Mat Akselsen, he is a super athletic QB that likes to work the middle of the field. His elusiveness in the pocket and scrambling ability is a lot like Russell Wilson's of the NSFL, he is simply more athletic than all the defensive linemen running after him. This ability to extend plays leads to more time to make completions. His top receiving target is Bailey Cook. Cook is a bigger and stronger type of WR. He gains position on the corner backs that he dwarfs in size and could use his world class catching ability to make the reception. On defense they have two elite defensive linemen in Maddox and Bjornson. The Otters will be passing 75% of the time, so a constant pass rushing presence from those two is absolutely critical. If they get in OCO QB's face, it could lead to a turnover or two that could make the difference. (210)
This will be a bit biased as it will be coming from the Baltimore GM, but the Baltimore Hawks got robbed this season. They were robbed by the sim gods. The Hawks lost several games this season when they were prohibitive favorites. But in all of them untimely interceptions for fumbles in the red zone killed them. Special teams were also damaged by this mysterious force. Throughout the year the most talented kicker in the league had five missed extra points. Five! The guy is able to kick 59 and 61 yarders with ease but he missed 5 twenty yard extra points? Robbed. Then there was the kick returns. Too often the Hawks KR got tackled within the five yard line, pinning the Baltimore offense against their own goal line. In then in the season finale against the Liberty at home, with a playoff berth on the line, the Liberty returned not just one but TWO kick returns for touchdowns, a simply incredible occurrence. I might sound like Jules from Pulp Fiction, but the only way that could have happened was divine intervention. The Hawks might send the most players to the pro-bowl out of any team, but they were not good enough for the sim gods this season. (209)
2. 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
It is quite obvious the series MVP of the ASFC championship game was QB Mike Boss of the Orange County Otters. The game plan was simple on paper: pass a lot. Which is the same plan as it has been the last two seasons. OC has supreme confidence in their signal caller. Putting the ball in his hands as often as possible is their best game plan. On the day he completed 32 out of 51 passes for 469 yards. It is surprising for him not to throw a touchdown pass, but the OC offense was moving up and down the field all game long. They only attempted 16 rushes, with a few of those being on the goal line, and then a few more at the end of the game when they were draining the clock. He also didn't have a turnover despite that kind of work load. Very impressive. He carved up the Outlaws defense. Wide receivers Phelps and Westfield were getting open all day on the outside while TE O'Sullivan worked the middle of the field and hauled in ten catches. Those 469 passing yards by Boss is a new playoff record in the NSFL. For that he deserves the ASFC game MVP. (206)
3. Matchup Nightmares: Pick an offensive and defensive player who will be going up against each other and why it will be a nightmare for one of them.(Must be completed before the playoff series you write about)
If the Yellowknife Wraiths want to shock the world and win the Ultimus trophy, I have a feeling Wraiths WR Bailey Cook is going to have to dominate his matchup with Orange County Otters CB Marc Spector. Cook is a bigger and stronger athlete, so he'll have to rely on positioning and jumping ability to beat Spector. Because in flat out speed Spector has a significant advantage. Over the course of the season Cook accumulated 84 receptions, 1267 yards, and 9 touchdowns. On the flip side Spector amassed a league leading twenty-two pass deflection along with five interceptions. Look for Cook to work the middle of the field a lot to keep the chains moving for Yellowknife. In the two previous matchups between these two teams each won a game, and Cook did Cook things totaling 9 catches, 146 yards, and a touchdown. That's a solid two game total. In the NSFC championship game against Philadelphia's strong secondary Cook had 5 catches, 104 yards, and a touchdown. So he has great momentum going into this season finale. It is arguable Spector is a lesser player than either Oles or Cushing, so the Wraiths would be smart to target him early and often. (202)
4. Root for the Underdog: Pick an away team in an upcoming game and try to convince yourself (and us) why they can win. (Must be completed before the playoff series you write about)
The Yellowknife Wraiths are huge underdogs tonight against the Orange County Otters in the Ultimus, however, they could pull out the win. They don't have the overall depth throughout their roster like OCO does, but they do have several players that are the best, or near the best at their respective positions. On offense let's start with QB Mat Akselsen, he is a super athletic QB that likes to work the middle of the field. His elusiveness in the pocket and scrambling ability is a lot like Russell Wilson's of the NSFL, he is simply more athletic than all the defensive linemen running after him. This ability to extend plays leads to more time to make completions. His top receiving target is Bailey Cook. Cook is a bigger and stronger type of WR. He gains position on the corner backs that he dwarfs in size and could use his world class catching ability to make the reception. On defense they have two elite defensive linemen in Maddox and Bjornson. The Otters will be passing 75% of the time, so a constant pass rushing presence from those two is absolutely critical. If they get in OCO QB's face, it could lead to a turnover or two that could make the difference. (210)