I'll steal from Peter King of SI, but he gets paid better than I do...
1. It is tough to be a quarterback. Quarterbacks were bllamed for play
calls, off target throws, sacks, and all the normal expectations. The strange thing is they were still targets for
team frustration after dropped passes, missed blocks, penalties and more. I can understand the QB is the leader of the
offense and the buck stops with him, but at some point you have to realize that others have to make plays for him to be successful.
Quick rundown on QBs for the weekend (in order of finish).
Nasty (MetroDawgs) Can anyone run a team and set a screen up better than him?
Carlos (Heat) He throws the best deep ball in 9-man, period.
AF (Real Deal) Threw slant after slant to Moss, and was a dropped pass from the Championship game.
DJ (Packers) The Packers blew out the small teams, but a shutout against the MetroDawgs?
Chris D (Ravens) He threw more good balls than anyone this tourney, and I loved the QB draw.
Mike Panacek (Raiders) Managed the offense, but it just seems like there was nothing beyond 15 yards
available to him.
Joe (Scorpions) Please get the ball to Noel. Please?
2. The deciding factor in most games was the pass rush. A pass rush covers for
problems in the secondary, forces turnovers, and creates havoc within an offense. There is no quicker way to get guys
yelling at each other than a sack. The ability to slow the pass rush covers bad routes, allows for better decision-making
and forces the defense to cover more of the field. The top teams have top DL and OL. The most dominating rush
in the tournament came from the MetroDawgs, and they won the tournament. Go figure.
3. The "haves" definitely have it. Watching the games on Saturday, you have to say that
there were five contenders for the Championship: the MetroDawgs, Real Deal, the Heat, the Packers and the Ravens. (I'm
sorry Raiders and Scorpions, since you're better than the rest, but you weren't going to beat two of the top 4 teams).
The defection of the middle class teams polarized the tournament, creating bigger scores in the early rounds. However,
the matchups between these teams show how close these teams are. Final scores when the big 5 played each other?
MetroDawgs 9, Ravens 0. Heat 18, Ravens 12. Heat 13, Real Deal 7. MetroDawgs 13, Packers 0. MetroDawgs
17, Heat 12.
4. The "have nots" have hope, but must make adjustments. It is one thing to hear about the Big
Boys. It is another to play them, and everyone got a shot against the elite of 9-man. However, all is not lost
with the bottom half of the bracket. Teams saw positives in this tournament, and now they will come back with a different
plan. Quick thoughts:
- You can blame the Raiders offense, but they gave up 56 points to the Packers in two games. That just won't
work.
- The Scorpions actually played pretty well defensively, and had two of the best playmakers in the tournament (Noel
and Reece, to be addressed later). If they could just get more consistent in the offense, they'd have a shot for some
upsets.
- Tequila Mockingbird was better than expected against the bottom half of the tournament, beating the Tigers and
losing by 7 to the Scorpions. Just wait until they know what they are doing. These guys enjoyed the new style,
and I think you'll see them again.
- The Trojans got compliments from the Heat for their flag pulling, and are tougher defensively than people think.
They also have a bigger and more physical offensive line than most, which bodes well for them. However, you can't go
through a tournament without scoring. Ever.
- McKenzies Tigers won a pseudo-league game against the Trojans, but you can't compete with 12 guys.
I don't know what you have to do Maurice, but get your full squad down here to see what you can really do.
- The Maryland Bengals finished 0-3, but their losses were to the MetroDawgs (badly), the Ravens and the Raiders
(whoever designed their schedule screwed them over!). That being said, they had the Ravens down in the 2nd half, and
were in the ball game in the 2nd half against the Raiders. They need to realize you can't win games without stops, and
they looked shorthanded. When your QB, RB and all three offensive linemen are playing defensive line
throughout the games, you can tell.
- The Philly Hurricanes have some guys who can make plays, but they need a passer at this level. You can't win
playing run around. They are physical and like to hit people, which makes them closer than we give them credit for.
5. The most important player in this tournament was Moss (#4 from the Real Deal). He
made big play after big play throughout the tourney, and was dominant from the slot for Real Deal. However, his drop
in the end zone of the Semis cost them a shot against the MetroDawgs.
6. Tate (Heat) may the fastest, but the most exciting (and quickest to start and stop) player was Maurice (#14)
of the Scorpions. With the focus on him, and not much of a passing game, Maurice Williams didn't really go
off like he can. That being said, watching him play is funny as hell, sorta like watching grown men in a greased pig
contest. He starts, stops, goes backwards, and keeps playing. I would say he's as close to Barry Sanders as we
have in 9-man.
7. The most important player on the MetroDawgs this weekend might've been the kicker. Fred Dodge
had a great tournament, putting the Packers and Ravens in a hole with long FGs, and pinning teams deep with kickoffs as well.
I'm not always the biggest fan of the kicker, but he's valuable as hell.
8. The Heat receivers make plays. Yeah, their offense isn't pretty. Yeah, you can
say that Carlos isn't as good as his numbers. But those guys play their tails off for him, making great catches and
getting just enough separation.
9. Who the hell is #1 from the Ravens? That is a big boy who can play, and make plays.
They moved him around the field, and he gave teams fits.
10. Pool play works. The best teams played each other in the end, we had an upset (10 Tequila
Mockingbird over 7 McKenzies Tigers) in the first round on Sunday, and teams in the bottom half felt they had a chance to
win a game. I will address this more later, but I don't see this style of tournament going away.
Guys, thanks for a great tournament, and sorry about the delay in posting.
Andy
