Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Down and Out
Well a great season ends on a hard note. We lost in the first round of the playoffs again. After four injuries that cost us players this season, and one key filler not showing, we just didn't have enough steam to win. Our rusher (who had 4 QB sacks this game) had just this week gotten out of the hospital suffering from Pneumonia. A couple of guys experienced bumps and bruises during the game that while not taking them out from playing, certainly reflected the kind of game we were playing.
I had my chance to make a circus catch and perhaps breath new life into the team, but I just couldn't come up with the play today. On a different day, who knows?
I knew that this was my last game of the year, since I am away when the finals take place, but I still wanted to play well, and to get into the finals. We made such improvements this year and I hope that we can continue with these improvements into the outdoor. The players who really stepped up for the indoor season were:
1. Our deep safety who over the course of 10 games (playoffs not included) had 20 interceptions.
2. Our rusher who just tried it this year and while he missed a couple of games (including one because of being sick) had around 16 sacks and 3 safeties.
3. A defensive back usually playing the short outside zone - he is 6'3" or more and can jump. He was number 2 for interceptions with 12. They both played the same side of hte field and I am not sure why QB's didn't see that they couldn't throw there. He still wants to play with us and will be back in town next year for the outdoor season.
4. Our QB who threw somewhere around 30 touchdowns this year (but a few to many picks).
5. Me. Playing my position of wideout (with sometime spent at slot and center) I caught the most passes, and had 15 touchdowns (more than any player in a single season on our team). I also had the best percentage of receptions (we kept track of dropped balls this year and for anyone who had a significant number of passes thrown to them this year I did best).
That is the positive. The down side is that we lost one key player for both this year indoor and outdoor coming up. Achilles Tendon can take a while and who knows when he will be ready. He was our MVP last year for outdoor, playing both QB and star receiver. He led our team in outdoor for touchdowns. The star defensive back who led our team in interceptions outdoor and indoor last year missed this last game with a shoulder injury. Our center indoor who could snap the ball best should be back by outdoor, but he did break his wrist this year. And finally on the down side we lost again in the playoffs. Our first year we won our first playoff game and made it to the finals before falling apart, but it seems like ever since then we fall apart in the playoffs. We have to figure a way to change it, to find some success. Right now we lose patience too quickly and it worked in the regular season, but we just were not able to go deep this time. We need to be patient.
We still won more games than we lost this year and that is an awesome achievement. We may get consideration when it comes to moving up next year in the indoor because of how we played. I think we could handle it if we keep these guys together and healthy. Back to next year country where I live too much of my football life.
I had my chance to make a circus catch and perhaps breath new life into the team, but I just couldn't come up with the play today. On a different day, who knows?
I knew that this was my last game of the year, since I am away when the finals take place, but I still wanted to play well, and to get into the finals. We made such improvements this year and I hope that we can continue with these improvements into the outdoor. The players who really stepped up for the indoor season were:
1. Our deep safety who over the course of 10 games (playoffs not included) had 20 interceptions.
2. Our rusher who just tried it this year and while he missed a couple of games (including one because of being sick) had around 16 sacks and 3 safeties.
3. A defensive back usually playing the short outside zone - he is 6'3" or more and can jump. He was number 2 for interceptions with 12. They both played the same side of hte field and I am not sure why QB's didn't see that they couldn't throw there. He still wants to play with us and will be back in town next year for the outdoor season.
4. Our QB who threw somewhere around 30 touchdowns this year (but a few to many picks).
5. Me. Playing my position of wideout (with sometime spent at slot and center) I caught the most passes, and had 15 touchdowns (more than any player in a single season on our team). I also had the best percentage of receptions (we kept track of dropped balls this year and for anyone who had a significant number of passes thrown to them this year I did best).
That is the positive. The down side is that we lost one key player for both this year indoor and outdoor coming up. Achilles Tendon can take a while and who knows when he will be ready. He was our MVP last year for outdoor, playing both QB and star receiver. He led our team in outdoor for touchdowns. The star defensive back who led our team in interceptions outdoor and indoor last year missed this last game with a shoulder injury. Our center indoor who could snap the ball best should be back by outdoor, but he did break his wrist this year. And finally on the down side we lost again in the playoffs. Our first year we won our first playoff game and made it to the finals before falling apart, but it seems like ever since then we fall apart in the playoffs. We have to figure a way to change it, to find some success. Right now we lose patience too quickly and it worked in the regular season, but we just were not able to go deep this time. We need to be patient.
We still won more games than we lost this year and that is an awesome achievement. We may get consideration when it comes to moving up next year in the indoor because of how we played. I think we could handle it if we keep these guys together and healthy. Back to next year country where I live too much of my football life.
// posted by Eric @ 12:08 AM 
