[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: Earth to Merchantmen
Welcome back.

Flat on our collective faces. Goodness, were the Gothenburg Giants to impressive or did we play so terribly bad? For 2 and 1/3rd quarters, we got steamrolled, at which point we waived the white flag and the 42-10 score at that point rolled on into a 56-13 clobbering. A franchise record number of points allowed, while giving up 570 yards. So much for ending the season below 300 per game, huh?

Division:
1. Gothenburg 8-2
2. Bordeaux 7-3
3. Maassluis 5-5
4. Paris 3-7

Yeah, division title, better luck next season? Mathematically we're still in the race, with games against Gothenburg in week 15 and at Bordeaux in week 17, but can we really expect the Giants to lose lose 2 (3 if Bordeaux completely falls apart) more games than we do and Bordeaux at least one more. Even a wild card is far away, the field ahead of us is a triplet of 7-3 hopefuls. Anything to cheer us up after a beatdown like that?

Theodore Bondy had 2 catches on 7 target for 22 yards. I hadn't even tracked it, y'all know that individual accolades are a by product of overall success in Oranje Have, but apparently he became the 7th member of the 20K club in receiving yards. Yay, good for you, Theo! Moving up to 6th or even 5th in all-time receiving yards is still within reach for him this season, if he steps it up after his recent tenure of 4 straight below 50 yards. I'm fully expecting him to not be our leading receiver of this season when week 17 is in the books, Ed Schulz has basically a full game of yardage ahead of him, despite making 2 catches per game less. Still, let's not poop on Theo's impressive numbers, but that's for season's end to look back on.

Trey Beyer is perhaps the discovery of the season (ignoring that QB of ours for a second). Fourth year on team, first with a premier role. 640 yards on 104 carries for a 6.15 average. He was one of few showing good numbers in Gothenburg today. Which presumably means the O-Line held well as well.

So, kudos to the Gothenburg Giants management, players and staff for pulling of their sensational victory. We had our overwhelming fun against the Vineyards in the previous game, but that feeling that we were actually coming along well, well, we still are, but we're not quite the team that can do it week in, week out. One game at a time, back to that attitude. We'll be visiting the Oakland Black Panthers next game. They're leading the AOC West with an 8-2 record, ranking 3rd in least points allowed.

Player to watch there? Right tackle Douglas Grosz. Once the #9 overall pick, selected by the Maassluis Merchantmen and traded after the fact to Oakland. He's turning into a one-man offensive line. Last season he had 75 key run blocks, a sensational league record in the era of all passing offenses. The Panthers could be a mismatch for us, as they sports very similar cohesion, which makes it more about raw talent and, well, they trump us in a couple of positions, but I think we could hold up well. On paper that is. But this game isn't played on paper. Oakland runs the ball. A lot. I mean, a grand lot. Something to think about in our game plan...