[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: good, great, bad, nice, ugly
Unpredictable, that's what we are.

Just after we've established that we can beat good teams at home, we get our second big loss of the season. The Augusta Greenjackets may have had some bad seasons recently, but this isn't your average 'below average' team. For instance, they've got Randal Webb walking around, quite possibly the most gifted tight end to have played in the IHOF all-time.

But one tight end doesn't make it right for us to play terribly. Against the Greenjackets, a good number of our players and elements of our game plan sunk below our standards. Our inability to move the chains today was the most troublesome: 9 of 13 drives were 3 or less plays long. Losing the turnover battle 3-1 didn't help there.

Our first drive was reason to think we could play ball with Augusta, between their first two drives for a touchdown, we responded with a similar drive. But after those drives the defensive supremacy reigned and ours was less capable of forcing turnovers and pushing them back. Long story short, we lost 47-21 and got humiliated by seeing the Greenjackets pull their starting quarterback at half time.

Brandon Bell completed 12 of 20 passes for 144 yards, with 1 interception that got returned 64 yards for a touchdown. Theo Bondy was held to 5 catches for 57 yards, Branden Sandlin had 3 catches, Ronnie Hammond jus 1 catch. Francisco Patter ran for 52 yards and a score, Reggie Thongchanh for 45 yards, Moe Sheldon scrambled for a touchdown as well (Bell got pulled late in the game). Our only takeaway resulted in a touchdown (Alexander Marty with a 56-yard fumble return. Our pass rush was invisible, our pass defense completely dependent on Kirk Hitchcock.

Elsewhere in the league, our division rivals also had a tough day. The Gothenburg Giants lost at home to the Tucker Tigers 30-24 in overtime on a 76-yard touchdown run by Greg Ena. The Paris Musketeers got crushed 36-10 in their own place by the Orlando Talons. The Bordeaux Vineyards were the moral winners, their bye week meant they were the only European team not to lose today.

Standings:
1. Gothenburg 4-2
2. Paris 3-2
3. Maassluis 3-2
4. Bordeaux 2-3

Yeah, the game against Augusta for now is the tie-breaker (Paris beat them in week 5).

Up next for us a crucial road game at the Musketeers. At the very least, it'll be time for a new game plan. We can do this team!