[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: How the tides can change
From a 4-0 start to third place with a losing record.

Let's start with the key numbers first:
2093 final division standings:
1. Gothenburg 10-6
2. Paris 8-8
3. Maassluis 7-8-1
4. Bordeaux 4-11-1

Granted, the back end of the season was slightly harder, but I think the loss of our All-IHOF caliber right tackle Howard Humphrey was an underestimated big hit to our offense. It appears to have decimated our running game from being top5 caliber to finishing the season with a middle of the pack 119 yards per game and 4 yards per carry. Given the good start, it means we were below average in that area in the second half of the season. That's bad news for an offense that relies on the running game being solid enough to keep the opponent guessing.

At the same time, it forced the passing game to up their production and it showed in the yards per catch department. It forced the living legend Theodore Bondy into a productive season with 100 catches for 1,474 yards and 10 touchdowns. His yardage figure was better than any of the previous 5 seasons. This man isn't ready for retirement at all, is he? Bondy's presence also meant rookie Ed Schulz didn't have a breakout season like many of his predecessors did, finishing the season with 56 catches for 772 yards and 5 touchdowns. Not bad, but not quite the 1,000-yard season we're used to see from promising rookie wide receivers.

Moe Sheldon finished the season with 16 starts, I saw no reason to demote him, but, frankly, we had no real backup to begin with. I considered the signing of the top free agent, but never made a contract offer. Sheldon finishes the season with a career low 52.8 completion percentage, throwing for 3,601 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His 12 fumbles were a career worst, another reason to seriously look into replacing him next season.

On the other end of the ball, our defense was underwhelming. Expecting this unit to be above average, our performance was below average. We gave up 250 yards passing with a 6.4 yards per attempt, both middle of the pack numbers, 117 yards rushing and 4.4 yards per carry, both slightly worse than average. Our should be very solid pass rush was downright disappointing, finishing at a mediocre 21.8 pass rush percentage with a far below average 4.5 sack percentage. Unacceptable from these players. Unacceptable.

Our elite special teams unit was good, but not outstanding and eventually didn't make enough of a difference to have a winning season. That doesn't apply to rookie punter Doug James, who lead the league with 50 inside 20's. That number should be put into the perspective of other numbers, as it meant 50 of 105 punts landed there, the third highest average in the league. Chances are he'll get the honors for it. But is it really a surprise when the most talented punter in the league plays like the best punter in the league?

We finished the season with a -26 points margin, that makes this rank as our 12th worst season all-time. It makes you wonder why we even thought for a little bit that we were playoffs material. That differential was boosted by 3 big losses: the 31-9 non-sense in Paris, a much deserved 45-14 beatdown in Orlando and a 41-23 loss in Gothenburg, a game that really didn't matter much anymore.

And that loss wrapped up the 2093 season for us, the 90th season in the IHOF. On to the off-season of 2094 and the near future.

I see three areas of attention: the quarterback situation, the aging offensive line and the cornerback situation. Realistically, all those areas can be addressed in one off-season and if successful, we'll be back in action, right? Our cap situation is healthy, our draft picks situation shows two additional second round picks in the top half of that round. But that also implies that we'll find a way to keep Brandon Brady, the star linebacker that will be a free agent in the next off-season. That will be the biggest obstacle to take, because if he leaves us, we'll have another big hole to fill.

And hopefully I'll be able to write a bit more next season as it's been quite quiet.

2094, here we come!