[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: 2083 and the staff that can't game plan
Game planning in football isn't cut and dry, it appears to be quite the art to create a plan that works.

For this season, we've thrown overboard the plan that we had used for roughly 2 decades. The new plan was supposed to be an improvement. The staff has been given the go ahead in all 7 games this regular season. The end result is downright unbelievably pathetic. Our team ranks 30th in scoring, having scored 23, 20, 17, 16, 10, 16 and 7 points. That includes 4 home games. Uncharacteristically we've beaten the current division leader (Gothenburg) and the defending league champions (Tucker), the third victory came again Kansas. All three times, the defense had to carry the team by allowing 13 or less points.

Being completely lost about where to begin to fix things, I've decided to give the staff an ultimatum: go back to what worked before this season and if we fail again, it's going to be a complete overhaul, because at 3-5, the season is pretty much wasted already. Mind you, we were one of the favorites for the league title this season, our roster isn't just a good one, it's up there with the very best. We have something to prove here.

Has the defense really carried us though? Not quite either. We've shockingly allowed the 3rd worst yards rushing per game and yards per carry. Unacceptable on a team with all what we have invested in our defense. Our pass defense is quite the disaster as well, allowing the 6th most yards per attempt, having the 5th worst pass defense rating and being light years away from what should be an elite pass rush.

The offense apparently is the better part of these two. Our running game is mediocre, the passing game in the bottom third of the league. We used to be good in yards per catch and per attempt, those days are over if I leave it all up to our staff. At least our special teams unit is saving the day again and again. Which is old school, but not quite enough to make us jump into the 13-3 juggernaut that we were expecting to see this season. So far, we're as bad as the new advertising heavy Operation Sports forums: annoyingly slow in processing what used to be a reliable thing.

The good news?

Well, let's not go there for now. It's up to the team to regroup, fast, and start playing like the most talented Merchantmen roster ever, which they are scouted to be. Bondy, McAlister and that whole defensive unit, get your acts together, play some football and make us proud!