[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: Another whirlwind?
Or was week 1 the anomaly?

Two games further into the season and we're suddenly a winning team, at least for now. We came back from 14-0 down in Outer Banks to beat the Ospreys 23-17, while we kicked a lot of field goals while beating the Orlando Talons 26-6 in Oranje Haven. So yes, we're 2-1 and back in the mix.

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

Ok, hold on, let's get back to those games and how we won them.

In Outer Banks, we got ran over (26 carries for 152 yards), failed to put down a running game in return (52 yards on 26 carries? seriously, OL, you're a lot better than that!), but in a 50-50 passing game game, Earnest Ashley was mistake free, while our cornerbacks combined for 3 interceptions to help set up a field goal, nullify a punt return fumble and to secure the win.

Against Orlando, we got outgained in total yards again, but penalties and solid return yardage added up to winning the turnover battle. Our running game was reborn (140 yards on 25 carries), while Earnest Ashley struggled, yet got the job down with a rare under 200 yards showing. Ronnie Vanden Bosch ran for 62 yards on 10 carries, too bad the rookie lacks the stamina to tote the rock more than that. Richie Piotte had 3.0 sacks and also lead the defense with 6 tackles.

Overall, our investment in run stoppers isn't getting any results at all. We're giving up 5.13 yards per carry, 147 per game. Our pass defense is giving up a second worst 13.3 yards per catch. Overall we're allowing 391 yards per game, 4th most in the league. Imagine what our statistics would be like had we not had a roster loaded with topnotch defenders (Piotte, Fletcher, Brady, Grant, Farrell)... Oh, right: 3 games, small sample size.

So, next up, we're going to get a real test. Or not really, as per usual, week 4 is once again our bye week.

Last and almost ignorable: we placed tight end Renaldo Crawford on injured reserve and signed Jeffery Blake as his replacement as our run blocking TE3. He's returning to Maassluis after three seasons of floating around for one-season stints in Augusta, Gothenburg and Harlem. He returned in the road game at Outer Banks. His previous game with us? Our last playoffs game in the 2092 season after an 11-5 campaign and as a wild card reaching the conference semi finals. With Blake back on board, we've won back-to-back games. Let's hope he'll turn out to be our lucky charm, an unjinxable one.