[MIJB#19]

General Manager notes: 2087, not our year... Yet?
We're sitting 1-2 after 4 weeks of action. What positive notes can anyone take from there?

For starters, our most recent game was a victory at the defending IHOF champions: the Tucker Tigers. We came back from behind to win 41-34 at their place, despite giving up 448 yards passing and 6.4 yards per carry. Ellis McAlister completed 22 of 28 passes for 316 yards, while the running backs Leo Belin and Reggie Thongchanh combined for 156 yards on 25 carries.

It was a welcome result after we lost a winnable game against the two-time reigning AOC champions Kansas Creationists. We came back from behind in the fourth quarter, turning a 17-10 deficit into a 24-17 lead, gave up the tying touchdown and then saw our kicker miss a 58-yard field goal attempt. In overtime, we let the Creationists convert two expensive third downs and as they reached field goal range, we gave up the losing 29-yard touchdown pass.

The season began by choking at the Bordeaux Vineyards, as an 84-yard pick six turned the game around for them and a late game 55-yard field goal completed their 17-15 late game heroics.

One thing is for sure, the game plan that we thought was okay enough has gone out of the window during our bye week. We've been working on something completely different and hope to see the results of it in week 5 against the North Plainfield Plague, the 2085 IHOF champions. Yes, our schedule is pretty heavy early on.

We may still need work on our offensive game plan as well. Ellis McAlister is once again struggling with completing passes, sitting at 54 percent on 113 attempts. His yards per attempt is a full yard lower than the last two seasons. Unsurprisingly, Theo Bondy is carrying this team with 43 receptions for league leading 536 yards and 4 touchdowns. Our second receiver is tight end Jessie Taylor with 6 catches. Artie Blazewicz has been benched after just 1 catch on 16 targets in he first two games. Tucker Gaylor responded with 4 catches for 58 yards against the Tucker Tigers of all teams.

We're still struggling to figure out who should be the main ball carrier. Leo Belin's 5.9 yards per carry make him the most efficient runner, but Thong's 4.8 yards per carry aren't too shabby. The staff is completely ignoring the instructions to use our rookie Francisco Patter, so far he's gotten 1 lousy carry while being on the field on 2 running plays. Say what now?

Okay, stay positive. We've played 3 close games, won the hardest of them and were kind of a coin flip away in the losses. So it goes. New game plan on defense. Maybe this will make this loaded defense finally start playing up to potential. No pressure, guys, just wanting you to do your jobs!