[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: Progress, but last place yet again
It was all just teasing...

Facts first:

1. Paris 9-7
2. Bordeaux 9-7
3. Gothenburg 9-7
4. Maassluis 8-8

We finished the season 8-8, in fourth place, behind a triplet of 9-7 teams. Who would have thought that when we were the favorites to win the division mid-season (at least Solecismic Software's playoffs probabilities calculator said so: we we're 60% to win the division). Now, the Bordeaux Vineyards choked equally, they were a full win ahead of the rest going into their week 17 home game against Paris. And Gothenburg were the team to bat going into the season, while Paris got their own share of shiny new toys for their offense.

Our toys sucked, big time. Ken Torphy had the third lowest yards per carry for a Merchantmen running back. No, not this season on roster, third worst all time for all our starting running backs. That 96 seasons and Torphy was 94th of them. Whatever it is our offensive coordinator has been telling these guys, they're not picking it up. Not the expensive talented five linemen and neither our second best in business rookie running back. 3.3 yards per carry. Ouch.

Vinny Buysse finished the season tied for first with the most receptions, but he was supposed to, getting 224 more targets than the second most targeted player in the league. It resulted in the second most yards (1,251) and a depressing low 5.64 yards per target. All four of our main ball catchers (Buysse, rookie Calvin Maxwell, tight end Clarence Gore and all downs back Torphy) were below 6.2 yards per target. Only good old Ed Schulz, our WR3 this season, got 8.7 yards per target on a career low 31 catches. Our other veteran George Stuckey had 1 catch all season, he still lead us last season in catches and receiving yards. Earnest Ashley completed 46 percent of his passes for 3,494 yards, 11 touchdowns and 19 interception. Goodness, how terrible can arguably the most talented offense in football perform?

The defense played well at times, but our inability to be consistent in the run defense (second most rushing yards allowed, tenth most yards per carry) severely hurt our chances to stall drives, despite having the second best pass defense in yards per pass attempt and passing yards per game. The pass rush was once again far from best in the league. Yes, we actually finished the season #1 in least points allowed, outscoring (so to say) Bordeaux and the Fairbanks Northstars by 2 points. Fun fact: none of these three made the playoffs. Defense wins championships? It doesn't even make the playoffs!

So, now what? One learning season in the books and back to the drawing board. 2100, a new century (perceived as we all know that 2101 is actually a new century and in IHOF terms, the century season will be 2103.) Of course! Well, after our traditional cap magic start of the off-season, we're going into the new season projected about $125M over the cap. But with no expensive draft picks, given that we gave up a lot of them for the rights to Ken Torphy and 47 players already signed. We'll just have to add 4 rookies and we'll be good to go. Hopefully, because you never know what the off-season and pre-season bring.

And depending on whether I'm willing to give Earnest Ashley one more chance. It's not much of a secret, expect for himself it seems, that I tried hard to get the #1 overall pick of this past draft to replace Ashley. The kid named Terrence Levingston has guided the Toronto Lake Monsters into the playoffs with an 11-5 record and second best in the AOC. He's offensive rookie of the year bound.

But yeah: 2100, here we come.