[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: Deja vu?
Haven't we been here before?

My memory wandered off, back to week 2 of the 2089 season. The Maassluis Merchantmen were visiting the Frederick Red Menace. The home team was proudly showing their rookie quarterback, Angel Henson, the #1 overall pick of that 2089 draft, coming off victory in his debut. In the (orange-white-and) blue corner, Brandon Bell was the rookie quarterback in charge, coming off a marvelous first career victory. The player of the game that day was the quarterback of the home team, despite throwing a pick six, but it was the Merchantmen that won, despite that the home team gained of 500 yards of offense.

Week 4 of the 2094 season, the Maassluis Merchantmen playing at home, hosting the San Antonio Tidal Force. In the yellow and black corner, the recent #1 overall pick Johnathan Freeman, confident after his first career victory last week. In the orange-white-and-blue corner, a fellow rookie quarterback, Earnest Ashley, coming of his first career victory as well. Today, the home team's quarterback earned the player of the game honors, despite throwing a pick six, as the Merchantmen won, gaining over 500 yards in the process.

Angel Henson is still in the league, quarterbacking the Frederick Red Menace and currently in the race for the offensive player of the game honors. Brandon Bell, the Merchantmen starter that day, he's already retired from football. Merchantmen fans will hope that Earnest Ashley will prove he isn't the next Bell. Today, he made a statement, overcoming an early long pick six, throwing for 276 yards and running for 67 yards. The latter to everybody's surprise, wasn't this kid supposed to be a pocket passer?

Johnathan Freeman had high hopes to be the rookie of the year candidate that every 1.1 pick believes he can be, but after a 1-3 start to his career, people will overlook the tough competition he had to face so far (we're the only opponent that isn't leading a division) and already wonder when this kid will ever deliver. But really, a couple of weeks before his 22nd birthday, can you expect much more from him?

Ashley is two and a half years older than Freeman and showed his maturity. On pace for 4,000 yards (wait, hold on, sample size, remember?) and hinting at that he might be for real. But Brandon Bell looked good in 13 games in his rookie season, 86.8 passer rating, 18 touchdowns vs 9 interceptions, 204 yards per game. Ashley has already thrown 6 interceptions in 4 games, a passer rating of 74.4 is mediocre in the IHOF of 2094.

Division Standings
1. Bordeaux 3-0
2. Gothenburg 3-1
3. Maassluis 2-2
4. Paris 1-3

It's still so early to draw any conclusions. I'm repeating this every time, but it holds up almost every other season. Even the reigning champions thought they were starting with 4 straight losses. Speaking of whom, it's almost impossible to deny that we've made notes from their game plan in recent seasons, kept our ears open and have tried to adopt throwing the ball to the tight end more often. Clay Gaynor is fourth amongst tight ends in most targets per game. Additionally, Ashley could be be described as a a bit of a younger version of Corwin Blanchett. Although I'm going to say that's much more coincidental than the ball tossing to the tight ends.

And now, after three straight home games, the teams stays home even longer, as we'll be having our way too early bye week once again and in week 6 will host the Atlanta Vipers. A team currently on pace to get the #1 overall draft pick, but not by their own record, by landing it through trade from the team they will face in week 13. We'll take a look at how things fare in the rest of the league next round of games and hope to see LT Houston and CB Richardson back in our starting lineups.