[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: Renaldo Wilson, the missing piece?

Our new quarterback is making things look good in Maassluis. We won the first 3 games, but in the next 2 games QB Renaldo Wilson threw some interceptions and all of a sudden, it feels like there's not that much different between Wilson and his predecessor QB Bart Tanner.

Week 7 vs Toronto
No kidding around anymore, the visiting Lake Monsters would tell us where we really stand. The last remaining undefeated team was coming to town. The first half was a classic shoutout, Toronto scored last to go into the break with a 24-21 lead. But Toronto also had first possession in the second half and while our defense looked hopelessly lost and the offense incapable, the scoreboard was getting lopsided. QB Renaldo Wilson threw for 309 yards with 4 touchdowns, but also 2 interceptions. WR Roman Randle and WR Rufus Montgomery each had a 100-yard game with a touchdown. TE Francisco Andersen and TE Arnie Huffman scored the other touchdowns.
Result: 28-41 loss

Week 8 vs Paris
Having fallen to 3-3, rolling up the Musketeers wouldn't be the usual recipe for confidence it used to be. Given their own 4-2 start, there was nothing to be too optimistic about, this was likely going to be a close game, decided by a last minute field goal. Or not. We stormed to a 24-0 lead helped by a pair of interceptions and despite that Paris woke up in the second half, sort of as a 72-yard pick six was required for them to get back within 2 scores, we rolled on to a convincing victory. QB Renaldo Wilson threw for 378 yards and 4 touchdowns, while he also ran for a score. WR Rodolfo Lane caught the ball for 143 yards and 2 scores, WR Roman Randle had 11 receptions for 101 yards and a score. RB Jackson Powell scored the other touchdown.
Result: 41-23 win

Week 9 at Harlem
What started as a back and forth with the Apollos, eventually snowballed into a blowout as they couldn't keep up in scoring and had to keep going (and failing) on fourth downs. QB Renaldo Wilson threw for 313 yards and 2 touchdowns with 1 interception. WR Roman Randle was on the receiving end of the touchdowns. RB Renaldo Billodeaux ran for a pair of touchdowns.
Result: 40-17 win

Week 10 at Bordeaux
With the top of the division back in sight, the various power ratings were telling us the Merchantmen were the second or third best team in the league, we were in for a wake up call. And it came, hard. We scored first, like it was a normal game, but in response the Vineyards scored 27 unanswered points, including a pair of 75+-yard touchdown passes. We sort of regrouped in the second half, but settling for field goals kept us way short of getting back in it. QB Renaldo Wilson had an unusual game, completing just 19 of 49 passes, for 281 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. WR Roman Randle caught 9 passes for 147 yards on 20 targets. WR Rodolfo Lane was the only player that got into the end zone for us in this game.
Result: 16-27 loss

Week 11 at Gothenburg
And surely, after getting thumped by the Vineyards, the logical result at the Giants would be an even bigger beat down. Not quite. We took the gamble on fourth downs a couple of times and it ended up being good to us. Helped by the best defensive performance in any first half this season, we steamrolled to a 28-0 lead. The Giants scored a touchdown just before half time, but even though they had clearly woken up, while QB Renaldo Wilson got picked off twice, it was all too little too late as kept ground, at times just barely, to post an incredible unusual big win in Sweden. Wilson threw for 340 yards with 3 touchdowns, finding WR Rodolfo Lane, TE Arnie Huffman and WR Roman Randle for the scores, with the latter posting yet another 100-yard game. RB Renaldo Billodeaux and RV Jackson Powell each scored a touchdown on the ground.
Result: 35-26 win

Week 12 vs Capital City
Every now or then, the home playing stronger team plays better than the visiting team, take a quick lead, slowly builds it and at the end of the day they do win. It's been a crazy seasons so far, but that's how it went today. Our defense picked off the Blues' quarterback 3 times, while in return we kept our turnovers limited to a single fumble. QB Renaldo Wilson threw for 340 yards and 2 touchdowns, while also running for a score. TE Francisco Andersen gained 136 yards while he split the receiving touchdowns with TE Arnie Huffman.
Result: 31-12 win

European Division standings:
1. Maassluis 7-4
2. Gothenburg 6-5
3. Paris 6-5
4. Bordeaux 5-6

Watch that, the division is extremely tight. We seriously can't afford to drop the beat, because the tie-breaker situation is good, but not locked up. The wild cards are currently held by the second and third place teams in the Southeast division with a 7-4 record each.

Our next stop will be at the Fort Wayne Fury, a struggling team (they're 1-10 and 1.5 wins behind the second worst team in the league), but they're holding our first round pick and have every reason to beat us. No, we can't except to cakewalk here, we have to stay focused and stick with the one game at a time approach.