General Manager Notes: the pressure is on us... huh?
League pundits have sky rockets the Merchantmen fans' expectations, some consider the Maassluis Merchantmen to be the #1 team in the league. Say what now?
Our pre-season results don't make me particularly optimistic. We lost at the Chesapeake Chitterlings after allowing their first two drives to go for touchdowns, which doesn't bode well for our starters on defense. McAlister struggled with his interception proneness, Bondy failed to top 100 yards, despite making 8 catches. We followed up by losing in a field goal fest against the Outer Banks Ospreys. It shows that our game plan on offense isn't good enough to move the chains in the opponents' territory. Feffer was underwhelming in both games.
At the same time, there's no denying that we've established what seems to be a very talented collective of players. McAlister, Bondy, Elliott, the OL, Hitchcock and Poloski, McCorkle and Brewer, the rookies Oliver and Guthrie, the depth on the DL, this team ought to do well!
Let me breakdown what our roster currently looks like, right before the final 4 cuts down to 53 men:
Quarterbacks
| scout | name | notes |
| 60/60 | QB McAlister | keeps getting beter and better, on paper |
| 20/30 | QB Blalock | all around passable |
| 30/30 | QB Muchnick | kick holder (staff, please take remember that!) |
| 5/20 | QB Witkop (R) | that combine was so promising |
Sad to say, but Witkop is out. Too little progress in training camp. I wish Blalock was actually seen as our QB2 by our staff, he's the second best we have. McAlister is in the pack of 15th to 20th best quarterbacks.
Backfield
| scout | name | notes |
| 50/50 | RB Feffer | declining, not per se our RB1 |
| 50/50 | FB Cochrane | run blocker, blitz protector |
| 45/50 | RB Belin | sniffing at RB1, but lacks stamina |
| 30/30 | RB Curie | short yardage back |
| 25/25 | RB Graham | sniffing at RB2 if we cut Feffer |
| 20/20 | FB Latschaw | run blocker |
I still have to decide on what to do here. Feffer was the undisputed RB1, but his pre-season form was disappointing. Belin and Graham can't carry the team, lack of endurance, but could be solid in a committee. Curie is the short yardage guy. It basically forces us to stick with Feffer for this season and move on in 2084, depending on whether he's willing to take our last shot at a contract extension. Cochrane and Latschaw are additional run blockers in two-back formations.
Tight Ends
| scout | name | notes |
| 60/60 | TE Elliott | excellent blocker, can get 1,000 yards receiving |
| 40/40 | TE Stern | good run blocker, ok receiver |
| 35/35 | TE Grundy (nw) | ok run blocker |
| 25/25 | TE Gowan | declining, ok receiver |
Elliott is amongst a large group of guys that are sniffing at second best in the league in overall talent. All-IHOF first teamer last season, rightfully so. Stern and Grundy solidify our running game.
Wide Receivers
| scout | name | notes |
| 80/80 | WR Bondy | the real deal, best in the league |
| 45/45 | WR Nadell | declining, route runner |
| 45/45 | WR Blazewicz | declining, big-play guy |
| 40/40 | WR Techen | big-play receiver |
| 30/40 | WR Tharp (R) | promising, but likely to get cut |
| 30/30 | WR Bunting | route runner, special teamer |
| 30/30 | WR Willbrandt | kick returner, out for season |
| 15/20 | WR Gellings (R) | kick returner |
No turning back, time to build around Bondy. I hope we can find the right mix of giving him a lot of looks and not overdoing it. Nadell and Blazewicz have proven to be 1,000-yard receivers, which means opponents can't focus on just Bondy. It'll be impossible to keep all these guys, we'll likely cut two of the other guys. Gellings will stay as our kickoff returner. Bunting might be safe as a gunner.
Offensive Line
| scout | name | notes |
| 70/70 | C Pearson | running game anchor |
| 60/60 | G Hank | complete, low on stamina |
| 60/60 | G Webb | our top run blocking, low on stamina |
| 50/50 | T Meadows | still going strong |
| 50/50 | T Murray | pass protecting LT |
| 55/55 | C Carter (nw) | solid backup center |
| 30/60 | T Hadinger (R) | promising pass protecting LT |
| 50/50 | G Godfrey (nw) | added for depth |
Pearson got snubbed for All-IHOF honors last season. Last year of contract, but we'll do what it takes to extend his deal. Hank and Webb are his sidekicks. Murray is our left tackle, noticing Hadinger in his rearview mirror. Meadows held up well enough to remain a starter for just another season. Carter and Godfrey give us depth in case of injuries.
Special Teamers
| scout | name | notes |
| 70/70 | P Hornsby | quality punter, despite the age |
| 60/60 | K Arnold | reliable kicker, also on long kicks |
| 20/20 | LS Sepanski (nw) | he's a long snapper, shocker! |
Can't go without them, all our amongst the top10 at their position. Still puzzling whether we can afford Hornsby and Arnold to extend their contract now, or risk losing them in free agency next off-season. In Hornsby's case, if he doesn't retire...
Defensive Line
| scout | name | notes |
| 70/80 | DT Oliver (R) | our best run defender already |
| 55/55 | DT Stiegler | declining, still pretty good |
| 50/50 | DT Posante | lacks stamina, complete player |
| 45/45 | DE Kemp | our best pass rusher |
| 45/45 | DE Lyons | pass rusher, ok run stopper |
| 40/40 | DT Shrader | improving, mostly pass rusher |
| 35/45 | DE Russell | promising complete guy, lacks stamina |
| 30/30 | DE Wylie | special teamer |
A weird group of players. Most of them are very good pass rushers, most have play diagnosis, some can tackle. All but two lack the endurance to play all downs. We'll likely use 7 of these guys on our rotation, with Wylie the obvious the guy only used on special teams. Weird as it may sound, I'm still not sold on Oliver, we'll likely keep him out of the nickel and dime formations.
Linebackers
| scout | name | notes |
| 75/75 | MLB McCorkle | should need no introduction |
| 65/65 | OLB Brewer | still going strong |
| 45/45 | OLB Stokes | third linebacker |
| 30/40 | OLB Springer (R) | ok potential, special teamer |
| 30/30 | OLB Keith | special teamer, can play if needed |
| 25/25 | MLB Page | special teamer, can zone defend |
Two starters and four special teamers.
Secondary
| scout | name | notes |
| 80/80 | CB Hitchcock | best corner in the league |
| 50/50 | CB Poloski | lacks endurance, decent CB2 |
| 50/70 | S Guthrie (R) | promising, the SS that we lacked so long? |
| 40/40 | S Harkleroad | still going strong |
| 35/35 | CB Morton | underrated nickelback |
| 35/35 | S McIndoe | solid dimeback |
| 30/40 | S Miller | still not convinced he's a future starter |
| 25/50 | S Marty (R) | green, but resembles Harkleroad |
| 25/25 | S Hines | ok alternative |
| 15/20 | CB Broady | our punt returner |
This unit has been our worst in performance last season. By a wide margin even. Despite having that Hitchcock guy, supposedly best cornerback in the league. Hopefully the addition of Guthrie fixes things, he's obviously still green, but I'm optimistic about him turning into a top5 player at his position. Poloski continues to underwhelm, but we'll have to stick with him by lack of better options. The depth at safety is based on their ability to play a nickel or dime role. Harkleroad is still good enough to be our second all-around safety.