Smokey, this is not Nam. This is bowling [dotball]. There are rules.
Firstically, for those that dig watching these without knowing the outcome, I present to you spoiler-free linkages!
Alpha -- http://goallineblitz.com/game/game.pl?game_id=1197769&mode=pbp&hide=1
Zeta -- http://goallineblitz.com/game/game.pl?game_id=1197770&mode=pbp&hide=1
ALPHA
Speyside Whiskies (15-3, #4) @ Naples Purple Nurples (17-1, #2): The matchup everybody knew was coming, right? tbh, just can’t say enough about the GP Speyside put together to get the upset last game. Really, really impressive work by that group. And it’s not like the offense was anything flashy - they ran Fluffy, then they ran Fluffy some more, then maybe they dropped back to pass, then ran Fluffy again. But they absolutely put on a clinic defensively - racking up a dozen sacks, forcing a fumble and nabbing two oskies, one of which they took to the house.
Meanwhile the Nurps stuck to their guns, choosing to continue their old-fashioned blend of rock-solid defense and pounding the football. They slept-walked through the first half but after a 95 yard drive on their second possession of the third quarter, followed by a quick 3 & out for the Borg, they had old Uncle Mo’ on their side and one got the sense the game was all but decided at that point even though NPN hadn’t yet grabbed the lead. Their next two possessions left little doubt who the better team was.
This game’s going to come down to turnovers, imo. Neither team has thrown the ball all that well this postseason and I don’t expect that to change here, considering the respective pass defenses. So it’ll be a battle of running games and special teams, in all likelihood. And where it’s probably nothing but warm fuzzy feelings about their K/PR in Speyside, I doubt that sentiment’s echoed in Naples. That said, I can’t in good conscience pick a first-season Pro team to rep WEPL in WL. With apologies to the dudes at Speyside, I’m taking the Nurps. Naples by 7.
ZETA
Alpine (17-1, #2) @ The Evil Empire (18-0): Here we actually get the matchup everybody thought was coming all along as 1 meets 2. I’m damn proud to be a part of this game, I’ll say that much. Great seasons for both teams and much respect all around.
Alpine went after The Legion’s offense with ruthless abandon last week, completely shutting down their ground game and relentlessly rushing the passer, totaling 10 sacks. Pass game was off, but when two of your HBs are averaging 12+ YPC the pass game becomes irrelevant. Poops and Faulk were just awesome this game, and the OL was great too, racking up 70+ pancakes while yielding only 2 sacks, and you could argue both of those weren’t even their fault.
Over on the Dark Side things were equally dominant, although a little bit more balanced offensively. I could’ve done without the 4 INTs but only one was converted into points so our QB’s job is safe. For now. But our defense won the day, no doubt. We stuffed the run, racked up 8 sacks, caused 12 punts, had oogles of PDs and forced a couple of turnovers to boot.
I know I said the same thing about the EE/WW game last time out, but once again this one’s going to come down to which squad has the better GP. The talent levels on these two are so close, you know? Candidly, I’m afraid my ‘eager’ approach to tournament participation might screw my team over by giving cav and co. so much to scout from. It is what it is, I suppose, and no regrets.
Best of luck to other three of the final four!
xoxoxo
Firstically, for those that dig watching these without knowing the outcome, I present to you spoiler-free linkages!
Alpha -- http://goallineblitz.com/game/game.pl?game_id=1197769&mode=pbp&hide=1
Zeta -- http://goallineblitz.com/game/game.pl?game_id=1197770&mode=pbp&hide=1
ALPHA
Speyside Whiskies (15-3, #4) @ Naples Purple Nurples (17-1, #2): The matchup everybody knew was coming, right? tbh, just can’t say enough about the GP Speyside put together to get the upset last game. Really, really impressive work by that group. And it’s not like the offense was anything flashy - they ran Fluffy, then they ran Fluffy some more, then maybe they dropped back to pass, then ran Fluffy again. But they absolutely put on a clinic defensively - racking up a dozen sacks, forcing a fumble and nabbing two oskies, one of which they took to the house.
Meanwhile the Nurps stuck to their guns, choosing to continue their old-fashioned blend of rock-solid defense and pounding the football. They slept-walked through the first half but after a 95 yard drive on their second possession of the third quarter, followed by a quick 3 & out for the Borg, they had old Uncle Mo’ on their side and one got the sense the game was all but decided at that point even though NPN hadn’t yet grabbed the lead. Their next two possessions left little doubt who the better team was.
This game’s going to come down to turnovers, imo. Neither team has thrown the ball all that well this postseason and I don’t expect that to change here, considering the respective pass defenses. So it’ll be a battle of running games and special teams, in all likelihood. And where it’s probably nothing but warm fuzzy feelings about their K/PR in Speyside, I doubt that sentiment’s echoed in Naples. That said, I can’t in good conscience pick a first-season Pro team to rep WEPL in WL. With apologies to the dudes at Speyside, I’m taking the Nurps. Naples by 7.
ZETA
Alpine (17-1, #2) @ The Evil Empire (18-0): Here we actually get the matchup everybody thought was coming all along as 1 meets 2. I’m damn proud to be a part of this game, I’ll say that much. Great seasons for both teams and much respect all around.
Alpine went after The Legion’s offense with ruthless abandon last week, completely shutting down their ground game and relentlessly rushing the passer, totaling 10 sacks. Pass game was off, but when two of your HBs are averaging 12+ YPC the pass game becomes irrelevant. Poops and Faulk were just awesome this game, and the OL was great too, racking up 70+ pancakes while yielding only 2 sacks, and you could argue both of those weren’t even their fault.
Over on the Dark Side things were equally dominant, although a little bit more balanced offensively. I could’ve done without the 4 INTs but only one was converted into points so our QB’s job is safe. For now. But our defense won the day, no doubt. We stuffed the run, racked up 8 sacks, caused 12 punts, had oogles of PDs and forced a couple of turnovers to boot.
I know I said the same thing about the EE/WW game last time out, but once again this one’s going to come down to which squad has the better GP. The talent levels on these two are so close, you know? Candidly, I’m afraid my ‘eager’ approach to tournament participation might screw my team over by giving cav and co. so much to scout from. It is what it is, I suppose, and no regrets.
Best of luck to other three of the final four!
xoxoxo
