Tweet
No time for picks this week but I do have something for you.
Power Rankings
1. Norfolk
2. Vermont
3. Oakland
4. Anchorage
5. Albequerque
6. Coumbia
7. Little Rock
8. Lawrence
9. St.Louis
10. SLC
11. Reno
12. IWC
13. Newark
14. Hartford
15. Pittsburgh
16. Lansing
17. Madison
18. Orlando
19. Texas
20. Fresno
21. Dakota
22. Tulsa
23. Cleveland
24. Louisiana
25. Montreal
26. Murfreesboro
27. Houston
28. Boston
29. Wichita
30. Vancouver
31. Portland
32. West Virginia
I had the opportunity to sit down with the GM of the ST.Louis Cardinals this week. Suicane and I had an enjoyable evening and the following is the transcript.
1. Your team is off to a rough start so far this season. What is it going to take to get things going and insure your spot in the playoffs?
First and foremost we need to get Mark back in the mix. He's hurting right now, mentaly and physicaly. He knows the onus is on him to lead this team and he can't do it from the sidelines. You've got to understand the pressure that the media has put on this kid. His stats have never been extrodinary but he's won a friggin Imperial Bowl and still gets regarded as a 2nd class quarterback. But at the same time he realizes his play has not equaled that of the Hamiltons, Bookers and Loziers. It's almost like the ring is a curse Vic, I know that sounds strange but it's true.
2. How do you like the performances thus far of your offseason acquisitions?
Im very happy with them. Olin Holst has done an amazing job with our 2nd and 3rd string QB's but he's itching to get Mark back behind Center for sure. Frank has done a terrific job in the middle and Jason King has provided excellent protection and a veteran mindset for our line which is imperative now that we've lost William Salmon for the year and maybe more.
3. Mark McMurray is an extremly talented QB, no doubt. What does he need to do to get his production up? Is he still the right guy for the job in St.Louis?
He needs to get his head straight plain and simple. I love the kid, but he's got protection and he's got targets, the next 10-11 weeks are on his shoulders now.
4. How is the team doing in relation to its finances? What can be done to improve this situation?
We have a touchy cap situation no doubt but it's not so out of whack that we can't control it. Olin is in his last year but we didn't bring him here as a hired gun, he's gonna be a Cardinal for a long time. We've worked the majority of our contracts out long term, it's not gonna be a purge situation but rather an instance where we assess 1 or 2 players and figure out what needs to be done. We're ok.
5. What other players do you enjoy watching on Sundays?
Harold Lozier gives me a hard on, I really feel like he's the Zuess of this league. When all is said and done and 10,000 years from now the cyborgs unearth the data from the IFL Hall Of Fame, he's gonna be the guy who stands out. He's got it all, from the physical tools to mental ability to know how to win. He's such a joy to watch in any situation because you can see the glimmer in his eye that says "I've got you right where I want you and you can't stop me", so entertaining.
Jose Gilpin who just went down with a foot problem is someone i've always kept an eye on since his career has parraleled Louie Maldonados from day 1 of this league. It's a shame what happened to him last week against us, it really is.
I also love watching Larry Deason, why he hasn't been featured more in his career i'll never know, but this season it looks like he's running with pissed off abandon, just a joy to watch.
There are so many great QB's in this league as well, the west coast battles between SLC and Oakland are so much fun. Anytime you have guys like Bice, Hamilton, Booker and Tart all on the same field you better have your eyes on the screen and your kids ears covered. Those guys will be 90 years old and smack talking about who can eat the most pudding, they bring so much flavor to the league.
Clayton Chung, who is such a star in China as well, he's the Yao Ming of the IFL, his arm is deadly, he's like someone people might not have on the radar but he can throw it with anybody in this league, it'd be great for the league if Texas made a run at the playoffs this year. This guy needs some national pub.
6. What rookie player will stand out to you as the best of this past season's draft?
Nicky Kersey was a dude i really wanted to get and I think he's gonna end up being the Emmit Smith of our draft. Not in style but in relation to the fact that he was taken later than he should of been. I think the kids got a great future and West Virginia did themselves a great service by choosing him as a building block, he's a stud.
Until next time,
Vic
Power Rankings
1. Norfolk
2. Vermont
3. Oakland
4. Anchorage
5. Albequerque
6. Coumbia
7. Little Rock
8. Lawrence
9. St.Louis
10. SLC
11. Reno
12. IWC
13. Newark
14. Hartford
15. Pittsburgh
16. Lansing
17. Madison
18. Orlando
19. Texas
20. Fresno
21. Dakota
22. Tulsa
23. Cleveland
24. Louisiana
25. Montreal
26. Murfreesboro
27. Houston
28. Boston
29. Wichita
30. Vancouver
31. Portland
32. West Virginia
I had the opportunity to sit down with the GM of the ST.Louis Cardinals this week. Suicane and I had an enjoyable evening and the following is the transcript.
1. Your team is off to a rough start so far this season. What is it going to take to get things going and insure your spot in the playoffs?
First and foremost we need to get Mark back in the mix. He's hurting right now, mentaly and physicaly. He knows the onus is on him to lead this team and he can't do it from the sidelines. You've got to understand the pressure that the media has put on this kid. His stats have never been extrodinary but he's won a friggin Imperial Bowl and still gets regarded as a 2nd class quarterback. But at the same time he realizes his play has not equaled that of the Hamiltons, Bookers and Loziers. It's almost like the ring is a curse Vic, I know that sounds strange but it's true.
2. How do you like the performances thus far of your offseason acquisitions?
Im very happy with them. Olin Holst has done an amazing job with our 2nd and 3rd string QB's but he's itching to get Mark back behind Center for sure. Frank has done a terrific job in the middle and Jason King has provided excellent protection and a veteran mindset for our line which is imperative now that we've lost William Salmon for the year and maybe more.
3. Mark McMurray is an extremly talented QB, no doubt. What does he need to do to get his production up? Is he still the right guy for the job in St.Louis?
He needs to get his head straight plain and simple. I love the kid, but he's got protection and he's got targets, the next 10-11 weeks are on his shoulders now.
4. How is the team doing in relation to its finances? What can be done to improve this situation?
We have a touchy cap situation no doubt but it's not so out of whack that we can't control it. Olin is in his last year but we didn't bring him here as a hired gun, he's gonna be a Cardinal for a long time. We've worked the majority of our contracts out long term, it's not gonna be a purge situation but rather an instance where we assess 1 or 2 players and figure out what needs to be done. We're ok.
5. What other players do you enjoy watching on Sundays?
Harold Lozier gives me a hard on, I really feel like he's the Zuess of this league. When all is said and done and 10,000 years from now the cyborgs unearth the data from the IFL Hall Of Fame, he's gonna be the guy who stands out. He's got it all, from the physical tools to mental ability to know how to win. He's such a joy to watch in any situation because you can see the glimmer in his eye that says "I've got you right where I want you and you can't stop me", so entertaining.
Jose Gilpin who just went down with a foot problem is someone i've always kept an eye on since his career has parraleled Louie Maldonados from day 1 of this league. It's a shame what happened to him last week against us, it really is.
I also love watching Larry Deason, why he hasn't been featured more in his career i'll never know, but this season it looks like he's running with pissed off abandon, just a joy to watch.
There are so many great QB's in this league as well, the west coast battles between SLC and Oakland are so much fun. Anytime you have guys like Bice, Hamilton, Booker and Tart all on the same field you better have your eyes on the screen and your kids ears covered. Those guys will be 90 years old and smack talking about who can eat the most pudding, they bring so much flavor to the league.
Clayton Chung, who is such a star in China as well, he's the Yao Ming of the IFL, his arm is deadly, he's like someone people might not have on the radar but he can throw it with anybody in this league, it'd be great for the league if Texas made a run at the playoffs this year. This guy needs some national pub.
6. What rookie player will stand out to you as the best of this past season's draft?
Nicky Kersey was a dude i really wanted to get and I think he's gonna end up being the Emmit Smith of our draft. Not in style but in relation to the fact that he was taken later than he should of been. I think the kids got a great future and West Virginia did themselves a great service by choosing him as a building block, he's a stud.
Until next time,
Vic
