[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: Everybody head for the life boats
We're making water, we're sinking fast...

With 11 regular season games in the books and 5 remaining, we're still atop the division, but only barely.

We continued our winning streak with a tremendous 41-23 victory at the Houston Mustangs. It was a typical performance, dominating the field position battle, once again having a 20-yard advantage per drive. We gave up a 60-yard run early in the game, the first of 3 drives where Houston managed to gain ground on us. In response, we started the game with 3 long touchdown drives and steadily built up our lead. QB Evan Drake threw for 284 yards, with touchdown passes to TE Garrett Alcala, RB Broderick Levine, TE Wesley Martin and WR Calvin Maxwell. The latter had 6 catches for 112 yards.

And then, in quite possibly the easiest game of the season, the Merchantmen pulled a no-show. The Bordeaux Vineyards came to Oranje Haven and upset us 10-3. The defense wasn't all bad, but wasn't as disruptive as it had been s far, while the offense fell completely flat, especially our passing game. As if losing TE Wesley Martin to injury was a bigger hit to the team than we could imagine. QB Evan Drake was held to 195 yards, completing just 25 of 45 passes. In particular WR Vinny Buysse (1 catch on 7 targets) failed to bail him out.

And then, on the road to the Gothenburg Giants things went from bad to one of the most absurd defeat we ever had to endure. Despite our superior talent on the field, we were completely humiliated, losing 52-10. One of the most unexplainable results in Merchantmen history, but fact is it did happen. QB Evan Drake still threw for 234 yards and a touchdown to TE Garret Alcala and the running game wasn't all that bad either. But a mind boggling atrocious performance by the defense combined with a -4 turnover margin, the Giants fans got one of the most bizar victories in their team's history.

And then a trip to the Oakland Black Panthers turned into what could be the season changer. After a typical strong first drive, leading 7-3, on the second play from scrimmage, a freak accident happened. After holding off to RB Bennett Holmes, somehow QB Evan Drake fell and landed on his hand, breaking his wrist in the process. With our imbeciles of staff members out there, they decided to throw our kick-holder-and-nothing-but-a-kick-holder out there to step in, despite that we have a promising rookie QB Monty Truitt on the bench. At the end of the day, Oakland outgained us, won the position battle and, most importantly, beat us 17-10. KH Drake Bishop threw for 119 yards in 26 attempts, after QB Evan Drake had thrown for 71 and a touchdown on 9 attempts. WR Vinny Buysse scored our lone touchdown.

European Division standings:
1. Maassluis 8-3
2. Gothenburg 7-4
3. Paris 4-7
4. Bordeaux 4-7

Still leading the division and with the home game against Gothenburg still in hand, I've honestly lost all belief in that we will end this season well. I'm really skeptic about thinking that rookie QB Monty Truitt can pull us through, let alone our KH Drake Bishop. But even if we win 2 or 3 of the remaining 5 games, I'm fully expecting the Giants to dissect us in our home game, as if they knew in advance what play we were going to call, and not see them trip over the same number of opponents as we will. And if that happens, we're only just 1 win ahead of the 5th through 9th ranked teams in the conference. Yes, there are 9 teams in the AOC with a 7-4 record, or better.

But the season isn't over, mathematically speaking. Even without Evan Drake (and by Murphy's law also his LT Harold Gruenwalder), we do have the talent everywhere else to play some damn good football and capable to beat any opponent. 11-5 is very much possible, we have to believe in it. Yes, we need to work hard, but we also have to trust even green late round and undrafted rookies can make a difference.

Chins up, team, the season is far from over. Don't fall into a 8-0 to 8-8 mood, we're far too talented to let that happen to us!