[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: 2112's wild Wild Card game

Week 18 at Orlando
Down our quarterback, I tempered my expectations and felt that we might come home from a serious drubbing in Orlando. At the same time, I should feel quite good about the team we put together and if QB Bart Tanner could go through the game mistake free, we might actually be able to put up a fight.

Orlando scored quickly on their first possession, which got me very much scared this could turn into a blowout. But on our own first possession, helped by a 38-yard kickoff return, we didn't need to gain too many yards and we did just enough to keep the chains moving and see RB Renaldo Billodeaux run it in from 6 yards out for a 7-7 tie game. A sack by rookie DE Lonnie Wynn focred 3 and out, giving us hope we could stand our ground from time to time. After we got stopped quickly as well, Orlando saw their running back com up with a big 23-yard run to set up field goal for a 10-7 lead after the first quarter.

After a slow but steady drive, we tied it up again, but found ourselves completely off guard on the ensuing kickoff return, allowing a 91-yard touchdown. After several three and outs, Orlando was deep inside their own red zone and after their quarterback appeared to get his passing game going, his second attempt of the drive got picked off by S Craig Clancy. QB Bart Tanner connected on a key third and long with TE Garrett Alcala, converted a short one with a scramble and then tied the score 17-17 with a short pass to wide open WR Preston Gray. A defensive stand gave us the ball back, but as we were driving for a lead taking field goal, Tanner's pass got picked off and returned deep enough to set Orlando up for a 20-17 lead at half time.

We came out of the break looking bland, but on Orlando's first possession our young defensive ends strip sacked the their quarterback, our S Dan Peterson picked up the scattering ball and got it to midfield. Supported by a long run from RB Sherman Ward, QB Bart Tanner found WR Jessie Vertelney and fellow rookie WR Rodolfo Lane for long enough throws to set up the 20-20 tying field goal. After long, yet inefficient drive from Orlando, we did just enough to end the third quarter barely inside Orlando's half with a fresh set of downs.

After three no-gainers of plays, we were sadly forced to punt to pin Orlando deep. They responded with 31-yard and 37-yard passing plays, eventually resulting in a touchdown. The missed extra point made it 26-20 for Orlando, giving us a little bit more hope this wasn't going to end there and then. Another strong kickoff return from RB Sherman Ward brought us near midfield and helped by an unneccessary roughness penalty, we came close enough to converted a 42-yard field goal for a 26-23 trailing score. We stopped Orlando on their next drive, but ended up pinned at our own 1-yard line. After three short plays, we were forced to punt and gave up a 17-yard return that helped set up Orlando's field goal for a 29-23 lead. With 1:55 remaining and having spent all our time outs on on that last drive, a deep kickoff placed us at our own 25-yard line. We went for a risky play right away and QB Bart Tanner's pass got picked off. Orlando ran one more play, but after they earned a new set of downs, victory formation was there.

QB Bart Tanner threw for 181 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. WR Preston Gray was on the receiving end of the touchdown, RB Renaldo Billodeaux accounted for our running touchdown. Somehow we stayed in the game, despite allowing 19 of 25 passes to get completed and giving up 5.44 yards per run, it felt like the kickoff return touchdown and field goal swinging interception at the end of the first half did us in. Field position and just enough third down conversions kept us in it.
23-29 loss


And that wraps up our 2112 season. A strange season, where we started 0-3, then got red hot by winning most of our games by 3 or less points, including coin flip wins over Gothenburg and Texas, to end the season with another 3-game losing streak, in which we lost our QB Harrison Singleton to a career threatening knee injury. It foreshadows a tough decision to make in the off-season, once we know how long Singleton will be out: do we search for replacement, or will we give the keys to Bart Tanner until Singleton returns. If he returns, or returns looking able to play at his old level.

We'll be roughly $40M over the cap, not accounting for the draft picks. Just 7 players are out of contract going into the off-season. Obviously emergency signing QB Cory Backer is one of them. FB Kenneth Holse, TE Arnie Huffman, kick return alternate WR Hunter Tuitele and CB Kent Wodarz will be restricted free agents and likely to have low demands. DT Dwayne Downs was a one-year rental, but if the cap space is available, we might try to bring him back. LT Harold Gruenwalder is the most interesting case. He was pushed into the starting lineup due to newly signed RT Clayton Bernstein's inability to play left tackle well and Gruenwalder surprised the football world with 0 sacks allowed in 494 passing plays, whilst not turning out to be the weak link in the running game. If Gruenwalder doesn't return, his agent's salary demands could be too rich for all 32 IHOF franchises, quite possibly forcing him into sitting out the season. Imagine that...

I also fear for QB Drake Bishop to retire, as he was active in just 1 regular season game, despite that last season he proved to be crucial for K Oscar Harrington as his kick holder. RB Bennett Holmes could be another suspect for retirement. But that's something to wait and see, after the remainder of the playoffs has played out.