#8 Saskatoon Year-In-Review

Preview: (Posted before the 2015 Draft)
Once upon a time, the 2012 Atlanta Rage were so dominant in the first month of the season, there was a push to name them league champions four weeks in. That didn't happen, and after building up from 14th in overall points, to a couple of years in sixth, to fourth in 2012, Kevin Stabe's team has bottomed out. A terrible finish in 2013 led the team to move as north as north could go, but that only saw the franchise slip further south in the standings. Coming off a 2-11 season, there is only one direction for the team to go. North. I mean up. UP!

Final Record:
Six Wins, Seven Losses (2,314.81 pts; 178.06 avg - 7th)

Playoffs:
Secured Bye through Consolation Quarterfinals
Defeated Manitoba Moosecrew in Consolation Semifinals 161.82 - 135.37
Lost to Hill Valley McFlys in Consolation Bowl 206.38 - 191.84

Synopsis:
The Sasquatch were not eliminated from the playoffs until the final week of the season- After a tough loss to start things off, they dominated in weeks two and three, scoring 236 and 231 in back to back weeks. It would be the zenith of their season, as they would fail to break the 200 club again, and while the playoffs were never really out of reach, they remained on the outside looking in for the bulk of the year. A lot of that comes down on Matt Ryan, who the team has anchored their fortunes to year in and year out- selecting him 49th overall was problematic as he finished 20th at the position, a position where only fourteen players start each week. The team was solid overall, despite a revolving door at tight end and a lack of decent flex options they never scored below 144: LeSean McCoy and Latavius Murray were one of the better running back tandems in the league, and on the other side of the ball Lavonte David and D'Qwell Jackson turned in substantial IDP value as the top two linebackers on the year- but the team MVP was Antonio Brown, who was magnificent once again: Saskatoon could have guaranteed another year with the wide receiving wizard if they had defeated Hill Valley in the Consolation Bowl, but they came up just short. If they had stuck with Kirk Cousins down the stretch, everything else the same, they defeat the McFlys by a point and take possession of the first overall pick next year. Instead, they choose second overall. Final important note: If you are a tiny white guy WR, Saskatoon will give you a chance to shine. See: Cole Beasley, Wes Welker. I was going to say Brian Hartline too, but apparently he is 6'2.

Draft Analysis:

VALUABLE ; TRADED ; DROPPED; RECYCLED; INJURED

This was a very solid draft, with twelve good picks in a row to start things off. Torrey Smith and Malcom Floyd profile better at flex rather than WR2 and WR3, but Antonio Brown can mask that, and Allen Hurns in the 15th made up some ground as well. No other real hits in the backend of the draft- Heath Miller was constantly the top option off the wire this season. If anything, this draft just might have been too safe in its late game, opting for veterans with limited ceilings over the boom/bust nature of unknowns.

Projected Points by Position versus League Average Projections (POST DRAFT)

SAS: B GRADE
Strength: QB & LB
Weakness: WR & TE

Matt Ryan remains the face of this franchise, while Lavonte David gives them an equally cerebral defense. After Antonio Brown, there are a lot of questions about the teams receivers.



Trade Review: (Listing each player's point total following the trade)

• NONE

The Sasquatch made no trades this season after making four in each of the past two seasons, and twelve total in their first five years.

Player of the Week Awards:

• WK02: OPotW WR Antonio Brown 40.5 pts
• WK09: OPotW WR Antonio Brown 50.8 pts
• WK10: PUotW QB Kirk Cousins 29.46 pts
• WK11: DPotW LB Lavonte David 32.2 pts
• WK11: DPotW LB D'Qwell Jackson 32.8 pts
• WK16: DPotW LB Malcolm Smith 20.5 pts

All Larkspur Bowl Players:

• Wide Receiver Antonio Brown (385.8 pts)
• Linebacker Lavonte David (223.95 pts)
• Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson (193.80 pts)

Depth Chart:

• QB: Matt Ryan, Kirk Cousins
• RB: Latavius Murray, LeSean McCoy, Darren Sproles, CJ Anderson
• WR: Antonio Brown, Allen Hurns, Malcom Floyd, Torrey Smith, Wes Welker, Brian Hartline, Cole Beasley
• TE: Coby Fleener, Kyle Rudolph, Heath Miller, Larry Donnell
• K: Greg Zuerlein
• DL: Fletcher Cox, Robert Quinn, Cole Beasley
• LB: Lavonte David, D'Qwell Jackson, Malcolm Smith, Michael Wilhoite, Julius Peppers
• CB: Ronald Darby, Robert Alford, Lamarcus Joyner, Rashean Mathis
• S: William Moore, TJ McDonald, Dwight Lowery, Mike Adams