LONG BEACH MERMEN [GM RIZZ]

[GM Yount]

"LETS GET THE DAMN JOB DONE THEN"



Change Linebacker focus for this week to balanced

LOCK IN

[GM Yount]

1. What stood out to you about your team this week?

"WE THREW TWO PICK SIXES AND COULDNT MAKE BIG PLAYS OF OUR OWN IN THE PASSING GAME

SUCKS TO HAVE TO A CHANCE TO CLINCH AND NOT DO IT

BUT HOPEFULLY IF WE WERE GETTING TEMPTED TO PRANCE AROUND AND SMELL OUR OWN FARTS FOR A BIT THAT WILL REMIND US WE NEED TO GO OUT THERE AND BE KILLERS"

2. Who has to step up this weekend in your eyes?

"NOT ONE GUY IN PARTICULAR BUT OUR BEST PLAYERS NEED TO MAKE BIG PLAYS AND TAKE OUR TEAM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE AND IF WE HAVE A GUY FEASTING WE NEED TO RIDE THAT"

3. What does this final week of the season mean for you and your team?

"A HELL OF A DAMN LOT ILL TELL YOU THAT MUCH BROTHER JACK DUDE A HELL OF A DAMN LOT"



"YEAH COACH SO LETS NOT PLAY LIKE THAT AGAIN

DO WHATEVER IT IS WE NEED TO DO TO GET BACK TO PLAYING LIKE WE DO

LETS DO THIS"



Switch Linebacker focus to PASS

Also, win please.

LOCK IN

[GM Yount]

PLAYOFF TEAMS

1. Talk about the final week of the regular season and this week's match up. (if you have the bye, how does it feel to be the top seed in the conference?)

"WELL THAT GAME KIND OF SUMMED UP OUR REGULAR SEASON

WE GOT IN A GOOD POSITION WHERE WE LOOKED TO BE ROLLING THEN WE DEALT WITH SOME SERIOUS FRICKING ADVERSITY

OBVIOUSLY NOT IDEAL TO GO INTO THE POSTSEASON ON A TWO GAME LOSING STREAK

WEVE GOT NOT ONLY THE DEFENDING CHAMPS ON THE ROAD BUT THE TEAM THATS PROBABLY BEEN THE MOST CONSISTENT OF THE PAST TWO PLUS YEARS WITH BACK TO BACK IMPACT BOWL APPEARANCES AND TWELVE WINS THIS YEAR

IM SURE ALMOST NOBODY IS PICKING US TO WIN THIS GAME

AND MAYBE WE DESERVE TO HAVE PEOPLE DOUBT US WITH OUR HOT AND COLD INCONSISTENCY THIS YEAR

BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WEVE SHOWN ON OUR BEST DAY WE CAN BEAT THE ELITE TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE LIKE A LINCOLN LIKE A CLEVELAND LIKE A SYDNEY

THE QUESTION IS ARE WE GOING TO SHOW WE ARE WHO THE DOUBTERS ON THE OUTSIDE THOUGHT WE WERE

OR ARE WE GOING TO SHOW HOW GOOD

NO HOW GREAT I AND THE PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING KNOW WE CAN BE

ONE THING I KNOW DAMN WELL IS WE HAVE A QUARTERBACK AND TEAM CAPTAIN THATS NO STRANGER TO ADVERSITY AND

2. What will it take for this team to win the Impact Bowl?

"ITLL TAKE PLAYING LIKE WE DO WHEN WERE CLICKING AND NOT LIKE WE ARE ON THOSE COLD STREAKS

WEVE BEEN HOT AND COLD ALL YEAR AND ITS UP TO US AS A STAFF AND OUR PLAYERS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS IS THATS MADE US THOSE WAYS ELIMINATE THE BAD AND FOCUS ON THE GOOD

WE NEED OUR ELITE TALENT STAR PLAYERS TO SHOW WHAT THEY ARE

WE NEED TO PLAY AGGRESSIVE AND HUNGRY

WITH A COLD MIND AND FIRE IN OUR HEARTS

WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE GUYS IN THE LOCKER ROOM WHO SHIT THIS COULD BE THEIR LAST YEAR DEPENDING ON THEIR DECISIONS REALIZE HOW AMAZING THEYVE PLAYED AND TO A MAN MAKE THE DECISION NOT TO LET THEM FUCKING GO OUT LIKE THAT

WE NEED TO LET EVERYONE ELSE WRITE US OFF AND THEN TAKE THAT HAND THEIR WRITING WITH AND SHOVE IT STRAIGHT UP THEIR ASS WITH HOW WE PLAY

THATS WHAT WE DAMN WELL NEED TO DO"



"WELL COACH I MIGHT BE GETTING FINED FOR THAT PRESSER

OOPS"

[Talon]

Let them fine you; who gives a shit.  It's PLAYOFF Football in Long Beach!

[GM Yount]

"ITS A WHOLE NEW SEASON BABY

I KNOW WERE PROBABLY A BIG UNDERDOG IN THE PUBLIC EYE BUT I DONT THINK THIS IS ANYWHERE COMPARABLE TO OUR LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE TOGETHER WITH THE BATS

THEN I THINK IT WAS A TEAM WHERE MAKING IT WAS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT

HERE WEVE GOT A TEAM THAT I TRULY BELIEVE HAS A DAMN GREAT MIX OF VETS AND YOUNG TALENT

WEVE JUST GOTTA FIGURE OUT WHAT BUTTONS TO PUSH

I FEEL LIKE WINNIPEGS GOT A DEFENSE WITH A COUPLE OF CRACKS IN AN OTHERWISE ELITE UNIT WITH VALLEJO OUT AND STONE PROBABLY OUT WE JUST NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST EXPLOIT THAT"

[Talon]

I'm excited for the chess match.  Patrick Owen's quick strike big play ability can flip a game on its ear, but I believe we are up to the mental challenge of trying to counter their strikes and make our own plays. 

[GM Yount]

"WELL IF YOU HAVE ANY EVALUATIONS OF WHAT HAS OR HASNT WORKED THESE PAST FEW WEEKS AND ADJUSTMENTS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN MAKE THOSE EXPLOSIVE PLAYS GO FOR IT

SINCE WINNIPEG IS DEALING WITH INJURIES AT CORNER I ALMOST WONDER ABOUT MAKING CALEB THE FOCUSED RECEIVER AS A SLOT SLASH SECONDARY GUY BUT THEN I WORRY THAT WOULD BE A MAJOR ENOUGH CHANGE THAT IT UPSETS THE APPLE CART"

[Talon]

 

I'm a big fan of Yolo Rolo personally, so I think him moving into the slot will be tough to contend with.  he's a player I feel is primed for a break out, so I am hesitant to test them, there.

[GM Yount]

"ALRIGHT WELL STICK AS IS THERE

MAYBE WE CAN GO HEAVIER WITH TWO TIGHT END LOOKS THIS WEEK BUT TRY TO STILL BE AGGRESSIVE WITH OUR DEEP PASSING GAME AND BIG PLAYS

I DONT LIKE KEEPING GARY SCOTT OFF THE FIELD BECAUSE HES A WEAPON BUT IF TESTING THEM IN THE SLOT IS A BAD IDEA MAYBE SEE IF WE CAN FEED ENCAR AND GET HIM BEASTING TO SET UP THE DEEP BALLS ON PLAY ACTION

MAYBE EVEN TRY TO PUSH RUIZ DOWN FIELD HERE AND THERE IF THEYRE SHORT A LINEBACKER"

[Talon]

 

It's the playoffs, so I won't leave any rounds in the chamber.  We're going to mix in as much of all of those ideas as we can, I don't want to be too one dimensional against Larry and the Foxes, they won't afford us the same courtesy I can assure you

[GM Yount]

"COOL COOL

SO ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE OF THINGS JAMES JAMES IS SET AS OUR NICKEL BACKER BUT HIS SNAP COUNT IS SO LOW THAT HE LITERALLY HASNT SEEN ONE PASS THROWN HIS WAY SINCE HE JOINED US

ARE THE COACHES JUST SUBBING HIM OUT BECAUSE YOU LIKE OUR OTHER GUYS BETTER OR DOES HE HAVE SOME KIND OF SMOKERS LUNGS"

[Talon]

 

He's managed like 11 snaps a game and never really contributes... I think he's just a wash.

[GM Yount]

"HOW DOES WATERS AS NICKEL CORNER AND PETTIGREW AS DIME CORNER SOUND THEN

I KNOW HES MOSTLY BEEN DOING IT AGAINST WIDE RECEIVER FOURS AND ITS HARD TO COMPARE STATS OF GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE FRINGES BUT WATERS HAS THE MUCH BETTER COMPLETION PERCENTAGE AGAINST SO FAR THIS YEAR EVEN THOUGH PETTIGREW SEEMS LIKE THE MUCH STRONGER LONG TERM PIECE AND TWO PASSES DEFENSED TO PETTIGREWS ONE

YOUVE BEEN WORKING WITH WHIT CLOSELY BEHIND THE SCENES THOUGH SO YOUD KNOW IF HES MADE PROGRESS THAT HIS OVERALL STATS DONT REFLECT"

[Talon]

 

I think it's worth doing; I expect to see Pettigrew make big strides in the off-season, but for now I think he's best in that 4th spot.

[GM Yount]

"DO YOU THINK ITS WORTH HAVING OUR DEFENSE AS A WHOLE FOCUS ON THE PASS THIS WEEK WITH THE EXTREME SPLIT IN THEIR PASSING AND RUN YARD STATS

OR DO YOU THINK THAT JUST MAKES OUR DEFENSE TOO PREDICTABLE TO ATTACK"

[Talon]

 

I think their priority has to be the pass, so I agree that we focus on it across the board.

[GM Yount]

"ALRIGHT COOL

I DONT KNOW WHAT YOU THINK BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE MULLINS GIVING THE SPEECH TO RALLY THE TEAM ONCE IVE DONE MY LITTLE INTRO

FEELS LIKE WITH THIS YEAR POTENTIALLY BEING HIS LAST RIDE WITH US WITH HIS EXPIRING CONTRACT AND HIM HAVING TO MAKE A DECISION WHETHER HE WANTS TO KEEP PLAYING COME THE OFFSEASON TO BOOT HE SHOULD GET THAT STAGE"

[Talon]

 

If we have to do a speech, I'd go with Ricky.  He's more of a motivator.

[GM Yount]

"THE BIG DOGS PRETTY GOOD AT READING BODY LANGUAGE AND YOU DONT SOUND THRILLED ABOUT THE SPEECH IDEA COACH

YOU THINKING THAT IT MIGHT SEND THE WRONG MESSAGE LIKE THAT PLAYING THE DEFENDING CHAMPS IN THE FIRST ROUND IS OUR QUOTE END GAME UNQUOTE AND WHAT WEVE BEEN BUILDING TOWARDS NOT SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER THAN THAT"

[Talon]

You hit the nail on the head.  We are hear for the Impact Bowl. Nothing less.

[GM Yount]

"ALRIGHT LETS DO IT THEN

WINNERS MENTALITY"



Defense:

- Focus all defensive position groups and defense overall on defending PASS

CB DEPTH CHART CHANGE FOR ALL FORMATIONS

CB3 Terry Waters
CB4 Whitney Pettigrew
CB5 James James

OFFENSE

Use enough heavy/two tight end formations to establish Encarnacion while being aggressive with deep passes/play action where we can and getting Ruiz going vertical where possible. If it's possible to have Gary Scott as a supersub for both Ross and Phillips if they get tired in the 2 WR formations in addition to his 3WR/Spread reps do it ... idk if it is. Any other tweaks Coach Woods can think of to keep WIN guessing, free to unleash.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Take Izzy off returns and put Roger Quick back as the secondary returner to Phillips in order to keep Okafor's legs fresh for playing CB

LOCK IN

[GM Yount]

1. Talk about the game this week.  What went right and what ultimately went wrong?

"WELL OUR OFFENSE DID GREAT MIXING IT UP AND GOING BLOW FOR BLOW

MAYBE I TINKERED TOO MUCH WITH THE HEAVY FOCUS ON STOPPING THE PASS AND LETTING WINNIPEG GET THEIR RUN GAME GOING

OBVIOUSLY COMING DOWN WITH THAT PICK IN THE END ZONE WOULDVE BEEN A GAME CHANGER BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS

IT WAS A CLASSIC GAME IM PROUD OF THE EFFORT WE PUT FORTH BUT IT STINGS AND IT SUCKS TO COME SO CLOSE AND COME UP SHORT

I HOPE OUR TEAM ULTIMATELY USES THE HURT OF COMING SO CLOSE THERE TO FUEL US TO GROW GOING FORWARD"

2. When you look back on this season, what are some of the words you would use to describe the season?

"IT WAS A YEAR WITH PROMISE GLIMPSES OF A BRIGHT FUTURE BUT ROUGH LESSONS TO BE LEARNED

OUR COACHES AND PLAYERS WERE LARGELY LEARNING HOW EACH OTHER WORKED AND HOW TO GET THE BEST OUT OF US BUT I THINK WE FOUND SOME THINGS TO LEAN ON GOING FORWARD"

3. Who was your best player this season?

"ITS A TOUGH CALL BECAUSE WE HAD A FEW STANDOUTS ON EACH SIDE OF THE BALL BUT OUT OF GUYS WHO WERE OUT THERE THE WHOLE YEAR WE DEFINITELY GOT REALLY GOOD YEARS FROM T LAW ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE AND KENNY DIAMOND ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE AND I DONT THINK EITHER GUY IS CLOSE TO THEIR PEAK

THERES PLENTY OF OTHER GUYS WHO DESERVE PROPS FOR REALLY GOOD YEARS BUT I MEAN I THINK IVE SAID A LOT ABOUT THEM DURING THE YEAR"

4. Grade the job you did this season as well as that of your coaching staff.

"ID SAY A SOLID B ALL AROUND ACROSS THE BOARD

SOME STUFF WE DID WORKED SOME DIDNT

I THINK WE DID A GOOD JOB FIGURING OUT WHAT WORKED WHAT DIDNT AND MAKING ADJUSTMENTS


WERE IN A GOOD POSITION TO TAKE THAT NEXT STEP GOING FORWARD BUT I MEAN I CANT GIVE ANY OF US HIGHER THAN THAT FOR A FIRST ROUND EXIT

A GRADES ARE FOR IMPACT BOWL CONTENDING SEASONS BUT OBVIOUSLY I AGREE WITH WHAT COACH WRIGHT SAID ABOUT COACH WOODS AND WHAT A GREAT MIND SHE IS"

5. What is next for you and this club?

"FIGURE OUT A PLAN TO KEEP DEVELOPING AND PUTTING OUR YOUNG STUD PLAYERS IN POSITIONS TO SUCCEED

FIND A WAY TO SMARTLY ADDRESS ANY OPENINGS IN OUR LINEUP

FIND A WAY TO IMPROVE THE TEAM WITHOUT OVERLY TINKERING

ITS ABOUT BUILDING ON AND ADDING TO WHAT WE HAVE"

[Talon]

 

FACK!

[GM Yount]

"DAMNIT

WE HAD THAT SHIT

THAT LAST FEW PLAYS OF THEM RUNNING THE CLOCK DOWN FOR THAT CHIP SHOT WAS LIKE SOMEONE WAS TAKING A DAMN WOOD CHIPPER TO MY OVARIES"

[Talon]

I appreciate the "Respect" being shown after the game from Coach Wright, but at the same time it's like a pat on the head and a glass of water in the middle of the night. 

I'm not a damn child needing to be told how good I am...  Damn it, next season won't end this way.

[GM Yount]

"DAMN RIGHT

TAKE SOME TIME FOR YOURSELF AND TO DO WHATEVER EVALUATING YOU NEED TO OF OUR TEAM

ILL MEET BACK UP WITH YOU AFTER THE IMPACT BOWL"



"ARIEL IM READY TO SEE MISTER COHEN NOW"



"HI BOSS ITS THE BIG DOG

IM PISSED I COULDNT DELIVER ON THE DIVISION A PLAYOFF WIN OR THAT TOP TEN OFFENSE BUT AM OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE DIRECTION WERE BUILDING HERE AND GETTING SOME STABILITY TO START GETTING T LAW BACK TO WHERE HE SHOULD BE

HOPEFULLY YOU ARE TOO"

[Talon]

 

Seph, I've been monitoring the chatter around the league and let me tell you; despite some people not really loving your... quirks?  ...its undeniable that most owners recognize that you've done a great job in both Tottenham and now Long Beach, I'm not letting you go anywhere anytime soon, trust me.

[GM Yount]

"EXCELLENT

ILL GET TO PREPARING FOR A BUSY OFFSEASON UNLESS YOU HAD ANYTHING SPECIFIC YOU NEEDED BEFORE I DO"

[Talon]

Nope, based on your meta data I'm pretty sure I know your first order of business, so lets hope he has had a change of heart when you guys speak!

[GM Yount]

"AGREED

I KNOW NOT HAVING MADE THE PLAYOFFS ENOUGH WAS PART OF WHAT WAS WEIGHING HIM DOWN SO IM HOPING THAT MAKING IT IN AND SHOWING WE BELONGED IS ENOUGH TO MAKE HIM REALIZE THE FUTURES BRIGHT HERE

BUT IF NOT ILL MAKE THE BEST OF A BAD HAND

UNTIL THEN BOSS MAN

IM THE BIG DOG"

LOCK IN UNTIL AFTER IMPACT BOWL

[Talon]

Welcome back!

I currently have us with $26.10MM in available salary cap and $1.25MM in Bonus funds for S16.  Our bonus may flex depending on how you decide to handle our coaching staff.

I have us with 20 open roster positions at this time. 

I have our s16 draft picks as follows:

4th - LOU
6th - LB
6th - VAN
7th - CAN

We have our own 2nd, 5th, 6th, and 7th round draft picks for S17 ; and all of our own picks for S18.

We owe $260K in taxes which can be paid now or out of our S16 budget if we prefer.

Our available off-season bonus money currently is: $5.75MM ($4MM from your GM Contract + $1.75 from your S15 budget rollover).

I have our off-season team sheet copy here. Feel free to edit/use it if you would like.  If you have questions or disagree with my notes please let me know and we will get to the bottom of it!

[GM Yount]

"COACH WOODS PLEASE FOR COACH HIRING SZN"

[Talon]

 

I know it's not very exciting, but I like our staff.. I don't want to change anything.

[GM Yount]

"AGREED

I DONT WANT OUR GUYS TO HAVE TO LEARN NEW SCHEMES COMING OFF A PLAYOFF YEAR EITHER

DO I NEED TO LEAGUE OFFICE ANYTHING AS FAR AS THE SPOTS BELOW THE COORDINATORS IF WERE KEEPING IT THE SAME

I KNOW YOULL DO A GREAT JOB SCOURING FOR YOUNG UP AND COMING COACHES OR EX PLAYER CONNECTIONS TO FIT THOSE POSITION COACH SPOTS"

[Talon]

 

We're all set, no need to league office anything. I'll start building our new lower staffs.

[GM Yount]

"AWESOME

THE BIG DOG LOOKS FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU COME UP WITH

ILL LET YOU FOCUS COMPLETELY ON THAT BEFORE DOING MY YEAR IN REVIEW SLASH LOOK AHEAD TO THE OFFSEASON ISH WITH YOU"

[Talon]

Perfect.  Once all coaching staffs are filled we will get to negotiate with our potential RFA's and explore the franchise tag, so we'll have plenty to do.

[GM Yount]

"DAMN RIGHT"



"ARIEL CAN YOU GET ME MIKE MAKER PLEASE"



"HI MIKE ITS THE BIG DOG

GIVEN ITS RFA TIME YOU PROBABLY KNOW WHY IM CALLING BUT ID LIKE TO TALK ABOUT GETTING LINEBACKER JACK MCCAFFREY POTENTIALLY SIGNED

HE SEEMED TO BE A GOOD SCHEME FIT FOR US AS A LINEBACKER CONVERT SO ID LIKE TO KEEP DEVELOPING HIM

WOULD THREE YEARS FOR $2MM PER BE SOMETHING YOU CAN DO OR NO DICE"

[Talon]

We'll accept those terms.  much Obliged.

[GM Yount]

"EXCELLENT GOOD DOING BUSINESS"



"OKAY ARIEL I THINK THAT IT FOR OUR POTENTIAL RESTRICTEDS

ILL BE ONTO EARLY UFA"

[Talon]

Hello GM Big Dog,   I am Thomas Reese, the investigator looking into the recent allegations made against your former boss.  Do you have a few minutes to answer a few questions?

[GM Yount]

"SUP IM THE BIG DOG

IF YOURE WONDERING IF HES A VAMPIRE YES IM PRETTY SURE HE IS"

[Talon]

Wha... ..a what? ... nevermind.    This won't take long.  I just need to ask you a few simple questions about your time and experience working under Jack Springheels.

Firstly, did he ever discuss finances with you in any form outside of the salary cap?

[GM Yount]

"MY MEMORY ABOUT A LOT OF SPECIFIC THINGS ISNT GREAT YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT ABOUT THE BIG DOG

NOW I MIGHT HAVE JUST IMAGINED THIS SINCE A LOT OF MEMORIES FROM BACK THEN SEEM JUST LOST TO TIME BUT I FEEL LIKE WHEN WE TALKED A NEW CONTRACT AFTER I WON GM OF THE YEAR THAT THE RAISE WAS LESS THAN IM MAKING HERE IN LONG BEACH WHICH GAVE ME THAT IMPRESSION WE WERE CONSIDERED A TEAM WITH A LOWER BUDGET AS FAR AS RESOURCES

I CANT REMEMBER WHETHER HE EXPRESSLY SAID ANYTHING ABOUT FINANCES THOUGH"

[Talon]

Yes, that would make sense, I see...

Was there ever any strange behavior? Any suspicious comments or activity from him or even the secretary, Ms. Bloodsworth?

[GM Yount]

"FROM WHAT I REMEMBER OUR SECRETARY WAS MOSTLY JUST GIVING ME THE GIRL POWER TYPE PEP TALKS

BACK TO THE VAMPIRE THING I SEEM TO REMEMBER HIM SORT OF TALKING IN WEIRD RIDDLES AND MAKING MYSTERIOUS INFERENCES ABOUT PRECIOUS THINGS AND BEING AROUND FOR GENERATIONS

I DONT KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS BESIDES THAT BUT HE WAS KIND OF STRANGE IN GENERAL AND WOULD TALK TO ME LIKE A DUDE FROM AN ANNE RICE NOVEL"

[Talon]

You didn't strike me as a big reader, but I digress..  Thank you for you time... "BIG DOG?"

If anything else comes to mind, call my firm and one of my interns will take down your notes.

[GM Yount]

"IM MOSTLY INTO READING VIDEO BOOKS

THEYRE LIKE AUDIO BOOKS BUT WITH MOVING PICTURES

OL BIG DOGGINGTON READ THAT ONE FROM THE NINETIES WITH TOM CRUISE ON CABLE A FEW TIMES"

[Talon]

...right.   


Thank you for your time.

[GM Yount]

"YOURE WELCOME IM THE BIG DOG"



"WOW ARIEL YOU COULD CUT THE SEXUAL TENSION BETWEEN ME AND MISTER REESE WITH A KNIFE BUT I HAD TO STAY PROFESSIONAL DESPITE ALL THOSE COME HITHER LOOKS AND STOLEN GLANCES MY WAY"