The Fargo Tribune, Fargo Fisherman category - Pigskin11's Blog

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Posted on March 22, 2009 at 11:41 PM.

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It seems high scoring games and the Fargo Fisherman go hand in hand. The Fisherman came out on top in a 42-35 shootout win over Baltimore. But on the first drive Baltimore actually forced Fargo to punt only to have there return man muff the kick. It was scooped up by Fargo for the first touchdown of the game. The Fisherman would not punt or turn the ball over again. Simpson was simply unstoppable the entire game finishing with 216 yards rushing and 146 yards receiving. Brodie had a perfect QB rating of 158.3 while only needing to throw 8 passes, 3 for touchdowns. Asked why such a focus on running Brodie replied "When you have a team like Baltimore with a gold and two silver corners we decided the only way to beat them was with Simpson on the ground. I thought we did a nice job of sprinkling in big pass plays to keep them from stacking the box." But for the second week in a row the Fisherman D was nearly non existent letting Stabler spread the ball around all game and allowing Means to break off huge junks of yards. Stabler completed 20 of 26 passes, an unacceptably high percentage for a defense to allow. It wasn't until mid way through the 3rd that Fargo even offered some sort of resistance. We asked Coach Pigskin what adjustments the team made, "After halftime I decided we couldn't let there wideouts get a free release and we needed to get in there face and bump em, we got burned on the first play of the half when Means took a run up the gut. I decided to stick with the press and I think it payed off." Jim Marshall used that extra time thanks to the press to capture 3 second half sacks and pressure Stabler into throwing a game sealing interception to Free Safety Cromwell.

STATS
Brodie: 158.3 Rating, 220 Yards, 3 TDs
Simpson: 216 Rush Yds, 13.5 avg, 146 Rec Yds, 4 Total TDs
Marshall: 3 Sacks
Cromwell: 5 Tackles, 1 Int

Category: The Fargo Tribune, Fargo Fisherman

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Fargo falls to 3-2 after tough loss

Posted on March 15, 2009 at 09:06 PM.

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Just one week after shutting down the Rattlesnakes to 7 points the Fargo defense looked lost and unprepared. They allowed Las Vegas Quarterback Randall Cunningham to sit back comfortably and find open receivers. Randall would finish with a perfect QB rating and 5 touchdowns. The Fisherman were unable to stop running back Okoye either, giving up over 130 yards on the ground. Even with a non existent defense the Fisherman were able to stay competitive, losing by only 7. Brodie and Simpson had solid outing but it wasn't enough. After the game Defensive Tackle Millard was disgusted with the defenses play saying "When you get no pressure you allow the QB to pick you apart, we need to get better, I need to play better"

STATS

John Brodie: 141.4 Rating, 193 Yds, 3 TDs
Simpson: 157 Yds, 9.8 Avg, 1 TD
Carter: 3 Rec, 60 Yds, 2 TDs

Category: The Fargo Tribune, Fargo Fisherman

Monday, March 9, 2009

Fargo pushes onto 3-1 with Blowout Win

Posted on March 9, 2009 at 09:41 PM.

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With Week 4 arriving, it marked the Home opener for the Fisherman and it was well worth the wait. Fargo treated home fans to a blowout 49-7 win where just about everything went right. On Fargos first drive OJ ripped off a 64 yard touchdown setting the tone for what would become a huge game. Simpson would finish with 244 yards on the ground before being sat down near the end of the 3rd. No need to risk the the face of the franchise getting hurt, but that didn't slow down the Fargo rushing attack as backup Collins rushed for 111 yards and 2 scores in late mop up duty. Quarterback John Brodie kept the Rattlesnakes honest by connecting with Touchdown hound Herman Moore for 2 scores in the first half. The defense provided a shutout with the only score coming on a Gale Sayers kick return, the Fisherman would squib the rest of the game to avoid him. Receiver Anthony Carter was quick to not get cocky "There a good team, sometimes things just get out of hand and nothing goes your way, I know there better then what the scoreboard reads. I expect a much closer game the next time we meet up". Rattlesnake quarterback Andre Ware threw for a dismal 9 yards and after a interception to start the 4th was benched in favor of backup Brock. We'll see if its a permanent switch or just something to push Ware to compete harder, we suspect the latter.

STATS

Brodie: 139.2 Rating, 140 yard, 2 TDs
Simpson: 244 Rush Yds, 18.8 avg, 3 TDs
Collins: 111 Rush Yds, 18.5 avg, 2 TDs
H. Moore: 3 Rec, 67 Yds, 2 TDs
Millard: 2 Sacks
Banker: 2 INTS

Category: The Fargo Tribune, Fargo Fisherman

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Early Season Report

Posted on March 5, 2009 at 05:46 AM.

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After 3 games the Fisherman sit at 2-1. Not to bad for an expansion team from Fargo.

Week 1 had the Fisherman hitting on all cylinders in a blowout 49-7 win over New Orleans Iron Men. Quarterback John Brodie said after the win "We just gelled together a lot sooner than expected, its great to start the season with a win." Fargo was very sharp in there debut and despite one big run by Barry Sanders held the Iron Men in check most the game. Brodie had a near perfect QB rating and OJ kept things rolling in the season opener.

STATS:
Brodie: 154.9 Rat, 270 yds, 3 TDs
Simpson: 271 Total yds (185 Rush, 86 Rec) 4 TDs
H. Moore: 4 Rec, 91 yds, TD
Millard: 2 Sacks

After a big win in week one the Fisherman were on the road against Newark Nightmares. Fargo was able to eek out a 3 point 27-24 win and move onto 2-0. Newarks solid run defense held O.J. in check virtually all game, holding him to under 90 yds. Even with OJ struggling Fargo was able to go through its second game without punting. Staubach played very well and kept Newark in it till the end, he finished with over 250 yards passing.

STATS
Brodie: 125.0 Rat, 258 yds, 2 TDs
Simpson: 166 Total Yards, (82 Rush, 84 Rec) 1 TD
H. Moore: 2 TDs
A. Carter: 6 Rec, 125 yds

Week 3 would be a shootout against the Boulder Bees with the Fisherman coming up just short in a 52-42 loss. Things got going instantly with Simpson having a career half and Fargo scoring with ease. But the Bees had the answer with Bart Starr and James Lofton connecting on numerous big plays. Add in HB/WR/KR Charley Taylor and the Bees had an offense that FS Nolan Cromwell described as "completely and utterly unstoppable." "We just couldn't stop anything, you cover James and Charleys open, you cover Charley and Greens open...they had a great scheme" Cromwell said. Things looked good after an interception right before half by Bobby Malone giving Fargo a 35-21 lead. But the 2nd half belonged to Boulder as Deacon Jones awoke from his earlier coma to come up with a game sealing strip of Brodie late in the 4th.

STATS:
Brodie: 101.3 Rat, 139 yds, 3 TDs
Simpson: 225 Total Yds (187 Rush, 38 Rec) 3 TDs
H. Moore: 101 yds, 2 TDs
Millard 2 Sacks

So after three games the Fargo Fisherman stand at 2-1 with the Kailua Rattlesnakes up next. The Rattlesnakes boast a great running back in Gale Sayers and a great leader on D with Singletary. They will be a tough test and we'll have the full report next week. We will leave you with some early season stat totals.

STATS Through 3 Games

John Brodie: 131.8 Rat, 67.4 Comp%, 667 Yds, 8 TDs, 2 Int
O.J. Simpson 454 Rush Yds, 9.9 YPC, 6 Rush TDs
Herman Moore: 10 Rec, 223 YDs, 5 TDs
Anthony Carter: 10 Rec, 193 Yds, 1 TD
O.J. Simpson: 9 Rec, 208 Yds, 2 Rec TDs
Kevin Millard: 4 Sacks

Category: The Fargo Tribune, Fargo Fisherman

Did Fargo Draft a Winner?

Posted on March 5, 2009 at 04:43 AM.

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New expansion team Fargo Fisherman have joined the OS South League already in its 3rd season. They may be new but they look to challenge for a championship right away. Going into the draft Coach Pigskin said they were looking for a leader on both sides of the ball and for a balanced attack overall. They seemed to accomplished just that with what Pigskin called an "extremely successful draft"

Heres are the draft results:

Round 1: Kevin Millard, DT Silver
Round 2: Willie Brown, CB Gold
Round 3: O.J. Simpson, HB Gold
Round 4: Dick Anderson, SS Silver
Round 5: Herman Moore, WR Silver
Round 6: John Brodie, QB Bronze
Round 7: Anthony Carter, WR Bronze
Round 8: Nolan Cromwell, FS Bronze
Round 9: Jim Marshall, DE Bronze
Round 10: Rulon Jones, DE Bronze
Round 11: Brian Jones, ILB Bronze

Overall Analysis:
Coach Pigskin accomplished what he set out to do, which was acquiring a balanced attack with solid leadership. Snagging a gold player on both sides of the ball in the 2nd and 3rd round. Only 4 legends on offense but with play makers such as Silver Herman Moore and GOLD HB OJ "The Juice" Simpson they should have no problem scoring. Taking a silver DT in the first round was somewhat puzzling. But rumblings out of Fargo is Kevin Millard was on the top of there wanted list and will become the centerpiece in a 4/3,3/4 hyprid defense.

Best Pick
Getting the leadership of John Brodie in the sixth was something Coach Pigskin was ecstatic about, "I didn't think there was anyway he would be available and we just couldn't pass on him" said Pigskin. Getting arguably the best Bronze Quarterback in the sixth we tend to agree.

Worst Pick

Drafting Bronze ILB Brian Jones seemed very unexpected. Most scouts and executives thought he would go undrafted but in the final round the Fisherman took him. Although they needed a LB, we believe they left better talent on the board. Coach Pigskin disagreed saying "A lot of people under estimate Brian because he doesn't have any pacific abilities, but hes really a jack of all trades and will surprise a lot of people"...We shall see.

Category: The Fargo Tribune, Fargo Fisherman