Hi ILWT Readers,
First off, I need to apologize for the amount of time between posts. Amid multiple commitments with my full time job and family, I haven’t had the time to truly sit down and recap our recent games.
In an attempt to speed up the process, I will list the Cannon’s recent results since my last post:
Week 5, 11-10 loss to the New York Lizards
Week 6, 17-16 win over the Ohio Machine
Week 7, 16-15 loss to the Chesapeake Bayhawks
Week 8, 17-16 (OT) win over the Ohio Machine
Week 9, 15-12 loss to the Charlotte Hounds
Week 10, 17-13 win over the Denver Outlaws
It’s incredible to look back at these recent weeks and see that many of our wins and losses came down to the final minute of play. Even in the loss to Charlotte, we had an opportunity to make a run late in the game, but a few timely face off wins by the Hounds and costly turnovers on our part limited any heroics. As I have mentioned before, every team in this league is talented and capable of winning each week.
As we prepare for the final 4 games of the regular season, there are two story lines that can greatly impact playoff scenarios. The first is the World Games, which began with a USA victory over Canada Thursday night. During Week 11 of the MLL season, every team will be competing without those on Team USA’s roster. As a result, members of the MLL 19-man dress list need to be properly prepared come game time. Effort, focus, and intensity must be maximized as each team is still fighting to be the 2014 MLL champion.
The second story line is the mental toughness required to win this last stretch of games. If history is the best indicator of the future, it’s safe to expect that the final 4 weeks will be tight contests. Having the mental fortitude and focus to close out close games could make or break a playoff run. Along the same lines, the wear and tear of an MLL season certainly factors into each players’ performance. It’s as important as ever to be in peak physical condition, from starter to practice squad player. With that said, I am excited to see how the final weeks unfold and which teams will rise to the occasion!
Quote of the week– Nothing good comes in life or athletics unless a lot of hard work has preceded the effort. Only temporary success is achieved by taking short cuts. – Roger Staubach.
Crush the week(end).
