SteVo+ 3,702 Posted June 29, 2014 Knights of Andreas Part I Chapter Eight – Depth Chart Even optimistic fans have lost hope for the Knights. They occupy the AFC West’s cellar at 2-8, while the Broncos lead the division at 6-4, the Chargers trail at 5-5, and the Chiefs are 4-6. Four games back with six games to play, a playoff berth is still mathematically possible, but it’s a distant scenario fans no longer consider. Not this year. Not this football team. Los Angeles fans anticipated the return of an NFL franchise with great hope. An aggressive owner and a promising set of decision makers seemed destined to turn the once dormant Raiders into a contending Knights franchise. It hasn’t happened. Still, many Knights fans are realistic. They didn’t expect the Knights to reach the playoffs immediately (though many cited the Dolphins’ 2008 turnaround from 1-15 to 11-1 as precedent), but they did expect a steady progression. This season appears to be the opposite. The Knights are young, yes, but the coaching staff should have prevented the heartbreaking losses fans have endured. Perhaps a change needs to be made. The one advantage the franchise has against fan pressure is the recent past of the Oakland Raiders. All NFL fans witnessed the turmoil of the Raiders (and other teams) brought on by new head coach after new head coach. Owner Wayne Schneider pledged not to let that happen with the Knights. He pledged patience. Several reporters ambush Schneider as he leaves team headquarters Monday, the day after the 20-17 loss to San Diego. “Obviously we’re disappointed with the results so far,” he says in what sounds like a pre-rehearsed statement. “We all feel the team should be playing better. The coaches, the players, everybody. And while we’re frustrated with our record, we are absolutely not planning any changes. As far as I’m concerned, there’s still six games to go.” Meanwhile, from inside Knights headquarters, management finally looks at the remaining season from a different perspective. GM Chance Phillips studies his team’s depth chart and identifies younger players he would like to see get extra playing time as the season continues. “Absolutely not,” head coach Caden Daniel insists. “I will not make such decisions until we are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.” Though he doesn’t say it, Phillips admires Daniel’s persistence. The playoffs are still possible, after all, thanks to the overall ineptitude of the AFC West. The Knights arrive in Minnesota for a seemingly fruitless battle with the 2-8 Vikings. With four wins between both teams and no immediate playoff implications, the game can only be marketed as two angry teams fighting for respect—or a higher draft pick. For the Knights, there have been no significant changes in practice routines or general approach to the game; it’s too late for that. L.A. has simply prepared for the Minnesota Vikings, a team they feel they should beat, though their confidence is at an all-time low. The Vikings get the ball first and, shockingly, hand off to Adrian Peterson. He churns through several would-be tacklers for a six-yard gain. Coach Harden has keyed in on Peterson, unafraid of Christian Ponder, but because he’s such a freakish athlete, Harden needs his guys to tackle. The drive continues without a passing game. The Vikings face multiple third downs but convert every one with their star running back. The Knights can’t get enough push in the trenches. In the red zone, the Vikings try to open up with Ponder, but L.A.’s secondary has everybody covered. Minnesota settles for a field goal. The next time the defense takes the field, they hone in even further on Peterson. It finally works; he’s stopped at the line of scrimmage. But play halts for a Knight defender on the ground; it’s outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley. During the ensuring commercial break, Wimbley reaches his feet but favors his right leg. As the trainers escort him off the field, Harden turns to #51, his rotational pass rusher, on the bench. “Looks like you’re in full-time until Kamerion comes back. Go.” The player with “Brock” on the back of his jersey jogs to the defensive huddle. Harden calls an outside blitz, suspecting the Vikings will pass on 2nd and 10. Off the snap, Brock surges past left tackle Charlie Johnson. Ponder fakes a handoff and barely turns around before Brock slams him to the turf. He gets up and performs an elaborate impromptu dance to celebrate the first sack of his career. The seventh and final round of the 2010 NFL Draft begins. For Wayne Schneider, it has been a boring and slightly antagonizing event. Without a general manager to speak of, the Raiders never actually assembled a big board of prospects; they only ranked them by position. From round to round, each pick has been a majority agreement, with Schneider only chiming in for suggestions. It has worked, Schneider feels, but he wonders if he should have hired a general manager, or at least some sort of consultant to handle to the draft. Perhaps this is his first mistake as the Raiders owner. “Since this is our final pick coming up,” one head scout says, “I think we should consider the possibility of taking a flier on a guy.” “Well, hold on,” another says. “That depends on the prospect. We shouldn’t shun a guy we like just because we feel like being risky. Who do you have in mind?” “Sean Brock, defensive end from Temple.” Nobody responds at first. Schneider recognizes the name from news but doesn’t know the full story. With business moving fast behind the scenes, he has only had time to do comprehensive research on a few high profile prospects, and they’re all long gone by now. “Give me the quick scouting report,” Schneider says. The head scout responsible for pass rushers sits up and reads from a piece of paper. “As a football player, there’s a lot to like. There were times when he dominated at Temple, though it’s a small school, so take that for what it’s worth. Great pass rush skills, competent run stopper, dreadful in coverage. In terms of pure football, third round prospect.” “But he’s on the board in the seventh because…” “Dealt with some strong rumors of marijuana use at Temple. Tested positive at the combine and interviewed terribly. Very cocky, got a me-first attitude. So basically, he failed the combine with flying colors.” “How were his measurables, though?” “Fine.” Schneider and the scouts consider this as the Raiders’ pick nears. As the first half goes on, the Knights defense plays well. Wimbley is still in the locker room with an apparent ankle injury, and trainers declare him questionable to return. Coach Harden doesn’t mind that; Sean Brock’s addition to the lineup seems to have actually improved his run defense. The Vikings have 13 points on the board, but seven of them are from a Percy Harvin kickoff return; Harden’s defense has only allowed six. The Vikings continue pounding away with Peterson. He’s averaging about four yards per carry, but the Knights get third down stops often enough to keep the offense out of field goal range. Ponder gets rid of the ball quickly when he passes the ball, masking a productive pass rush by Brock and Zack Grantzinger. In Harden’s mind, this confirms his belief when he was hired that the switch a 3-4 defense would benefit Brock, a 4-3 defensive end until last year. After a mostly boring first and second quarter, halftime arrives and the Knights go into the locker room down 13-10. The players feel relaxed, confident they can reel in a victory with a strong second half. Coach Daniel and his offensive coaches search for adjustments to boost the offense. Minnesota’s defensive line is wreaking havoc. Double-teaming Jared Allen has opened things up for Kevin Williams and Brian Robison, but Daniel refuses to yield that particular strategy. Left tackle Jared Veldheer handling Allen by himself is essentially inviting injury to Jonathan Maverick. The Knights’ offense opens the second half with play-action. Maverick looks deep: D-Jam is covered, and he can’t see Johnson because of pass rush to his right. He moves left and sees the only receiver consistently open today, Zach Miller. Miller hauls in the pass for five yards, but a holding penalty brings the offense back. McFadden gets two yards on 1st and 20. Maverick tries to dump off to McFadden for a screen on 2nd and 18, but Jared Allen is somehow covering him. He rolls right and again finds Miller, who gets his hand on the ball, then drops it after a hard hit to the chest. He gets up slowly. Coach Daniel sees this from the sideline. Miller signals he needs a replacement. Daniel turns around, and the backup tight end, #81, is already sprinting to the huddle. Facing 3rd and 18, Maverick takes a snap from shotgun. The Vikings secondary backs off. With a clean pocket, Maverick scans both sides of the field, but the only open target is #81. He fires a bullet, Bishop catches it, and Benny Sapp hits him five yards short of a first down. Still standing, Bishop lowers his shoulders and plows forward. He gains momentum and carries Sapp with him. Other defenders arrive as the two fall forward, the ball reaching sufficient distance for a first down. The Knights sideline celebrates the big conversion while the Metrodome crowd goes silent in shock. Bishop gets up and quietly gets set for the next play as his teammates mob him in congratulations. Free agency has been open for weeks now, and Chance Phillips is satisfied with the results. Despite losing Nnamdi Asomugha, he was able to sign a quality veteran on both sides of the ball (Brian Penner and Chet Ripka). Now, with more financial flexibility than last year, he can look for some depth, try to find some diamonds in the rough. The 2011 season looms, and Phillips knows not to count on a good starting lineup alone to create wins. Despite the passage of time since the market opening, there are some free agents Phillips covets. He has, so far, restrained from any sort of negotiation based on one of the many tricks he learned in Pittsburgh: never overpay depth players, and hurrying to sign free agents for depth is a great way to overpay them. After lunch, he finds himself in a meeting with Wayne Schneider and his offensive coaching staff. His goal is to sell them on one of the names he covets. “Logan Bishop,” Phillips says, “tight end. Fourth round pick by New England in ‘07, played his first four years there, contract was up.” “Hang on a second,” Schneider says. “What does it say about Bishop if a franchise like New England doesn’t want him back?” “He’s a third-string tight end, Wayne, I wouldn’t read too far into it. And if you want details, New England is stacked at tight end. Bishop barely had a chance to see the field, and when he did, it was as a blocker.” “How was he?” Coach Daniel asks. “Our metrics indicate very good. And he was a competent receiver at FSU.” An awkward silence falls over the room. Nobody wants to commit to a decision. “Look, gentlemen, we’ve discussed the tight end position and we all like Zach Miller. We’re fortunate he re-signed with us. And we like Brandon Myers as a backup. But Bishop is our number three. I just need to make sure no one’s against it.” Phillips studies his head coach, who looks slightly uncomfortable with the assertion of Phillips’ statement, but Phillips doesn’t care. There are certain areas where he has total authority, and Daniel needs to know that. None of the coaches offer objection, and a few days later, the Knights sign Logan Bishop to a cheap, two-year deal. Zach Miller is out with a rib injury, so Bishop becomes the starting tight end. Slot corner Benny Sapp covers him most plays, and Bishop creates just enough separation with his routes to get open. Maverick wants to get his other receivers involved, but if they can’t get open, screw them. The Knights offense rides Bishop’s seven receptions en route to a 14-point third quarter, including Bishop’s first career touchdown catch. Now tasked with holding a 24-13 lead, the Knights defense licks their chops, ready to attack Christian Ponder. From the edge, Sean Brock gears up to blow past Charlie Johnson again. He’s had his number all day, and Brock feels he’s played well against the run as well, even if Adrian Peterson is a motherfucker to bring down. Brock hears an audible from behind him: flip coverage. Brock now has to cover the flat instead of rush the passer. Bummer. Ponder takes the snap from shotgun and Brock slides to his right. Kyle Rudolph heads his way, and Brock covers him, his eyes trained on Ponder. Rudolph suddenly cuts upfield, and Brock gets turned around. He staggers, and Rudolph runs open, no defenders in front of him. Ponder hits him with a slightly underthrown pass. Brock dives for his feet but misses. The Metrodome comes back to life as Rudolph runs for the pylon, in a race with Chet Ripka. They both dive, and Rudolph gets the ball over the end zone. Harden sulks as the Vikings narrow the deficit to 24-20. He knows Brock is a liability in coverage, a big reason he has been stuck as a situational player. However, Harden prides himself on teaching coverage abilities to linebackers. He’s got work to do. The ensuing Knights possession, Coach Daniel wants to run the clock a little bit. He realizes Logan Bishop is actually a better run blocker than Miller, so he’s comfortable running McFadden in his direction. This, mixed with some screens and quick passes, gets a few first downs as the game clock ticks under six minutes. Maverick prepares for a handoff, but the Vikings secondary looks confused. He calls a quick audible and drops back to pass. Bishop comes across the middle, but the Vikings have him doubled. Maverick looks right, and Benny Sapp is covering Alex Johnson, except he’s four strides behind. Maverick steps up, bombs it, and gets hit by Jared Allen. From the turf, he sees Johnson catch the perfect pass and run in for the touchdown. The Metrodome slowly empties. Players arrive for practice Tuesday morning with plenty to think about. Sunday’s 31-20 victory eliminated the Vikings from playoff contention, and it’s probably not long before the Knights receive the same verdict. But with five games to go, there’s plenty of room for the team to make progress. Logan Bishop dresses at his locker while talking to Alex Johnson. The presence of Zach Miller, however, distracts him. “I don’t know,” Johnson says, “I like Daniel. I know I’m a rookie and don’t have much perspective, but he seems like a good coach.” “A lot better than my old head coach,” Bishop says. “A lot—what? You came from New England, right? That’s Belichick you’re talking about.” “He’s too much of a hard ass for me. Daniel’s much more my style. I like him a lot.” Johnson incredulously tries to argue his point. Meanwhile, Sean Brock strolls into the locker room. “Oh,” Coach Harden says, “there’s LT. I didn’t realize two sacks meant you could be two minutes late.” “Yup,” Brock says, removing his street clothes, “one minute for each sack.” “Hey that’s clever, Brock,” Malik Rose says, “you being all smart and shit.” “Must be nice to be up against a scrub tackle like Johnson,” Zack Grantzinger says. “Why don’t we switch? I’ll take the scrub next week and get five sacks.” “Knock it off, gentlemen,” Harden says. “Listen, Sean, Kamerion’s ankle is fine. He’s 100% for next Sunday. That means he’s the starter.” Brock feels deflated. Suddenly he wonders why he needs to bother dressing for practice. Maybe he should have seen this coming, but still. “However,” Harden continues, “given your performance on Sunday, you’ll be seeing more snaps than usual.” “Sweet.” “And more immediately, since you were two minutes late, you owe me two laps. See you on the field.” Harden walks away, not wanting a response. He walks past Coach Daniel, who is delivering similar news to Bishop, though without the more-snaps caveat. “We’re proud of your effort on Sunday, Logan,” Daniel says, “but Zach is a big part of our offense. Since he’s healthy, we can’t hold him back. I hope you understand that.” “I do, sir.” Daniel nods and walks away. Disappointed, Bishop walks to Miller’s locker to congratulate him on the good news about his ribs. 10 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted June 29, 2014 2 things. 1. Awesome work again. Now we're really getting to the point where most of the characters are interacting. It's getting fun. 2. LOLBENNYSAPP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted June 29, 2014 Damn it, I was beaten to LOLBENNYSAPP. Excellent work with this chapter, and nice to see the Knights get a win, even if it's garbo at this point in time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted June 29, 2014 You are getting very good at showing us what goes on in the games. It's so hard to describe any kind of sport, but your skills are developing very fast. Nice work, as usual. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted June 29, 2014 Seven and a TD. Not bad for being the first action of the season, even if it was against Benny Sapp. The only characters who have yet to be covered are eightnine and Razor's, correct? Gonna be really interesting once everyone gets revealed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted June 29, 2014 The only characters who have yet to be covered are eightnine and Razor's, correct? Gonna be really interesting once everyone gets revealed. Bangy's, and Sarge's. Even though we've seen plenty of Chance Phillips, he has yet to have his formal introduction chapter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bangy 19 Posted June 29, 2014 (edited) Ah the good old lolbennysapp how I've missed it and glad its inclusion has been done. Another great episode bro, its only my player left to be introduced now Edit: Ah shit forgot about Sarge Edited June 29, 2014 by Arz Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GA_Eagle 595 Posted June 30, 2014 as always, freakin awesome. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanbrock 1,684 Posted June 30, 2014 (edited) “Must be nice to be up against a scrub tackle like Johnson,” Zack Grantzinger says. “Why don’t we switch? I’ll take the scrub next week and get five sacks.” lol, definitely something Zack would say. Love this chapter, got a little bit of a teaser for my guy's character last week. I really think the persona of the defense has shown through in these chapters so far. We're lead by our misfit, alcoholic DC and we all have plenty of personalities on defense It was cool to see us playing off each other a little bit at the end there. Hopefully our veteran leader Chet and coach Harden can bring us together so we can end the year on a high note defensively. Edited June 30, 2014 by seanbrock 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014 Posted June 30, 2014 Glad to see Sean and Vin's characters shine in their first bit of playing time. Can't wait to get the entire team revealed an interacting. Already looking forward to part 2. And yeah, the jab a Sean was well-placed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites