Havana streets are full of people celebrating the first ever trip to de Conference Showdown for this franchise (even before being relocated)! A couple of weeks ago this was unthinkable due to the amount of injuries, but the subs were up to the challenge. Only two players of the complete roster had played at this stage, we are talking about veterans DT - Big Pappa Plank (88' VAN) and SS - William Freeman (91' TOY). The rest of the team is a first timer at this stage of the playoffs. Whatever happens next week, this is already a win for the Macaws fan and it´s people.
If Conference Showdown was already a win, what can i say about the Macaws making it for the first time ever in the franchise to the big game! The streets of La Havana are still full of people, this is already a historic run for the franchise. The Defense took the game in their hands and played almost perfectly in an incredible game. This same Defense has suffered two really tough injuries, this time RDE - Ramón Barna (team leader at Sacks) and CB - John Campbell (Team leader at INT) were the one affected. We don't know how strong will these two injuries affect on the team. The Staff is still deciding if they will play or not, but we know there is a tough game ahead, the Lions are no joke. On the Offense side, the OL also suffered a serious injury. RG - Hernán Diaz (no sack this season and post-season) got a really bad ankle injury and will not be part of the team. As i said before, this is already an historic run for the Macaws. Let´s hope that these injuries do not affect the team playing style so they can be up to the big game!
Historic season for the Macaws, it was a great run, but it ended with a loss in the big game. The injuries that affected the big game were also a big factor during the regular season, making it an even tougher season. We are talking of 29 injuries during the hole season, a big factor to consider. Fortunately the team was able to keep almost the hole staff and players, so hopefully we could have a similar run this next season,with less injuries. Only time will tell.
After a season where the Macaws made it to the great game, season 94' was a bit of a disappointment because the team was not able to get to play offs.
But we are here to celebrate that our star RB, Nacho Fernández, has just become the all time leader at rushing yards with 8,681. The previous Macaw to hold the record was former star JaQuan Foster, with 8,633 rushing yards.
Fernández is not the only active player leading in a board in Havana, QB Zapata "La Araña" Álvarez, is already the all time leader in passing yards with 20,935.
We gonna havo to wait and see if these two member of Macaws golden generation can have another playoff run before one of them decides to leave the team. They have both still lots of petrol in their tanks and a roster that has an average age of 27 years players promises the fans that the franchise got spirit to fight once again.
The tough loss against the Bayhawks represents the end of a season loaded with unjuries in RBs and DEs. It was not easy to cope with the injuries, but the team managed to repeat the Divisional Championship of Mexico/Central America.
The top 11 defense was not enough to stop the Bayhawks on wild card round, not even the 11 INT in a season (franshise record) from MLB Joseph Allen, nor the 17 sacks in a season (franchise record) from RDE Ramon Barna combined with 11 sacks from LDE Hector Soto could stop the San Francisco team (Both DE played less than 13 games due to injuries).
On the Ofense side, the team was the Top 5 scorer. The Macaws also had a franchise record tied, as RB Ryan Rotz tied RB Nacho Fernandez season of '94 and former RB JaQuan Foster seasons 80' and 81' with 8 TD on the ground during regular season, thing Ryan did with 46 less carries than Nacho. The former 3rd round pick will stay for sure on the team as he is only 24 years old. Al this RB work was based on an awesome OL work, star C Gonzalo Montiel did not allow a sack for second straight season. He has more played seasons than sacks allowed. LG Michael Johnson has the same record of sacks allowed back to back (0 allowed during regular season) as his fellow C.
The season has ended for the Macaws, but the GM is already thinking about how to make this team stronger during the offseason with trades and draft picks.
Things are not going well in Cuban territory. 1-5 is not acceptable for a team that was getting used to be in playoff games and always try to get the best in a very competitive division. Star QB Zapatita Álvarez is playing quite good, but the amount of injuries in the backs was maybe to much to hold the position. On de DEF side our players are not making the plays the were use to. We'll keep on fighting, as always, giving our new coach the guaranty to keep on going, he's been a couple of years with the franchise but is new to the HC position. This is not over, we still got a long trail ahead to improve.
