Media Week With the Saints Coach
by SanDiego_85968 | 3 years ago | 0 Comments
Steel: First off, congrats on winning the NFC, it was no easy feat as you had to go through the giants who can play with anyone, the 3x NFC champ WFT, and the one seed and perennial Super Bowl contender Rams. I want to get into your head *wink wink* and know if you did anything different to prepare for these games, or did you just kind of play your game and make adjustments on the fly?
Connor: Appreciate it! I think in these big games you always want to go in with at least a sound defensive gameplan based on what you've seen in their gameplay. Lucky Alex and Cody all have unique ways they try to attack you on offense and especially in M22 you have to come out of the gate with at least an idea of what you want to prioritize slowing down or you're going to have a really bad time. Without getting into too many specifics cause I'll probably play those guys again in playoff games later in the cycle, yes I absolutely had specific gameplans for all three of them on defense. More important than anything was having the confidence that I could beat all three of those guys on my best day, which is something I've often lacked in big games in previous cycles. Without last season's run to the NFCCG and playing Alex so close, I probably don't make this Super Bowl run.
S: That's great! Its really nice picking apart different users brains, but I understand not wanting to give info on how you won those games, but it's nice seeing that if you want to win you gotta have a plan. So you bring up about having confidence going into this playoffs because of your run last year, was there anything else this season, like any specific moment or after a game that you thought ‘dude I got a great chance to win a ring this season’?
C: Well, you obviously have to look at those AZ games where I was able to beat Cody and Lil Alex in front of a rabid home crowd (hi Mom!). I don't think there was a specific time during this season where I thought to myself "I really could win a ring this year", more so just trying to play at as high of a level as I can every game and see where things go from there. I've never seen myself as one of the best or most knowledgeable Madden users in the BL, this league is a collection of incredible talent and I'm just grateful to be in this position where I can try to make history again. My goal every season is just to make playoffs and everything beyond that is icing on the cake, that's the mindset I have to have especially when I spent the first four cycles of the league being completely irrelevant. The moment I develop an ego about my Madden skills, I'll stop having fun.
S: Haha yea we don't want you contemplating leaving the league or taking a bridge after a playoff loss… I think it's time to take yourself a little more seriously though. You're part of a small group of people who have won a ring in BL and have a chance to win two. Speaking of your other ring, how do you feel differently or the same going into this game and what's it like going against your old team?
C: The whole M21 run felt like a dream, it went so counter to how I perceive myself in this league that I almost couldn't believe it was happening in the middle of it. Being in the hall now this run feels less special, but I'll be just as thrilled if I manage to win tonight. Going against this Browns roster will be interesting for sure, Hero's done an incredible job both with roster construction and how he's been playing the game and he's securing dynasty talk if he can win this one. I can't remember another time in league history where someone's gone from constantly getting bounced in the WC round to being as much of a force as Hero now is in the span of one cycle. The ghost of Banyard will be watching this one from up above ????
S: I know I've said it in chat and you're kind of echoing my thoughts, the first ring is special and nothing will ever top it but those rings after it will solidify your legacy. I 100% agree with the statement about the hump that hero has gotten over. I felt that exact same way about him when I was thinking about this cycle. Also after this game one of you will be undefeated in Super Bowls, and one is going to have their first super bowl loss. I think if you win this it has to be one of the greatest runs I have ever seen in BL based off of who you played and who you will have had to beat in this playoffs. What was your favorite playoff moment of this cycle and one you have had in BL that doesn't involve a game you played in?
C: There have been so many playoff moments this cycle it almost feels unfair to narrow it down to just one. Phil dropping 74 on Austin in the WC? Wild shit. Lil Alex 0-3 in Super Bowls? Wild shit. Justin making Cmass his son? LMAOOOOOO wild shit. But if I had to choose just one the final play of Hero-Lil Alex #2 was one of the all-timers. So many narratives in this league are completely different if you just change the result of that one play. The wheel was open Alex!
S: We have been very lucky to have some of the all time great story lines and great games recently. More than I remember in most CFMs I've been in. Few more questions coach then I'm going to let you get ready for the game, also I'd like to say thanks for doing this. So I let the viewers bring in a question, and their question is this: out of all the solid(usually over .500 users) who's one user you just feel you're going to beat 9/10 times?
C: Of all the users with consistent winning records I'd say I feel the most confident against Lucky. I go into every game feeling that he's going to throw a couple picks over the course of the game and it really takes a lot of pressure off of me on offense. As I've told him in parties and have said in BLN streams, if he embraced the Kiing approach and leaned heavily on runs and checkdowns he'd instantly become much more dangerous in my opinion. But, then again, he might not have as much fun playing that way. Not everyone's here to get sweaty day in and day out!
S: Wow I'm very surprised at you for bodying your Washington brethren. I agree with you on how he should play though, but like you said that might not be what motivates him. What's for dinner before the big game?
C: I had Shake Shack before my first Super Bowl against Ben so that's what we'll be going back to for this one. Can't get nervous if you're in a food coma!
S: Haha that's awesome, gotta keep the superstitions going. Well good luck tonight. I think you're both very similar users and I honestly have no idea who's going to win. Thanks again for taking your time to do this.
C: Appreciate you. Shoutout Steel City. Shoutout Miami brothers. Shoutout Fogo de Chao
- there you have it folks. Off the record connor has predicted he will win the super bowl 46-13 -