SFLm Season 9 resumes with new faces, playbook rules

by Cameron Irvine

Friday June 21st, the first leg of SFLm Season 9 wrapped up. Nashville's head-to-head win over Lexington propelled the Tempo to a first round bye in December's postseason. The winner of the second leg, if different, will claim another bye and whichever team has the better overall record will get the No. 1 overall seed. 

That catches you up on what we witnessed last spring, but here are the headlines heading into the fall leg, which kicks off with all eight teams in action Wednesday October 30 starting at 6:30 pm eastern on SFL YouTube.

Top Rookie Ratings in the class

Leading the way for returning rookies is a pair of lineman. Albuquerque Mango Moody grades as a 89 overall at guard and Lexington tackle Landon Stone clocks in at an 86. Pittsburgh's Kiara Cool has been turning heads with a 83 grade, including 80 run block. San Jose's got center Jasmine Swift (82 OVR) in the mix. Bossier City is led up front by rookie tackle Oliver Tarrasque (80) who hasn't even played his first SFLm game yet.

Albuquerque cornerback Maxwell Quimby is the top defensive prospect with an overall grade of 86 but they also have defensive end Seth Harrison scoring an 83. Nashville defensive tackle Bear Winters is another high-value target (83 overall) on the defensive side of the ball. In San Jose, watch out for cornerback Elijah Quick (83 overall) and his 95 graded. 

Nashville kicker Charles Franz is getting major-league ready, currently graded as an 82.

Returning leaders to watch

The league leader in passing yards and touchdowns, Bossier City quarterback Sylas Christiansen, is back with the Steamers ready to pick up where he left off last season. Isaac Knox led Nashville to the top, but he's been reallocated to Philadelphia in a boost for the Cougars who lost many of their offensive pieces from the spring. Keep an eye on top five pass catchers Elliott Pope Jr. (who remains in Nashville) and King Alexander (reallocated from Philadelphia to San Jose as a reinforcement, not a development player). 

The league's leading tackler - Albuquerque's Dylan Bamcellor - is back in New Mexico but playing his SFL, OLB position. William Patterson returns to Chicago as this season's top standout in sacks. San Jose's Tavias Gordon is your returning interceptions leader coming back.

New faces

26 fresh rookies will make their debut alongside 44 returners from the spring leg. Among them includes new Nashville starting quarterback "Candy" Cane. Philadelphia's Don Rohr (defensive end) and Pittsburgh defensive tackle Big Snackz, who has been waiting longer than any rookie to make their debut. The newest additions to the league include Lexington's punter Ron Henderson and fullback Kojiro Rivers plus the return of Strike Vader, who lands in Nashville.

There's much to learn about these players and what their long-term impacts will be and they'll certainly be tuned into new SFLm Commissioner Alex West's plans for 2025 and beyond.

New Playbook Rules

The SFLm will have the opportunity to test new playbook rules for SFL Season 24. Coaches will be able to keep the current playbook structure rules (no added or deleted formations, 230 plays minimum, at least 2 runs and 2 passes or 2 stunts and 4 coverages in every formation) if they so choose.

The new rules allow for the ability to delete formations using the new hexed team books. They can be downloaded here, where you also find a tutorial for use. 

  • If a team deletes an offensive formation, they must have 4 runs and 4 passes in every remaining offensive formation. 
  • If a team deletes a defensive formation, they must have 4 stunts and 8 coverages in every remaining defensive formation.
  • Teams must reach a 200 unique play minimum for their complete playbook
  • Teams still cannot add formations (competitive exploit) and cannot add formations without plays (game break)

Under both formats, the base book maximum rule has changed. It previously restricted teams from going past four base book submissions. Teams can continue to submit adjustments within base books from week to week. 

The new rules for team playbook usage are as follows:

  • In a team's first six games, they are allowed to use a max of four different team books. Beyond their sixth game, they will only be able to submit books from three bases previously submitted. 
    • Example: Chiefs, Bengals, Saints, Texans were used in the first six games. Only three of these could be used after the team's 6th game.
  • Beyond the team's ninth game, they will only be able to submit books from two bases previously submitted.
    • Example: Chiefs, Bengals and Saints were previously moved forward. Only two of these could be used after the team's 9th game.
  • Beyond the team's 12th game (all postseason games), they will only be able to submit books from one base previously submitted.
    • Example: Chiefs and Bengals were previously moved forward. Only one of these could be used in the playoffs.

"I hear the pleas from coaches that they want more creative freedom and a more modern play style," said Commissioner Cameron Irvine. "No system better allows teams to do that without creating any game-breaking effects and will allow our watchability and replayability for viewers, coaches and players to raise to an all-time high. I thank Mike O'Neal for his tireless dedication to providing a winning coaching experience for all, for Chad Roland leading the way in testing and for the many others who participated in helping these gentlemen in conjunction with the league's core responsibility to providing a realistic space for simulation football to thrive."