Madden Players League - Houtz's Hotseat

Welcome to Houtz's HotSeat! This article is written by Houtz, a member of the Madden Players League. Each week, Houtz will be going around the league and interviewing members of the league. In Houtz's HotSeat, he will be interviewing MPL rookie Trusion.

Houtz: Please everyone welcome my next guest. He is currently undefeated and sitting comfortably on top of the best division in the MPL. He is trying to become the first rookie in MPL history to win the MPL Bowl in their first season. Please everyone welcome, Trusion to the HotSeat!!!!

Trusion:: Thanks, Houtz. It's an honor to be on this segment!

Houtz: First, I think everyone would like to know, what is it like winning your first three games against three very tough opponents.

Trusion:: In a sense, it's a very good feeling. All 3 of those guys played me tough and I promise you I was sweating bullets in each game. I actually didn't expect to win my first 3 games either, giving that they were all pretty close.

Houtz: But you did find a way to beat all three of your opponents, one being MPL Legend Sully. What was it like beating such a great player?

Trusion:: I've got a lot of respect for Sully as he gave me one of my 1st tryout games. I still remember that game as he beat me 17-14. It was a nice win, but I sort of fear that he didn't ha ve his head on right at some point as I stopped seeing Gore in a tight contest. I'm pretty sure he'll be 100% more focused in our next match-up. But it was a good feeling.

Houtz: So when you and Sully meet again later on in the year, what do you think the outcome will be?

Trusion:: Well.......we expect this Cards offense to be rolling by then......so we're coming for that azz!!! lol - Honestly I feel like you can be in every game, no matter who you are and who you're playing. So I believe I will go 2-0 against him this season, but that's from a confidence standpoint. Sully is a great player, but I think my Cards might have a slight edge over his niners : )

Houtz: Another player you defeated was Readywhenever. What was it like beating Readywhenever and do you believe he is like many would say “ overrated”?

Trusion:: lol, I knew that one was coming. Ready gave me a great game as well. I sort of overlooked his theory on gameplanning as I sort of felt that is overrated in a video game and I remember the easy time I had moving the ball on his defense when I was the Eagles and he was the Cowboys in a scrimmage......but he DEFINITELY proved me wrong. He threw some things at me, that caught me by surprise and maybe it confused some of my receivers too. As far as the overrated thing goes........I never really noticed him getting too much praise for going 12-0 besides all of those awards that he got. His 12-0 record last season speaks for itself. I hear his schedule was pretty easy last season and he's off to a 1-2 start this season, so no I don't think that he is overrated. He's a great player and will likely be in the postseason IMO

Houtz: So if you believe Readywhenever is making the playoffs and I’m certain you believe you are, that leaves out Sully. Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider that bold prediction?

Trusion:: Well from what I know, there will be two wild card teams. The 2 could come from the pacific west or not. If anyone takes a look at my schedule then you can definitely see that I'm not guarantee to make the playoffs either. I don't have a crystal ball in front of me so I couldn't tell you who will miss the playoffs and who will make it. We've got 9 games left, anything can happen.

Houtz: Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, but you seem to be solid all around on both sides of the ball. What makes you such a great well rounded player and if you had to pick a strength and a weakness what would they be?

Trusion:: I dunno, I've been playing Madden since Madden 02. I was actually playing on gamecube up until madden 06.......don't ask........Uhmmm. One of my strengths is probably playing in coverage. It's a little more difficult online as the timing is sometimes a bit off, but I like controlling the safety and corner and making stops. I've been playing with Brian Dawkins since Madden 02! One of my weaknesses is probably pressuring the QB with a d-lineman. Spent so much time in the backfield that my d-lineman skills kind of blow. I trust the computer more up front than in the backfield anyways

Houtz: Looking at your schedule do you believe you have a shot at finishing the season undefeated?

Trusion: No, I'm bound to slip up against one of those guys. I think Ethan, JMcGrath and Luck are all on my schedule. And that's off the top of the dome. I'll have to look at it again

Houtz: You seem to have some kind of rivalry going between you and Outofluck. What is it about him that gives you such a hard time?

Trusion: Maybe it's because we're both Eagle fans..........and so is Ethan........he gives me a hard time too. lol. Uhmm, Luck is well balanced. He uses the vision well and plays some solid D. And he knows how to use that fast defense in Chicago really well, so it can get nerve racking at times especially in the passing game.

Houtz: You play Outofluck next week actually, what do you think it's goin to take to beat him and what do you predict will be the final score?

Trusion: Uhmmm, I'm probably going to have to establish a solid rushing attack which I failed to do in my last game. Wear those suckers down. Control the game and all that good stuff. Getting some turnovers on defense will help too. But I already made my prediction on weekly picks with the Bears over the Cardinals 23-20.

Houtz:: You took over the "Weekly Predictions" feature and have done an outstanding job. What gives you such a great feel for each owner and allows you to make such great, accurate predictions?

Trusion: I think some of them I've been a little lucky on, lol but even as a rookie I joined the MPL somewhere in the last quarter of season 9. Read some recaps and stuff and I played quite a few of owners in scrimmages, NIT Tourney, giving most if not all of the rookies who joined after me, tryout games. All of those things gave me a pretty nice clue on guy's level of play. Also, access to see last season's record of past owners as well.

Houtz: Now we are going to go to the newest part of the hotseat and have you answer questions around the league. Let's start off with Wade.

Wade: Now that u went 3-0 in division playing do u think the division is yours?? And will anybody compete with you for that division rights?

Trusion: Obviously right now with a 2 game lead in the division and 3 divisional wins under my belt, I am in the driving seat. But I can lose it just as quickly as I gained. Sully beat Nvrquit 23-0 last week. That's way better than I did against him. Whose to say neither him or Ready don't get it together and take it. I do have to play all 3 of them at the end of the season again. These next couple of weeks will be very important.

Remo357: I'd like to ask what is Trusion’s pregame preperations? Does he just go cold into the week’s game or does he do some study/research on his opponent and Team each game with a little practice thrown in.

Trusion: If an opponent has a scouting report or something, I'll take a glance at it. Although so far that has not been the case with any of my opponents. But no, when playing someone for the 1st time you never really know how they are going to come at you. I remember playing with the Eagles on Madden 05, guys would throw triple coverage on TO, when I was going to Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell all game. Got so used to playing with those guys b4 TO showed up. I usually just go in and play and eventually get a feel for what that person likes to do.

Wade:: Out of the three guys you've played which was the easiest of the three? Yes, you have to pick one.

Trusion:: lol. I mean no offense to anyone. I guess I'm going to have to say my "easiest game" although I felt none were easy, goes to Nvrquit. In the 4th quarter I sort of locked on to his offense and he wasn't doing much during the end. But that would be my choice for the "easiest" win.

Houtz: We are now going to play a little word association. I will give you a word and you give me the first word or phrase that comes to mind. Sound good?

Trusion:: OK

Houtz: Overrated

Trusion:: Cowboys

Houtz: Underrated

Trusion:: Jim

Houtz : MPL

Trusion:: Best Madden Sim League Ever!

Houtz: Sully

Trusion:: Faithful Niners fan.

Houtz: Iareethan

Trusion:: Former MPL Champ and bleeding green!!!

Houtz: Superpunk

Trusion:: Power Ranking Extraordinaire

Houtz: Readywhenever

Trusion:: An Idol ( Fan of a team who hasn’t won a playoff game in 11 years) he’s an Idol.

Houtz: UpsetCity

Trusion:: Another reason why I’m getting MLB 08 THE SHOW!!!!

Houtz: Outofluck

Trusion:: Part of a bright future in the MPL. ( He’s freaking 17!!!!)

Houtz: Houtz

Trusion:: Entertaining to view on the boards, should take over ESPN’s Hotseat.

Houtz: Who will win the Super Bowl this weekend and what will be the score?

Trusion:: Ugh…. God help me…. The Patriots better win. 31-21 Patriots

Houtz: Anything else you’d like to say?

Trusion:: Andy, run the damn ball!!!!

Houtz: Trusion, you are officially off the Hotseat.

Trusion:: Thanks, man - it's been fun. Get your popcorn ready for week 4!