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+---- Thread: *How each playoff team can win the Ultimini (/showthread.php?tid=44387)
*How each playoff team can win the Ultimini - WrittinDirectino - 03-29-2023
The playoffs are finally here after an exciting, action filled regular season. I'd like to think there was quite lot of parity this season, and the playoffs should be all the more exciting. Here's a quick analysis of each playoff team and how they can achieve success. Sorry Minnesota, Dallas, Kansas City and Tijuana. There's always next season.
Northern Conference-London Royals (8-6)
The Royals are an interesting team. They are wildly inconsistent. Their offense is perfectly capable of dropping 40 points one week and putting up 10 points the week after. Their defense will give up 50 points one week and allow a single touchdown the next week, which explains why their longest streak for wins&losses is both 2 games.
The Royals biggest issue is their defense. What is the opposite of bend don't break? They aren't doing horribly in terms of yards allowed, but they are dead last in points against. They have the playmakers(Loose Cannon, Brandon Welch Jr, Lenny Lyons Jr among others), but the results haven't quite been there. Due to their conservative play calling on offense, it's especially important for the defense to limit the opposing offense so the Royals offense can build up a lead instead of playing from behind.
London had a fine season offensively but struggled against Portland specifically both times in the regular season. They'll be turning to running backs Lord Farquaads and mid season pick up Heiiajs D. Owidhuse to alleviate pressure off the passing game.
A positive for the Royals is that they play the Pythons first, instead of going against one of the Southern Conference teams, who are stronger record wise. While they lost to the Pythons pretty convincingly both times in the regular season, it's very hard for a team to beat the same team 3 times in one season. The Royals should be underdogs against every match up, but if the same version of the Royals that beat Norfolk pretty convincingly in week 12 can show up, and if the aforementioned issues are fixed, the Royals definitely have a shot.
Northern Conference-Portland Pythons (8-6)
After starting the season at the bottom of the conference with a 1-3 record, Portland have climbed to the top after going 7-3 in the last 10 weeks all while keeping up an impressive point differential. Their defense led by Bruce White, who I nominated for DPOY in my mid season awards article, has been straight up dominant.
Honestly, Portland just needs to keep up what they've been doing so far. There aren't any glaring holes in the Pythons' game, and they match up pretty well against London. Willer Miller is great in a clean pocket and had a good season overall, but struggles with pressure. He was sacked 46 times this season. A great pass rushing team like Portland should beat them pretty handily after shutting down their passing game. Assuming they make it out of the North they should put up a fair fight against either Bondi Beach or Norfolk. This team is better than their record.
Southern Conference-Norfolk Seawolves (10-4)
Congrats Norfolk! You had the best record in the regular season.
Norfolk definitely feels like an old school team. They love to pound the rock behind a strong offensive line while splitting carries between their talented running back trio. Rocky Franklin III has taken more of a game manager role(as evidenced by his lowest passing attempts in the league) but he has had his moments.
For the Seawolves to make it all the way, Rocky Franklin III will have to take take the steam out of the running backs. Looking back at the games against the Royals and the Pythons(who coincidentally happen to also be playoff teams.), we can see that the run struggled against teams with a strong linebacker room. Norfolk needs Rocky Franklin III and the receivers to step up in those situations and move the chains. Even if the passing game doesn't improve however, winning on the back of a strong defense and run has been done before. Who says it can't happen again?
Southern Conference-Bondi Beach Buccaneers (9-5)
Talk about a Cinderella team! After finishing 2-11-1 last season, Bondi Beach has taken the league by storm. The highlight of their season was the 5 game winning streak from week 3 to 7, during which period they scored over 40 twice and over 50 once. Their receivers are ridiculously stacked from WR1 to WR3 and when you consider that non of the other playoff teams have a particularly strong secondary, they are primed to make a strong playoff run. They employ the bend-don't-break strategy to great success and are great at forcing turnovers once the field becomes more condensed. When you look at their last game of the season against Minnesota which resulted in a loss, it's clear that they are a team lives and dies by the pass. But is that really the most optimal strategy? When you look at the numbers, Bondi Beach have the highest yards per carry in the league while being bottom 2 in rushing attempts. Although you could argue that the high YPC is a result of the low number of attempts, introducing some variance in their offense in the form of Malik Brooks could be the spark that takes them over the hump.
RE: How each playoff team can win the Ultimini - Twenty6 - 03-29-2023
Willier been under so much pressure, he's virtually a diamond now. Watch him sparkle in the playoffs (@Sebster, don't make me regret saying this).
RE: How each playoff team can win the Ultimini - Sebster - 03-30-2023
(03-29-2023, 10:32 AM)Twenty6 Wrote: Willier been under so much pressure, he's virtually a diamond now. Watch him sparkle in the playoffs (@Sebster, don't make me regret saying this).bozo
RE: How each playoff team can win the Ultimini - Twenty6 - 03-30-2023
![[Image: throw-phone.gif]](https://media.tenor.com/Ihe2JxLz0mMAAAAC/throw-phone.gif)