Honestly, I can't think of whether they even make yellow Kool-Aid, but you know, a quality series must have titles that tie together, and this just felt right. Please feel free to let me know what flavor yellow Kool-Aid is in the replies while I tell you how Portland can take this season's Ultimini.
Reasons to Be Excited:
Portland’s offense is absolutely loaded; quarterback Franklin Armstrong is returning to lead the charge in his third season, and the Pythons have surrounded him with weapons, both in the backfield and out wide. Honestly, Portland’s greatest offensive concern is making decisions about who to start; the team has two tight ends to work with, three wide receivers all vying to be on the field as much as possible, and as many as five running backs who could claim the starting role. Armstrong will undoubtedly be thrilled with the targets available to him, but even more exciting is the secondary watching his back. The Pythons have excellent depth at safety, and their depth at corner ain’t too shabby either, so while Portland is throwing the ball all over, other teams should expect to struggle doing the same.
Causes for Concern:
While the secondary in Portland is phenomenal, the front seven are lackluster at best. Since trading defensive tackle Shane Masters to Tijuana, the only true player of note in the front seven is defensive end Antonio Sandoval, Jr., which bodes well for opponents who trust their running game. Expect good running backs to load up on yards when they play the Pythons, and expect Portland to struggle to do anything about it.
Players to Watch:
• QB Franklin Armstrong: Armstrong is one of the best players in the DSFL, and sooner rather than later he will find a spot on an NSFL roster; this season, he is somebody I consider an early favorite for DSFL MVP, assuming he takes full advantage of the offense Portland has built around him. The Pythons have the most dangerous offense in the DSFL, and Armstrong is its leader.
• WR Hugh Mongo: The Pythons selected two excellent wide receivers in this season’s draft, but they still felt dissatisfied with the weapons they had provided Armstrong, so they sent defensive tackle Shane Masters to Tijuana in exchange for Mongo, one of the truly elite options available in the DSFL. Armstrong has plenty of targets available to him, but expect Mongo to be a new favorite.
• S A.C. Payton: Payton is one of many impressive defensive backs in Portland, and the Pythons should be excited to have such an excellent lockdown safety. Portland expects to throw the ball quite a bit, but nobody should expect to be throwing much against them with Payton on the field.
The Final Pitch:
With Armstrong at the center of a dangerous offense, the Pythons are going to score plenty, and the defense will make opponents earn points on the ground. Portland figures to be a top contender, maybe even a favorite as they look to unseat Palm Beach.
Reasons to Be Excited:
Portland’s offense is absolutely loaded; quarterback Franklin Armstrong is returning to lead the charge in his third season, and the Pythons have surrounded him with weapons, both in the backfield and out wide. Honestly, Portland’s greatest offensive concern is making decisions about who to start; the team has two tight ends to work with, three wide receivers all vying to be on the field as much as possible, and as many as five running backs who could claim the starting role. Armstrong will undoubtedly be thrilled with the targets available to him, but even more exciting is the secondary watching his back. The Pythons have excellent depth at safety, and their depth at corner ain’t too shabby either, so while Portland is throwing the ball all over, other teams should expect to struggle doing the same.
Causes for Concern:
While the secondary in Portland is phenomenal, the front seven are lackluster at best. Since trading defensive tackle Shane Masters to Tijuana, the only true player of note in the front seven is defensive end Antonio Sandoval, Jr., which bodes well for opponents who trust their running game. Expect good running backs to load up on yards when they play the Pythons, and expect Portland to struggle to do anything about it.
Players to Watch:
• QB Franklin Armstrong: Armstrong is one of the best players in the DSFL, and sooner rather than later he will find a spot on an NSFL roster; this season, he is somebody I consider an early favorite for DSFL MVP, assuming he takes full advantage of the offense Portland has built around him. The Pythons have the most dangerous offense in the DSFL, and Armstrong is its leader.
• WR Hugh Mongo: The Pythons selected two excellent wide receivers in this season’s draft, but they still felt dissatisfied with the weapons they had provided Armstrong, so they sent defensive tackle Shane Masters to Tijuana in exchange for Mongo, one of the truly elite options available in the DSFL. Armstrong has plenty of targets available to him, but expect Mongo to be a new favorite.
• S A.C. Payton: Payton is one of many impressive defensive backs in Portland, and the Pythons should be excited to have such an excellent lockdown safety. Portland expects to throw the ball quite a bit, but nobody should expect to be throwing much against them with Payton on the field.
The Final Pitch:
With Armstrong at the center of a dangerous offense, the Pythons are going to score plenty, and the defense will make opponents earn points on the ground. Portland figures to be a top contender, maybe even a favorite as they look to unseat Palm Beach.