After four games, we're starting to get a better look at each of the DSFL teams and understand where each one lies in terms of power rankings.
Actually that's a lie. This league is crazy and I don't really know what's going on anymore.
On to the power rankings.
1. The Norfolk SeaWolves (2-2) ?+1
The Norfolk SeaWolves have the strongest argument for being #1 in the DSFL power rankings, in my opinion. Despite losing on the road to a relatively weak Portland Pythons team, they defeated the Luchadores at home 19-12, and have shown to be one of the more complete teams in the DSFL. They are probably the only team in the DSFL that can consistently air it out, and their QB Adams has been stellar. They balance this electric offense with a top 2 defense.
2. The San Antonio Marshals (2-2) ?-1
Really, I think the Marshals, Luchadores, and Coyotes might all be pretty close to equal, and I had a really hard time placing them. The Marshals came crashing back down to Earth after getting crushed in Tijuana against the Luchadores 10-23 and then barely losing at home to the Coyotes 13-12 due in part to a horribly inopportune interception thrown by Marshals QB Rasheed. Nonetheless, the Marshals still have the number one defense in the league, they're just sloppy with ball protection and penalties. Despite having the second lowest amount of attempted passes so far this season (128), they have thrown the most interceptions (8).
3. The Tijuana Luchadores (2-2) ?0
The Luchadores smacked the Marshals at home, and then lost on the road to the Norfolk SeaWolves. Big Bot has been a beast (to nobody's surprise) and has racked up 31 tackles, 11 TFLs, and 5 sacks in 4 games. The Luchadores don't have a dominant offense by any means, but they are very effective at taking advantage of the opportunities that their defense grants them, as they are 2nd in the league in points scored.
4. The Kansas City Coyotes (2-2) ?0
The Coyotes narrowly lost to the visiting Chicago Blues 22-20, and then traveled to San Antonio where they just barely squeezed out a win against the Marshals 13-12. The offense flows through QB Shawn Brady, who is both the most accurate DSFL passer with a 61.3% completion rate, and has thrown the second most interceptions in the league with 6. However, 5 of those 6 interceptions were thrown in the two games against the Marshals. Additionally, Coyotes RB Grujcic currently leads the DSFL in rushing yards. If Brady is able to keep up his production and get the division-rival Marshals out of his head, and Grujcic is able to keep up his production, don't be surprised to see a Coyotes resurgence.
5. The Chicago Blues (3-1) ?+1
Despite having the best record in the DSFL, I can't bring myself the put the Blues higher than 5 at this point. Other than their 10-point home win over the Pythons, the Blues haven't won by more than 2 points. But they are winning. They are also still the worst performers statistically offensively and defensively, BUT they've scored the most points in the DSFL with an average of 18.8 points per game! I don't want to call this "luck," but it would seem that the Blues are very good at capitalizing upon the opportunities that their opponents give them.
6. The Portland Pythons (1-3) ?-1
In my mind, the Pythons are pretty similar to the Luchadores: They're both under-performing their on-paper talent. The difference is that the Pythons don't have the best looking roster in the league. The Pythons got their first win of the season Week 3 at home by defeating the SeaWolves by two point, where they got the game winning field goal just before the 2 minute warning, and their defense held off the extremely dangerous SeaWolves offense for the win. What's interesting is that the Pythons have one of the better offenses in the league yardage-wise, but they haven't been able to capitalize and turn those yards into points.
GRADED
Actually that's a lie. This league is crazy and I don't really know what's going on anymore.
On to the power rankings.
1. The Norfolk SeaWolves (2-2) ?+1
The Norfolk SeaWolves have the strongest argument for being #1 in the DSFL power rankings, in my opinion. Despite losing on the road to a relatively weak Portland Pythons team, they defeated the Luchadores at home 19-12, and have shown to be one of the more complete teams in the DSFL. They are probably the only team in the DSFL that can consistently air it out, and their QB Adams has been stellar. They balance this electric offense with a top 2 defense.
2. The San Antonio Marshals (2-2) ?-1
Really, I think the Marshals, Luchadores, and Coyotes might all be pretty close to equal, and I had a really hard time placing them. The Marshals came crashing back down to Earth after getting crushed in Tijuana against the Luchadores 10-23 and then barely losing at home to the Coyotes 13-12 due in part to a horribly inopportune interception thrown by Marshals QB Rasheed. Nonetheless, the Marshals still have the number one defense in the league, they're just sloppy with ball protection and penalties. Despite having the second lowest amount of attempted passes so far this season (128), they have thrown the most interceptions (8).
3. The Tijuana Luchadores (2-2) ?0
The Luchadores smacked the Marshals at home, and then lost on the road to the Norfolk SeaWolves. Big Bot has been a beast (to nobody's surprise) and has racked up 31 tackles, 11 TFLs, and 5 sacks in 4 games. The Luchadores don't have a dominant offense by any means, but they are very effective at taking advantage of the opportunities that their defense grants them, as they are 2nd in the league in points scored.
4. The Kansas City Coyotes (2-2) ?0
The Coyotes narrowly lost to the visiting Chicago Blues 22-20, and then traveled to San Antonio where they just barely squeezed out a win against the Marshals 13-12. The offense flows through QB Shawn Brady, who is both the most accurate DSFL passer with a 61.3% completion rate, and has thrown the second most interceptions in the league with 6. However, 5 of those 6 interceptions were thrown in the two games against the Marshals. Additionally, Coyotes RB Grujcic currently leads the DSFL in rushing yards. If Brady is able to keep up his production and get the division-rival Marshals out of his head, and Grujcic is able to keep up his production, don't be surprised to see a Coyotes resurgence.
5. The Chicago Blues (3-1) ?+1
Despite having the best record in the DSFL, I can't bring myself the put the Blues higher than 5 at this point. Other than their 10-point home win over the Pythons, the Blues haven't won by more than 2 points. But they are winning. They are also still the worst performers statistically offensively and defensively, BUT they've scored the most points in the DSFL with an average of 18.8 points per game! I don't want to call this "luck," but it would seem that the Blues are very good at capitalizing upon the opportunities that their opponents give them.
6. The Portland Pythons (1-3) ?-1
In my mind, the Pythons are pretty similar to the Luchadores: They're both under-performing their on-paper talent. The difference is that the Pythons don't have the best looking roster in the league. The Pythons got their first win of the season Week 3 at home by defeating the SeaWolves by two point, where they got the game winning field goal just before the 2 minute warning, and their defense held off the extremely dangerous SeaWolves offense for the win. What's interesting is that the Pythons have one of the better offenses in the league yardage-wise, but they haven't been able to capitalize and turn those yards into points.
GRADED