12-16-2023, 11:41 PM
(This post was last modified: 12-29-2023, 11:01 AM by lemonoppy. Edited 1 time in total.)
Hello everyone! And welcome back to another edition of Dominator Power Rankings! This season has been filled with mediocrity but some teams are starting to rise to the top. All teams except the Yellowknife Wraiths are within two games of either earning a playoff spot or losing a playoff spot, so a lot can happen over the final 6 games of the season! These rankings are an attempt to sort the contenders from the pretenders! For a refresher on how the rankings are calculated, please see the Week 4 edition here. Included in this week’s edition are team MVPs, based on the number of player of the game awards earned this season.
Previous Editions: Preseason, Week 4, Week 7
Onto the rankings!
14. New Orleans Secondline (3-7)
Preseason Rank: 13th
Last Edition Rank: 14th (-10.019)
Dominator Score: -8.685
Game Result Adjustment: -1.500
% of Time Winning: 22.43%
% of Time Losing: 60.74%
Big Question: Is this team any different than the Secondline teams from the past four seasons?
The Secondline only have three wins on the season. However, that matches their win total from last season already and the two most recent wins have come against the two conference leading teams. However, New Orleans is still in the bottom tier of the league. They are more competitive than previous seasons but still haven’t climbed their way out of the cellar.
Question Status: Answered! It seems that the Secondline have closed the talent gap between themselves and the rest of the league but they are still at the bottom.
New Question: Can the offense start to score more points to support an improving defense?
The New Orleans Secondline have seen their defense pick up steam and currently rank 4th in the ISFL in passing defense and are 7th in total defense. Their top three players based on TPE are on the defensive side of the ball and they have some young top earners that will set up New Orleans’ defense to hopefully be a force to be reckoned with. But the Secondline offense on the other hand has not put up points at a high enough clip to complete. Topping 25 points only three times on the season, the offense finds itself a bottom five unit in all yardage categories and 13th in the league in points per game. In order to complete the turnaround, the offense will need to pick it up.
Team MVP through Week 10
QB Octavion Speedings (@CeeKay): 2547 YDS, 19 TD, 6 INT
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 3-13 (7th in the ASFC)
13. Yellowknife Wraiths (2-8)
Preseason Rank: 14th
Last Edition Rank: 13th (-9.688)
Dominator Score: -5.623
Game Result Adjustment: -2.700
% of Time Winning: 33.79%
% of Time Losing: 47.53%
Big Question: Will the young defense be able to improve to the point of no longer being a liability?
Over the past three games, the Yellowknife defense has given up 33 points, 24 points, and 17 points. Is this a positive trend? After giving up over 30 points the 5 previous games (including a 41 point and 54 point game), any improvement is welcome! Now, we just need to see consistency. One thing that the Wraiths have excelled at defensively this season though is getting to the quarterback. Their 44 team sacks are third in the ISFL and Cheecago Boucher’s (@UberBJ) 11 sacks are tied for 4th in the league.
Question Status: Improvement seems to be happening, but we need to see more.
Team MVPs through Week 10
RB Money Tolliver (@jeffie43): 824 Rush YDS, 557 Rec YDS, 10 Total TD
LB Cheecago Boucher (@UberBJ): 56 Tackles, 7 TFL, 11 Sacks, 1 FF, 3 PD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 3-13 (7th in the NSFC)
12. Orange County Otters (4-6)
Preseason Rank: 4th
Last Edition Rank: 12th (-4.453)
Dominator Score: -4.625
Game Result Adjustment: -1.000
% of Time Winning: 32.82%
% of Time Losing: 46.46%
Big Question: Will the top flight passing offense that started to materialize for the Otters last season show up?
The passing game is starting to pick up for the Orange County Otters. They have surpassed 300 yards through the air in two of the last three games (and the game in which they didn’t saw them pass for 294). However, the improvement in the passing game has not been translating to wins. The Otters will need to figure this out fast if they want any chance to compete past week 16.
Question Status: The passing game is starting to come together. Look for it to continue to improve. There is still a ways to go to reach the potential flashed last season.
Team MVP through Week 10
LB Sim Sunigh (@SimmiZ): 67 Tackles, 7 TFL, 8 Sacks, 3 FF, 6 PD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 5-11 (6th in the ASFC)
11. New York Silverbacks (5-5)
Preseason Rank: 6th
Last Edition Rank: 10th (-0.447)
Dominator Score: -3.022
Game Result Adjustment: +0.200
% of Time Winning: 32.39%
% of Time Losing: 52.23%
Big Question: How many times can New York beat a quality opponent?
Sitting at 5-5, the Silverbacks are in the middle of the playoff hunt but currently are on the outside looking in. In order to put themselves into the playoff picture, they will need to beat the teams in front of them. So can they beat good teams? Here are their wins on the season: San Jose, New Orleans, Arizona, Baltimore, Cape Town. Only one of those teams currently has a winning record. Though that could change by the end of the season as many of these teams are floating around .500. New York could get a break with their schedule though as they have only two games left against teams with a winning record currently. However, with all the teams fighting for a playoff spot, tiebreakers could play a big role. So how does New York stack up against the three ASFC teams in front of them? Lost twice to Honolulu, lost once to Austin (rematch coming Week 13), and split with Arizona.
Question Status: New York has not stacked wins against top teams as they have a 1-4 record against the teams in front of them in the standings. However, it’s still hard to determine which teams are the teams to beat. Let’s give it another few games before deciding on an answer.
Team MVP through Week 10
RB Frank Dux (@ComebackZak): 855 Rush YDS, 448 Rec YDS, 12 Total TD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 8-8 (5th in the ASFC)
10. Sarasota Sailfish (6-4)
Preseason Rank: 8th
Last Edition Rank: 5th (2.925)
Dominator Score: -1.883
Game Result Adjustment: +0.900
% of Time Winning: 31.83%
% of Time Losing: 52.98%
Big Question: Will the Sailfish be able to use this fast start to the season to their advantage?
Having lost two straight games, Sarasota’s fast start is officially over. They currently sit in 3rd place with only a one game lead over a surprising strong Chicago team. With 4 more conference games to go, the Sailfish will need to finish strong in order to make it back to the playoffs. There is only one game left on the schedule versus teams already mentioned on this list however so the Sailfish will need to assert their dominance once again to make that happen.
Question Status: Answered! The Sailfish are in control of their own playoff destiny but have their work cut out for them.
New Question: Can the Sailfish avoid costly mistakes down the stretch?
Recently, the Sailfish have had a turnover problem. Willier Miller (@Sebster) leads the ISFL with 13 interceptions and they have a -6 turnover differential in their past three games. This may be an explanation as to why the Sailfish have the number 2 ranked defense in yards per game but the 8th ranked scoring defense. If they are able to clean up their turnovers they just might be able to beat some of the heavy hitters left on their schedule.
Team MVP through Week 10
QB Willier Miller (@Sebster): 3252 YDS, 20 TD, 13 INT
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 8-8 (5th in the NSFC)
9. Berlin Fire Salamanders (5-5)
Preseason Rank: 7th
Last Edition Rank: 11th (-1.342)
Dominator Score: -1.622
Game Result Adjustment: +0.000
% of Time Winning: 38.57%
% of Time Losing: 38.30%
Big Question: What kind of season can Armor Queen (@Starboy) put together as both a runner and receiver?
Queen now has 1274 total yards on the season with 11 touchdowns. Their average of 127.4 yards per game is on pace to reach that coveted 2000 scrimmage yard season. Queen’s 76 receptions are tied for tops in the league as well.
Question Status: Queen is on track for a special season. There is no room for a set back though if this is to be a season to remember. Check back after a few games.
Team MVP through Week 10
QB Adrian St. Christmas (@nunccoepi): 3171 YDS, 17 TD, 10 INT
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 6-10 (6th in the NSFC)
8. Austin Copperheads (6-4)
Preseason Rank: 9th
Last Edition Rank: 8th (0.098)
Dominator Score: -0.555
Game Result Adjustment: +0.800
% of Time Winning: 34.18%
% of Time Losing: 50.32%
Big Question: How far can the Copperheads go with a rookie QB?
Jay Cue III (@Opera_Phantom) has proven that he is capable of leading Austin into the playoffs. He is near the top of the league in efficiency metrics and the Copperheads are a top 3 scoring offense in the ISFL. Any questions about how a rookie quarterback would hold the team back at the start of the season seem laughable now.
Question Status: Answered! The rookie has the Copperheads in prime position to make a repeat appearance in the playoffs.
New Question: What has happened to the Copperheads rushing defense?
Last season’s top rated rushing defense enters this week ranked 12th in the ISFL giving up just over 100 rushing yards per game. A closer look tells an even bigger story. When holding their opponents to under 100 rushing yards, Austin is 3-1. If their defense can tighten up against the run, look for the Copperheads to be one of the more dangerous teams if they can make it to the playoffs.
Team MVP through Week 10
RB Howard Coward (@JKortesi81): 843 Rush YDS, 279 Rec YDS, 13 Total TD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 8-8 (4th in the ASFC)
7. Colorado Yeti (7-3)
Preseason Rank: 10th
Last Edition Rank: 7th (1.727)
Dominator Score: -0.067
Game Result Adjustment: +1.800
% of Time Winning: 36.09%
% of Time Losing: 46.36%
Big Question: How long can the Yeti continue to defy all the odds?
With losing two of three games this past week and going 3-3 over their past 6 games we are starting to see the real Yeti team. And that team is someone nobody looks forward to playing. Any team that sports the #1 defense in the ISFL will cause problems. The Yeti have only allowed over 25 points in a game twice and have won three games with their offense scoring less than 20 points. The Yeti are always just a big play away from stealing the game from you.
Question Status: Answered! While still tied for the best record in the ISFL, the Yeti have slowed down. Though there is no question that they have the best defense in the league.
New Question: Will the mounting penalties ultimately derail the Yeti’s hot start?
In six of their ten games so far this season the Yeti have accumulated over 50 penalty yards. Amazingly, they have gone 4-2 in those games and have been able to overcome the undisciplined play. As one of the most penalized teams in the league, we will need to wait and see if this ultimately affects their playoff chances moving forward.
Team MVP through Week 10
QB Wolfie McDummy Jr. (@infinitempg): 2407 YDS, 15 TD, 7 INT
LB Waylen Greene (@fnordypsyduck): 69 Tackles, 2 TFL, 8 Sacks, 2 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT, 5 PD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 10-6 (3rd in the NSFC)
6. Cape Town Crash (4-6)
Preseason Rank: 5th
Last Edition Rank: 6th (2.133)
Dominator Score: 3.210
Game Result Adjustment: -0.800
% of Time Winning: 54.93%
% of Time Losing: 30.65%
Big Question: Will the Crash be able to use this new high powered passing attack to win games?
The Crash had 1145 yards passing over their past three games. That’s an average of 382 yards per game! So there is no doubting Cape Town’s high powered offense. Their record in those three games? 1-2. So what is going on? The Crash have been unable to win close games. Their record in one score games this season is 0-4. In their four victories, they average a 26 point margin of victory. If they want to make their way back to the playoffs, they will need to find ways to close out tight games.
Question Status: It’s a no for now but let’s give the Crash a few more weeks to prove us wrong.
Team MVPs through Week 10
QB Creg Jerrith IV (@negs): 3500 YDS, 26 TD, 7 INT
RB Nakiri Ayame (@ValorX77): 692 Rush YDS, 649 Rec YDS, 18 Total TD
LB Rolud Onyxgut (@crash1005): 71 Tackles, 5 TFL, 12 Sacks, 1 INT, 2 PD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 9-7 (4th in the NSFC)
5. San Jose SaberCats (5-5)
Preseason Rank: 12th
Last Edition Rank: 2nd (5.840)
Dominator Score: 3.249
Game Result Adjustment: -0.300
% of Time Winning: 53.14%
% of Time Losing: 25.61%
Big Question: Will the SaberCats figure out how to keep a lead?
The SaberCats were able to put together 2 more wins this past week and are now tied for third place in the ASFC. 4-2 over the past 6 games shows that they are beginning to learn to win. Playing in seven one-score games (including six straight), their 4-3 record in such games points to a team that has greatly improved compared to the beginning of the season.
Question Status: Answered! Yes!
New Question: Are the SaberCats a contender or a pretender?
San Jose playstyle fits well with these rankings. They take an early lead often and when they do fall behind, it’s never by much. A strong defense keeps them in games and a strong running game helps them keep late leads. But their record is mediocre and they currently are on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs. A string of three conference games to close out the season will answer this question for us.
Team MVP through Week 10
LB Cruella de Ville (@Exilizer): 82 Tackles, 3 TFL, 14 Sacks, 5 FF, 1 INT, 8 PD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 10-6 (3rd in the ASFC)
4. Honolulu Hahalua (7-3)
Preseason Rank: 1st
Last Edition Rank: 9th (-0.143)
Dominator Score: 3.682
Game Result Adjustment: +1.600
% of Time Winning: 48.62%
% of Time Losing: 38.85%
Big Question: Will Honolulu’s defense be able to dominate like a season ago?
Could the Hahalua have turned it around in time for the playoffs? After a bad loss to New Orleans, Honolulu has won three straight and now is tied for the best record in the ISFL. Their defense may be starting to capture the magic from last season too. In two of their three wins, the Hahalua have held opponents to 13 or less points. The defense also forced 8 turnovers while getting to the quarterback 14 times. This is the type of dominance we expected to start the season.
Question Status: Possibly? Let’s wait one more week to answer.
Team MVP through Week 10
LB Maxwell Jacob Friedman (@JuOSu): 75 Tackles, 6 TFL, 8 Sacks, 3 FF, 2 FR, 3 PD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 11-5 (2nd in the ASFC)
3. Chicago Butchers (5-5)
Preseason Rank: 11th
Last Edition Rank: 4th (3.098)
Dominator Score: 4.024
Game Result Adjustment: -0.100
% of Time Winning: 55.88%
% of Time Losing: 30.45%
Big Question: Are the Butchers ready to earn a playoff spot for the first time since Season 40?
The Butchers played a bunch of close games this past week but were only able to beat the Crash. By sweeping the season series against Cape Town, the Butchers now own the tiebreaker if both teams surge up the conference standings. But probably the bigger blow was the loss (and season sweep) to the Baltimore Hawks, losing out on a tiebreaker to a team they need to catch. The Butchers will need to string together some wins but circle their matchup with the Sailfish on Wednesday. This game will help shape the playoff picture in the NSFC.
Question Status: Still in the hunt.
Team MVP through Week 10
LB Norman Smiley (@SmittyHextall): 56 Tackles, 8 Sacks, 3 FF, 1 FR, 1 PD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 10-6 (2nd in the NSFC)
2. Baltimore Hawks (6-4)
Preseason Rank: 2nd
Last Edition Rank: 3rd (3.753)
Dominator Score: 4.320
Game Result Adjustment: +1.000
% of Time Winning: 46.53%
% of Time Losing: 31.52%
Big Question: Can the Hawks provide the league MVP for the third season in a row?
The Hawks top candidate for MVP is QB Preston Beatz (@DarknessRising). While boasting a robust 24-4 TD to INT ratio, Creg Jerrith IV (@negs) is better in almost every statistical category. Rocky Moreaux (@qWest) is third in the ISFL in receiving yards and 2nd in touchdowns but again isn’t by far away the best receiver this season. No other Hawk is separating themselves individually to put them in the running.
Question Status: Unless Preston Beatz goes on a tear the last few games (which would definitely benefit the Hawks), I don’t see a third straight MVP from Baltimore. We will give it another week though.
Team MVP through Week 10
QB Preston Beatz (@DarknessRising): 2969 YDS, 24 TD, 4 INT
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 10-6 (1st in the NSFC)
1. Arizona Outlaws (5-5)
Preseason Rank: 3rd
Last Edition Rank: 1st (6.518)
Dominator Score: 7.596
Game Result Adjustment: +0.100
% of Time Winning: 53.73%
% of Time Losing: 22.84%
Big Question: Was last season a sign of things to come for the Outlaws or a rare blemish in their storied history?
Predictability has been low so far this season in the ISFL and the Outlaws are ready to take advantage of that fact. Tied for last place early in the week, Arizona would now be in the playoffs if the season ended today. That is how quickly fortunes can change. The Outlaws recommitted to a smashmouth football that intends to dominate opponents and find themselves with the top rushing offense, top rushing defense and second ranked scoring defense. With some key wins down the stretch, a return to form for Arizona is easily within reach.
Question Status: With the unpredictability of the ISFL in season 45, it’s too early to make a call.
Team MVP through Week 10
RB Danny Nedelko (@Crunk): 1128 Rush YDS, 155 Rec YDS, 11 Total TD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 11-5 (1st in the ASFC)
New to this edition, I will include a playoff prediction based on dominator scores:
Wildcard Round
over
over
Conference Championships
over
over
Ultimus
over
That’s it for this edition of Dominator Power Rankings. Let me know what you think of your team below!
Previous Editions: Preseason, Week 4, Week 7
Onto the rankings!
ISFL Dominator Power Rankings - Week 10
14. New Orleans Secondline (3-7)
Preseason Rank: 13th
Last Edition Rank: 14th (-10.019)
Dominator Score: -8.685
Game Result Adjustment: -1.500
% of Time Winning: 22.43%
% of Time Losing: 60.74%
Big Question: Is this team any different than the Secondline teams from the past four seasons?
The Secondline only have three wins on the season. However, that matches their win total from last season already and the two most recent wins have come against the two conference leading teams. However, New Orleans is still in the bottom tier of the league. They are more competitive than previous seasons but still haven’t climbed their way out of the cellar.
Question Status: Answered! It seems that the Secondline have closed the talent gap between themselves and the rest of the league but they are still at the bottom.
New Question: Can the offense start to score more points to support an improving defense?
The New Orleans Secondline have seen their defense pick up steam and currently rank 4th in the ISFL in passing defense and are 7th in total defense. Their top three players based on TPE are on the defensive side of the ball and they have some young top earners that will set up New Orleans’ defense to hopefully be a force to be reckoned with. But the Secondline offense on the other hand has not put up points at a high enough clip to complete. Topping 25 points only three times on the season, the offense finds itself a bottom five unit in all yardage categories and 13th in the league in points per game. In order to complete the turnaround, the offense will need to pick it up.
Team MVP through Week 10
QB Octavion Speedings (@CeeKay): 2547 YDS, 19 TD, 6 INT
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 3-13 (7th in the ASFC)
13. Yellowknife Wraiths (2-8)
Preseason Rank: 14th
Last Edition Rank: 13th (-9.688)
Dominator Score: -5.623
Game Result Adjustment: -2.700
% of Time Winning: 33.79%
% of Time Losing: 47.53%
Big Question: Will the young defense be able to improve to the point of no longer being a liability?
Over the past three games, the Yellowknife defense has given up 33 points, 24 points, and 17 points. Is this a positive trend? After giving up over 30 points the 5 previous games (including a 41 point and 54 point game), any improvement is welcome! Now, we just need to see consistency. One thing that the Wraiths have excelled at defensively this season though is getting to the quarterback. Their 44 team sacks are third in the ISFL and Cheecago Boucher’s (@UberBJ) 11 sacks are tied for 4th in the league.
Question Status: Improvement seems to be happening, but we need to see more.
Team MVPs through Week 10
RB Money Tolliver (@jeffie43): 824 Rush YDS, 557 Rec YDS, 10 Total TD
LB Cheecago Boucher (@UberBJ): 56 Tackles, 7 TFL, 11 Sacks, 1 FF, 3 PD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 3-13 (7th in the NSFC)
12. Orange County Otters (4-6)
Preseason Rank: 4th
Last Edition Rank: 12th (-4.453)
Dominator Score: -4.625
Game Result Adjustment: -1.000
% of Time Winning: 32.82%
% of Time Losing: 46.46%
Big Question: Will the top flight passing offense that started to materialize for the Otters last season show up?
The passing game is starting to pick up for the Orange County Otters. They have surpassed 300 yards through the air in two of the last three games (and the game in which they didn’t saw them pass for 294). However, the improvement in the passing game has not been translating to wins. The Otters will need to figure this out fast if they want any chance to compete past week 16.
Question Status: The passing game is starting to come together. Look for it to continue to improve. There is still a ways to go to reach the potential flashed last season.
Team MVP through Week 10
LB Sim Sunigh (@SimmiZ): 67 Tackles, 7 TFL, 8 Sacks, 3 FF, 6 PD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 5-11 (6th in the ASFC)
11. New York Silverbacks (5-5)
Preseason Rank: 6th
Last Edition Rank: 10th (-0.447)
Dominator Score: -3.022
Game Result Adjustment: +0.200
% of Time Winning: 32.39%
% of Time Losing: 52.23%
Big Question: How many times can New York beat a quality opponent?
Sitting at 5-5, the Silverbacks are in the middle of the playoff hunt but currently are on the outside looking in. In order to put themselves into the playoff picture, they will need to beat the teams in front of them. So can they beat good teams? Here are their wins on the season: San Jose, New Orleans, Arizona, Baltimore, Cape Town. Only one of those teams currently has a winning record. Though that could change by the end of the season as many of these teams are floating around .500. New York could get a break with their schedule though as they have only two games left against teams with a winning record currently. However, with all the teams fighting for a playoff spot, tiebreakers could play a big role. So how does New York stack up against the three ASFC teams in front of them? Lost twice to Honolulu, lost once to Austin (rematch coming Week 13), and split with Arizona.
Question Status: New York has not stacked wins against top teams as they have a 1-4 record against the teams in front of them in the standings. However, it’s still hard to determine which teams are the teams to beat. Let’s give it another few games before deciding on an answer.
Team MVP through Week 10
RB Frank Dux (@ComebackZak): 855 Rush YDS, 448 Rec YDS, 12 Total TD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 8-8 (5th in the ASFC)
10. Sarasota Sailfish (6-4)
Preseason Rank: 8th
Last Edition Rank: 5th (2.925)
Dominator Score: -1.883
Game Result Adjustment: +0.900
% of Time Winning: 31.83%
% of Time Losing: 52.98%
Big Question: Will the Sailfish be able to use this fast start to the season to their advantage?
Having lost two straight games, Sarasota’s fast start is officially over. They currently sit in 3rd place with only a one game lead over a surprising strong Chicago team. With 4 more conference games to go, the Sailfish will need to finish strong in order to make it back to the playoffs. There is only one game left on the schedule versus teams already mentioned on this list however so the Sailfish will need to assert their dominance once again to make that happen.
Question Status: Answered! The Sailfish are in control of their own playoff destiny but have their work cut out for them.
New Question: Can the Sailfish avoid costly mistakes down the stretch?
Recently, the Sailfish have had a turnover problem. Willier Miller (@Sebster) leads the ISFL with 13 interceptions and they have a -6 turnover differential in their past three games. This may be an explanation as to why the Sailfish have the number 2 ranked defense in yards per game but the 8th ranked scoring defense. If they are able to clean up their turnovers they just might be able to beat some of the heavy hitters left on their schedule.
Team MVP through Week 10
QB Willier Miller (@Sebster): 3252 YDS, 20 TD, 13 INT
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 8-8 (5th in the NSFC)
9. Berlin Fire Salamanders (5-5)
Preseason Rank: 7th
Last Edition Rank: 11th (-1.342)
Dominator Score: -1.622
Game Result Adjustment: +0.000
% of Time Winning: 38.57%
% of Time Losing: 38.30%
Big Question: What kind of season can Armor Queen (@Starboy) put together as both a runner and receiver?
Queen now has 1274 total yards on the season with 11 touchdowns. Their average of 127.4 yards per game is on pace to reach that coveted 2000 scrimmage yard season. Queen’s 76 receptions are tied for tops in the league as well.
Question Status: Queen is on track for a special season. There is no room for a set back though if this is to be a season to remember. Check back after a few games.
Team MVP through Week 10
QB Adrian St. Christmas (@nunccoepi): 3171 YDS, 17 TD, 10 INT
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 6-10 (6th in the NSFC)
8. Austin Copperheads (6-4)
Preseason Rank: 9th
Last Edition Rank: 8th (0.098)
Dominator Score: -0.555
Game Result Adjustment: +0.800
% of Time Winning: 34.18%
% of Time Losing: 50.32%
Big Question: How far can the Copperheads go with a rookie QB?
Jay Cue III (@Opera_Phantom) has proven that he is capable of leading Austin into the playoffs. He is near the top of the league in efficiency metrics and the Copperheads are a top 3 scoring offense in the ISFL. Any questions about how a rookie quarterback would hold the team back at the start of the season seem laughable now.
Question Status: Answered! The rookie has the Copperheads in prime position to make a repeat appearance in the playoffs.
New Question: What has happened to the Copperheads rushing defense?
Last season’s top rated rushing defense enters this week ranked 12th in the ISFL giving up just over 100 rushing yards per game. A closer look tells an even bigger story. When holding their opponents to under 100 rushing yards, Austin is 3-1. If their defense can tighten up against the run, look for the Copperheads to be one of the more dangerous teams if they can make it to the playoffs.
Team MVP through Week 10
RB Howard Coward (@JKortesi81): 843 Rush YDS, 279 Rec YDS, 13 Total TD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 8-8 (4th in the ASFC)
7. Colorado Yeti (7-3)
Preseason Rank: 10th
Last Edition Rank: 7th (1.727)
Dominator Score: -0.067
Game Result Adjustment: +1.800
% of Time Winning: 36.09%
% of Time Losing: 46.36%
Big Question: How long can the Yeti continue to defy all the odds?
With losing two of three games this past week and going 3-3 over their past 6 games we are starting to see the real Yeti team. And that team is someone nobody looks forward to playing. Any team that sports the #1 defense in the ISFL will cause problems. The Yeti have only allowed over 25 points in a game twice and have won three games with their offense scoring less than 20 points. The Yeti are always just a big play away from stealing the game from you.
Question Status: Answered! While still tied for the best record in the ISFL, the Yeti have slowed down. Though there is no question that they have the best defense in the league.
New Question: Will the mounting penalties ultimately derail the Yeti’s hot start?
In six of their ten games so far this season the Yeti have accumulated over 50 penalty yards. Amazingly, they have gone 4-2 in those games and have been able to overcome the undisciplined play. As one of the most penalized teams in the league, we will need to wait and see if this ultimately affects their playoff chances moving forward.
Team MVP through Week 10
QB Wolfie McDummy Jr. (@infinitempg): 2407 YDS, 15 TD, 7 INT
LB Waylen Greene (@fnordypsyduck): 69 Tackles, 2 TFL, 8 Sacks, 2 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT, 5 PD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 10-6 (3rd in the NSFC)
6. Cape Town Crash (4-6)
Preseason Rank: 5th
Last Edition Rank: 6th (2.133)
Dominator Score: 3.210
Game Result Adjustment: -0.800
% of Time Winning: 54.93%
% of Time Losing: 30.65%
Big Question: Will the Crash be able to use this new high powered passing attack to win games?
The Crash had 1145 yards passing over their past three games. That’s an average of 382 yards per game! So there is no doubting Cape Town’s high powered offense. Their record in those three games? 1-2. So what is going on? The Crash have been unable to win close games. Their record in one score games this season is 0-4. In their four victories, they average a 26 point margin of victory. If they want to make their way back to the playoffs, they will need to find ways to close out tight games.
Question Status: It’s a no for now but let’s give the Crash a few more weeks to prove us wrong.
Team MVPs through Week 10
QB Creg Jerrith IV (@negs): 3500 YDS, 26 TD, 7 INT
RB Nakiri Ayame (@ValorX77): 692 Rush YDS, 649 Rec YDS, 18 Total TD
LB Rolud Onyxgut (@crash1005): 71 Tackles, 5 TFL, 12 Sacks, 1 INT, 2 PD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 9-7 (4th in the NSFC)
5. San Jose SaberCats (5-5)
Preseason Rank: 12th
Last Edition Rank: 2nd (5.840)
Dominator Score: 3.249
Game Result Adjustment: -0.300
% of Time Winning: 53.14%
% of Time Losing: 25.61%
Big Question: Will the SaberCats figure out how to keep a lead?
The SaberCats were able to put together 2 more wins this past week and are now tied for third place in the ASFC. 4-2 over the past 6 games shows that they are beginning to learn to win. Playing in seven one-score games (including six straight), their 4-3 record in such games points to a team that has greatly improved compared to the beginning of the season.
Question Status: Answered! Yes!
New Question: Are the SaberCats a contender or a pretender?
San Jose playstyle fits well with these rankings. They take an early lead often and when they do fall behind, it’s never by much. A strong defense keeps them in games and a strong running game helps them keep late leads. But their record is mediocre and they currently are on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs. A string of three conference games to close out the season will answer this question for us.
Team MVP through Week 10
LB Cruella de Ville (@Exilizer): 82 Tackles, 3 TFL, 14 Sacks, 5 FF, 1 INT, 8 PD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 10-6 (3rd in the ASFC)
4. Honolulu Hahalua (7-3)
Preseason Rank: 1st
Last Edition Rank: 9th (-0.143)
Dominator Score: 3.682
Game Result Adjustment: +1.600
% of Time Winning: 48.62%
% of Time Losing: 38.85%
Big Question: Will Honolulu’s defense be able to dominate like a season ago?
Could the Hahalua have turned it around in time for the playoffs? After a bad loss to New Orleans, Honolulu has won three straight and now is tied for the best record in the ISFL. Their defense may be starting to capture the magic from last season too. In two of their three wins, the Hahalua have held opponents to 13 or less points. The defense also forced 8 turnovers while getting to the quarterback 14 times. This is the type of dominance we expected to start the season.
Question Status: Possibly? Let’s wait one more week to answer.
Team MVP through Week 10
LB Maxwell Jacob Friedman (@JuOSu): 75 Tackles, 6 TFL, 8 Sacks, 3 FF, 2 FR, 3 PD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 11-5 (2nd in the ASFC)
3. Chicago Butchers (5-5)
Preseason Rank: 11th
Last Edition Rank: 4th (3.098)
Dominator Score: 4.024
Game Result Adjustment: -0.100
% of Time Winning: 55.88%
% of Time Losing: 30.45%
Big Question: Are the Butchers ready to earn a playoff spot for the first time since Season 40?
The Butchers played a bunch of close games this past week but were only able to beat the Crash. By sweeping the season series against Cape Town, the Butchers now own the tiebreaker if both teams surge up the conference standings. But probably the bigger blow was the loss (and season sweep) to the Baltimore Hawks, losing out on a tiebreaker to a team they need to catch. The Butchers will need to string together some wins but circle their matchup with the Sailfish on Wednesday. This game will help shape the playoff picture in the NSFC.
Question Status: Still in the hunt.
Team MVP through Week 10
LB Norman Smiley (@SmittyHextall): 56 Tackles, 8 Sacks, 3 FF, 1 FR, 1 PD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 10-6 (2nd in the NSFC)
2. Baltimore Hawks (6-4)
Preseason Rank: 2nd
Last Edition Rank: 3rd (3.753)
Dominator Score: 4.320
Game Result Adjustment: +1.000
% of Time Winning: 46.53%
% of Time Losing: 31.52%
Big Question: Can the Hawks provide the league MVP for the third season in a row?
The Hawks top candidate for MVP is QB Preston Beatz (@DarknessRising). While boasting a robust 24-4 TD to INT ratio, Creg Jerrith IV (@negs) is better in almost every statistical category. Rocky Moreaux (@qWest) is third in the ISFL in receiving yards and 2nd in touchdowns but again isn’t by far away the best receiver this season. No other Hawk is separating themselves individually to put them in the running.
Question Status: Unless Preston Beatz goes on a tear the last few games (which would definitely benefit the Hawks), I don’t see a third straight MVP from Baltimore. We will give it another week though.
Team MVP through Week 10
QB Preston Beatz (@DarknessRising): 2969 YDS, 24 TD, 4 INT
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 10-6 (1st in the NSFC)
1. Arizona Outlaws (5-5)
Preseason Rank: 3rd
Last Edition Rank: 1st (6.518)
Dominator Score: 7.596
Game Result Adjustment: +0.100
% of Time Winning: 53.73%
% of Time Losing: 22.84%
Big Question: Was last season a sign of things to come for the Outlaws or a rare blemish in their storied history?
Predictability has been low so far this season in the ISFL and the Outlaws are ready to take advantage of that fact. Tied for last place early in the week, Arizona would now be in the playoffs if the season ended today. That is how quickly fortunes can change. The Outlaws recommitted to a smashmouth football that intends to dominate opponents and find themselves with the top rushing offense, top rushing defense and second ranked scoring defense. With some key wins down the stretch, a return to form for Arizona is easily within reach.
Question Status: With the unpredictability of the ISFL in season 45, it’s too early to make a call.
Team MVP through Week 10
RB Danny Nedelko (@Crunk): 1128 Rush YDS, 155 Rec YDS, 11 Total TD
Season Prediction Based on Dominator Score: 11-5 (1st in the ASFC)
New to this edition, I will include a playoff prediction based on dominator scores:
Wildcard Round
over
over
Conference Championships
over
over
Ultimus
over
That’s it for this edition of Dominator Power Rankings. Let me know what you think of your team below!
DSFL S43 Draft - Round 4 Pick 30
ISFL S44 Draft - Round 1 Pick 12
S43 DSFL Pro Bowl
S44 DSFL Pro Bowl
S45 All Rookie Team
S48 ISFL Pro Bowl
S48 ISFL 2nd Team All-Pro
Gemini Media Awards
14 Gemini Nominations
Best Article (Limited) - S43 "Do Penalties Really Matter?"
Best Author - S43, S44