Task 3
S46 ISFL preview
With season just finished, first of all I'd like to congratulate newly crowned champions Austin Copperheads with their slightly unexpected Ultimus win. The previous season was pretty wild and unpredicted, especially with some teams really over/underperforming. Now let's take a look at every ISFL team coming into S46. I'm doing that before the draft, regression and FA, so obviously it will seem stupid after next season.
Arizona Outlaws
Perennial contenders are expected to be good again, not really a surprise. Main problem is their aging LB core. Prediction - making playoffs, duh
Austin Copperheads
Returning champs should still be good, though their receivers will get hit by regression pretty hard. Whole team is also getting old. Prediction - making playoffs.
Baltimore Hawks
In what could be last season for star QB Preston Beatz Baltimore probably still expects to contend. The rest of their team is young, with two up and coming RBs. And the conference seem wide open. Prediction - playoffs
Berlin Fire Salamanders
One of the teams that I never got what it's truing to do. Are they trying to contend, or going to rebuild? Who knows, definitely not me. Seems more like rebuilding next season. Prediction - tank season
Chicago Butchers
Chicago was unexpectedly good last season and probably punched over their own weight. But with their main carry in Jarvis Harbinger-Marjin leaving and couple of good players regressing they are still too young to seriously contend, but possibly can be spoilers. Prediction - playoff bubble
Colorado Yetis
Yetis got first seed and first round bye last season on the backs of their great defense. There is nothing on their roster that suggests that they should be worse next season. But you could definitely argue that they won't be so lucky again, as they had negative post differential as a first seed. Even 69-14 win couldn't make it positive. Their luck ran out in the playoffs, but they definitely can get back, based solely on their defense. Prediction - playoffs.
Cape town Crash
What happened to CTC? They definitely should have been one of contenders, but seems that their sim luck really turned upon them. With several key players retiring they are bringing some new blood next season. I'm not sold that it will be enough to make the playoffs, but they won`t go full tank. Prediction - playoff bubble
Honolulu Hahalua
Honolulu is still one of the strongest team in the league. While regression will eat upon their tpe advantage, the roster is still great. Nova Montagne will try to lead them once again to ultimus before probably inevitable hard reset. Prediction - playoffs.
New Orleans Second Line
The laugh of the league is over. On of the longest tanks seem to finally get out of league basement. They are not even picking first overall again! Jokes aside, this roster have players that are finally hitting their primes tpe wise, and should definitely get better next season. Prediction - too early for playoffs, but not last
New York Silverbacks
Monkes seem to have missed their best shot at ultimus with this roster couple of seasons ago. Their QB and star RB are still maxed but the rest of the roster is getting old (average age is even worse than AUS and AZ). After regression they will land in playoff bubble, but making it will be hard.
Orange County Otters
It seems that everything went wrong for otters last season. The team definitely expected to land in the playoffs but finished up right out of it with negative point difference. Otters probably expect to make it next season but I dont see it over AUS, AZ and HON.
Sarasota Sailfish
Fishes made the playoffs on tiebreaker and then went to Ultimus. They are always a good team that does better than most. I don;t see a reason they can't make playoffs again on that playing field.
San Jose Sabercats
SJS got some surprising wins over good teams last season. They are still very young and are not there yet. With NOLA getting better I predict them being last in the conference.
Yellowknife Wraiths
Rebranding goes hard, same as rebuilding. it will take couple of seasons more for Wraiths to get out of the league basement.
Prediction for Ultimus: HON - BAL with BAL winning
S46 ISFL preview
With season just finished, first of all I'd like to congratulate newly crowned champions Austin Copperheads with their slightly unexpected Ultimus win. The previous season was pretty wild and unpredicted, especially with some teams really over/underperforming. Now let's take a look at every ISFL team coming into S46. I'm doing that before the draft, regression and FA, so obviously it will seem stupid after next season.
Arizona Outlaws
Perennial contenders are expected to be good again, not really a surprise. Main problem is their aging LB core. Prediction - making playoffs, duh
Austin Copperheads
Returning champs should still be good, though their receivers will get hit by regression pretty hard. Whole team is also getting old. Prediction - making playoffs.
Baltimore Hawks
In what could be last season for star QB Preston Beatz Baltimore probably still expects to contend. The rest of their team is young, with two up and coming RBs. And the conference seem wide open. Prediction - playoffs
Berlin Fire Salamanders
One of the teams that I never got what it's truing to do. Are they trying to contend, or going to rebuild? Who knows, definitely not me. Seems more like rebuilding next season. Prediction - tank season
Chicago Butchers
Chicago was unexpectedly good last season and probably punched over their own weight. But with their main carry in Jarvis Harbinger-Marjin leaving and couple of good players regressing they are still too young to seriously contend, but possibly can be spoilers. Prediction - playoff bubble
Colorado Yetis
Yetis got first seed and first round bye last season on the backs of their great defense. There is nothing on their roster that suggests that they should be worse next season. But you could definitely argue that they won't be so lucky again, as they had negative post differential as a first seed. Even 69-14 win couldn't make it positive. Their luck ran out in the playoffs, but they definitely can get back, based solely on their defense. Prediction - playoffs.
Cape town Crash
What happened to CTC? They definitely should have been one of contenders, but seems that their sim luck really turned upon them. With several key players retiring they are bringing some new blood next season. I'm not sold that it will be enough to make the playoffs, but they won`t go full tank. Prediction - playoff bubble
Honolulu Hahalua
Honolulu is still one of the strongest team in the league. While regression will eat upon their tpe advantage, the roster is still great. Nova Montagne will try to lead them once again to ultimus before probably inevitable hard reset. Prediction - playoffs.
New Orleans Second Line
The laugh of the league is over. On of the longest tanks seem to finally get out of league basement. They are not even picking first overall again! Jokes aside, this roster have players that are finally hitting their primes tpe wise, and should definitely get better next season. Prediction - too early for playoffs, but not last
New York Silverbacks
Monkes seem to have missed their best shot at ultimus with this roster couple of seasons ago. Their QB and star RB are still maxed but the rest of the roster is getting old (average age is even worse than AUS and AZ). After regression they will land in playoff bubble, but making it will be hard.
Orange County Otters
It seems that everything went wrong for otters last season. The team definitely expected to land in the playoffs but finished up right out of it with negative point difference. Otters probably expect to make it next season but I dont see it over AUS, AZ and HON.
Sarasota Sailfish
Fishes made the playoffs on tiebreaker and then went to Ultimus. They are always a good team that does better than most. I don;t see a reason they can't make playoffs again on that playing field.
San Jose Sabercats
SJS got some surprising wins over good teams last season. They are still very young and are not there yet. With NOLA getting better I predict them being last in the conference.
Yellowknife Wraiths
Rebranding goes hard, same as rebuilding. it will take couple of seasons more for Wraiths to get out of the league basement.
Prediction for Ultimus: HON - BAL with BAL winning