11-10-2018, 10:45 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-10-2018, 10:46 PM by Molarpistols.)
Equipment and training is still expensive, and I finally have found the perfect equilibrium between not lazy and a little drunk to revisit my power rankings.
1. New Orleans Second Line (Previous Rank: 2)
After losing the Ultimus in S10, the New Orleans Second Line returned many of their previous players and looked poised to make another strong run at the championship. Through 12 weeks, this is still the case, as the Second Line boast the league's best record at 9-3, with a perfect 5-0 home record. Vladimir Fyodorovich's move to Wide Receiver appears to be paying off, as the New Orleans offense has rolled to a league-leading 390 points scored, an average of 32.5 per game. Meanwhile Vladimir ranks fourth amongst wide-outs with 1024 receiving yards, and has a solid 6 touchdowns on the season. The defense has been holding up their end of the bargain as well, New Orleans is in 4th place for points against (292 total points, 24.33 per game) and remains a solid enough option to keep the team contending for championships. While the defense isn't world-conquering, they're good enough to get the job done, especially when the offense scores as often as they do. Look for the more recent ASFC tradition to continue, as the Second Line will likely host the Orange County Otters for the ASFC championship game to see who goes to the Ultimus.
2. Baltimore Hawks (Previous Rank: 1)
Baltimore is coming off of their recent Ultimus success, and are still looking strong. A nasty string of luck has left them with the second best record in the league at 8-4 (trailing New Orleans and Orange County). The addition of Ryan Applehort over the off-season has proved to be a solid replacement for Blocksdale. Applehort leads the second-highest scoring offense in the league, with 359 total points scored, an average of 29.91 per game. Avon Blocksdale's move to the defense has solidified that unit as well, with the Hawks ranked 3rd in points against at 286 (23.28 per game). Overall, the team looks strong beyond a couple hiccups in recent weeks. With a fairly weak division, and league in general outside of New Orleans, the Hawks look to be cruising to another Ultimus trip.
3. Orange County Otters (Previous Rank: 3)
The Orange County Otters have secured their 11th straight trip to the playoffs. They've also attained the franchise's 100th overall win after a huge 7-game win-streak leading into the last two games before the playoffs begin. The Otters have managed an impressive 9-3 record, tied for the league lead, though many would suggest a bit of luck was involved. As a member of the Otters, I recognize that there was a fair bit of luck involved, but I think this team might be closer to the same tier as the Hawks and Second Line than many people believed. Showbiz started off the season in atrocious fashion, turning over the ball nearly as often as he was throwing for touchdowns. That trend seems to be nearing a close, as he's had several strong games recently (aside from the dud in Baltimore). On the topic of that dud in Baltimore, the Otters weren't impressive offensively, as they field the 4th best offense in terms of points scored at 321 (26.75 per game). The true strength of the Otters is in their defense. With Showbiz's struggles, the defense had to keep them in games for most of the season, and in the game in Baltimore, the defense had to win the game basically. The Otters have only allowed 256 points on the season, 24 less than the next best defense, and good for 21.33 per game. If there were enough colors on this site, I'd put the Otters in a category alone, somewhere between green and blue, as they seem to be a little behind our league leaders (even with luck bringing them tied in terms of record), but they also seem to have an obvious leg up on the next tier of competition.
4. Colorado Yeti (Previous Rank: 5
The Colorado Yeti have pieced together a pretty solid season. I saw a lot of potential for this season in my previous rankings, but the other pundits making rankings around that time weren't nearly as enthusiastic. The Yeti have a strong offense (as I predicted), currently sitting 3rd in points scored at 355 (29.58 per game). McCormick has made a seamless change from kicker to quarterback, and wide receiver Howard Miller is reaping the benefit. Miller has gained 1206 yards receiving and scored 8 touchdowns this season. The Yeti defense however, leaves much to be desired. @kckolbe pinpointed the defense as a big downside in the preseason, and he has been proved to be correct. The Yeti are at the bottom in terms of points against, letting up the most points so far at 364 (30.33 per game). Surprisingly enough, the Yeti have managed a winning record of 7-5 with a negative point differential, with a solid chance of keeping the winning record going, with a away game left against a lesser opponent and a home game against the Otters. The Yeti cannot let off the gas, as the Philadelphia Liberty are waiting in the wings to take their playoff spot at 6-6.
5. Arizona Outlaws (Previous Rank: 4)
I almost put Philadelphia here, but I think the Outlaws are currently a better team, despite the difference on overall record. Arizona sits at a lowly 4-8, already being eliminated from playoff contention. However, there are bright spots to be had! The Outlaws offense has been pretty strong, with Fitzpatrick being clearly statistically better than his rival, OCO QB Gus T.T. Showbiz. The Outlaws offense is ranked 5th overall with 305 points scored (25.41 per game). I gave them the edge in the power rankings over the Liberty because that's a full 40 more points. The Outlaws defense on the other hand, has been looking a little worse for wear, letting up 324 points on the season (27 per game). This team is poised to be going places in the near future, but has the misfortune of being in the same division as the New Orleans Second Line, who look to be chugging along nicely, and the perennial playoff team, the Orange County Otters. I expect the Outlaws to be challenging for the ASFC second seed in the near future.
6. Philadelphia Liberty (Previous Rank: 6
This team has certainly impressed this season. After going 0-14 a season ago, the Liberty are in a spot to potentially contend for a playoff spot at 6-6. They rest a game behind the Yeti, with two games to play. However, the Liberty will spend their last two games on the road against conference rivals Yellowknife Wraiths and the Baltimore Hawks. I suspect at least one of those will be a loss, with a decent chance at both being losses. The future is bright, however, as the offense is currently the weak link of the team. Falconi, the quarterback, is still a young gun building towards greatness and is on the brink of being a solid option. The early years of any quarterback are tough and filled with growing pains, and she is no exception, but the growing is nearly through. The offense has scored a lowly 265 points on the season (22.08 per game). Their defense on the other hand, has kept them in many a game, only letting up 280 points (23.33 per game). The Liberty rebuild appears to be a lot quicker than many expected. This team should be in a solid spot to expect the 2nd seed in the NSFC next season.
7. Yellowknife Wraiths (Previous Rank: 7)
The once-strong Yellowknife Wraiths are struggling through a rebuild. Sitting at 4-8, they're tied for the second-to-last record in the league with the Arizona Outlaws. However, I rank them this low because they don't have as much upside currently on their roster. QB Brad Pennington has gone almost entirely inactive, and their other offensive weapons are still quite young. They've scored 302 points on the season (25.16 per game) off the back of an aging Bailey Cook and Tight End Glenn McPoyal. The defense is coming close to aging out of the league, with stalwart Dermot Lavelle nearing the twilight of his career. GM Bzerkap and company have the stones to rebuild this team, and I suspect they've got something up their sleeves for the seasons to come.
8. San Jose Sabercats (Previous Rank: 8)
As expected, the Sabercats are in a rough patch. Their pieces are young, but at least appear worthy of being built around. J. Christ has been steadily gaining momentum towards being a strong QB in this league, and top WR Kazimir Oles is proving a steady option as well. The defense has holes, but D'Pez Poopsie is rounding the corner towards being a true shut-down defensive back. There are bright sides to this team, but there are still a lot of holes. I suspect we'll see at least another season of the Sabercats being bottom-dwellers, but they look as though they could turn it around soon. Scoring a measly 198 points (16.5 per game) through 12 games however, is not the way to do it.
1. New Orleans Second Line (Previous Rank: 2)
After losing the Ultimus in S10, the New Orleans Second Line returned many of their previous players and looked poised to make another strong run at the championship. Through 12 weeks, this is still the case, as the Second Line boast the league's best record at 9-3, with a perfect 5-0 home record. Vladimir Fyodorovich's move to Wide Receiver appears to be paying off, as the New Orleans offense has rolled to a league-leading 390 points scored, an average of 32.5 per game. Meanwhile Vladimir ranks fourth amongst wide-outs with 1024 receiving yards, and has a solid 6 touchdowns on the season. The defense has been holding up their end of the bargain as well, New Orleans is in 4th place for points against (292 total points, 24.33 per game) and remains a solid enough option to keep the team contending for championships. While the defense isn't world-conquering, they're good enough to get the job done, especially when the offense scores as often as they do. Look for the more recent ASFC tradition to continue, as the Second Line will likely host the Orange County Otters for the ASFC championship game to see who goes to the Ultimus.
2. Baltimore Hawks (Previous Rank: 1)
Baltimore is coming off of their recent Ultimus success, and are still looking strong. A nasty string of luck has left them with the second best record in the league at 8-4 (trailing New Orleans and Orange County). The addition of Ryan Applehort over the off-season has proved to be a solid replacement for Blocksdale. Applehort leads the second-highest scoring offense in the league, with 359 total points scored, an average of 29.91 per game. Avon Blocksdale's move to the defense has solidified that unit as well, with the Hawks ranked 3rd in points against at 286 (23.28 per game). Overall, the team looks strong beyond a couple hiccups in recent weeks. With a fairly weak division, and league in general outside of New Orleans, the Hawks look to be cruising to another Ultimus trip.
3. Orange County Otters (Previous Rank: 3)
The Orange County Otters have secured their 11th straight trip to the playoffs. They've also attained the franchise's 100th overall win after a huge 7-game win-streak leading into the last two games before the playoffs begin. The Otters have managed an impressive 9-3 record, tied for the league lead, though many would suggest a bit of luck was involved. As a member of the Otters, I recognize that there was a fair bit of luck involved, but I think this team might be closer to the same tier as the Hawks and Second Line than many people believed. Showbiz started off the season in atrocious fashion, turning over the ball nearly as often as he was throwing for touchdowns. That trend seems to be nearing a close, as he's had several strong games recently (aside from the dud in Baltimore). On the topic of that dud in Baltimore, the Otters weren't impressive offensively, as they field the 4th best offense in terms of points scored at 321 (26.75 per game). The true strength of the Otters is in their defense. With Showbiz's struggles, the defense had to keep them in games for most of the season, and in the game in Baltimore, the defense had to win the game basically. The Otters have only allowed 256 points on the season, 24 less than the next best defense, and good for 21.33 per game. If there were enough colors on this site, I'd put the Otters in a category alone, somewhere between green and blue, as they seem to be a little behind our league leaders (even with luck bringing them tied in terms of record), but they also seem to have an obvious leg up on the next tier of competition.
4. Colorado Yeti (Previous Rank: 5
The Colorado Yeti have pieced together a pretty solid season. I saw a lot of potential for this season in my previous rankings, but the other pundits making rankings around that time weren't nearly as enthusiastic. The Yeti have a strong offense (as I predicted), currently sitting 3rd in points scored at 355 (29.58 per game). McCormick has made a seamless change from kicker to quarterback, and wide receiver Howard Miller is reaping the benefit. Miller has gained 1206 yards receiving and scored 8 touchdowns this season. The Yeti defense however, leaves much to be desired. @kckolbe pinpointed the defense as a big downside in the preseason, and he has been proved to be correct. The Yeti are at the bottom in terms of points against, letting up the most points so far at 364 (30.33 per game). Surprisingly enough, the Yeti have managed a winning record of 7-5 with a negative point differential, with a solid chance of keeping the winning record going, with a away game left against a lesser opponent and a home game against the Otters. The Yeti cannot let off the gas, as the Philadelphia Liberty are waiting in the wings to take their playoff spot at 6-6.
5. Arizona Outlaws (Previous Rank: 4)
I almost put Philadelphia here, but I think the Outlaws are currently a better team, despite the difference on overall record. Arizona sits at a lowly 4-8, already being eliminated from playoff contention. However, there are bright spots to be had! The Outlaws offense has been pretty strong, with Fitzpatrick being clearly statistically better than his rival, OCO QB Gus T.T. Showbiz. The Outlaws offense is ranked 5th overall with 305 points scored (25.41 per game). I gave them the edge in the power rankings over the Liberty because that's a full 40 more points. The Outlaws defense on the other hand, has been looking a little worse for wear, letting up 324 points on the season (27 per game). This team is poised to be going places in the near future, but has the misfortune of being in the same division as the New Orleans Second Line, who look to be chugging along nicely, and the perennial playoff team, the Orange County Otters. I expect the Outlaws to be challenging for the ASFC second seed in the near future.
6. Philadelphia Liberty (Previous Rank: 6
This team has certainly impressed this season. After going 0-14 a season ago, the Liberty are in a spot to potentially contend for a playoff spot at 6-6. They rest a game behind the Yeti, with two games to play. However, the Liberty will spend their last two games on the road against conference rivals Yellowknife Wraiths and the Baltimore Hawks. I suspect at least one of those will be a loss, with a decent chance at both being losses. The future is bright, however, as the offense is currently the weak link of the team. Falconi, the quarterback, is still a young gun building towards greatness and is on the brink of being a solid option. The early years of any quarterback are tough and filled with growing pains, and she is no exception, but the growing is nearly through. The offense has scored a lowly 265 points on the season (22.08 per game). Their defense on the other hand, has kept them in many a game, only letting up 280 points (23.33 per game). The Liberty rebuild appears to be a lot quicker than many expected. This team should be in a solid spot to expect the 2nd seed in the NSFC next season.
7. Yellowknife Wraiths (Previous Rank: 7)
The once-strong Yellowknife Wraiths are struggling through a rebuild. Sitting at 4-8, they're tied for the second-to-last record in the league with the Arizona Outlaws. However, I rank them this low because they don't have as much upside currently on their roster. QB Brad Pennington has gone almost entirely inactive, and their other offensive weapons are still quite young. They've scored 302 points on the season (25.16 per game) off the back of an aging Bailey Cook and Tight End Glenn McPoyal. The defense is coming close to aging out of the league, with stalwart Dermot Lavelle nearing the twilight of his career. GM Bzerkap and company have the stones to rebuild this team, and I suspect they've got something up their sleeves for the seasons to come.
8. San Jose Sabercats (Previous Rank: 8)
As expected, the Sabercats are in a rough patch. Their pieces are young, but at least appear worthy of being built around. J. Christ has been steadily gaining momentum towards being a strong QB in this league, and top WR Kazimir Oles is proving a steady option as well. The defense has holes, but D'Pez Poopsie is rounding the corner towards being a true shut-down defensive back. There are bright sides to this team, but there are still a lot of holes. I suspect we'll see at least another season of the Sabercats being bottom-dwellers, but they look as though they could turn it around soon. Scoring a measly 198 points (16.5 per game) through 12 games however, is not the way to do it.
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Gus T.T. Showbiz Player Page
Gus T.T. Showbiz Update Page
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Bavitz Player Page Bavitz Update Page
Gus T.T. Showbiz Player Page
Gus T.T. Showbiz Update Page
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Bavitz Player Page Bavitz Update Page