I’m out of the country, waiting for the next work meeting, so time to write and scramble up some power rankings on games that indicate next to nothing. As a result of this being preseason, no one really jumped or dropped more than one, expect that to change Monday. Assuming I’m alive enough to write then (trip is in India, so who knows)
As with all power rankings, please understand that the methodology is who would win most of the time when they face off in an even scenario. I try to make the rankings have as little bias as possible and the comments to have the explanation. They will offend some people. I accept that. It is meant in good fun, keep that in mind.
Oh and in old tradition, I wrote, edited and organized this. Please send 33% of the money to me, 33% of the money to me, and 33% of the money to me.
1. Yellowknife Wraiths ?+1
So let’s talk Yellowknife who took on the Copperheads and the Otters and convincingly won, by leading both teams in the second half and never looking back. Of course, the Wraiths get unlucky but let us see how this goes from here, they could surprise a few people.
2. Orange County Otters ?-1
I expect them to return to form, but the loss on the road against Yellowknife means that either it was a blip or a sign that they may be beaten for once in the last couple of seasons. That said, this is probably my shakiest and hottest take in terms of team placement because I see the Otters as still being the force, but idk something my gut said, was just put it at 2.
3. Baltimore Hawks ?+1
I couldn’t figure out where to put the hawks. Like many other teams, they played weak opponents, and the overtime win against the liberty gives me pause but they’re my dark horse this season, so give it some time and see what they do.
4. New Orleans Second Line ?-1
A near 50 burger against san jose is cool, but I worry about the gameplan, as they’re passing little, which is going to be key if they want to score more. That said, they probably control the tempo more with their deadly RB combo.
5. Colorado Yeti ?0
Look, dropping a 50 burger on a team is rad. I will never not love it, no matter if the victim is me or another team. You can write that down. That said, despite absolutely dominating their opponents, the competition has been two builds deep in rebuild, the sabercats and the team they scored 50 on, the outlaws. I am bullish on most teams that cannot be looking at a deep postseason who cannot put up convincing wins. Always have been, always will be.
6. Austin Copperheads ?0
A win against NOLA on the road is huge but they need to do more when their entire game seems to be Tidwell and Mendonca. That defense is looking ok, but nothing to write home about, so let’s see how they do from here in the second half of the preseason. This team is looking good, and if I may self brag for a second, I have put up 1 sack and 7 tackles in two games and am not even the best rookie defensive end on that team.
7. Arizona Outlaws ?0
Well you get 50 scored on you, and you get lucky that everyone else below you still seems to be prone to have that as a regular, regular season occurance and you might just stay out of the top 6. I need to make this clear, the gap between 6 and 7 is probably the largest leap between ranks of any. While a demolition of the Liberty is good, this is not the Dimiro or the Falconi Liberty, and way less to hang a hat on. But let's see what this team can do, they can easily be the upset team for the ASFC where a key loss for one team can really damage them. This is not a team to sleep on.
8. Philadelphia Liberty ?0
Ouch. Starting a rookie QB is always risky, especially with this rebuild. Expect this team to lean heavily on their run game. In fact, I have seen this story with a team leaning heavily on their run game, allowing Mason brown to have a career, expect Torenson to do the same. One thing to keep in mind is that in baseball there is something called WAR, or Wins Above Replacement, and while the best RB can easily make a difference over an average RB and put a team over the top (hell, I did it, to toot my own…trumpet) a great or good Running back on a bad team will likely not contribute the team winning many games. Also the QB committee is an interesting look. Expect one to switch mid season.
9. Chicago Butchers ?0
59. This is the number of points they have been outscored by in two games. I get why they want a redraft, but man, it seems like a problem for this team that really needs a change of pace. That said, this team seems like they need to tank for the 1oa, and maybe I should write another one of my famous shadow GM pieces on what I’d do, but starting guys sub 100 TPE is a surefire way to make sure that the postseason is not a feasible option this season. I worry about that team’s LR morale.
10. San Jose Sabercats ?0
Yikes. All I can say. Maybe they can turn it around? Look, San Jose has a QB who has not updated quite yet, and maybe they change jump up the leaderboards, with their killer RB and QB combo, but there’s just a few holes that have me worried. For starts the wide receiver duo that has been known to have seems to be a thing of the past. And with no weapons for Wright, I worry about what this team can do to make sure that they challenge the other teams.
As with all power rankings, please understand that the methodology is who would win most of the time when they face off in an even scenario. I try to make the rankings have as little bias as possible and the comments to have the explanation. They will offend some people. I accept that. It is meant in good fun, keep that in mind.
Oh and in old tradition, I wrote, edited and organized this. Please send 33% of the money to me, 33% of the money to me, and 33% of the money to me.
1. Yellowknife Wraiths ?+1
So let’s talk Yellowknife who took on the Copperheads and the Otters and convincingly won, by leading both teams in the second half and never looking back. Of course, the Wraiths get unlucky but let us see how this goes from here, they could surprise a few people.
2. Orange County Otters ?-1
I expect them to return to form, but the loss on the road against Yellowknife means that either it was a blip or a sign that they may be beaten for once in the last couple of seasons. That said, this is probably my shakiest and hottest take in terms of team placement because I see the Otters as still being the force, but idk something my gut said, was just put it at 2.
3. Baltimore Hawks ?+1
I couldn’t figure out where to put the hawks. Like many other teams, they played weak opponents, and the overtime win against the liberty gives me pause but they’re my dark horse this season, so give it some time and see what they do.
4. New Orleans Second Line ?-1
A near 50 burger against san jose is cool, but I worry about the gameplan, as they’re passing little, which is going to be key if they want to score more. That said, they probably control the tempo more with their deadly RB combo.
5. Colorado Yeti ?0
Look, dropping a 50 burger on a team is rad. I will never not love it, no matter if the victim is me or another team. You can write that down. That said, despite absolutely dominating their opponents, the competition has been two builds deep in rebuild, the sabercats and the team they scored 50 on, the outlaws. I am bullish on most teams that cannot be looking at a deep postseason who cannot put up convincing wins. Always have been, always will be.
6. Austin Copperheads ?0
A win against NOLA on the road is huge but they need to do more when their entire game seems to be Tidwell and Mendonca. That defense is looking ok, but nothing to write home about, so let’s see how they do from here in the second half of the preseason. This team is looking good, and if I may self brag for a second, I have put up 1 sack and 7 tackles in two games and am not even the best rookie defensive end on that team.
7. Arizona Outlaws ?0
Well you get 50 scored on you, and you get lucky that everyone else below you still seems to be prone to have that as a regular, regular season occurance and you might just stay out of the top 6. I need to make this clear, the gap between 6 and 7 is probably the largest leap between ranks of any. While a demolition of the Liberty is good, this is not the Dimiro or the Falconi Liberty, and way less to hang a hat on. But let's see what this team can do, they can easily be the upset team for the ASFC where a key loss for one team can really damage them. This is not a team to sleep on.
8. Philadelphia Liberty ?0
Ouch. Starting a rookie QB is always risky, especially with this rebuild. Expect this team to lean heavily on their run game. In fact, I have seen this story with a team leaning heavily on their run game, allowing Mason brown to have a career, expect Torenson to do the same. One thing to keep in mind is that in baseball there is something called WAR, or Wins Above Replacement, and while the best RB can easily make a difference over an average RB and put a team over the top (hell, I did it, to toot my own…trumpet) a great or good Running back on a bad team will likely not contribute the team winning many games. Also the QB committee is an interesting look. Expect one to switch mid season.
9. Chicago Butchers ?0
59. This is the number of points they have been outscored by in two games. I get why they want a redraft, but man, it seems like a problem for this team that really needs a change of pace. That said, this team seems like they need to tank for the 1oa, and maybe I should write another one of my famous shadow GM pieces on what I’d do, but starting guys sub 100 TPE is a surefire way to make sure that the postseason is not a feasible option this season. I worry about that team’s LR morale.
10. San Jose Sabercats ?0
Yikes. All I can say. Maybe they can turn it around? Look, San Jose has a QB who has not updated quite yet, and maybe they change jump up the leaderboards, with their killer RB and QB combo, but there’s just a few holes that have me worried. For starts the wide receiver duo that has been known to have seems to be a thing of the past. And with no weapons for Wright, I worry about what this team can do to make sure that they challenge the other teams.
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