03-08-2023, 02:46 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-12-2023, 11:38 AM by Caleb_H. Edited 2 times in total.)
Hello there people this would have been out earlier and I would have had a different article up today but I had to push back a lot because of a power outage here for whole weekend. Anyways this is mainly from a numbers standpoint i am going to break down some specific performances that if teams can repeat or avoid I think they will be able to improve. All the stats in the chart I will be showing is their average for example Arizona is averaging 18 first downs a game.
ASFC Rankings:
1. Arizona Outlaws (7-1)
The Outlaws have had a dominant start to the season with a 7-1 start and only losing to the SaberCats in week 3. Outlaws always seem to be in control of the game and were able to secure the best drive efficiency scoring on 55% of their drives and have converted on every fourth down they have gone for which is an amazing stat in and of itself. Looking at the game against the SaberCats, a lot of things went wrong but I feel what was mostly so different from the normal Outlaws is that they turned the ball over 3 times in this game and have only turned it over once at max in any other game. They also let up the most passing yards to the SaberCats this season at 335 yards when on average they hold a team to 246 yards. I believe this was a bump in the road for the Outlaws and we will be able to see them continue to dominate as they are now and hopefully never see the week 3 Outlaws again.
The Good:
Drive Efficiency - 55% (1st)
First Downs - 18 (1st)
4th Down Efficiency - 100% (1st)
Turnovers Allowed - 0.88 (1st)
Turnovers Forced - 2 (2nd)
Rushing Yards/G - 132 (2nd)
Sacks - 4.5 (2nd)
Fumbles Forced - 1.38 (T3rd)
Passes Defended - 8.25 (T1st)
Interceptions - 1.50 (T1st)
Penalties - 3.13 (1st)
Time of Possession - 33.13 (1st)
Points For - 32.25 (1st)
Points Allowed - 15.13 (2nd)
Rushing Yards Allowed - 69.13 (2nd)
The Bad:
Passing Yards/G - 217 (12th)
Pancakes - 33.38 (Last)
2. Austin Copperheads (5-3)
This division is interesting in the fact that the NSFC is more cluttered towards the top while I feel this is cluttered towards the bottom and is where we see more of the interchangeable teams. Austin is not one of those teams and nabs the number two spot. Austin has a pretty good all around team that does not exceed in many categories but instead find themselves middle of the pack a lot of the time. They are however tied for the best third down efficiency in the league which is nothing to be ashamed of and also lead the league in fumbles forced per game. The real problem comes from the fact that they are allowing more points per game than they are on average scoring, this is not a high power offense yet but they could easily reach that mark I believe. Some bad games like week 1 and week 6 where the scored on 18% and 8% of drives respectively are outings we wish to never see again from the Copperheads. Games like week 2 and week 5 are what we want to see where they controlled the pace of the game with 35 minutes in possession time securing the win in both of those games! They look to control the ball more and play to their strength of converting when they need to with their efficiency on third.
Side Note: Austin had not gone for a fourth down til week 8 where they converted one of two
The Good:
Third Down Efficiency - 43% (T1st)
Turnovers Allowed - 1 (T2nd)
TFL - 2.25 (T3rd)
Fumbles Forced - 1.88 (1st)
The Bad:
Drive Efficiency - 36% (13th)
Yards Per Carry - 3.76 (13th)
Pancakes - 34.13 (12th)
Time of Possession - 28.15 (13th)
Passing Yards Allowed - 286.38 (13th)
3. New Orleans Secondline (4-4)
This is where I begin teams become somewhat interchangeable as all of them have a good argument for being higher on the list but I feel New Orleans is at a good spot here. New Orleans isn't the best at some categories but I feel that some of their other categories out weigh these bads to the extent that they edge out these other teams. Now does this mean they are good, no, I see Secondline right now as a good middle team who has a solid chance to breakout if they improve in some areas. New Orleans has the least amount of first downs with only 14.25 which cause somewhat of a slowed pace on the offensive side of the ball finding themselves pretty in the middle on most offensive categories. Which consistency can be good! Where I think Secondline really excels is on the defense coming in at second on tackles and tied for 4th in sacks. This defense is definitely a force to be reckoned with but with a lack of consistency from the offense we see this defense on the field the most as the team is dead last in time of possession. I am pretty sure New Orleans is still transitioning and I do not know if the GM roles have been filled yet but at this point I feel whoever comes in while definitely have their work cut out for them but will have a good starting point.
The Good:
Yards Per Attempt - 7.49 (5th)
Yards Per Carry - 4.46 (4th)
Tackles - 49.75 (2nd)
Sacks- 4.13 (T4th)
Penalties - 3.63 (3rd)
Passing Yards Allowed - 254.38 (5th)
The Bad:
First Downs - 14.25 (Last)
TFL - 1.38 (T12th)
Interceptions - 0.38 (Tied for Last)
Time of Possession - 28.13 (Last)
Points For - 21.50 (Last)
4. San Jose SaberCats (3-5)
Ok I know this one may be a bit controversial but hear me out. Remember how the Copperheads were tied with someone in third down efficiency well what do you know the SaberCats have come to play. They have an offense that is great at moving the ball but are not the best at finishing drives but I feel that they can only improve. They find themselves middle of the pack in drive efficiency but finish top 3 in first downs, passing yards and yards per carry. I think the SaberCats are shaping out to be the underdogs of the ASFC and I am excited to see it. They look pretty good with only a low placement in one important category which is passes defended coming in at 13th. I also did an additional calculation of the opponents win % coming into the games and SaberCats face the teams at their strongest facing teams with a average of 62% coming in. The SaberCats are definitely a team I believe you should look out for but don't quote me just yet... dont let me down sabercats
The Good:
First Downs - 17.50 (3rd)
3rd Down Efficiency - 43% (T1st)
Passing Yards/G - 299.25 (3rd)
Completion % - 69% (T1st)
Yards Per Carry - 5.05 (1st)
TFL - 2.25 (T3rd)
Time of Possession - 31.25 (T3rd)
The Bad:
Turnovers Forced - 1.13 (T9th)
Pancakes - 35.88 (10th)
Sacks - 2.50 (10th)
Passes Defended - 4.50 (13th)
5. Orange County Otters (3-4-1)
Orange County Otters is a bit of a difficult team to rank because there are a lot of ups and downs to this team. On one hand this is a top 2 rushing team but in passing they find themselves bottom 3 in every category. I will say though in a league where rushing does not seem to be that dominant the Otters do it really fucking well recording the highest rushing game by any one team in a game this season with 433 yards which may upset the balance of this. I will say they have not had a game below 90 rushing yards which is very impressive and this team should be very proud. With the recent tie against the Fire Salamanders, I had the Otters falling a tad more than I had anticipated. The metric with teams incoming win % is also a big factor here and the Otters have faced the teams with the lowest average W% coming into these games. There a lot of improvements that need to be made for the defense right now but this offense is electric right now.
The Good:
Rushing Yards/G - 162.25 (1st)
Yards Per Carry - 4.89 (2nd)
Passes Defended - 7.38 (T4th)
Time of Possession - 31.88 (2nd)
The Bad:
Drive Efficiency - 33% (Last)
Passing Yards/G - 207.63 (Last)
Completion % - 59% (12th)
Yards Per Attempt - 6.40 (Tied for Last)
Pancakes - 34 (13th)
Sacks - 2.13 (13th)
Penalties - 6.50 (T12th)
Points Allowed - 31.50 (12th)
Rushing Yards Allowed - 128.38 (13th)
6. Honolulu Hahalua (2-6)
Hahalua feels like a good team on paper but I feel being towards the bottom of the rankings in a lot of defensive categories. They perform solidly in efficiency categories on offense and on passing categories but come in towards the bottom of rushing. Now where I feel is a must need for the Hahalua to improve is to improve on putting pressure on the opposing offense. They have only forced a turnover in 4 out of their 8 games and emerging with their only two wins in two of these. I truly believe if they can clamp down a bit more on the defensive side we can see a win increase from them but I do not think they will be able to make it to the playoffs at this rate.
The Good:
TFL - 2.38 (T1st)
The Bad:
Turnovers Forced - 0.63 (Tied for Last)
Rushing Yards/G - 75.50 (13th)
Yards Per Carry - 3.96 (12th)
Sacks - 1.88 (Last)
Fumbles Forced - 0.38 (Tied for Last)
Passes Defended - 4.38 (Last)
Interceptions - 0.38 (Tied for Last)
Penalties - 7.13 (Last)
Points Allowed - 33.13 (Last)
7. New York Silverbacks (2-6)
As someone who took the over on the Silverbacks I am disappointed haha. But alas things are not all bad for the Silverbacks besides my investments. They have had a solid year just have not been able to put points on the board with the second least points for ahead of only Secondline. They are around the lower half of the pack in most offensive categories besides their ability to prevent turnovers finding themself tied for second! They have a solid rush game right now and if they can revive this passing game so they can get both going. I think they will be able to squeeze out that over for me with an improvement in the passing game. I do not want to ignore the defense though as there are not many great spots but they do have some namely tackles and TFL.
The Good:
Turnovers Allowed - 1 (T2nd)
Rushing Yards/G - 121.75 (3rd)
Yards Per Carry - 4.53 (3rd)
Tackles - 49.13 (4th)
TFL - 2.25 (T3rd)
Passing Yards Allowed - 223.13 (1st)
The Bad:
First Downs - 15.13 (12th)
3rd Down Efficiency - 33% (T10th)
Turnovers Forced - 0.63 (Tied for Last)
Passing Yards - 210.25 (Last)
Completion % - 56% (Last)
Yards Per Attempt - 6.40 (Tied for Last)
Sacks - 2.25 (12th)
Fumbles Forced - 0.38 (Tied for Last)
Interceptions - 0.38 (Tied for Last)
Time of Possession - 28.63 (12th)
Points for - 21.88 (13th)
Rushing Yards Allowed - 119.13 (12th)
NSFC Rankings:
1. Yellowknife Wraiths (6-2)
The Yellowknifes are a very dominant team this season and in a very good division. I think that the NSFC definitely is stronger than the ASFC where we do see those teams struggle a bit more. For example my #2 team in the ASFC (Austin Copperheads) have two losses to NSFC teams already and has only played NSFC teams twice! This conference will be harder to rank because of that because for these first three they are all very close and very interchangeable. The Wraiths stand out on top though because in a similar fashion as last season from what little I remember they stand out on the defensive side. They allow the least points per game, record the most sacks per game and let up the least amount of rushing yards per game. This defense is electric and it all starts with Kahn Cussion and Jack McPherson, a great Linebacker duo that is shaking things up across the league. The offense is nothing to keep your eyes away from though as they are third highest in drive efficiency scoring on 42.69% of drives and converting 39% of third downs. This team is highly efficient compared to most teams and has been very solid thus far.
The Good:
Drive Efficiency - 42.69% (3rd)
Third Down Efficiency - 39% (4th)
Rushing Yards/G - 117 (4th)
Pancakes - 38.25 (4th)
Sacks - 4.75 (1st)
Passes Defended - 7.63 (3rd)
Penalties - 3.25 (2nd)
Points Allowed - 15 (1st)
Points For - 28.25 (2nd)
Rushing Yards Allowed - 54.50 (1st)
The Bad:
TFL - 1.50 (11th)
Tackles - 45.38 (T10th)
Passing Yards/G - 235.75 (11th)
2. Chicago Butchers (6-2)
The Butchers have not been as dominant as the Wraiths but they sneakily put up some of the best numbers right now. After reviewing all of the games so far Chicago seems like a great team that finds themself on the bottom of very few categories but does find themselves there in some places. One of which is they have not converted on 4th down yet this season and are the only team not to do so unless I read wrong somewhere. Which is definitely not great because as we have seen a lot of games can come down to the wire and if you are not able to make a play when it counts then it can hurt your chances. Nonetheless, Chicago has a very dominant team that is pretty efficient on both sides of the ball. They had one loss that was a bit brutal against the Wraiths which lands them lower and then their loss against Secondline is definitely something I feel they can recover from with it being so close.
The Good:
Drive Efficiency - 42.25% (4th)
First Downs - 17.38 (4th)
3rd Down Efficiency - 42% (3rd)
Turnovers Forced - 1.50 (3rd)
Fumbles Forced - 1.50 (2nd)
Interceptions - 1.00 (T3rd)
Points For - 27.63 (4th)
The Bad:
4th Down Efficiency - 0% (Last)
Penalties - 5.63 (T10th)
3. Cape Town Crash (6-2)
Cape Town Crash round at out my top 3 that I feel are very close and I could see all being interchangeable. The reason Crash finds themself below the other two is because their offense is not as efficient finding themself towards middle of pack in both points for and drive efficiency. They also do not force turnovers as often as the other two do which does not help their standing necessarily. Enough about the negatives though lets get into the positives. Their offensive line leads the league in pancakes per game which is a great statistic to have since offensive lines can be hit or miss being able to have a line you can rely on is great. They are also towards the top in sacks and passes defended. This can be a really solid team with just a few more improvements!
The Good:
4th Down Efficiency - 58% (4th)
Completion % - 69% (Tied For First)
Yards Per Attempt - 7.53 (4th)
Pancakes - 40.75 (1st)
Sacks - 4.13 (T4th)
Passes Defended - 7.38 (T4th)
Points Allowed - 20.63 (4th)
Rushing Yards Allowed - 84.13 (3rd)
Passing Yards Allowed - 253.63 (4th)
The Bad:
Turnovers Forced - 0.75 (12th)
Yards Per Carry - 4.00 (11th)
Tackles - 43.25 (13th)
TFL - 1.00 (Last)
Interceptions - 0.63 (10th)
4. Sarasota Salifish (3-5)
Now the Salifish here may be a bit surprising to some people but I feel like Salifish have one of the best teams of the teams that currently have a losing record. The Salifish have kept all of their games close with the biggest loss being by 10 but when they win they win dominantly with their smallest win being by 20 points. Overall this is a great team and I expect great things out of them as the season goes on. If I had to rank defenses Sarasota would be on top and for anyone on this roster on the defense they should feel great as this is a hell of a season for the Salifish despite the losing record and with the race being so close at the top there is a huge possibility the Salifish sneak in. The Salifish force the most turnovers in the league then additionally are top 2 in 4 defensive categories which is the most out of any team. If their offense picks up steam like in the games versus the Yeti and Copperheads, teams will start to fear the Salifish.
The Good:
Drive Efficiency - 45.50% (2nd)
Turnovers Allowed - 1.00 (T2nd)
Turnovers Forced - 2.13 (1st)
Passing Yards/G - 289.00 (4th)
Yards Per Attempt - 8.19 (1st)
Tackles - 49.63 (3rd)
Sacks - 4.63 (2nd)
Passes Defended - 8.25 (Tied for First)
Interceptions - 1.50 (Tied for First)
Points Allowed - 20.25 (3rd)
The Bad:
3rd Down Efficiency - 28% (Last)
4th Down Efficiency - 29% (12th)
Rushing Yards/G - 78.00 (12th)
Yards Per Carry - 3.75 (Last)
TFL - 1.38 (T12th)
5. Colorado Yeti (4-4)
The Yeti are a good team on paper but have trouble at one spot and we all know what that spot is. They are living, laughing and loving a tad too much with the most turnovers in the league averaging nearly one whole turnover ahead of the closest team. Unfortunately their defense despite being very stellar is not able to keep up with that. I will say though when they don't turn the ball over the Yeti are a really good team but if they face a team like the Salifish who are excellent on defense it will be one rough ride which is why they find themselves below the Salifish despite a better record. This team is towards the top in every passing stat but their run game is not able to keep up finding themselves towards the bottom of the middle. The Yeti have proven though that you don't need a run game to be extremely successful with their pass game lighting up opponents like the SaberCats.
The Good:
4th Down Efficiency - 67% (2nd)
Turnovers Forced - 1.38 (T4th)
Passing Yards/G - 310.63 (2nd)
Completion % - 68% (3rd)
Yards Per Attempt - 7.75 (2nd)
Pancakes - 39.13 (3rd)
TFL - 2.38 (Tied for First)
Fumbles Forced - 1.38 (T3rd)
Interceptions - 1.00 (T3rd)
The Bad:
3rd Down Efficiency - 33% (T10th)
Turnovers Allowed - 2.25 (Last)
Passes Defended - 5.00 (12th)
Points Allowed - 28.50 (11th)
6. Baltimore Hawks (3-5)
The Hawks were a weird team to rank because as I saw it, they had a very dynamic offense that sometimes sizzled out towards the end or their offense killed it the whole way through and their defense just got blown out mainly looking at the game against the Otters where they allowed 433 rushing yards but its fineeeee. Anyways the Hawks have a good high scoring team but they fail to keep up on the defensive side of the ball in most games allowing the second most points per game and allowing the most rush yards per game. They do however have the second best pass defense currently but that could just be because everyone is running the ball against them. There is a lot the Hawks can improve on especially with 6.50 penalties a game which can be devastating when you are trying to get the defense on the field. All in all though some high scoring games and a powerful offense garner them ahead of the last team.
The Good:
First Downs - 17.63 (2nd)
4th Down Efficiency - 63% (3rd)
Passing Yards/G - 340.75 (1st)
Yards Per Attempt - 7.55 (3rd)
Pancakes - 39.25 (2nd)
Points For - 27.75 (3rd)
Passing Yards Allowed - 244.63 (2nd)
The Bad:
3rd Down Efficiency - 29% (T12th)
Tackles - 42.88 (Last)
Dude Man
Points Allowed - 33.00 (13th)
Rushing Yards Allowed - 138.25 (Last)
Penalties - 6.50 (T12th)
7. Berlin Fire Salamanders (1-6-1)
Well unfortunately someone has to be last and despite everything it has to be the Salamanders as they have not seen much success this season at all. After starting with a win this season the Fire Salamanders have been on a downhill slope to be the bottom team in the NSFC. However they just recently made a trade for Armor Queen who has shown to be a top tier running back so far this season recording third in yardage and this could be the spark of life the Fire Salamanders need. They also obtained Rex Crenshaw at TE while they weren't in desperate need at the passing game it is a good pickup for them and honestly this trade will give Fire Salamanders hope as they have the worst rush offense currently so a fresh face may be what they need!
The Good:
Passing Yards/G - 286.75 (5th)
Tackles - 50.25 (1st)
The Bad:
Drive Efficiency - 37.01% (12th)
First Downs - 14.63 (13th)
3rd Down Efficiency - 29% (T12th)
4th Down Efficiency - 13% (13th)
Completion % - 58% (13th)
Rushing Yards/G - 69.88 (Last)
Fumbles Forced - 0.63 (T11th)
Points For - 22.63 (12th)
Passing Yards Allowed - 317.75 (Last)
Overall Power Rankings
1. Arizona Outlaws
2. Yellowknife Wraiths
3. Chicago Butchers
4. Cape Town Crash
5. Austin Copperheads
6. Sarasota Salifish
7. New Orleans Secondline
8. Colorado Yeti
9. San Jose SaberCats
10. Orange County Otters
11. Baltimore Hawks
12. Honolulu Hahalua
13. New York Silverbacks
14. Berlin Fire Salamanders
I accidentally hit the post before being done but this was my power rankings I hope you all enjoy! Keep in mind I am DSFL level so i do not know every logistic.
ASFC Rankings:
1. Arizona Outlaws (7-1)
The Outlaws have had a dominant start to the season with a 7-1 start and only losing to the SaberCats in week 3. Outlaws always seem to be in control of the game and were able to secure the best drive efficiency scoring on 55% of their drives and have converted on every fourth down they have gone for which is an amazing stat in and of itself. Looking at the game against the SaberCats, a lot of things went wrong but I feel what was mostly so different from the normal Outlaws is that they turned the ball over 3 times in this game and have only turned it over once at max in any other game. They also let up the most passing yards to the SaberCats this season at 335 yards when on average they hold a team to 246 yards. I believe this was a bump in the road for the Outlaws and we will be able to see them continue to dominate as they are now and hopefully never see the week 3 Outlaws again.
The Good:
Drive Efficiency - 55% (1st)
First Downs - 18 (1st)
4th Down Efficiency - 100% (1st)
Turnovers Allowed - 0.88 (1st)
Turnovers Forced - 2 (2nd)
Rushing Yards/G - 132 (2nd)
Sacks - 4.5 (2nd)
Fumbles Forced - 1.38 (T3rd)
Passes Defended - 8.25 (T1st)
Interceptions - 1.50 (T1st)
Penalties - 3.13 (1st)
Time of Possession - 33.13 (1st)
Points For - 32.25 (1st)
Points Allowed - 15.13 (2nd)
Rushing Yards Allowed - 69.13 (2nd)
The Bad:
Passing Yards/G - 217 (12th)
Pancakes - 33.38 (Last)
2. Austin Copperheads (5-3)
This division is interesting in the fact that the NSFC is more cluttered towards the top while I feel this is cluttered towards the bottom and is where we see more of the interchangeable teams. Austin is not one of those teams and nabs the number two spot. Austin has a pretty good all around team that does not exceed in many categories but instead find themselves middle of the pack a lot of the time. They are however tied for the best third down efficiency in the league which is nothing to be ashamed of and also lead the league in fumbles forced per game. The real problem comes from the fact that they are allowing more points per game than they are on average scoring, this is not a high power offense yet but they could easily reach that mark I believe. Some bad games like week 1 and week 6 where the scored on 18% and 8% of drives respectively are outings we wish to never see again from the Copperheads. Games like week 2 and week 5 are what we want to see where they controlled the pace of the game with 35 minutes in possession time securing the win in both of those games! They look to control the ball more and play to their strength of converting when they need to with their efficiency on third.
Side Note: Austin had not gone for a fourth down til week 8 where they converted one of two
The Good:
Third Down Efficiency - 43% (T1st)
Turnovers Allowed - 1 (T2nd)
TFL - 2.25 (T3rd)
Fumbles Forced - 1.88 (1st)
The Bad:
Drive Efficiency - 36% (13th)
Yards Per Carry - 3.76 (13th)
Pancakes - 34.13 (12th)
Time of Possession - 28.15 (13th)
Passing Yards Allowed - 286.38 (13th)
3. New Orleans Secondline (4-4)
This is where I begin teams become somewhat interchangeable as all of them have a good argument for being higher on the list but I feel New Orleans is at a good spot here. New Orleans isn't the best at some categories but I feel that some of their other categories out weigh these bads to the extent that they edge out these other teams. Now does this mean they are good, no, I see Secondline right now as a good middle team who has a solid chance to breakout if they improve in some areas. New Orleans has the least amount of first downs with only 14.25 which cause somewhat of a slowed pace on the offensive side of the ball finding themselves pretty in the middle on most offensive categories. Which consistency can be good! Where I think Secondline really excels is on the defense coming in at second on tackles and tied for 4th in sacks. This defense is definitely a force to be reckoned with but with a lack of consistency from the offense we see this defense on the field the most as the team is dead last in time of possession. I am pretty sure New Orleans is still transitioning and I do not know if the GM roles have been filled yet but at this point I feel whoever comes in while definitely have their work cut out for them but will have a good starting point.
The Good:
Yards Per Attempt - 7.49 (5th)
Yards Per Carry - 4.46 (4th)
Tackles - 49.75 (2nd)
Sacks- 4.13 (T4th)
Penalties - 3.63 (3rd)
Passing Yards Allowed - 254.38 (5th)
The Bad:
First Downs - 14.25 (Last)
TFL - 1.38 (T12th)
Interceptions - 0.38 (Tied for Last)
Time of Possession - 28.13 (Last)
Points For - 21.50 (Last)
4. San Jose SaberCats (3-5)
Ok I know this one may be a bit controversial but hear me out. Remember how the Copperheads were tied with someone in third down efficiency well what do you know the SaberCats have come to play. They have an offense that is great at moving the ball but are not the best at finishing drives but I feel that they can only improve. They find themselves middle of the pack in drive efficiency but finish top 3 in first downs, passing yards and yards per carry. I think the SaberCats are shaping out to be the underdogs of the ASFC and I am excited to see it. They look pretty good with only a low placement in one important category which is passes defended coming in at 13th. I also did an additional calculation of the opponents win % coming into the games and SaberCats face the teams at their strongest facing teams with a average of 62% coming in. The SaberCats are definitely a team I believe you should look out for but don't quote me just yet... dont let me down sabercats
The Good:
First Downs - 17.50 (3rd)
3rd Down Efficiency - 43% (T1st)
Passing Yards/G - 299.25 (3rd)
Completion % - 69% (T1st)
Yards Per Carry - 5.05 (1st)
TFL - 2.25 (T3rd)
Time of Possession - 31.25 (T3rd)
The Bad:
Turnovers Forced - 1.13 (T9th)
Pancakes - 35.88 (10th)
Sacks - 2.50 (10th)
Passes Defended - 4.50 (13th)
5. Orange County Otters (3-4-1)
Orange County Otters is a bit of a difficult team to rank because there are a lot of ups and downs to this team. On one hand this is a top 2 rushing team but in passing they find themselves bottom 3 in every category. I will say though in a league where rushing does not seem to be that dominant the Otters do it really fucking well recording the highest rushing game by any one team in a game this season with 433 yards which may upset the balance of this. I will say they have not had a game below 90 rushing yards which is very impressive and this team should be very proud. With the recent tie against the Fire Salamanders, I had the Otters falling a tad more than I had anticipated. The metric with teams incoming win % is also a big factor here and the Otters have faced the teams with the lowest average W% coming into these games. There a lot of improvements that need to be made for the defense right now but this offense is electric right now.
The Good:
Rushing Yards/G - 162.25 (1st)
Yards Per Carry - 4.89 (2nd)
Passes Defended - 7.38 (T4th)
Time of Possession - 31.88 (2nd)
The Bad:
Drive Efficiency - 33% (Last)
Passing Yards/G - 207.63 (Last)
Completion % - 59% (12th)
Yards Per Attempt - 6.40 (Tied for Last)
Pancakes - 34 (13th)
Sacks - 2.13 (13th)
Penalties - 6.50 (T12th)
Points Allowed - 31.50 (12th)
Rushing Yards Allowed - 128.38 (13th)
6. Honolulu Hahalua (2-6)
Hahalua feels like a good team on paper but I feel being towards the bottom of the rankings in a lot of defensive categories. They perform solidly in efficiency categories on offense and on passing categories but come in towards the bottom of rushing. Now where I feel is a must need for the Hahalua to improve is to improve on putting pressure on the opposing offense. They have only forced a turnover in 4 out of their 8 games and emerging with their only two wins in two of these. I truly believe if they can clamp down a bit more on the defensive side we can see a win increase from them but I do not think they will be able to make it to the playoffs at this rate.
The Good:
TFL - 2.38 (T1st)
The Bad:
Turnovers Forced - 0.63 (Tied for Last)
Rushing Yards/G - 75.50 (13th)
Yards Per Carry - 3.96 (12th)
Sacks - 1.88 (Last)
Fumbles Forced - 0.38 (Tied for Last)
Passes Defended - 4.38 (Last)
Interceptions - 0.38 (Tied for Last)
Penalties - 7.13 (Last)
Points Allowed - 33.13 (Last)
7. New York Silverbacks (2-6)
As someone who took the over on the Silverbacks I am disappointed haha. But alas things are not all bad for the Silverbacks besides my investments. They have had a solid year just have not been able to put points on the board with the second least points for ahead of only Secondline. They are around the lower half of the pack in most offensive categories besides their ability to prevent turnovers finding themself tied for second! They have a solid rush game right now and if they can revive this passing game so they can get both going. I think they will be able to squeeze out that over for me with an improvement in the passing game. I do not want to ignore the defense though as there are not many great spots but they do have some namely tackles and TFL.
The Good:
Turnovers Allowed - 1 (T2nd)
Rushing Yards/G - 121.75 (3rd)
Yards Per Carry - 4.53 (3rd)
Tackles - 49.13 (4th)
TFL - 2.25 (T3rd)
Passing Yards Allowed - 223.13 (1st)
The Bad:
First Downs - 15.13 (12th)
3rd Down Efficiency - 33% (T10th)
Turnovers Forced - 0.63 (Tied for Last)
Passing Yards - 210.25 (Last)
Completion % - 56% (Last)
Yards Per Attempt - 6.40 (Tied for Last)
Sacks - 2.25 (12th)
Fumbles Forced - 0.38 (Tied for Last)
Interceptions - 0.38 (Tied for Last)
Time of Possession - 28.63 (12th)
Points for - 21.88 (13th)
Rushing Yards Allowed - 119.13 (12th)
NSFC Rankings:
1. Yellowknife Wraiths (6-2)
The Yellowknifes are a very dominant team this season and in a very good division. I think that the NSFC definitely is stronger than the ASFC where we do see those teams struggle a bit more. For example my #2 team in the ASFC (Austin Copperheads) have two losses to NSFC teams already and has only played NSFC teams twice! This conference will be harder to rank because of that because for these first three they are all very close and very interchangeable. The Wraiths stand out on top though because in a similar fashion as last season from what little I remember they stand out on the defensive side. They allow the least points per game, record the most sacks per game and let up the least amount of rushing yards per game. This defense is electric and it all starts with Kahn Cussion and Jack McPherson, a great Linebacker duo that is shaking things up across the league. The offense is nothing to keep your eyes away from though as they are third highest in drive efficiency scoring on 42.69% of drives and converting 39% of third downs. This team is highly efficient compared to most teams and has been very solid thus far.
The Good:
Drive Efficiency - 42.69% (3rd)
Third Down Efficiency - 39% (4th)
Rushing Yards/G - 117 (4th)
Pancakes - 38.25 (4th)
Sacks - 4.75 (1st)
Passes Defended - 7.63 (3rd)
Penalties - 3.25 (2nd)
Points Allowed - 15 (1st)
Points For - 28.25 (2nd)
Rushing Yards Allowed - 54.50 (1st)
The Bad:
TFL - 1.50 (11th)
Tackles - 45.38 (T10th)
Passing Yards/G - 235.75 (11th)
2. Chicago Butchers (6-2)
The Butchers have not been as dominant as the Wraiths but they sneakily put up some of the best numbers right now. After reviewing all of the games so far Chicago seems like a great team that finds themself on the bottom of very few categories but does find themselves there in some places. One of which is they have not converted on 4th down yet this season and are the only team not to do so unless I read wrong somewhere. Which is definitely not great because as we have seen a lot of games can come down to the wire and if you are not able to make a play when it counts then it can hurt your chances. Nonetheless, Chicago has a very dominant team that is pretty efficient on both sides of the ball. They had one loss that was a bit brutal against the Wraiths which lands them lower and then their loss against Secondline is definitely something I feel they can recover from with it being so close.
The Good:
Drive Efficiency - 42.25% (4th)
First Downs - 17.38 (4th)
3rd Down Efficiency - 42% (3rd)
Turnovers Forced - 1.50 (3rd)
Fumbles Forced - 1.50 (2nd)
Interceptions - 1.00 (T3rd)
Points For - 27.63 (4th)
The Bad:
4th Down Efficiency - 0% (Last)
Penalties - 5.63 (T10th)
3. Cape Town Crash (6-2)
Cape Town Crash round at out my top 3 that I feel are very close and I could see all being interchangeable. The reason Crash finds themself below the other two is because their offense is not as efficient finding themself towards middle of pack in both points for and drive efficiency. They also do not force turnovers as often as the other two do which does not help their standing necessarily. Enough about the negatives though lets get into the positives. Their offensive line leads the league in pancakes per game which is a great statistic to have since offensive lines can be hit or miss being able to have a line you can rely on is great. They are also towards the top in sacks and passes defended. This can be a really solid team with just a few more improvements!
The Good:
4th Down Efficiency - 58% (4th)
Completion % - 69% (Tied For First)
Yards Per Attempt - 7.53 (4th)
Pancakes - 40.75 (1st)
Sacks - 4.13 (T4th)
Passes Defended - 7.38 (T4th)
Points Allowed - 20.63 (4th)
Rushing Yards Allowed - 84.13 (3rd)
Passing Yards Allowed - 253.63 (4th)
The Bad:
Turnovers Forced - 0.75 (12th)
Yards Per Carry - 4.00 (11th)
Tackles - 43.25 (13th)
TFL - 1.00 (Last)
Interceptions - 0.63 (10th)
4. Sarasota Salifish (3-5)
Now the Salifish here may be a bit surprising to some people but I feel like Salifish have one of the best teams of the teams that currently have a losing record. The Salifish have kept all of their games close with the biggest loss being by 10 but when they win they win dominantly with their smallest win being by 20 points. Overall this is a great team and I expect great things out of them as the season goes on. If I had to rank defenses Sarasota would be on top and for anyone on this roster on the defense they should feel great as this is a hell of a season for the Salifish despite the losing record and with the race being so close at the top there is a huge possibility the Salifish sneak in. The Salifish force the most turnovers in the league then additionally are top 2 in 4 defensive categories which is the most out of any team. If their offense picks up steam like in the games versus the Yeti and Copperheads, teams will start to fear the Salifish.
The Good:
Drive Efficiency - 45.50% (2nd)
Turnovers Allowed - 1.00 (T2nd)
Turnovers Forced - 2.13 (1st)
Passing Yards/G - 289.00 (4th)
Yards Per Attempt - 8.19 (1st)
Tackles - 49.63 (3rd)
Sacks - 4.63 (2nd)
Passes Defended - 8.25 (Tied for First)
Interceptions - 1.50 (Tied for First)
Points Allowed - 20.25 (3rd)
The Bad:
3rd Down Efficiency - 28% (Last)
4th Down Efficiency - 29% (12th)
Rushing Yards/G - 78.00 (12th)
Yards Per Carry - 3.75 (Last)
TFL - 1.38 (T12th)
5. Colorado Yeti (4-4)
The Yeti are a good team on paper but have trouble at one spot and we all know what that spot is. They are living, laughing and loving a tad too much with the most turnovers in the league averaging nearly one whole turnover ahead of the closest team. Unfortunately their defense despite being very stellar is not able to keep up with that. I will say though when they don't turn the ball over the Yeti are a really good team but if they face a team like the Salifish who are excellent on defense it will be one rough ride which is why they find themselves below the Salifish despite a better record. This team is towards the top in every passing stat but their run game is not able to keep up finding themselves towards the bottom of the middle. The Yeti have proven though that you don't need a run game to be extremely successful with their pass game lighting up opponents like the SaberCats.
The Good:
4th Down Efficiency - 67% (2nd)
Turnovers Forced - 1.38 (T4th)
Passing Yards/G - 310.63 (2nd)
Completion % - 68% (3rd)
Yards Per Attempt - 7.75 (2nd)
Pancakes - 39.13 (3rd)
TFL - 2.38 (Tied for First)
Fumbles Forced - 1.38 (T3rd)
Interceptions - 1.00 (T3rd)
The Bad:
3rd Down Efficiency - 33% (T10th)
Turnovers Allowed - 2.25 (Last)
Passes Defended - 5.00 (12th)
Points Allowed - 28.50 (11th)
6. Baltimore Hawks (3-5)
The Hawks were a weird team to rank because as I saw it, they had a very dynamic offense that sometimes sizzled out towards the end or their offense killed it the whole way through and their defense just got blown out mainly looking at the game against the Otters where they allowed 433 rushing yards but its fineeeee. Anyways the Hawks have a good high scoring team but they fail to keep up on the defensive side of the ball in most games allowing the second most points per game and allowing the most rush yards per game. They do however have the second best pass defense currently but that could just be because everyone is running the ball against them. There is a lot the Hawks can improve on especially with 6.50 penalties a game which can be devastating when you are trying to get the defense on the field. All in all though some high scoring games and a powerful offense garner them ahead of the last team.
The Good:
First Downs - 17.63 (2nd)
4th Down Efficiency - 63% (3rd)
Passing Yards/G - 340.75 (1st)
Yards Per Attempt - 7.55 (3rd)
Pancakes - 39.25 (2nd)
Points For - 27.75 (3rd)
Passing Yards Allowed - 244.63 (2nd)
The Bad:
3rd Down Efficiency - 29% (T12th)
Tackles - 42.88 (Last)
Dude Man
Points Allowed - 33.00 (13th)
Rushing Yards Allowed - 138.25 (Last)
Penalties - 6.50 (T12th)
7. Berlin Fire Salamanders (1-6-1)
Well unfortunately someone has to be last and despite everything it has to be the Salamanders as they have not seen much success this season at all. After starting with a win this season the Fire Salamanders have been on a downhill slope to be the bottom team in the NSFC. However they just recently made a trade for Armor Queen who has shown to be a top tier running back so far this season recording third in yardage and this could be the spark of life the Fire Salamanders need. They also obtained Rex Crenshaw at TE while they weren't in desperate need at the passing game it is a good pickup for them and honestly this trade will give Fire Salamanders hope as they have the worst rush offense currently so a fresh face may be what they need!
The Good:
Passing Yards/G - 286.75 (5th)
Tackles - 50.25 (1st)
The Bad:
Drive Efficiency - 37.01% (12th)
First Downs - 14.63 (13th)
3rd Down Efficiency - 29% (T12th)
4th Down Efficiency - 13% (13th)
Completion % - 58% (13th)
Rushing Yards/G - 69.88 (Last)
Fumbles Forced - 0.63 (T11th)
Points For - 22.63 (12th)
Passing Yards Allowed - 317.75 (Last)
Overall Power Rankings
1. Arizona Outlaws
2. Yellowknife Wraiths
3. Chicago Butchers
4. Cape Town Crash
5. Austin Copperheads
6. Sarasota Salifish
7. New Orleans Secondline
8. Colorado Yeti
9. San Jose SaberCats
10. Orange County Otters
11. Baltimore Hawks
12. Honolulu Hahalua
13. New York Silverbacks
14. Berlin Fire Salamanders
I accidentally hit the post before being done but this was my power rankings I hope you all enjoy! Keep in mind I am DSFL level so i do not know every logistic.