Look at the Teams in the Playoff Hunt

[Mike]

Top Contenders

SPR:
Having a marvelous season. One loss. Seems like the team to beat. Number one RB in McFadden. Who ever had #1 rush AND #1 pass D at the same time? 4th year DE Akins is sacking like crazy.Weaknesses: Dinkins has low rating, and turnover-prone.

POR:
Perennial contender. Great rushing game, now a hotshot QB is back (because Khari Jones’ rating). #8 offence, #3 defence. The real strength of this team is the #1 turnover (+9)

PIT:
Slowly shooting up. #3 in first downs. Best team in the conference. PIT hasn’t been a dominant team, could it represent the conference this year? Bam Morris already has 10 TDs rushing. While QB Foggie is doing well, his 5 INTs are a concern.

ALB:
A very strong team, but consistent? Sixteenth in Defence, this weakness needs to be fixed if the Firebirds are to go far. But, even if they give up points, 24.8 points per game is amazing. Marinovich is simply willing his team to win! Where he goes, there goes the team.

TEN:

Usually a defending team, QB Graziani is tied with the great Marinovich for TDs thrown (18). The WR corps is seemingly interchangeable. The D and passing game is going to carry this team if it goes far.

CHE:

QB Bishop is struggling, but the team is strong. Paris Moore has 4.8 yards/ carry. Only team in its conference to give up less than 20 points per game! This team is showing its weak spots…but don’t count out its amazing GM yet !

MIN:

Defending Gold Cup Champs, this team has slipped, but last year made a run at the end of the season, and finally decided to hit its potential. When opponents slow down Shaun King, they still have to deal with HB Smith! King has to get a few more TDs passed if the team truly wants to win on the road vs. teams like POR and SPR. No more surprising teams like when FWS gave up a running TD to the QB in the Gold Cup!

WCH:

Is this the year? HB Diamond is burning up the charts, but he’s still not experienced enough. QB Hamilton is good, but is not showing he can bring this team to a Gold Cup level yet. You’ll have to beat this team on the ground, because they give up only 8 TDs passing this year.

The Long shots

HON: Needs help. Cates is doing well. Bonner has been a great find. They have a great defence and offence, but that’s just not showing up enough on the scoreboard.

CON: Great team….on paper. CON has improved its team immensely. Has good ST, IN, EN,….but the key stat this year is PA for patience, because it’s not going to be their year.

FWS: Too much partying during preseason. Next year the cheerleaders will practice at another location because the team’s minds aren’t on winning. Time to see what the backups can do, and give the reliable vets a chance to make personal records.

BAT: Great new GM for this team is improving things immensely….but needs PA like CON. Bellisari at QB is decent.

PEO: #2 rushing. This team could be better. Probably as good as Albany, but has a tougher competition in SPR and MIN. QB Lemon hasn’t thrown an INT. If this team gets some pass defence…

[Connecticut]

nice writeup Mike!

[TC]

Great write-up Mike...thanks for putting it together!

SPR: Weaknesses: Dinkins has low rating, and turnover-prone.

I wish I would have had a chance to do a write-up, but for those very reasons Robbie Jenkins has been the starter at QB for the past 2 games. His rating is only a few points better than Dinkins, but the key stat is that he has not turned the ball over. Dinkins had 5 INTs and 2 fumbles in 7 games.

The Slayers are the worst in the league so far this season in Takeaways / Giveaways: -6 overall. Fortunately, the defense is amazing this year. Otherwise there's no way Springfield would be sitting at 9-1.

-TC

[portland]

good stuff, mike.