Here are my thoughts and predictions at the beginning of the pre-season. I will update this at the end of the pre-season to adjust for any FA signings or boosts that might happen. Again, just my own perception. Nothing personal, well, except for the Dublin ones.
Tulsa Doom- Tulsa might have won the Alpha conference is WEA #4 last season but they are about to get smacked around. According to what I see they are underdogs in every game they play as of right now. They will squeak a win or two out but not many. 2-14 is a real possibility.
MID-SEASON: Well my prediction is probably a little off but not much. Tulsa currently has two wins and they are underdogs versus every team that remains. I think they MIGHT squeak out one more win against Yorkshire. It isn't that that they are a bad team- they lost three games by a total of 9 points- but they are just under powered against most of the teams. I give them props for obviously game planning with the best of them. MVP- Gott give their LB Cambyses Amrtaka some love. 49 tackles, 1 sack and 11 Forced Fumbles.
Rusty Trombones- The Trombones have some talent on their roster. If nothing changed I would say they would challenge for a playoff spot. However, they have people still who will be leaving day 1 and they have only two WRs on the roster. Could be a long season if they don’t add some people. 4-12
MID-SEASON: Rusty also has equaled the win total I projected for them already. But like Tulsa they are heading into the hard part of their schedule. It is likely they will get another win against Steel City but I don't know if there will be any others. Probably 5-6 wins is the most they can hope for. Besides a close loss vs Lisbon, I don't see that they have been particularly competitive in their losses. You can chalk their problems up to a weak DL and a thin bunch of CBs. MVP- TJ Sweetness has an 8.8 yard per average and 13 TDs.
Dublin Devils- Maybe Dublin just missed AA. Or maybe the lights were too bright. Or maybe they just rolled over on purpose. I have no idea. Frankly I am pissed to see them in AA again. They have a very good roster and look to be pretty set. If they come back and dominate I am calling the biggest load of bullshit in GLB history. These guys had no business being demoted. Jerks. 14-2
MID-SEASON- Wow, gee, look, Dublin is winning. How amazing that they have turned their team around. Losses to Cardiff and Bayou show that Dublin might be in trouble in the post-season, although the game against Cardiff was close and honestly could have gone either way. Dublin is getting things done on the ground with both of their HB having good seasons. Dublin has two pretty tough games left with Vienna and BOR. I am guessing they will go 1-1 in those two games and finish the season 13-3. MVP- TD Goals has 1148 yards and 27 TDs at the halfway point.
Rome Wolves- I like Rome. They are a good team with a good owner. And when I say good I mean a little demented. But that’s ok in GLB! It looks like there are some CPU players on the team which is never a good sign and they have a real lack of people at TE and DE. They also have NO PUNTER. Still, I expect they will make a decent show of it and slip into the playoffs. 9-7
MID-SEASON- Poor Rome. Went CPU and now the Huns are pillaging on a weekly basis. Sad to see another good team go down.
Steel City War Machine- Another team who has a lot of apparently high level players but wasn’t able to do much last year. The rumor is they have crappy builds. It could be. Anyways, they have only three WRs as of now but other than that the roster looks good. I have no idea what kind of season they will have but I don’t see them making the playoffs based on last year’s performances unless they were just playing possum. 6-10.
MID-SEASON-
Paris Gloutons- I like Paris. It is a great city and I speak French so I have no problem getting around there. I like a lot of things about these guys including their QB and their O-line. But their receiving corps is pretty thin. Their defense has something like 432 players and that depth will help. But they lack a shut down CB to handle the high level WRs out there. Probably will be a scrappy team that could surprise on a given day. 9-7.
Cardiff Dragons- Yes I am biased. Heh. Cardiff has a good team again this year with most of their players coming back. They are weak at OT and DE. However, they have a very good group of receivers and their star HB is back again. They have a stout secondary. Look for them to challenge for the trophy again this year. 14-2
Vienna Danube River Raiders- You have got to like the O-Line for this team. They should be able to hold their own against almost anyone. And I like their RB and HB. Not really impressed with their WRs but their TE looks decent. On defense they are going to have some trouble. They have good Des and LBers but they are a little weak in their CBs. Look for them to do well this season though. 11-5
Lisbon Goons- Coming off of a fine season, Lisbon is a team that knows how to win. Their QB, Baby Face Finster is a seasoned veteran and knows how to sling it. But they are looking under leveled on offense right now. If they boost they will have a much better chance. On defense they look to be pretty set but again need to boost. If they don’t boost it will be a long season for them. 10-6
Yorkshire Warriors- Hey look, another new team to the conference. Welcome. Now prepare to receive a lot of beatings. The Warriors just don’t have the roster to match up against the remaining teams from season 8. What they do have is a lot of depth and that could be good if they can stick together and survive a very hard season. 1-15
Bayou Bandits- Like Cardiff, Bayou had a decent run last season in the playoffs and they are looking to take it to the next level this season. The biggest problem I see is that their O-line looks to be weak and that means Mister Pink and Rip McMasters could be in trouble. They also have a thin WR corp. The defense looks deep and should hold up well during the season. 10-6
Turin Colonels- Turin was a scrappy team last year and I have seen them for many seasons. They have a solid roster with some outstanding players. Look for them to have a better season this year. 9-7
Swedish Glaciers- The Swedes got the crap beat out of them in Season 8 and are looking to improve. They have a ton of people on the roster and that helps. But their skill positions are still not very high level and they lack a true defensive threat. I think they will have more success this year but part of that is just because of the lower level talent that came into the league. 6-10
Burnt Orange Rising- Another very fine team, the BOR is playing the No Respect Card early and often after Season 8. Their O-line looks decent but not overpowering but their HB and WRs look to be very good. The offense could be explosive and tireless. On defense they show a great amount of talent as well and I particularly like their Des. Look for this team to go places this year… maybe even all the way. 15-1.
Belgrade Bomb Squad- the WEA #3 Season 8 Champs are in it to win it in AA this year. They too have a huge roster but their talent really falls off after their starters. This is especially dangerous on the defensive side of the board. Look for them to play well in the first quarter of a lot of games but then get run over by the higher leveled backups on teams like BOR and Bayou. 8-8
Barcelona Assassins- Yeesh… I don’t know what is going on with these guys. They have such a huge range of players. They are going to be beaten down severely. Sorry guys. 1-15.
Pre-Season Rankings
1) Burnt Orange Rising 15-1
2) Cardiff Dragons 14-2
3) Dublin Devils 14-2
4) Vienna Danube River Raiders 11-5
5) Bayou Bandits 10-6
6) Lisbon Goons 10-6
7) Rome Wolves 9-7
8) Paris Gloutons 9-7
9) Turin Colonels 9-7
10) Belgrade Bomb Squad 8-8
11) Steel City War Machine 6-10
12) Swedish Glaciers 6-10
13) Rusty Trombones 4-12
14) Tulsa Doom 2-14
15) Barcelona Assassins 1-15
16) Yorkshire Warriors 1-15
Tulsa Doom- Tulsa might have won the Alpha conference is WEA #4 last season but they are about to get smacked around. According to what I see they are underdogs in every game they play as of right now. They will squeak a win or two out but not many. 2-14 is a real possibility.
MID-SEASON: Well my prediction is probably a little off but not much. Tulsa currently has two wins and they are underdogs versus every team that remains. I think they MIGHT squeak out one more win against Yorkshire. It isn't that that they are a bad team- they lost three games by a total of 9 points- but they are just under powered against most of the teams. I give them props for obviously game planning with the best of them. MVP- Gott give their LB Cambyses Amrtaka some love. 49 tackles, 1 sack and 11 Forced Fumbles.
Rusty Trombones- The Trombones have some talent on their roster. If nothing changed I would say they would challenge for a playoff spot. However, they have people still who will be leaving day 1 and they have only two WRs on the roster. Could be a long season if they don’t add some people. 4-12
MID-SEASON: Rusty also has equaled the win total I projected for them already. But like Tulsa they are heading into the hard part of their schedule. It is likely they will get another win against Steel City but I don't know if there will be any others. Probably 5-6 wins is the most they can hope for. Besides a close loss vs Lisbon, I don't see that they have been particularly competitive in their losses. You can chalk their problems up to a weak DL and a thin bunch of CBs. MVP- TJ Sweetness has an 8.8 yard per average and 13 TDs.
Dublin Devils- Maybe Dublin just missed AA. Or maybe the lights were too bright. Or maybe they just rolled over on purpose. I have no idea. Frankly I am pissed to see them in AA again. They have a very good roster and look to be pretty set. If they come back and dominate I am calling the biggest load of bullshit in GLB history. These guys had no business being demoted. Jerks. 14-2
MID-SEASON- Wow, gee, look, Dublin is winning. How amazing that they have turned their team around. Losses to Cardiff and Bayou show that Dublin might be in trouble in the post-season, although the game against Cardiff was close and honestly could have gone either way. Dublin is getting things done on the ground with both of their HB having good seasons. Dublin has two pretty tough games left with Vienna and BOR. I am guessing they will go 1-1 in those two games and finish the season 13-3. MVP- TD Goals has 1148 yards and 27 TDs at the halfway point.
Rome Wolves- I like Rome. They are a good team with a good owner. And when I say good I mean a little demented. But that’s ok in GLB! It looks like there are some CPU players on the team which is never a good sign and they have a real lack of people at TE and DE. They also have NO PUNTER. Still, I expect they will make a decent show of it and slip into the playoffs. 9-7
MID-SEASON- Poor Rome. Went CPU and now the Huns are pillaging on a weekly basis. Sad to see another good team go down.
Steel City War Machine- Another team who has a lot of apparently high level players but wasn’t able to do much last year. The rumor is they have crappy builds. It could be. Anyways, they have only three WRs as of now but other than that the roster looks good. I have no idea what kind of season they will have but I don’t see them making the playoffs based on last year’s performances unless they were just playing possum. 6-10.
MID-SEASON-
Paris Gloutons- I like Paris. It is a great city and I speak French so I have no problem getting around there. I like a lot of things about these guys including their QB and their O-line. But their receiving corps is pretty thin. Their defense has something like 432 players and that depth will help. But they lack a shut down CB to handle the high level WRs out there. Probably will be a scrappy team that could surprise on a given day. 9-7.
Cardiff Dragons- Yes I am biased. Heh. Cardiff has a good team again this year with most of their players coming back. They are weak at OT and DE. However, they have a very good group of receivers and their star HB is back again. They have a stout secondary. Look for them to challenge for the trophy again this year. 14-2
Vienna Danube River Raiders- You have got to like the O-Line for this team. They should be able to hold their own against almost anyone. And I like their RB and HB. Not really impressed with their WRs but their TE looks decent. On defense they are going to have some trouble. They have good Des and LBers but they are a little weak in their CBs. Look for them to do well this season though. 11-5
Lisbon Goons- Coming off of a fine season, Lisbon is a team that knows how to win. Their QB, Baby Face Finster is a seasoned veteran and knows how to sling it. But they are looking under leveled on offense right now. If they boost they will have a much better chance. On defense they look to be pretty set but again need to boost. If they don’t boost it will be a long season for them. 10-6
Yorkshire Warriors- Hey look, another new team to the conference. Welcome. Now prepare to receive a lot of beatings. The Warriors just don’t have the roster to match up against the remaining teams from season 8. What they do have is a lot of depth and that could be good if they can stick together and survive a very hard season. 1-15
Bayou Bandits- Like Cardiff, Bayou had a decent run last season in the playoffs and they are looking to take it to the next level this season. The biggest problem I see is that their O-line looks to be weak and that means Mister Pink and Rip McMasters could be in trouble. They also have a thin WR corp. The defense looks deep and should hold up well during the season. 10-6
Turin Colonels- Turin was a scrappy team last year and I have seen them for many seasons. They have a solid roster with some outstanding players. Look for them to have a better season this year. 9-7
Swedish Glaciers- The Swedes got the crap beat out of them in Season 8 and are looking to improve. They have a ton of people on the roster and that helps. But their skill positions are still not very high level and they lack a true defensive threat. I think they will have more success this year but part of that is just because of the lower level talent that came into the league. 6-10
Burnt Orange Rising- Another very fine team, the BOR is playing the No Respect Card early and often after Season 8. Their O-line looks decent but not overpowering but their HB and WRs look to be very good. The offense could be explosive and tireless. On defense they show a great amount of talent as well and I particularly like their Des. Look for this team to go places this year… maybe even all the way. 15-1.
Belgrade Bomb Squad- the WEA #3 Season 8 Champs are in it to win it in AA this year. They too have a huge roster but their talent really falls off after their starters. This is especially dangerous on the defensive side of the board. Look for them to play well in the first quarter of a lot of games but then get run over by the higher leveled backups on teams like BOR and Bayou. 8-8
Barcelona Assassins- Yeesh… I don’t know what is going on with these guys. They have such a huge range of players. They are going to be beaten down severely. Sorry guys. 1-15.
Pre-Season Rankings
1) Burnt Orange Rising 15-1
2) Cardiff Dragons 14-2
3) Dublin Devils 14-2
4) Vienna Danube River Raiders 11-5
5) Bayou Bandits 10-6
6) Lisbon Goons 10-6
7) Rome Wolves 9-7
8) Paris Gloutons 9-7
9) Turin Colonels 9-7
10) Belgrade Bomb Squad 8-8
11) Steel City War Machine 6-10
12) Swedish Glaciers 6-10
13) Rusty Trombones 4-12
14) Tulsa Doom 2-14
15) Barcelona Assassins 1-15
16) Yorkshire Warriors 1-15
Last edited May 15, 2009 05:03:30
