Ok, for those of you who were back in WEA7 with me we used to do a little power rankings ever so often. They were mostly for fun but did provide some insight as to who was what in the conference. Remember these are only my opinions so take them just as that. I've added a little wrinkle in this time to so with no further adue hope ya enjoy...
And the top spot goes to (no real surprise here)...
1. Kilkenny Cannibals (4-0)
-- The 3 headed monster rushing attack wears defenses down and then opens up the game for their passing unit. On defense, like it or not, they've been the best in their conference for about 5 straight seasons. Defense and running the ball wins championships folks...
NFL team equivalent: Baltimore Ravens (with Bama grad Ozzie Newsome as GM no shocker here)
2. Transylvania Bloodsuckers (4-0)
-- A large part of this unit has been together since day 1 of the team existence and this might finally be their year. An improving defense, a consistent offense, and a kicking game that is at least reliable (our punter skipped the first 2 games to play golf and was fined accordingly). They didn't have the league toughest schedule in the first quarter of the season but this week business will pick up.
NFL team equivalent: Indianapolis Colts (even though I don't like Peyton)
3. Bow Street Runners (3-1)
-- This is one of those teams that just chips away at you and before you know it you look up and you're down 14 points in the 4th quarter thinking "what just happened?" Without the flare and flash of some of the other teams they simply get their job done and rack up win after win. Oh yeah... and they have some kick returner guy who supposedly is kinda good, lol.
NFL team equivalent: New York Giants
4. Cork City Wildcats (4-0)
-- Consistent power rushing, passing enough to keep the safeties off the line, and forces long downs with their penetration it's no surprise they are still undefeated at this time. If you can possibly fly under the radar at 4-0 they are doing it. I think they cruise to 6-0 then we find out what they are really made of.
NFL team equivalent: Carolina Panthers
5. Basin City Blues (2-2)
-- Don't let the record fool you, these guys lost a fluke of a game to Dresden (they'd beat Dresden 4 out of 5 times, sorry) and fell to Kilkenny but has already beaten Bow Street. They had the hardest schedule of the contenders to start the season which means watch out the rest of the way. Last season's rushing leader Tyler Branson is at it again as well of the rest of the potent offense and a defense that hasn't gelled yet but we all know they will. If they beat Transylvania on the 10th they will run the table the rest of the season.
NFL team eqivalent: Pittsburgh Steelers
6. Glastonbury Knights (3-1)
-- These guys came on strong at the end of last season and now has won 7 of their last 8 regular season games. Scoring at least 40 points in every game so far is impressive and the defense has been bend but not break for the beginning of the season. They'll need to do at least that in their next matchup as they face BCB. The winner of that game will have a good shot at a home field playoff game in round 1. Are they holding back against weaker competition or is this really who they are?
NFL team equivalent: Washington Redskins
7. Belfast Brawlers (3-1)
-- First and ten... pass. Second and five... pass. Fourth and a quarter inch... pass. How do I start my car......pass. What's for dinner.......pass. Call it a hunch but I think defenses might know what's coming, lol. However, if it ain't broke don't fix it. I'm interested to see how that defense will hold up compared to some of the top offense units in the league. I think Belfast vs BCB on the 12th might be the first time I have ever seen both teams score over 100.
NFL equivalent: Philadelphia Eagles
8. Quazi Fantoms (3-1)
-- Not much stands out about this team and from this perspective that's a good thing. They can run, they can pass, they can play defense and before you know it they did win. And also how can you not like a defense featuring Cornelius Thomas and Derrick Bennet (at least for those of you who get that reference). They are a quiet good team now but beat Kilkenny tomorrow and the noise gets a lot louder.
NFL equivalent: Miami Dolphins
9. Helsinki Coyotes (2-2)
-- This team is under ranked at this position and they will surely end up in the top tier battling for a home playoff game. Their 2 losses were against Kilkenny and BCB so the jury is still out. The game in 3 days against Quazi should be a very telling game for both sides. The pass happy offense can put up points and the defense needs to adjust to being on the field longer and shutting other teams down.
NFL equivalent: New Orlean Saints
10. London Underground (1-3)
-- Despite the losing record every game has been close. A balanced offense and an improving defense makes this a good but not great team. In Eastern Europe AA they'd be figting for the upper echelon. However in Western Europe they are still a season or 2 away.
NFL team equivalent: Green Bay Packers
11. Spaniard Warriors (2-2)
-- After a fast start they have been thumped in their last 2 games and this week get the Passfast Brawlers. Their offense is good enough to put up points but can't afford to fall behind early as they really need to rely on milking the clock with their nice running game. On defense I'd suggest going with 3 LBs and 8 DBs all game tomorrow, lol. This team is good enough to pull at least 1 big upset this year and really hurt someone's playoff chances. Over the next couple of seasons this team will grow and look to be one of the better teams in the league.
NFL team equivalent: Houston Texans
12. Reading Football Club (1-3)
-- This is another team that I can guarantee won't finish the season this low. In fact, this team will be in the hunt for the playoffs this year. Their 3 losses have come to teams with a combined record of 11-1 but they did pull off a good win against Belfast. Their running game and defense overall is too good to stay down for long. If they can find a way to pull off the upset against Cork City then they could go on a massive roll for quite a few games.
NFL team equivalent: Dallas Cowboys
13. Grim Reapers (1-3)
-- This one really hurts as Grim is not far removed from being a league powerhouse. Their running game is very good and their passing game is a wonderful complement to that. On defense they are simply underachieving as they are a much better unit than they've showed so far. The game against Reading coming up will likely be a swing game for both teams and vault the winner back up into the playoff race.
NFL team equivalent: Atlanta Falcons
14. Ithaca Space Munkees (0-4)
-- Make no mistake about it, this team can and will stick with anyone. A solid running game and a defense that keeps team close enough means that with a couple of breaks they will be winning the close ones instead of losing them. However, most teams in this league just have too much firepower for the munkees at this time. Another team to really watch in 2 seasons.
NFL team equivalent: Oakland Raiders
15. Clydesdale Colts (1-3)
-- It's unfortunate for Clydesdale that so many teams went CPU last season because if they hadn't been promoted they would likely be the best team in A this season. Not a bad team by any stretch of the imagination but that defense just doesn't have it to hang with the big time offenses in this league just yet. They might pull an upset or two this year but I really don't see much else possible.
NFL team equivalent: Kansas City Chiefs
16. Palermo Don's (0-4)
-- Hey, at least they aren't gutted! Are they good enough to challenge anyone this year? No, not really. Again this is another team that would've faired well in A league this year but AA is just gonna be too much. I don't know their long term plan but they have a few trophies to show that they at least know what they are doing.
NFL team equivalent: Detroit Lions
Well there you have it. I hope everyone enjoyed the reading now let the debates begin!
And the top spot goes to (no real surprise here)...
1. Kilkenny Cannibals (4-0)
-- The 3 headed monster rushing attack wears defenses down and then opens up the game for their passing unit. On defense, like it or not, they've been the best in their conference for about 5 straight seasons. Defense and running the ball wins championships folks...
NFL team equivalent: Baltimore Ravens (with Bama grad Ozzie Newsome as GM no shocker here)
2. Transylvania Bloodsuckers (4-0)
-- A large part of this unit has been together since day 1 of the team existence and this might finally be their year. An improving defense, a consistent offense, and a kicking game that is at least reliable (our punter skipped the first 2 games to play golf and was fined accordingly). They didn't have the league toughest schedule in the first quarter of the season but this week business will pick up.
NFL team equivalent: Indianapolis Colts (even though I don't like Peyton)
3. Bow Street Runners (3-1)
-- This is one of those teams that just chips away at you and before you know it you look up and you're down 14 points in the 4th quarter thinking "what just happened?" Without the flare and flash of some of the other teams they simply get their job done and rack up win after win. Oh yeah... and they have some kick returner guy who supposedly is kinda good, lol.
NFL team equivalent: New York Giants
4. Cork City Wildcats (4-0)
-- Consistent power rushing, passing enough to keep the safeties off the line, and forces long downs with their penetration it's no surprise they are still undefeated at this time. If you can possibly fly under the radar at 4-0 they are doing it. I think they cruise to 6-0 then we find out what they are really made of.
NFL team equivalent: Carolina Panthers
5. Basin City Blues (2-2)
-- Don't let the record fool you, these guys lost a fluke of a game to Dresden (they'd beat Dresden 4 out of 5 times, sorry) and fell to Kilkenny but has already beaten Bow Street. They had the hardest schedule of the contenders to start the season which means watch out the rest of the way. Last season's rushing leader Tyler Branson is at it again as well of the rest of the potent offense and a defense that hasn't gelled yet but we all know they will. If they beat Transylvania on the 10th they will run the table the rest of the season.
NFL team eqivalent: Pittsburgh Steelers
6. Glastonbury Knights (3-1)
-- These guys came on strong at the end of last season and now has won 7 of their last 8 regular season games. Scoring at least 40 points in every game so far is impressive and the defense has been bend but not break for the beginning of the season. They'll need to do at least that in their next matchup as they face BCB. The winner of that game will have a good shot at a home field playoff game in round 1. Are they holding back against weaker competition or is this really who they are?
NFL team equivalent: Washington Redskins
7. Belfast Brawlers (3-1)
-- First and ten... pass. Second and five... pass. Fourth and a quarter inch... pass. How do I start my car......pass. What's for dinner.......pass. Call it a hunch but I think defenses might know what's coming, lol. However, if it ain't broke don't fix it. I'm interested to see how that defense will hold up compared to some of the top offense units in the league. I think Belfast vs BCB on the 12th might be the first time I have ever seen both teams score over 100.
NFL equivalent: Philadelphia Eagles
8. Quazi Fantoms (3-1)
-- Not much stands out about this team and from this perspective that's a good thing. They can run, they can pass, they can play defense and before you know it they did win. And also how can you not like a defense featuring Cornelius Thomas and Derrick Bennet (at least for those of you who get that reference). They are a quiet good team now but beat Kilkenny tomorrow and the noise gets a lot louder.
NFL equivalent: Miami Dolphins
9. Helsinki Coyotes (2-2)
-- This team is under ranked at this position and they will surely end up in the top tier battling for a home playoff game. Their 2 losses were against Kilkenny and BCB so the jury is still out. The game in 3 days against Quazi should be a very telling game for both sides. The pass happy offense can put up points and the defense needs to adjust to being on the field longer and shutting other teams down.
NFL equivalent: New Orlean Saints
10. London Underground (1-3)
-- Despite the losing record every game has been close. A balanced offense and an improving defense makes this a good but not great team. In Eastern Europe AA they'd be figting for the upper echelon. However in Western Europe they are still a season or 2 away.
NFL team equivalent: Green Bay Packers
11. Spaniard Warriors (2-2)
-- After a fast start they have been thumped in their last 2 games and this week get the Passfast Brawlers. Their offense is good enough to put up points but can't afford to fall behind early as they really need to rely on milking the clock with their nice running game. On defense I'd suggest going with 3 LBs and 8 DBs all game tomorrow, lol. This team is good enough to pull at least 1 big upset this year and really hurt someone's playoff chances. Over the next couple of seasons this team will grow and look to be one of the better teams in the league.
NFL team equivalent: Houston Texans
12. Reading Football Club (1-3)
-- This is another team that I can guarantee won't finish the season this low. In fact, this team will be in the hunt for the playoffs this year. Their 3 losses have come to teams with a combined record of 11-1 but they did pull off a good win against Belfast. Their running game and defense overall is too good to stay down for long. If they can find a way to pull off the upset against Cork City then they could go on a massive roll for quite a few games.
NFL team equivalent: Dallas Cowboys
13. Grim Reapers (1-3)
-- This one really hurts as Grim is not far removed from being a league powerhouse. Their running game is very good and their passing game is a wonderful complement to that. On defense they are simply underachieving as they are a much better unit than they've showed so far. The game against Reading coming up will likely be a swing game for both teams and vault the winner back up into the playoff race.
NFL team equivalent: Atlanta Falcons
14. Ithaca Space Munkees (0-4)
-- Make no mistake about it, this team can and will stick with anyone. A solid running game and a defense that keeps team close enough means that with a couple of breaks they will be winning the close ones instead of losing them. However, most teams in this league just have too much firepower for the munkees at this time. Another team to really watch in 2 seasons.
NFL team equivalent: Oakland Raiders
15. Clydesdale Colts (1-3)
-- It's unfortunate for Clydesdale that so many teams went CPU last season because if they hadn't been promoted they would likely be the best team in A this season. Not a bad team by any stretch of the imagination but that defense just doesn't have it to hang with the big time offenses in this league just yet. They might pull an upset or two this year but I really don't see much else possible.
NFL team equivalent: Kansas City Chiefs
16. Palermo Don's (0-4)
-- Hey, at least they aren't gutted! Are they good enough to challenge anyone this year? No, not really. Again this is another team that would've faired well in A league this year but AA is just gonna be too much. I don't know their long term plan but they have a few trophies to show that they at least know what they are doing.
NFL team equivalent: Detroit Lions
Well there you have it. I hope everyone enjoyed the reading now let the debates begin!
Last edited May 3, 2009 11:42:45
Whatever happens this season, I hope a WE A7 Alpha team takes it.
