im bored, heres my first post-retirement power rankings. i might do another one in a few games, i might never do another one, but this forum just sucks so much someone needed to do something about it.
ALPHA
1. Burnt Orange Rising: This team looks to build off of last season, and looks scary as all hell. Depth issues may flare up, however.
-Strengths: Back seven, running game.
-Weaknesses: Offensive line depth.
-Prediction: Conference championship contender.
2. Paris Gloutons: After an unspectacular season last year, they look to make some noise. Very strong team overall but they have an exceptional passing attack that will give many teams trouble.
-Strengths: Passing game, defensive line.
-Weaknesses: None.
-Prediction: Conference championship contender.
3. Vienna Danube River Raiders: 2nd seed upset in the first round last year, and this team looks to be back with a vengeance. However, there are quite a few inactive players that could pose an issue, and they have some depth issues as well.
-Strengths: Defensive line.
-Weaknesses: Inactivity, defensive depth.
-Prediction: Top four contender.
4. Belgrade Bomb Squad: Playoff team last year, should be able to make a return trip based on an overall well balanced roster. Their lack of a power running game will hurt them though.
-Strengths: Secondary, Receivers.
-Weaknesses: Power running game.
-Prediction: Top four contender.
5. Turin Colonels: Nearly made the conference championship game last season which would have put them in AAA1, but they're still in AA2 and will have some tough competition. They have a very solid defense, which will help them win games.
-Strengths: Passing game, linebackers.
-Weaknesses: Blocking.
-Prediction: Top four contender.
6. Black Forest Brawlers: Coming off a WE A3 title, this is a very good looking team and should make noise in its first season up with the big boys. Underwhelmed by how they performed in their scrimmages, but their offense should be able to carry them when their defense has its off days.
-Strengths: Passing game, blocking.
-Weaknesses: Secondary depth.
-Prediction: Top four contender.
7. Kazan Golden Horde: Newcomer to Western Europe, Kazan looks to hopefully make the playoffs after their very solid season last year. Chemistry will hurt them in early season matchups, hopefully for them they can rebound and make their mark.
-Strengths: Defensive line.
-Weaknesses: Blocking.
-Prediction: Playoffs.
8. The Drunken Potato Farmers of Ayrshire: Up from WE A4 where they were Alpha champs, Ayrshire looks to continue their solid run. The top teams will probably be able to handle them, but they still should be able to sneak into the playoffs with their sound defense.
-Strengths: Secondary.
-Weaknesses: Passing game.
-Prediction: Playoff contender.
9. Lisbon Goons: Just missed the playoffs last season in AA2, and do not look to have addressed the weaknesses that kept them out last year. Look to have an average offense and average defense, which might be good enough in Alpha, but it might not be.
-Strengths: Back seven.
-Weaknesses: Blocking, running game.
-Prediction: Playoff contender.
10. Barcelona Assassins: Several bright spots on the roster, they hope to improve upon last season's record and make the playoffs. Their defense is sound but their running game has me a bit worried.
-Strengths: Front seven.
-Weaknesses: Running backs.
-Prediction: Playoff contender.
11. Steel City War Machine: A one agent team should never have as poor of a season as they had last year. Players are high level, but the builds do not look sound, and they have holes. Will beat teams purely based on their levels but will falter against the elite.
-Strengths: Power running game.
-Weaknesses: Blocking, defensive line.
-Prediction: Outside looking in.
12. Rusty Trombones: Roster looks similar to their below-average team of last season, which does not bode well for them. They have holes in their roster at key positions, hopefully for them their defense can keep them in some games this season.
-Strengths: Secondary.
-Weaknesses: Incomplete roster.
-Prediction: Outside looking in.
13. Tulsa Doom: Almost got knocked out of AA2 last season, and this looks to be another trying season for Tulsa.
-Strengths: None.
-Weaknesses: Blocking, secondary.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
14. Amsterdam Panthers: Will have a tough go of it in their first season in AA ball. Their starters for the most part are solid, but their depth deficiencies will be their doom.
-Strengths: None.
-Weaknesses: Depth, stadium.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
15. Swedish Glaciers: Roster is almost entirely inactive, and they will get rolled continually again this season. Several of their contracts expire mid season.
-Strengths: None.
-Weaknesses: Inactivity.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
16. Dublin/Dresden Connections: Slow building/CPU players.
-Strengths: None.
-Weaknesses: All.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
ZETA
1. Manchester Divided: Extremely strong team coming off of a league title in WE BBB1. Have no holes that I can see.
-Strengths: Front seven, passing game.
-Weaknesses: Stadium.
Prediction: Conference championship contender.
2. Lyon Winemakers: Last year's 4th seed looks to build on that season. Very strong defense will lead the charge, while potent rushing attack will get them points.
-Strengths: Back seven, running game.
-Weaknesses: None.
Prediction: Conference championship contender.
3. Permian Panthers: This team has always been an enigma to me. On paper they could play in the pros, but they just never put it together on the field. They could just as easily go 20-0 as go 11-5.
-Strengths: Passing game, front seven.
-Weaknesses: None.
Prediction: Conference championship contender.
4. Sandersville WarChickens: Won their conference in their uncapped Oceania league last season, and that will translate into success in AA2.
-Strengths: Front seven.
-Weaknesses: Offensive line depth.
Prediction: Top four contender.
5. Stockholm Polar Bears: Will fight for and should secure a playoff spot in their first year up in AA ball. Some minor depth issues but nothing that can't be fixed over the course of the season.
-Strengths: Passing game, linebackers.
-Weaknesses: Line depth.
Prediction: Top four contender.
6. Jacksonville Jackalopes: WE A4 champions last year bring a solid team to AA2. Look well balanced, if not a bit unspectacular. Should definitely make the playoffs but I think their defense will hold them back a bit.
-Strengths: Passing game.
-Weaknesses: Stadium, depth.
Prediction: Playoffs.
7. Sicilian Centurions: Look to have retooled after missing the playoffs last season, and look very strong, especially on defense. Their offense will have to pick up the slack to overcome their chemistry issues in a tough early schedule.
-Strengths: Blocking, defensive line.
-Weaknesses: Chemistry.
Prediction: Playoff contender.
8. Seattle Bluehawks: Could do very well up in AA2, but have serious depth issues that will need to be addressed if they want to be more than just another playoff team.
-Strengths: Linebackers.
-Weaknesses: Depth, running game.
Prediction: Playoff contender.
9. Leavenworth Inmates: Team looks solid this season, and should be a lock for a playoff spot if they can fix some depth issues, and work on their inactivity.
-Strengths: Front seven.
-Weaknesses: Inactivity, depth.
Prediction: Playoff contender.
10. Snæfellsjökull Eruptions: Rebuilt after last season's disappointment, they look very well balanced and could push their way into the playoffs.
-Strengths: Blocking, linebackers.
-Weaknesses: Running game.
Prediction: Playoff contender.
11. Wicklow Warriors: Zeta champions of WE A3 last year. Overall level deficiency, combined with inactivity and depth issues, will most likely keep this team out of the playoffs but they could scrape their way in with some changes.
-Strengths: Passing game.
-Weaknesses: Depth, inactivity.
Prediction: Outside looking in.
12. Titletown Testy Tadpoles: New to AA2, after a solid but nothing special year last season in a lower league. They will have a tough time up here against the solid defenses in Zeta, as their offense will not be able to carry the load.
-Strengths: Passing game.
-Weaknesses: Running game, secondary.
Prediction: Outside looking in.
13. Munich Mastodons: Another new team that looks to have a tough time up here, as their starters look decent but not great, and their depth is poor.
-Strengths: None.
-Weaknesses: Depth, secondary.
Prediction: Bottom third.
14. Munich Owls: On paper they don't look bad, but they've never been able to put it together.
-Strengths: Running game.
-Weaknesses: Stadium, passing game.
Prediction: Bottom third.
15. Hamburg Gangsters: Not ready for prime-time team is going to take its lumps this season. My condolences.
-Strengths: None.
-Weaknesses: All.
Prediction: Bottom third.
16. Philadelphia Global Titans: CPU players.
-Strengths: None.
-Weaknesses: All.
Prediction: Bottom third.
ALPHA
1. Burnt Orange Rising: This team looks to build off of last season, and looks scary as all hell. Depth issues may flare up, however.
-Strengths: Back seven, running game.
-Weaknesses: Offensive line depth.
-Prediction: Conference championship contender.
2. Paris Gloutons: After an unspectacular season last year, they look to make some noise. Very strong team overall but they have an exceptional passing attack that will give many teams trouble.
-Strengths: Passing game, defensive line.
-Weaknesses: None.
-Prediction: Conference championship contender.
3. Vienna Danube River Raiders: 2nd seed upset in the first round last year, and this team looks to be back with a vengeance. However, there are quite a few inactive players that could pose an issue, and they have some depth issues as well.
-Strengths: Defensive line.
-Weaknesses: Inactivity, defensive depth.
-Prediction: Top four contender.
4. Belgrade Bomb Squad: Playoff team last year, should be able to make a return trip based on an overall well balanced roster. Their lack of a power running game will hurt them though.
-Strengths: Secondary, Receivers.
-Weaknesses: Power running game.
-Prediction: Top four contender.
5. Turin Colonels: Nearly made the conference championship game last season which would have put them in AAA1, but they're still in AA2 and will have some tough competition. They have a very solid defense, which will help them win games.
-Strengths: Passing game, linebackers.
-Weaknesses: Blocking.
-Prediction: Top four contender.
6. Black Forest Brawlers: Coming off a WE A3 title, this is a very good looking team and should make noise in its first season up with the big boys. Underwhelmed by how they performed in their scrimmages, but their offense should be able to carry them when their defense has its off days.
-Strengths: Passing game, blocking.
-Weaknesses: Secondary depth.
-Prediction: Top four contender.
7. Kazan Golden Horde: Newcomer to Western Europe, Kazan looks to hopefully make the playoffs after their very solid season last year. Chemistry will hurt them in early season matchups, hopefully for them they can rebound and make their mark.
-Strengths: Defensive line.
-Weaknesses: Blocking.
-Prediction: Playoffs.
8. The Drunken Potato Farmers of Ayrshire: Up from WE A4 where they were Alpha champs, Ayrshire looks to continue their solid run. The top teams will probably be able to handle them, but they still should be able to sneak into the playoffs with their sound defense.
-Strengths: Secondary.
-Weaknesses: Passing game.
-Prediction: Playoff contender.
9. Lisbon Goons: Just missed the playoffs last season in AA2, and do not look to have addressed the weaknesses that kept them out last year. Look to have an average offense and average defense, which might be good enough in Alpha, but it might not be.
-Strengths: Back seven.
-Weaknesses: Blocking, running game.
-Prediction: Playoff contender.
10. Barcelona Assassins: Several bright spots on the roster, they hope to improve upon last season's record and make the playoffs. Their defense is sound but their running game has me a bit worried.
-Strengths: Front seven.
-Weaknesses: Running backs.
-Prediction: Playoff contender.
11. Steel City War Machine: A one agent team should never have as poor of a season as they had last year. Players are high level, but the builds do not look sound, and they have holes. Will beat teams purely based on their levels but will falter against the elite.
-Strengths: Power running game.
-Weaknesses: Blocking, defensive line.
-Prediction: Outside looking in.
12. Rusty Trombones: Roster looks similar to their below-average team of last season, which does not bode well for them. They have holes in their roster at key positions, hopefully for them their defense can keep them in some games this season.
-Strengths: Secondary.
-Weaknesses: Incomplete roster.
-Prediction: Outside looking in.
13. Tulsa Doom: Almost got knocked out of AA2 last season, and this looks to be another trying season for Tulsa.
-Strengths: None.
-Weaknesses: Blocking, secondary.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
14. Amsterdam Panthers: Will have a tough go of it in their first season in AA ball. Their starters for the most part are solid, but their depth deficiencies will be their doom.
-Strengths: None.
-Weaknesses: Depth, stadium.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
15. Swedish Glaciers: Roster is almost entirely inactive, and they will get rolled continually again this season. Several of their contracts expire mid season.
-Strengths: None.
-Weaknesses: Inactivity.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
16. Dublin/Dresden Connections: Slow building/CPU players.
-Strengths: None.
-Weaknesses: All.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
ZETA
1. Manchester Divided: Extremely strong team coming off of a league title in WE BBB1. Have no holes that I can see.
-Strengths: Front seven, passing game.
-Weaknesses: Stadium.
Prediction: Conference championship contender.
2. Lyon Winemakers: Last year's 4th seed looks to build on that season. Very strong defense will lead the charge, while potent rushing attack will get them points.
-Strengths: Back seven, running game.
-Weaknesses: None.
Prediction: Conference championship contender.
3. Permian Panthers: This team has always been an enigma to me. On paper they could play in the pros, but they just never put it together on the field. They could just as easily go 20-0 as go 11-5.
-Strengths: Passing game, front seven.
-Weaknesses: None.
Prediction: Conference championship contender.
4. Sandersville WarChickens: Won their conference in their uncapped Oceania league last season, and that will translate into success in AA2.
-Strengths: Front seven.
-Weaknesses: Offensive line depth.
Prediction: Top four contender.
5. Stockholm Polar Bears: Will fight for and should secure a playoff spot in their first year up in AA ball. Some minor depth issues but nothing that can't be fixed over the course of the season.
-Strengths: Passing game, linebackers.
-Weaknesses: Line depth.
Prediction: Top four contender.
6. Jacksonville Jackalopes: WE A4 champions last year bring a solid team to AA2. Look well balanced, if not a bit unspectacular. Should definitely make the playoffs but I think their defense will hold them back a bit.
-Strengths: Passing game.
-Weaknesses: Stadium, depth.
Prediction: Playoffs.
7. Sicilian Centurions: Look to have retooled after missing the playoffs last season, and look very strong, especially on defense. Their offense will have to pick up the slack to overcome their chemistry issues in a tough early schedule.
-Strengths: Blocking, defensive line.
-Weaknesses: Chemistry.
Prediction: Playoff contender.
8. Seattle Bluehawks: Could do very well up in AA2, but have serious depth issues that will need to be addressed if they want to be more than just another playoff team.
-Strengths: Linebackers.
-Weaknesses: Depth, running game.
Prediction: Playoff contender.
9. Leavenworth Inmates: Team looks solid this season, and should be a lock for a playoff spot if they can fix some depth issues, and work on their inactivity.
-Strengths: Front seven.
-Weaknesses: Inactivity, depth.
Prediction: Playoff contender.
10. Snæfellsjökull Eruptions: Rebuilt after last season's disappointment, they look very well balanced and could push their way into the playoffs.
-Strengths: Blocking, linebackers.
-Weaknesses: Running game.
Prediction: Playoff contender.
11. Wicklow Warriors: Zeta champions of WE A3 last year. Overall level deficiency, combined with inactivity and depth issues, will most likely keep this team out of the playoffs but they could scrape their way in with some changes.
-Strengths: Passing game.
-Weaknesses: Depth, inactivity.
Prediction: Outside looking in.
12. Titletown Testy Tadpoles: New to AA2, after a solid but nothing special year last season in a lower league. They will have a tough time up here against the solid defenses in Zeta, as their offense will not be able to carry the load.
-Strengths: Passing game.
-Weaknesses: Running game, secondary.
Prediction: Outside looking in.
13. Munich Mastodons: Another new team that looks to have a tough time up here, as their starters look decent but not great, and their depth is poor.
-Strengths: None.
-Weaknesses: Depth, secondary.
Prediction: Bottom third.
14. Munich Owls: On paper they don't look bad, but they've never been able to put it together.
-Strengths: Running game.
-Weaknesses: Stadium, passing game.
Prediction: Bottom third.
15. Hamburg Gangsters: Not ready for prime-time team is going to take its lumps this season. My condolences.
-Strengths: None.
-Weaknesses: All.
Prediction: Bottom third.
16. Philadelphia Global Titans: CPU players.
-Strengths: None.
-Weaknesses: All.
Prediction: Bottom third.
Edited by goldielax25 on Jun 20, 2009 11:38:04
