Warrior General Games

So You Think You're A Playoff Contender?

This weeks edition of CDN Breaks down all the need to know information for the first round of the playoffs.


Carbomya N. Africa:


Playoff excitement is taking over the lion conference. An exciting regular season that was very competitive and full of ups and downs for all the contenders has come to a close at last. There are eight teams with hopes of granduer and a trip to the African Pro leagues. We have seen everything this season from a dominating 16-0 jugernaut, to teams that started like they were gonna dominate only to fade down the stretch, to teams that started horrifically slow, only to turn it up a notch down the stretch to secure a spot in the first round. Most of the elite 8 have a shot to catch lightning in a bottle and finish off a dream season.


The teams:

We have three distinct classes of team this post season.

Juggernaut, Contender, and We are happy to be here.


Juggernaut:
This season saw only one team rise to the status of Juggernaut; Somali Pirates. A perfect regular season that barely saw them contested at all. Somali was incredibly sick, so dominant for the most part the only interesting thing about them from week to week was how many stats they would roll up and exactly how would they do it this time?

Only two games on the schedule were even worth watching, CWM came within 7 in a contest that was really the only time the Pirates staggering run defense looked vulnerable. The game was a ground pounding shoot out(rare) each team put up more than 400 yards and the final score was 44-37 for the big boys of the Lion Conf. Nairobi had the second best outing against these guys, going toe to toe for three quarters going into the 4th trailing 16-17. The fourth quarter was insane Nairobi scored 14 and the Pirates put up 28. One of the most exciting quarters you could find in all of the conference. This was the only time the pass defense looked suspect.

Somali is a statistical wonder. They rank 2nd in passing yds(first amongst contending teams) 1st in completion percentage and yards per attempt. They are 3rd in rushing yards, 1st in yards per carry. They have only given up 15 offensive TD all season, 8 rushing, 7 passing. 2nd overall rush defense, and 4th on pass defense. I think they are the top pass defense, but opponents are always behind, and are forced to attempt to air it out vs them. They are also the top turnover producer along with CWM amongst the contenders.

The Somali Pirates are the team to beat this post season. They wil be in the conference Championship game. The only question is whom will face them and can they compete?

Contenders:


This group consists of Four teams These teams have been swapping wins and losses and the regular season has been very competitive for them all, and they are:

TheSterling Bulldogs
http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=3510
Sterling is pretty firmly the 2nd team in Lion. Lost two games in conference and had a 1 pt loss out of conference in an "oh-duh" upset
The two Losses came from Somali Pirates(Humbling affair losing 45-7) and a 6pt nail biter to Nairobi. The Buldogs are the conferences leading rushing team and very solid in the pass game when they want to be. They are a pretty boring Squad that works you slow and methodically. Hit you in the mouth on offense and take away your breath on defense. A very well run team that has GMs that seem to have a thumb on just what they are good at. Some of the better built dots in the league that only has minor holes in depth and talent. Definitely a team that can be in the conf champ game.

Cybertron War Machine
http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=6417

CWM is a daisy of a team. How are they this competitive? One of the lower level teams that seems to just keep you close and find a way to win With one of the most boring methods around. CWM has three losses all by 7 points to Somali, Sterling and Nairobi respectively. There were also a couple of close wins thrown in there. No matter the talent or method, CWM found a way to join the competitor group and has as good of a shot as anyone to make the Conference Championship game. CWM hands their hat on pounding the rock and making turnovers with their talented secondary. Of the teams listed so far CWM has the toughest path to the big dance. They will have to face a contender in each playoff round.

Nairobi Death Squad
http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=5257

NDS is one heck of a tough team. Three coference losses and a victory against CWM, the Bulldogs and the Hellfish. They did lose their out of conference game to the Silverbacks one of the tougher draws for a contender. This is one of the reasons I dispise the OOC games, that loss cost them the #2 seed. They did have a couple of bone headed outings though, so I guess the jury is still hung as to their true legacy. Beat the top dogs, then lose to so so squads. NDS has a very efficient well run defense and to me this is the character of their team. I think all the playoff teams can go toe to toe with the offense, but their defense is to quote G.W. Bush..."the decider". If you want to take down NDS, you better have your OAI in tune. They will be in or win every playoff game they are a part of. This team does not get the press of the other top teams, but they should.

Fulham Flying Helfish
http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=626

You may ask how the hell do I have the #6 seed here? It was actually a tough decision but I just think they are better than Just glad to be here status. FFH is talented if not bipolar. One loss came from facing the undefeated Elephant team(did I mention I hate OOC games?) they went toe to toe with CWM Ahnilated the Aces, pulled a stinker against the west nile mosquitos, beat WYB. Hell, who knows what they will bring from game to game. These guys are contenders by a thread. They have a chance to win any game in which management takes their meds before game planning. They are an upset waiting to happen.

We are happy to be here:

Alexandria Crimson Evil Aces
http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=5372
Lost OOC to a middle of the road Elephant team, Lost in conf to Somoli, Bulldogs, CWM, Fullham, Narrow win agains WYB and Nairobi(WTH?). Aces are Basically GLBs version of a booty call. You have girls you would rather get down with, but come 3am on Saturday night when you havestruck out at the bars they are worth the trip across the street to shag. They have a bit of talent and are not cannon fodder. They play some solid defense, but they have some offensive issues and depth is an inhibitor.


West Yorkshire Bandits
http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=6097
Next years Romeo? WYB Lost to all the teams ahead of them, and won to the teams behind them. They started out a little slow, made some moves and looked much improved in the latter parts of the season. They appear to be waiting for tomorrow. You however cannot sleep on them. They have the talent at some key positions to make you pay if you do not do a little homework.


Barundi Busch Warriors
http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=2873
Not really a playoff team, Lost to everyone, won out of conference 77-0 feasted on the young and elderly, got ass whooped by anyone with a pulse except WYB (WTH?) Cnnon Fodder for the Juggernaut in every sense of the word.

OK now for the first round matchups.

#1 Somali Pirates vs #8 BURUNDI BUCSH WARRIORS
http://goallineblitz.com/game/compare_teams.pl?team1=473&team2=2873

This game is the most lopsided game in the playoffs this season. BBW just does not have the horses to hang with the top Dawgs at this point. I look for an ultra conservative game plan from the Pirates so as to not expose their playoff tweaks. This is a major advantage for the top seed. I hate to be so negative towards BBW, this just is not their time.

Upset chance % = .ooo9
Predicted outcome SP by 63


#2 Sterling Bulldogs vs #7West Yorkshire Bandits
http://goallineblitz.com/game/compare_teams.pl?team1=3510&team2=6097

This game comes down to depth, talent and chemistry. Who has the better of the three? Well, depth is gonna go to SB, not by much, but SB is a little deeper. Talent is a virtual wash. WYB has some younger pretty well built dots, while I would give the talent a slight edge to WYB, I think overall at this point due to VAs the Buldogs are slightly ahead here. Chemistry is overwhelmingly in favor of the bulldogs. WYB tops out at 79, and this is just too much of a governor on their talent, especially in the playoffs. This is why I believe WYB is next years Romeo. Look for WYB to put up a fight early in the game and keep it low scoring for a while. However, adversity will strike some time late in the second quarter to early third then the floodgates will open. I look for SB to put up a dominant rushing performance that breaks the will of the bandits.

Upset chance % 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288
Predicted Outcome = Sterling Bulldogs 33-9


#3 Cybertron War Machine vs #6 Fullham Flying Hellfish
http://goallineblitz.com/game/compare_teams.pl?team1=6417&team2=626

This is a very nice matchup. I can tell you off all the teams with a worse record than CWM this is the team they least wish to face. The first matchup saw CWM take a 1pt victory from the jaws of defeat. Honestly FFH outplayed the War Machine on that cold October day. FFH is a younger but well constructed team. they have great depth that is well distributed. I think that CWM is a little better talent wise and this game is ging to come down to another type of talent...... Coordinators. This game should be an incredible slugfest with both defenses on the hook for the outcome. This game should come down to who can get turnovers and who happens to break that oh so elusive big play on offense.

I have to say I thin CWM is the favorite here due to body of work, but not by much.

Upset chance % 33.333333333333
Predicted Outcome = CWM wins 33-23 in a game that is actually closer than the score.

#4 Nairobi Death Squad vs #5 Alexandria Crimson Evil Aces
http://goallineblitz.com/game/compare_teams.pl?team1=5257&team2=5372
ACEA upset Nairobi in the recular season game. The game was a defensive slugfest with both teams stifling the other. ACEA stepped up with a big time 78yd drive in the 3rd period to come away with the victory. Can this game live up to the regular season game? It is possible, but my personal take is Nairobi did not veiw ACEA as a threat and did not put the correct effort into the gameplan for the first go around. I look for NDS to put up the same effort on defense and to improve on offense.

Upset chance %= 40
Predicted outcome= Nairobi walks away 27-13 and really is never threatened in the second half.

take your meds

Originally posted by Landrys Legacy
take your meds

¿por qué

Originally posted by BuddyHorn
¿por qué

I think he wants to see the doll again.

Originally posted by arcadecowboy
Originally posted by BuddyHorn

¿por qué

I think he wants to see the doll again.

good lord no............

Updated for contenders.

solid(had too) write ups.

i hope we make it to the ccg. we will have a very tough second round game. i agree with putting FFH in the contenders.

Updated for Just happy to be here.

BTW, please do not take offense if I said anything harsh. Just win in round one to prove your point. I do not mind eating crow. It can be fun.

Originally posted by Husker2
solid(had too) write ups.

i hope we make it to the ccg. we will have a very tough second round game. i agree with putting FFH in the contenders.

Awesome on the solid.


Thanks for the props.

Nice write-ups. I agree with Fulham being up in contenders if only by a thread. Actually called them my dark horse team of the season. Going to be some interesting playoff games.... except for that Somali game

Great write-ups Buddy.

Outstanding in depth write ups. Really appreciate the effort.