4 games into Season 17, we have some things to talk about:
Zeta
Zeta is showing that it truly is going to come down to post-season preparation and planning. Very top heavy thus far. 5 undefeated teams left in Zeta, with the primary question being who's going to come out on top for post season play. Considering that 2 of the 5 were WL last season, and haven't played the other 3, new rivalries will be created this year. All 5 tops look to be in mid seasons stride already.
We're going to review the top 8 and see what we got.
1) EEA - Well, i debated on putting myself here, tbh. But, after looking over all 5 teams, and including ranked scrims into the mix, I think we've played the toughest schedule so far. We figured since we were going to have a meat grinder of a season in Zeta, we might as well make our non-con games match. 2 big wins against 2 top 5 SEAPro teams, and a 1-1 record against 2 of the top APL teams speaks for itself. If I'm being honest about it, then I have to rank us first, for now.
2) Or 1b, really. KINGMAN - Blame Stu for the 1b ranking. Kingman has given up 39 points in 4 league games, but has a couple disappointing losses in non-con play. However, a big win against LOT this week showed that Stu and the boys and ready and waiting for prime time. A lackluster performance by EEA, or a loss, and Kingman is immediately the #1 team in Zeta.
3) Tough call here, but I have to give the edge to SYRACUSE. They started out a little sketchy with a 1pt win against Bora Bora. But since then, They beat a pretty good Come Fiesta team in a ranked non-con, and had a big win against LOT 2 games ago in league play. They have been tested early, and have passed with flying colors. Could this be the year for Ronnie Brown and the boys?
4) There are 3 teams I could rank here, honestly, maybe even 4, but I am going to give the slight edge to GOLD COAST. I know Gold Coast well, from 4-5 seasons now of rivalry over in Alpha. They are solid every year and are always more than capable of beating anyone (Read: See S15 Conf Championship game - still stings, ez). After a slow start in Week 1, they look to be hitting on all cylinders heading into a tough 3 game stretch against GuadalCanal, Whores, and a talented Razorback team.
5) I'll give the edge in the 5 hole to GUADALCANAL. I think the Whores would easily be here, if not higher, but they don't seem to be doing anything with their team. Perhaps waiting until the playoffs. So, Guadal sits in the 5 spot for now. They haven't really been tested yet, as they have scored at will on their first 4 opponents. However, they now moved into perhaps the toughest 5 game stretch in the league. We'll check back in 8 days and see how they have faired.
6) WHORES - All I really need to say. It looks like they aren't doing much, but I'm fairly certain they will be ready once the playoffs start. My hope is that EEA finishes 1st, and the whores finish 6/7/8, so that I don't have to play them again. I fear them that much.
7) I'm going to give LEGENDS OF TIME the edge here over Arkansas. The sullys have proven that about 99.7% of the plays in the playbook work, with the right personal. They've beaten some real good teams in non-con ranked scrims. If you don't plan for them, they will hurt you and quickly. However, they have dropped 2 in a row now to Syracuse and Kingman, so the facade has cracked a little. But, that being said, they are still one of the most dangerous teams in the Pro leagues.
8) ARKANSAS comes in at the 8th spot. IMO, JLRock has a very talented team. I think for Arkansas to move up into a higher seed, it's going to take a consorted effort on their coordinators part, however. Lots of obstacles ahead of them. But they definitely have the talent to ruin the day of any of the top teams. They have a tough stretch ahead of them with a very solid Sumatra team, and a Berlin team that is going to explode on someone, at some point. And then they get a 3 game stretch of GCV, Guadal and the Whores. Their playoff hopes are going to be decided in the next 10 days.
9-16) No particular order
Asau (2-2) - They've shown they can play with a young roster. Just don't have the horses to compete with the top teams. They'll struggle to make the playoffs.
Rekohu (1-3) Same scenario as Asau, except a bit older roster.
Sumatra (1-3) Went with a bit of a youth movement this season? Will be harvesting coffee beans during the playoffs unless they pull an upset or two.
Tonga (1-3) Tonga has an interesting team. They came out and dominated OffTopica, but have since faltered against some of the top teams in Zeta. Look for them to move into the easier part of their schedule, and if LOT or Arkansas slips, Tonga could move into a 7th or 8th seed.
Guam (1-3) Just not getting it done. Guam will struggle the rest of the way with a tough schedule still ahead of them. If they can get an upset or two, they have a shot.
Berlin (0-4) Is this some plot to make everyone sleep on you, BTE? i don't think I have ever seen a Berlin team start out 0-4. I dunno what is going on it Berlin town, but BTE, come on, 0-4? Honestly, I'm shocked and I'm not sure what to say about it.
Manhattan (0-4) Much like Asau, I think Manhattan has its best seasons ahead of them. However, their defense is too young to stop the high power offenses this season in Zeta. Going to be a long season for the Mafia.
Orlando (0-4) I'm not sure what to think about Orlando either, tbh. Although, I will say that a 49 man roster is just not enough to get it done anymore. I didn't expect EEA to drop 129 on them, that much is for certain. One of the oldest remaining franchises in the game, so i'm not going to count them out quite yet. But they need a win, in a bad way.
______________________________
So that's it for the quarterly review. At this point, and again if I am being honest, that's how I would rank the top 8 currently. Lots of good dot ball left this season, however, and things can change in a heartbeat.
'll check back in 4 games with a new review.
oh almost forgot, the obligatory, lolalpha (Sorry wolfy, I've officially switched my allegiance to Zeta now)
Alpha:
1) GCM
2-7) Offtopica, Amsterdamn, Death,Stockholm, Vanuatu, Barossa
8-16) Everyone left
Probably more parity in Alpha this season, tbh. But the gold is coming from 1 of 4 Zeta teams.
Zeta
Zeta is showing that it truly is going to come down to post-season preparation and planning. Very top heavy thus far. 5 undefeated teams left in Zeta, with the primary question being who's going to come out on top for post season play. Considering that 2 of the 5 were WL last season, and haven't played the other 3, new rivalries will be created this year. All 5 tops look to be in mid seasons stride already.
We're going to review the top 8 and see what we got.
1) EEA - Well, i debated on putting myself here, tbh. But, after looking over all 5 teams, and including ranked scrims into the mix, I think we've played the toughest schedule so far. We figured since we were going to have a meat grinder of a season in Zeta, we might as well make our non-con games match. 2 big wins against 2 top 5 SEAPro teams, and a 1-1 record against 2 of the top APL teams speaks for itself. If I'm being honest about it, then I have to rank us first, for now.
2) Or 1b, really. KINGMAN - Blame Stu for the 1b ranking. Kingman has given up 39 points in 4 league games, but has a couple disappointing losses in non-con play. However, a big win against LOT this week showed that Stu and the boys and ready and waiting for prime time. A lackluster performance by EEA, or a loss, and Kingman is immediately the #1 team in Zeta.
3) Tough call here, but I have to give the edge to SYRACUSE. They started out a little sketchy with a 1pt win against Bora Bora. But since then, They beat a pretty good Come Fiesta team in a ranked non-con, and had a big win against LOT 2 games ago in league play. They have been tested early, and have passed with flying colors. Could this be the year for Ronnie Brown and the boys?
4) There are 3 teams I could rank here, honestly, maybe even 4, but I am going to give the slight edge to GOLD COAST. I know Gold Coast well, from 4-5 seasons now of rivalry over in Alpha. They are solid every year and are always more than capable of beating anyone (Read: See S15 Conf Championship game - still stings, ez). After a slow start in Week 1, they look to be hitting on all cylinders heading into a tough 3 game stretch against GuadalCanal, Whores, and a talented Razorback team.
5) I'll give the edge in the 5 hole to GUADALCANAL. I think the Whores would easily be here, if not higher, but they don't seem to be doing anything with their team. Perhaps waiting until the playoffs. So, Guadal sits in the 5 spot for now. They haven't really been tested yet, as they have scored at will on their first 4 opponents. However, they now moved into perhaps the toughest 5 game stretch in the league. We'll check back in 8 days and see how they have faired.
6) WHORES - All I really need to say. It looks like they aren't doing much, but I'm fairly certain they will be ready once the playoffs start. My hope is that EEA finishes 1st, and the whores finish 6/7/8, so that I don't have to play them again. I fear them that much.
7) I'm going to give LEGENDS OF TIME the edge here over Arkansas. The sullys have proven that about 99.7% of the plays in the playbook work, with the right personal. They've beaten some real good teams in non-con ranked scrims. If you don't plan for them, they will hurt you and quickly. However, they have dropped 2 in a row now to Syracuse and Kingman, so the facade has cracked a little. But, that being said, they are still one of the most dangerous teams in the Pro leagues.
8) ARKANSAS comes in at the 8th spot. IMO, JLRock has a very talented team. I think for Arkansas to move up into a higher seed, it's going to take a consorted effort on their coordinators part, however. Lots of obstacles ahead of them. But they definitely have the talent to ruin the day of any of the top teams. They have a tough stretch ahead of them with a very solid Sumatra team, and a Berlin team that is going to explode on someone, at some point. And then they get a 3 game stretch of GCV, Guadal and the Whores. Their playoff hopes are going to be decided in the next 10 days.
9-16) No particular order
Asau (2-2) - They've shown they can play with a young roster. Just don't have the horses to compete with the top teams. They'll struggle to make the playoffs.
Rekohu (1-3) Same scenario as Asau, except a bit older roster.
Sumatra (1-3) Went with a bit of a youth movement this season? Will be harvesting coffee beans during the playoffs unless they pull an upset or two.
Tonga (1-3) Tonga has an interesting team. They came out and dominated OffTopica, but have since faltered against some of the top teams in Zeta. Look for them to move into the easier part of their schedule, and if LOT or Arkansas slips, Tonga could move into a 7th or 8th seed.
Guam (1-3) Just not getting it done. Guam will struggle the rest of the way with a tough schedule still ahead of them. If they can get an upset or two, they have a shot.
Berlin (0-4) Is this some plot to make everyone sleep on you, BTE? i don't think I have ever seen a Berlin team start out 0-4. I dunno what is going on it Berlin town, but BTE, come on, 0-4? Honestly, I'm shocked and I'm not sure what to say about it.
Manhattan (0-4) Much like Asau, I think Manhattan has its best seasons ahead of them. However, their defense is too young to stop the high power offenses this season in Zeta. Going to be a long season for the Mafia.
Orlando (0-4) I'm not sure what to think about Orlando either, tbh. Although, I will say that a 49 man roster is just not enough to get it done anymore. I didn't expect EEA to drop 129 on them, that much is for certain. One of the oldest remaining franchises in the game, so i'm not going to count them out quite yet. But they need a win, in a bad way.
______________________________
So that's it for the quarterly review. At this point, and again if I am being honest, that's how I would rank the top 8 currently. Lots of good dot ball left this season, however, and things can change in a heartbeat.
'll check back in 4 games with a new review.
oh almost forgot, the obligatory, lolalpha (Sorry wolfy, I've officially switched my allegiance to Zeta now)
Alpha:
1) GCM
2-7) Offtopica, Amsterdamn, Death,Stockholm, Vanuatu, Barossa
8-16) Everyone left
Probably more parity in Alpha this season, tbh. But the gold is coming from 1 of 4 Zeta teams.
Edited by Otega on Aug 6, 2010 10:36:26
Edited by Otega on Aug 6, 2010 10:33:39
Asau is gunning for that 8th playoff spot if anyone slips. The top 7 teams I'd say are a lock for the playoffs
