The games continue and we are learning the who's who in Zeta, more questions will be answered in the coming week and more will be asked.
Three Not to be Tangled with
1. Hollywood Knights(2-0)
Blew out and shut out the Minotaurs in a game that was certainly never in question, despite a somewhat suprising only 28-0 nothing lead at the half. We won't know much about this years version of the Knights the next two weeks as stiff competition has yet to blow their way.
Next Three Games: Outlaws, Manglers, Hague
2. Warsaw Wolves(1-1)
Pounded down the Sidewinders, doing a large percentage of their work on the ground, defensivly, and on special teams. Not much to this game and we get one more warm-up game before battling it out with Chuck Norris.
Next Three: Tigers, Chuck Norris, Vikings
3. Chuck Norris(2-0)
Very tight game until late in the 3rd quarter when the Manlets depth gave out and Chuck's running game shifted into first gear. Im not suprised Chuck Norris took a while to score what amazes me is that the Manlets jumped out on them and actually out gained them in terms of net yards. The Manlets aerial attack was effective and that might not bode well for Chuck given that both the Wolves and Knights are known to enjoy unleashing aerial assualts. Chuck draws a pretty solid opponent this week in Vienne and thus will get a chance to improve.
Next Three: Vikings, Wolves, Gladiators
The Potential Contenders
4. Iberian Bocs(2-0)
Hammered the Outlaws...yeah we expected that. It'll be hard to gauge this team and find out if they have moved into the level of the elite title challengers until they square off against Hague and the Manlets. This week's contest against the Manglers will give us no such answers.
Next Three: Manglers, Pirates, Manlets
5. Misc Manlets(1-1)
Like I said above their depth just gave out late in the third if not for that this game probably goes the other way. As usual they continue to improve their roster througout the season and expect them to be their usual "team you dont want to meet in the first round" selves. Tough schedule up and coming as they battle 3 consecutive playoff hopefulls, follwed by two games against title contending Wolves and Hollywood. They have the toughest early season schedule of any team and any sort of a split 4-4 would be impressive. Above that and perhaps they too are a title contender.
Next Three: Hague, Vienne, Bocs
6. Hague Pirates(2-0)
One more like that and I'll have to move them up as they decimated the Manglers with the largest margin of victory in the league. Their rushing attack was devastating as was their punt return unit. They have a chance to show that they are no longer a middle of the pack team with sucessive battles against the Manlets and Bocs.
Next Three: Manlets, Bocs, Hollywood
Playoff Potential?
7. Vienne Vikings(2-0)
Upset Alert? Yeah they proved me wrong there lighting up the Tigers in a game that was never even close. Clearly they have answered some of the questions I had about them earlier and seem set to move forward. That 2-0 start they need if you look at who's next for them , well it's not pretty.
Next Three: Chuck, Manlets, Wolves
8. Milano Mamertini(2-0)
Embarassed Pamplona in a game that showed their late season push last year was no fluke. Double the Bulls in terms of yards and had a balanced attack running and throwing all over them. Was there a woodshed nearby? Must have been because the Mamertini sure left them with a red bottom after that game.
Next Three: Minotaurs, Hague, Manglers
It's not looking so hot
9. Pamplona Bulls(0-2)
I was tempted to drop them from my playoff contenders list after the aforementioned spanking but the Bulls do have a chance to get healthy and perhaps its just an AI design flaw that left them looking like they want to be relegated again. They can get healthy on wins with the 3 they have upcoming, can they get healthy with style of play, and find some consistency?
Next Three: C-Knights, Sidewinders, Tigers
A season away
10. Roman Gladiators(1-1)
No they are not the Roman Legion and they still have way too many CPU players and lower level guys. But a win against your fellow competition gets you moved to the top of the heap for this week. But now can they find some solid players and move up in the world?
Who's Up: Sidewinders, Tigers, Chuck Norris
11. Glasgow Manglers(1-1)
Left them here because they have actually won a game, though when you look at their upcoming schedule they certainly don't look very likely to repeat that feat anytime soon.
First Three: Bocs, Hollywood, Mamertini
12. Luxemborg Sidewinders(0-2)
The Sidewinders are finidng out that simply ditching the slow build isn't enough they need more/higher level players to compete here, though their upcoming schedule isnt exactly the best so that should bouy their spirits some.
Who's Next: Gladiators, Bulls, Minotaurs
13. Unknown Outlaws(0-2)
They got run over by the Bocs, and will probably get toasted to a crisp by Hollywood, then run over by the Mamertini, before their first truly winnable game of the season against the C-Knights I still like their roster though and what they are putting together more than any of the other teams down here. I think they have some long term potential particularly if they can avoid a moral spiral.
Whos Next: Hollywood, Mamertini, C-Knights
14. Luxemborg Tigers(0-2)
Got beat down for the second straight week and when they travel to play my Wolves isnt looking that great for not making it 3 straight blowouts. But they can take heart things do get easier.
Whos First: Wolves, Gladiators, Bulls
Destined for relegation?
15. Constantinople Knights(0-2)
Gladiators? The Gladiators?
Who's Next: Bulls, Minotaurs, Outlaws
16. Athens Minotaurs(0-2)
The bottom for two straight seasons? Yikes? Well their is always BBB next season.
Whos Next: Mamertini, C-Knights, Tigers
Week 3 Games
Game of the Week: Hague Pirates vs. Misc Manlets
Has Hauge taken that next step? ..............I pause because it's a big question, lots of implication. The Manlets also need this game having been downed by Chuck Norris. Tight game I think, and I think the Pirates have taken that next step and squeak by here.
Hague 23 Manlets 20
Must See TV: Vienne Vikings versus Chuck Norris
Vienne showed they could manhandle a bottom of the barrel team last week, now can they show that they can take on the best? After their close game with the Manlets Chuck could use a statement game, they get the win but no statement.
Chuck 37 Vienne 19
In other Action
Hollywood 64 Outlaws 7
Warsaw 117 Tigers 10
Bocs 54 Manglers 0
Mamertini 84 Minotaurs 0
Bulls 30 C-Knights 14
Sidewinders 27 Gladiators 24
Three Not to be Tangled with
1. Hollywood Knights(2-0)
Blew out and shut out the Minotaurs in a game that was certainly never in question, despite a somewhat suprising only 28-0 nothing lead at the half. We won't know much about this years version of the Knights the next two weeks as stiff competition has yet to blow their way.
Next Three Games: Outlaws, Manglers, Hague
2. Warsaw Wolves(1-1)
Pounded down the Sidewinders, doing a large percentage of their work on the ground, defensivly, and on special teams. Not much to this game and we get one more warm-up game before battling it out with Chuck Norris.
Next Three: Tigers, Chuck Norris, Vikings
3. Chuck Norris(2-0)
Very tight game until late in the 3rd quarter when the Manlets depth gave out and Chuck's running game shifted into first gear. Im not suprised Chuck Norris took a while to score what amazes me is that the Manlets jumped out on them and actually out gained them in terms of net yards. The Manlets aerial attack was effective and that might not bode well for Chuck given that both the Wolves and Knights are known to enjoy unleashing aerial assualts. Chuck draws a pretty solid opponent this week in Vienne and thus will get a chance to improve.
Next Three: Vikings, Wolves, Gladiators
The Potential Contenders
4. Iberian Bocs(2-0)
Hammered the Outlaws...yeah we expected that. It'll be hard to gauge this team and find out if they have moved into the level of the elite title challengers until they square off against Hague and the Manlets. This week's contest against the Manglers will give us no such answers.
Next Three: Manglers, Pirates, Manlets
5. Misc Manlets(1-1)
Like I said above their depth just gave out late in the third if not for that this game probably goes the other way. As usual they continue to improve their roster througout the season and expect them to be their usual "team you dont want to meet in the first round" selves. Tough schedule up and coming as they battle 3 consecutive playoff hopefulls, follwed by two games against title contending Wolves and Hollywood. They have the toughest early season schedule of any team and any sort of a split 4-4 would be impressive. Above that and perhaps they too are a title contender.
Next Three: Hague, Vienne, Bocs
6. Hague Pirates(2-0)
One more like that and I'll have to move them up as they decimated the Manglers with the largest margin of victory in the league. Their rushing attack was devastating as was their punt return unit. They have a chance to show that they are no longer a middle of the pack team with sucessive battles against the Manlets and Bocs.
Next Three: Manlets, Bocs, Hollywood
Playoff Potential?
7. Vienne Vikings(2-0)
Upset Alert? Yeah they proved me wrong there lighting up the Tigers in a game that was never even close. Clearly they have answered some of the questions I had about them earlier and seem set to move forward. That 2-0 start they need if you look at who's next for them , well it's not pretty.
Next Three: Chuck, Manlets, Wolves
8. Milano Mamertini(2-0)
Embarassed Pamplona in a game that showed their late season push last year was no fluke. Double the Bulls in terms of yards and had a balanced attack running and throwing all over them. Was there a woodshed nearby? Must have been because the Mamertini sure left them with a red bottom after that game.
Next Three: Minotaurs, Hague, Manglers
It's not looking so hot
9. Pamplona Bulls(0-2)
I was tempted to drop them from my playoff contenders list after the aforementioned spanking but the Bulls do have a chance to get healthy and perhaps its just an AI design flaw that left them looking like they want to be relegated again. They can get healthy on wins with the 3 they have upcoming, can they get healthy with style of play, and find some consistency?
Next Three: C-Knights, Sidewinders, Tigers
A season away
10. Roman Gladiators(1-1)
No they are not the Roman Legion and they still have way too many CPU players and lower level guys. But a win against your fellow competition gets you moved to the top of the heap for this week. But now can they find some solid players and move up in the world?
Who's Up: Sidewinders, Tigers, Chuck Norris
11. Glasgow Manglers(1-1)
Left them here because they have actually won a game, though when you look at their upcoming schedule they certainly don't look very likely to repeat that feat anytime soon.
First Three: Bocs, Hollywood, Mamertini
12. Luxemborg Sidewinders(0-2)
The Sidewinders are finidng out that simply ditching the slow build isn't enough they need more/higher level players to compete here, though their upcoming schedule isnt exactly the best so that should bouy their spirits some.
Who's Next: Gladiators, Bulls, Minotaurs
13. Unknown Outlaws(0-2)
They got run over by the Bocs, and will probably get toasted to a crisp by Hollywood, then run over by the Mamertini, before their first truly winnable game of the season against the C-Knights I still like their roster though and what they are putting together more than any of the other teams down here. I think they have some long term potential particularly if they can avoid a moral spiral.
Whos Next: Hollywood, Mamertini, C-Knights
14. Luxemborg Tigers(0-2)
Got beat down for the second straight week and when they travel to play my Wolves isnt looking that great for not making it 3 straight blowouts. But they can take heart things do get easier.
Whos First: Wolves, Gladiators, Bulls
Destined for relegation?
15. Constantinople Knights(0-2)
Gladiators? The Gladiators?
Who's Next: Bulls, Minotaurs, Outlaws
16. Athens Minotaurs(0-2)
The bottom for two straight seasons? Yikes? Well their is always BBB next season.
Whos Next: Mamertini, C-Knights, Tigers
Week 3 Games
Game of the Week: Hague Pirates vs. Misc Manlets
Has Hauge taken that next step? ..............I pause because it's a big question, lots of implication. The Manlets also need this game having been downed by Chuck Norris. Tight game I think, and I think the Pirates have taken that next step and squeak by here.
Hague 23 Manlets 20
Must See TV: Vienne Vikings versus Chuck Norris
Vienne showed they could manhandle a bottom of the barrel team last week, now can they show that they can take on the best? After their close game with the Manlets Chuck could use a statement game, they get the win but no statement.
Chuck 37 Vienne 19
In other Action
Hollywood 64 Outlaws 7
Warsaw 117 Tigers 10
Bocs 54 Manglers 0
Mamertini 84 Minotaurs 0
Bulls 30 C-Knights 14
Sidewinders 27 Gladiators 24
