Shante Kelley here with another A#7 Western Conference update. Hey, so what if we've moved up to AA#4, the forum there sucks so I'm back here lending another "helping hand" (Modok, stop rolling your eyes). I thought I'd put in my 2 cents on how I see it all going down in season 5.
In a lot of ways, season 5 will be easier to predict than season 4 was, as we're all used to the AI by now (hopefully). I mean hey, who predicted the 10-5-1 Stunners to win the conference last season. Okay, okay, if you were ON the Stunners your vote doesn't count!
* keep in mind these are my personal choices, and are what I consider to be the BEGINNING of a discussion on who you guys think will take it all! To make it interesting, we should each do a bracket like the NCAA tourney--what you think the order will be, and whoever is closest gets 1000 Flex Points or something like that on one of those gift card/credit card deals...
**owners, GMs, new recruits--have you added power and dimension to what was a once-lacking part of your roster? Let us know here, and let us know why you should be ranked higher!
USA A#7 Western Conference Power Rankings
1. Austin Lumberjacks
In season 4, the LBJs proved you CAN make a succesful move up a league. With a pass-heavy offense, they racked up a whopping 5300+ yards and 53 TDs through the air to lead the conference. Few teams were able to handle this heavy onslaught, and the LBJs cruised to a 14-2 regular season record before losing a heartbreaker in the first round of the playoffs. This year they'll be back bigger and stronger to reclaim the conference championship that many felt should have been theirs in season 4.
2. Silverymoon Elves
We all know defense wins championships, and as a defensive coordinator there are few defenses in GLB that I respect as much as Silverymoon's. Yielding only 45 yards/game on the ground last season, they forced their opponents to take to the air to try to beat them--and STILL held their opponents to fewer than 200 yards/game passing! WIth a commitment to improving their own passing game and revamping their red zone offense, Silverymoon just might be the team to beat in the West this season.
3. Oakland Wizards
After being thomped by these guys in the regular season 35-33 and allowing 400+ passing yards against them, I know from personal experience what Oakland can do on the offensive side of the ball! And their defense is no joke either, being 1st in hurries, 2nd in sacks (to who else but Silverymoon) and 1st in forced fumbles last season. If they can unleash the same style of passing game consistently throughout the season that they utilized against us, it'll be a long season for everyone else in the West.
4. Albuquerque Mustangs
On paper these guys look remarkably like the Austin Lumberjacks--with a better run defense. They avenged one of their only 2 regular season losses in the first round of the playoffs, and otherwise steamrolled their way through their conference last season. The only question is can they make the smooth transition into A7 that Austin did? We'll find out. Based on their positional depth and their team numbers, I think they'll win at least 10 games this season.
5. Portland Hitmen
Portland showed a very consistent run defense last year and one of the premier pass defenses in the conference. They get good pressure on the QB and create their fair share of sacks. If they can translate that into some big plays in their secondary this season (only 16 INTs as a team) and increase the efficiency of their passing game (18 TD, 13 INT), they should round out the top 5 and make a good run in the playoffs where anything can happen.
6. Buffalo Rangers
Buffalo hit the skids at the end of last season and backed their way into the playoffs on 2 consecutive losses before losing in the first round to Oakland, where they couldn't get their running game going or their passing game to convert yards into points. In the regular season they were #2 in passing offense second only to Austin. Their defense is solid, and with the addition of one more playmaker will probably be 1st or 2nd in the conference this season. If Buffalo can fix any issues they might be having with gameplanning and their AI they could easily win the West next season.
7. Spicewood Longhorns
With a strong core of management and GMs, and probably the best team webpage in the conference, it's easy to love these guys from Texas. In fact, I actually picked them as the team to beat in season 4 going into the season, and they didn't disappoint, beating my Stunners 24-21 in the regular season. With a patsy finishing schedule, they rode a 5-0 win streak into the playoffs before losing a first-round BARNBURNER to the Dallas Red Raiders. Hugh Laurie will have another dominant season in season 5, and with the addition of a premier pass-rusher Spicewood could easily sneak into the top 3.
8. San Diego Marauders
These guys look phenomenal on paper, and their record alone doesn't show you two close regular season losses to Oakland and Buffalo--2 of the best in the west. An efficient, TE-based pass attack and well balanced running game make them tough to stop from scoring. Their defense has proven to be shaky when opponents run the ball 37+ times against them, going 0-4 in those games, and will leave them vulnerable against the stronger teams in the conference.
9. Tucson Nighthawks
A solid running game and run defense have Tucson rounding out my top eight, but a spotty and at-times inefficient passing game prevent them from climbing the ranks any further. I like the depth that these guys bring to the table, and we'll see how they make the transition to A7. I predict they'll go 9-7 and fight for the #8 seed in the playoffs.
10. Grand Haven Mist
At the beginning of season 4, some of my teammates looked at GHMs new roster and jokes began to circulate..."Is GHM the team to beat in the west this year?" All jokes aside, GHM posted a very respectable 6-10 record in a tough conference. With improved LBs and interior run blocking, they could improve that record to 8-8 this season, and even pull out an upset against one of the top 9 teams--though I won't say which one--and earn a winning record at 9-7.
11. Miami Cyclones
12. New Brunswick Noobs
13. San Antonio Syndicate
14. K.C. Predators
15. Bay Area Bombers (gut job)
16. Dallas Red Raiders (gut job)
In a lot of ways, season 5 will be easier to predict than season 4 was, as we're all used to the AI by now (hopefully). I mean hey, who predicted the 10-5-1 Stunners to win the conference last season. Okay, okay, if you were ON the Stunners your vote doesn't count!
* keep in mind these are my personal choices, and are what I consider to be the BEGINNING of a discussion on who you guys think will take it all! To make it interesting, we should each do a bracket like the NCAA tourney--what you think the order will be, and whoever is closest gets 1000 Flex Points or something like that on one of those gift card/credit card deals...
**owners, GMs, new recruits--have you added power and dimension to what was a once-lacking part of your roster? Let us know here, and let us know why you should be ranked higher!
USA A#7 Western Conference Power Rankings
1. Austin Lumberjacks
In season 4, the LBJs proved you CAN make a succesful move up a league. With a pass-heavy offense, they racked up a whopping 5300+ yards and 53 TDs through the air to lead the conference. Few teams were able to handle this heavy onslaught, and the LBJs cruised to a 14-2 regular season record before losing a heartbreaker in the first round of the playoffs. This year they'll be back bigger and stronger to reclaim the conference championship that many felt should have been theirs in season 4.
2. Silverymoon Elves
We all know defense wins championships, and as a defensive coordinator there are few defenses in GLB that I respect as much as Silverymoon's. Yielding only 45 yards/game on the ground last season, they forced their opponents to take to the air to try to beat them--and STILL held their opponents to fewer than 200 yards/game passing! WIth a commitment to improving their own passing game and revamping their red zone offense, Silverymoon just might be the team to beat in the West this season.
3. Oakland Wizards
After being thomped by these guys in the regular season 35-33 and allowing 400+ passing yards against them, I know from personal experience what Oakland can do on the offensive side of the ball! And their defense is no joke either, being 1st in hurries, 2nd in sacks (to who else but Silverymoon) and 1st in forced fumbles last season. If they can unleash the same style of passing game consistently throughout the season that they utilized against us, it'll be a long season for everyone else in the West.
4. Albuquerque Mustangs
On paper these guys look remarkably like the Austin Lumberjacks--with a better run defense. They avenged one of their only 2 regular season losses in the first round of the playoffs, and otherwise steamrolled their way through their conference last season. The only question is can they make the smooth transition into A7 that Austin did? We'll find out. Based on their positional depth and their team numbers, I think they'll win at least 10 games this season.
5. Portland Hitmen
Portland showed a very consistent run defense last year and one of the premier pass defenses in the conference. They get good pressure on the QB and create their fair share of sacks. If they can translate that into some big plays in their secondary this season (only 16 INTs as a team) and increase the efficiency of their passing game (18 TD, 13 INT), they should round out the top 5 and make a good run in the playoffs where anything can happen.
6. Buffalo Rangers
Buffalo hit the skids at the end of last season and backed their way into the playoffs on 2 consecutive losses before losing in the first round to Oakland, where they couldn't get their running game going or their passing game to convert yards into points. In the regular season they were #2 in passing offense second only to Austin. Their defense is solid, and with the addition of one more playmaker will probably be 1st or 2nd in the conference this season. If Buffalo can fix any issues they might be having with gameplanning and their AI they could easily win the West next season.
7. Spicewood Longhorns
With a strong core of management and GMs, and probably the best team webpage in the conference, it's easy to love these guys from Texas. In fact, I actually picked them as the team to beat in season 4 going into the season, and they didn't disappoint, beating my Stunners 24-21 in the regular season. With a patsy finishing schedule, they rode a 5-0 win streak into the playoffs before losing a first-round BARNBURNER to the Dallas Red Raiders. Hugh Laurie will have another dominant season in season 5, and with the addition of a premier pass-rusher Spicewood could easily sneak into the top 3.
8. San Diego Marauders
These guys look phenomenal on paper, and their record alone doesn't show you two close regular season losses to Oakland and Buffalo--2 of the best in the west. An efficient, TE-based pass attack and well balanced running game make them tough to stop from scoring. Their defense has proven to be shaky when opponents run the ball 37+ times against them, going 0-4 in those games, and will leave them vulnerable against the stronger teams in the conference.
9. Tucson Nighthawks
A solid running game and run defense have Tucson rounding out my top eight, but a spotty and at-times inefficient passing game prevent them from climbing the ranks any further. I like the depth that these guys bring to the table, and we'll see how they make the transition to A7. I predict they'll go 9-7 and fight for the #8 seed in the playoffs.
10. Grand Haven Mist
At the beginning of season 4, some of my teammates looked at GHMs new roster and jokes began to circulate..."Is GHM the team to beat in the west this year?" All jokes aside, GHM posted a very respectable 6-10 record in a tough conference. With improved LBs and interior run blocking, they could improve that record to 8-8 this season, and even pull out an upset against one of the top 9 teams--though I won't say which one--and earn a winning record at 9-7.
11. Miami Cyclones
12. New Brunswick Noobs
13. San Antonio Syndicate
14. K.C. Predators
15. Bay Area Bombers (gut job)
16. Dallas Red Raiders (gut job)
