Zeta Pre-season Power Rankings week5 recap, week 6 preview
After 5 weeks things are starting to look clearer in Zeta and positions are already getting defined. This week there were not big games, however, there were two that could have meant a potential upset. My Bocs took care of business against the Bulls which are looking better than ever and that should have a good shot to make the playoffs and even fight for a home game if they are able to step up on their big games against Dublin and Milano. The other game that attracted my attention this week was the one between Dragons and Scourge as both teams are immersed into the fight for one of the last 4 positions that are clearly open for the playoffs.
On the matchup between the two Iberian teams, the Bulls played probably their best football of the year but they needed that last step to really culminate their masterpiece on some key moments. I have to admit that their gameplan was cleverly chosen and that they had a really good shot to end up with a better result at half time if it wasn’t for their inability to score. They had several trips to the Bocs Redzone during the first half but they were only able to put 3 points on the board. The second half, specially the third quarter was key to the resolution of the game as the Bocs took total domination of the game with another two unanswered touchdowns that put the Bulls definitely away from the game.
On the second matchup of the night the Scourge got hit pretty hard by a Dragons team who is probably the hottest team right now on Zeta along with the Pirates. The final score 51-7 give us a clear idea of how dominant the guys from Dublin were over their mates from Blackpool. Thing started pretty good for the former BBB#10 champion as they opened the score with a big pass play early in the game, but that 7-0 lead was a mirage as Dublin answered on the following drive and seemed unstoppable for the rest of the game, putting 10 or more points on each of the quarters while completely shutting down Blackpool offense for the remaining. These guys have put together a really physical football team and we saw the first part of that when they faced VCA back on week 2 on a game that could have gone either side and after that game they have put up 3 consecutive Wins and earned some prestige throughout the league with their great and solid performances week in and week out.
Micah McDonald had another superb game and is now ranked among the best of the league and their defensive unit demonstrates week after week that it was not by mistake their performance against one of the elite teams of the league. Their Turnover ratio is clearly one of the best of the league taking in count the difficulty of their early schedule and their Passing defense is ranked 4th of all Western Europe A#5. That should give us a good idea of how good is this team looking and why they have climbed so much on the rankings since week 1.
Let’s see how the rankings are looking after 5 weeks.
- Will fight for the championship -
1.The Hague Pirates (5-0) W5
The team to beat in Zeta faced his second consecutive cupcake this week after receiving at home the Glasgow Manglers. Nothing much to say as the score (125-9) speaks on itself. This upcoming week they should have some more competition when they face the Scourge who is in the need for Wins if they don’t want to fall apart on the fight for playoffs. However, once they have faced Vatican already, don’t expect to see this team losing a game until late on the season when they have to face Milano and Bocs who are possibly the only teams that could upset them.
Next three: Scourge, Knights, Nips
2.Iberian Bocs (5-0) W5
The Bocs did an okay job on a tricky game against the Bulls, a team that has never matched up very well for them despite having won all of their previous meetings. This week they face the Nuts who are still suffering from one of the most brutal early schedules I can remember with the sight on their Tuesday game against Vatican which should clarify a bit more the Top3 of the league.
Next three: Nuts, Vatican, London Storm
3.Vatican City Apocalypse (4-1) W2
Vatican has bounced back pretty well after their lost against Hague. They had a tough game against Milano but they were able to get the work done in time, and this week they were just merciless with the Legends after routing them for 214-0. I’m sure that Powers & company were really furious and they unleashed the beast inside as Motown is not as bad as the score reflects. These guys are clearly better than last year by leading the league on Passing defense (2nd overall) and holding a turnover ratio of +11 (offenses win games but defenses win championships). This week they have another chance to inflate a bit more their stats when they face the Snakes in a game with no room for surprises before they face the most important game of the season on Tuesday against the Bocs on a must win game for them, as a second loss would clearly relegate them to the third position after week 16.
Next three: Snakes, Bocs, Nuts
- Leading the chase -
4.Milano Mamertini (3-2) W1
I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on with this team. They are leading the League offensively but the biggest contribution to that ranking was made on week 1 against the hopeless Manchester Chiefs. Since then they have faced the Bocs and Vatican falling short on both games despite a pretty good effort. The other two games have been relatively easy for them but against teams that are not clearly a benchmark on the league. I would say that they have clearly improved from last year and that they should be the team to beat if you want to get the last homefield position for the playoffs, but I think they still have to prove themselves against Nips, Bulls and obviously Dragons. On their performance against that trio fall all their post-season hopes.
Next three: Manglers, Scourge, Knights
5.Dublin Dragons (3-2) W3
They have climbed another step and are now officially on the pursuing group. This week performance against the Scourge really contributed to consolidate them as one of the top teams. I think they are almost at the same level of Milano and their personal matchup should probably decide who gets the 4th seed, a matchup that is very likely to be repeated on 1st round of playoffs. The Dragons still have to face Pirates, Milano and the Bocs on week15, 12-4 and you get the pot, 11-5 and you will make your fans bite their nails in front of the Jumbotron.
Next three: Knights, Nips, Warlords
- A playoff game is their title -
6.Bologna Nips (4-1) W1
They still resist among the elite of the league in the rankings, thankfully in great part of their benevolent early schedule. They have only faced a mid-table team on the Bulls and they were not able to come up with the win. They still have to face all the big 4 plus the Dragons, so don’t get confused with their early dominance until they demonstrate their real measure. It won’t happen this week though, as they have another cupcake against the Stallions before getting into business on their visit to Dublin.
Next three: Stallions, Dragons, Pirates
7.Pamplona Bulls (3-2) L1
I must admit that these guys showed some pride on their last game. Despite being clearly outleveled in many positions they were able to compensate their lacks with a great gameplan and a lot of faith. It wasn’t enough to come back home with a Win, but they have demonstrated their opponents that any team who wants to get a win away from this team will have to fight hard to do it. The next three for them has only one name: Bastogne. If they can come up with another win from the Nuts they would be touching, at least, the 8th with the fingers.
Next three: Warlords, Nuts, Stallions
8.Blackpool Scourge (3-2) L1
I think this will be the only team from BBB this year to make the playoffs. Despite the early expectations from Nuts, London, Motown and themselves, they have faced the brutality of coming from a capped league to one of the strongest A leagues in WE. They have faced until now only two true playoff contenders on the Nips and Dragons and failed to get anything from them, so they are clearly behind on the race for the playoff in a possible tier. They should still have a chance to get a trip to the regular season leader field if they are able to get the job done on their game against the Nuts who seems right now like the only true menace to their 8th seed. If they fail to do it, they will have to put a big upset on any of the candidates to make the playoffs this year.
Next three: The Hague Pirates, Milano, Legends
- Coming from behind -
9.Bastogne Nuts (2-3) W2
Finally Bastogne has been able to put two consecutive wins on the boards. I’m sure these guys didn’t expect to be 2-3 at this point of the season and hosting an unbeaten team on the upcoming. They are another victim of the no-sense of this game on promotion/relegation affairs, however, don’t take them for dead yet as they should have time to recover after their next three which will be according to their previous schedule: Brutal. A win against the Bulls would really help them to get some momentum on the playoff run but they don’t seem capable to put an upset on any of the big teams for now.
Next three: Bocs, Bulls, Vatican
This week there are no more teams on the rankings as the rest of the teams really look out of possibilities to make it to the playoffs. Unless we see some unexpected results on the following weeks, I think these will be the teams to fight for all until the end.
NOTE ON THE PREDICTIONS: I do not use any of the league projectors, so this is my prediction based purely on observation.
GAME OF THE WEEK: THE HAGUE PIRATES – BLACKPOOL SCOURGE
It’s probably the best matchup on a week that shouldn’t have a big impact on the rankings. The Pirates are completely dominating on the field this season to whoever they have in front of them and I don’t expect less from this week. Pirates get it without doubt.
The Hague 57 – Blackpool 6
After 5 weeks things are starting to look clearer in Zeta and positions are already getting defined. This week there were not big games, however, there were two that could have meant a potential upset. My Bocs took care of business against the Bulls which are looking better than ever and that should have a good shot to make the playoffs and even fight for a home game if they are able to step up on their big games against Dublin and Milano. The other game that attracted my attention this week was the one between Dragons and Scourge as both teams are immersed into the fight for one of the last 4 positions that are clearly open for the playoffs.
On the matchup between the two Iberian teams, the Bulls played probably their best football of the year but they needed that last step to really culminate their masterpiece on some key moments. I have to admit that their gameplan was cleverly chosen and that they had a really good shot to end up with a better result at half time if it wasn’t for their inability to score. They had several trips to the Bocs Redzone during the first half but they were only able to put 3 points on the board. The second half, specially the third quarter was key to the resolution of the game as the Bocs took total domination of the game with another two unanswered touchdowns that put the Bulls definitely away from the game.
On the second matchup of the night the Scourge got hit pretty hard by a Dragons team who is probably the hottest team right now on Zeta along with the Pirates. The final score 51-7 give us a clear idea of how dominant the guys from Dublin were over their mates from Blackpool. Thing started pretty good for the former BBB#10 champion as they opened the score with a big pass play early in the game, but that 7-0 lead was a mirage as Dublin answered on the following drive and seemed unstoppable for the rest of the game, putting 10 or more points on each of the quarters while completely shutting down Blackpool offense for the remaining. These guys have put together a really physical football team and we saw the first part of that when they faced VCA back on week 2 on a game that could have gone either side and after that game they have put up 3 consecutive Wins and earned some prestige throughout the league with their great and solid performances week in and week out.
Micah McDonald had another superb game and is now ranked among the best of the league and their defensive unit demonstrates week after week that it was not by mistake their performance against one of the elite teams of the league. Their Turnover ratio is clearly one of the best of the league taking in count the difficulty of their early schedule and their Passing defense is ranked 4th of all Western Europe A#5. That should give us a good idea of how good is this team looking and why they have climbed so much on the rankings since week 1.
Let’s see how the rankings are looking after 5 weeks.
- Will fight for the championship -
1.The Hague Pirates (5-0) W5
The team to beat in Zeta faced his second consecutive cupcake this week after receiving at home the Glasgow Manglers. Nothing much to say as the score (125-9) speaks on itself. This upcoming week they should have some more competition when they face the Scourge who is in the need for Wins if they don’t want to fall apart on the fight for playoffs. However, once they have faced Vatican already, don’t expect to see this team losing a game until late on the season when they have to face Milano and Bocs who are possibly the only teams that could upset them.
Next three: Scourge, Knights, Nips
2.Iberian Bocs (5-0) W5
The Bocs did an okay job on a tricky game against the Bulls, a team that has never matched up very well for them despite having won all of their previous meetings. This week they face the Nuts who are still suffering from one of the most brutal early schedules I can remember with the sight on their Tuesday game against Vatican which should clarify a bit more the Top3 of the league.
Next three: Nuts, Vatican, London Storm
3.Vatican City Apocalypse (4-1) W2
Vatican has bounced back pretty well after their lost against Hague. They had a tough game against Milano but they were able to get the work done in time, and this week they were just merciless with the Legends after routing them for 214-0. I’m sure that Powers & company were really furious and they unleashed the beast inside as Motown is not as bad as the score reflects. These guys are clearly better than last year by leading the league on Passing defense (2nd overall) and holding a turnover ratio of +11 (offenses win games but defenses win championships). This week they have another chance to inflate a bit more their stats when they face the Snakes in a game with no room for surprises before they face the most important game of the season on Tuesday against the Bocs on a must win game for them, as a second loss would clearly relegate them to the third position after week 16.
Next three: Snakes, Bocs, Nuts
- Leading the chase -
4.Milano Mamertini (3-2) W1
I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on with this team. They are leading the League offensively but the biggest contribution to that ranking was made on week 1 against the hopeless Manchester Chiefs. Since then they have faced the Bocs and Vatican falling short on both games despite a pretty good effort. The other two games have been relatively easy for them but against teams that are not clearly a benchmark on the league. I would say that they have clearly improved from last year and that they should be the team to beat if you want to get the last homefield position for the playoffs, but I think they still have to prove themselves against Nips, Bulls and obviously Dragons. On their performance against that trio fall all their post-season hopes.
Next three: Manglers, Scourge, Knights
5.Dublin Dragons (3-2) W3
They have climbed another step and are now officially on the pursuing group. This week performance against the Scourge really contributed to consolidate them as one of the top teams. I think they are almost at the same level of Milano and their personal matchup should probably decide who gets the 4th seed, a matchup that is very likely to be repeated on 1st round of playoffs. The Dragons still have to face Pirates, Milano and the Bocs on week15, 12-4 and you get the pot, 11-5 and you will make your fans bite their nails in front of the Jumbotron.
Next three: Knights, Nips, Warlords
- A playoff game is their title -
6.Bologna Nips (4-1) W1
They still resist among the elite of the league in the rankings, thankfully in great part of their benevolent early schedule. They have only faced a mid-table team on the Bulls and they were not able to come up with the win. They still have to face all the big 4 plus the Dragons, so don’t get confused with their early dominance until they demonstrate their real measure. It won’t happen this week though, as they have another cupcake against the Stallions before getting into business on their visit to Dublin.
Next three: Stallions, Dragons, Pirates
7.Pamplona Bulls (3-2) L1
I must admit that these guys showed some pride on their last game. Despite being clearly outleveled in many positions they were able to compensate their lacks with a great gameplan and a lot of faith. It wasn’t enough to come back home with a Win, but they have demonstrated their opponents that any team who wants to get a win away from this team will have to fight hard to do it. The next three for them has only one name: Bastogne. If they can come up with another win from the Nuts they would be touching, at least, the 8th with the fingers.
Next three: Warlords, Nuts, Stallions
8.Blackpool Scourge (3-2) L1
I think this will be the only team from BBB this year to make the playoffs. Despite the early expectations from Nuts, London, Motown and themselves, they have faced the brutality of coming from a capped league to one of the strongest A leagues in WE. They have faced until now only two true playoff contenders on the Nips and Dragons and failed to get anything from them, so they are clearly behind on the race for the playoff in a possible tier. They should still have a chance to get a trip to the regular season leader field if they are able to get the job done on their game against the Nuts who seems right now like the only true menace to their 8th seed. If they fail to do it, they will have to put a big upset on any of the candidates to make the playoffs this year.
Next three: The Hague Pirates, Milano, Legends
- Coming from behind -
9.Bastogne Nuts (2-3) W2
Finally Bastogne has been able to put two consecutive wins on the boards. I’m sure these guys didn’t expect to be 2-3 at this point of the season and hosting an unbeaten team on the upcoming. They are another victim of the no-sense of this game on promotion/relegation affairs, however, don’t take them for dead yet as they should have time to recover after their next three which will be according to their previous schedule: Brutal. A win against the Bulls would really help them to get some momentum on the playoff run but they don’t seem capable to put an upset on any of the big teams for now.
Next three: Bocs, Bulls, Vatican
This week there are no more teams on the rankings as the rest of the teams really look out of possibilities to make it to the playoffs. Unless we see some unexpected results on the following weeks, I think these will be the teams to fight for all until the end.
NOTE ON THE PREDICTIONS: I do not use any of the league projectors, so this is my prediction based purely on observation.
GAME OF THE WEEK: THE HAGUE PIRATES – BLACKPOOL SCOURGE
It’s probably the best matchup on a week that shouldn’t have a big impact on the rankings. The Pirates are completely dominating on the field this season to whoever they have in front of them and I don’t expect less from this week. Pirates get it without doubt.
The Hague 57 – Blackpool 6
Last edited Mar 7, 2009 09:48:38
