Season 3 Week 10 Rankings for USA #7 (Western Conference)
I could use some help doing these, so if any of the owners/GM's or even people on the team could PM me what you thought went right and wrong in your games (like what I've done here), it would save me a bunch of time. Thanks
Disclaimer: I am the owner of the New Brunswick n00bs and this is only my opinion based upon how the teams looked when I saw them
The conference is beginning to stratify itself into 4 tiers:
Tier 1 (Fighting for top seed): Waco, Great Plains
Tier 2 (Fighting for home playoff game): New Brunswick, Las Vegas, Silverymoon, Portland
Tier 3 (Fighting to get into the playoffs): Buffalo, Oakland, Spicewood, Scottsdale, Miami Dallas, Hartford
Tier 4 (Trying to avoid relegation): Grand Haven, RGB, Carolina
1. Waco Davidians
2. Great Plains Reapers
3. Silverymoon Elves
4. Las Vegas Stunners
5. New Brunswick n00bs
6. Portland Hitmen
7. Buffalo Rangers
8. Oakland Wizards
9. Dallas Red Raiders
10. Spicewood Longhorns
11. Scottsdale Sun Demons
12. Miami Cyclones
13. Hartford Hellhounds
14. Grand Haven Mist
15. RGB Berzerk
16. Carolina Bar Stars
1. Waco Davidians - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1220
What went right: Run Offense – In an offensive explosion, the Davidians’ running backs had one of the most prolific days on the ground, racking up over 300+ yds on a whopping 8.6 yds/carry and accounting for 7 of the 10 TDs that Waco had. If the Davidians can keep this up no team will be able to stop them.
What went wrong: Hugh? – Not much went wrong, but Waco’s QB’s completion percentage was relatively mediocre. While he put up solid yardage and TD #’s, his slightly low accuracy could be an issue in tighter games.
Recent Game: W 93-0 at Hartford
Record: 10-0
Previous Rank: 2
Next Game: vs RGB Berzerk
2. Great Plains Reapers - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1212
What went right: Kicker – Not only was the kicker the only guy who put points on the board, but he was also a key defensive player, booting 4 out of his 5 kick-offs into the endzone resulting in touchbacks. The Reapers’ kicker did everything in his power to will this team to a win, but the Reapers ultimately fell short in this season’s biggest upset to date.
What went wrong: Red Zone offense – In this game it was all about who could make it into the endzone. The fact that the Reapers seemed to gain an aversion to the goal line doomed them. Being in the red zone 3 separate times and only coming away with 9 pts, is a huge disappointment for a team that hasn’t had huge troubles scoring.
Recent Game: L 12-16 at Portland
Record: 9-1
Previous Rank: 1
Next Game: vs Hartford Hellhounds
3. Silverymoon Elves - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1663
What went right: Big Pass Plays – Even though the Elves’ QB still had major issues with INTs, there were enough major pass plays made to help them win the game. The Elves’ seem to play a high risk/high reward type of offense and it went their way in this game.
What went wrong: Defensive Line – The defensive line had trouble all game against the Las Vegas offensive line. They were unable to gain much pressure on the QBs and just had trouble stopping the running game. While the line has been able to rack up stats against more overmatched offensive lines, it seems that they have a much tougher time against similarly leveled O-linemen.
Recent Game: W 27-16 vs Las Vegas
Record: 8-2
Previous Rank: 4
Next Game: at Oakland Wizards
4. Las Vegas Stunners - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1219
What went right: Rush defense allowed only 28.5 yards for an average of 1.4 per carry. Offensive line gave up no sacks and only one hurry to a very good Silverymoon D-Line. After being held in check by most of the better teams in the league, the offense was able to rush for over 100 yards with no fumbles vs a defense that has been very stingy.
What went wrong: 344 yards passing against. Silverymoon moved up and down the field at will via the passing game against the Las Vegas Defense that had improved it's pass defense of late. 7 Missed tackles was a season high for Las Vegas who only had 21 in the previous 9 games combined. The fumble by Joey Ligs on what appeared to be a sure touchdown catch and run turned into a 10 point swing with the long return and field goal by Silverymoon
Recent Game: L 16-27 at Silverymoon
Record: 7-3
Previous Rank: 3
Next Game: vs Spicewood Longhorns
5. New Brunswick n00bs - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1210
What went right: Red Zone Defense – Even though the n00bs were outgained and outplayed in this game, they were able to stay extremely close because they never allowed the Dallas offense to get into the endzone. With safeties making big plays and the front seven putting pressure on, the n00bs were able to keep the Dallas offense at bay.
What went wrong: Offense – Overall the n00bs offense just sputtered and was not able to drive consistently. By only posting up less than 200 yds, the n00bs will need to figure out a way to jumpstart their offense or else it’ll be a dreary rest of the season.
Recent Game: W 12-9 vs Dallas
Record: 8-2
Previous Rank: 5
Next Game: at Buffalo Rangers
6. Portland Hitmen - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1211
What went right: Pass Offense – The Portland passing game showed up and proved to the conference that it is one of the best by racking up over 250 yds threw the air on a very efficient 65+% completion rate. Going against one of the best defenses, the QBs and receivers teamed up to methodically pick apart the Reapers’ secondary. If they can continue to do this for the rest of the season, teams will have trouble beating them.
What went wrong: Red Zone Offense – Even though they came away with the only touchdown of the game, Portland also had some issues punching the ball into the endzone when they got close. With their passing game they can drive down the field, but if they can’t get into the endzone consistently enough, they could run into trouble.
Recent Game: W 16-12 vs Great Plains
Record: 7-3
Previous Rank: 6
Next Game: at Dallas Red Raiders
7. Buffalo Rangers - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1702
What went right: Offense – For the first game in a while, Buffalo’s offense exploded on all fronts, scoring TDs through the air and on the ground. Pretty much everything they did offensively worked the whole game.
what went wrong: Punting – While they only had one punt, the punter pretty much shanked the ball and kicked it a measly 21 yds. In a game like this, it didn’t amount to much, but if they get into a field position battle against some of the tougher teams, it could be a problem.
Recent Game: W 75-0 at Carolina
Record: 6-4
Previous Rank: 7
Next Game: vs New Brunswick n00bs
8. Oakland Wizards - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1215
Contributor: rj414
What went right: Offensive Balance. Oakland came at the Sun Demons through land and air and beat them up pretty hard with both. The ground game, led by Jimmy "Boy" James and Mike Stabinsky, posted 210.5 yards on 54 carries for an impressive 3.9 yard average, and Cody wilson - who has quietly had a decent season for the Wizards - added 200 yards through the air with 2 tds. The success of the offense also provided outstanding ball control for the Wizards, who only punted 3 times and had 1 turnover, and ran 95 offensive plays to Scottsdale's 51.
What went wrong: About the only real blemishes on this game were the 3 drops, the interception, and the one fumble which Oakland recovered anyway. Seth Logan missed 2 Field Goals, but they were both over 50 yards, and he was perfect on his other 3 attempts and his extra points. All in all a very clinical performance.
Recent Game: W 23-0 at Scottsdale
Record: 6-4
Previous Rank: 8
Next Game: vs Silverymoon Elves
9. Dallas Red Raiders - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1217
What went right: Defense – They were able to stifle the n00bs offense and prevent the n00bs from gaining major yardage. As they’ve done in their previous games, they were able to hold the n00bs to FGs and kept them out of the endzone. Unfortunately, the n00bs were still able to get close enough to kick enough FGs to stay on course and steal the win.
What went wrong: Kicker – The major goat in this game was their kicker who missed a short FG that would have won the game. Instead, the game went into overtime where the n00bs kicker was able to be the hero. This is the second game for Dallas where their kicker has missed makeable kicks and choked away the game for them. They need to fix that problem quickly if they hope to rack up more wins.
Recent Game: L 9-12 at New Brunswick
Record: 3-7
Previous Rank: 9
Next Game: vs Portland Hitmen
10. Spicewood Longhorns - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1214
Contributor: modus_operandi
What went right: Offense; – Spicewood imposed its will upon the Grand Haven defense up and down the field – gaining a combined 435 yards of offense and 4 TDs. Not bad for a team that’s been singing the red-zone blues all year. QB RJ Stew (20/30, 214 yds, 2 TD’s) was a model of efficiency hitting seven different receivers at a 66%+ clip. Spicewood’s OL was particularly impressive, allowing zero pressures on the day while picking up 36 combines pancakes.
What went wrong: Pass-Defense – Probably nitpicking here as they created 3 turnovers via INTs, but the Longhorns secondary allowed nearly 200 yds passing to a subpar passing attack despite outleveling them by a wide margin. Spicewood desperately needs to string together a streak if they’re to challenge for a seed in the playoffs.
Recent Game: W 43-7 vs Grand Haven
Record: 4-6
Previous Rank: 10
Next Game: at Las Vegas Stunners
11. Scottsdale Sun Demons - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1225
Contributor: rj414
What went right: Sticky hands. The recievers for Scottsdale combined for just 1 drop against Oakland, and did their best to aid Jack Howitzer in his quest for the upset. Unfortunately, they just didn't have the ball long enough
What went wrong: Time of Possession. The Sun Demons were dismantled very easily in this game because Oakland's offense just wouldn't get off the field. The defense got tired and the offense, while efficient, just didn't have enough time to work with as the lead slowly built.
Recent Game: L 0-23 vs Oakland
Record: 3-6-1
Previous Rank: 11
Next Game: at Miami Cyclones
12. Miami Cyclones - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1955
Contributor: rj414
What went right: Running Game. Miami pounded the ball on the ground like A7 hasn't seen since Greg Martin was in full flow last season. 55 rushes for 226 yards at a whopping 4.1 yards a rush - very impressive.
What went wrong: The Miami passing game was as underwhelming as the ground game was powerful. 70.5 yards on 32 attempts with an int - Miami may have won this game more convincingly if they had gone 100 run, since the passing game killed a lot of drives and forced Miami to punt 10 times in a game where they rushed for over 200 yards.
Recent Game: W 13-7 at RGB
Record: 4-6
Previous Rank: 12
Next Game: vs Scottsdale Sun Demons
13. Hartford Hellhounds - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1216
What went right: Punter – Hartford’s biggest defensive weapon in this game was their punter, who consistently booted the ball with tremendous distance. In this game it didn’t amount to much because of how dominant Waco was.
What went wrong: Turnovers – When teams face a team like the Davidians, they must play at their best and minimize mistakes at all costs. For Hartford, 7 turnovers = Big Loss. With their QBs getting pressured all game and tossing 5 INTs, and their special teams unable to hold onto the ball, the Hellhounds were pretty much doomed.
Recent Game: L 0-93 vs Waco Davidians
Record: 2-7-1
Previous Rank: 13
Next Game: at Great Plains Reapers
14. Grand Haven Mist - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1222
Contributor: modus_operandi
What went right: Offense – It’s not easy to find very many positives whenever the margin for loss is 35+ points; however, Grand Haven passed the ball reasonably well through the air despite an unfavorable matchup, and in fact connected on a TD for the first time since week 4 vs. Great Plains.
What went wrong: Defense – Not a particularly awe-inspiring effort in a game that should really have been much closer. You’re simply not going to win very many games when giving up 400+ yds of offense and 4 TD’s. Grand Haven will really need turn it up a notch if they’re to remain in A7 west next season.
Recent Game: L 7-43 at Spicewood Longhorns
Record: 1-9
Previous Rank: 14
Next Game: vs Carolina Bar Stars
15. RGB Berzerk - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1223
Contributor: rj414
What went right: Pass Defense. While the Berzerk front 7 got beat up all game, the secondary really shined, restricting Miami's offense to 70.5 yards at a paltry 2.2 yards per attempt. They also forced an interception. With Hugh Laurie and the Davidians around the corner, this display by the secondary should certainly be heartening for the RGB management.
What went wrong: Dropped passes. In a close game today, the recievers really let the RGB QBs down, dropping a whopping 8 passes and bringing the teams overall completion percentage under 50. If RGB continues to insist on relying heavily on their passing game, they may find it very difficult to avoid relegation.
AWOOGA WATCH: RGB's intense competition with the Elves for A7's worst gameplanners is heating up, as Awooga continues to scratch his head on the sidelines following a game that saw him touch the football just eleven times.
To put that in perspective, that is one touch more than Bevo D had for Waco against the Hellhounds - and Bevo D is a third string wide reciever.
Recent Game: L 7-13 vs Miami
Record: 1-9
Previous Rank: 15
Next Game: at Waco Davidians
16. Carolina Bar Stars - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=734
What went right: Punting – Once again, the biggest star on this team was the punter. Even though their QB play has shown improvement, it was still the punter who gained them the most yardage.
What went wrong: Offensive Line – The Bar Stars’ offensive line was once again overpowered, which led to a tremendous amount of pressure on the QB, which caused multiple interceptions. The running game was also stifled due to the immense amount of pressure the Buffalo defensive line was putting on. The Bar Stars will need to keep on working on their O-line if they hope to get their offense off the ground.
Recent Game: L 0-75 vs Buffalo
Record: 0-10
Previous Rank: 16
Next Game: at Grand Haven Mists
Games of the Week:
#3 Silverymoon at #8 Oakland
In a clash of probable playoff teams, Oakland will try to replicate an upset similar to Portland’s win over Great Plains. They’ve showed that they can play top teams close, but haven’t been able to push over the edge. Silverymoon will try to continue on its new win streak.
Prediction: This will all come down to whether Oakland can score enough points against Silverymoon. If they are able to score more than 20, then they have a good chance. Unfortunately, I don’t believe that they will.
Predicted Score: 24-13 Silverymoon
#4 Las Vegas vs #10 Spicewood
Spicewood really needs to win this game to get back into playoff contention. If it loses, it’s chance of making it back to the playoffs slip just a little farther away. Las Vegas will try to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Silverymoon and assert itself as one of the top teams in the conference.
Prediction: This could be a defensive game and will come down to whose offense is more prolific. Las Vegas has seemed to find its groove against the Elves and I expect them to continue onwards
Predicted Score: 23-6 Las Vegas
#6 Portland vs #9 Dallas
If the winds had blown a little differently, these two teams could be facing off having upset higher ranked teams. Portland did its part in shocking Great Plains, while Dallas was a kick away from knocking off New Brunswick. In this game, Dallas is the much more desperate team as they seem to have started to exert their powerful defense. Portland will try to blow by Dallas with its passing game.
Prediction: This game will be the classic offense versus defense. I do believe that Dallas’ defense can stifle Portland’s offense, but it’s a matter of how Dallas’ offense will fare against Portland’s defense. This game could go to the wire, but I believe that Dallas can pull off the upset that eluded them last game.
Predicted Score: 16-6 Dallas
#14 Grand Haven vs #16 Carolina
After starting the season off with hope, Grand Haven has plummeted and is in a bit of a danger zone. They can’t afford to be upset by Carolina, or else they could be in danger of being relegated. This game is Carolina’s best bet for that elusive win. If they can’t do it here, they could finish the season winless.
Prediction: This will come down to whether Carolina can score. If they can’t, the game will be over. If they can muster up their offense and keep the game close, it could get interesting. The problem is that the talent gap will be too hard to overcome. In a game that will be closer than the score appears, Grand Haven should pull out a win.
Predicted Score: 24-7 Grand Haven
Current “Game of the Week” Record: 25-12
If you have a different opinion of the players of the week, have a “play of the week” or have a prediction of the “Game of the Week” post below. Let’s see how this season turns out and good luck in week 11
I could use some help doing these, so if any of the owners/GM's or even people on the team could PM me what you thought went right and wrong in your games (like what I've done here), it would save me a bunch of time. Thanks
Disclaimer: I am the owner of the New Brunswick n00bs and this is only my opinion based upon how the teams looked when I saw them
The conference is beginning to stratify itself into 4 tiers:
Tier 1 (Fighting for top seed): Waco, Great Plains
Tier 2 (Fighting for home playoff game): New Brunswick, Las Vegas, Silverymoon, Portland
Tier 3 (Fighting to get into the playoffs): Buffalo, Oakland, Spicewood, Scottsdale, Miami Dallas, Hartford
Tier 4 (Trying to avoid relegation): Grand Haven, RGB, Carolina
1. Waco Davidians
2. Great Plains Reapers
3. Silverymoon Elves
4. Las Vegas Stunners
5. New Brunswick n00bs
6. Portland Hitmen
7. Buffalo Rangers
8. Oakland Wizards
9. Dallas Red Raiders
10. Spicewood Longhorns
11. Scottsdale Sun Demons
12. Miami Cyclones
13. Hartford Hellhounds
14. Grand Haven Mist
15. RGB Berzerk
16. Carolina Bar Stars
1. Waco Davidians - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1220
What went right: Run Offense – In an offensive explosion, the Davidians’ running backs had one of the most prolific days on the ground, racking up over 300+ yds on a whopping 8.6 yds/carry and accounting for 7 of the 10 TDs that Waco had. If the Davidians can keep this up no team will be able to stop them.
What went wrong: Hugh? – Not much went wrong, but Waco’s QB’s completion percentage was relatively mediocre. While he put up solid yardage and TD #’s, his slightly low accuracy could be an issue in tighter games.
Recent Game: W 93-0 at Hartford
Record: 10-0
Previous Rank: 2
Next Game: vs RGB Berzerk
2. Great Plains Reapers - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1212
What went right: Kicker – Not only was the kicker the only guy who put points on the board, but he was also a key defensive player, booting 4 out of his 5 kick-offs into the endzone resulting in touchbacks. The Reapers’ kicker did everything in his power to will this team to a win, but the Reapers ultimately fell short in this season’s biggest upset to date.
What went wrong: Red Zone offense – In this game it was all about who could make it into the endzone. The fact that the Reapers seemed to gain an aversion to the goal line doomed them. Being in the red zone 3 separate times and only coming away with 9 pts, is a huge disappointment for a team that hasn’t had huge troubles scoring.
Recent Game: L 12-16 at Portland
Record: 9-1
Previous Rank: 1
Next Game: vs Hartford Hellhounds
3. Silverymoon Elves - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1663
What went right: Big Pass Plays – Even though the Elves’ QB still had major issues with INTs, there were enough major pass plays made to help them win the game. The Elves’ seem to play a high risk/high reward type of offense and it went their way in this game.
What went wrong: Defensive Line – The defensive line had trouble all game against the Las Vegas offensive line. They were unable to gain much pressure on the QBs and just had trouble stopping the running game. While the line has been able to rack up stats against more overmatched offensive lines, it seems that they have a much tougher time against similarly leveled O-linemen.
Recent Game: W 27-16 vs Las Vegas
Record: 8-2
Previous Rank: 4
Next Game: at Oakland Wizards
4. Las Vegas Stunners - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1219
What went right: Rush defense allowed only 28.5 yards for an average of 1.4 per carry. Offensive line gave up no sacks and only one hurry to a very good Silverymoon D-Line. After being held in check by most of the better teams in the league, the offense was able to rush for over 100 yards with no fumbles vs a defense that has been very stingy.
What went wrong: 344 yards passing against. Silverymoon moved up and down the field at will via the passing game against the Las Vegas Defense that had improved it's pass defense of late. 7 Missed tackles was a season high for Las Vegas who only had 21 in the previous 9 games combined. The fumble by Joey Ligs on what appeared to be a sure touchdown catch and run turned into a 10 point swing with the long return and field goal by Silverymoon
Recent Game: L 16-27 at Silverymoon
Record: 7-3
Previous Rank: 3
Next Game: vs Spicewood Longhorns
5. New Brunswick n00bs - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1210
What went right: Red Zone Defense – Even though the n00bs were outgained and outplayed in this game, they were able to stay extremely close because they never allowed the Dallas offense to get into the endzone. With safeties making big plays and the front seven putting pressure on, the n00bs were able to keep the Dallas offense at bay.
What went wrong: Offense – Overall the n00bs offense just sputtered and was not able to drive consistently. By only posting up less than 200 yds, the n00bs will need to figure out a way to jumpstart their offense or else it’ll be a dreary rest of the season.
Recent Game: W 12-9 vs Dallas
Record: 8-2
Previous Rank: 5
Next Game: at Buffalo Rangers
6. Portland Hitmen - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1211
What went right: Pass Offense – The Portland passing game showed up and proved to the conference that it is one of the best by racking up over 250 yds threw the air on a very efficient 65+% completion rate. Going against one of the best defenses, the QBs and receivers teamed up to methodically pick apart the Reapers’ secondary. If they can continue to do this for the rest of the season, teams will have trouble beating them.
What went wrong: Red Zone Offense – Even though they came away with the only touchdown of the game, Portland also had some issues punching the ball into the endzone when they got close. With their passing game they can drive down the field, but if they can’t get into the endzone consistently enough, they could run into trouble.
Recent Game: W 16-12 vs Great Plains
Record: 7-3
Previous Rank: 6
Next Game: at Dallas Red Raiders
7. Buffalo Rangers - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1702
What went right: Offense – For the first game in a while, Buffalo’s offense exploded on all fronts, scoring TDs through the air and on the ground. Pretty much everything they did offensively worked the whole game.
what went wrong: Punting – While they only had one punt, the punter pretty much shanked the ball and kicked it a measly 21 yds. In a game like this, it didn’t amount to much, but if they get into a field position battle against some of the tougher teams, it could be a problem.
Recent Game: W 75-0 at Carolina
Record: 6-4
Previous Rank: 7
Next Game: vs New Brunswick n00bs
8. Oakland Wizards - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1215
Contributor: rj414
What went right: Offensive Balance. Oakland came at the Sun Demons through land and air and beat them up pretty hard with both. The ground game, led by Jimmy "Boy" James and Mike Stabinsky, posted 210.5 yards on 54 carries for an impressive 3.9 yard average, and Cody wilson - who has quietly had a decent season for the Wizards - added 200 yards through the air with 2 tds. The success of the offense also provided outstanding ball control for the Wizards, who only punted 3 times and had 1 turnover, and ran 95 offensive plays to Scottsdale's 51.
What went wrong: About the only real blemishes on this game were the 3 drops, the interception, and the one fumble which Oakland recovered anyway. Seth Logan missed 2 Field Goals, but they were both over 50 yards, and he was perfect on his other 3 attempts and his extra points. All in all a very clinical performance.
Recent Game: W 23-0 at Scottsdale
Record: 6-4
Previous Rank: 8
Next Game: vs Silverymoon Elves
9. Dallas Red Raiders - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1217
What went right: Defense – They were able to stifle the n00bs offense and prevent the n00bs from gaining major yardage. As they’ve done in their previous games, they were able to hold the n00bs to FGs and kept them out of the endzone. Unfortunately, the n00bs were still able to get close enough to kick enough FGs to stay on course and steal the win.
What went wrong: Kicker – The major goat in this game was their kicker who missed a short FG that would have won the game. Instead, the game went into overtime where the n00bs kicker was able to be the hero. This is the second game for Dallas where their kicker has missed makeable kicks and choked away the game for them. They need to fix that problem quickly if they hope to rack up more wins.
Recent Game: L 9-12 at New Brunswick
Record: 3-7
Previous Rank: 9
Next Game: vs Portland Hitmen
10. Spicewood Longhorns - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1214
Contributor: modus_operandi
What went right: Offense; – Spicewood imposed its will upon the Grand Haven defense up and down the field – gaining a combined 435 yards of offense and 4 TDs. Not bad for a team that’s been singing the red-zone blues all year. QB RJ Stew (20/30, 214 yds, 2 TD’s) was a model of efficiency hitting seven different receivers at a 66%+ clip. Spicewood’s OL was particularly impressive, allowing zero pressures on the day while picking up 36 combines pancakes.
What went wrong: Pass-Defense – Probably nitpicking here as they created 3 turnovers via INTs, but the Longhorns secondary allowed nearly 200 yds passing to a subpar passing attack despite outleveling them by a wide margin. Spicewood desperately needs to string together a streak if they’re to challenge for a seed in the playoffs.
Recent Game: W 43-7 vs Grand Haven
Record: 4-6
Previous Rank: 10
Next Game: at Las Vegas Stunners
11. Scottsdale Sun Demons - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1225
Contributor: rj414
What went right: Sticky hands. The recievers for Scottsdale combined for just 1 drop against Oakland, and did their best to aid Jack Howitzer in his quest for the upset. Unfortunately, they just didn't have the ball long enough
What went wrong: Time of Possession. The Sun Demons were dismantled very easily in this game because Oakland's offense just wouldn't get off the field. The defense got tired and the offense, while efficient, just didn't have enough time to work with as the lead slowly built.
Recent Game: L 0-23 vs Oakland
Record: 3-6-1
Previous Rank: 11
Next Game: at Miami Cyclones
12. Miami Cyclones - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1955
Contributor: rj414
What went right: Running Game. Miami pounded the ball on the ground like A7 hasn't seen since Greg Martin was in full flow last season. 55 rushes for 226 yards at a whopping 4.1 yards a rush - very impressive.
What went wrong: The Miami passing game was as underwhelming as the ground game was powerful. 70.5 yards on 32 attempts with an int - Miami may have won this game more convincingly if they had gone 100 run, since the passing game killed a lot of drives and forced Miami to punt 10 times in a game where they rushed for over 200 yards.
Recent Game: W 13-7 at RGB
Record: 4-6
Previous Rank: 12
Next Game: vs Scottsdale Sun Demons
13. Hartford Hellhounds - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1216
What went right: Punter – Hartford’s biggest defensive weapon in this game was their punter, who consistently booted the ball with tremendous distance. In this game it didn’t amount to much because of how dominant Waco was.
What went wrong: Turnovers – When teams face a team like the Davidians, they must play at their best and minimize mistakes at all costs. For Hartford, 7 turnovers = Big Loss. With their QBs getting pressured all game and tossing 5 INTs, and their special teams unable to hold onto the ball, the Hellhounds were pretty much doomed.
Recent Game: L 0-93 vs Waco Davidians
Record: 2-7-1
Previous Rank: 13
Next Game: at Great Plains Reapers
14. Grand Haven Mist - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1222
Contributor: modus_operandi
What went right: Offense – It’s not easy to find very many positives whenever the margin for loss is 35+ points; however, Grand Haven passed the ball reasonably well through the air despite an unfavorable matchup, and in fact connected on a TD for the first time since week 4 vs. Great Plains.
What went wrong: Defense – Not a particularly awe-inspiring effort in a game that should really have been much closer. You’re simply not going to win very many games when giving up 400+ yds of offense and 4 TD’s. Grand Haven will really need turn it up a notch if they’re to remain in A7 west next season.
Recent Game: L 7-43 at Spicewood Longhorns
Record: 1-9
Previous Rank: 14
Next Game: vs Carolina Bar Stars
15. RGB Berzerk - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=1223
Contributor: rj414
What went right: Pass Defense. While the Berzerk front 7 got beat up all game, the secondary really shined, restricting Miami's offense to 70.5 yards at a paltry 2.2 yards per attempt. They also forced an interception. With Hugh Laurie and the Davidians around the corner, this display by the secondary should certainly be heartening for the RGB management.
What went wrong: Dropped passes. In a close game today, the recievers really let the RGB QBs down, dropping a whopping 8 passes and bringing the teams overall completion percentage under 50. If RGB continues to insist on relying heavily on their passing game, they may find it very difficult to avoid relegation.
AWOOGA WATCH: RGB's intense competition with the Elves for A7's worst gameplanners is heating up, as Awooga continues to scratch his head on the sidelines following a game that saw him touch the football just eleven times.
To put that in perspective, that is one touch more than Bevo D had for Waco against the Hellhounds - and Bevo D is a third string wide reciever.
Recent Game: L 7-13 vs Miami
Record: 1-9
Previous Rank: 15
Next Game: at Waco Davidians
16. Carolina Bar Stars - http://goallineblitz.com/game/team.pl?team_id=734
What went right: Punting – Once again, the biggest star on this team was the punter. Even though their QB play has shown improvement, it was still the punter who gained them the most yardage.
What went wrong: Offensive Line – The Bar Stars’ offensive line was once again overpowered, which led to a tremendous amount of pressure on the QB, which caused multiple interceptions. The running game was also stifled due to the immense amount of pressure the Buffalo defensive line was putting on. The Bar Stars will need to keep on working on their O-line if they hope to get their offense off the ground.
Recent Game: L 0-75 vs Buffalo
Record: 0-10
Previous Rank: 16
Next Game: at Grand Haven Mists
Games of the Week:
#3 Silverymoon at #8 Oakland
In a clash of probable playoff teams, Oakland will try to replicate an upset similar to Portland’s win over Great Plains. They’ve showed that they can play top teams close, but haven’t been able to push over the edge. Silverymoon will try to continue on its new win streak.
Prediction: This will all come down to whether Oakland can score enough points against Silverymoon. If they are able to score more than 20, then they have a good chance. Unfortunately, I don’t believe that they will.
Predicted Score: 24-13 Silverymoon
#4 Las Vegas vs #10 Spicewood
Spicewood really needs to win this game to get back into playoff contention. If it loses, it’s chance of making it back to the playoffs slip just a little farther away. Las Vegas will try to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Silverymoon and assert itself as one of the top teams in the conference.
Prediction: This could be a defensive game and will come down to whose offense is more prolific. Las Vegas has seemed to find its groove against the Elves and I expect them to continue onwards
Predicted Score: 23-6 Las Vegas
#6 Portland vs #9 Dallas
If the winds had blown a little differently, these two teams could be facing off having upset higher ranked teams. Portland did its part in shocking Great Plains, while Dallas was a kick away from knocking off New Brunswick. In this game, Dallas is the much more desperate team as they seem to have started to exert their powerful defense. Portland will try to blow by Dallas with its passing game.
Prediction: This game will be the classic offense versus defense. I do believe that Dallas’ defense can stifle Portland’s offense, but it’s a matter of how Dallas’ offense will fare against Portland’s defense. This game could go to the wire, but I believe that Dallas can pull off the upset that eluded them last game.
Predicted Score: 16-6 Dallas
#14 Grand Haven vs #16 Carolina
After starting the season off with hope, Grand Haven has plummeted and is in a bit of a danger zone. They can’t afford to be upset by Carolina, or else they could be in danger of being relegated. This game is Carolina’s best bet for that elusive win. If they can’t do it here, they could finish the season winless.
Prediction: This will come down to whether Carolina can score. If they can’t, the game will be over. If they can muster up their offense and keep the game close, it could get interesting. The problem is that the talent gap will be too hard to overcome. In a game that will be closer than the score appears, Grand Haven should pull out a win.
Predicted Score: 24-7 Grand Haven
Current “Game of the Week” Record: 25-12
If you have a different opinion of the players of the week, have a “play of the week” or have a prediction of the “Game of the Week” post below. Let’s see how this season turns out and good luck in week 11
