Now that we're far enough into the season that the rookie ladder has at least some semblance of being a real ranking (albeit still screwed up by sophomore and seasoned teams not being kept away), I figured it'd be fun to start arguments about the ladder matches of the top ten teams.
Without further ado...
#10 Yorick's Gravediggers vs. #5 All Madden
In talking with Yorick's GM, it's pretty clear he doesn't feel his team is ready to make its push to the big leagues. That one-dimensional offense has run into a couple walls, and when that happens, the team just falls apart. On defense, the bend-don't-break zone has worked far beyond expectations, helped in part by the weaknesses of zone becoming strengths when the field gets small. The question is will that be enough?
All Madden, on the other hand, might be a run first team, but they have a solid passing game to keep defenses honest. They also have a defense that has allowed both fewer yards and fewer points than Yorick's. Going back to offense, they've picked up more yards, scored more points, and just all-around dominated their opposition more thoroughly.
My brain says Madden, but my heart demands Yorick.
Yorick's Gravediggers 14 - All Madden 10
#8 (tied) Capital Wastelanders vs. #6 Minnesota Stunners
Minnesota is one of the very many run-only teams. Perhaps not as one-dimensional as Yorick's, but when you have almost 20x rushing yards than passing yards, it's obvious what your plan is. Minnesota is also very good at what they do having put up more yards and points than the Wastelanders. However, they have dropped a few ladder matches, so one has to wonder if perhaps the top teams are starting to figure out how to beat their run-only competition.
The Wastelanders come in as one of the hotter ladder teams. They've won their last three ladder games, and done so convincingly. They've also shown they can completely shut down a running team through a few key defensive changes. That means this game likely will come down to whether or not Minnesota's focused offense can beat a defense that knows not only what their opponent is doing, but how to stop them from doing it. In other words, can the immovable object stop the unstoppable force.
I'm going with the unstoppable force.
Minnesota Stunners 24 - Capital Wastelanders 14
#8 (tied) Sexy Dance Fighters vs #16 (tied) D'Haran Empire
This game is a match-up of run teams which should come as no surprise given just how overwhelmingly popularity of running offenses amongst rookies this season. As an aside, I blame Parab00n for that. If he'd just give up the top of the ladder to a passing team, I'm sure a bunch of these rookies would flock to that (or, if they'd just watch what's going on with the top of the sophomore ladder)
All that out of the way, D'Haran just doesn't have much of a chance. They've just not shown any ability recently to play top teams, and most of their stats were padded by weak competition. I think they'll put up some points, but the Fighters will put up a lot more.
Sexy Dance Fighters 52 - D'Haran Empire 30
#7 Buffalo Beasts of Bourbon - #13 HOLY GUACAMOLE!
Let me begin by saying guacamole is nasty vile stuff. It looks like something you'd find in a sick baby's diaper and probably tastes exactly the same (I say probably because I haven't actually tasted any diapers to make an actual comparison). So there'd be no way I'd pick them to win this game even if I thought they could.
Of course, I don't even remotely think that. Buffalo has a somewhat balanced (well, for a rookie team) offense and a very solid defense. They've beaten harder competition, and frankly Guacamole doesn't yet deserve to be as highly ranked as they are. Maybe as they develop they'll become a top 20 or so team, but that day is still a ways away.
Buffalo Beasts of Bourbon 45 - HOLY GUACAMOLE 3
#4 Nigerian Minimares vs #1 Victorious Secret
XAV'S GAME OF THE WEEK!
Arguably the two best teams in the rookie ranks. Both have a good mix of pass and run. Both have strong defenses. The Minimares only come in ranked lower because they slipped up against a very good Acheron team. Trying to pick between them is a lot like picking which breast on the girl you're with is better. Does it really matter? They're both going to be fun.
But I have to pick one, so I'm going with the left one since I'm right handed and cupping and squeezing that one just comes more naturally...er...wait...football. Focus. I'm going with Victorious because while I think the Minimares are excellent, I think Victorious can do the better job making game time adjustments to their playbooks and tactics that will give them the edge.
Victorious Secret 10 - Nigerian Minimares 7
#3 Baby BANGER vs #2 Acheron Xenos
The Baby BANGER's haven't allowed a point in league play. While that might mean they have a really good defense, it might also mean they play in a fairly weak league. Looking at the rest of the league, I'm going with the latter.
Acheron, on the hand, has had to play a number of tough teams in both ladder and league play, and even when the lose, they play tough. It wouldn't surprise me at all if by the end of the year, they've made enough improvements in their play to challenge for the top rookie spot.
Acheron Xenos 17 - Baby Banger 3
Without further ado...
#10 Yorick's Gravediggers vs. #5 All Madden
In talking with Yorick's GM, it's pretty clear he doesn't feel his team is ready to make its push to the big leagues. That one-dimensional offense has run into a couple walls, and when that happens, the team just falls apart. On defense, the bend-don't-break zone has worked far beyond expectations, helped in part by the weaknesses of zone becoming strengths when the field gets small. The question is will that be enough?
All Madden, on the other hand, might be a run first team, but they have a solid passing game to keep defenses honest. They also have a defense that has allowed both fewer yards and fewer points than Yorick's. Going back to offense, they've picked up more yards, scored more points, and just all-around dominated their opposition more thoroughly.
My brain says Madden, but my heart demands Yorick.
Yorick's Gravediggers 14 - All Madden 10
#8 (tied) Capital Wastelanders vs. #6 Minnesota Stunners
Minnesota is one of the very many run-only teams. Perhaps not as one-dimensional as Yorick's, but when you have almost 20x rushing yards than passing yards, it's obvious what your plan is. Minnesota is also very good at what they do having put up more yards and points than the Wastelanders. However, they have dropped a few ladder matches, so one has to wonder if perhaps the top teams are starting to figure out how to beat their run-only competition.
The Wastelanders come in as one of the hotter ladder teams. They've won their last three ladder games, and done so convincingly. They've also shown they can completely shut down a running team through a few key defensive changes. That means this game likely will come down to whether or not Minnesota's focused offense can beat a defense that knows not only what their opponent is doing, but how to stop them from doing it. In other words, can the immovable object stop the unstoppable force.
I'm going with the unstoppable force.
Minnesota Stunners 24 - Capital Wastelanders 14
#8 (tied) Sexy Dance Fighters vs #16 (tied) D'Haran Empire
This game is a match-up of run teams which should come as no surprise given just how overwhelmingly popularity of running offenses amongst rookies this season. As an aside, I blame Parab00n for that. If he'd just give up the top of the ladder to a passing team, I'm sure a bunch of these rookies would flock to that (or, if they'd just watch what's going on with the top of the sophomore ladder)
All that out of the way, D'Haran just doesn't have much of a chance. They've just not shown any ability recently to play top teams, and most of their stats were padded by weak competition. I think they'll put up some points, but the Fighters will put up a lot more.
Sexy Dance Fighters 52 - D'Haran Empire 30
#7 Buffalo Beasts of Bourbon - #13 HOLY GUACAMOLE!
Let me begin by saying guacamole is nasty vile stuff. It looks like something you'd find in a sick baby's diaper and probably tastes exactly the same (I say probably because I haven't actually tasted any diapers to make an actual comparison). So there'd be no way I'd pick them to win this game even if I thought they could.
Of course, I don't even remotely think that. Buffalo has a somewhat balanced (well, for a rookie team) offense and a very solid defense. They've beaten harder competition, and frankly Guacamole doesn't yet deserve to be as highly ranked as they are. Maybe as they develop they'll become a top 20 or so team, but that day is still a ways away.
Buffalo Beasts of Bourbon 45 - HOLY GUACAMOLE 3
#4 Nigerian Minimares vs #1 Victorious Secret
XAV'S GAME OF THE WEEK!
Arguably the two best teams in the rookie ranks. Both have a good mix of pass and run. Both have strong defenses. The Minimares only come in ranked lower because they slipped up against a very good Acheron team. Trying to pick between them is a lot like picking which breast on the girl you're with is better. Does it really matter? They're both going to be fun.
But I have to pick one, so I'm going with the left one since I'm right handed and cupping and squeezing that one just comes more naturally...er...wait...football. Focus. I'm going with Victorious because while I think the Minimares are excellent, I think Victorious can do the better job making game time adjustments to their playbooks and tactics that will give them the edge.
Victorious Secret 10 - Nigerian Minimares 7
#3 Baby BANGER vs #2 Acheron Xenos
The Baby BANGER's haven't allowed a point in league play. While that might mean they have a really good defense, it might also mean they play in a fairly weak league. Looking at the rest of the league, I'm going with the latter.
Acheron, on the hand, has had to play a number of tough teams in both ladder and league play, and even when the lose, they play tough. It wouldn't surprise me at all if by the end of the year, they've made enough improvements in their play to challenge for the top rookie spot.
Acheron Xenos 17 - Baby Banger 3
