(1) APPALACHIAN LYCANS---Major upgrades over the off season make this team’s defense the best BBB#7 has ever seen. All the offense has to do is not blunder and Appalachian should ride that defense all the way to not only the Conference Championship, but the League Championship as well. Congratulations to Link for what his obvious hard work recruiting---it’s all going to pay off!
(2) RED BANK THUNDERCATS---Red Bank still has leading rusher Druce “Thor” McManus, but in the off season they were able to recruit two outstanding WRs, Reg Wayne and mondo hands making this offense even MORE potent. The Thundercats defense remains essentially unchanged, so add up a Conference runner-up finish last year with two stellar WR upgrades, and this is a dangerous team ready to move up to the next level.
(3) ATLANTA PURPLE PENGUINS---Not much new in Atlanta. Same personnel. Same basic tactics. Slightly improved bazooka. The Penguins didn’t make much noise in the free agent market, but did sign outstanding WR Gilthanas Wayne, DT Captain Weinke, and SS Rick ReRolled to improve their already impressive depth. Now if the owner can just keep from screwing things up……
(4) LINCOLN FREEDOM WARRIORS---Right behind the Purple Penguins is Lincoln, a proud team that has improved itself over the off season. The defense is led, as always, but the stellar and deep CB unit, but both safeties are also top notch and the rest of the defense is solid, especially now with the addition of Elite Rusher at DT. The offense, however, is a bit weaker across the front than Houston, and doesn’t have the talent at the skill positions (other than QB) that Houston does. Chris Morrison again will capably lead the attack, but instead of a L25 or L23 player to hand off or throw to, Morrison turns around to see a L20 HB or throws to a L19 or L20 WR. Trying to decide between Houston and Lincoln was nearly impossible, but in the end I chose Lincoln over Houston partly because of their tradition and partly because “Defense wins Championships.”
(5) HOUSTON ARMAGEDDON---Houston is virtually a push with Lincoln in terms of apparent team strength, but it’s hard to pick the Armageddon in light of the history of these teams. Houston seems to have a bit stronger offense, with L23 players at QB and both WR slots as well as L25 HB Wickey Woods. Their line averages nearly L23 across the front with the all important LT position manned by perennial standout L25 Marquis Robertson. The defense is strong, but not stellar. Houston will have to hope that their offense is able to move the ball and keep their defense fresh and off the field. In past years, Houston has been good enough to stay in the playoff hunt until the end of the season. They hope the addition of Patrick Holieway at QB is enough to put them over the top. It just might.
(6) LOUISVILLE BABY KITTENS---This is an unaccustomed position for the Baby Kittens and I’m frankly not sure how accurate it is. Every year Louisville looks like a midrange team on paper.---and every year they contend for the Championship. This year should prove no different, with the Baby Kittens continuing to be a conundrum. One thing that ISN’T in question is the effectiveness of the tandem of QB Kamikaze Kitten and WR Kyle Kortnue. They are back and ready for another season of terrorizing opposing defenses. To make matters worse, they’ve added Jackie R. Robinson, a L24 HB and Clint Torrance, a L25 MLB. Where they may have lost some ground is in the OL. Yes, L26 OG Phillip Swartzenhiemenberger is still there, but two of the remaining OL are less than L20. This could be trouble against some of the stronger defensive lines in the league. What is it a wise man once said? Oh yeah, “It’s hard to throw touchdowns when you’re on your ass.” It will be interesting to see where Louisville ends up.
(7) SYRACUSE SAMURAI---I still can’t figure out how this was a relegated team—not with the talent they possess. Without having seen them in action and how they gameplan, it’s hard to base a prediction on talent alone, but if it’s true that players win games and coaches lose them, then Syracuse should be sitting pretty as long as they let their talent speak for them. Twelve of the 24 starters are L25 of more! That’s going to be verrrry tough for people to handle! We’re used to seeing teams drop down from the “A” Leagues expecting an easy time of it, only to be shocked into the reality that our league is actually a lot tougher than people give it credit for. Syracuse may prove the exception---they are likely to be competitive from the start, but need to find a solution at CB where their starters are L20 and L18.
(8) SAGINAW SPIRIT---Rounding out the playoff field is Saginaw, a team with terrific players that has been on the cusp for a couple years now, only barely missing the playoffs two years ago due to a last minute FG by Houston. The talent level is not as consistent as some of the teams listed above, but it’s still a step above the teams who will finish below the Spirit this year. Virtually every starter levels with a “2” in the tens digit, a very nice circumstance indeed for Saginaw. L25 NT Rampage Griffin couples with L25 MLB Forrest Jackson to produce a very intimidating center of the defense. L24 Lance Lockdown and L23 Tony Anderson are the best CB tandem outside of Lincoln, and the left side of the OL has L26 OG Bleth Hardington and L25 OT Cody McCutcheon. Both will give L24 QB Jimmy Wallace plenty of time to find receivers. Their early season stumble against the Penguins notwithstanding, the Spirit will be in the thick of things come playoff time!
And, the rest of the pack:
(9) ROSWELL INVADERS
(10) JAX BEACH JUGGERNAUTS
(11) SIN CITY SHOWBOATS
(12) CLEVELAND BUCKEYES
(13) RIVER CITY RANSOM
(14) SOUTH BEND SHAMROCKERS
(15) RICHMOND EMPIRE
(16) THE STATE OF TEXAS DOMINATION
I’d be interested in other people’s predictions (yes, I know we’ve already had one game, but it’s still interesting to see how other people think it’ll work out) Feel free to post YOUR “Almost Preseason Predictions” here (not that you need my permission)
(2) RED BANK THUNDERCATS---Red Bank still has leading rusher Druce “Thor” McManus, but in the off season they were able to recruit two outstanding WRs, Reg Wayne and mondo hands making this offense even MORE potent. The Thundercats defense remains essentially unchanged, so add up a Conference runner-up finish last year with two stellar WR upgrades, and this is a dangerous team ready to move up to the next level.
(3) ATLANTA PURPLE PENGUINS---Not much new in Atlanta. Same personnel. Same basic tactics. Slightly improved bazooka. The Penguins didn’t make much noise in the free agent market, but did sign outstanding WR Gilthanas Wayne, DT Captain Weinke, and SS Rick ReRolled to improve their already impressive depth. Now if the owner can just keep from screwing things up……
(4) LINCOLN FREEDOM WARRIORS---Right behind the Purple Penguins is Lincoln, a proud team that has improved itself over the off season. The defense is led, as always, but the stellar and deep CB unit, but both safeties are also top notch and the rest of the defense is solid, especially now with the addition of Elite Rusher at DT. The offense, however, is a bit weaker across the front than Houston, and doesn’t have the talent at the skill positions (other than QB) that Houston does. Chris Morrison again will capably lead the attack, but instead of a L25 or L23 player to hand off or throw to, Morrison turns around to see a L20 HB or throws to a L19 or L20 WR. Trying to decide between Houston and Lincoln was nearly impossible, but in the end I chose Lincoln over Houston partly because of their tradition and partly because “Defense wins Championships.”
(5) HOUSTON ARMAGEDDON---Houston is virtually a push with Lincoln in terms of apparent team strength, but it’s hard to pick the Armageddon in light of the history of these teams. Houston seems to have a bit stronger offense, with L23 players at QB and both WR slots as well as L25 HB Wickey Woods. Their line averages nearly L23 across the front with the all important LT position manned by perennial standout L25 Marquis Robertson. The defense is strong, but not stellar. Houston will have to hope that their offense is able to move the ball and keep their defense fresh and off the field. In past years, Houston has been good enough to stay in the playoff hunt until the end of the season. They hope the addition of Patrick Holieway at QB is enough to put them over the top. It just might.
(6) LOUISVILLE BABY KITTENS---This is an unaccustomed position for the Baby Kittens and I’m frankly not sure how accurate it is. Every year Louisville looks like a midrange team on paper.---and every year they contend for the Championship. This year should prove no different, with the Baby Kittens continuing to be a conundrum. One thing that ISN’T in question is the effectiveness of the tandem of QB Kamikaze Kitten and WR Kyle Kortnue. They are back and ready for another season of terrorizing opposing defenses. To make matters worse, they’ve added Jackie R. Robinson, a L24 HB and Clint Torrance, a L25 MLB. Where they may have lost some ground is in the OL. Yes, L26 OG Phillip Swartzenhiemenberger is still there, but two of the remaining OL are less than L20. This could be trouble against some of the stronger defensive lines in the league. What is it a wise man once said? Oh yeah, “It’s hard to throw touchdowns when you’re on your ass.” It will be interesting to see where Louisville ends up.
(7) SYRACUSE SAMURAI---I still can’t figure out how this was a relegated team—not with the talent they possess. Without having seen them in action and how they gameplan, it’s hard to base a prediction on talent alone, but if it’s true that players win games and coaches lose them, then Syracuse should be sitting pretty as long as they let their talent speak for them. Twelve of the 24 starters are L25 of more! That’s going to be verrrry tough for people to handle! We’re used to seeing teams drop down from the “A” Leagues expecting an easy time of it, only to be shocked into the reality that our league is actually a lot tougher than people give it credit for. Syracuse may prove the exception---they are likely to be competitive from the start, but need to find a solution at CB where their starters are L20 and L18.
(8) SAGINAW SPIRIT---Rounding out the playoff field is Saginaw, a team with terrific players that has been on the cusp for a couple years now, only barely missing the playoffs two years ago due to a last minute FG by Houston. The talent level is not as consistent as some of the teams listed above, but it’s still a step above the teams who will finish below the Spirit this year. Virtually every starter levels with a “2” in the tens digit, a very nice circumstance indeed for Saginaw. L25 NT Rampage Griffin couples with L25 MLB Forrest Jackson to produce a very intimidating center of the defense. L24 Lance Lockdown and L23 Tony Anderson are the best CB tandem outside of Lincoln, and the left side of the OL has L26 OG Bleth Hardington and L25 OT Cody McCutcheon. Both will give L24 QB Jimmy Wallace plenty of time to find receivers. Their early season stumble against the Penguins notwithstanding, the Spirit will be in the thick of things come playoff time!
And, the rest of the pack:
(9) ROSWELL INVADERS
(10) JAX BEACH JUGGERNAUTS
(11) SIN CITY SHOWBOATS
(12) CLEVELAND BUCKEYES
(13) RIVER CITY RANSOM
(14) SOUTH BEND SHAMROCKERS
(15) RICHMOND EMPIRE
(16) THE STATE OF TEXAS DOMINATION
I’d be interested in other people’s predictions (yes, I know we’ve already had one game, but it’s still interesting to see how other people think it’ll work out) Feel free to post YOUR “Almost Preseason Predictions” here (not that you need my permission)
Last edited Aug 4, 2008 21:46:00
, but Houston did make the playoffs in the last two seasons. Unfortunately we have yet to really secure one of those top 4 seeds for a home playoff game *lesigh* Maybe we can do it this year... Unfortunately it's a tough conference
