Eastern Conference Week 1 Rankings
1) Akron Assassins: 1-0
Last Game: 42-0 win over Suspiciously
Pros: The best team in the east really took it to the Fishless, dominating on both sides of the ball. This game was more like an early season scrimmage for the team, as they look to get warmed up for a title run. This teams first four games are a good way to boost morale.
Cons: I think it’s funny that both of my number 1 ranked teams, faced their conferences worst ranked teams. The biggest problem for Akron is they just didn’t win big enough. We’ve all seen bigger blowouts (see Memphis and Anchorage games) and that’s what you expect when 1 faces 16. As I said before though, their 1st four games can be considered a preseason for the team, any losses in those games would be a big surprise.
Next Game: vs Orlando Mambas
2) Alpine Golfers: 1-0
Last Game: 30-9 win over Chicago
Pros: I don’t want to say that this was an upset, because this was an extremely evenly matched game, but to beat Chicago the way they did shows a lot about this teams gameplanning ability. They held a very good offense to only 151 yards and an under 50% completion percentage. If I had a 1b) in these rankings this team would be it.
Cons: Hard to think of anything wrong to come out of this game. They face a tough Memphis team next week but if they can get past them they should go into their game against Akron in week 8 undefeated.
Next Game: vs Memphis Ghetto Dawgs
3) Richmond Speed: 1-0
Last Game: 21-0 win over Elk Rapids
Pros: As I’ve said before a shutout is good no matter who you face. Like it or not this team is a top tier team in this conference. Many people are rooting against them, but until someone takes them down they deserve to be near the top of the rankings.
Cons: Elk Rapids isn’t that great of a team, at least not yet, and Richmond really should be putting up more points against team. This is another team that gave up a TON of yards to the opposing teams TE, over 100. Better teams can and will exploit that, and it may just be the key to beating them.
Next Game: vs Tampa Vipers
4) Chicago Bruins: 0-1
Last Game: 9-30 Loss to Alpine
Pros: Their FG kicker was a perfect 3/3 including two 50+ yarders. That is a great asset to have as many teams kickers won’t even attempt 50 yarders and are forced to punt in those situations. The other good news is this team really isn’t as bad as they looked. They face a tough Comets team next week but should be able to handle them.
Cons: It’s tough to lose a game against one of your biggest conference rivals that bad. They were just outplayed by the Golfers on both sides of the ball. They couldn’t get anything going through the air, which also hurt their passing attack. I can’t imagine them struggling like that very many more times this season
Next Game: at Schenectady Comets
5) New Orleans Eagles: 1-0
Last Game: 6-3 win over Schenectady
Pros: It wasn’t pretty but they got the job done. Giving up only 3 points is a big boost to their defense, which was a little suspect going into the season. They are in a group of teams who are on the bubble of contender or pretender, they’re going to need to score more, but beating Schenectady is a very good start.
Cons: Only scoring 6 isn’t going to cut it against any of the teams listed above them, and some of the teams below them. If their offense can step up the way their defense did they are going to be a tough team to beat
Next Game: at Elk Rapids Elks
6) Tampa Vipers: 1-0
Last Game: 39-17 win over Denver
Pros: A high scoring, high yardage game for a team that is also on the brink of being known as one of the best in the league. But their air and ground attack were unstoppable and they got off to a strong start. I think I speak for the other 14 team owners when I say beat Richmond for us!
Cons: While they did blow Denver out, they still gave up 17 points to a team with very few weapons. Their defense is going to have to step it up this week against Richmond or the offense is going to have to win in a shootout.
Next Game: at Richmond Speed
7) Memphis Ghetto Dawgs: 1-0
Last Game: 61-7 win over South Beach
Pros: I think its safe to say that I underrated this team. I think that was a theme for them throughout their playoff run last season. I don’t know what it is about them, but they just show up to play. You have to give credit to their coaching staff because they’re gameplans are continuously solid. This team could have been ranked as high as 3rd.
Cons: I don’t have many bad things to say coming out of their blowout win over South Beach. A big matchup vs Alpine this week will show what they are really made of
Next Game: at Alpine Golfers
8) North Carolina Lighthouses: 1-0
Last Game: 31-6 win over Philadelphia
Pros: Both Philadelphia and North Carolina have hopes of jumping into the playoff picture and NC did a great job showing they were for real with this win. It was never really close and NC kept Phillys ground game in check all night long.
Cons: They should be very happy with the win but it is hard to say where this team stands. Philadelphia was much improved from last season, but maybe a little overrated? Either way North Carolina has also improved and gets another game they should win against the Fishless this week.
Next Game: vs Suspiciously Fishless
9) Schenectady Comets: 0-1
Last Game: 3-6 Loss to New Orleans
Pros: It’s safe to say the Comets have a long way to go on offense before they can be considered a top 5 team in this conference. The biggest Pro to come out of this game is the defense held, and only gave up 6 points while forcing 3 turnovers. The offense needs to step up though or a .500 or worse season looms.
Cons: The ground game just never got going as their top HB had 13 carries for 8 yards. What is normally a very good O-Line allowed 6 hurries. Something there needs to click. It also doesn’t help that they face Chicago this week and than Memphis in week 3 *kill me*
Next Game: vs Chicago Bruins
10) Philadelphia Brokebacks: 0-1
Last Game: 6-31 loss to North Carolina
Pros: I had high hopes for Philly going into the season, and things just never got going for them against the Lighthouses. I don’t think they are as bad as they played, but they need to get a rushing attack going if they want to compete this season.
Cons: Against a team I only had ranked 1 spot higher than them going into the season, they failed to show up. I sort of think there is a big drop off after the top 9 teams, but Philadelphia could make that top 10 if they can step up. Right now though it looks like there will be 9 teams competing for 8 playoff spots.
Next Game: at South Beach Tokers
11) Klamath Falls Grizzlies: 1-0
Last Game: 23-10 win over Orlando
Pros: Getting off to a 1-0 start is a good thing for this franchise. Orlando was in it at the beginning but they really took it to another level in the 2nd half, holding Orlando scoreless and putting up 3 field goals of their own. The field goals were all close range too which means they were driving the ball down the field quite a bit
Cons: The lowest ranked of the 1-0 teams. The reason is because they really aren’t a great team. It’s nice that they got off to a good start, and they should win their next one too, but than they face Tampa and Akron in weeks 3 and 4, and everything should fall back to earth. To have any chance they are going to need to convert those FG drives into TD drives
Next Game: vs Denver Stallions
12) Elk Rapids Elks: 0-1
Last Game: 0-21 loss to Richmond
Pros: Only losing by 21 to Richmond isn’t a bad thing necessarily. Their defense showed some promise in keeping them to 21 points. Now only if the offense could show some life. They can no doubt compete with some of the bottom tier teams in this league
Cons: If you think about it, there aren’t many bad things to come out of the Richmond game other than their lack of points. Maybe would have set a higher spread than 21, and with some points they may be able to steal a game or two they shouldn’t win. The bad news is they face New Orleans next game which will be tough.
Next Game: vs New Orleans Eagles
13) Denver Stallions: 0-1
Last Game: 17-39 loss to Tampa
Pros: Scoring 17 points should be looked upon as a good thing. They did their best to hang with one of the better teams in the league, They’ll win a few games this year.
Cons: While they did put points on the board, the game was already 26 to 0, they were never really in it and have a long way to go. They need to establish/find a running game quick or else this is going to be another long season for the Stallions.
Next Game: at Klamath Falls Grizzlies
14) Orlando Mamabs: 0-1
Last Game: 10-23 loss to Klamath Falls
Pros: It was 7-7 at one point, and through the first half it really looked like they had a chance. Their starting HB Barry Sandersson had a very good game on the ground, averaging 5.3 yards a carry. If they can find a way to utilize him effectively they should be able to make things interesting for some of the better teams, and beat the lesser teams.
Cons: They were a completely different team in the 2nd half. They couldn’t get anything going and just let the game slip away. It wasn’t a blowout, but they were facing a team on their level and couldn’t get it done. Back to the drawing board for the Mambas. Oh, and they face Akron in week 2
Next Game: at Akron Assassins
15) South Beach Tokers: 0-1
Last Game: 7-61 loss to Memphis
Pros: They were playing a good Memphis team so it’s not like they lost to scrubs. Their passing game wasn’t terrible
Cons: Things just didn’t click at all for the Tokers. -11.5 yards rushing doesn’t begin to describe it. Looking at the bigger picture, their defense just isn’t up to the challenge of stopping teams like Memphis. They get to face Philadelphia next week, but I don’t know whether that’s a good thing or not.
Next Game: vs Philadelphia Brokebacks
16) Suspiciously Fishless: 0-1
Last Game: 0-42 loss to Akron
Pros: They don’t have to face Akron again this season. The team is just overmatched, still recovering from what happened last season. Give them credit for only giving up 42 points to a very good team.
Cons: In the end, this team is in an obvious rebuilding phase. Hopefully they can get things turned around soon, or this could be a long season for the Fishless.
Next Game: at North Carolina Lighthouses
Next Weeks Big Games
#6 Tampa Vipers at #3 Richmond Speed
A lot of people hating on the Speed, most everyone is rooting against them. Sadly number of fans doesn’t count for much in GLB. Tampa is going to need to have everything clicking, but they do have a very good chance of pulling this one out. I would not be surprised if they won.
#7 Memphis Ghetto Dawgs at #2 Alpine Golfers
This is a big game for Memphis to see where they rank among the conference elite. Another blowout win by Alpine could put them in the number one spot.
#4 Chicago Bruins at #9 Schenectady Comets
Chicago is coming off a tough loss to the Golfers. The Comets coming off a low scoring defensive battle against the Eagles. Both teams desperately need to win, Chicago outmatches the Comets and blew them out last season.