Eastern Conference Rankings Week 2
1) Akron Assassins: 2-0
Previous Ranking: 1
Last Game: 62-7 win over Orlando
Pros: This was the blowout I was looking for last week. They only turned the ball over once this week, and completely dominated the Mambas. DaMan DaSchiz III had a great game, as did their running back tandem
Cons: They still haven’t faced anyone worth talking about. It’s not their fault that the schedule worked out well for them to start off, but hopefully they don’t let their guard down.
Next Game: at Denver Stallions
2) Alpine Golfers: 2-0
Previous Ranking: 2
Last Game: 20-6 win over Memphis
Pros: They want to be number 1 really bad, and the definitely have a case. Beating Memphis and Chicago to open the season is huge for this team. They should be undefeated going into the Akron game. Wesley Simo with another great game.
Cons: They fumbled twice, and didn’t have a great ground game, but still pretty much dominated the Grizzlies. It’s hard not to look ahead to that Akron game, and if they want to beat the Assassins, Rodney Favra is going to have to average over 3 yards a carry
Next Game: at Philadelphia Brokebacks
3) Richmond Speed: 2-0
Previous Ranking: 3
Last Game: 19-13 win over Tampa
Pros: A very big win for a team who could soon jump into the top two themselves. Their kicker showed some poise making 2 FGs in the 4th quarter to win the game. Tampa is a good team, so they should be happy with this win. People may be rooting against them, but until someone stops them, this is where they deserve to be.
Cons: I cannot get over how low their chemistry is. Eventually you’d think that it will come back to hurt them. They don’t really have a rushing game right now so if teams gear up against the pass, they may be able to keep the Speed in check.
Next Game: at New Orleans Eagles
4) Chicago Bruins: 1-1
Previous Ranking: 4
Last Game: 24-0 win over Schenectady
Pros: A dominating defensive performance by the Bruins allowed them to bounce back from their week 1 loss to Alpine. They held a very good rushing team to only 6 net yards on the ground. They also got 19 hurries! Including 7 from DE BB Williams.
Cons: Their QBs split time, which probably shouldn’t happen very often after backup QB Davis Young went 6/21 for 49.5 yards with 1 TD and 3 INTs. This game probably would have been a much bigger blowout if Duke Hill played the whole game, though he also had an INT.
Next Game: vs Elk Rapids Elks
5) New Orleans Eagles: 2-0
Previous Ranking: 5
Last Game: 20-10 win over Elk Rapids
Pros: They recovered two fumbles which really helped them. Starting 2-0 is going to be a big help for them later in the season fighting for a playoff spot. This team is going to sneak up on some people this season, don’t take them lightly.
Cons: Elk Rapids out gained them by almost 100 yards. The Eagles themselves barely broke the 200 yards gained marker. That may work against the Elks, but their offense has struggled both games this season and will need to step it up in bigger games, such as this week vs the Speed
Next Game: vs Richmond Speed
6) North Carolina Lighthouses: 2-0
Previous Ranking: 8
Last Game: 38-0 win over Suspiciously
Pros: This team has quietly started off 2-0, with two big wins. Granted this one came against the apparently inactive Fishless team but a win is a win. HB Trucking OverYou is as dangerous as ever, and both of their QBs put up good numbers. CB Joe Rippa led the defense with 6 tackles, 6 pass deflections and 1 INT.
Cons: The only bad thing to come from this game is their two fumbles lost. They need to win the turnover battle against bad teams. It didn’t hurt them this time, but even against a team a little better it will.
Next Game: at Orlando Mambas
7) Tampa Vipers: 1-1
Previous Ranking: 6
Last Game: 13-19 loss to Richmond
Pros: Tough loss to a very good Speed team. The fact that they hung in there and only lost because of 2 fourth quarter FGs shows how good this team really is. If they can steal a game against Akron/Alpine/Chicago, they’ll have a good shot to host a 1st round playoff game.
Cons: 3 INTs is what really hurt this team against Richmond. QB Ryan Farsight is going to have to step up his play if this team is to be a true contender
Next Game: vs Klamath Falls Grizzlies
8) Memphis Ghetto Dawgs: 1-1
Previous Ranking: 7
Last Game: 6-20 loss to Akron
Pros: Facing arguably the best team in the conference is never an easy task, and they hung with them throughout the game. None of their offensive players had an individual bad game, but they just couldn’t get anything going. LB Joe Swilling made 12 tackles in only 42 plays, to help hold Akron to only 20 points.
Cons: Akron is a very good team, so Memphis shouldn’t be kicking themselves over this loss. Their offense showed it could dominate teams on a lower level, but in order to beat the better teams, somethings got to click that didn’t against Akron.
Next Game: vs Schenectady Comets
9) Philadelphia Brokebacks: 1-1
Previous Ranking: 10
Last Game: 32-0 win over South Beach
Pros: A very good bounce back win for Philadelphia, who is one of those teams that will be competing for a playoff spot. QB Jindrack Capone played a great game, LB BobMarley Pairon 8 tackles and 2 INTs, and also DE Jonah Shackleford 4 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 3 hurries, and a safety.
Cons: Punter Father Tom only averaged 27 yards a punt. Starting HB Pete Moore had a rough game also getting only 3 yards a carry on the ground. This week against Alpine is going to be very tough for them.
Next Game: vs Alpine Golfers
10) Schenectady Comets: 0-2
Previous Ranking: 9
Last Game: 0-24 loss to Chicago
Pros: LB Skull Smasher is leading the eastern conference in tackles. In this game he had 12 to go along with 1 fumble recovery
Cons: Probably the worst team in the history of GLB. From the owner to the punter, watching a game this team is in makes me sick. Could they try to gain some yards on the ground? How about having a completion percentage over 50? No? Didn’t think so. It doesn’t get any easier this week against Memphis
Next Game: at Memphis Ghetto Dawgs
11) Denver Stallions: 1-1
Previous Ranking: 13
Last Game: 20-10 win over Klamath Falls
Pros: A big win for this team to get to 1-1. Drew Bledsoe was another QB to have a good game this week, while watching their running game struggle. DT U Can’t Move Me had 4 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 hurry and 1 sack.
Cons: Their running game is weak. Beating the Grizzlies is good for the team, but in the long run nothing to special. This team is probably the best of the bottom level of the eastern conference.
Next Game: vs Akron Assassins
12) Klamath Falls Grizzlies: 1-1
Previous Ranking: 11
Last Game: 10-20 loss to Denver
Pros: Tough loss for the Grizzlies who were looking to get off to a fast 2-0 start. WR Walt Frazier had 134.5 yards on 12 catches and they kept the Stallions running game in check all night.
Cons: In order to be considered a real contender for the playoffs this was a game they needed to win. I know it’s early but this team is already going to have a tough time, and this makes it even harder for them.
Next Game: at Tampa Vipers
13) Elk Rapids Elks: 0-2
Previous Ranking: 12
Last Game: 10-20 loss to New Orleans
Pros: This team has kept it close versus two of the best teams in this conference in Richmond and New Orleans. While winning one of them would have been nice, they have shown that you cannot take them lightly. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were involved in one of the major upsets of the season.
Cons: We can talk about keeping it close all day long they are still winless. They face another top team in Chicago tonight so things are not looking up for them. Weeks 5-9 will show a lot about where this team ranks in this conference
Next Game: at Chicago Bruins
14) Orlando Mambas: 0-2
Previous Ranking: 14
Last Game: 7-62 loss to Akron
Pros: They never have to face the Akron Assassins again. This team will be more comfortable playing teams like the Fishless, Grizzlies, and Elks. They get a North Carolina team this week who they can probably play a close game against.
Cons: 7-62
Next Game: vs North Carolina Lighthouses
15) South Beach Tokers: 0-2
Previous Ranking: 15
Last Game: 0-32 loss to Philadelphia
Pros: They got two tough games out of the way by playing Memphis and Philadelphia. Thankfully for the Tokers they get to play the Fishless this week
Cons: The team has been outscored 93-7 in two games this season. Memphis and Philadelphia are good, but there are even better teams than them in this conference. This could be a long season
Next Game: at Suspiciously Fishless
16) Suspiciously Fishless: 0-2
Previous Ranking: 16
Last Game: 0-38 loss to North Carolina
Pros: Nothing good can come out of a game when your team is inactive
Cons: Finding out that this teams owner, and many of its human players are inactive sucks for this whole league. Teams that face them now get a huge advantage. There is going to be a lot of complaints if this team is taken over midseason and is able to put together a fairly competitive roster.
Next Game: vs South Beach Tokers
Games to Watch For
#3 Richmond Speed at #5 New Orleans Eagles
Can the Eagles offense step up and knock down the Speed? Richmond hasn’t exactly blown anyone out either. This is a very interesting matchup and I think it could go either way, though if I had to pick I’d lean Richmond
No other big games for the east this week. Alpine/Philly should be interesting. Memphis/Schenectady could be a good game. #15 South Beach heads to Suspiciously to face the #16th ranked Fishless