<>1. Eleven Wise Monkeys 4-0-0
Last week: 1 High: 1 Low: 1
4 games, 4 wins, and a 2nd straight week atop of my power rankings. Another convincing win in week 4, this time against the Miami Sharks; which leads to a mouth watering Week 5 tie against the #2 and currently only other undefeated side in the East the New York Warriors.
^2. New York Warriors 4-0-0
Last week: 3 High: 2 Low: 3
The New York Warriors move up a place this week in my rankings after their victory in Week 4. I would be concerned however heading into a Week 5 tie against the Monkeys, having only put up 17 points against the Zoners, and will have to be improved on if they hope to do well in their up-coming games.
^3. Louisville Nighthawks 3-1-0
Last week: 6 High: 3 Low: 6
A very close victory over the Rampage this past week has seen them move up in my rankings. I think their performance was deserving of a greater points margin, and as I said of them last week they must become more decisive offensively if they are to challenge for promotion to USA A #1.
^4. Boston Massacre 3-1-0
Last week: 5 High: 4 Low: 5
A resounding victory over the Baltimore Knights was the Massacres 3rd straight victory and they are starting to show the promise that had them predicted as potential Conference leaders pre-season. A straight-forward victory over Syracuse next week would see them heading into a week 6 matchup at home to fellow playoff contenders the Nighthawks, which could reveal if they have truly turned it around.
^5. New York Hope 2-2-0
Last week: 9 High: 5 Low: 9
I’ve gone out on a bit of a limb this week by putting the .500 New York Hope at #5 in my rankings. But after a comfortable week 4 victory over the previously undefeated Bullets, and a victory over the Sharks in week 3, I think they are a better side then there record would suggest, and I think this position suits them well.
v6. Bristol Bullets 3-1-0
Last week: 2 High: 2 Low: 6
This week’s biggest fallers in my rankings this week after defeat to New York Hope, and all the other top teams yet to come the Bullets now have a point to prove. Although I think they have the talent to reach the playoffs, I think they will need to improve to realistically challenge for promotion.
v7. Alcatraz Island Jailbreakers 3-1-0
Last week: 4 High: 4 Low: 7
The Jailbreakers have fallen dramatically this week despite winning as this is due to the level of opponent. A 9 point victory over the 0-3-0 Musicians isn’t really very impressive and only a win over the New York Hope in week 6 can justify their position as a playoff contender.
<>8. Dallas Rampage 2-2-0
Last week: 8 High: 8 Low: 8
The Rampage are non-movers this week in my power rankings after a close defeat to the Nighthawks, but in closer inspection the margin probably should have been wider. Their next 3 games will be crucial in their playoffs push and they cannot afford to lose to the Sharks next week or the Firebirds in week 8 as they are the 2 teams most likely to take their final playoff place.
v9. Cleveland Firebirds 2-2-0
Last week: 7 High: 7 Low: 9
After losing to TCC this past week the Firebirds have fallen 2 places in my rankings and face a tough task to reach the playoffs as they have yet to play my top 6 teams. Unfortunately I can’t really see them moving up in the rankings any further.
<>10. Miami Sharks 2-2-0
Last week: 10 High: 10 Low: 10
The Sharks are another team not to move in my power rankings after a fairly hefty defeat to the Monkeys they head into week 5 with a .500 record and will have to work very hard to reach the playoffs.
^11. Syracuse Souls 2-2-0
Last week: 12 High: 11 Low: 12
The Souls trade places this week with Baltimore after a second victory of the season and impressive performance against the winless Retros. They face a tough task to make it 2 victories in a row against a resurgent Massacre side next week.
v12. Baltimore Knights 1-3-0
Last week: 11 High: 11 Low: 12
One positive to come out of their 47 point defeat to Boston was the play of their Quarterback who had a completion percentage of 65% and threw only 1 INT against a strong Massacre secondary; and their backup who threw a TD after only 3 passing attempts. Their defence leaves a lot to be desired though as Boston scored on every drive.
^13. TCC's Wax-Bustin Warriors 1-3-0
Last week: 15 High: 13 Low: 15
TCC recorded their first victory of the season over the Cleveland Firebirds in an impressive defensive display. I can see them recording victories over the teams ranked below them, and if they record a couple of victories over teams above them they could finish the season with a 5 or 6 victory season, which would be a success in terms of where they’ve come from.
<>14. Colonial Zoners 0-4-0
Last week: 14 High: 14 Low: 14
The Zoners had an impressive performance against the New York Warriors limiting their #1 HB Ahman Bennett to just 4 YPC, lower than his performance against the Retros and Musicians. They also picked off New York’s QB twice as he had a season low 49 QB rating. Offensively they simply didn’t move the ball enough and were forced to punt 9 times and only recorded 1 43yd FG.
v15. Richmond Retros 0-4-0
Last week: 13 High: 13 Low: 15
After a 4th defeat in a row this season and 13th including the end of last season, things really aren’t getting any better for the Retros. This could be partly attributed to their lack of a running game recording only 35 rushing yards averaging 2.1 YPC. I can’t see at this stage of the season where they are going to pick up a victory.
<>16. Hartford Musician 0-4-0
Last week: 16 High: 16 Low: 16
My 5th and final non-movers of the week are the unfortunate Musicians. Although saying that they had an impressive 4th quarter display against the Jailbreakers and another improvements next week and maybe even a victory over the Baltimore Knights would see them lug themselves of the bottom of the rankings.
Last week: 1 High: 1 Low: 1
4 games, 4 wins, and a 2nd straight week atop of my power rankings. Another convincing win in week 4, this time against the Miami Sharks; which leads to a mouth watering Week 5 tie against the #2 and currently only other undefeated side in the East the New York Warriors.
^2. New York Warriors 4-0-0
Last week: 3 High: 2 Low: 3
The New York Warriors move up a place this week in my rankings after their victory in Week 4. I would be concerned however heading into a Week 5 tie against the Monkeys, having only put up 17 points against the Zoners, and will have to be improved on if they hope to do well in their up-coming games.
^3. Louisville Nighthawks 3-1-0
Last week: 6 High: 3 Low: 6
A very close victory over the Rampage this past week has seen them move up in my rankings. I think their performance was deserving of a greater points margin, and as I said of them last week they must become more decisive offensively if they are to challenge for promotion to USA A #1.
^4. Boston Massacre 3-1-0
Last week: 5 High: 4 Low: 5
A resounding victory over the Baltimore Knights was the Massacres 3rd straight victory and they are starting to show the promise that had them predicted as potential Conference leaders pre-season. A straight-forward victory over Syracuse next week would see them heading into a week 6 matchup at home to fellow playoff contenders the Nighthawks, which could reveal if they have truly turned it around.
^5. New York Hope 2-2-0
Last week: 9 High: 5 Low: 9
I’ve gone out on a bit of a limb this week by putting the .500 New York Hope at #5 in my rankings. But after a comfortable week 4 victory over the previously undefeated Bullets, and a victory over the Sharks in week 3, I think they are a better side then there record would suggest, and I think this position suits them well.
v6. Bristol Bullets 3-1-0
Last week: 2 High: 2 Low: 6
This week’s biggest fallers in my rankings this week after defeat to New York Hope, and all the other top teams yet to come the Bullets now have a point to prove. Although I think they have the talent to reach the playoffs, I think they will need to improve to realistically challenge for promotion.
v7. Alcatraz Island Jailbreakers 3-1-0
Last week: 4 High: 4 Low: 7
The Jailbreakers have fallen dramatically this week despite winning as this is due to the level of opponent. A 9 point victory over the 0-3-0 Musicians isn’t really very impressive and only a win over the New York Hope in week 6 can justify their position as a playoff contender.
<>8. Dallas Rampage 2-2-0
Last week: 8 High: 8 Low: 8
The Rampage are non-movers this week in my power rankings after a close defeat to the Nighthawks, but in closer inspection the margin probably should have been wider. Their next 3 games will be crucial in their playoffs push and they cannot afford to lose to the Sharks next week or the Firebirds in week 8 as they are the 2 teams most likely to take their final playoff place.
v9. Cleveland Firebirds 2-2-0
Last week: 7 High: 7 Low: 9
After losing to TCC this past week the Firebirds have fallen 2 places in my rankings and face a tough task to reach the playoffs as they have yet to play my top 6 teams. Unfortunately I can’t really see them moving up in the rankings any further.
<>10. Miami Sharks 2-2-0
Last week: 10 High: 10 Low: 10
The Sharks are another team not to move in my power rankings after a fairly hefty defeat to the Monkeys they head into week 5 with a .500 record and will have to work very hard to reach the playoffs.
^11. Syracuse Souls 2-2-0
Last week: 12 High: 11 Low: 12
The Souls trade places this week with Baltimore after a second victory of the season and impressive performance against the winless Retros. They face a tough task to make it 2 victories in a row against a resurgent Massacre side next week.
v12. Baltimore Knights 1-3-0
Last week: 11 High: 11 Low: 12
One positive to come out of their 47 point defeat to Boston was the play of their Quarterback who had a completion percentage of 65% and threw only 1 INT against a strong Massacre secondary; and their backup who threw a TD after only 3 passing attempts. Their defence leaves a lot to be desired though as Boston scored on every drive.
^13. TCC's Wax-Bustin Warriors 1-3-0
Last week: 15 High: 13 Low: 15
TCC recorded their first victory of the season over the Cleveland Firebirds in an impressive defensive display. I can see them recording victories over the teams ranked below them, and if they record a couple of victories over teams above them they could finish the season with a 5 or 6 victory season, which would be a success in terms of where they’ve come from.
<>14. Colonial Zoners 0-4-0
Last week: 14 High: 14 Low: 14
The Zoners had an impressive performance against the New York Warriors limiting their #1 HB Ahman Bennett to just 4 YPC, lower than his performance against the Retros and Musicians. They also picked off New York’s QB twice as he had a season low 49 QB rating. Offensively they simply didn’t move the ball enough and were forced to punt 9 times and only recorded 1 43yd FG.
v15. Richmond Retros 0-4-0
Last week: 13 High: 13 Low: 15
After a 4th defeat in a row this season and 13th including the end of last season, things really aren’t getting any better for the Retros. This could be partly attributed to their lack of a running game recording only 35 rushing yards averaging 2.1 YPC. I can’t see at this stage of the season where they are going to pick up a victory.
<>16. Hartford Musician 0-4-0
Last week: 16 High: 16 Low: 16
My 5th and final non-movers of the week are the unfortunate Musicians. Although saying that they had an impressive 4th quarter display against the Jailbreakers and another improvements next week and maybe even a victory over the Baltimore Knights would see them lug themselves of the bottom of the rankings.
Last edited Jun 18, 2008 16:36:57
