Well most of the threads on here are (to me at least) tiresome, so here is some actual GLB talk.
Contenders:
1. Honolulu Warriors - with the majority (if not all) of their team back the Honolulu Warriors look to make another run through the BBB9 regular season and will be the odds on favorite to win it all. Led by Alika Smith and Lyghts Out the Warriors should again have a fearsome defense and should be a top contender to win the Western Conference.
Key Players - Alika Smith, Lyghts Out
Big Weakness - No obvious weakness, but the offense needs to be able to keep the defense off the field and give them a lead, as they are most effective when the other team is forced to pass.
2. Cary Carpetbaggers - After starting 4-4, Cary reeled off 8 straight wins and then proceeded to upset Honolulu in the playoffs. With a couple of key additions, Cary should challenge for first place and should also be considered a strong contender to win it all.
Key Players - Dizzy Decleater, Alex Wayland
Weakness - Again no major weaknness, the 1 QB system will be interesting to see though.
3. South Texas Thunder - The Tejas clan experiences to personnel problems and every single player will be boosting, giving them a scary amount of depth and high levels. They should be one of the stronger and more consistent teams, but you have to wonder if the one man show can keep up with the new advanced tactics and all the changes to the GLB world.
Key Players: Scratch Tejas, Bones Tejas
Big Weakness: Only one mind, one agent seems like it can be an asset and a liability at the same time.
4. Houston Outlaws - Level wise they are up there with the other elite teams in the Western Conference, but they seem to lose some big games. With few player changes and the same ownership staying in place, I have to believe they will get things figured out sooner or later. This team can beat any of the top teams, but can also easily lose to some teams that on paper, they shouldn't lose to.
Key Players: Art Vandalay, Matt Brewer
Big Weakness: Running with minimal depth on offense, could hurt them against some of the better, deeper teams in the league.
5. Omaha Shockers - The Shockers started out last season red hot and then tailed off a bit as the season went on. With a fleet of GM's the Shockers most likely are getting the advanced tactics all figured out which should help.
Key Players: Kevin Peaslee, Fatty McYumYum
Biggest Weakness: Pass defense, Omaha struggled some when teams went to the air and will have to improve in the secondary if they want to win it all.
6. Kansas City Wiz - With a deep team that has shown the capability to beat anyone the Wiz will be one of the more dangerous teams week in and week out. The Wiz round out the list of teams that will be in contention for the title and really could be higher than this with a little bit of luck on their side..
Key Players: Jovorskie Jones, Crush Johnson
Big Weakness: Not much WR depth. The WRs they have will need to make big plays in order to give them a shot at winning against the top teams.
Middle of the Pack:
7. Riverside Renegades - After finishing just out of the playoffs the last two seasons this looks to be the year Riverside could get in. With a few agents controlling the majority of the players, expect to see the same names, while also getting the guarantee of boosting. Riverside has the levels to compete with the big boys, but as of yet hasn't capitalized.
Key Players: Bustin Head, Billy Kilmer
Big Weakness: Great depth, it really comes down to builds and game planning as the only reasons Riverside has struggled in the past.
8. Vancouver Lions - After barely missing the playoffs last season the much improved Lions should have a much better shot at making the playoffs this year. With a fairly strong defense last season, it looks like Vancouver just needs to figure out a little bit of offense and they could be in the hunt.
Key Players: Jason Terry, Sgt Bilko
Big Weakness: The offense, they'll have to figure out how to put points on the board in order to win some crucial games that will decide their playoff chances.
9. The Elite Sea Team - The Sea Team waited to boost last season which ended up costing them as they dug too big a hole for them to dig themselves out of. I can't believe they'll wait this season as sitting out the playoffs couldn't have been much fun. Expect them to challenge for a playoff spot this year with their often amazing offense.
Key Players: Djie! Up, Roids on Roids
Big Weakness: We all know EST can put up the points on offense, but can the defense play well enough to win them games.
10. El Paso Bandits - They struggled to beat anyone good last year, but a win over KC showed the promise that this team can win against the best teams. They will definitely have a shot at the playoffs, but will need to win key matchups against other bubble teams like Riverside, Vancouver, Bay Area and Scranton.
Key Players: Scooter Kelly, Fli Paper
Big Weakness: Finding a run game. El Paso needs to improve their running game to really have a chance. It also doesn't help them that their starter has his build open to the public
11. Bay Area Bomb Squad - After being one of the worst teams in season 2, the Bomb Squad underwent a name and apparently an identity change as they became a much tougher out in season 3. I expect that trend to continue as they look to improve and will be fighting it out for one of the last spots in the playoffs.
Key Players: Constable Punisher, Benny Barony
Big Weakness: Relatively low level depth, Bay Area looks to have starters that can compete, but the backups may be a step behind teams ahead of them.
12. Scranton Tunas - The Tunas had a stifling defense last year, but a poor offense. The defensive depth looks questionable only a season removed from a playoff run. It looks like the offense could be the strong point for the Tunas which could be trouble unless they can figure out how to limit turnovers and put up points consistently.
Key Players: Smash Taylor, Jeff Juhl
Big Weakness: Quarterback and defensive depth. These go hand in hand, the Tunas threw a lot of INTs last season, but with the lack of depth on defense this season can't afford to keep throwing their defense on the field. They'll need to limit turnovers.
Bottom Dwellers
13. Houston Panthers - The Panthers didn't show much promise last season, but with decent depth going into this season the Panthers should post a few more wins than last season.
14. Los Angeles Avengers - The Avengers have relatively good depth, but low levels when compared to the majority of the league. They could be more competitive than last year, but unless they figure out how to stop an offense, they'll be on the wrong end of a lot of lopsided scores once again.
15. Anchorage Jaguars - Freshly demoted from USA A 5, the Jaguars hope to be more competitive in the new league, while they could easily win a game here or there, I don't see them being in the playoff hunt, or much of a threat to any of the better teams in USA BBB 9.
16. TEAM Chuck Norris - looking to be mostly gutted, TEAM Chuck was already 0-16 last season and having a roster full of inactives and CPUs isn't going to help any. These guys will be a guaranteed win on every team's schedule.
Contenders:
1. Honolulu Warriors - with the majority (if not all) of their team back the Honolulu Warriors look to make another run through the BBB9 regular season and will be the odds on favorite to win it all. Led by Alika Smith and Lyghts Out the Warriors should again have a fearsome defense and should be a top contender to win the Western Conference.
Key Players - Alika Smith, Lyghts Out
Big Weakness - No obvious weakness, but the offense needs to be able to keep the defense off the field and give them a lead, as they are most effective when the other team is forced to pass.
2. Cary Carpetbaggers - After starting 4-4, Cary reeled off 8 straight wins and then proceeded to upset Honolulu in the playoffs. With a couple of key additions, Cary should challenge for first place and should also be considered a strong contender to win it all.
Key Players - Dizzy Decleater, Alex Wayland
Weakness - Again no major weaknness, the 1 QB system will be interesting to see though.
3. South Texas Thunder - The Tejas clan experiences to personnel problems and every single player will be boosting, giving them a scary amount of depth and high levels. They should be one of the stronger and more consistent teams, but you have to wonder if the one man show can keep up with the new advanced tactics and all the changes to the GLB world.
Key Players: Scratch Tejas, Bones Tejas
Big Weakness: Only one mind, one agent seems like it can be an asset and a liability at the same time.
4. Houston Outlaws - Level wise they are up there with the other elite teams in the Western Conference, but they seem to lose some big games. With few player changes and the same ownership staying in place, I have to believe they will get things figured out sooner or later. This team can beat any of the top teams, but can also easily lose to some teams that on paper, they shouldn't lose to.
Key Players: Art Vandalay, Matt Brewer
Big Weakness: Running with minimal depth on offense, could hurt them against some of the better, deeper teams in the league.
5. Omaha Shockers - The Shockers started out last season red hot and then tailed off a bit as the season went on. With a fleet of GM's the Shockers most likely are getting the advanced tactics all figured out which should help.
Key Players: Kevin Peaslee, Fatty McYumYum
Biggest Weakness: Pass defense, Omaha struggled some when teams went to the air and will have to improve in the secondary if they want to win it all.
6. Kansas City Wiz - With a deep team that has shown the capability to beat anyone the Wiz will be one of the more dangerous teams week in and week out. The Wiz round out the list of teams that will be in contention for the title and really could be higher than this with a little bit of luck on their side..
Key Players: Jovorskie Jones, Crush Johnson
Big Weakness: Not much WR depth. The WRs they have will need to make big plays in order to give them a shot at winning against the top teams.
Middle of the Pack:
7. Riverside Renegades - After finishing just out of the playoffs the last two seasons this looks to be the year Riverside could get in. With a few agents controlling the majority of the players, expect to see the same names, while also getting the guarantee of boosting. Riverside has the levels to compete with the big boys, but as of yet hasn't capitalized.
Key Players: Bustin Head, Billy Kilmer
Big Weakness: Great depth, it really comes down to builds and game planning as the only reasons Riverside has struggled in the past.
8. Vancouver Lions - After barely missing the playoffs last season the much improved Lions should have a much better shot at making the playoffs this year. With a fairly strong defense last season, it looks like Vancouver just needs to figure out a little bit of offense and they could be in the hunt.
Key Players: Jason Terry, Sgt Bilko
Big Weakness: The offense, they'll have to figure out how to put points on the board in order to win some crucial games that will decide their playoff chances.
9. The Elite Sea Team - The Sea Team waited to boost last season which ended up costing them as they dug too big a hole for them to dig themselves out of. I can't believe they'll wait this season as sitting out the playoffs couldn't have been much fun. Expect them to challenge for a playoff spot this year with their often amazing offense.
Key Players: Djie! Up, Roids on Roids
Big Weakness: We all know EST can put up the points on offense, but can the defense play well enough to win them games.
10. El Paso Bandits - They struggled to beat anyone good last year, but a win over KC showed the promise that this team can win against the best teams. They will definitely have a shot at the playoffs, but will need to win key matchups against other bubble teams like Riverside, Vancouver, Bay Area and Scranton.
Key Players: Scooter Kelly, Fli Paper
Big Weakness: Finding a run game. El Paso needs to improve their running game to really have a chance. It also doesn't help them that their starter has his build open to the public
11. Bay Area Bomb Squad - After being one of the worst teams in season 2, the Bomb Squad underwent a name and apparently an identity change as they became a much tougher out in season 3. I expect that trend to continue as they look to improve and will be fighting it out for one of the last spots in the playoffs.
Key Players: Constable Punisher, Benny Barony
Big Weakness: Relatively low level depth, Bay Area looks to have starters that can compete, but the backups may be a step behind teams ahead of them.
12. Scranton Tunas - The Tunas had a stifling defense last year, but a poor offense. The defensive depth looks questionable only a season removed from a playoff run. It looks like the offense could be the strong point for the Tunas which could be trouble unless they can figure out how to limit turnovers and put up points consistently.
Key Players: Smash Taylor, Jeff Juhl
Big Weakness: Quarterback and defensive depth. These go hand in hand, the Tunas threw a lot of INTs last season, but with the lack of depth on defense this season can't afford to keep throwing their defense on the field. They'll need to limit turnovers.
Bottom Dwellers
13. Houston Panthers - The Panthers didn't show much promise last season, but with decent depth going into this season the Panthers should post a few more wins than last season.
14. Los Angeles Avengers - The Avengers have relatively good depth, but low levels when compared to the majority of the league. They could be more competitive than last year, but unless they figure out how to stop an offense, they'll be on the wrong end of a lot of lopsided scores once again.
15. Anchorage Jaguars - Freshly demoted from USA A 5, the Jaguars hope to be more competitive in the new league, while they could easily win a game here or there, I don't see them being in the playoff hunt, or much of a threat to any of the better teams in USA BBB 9.
16. TEAM Chuck Norris - looking to be mostly gutted, TEAM Chuck was already 0-16 last season and having a roster full of inactives and CPUs isn't going to help any. These guys will be a guaranteed win on every team's schedule.
He deserves more than one season of greatness!
