You asked for it. Now I will admit I am not as familiar with a lot of these teams as I am with the West, so take these opinions for what they are worth.
1) Akron Assassins
- The beast in the east, and I am not just talking about GT. These guys are solid all the way around and have talent at every position. About the only thing I could say is a little more depth. Another Guard, Tackle and WR would go a long way. On defense I'd add another DT, LB, and FS.
2)Chicago Bruins
- This is another solid team. Chicago lives on the run, with 2 1000 yard rushers last season. The offense looks good this year, and I'd like to see them open up the offense a bit. QB Duke Hill has a lot of targets and should be able to take the step from solid QB to elite. The only thing missing here is another guard. 3 quards is a little lite. The defense is fierce, but has no depth at the safety position, which means they could be vulnerable to deep passes late in the game. They could also use another DT up front.
There is a pretty sharp drop off from 2 - 3. But the three spot firmly belongs to...
3)Memphis Ghetto Dawgs
- This team is DEEP. They have a lot of bodies to throw at teams, which means their players are going to be fresh. And they will need to be because they are a little younger then the top 2 teams. Another season, if they can keep everyone. this team will dominate. They already are darn good. QB Robert Hunt needs to step up this season after 2 mediocre seasons. This will stop teams from stacking the run. On Defense this team seems to have signed all the defensive linemen in the league, and most of the line backers.
The next 3 teams are all very close.
4) North Carolina Lighthouses
- This team has a solid core, but desperately needs depth along the offensive and defensive line. The trenches are where games are won and lost. QB Dan Marino has plenty of targets and if the line can hold up NC might want to open it up a little and see if he can handle it. Trucking is an elite HB so the running game is not an issue. More balance on offense will help this team a lot. This team is going to have to score a lot of points because I think the defense is going to tire late in the game. They need depth just about everywhere.
5) Klamath Falls Grizzlies
- This team could move up 2 - 3 spaces if they get a little luck. If QB Jerry Koosman can get his Ints down to single digits this team could be hosting a playoff game. He has a lot of targets and it will be difficult for defenses to cover all of these guys and not get tired. The running backs are a little young and will need to come up big. The O-line could wear down without a couple more warm bodies. On defense, well now I know where all the DTs are! I'm thinking they are setting up to play the 3-4 with tackles at the end position, because they only have 2 DEs on the roster. They have the LBs to do it. It will be interesting how that goes. They are looking strong at corner but look a little soft at safety. All in all this should be a fun team to watch.
6) Philadelphia Brokebacks
- This team is coming along very nicely. They have good depth across the board. The keys to the offense are in QB Jindrack Capone's hands. He needs to come thru this year. 30 int and 23 sacks is not going to cut it. Let's start by trying to cut those numbers in half. Developing a running game will help and I think the Brokebacks have the horses to do it now. The offense does not have to do a lot because this may be one of the better defenses in the conference. Solid and deep across the board, the defense can compete with anyone. If the offense can become consistent this team will surprise a few folks.
7) New Orleans Eagles
- These guys have some very good talent on the team, and if that talent had some more support around them I'd have placed them higher. As it is with a little luck this team could compete for a home playoff game. QB Dillious Oreleus need to improve his game. 20 int is going to doom this team. Now last season was not all his fault. The O-Line needs to do a much better job as well, 9 sacks and 75 hurries is going to kill your passing game. The eagles have 3 very good WRs, but no one to play the 4rth or 5th wr spot. This tells me they are going to run it, and they have the horses there to do it. However, as it is teams will stack the box and force this team to beat them via the air. So attention needs to be paid to developing the passing game. This team is going to need to keep games close and that means the defense needs to step up. There is a lot of talent here, but like the offensive pass defense seems to have been neglected. The secondary is talanted but very thin. In fact that is the watchword for the entire defense, talented but thin. the only position that looks to have enough depth is LB and safety( although one more saftety, FS or SS does not mater, would be ideal ).
8) Elk Rapids Elks
- "Zekester Ayrton to Edwin Hands for the first down!" I have a feeling this is going to be an oft heard phrase in Ilk Rapids this year, along with "Zekester Ayrton to Hal Friday for the score!" This is basically the Elk Rapids offense this year. It may be enough to get them into the playoffs. I do not see a lot coming from the running game so this team is going to have to throw it, and Hands and Friday are the best targets on the team. If the second and third WR can be consistent in support that may be enough.
The defense looks solid if not spectacular, with the exception of DE Ed Fick, who should have a breakout season.
9) South Beach Tokers
- This team is close and with some luck could compete for a playoff spot. Like a lot of teams here they have talent on the offensive side of the ball, but no depth, especially along the O-line. HB Zeddicus Puncher is a load, which is good because he may not have huge holes to run thru at the end of the game as the o-line tires. QB Tommy Alonso took a beating last year with 36 sacks and 148 hurries! I really expected the ownership to devote more energy to the O-line to help Alonso out, but it has not materialized. Here's hoping Tommy has his health plan paid up, or has improved his release. He has targets to throw to, but it remains to be seen if he will have time to throw.
Like the offense, there is talent on defense, but very little depth, most notably at FS. They could use one more player at every position.
10) New Orleans Drunken Skulls
- 4 QBs? Jon Gruden must coach this team. The Skulls look to be pretty good. They have more tackles then you can shake a stick at, but are thin at guard. They also need another TE and FB. QB Johnny Rose has the tools, but lacks for targets. TE Simon Catrell looks to be the best target, but with no backup he is going to tire. Good thing they have a lot of running backs because they are going to have to run the ball. On defense they have enough LBs to play almost every position! I guess maybe they will employ a 2-5-4 scheme? Actually they look fine at d-line. The defensive backfield looks young. If they get lucky they could make a run for the playoffs.
11) Minnesota Rage
- This is just not this teams year. They will get close and surprise some teams. I love the depth of this team, but there are just not enough play makers here. The Rage should dominate all the teams below it, but the lack of play makers will hamper them against the playoff caliber teams. They may be a bit young now, but watch out next season!
The rest of these teams are all in some stage of rebuilding.
12) The Forgotten One's
- In another season forget them at your peril. This team has all the pieces in place, and should be able to run the ball this year with Hilten Jamison. And the defense will keep games close. All this team needs is a little more time in the oven. However I wonder if Lou Diamondz really is the answer at QB.
13) Orlando Mambas
- Very similar to the Forgotten ones. They could use some more depth at WR. They are still a season away from being really competitive but the ownership is looking at the long term and that will pay off.
14) Denver Stallions
- Should be able to move the ball in the air, they still need some seasoning. I worry about the o-line and the QB could take a beating this season.
15) London Cobras
- they just need players, everywhere. The owner will need a lot of patience as will the players.
16) Richmond Speed
- Karma's a bitch.
1) Akron Assassins
- The beast in the east, and I am not just talking about GT. These guys are solid all the way around and have talent at every position. About the only thing I could say is a little more depth. Another Guard, Tackle and WR would go a long way. On defense I'd add another DT, LB, and FS.
2)Chicago Bruins
- This is another solid team. Chicago lives on the run, with 2 1000 yard rushers last season. The offense looks good this year, and I'd like to see them open up the offense a bit. QB Duke Hill has a lot of targets and should be able to take the step from solid QB to elite. The only thing missing here is another guard. 3 quards is a little lite. The defense is fierce, but has no depth at the safety position, which means they could be vulnerable to deep passes late in the game. They could also use another DT up front.
There is a pretty sharp drop off from 2 - 3. But the three spot firmly belongs to...
3)Memphis Ghetto Dawgs
- This team is DEEP. They have a lot of bodies to throw at teams, which means their players are going to be fresh. And they will need to be because they are a little younger then the top 2 teams. Another season, if they can keep everyone. this team will dominate. They already are darn good. QB Robert Hunt needs to step up this season after 2 mediocre seasons. This will stop teams from stacking the run. On Defense this team seems to have signed all the defensive linemen in the league, and most of the line backers.
The next 3 teams are all very close.
4) North Carolina Lighthouses
- This team has a solid core, but desperately needs depth along the offensive and defensive line. The trenches are where games are won and lost. QB Dan Marino has plenty of targets and if the line can hold up NC might want to open it up a little and see if he can handle it. Trucking is an elite HB so the running game is not an issue. More balance on offense will help this team a lot. This team is going to have to score a lot of points because I think the defense is going to tire late in the game. They need depth just about everywhere.
5) Klamath Falls Grizzlies
- This team could move up 2 - 3 spaces if they get a little luck. If QB Jerry Koosman can get his Ints down to single digits this team could be hosting a playoff game. He has a lot of targets and it will be difficult for defenses to cover all of these guys and not get tired. The running backs are a little young and will need to come up big. The O-line could wear down without a couple more warm bodies. On defense, well now I know where all the DTs are! I'm thinking they are setting up to play the 3-4 with tackles at the end position, because they only have 2 DEs on the roster. They have the LBs to do it. It will be interesting how that goes. They are looking strong at corner but look a little soft at safety. All in all this should be a fun team to watch.
6) Philadelphia Brokebacks
- This team is coming along very nicely. They have good depth across the board. The keys to the offense are in QB Jindrack Capone's hands. He needs to come thru this year. 30 int and 23 sacks is not going to cut it. Let's start by trying to cut those numbers in half. Developing a running game will help and I think the Brokebacks have the horses to do it now. The offense does not have to do a lot because this may be one of the better defenses in the conference. Solid and deep across the board, the defense can compete with anyone. If the offense can become consistent this team will surprise a few folks.
7) New Orleans Eagles
- These guys have some very good talent on the team, and if that talent had some more support around them I'd have placed them higher. As it is with a little luck this team could compete for a home playoff game. QB Dillious Oreleus need to improve his game. 20 int is going to doom this team. Now last season was not all his fault. The O-Line needs to do a much better job as well, 9 sacks and 75 hurries is going to kill your passing game. The eagles have 3 very good WRs, but no one to play the 4rth or 5th wr spot. This tells me they are going to run it, and they have the horses there to do it. However, as it is teams will stack the box and force this team to beat them via the air. So attention needs to be paid to developing the passing game. This team is going to need to keep games close and that means the defense needs to step up. There is a lot of talent here, but like the offensive pass defense seems to have been neglected. The secondary is talanted but very thin. In fact that is the watchword for the entire defense, talented but thin. the only position that looks to have enough depth is LB and safety( although one more saftety, FS or SS does not mater, would be ideal ).
8) Elk Rapids Elks
- "Zekester Ayrton to Edwin Hands for the first down!" I have a feeling this is going to be an oft heard phrase in Ilk Rapids this year, along with "Zekester Ayrton to Hal Friday for the score!" This is basically the Elk Rapids offense this year. It may be enough to get them into the playoffs. I do not see a lot coming from the running game so this team is going to have to throw it, and Hands and Friday are the best targets on the team. If the second and third WR can be consistent in support that may be enough.
The defense looks solid if not spectacular, with the exception of DE Ed Fick, who should have a breakout season.
9) South Beach Tokers
- This team is close and with some luck could compete for a playoff spot. Like a lot of teams here they have talent on the offensive side of the ball, but no depth, especially along the O-line. HB Zeddicus Puncher is a load, which is good because he may not have huge holes to run thru at the end of the game as the o-line tires. QB Tommy Alonso took a beating last year with 36 sacks and 148 hurries! I really expected the ownership to devote more energy to the O-line to help Alonso out, but it has not materialized. Here's hoping Tommy has his health plan paid up, or has improved his release. He has targets to throw to, but it remains to be seen if he will have time to throw.
Like the offense, there is talent on defense, but very little depth, most notably at FS. They could use one more player at every position.
10) New Orleans Drunken Skulls
- 4 QBs? Jon Gruden must coach this team. The Skulls look to be pretty good. They have more tackles then you can shake a stick at, but are thin at guard. They also need another TE and FB. QB Johnny Rose has the tools, but lacks for targets. TE Simon Catrell looks to be the best target, but with no backup he is going to tire. Good thing they have a lot of running backs because they are going to have to run the ball. On defense they have enough LBs to play almost every position! I guess maybe they will employ a 2-5-4 scheme? Actually they look fine at d-line. The defensive backfield looks young. If they get lucky they could make a run for the playoffs.
11) Minnesota Rage
- This is just not this teams year. They will get close and surprise some teams. I love the depth of this team, but there are just not enough play makers here. The Rage should dominate all the teams below it, but the lack of play makers will hamper them against the playoff caliber teams. They may be a bit young now, but watch out next season!
The rest of these teams are all in some stage of rebuilding.
12) The Forgotten One's
- In another season forget them at your peril. This team has all the pieces in place, and should be able to run the ball this year with Hilten Jamison. And the defense will keep games close. All this team needs is a little more time in the oven. However I wonder if Lou Diamondz really is the answer at QB.
13) Orlando Mambas
- Very similar to the Forgotten ones. They could use some more depth at WR. They are still a season away from being really competitive but the ownership is looking at the long term and that will pay off.
14) Denver Stallions
- Should be able to move the ball in the air, they still need some seasoning. I worry about the o-line and the QB could take a beating this season.
15) London Cobras
- they just need players, everywhere. The owner will need a lot of patience as will the players.
16) Richmond Speed
- Karma's a bitch.
Last edited Aug 1, 2008 11:18:38
