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Welcome IFL fans to a weekly breakdown of the leagues top matchups. With all games being played intra-division last week, this week it's AC vs. NC. Will one of these games be an Imperial Bowl preview? Time will only tell. Let's get started.
First...Houston Renegades at Pittsburgh Power
Wow, Houston looks strong coming out of the gate with their impressive Week 1 dismantling of division rival Louisiana. I expected the Houston offense to perform well this season, it's immensely talented with QB Nigel Booker and RB Wilford Timmerman leading the way, however, what impressed me the most in week 1 was Houston's defense. The team was in the bottom third of the league last season in points allowed, yet held a decent Louisiana offense to 7 points and only 45 rushing yards. Now the question remains on whether or not they can maintain this level of play against a stronger opponent.
Pittsburgh's run defense against Lansing was equally impressive, holding the Ogres to 44 yards on the ground. Pittsburgh showed a lot of moxie late holding off a late comeback by the Ogres, holding them to -1 yards on their final two drives when all they needed was a FG to force overtime. On offense, the Pittsburgh ground game looked solid with David Rodriguez leading the way and Thurman Richardson as the change of pace back. The two shredded Lansing for over 150 yards combined, making QB Jerome Mueller's season start on a high note. A lot of attention will be paid to Mueller and whether or not he can effectively assume the starting role after Alvin Mann led the team to a playoff berth last season.
With both teams featuring solid running attacks, and both teams showcasing stellar run defense, it'll be interesting to see which team can break down the other. If neither team can crack the opposing run defense, then look for Nigel Booker to take the game over as he had a relaxing first start handing the ball to Timmerman all day. Booker hasn't had to showcase his talent in Houston yet, but as he proved in Salt Lake City, he's capable of having huge games.
Oddsmakers have boldly chosen Houston to win this one on the road. If they do, they may prove to be a sleeper in the playoff race this year.
and 10....Hartford Grizzlies at Salt Lake City Stallions
The battle of the underdogs takes place in Salt Lake City this weekend as both of these teams are coming off big upsets within their division. The Grizzlies, despite losing QB Jim Hickman to injury, came back late in the 4th quarter and then shut down 'Finger' Lozier to seal the win. With Hickman out, the Grizzles are scrambling to find a replacement for the next 8 games. With a lack of trust in QB Lincoln Norton, it will be interesting to see how this situatiion develops in Hartford.
Salt Lake upset division rival Oakland in overtime thanks to a stellar outing by Imperial League player of the week QB Chris Chaplin. Most wondered if Chaplin could handle the pressure of replacing local legend QB Nigel Booker and you'd be hard pressed to find a lot of skeptics now. Not to be overlooked was RB James Tart's 128 yards and 2 TDs either.
Hartford will have their hands full keeping this offense in check, but if they can slow Norfolk, don't be surprised if they put up a solid fight here as well. Salt Lake's defense needs to step up, allowing 31 points, including a TD in the last minute, is hardly a solid way to win many football games. This game will come down to how well Hartford's offense steps up on the road. If Norton or whomever starts for the Grizzlies can exploit the Stallion D like Oakland, then the Grizzlies could walk away with 2 upsets in a row.
9....Iowa City Snipe Hunters at Lawrence Phantoms
Iowa City destroyed Cleveland last week, but it wasn't enough to earn them respect as they head to Lawrence as 3 point underdogs. QB Sammy Matthews is dinged up, but he's still expected to start. The Snipe Hunter defense looks as solid as ever and this offensive burst will hopefully show a few people why I chose them to win the Imperial Bowl. Lawrence started off solid last week against Orlando, but fell apart in the 2nd half. QB Tobias Stanfield's late interception ended the Phantom's hopes in the 4th quarter. Look for him to bounce back, but overcoming the Snipe Hunter defense might be too much to ask.
8....Vancouver Killer Whales at Norfolk Vipers
Norfolk, like Iowa City, isn't too respected by odds makers as an unexpected loss last week now sees them as 1 point underdogs at home against the Killer Whales. Norfolk hasn't lost back to back games since 2005. Look for them to come out hungry. Vancouver completely obliterated Reno last week, a team many expected to compete for a playoff spot. Vancouver held RB Jacques Crosby to -1 yards on 12 carries, the worst outing of his career. Meanwhile Wesley Connell ran roughshod all over the Wolfpack. Look for Connell to try to do the same against Norfolk as Vancouver tries to control the tempo of the game before a pissed off 'Finger' Lozier tries to light up their secondary.
7.....Wichita Outlaws at Newark Bulldogs
Newark RB Alan Crespo didn't waste any time seizing the IFL rushing lead. His 184 yards last week against the Vermont Mountaineers was the benchmark last week. Newark didn't win pretty as their offense nearly handed away a win in the 4th quarter by not handing the ball to Crespo. Look for more and more Crespo against the Outlaws. Wichita last week decided to spot the Montreal Firebirds a 17 point lead in the first half and then staged a strong comeback to force overtime and eventually win the game. This game will hinge on whether or not the Outlaws can slow down Crespo enough to allow their offense to put some points on the board.
6.....Columbia Fire at Albuquerque Matadors
Columbia looked solid in the first half last week against Texas, but when Texas backup QB Herman Boggs took over, the Fire defense fell apart, giving up 28 second half points and allowing Texas to send the game to overtime where it ended in a tie. QB Julian Cartagena put up big numbers, but the biggest might have been the 2 INTs. Columbia needs Cartagena to stay smart with the football if they're going to seize the division crown from Little Rock. The Matadors enjoyed success on the ground last week as RBs Kelly Wheat and Casey Gaines combined to rush for over 150 yards. Their defense was even more impressive though, holding California to 128 total yards on the day. The Fire offense will prove a stiff challenge though. Look for a lot of points in this one.
5....Anchorage Lynx at Texas Trojans
Texas staged a big comeback last week against the Fire thanks to the play of backup QB Herman Boggs. Don't expect QB Clayton Chung to keep looking over his shoulder though. This is still his team and no drastic changes look to be on the horizon. Anchorage took out division rival Portland last week, making QB Jay Caro look like a rookie all over again. They'll need a strong defensive effort against a high scoring Texas offense. QB Leslie Steiner found new weapon WR Max Brown 5 times for 88 yards last week, look for even more connections between this duo as the season goes on.
4....California Heroes at Tulsa Cows
Tulsa had the upset of the week taking out defending IFL champion Little Rock on the road. RB Tim Austin had another one of his signatue big games, tearing up the Toad defense for 144 yards and a touchdown on the ground. They'll need their offensive line to step up against California though. QB Devon Taylor had to hurry far too many throws last week, and that could lead to INTs if he has to force the ball out before he wants to. California just couldn't seem to get anything going last week against Albuquerque. Look for RB Bucky Beaver to get more involved this week against a Tulsa defense not known for stopping the run.
3....Lansing Ogres at St. Louis Cardinals
It took the Ogres too long to find their rhythm on offense last week and then after they did, they sputtered at the end in their attempt to stage a comeback. This team is too talented for this to happen regularly. St. Louis meanwhile, came alive at the right moment as the offense kept QB Mark McMurray intact long enough to lead a game wiinning touchdown drive in the waning minute of their game against Murfreesboro. The St. Louis offense is capable of more than they showed last week, and their defense bent a little too much last week. If both of these teams play to their potential, we could be in for a great game.
2....Oakland Owls at Boston Dragons
Oakland is coming off a disappointing loss at home against Salt Lake City. The Owls unveiled a rushing attack they haven't had since trading away Wesley Connell, but it wasn't enough to overcome a dominating second half by the Stallions. Boston beat West Virginia last week, which means that we don't really know anything about this team yet. Look for Oakland to continue to establish their running game and be sure to watch the battle between Dragon CB Willie Ames and Owl WR Ernest Martinez.
1....Portland Seals at Little Rock Toads
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The Toads start their bid to defend their title by falling to Tulsa in week one. The Toads just couldn't seem to get anything going on offense and QB Ralph Given was sacked 3 times and hurried on 3 other attempts. Look for Seal DE Abram Blake to attempt to match his 2 sacks from last week. The Seal offense looked lost against the Lynx last week with QB Jay Caro sporting an abysmal completion percentage of 35.5. Caro seemed to force the ball all day against Anchorage at 16 of his passes were swatted away by defenders meaning he completed as many passes as he had knocked down. This game will come down to whichever offense gets their act together this week.
First...Houston Renegades at Pittsburgh Power
Wow, Houston looks strong coming out of the gate with their impressive Week 1 dismantling of division rival Louisiana. I expected the Houston offense to perform well this season, it's immensely talented with QB Nigel Booker and RB Wilford Timmerman leading the way, however, what impressed me the most in week 1 was Houston's defense. The team was in the bottom third of the league last season in points allowed, yet held a decent Louisiana offense to 7 points and only 45 rushing yards. Now the question remains on whether or not they can maintain this level of play against a stronger opponent.
Pittsburgh's run defense against Lansing was equally impressive, holding the Ogres to 44 yards on the ground. Pittsburgh showed a lot of moxie late holding off a late comeback by the Ogres, holding them to -1 yards on their final two drives when all they needed was a FG to force overtime. On offense, the Pittsburgh ground game looked solid with David Rodriguez leading the way and Thurman Richardson as the change of pace back. The two shredded Lansing for over 150 yards combined, making QB Jerome Mueller's season start on a high note. A lot of attention will be paid to Mueller and whether or not he can effectively assume the starting role after Alvin Mann led the team to a playoff berth last season.
With both teams featuring solid running attacks, and both teams showcasing stellar run defense, it'll be interesting to see which team can break down the other. If neither team can crack the opposing run defense, then look for Nigel Booker to take the game over as he had a relaxing first start handing the ball to Timmerman all day. Booker hasn't had to showcase his talent in Houston yet, but as he proved in Salt Lake City, he's capable of having huge games.
Oddsmakers have boldly chosen Houston to win this one on the road. If they do, they may prove to be a sleeper in the playoff race this year.
and 10....Hartford Grizzlies at Salt Lake City Stallions
The battle of the underdogs takes place in Salt Lake City this weekend as both of these teams are coming off big upsets within their division. The Grizzlies, despite losing QB Jim Hickman to injury, came back late in the 4th quarter and then shut down 'Finger' Lozier to seal the win. With Hickman out, the Grizzles are scrambling to find a replacement for the next 8 games. With a lack of trust in QB Lincoln Norton, it will be interesting to see how this situatiion develops in Hartford.
Salt Lake upset division rival Oakland in overtime thanks to a stellar outing by Imperial League player of the week QB Chris Chaplin. Most wondered if Chaplin could handle the pressure of replacing local legend QB Nigel Booker and you'd be hard pressed to find a lot of skeptics now. Not to be overlooked was RB James Tart's 128 yards and 2 TDs either.
Hartford will have their hands full keeping this offense in check, but if they can slow Norfolk, don't be surprised if they put up a solid fight here as well. Salt Lake's defense needs to step up, allowing 31 points, including a TD in the last minute, is hardly a solid way to win many football games. This game will come down to how well Hartford's offense steps up on the road. If Norton or whomever starts for the Grizzlies can exploit the Stallion D like Oakland, then the Grizzlies could walk away with 2 upsets in a row.
9....Iowa City Snipe Hunters at Lawrence Phantoms
Iowa City destroyed Cleveland last week, but it wasn't enough to earn them respect as they head to Lawrence as 3 point underdogs. QB Sammy Matthews is dinged up, but he's still expected to start. The Snipe Hunter defense looks as solid as ever and this offensive burst will hopefully show a few people why I chose them to win the Imperial Bowl. Lawrence started off solid last week against Orlando, but fell apart in the 2nd half. QB Tobias Stanfield's late interception ended the Phantom's hopes in the 4th quarter. Look for him to bounce back, but overcoming the Snipe Hunter defense might be too much to ask.
8....Vancouver Killer Whales at Norfolk Vipers
Norfolk, like Iowa City, isn't too respected by odds makers as an unexpected loss last week now sees them as 1 point underdogs at home against the Killer Whales. Norfolk hasn't lost back to back games since 2005. Look for them to come out hungry. Vancouver completely obliterated Reno last week, a team many expected to compete for a playoff spot. Vancouver held RB Jacques Crosby to -1 yards on 12 carries, the worst outing of his career. Meanwhile Wesley Connell ran roughshod all over the Wolfpack. Look for Connell to try to do the same against Norfolk as Vancouver tries to control the tempo of the game before a pissed off 'Finger' Lozier tries to light up their secondary.
7.....Wichita Outlaws at Newark Bulldogs
Newark RB Alan Crespo didn't waste any time seizing the IFL rushing lead. His 184 yards last week against the Vermont Mountaineers was the benchmark last week. Newark didn't win pretty as their offense nearly handed away a win in the 4th quarter by not handing the ball to Crespo. Look for more and more Crespo against the Outlaws. Wichita last week decided to spot the Montreal Firebirds a 17 point lead in the first half and then staged a strong comeback to force overtime and eventually win the game. This game will hinge on whether or not the Outlaws can slow down Crespo enough to allow their offense to put some points on the board.
6.....Columbia Fire at Albuquerque Matadors
Columbia looked solid in the first half last week against Texas, but when Texas backup QB Herman Boggs took over, the Fire defense fell apart, giving up 28 second half points and allowing Texas to send the game to overtime where it ended in a tie. QB Julian Cartagena put up big numbers, but the biggest might have been the 2 INTs. Columbia needs Cartagena to stay smart with the football if they're going to seize the division crown from Little Rock. The Matadors enjoyed success on the ground last week as RBs Kelly Wheat and Casey Gaines combined to rush for over 150 yards. Their defense was even more impressive though, holding California to 128 total yards on the day. The Fire offense will prove a stiff challenge though. Look for a lot of points in this one.
5....Anchorage Lynx at Texas Trojans
Texas staged a big comeback last week against the Fire thanks to the play of backup QB Herman Boggs. Don't expect QB Clayton Chung to keep looking over his shoulder though. This is still his team and no drastic changes look to be on the horizon. Anchorage took out division rival Portland last week, making QB Jay Caro look like a rookie all over again. They'll need a strong defensive effort against a high scoring Texas offense. QB Leslie Steiner found new weapon WR Max Brown 5 times for 88 yards last week, look for even more connections between this duo as the season goes on.
4....California Heroes at Tulsa Cows
Tulsa had the upset of the week taking out defending IFL champion Little Rock on the road. RB Tim Austin had another one of his signatue big games, tearing up the Toad defense for 144 yards and a touchdown on the ground. They'll need their offensive line to step up against California though. QB Devon Taylor had to hurry far too many throws last week, and that could lead to INTs if he has to force the ball out before he wants to. California just couldn't seem to get anything going last week against Albuquerque. Look for RB Bucky Beaver to get more involved this week against a Tulsa defense not known for stopping the run.
3....Lansing Ogres at St. Louis Cardinals
It took the Ogres too long to find their rhythm on offense last week and then after they did, they sputtered at the end in their attempt to stage a comeback. This team is too talented for this to happen regularly. St. Louis meanwhile, came alive at the right moment as the offense kept QB Mark McMurray intact long enough to lead a game wiinning touchdown drive in the waning minute of their game against Murfreesboro. The St. Louis offense is capable of more than they showed last week, and their defense bent a little too much last week. If both of these teams play to their potential, we could be in for a great game.
2....Oakland Owls at Boston Dragons
Oakland is coming off a disappointing loss at home against Salt Lake City. The Owls unveiled a rushing attack they haven't had since trading away Wesley Connell, but it wasn't enough to overcome a dominating second half by the Stallions. Boston beat West Virginia last week, which means that we don't really know anything about this team yet. Look for Oakland to continue to establish their running game and be sure to watch the battle between Dragon CB Willie Ames and Owl WR Ernest Martinez.
1....Portland Seals at Little Rock Toads
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The Toads start their bid to defend their title by falling to Tulsa in week one. The Toads just couldn't seem to get anything going on offense and QB Ralph Given was sacked 3 times and hurried on 3 other attempts. Look for Seal DE Abram Blake to attempt to match his 2 sacks from last week. The Seal offense looked lost against the Lynx last week with QB Jay Caro sporting an abysmal completion percentage of 35.5. Caro seemed to force the ball all day against Anchorage at 16 of his passes were swatted away by defenders meaning he completed as many passes as he had knocked down. This game will come down to whichever offense gets their act together this week.
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