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To celebrate and to pass some time before kickoff, TB is pleased to offer some thoughts on the division races.
American Conference
North – A tossup; any of the four can win the division.
Cleveland has a good chance to repeat as division champ with good talent and balance in all areas with the sole exception of the secondary. Montreal is pretty damn scary at all dimensions except for the one that delivers championships. The lack of a quality signal caller will most likely keep Montreal at bay once again. Wichitashould rebound from last year’s dismal performance. The only weakness seems to point to the secondary. Iowa City lacks a running threat but displays potency at all other dimensions.
South - A clear favorite from Tennessee.
Murfreesboro should easily repeat as AFC South Champion. There is no weakness on this team. Louisiana probably emerges as the best of the rest but not by much.
St. Louis & Houston will pull up the rear if their respective secondaries play the way they look on paper.
East – A new face emerges.
West Virginia has been building for several years and will take its best punch to knock Norfolk from their perennial perch. Norfolk brings their normal balance to the table but it may not be enough. Boston will try to surprise but must overcome some issues at LB and in the secondary to compete. Hartford continues its rebuilding and will be able to play with anybody on any given Sunday. Consistency will emerge as a problem.
West - Some more of the same ol'.
Portland is not the same team of the past but it should reclaim its position as division champ. The kicking game could emerge as this team’s Achilles heel. Anchorage is just a half step behind the Seals and has the tools to take advantage of any Portland miscues. The Lynx also have their own issues in their secondary. Los Angeles is positioned to make considerable more noise this year but are probably one more year away from becoming a legitimate threat to the division hierarchy. California fans will again sing the team’s theme song, “The Great Pretender,” as the Heroes sport a potentially potent offense coupled with a defense rated the worst in the league.
National Conference
North – Strong balance brings another toss-up
Lansing, Madison, & Pittsburgh, all have strong talent that cover all of the dimensions of the game. With this said, the Orgres will not run away with the division; it is easy to see any of these competent teams win the division. Dakota is a good team but the Spirit needs to shore up its secondary and invest in its kicking game in order to compete with its division mates.
South – The champ repeats
Texas has the horses to repeat its feat from last year. Little Rock is a grade below Texas primarily reflective of some holes in the secondary. Tulsa will make a strong bid to unseat Little Rock and Texas if the new defensive look steps up. Could be a sleeper this year! Georgia will shake things up but the inexperience of the O-Line and D-Line will show its true colors.
East – The previous champ re-emerges
Lawrence will show off its purebred pedigree as it finds a way to disguise its not ready for prime time secondary. Newark & Vermont are both strong teams that will give Lawrence a fight for its money, but both will fall a dime short. Orlando has incredible issues with its secondary and offensive line and will need to look to the future.
West – A unexpected sleeper?
Vancouver has strength, balance and talent to be a power in the conference. The sleeper for 2013? Oakland continues to rebuild and the efforts are paying early dividends. It is still too early to cash in for a division supremacy – looks to be about a year away. Salt Lake City has too many issues with too many dimensions in the game and will find it difficult to defend their division championship. Reno’s 2013 fortune points to another rebuilding year.
American Conference
North – A tossup; any of the four can win the division.
Cleveland has a good chance to repeat as division champ with good talent and balance in all areas with the sole exception of the secondary. Montreal is pretty damn scary at all dimensions except for the one that delivers championships. The lack of a quality signal caller will most likely keep Montreal at bay once again. Wichitashould rebound from last year’s dismal performance. The only weakness seems to point to the secondary. Iowa City lacks a running threat but displays potency at all other dimensions.
South - A clear favorite from Tennessee.
Murfreesboro should easily repeat as AFC South Champion. There is no weakness on this team. Louisiana probably emerges as the best of the rest but not by much.
St. Louis & Houston will pull up the rear if their respective secondaries play the way they look on paper.
East – A new face emerges.
West Virginia has been building for several years and will take its best punch to knock Norfolk from their perennial perch. Norfolk brings their normal balance to the table but it may not be enough. Boston will try to surprise but must overcome some issues at LB and in the secondary to compete. Hartford continues its rebuilding and will be able to play with anybody on any given Sunday. Consistency will emerge as a problem.
West - Some more of the same ol'.
Portland is not the same team of the past but it should reclaim its position as division champ. The kicking game could emerge as this team’s Achilles heel. Anchorage is just a half step behind the Seals and has the tools to take advantage of any Portland miscues. The Lynx also have their own issues in their secondary. Los Angeles is positioned to make considerable more noise this year but are probably one more year away from becoming a legitimate threat to the division hierarchy. California fans will again sing the team’s theme song, “The Great Pretender,” as the Heroes sport a potentially potent offense coupled with a defense rated the worst in the league.
National Conference
North – Strong balance brings another toss-up
Lansing, Madison, & Pittsburgh, all have strong talent that cover all of the dimensions of the game. With this said, the Orgres will not run away with the division; it is easy to see any of these competent teams win the division. Dakota is a good team but the Spirit needs to shore up its secondary and invest in its kicking game in order to compete with its division mates.
South – The champ repeats
Texas has the horses to repeat its feat from last year. Little Rock is a grade below Texas primarily reflective of some holes in the secondary. Tulsa will make a strong bid to unseat Little Rock and Texas if the new defensive look steps up. Could be a sleeper this year! Georgia will shake things up but the inexperience of the O-Line and D-Line will show its true colors.
East – The previous champ re-emerges
Lawrence will show off its purebred pedigree as it finds a way to disguise its not ready for prime time secondary. Newark & Vermont are both strong teams that will give Lawrence a fight for its money, but both will fall a dime short. Orlando has incredible issues with its secondary and offensive line and will need to look to the future.
West – A unexpected sleeper?
Vancouver has strength, balance and talent to be a power in the conference. The sleeper for 2013? Oakland continues to rebuild and the efforts are paying early dividends. It is still too early to cash in for a division supremacy – looks to be about a year away. Salt Lake City has too many issues with too many dimensions in the game and will find it difficult to defend their division championship. Reno’s 2013 fortune points to another rebuilding year.
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