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TB is pleased to present its second annual "Ten Game Review" :thewave:
This is a unique place in the season where the bye weeks are finally over with each team having the same number of games under their belt. Heres our take on what the picture seems to look like as the IFL season turns the corner and makes its sprint for the finish line.
The playing conditions are the same for each teams GM:
:arrow: You have ten games are under your belt.
:arrow: Trading has long past you by and you are stuck with what you got because there is absolutely nothing, and we repeat, notta, in the FA pool.
:arrow: There are no more bye weeks to heal an injury or two.
:arrow: You have played four of your six division games.
And now many of you, as GM, face Week 12, the time for your team to nut up for the privilege to make a statement in the offseason. With a six game schedule, a team can get hot and on the other hand, can cool down and let another pass it up. (Newark narrowly escaped Lawrence's push last year as they lost 4 of 6 and Lawrence won 6 of 6. Both teams ended up with records of 8-8, tie breaker in favor of Newark)
American Conference Observations:
A Good Surprise: Los Angeles had their last winning season five years ago in 2008. They are now 7-3 and are in strong contention for their division crown.
A Death Spiral: Iowa City was a wild card team last year. One year later and the Snipe Hunters find themselves at the bottom of the North, drowning and gulping for air after losing five games in a row and sit with a shocking 3-7 record.
Most Dangerous Team: It is hard to identify one single team that is really really scarry in this conference. There are eight teams in the National Conference that have higher power ratings (as rated in the game) and only then does the American Conference show up with the likes of Portland, Cleveland, Norfolk and Los Angeles. Even though none of these teams are power packed battleships, all do have their own style and swagger.
Projected wins needed to reach the playoffs as a wild card: 10
Most exciting division: AC West all four teams, Portland, Los Angeles, California and Anchorage have legitimate chances to participate in the playoffs. Portland would be considered the front runner after running off four straight wins but in all honesty, the AC West is up for grabs.
Teams out of the hunt: This is our least favorite thread in this write up but we call them like we see them. The black list includes: Wichita, Iowa City, Montreal, Houston, and Hartford.
Locks for a playoff spot: Cleveland (division). Conditions are just too tight in the AC East and AC West to confidently predict beyond the Clawz.
Bridesmaids looking to get a dance ticket:
One ticket will be reserved for the winner of the AC South. Louisiana, Murfreesboro and St. Louis are the hopefuls.
Both wild cards will come out of the East and/or the West. So that leaves four tickets for "game of musical chairs" for the likes of Norfolk, Boston, West Virginia, Portland, Los Angeles, California, and Anchorage. This should be a classic sprint by a group of equal teams.
THE INFAMOUS TB PREDICITON (barring any critical injuries):
:!: AC North Champion - Cleveland
:!: AC South Champion Louisiana
:!: AC East Champion - Norfolk
:!: AC West Champion - Portland
:?: Wild Card Boston or West Virginia or Los Angeles or California
:?: Wild Card Boston or West Virginia or Los Angeles or California
National Conference Observations:
A Good Surprise: Tulsa's Mr. Singleton is not anywhere near his record setting performance from last year but his contribution has helped Tulsa to reshape its team from a wanna-be to a legitimate contender.
A Death Spiral: The Little Rock perennial juggernault has had a couple of its wheels fall off. Cringer is hoping that the his IRA and the Toads have found their bottom levels.
Most Dangerous Team: Last year, Texas was the team to beat all season long. Well, things haven't changed too much. They still are (however, there are a couple of other teams in the National Conference wings to stake a claim also - see below). Clayton Chung, Barry Battles, Grady Gomez and Andre Watt are household names in the IFL. The team from Texas kills you with a precision passing attack that is peppered with a competent running game to keep you off balance. In a year that has many QB's in the league with ratings of over 100, their opponents have logged the 4th worst cumulative opponent QB rating. The D gives up the second lowest total passing yards and is rated the best for passing yards allowed per attempt.
Wins needed to reach the playoffs: 11
Most exciting division: NC North there are three very, very, very strong teams in this division: Pennsylvania, Madison and Lansing ... and if it was not for the fact that they regularly beat up on each other in division play, any of them could very well lay claim to being named as the most dangerous team in the IFL.
Teams out of the hunt: Don't kill the messenger. Dakota, Little Rock, Georgia, Vermont, Oakland, and Reno.
Locks for a playoff spot: Texas
Bridesmaids looking to get a dance tickets:
Assuming that Texas has a strong enough record to earn one spot, there remains three tickets for the likes of Madison, Lansing, Pennsylvania, and Tulsa. All of these teams are Imperial Bowl caliber, but unfortunately, one of these teams will be left on the outside looking in the window with the door closed and locked.
There is also a ticket fight in the NC East between Newark, Orlando and Lawrence. Even with a two game lead, this is too close to call. Last year, Newark was in the same position and then promptly lost four out of their last six games which almost elimintated them from a playoff berth.
The last ticket may very well be decided in the last game of the regular season between Salt Lake city and Vancouver, the winner to represent the NC West. Both of these teams have had more points scored against them that they have scored themselves.
THE INFAMOUS TB PREDICITON (barring any critical injuries):
:!: NC North Champion Madison
:!: NC South Champion - Texas
:!: NC East Champion - Newark
:!: NC West Champion - the winner of the Vancouver Salt Lake City game (Week 17)
:!: Wild Card Pennsylvania
:!: Wild Card Tulsa
oke: The Hard Luck Kid: In our opinion, Lansing belongs in the playoffs. But right off the bat, they start one game in the hole and this may be the difference to keep them out. All is not lost however. They have an opportunity to control their own destiny in that they still play Madison and Pittsburgh. If they win both of these, they still have tests against Cleveland and Texas. A vey tough road but we would not totally bet against someone taking their place as the "hard luck kid".
This is a unique place in the season where the bye weeks are finally over with each team having the same number of games under their belt. Heres our take on what the picture seems to look like as the IFL season turns the corner and makes its sprint for the finish line.
The playing conditions are the same for each teams GM:
:arrow: You have ten games are under your belt.
:arrow: Trading has long past you by and you are stuck with what you got because there is absolutely nothing, and we repeat, notta, in the FA pool.
:arrow: There are no more bye weeks to heal an injury or two.
:arrow: You have played four of your six division games.
And now many of you, as GM, face Week 12, the time for your team to nut up for the privilege to make a statement in the offseason. With a six game schedule, a team can get hot and on the other hand, can cool down and let another pass it up. (Newark narrowly escaped Lawrence's push last year as they lost 4 of 6 and Lawrence won 6 of 6. Both teams ended up with records of 8-8, tie breaker in favor of Newark)
American Conference Observations:
A Good Surprise: Los Angeles had their last winning season five years ago in 2008. They are now 7-3 and are in strong contention for their division crown.
A Death Spiral: Iowa City was a wild card team last year. One year later and the Snipe Hunters find themselves at the bottom of the North, drowning and gulping for air after losing five games in a row and sit with a shocking 3-7 record.
Most Dangerous Team: It is hard to identify one single team that is really really scarry in this conference. There are eight teams in the National Conference that have higher power ratings (as rated in the game) and only then does the American Conference show up with the likes of Portland, Cleveland, Norfolk and Los Angeles. Even though none of these teams are power packed battleships, all do have their own style and swagger.
Projected wins needed to reach the playoffs as a wild card: 10
Most exciting division: AC West all four teams, Portland, Los Angeles, California and Anchorage have legitimate chances to participate in the playoffs. Portland would be considered the front runner after running off four straight wins but in all honesty, the AC West is up for grabs.
Teams out of the hunt: This is our least favorite thread in this write up but we call them like we see them. The black list includes: Wichita, Iowa City, Montreal, Houston, and Hartford.
Locks for a playoff spot: Cleveland (division). Conditions are just too tight in the AC East and AC West to confidently predict beyond the Clawz.
Bridesmaids looking to get a dance ticket:
One ticket will be reserved for the winner of the AC South. Louisiana, Murfreesboro and St. Louis are the hopefuls.
Both wild cards will come out of the East and/or the West. So that leaves four tickets for "game of musical chairs" for the likes of Norfolk, Boston, West Virginia, Portland, Los Angeles, California, and Anchorage. This should be a classic sprint by a group of equal teams.
THE INFAMOUS TB PREDICITON (barring any critical injuries)::!: AC North Champion - Cleveland
:!: AC South Champion Louisiana
:!: AC East Champion - Norfolk
:!: AC West Champion - Portland
:?: Wild Card Boston or West Virginia or Los Angeles or California
:?: Wild Card Boston or West Virginia or Los Angeles or California
National Conference Observations:
A Good Surprise: Tulsa's Mr. Singleton is not anywhere near his record setting performance from last year but his contribution has helped Tulsa to reshape its team from a wanna-be to a legitimate contender.
A Death Spiral: The Little Rock perennial juggernault has had a couple of its wheels fall off. Cringer is hoping that the his IRA and the Toads have found their bottom levels.
Most Dangerous Team: Last year, Texas was the team to beat all season long. Well, things haven't changed too much. They still are (however, there are a couple of other teams in the National Conference wings to stake a claim also - see below). Clayton Chung, Barry Battles, Grady Gomez and Andre Watt are household names in the IFL. The team from Texas kills you with a precision passing attack that is peppered with a competent running game to keep you off balance. In a year that has many QB's in the league with ratings of over 100, their opponents have logged the 4th worst cumulative opponent QB rating. The D gives up the second lowest total passing yards and is rated the best for passing yards allowed per attempt.
Wins needed to reach the playoffs: 11
Most exciting division: NC North there are three very, very, very strong teams in this division: Pennsylvania, Madison and Lansing ... and if it was not for the fact that they regularly beat up on each other in division play, any of them could very well lay claim to being named as the most dangerous team in the IFL.
Teams out of the hunt: Don't kill the messenger. Dakota, Little Rock, Georgia, Vermont, Oakland, and Reno.
Locks for a playoff spot: Texas
Bridesmaids looking to get a dance tickets:
Assuming that Texas has a strong enough record to earn one spot, there remains three tickets for the likes of Madison, Lansing, Pennsylvania, and Tulsa. All of these teams are Imperial Bowl caliber, but unfortunately, one of these teams will be left on the outside looking in the window with the door closed and locked.
There is also a ticket fight in the NC East between Newark, Orlando and Lawrence. Even with a two game lead, this is too close to call. Last year, Newark was in the same position and then promptly lost four out of their last six games which almost elimintated them from a playoff berth.
The last ticket may very well be decided in the last game of the regular season between Salt Lake city and Vancouver, the winner to represent the NC West. Both of these teams have had more points scored against them that they have scored themselves.
THE INFAMOUS TB PREDICITON (barring any critical injuries)::!: NC North Champion Madison
:!: NC South Champion - Texas
:!: NC East Champion - Newark
:!: NC West Champion - the winner of the Vancouver Salt Lake City game (Week 17)
:!: Wild Card Pennsylvania
:!: Wild Card Tulsa
oke: The Hard Luck Kid: In our opinion, Lansing belongs in the playoffs. But right off the bat, they start one game in the hole and this may be the difference to keep them out. All is not lost however. They have an opportunity to control their own destiny in that they still play Madison and Pittsburgh. If they win both of these, they still have tests against Cleveland and Texas. A vey tough road but we would not totally bet against someone taking their place as the "hard luck kid".
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