*Zach Skinner's DSFL Evaluation, S7

[Titan127]

With only six games left to go in the DSFL season, some teams have already dug their graves, and others have set themselves up for success, in terms of playoff positioning. Either way, the general trends of success and failure have by now been established, and we can say, with some confidence, that clear favorites have revealed themselves from the mysteries of the early season, while some stars have surfaced as well.

I wrote last week on the best team, and clear favorite to win gold, the Portland Pythons, who are sitting pretty with a 7-1 record, leading the league in sacks thanks to a deep group of talented pass rushers and blitzing linebackers and defensive backs, as well as a few studs on the offensive side of the football, including Mark Grau and runner Borro Gore, who have combined for thirteen hundred offensive yards to go along with twelve scores.

Projected Record: 13-1

This week, however, I'm going to go into some of the DSFL's other teams.

We'll start with the team that was looked at in the preseason as the Pythons main divisional competition in the Kansas City Coyotes. The Coyotes are led by arguably the best QB in the DSFL, Mark Strike, who's currently leading the NSFL's baby brother in touchdown passes with ten, and is third among the six QBs with over 10 pass attempts in completion percentage. He hasn't managed to produce a ton of yards this year, sitting at about fifteen hundred, but, even while leading the DSFL in passing scores, he has the lowest number of interceptions among the six starting quarterbacks. The others have 6, 8, 10, 13, and 15, while Strike himself sits at only two, making him one of two QBs with a positive TD-INT ratio in the league.

Despite Strike's excellent season, the Coyotes have struggled, only having a 4-4 record to show for his, and their, efforts. Their runner, Wilson, has seven touchdowns on the year, while they have two receivers over four hundred yards and one with a stunning five touchdown receptions, that being Eldwyne II.

I personally expect the Coyotes to surge in the late season and make a serious playoff push. They are second in the DSFL with eleven interceptions, and also second with 31 sacks in the first 8 games. Along with their offensive production, I just don't see this team staying down for long.

Projected Record: 9-5

Next up: The 5-3 Norfolk Seawolves

The Seawolves have the only other QB with a positive TD-INT ratio in Palmer, who has an 8-6 mark on the season with one shy of one thousand, five hundred yards to his name. Nelson, their starting running back, has also notably not produced a ton of offense, shy of five hundred yards at this stage with only four touchdowns. So how are they 5-3, exactly? With the lowest sack total, and fourth out of six in interceptions, that's a very good question.

In their last 7 contests, however, despite that defensive production, the Seawolves have allowed 20 or fewer points per game, and 5-2 in those games, notably procuring a four game winning streak after sinking to one and three overall at one point. Despite playing, and beating, the Pythons at one point, however, they played three games against teams that are currently 2-6 and two against teams that are now 4-4. In their final stretch, they will play one team with a losing record.

Projected Record: 6-8

Now for the Tijauna Lucadores, who sit atop the SFC with a 4-4 record. The Lucadores have had a few dominant wins on their path, but they have been inconsistent as well, and that has hurt them, especially at the quarterback position, where their starter, Pennington, has only accounted for five passing touchdowns, and has thrown fewer yards than any other DSFL starter while turning the ball over 8 times while passing. These certainly aren't good marks for a starting quarterback in the league.

Despite this, the Lucadores have amassed 11 rushing touchdowns on the year, so it's safe to say that their offense can, in fact, produce points, especially considering wins in which they put up 38 and 44 points, respectively.

But while those are good numbers, they've also had games where that unit has gone stagnant, with two games in which they did not go over nine points. So this team, in essence, simply struggles with consistency. Some weeks they'll look like the favorites to win it all, and the next people are wondering how they managed to do as well as they have. I think this team is eventually going to have to bite the bullet if they can't pull it together, and they'll finish with a losing record.

Projected Record: 4-10


Now for the 2-6 San Antonio Marshals.

The Marshals aren't quite as bad as they look on paper right now. Despite their record, they've been decent on offense, with the second best rushing attack in the league. The problem? Their quarterback. Mike Vick, an athletic freak who is a talented and intriguing young prospect, has accounted for five touchdowns to a staggering, DSFL second-worst13 interceptions. Don't get me wrong, the kid has produced more total yardage than any other player in the league to go along with 12 total TDs, the turnovers are killing this team right now. In his last three outings, Vick has thrown six interceptions to zero touchdowns. That's completely unacceptable. But don't expect it to continue. Vick is a talent, and his coaches will likely work with him to remedy his issues.

I anticipate Vick to turn this season around completely, and put the team on his back in doing so. With fewer turnovers, the defense will look much better as well.

Projected record: 7-7

As for the Solar Bears...

Their quarterbacking situation is not ideal. While McMahon puts up a good deal of yards, he's turned the ball over far more than he's scored with it (8 passing TD to a DSFL-high 15 INT). Their defense, arguably as a result of this, has allowed for scores of 27, 27, 34, 38, and 44 throughout the season. This is a team in desperate need of rebuilding.

Projected Record:
3-9

Word Count: 1,035
Ready to be Graded

[iamslm22]

Great article dude! Love to see these DSFL articles

[Beaver]

Interesting read. Agree with slm, I always like seeing DSFL content.

[Roly]

Awesome stuff @Titan127. Happy you think the Marshals are better than their record - its the feeling @Ramero and I, and the team, have I think too. Be good if we can turn this season around.

Great read though and analysis

[Bzerkap]

Awesome article! Keep it up so we can call you up to the big times!

[nunccoepi]

Ouch no love for Team Lucha

[SwagSloth]

Good write-up!

[124715]

Awesome stuff @Titan127. Happy you think the Marshals are better than their record - its the feeling @Ramero and I, and the team, have I think too. Be good if we can turn this season around.

Great read though and analysis

I think SA and KC are two teams better than their records, hopefully we can push to win our divisions

Wanting a rematch of last year's Ultimini.