Last season, I made previews for the two expansion squads, to let the league know what to expect from them. After they went up, I had a couple people reach out to me, asking me to preview their squad next year. And I thought, yea, that sounds like a decent article. And now you know the story behind this post. The end. And now the post.
(Also, the letters after their TPE represent the players activity. AC = active, SA = semi-active, IA = inactive)
Baltimore Hawks
QB Corvo Havran - 851 AC
RB Dorfus Jimbo - 479 SA
RB Corey Trevor - 190 IA
WR Errol Maddox - 1219 AC
WR Ahri Espeeyeeseetee - 532 SA
WR Yulic Nagasawa - 500 IA
TE Verso L’Alto - 619 AC
DE Steven Oats - 316 IA
DT Benson Harris - 419 IA
DT Jaylin Hobbs - 288 SA
LB Ben Horne - 612 AC
LB Marques Acho - 466 AC
LB Austin Roenick - 289 AC
CB Axel Hornbacher - 934 IA
CB Xander Troyski - 851 AC
CB Arbin Asipi III - 491 IA
S Fatih Terim - 696 AC
S Walt Green - 670 AC
K/P ForThe Brand - 235 AC
Arrivals: Benson Harris (NO)
Departures: Marquise Brown (PHI), Thomas Clark (NOLA), Charlie Trout (retired), Brayden Ennis(?) (NO)
The Baltimore Hawks are on a strict time limit. The rest of the NSFC is getting younger and better at a breakneck pace, and Baltimore is getting older and losing a lot of their stars to age and free agency. They had a really good chance to improve this offseason, as I think most people still see Baltimore as a marquee free agent destination, and they had a decently high draft pick to play with for the first time in years. However they struck out with signing anyone besides their own guys like Fatih Terim, Verso L’Alto, Ben Horne and Austin Roenick. Then when the draft rolled around, they had Brayden Ennis, as well as the #14 overall selection, but flipped them both to Nawlins for an inactive Benson Harris. After the rest of the stream picked their jaws off the floor, we were still no closer to figuring this out. If it would’ve been Harris for Ennis, straight-up, that would’ve been a bit desperate, but Baltimore is a bit desperate, so fair enough. But, to give up #14 as well? Where there were still active players? No sir. Bad trade. Go to your room. Now, Benson will be the leader of a mediocre defensive line with three inactives, and the fourth barely sticking around. And they were never able to find a replacement for Marquise Brown, so much like his last season in the Norfolk, Dorfus Jimbo is now the bellcow, a role that I don’t think Jimbo is ready for, but much like Corvo Havran last season, it’s a role he’ll be thrust into, kicking and screaming. As for the rest of the team, Corvo Havran is developing at a nice clip, and will need to step up now that Brown is no longer in town. Their receiving corps is unchanged, with Errol Maddox (still one of the best receivers in the league), Yulic Nagasawa (fresh off a huge bounceback season, but inactive), Ahri Espeeyeeseetee (developing, but not as fast as they’d like), and Verso L’Alto (unchanged since the time of the dinosaurs). And their back seven is stout. Despite losing Charlie Trout, this is still a loaded back end of the defense, littered with playmakers. Baltimore will be leaning heavily on their linebackers and secondary to keep them in games. Unfortunately, I just think this team has lost too much to be seen as a valid playoff threat, and I think they’ll be in the same place they were last season, only this time with their window firmly slammed shut, staring down the barrel of a rebuild.
Prediction: 5-8, 4th in NSFC, 3rd overall pick
Chicago Butchers
QB Rose Jenkins - 736 AC
RB Sam Torenson - 494 AC
RB Ricky Adams - 447 IA
RB Aksel Danielsson - 412 IA
WR Kazimir Oles - 1254 AC
WR Roger Batoff - 386 IA
WR Felix Hasselhoff - 271 IA
TE Declan Harp - 444 IA
DE D’Pez Poopsie - 844 SA
DE Cole Walker - 99 IA
DT Curtis Saul - 453 IA
DT Will Foster - 271 IA
LB Guy Nikko - 422 IA
LB Blake Faux - 343 SA
CB Xerxes Ridley - 573 SA
CB Achilles Hondo - 566 SA
CB Bobson Dugnutt - 345 IA
S Lightsout Lewis - 652 AC
S Jack Rambo - 387 AC
K/P Kulture Fulture - 655 SA
Arrivals: Cole Walker (ARI)
Departures: Kwame Mbanefo (OCO), Gekyume Stokley (PHI)
I’ve been a fan of these guys ever since they blew the doors open and said “Howdy” to the rest of the league. But writing this post made me realize something. This team has way more inactives than I thought they did. Their entire receiving corps besides Kazimir Oles? Inactive. Their entire defensive line? Inactive. Their running back unit besides Sam Torenson? Inactive. I guess that’s what happens when you A) build through the expansion draft, B) trade up in one draft, and C) not have any draft picks left from another draft. But still, this team is in serious danger of plateauing or worse, since a lot of their players aren’t getting much better, and they aren’t having the best of luck signing free agents. They’re going to be relying on five major actives to get them through the next few years. #1: Rose Jenkins, their biggest free agent signing to date. She had a very solid season last year, and while she didn’t run circles around the league, she protected the ball and limited her mistakes, which is always great for a rookie. #2: Sam Torenson, last year’s #1 overall pick and Offensive Rookie of the Year. Torenson was the feel-good story of S16, a sign that offensive rookies could show up and immediately wreck shop. The offensive playmakers on this squad are completely unchanged, so if he improves, Torenson could become a serious MVP contender in just his sophomore season. #3: Kazimir Oles, the league’s best player last season by TPE, and despite a round of regression, the second ranked player this season. Despite Jenkins’s conversative play style, Oles’s stats stayed on par with his prior seasons, so if the playcalling swings in any way toward more passes, Oles will seriously take advantage. #4 and #5: Xerxes Ridley and Lightsout Lewis, their first two draft picks from S15. These two will anchor their secondary and with any luck, pull down the INTs needed to keep their offense on the field. I don’t think this team will be as dominant as they were last season. But, if their stars improve, they’ll still be dangerous come playoff time.
Prediction: 7-6, 3rd in NSFC, eliminated in Wild Card round
Colorado Yeti
QB Wolfie McDummy - 496 AC
RB Terry Taffy - 453 SA
RB Thomas Carrasco - 177 IA
WR James Bishop - 1198 AC
WR Laszlo Fourty-Two - 455 AC
WR Brad Pennington - 304 IA
WR Rylant Wright - 167 IA
TE Joshua Palmer - 217 AC
TE Balthazar Crindy - 215 IA
DE Joey Sachs - 162 IA
DT Bubba Thumper - 306 AC
DT Pecker Cox - 126 IA
LB Mo Berry - 657 AC
LB Tony Gabagool - 444 AC
CB Beau Montgomery - 586 SA
S Logan Lejune - 874 AC
S Quinton Sinclair - 442 AC
S Knute Knurtsson - 303 SA
S Caleb McCoy - 243 IA
S Jonathan Towers - 196 IA
K/P Stephen Harris Jr. - 131 IA
K/P Joshua Jones II - 84 SA
Arrivals: Laszlo Fourty-Two (TIJ), Brad Pennington (YKW), Bubba Thumper (SA), Jonathan Towers (AUS), Stephen Harris Jr. (YKW), Joshua Jones II (TIJ)
Depatures: Mark Grau (retired), Shadarrien Lamelllana (retired) Odell Marrett (retired), Frasier Crane (retired), Adam Anderson (retired)
Colorado has seen a lot of their depth disappear into retirement, which is what happens when you have a lot of old, mediocre players. Luckily, they were able to replace a lot of them with solid inactive bids, and a decent draft. As for the current state of the roster, it’s honestly not that much better than it was last season. Their star running back’s development has slowed to a crawl. Joshua Palmer’s TPE is moving at a glacial pace. And overall, nearly half of this roster is sitting below 250 TPE. But, there are some high spots. They’ll finally have their #2 WR and possibly their new kicker, as both Laszlo Fourty-Two and Joshua Jones II are bringing their Ultimini title to Colorado. They have their new D-Line leader in #2 overall pick, Bubba Thumper. And they still have plenty of solid actives on defense, such as Mo Berry, Tony Gabagool, Quinton Sinclair, and Logan Lejune. But, the downsides still heavily outweigh the positives for the Yeti. Wolfie McDummy is still a league worst QB, their defensive line is terribad, and this team has zero depth. Thankfully, this’ll be a good year to be bad, as next year’s draft is sure to be a big one, and Colorado will have nearly all of their picks back. That means this season may be a slog, but at least there may be a light at the end of the tunnel for Yeti fans out there.
Prediction: 2-11, 5th in NSFC, #1 overall pick
Philadelphia Liberty
QB Adriana Falconi - 985 AC
RB Marquise Brown - 705 AC
RB Vander Jones - 646 AC
RB Farley Hank - 391 AC
WR Jordan von Matt - 774 IA
WR Nacho Varga - 656 AC
WR Sam Hardwick - 591 SA
DE Luke Smyles - 459 IA
DE Ikaika Kalilimoku - 270 IA
DT Alberto McGwire - 146 IA
LB Gekyume Stokeley - 474 AC
LB Rock Hardshaft - 184 IA
CB Emondov Emoji - 706 AC
CB Johnson Cox III - 258 IA
CB Julien McMorris - 198 AC
S Lennox Garnett - 1089 AC
S Richard D'Attoria V - 667 AC
S Derek Bohne - 278 AC
K/P Roderick Castleberry - 95 IA
Arrivals: Marquise Brown (BAL), Sam Hardwick (AUS), Gekyume Stokeley (CHI), Julien McMorris (KC)
Departures: Fast Boija (SJS), Zapp Branigan (retired), Stayve Jerome Thomas (ARI), Jake Verden (retired)
I think Philly realized their window is wide open and are making a serious push to make it last. They splurged in free agency, picking up the Marquise Brown Farewell Tour, along with Gekyume Stokeley, Sam Hardwick, and first rounder Julien McMorris. Combine that with Adriana Falconi, who still very highly rated but is surprisingly entering regression already, a young stud at RB in Vander Jones, and a pair of talented receivers, and this looks like an offense that'll be hard to stop. They are lacking a tight end right now, but they might move Farley Hank to that position temporarily, as he has the best blocking of their offense players and decent hands. Their most glaring weakness comes on defense, where four of their five D-linemen/linebackers are inactive and three of them are very low in TPE. The addition of Gekyume helps, but even with him, it's still a below average corps that'll need at least one of their safeties to fill in. Luckily, their secondary is beastly. Lennox Garnett, Emondov Emoji, and Richard D'Attoria V are all ballhawks. Derek Bohne has returned to the fold and is contributing nicely and they even drafted to improve it with Julien McMorris. Expect this unit to lead the league in picks. Overall, this is a better team than the one that made the Ultimus last season. If Falconi can play like she did in the second half of the season, which was at an elite level, this could be a serious contender.
Prediction: 9-4, 2nd in NSFC, eliminated in NSFC Championship
Yellowknife Wraiths
QB Cooter Bigsby - 868 AC
RB Jerrod Canton - 844 IA
RB Morgan Marshall - 614 AC
WR Nate Swift - 897 AC
WR Josh Parker - 861 AC
WR Tommy Helanen - 858 AC
DE Nero Alexander - 681 AC
DE Chad Maulolo - 247 SA
DE Zach Skinner - 152 IA
DT Ryan Leaf Jr. - 482 AC
LB Alex Selich - 1067 IA
CB Johnny Snuggles - 994 AC
S Danny Grithead - 1178 AC
S Logan Uchiha - 567 SA
S Jaylen Storm - 476 AC
S Giannis Kroustis - 474 AC
S Mason Brown - 372 SA
K/P Kicky Bobby - 128 SA
Additions: Mason Brown (OCO), Kicky Bobby (POR)
Departures: Brad Pennington (COL), Cameron Taylor (retired), Stephen Harris Jr. (COL)
Let’s not mince words here. The Yellowknife Wraiths are, on paper, the best team in the entire league. Cooter Bigsby is improving at a startling rate. They have three ridiculously good WRs. I’m not sure if Jerrod Canton is IA, since he commented on one of my MVP posts, but even if he is, he and Morgan Marshall still make a damn good combo at RB. They may not have many linebackers and cornerbacks (although the ones they have are aces), but they do have safeties. Safeties as far as the eye can see, and good ones too. Good enough that they can play out of position without a huge handicap. Their “weakest” corps is along the defensive line, where they have the archaic Zach Skinner and the inconsistent Chad Maulolo, but even still they have Nero Alexander, who’s a beast, and Ryan Leaf Jr., who is uh… something else. I guess their other weakness is at tight end, since they don’t currently employ one, but why do they even need to when you can space the field with Nate Swift, Josh Parker, and Tommy Helanen? Their team is so good right now that they’re leaving their first round pick, CB Mervin Leonard, in the D-League this season, presumably because all of the safeties are that much better than he is right now. Their only rookie who’ll see the field will be kicker Kicky Bobby, who according to the guys in the draft stream, is in a good place TPE-wise, and shouldn’t gain any more TPE. The sim is so weird sometimes. Anyway, if you’re going to put your money on any team, it should be on Yellowknife. They’re solid everywhere, they have a ton of stars, they’re good where they need to be, and they’re even bad where they need to be. They’ve got this whole football thing figured out pretty well.
Prediction: 11-2, 1st in NSFC, Ultimus Winners
Arizona Outlaws
QB Andrew Reese - 1260 AC
RB Slim Shady - 545 IA
RB Jeffrey Murphy - 341 IA
RB Seer Zephyrous - 306 IA
WR Vinny Valentine - 924 AC
WR Brock Landers - 572 AC
WR Devon Baxter - 178 IA
TE Jammerson Irving - 634 AC
DE Marc Spector - 520 IA
DE Steven Moore - 316 IA
DE Avery Woodham - 162 SA
DE Stayve Jerome Thomas - 135 IA
DT Ricardo Morris - 566 AC
LB Raymond Vans - 809 AC
LB Leighton Lee - 594 AC
LB Jesse Marchand - 150 IA
LB Dick Cheese Jr. - 133 IA
CB Lucas Knight - 619 AC
CB Hike Mughes - 397 IA
CB Chris Steele - 142 IA
S Bucky Barnes - 817 AC
S Lamont McKinnie - 641 AC
S Martavius Mack - 223 IA
K/P Spencer Lawes - 110 IA
Arrivals: Vinny Valentine (OCO), Stayve Jerome Thomas (PHI)
Departures: Harvey Kindle (unsigned), Cole Walker (CHI)
Moving on over to the ASFC, we start with the defending champion Arizona Outlaws. The thing that leaps out about them is that they employ more people than probably any other team in the league. Six defensive linemen, four linebackers, three running backs, a lot of teams don’t carry that many players. I guess this might help alleviate low endurance scores, maybe? In any event, let’s say you ran the Outlaws and you just won the Ultimus in a thrilling Cinderella story. Especially when you still have a butt-ton of cap space and not a lot of people you need to resign? How do you follow it up? Easy, sign the biggest name in free agency in Vinny Valentine. I got this part right in my prediction post, so high-fives go to me, please, and looking at what Arizona offered last season, it makes sense. Arizona had the worst offense of any team that didn’t go winless or nearly winless. They got to the promised land because of a defense that knew when to turn up the pressure. Their offense needed to get better and with Valentine, coupled with Brock Landers and Jammerson Irving, that’s a legit all-star trio. And throwing to them is Andrew Reese, who is the highest rated player in the league. Not bad for a guy who was the league's worst QB a few years back. They’re still looking for an active running back, but for this season at least, Slim Shady, Seer Zephyrous, and Ultimus hero Jeffrey Murphy will suffice, but Seer is in regression, and Slim will hit it next year, so it’s a need for the future. Former TE Steven Moore has now moved to DE, meaning my worries about this line won’t be that great. Marc Spector, Ricardo Morris, Avery Woodham, and Moore make up a solid D-line that might need a face lift next season, with Woodham’s retirement, but like the running back corps, it’ll work in the interim. Their back seven though is full of studs who care turn the tides of war. Bucky Barnes, Lamont McKinnie, Lucas Knight, Leighton Lee, and last year’s sack leader Raymond Vans all come back to lead this scary unit. However, looking at their budget page, you’ll notice something startling about this team: only four players are signed through next season: Alex Reese, Vinny Valentine, Raymond Vans, and Leighton Lee. No team, not even the win-now mode Hawks have that many impending free agents. This team could very well fall apart next season, and if that happens, well, at least they got a chip.
Prediction: 8-5, 2nd in ASFC, eliminated in Wild Card round
Austin Copperheads
QB Easton Cole - 378 AC
RB Mako Mendonca - 387 AC
RB Ashley Owens - 267 AC
WR Django Anoa’i - 693 SA
WR Rod Tidwell - 514 AC
TE Peter Larson - 337 AC
OL Edmond Beaver-Dantes - 380 AC
DE Grayson Kuusela - 524 SA
DE Joseph Henry - 218 IA
DT Dick Wizardry - 1083 AC
DT Nick Snider - 124 IA
LB Sandip Bakshi - 455 AC
LB A.J. Robertson - 249 IA
LB Honda Edmond - 225 AC
CB Dermot Lavelle Jr. - 519 AC
CB Spencer Castle - 383 IA
S Chase Jensen - 624 AC
S Takeda Okura - 153 AC
K/P Alfredo Crisco - 275 AC
Arrivals: Ashley Owens (SA), Honda Edmond (TIJ), Takeda Okura (SA)
Departures: Sam Hardwick (PHI), Jonathan Towers (ARI), Troy Humuhumunukunukuapua’a (unsigned), Bruce Waynner (unsigned)
Now on the opposite end of the spectrum from the Arizona Outlaws, we have the Longsneks. Not just in terms of season outcome (league champions vs. 0-13, pretty different), but also in number of players. These guys have exactly six offense players (not counting OL), and exactly eleven defenders, meaning every single player will play every single snap. Hope you brought extra Gatorade. This team had a lot of holes to fill and they entirely filled them through the draft. Ashley Owens will likely start at flexback, but will also likely split carries with Mako Mendonca. Honda Edmond gives them a complete linebacker corps, and Takeda Okura will fill in for either of their departed safeties. In terms of player positions, this might be the most normal team in the league. They’ll run I-formations on offense and a 4-3 defense. Almost like a real football team. Just you know, with zero depth and no room for substitutions. Anyway, all of that has been fluff to distract you from the fact that these guys are probably going to suck again. They will win a game at least, and maybe more, but this roster is still seriously low on talent. They only have one player above 700 TPE. But they do have an entirely active offense, which is something no other team can boast, so it’s only getting better. And their defense is mostly active too, especially in the back seven. And they have an actually legit receiver tandem in Django Anoa’i and Rod Tidwell. So while I think they’ll struggle a bit out of the gate, as their players improve, so will their win total.
Prediction: 3-10, 5th in ASFC, 2nd overall pick
New Orleans Second Line
QB Stan Francisco - 641 AC
RB Forrest Gump - 635 AC
RB Tyler Swift - 604 IA
WR Vladimir Fyodorovich - 607 AC
WR Bona’beri Jones - 462 SA
WR Action Jackson - 218 AC
DE Lo Rax - 588 IA
DT Brayden Ennis - 280 AC
DT Thomas Clark - 125 IA
LB Johnny Slothface - 616 AC
LB Quenton Bode - 600 AC
CB Deon Taylor - 569 AC
CB Jordan Andrews - 304 AC
CB Willie Woodson - 164 SA
S William H. Harrison - 404 SA
S Damien Arnold - 224 IA
S Jeff Jefferson IV - 182 IA
K/P Alex Frost - 141 IA
Arrivals: Action Jackson (POR), Brayden Ennis (KC via BAL), Jordan Andrews (TIJ), Willie Woodson (SA), Thomas Clark (BAL)
Departures: Emilia Rudd (retired), Thjalfi Halvorsen (free agent), Barnaby Earl (retired), Shaquill Williams VII (POR), Franklin Townsend (free agent), Benson Harris (BAL)
Regression hit the Second Line like a truck this season. Thanks to big drop offs from Vladimir Fyodorovich and Lo Rax, New Orleans is now not only the only team without a player in the 1000s in TPE, they don't even have one in the 700s. Their highest rated player is QB Stan Francisco. However, while they don't have any elite players, they have a lot of improving players, even among their veterans, like Fyodorovich and William H. Harrison. Forrest Gump is quietly building himself into a star, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he entered MVP discussions soon. Johnny Slothface and Quenton Bode are both wrecking balls who give opposing players and coaches fits. And they have four rookies who’ll be pressed into service right away. WR Action Jackson will hopefully be their long-term answer at receiver once Vlad retires, which may be five years from now. Jordan Andrews and Willie Woodson will give star corner Deon Taylor some help covering receivers. And Brayden Ennis, hand-delivered to their front door from Baltimore, will be asked to fill his trade partners shoes immediately. With any luck, he might reach what Benson Harris was at by the start of next season. That just leaves their QB, Stan Francisco, who’s been rising bit by bit, and he could see a nice little boost in his rating if he improves. I'm not gonna say these guys will take the league by storm or anything, but little by little, New Orleans's stock is going up. Also, they only have ten defenders, so maybe fix that. (EDIT: Problem resolved with a trade from Baltimore.)
Prediction: 5-8, 4th in ASFC, 4th overall pick
Orange County Otters
QB Franklin Armstrong - 648 AC
RB Apollo Reed - 454 AC
WR Sunnycursed - 1190 AC
WR Hugh Mongo - 488 AC
TE Johnny Blaze - 691 AC
TE Adrian Pitcher - 256 IA
DE Kwame Abayomi Mbanefo - 858 SA
DE Tommy Salami - 216 IA
DT Thorian Skarsgard - 999 AC
DT AJ Lattimer - 576 AC
LB Lanzer Grievous - 634 AC
LB David Ginsberg - 537 AC
LB Jon Gott - 148 IA
CB Gus T.T. Showbiz - 732 AC
CB Jonathan Rice - 421 IA
CB Gordon Ramsey Jr. - 213 IA
S Dan Schneider - 1060 AC
S Shannon Hobbs - 268 IA
K/P Alex Dasistwirklichseinnachname - 311 IA
Arrivals: Franklin Armstrong (POR), Hugh Mongo (TIJ), Kwame Abayomi Mbanefo (CHI)
Departures: Vinny Valentine (ARI), Mason Brown (YKW)
The Showbiz era in Orange County is over. At least as a QB. He's moving to cornerback to finish out his career, ala Ryan Applehort (I haven't been in this league long enough to know how common that practice is). Meaning it's finally time for us to see Franklin Armstrong in action. At the moment, he's in the Jenkins/Francisco tier of QBs, so expectations shouldn't be too lofty out of the gate, but this team was a title contender last year, so maybe they will. Aaaaaaaaanyway, so what else is going on in SoCal? Well, they lost Vinny Valentine, so that's less than stellar. But they gained Kwame Mbanefo, so that's good. In fact, they now have a front seven with five players who are over 500 TPE and all of them are active, which no other team can claim. And that's before we mention one of the best safeties in the league in Dan Schneider on their payroll. And they still have two excellent receivers in Sunnycursed and Johnny Blaze. But what I'm worried about with these guys is their running game. It's just Apollo Reed, who is simply ok. Most other teams either have a single great back or a committee. Orange County had the worst rushing attack in the league last year, and it hasn't gotten any better, aside from Reed's modest TPE gains. Overall, due to the departures of some veterans, I don't think this team will be as good as it was last year, but they'll be more prepared for the future. And even still, this'll be a dynamite team, and one to definitely watch out for.
Prediction: 8-5, 1st in ASFC, eliminated in Ultimus
San Jose Sabercats
QB Joliet L. Christ - 907 AC
RB Ludicolo Bigby - 388 AC
RB Chris Orosz - 369 IA
RB Fast Boija - 267 IA
RB Corwin Davenport - 155 IA
WR Xavier Flash - 796 AC
WR Ty Justice - 284 IA
TE Cameron Olsen - 644 AC
TE Dan Wright - 583 AC
DE Jabrill Tuck - 273 IA
DE Danny Methane - 216 IA
DT Freezer Riposte - 1077 AC
DT Footballer Sackerman - 463 IA
LB Kolby Deringer - 883 AC
LB Chad Pennington - 584 IA
LB JoJo Burr-Kirven - 136 IA
CB Anthony Rowland - 166 IA
CB William Tell - 164 IA
S Trey Staley - 755 AC
S Jorel Tuck - 716 AC
S Thad Pennington - 339 IA
S Tyron Brackenridge - 301 AC
K/P Neo Donaldson - 257 IA
Arrivals: Fast Boija (PHI), JoJo Burr-Kirven (TIJ), Tyron Brackenridge (KC)
Departures: None
While I was looking up TPEs for the Sabercats, I got briefly excited. There were so many people who had just updated, especially among our veterans. But nope, those updates were just to mark their regression. In comes the sadness. Look, I love my team, I'm probably gonna resign with them in the next year, but this'll likely be the last stand of this corps of players. Sackerman and the Penningtons (aka the name of my new indy band) are all retiring at year's end. And aside from them, Joliet Christ, Chris Orosz, Xavier Flash, and Kolby Deringer will all be taking the sharp stick of regression in the next few years. But, there's still plenty of talent on this team. The trio of Xavier Flash, Dan Wright, and last year's Breakout Player of the Year Cameron Olsen still presents a serious problem for defenders. And their defense is swarming with strong players, four different guys with over 700 TPE reside on that D. Besides San Jose, only Orange County can claim that honor and that happened only because of Showbiz's move. They'll be employing an RBBC system, but Ludicolo Bigby should get the most carries. This might be the last year San Jose puts out a title contending squad. Fingers crossed.
Prediction: 7-6, 3rd in ASFC, eliminated in ASFC Championship
4895 words .
(Also, the letters after their TPE represent the players activity. AC = active, SA = semi-active, IA = inactive)
Baltimore Hawks QB Corvo Havran - 851 AC
RB Dorfus Jimbo - 479 SA
RB Corey Trevor - 190 IA
WR Errol Maddox - 1219 AC
WR Ahri Espeeyeeseetee - 532 SA
WR Yulic Nagasawa - 500 IA
TE Verso L’Alto - 619 AC
DE Steven Oats - 316 IA
DT Benson Harris - 419 IA
DT Jaylin Hobbs - 288 SA
LB Ben Horne - 612 AC
LB Marques Acho - 466 AC
LB Austin Roenick - 289 AC
CB Axel Hornbacher - 934 IA
CB Xander Troyski - 851 AC
CB Arbin Asipi III - 491 IA
S Fatih Terim - 696 AC
S Walt Green - 670 AC
K/P ForThe Brand - 235 AC
Arrivals: Benson Harris (NO)
Departures: Marquise Brown (PHI), Thomas Clark (NOLA), Charlie Trout (retired), Brayden Ennis(?) (NO)
The Baltimore Hawks are on a strict time limit. The rest of the NSFC is getting younger and better at a breakneck pace, and Baltimore is getting older and losing a lot of their stars to age and free agency. They had a really good chance to improve this offseason, as I think most people still see Baltimore as a marquee free agent destination, and they had a decently high draft pick to play with for the first time in years. However they struck out with signing anyone besides their own guys like Fatih Terim, Verso L’Alto, Ben Horne and Austin Roenick. Then when the draft rolled around, they had Brayden Ennis, as well as the #14 overall selection, but flipped them both to Nawlins for an inactive Benson Harris. After the rest of the stream picked their jaws off the floor, we were still no closer to figuring this out. If it would’ve been Harris for Ennis, straight-up, that would’ve been a bit desperate, but Baltimore is a bit desperate, so fair enough. But, to give up #14 as well? Where there were still active players? No sir. Bad trade. Go to your room. Now, Benson will be the leader of a mediocre defensive line with three inactives, and the fourth barely sticking around. And they were never able to find a replacement for Marquise Brown, so much like his last season in the Norfolk, Dorfus Jimbo is now the bellcow, a role that I don’t think Jimbo is ready for, but much like Corvo Havran last season, it’s a role he’ll be thrust into, kicking and screaming. As for the rest of the team, Corvo Havran is developing at a nice clip, and will need to step up now that Brown is no longer in town. Their receiving corps is unchanged, with Errol Maddox (still one of the best receivers in the league), Yulic Nagasawa (fresh off a huge bounceback season, but inactive), Ahri Espeeyeeseetee (developing, but not as fast as they’d like), and Verso L’Alto (unchanged since the time of the dinosaurs). And their back seven is stout. Despite losing Charlie Trout, this is still a loaded back end of the defense, littered with playmakers. Baltimore will be leaning heavily on their linebackers and secondary to keep them in games. Unfortunately, I just think this team has lost too much to be seen as a valid playoff threat, and I think they’ll be in the same place they were last season, only this time with their window firmly slammed shut, staring down the barrel of a rebuild.
Prediction: 5-8, 4th in NSFC, 3rd overall pick
Chicago Butchers QB Rose Jenkins - 736 AC
RB Sam Torenson - 494 AC
RB Ricky Adams - 447 IA
RB Aksel Danielsson - 412 IA
WR Kazimir Oles - 1254 AC
WR Roger Batoff - 386 IA
WR Felix Hasselhoff - 271 IA
TE Declan Harp - 444 IA
DE D’Pez Poopsie - 844 SA
DE Cole Walker - 99 IA
DT Curtis Saul - 453 IA
DT Will Foster - 271 IA
LB Guy Nikko - 422 IA
LB Blake Faux - 343 SA
CB Xerxes Ridley - 573 SA
CB Achilles Hondo - 566 SA
CB Bobson Dugnutt - 345 IA
S Lightsout Lewis - 652 AC
S Jack Rambo - 387 AC
K/P Kulture Fulture - 655 SA
Arrivals: Cole Walker (ARI)
Departures: Kwame Mbanefo (OCO), Gekyume Stokley (PHI)
I’ve been a fan of these guys ever since they blew the doors open and said “Howdy” to the rest of the league. But writing this post made me realize something. This team has way more inactives than I thought they did. Their entire receiving corps besides Kazimir Oles? Inactive. Their entire defensive line? Inactive. Their running back unit besides Sam Torenson? Inactive. I guess that’s what happens when you A) build through the expansion draft, B) trade up in one draft, and C) not have any draft picks left from another draft. But still, this team is in serious danger of plateauing or worse, since a lot of their players aren’t getting much better, and they aren’t having the best of luck signing free agents. They’re going to be relying on five major actives to get them through the next few years. #1: Rose Jenkins, their biggest free agent signing to date. She had a very solid season last year, and while she didn’t run circles around the league, she protected the ball and limited her mistakes, which is always great for a rookie. #2: Sam Torenson, last year’s #1 overall pick and Offensive Rookie of the Year. Torenson was the feel-good story of S16, a sign that offensive rookies could show up and immediately wreck shop. The offensive playmakers on this squad are completely unchanged, so if he improves, Torenson could become a serious MVP contender in just his sophomore season. #3: Kazimir Oles, the league’s best player last season by TPE, and despite a round of regression, the second ranked player this season. Despite Jenkins’s conversative play style, Oles’s stats stayed on par with his prior seasons, so if the playcalling swings in any way toward more passes, Oles will seriously take advantage. #4 and #5: Xerxes Ridley and Lightsout Lewis, their first two draft picks from S15. These two will anchor their secondary and with any luck, pull down the INTs needed to keep their offense on the field. I don’t think this team will be as dominant as they were last season. But, if their stars improve, they’ll still be dangerous come playoff time.
Prediction: 7-6, 3rd in NSFC, eliminated in Wild Card round
Colorado Yeti QB Wolfie McDummy - 496 AC
RB Terry Taffy - 453 SA
RB Thomas Carrasco - 177 IA
WR James Bishop - 1198 AC
WR Laszlo Fourty-Two - 455 AC
WR Brad Pennington - 304 IA
WR Rylant Wright - 167 IA
TE Joshua Palmer - 217 AC
TE Balthazar Crindy - 215 IA
DE Joey Sachs - 162 IA
DT Bubba Thumper - 306 AC
DT Pecker Cox - 126 IA
LB Mo Berry - 657 AC
LB Tony Gabagool - 444 AC
CB Beau Montgomery - 586 SA
S Logan Lejune - 874 AC
S Quinton Sinclair - 442 AC
S Knute Knurtsson - 303 SA
S Caleb McCoy - 243 IA
S Jonathan Towers - 196 IA
K/P Stephen Harris Jr. - 131 IA
K/P Joshua Jones II - 84 SA
Arrivals: Laszlo Fourty-Two (TIJ), Brad Pennington (YKW), Bubba Thumper (SA), Jonathan Towers (AUS), Stephen Harris Jr. (YKW), Joshua Jones II (TIJ)
Depatures: Mark Grau (retired), Shadarrien Lamelllana (retired) Odell Marrett (retired), Frasier Crane (retired), Adam Anderson (retired)
Colorado has seen a lot of their depth disappear into retirement, which is what happens when you have a lot of old, mediocre players. Luckily, they were able to replace a lot of them with solid inactive bids, and a decent draft. As for the current state of the roster, it’s honestly not that much better than it was last season. Their star running back’s development has slowed to a crawl. Joshua Palmer’s TPE is moving at a glacial pace. And overall, nearly half of this roster is sitting below 250 TPE. But, there are some high spots. They’ll finally have their #2 WR and possibly their new kicker, as both Laszlo Fourty-Two and Joshua Jones II are bringing their Ultimini title to Colorado. They have their new D-Line leader in #2 overall pick, Bubba Thumper. And they still have plenty of solid actives on defense, such as Mo Berry, Tony Gabagool, Quinton Sinclair, and Logan Lejune. But, the downsides still heavily outweigh the positives for the Yeti. Wolfie McDummy is still a league worst QB, their defensive line is terribad, and this team has zero depth. Thankfully, this’ll be a good year to be bad, as next year’s draft is sure to be a big one, and Colorado will have nearly all of their picks back. That means this season may be a slog, but at least there may be a light at the end of the tunnel for Yeti fans out there.
Prediction: 2-11, 5th in NSFC, #1 overall pick
Philadelphia Liberty QB Adriana Falconi - 985 AC
RB Marquise Brown - 705 AC
RB Vander Jones - 646 AC
RB Farley Hank - 391 AC
WR Jordan von Matt - 774 IA
WR Nacho Varga - 656 AC
WR Sam Hardwick - 591 SA
DE Luke Smyles - 459 IA
DE Ikaika Kalilimoku - 270 IA
DT Alberto McGwire - 146 IA
LB Gekyume Stokeley - 474 AC
LB Rock Hardshaft - 184 IA
CB Emondov Emoji - 706 AC
CB Johnson Cox III - 258 IA
CB Julien McMorris - 198 AC
S Lennox Garnett - 1089 AC
S Richard D'Attoria V - 667 AC
S Derek Bohne - 278 AC
K/P Roderick Castleberry - 95 IA
Arrivals: Marquise Brown (BAL), Sam Hardwick (AUS), Gekyume Stokeley (CHI), Julien McMorris (KC)
Departures: Fast Boija (SJS), Zapp Branigan (retired), Stayve Jerome Thomas (ARI), Jake Verden (retired)
I think Philly realized their window is wide open and are making a serious push to make it last. They splurged in free agency, picking up the Marquise Brown Farewell Tour, along with Gekyume Stokeley, Sam Hardwick, and first rounder Julien McMorris. Combine that with Adriana Falconi, who still very highly rated but is surprisingly entering regression already, a young stud at RB in Vander Jones, and a pair of talented receivers, and this looks like an offense that'll be hard to stop. They are lacking a tight end right now, but they might move Farley Hank to that position temporarily, as he has the best blocking of their offense players and decent hands. Their most glaring weakness comes on defense, where four of their five D-linemen/linebackers are inactive and three of them are very low in TPE. The addition of Gekyume helps, but even with him, it's still a below average corps that'll need at least one of their safeties to fill in. Luckily, their secondary is beastly. Lennox Garnett, Emondov Emoji, and Richard D'Attoria V are all ballhawks. Derek Bohne has returned to the fold and is contributing nicely and they even drafted to improve it with Julien McMorris. Expect this unit to lead the league in picks. Overall, this is a better team than the one that made the Ultimus last season. If Falconi can play like she did in the second half of the season, which was at an elite level, this could be a serious contender.
Prediction: 9-4, 2nd in NSFC, eliminated in NSFC Championship
Yellowknife Wraiths QB Cooter Bigsby - 868 AC
RB Jerrod Canton - 844 IA
RB Morgan Marshall - 614 AC
WR Nate Swift - 897 AC
WR Josh Parker - 861 AC
WR Tommy Helanen - 858 AC
DE Nero Alexander - 681 AC
DE Chad Maulolo - 247 SA
DE Zach Skinner - 152 IA
DT Ryan Leaf Jr. - 482 AC
LB Alex Selich - 1067 IA
CB Johnny Snuggles - 994 AC
S Danny Grithead - 1178 AC
S Logan Uchiha - 567 SA
S Jaylen Storm - 476 AC
S Giannis Kroustis - 474 AC
S Mason Brown - 372 SA
K/P Kicky Bobby - 128 SA
Additions: Mason Brown (OCO), Kicky Bobby (POR)
Departures: Brad Pennington (COL), Cameron Taylor (retired), Stephen Harris Jr. (COL)
Let’s not mince words here. The Yellowknife Wraiths are, on paper, the best team in the entire league. Cooter Bigsby is improving at a startling rate. They have three ridiculously good WRs. I’m not sure if Jerrod Canton is IA, since he commented on one of my MVP posts, but even if he is, he and Morgan Marshall still make a damn good combo at RB. They may not have many linebackers and cornerbacks (although the ones they have are aces), but they do have safeties. Safeties as far as the eye can see, and good ones too. Good enough that they can play out of position without a huge handicap. Their “weakest” corps is along the defensive line, where they have the archaic Zach Skinner and the inconsistent Chad Maulolo, but even still they have Nero Alexander, who’s a beast, and Ryan Leaf Jr., who is uh… something else. I guess their other weakness is at tight end, since they don’t currently employ one, but why do they even need to when you can space the field with Nate Swift, Josh Parker, and Tommy Helanen? Their team is so good right now that they’re leaving their first round pick, CB Mervin Leonard, in the D-League this season, presumably because all of the safeties are that much better than he is right now. Their only rookie who’ll see the field will be kicker Kicky Bobby, who according to the guys in the draft stream, is in a good place TPE-wise, and shouldn’t gain any more TPE. The sim is so weird sometimes. Anyway, if you’re going to put your money on any team, it should be on Yellowknife. They’re solid everywhere, they have a ton of stars, they’re good where they need to be, and they’re even bad where they need to be. They’ve got this whole football thing figured out pretty well.
Prediction: 11-2, 1st in NSFC, Ultimus Winners
Arizona Outlaws QB Andrew Reese - 1260 AC
RB Slim Shady - 545 IA
RB Jeffrey Murphy - 341 IA
RB Seer Zephyrous - 306 IA
WR Vinny Valentine - 924 AC
WR Brock Landers - 572 AC
WR Devon Baxter - 178 IA
TE Jammerson Irving - 634 AC
DE Marc Spector - 520 IA
DE Steven Moore - 316 IA
DE Avery Woodham - 162 SA
DE Stayve Jerome Thomas - 135 IA
DT Ricardo Morris - 566 AC
LB Raymond Vans - 809 AC
LB Leighton Lee - 594 AC
LB Jesse Marchand - 150 IA
LB Dick Cheese Jr. - 133 IA
CB Lucas Knight - 619 AC
CB Hike Mughes - 397 IA
CB Chris Steele - 142 IA
S Bucky Barnes - 817 AC
S Lamont McKinnie - 641 AC
S Martavius Mack - 223 IA
K/P Spencer Lawes - 110 IA
Arrivals: Vinny Valentine (OCO), Stayve Jerome Thomas (PHI)
Departures: Harvey Kindle (unsigned), Cole Walker (CHI)
Moving on over to the ASFC, we start with the defending champion Arizona Outlaws. The thing that leaps out about them is that they employ more people than probably any other team in the league. Six defensive linemen, four linebackers, three running backs, a lot of teams don’t carry that many players. I guess this might help alleviate low endurance scores, maybe? In any event, let’s say you ran the Outlaws and you just won the Ultimus in a thrilling Cinderella story. Especially when you still have a butt-ton of cap space and not a lot of people you need to resign? How do you follow it up? Easy, sign the biggest name in free agency in Vinny Valentine. I got this part right in my prediction post, so high-fives go to me, please, and looking at what Arizona offered last season, it makes sense. Arizona had the worst offense of any team that didn’t go winless or nearly winless. They got to the promised land because of a defense that knew when to turn up the pressure. Their offense needed to get better and with Valentine, coupled with Brock Landers and Jammerson Irving, that’s a legit all-star trio. And throwing to them is Andrew Reese, who is the highest rated player in the league. Not bad for a guy who was the league's worst QB a few years back. They’re still looking for an active running back, but for this season at least, Slim Shady, Seer Zephyrous, and Ultimus hero Jeffrey Murphy will suffice, but Seer is in regression, and Slim will hit it next year, so it’s a need for the future. Former TE Steven Moore has now moved to DE, meaning my worries about this line won’t be that great. Marc Spector, Ricardo Morris, Avery Woodham, and Moore make up a solid D-line that might need a face lift next season, with Woodham’s retirement, but like the running back corps, it’ll work in the interim. Their back seven though is full of studs who care turn the tides of war. Bucky Barnes, Lamont McKinnie, Lucas Knight, Leighton Lee, and last year’s sack leader Raymond Vans all come back to lead this scary unit. However, looking at their budget page, you’ll notice something startling about this team: only four players are signed through next season: Alex Reese, Vinny Valentine, Raymond Vans, and Leighton Lee. No team, not even the win-now mode Hawks have that many impending free agents. This team could very well fall apart next season, and if that happens, well, at least they got a chip.
Prediction: 8-5, 2nd in ASFC, eliminated in Wild Card round
Austin Copperheads QB Easton Cole - 378 AC
RB Mako Mendonca - 387 AC
RB Ashley Owens - 267 AC
WR Django Anoa’i - 693 SA
WR Rod Tidwell - 514 AC
TE Peter Larson - 337 AC
OL Edmond Beaver-Dantes - 380 AC
DE Grayson Kuusela - 524 SA
DE Joseph Henry - 218 IA
DT Dick Wizardry - 1083 AC
DT Nick Snider - 124 IA
LB Sandip Bakshi - 455 AC
LB A.J. Robertson - 249 IA
LB Honda Edmond - 225 AC
CB Dermot Lavelle Jr. - 519 AC
CB Spencer Castle - 383 IA
S Chase Jensen - 624 AC
S Takeda Okura - 153 AC
K/P Alfredo Crisco - 275 AC
Arrivals: Ashley Owens (SA), Honda Edmond (TIJ), Takeda Okura (SA)
Departures: Sam Hardwick (PHI), Jonathan Towers (ARI), Troy Humuhumunukunukuapua’a (unsigned), Bruce Waynner (unsigned)
Now on the opposite end of the spectrum from the Arizona Outlaws, we have the Longsneks. Not just in terms of season outcome (league champions vs. 0-13, pretty different), but also in number of players. These guys have exactly six offense players (not counting OL), and exactly eleven defenders, meaning every single player will play every single snap. Hope you brought extra Gatorade. This team had a lot of holes to fill and they entirely filled them through the draft. Ashley Owens will likely start at flexback, but will also likely split carries with Mako Mendonca. Honda Edmond gives them a complete linebacker corps, and Takeda Okura will fill in for either of their departed safeties. In terms of player positions, this might be the most normal team in the league. They’ll run I-formations on offense and a 4-3 defense. Almost like a real football team. Just you know, with zero depth and no room for substitutions. Anyway, all of that has been fluff to distract you from the fact that these guys are probably going to suck again. They will win a game at least, and maybe more, but this roster is still seriously low on talent. They only have one player above 700 TPE. But they do have an entirely active offense, which is something no other team can boast, so it’s only getting better. And their defense is mostly active too, especially in the back seven. And they have an actually legit receiver tandem in Django Anoa’i and Rod Tidwell. So while I think they’ll struggle a bit out of the gate, as their players improve, so will their win total.
Prediction: 3-10, 5th in ASFC, 2nd overall pick
New Orleans Second Line QB Stan Francisco - 641 AC
RB Forrest Gump - 635 AC
RB Tyler Swift - 604 IA
WR Vladimir Fyodorovich - 607 AC
WR Bona’beri Jones - 462 SA
WR Action Jackson - 218 AC
DE Lo Rax - 588 IA
DT Brayden Ennis - 280 AC
DT Thomas Clark - 125 IA
LB Johnny Slothface - 616 AC
LB Quenton Bode - 600 AC
CB Deon Taylor - 569 AC
CB Jordan Andrews - 304 AC
CB Willie Woodson - 164 SA
S William H. Harrison - 404 SA
S Damien Arnold - 224 IA
S Jeff Jefferson IV - 182 IA
K/P Alex Frost - 141 IA
Arrivals: Action Jackson (POR), Brayden Ennis (KC via BAL), Jordan Andrews (TIJ), Willie Woodson (SA), Thomas Clark (BAL)
Departures: Emilia Rudd (retired), Thjalfi Halvorsen (free agent), Barnaby Earl (retired), Shaquill Williams VII (POR), Franklin Townsend (free agent), Benson Harris (BAL)
Regression hit the Second Line like a truck this season. Thanks to big drop offs from Vladimir Fyodorovich and Lo Rax, New Orleans is now not only the only team without a player in the 1000s in TPE, they don't even have one in the 700s. Their highest rated player is QB Stan Francisco. However, while they don't have any elite players, they have a lot of improving players, even among their veterans, like Fyodorovich and William H. Harrison. Forrest Gump is quietly building himself into a star, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he entered MVP discussions soon. Johnny Slothface and Quenton Bode are both wrecking balls who give opposing players and coaches fits. And they have four rookies who’ll be pressed into service right away. WR Action Jackson will hopefully be their long-term answer at receiver once Vlad retires, which may be five years from now. Jordan Andrews and Willie Woodson will give star corner Deon Taylor some help covering receivers. And Brayden Ennis, hand-delivered to their front door from Baltimore, will be asked to fill his trade partners shoes immediately. With any luck, he might reach what Benson Harris was at by the start of next season. That just leaves their QB, Stan Francisco, who’s been rising bit by bit, and he could see a nice little boost in his rating if he improves. I'm not gonna say these guys will take the league by storm or anything, but little by little, New Orleans's stock is going up. Also, they only have ten defenders, so maybe fix that. (EDIT: Problem resolved with a trade from Baltimore.)
Prediction: 5-8, 4th in ASFC, 4th overall pick
Orange County Otters QB Franklin Armstrong - 648 AC
RB Apollo Reed - 454 AC
WR Sunnycursed - 1190 AC
WR Hugh Mongo - 488 AC
TE Johnny Blaze - 691 AC
TE Adrian Pitcher - 256 IA
DE Kwame Abayomi Mbanefo - 858 SA
DE Tommy Salami - 216 IA
DT Thorian Skarsgard - 999 AC
DT AJ Lattimer - 576 AC
LB Lanzer Grievous - 634 AC
LB David Ginsberg - 537 AC
LB Jon Gott - 148 IA
CB Gus T.T. Showbiz - 732 AC
CB Jonathan Rice - 421 IA
CB Gordon Ramsey Jr. - 213 IA
S Dan Schneider - 1060 AC
S Shannon Hobbs - 268 IA
K/P Alex Dasistwirklichseinnachname - 311 IA
Arrivals: Franklin Armstrong (POR), Hugh Mongo (TIJ), Kwame Abayomi Mbanefo (CHI)
Departures: Vinny Valentine (ARI), Mason Brown (YKW)
The Showbiz era in Orange County is over. At least as a QB. He's moving to cornerback to finish out his career, ala Ryan Applehort (I haven't been in this league long enough to know how common that practice is). Meaning it's finally time for us to see Franklin Armstrong in action. At the moment, he's in the Jenkins/Francisco tier of QBs, so expectations shouldn't be too lofty out of the gate, but this team was a title contender last year, so maybe they will. Aaaaaaaaanyway, so what else is going on in SoCal? Well, they lost Vinny Valentine, so that's less than stellar. But they gained Kwame Mbanefo, so that's good. In fact, they now have a front seven with five players who are over 500 TPE and all of them are active, which no other team can claim. And that's before we mention one of the best safeties in the league in Dan Schneider on their payroll. And they still have two excellent receivers in Sunnycursed and Johnny Blaze. But what I'm worried about with these guys is their running game. It's just Apollo Reed, who is simply ok. Most other teams either have a single great back or a committee. Orange County had the worst rushing attack in the league last year, and it hasn't gotten any better, aside from Reed's modest TPE gains. Overall, due to the departures of some veterans, I don't think this team will be as good as it was last year, but they'll be more prepared for the future. And even still, this'll be a dynamite team, and one to definitely watch out for.
Prediction: 8-5, 1st in ASFC, eliminated in Ultimus
San Jose Sabercats QB Joliet L. Christ - 907 AC
RB Ludicolo Bigby - 388 AC
RB Chris Orosz - 369 IA
RB Fast Boija - 267 IA
RB Corwin Davenport - 155 IA
WR Xavier Flash - 796 AC
WR Ty Justice - 284 IA
TE Cameron Olsen - 644 AC
TE Dan Wright - 583 AC
DE Jabrill Tuck - 273 IA
DE Danny Methane - 216 IA
DT Freezer Riposte - 1077 AC
DT Footballer Sackerman - 463 IA
LB Kolby Deringer - 883 AC
LB Chad Pennington - 584 IA
LB JoJo Burr-Kirven - 136 IA
CB Anthony Rowland - 166 IA
CB William Tell - 164 IA
S Trey Staley - 755 AC
S Jorel Tuck - 716 AC
S Thad Pennington - 339 IA
S Tyron Brackenridge - 301 AC
K/P Neo Donaldson - 257 IA
Arrivals: Fast Boija (PHI), JoJo Burr-Kirven (TIJ), Tyron Brackenridge (KC)
Departures: None
While I was looking up TPEs for the Sabercats, I got briefly excited. There were so many people who had just updated, especially among our veterans. But nope, those updates were just to mark their regression. In comes the sadness. Look, I love my team, I'm probably gonna resign with them in the next year, but this'll likely be the last stand of this corps of players. Sackerman and the Penningtons (aka the name of my new indy band) are all retiring at year's end. And aside from them, Joliet Christ, Chris Orosz, Xavier Flash, and Kolby Deringer will all be taking the sharp stick of regression in the next few years. But, there's still plenty of talent on this team. The trio of Xavier Flash, Dan Wright, and last year's Breakout Player of the Year Cameron Olsen still presents a serious problem for defenders. And their defense is swarming with strong players, four different guys with over 700 TPE reside on that D. Besides San Jose, only Orange County can claim that honor and that happened only because of Showbiz's move. They'll be employing an RBBC system, but Ludicolo Bigby should get the most carries. This might be the last year San Jose puts out a title contending squad. Fingers crossed.
Prediction: 7-6, 3rd in ASFC, eliminated in ASFC Championship
4895 words .
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