Well if you checked my season predictions, you'll see that I have some easy hits and some head-scratching misses. In the NSFC, it was too easy to expect a big season from Chicago, they have amassed a solid core of young talent to bookend the dependable veterans that rode through the storm. Chicago should finally be able to get O'Leary over the hump, if only Yellowknife didnt exist. The Wraiths are my darkhorse candidate to reach the Ultimus, and they wont be an easy out either. The Wraiths have done a wonderful job transitioning from the Bigsby era to the Jack era. And even with Haynandi not around to be a security blanket, Skyline has shown he is ready to be a top back in the league.
The rest of the NSFC, sans Sarasota is pretty much unpredictable but expected because each team is filled with holes. Philly and Baltimore seem to be in a contest as to who can keep the most, most-regressed players on the roster. Colorado ultimately cannot afford all of their talented players and Berlin's defensive wall might as well be the autobahn. Sarasota though, seemed to be headed for similar fates with Boss Jr taking over for Dexter Banks II, but Sarasota shipped off some deadweight, acquired active players to better balance the roster, and have constructed a team fit to their high octane preference.
In the ASFC, Orange County with two losses is a shock, and not being solely in first with those two losses is even bigger. But the fact that they are tied with New Orleans and Austin is the biggest shock, aside from the fact that New York took the Otters to the shed. New Orleans, with all the retirements, departures, and regression is running the ultra-conservative but efficient run heavy offense, riding the legs of new buck Mitch Rotchburns while being aided by the lethal secondary of Blaylock, Hexagon, Rector and Witten. Meanwhile, Austin, despite losing Lavelle Jr. and Carolina BBQ, have continued to trot out an elite defense that tries it hardest to keep the offense in the game long enough for Cole to warm up and spread the ball around to all his weapons in his last year.
As for the rest, the real surprise is how quick Arizona and Honolulu sunk to the bottom. Arizona's consistent talent bleeding seems to have finally caught up to them as Cue starts to hit higher levels of regression. Losing two big secondary cornerstones, and two high quality offensive weapons will hurt just about any team. As for Honolulu, Skywalker seems to have regressed as Podolak regresses with no clear successor waiting to take over. And with how barren the Hawaiin roster is, I'm not sure they will escape this tidal wave of turmoil.
The rest of the NSFC, sans Sarasota is pretty much unpredictable but expected because each team is filled with holes. Philly and Baltimore seem to be in a contest as to who can keep the most, most-regressed players on the roster. Colorado ultimately cannot afford all of their talented players and Berlin's defensive wall might as well be the autobahn. Sarasota though, seemed to be headed for similar fates with Boss Jr taking over for Dexter Banks II, but Sarasota shipped off some deadweight, acquired active players to better balance the roster, and have constructed a team fit to their high octane preference.
In the ASFC, Orange County with two losses is a shock, and not being solely in first with those two losses is even bigger. But the fact that they are tied with New Orleans and Austin is the biggest shock, aside from the fact that New York took the Otters to the shed. New Orleans, with all the retirements, departures, and regression is running the ultra-conservative but efficient run heavy offense, riding the legs of new buck Mitch Rotchburns while being aided by the lethal secondary of Blaylock, Hexagon, Rector and Witten. Meanwhile, Austin, despite losing Lavelle Jr. and Carolina BBQ, have continued to trot out an elite defense that tries it hardest to keep the offense in the game long enough for Cole to warm up and spread the ball around to all his weapons in his last year.
As for the rest, the real surprise is how quick Arizona and Honolulu sunk to the bottom. Arizona's consistent talent bleeding seems to have finally caught up to them as Cue starts to hit higher levels of regression. Losing two big secondary cornerstones, and two high quality offensive weapons will hurt just about any team. As for Honolulu, Skywalker seems to have regressed as Podolak regresses with no clear successor waiting to take over. And with how barren the Hawaiin roster is, I'm not sure they will escape this tidal wave of turmoil.
