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Week 5
Top Five
1. Phoenix Riders (5-0) - PR 83 - W 16-13 over Los Alamos Monsters - LW #1
Wow. What a shakeup. A year after trading a bunch of picks or WR Sammy Slade, this week the Riders gave away another bundle for Gainesville QB Carl Reese. Interesting too, current starter Lorenzo Kaplan, only in his third year, has a QB Rating of 86.4...Carl Reese hasn't had a season with an 86.4 QB Rating ever. We will see how that works. This week they won with defense, special teams and the running game, so maybe it really doesn't matter who is at QB? Next week the Riders travel to face the former Stevens Cup champs, the (2-3) Lake County Xtreme. Coming off such a close win, acquiring a new quarterback and facing a sub .500 team....this looks like a trap game to me. Watch out Phoenix fans.
2. Baltimore Bulls (5-0) - PR 77 – W 28-23 over Yuma Aces - LW #2
Very impressive win for this Bulls team. Yuma is no slouch, and to go on the road and take a 28-13 lead into the 4th quarter is impressive. This week the Bulls also traded for a quarterback. They sent a 7th round pick for Portland backup Damon Bishop. While he isn't going to put any pressure on current starter Gabe Mathews, he is a good insurance option. Mathews has missed 21 games from 2007-2010. Next week the (4-1) surprise San Fransisco Bayhawks come to town. For the Bulls to stay undefeated they are going to have to slow down that high-powered offense of San Fransisco, lead by QB Rico Whalen. They are putting up 30+ points in their four wins.
3. Dakota Totems – (3-1) PR 82 - Bye Week - LW#3
Can't drop them for being on a bye. Next week the Totems play host to the (1-3) Chicago Reapers. The spread is nine points. Nine points!? I like the Totems in this one by 14+. Call your bookie.
4. St. Paul Bandits (4-1) - PR 83 – W 17-14 over Morgantown Maniacs – LW #4
In a battle of top QBs, neither really shined. However St. Pauls Dusty Galloway did throw the game winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. A great win for this fast-rising team. But, they did lose starting LG Tyrell Rivera to a knee injury. He will miss a few weeks, including next weeks game at (0-5) Charlotte Cougars/Knights. They probably won't need Rivera after all.
5. New Orleans Stingrays (4-1) - PR 74 - W 17-13 over Washington Bombers - LW #5
Well, the Stingrays were favored by 9, so you have to applaud Washington for keeping it close. During the game, team leader in receptions WR Christian Brown strained a foot ligament and will miss a few weeks. Next week the Stingrays play host to (3-2) Memphis. The Admirals are coming in hot off a dominant win over Portland.
Bottom One
1. Charlotte Cougars/Knights - PR 19 - L 14-31 to Columbus Catfish
What?! Did Portland finally get a win? Well, no. But I finally feel that Charlotte is actually proven to be the leagues worst team. Portland is 0-5, with an opponent combined record of 16-8. Charlotte's opponents are 11-13! If those teams had not got five wins against them, they would be 6-13! This Charlotte team continues to lose to mediocre teams. They do still have games against Chicago, Port City and Columbus, so they will get their chances. Next week however, they play St. Paul. Good luck.
Game of the Week
Finally! A game of the week that proved to be a great match-up. Funny that a blocked FG, by St. Paul's Broderick Carlisle, proved to be the difference in the Bandit's 17-14 win. Great game.
Next weeks game of the week is between the (5-0) Baltimore Bulls and the (4-1) San Fransisco Bayhawks. Like I said before, the Bayhawks are going to have to make this game high-scoring to pull off the upset. I think Rico Whalen might just be the man to upset the surprise Bulls. I'll take SF over Baltimore, 31-27.
Player Spotlights
This weeks offensive spotlight is on North Liberty Enforcers' LT Donnell Morris. The 10th year veteran had a career game on Sunday. In the 34-27 win over Gainesville, Morris had successful key blocks on six of seven attempts, and didn't give up a sack. He paved the way for the NL runningbacks to rush for 150 yards and he protected QB Myron Allen's blindside, protecting him long enough to throw for three scores. Great game.
This weeks defensive spotlight is on Anchorage Gladiators cornerback Desmond Gougeon. The 2008 1st-round pick is starting to live up to the hype. He already has three interceptions, his previous high was two, and he leads the league in pass defenses with nine. His career high was set last year with ten. He had his worst game of the season on Sunday against Kalispel, but Gougeon is starting to be recognized as one of the leagues best corners.
Extra Points
1. How awful have the AC North, AC East and NC South been this season? Wow. Not only do two of the divisions have the only defeated teams in the league, no division has a single team more than one-game above .500. Plus, out of the three divisions, there are only four teams .500 or better. Awful.
2. Portland has three straight home games. Two against divisional foes and the other against (1-3) Port City. Portland is on win-alert.
3. Sorry for the delay on the wrap-up. I finally have a job. Hooray. But, that means these things will be coming in and different times. Don't lose faith.
Top Five
1. Phoenix Riders (5-0) - PR 83 - W 16-13 over Los Alamos Monsters - LW #1Wow. What a shakeup. A year after trading a bunch of picks or WR Sammy Slade, this week the Riders gave away another bundle for Gainesville QB Carl Reese. Interesting too, current starter Lorenzo Kaplan, only in his third year, has a QB Rating of 86.4...Carl Reese hasn't had a season with an 86.4 QB Rating ever. We will see how that works. This week they won with defense, special teams and the running game, so maybe it really doesn't matter who is at QB? Next week the Riders travel to face the former Stevens Cup champs, the (2-3) Lake County Xtreme. Coming off such a close win, acquiring a new quarterback and facing a sub .500 team....this looks like a trap game to me. Watch out Phoenix fans.
2. Baltimore Bulls (5-0) - PR 77 – W 28-23 over Yuma Aces - LW #2Very impressive win for this Bulls team. Yuma is no slouch, and to go on the road and take a 28-13 lead into the 4th quarter is impressive. This week the Bulls also traded for a quarterback. They sent a 7th round pick for Portland backup Damon Bishop. While he isn't going to put any pressure on current starter Gabe Mathews, he is a good insurance option. Mathews has missed 21 games from 2007-2010. Next week the (4-1) surprise San Fransisco Bayhawks come to town. For the Bulls to stay undefeated they are going to have to slow down that high-powered offense of San Fransisco, lead by QB Rico Whalen. They are putting up 30+ points in their four wins.
3. Dakota Totems – (3-1) PR 82 - Bye Week - LW#3Can't drop them for being on a bye. Next week the Totems play host to the (1-3) Chicago Reapers. The spread is nine points. Nine points!? I like the Totems in this one by 14+. Call your bookie.
4. St. Paul Bandits (4-1) - PR 83 – W 17-14 over Morgantown Maniacs – LW #4In a battle of top QBs, neither really shined. However St. Pauls Dusty Galloway did throw the game winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. A great win for this fast-rising team. But, they did lose starting LG Tyrell Rivera to a knee injury. He will miss a few weeks, including next weeks game at (0-5) Charlotte Cougars/Knights. They probably won't need Rivera after all.
5. New Orleans Stingrays (4-1) - PR 74 - W 17-13 over Washington Bombers - LW #5Well, the Stingrays were favored by 9, so you have to applaud Washington for keeping it close. During the game, team leader in receptions WR Christian Brown strained a foot ligament and will miss a few weeks. Next week the Stingrays play host to (3-2) Memphis. The Admirals are coming in hot off a dominant win over Portland.
Bottom One
1. Charlotte Cougars/Knights - PR 19 - L 14-31 to Columbus CatfishWhat?! Did Portland finally get a win? Well, no. But I finally feel that Charlotte is actually proven to be the leagues worst team. Portland is 0-5, with an opponent combined record of 16-8. Charlotte's opponents are 11-13! If those teams had not got five wins against them, they would be 6-13! This Charlotte team continues to lose to mediocre teams. They do still have games against Chicago, Port City and Columbus, so they will get their chances. Next week however, they play St. Paul. Good luck.
Game of the Week
Finally! A game of the week that proved to be a great match-up. Funny that a blocked FG, by St. Paul's Broderick Carlisle, proved to be the difference in the Bandit's 17-14 win. Great game.
Next weeks game of the week is between the (5-0) Baltimore Bulls and the (4-1) San Fransisco Bayhawks. Like I said before, the Bayhawks are going to have to make this game high-scoring to pull off the upset. I think Rico Whalen might just be the man to upset the surprise Bulls. I'll take SF over Baltimore, 31-27.
Player Spotlights
This weeks offensive spotlight is on North Liberty Enforcers' LT Donnell Morris. The 10th year veteran had a career game on Sunday. In the 34-27 win over Gainesville, Morris had successful key blocks on six of seven attempts, and didn't give up a sack. He paved the way for the NL runningbacks to rush for 150 yards and he protected QB Myron Allen's blindside, protecting him long enough to throw for three scores. Great game.
This weeks defensive spotlight is on Anchorage Gladiators cornerback Desmond Gougeon. The 2008 1st-round pick is starting to live up to the hype. He already has three interceptions, his previous high was two, and he leads the league in pass defenses with nine. His career high was set last year with ten. He had his worst game of the season on Sunday against Kalispel, but Gougeon is starting to be recognized as one of the leagues best corners.
Extra Points
1. How awful have the AC North, AC East and NC South been this season? Wow. Not only do two of the divisions have the only defeated teams in the league, no division has a single team more than one-game above .500. Plus, out of the three divisions, there are only four teams .500 or better. Awful.
2. Portland has three straight home games. Two against divisional foes and the other against (1-3) Port City. Portland is on win-alert.
3. Sorry for the delay on the wrap-up. I finally have a job. Hooray. But, that means these things will be coming in and different times. Don't lose faith.
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