IT’LL BE THE
BEARS, WOLVERINES AND MUSTANGS… AND THEN “YOU PICK ‘EM” AS PARITY RULES FROM 4
THRU 11
RMFL Team Reviews/Projections: by David Sire
PLAYERS!! READ THIS FIRST!!
This preview is NOT the official word from your coaches on who will start and who will not! Every position is competed and will continue to be competed at each practice and each game. If you are hearing differently from your coaches lately, take THEIR word for it, not mine! Besides, I didn’t hear from every coach, so I’ve had to make some of this up on my own!!!!!.
RMFL – This has definitely been a tough year to rank the AAA. I have changed team positions every time I’ve
looked at this even up until tonight. If
I would do this tomorrow, the rankings would probably get shuffled again.
The
good news for the teams that finished down in the rankings last year is that
most of them have added some key players to their teams. The bad news is that the top teams from last
year have also added key players to their teams.
I’ve
had the #1, #2,
and #3 teams set for quite a while. And
of course, even these have flip-flopped every time I think about them. But the next 8 pre-ranking positions are
anyone’s guess. Which,
by the way, is great news for the RMFL.
It should be extremely interesting every week trying to figure out just
who will win that week’s match ups.
Even
though I am picking the Bears, Wolverines and Mustangs as the top three teams,
I don’t see any team going undefeated this year. There is too much parity in the league this
year. The Bears are at the top because
they return the #2 ranked offense and defense from last year and hosting last
year’s championship game. Last year, the
Wolverines became one of only two teams to beat the Rhino-Raiders in their last
80+ games and made it to the semi-finals before falling to the same
Rhino-Raider team 20-7. They have added
many key players from that same Rhino-Raider team and should be a powerhouse. The Mustangs became the first team to beat
the Rhino-Raiders for the first time in ~80 games last year. They have added key players at some of their
weaker positions and should be back in the semi-finals this year again.
The
next six teams, the Heat, Shock, Predators, Blaze, Phoenix, and Vipers are
about as evenly matched as they can be.
I have had all of them at #4 at one time or another. So regardless of where these teams are ranked
as I write this tonight, they easily could have been higher, or lower, on
another night. I see these 6 middle teams fighting for the last 3 playoff
spots, and a shot at the AAA championship.
It
was tough to pick the Seminoles and Rockets as the bottom two teams. But the Seminoles struggled to finish last
year and there was even some question as to whether they would be back this
year. Until they can demonstrate
consistency as a team throughout the year, I think they will struggle to win
games. As for the Rockets, I think they
have a solid team. I just think they
should have matured for one more year in the AA. I think they can be competitive against any
AAA team, just not week after week.
I
will not be surprised or disappointed if these rankings turn out to be upside
down. My prognosticating skills are not
the best, and there is just too much parity and too many unknowns. Makes the move to the
AAA/AA format look like the best idea since sliced bread. Just as an example, in sizing up last year’s
pre-season rankings, I will quote Jared’s evaluation of the Heat…”
As
for who will win it all this year in the AAA, I pick the Bears to win one of
the semi-final games. I then predict
that the winner of the other semi-final game between the Wolverines and
Mustangs to once again upset the Bears for the championship. So, Vaea, that should give you and your
teammates a little extra incentive to prove me wrong J .
But
for now, everyone is 0-0. In just a few
days, play begins for keeps. It should
be one of the best seasons the RMFL will have ever seen.
Well,
that’s my guesses for now. I will be as
happy as anyone to see any or all of these teams prove me wrong. Three things to remember:
1)
I honestly
believe that we have never had as much parity in the league’s 12 years as we do
this year in the AAA. I don’t believe
there is a single game this year where a team can overlook its opponent. This should make for one of the best and most
competitive year’s we have ever had. And
I, for one, am excited to see it.
2)
When you look at
my projected standings below you will see that only 2 games separates the #3
team from the #9 team. One or two
unexpected wins or losses could turn this part of the rankings upside
down. Almost every game is going to be a
must win game for these teams if they team hope to make the play-offs. And don’t overlook the Rockets or
Seminoles. They could surprise
everyone. They both have the talent to
reach the play-offs
3)
If you can only
make one game this year, which should it be?
My recommendation is to be in Idaho Falls on May 17. Why???
Because you will get two great games instead on one. In an unusual move, the host
Shock have agreed to meet the Blaze and play in
TEAM
2 – 
Utah Wolverines
4 – 
Utah Heat
5 – 
Bitterroot Blaze
6 – 
Utah Shock
8 – 
Missoula Phoenix
9 – 
Davis Vipers
10 – 
Bear River Valley Rockets
11 – 
Salt Lake Seminoles
STANDINGS
PROJECTION
|
|
W |
L |
GB |
|
Cache Valley* |
7 |
1 |
- |
|
Utah Wolverines* |
6 |
2 |
1 |
|
Idaho Falls* |
5 |
3 |
2 |
|
Utah Heat* |
5 |
3 |
2 |
|
Bitterroot* |
5 |
3 |
2 |
|
Utah Shock* |
4 |
4 |
3 |
|
Pocatello |
3 |
5 |
4 |
|
Missoula |
3 |
5 |
4 |
|
Davis |
3 |
5 |
4 |
|
Bear River Valley |
2 |
6 |
5 |
|
Salt Lake |
1 |
7 |
6 |
- Would qualify for playoffs