2007 WAS AN ALL-MONTANA FINAL… COULD 2008 BE AN ALL WESTERN IDAHO FINAL? TITANS, GLADIATORS, MARAUDERS AND LIONZ MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT!

 

RMFL Team Reviews/Projections: by Ed Cerise

 

PLAYERS!! READ THIS FIRST!!

This preview is NOT the official nor final 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 regarding starting or playing time, take THEIR word for it, not mine!

 

I have to admit, completing the team previews has not been the easiest thing in the world.  Some teams provided a lot of information to me even did the write up so I could just add my comments.  To those teams I would like to tell you thank you.  For the rest of the write ups I was handed a roster and a list of possible projected starts with nothing more than names.  With that in mind I had to be as creative as I could without being too redundant.  I can say early on in this season I have learned a lot about the AA teams and will get to know each one of them better as we go.  Again, thanks to those that provided me with adequate information and to those that didn’t well, I did my best.

 

AA UPATES

For some new information since the RMFL League meeting in September, the AA GM’s managers had voted for a Playoff Schedule of two winners’ from each division (2-North, 2-Central, & 2-South) advancing to the playoffs for this season.  Well after some thought and communication between the AA GM’s it was apparent that with the approved format from the February meeting that the playoffs would not see the most competitive teams in the league.  A vote was exercised among the board members to change the Playoff schedule to allow only the top six (6) teams in the league (by record) to be eligible for the playoffs.  That way, the most competitive teams would be vying for the championship.  This vote was passed 8 (For), 2 (Against), 2 (NO VOTES).  Due this late change to the Playoff Schedule the AA Playoff format will be the top six 6 teams no matter what division.  There is a slim possibility you could have 3 or even 4 teams from one division in the playoffs, although that is highly unlikely.

 

DIVISIONS:

Division wise it’s apparent the Central (Idaho) Division is the toughest in all of AA.  Arguably these teams are all capable playoff teams, but due to division schedules it will be nearly impossible for all four of these teams to make the playoffs, but you never know.  All of the teams in this division have made improvements to their respective teams to reach the RMFL Championship.  The Sabercats have lost a star player in Collingwood to Boise, but have added depth in other areas and are hoping to make the playoffs.  When you talk about the rest of this division, the Matadors, Bulldawgs and Speed, well you’re not just talking playoffs you’re talking Championship.  From this Division I do predict the RMFL AA Champion to arise. 

 

Northern (Montana) Division should have two teams in the playoffs with Helena and Great Falls.  Both of the teams have been around a long time and have been pretty successful over the years.  With the Bitteroot and Missoula moving up to AAA, this division will be fought between Helena and Great Falls.  I don’t want to leave out the Knights but based on their history they still have a way to go before they make a playoff push.  At the time I was writing the team previews I had Lionz roster of 24 players and it’s apparent I felt this team was really going to struggle in their first season in AA.  Fast forward to today, I received an updated Lionz roster with 40 players on it.  Sandbagging you may call it, some may say that, but until these players hit the field I still feel the Lionz are one of the mid tier teams in the league.

 

Finally, the Souther (Utah) Division, with the exception of the Morgan Mauraders this division is filled with new teams that no one knows anything about including me.  Trying to complete write-ups and rank these teams has been very difficult, especially when some of the new teams have a hard time responding.  I am hopeful the lack of response by teams like the Warriorz and Oilers isn’t an indication of things to come.  Football wise Morgan is the favorite in this division and could make a strong push at the playoffs.  I then see the Logan Stampede as a team that will struggle as all new teams do, but I do see this team surviving and could be in the RMFL for years to come.  The Warriorz and the Oilers, well not much is known about these two teams and if they will have any success at all in their first season.  There are some people that speculate if these two teams will even make it through an entire RMFL season. 

 

 

With all of that being said, let’s get on to the rankings.

 

 

TEAM PRE-SEASON RANKINGS:

 

1 –
Boise Speed

 

 

2 –
Idaho Matadors

        

 

3 –
Magic Valley Bulldawgs

 

 

4 –
Helena Titans

 

 

5 –
Great Falls Gladiators

 

 

6 –
Snake River Sabercats

 

 

7 –
Morgan Marauders 

 

 

8 –
Eastern Idaho Lionz

                

 

9 –
Glacier Knights

        

 

10 –
Logan Stampede

 

 

11(tie) –
Stripling Warriorz

 

 

11 (tie) –
Uintah Basin Oilers

 

 

 In ranking these teams I looked at many factors, first and foremost was how successful was the team last season and do they have majority of their team coming back.  I look to see if a team has a quality quarterback and secondly line to protect him.  From there with such limited information I looked at previous year’s team stats as well as how many points they scored and how many points they allowed.  With the top four teams from last season in AA moving up to AA, I basically elevated the remaining teams up four spots with a few exceptions here and there.

 

My prediction based on everything I have seen from the AA division for the Championship will be the #1 Boise Speed.  A former AAA team that had a bad year should rebound and are my favorite for the championship.  Close behind in the same division will be the #2 Idaho Matadors, who will be waiting to take the lead in the division if the Speed have any slip ups.  The rest of the AA is “pre” ranked as previously noted.

 

In Closing I look forward to a competitive year in AA and appreciate all the hard work everyone has done to get this 2008 season underway.

  

 

 

                                      DIVISIONAL PROJECTIONS (by J.Neumeier)

 

Northern

W

L

GB

Helena*

6

2

-

Eastern Idaho*

5

3

1

Great Falls

4

4

2

Glacier

3

5

3

 

 

 

 

Central

 

 

 

Boise*

8

0

-

Magic Valley*

5

3

3

Idaho*

4

4

4

Snake River

1

7

7

 

 

 

 

 

Southern

W

L

GB

Morgan*

6

2

-

Logan

3

5

3

Stripling

3

5

3

Uintah Basin

1

7

5

 

 

 

 

 

  • Would qualify for playoffs
  • NOTE: Great Falls may be a little better than Eastern Idaho and Idaho may be slightly better than Magic Valley, however, schedules favor Eastern Idaho and Magic Valley.