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Here is Part 1 with Part 2 coming later this week.
St Paul Bandits- I think we can put the one year wonder talk to rest. QB Dusty Galloway is the clear front runner for MVP and Offensive Player of the Year. Galloway has 29 tds and is on pace to break Corey Lincoln’s single season passing TD record. Defensively, DT Hugh Adams looks like he is worth every dime the Bandits paid for him with 9.5 sacks this year. Grade: A+
Utah Bees- The Bees are 8-2 and they win games two ways: Through the air and with their defense. QB Van Lochtenfeld would be an MVP candidate if it wasn’t for Dusty Galloway’s great season. The defense is ranked #1 and is frightening. The Bees’ linebacking corps is the best in the league with Tracy Givens, Brandon Blackburn (10.5 sacks) and Tyrone Gomez leading the way. Grade: A
Memphis Admirals- The Big Three (QB Cowell, RB Heflin, WR Ingram) keep on ticking. Kenyon Heflin is on pace for another 1500 yard season and WR Ingram is on his way to a 3rd 1000 yd season. Cowell has been nicked up but his numbers are better than 2/3 of the starting QBs in the league. DE Brian Roset is having another monster year with 12.5 sacks. Grade: A
Columbus Catfish- I pay special attention to this team because they are in my division and every week I go through the same process. I look at the scoreboard in the first quarter and notice that the Catfish are in tight game or are losing to their opponent. Later I look up at the final score and realize the Catfish found a way to comeback and win the game. The main reason for this is QB Corey Lincoln who is having another all pro year and became the first QB in the league to through for 10,000 yards. The Catfish have struggled adjusting to a new coaching staff and WR Leland Lilledahl appeas to be a bust but once again the Catfish are at the top of the NC South. The Catfish are also the only team to beat the Bandits this year. Grade: B+
San Francisco Bayhawks- The surprise team of the year. #1 pick Rico Whalen has been the QB from day 1 and has been more than capable. 19 TDs so far this season and while he has been turnover prone, I think this will improve as the season goes on. He has seems to have a connection with WR Danny Velasquez and this combo is one to watch. Grade B+
Morgantown Maniacs- Morgantown lost its best WR, changed owners and coaches and didn’t miss a step. The Maniacs are 7-3 and are battling for a second straight NC South crown. Floyd Cosby is arguably having a better season than last year and Donavan Kinney is on pace for a thousand yard season. The Maniacs defense is a concern without a standout player, with average statistics and an inability to stop the top offenses. Grade B+
Lake County Extreme- Here lies another MVP causality caused by Dusty Galloway’s great season. RB Russell Estell is the league’s leading rusher and also leads his team with 52 catches. He IS the Lake County offense and has lead the team to a division leading 7-3 record. Rookie DT Carlton Von Olehoffen has been a disappointment but the other 2007 first round pick DT Blaine Crawford has played well with 5 sacks. Grade B.
Camden Cutters- There are a ton of teams at 6-4 and 5-5 and the best team in that group is Camden. I don’t know what is going on with QB Martin Cothran this season. He was extremely turnover prone at the beginning of the season and his play has fallen off since last year. On defense, the race for Defensive Rookie of the year is over. S Louie Green leads the team in tackles and ints and has a number of teams kicking them selves because they didn’t take Green when they had a chance. Grade B-
Yuma Aces- Yuma is 6-4 and I can’t figure out why just looking at the numbers. Jumbo Clements is having a career year with 25 TDs. The two headed monster of RBs Deion Stuart and Derrick Reader have combined for almost 1000 yards and over 4 yds a carry. WR Al Cole is close to 1000 yds. The only reason I can see is despite the solid play of LB Otis Vaughn, the Aces front 7 lacks consistent production. Still, Yuma is only a game out of first place in the division and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the in first at the end of the year. Grade B-
Gainesville Gaels- 6-4 in any other division would guarantee at least second place but that’s not the case in the NC South. The Gaels only have one impressive win this season (Morgantown at home) and have lost competitive games against St. Paul and Columbus. Parts of this team are still a mess. The running game is very inconsistent and the pass defense is horrible. The team looks headed for another 9-7 year. Grade B-
Port City Steam- At the beginning of the season I called the defense “Darren Blair and the Blairettes” and it looks like I was right. DE Blair has already surpassed his 2007 sack total with 11.5 sacks. Blair hasn’t received a lot of help on D and the offense appears to be average at best but with the exception of a game against St. Paul their schedule is easy. Look for them to sneak into the AC playoffs. Grade B-
Boston Fighting Irish- Just like Rico Whalen, QB Edgar Cote was thrown into the fire and started every game of the season. Unlike Whalen, Cote has looked like a rookie and struggled. Cote has a league high 17 ints and if it wasn’t for RB Vince Shapiro, the Irish would have no offense at all. Statistically, Boston’s defense is the worst in the league when it comes to yardage allowed. So how is Boston 6-4? Turnovers (Boston is tied for 3 in Turnovers forced) and an easy schedule (Boston has only faced two teams with records over .500) Grade C+
Brooklyn Hitman- This is a team of the future. I don’t think that they will make the playoffs this year but they will be a force to reckon with for one reason: RB Tim Hartman. Hartman is close to 1000 yards and leads his team in catches. Its clear that Hartman was frustrated with the attention that his draft classmate RB Randy Richardson received and he is clearly outperforming him this season. Grade C
Washington Bombers- Speaking of Randy Richardson here are the Bombers. Richardson is on his way to a 1000 yard rushing year and second on the team in catches. He is still fumble prone and many are beginning to wonder weather turnovers are going to be a problem his entire career. First round pick WR Wally Lum is a great deep threat (averaging almost 19 yds per catch.) Defensively, DE Roger Boren is on track to equal his sack total of last year. The defense finds a way to keep scoring low but needs to cause more turnovers. Grade C
Anchorage Gladiators- After a Defensive MVP and a 20+ sack season, many would consider 6 sacks in 10 games a disappointment for R.J Peterson. But if you look closer you will see that Peterson is among the league leaders in hurries and is seeing more double teams this year. These double teams are giving his teammates like DE Tito Garrison the opportunity to shine (9 sacks). QB Kurt Price isn’t a superstar but he is a great game manager and one of the most intelligent players in the league. While Anchorage may have overpaid for WR Randal Dotson (1 yr, 4.5 mil), he gives this team a much needed deep threat. It will be fun watching this team battle for the AC North crown w/ Portland and Washington. Grade C
St Paul Bandits- I think we can put the one year wonder talk to rest. QB Dusty Galloway is the clear front runner for MVP and Offensive Player of the Year. Galloway has 29 tds and is on pace to break Corey Lincoln’s single season passing TD record. Defensively, DT Hugh Adams looks like he is worth every dime the Bandits paid for him with 9.5 sacks this year. Grade: A+
Utah Bees- The Bees are 8-2 and they win games two ways: Through the air and with their defense. QB Van Lochtenfeld would be an MVP candidate if it wasn’t for Dusty Galloway’s great season. The defense is ranked #1 and is frightening. The Bees’ linebacking corps is the best in the league with Tracy Givens, Brandon Blackburn (10.5 sacks) and Tyrone Gomez leading the way. Grade: A
Memphis Admirals- The Big Three (QB Cowell, RB Heflin, WR Ingram) keep on ticking. Kenyon Heflin is on pace for another 1500 yard season and WR Ingram is on his way to a 3rd 1000 yd season. Cowell has been nicked up but his numbers are better than 2/3 of the starting QBs in the league. DE Brian Roset is having another monster year with 12.5 sacks. Grade: A
Columbus Catfish- I pay special attention to this team because they are in my division and every week I go through the same process. I look at the scoreboard in the first quarter and notice that the Catfish are in tight game or are losing to their opponent. Later I look up at the final score and realize the Catfish found a way to comeback and win the game. The main reason for this is QB Corey Lincoln who is having another all pro year and became the first QB in the league to through for 10,000 yards. The Catfish have struggled adjusting to a new coaching staff and WR Leland Lilledahl appeas to be a bust but once again the Catfish are at the top of the NC South. The Catfish are also the only team to beat the Bandits this year. Grade: B+
San Francisco Bayhawks- The surprise team of the year. #1 pick Rico Whalen has been the QB from day 1 and has been more than capable. 19 TDs so far this season and while he has been turnover prone, I think this will improve as the season goes on. He has seems to have a connection with WR Danny Velasquez and this combo is one to watch. Grade B+
Morgantown Maniacs- Morgantown lost its best WR, changed owners and coaches and didn’t miss a step. The Maniacs are 7-3 and are battling for a second straight NC South crown. Floyd Cosby is arguably having a better season than last year and Donavan Kinney is on pace for a thousand yard season. The Maniacs defense is a concern without a standout player, with average statistics and an inability to stop the top offenses. Grade B+
Lake County Extreme- Here lies another MVP causality caused by Dusty Galloway’s great season. RB Russell Estell is the league’s leading rusher and also leads his team with 52 catches. He IS the Lake County offense and has lead the team to a division leading 7-3 record. Rookie DT Carlton Von Olehoffen has been a disappointment but the other 2007 first round pick DT Blaine Crawford has played well with 5 sacks. Grade B.
Camden Cutters- There are a ton of teams at 6-4 and 5-5 and the best team in that group is Camden. I don’t know what is going on with QB Martin Cothran this season. He was extremely turnover prone at the beginning of the season and his play has fallen off since last year. On defense, the race for Defensive Rookie of the year is over. S Louie Green leads the team in tackles and ints and has a number of teams kicking them selves because they didn’t take Green when they had a chance. Grade B-
Yuma Aces- Yuma is 6-4 and I can’t figure out why just looking at the numbers. Jumbo Clements is having a career year with 25 TDs. The two headed monster of RBs Deion Stuart and Derrick Reader have combined for almost 1000 yards and over 4 yds a carry. WR Al Cole is close to 1000 yds. The only reason I can see is despite the solid play of LB Otis Vaughn, the Aces front 7 lacks consistent production. Still, Yuma is only a game out of first place in the division and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the in first at the end of the year. Grade B-
Gainesville Gaels- 6-4 in any other division would guarantee at least second place but that’s not the case in the NC South. The Gaels only have one impressive win this season (Morgantown at home) and have lost competitive games against St. Paul and Columbus. Parts of this team are still a mess. The running game is very inconsistent and the pass defense is horrible. The team looks headed for another 9-7 year. Grade B-
Port City Steam- At the beginning of the season I called the defense “Darren Blair and the Blairettes” and it looks like I was right. DE Blair has already surpassed his 2007 sack total with 11.5 sacks. Blair hasn’t received a lot of help on D and the offense appears to be average at best but with the exception of a game against St. Paul their schedule is easy. Look for them to sneak into the AC playoffs. Grade B-
Boston Fighting Irish- Just like Rico Whalen, QB Edgar Cote was thrown into the fire and started every game of the season. Unlike Whalen, Cote has looked like a rookie and struggled. Cote has a league high 17 ints and if it wasn’t for RB Vince Shapiro, the Irish would have no offense at all. Statistically, Boston’s defense is the worst in the league when it comes to yardage allowed. So how is Boston 6-4? Turnovers (Boston is tied for 3 in Turnovers forced) and an easy schedule (Boston has only faced two teams with records over .500) Grade C+
Brooklyn Hitman- This is a team of the future. I don’t think that they will make the playoffs this year but they will be a force to reckon with for one reason: RB Tim Hartman. Hartman is close to 1000 yards and leads his team in catches. Its clear that Hartman was frustrated with the attention that his draft classmate RB Randy Richardson received and he is clearly outperforming him this season. Grade C
Washington Bombers- Speaking of Randy Richardson here are the Bombers. Richardson is on his way to a 1000 yard rushing year and second on the team in catches. He is still fumble prone and many are beginning to wonder weather turnovers are going to be a problem his entire career. First round pick WR Wally Lum is a great deep threat (averaging almost 19 yds per catch.) Defensively, DE Roger Boren is on track to equal his sack total of last year. The defense finds a way to keep scoring low but needs to cause more turnovers. Grade C
Anchorage Gladiators- After a Defensive MVP and a 20+ sack season, many would consider 6 sacks in 10 games a disappointment for R.J Peterson. But if you look closer you will see that Peterson is among the league leaders in hurries and is seeing more double teams this year. These double teams are giving his teammates like DE Tito Garrison the opportunity to shine (9 sacks). QB Kurt Price isn’t a superstar but he is a great game manager and one of the most intelligent players in the league. While Anchorage may have overpaid for WR Randal Dotson (1 yr, 4.5 mil), he gives this team a much needed deep threat. It will be fun watching this team battle for the AC North crown w/ Portland and Washington. Grade C
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