Post by dc on Mar 9, 2011 14:36:21 GMT -5
Ok folks, here are my yearly Las Vegas Breakdowns and suggested pool placements for Saturday, obviously take my rankings with a grain of salt and don’t be offended, I get proven wrong sometimes! Let’s get some chatter started based on the information below, please feel free to check me on my facts and sources where needed. I can’t be everywhere and everything although I try!
These teams are based on the last MCFFU posted team updated as well as teams that have dropped out to my knowledge. The pools below are without the COMP teams, pools would change drastically if the MCFFU (as usual) adds the COMP teams into the mix during pool play.
1.) Long Beach All-Stars (CA) The best West Coast team in flag football isn’t slowing down. Some people would like to think they’ve seen some kinks in the system with the OC Cougar Hunters winning a league title and Source One taking a tournament championship away from them this year in Bakersfield but come tournament time in Las Vegas, these guys are tough to beat. You’ve got to deal with the best rush in maybe all of flag and one of the more intuitive and innovative offenses out there. Don’t forget that Scotty Mac went down to injury last year and Chuck still led them to victory, how many teams could do that?
2.) Source One (CA) I’ve been the #1 fan of these guys this season, they’ve done everything that anyone could ask for to deserve the #1 ranking. But when you’ve got a 3 time defending champion in the mix and you split games with them this season, it’s hard to bump LB out of the #1 spot. Source One has only 2 losses dating all the way back to the Murrietta WNC LAST January. They’ve travelled extensively winning championships up and down the state. BUT this is their first time in the PRO World Championships in Las Vegas and although they have many players with PRO experience, it’s a whole different deal when the chips are on the line in Las Vegas!
3.) Sickwidit (NV) I’ve said it for years that the Las Vegas teams should be much better than they are, well, maybe the time has come. Sickwidit has been one of the two only teams to venture into California in search of tougher competition and have had moderate success. But it’s impossible to ignore their One Talent Players National Championship in January. Anytime you win a tournament with the likes of Daygo Funhouse and the Denver Gamblers in attendance, you’re doing some work. Don’t forget that they sleep in their own beds, the Las Vegas tournament has always been about who can win on the field and stay out of the Night Clubs as well. Plenty of teams have been beaten not by opponents but by the City of Las Vegas.
4.) South Bay Ballers (CA) They quietly go about winning Flash Football Championships during the regular season and then show up to Las Vegas and make the final four. They’ve got two or three Las Vegas titles under their belts (PRO titles) and they are the most experienced squad in the tournament from top to bottom. Remember, flag football (especially 8man Eligible) is an old man’s game and they’ve got plenty of old men.
5.) Bryant Sports (CO) Auckland Raiders, Sharpest Rides… They show up in the final 8 every year. They’ve slowly started to chase down the Goats and Gamblers in the Denver league. I also know that whenever a league has only one representative in the Las Vegas World’s, they tend to send somewhat of an all-star team in order to fill the roster. Don’t be surprised if this is the case with Bryant Sports. There is a ton of talent in Denver.
6.) Da Bears (UT) My man Da7 (Tyler) was pissed off last year in Las Vegas, it’s hard not to be when you get bumped on the first game Sunday after making a final 4 run in your rookie year of the World’s. I like to brag about how my team played PRO ball after only 2 Las Vegas trips, well, Da Bears showed up in PRO in their very first year (2009) and made the final 4, I think maybe they felt that pressure last year. But it goes to show more than anything else that the top 10 teams in the PRO division can switch at any given Sunday.
7.) The Show (CA) This team has yet to break the quarterfinals in 4 previous attempts in the PRO division. The biggest question about this squad is red zone scoring, can they do it? They’ve always been good enough on defense to win the whole thing but they’ve been unable to score points at a rate high enough to get past the top teams. Can they get more consistent play out of their offense in short yardage situations?
8.) Brand Nu (GA) I’m really uneasy about ranking these guys so low, seems like they might be bringing quite a few ATL super stars with them. One could hope that they have last year’s Pfuzion effect, nailing down the #2 seed with a hot Saturday and then fizzling out on Sunday due to the 3 games toll on a team with only 10 guys. But something tells me this year is different, I’m seeing some faces from the Atlanta league that Brand Nu competes with along side Yung Crew and Pfuzion. I guess we will have to wait until we get to the fields on Saturday to get a look at what we are dealing with. #1 sleeper squad of the tournament.
9.) TMT (NV) Big Tweezy might be the best rusher in all of 8man and Cle is as quick as any QB. This team is truly all about talent and they’ve upped their game competing in what is an increasingly competitive Las Vegas flag football league. I’d hate to draw these guys on Sunday morning.
10.) Play On (CA) I dunno what’s going on in San Diego, I’m getting scattered reports, but I’ve got the feeling that Will can put together a pretty competitive squad since many of the usual San Diego powers won’t be in attendance this year. Don’t be surprised to see members of Xavix, New Hustle and SD Xpress walking the sidelines with this group.
11.) DX (NV) Think Scatbacks and you’ve got an idea of what these guys bring to the table on offense. They’ve cut their teeth competing against TMT and Sickwidit in their nightly Las Vegas leagues and have developed a pretty good offensive scheme, they lack some physicality which can hurt you in this tournament but can score in bunches. They could be an ugly Sunday morning draw for someone not ready to put the right personnel on the field to deal with that spread.
12.) Slaughter House (CA) This is a super physical and talented group coming out of the Carson League. Any team that plays in the Carson league and doesn’t give up, has got my respect, imagine dealing with Long Beach, USO, OC Cougar Hunters and 1st. Choice on a weekly basis and not getting discouraged. I also love the fact that they are jumping into the PRO division. Much respect!
13.) C.V. Demons (CA) The big news for this team is that JJ formerly of the 8Ballers is playing the QB spot for these guys. Mario has been assembling a talented core of players to surround JJ with over the last year or so. Their confidence is at an all-time high after a few recent wins over The Show as well as a “B” division title with Flagmag last January. They will have the offensive weapons and a good pass rush but can they put together 3 good OL types to protect JJ from the opposing rush that they will see in the PRO level? I dunno.
14.) SD Warriors (CA) This is an organized group of guys with a ton of experience in the flag game, but they just lack the true game-breakers to consistently compete in the PRO division in Las Vegas year in and year out. If they can add some speed at the WR/DB position, they could be a tough Sunday draw.
15.) Young Money (NV) Word on the Las Vegas strip in that Young Money can pull in some serious talent and they are ringing the phones to make a push, they are a middle of the road performer in the local Las Vegas leagues but may put together some talent that will give you fits and wear you down in the World’s 3 game Saturday format.
16.) San Diego Boltz (CA) Not much word coming out of San Diego on these guys, no big names have signed on and no one seems to know what team their core players are coming from. Who knows?
POOL #1
Long Beach All-Stars
Brand Nu
TMT
San Diego Boltz
POOL #2
Source One
The Show
Play On
Young Money
POOL #3
Sickwidit
Da Bears
DX
SD Warriors
POOL #4
Southbay Ballers
Bryant Sports
Slaughterhouse
Demons
These teams are based on the last MCFFU posted team updated as well as teams that have dropped out to my knowledge. The pools below are without the COMP teams, pools would change drastically if the MCFFU (as usual) adds the COMP teams into the mix during pool play.
1.) Long Beach All-Stars (CA) The best West Coast team in flag football isn’t slowing down. Some people would like to think they’ve seen some kinks in the system with the OC Cougar Hunters winning a league title and Source One taking a tournament championship away from them this year in Bakersfield but come tournament time in Las Vegas, these guys are tough to beat. You’ve got to deal with the best rush in maybe all of flag and one of the more intuitive and innovative offenses out there. Don’t forget that Scotty Mac went down to injury last year and Chuck still led them to victory, how many teams could do that?
2.) Source One (CA) I’ve been the #1 fan of these guys this season, they’ve done everything that anyone could ask for to deserve the #1 ranking. But when you’ve got a 3 time defending champion in the mix and you split games with them this season, it’s hard to bump LB out of the #1 spot. Source One has only 2 losses dating all the way back to the Murrietta WNC LAST January. They’ve travelled extensively winning championships up and down the state. BUT this is their first time in the PRO World Championships in Las Vegas and although they have many players with PRO experience, it’s a whole different deal when the chips are on the line in Las Vegas!
3.) Sickwidit (NV) I’ve said it for years that the Las Vegas teams should be much better than they are, well, maybe the time has come. Sickwidit has been one of the two only teams to venture into California in search of tougher competition and have had moderate success. But it’s impossible to ignore their One Talent Players National Championship in January. Anytime you win a tournament with the likes of Daygo Funhouse and the Denver Gamblers in attendance, you’re doing some work. Don’t forget that they sleep in their own beds, the Las Vegas tournament has always been about who can win on the field and stay out of the Night Clubs as well. Plenty of teams have been beaten not by opponents but by the City of Las Vegas.
4.) South Bay Ballers (CA) They quietly go about winning Flash Football Championships during the regular season and then show up to Las Vegas and make the final four. They’ve got two or three Las Vegas titles under their belts (PRO titles) and they are the most experienced squad in the tournament from top to bottom. Remember, flag football (especially 8man Eligible) is an old man’s game and they’ve got plenty of old men.
5.) Bryant Sports (CO) Auckland Raiders, Sharpest Rides… They show up in the final 8 every year. They’ve slowly started to chase down the Goats and Gamblers in the Denver league. I also know that whenever a league has only one representative in the Las Vegas World’s, they tend to send somewhat of an all-star team in order to fill the roster. Don’t be surprised if this is the case with Bryant Sports. There is a ton of talent in Denver.
6.) Da Bears (UT) My man Da7 (Tyler) was pissed off last year in Las Vegas, it’s hard not to be when you get bumped on the first game Sunday after making a final 4 run in your rookie year of the World’s. I like to brag about how my team played PRO ball after only 2 Las Vegas trips, well, Da Bears showed up in PRO in their very first year (2009) and made the final 4, I think maybe they felt that pressure last year. But it goes to show more than anything else that the top 10 teams in the PRO division can switch at any given Sunday.
7.) The Show (CA) This team has yet to break the quarterfinals in 4 previous attempts in the PRO division. The biggest question about this squad is red zone scoring, can they do it? They’ve always been good enough on defense to win the whole thing but they’ve been unable to score points at a rate high enough to get past the top teams. Can they get more consistent play out of their offense in short yardage situations?
8.) Brand Nu (GA) I’m really uneasy about ranking these guys so low, seems like they might be bringing quite a few ATL super stars with them. One could hope that they have last year’s Pfuzion effect, nailing down the #2 seed with a hot Saturday and then fizzling out on Sunday due to the 3 games toll on a team with only 10 guys. But something tells me this year is different, I’m seeing some faces from the Atlanta league that Brand Nu competes with along side Yung Crew and Pfuzion. I guess we will have to wait until we get to the fields on Saturday to get a look at what we are dealing with. #1 sleeper squad of the tournament.
9.) TMT (NV) Big Tweezy might be the best rusher in all of 8man and Cle is as quick as any QB. This team is truly all about talent and they’ve upped their game competing in what is an increasingly competitive Las Vegas flag football league. I’d hate to draw these guys on Sunday morning.
10.) Play On (CA) I dunno what’s going on in San Diego, I’m getting scattered reports, but I’ve got the feeling that Will can put together a pretty competitive squad since many of the usual San Diego powers won’t be in attendance this year. Don’t be surprised to see members of Xavix, New Hustle and SD Xpress walking the sidelines with this group.
11.) DX (NV) Think Scatbacks and you’ve got an idea of what these guys bring to the table on offense. They’ve cut their teeth competing against TMT and Sickwidit in their nightly Las Vegas leagues and have developed a pretty good offensive scheme, they lack some physicality which can hurt you in this tournament but can score in bunches. They could be an ugly Sunday morning draw for someone not ready to put the right personnel on the field to deal with that spread.
12.) Slaughter House (CA) This is a super physical and talented group coming out of the Carson League. Any team that plays in the Carson league and doesn’t give up, has got my respect, imagine dealing with Long Beach, USO, OC Cougar Hunters and 1st. Choice on a weekly basis and not getting discouraged. I also love the fact that they are jumping into the PRO division. Much respect!
13.) C.V. Demons (CA) The big news for this team is that JJ formerly of the 8Ballers is playing the QB spot for these guys. Mario has been assembling a talented core of players to surround JJ with over the last year or so. Their confidence is at an all-time high after a few recent wins over The Show as well as a “B” division title with Flagmag last January. They will have the offensive weapons and a good pass rush but can they put together 3 good OL types to protect JJ from the opposing rush that they will see in the PRO level? I dunno.
14.) SD Warriors (CA) This is an organized group of guys with a ton of experience in the flag game, but they just lack the true game-breakers to consistently compete in the PRO division in Las Vegas year in and year out. If they can add some speed at the WR/DB position, they could be a tough Sunday draw.
15.) Young Money (NV) Word on the Las Vegas strip in that Young Money can pull in some serious talent and they are ringing the phones to make a push, they are a middle of the road performer in the local Las Vegas leagues but may put together some talent that will give you fits and wear you down in the World’s 3 game Saturday format.
16.) San Diego Boltz (CA) Not much word coming out of San Diego on these guys, no big names have signed on and no one seems to know what team their core players are coming from. Who knows?
POOL #1
Long Beach All-Stars
Brand Nu
TMT
San Diego Boltz
POOL #2
Source One
The Show
Play On
Young Money
POOL #3
Sickwidit
Da Bears
DX
SD Warriors
POOL #4
Southbay Ballers
Bryant Sports
Slaughterhouse
Demons