Pioneer News - Coaching Staff Let Go

Coordinators Let Go As Pioneers Look Towards Future
by Gil Elfert
St Louis Post - Dispatch


Pioneer Head Coach/General Manager Ted Kamik announced today that the team does not intend to offer new contracts to Offensive Coodinator Stanley Connor, Defensive Coordinator Vincent James or Special Teams Coach Joey Norton.

Coach Connor, Coach James and Coach Norton worked very hard this season but we feel it is in the best interest of all parties if the Pioneers move in a different direction. All three gentlemen are fine coaches as well as fine people, we sincerely wish them good luck in their careers and thank them for their dedication and hard work.

Cup O' Joe - Week 17 Predictions

We're down to the final week of the first season of AFL play. There are several games that will mean the difference between going on and going home for a bunch of teams here, and we'll lay down our thoughts on the outcome.

Game of the Week: Michigan (9-6) @ Minnesota (5-10): Michigan lost to this Mauler team back in Week 5, and that has to be in the back of the heads of the Panther faithful. But this is a different Panthers team than we saw early in the year. This team wins with defense now, and they should be able to do the same here. But, will the pressure get to them? That's the big question. They haven't played a tough schedule, and this, while it's against a losing team, is a bigger game than they've played in all year. In this one, I think they'll survive, take the division, and head into the playoffs as a 10-win team.

Prediction: Michigan 20, MINNESOTA 17

Other Games (Home team in CAPS):

NASHVILLE 27, Baltimore 20
San Francisco 30, PORTLAND 23
Boston 24, DENVER 20
Indianapolis 31, CLEVELAND 28
KANSAS CITY 21, Chicago 20 (Upset Special)
New Orleans 34, ATLANTA 30
Miami 31, DALLAS 17
CAROLINA 17, Pittsburgh 10
Seattle 37, NEW YORK 14
TAMPA 41, St. Louis 21
IOWA 19, Houston 16
OAKLAND 23, Washington 20
PHILADELPHIA 34, Arizona 31
Los Angeles 35, SAN DIEGO 30
CINCINNATI 30, Louisville 20

Last Week: 8-8
Season: 144-105

Cup O' Joe - Week 16/17 News

Here's the news for Week 16/17:

- One week after Kansas City re-signed Marc Hamdan to a big deal, the Philly Shamrocks have done the same with their quarterback. Michael Armstead signed a four-year extension, worth an estimated $28 million. The Shamrocks will wait until the offseason to work out a deal with Dennis Zimmerman, but they decided not to wait with Armstead. "We want to send a message to the team that we have faith in them," said owner John Comey. "Getting Michael to be here for the long term was a big piece to that puzzle. We want him to lead this team, and we want this team to stick together. And hopefully, Dennis will see that soon after the year." Armstead has been one of the top passers all year: fourth in QB rating (101.8), third in passing yards (3,846), third in completion percentage (66.5), and sixth in TD passes (28).

- Boston will be welcoming back FS Curtis Blakely this week. Blakely, who has been out since the first week of the season, will see time at cornerback this week, where Boston has been short-handed with injuries all year. With such a big week for the Minutemen, getting Blakely back is a bit of a double-edged sword; if he's rusty, the coaching staff will be second-guessed if the team loses. But they need him to suit up and play, as he's as talented, if not more so, then anyone else in the secondary. So, it will be Blakely in at cornerback against Denver.

- Just to describe the HFC situation...Miami's actually in a better situation to get home-field than Los Angeles. LA takes it with a win; however, if they lose, it automatically goes to Miami, regardless of how they do. LA controls their own destiny, but the loss to the Shamrocks has muddied the situation up just a bit. Also, New Orleans clinches the top WC spot, and a date with Pittsburgh, with a win OR a Tampa loss.

The situation in the CFC would take up too many words for this piece, however.

Cup O' Joe - Week 16 Predictions

Not too many key games this week, but one team can clinch home-field advantage...well, two, if the chips fall where they need to for Houston, as a win and a Seattle loss will give them home field in the CFC. But there are a lot of teams with their backs up against the wall, which will make this a very interesting week. Our lead game is...

Game of the Week:

Philadelphia (7-7) @ Los Angeles (13-1): The Shamrocks got back into the race with a win over San Diego last week. But they have to go into a do-or-die situation against the top team in the league, Los Angeles. Can Michael Armstead and Dennis Zimmerman fire back at the Marshall's 1-2 combo of Sammy Baw and Sammy Hoambrecker? I think they can, and this might be a high-scoring battle. That said, the Shamrocks' front seven, the weakness of the team all year, will be their downfall in this game. The Shamrocks' season will be ended by their inability to stop Hoambrecker, who should romp for over 200 yards.
Prediction: LOS ANGELES 44, Philadelphia 37 (8-5, GoTW Predictions)

Other Games (Home Team in CAPS):

Dallas 30, ST. LOUIS 16
WASHINGTON 34, Denver 24
Nashville 27, PITTSBURGH 26
Cincinnati 31, INDIANAPOLIS 28
SEATTLE 38, Cleveland 20
HOUSTON 48, New York 24
Carolina 20, BALTIMORE 17 (OT, Sets up Match for Division Title next week)
MIAMI 47, Kansas City 16 (yes, lots of routs being predicted this week)
CHICAGO 21, Iowa 20 (Iowa almost pulls off the major upset)
Tampa 31, ATLANTA 26
BOSTON 23, Minnesota 7
San Diego 38, LOUISVILLE 25
Portland 27, MICHIGAN 23
NEW ORLEANS 31, Arizona 21

Last Week: 9-7
Season: 136-88

Cup O' Joe - Week 15/16 Rumblings

Here's the news for Week 15/16:

- We gave a list of the top FAs to be in last week's issue. Well, cross one name off that list. Kansas City will reportedly sign QB Marc Hamdan to an extension before their game against Miami, showing faith that he is their long-term QB, and assuring themselves that they will have a quarterback capable of guiding a team next season. Rumor has it that the team was looking at taking QB Pat Banks with their first pick; now, that has shifted to an offensive lineman or a wide receiver, meaning WR Leon Loville (LSU) or OT Montae Griffin (Georgia) are now the front-runners for their selection. Hamdan hasn't been surrounded by much talent this year, and it shows. He is tied with New Orleans' John Williams for most INT in the league (22), and while he's thrown the fifth-most yards in the league, it's come at just a 53.5% completion rate. Nevertheless, Hamdan is Kansas City's QB for now, and the future.

- Speaking of quarterbacks, Pittsburgh has announced that, if it comes down to it, QB Billy Rolovich will start next week at Carolina. Rolovich, out with a broken foot, has been fitted with a special boot that will allow him to play and take a little bit of punishment. "It's like four pillows were wrapped around his foot," said head coach Bill Doran. He has also been named the backup quarterback today against Nashville. Robin Pirtchett threw two costly interpcetions in the Pride's 27-16 loss to Louisville, causing the team to speed up the recovery of Rolovich's foot. If Pittsburgh wins this week, or if Carolina loses, they win the division. If they lose and Carolina wins, the two will square off next week for the division title.

- An interesting scenario took shape in the LA/Cincy game last week. Here's a look at the sequence:

Cincy Ball, 1-10, 7:23 left, 1st Q: Leonard Smith is sacked in the endzone for a Marshalls safety

Cincy Ball, 7:23 left, 1st Q: J. Anderson kicks the ball off to JoJo Anthony, who runs it back for a 56-yard touchdown.

Cincy Ball, 3-23, 5:24 left, 1st Q: Leonard Smith is sacked, fumbles...Ed Coan picks it up for Cincy, but is tackled in the endzone for a safety.

Cincy Ball, 5:24 left, 1st Q: J. Anderson kicks the ball off to JoJo Anthony, who runs it back for a 65-yard touchdown.

Two safeties, followed by two kickoff returns for touchdowns by the same player, within two minutes of one another. If anyone doesn't think Los Angeles is going to win the title, it shouldn't take much convincing.

Cup O' Joe - Week 15 Predictions

Cup O' Joe - Week 15 Predictions

Here we go...crunch time. The home stretch. Time to see who's made of what.

Okay, enough with the cliches. It's time to throw down here in the AFL, and we kick this off with a couple of big games, though none bigger than...

San Francisco (9-3-1) @ Seattle (10-3): This one clinches the Frontier division, and probably a first-round bye. I think that's enough on the line to turn this rivalry up a few notches. Add the #1 and #3 defenses, and the #11 and #7 offenses, and you have a war on your hands. This one will come down to field position and turnovers. Nobody's better at takeaways than San Francisco, who leads the league with 35, including 22 on interceptions. They are a +10 on the year, while Seattle is a -1. Add a rookie quarterback in against the highest profile secondary in the league, and you have a recipe for disaster for Seattle. They weathered it in Week 3, but the Generals were not the same team now as they were then. I think San Francisco is the better team this week, and will win this one going away, behind a big effort by their defense.
Prediction: San Francisco 17, SEATTLE 10 (8-4, GoTW Predictions)

Other Games (Home Team in CAPS):

NEW ORLEANS 31, Dallas 21
TAMPA 34, Baltimore 14
Chicago 24, MINNESOTA 21
DENVER 17, New York 13
Atlanta 30, ST. LOUIS 19
Miami 38, NASHVILLE 14
BOSTON 24, Washington 20
PITTSBURGH 20, Louisville 17
CLEVELAND 35, Portland 26
LOS ANGELES 41, Cincinnati 37
Indianapolis 37, ARIZONA 34 (OT)
Houston 44, OAKLAND 30
Philadelphia 35, SAN DIEGO 34
KANSAS CITY 20, Iowa 19
CAROLINA 22, Michigan 17

Last Week: 9-7
Season: 127-81

Cup O' Joe - Week 14/15 News

- Big game this weekend in Seattle, where the Generals come in for the division title. I have no doubt that this game will settle who gets a first-round bye in the playoffs. The Tritons are a seven-point favorite, and for good reason; they took out the Generals 22-10 in Week 3. But the Generals have only lost once since then, and are ripe for a big win. The big issue is whether or not Monte Meier can outwit the top-notch secondary of San Francisco. Expect a lot of draw plays this weekend, on both sides of the ball. We point out San Fran's great secondary, and their third-ranked pass defense. But believe it or not, Seattle is ranked second in the same category. Also equally surprising is the Generals' rush defense, which is tops in the AFL. Will Quincy Jones be shut down? He rushed for 93 yards in the first meeting between the two teams, and it will take a lot to stop who may be the second-half MVP. Expect a very low-scoring game, one that may not reach double-digits. And, just as a side item...the word is that both locker rooms are a bit tense this week, expecting a war on the field. Penalties may really come into play in this one, and the team who has the most composure is the one, in my mind, who will come out on top.

- Another game to watch this week is in Los Angeles, where the Marshalls do battle against Cincinnati. This will be the toughest test for the Marshalls until the playoffs, as Cincy owns a 10-point victory over Miami, the current #2 seed in the HFC. Los Angeles fans would love for their team to go 15-1, but I just don't see it happening this week. I think the Marshalls have the pressure mounting on them to win each week, and a loss to a tough Cincy team will do them just fine for the playoff stretch. There is talk that the Marshalls may actually de-activate Sammy Hoambrecker, for fear of injury. Word is that he got banged up in two practices this week, and may be beginning to show what wear and tear can do to a rookie workhorse. If the Wrecker does play, it'll be an interesting clash between two RBs who have done the job this year. Barry Robinson leads all scorers with 16 rushing touchdowns, and 19 total touchdowns on the year. Hoambrecker is the league's leading rusher with 1,500 yards, and is a leading candidate for HFC Player of the Year. This will be a very interesting matchup that can go either way, and could be a HFC Championship preview.

- The Pittsburgh Pride may have lost all hopes of winning a playoff game. The team is all but assured the division, but a first-round bye has been eliminated as a possibility, thanks to a three-game losing streak. This latest loss, to Baltimore, was much more costly than any of the other three, as team leader Billy Rolovich is probably out for the year after breaking his foot during the game. The team must now play with rookie backup Robin Pritchett, who was 7-of-17 for 86 yards in relief of Rolovich. As if the loss of their quarterback isn't enough, the team is also without Drew Anderson, their leading rusher, for at least a week, and maybe the rest of the regular season. Anderson dislocated his elbow on a tackle last game, and is listed as doubtful for their game against Louisville. The team absolutely has to win this week to assure themselves at least a tie of the division. They have two easy teams--the Colonels and Nashville--on their schedule before a season-ending game with surging Carolina. Believe it or not, this race, which was the easiest to declare over, is most definitely not.

- There are some big-name players who may be free agents next year. Let's look at a few, complete with their ratings by the AFL Scouts Inc., a scouting-service that rates players on a 1.0-5.0 scale, for both current and potential ability.

QB: Michael Armstead, PHI (3.0/5.0); Leonard Smith, CIN (4.0); Marc Hamdan, KC (3.5/5.0); Billy Rolovich, PIT (3.0/4.0); James Scott, SD (2.5/3.5)

RB: Trumaine Ogden, BOS (FB, 4.0); Barry Robinson, CIN (3.5); Carroll Stamper, HOU (FB, 4.0); Henry Gentry, IWA (FB, 3.5); Ike Pierce, KC (3.5/3.5); Otis Tyler, LA (FB, 3.5); Vince Gilmer, NO (3.5); Aaron DeRogatis, OAK (3.5); Dennis Zimmerman, PHI (4.0); Visco Haggans, PHI (FB, 4.0); Tommy McCauley, SF (FB, 3.5), Randy Barton, TAM (FB, 4.0/4.0); JT Lipps, WSH (3.0/4.5);

WR: Jim Wisne, ATL (3.5); Bobby Piller, BAL (4.0); Patrick Connell, SD (5.0); Deron White, SEA (4.0); Jason McCall, TAM (4.0);

TE: Jim Adamle, DEN (3.5); Bobby Joseph, MCH (3.5);

OL: Marion Downing, BAL (OG, 4.0); Lamar Hayes, CAR (OG, 4.0/5.0); Zach Warner, CHI (OG, 4.5); Alvin Primus, CIN (OT, 4.0); Keith Woods, CLV (OT; 4.0); Wayne Shuler, CLV (C, 3.0/4.0); Andy Woolfolk, IND (OG, 2.5/4.5); Rich McCants, LA (C, 3.5); Tre Davis, MIN (OT, 4.0); Rex Starring, MIN (C, 4.0); Verron Byrd, NY (OT, 4.5); Chris Elling, NY (OG, 3.5/4.0); Josh Cannon, TAM (OT, 3.5); Josh Dixon, TAM (C, 3.5);

DL: George Gardner, CAR (3.5/5.0); Ron Frisch, CHI (5.0); Tim Reger, KC (3.5/4.0); Joe Bannister, KC (3.0/4.0); Lew Beckman, OAK (3.5); Chris Olds, SF (3.5/4.0); John Croom, SEA (4.0/5.0); Dave Hunter, TAM (3.5)

LB: Aaron Kramer, ARZ (3.5); Eugene King, CLV (4.0); Chas Boyd, IWA (3.0); Darrell Bacon, MIN (3.5/4.0); Jerry Green, MIN (3.5); Chris Theismann, PIT (3.5)

CB/S: Cecil Hall, BAL (S, 5.0); Doug Kanell, MIA (CB, 3.5); Steve Jones, NO (CB, 5.0); Marc Bates, NY (CB, 4.5); Matt Adams, PHI (CB, 5.0); Ifeanyi McCord, SEA (CB, 4.0); Richard Crocker, STL (CB, 3.0); Isiah Taylor, WSH (S, 3.5)

Now, granted, many of those, including all of the quarterbacks, most of the running backs, and a lot of the linebackers, will get re-signed. But some of them...namely Bobby Piller, Deron White, Patrick Connell, and maybe Ifeanyi McCord, will be looking at new teams next year. There's a lot of talent available.

Cup O' Joe - Week 14 Predictions

It's do-or-die for several teams, including one in our Game of The Week. Philly, New Orleans, San Diego, Washington, Oakland (and Portland), Dallas, Cleveland and Indianapolis are up against the wall this week, needing wins to stay alive (and in relief) for another week. With that many teams needing wins, this should be an incredible week of close games and great action.
Game of the Week:

Boston (8-4) @ Philadelphia (6-6): The Shamrocks have stormed back from the dead (2-6) to be in a position, with a win and a Chicago and Washington loss, to be in the sixth spot in the CFC playoffs. But, to do that, they'll have to overcome hated nemesis Boston, who trounced them in New England in Week 3. That sent the 'Rocks down their spiral towards the bottom. But Boston's banged up and hurting, and if they were ripe for a loss, this is it. The 'Rocks have been sharp, and are ready for the upset. That said...I just don't see it happening. Brian Barrett will carve this defense up, and that time of possession, along with the fiesty Minutemen defense, will give Boston the game.

Prediction: Boston 23, PHILADELPHIA 20 (7-4, GoTW predictions)

Other Games (Home Team in CAPS):

CINCINNATI 30, Cleveland 24
MICHIGAN 30, Chicago 28
MIAMI 41, Atlanta 31
New Orleans 27, TAMPA 23
Los Angeles 37, Louisville 17
San Diego 34, NEW YORK 21
San Francisco 24, WASHINGTON 21
KANSAS CITY 17, St. Louis 14 (OT)
Minnesota 31, IOWA 24
Oakland 38, PORTLAND 27
Denver 20, ARIZONA 16
Carolina 20, NASHVILLE 14
Pittsburgh 41, BALTIMORE 17
Houston 27, DALLAS 17
Seattle 34, INDIANAPOLIS 31

Last Week: 9-7
Season: 118-74

Cup O' Joe - Week 13/14 Rumblings & Grumblings

Here's the scoop for Week 13-14:

- For the second straight week, Ladell Suggs came out like a madman. But, for the THIRD week in a row, James Scott had to come in for Suggs, who got hurt in some way. This time, a twisted ankle kept Suggs out, and will probably keep him out for the next 2-3 weeks. That normally would be crippling to the Express, who rely on Suggs so much in the offense; however, the play of James Scott has been electric, allowing the Express to play on without missing a beat. The education of Scott, who is an eight-year vet but actually is in his first year as a quarterback (he was an option QB in college, and moved to cornerback for the first seven seasons of professional football, in the Midwestern Football League He has kept the Express in the hunt, at 7-5.

- In other Express news, it appears the new management is not happy with the way Suggs continually hurts himself with his athletic-yet-reckless play. It's rumored that he will be put on the trading block after the season, along with possibly WR Bo Jackson. Suggs would fetch a lot out on the markets, with several teams who want a franchise quarterback. Teams who could be in the hunt for Suggs include Nashville, New York, St. Louis, Oakland, Denver, and assuming their quarterbacks retire, Boston, Chicago, and Houston. The leader for that would probably be Chicago or St. Louis, given they could give up the most picks. Teams who could look to get Jackson include Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, and Seattle, where Deron White probably won't be brought back next year, due to age. Jackson is a burner, and a tough cookie; he has played through a broken finger, and a severely sprained wrist which made it almost impossible to catch. He'd be a welcomed addition to any team, as he is a leader in the locker room, and on the field.

- You have to feel for Arizona. They were the sixth seed in the HFC playoff hunt two weeks ago, and now will have to fight an uphill battle without Lamar Burton AND Jim Martin, their star QB and RB. Burton, who owns a 98.3 RAT, is out for the year with a dislocated elbow, and Martin, with almost 900 yards rushing, is questionable with an ankle injury. It's unlikely that Martin will be back in time for their final game, meaning they'd have to go with backup Jerome Moore, who has rushed for 355 yards in part-time work. First backup Charles Machurek is on injured reserve with a broken foot, causing the team to sign more backups, those being Chad Brown and Darris Quinn. Neither has registered a down with a club this year, making their rushing game that much more suspect. It's tough for Rattler fans, but with the injuries to Burton and Martin, there go their playoff chances, in my opinion.

- You wouldn't have realized it, but with Kansas City's win, New York was catapulted into the #1 spot in next year's draft, at least for the time being. As we've looked at who the Pioneers and Gamblers may take, we'll do the same with the Empire. Looking at their roster, Woody Garcia appears to be a solid quarterback for the future, and Mike McAfee has filled in nicely when Garcia was hurt. Their big problem appears to be at RB, and the defensive line. There is no player capable of really getting at the QB along that line, and no player capable of being a gamebreaker in the backfield. Don Jackson is looked at as a very capable backup, but he should not be leading the team in yards rushing. Therefore, that makes USC DE James Goodman, the #2 overall prospect, as the likely #1 pick in the draft, given that the team does finish with the #1 pick. He has 10 sacks and 11 run stuffs to go along with 45 tackles. Another candidate is Colorado's Keith Harris, the #7 prospect overall, as he has 10 sacks and 17 stuffs. Darkhorse candidates include OT Glynn Wallace (#3) from Northwestern, and DT Dennis Pivec (#18). The Empire could also trade down for depth, and get top players such as FS Willie Morgan (NC State), CB Jarrod Larson (Oregon), or OT Kris Peppers (Indiana). They need more than just one top prospect can bring, so it has to be thrown out there that they may trade down.
If we had to pick the top 10 picks of the draft, right now, here is what they'd be:

1. New York - James Goodman, DE, USC
2. St. Louis - Ronde Hayes, QB, Stanford
3. Kansas City - Robert Downs, WR, Oregon State
4. Baltimore - Rosey Smith, CB, Colorado State
5. Louisville - Glynn Wallace, OT, Northwestern
6. Nashville - Pat Banks, QB, Clemson
7. Denver - Karl Herrmann, OG, Tennessee
8. Minnesota - Keith Harris, DE, Colorado
9. Iowa - Willie Morgan, FS, NC State
10. Carolina - Leon McClure, C, Penn State

- A major reclamation project has been done in Oakland this year, where the Immortals were left for dead at 2-4, but have rebounded and are now 6-6, and fighting for a playoff spot. But bigger news has been made that they've basically told Todd Irons he won't be brought back after the season. It's not quite certain who would replace him, but the Immortals will definitely either make a play for Ladell Suggs, or maybe go after The Greek, QB Roman Novoselsky, in the draft. It appears Bob Stamps is not the answer as the replacement, however. What does the future hold for Irons? He'll be in his 10th year next season, and only had one season that was really good, that being 1984, when he led the Washington Nationals to the EFL Title.after all-time great Dick Stanson went down in Week 2 to a broken leg. Irons has never really appeared comfortable in Oakland, and may ask to be traded anyway. He would be a great backup to a team like San Diego, and a Suggs-for-Irons/pick deal could be in the works for the offseason.

- Finally, we failed to recognize Eric Byrnes in our Defensive Player of the Year rankings, and truth be told, when we produce a new list, he will be #1. All he's done is pick up 14 takeaways by himself, is third in tackles, and has 20 run stuffs. He is the top defender in the AFL this season, and will be recognized as such next week.

Cup O' Joe - Week 13 Predictions

Cup O' Joe - Week 13 Predictions

We did run off a decent week last week (12-4), which was surprising given how tough the games were. Anyway, there are some tough games THIS week, too...leading off with this one:

Indianapolis (6-5) @ San Francisco (8-3): This is do-or-die time for the Monarchs. They NEED this win. Absolutely NEED it. And it can't come in a worse play than San Francisco, where the Generals are coming off a big loss to Cincinnati, and need a win themselves to stay tied for the division lead (or lead it, depending on what Seattle does). Indy goes to Seattle next week, so they need to go at least 1-1 over those two. Losing this game would cripple their chances for a playoff bid. In this one...two tough defenses go against each other. But the Generals have the tougher defense, and should put enough pressure on Cyril Wyche to take this game.
Prediction: SAN FRANCISCO 23, Indianapolis 17

Other Games (Home team in CAPS):

Philadelphia 34, NEW YORK 20
CHICAGO 34, Carolina 30
BOSTON 17, Oakland 16
ATLANTA 24, Dallas 21
IOWA 27, Baltimore 23
Cleveland 28, LOUISVILLE 17
SEATTLE 34, Washington 27
NEW ORLEANS 22, Nashville 9
HOUSTON 41, Michigan 38
CINCINNATI 31, Portland 24
MINNESOTA 24, Kansas City 20
Arizona 34, LOS ANGELES 31 (UPSET SPECIAL)
SAN DIEGO 27, Denver 20
MIAMI 44, St. Louis 3 (our apologies to the Pioneers)
PITTSBURGH 24, Tampa 23

Last Week: 12-4
Season: 109-67 (62%)

Destruction in the Desert

Devastation in the Desert
by T.G. Balun
The Desert Fox

When the season started the fans of the Arizona Rattlers were pumped, and sports writers were expecting big things from the team. And then the reality of starting a lot of rookies set in, and they were blown out in their first two games. In the third week against powerhouse Los Angeles they almost pulled off the upset of the year, but again fell short, and a quarter of the way thru the season were the only 0-4 team. Then it began to jell for the club. Despite the multiple injuries of Lamar Burton, the team came back through adversity to win 5 of its next 6 games to put them right back in the playoff hunt.

With momentum on the Rattler's side, the last place the Minutemen wanted to visit was Desert Sun Stadium. With a team cranked up and a healthy star quarterback, it seemed like things were on the up for Arizona. However when on the third play of the game starting cornerback Glenn Thomas went down with a broken foot, it seemed like a bad omen. Feet and ankles have been the bane of the Rattlers this year it seems, and with an already weak passing game, the rest of the secondary would have to step it up to make up for Thomas' absence.

On Arizona's first possession, Lamar Burton showed his stuff, completing all four of his passes, including a 15 yard TD to Stanley Noble for the first score of the game. An extremely late hit on the play by Butch Nasta however dislocated Burton's elbow, putting him out of action. Despite protestations by both players and staff, the referees failed to see the late hit, instead focusing on the pass interference in the end zone by SS Pat Williams.

With two key stars knocked out just one series into the game coach Miral Billings could be heard on the sidelines exhorting his players to step it up and overcome, overcome the injuries like they had done all season long. His inspiration was effective, as he became a constant cheerleader the rest of the game. With rookie General Barton at the controls, the troops were able to keep it close, in part due to Jim Washington's fine defensive play. With three QB sacks in the game, he also made up for DT Nate Thompson's absence in the middle, by clogging the running lanes repeatedly. The potent Boston running attack was kept in check for most of the game as they kept Brian Barrett to merely 72 yards in regulation.

Midway thru the 4th quarter with Boston up by 3, once again Billings on the sidelines exhorted his players and they responded, scoring twice in the final six minutes to take a 7 point lead with 2:42 left. Two consecutive sacks by Washington and LB David Wilson put the Minutemen in a deep hole with a 3rd and 16. In a bind Boston pulled one from deep in the playbook as Stock completed an unlikely deep pass to FB Ogden for the first down to Arizona's 7 yard line, where they punched it in to tie it up with a mere 0:12 on the clock. Despite the key injuries, Arizona still had hope, taking Boston to Overtime. Winning the toss and choosing to receive, Jim Martin continued his fine play on special teams, returning the ball to the 50 yard line. Arizona was in fantastic shape to move into field goal range for the win. A five yard run by Barton however was called back as Martin went from hero to goat with a late hit that cost the Rattlers 15 yards. On 3rd and 19 in overtime, Randall Kolquitt did what will surely be the most debated topic this week, going conservative and running the ball rather than risk an interception. Punting it into the endzone rather than kicking it was the result.

Blowing their chance on offense, it was now up to the defense. In trying to contain a star, you can only be successful at it for so long. The Rattlers were successful at containing Brian Barrett for four quarters, but in overtime when it counted, he rushed for 29 yards on the final drive to put the Minutemen in range of a score. To win the game, they chose the same play that got them to overtime, a TD pass to the fullback. Boston had pulled it out.

The Rattlers were physically and emotionally drained after this one. With a surge in recent weeks they had their sights set on the playoffs. They were twice in position to win the game and costly plays burned them both times. What's more, they have lost two of their key players for possibly the remainder of the season, CB Thomas with a broken foot, and QB Lamar Burton with a dislocated elbow. The Rattlers plan on filing a grievance with the league for Butch Nasta's illegal hit. When the league reviews it look for Nasta to be hit with a stiff fine on this one.

The worst part of the whole deal is the other teams in playoff contention that needed to win won, leaving Arizona with the task of having 4 teams ahead of them for the wildcard spot with a mere 5 games remaining, and with their star quarterback out for the year.

Cup O' Joe - Survival Sunday Analysis

We've passed Survival Sunday, and what a week it was. There were several incredible games, with a few teams passing some big tests, and some teams failing. Let's see who survived, and who fell, on this big week in the American Football League:

Houston 30, Chicago 27: This may be a big game for Chicago after all. Steve Banks did play, and he didn't do terribly well to start. He did finish off well though, throwing two touchdown passes and 301 yards on just 14-of-26 passing. But it was Craig Stephens who was the difference in the game, rushing for 106 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Jessie Huffman also had five catches for 120 yards. For Chicago, Noland Maynard, the other elder statesman in the AFL, was 20-of-33 for 252 yards, with a TD and INT, and had 50 yards rushing on just three carries. Chicago held the lead throughout the contest, but gave the game away late on some poor running by Dan Moss, and a breakdown on defense.

What it means for Houston: This is a step in the right direction, although a red flag has to be thrown up for the defense. Stephens has been red hot the past month, and showed why he might have been a good fit on our Top 10. Banks was not perfect, but this offense clicks when he's at the controls. The problem for this team is obviously their defense. Chicago has the 21st-ranked offense in the league, and Houston had big problems stopping them. Even if they get out of the first round, they'd be looking at either Seattle or Boston in the second round, which is enough to put them down.

What it means for Chicago: With this loss, Chicago is actually the sixth seed...but barely. This would set up a game in San Francisco (as we're giving SF the nod right now, due to division and conference record). But the poor running game, with Dan Moss being an absolute failure at the spot right now, really hurts the Fire. With so many teams at their heels, this was a win, as tough as it was to get, that they could not let get away.
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Washington 20, New York 6 AND New Orleans 21, Baltimore 13: Both were trap games for these two teams, as losses could have sunk their playoff chances far enough that they may get up before they run out of air. But they both came through, and kept their slim playoff chances alive. A lot needs to happen, but Washington is currently the seventh seed, and if they can win four of their next five, it may be enough to get in. For the Knights, it's doubtful they can get in with the play of rookie QB John Williams. But George Ingram is due to return soon, and he could spark this offense to get back on track. Christian Fortuna may be the HFC MVP just by leading this team to six wins.
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Miami 41, Pittsburgh 31: Week in and week out, we predict Miami to lose. We simply can't believe that they keep this winning streak alive. And this win may have been the biggest one yet. Pittsburgh had Los Angeles on the ropes, and had this Blitz team on the ropes in the frozen conditions of Steelhead Stadium. But the 78,000 who came out bundled up could not put the Pride over the top, although they had their chances (ie a 31-27 lead with 8:55 left); but Jerry Brittenum's 23-yard INT return with 2:03 left sealed the fate for Pittsburgh, and may have put Miami over the top as the top contender to LA in the HFC. And when are people finally going to give Darrel Hickerson his due? He threw for 356 yards and 3 TD in this game, and was simply brilliant.

What it means for Miami: They have the #2 spot in the HFC right now. And guess what? They don't face a team with a winning record for the rest of the year. They have St. Louis and Kansas City on the schedule, along with Nashville. They have a big test the final week in Dallas. But looking at Los Angeles' schedule...Miami is in position to steal away the pot spot. The Marshalls have to finish the season with Cincinnati, and resurgent teams in Philadelphia and San Diego. Miami put themselves in a prime position to be at home in the divisional round of the playoffs, which is right where they want to be.

What it means for Pittsburgh: A bye is basically out the window. They lose any tiebreaker they had with Miami or Los Angeles. And with Miami's schedule, it's doubtful they're going to catch them. So, basically, they have to concentrate on staying healthy and on the third spot for the playoffs. I don't think anyone wants to go to Los Angeles at this point.
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Michigan 24, Kansas City 6: This win puts the Panthers in first in the Midway, which keeps them out of Houston, Boston, or Seattle. It also keeps them at home for the first round, which will make it difficult on their opponent, no matter who it is. The big thing is that they didn't give this game up, and made sure they took care of business. It makes me think that the Panthers have turned a corner, and are ready to go after the division. With Chicago sputtering, this is the time to do it.
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Indianapolis 22, Louisville 20: This pretty much ends Louisville's chances (as slim as they were to begin with), and enhances Indy's spot as the sixth team in the HFC playoffs. It also shows they can win a big game that goes to the wire. They are still a little shaky on offense (Cyril Wyche was 18-of-39 for 217 yards with no TD), but the defense is solid, which only helps them, given the schedule they have for the rest of the season. At San Francisco. Home against Seattle. At Arizona, Home against Cincy. At Cleveland. This is probably the toughest stretch any team has the rest of the year, but if Indy can go 3-2 over this guantlet, they WILL be in the playoffs. Mark my words.
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Cincinnati 35, San Francisco 23: We were waiting for the Generals to be flat, and here it was. Now, we can't really fault them...the Royals are among the elite in the HFC. But San Fran outgained them 410-287, won the time of possession battle, and did what they could to win...save for Herkie Martini. For the first time this year, Martini hurt his team with two interceptions. He has been going through the season without putting his team in a position to lose...well, he did that this week, and it cost them a victory they sorely needed.

What it means for Cincinnati: The defense is back, and that's big for the Royals. The offense was also clicking, with Barry Robinson rushing for 116 yards and two touchdowns. He ate up some valuable yards late in the fourth quarter, and also busted a 63-yard touchdown run that effectively put the game out of reach. If they can get the running game back on a full-time basis, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.

What it means for San Francisco: They realized they are not invincible, I think. This is a good loss, if there is such a thing. It came against a quality opponent on the road, and they were due for a letdown. With Seattle still remaining on the schedule, it's good that they don't get a big head about themselves, and regain the focus for the rest of the year.
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Philadelphia 20, Portland 16: The Breakers could've gotten back into the thick of things with a win here. Instead, it appears they're going to let their injuries give them a reason for not contending. Then again, the Shamrocks have been on fire during their three-game winning streak, and have a chance to get back to .500 against New York this week. Dennis Zimmerman could be a candidate for second-half MVP (if there was one), and he showed why in this game (147 yards and a touchdown). The 'Rocks aren't out of this by any stretch of the imagination...only one game back of Washington, and a tough but navigatible schedule for the club (although Los Angeles looks like a loss)...the book isn't closed on this team just yet.
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Boston 29, Arizona 23: Big game for both teams. Boston needed to show it can beat opponents they're supposed to beat. Arizona needed to show it can hang with the big boys after hitting a small slump, and it needed to show it could shut down a big runner. They did give up 100 yards to Brian Barrett, but they held him to 101 yards. However, they let this one slip away...Boston was twelve seconds away from going home defeated, and the Rattlers let them off the hook...and with it, may have sent their playoff possibilities on the plane with them.

What it means for Boston: They've dealt with the injuries, the erratic pass offense, and basically overworking Barrett. But they came out with a victory in a tough enviornment, and have ascended to the #1 spot in the CFC race. They also overcame a very difficult set of circumstances--Arizona taking the lead with under three minutes left--to tie the game, and then win it in overtime. The calling card of this team, its stingy defense, also showed back up; they disrupted QB Rod Barton and held Jim Martin to just 72 yards rushing. Stock also had a game he needed to have, throwing the game-tying and game-winning TDs to cap a 27-for-42, 337-yard day.

What it means for Arizona: You know those losses that may be too much to overcome? This one may be it for the Rattlers. They had the now-top seeded Minutemen twelve seconds from defeat. They had the touchdown pass batted down. And yet, JR Bratton STILL made the catch, and sent the game to OT, where Russ Stock and Trumaine Ogden sealed the Rattlers' fate. Things are still open for them in the playoff race...but after losing this one, they may never recover.
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Seattle 42, Oakland 25: Revenge is a dish best served hurt. And that's what the Tritons inflicted on Oakland at home, where they are now 1-5. It will almost be impossible to make the playoffs without winning at home, and 1-7 or 2-6 in your own backyard doesn't deserve a playoff spot anyway. Anyway, Seattle has avenged two of their three losses in a big way, taking out Portland, and now Oakland, both of which came on the road.

What it means for Seattle: They regain the Frontier division lead, via a head-to-head win over San Francisco. The rematch is at home in Week 15, and you can bet the Rainy Crazies will be ready for that one. They have two big games leading up to that game of games, with Washington and Indianapolis as tougher-than-they-want tuneups for the showdown with the Generals. The Tritons COULD (re: COULD) be a game back of San Fran leading up to that game. They haven't proven to play solid football for the entire 60 minutes of a game, and let teams hang around enough to beat them (re: Portland, Week 2). They'll get two weeks to mentally and physically prepare for the showdown that means the most to their playoff outcome this season.

What it means for Oakland: I was told by owner Justin Grover that, if they beat Seattle, they'd make the playoffs. So, they didn't. Now what? They're not totally eliminiated, although it makes things very difficult, given that there are so many teams hanging around that final spot, and Oakland definitely is not the best team out of that group. If I were Todd Irons, I'd have my agent calling teams around the league to find out who wants him after this season, because he is most definitely GONE. Regardless of that situation...the Immortals have to be a bit dismayed, given they were leading in this game for a small bit, and could have kept the score low. They didn't do that, and let things get out of hand. Now, they're climbing up a mountain that may be too steep, and they have others stepping over them on the way up. This may be too tough.
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San Diego 24, Cleveland 22: This wasn't an elimination game, but it could prove to be one. The winner is 6-5, the loser 5-6, and looking up at several teams. Cleveland made a valiant effort to come back, but they simply could not overcome Kareem Wood. The Player of the Game rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown, and caught another, leading the team without Ladell Suggs, who got knocked out of the game with a concussion just five passes in. Aaron Willard threw two INT for Cleveland, but also threw three touchdown passes.

What it means for San Diego: James Scott must be getting more comfortable, with Ladell Suggs getting banged up so much. Of course, having Wood, Patrick Connell, and Bo Jackson doesn't hurt. He spread the ball around well, and went to his main targets when he needed a big play...such as the touchdown pass to Jackson on the first drive of the second half, putting the Express up 17-7. Or the 21-yard TD pass to Wood that put them up 24-7. The defense almost gave this one away, but Wood came up with enough plays in the final couple of minutes that it didn't matter. In the HFC playoff race, it puts them a tiebreaker behind Indy, which is much better than being a game and a tiebreaker back.

What it means for Cleveland: This was a tough, tough loss for the Blues. Willard's two INT were extremely tough to take, and he'll be extremely tough to keep on the club next season, unless he shows marked improvement over the next five weeks. The running game didn't do enough to help him; Gary Johnson had 81 yards on the ground, but didn't get into the end zone. With a game against Cincy looming, and games against Seattle, Portland, and Indy still ahead, they may have too much of a mountain to climb, much like Oakland. They have a tough schedule like Indy, but Indy can afford a loss (as SD still has to play LA); Cleveland cannot afford any mistakes, even against the top-tier competition.
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Los Angeles 31, Denver 10: This doesn't mean much for Los Angeles, only that they do have someone nipping at their heels in Miami. It is good that they are taking care of opponents that they should be, and are playing the most focused ball right now. If Sammy Hoambrecker does not win POTY, I will eat my hat.
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Tampa 27, Dallas 24:

Wow.

This one needs its own set up. ML Donald had two INT returned for touchdowns in this one, including the game-winner. That is, of course, if there's not a holding call on Raleigh Davis on the play. Tampa went on to recover from that, and move the ball down enough for a 45-yard Mike Mitchell field goal, winning the game in OT. Of course, this came after some Dallas heorics, as Jake Schweickert hit a 56-yard field goal as time expired, and Donald returned his other INT for a TD...the one that stood, to tie this game. But to lose a game the way Dallas did is extra tough. They won it on such a big play...for it to come back...it may be their playoff chances that stay away.

What it means for Tampa: This was a bullet dodged. Dallas had them on the INT, and the call on Davis was a shaky one at that (as replays showed). But they got past it, and now sit as the team who doesn't need help to get a playoff spot. The division is but a dream at this point, so Tampa should just focus on getting to the playoffs, and then playing with house money. They have the offense to do it, and may be peaking a year early...Dinkins is a rookie, and this team probably wouldn't be a real contender until next year. Just the race is good for them this year...anything past Week 17 is a bonus.

What it means for Dallas: This team may have the toughest luck in the league. They finally climb back to .500, only to see their 6-5 record go to 5-6 on a tough call by an official. That said, that this team is at 5-6 is a small miracle, with Horace Armstrong and Jermaine Dunn both out with injuries, and the offense sputtering the way it is. ML Donald has inspired this defense to overachieve, and they have done that. But they let one get away, and this was the game they couldn't afford. They may be done now.
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What lies ahead?

Well, looking at this week, concentrate on the following games:

Philadelphia AT New York: The Shamrocks can come all the way back with a win this week.

Oakland AT Boston: Oakland needs this win...will they play desperate?

Washington AT Seattle: Another Colonial team that needs a victory.

Michigan AT Houston: Will Houston mess up another Midway team for the second week in a row?

Portland AT Cincinnati: Portland's chances may flatline with a loss here.

Indianapolis AT San Francisco: The big question is how San Fran will respond to last week's tough loss, not whether or not Indy can overcome this team.

Arizona AT Los Angeles: These two played a classic in Week 3; but will Sammy rush for 250 yards in this one?

Tampa AT Pittsburgh: Tampa can really gain some ground on a team that doesn't seem to be playing for anything at this point.

Cup O' Joe - Week 11 Rumblings & Grumblings

Here are some news and notes from around the league:

- The Houston Oilers are in deep trouble if Steve Banks' injury IS more serious than originally thought. He's listed as probable for this week's game in Chicago, but still may not suit up, due to the team's approach that they are not playing to win the division. They have already done that in theory. What they are looking at, however, is the playoffs, and right now, they're the third team in. Losing to Chicago, should they do so (and I think they are underdogs if Banks does not play), will put them in the fourth spot, and staring at a game against either San Francisco or Seattle (the current top wild card team). Basically, Houston has proven they cannot win without Banks, and if he is going to be shelved any longer this year, this team's in DEEP trouble.

- Meanwhile, people in Philadelphia are wondering whether or not the Shamrocks have a chance to make the playoffs. There's a glut of teams at 5-5, but the Grays seem to have turned a corner in their season. However, the corner they have turned has led them to a street filled with winning opponents. Included are dates at San Diego and Los Angeles, at home against Boston and Arizona, and this week at home against the Breakers. Portland has been up and down, and this game will be a big barometer of how these two teams will end up.

- One player not getting any attention is WR Dennis Teig of Atlanta. A 6'4", 205-pound receiver out of Bowie State, Teig has been turning heads in the deep south. He's currently second in the league in receiving yards, and third in catches and touchdowns. His work ethic is amazing, and he's quickly becoming a leader on offense. All this, and he's a rookie. Despite the stats, he may not even make second-team All-HFC; Gary Thompson of Tampa leads the league in yards, and Andre Eisenhauer (NSH) and Buck Cunningham (CAR) each have comparable stats, and bigger pedigrees. Despite this, we think Teig is worthy of an All-League bid.
Last week, we did the Top 10 QBs of the league. And now, for your enjoyment, here are the Top 10 RBs of the AFL, 1990:

10. Dennis Zimmerman, Philadelphia. Zimmerman was off to a slow start, but has picked it up in Philly's small winning streak. He's up to 896 yards on 179 carries, good for a 5.0 YPC stat. He was in Chicago, but got dealt for a player who has been a big disappointment (Dan Moss), and has been a great fit for the Shamrocks. It's expected that he'll re-sign with the team in the offseason, and become the fulltime feature back for years to come.

9. Jim Martin, Arizona. He's been under the radar this year, rushing for 790 yards and six touchdowns while averaging over five yards a carry. He's been a big reason why the Rattlers have climbed back into the thick of things in the HFC race, and his durability--he has yet to miss an offense down--definitely gives him some points as well.

8. Kareem Wood, San Diego. There has to be a reason why Ladell Suggs is the best at the playaction in the league. Wood is sixth in the league with 939 yards rushing, and a workhorse: he's fourth in the league in carries. And yet, he hasn't fumbled, making him one of two in the top ten with no fumbles (Zimmerman being the other). Wood gets the ball so much, it opens up things for Suggs, who leads all QBs in rushing. Wood has also proven to be a worthy blocker, opening up the QB draw. He only has four touchdowns, but the team tends to pass in the red zone.

7. Christian Fortuna, New Orleans. He has been hurt and hasn't played in two games. And that's a shame, as he'd probably be the fifth back in the league to be over a thousand yards if he were healthy to play in the other two games. He's fifth in the league in yards/game, with 102.5. He's low on touchdowns, but that's as much the playcalling around the goal line as anything. Fortuna shows explosiveness that maybe only Quincy Jones and Sammy Hoambrecker have, and he hits a hole quicker than maybe anyone in the league.

6. Ahmad Davis, Miami. Davis is fifth in the league in rushing, with 941 yards and a 5.3 YPC. Fumbles drop him on this list though...but his importance to Miami's offense keeps him high. He may be the reason why Darrell Hickerson has been so successful this season. Anytime Miami has needed a key run, Davis has been the man. His 77-yard touchdown against Cincinnati breathed new life into a team down on their luck. He's the emotional leader of the team, and his presence is necessary if this team is going to succeed in the postseason.

5. Barry Robinson, Cincinnati. On the other side, we see Barry Robinson, a quiet, reserved back who lets his game do the talking. I don't even think he's spiked a ball on a touchdown, he's that quiet. It's definitely not that he hasn't scored...he has put ten into the end zone. He's just a rock, and his teammates feed off of that well, too. Robinson, when asked by a boisterous young reporter about a hit put on him by ML Donald in the old EFL, said "It hurt." That's all you need to know about his outwardness. But his ability to carry the ball and break it for a long score--he has two scores of over 70 yards this year--show enough about his ability to run the ball.

4. Bryce Cross, Louisville. Cross has more fumbles than touchdowns, and while that hurts, he's still very talented, and with the offensive line he's behind each week, it's amazing to see he's got a thousand yards on the year. He's been consistent, with no less than 66 yards in a game, and hitting over 130 three times. He does need to get into the end zone more and cut down on turnovers, but he's had an amazing season, and we should see 1500 yards out of him this year, and maybe 6,000 in his should-be short AFL career (he is 30).

3. Brian Barrett, Boston. Okay, he's the leading rusher in the AFL, and he's on pace for 1700 yards. He has 11 touchdowns. So why is Brian Barrett ranked third? Simply put, there's just two guys that are putting up even more incredible numbers than he is. And that should not take away from Barrett--it's more of a 1a, 1b, and 1c...and Barrett happens to be the 1c. He decimated the Tritons for 148 yards and two scores last week, and if that shows that he's starting to turn it on...2,000 yards is not out of the question. He's also a great receiving running back, as he's closing in on 50 receptions out of the backfield. He gets this spot, rather than one of the top two, because of his YPC...a full yard lower than our #2...

2. Quincy Jones, Seattle. Jones deserves this spot. He would be leading the league in rushing if he had 200 carries. He averages 6.2 YPC, a ridiculous amount. He has 12 touchdowns, which leads the league. I can't justify him being anything less than second. He's also had to deal with an erratic rookie (Monte Meier) and some bad backups, and he's been extremely consistent. He's had 80 or more rushing yards in NINE of his ten games. But, he doesn't hold a candle to...

1. Sammy Hoambrecker, Los Angeles. The Home Wrecker. Slammin Sammy. He holds the league record for yards in a game, with 239 against Arizona. He was held to 31 yards in the team's only loss, against Indianapolis. But the guy flatout is the best running back in the league. He's 5'11", 265 pounds, and just a cannonball coming out of the backfield. He's leveled several linebackers, and just made cornerbacks look silly with a few of his moves, including a juke that took two Boston defenders and put them on their rears. He's also a rookie, meaning he's going to get BETTER. Twenty-five hundred yards is not out of the question for him in the near future.

Cup O' Joe - Week 12 Predictions

Cup O' Joe - Week 12 Predictions

We're at "Survival Sunday"...nine games that have playoff implications. A lot of things will become clear(er) after this week, as several fringe contenders are facing off against one another. Of course, there are a few big-name matchups, too. This is led by...

Houston (7-3) @ Chicago (6-4): With all due respect to Pittsburgh/Miami, and San Francisco/Cincinnati, this game has the most intrigue and perhaps the most riding on it. This game, as of now, is for the third spot in the CFC playoff tree. And that, while not one of the top two spots, is an immensely important spot. You see, the fourth-place finisher in the Continental Conference will face either Seattle or San Francisco (at this point, and we're fairly sure that's not an opponent either of these two teams want to have come to their place for a first-round matchup. There's also two big questions these two teams need to answer:

1) Can Chicago beat a team over .500? They are currently 0-2 against over-.500 teams, and while their schedule is favorable for the division (only one more .500+ team, that being at Michigan in Week 14), a loss here will further their "pretender" label.
2) Can Houston win without Steve Banks? It's likely he will not suit up for this game. Houston has not won without him in the lineup.

I think Chicago's in for a hard dose of reality, and Houston may end up getting some false hopes. That ninth-ranked defense of the Fire has been against some horrible offenses...this one, even when it's a bit off, is still better than anything the Fire has seen thus yet. Shaun Johnson may gain some big confidence here, if in fact he can lead this team to victory. I'm picking Houston; but if I'm wrong, it's a death knell to the Oilers, if Banks goes down once again.
Prediction: Houston 24, CHICAGO 14 (5-4 in GoTW predictions)

Other Games (Home team in CAPS):

WASHINGTON 31, New York 23
New Orleans 22, BALTIMORE 17
PITTSBURGH 23, Miami 20 (in the frozen tundra of the Burgh)
ATLANTA 34, Nashville 20
MICHIGAN 30, Kansas City 16
INDIANAPOLIS 34, Louisville 24
San Francisco 13, CINCINNATI 10
PHILADELPHIA 27, Portland 24
Boston 17, ARIZONA 14
Seattle 31, OAKLAND 21
SAN DIEGO 34, Cleveland 30
Los Angeles 34, DENVER 28
Tampa 28, DALLAS 20
Minnesota 19, CAROLINA 13
ST. LOUIS 20, Iowa 17 (OT; Upset Special)
Last Week: 11-5
Season: 97-63 (61%)

Cup O' Joe - Week 11 Predictions

I was 11-3 in Week 9, but could not get the predictions out in time for Week 10, so 7-7 on that week. There are a few very intriguing matchups this week, with a big divisional battle going down in Tampa, a flatout war brewing among CFC powerhouses in Boston, and a few upset possibilities. Will they become realities? We'll soon find out!

Game of the Week:

Miami (7-2) @ Tampa (6-3): One of two major matchups this week, as the division-leading Blitz head upstate to face the Blazers. The Blitz romped all over the Blazers at home, 43-24, in Week 8; but this week, I think the tables are turned in the other direction. I know I predicted a Blazer victory the last time these two matched up for a Game of the Week, but I'm going to do it again. Dick Dinkins has had a great season, but I think THIS will be the game that declares his legacy-to-be in the AFL; I really believe he'll come out sharp, as he now knows what it takes to win a big game. I don't know why, per se, but I think this may be a rout.

Prediction: Tampa 37, Miami 24 (5-3, GOTW predictions)

Other Games (home team in CAPS)

INDIANAPOLIS 23, Oakland 17
Dallas 20, KANSAS CITY 16
Cincinnati 30, CAROLINA 13
Atlanta 34, BALTIMORE 21
CLEVELAND 31, Denver 28
MICHIGAN 16, Iowa 10
Seattle 24, BOSTON 23
Minnesota 20, HOUSTON 17 (No Banks, Big Problem for Oilers)
Pittsburgh 13, NEW ORLEANS 10
San Diego 35, ARIZONA 34 (another classic involving Arizona)
SAN FRANCISCO 47, New York 6 (No offense to Empire...this just has romp written all over it)
Philadelphia 30, ST. LOUIS 20
LOS ANGELES 27, Washington 23
NASHVILLE 16, Chicago 13 (Upset Special)
PORTLAND 27, Louisville 20

Last Week: 7-7 (11-3 Week 9)
Season: 86-58 (60%)

David & Goliath: Cincinnati stopped by Rattlers

There always seems to be one week out of the year when the games get wacky, and the press usually calls it (after the fact) Upset Sunday. Here in week 8 of the AFL we've stumbled across this oddity. The final two teams that were undefeated, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, have fallen from the ranks. Michigan as the underdog beat Pittsburgh 7-0 in a defensive struggle.

The real shocker of the week happened in Ohio, where the suddenly resurgent Arizona Rattlers upended the once spotless Royals, more impressively doing it in the Royals home stadium. With a star quarterback who literally is injured more than he is healthy, the Rattlers nevertheless came into Cincinnati with a certain confidence about them. In recent weeks they had played much better, and what was more star QB Lamar Burton had a miraculous healing at the local tent revival in town and was able to start the game, to the surprise of everyone.

Its rare when a team wins after letting the opposition pass for over 400 yards in the game, but that is exactly what happened in Cincinnati. Leonard Smith was simply on fire passing for 409 yards and two scores, while three people on the Royals had 100 yards receiving. Arizona's passing defense has been perhaps the most suspect in the league, but nevertheless it was apparent the Rattlers made a commitment to stopping the run, which they partially succeeded in, keeping the Royals to 79 total yards on the ground. The flip side to this was the Rattler's continued success on the ground, where Running Back by committee has taken form. Despite Charles Machurek being injured, veteran Jerome stepped up to fill his slot, rushing for 7.2 ypc and 87 yards, while the team was able to grind out 199 yards on 34 carries.

Once again, and for about the fifth time this year, fragile Lamar Burton played well until being knocked out again with a leg injury in the first quarter. Due to the fine play of rookie backup Lindell, who threw for 251 yards, the Rattlers were able to pull off this upset with a backup quarterback, on the road. This was your classic David and Goliath story. It will be interesting to see if the Rattlers can carry the momentum over to next week against struggling Nashville.

With 6-1 Miami coming to town this week, it seems obvious that the Royals were looking past the 2-5 Rattlers and did not take them seriously. Head Coach Mike Branson's post game chewing out must have been a memorable one. Oh to be a fly on the wall.

Starting off the season 0-4 with an injured quarterback, the Rattlers have come back despite their troubles to post a 3-1 record since. They are well behind division leading Los Angeles, but there is nevertheless whispers beginning to surface about making the playoffs. A mere game and a half out of the final wildcard spot and momentum on their side, suddenly they've come from looking at the college boards to looking at the scoreboard again. They still have 8 games to go, and if their offensive star manages to stay halfway healthy, hey, you just never know.

In other team news, in part because of his team leading six sacks at the halfway point, the team finally got together with their best defensive lineman Jim Washington, extending his contract for another 2 years, making the total deal 3 years for 11.6 million. On a defensive line that has been criticized as too small, Washington has been a standout thus far. If Jim continues to play at this level the Rattlers will have gotten a good price for his services.

Because of his tendency in recent games to throw the pick, Head Coach Miral Billings has announced Willie Lindell will be dropped to 3rd string, and Rod "General" Barton promoted to 2nd string. Aside from the picks, Lindell has played well thus far in his rookie campaign, completing 60% of his passes, but the turnovers were just too big of a problem to ignore. If he gets the kinks out of his throw, look for him to move back into the second spot. Considering the continued problems with Lamar Burton's feet and ankles, and his propensity for getting knocked out of ballgames, this could indeed spell some serious playing time for the General.

Cup O' Joe - Week 10 Rumblings & Grumblings

Cup O' Joe, Week 10

Sammy Hoambrecker and Brian Barrett both hit the 1000-yard mark in their ninth game, putting them in position to hit for 1800 yards. Does anyone have a chance at 2000? The answer to that is yes, and it might be both, with Hoambrecker at a slight advantage. Let's look at each, starting with Barrett. He's second in the league with 209 carries, and averages almost 113 yards a game. But look at the team's he faces coming up after this week's contest with Seattle (with their rushing defense ranks in parenthesis): Arizona (22), Oakland (13), Philadelphia (19), Washington (12), Minnesota (26), and Denver (17). LA has common opponents in Washington, Denver, Arizona, and Philadelphia; but they also have Louisville (31), Cincinnati (24), and San Diego (25). So, we could see two players reach plateaus that will be tough to reach in the future.

Speaking of running backs, many are questioning why the Pride haven't benched Drew Anderson. While he may be a star in the making, he's certainly not doing much right now, averaging 3.7 YPG with just 2 TD. It is possible that Gary Johnson will see more action in their game against New Orleans. But many say Anderson needs more confidence. A game against the Knights may do just that. Also, more carries could boost his production. He's had two games within the last four weeks where he rushed fewer than ten times.

It was discussed in a recent column who Kansas City could take with the #1 pick in the AFL draft next year. Well, now we're going to look at division rival St. Louis, who could get the #2 pick overall...or slide as high as #7. Chances are, they'll take the best player on the board, as they have a lot of holes to fill. The only position we know they won't go after is safety, unless they can get a first for Rosey Smith and take SS Derrell Stanley, a bonafide blue-chip prospect, with a top-five pick. It is most likely that either a tackle, defensive end, or POSSIBLY quarterback Pat Banks will become a Pioneer by this time next year. The line is horrible, and there are two tackles good enough to take with a high pick, that being Gene Herron and Tony McMullen. We discussed both in our last column, so we'll slide past them for now. DE Kelly Sunde or CB Rosey Smith could go here, as a top secondary would give the Pioneers at least one question answered...but if Sunde is there, and shows enough at the combine, expect him to go at this pick. As far as Pat Banks is concerned...he's the top QB in the nation, but he may be a reach at this pick. Might. It will depend on his game with Florida State, currently ranked #2 in the nation and owner of the #1 pass defense in the nation. If Banks has a good game against THEM, he'll become a legit top-five pick. If he doesn't...well, we'll see.

From QBs of the future to QBs of the present...talk of who is the best QB in the league has fired up. Here is my top 10 (age and year of experience in parenthesis):

10. Michael Armstead, Philadelphia (28, 7th). Could be higher...has passed for 2399 yards and 16 touchdowns with a completion percentage of 64.4%. His rating is 96.4, good for seventh in the league. But his ability to put his team in the end zone consistently just pushes him a bit lower than he may be.

9. Herkie Martini, San Francisco (27, 5th). Stats aren't as good as Armstead: 2013 yards on 58.3% PCT, with 15 TD and 7 INT. But the guy wins, and he rarely makes mistakes. He's a tough competitor, and has won two games in which he was injured, including a game with a fractured rib.

8. Darrell Hickerson, Miami (31, 9th). Hickerson was considered the worst first-round pick in this league's initial draft. And yet, here he is, his team 7-2, 7-1 in the HFC. A big reason is Hickerson, who has been an absolute leader for the Blitz. He's also been pretty consistent, with only one really bad game (against Carolina).

7. Monte Meier, Seattle (23, R). He will probably move up this list. But he's just a rookie (and ye, there's two rookies higher, but Meier is justified in this spot). Meier is eighth in the league in QB rating, but is down among the league low in attempts from starters. He has been nicked up, but still gets the job done.

6. Billy Rolovich, Pittsburgh (27, 6th). This guy is pure guts. I mean, flat out guts. He may have more heart than anyone in the league. He's not a real skillful player...and yet, he makes this team succeed. He had LA on the ropes, and was named POTG in their instant classic OT loss (20-28, 263 yards, 3 TD, 121.6 RAT). The shocking thing about Rolovich is that he can improve quite a bit.

5. Leonard Smith, Cincinnati (31, 10th). Has the second-best QB rating in the league, on the strength of only three interceptions. He did sit two games with an injury, and has been injury prone for his entire career. But the Ohio native and Ohio State grad could run for Governor of the Buckeye State and get elected easily. He leads the Royals to success, and if they manage to get to the Washington Bowl, he could run for state senator with relative ease.

4. Ladell Suggs, San Diego (26, 5th). I'd say Suggs gets this spot because he's the most exciting QB in the league. He's fifth in the AFL in QB rating (103.9), second in TD (21), and fourth in completion percentage. But he also leads all QB in rushing yards, with 530 on just 47 carries. That's right...an average of 11.3 yards per carry. He has more yards than Pittsburgh's leading rusher, Drew Anderson. He's almost electric every time he escapes the pocket.

3. Sammy Baw, Los Angeles (22, R). He's equipped with the top running back in the league in Sammy Hoambrecker. But one can't help but think that Baw would be just fine if it were just him. He's passed for 2696 yards, which leads the league, and 17 TD. Can you believe this guy is a rookie? He's going to be the top QB in the league for years to come, unless someone has something to say about it. That someone, of course, is...

2. Dick Dinkins, Tampa (25, 3rd). Dinkins has the most TD passes in the league (24), and is second in passing yards, with 2,519. He uses his receivers very well, with two players--Gary Thompson and Jason McCall--in the top 10 in receptions. But he usually makes smart decisions, and will continue to just get better, giving the league a triumvirate of elite quarterbacks for the next decade.

1. Steve Banks, Houston (37, 15th). And as those three start their careers, the top QB on our list is wrapping his up. It's highly unlikely that Banks will return next season for his 16th season. But he's looking to set records for this league, specifically in QB Rating, that may never be broken. Right now, it's 135.8, on the strength of 74.3% completion and a 20-3 TD/INT ratio. He's been simply stunning, and has been the MVP up until this point.

That's all for now. Next week, we'll evaluate the running backs, and give our top ten at that position.

Cup O' Joe - Week 9 Predictions

Cup O' Joe - Week 9 Predictions

The Big Games begin here, with Cincinnati-Miami, Boston-San Diego (yes, a key game), and Portland-Seattle, also known as The Rematch. In fact, it's such a big game in the Frontier...it takes the place of Game of the Week.

Game of the Week:

Seattle (5-2) @ Portland (4-4): Will lightning strike twice? The Tritons come into Oregon with a major chip on their shoulder. But Portland still has the psychological edge on Monte Meier. They sacked him nine times in their Week 2 victory, and have been talking through the media all week that they're going to get real familiar with him once again. You have to wonder how many times Seattle has worked on their draw and delayed trap plays this week. Expect Quincy Jones to hit a few big plays if they have. Also, Portland's pretty banged up and struggling, and Seattle has gotten themselves back on track after struggling early. I think Seattle will take this one handedly.
Prediction: Seattle 24, Portland 17 (4-3, GOTW predictions)

Other Games (home team in CAPS):
Houston 48, ATLANTA 24
New Orleans 27, CAROLINA 16
CINCINNATI 23, Miami 20 (OT)
ST LOUIS 3, Kansas City 2 (yes, 3-2)
PITTSBURGH 17, Iowa 3
Los Angeles 34, NEW YORK 10
BOSTON 27, San Diego 21 (surprisingly close)
CHICAGO 20, Minnesota 17
OAKLAND 22, Cleveland 17
SAN FRANCISCO 41, Louisville 27
Michigan 17, DALLAS 10
Philadelphia 34, WASHINGTON 31 (OT, Upset)
ARIZONA 37, Nashville 20

Last Week: 8-6
Season: 68-48

Cup O' Joe - Midseason Report

We're midway through the first season of play in the American Football League, and you have to wonder if the league has met expectations.

If I may say...the league has far exceeded them.

We've seen some very competitive games, big races, and great teams. We have a lot of surprises and disappointments, and we have an idea of how the rest of the season will go. Without further ado...let's take a look at the winners, losers, and everything in between in the 1990 season.

AFL Top Ten, Mid-Season

1) Los Angeles Marshalls (6-1) - Every team in the HFC is tough (each of the four division leaders is 6-1). But Los Angeles, behind their rookie stars, QB Sammy Baw and RB Sammy Hoambrecker, as well as a top-notch defense, has the best chance to win the first-ever Washington Bowl. They've gone through tough opponents, beating Tampa and Boston, as well as a tougher-than-their record San Diego team. They have Pittsburgh AND Cincinnati on their schedule in the coming weeks, and that should tell the tale of the HFC this season.

2) Pittsburgh Pride (6-1) - They have given up the second-fewest points in the AFL this season (only SF has given up less, with 84), and pose the most intimidating defense in the conference, despite not having a single real standout in the league leaders. This "no name" defense has not given up more than 21 points in any game, and has held opponents to 17 points or less in five of their games. But Billy Rolovich has given life to the defense. He may not be among the league leaders, but he is awfully close. They may not have anyone who is a total stud on this team; but they do define that very word--"team".

3) Seattle Tritons (5-2) - They've struggled throughout the first half. Then again, two losses for almost any team would be a blessing...but not the Tritons. They've managed to win without Monte Meier, which may be the best thing this team could have. So much was made about Meier in the early going, and when he went down with the team struggling, everyone thought this club was going to fall hard. And yet, here they are. I still think they have the best chance to win the conference, which is why they have this place in the rankings.

4) Cincinnati Monarchs (6-1) - Leonard Smith and Barry Robinson make up one of the best pass-rush duos in the league. Both are among the top five in their respective categories, with Smith being a legitimate HFC MVP candidate. They also may be the team who can handle injuries to their key spots the most, making them a very viable option to get to the title game. Hopalong Van Dyke is an absolute monster on the field, catching 38 passes for 549 yards and six scores, and having 21 pancake blocks, good to put him among the league leaders.

5) Houston Oilers (5-2) - Steve Banks is the first-half MVP. Sorry to spoil that for later, but Banks' return showed me just how important he is to the Oilers' success. Nobody is more important to his team. Nobody needs Banks more than Craig Stephens, either. Stephens is a capable back when he has a cast around him. But Banks has the ability to open up the field, something Reno Lamar cannot do. Houston actually has the easiest schedule in the league, which is a double-edged sword for them. We could see them finishing 14-2, but losing in the divisional round of the playoffs. They will face only two more teams (currently) with winning records, and both, Chicago and Michigan, are 4-3. Can they get past Seattle and San Francisco, though? THAT is the real question. It will be fun, though, watching Banks put up numbers that will be hard to break, given the nature of their schedule and aerial attack.

6) Miami Blitz (6-1) - They've managed to defy any and all critics, myself included. They're arguably the hottest team in the league, with six straight wins heading into this week's tough contest in Cincinnati. The next four weeks will determine just how tough this team is, with games at Cincy, Tampa, and Pittsburgh, and a home game against New Orleans. The combined record of those teams is 21-8. But Miami rose to the challenge in routing Tampa last week, and looks the part in being a major conference contender. Darrell Hickerson, considered the worst first-round pick in the AFL initial draft, has been perfect for this offense and the locker room, and Ahmad Davis, considered washed up in the Southern Football League a year ago, is averaging almost 100 yards a game in Miami I'm still waiting for them to drop, but they don't.

7) Boston Minutemen (5-2) - Defense. Flat out defense. That's what you think when the Minutemen come to mind. They're also 5-1 in the conference, good for tops in the CFC. As long as they have Brian Barrett (league leader in rushing) and Butch Nasta (70 tackles, five sacks) anchoring the defense, Boston will have a say in how the conference is won. They also have a favorable schedule, in which only one game, a home contest with Seattle in Week 11, which may pose a problem. This COULD mean the #2, or, if Houston fumbles, home-field advantage in the playoffs.

8) San Francisco Generals (5-2) - They are an enigma, that's for sure. They lost to Kansas City in the final minute, giving the Gamblers the only win of their season. They have since regrouped, and have won their games by an average of 38-8, the only close game coming in a 34-27 game against Philly. 51-6 against Oakland. 42-3 against Portland, who beat Seattle. 40-6 against Boston. 23-0 against Cleveland. This team has a defense. But if they give up a couple of plays, watch out. In their two losses, Seattle ran the ball down their throats, and KC didn't make mistakes. This IS a beatable team, if you don't make mistakes on offense against them. They are not spectacular on offense; but they have four defensive touchdowns, and have nine interceptions. They are a very opportunistic unit, and against some weak opponents down the stretch, this team could be very tough to keep out of the division title hunt.

9) Tampa Blazers (5-3) - They have a high-octane offense, led by rookie QB, and first-overall selection in the initial draft, Dick Dinkins. He's thrown the most passes in the league this year, thrown 21 TD, and only five interceptions. He, along with RB Patrick Putzier and WR Gary Thompson, offer one of the most diverse and explosive offenses in the league. They can outscore anyone. But if they get into a shootout, watch out. Miami went right past them last week, winning a surprisingly easy 43-24 contest. They have stiffened up in some games, shutting out Atlanta and holding Nashville to 10 points in a 38-10 triumph. But they've beaten Louisville 33-31; beaten Houston 51-27 (without Steve Banks for the Oilers)...truth is, this team is going to put up points, but they're going to give up a lot of points, too. This is a candidate to falter down the stretch, with Miami, Dallas, Pittsburgh, and New Orleans on the schedule. They'll have a tough time of it.

10) Michigan Panthers (4-3) - This is the beginning of the hodge-podge of the mediocre. No offense to Michigan, but I don't consider them to be on the level of the top nine teams. However, they are good enough to get into the playoffs, and into the second round. They do have a favorable schedule down the stretch, with the only team that could be chalked up as a major loss being Houston. They do have a hole at the QB spot, with Joe Brown having thrown more interceptions than touchdowns thus far (9-8). But Gene Boselli, considered a backup to whichever team selected him in the initial draft, has rushed for 521 yards and four touchdowns. Not bad at all. They also have a tough defense that can get at the quarterback; DE Ronde Woodbury has six sacks, and DT Vince Beasley has five. OLB Jay Jeter, the team's leading tackler, has gotten at the QB four times. They may not be elite, but they are better than the rest and have an easy schedule down the stretch.

First Half...

Player of the Year AND Most Valuable Player: QB Steve Banks, Houston. It's a toss-up between Banks and Boston RB Brian Barrett. But Banks, in just five games, has thrown for 1500 yards, 15 TD, and 2 INT, at a 73% completion clip. He's been electric for an Oilers' offense that has been an absolute joy to watch. Nobody has meant more to his team more than Banks, and it shows.

Other Candidates, POTY: Brian Barrett, BOS RB; Dick Dinkins, TAM QB; Andre Eisenhauer, NSH WR; OLB Steve Vigorito, CHI LB; Sammy Hoambrecker, LA RB

Other Candidates, MVP: Dick Dinkins, TAM QB; Ladell Suggs, SD QB; Bryce Cross, LOU RB

All-CFC Team

QB: Steve Banks, Houston
RB: Brian Barrett, Boston
FB: Trumaine Ogden, Boston
WR: Flash Gordon, Portland
WR: Jamie Sanders, Kansas City
TE: Jessie Huffman, Houston
OT: Dennis Ruegamer, Philadelphia
OT: Verron Byrd, New York
OG: Tank Brookshier, Portland
OG: Zachary Warner, Chicago
C: Ray Knafelc, Boston

DE: Kamil Jones, Portland
DE: Ronde Woodbury, Michigan
DT: Tyrone Gordon, Philadelphia
ILB: Karl Victor, Kansas City
ILB: ML Donald, Dallas
OLB: Steve Vigorito, Chicago
OLB: Thomas Hollister, Iowa
CB: Tavares Cook, San Francisco
CB: Mike Romanik, New York
FS: Rory O'Connell, St. Louis
SS: Jack McCoy, Philadelphia

K: Filip Williams, Boston
P: Walt Cappelletti, Kansas City
KR: Raleigh Wallner, Iowa
PR: Dhani Whittle, Seattle

All-HFC Team

QB: Dick Dinkins, Tampa
RB: Sammy Hoambrecker, Los Angeles
FB: Scott Burr, Denver
WR: Andre Eisenhauer, Nashville
WR: Dennis Teig, Atlanta
TE: Hopalong Van Dyke, Cincinnati
OT: Lawyer Glass, San Diego
OT: Matt Ofenheusle, Denver
OG: Kyle Ohlmiter, Arizona
OG: Richard Duckworth, New Orleans
C: Kevin Johnson, Louisville

DE: Manny Hernandez, Baltimore
DE: Jason Molden, Pittsburgh
DT: Tom Guman, New Orleans
ILB: Steve Mason, Carolina
ILB: Justin Strong, Nashville
OLB: Aaron Kramer, Arizona
OLB: Cliff Thompson, Nashville
CB: Tom Tuitele, Denver
CB: Billy Schau, Miami
FS: Eric Byrnes, Indianapolis
SS: Lincoln Haze, Nashville

K: Stephen Adams, Indianapolis
P: Donovan Smith, San Diego
KR: Horace Henderson, Denver
PR: Rich Baker, Indianapolis

Biggest Surprise, Player: QB Ladell Suggs, San Diego. Who would've thought that this guy would be a top-flight starter? He had one of the most impressive games this season with his 26-of-30, 3 TD performance in Week 2. He's also run for 408 yards, more than any QB in the league.

Biggest Surprise, Team: Miami. They were considered just another team, and even less than that after a lackluster first game. Now they're 6-1, currently own the #1 spot in the HFC (based on conference record), and are looking better and better each week.

Biggest Disappointment, Player: RB Chick Watkins, Baltimore. Only started three games due to an injury, but even before that, he was very underwhelming. His best game is in Week 1, where he had 68 yards on 15 carries. His longest carry is for 14 yards. He has as many fumbles as he does touchdowns.

Biggest Disappointment, Team: Nashville. They were a preseason favorite to win the Midland, and here they are, 2-5-1. They're 0-3-1 at home, and have been shunned by the hometown faithful. Owner Keene Gionest has suffered from heart palpatations since Week 2, and rumor is it the front office is taking a pool on when he finally snaps. They may not even be around to see who wins that bet.

Best Comeback, First Half: Nashville comes back to tie Indianapolis, Week 8. Yeah, they've had their downs and downs, but Nashville did give the hometown team something to cheer for for two minutes. Nashville tied the game at 14-14 on Drew Thompson's 15-yard TD pass from Thomas Jansen, and subsequent two-point conversion. But, with 1:41 left, Cyril Wyche threw his third TD pass of the game, putting Indy up 21-14. But Jansen, filling in for injured starter Josh Stanley, marched the Nightmare back down the field. And, with 30 seconds left, he tossed a six-yard TD pass to Cliff Howley to tie the game. Unfortunately for Nashville, Indy won the game in overtime, after a missed Nashville field goal that would have won it.

Most underrated player: LB ML Donald, Dallas
Most overrated player: TE Gene Tilley, Philadelphia
Best offense: Houston
Worst offense: St. Louis
Best defense: Pittsburgh
Worst defense: Philadelphia
Best backfield: Los Angeles
Best receiver corps: Tampa
Best offensive line: Atlanta
Most diverse weapon: Ladell Suggs, San Diego
Best player you haven't heard of: S Rory O'Connell, St. Louis
Team of 1991: Tampa
Team of 1992: Kansas City
Team of 1993: St. Louis

Best Game, First Half: We narrowed it to three, and Arizona was involved in two of them.

Arizona 41, Louisville 35, Week 6 - Louisville led 17-7 after one quarter, but Arizona, behind Lamar Burton, led 28-17 at half-time. Louisville tied the game after three at 28-28, but Arizona took a lead on Glenn Thomas' 33-yard INT TD. Louisville came back down the field and scored on Ray Frazier's second TD pass, tying the game at 35-35. Arizona took the lead on a field goal, and finally took the game on a second field goal in the final minute.

Los Angeles 35, Arizona 33, Week 3 - Also known as the game where Sammy Hoambrecker burst onto the national scene. The Home Wrecker rushed for a league record 239 yards and two scores, and single-handedly turned back a comeback bid by Arizona with a 64-yard TD run, as LA won a wild one in the desert. The game also featured two defensive touchdowns by Marcus Milne. Milne returned a fumble recovery 94 yards for a score, and intercepted a pass, and ran it back 63 yards for another one. But Arizona would not go away, and led 24-21 late in the third. The game was 28-27 when Hoambrecker burst out for his second big run of the game. He had an 84-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

Portland 26, Seattle 20 (OT), Week 2 - The Interception. Mike Kosier's pick of Monte Meier, deep in Seattle territory, set up a touchdown and shocked the league. Everyone thought that Seattle would run rampant over everyone in the league all the way to the Washington Bowl and the AFL Championship. Portland changed that perception, knocking off the Tritons in a game that received the highest rating for a game this year.

Top Games to Watch, Second Half:

Miami AT Cincinnati, Week 9 - The contest to weed out the top competitors in the HFC will begin here, with a matchup of titans in Cincy. Cincy could vault to the top seed in the conference with a win. But Miami has shrugged off everyone since that opening week rout.

Seattle AT Portland, Week 9 - Portland exposed Seattle in the shocker explained above. The Tritons have guaranteed revenge this week, and with Portland struggling, they could very well get that. This could be a bloodbath as well. Rumor has it that Seattle coaches have placed a bounty on Portland linebacker Mike Kosier, the man who broke Seattle in that fateful game.

Pittsburgh AT Los Angeles, Week 10 - The other two 6-1 teams go head-to-head in Los Angeles. Pittsburgh could convince a lot of doubters by pulling off the upset here. Yes, we said it. Upset.

Cincinnati AT Seattle, Week 10 - A possible...POSSIBLE...Washington Bowl preview.

St. Louis AT Houston, Week 10 - This could be the biggest rout in league history. Steve Banks should produce ridiculous numbers here.

Miami AT Pittsburgh, Week 12 - You see a running theme here, don't you? This seemingly round-robin fight between the division leaders in the HFC continues in Pittsburgh, where Miami has yet another big game. We failed to mention that they play Tampa the previous week.

San Francisco AT Cincinnati, Week 12 - Top defenses will go head-to-head here. You can't help but like Cincy's chances...but Herkie Martini has been lights out in the big games. His veins have ice in them, but against the Royals secondary, will he freeze?

Tampa AT Pittsburgh, Week 13 - The HFC certainly is chock-full of games worth watching in the second half, and this game is no exception. Tampa QB Dick Dinkins faces the Pride defense and the Pride crazies in what could be snowy weather. How will Tampa handle the cold weather? Dinkins went to Louisiana Tech, and has never played in a game where the temperature was lower than 50 degrees. This should be very interesting for the rookie, and for us fans to watch.

Seattle AT Indianapolis, Week 14 - Indianapolis beat Los Angeles earlier this season. Will they knock off the other preseason favorite in Seattle? The Monarchs have been coming on strong lately, winners of their last three, and are now in the playoff chase. Will they slay another dragon, though? Not if the Tritons have anything to say about it.

Cincinnati AT Los Angeles, Week 15 - Cincy will have faced all of the other current division leaders when they come to Los Angeles for this battle. This could be for the top seed in the HFC playoffs, which makes it a huge game by itself. But what will be interesting is how the duo of Leonard Smith and Barry Robinson stack up to LA's duo of Sammy Baw and Sammy Hoambrecker.

San Francisco AT Seattle, Week 15 - This could be for the Frontier division title, which comes as a shock to many. Who would have thought that the Generals would even have a winning record at this point? We're not even sure that their front office thought they could win this season. But here they are, and this potential battle for the division title could ALSO be for home field advantage.

Washington AT Boston, Week 15 - If Boston stumbles, this could be for the division. Boston has won ugly this year, and will probably continue to win ugly...that's to say, with rushing and defense. Washington has won somewhat ugly, too. But the rematch of this game could go either way, I think. Boston is susceptible to lackluster play in spurts. Nobody questions that they are one of the top teams in the league. But their game in San Francisco was just awful, and they have had flat halves before.

New Orleans AT Atlanta, Week 17 - The winner of this game could earn a playoff spot. The loser could go home for its effort. I think this game will be played for a playoff spot, and if so, then it's a great game to watch.

Second Half Predictions

CFC Conference Division Winners and Playoff Predictions

Colonial: Boston. They have too much defense, and Brian Barrett, for teams in this division to overcome. Washington can make a run, but New York and Philadelphia are gearing up for next season.

Midway: Michigan. I don't think Chicago has enough to overcome the Panthers. They ARE 1-2 in the division, but they hit their defensive stride in shutting out Pittsburgh.

Grid: Houston. They have too much offense. Simple as that. Too much offense and too favorable a schedule to lose this division.

Frontier: Seattle. I still think they have all the pieces worthy of a division championship. I don't think they'll take home field, but they should get the division.

Wild Card: San Francisco and Chicago. I can believe San Francisco. They have the defense and just enough offense to get in. Chicago though...that's a reach. I just don't think anyone else can make it. Chicago may get in at 8-8...I'm picking them more on the fact that their schedule is much easier than any of the other candidates.

Playoff Tree:

Home field: Houston
First-round bye: Seattle

First round:

Chicago (6) @ Boston (3): Boston wins with defense. Chicago could make it interesting, but Boston would win this one. Change Barrett's batteries and let him run all over the field.
WINNER: Boston

San Francisco (5) @ Michigan (4): San Francisco could even have a better record than Michigan in this one, and they go on the round. It would not be an upset to see the Generals win this game, and I think they could on the strength of their secondary.
WINNER: San Francisco

Divisional Round:

San Francisco (5) @ Houston (1): This would be a truly great matchup: the wily old quarterback and potent passing offense versus the top secondary in the league. Someone would have to give. I think Craig Stephens pushes this contest in Houston's favor, and as a result, Houston wins.
WINNER: Houston

Boston (3) @ Seattle (2): Tough draw for Boston. This looks like a game that could be 3-0, to be honest with you. But, in the end, it comes down to Monte Meier over Russell Stock. Seattle wins this game.
WINNER: Seattle

CFC Championship:

Seattle (2) @ Houston (1): This depends on how well the defensive line of Seattle can get at Banks. Banks can beat this secondary, especially after seeing San Francisco. But if he's rushed, Seattle wins. This game, as surprising as it sounds, is a toss-up. But I'll take Seattle, on their schedule that prepped them for this game, their defensive line, and that I won't leave them now, after I started with them in the preseason.
WINNER: Seattle

HFC Division Division Winners and Playoff Predictions

Valley: Cincinnati. Their offense is too good for this division. They're 3-0 within the Valley, and while Indy could push them, I don't think Cincy could give up this lead.

Midland: Pittsburgh. As if there's any other team in this division that can take them...

Gulf: Miami. They have a really tough four weeks coming up, and then....nothing. If they go 2-2 over this stretch, they'll win the division by two games. Tampa could make a push, but there are some traps left in their schedule.

Pacific: Los Angeles. Seems academic, doesn't it?

Wild Card: Tampa and San Diego. San Diego? Well, yes. They only have two super tough teams left, Boston this week, and Los Angeles in Week 17. With Ladell Suggs, who may be the most underrated quarterback in the league, they have a chance to really go on the roll they were on in the first quarter of the season. I don't know if Indianapolis, the other favorite to take the sixth spot, could really nail it down. So, I'll take San Diego.

Playoff Tree:

Home Field: Los Angeles
First-Round Bye: Pittsburgh

First Round:

Tampa (5) @ Cincinnati (4): Toughest matchup of the first round, by far. It's a pick-em game. So...after flipping a coin, I'll take Cincinnati for their experience. Tampa will be a great team with Dick Dinkins at the controls...but this is as far as he gets this year.
WINNER: Cincinnati

San Diego (6) @ Miami (3): San Diego may have gotten this far, but I think it's ludicrous to think they'll get further. Miami could make Ladell Suggs' life miserable; these two have faced off, with Miami winning 35-26 in Week 5. In the rematch, I think Miami will take them again.
WINNER: Miami

Divisional Round:

Cincinnati (4) @ Los Angeles (1): Well, there's experience. And there's the Home Wrecker. And when you have the Sammies Two (Baw and Hoambrecker), as well as the defense the Marshalls have...well, the Royals will be crowned, all right.
WINNER: Los Angeles

Miami (3) @ Pittsburgh (2): Another pick-em. I'm taking Pittsburgh on the basis that it'll be frickin COLD in the Burgh. Also, Billy Rolovich has proven capable of winning big games.
WINNER: Pittsburgh

Conference Championship:

Pittsburgh (2) @ Los Angeles (1): Really tough game. I mean...you'll see the steam from LA, and it won't be the smog. The question of the hour is...will the Pittsburgh defense be able to handle Sammy Hoambrecker for an entire game? You know, I think they will, but I think Los Angeles will still win this game in the final minute. Special teams will do in Pittsburgh in this game.
WINNER: Los Angeles

Washington Bowl I: Seattle vs. Los Angeles

The preseason prediction still holds up. And I think Los Angeles has the upper hand here because of Sammy Hoambrecker. I just don't know if Quincy Jones will hold up for the entire playoffs. He may be hurting once the Bowl rolls around. But Hoambrecker is an absolute horse, and seems to be getting better and better as the weeks go by. I think Los Angeles will ride Hoambrecker to the title.
WINNER: Los Angeles by 6

Other predictions...

MVP: QB Steve Banks, Houston
Offensive Player of the Year: QB Steve Banks, Houston
Defense Player of the Year: CB Tavares Cook, San Francisco
Offensive Rookie of the Year: QB Dick Dinkins, Tampa
Defensive Rookie of the Year: SS Jack McCoy, Philadelphia
Coach of the Year: Bill Doran, Pittsburgh
First overall pick next year: Kansas City
First player taken: OT Gene Herron
Biggest free agent next year: FS Cecil Hall
Darkhorse to make playoffs this year: San Diego, New Orleans, Dallas
Could implode: Miami, Michigan, San Francisco

Cup O' Joe - Week 8 Predictions

A bad week means we're looking to get back on track. Then again, 7-7 is a bad week, so we're not hurting so much.

Game of the Week:

Tampa (5-2) @ Miami (5-1): A huge division in the Gulf gives Tampa their second-straight Game of the Week. We were wrong on them last week, when we predicted them to fall to Houston, and they rolled right past them 51-27. Go us. This week, we think Tampa QB Dick Dinkins will be the difference. He threw for FIVE touchdowns, a league record, last week in the win over Houston. He also opened up the rushing game, as Patrick Putzier ran for 112 yards, and the Blazers ran for 223 and all. It appears Tampa is running on all cylinders, and they'll be hard to stop this week, even in Miami. The Blitz have won five in a row since losing their opening game, a 44-7 blowout in Houston. The defense for the Blitz is suspect, and I think Tampa will take the division lead in a surprising rout.
Prediction: Tampa 41, MIAMI 20 (4-2, GOTW predictions)

Other Games (home team in CAPS):
Houston 45, KANSAS CITY 14
Indianapolis 27, NASHVILLE 24
Chicago 28, ST. LOUIS 27
CINCINNATI 24, Arizona 17
BOSTON 17, New York 14
WASHINGTON 34, Iowa 16
San Francisco 30, CLEVELAND 24
Seattle 23, LOUISVILLE 20
Portland 30, OAKLAND 16
NEW ORLEANS 34, Atlanta 30
Pittsburgh 10, MICHIGAN 6
DENVER 17, Baltimore 13
SAN DIEGO 20, Carolina 17

Last Week: 7-7
Season: 60-42