PFL 2019-20 Half-season report card
by Ryan Sollis
After ten weeks of action, everyone has completed nine games in league play. We have graded all 16 teams’ progress to date:
PFL EAST
Landor 96ers (6-3) – B+
The 96ers have been a great defensive team, led by DE Vin Marshall, who has become an elite pass rusher. The offence is still good, but there are signs that veteran QB Kurt Sierra is perhaps coming to the finish line sooner rather than later. Continue reading PFL Half-season report card
The Caligara Bulldogs and Ballymore Tigers booked their tickets in the penultimate Football Sunday of the season. The two will square off on 3rd March at the Crystal Bowl for the PFL Championship.
Caligara beat out the defending champion New Jorg 96ers 17-10 in a crazy snow-affected semi-final. The Tigers saw off the Rochester Trojans 16-7 in their semi-final.
Both teams are big on defence,so the game in two weeks could be a very dogged affair. The Bulldogs, who had a 15-3 overall record in the regular season are the bookmakers’ favourites- by one touchdown. The Tigers finished 12-6 and had to win both games on the road, so will not be worried about travelling for one more game.
Bulldogs’ Seth Slater makes a sensational one-handed TD catch in the win over the 96ers
PFL features | The Long Snapper
Hands up who knows who is the Long Snapper for the Ballymore Tigers? Anyone? No? Um, how about for the champion Landor Knights? Still no? Well, meet the position where fame is not sought, if you’re getting attention, you may be doing it wrong. Welcome to the world of the most unheralded position in Football. I give you the Long Snapper.
It wasn’t even considered a proper position, deserving of a specialist roster spot until the 1990s. Yep. The backups often got a roster spot on their ability to long snap. The teams started taking in more seriously after some key games, where missed field goals and extra points had been attributed to botched snaps. one by one they reserved a roster spot for someone who could specialise in getting the ball to the punter and to the holder on place kicks. Nowadays it is an accepted position, but is it respected? Continue reading Unloved, unnoticed and irreplaceable: The story of the Long Snapper
The 2017-18 regular season has just two weeks left to play, but there are an astonishing 12 teams vying for the eight playoff spots! In two weeks time four of these teams will be on the outside looking in. We may know more next weekend, as losses eliminate Ballymore and Adelphia from contention.
The Outsiders;How do either Adelphia or Ballymore get in?
Both teams can get in with two wins, to get to 9-9 and they need other teams to lose both. The Phoenix’s extra-time win over the Melborg Giants was enough to keep them alive, so wins against the 96ers and Knights could let them sneak in.
The Tigers have to beat the Hawks and then the Bulldogs at home. Similar scenario.
Who is in already?
The Landor 96ers, Hallas Stars and Caligara Bulldogs have all guaranteed themselves top spots in their division and will be seeded. The Chakota Wasps are currently atop the PFL Central, however the Oakland Ravens and Rochester Trojans are both 10-6 and could end up topping the division with two wins. It is all to play for.
The defending champions, the New Chester Knights are almost secure in a spot.
On the Cusp
The Knights, Trojans and Ravens are all one win away from sealing their places, this means that the three 8-8 teams are vying for the latter spots- Eregon Eagles, Melborg Giants and St. George Sharks. Basically, keep winning to get in is the key!
Week 20 will see the Wasps play the Ravens and Eagles against the Sharks, so it looks to go right down to the wire.
Welcome to 2018, here’s to a fabulous New Year from all of us here at the PFL.
Looking forward to the Champions Bowl on Saturday January 6th and Crystal Bowl XLVIII on 4th March.
Season 2017-18 | PFL West
In the West, they will be happy to have lost the Bulldogs in the re-classification this off-season. They proved pesky in divisional ties all year round. With the Eagles still a little unknown (and maybe paying for trading away the prospect of Vin Marshall) we think it comes down to the other three this year. Hallas lost the Crystal Bowl in March, but have lost before and come back. Adversity is not always a speciality of Saint George or San Angelo- which is why we give the Stars the edge in here.
EREGON EAGLES
The Eagles traded the number one pick- the chance of having Vin Marshall to gain some players with experience. Will they come to rue that day? They have a decent attack now and with Play-making midfielder Jeff Holliday bouncing back from injury, should be much improved from their disastrous 2016 (2-16 record). The defence can be stout- i they all put their shifts in. Is this enough to make any waves in a pass-friendly division? Can they cover everybody? We don’t think they’ll do enough this year.
Predicted finish: 4th
HALLAS STARS
Hallas are Crystal Bowl contenders, so have to figure to be in the top two for 2017. With Drew Williams having more weapons than just Amani Sanders- it seems a little unfair on pass coverage defences this year. They keep tinkering with the defence to keep pass protection confused, with crazy blitzes or zones springing up from time to time. The Stars should play a starring role in 2017, getting back should not be too difficult. No CB losing hangover for them.
Predicted finish: 1st
SAINT GEORGE SHARKS
The Sharks are ready, coming off a mildly disappointing 2016- with Trent Harris behind Centre. This is time for this team to preach togetherness, no more arguing on the sidelines or too the media (or social media). If they can get behind one-another for 18+plus games, will be in the final four. There, we said it.
Predicted finish: 2nd
SAN ANGELO MINERS
Poor San Angelo, after winning Crystal Bowl XLV it’s been tough for them. Brandon Mullen needs better protection from an ageing line. Will some new blood be enough to keep them battling for their QB? Defensive backfield is questionable, but otherwise is blessed with enough talent up front on defence. Just missing out on play-offs due to losing close divisional ties.
Predicted finish: 3rd
2017-18 Previews | PFL North
The PFL North is the home of smashmouth football in the PFL. The problem, sometimes is that they spend so much time beating up eachother that they don’t really make any moves in the post-season. It is a development year for both Harteford and Iomagh, so it is really between Ballymore and Caligara for the divisional title. This is the one division where we feel second place may not get you in the play-offs.
BALLYMORE TIGERS
The Tigers had a bad run last year, with a injury plague tearing apart the often stifling defence. When they had the ball, plays often broke down too quickly, meaning Bo Mills took a lot of unnecessary shots. Better forward play will make this team play-off bound. We think they might just make it.
Predicted finish: 2nd
CALIGARA BULLDOGS
The Bulldogs bounced back last season, following some dire performances since Sean Wallace retired in 2012. Zack Slater has arrived! The Slater-2-(Seth) Slater combo has opened up the attack nicely. The defence is a tough as always, perhaps even nastier than before. Should make enough early ground to win-out this division.
Predicted finish: 1st
HARTEFORD HAWKS
Harteford can always surprise you, but not this year. The new logo will look great, but don’t think it’ll bring any razzle-dazzle to this somewhat stagnant team.
Predicted finish: 3rd
IOMAGH STEELERS
Iomagh haven’t been that great for a few years now. The continued instability at the front office and at QB means we are not set for another dynasty , yet, or perhaps even for a while. Cam Rogers was let go, which was a chancey move. Read: Development year.
Predicted finish: 4th
The PFL Central is going to be interesting as this is a season when the tides could be turning as the Wasps say goodbye to a legend, the Oilers say ‘Hello’ to Edjerious Jones- so, the Trojans and Ravens will be vying to knock off the Wasps as undisputed kings of the Central Division.
CHAKOTA WASPS
The Wasps have one more season with legendary record-setting QB Billy Humphrey, he still has a great supporting cast around him for his final shot at a third Crystal Bowl title. The defence is a little flat, though. This could prove once again, as the Achilles heel of Humphrey’s legacy- great on attack, dodgy in defence. Head Coach Wally Dawson will hope that he has enough in defence to make it through. We think its 50-50 this year.
Predicted finish: 3rd
OAKLAND RAVENS
The Ravens are a tough team, no doubt. From the front lines to sidelines to special teams- they are tough everywhere. We feel that this could be the year when everybody else feels just how tough they are. “Tom2” (Tom Tomkowski, QB) has settled down and as he matures, is showing us to be a better player. Better decision making in the final third will elevate this team to the play-offs.
Predicted finish: 2nd
ROCHESTER TROJANS
Rochester have a very balanced team, they play old-fashioned play-action football. It’s very effective when you have a QB like Ryan Bruce at the helm. Still, they may need some great plays on defence, but as the best overall unit in the division- this division is surely there’s for the taking.
Predicted finish: 1st
TALLASSEA OILERS
Edjerious Jones is gonna make plays. He looks like an absolute beast of a wideout. This is good news for the oilers. The bad news is that they are not truly settled in who is going to be throwing the ball to him. When that’s settled- all good for Tallassea. Sorry Oiler fans, not this year- but they are getting much closer. Keep the faith!
Predicted finish: 4th
Previews | PFL East
This division holds the reigning PFL champions and a team that’s gone to the big game in three of the past five seasons. With Melborg always looking competitive, what have New Jorg got themselves in to here?
ADELPHIA PHOENIX
Adelphia’s window of remaining great is shortening- players like Matt Kelly can continue, but replacements for the all-down back Marshall Knight and the receiving corps will be essential soon. The defence is marshalled my Micheal Keys in the middle and barring injuries, this team is ready for at least one more big run.
Predicted finish: 2nd
LANDOR KNIGHTS
Elijah (Brooks, QB) finally showed everyone that he is not just a regular season Quarterback. No, he is for real. This season he will be looking to replicate his athletic moves and tremendous decision making from last season. He ran the attack so efficiently last term, that the remainder of the league struggled with option plays and bubble screens. On Defence, a few changes up front may take time to bed in. Might not be a 18-0 team , but will surely be in the play-offs to defend their crown.
Predicted finish: 1st
MELBORG GIANTS
The defence carried them last year, and the team will be looking for some playmakers out wide to take the pressure off QB Chase Hand. Hand is really, really good, but can he be great thus year? That’s the question for him and his co-ordinators this time around. Solid ground game should stay solid, whilst the ‘D’ never gives up on a play.
Predicted finish: 3rd (possible play-off spot)
NEW JORG 96ERS
New Jorg join this division at a time when they have not been too competitive. The 96ers have lost one good QB and gained another one though, with the pick up of Kurt Sierra from Harteford. Sierra will have to learn the offensive system quickly and is expected to start- and maybe coach up his replacement in the next year or so (tough world for PFL QBs). Star rookie DE Vin Marshall will wreck havoc on this division’s forward lines- but it won’t be enough, at least for this year.
Predicted finish: 4th
PFL Draft HQ | Ryan Solis
Without any games to mull over, this time of year creates a different sort of buzz…that of potential. 128 players have the potential to make a huge difference to the outcome of the 2017-18 season. But first, the teams have to weigh them up and make some difficult choices.
Our first group of experts pick their first round fantasy boards. This is their take on how things will pan out this week, can you pick it better? Continue reading PFL Draft boards! Who is pickin’ who?
The Professional Football League of Eboria 