PFL Central 2017 Preview

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

PFL East 2017 Preview

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

Top 5 Free Agency moves: 2017

PFL Free Agency 2017 |Ryan Solis

Before the draft, teams are still addressing needs through free agency. Here are the PFLdotcom’s top five free agency pickups for this spring:

1. Kurt Sierra (QB) New Jorg 96ers

With a lack of high-quality QBs expected in the 2017 draft, this was a great move from the ‘Sixers to get in a veteran QB who can lead this attack. Sierra was dependable in Harteford and although he had troubles staying on the field in 2015 and 2016, he looked to be back to his old self.

PFL Draft boards! Who is pickin’ who?

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?

Brooks features on new PFL game cover

PFL Video Games | PFL | Elijah Brooks

After capping off a near-perfect season with the New Chester Knights, Elijah Brooks is being honoured on the consoles, as he is the cover star of Supreme Sports Video Game for the upcoming season: PFL Prime Time Football 2018, which is available from 1st September 2017.

Amorgan and Pottsburgh lose their Final Tax Appeals

PFL | High Court | ERS | Amorgan Blues | Pottsburgh Cardinals

Both the Amorgan Blues and Pottsburgh Cardinals have lost their High Court tax case appeals, forcing both teams into the red and triggering suspensions- leading to potential expulsion from the league.

The PFL Executive Committee will meet next week to determine where we all go from here. Distressing times for Amorgan and Pottsburgh fans, who’ve suffered all winter over this.

Storm Suspend PFL Operations

The Seafax Storm have suspended operations in the Professional Football League. All players and coaching staff have been informed of the teams decision.

The team was losing money on and off the field and owner Ted Samuels has decided to pull the plug. Only an average of 21,000 saw the last three home games. Ten years ago, they had a 40,000+ average. What happens next to the players and staff is a little unclear as the PFL season is about to enter the play-offs.

With the Victoria Panthers already winding down their current PFL existence, this would leave the league with 18 teams, pending the futures of Pottsburgh and Amorgan still being debated.

Pottsburgh and Amorgan have both been found to have broken Eborian Tax laws and contravened PFL financial rules- the penalties can result in expulsion from the league. Their appeals are due to be heard in late January 2017.

We await further news that will no doubt be on interest to the Seafax fanbase.

GOTW: Sharks kick themselves over loss

   SAN ANDREAS MINERS  29

   ST. GEORGE SHARKS 28

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	ET	FT
Saint George	7	14	7	0	–	28
San Andreas	0	10	6	13	–	29

Trailing 23-28 with just 11 seconds remaining, Miners QB Brandon Mullen found Anchor Avery Lewis wide-open following the ‘greatest play-fake, ever!’ according to their coach .Jake McDonald. It was a heartbreaking defeat for the Sharks, and one that leaves them vulnerable for the play-offs now. Sharks QB Trent Harris had dissected the Miners defence in the first half, torching them for 163 yards and  three touchdowns. The Sharks’ kicker, Bruce McGwire missed two second-half field goal attempts that would likely have been enough to put the game out of the Miners’ reach in the fourth quarter.

Week 15 Talking Points

Fifteen weeks down, five to go! Everyone now has five games in five weeks to book their place in the play offs… unless, of course you are the Panthers, Blues, Hawks, Cardinals, Eagles and Oilers.

Here are the top notables from week 15:

PFL GOTW- Giants at Bulldogs

PFL Game of the Week

   MELBORG GIANTS  31

   CALIGARA BULLDOGS 24

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	ET	FT
MELBORG	14	7	7	3	–	31
CALIGARA	10	7	7	0	–	24

Summary:
The Melborg Giants won a thrilling contest in Caligara on Sunday. The Giants’ mean defence shut down both the Caligara run game and the Slater-to-Slater passing connection. Alternate winger Dennis Morales had 9 catches for 144 yards, including a 76 yard catch and run.

The Giants ran a simple and effective gameplan aginst the Bulldogs, running quick straight-ahead plays and quick passes. The Bulldogs had two opportunities to draw level in the fourth quarter, but both fourth downs resulted in incomplete passes- one to which brought a huge reaction from the home fans who insisted there was a defensive hold on the play.

Scoring:
1st Quarter:
MEL Hand 10 pass to Miller (Williams Kick)
CAL Wright 39 FG
MEL Beckett 98 yard kick return (Williams Kick)
CAL Slater 76 pass to Morales (Wright Kick)
2nd Quarter:
MEL Higgins 10 run (Williams Kick)
CAL Slater 5 pass to Slater (Wright Kick)
3rd Quarter:
MEL (Williams Kick)
CAL Slater 9 pass to Morales (Wright Kick)
4th Quarter:
MEL Williams 31 FG

Stats:

	Giants	Bulldogs
First Downs	22	18
Third Down Converts	6/13	6/15
Third Down %	46.2 %	40 %
Fourth Down Converts	0/0	0/2
Fourth Down %	0 %	0 %
Double Pointers	0/0	0/0
Double Point %	0 %	0 %
Run Plays	32	31
Run Yards	97	64
Run Average	3.0	2.1
Passing	20/28	20/34
Net Pass Yards	244	299
Touchdown Passes	2	3
TOTAL YARDS	341	363
Defensive Marks	1	0
Defensive INTs	0	0
Punts	5	6
Punting Average	45.4	38.3
Field Goals	1/2	1/2
Field Goal %	50 %	50 %
Fumbles	1	1
Fumbles Lost	0	0
Penalties	3	5
Penalty Yards	15	42
Turnovers	0	0
Handovers	0	2
Possession (Time)	29:42	31:38

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