The off-season has finally concluded and it was a pretty dynamic affair. The Diamonds find themselves at the top of the heap and the Seadogs are left to climb a tall mountain. Charlie of the WWU Shippers was the cream of the 2012 Combine in Diamond City. He went 1st in the draft to the Pharoahs who are hoping to start a new era of success. Many star moves later the rosters were settled. The Reapers proved true and won the preseason tournament over the Toros. Here is the team by team breakdown to get you ready for the 2012 season.
South-West Conference
This conference comes back again as the stronger of the 2, with the South weighing in #3, #4, and #6. Of course the West ain't no joke with #1 Diamonds and #6 Gold.
South
This will be an all out playoff all year. The Skylarks remain the biggest question coming in at #4 from nowhere last year. The Toros are super charged and the Cat's are on their mission back to the Championship. Don't forget the Dragonfish, even though they had a rough training camp, they have a good scheme.
A- #6 - The Cat's were sole team to keep their squad in tact. They resigned Jared to a long contract and kept Zach around, and were rewarded with him improving to a 3. They come out with 2 power players and no weak links. Their season isn't too forgiving. They begin in St. Louis in the Opening Day Special in a Championship rematch against the Interceptors. Another big out of division game will be against the Diamonds in their home gym.
B #13 - The Dragonfish put all the pieces in place to be successful, but they had a very uncharacteristically bad training camp. Maybe it is the chemistry that will be severed because all-time Dragonfish Aleksandr was traded to the Empire for Garcia. Aleksandr was brought in during the historic roster shake-up 8 seasons ago where he paired up with Jacoby and proceeded to make the playoffs for a record 7 years straight. The mission was to bring some youth into the team. So they also included Bosley in the trade for the Empire's 2nd pick in the draft. They drafted Temp (ANT) but he declined to a 3 as well as Garcia. Jacoby is now a 5. The schedule is of course packed with Southern opponents, the Diamonds greet them in Cali to begin the season, the team that ended it last year. DIA #1, CATS #6, TOR #3, REP #2, SKY #4, TOR #3, CATS #6, GOLD #5, SKY #4, INT #7. WHOA!!!! They only play 1-7 all year. If there were ever a chance to prove you are a great team, this is it.
A #3 - The Toros couldn't do much more to get better, but they pulled a fast one on the whole league. It was pretty much a perfect scenario, the Toros needed some way to improve and the Empire needed cap and to rid the culture of malaise in the organization. Williame was acquired for $1 in permanent cap and Parker. Although they achieved this, Darren declined to a 4 and Rayquan is now a 5. Good news is Martin went to a 3, so no weak links. Outside of the South, they have a pretty porous schedule, so they are expected to go to the post season and possibly do a 3 of 4 and become a true dynasty.
A+ #4 - It seems to be back to winning in Atlanta, but anyone who knows the South knows that anything can happen. Can they get over the 3rd set loss hump? Maurice agreed to terms, giving the team a sigh of relief. Ali C. and their 4th pick was traded for Elios and the 15th pick after wanting out. It seems to be good as Elios and Hellstrom (MET) boosted the team up 2 points. Carlos was let go to make room for Hellstrom. Potts became a power player also. This team needs to keep its head down to earth, they cannot overlook the Gremlins game. The Reapers and Gold game will be great tests also.
West
The West sits pretty defined this year. The Diamonds are heading it up with the Gold providing some competition. The Silverbacks are behind the scenes and the Pharoahs are way out back. But I promise it will not shake out so simply.
A #1 - The sun is shining and the weather is sweet on the beaches of Diamond City. Sebastian and the gang can do no wrong was they made it to the Conference Finals last year and are definitely looking past it coming into this season. The big change is that the weak links that were killing them last year are gone and in come in Kurtis (None) and Ranier (TEX). Ranier was drafted but the Kurtis was wisely wheeled from the Empire, who didn't have a roster spot for him, in exchange for $2 million of Alexandr help for 2 years. Big question is if Sebastian can avoid a sophomore slump. Big games include 2 Gold matchups (they have already suffered a loss in the Tourney), a trip to New Orleans later in the season and maybe the DF will provide some resistance in the season opener. They have a pretty lax schedule relative to the talent they have. They will learn how hard it is to have every game be a huge game for the opposing team.
A- #5 - Call them the Expendables, call them Old Gold, but are the Gold back to Conference Championship appearance form? We will see. They reeled Travis away from the Margays and picked up his hefty tab for 4 years in exchange for the 3rd pick in the draft and next years pick. They grabbed Brass (DD) and Nadashess from Free Agency, both turned out to be duds however. Maybe Nadashess can act as the emotive leader they badly need since Nathan left a year back. Peletierre seems to have it figured out coming up as a 6. Desmond hopes to end his career strong over seeing this pretty old team for modern standards. Their schedule is pretty middle of the road, but don't expect them not to trip up against the mid ranked teams, those weak links can kill a rally.
B #14 - Another reboot. Hopefully this time it will be significant. They finally parted ways with the cancerous Rob and cash for the 6th pick in the draft from the Gremlins, where they grabbed Limberg (None) who was eventually traded to the Reapers for $2mil/3yrs of #1 Pick Charlie's (WWU) salary and the REP 2013 pick. They then proceeded to trade that 2013 pick for Nathan. Many were dismayed at the passing of McFadden (YU), a center, in the draft for Charlie. Now they are stuck with Nathan who is proving to be on a downhill trip. But on the bright side, Charlie improved to a 5 and Lyons joins him there. They have the schedule to get some serious traction in the win column.
B- #9 - The Silverbacks always hesitant to make a big move, didn't even plan on making a move. But, Carter (WF) was available when their number was up in the draft, and why not get a young replacement for Nadashess. It worked out well as their rival Gold got Nadashess and he turned out to be a 2, and Carter is now a 4. But almost rookie of the year last year Zeno went down to a 4, but Sanchito came up to a 5. The season could go either way, out of division features a match-up with the Cat's and another edition of Semere v. Kenneth.
North-Midwest Conference
The Conference is easily swaying towards the Midwest now after years of pretending the North was where it's at. But the Conference still remains under the South-West. It is generally a younger Conference, so let's see where they can take this thing.
North
The North is looking really green in more ways than one. The Empire head up the division after a really productive off-season. There are also 6 rookies playing in this division. The Seadogs, Margays and Empire are 'rebooting' while the Dizzy Devils were trying to maintain after winning the division last year.
B- #10 - They didn't have a bad off-season, but didn't have a great one. Sitting on top of the North, while every other team was rebuilding, they could have easily distanced themselves. They did swap picks with the Skylarks to get McFadden (YU) the best center in the draft. J. Jordan is now a power player and they were able to get something for Nathan, a 2013 Reapers pick from the Pharoahs. But they still find themselves ranked #10. They get a nice start with the Margays and Seadogs, but then hit the Diamonds in DC. They also have a duel at home with the Interceptors. They are probably the hardest team to predict.
A #8 - Somehow, they get rid of Williame and become a better team. They get 3 South players and some cap back. They traded Williame for Parker, $1in cap room, and their 10th pick in the draft. They then give up their 2nd pick in the draft and Garcia for Aleksandr and Bosley. Using their draft pick, they get Kurtis (None) and angle a trade with the Diamonds when they realize their is no spot for him to get Aleksandr some $2mil/2yrs help. It is a franken-team with no real chemistry, but their division and schedule gives them cushion to really find it. They do face a tough Reapers team later on and the Gold in the last regular season game. I'd take them to win this division.
B+ #15 - Although they are in the depths of the rankings, their 3 wins in the preseason tournament were not an accident. Even though Travis was playing at a high level for the 2 years he was on the team, they couldn't build anything with his massive contract tying their hands. They traded him for the Gold's 3rd pick in the draft and next years pick. With that, they got Pasquel (MEX), who was a stud in the tournament and is a 5. Their 2nd pick in the draft went to the Texan Irwin who is also a 5 now. Narrow Streets is a weak link now as well as free agent pick up Bruce, but hopefully these fresh faces will carve a new history for this perennially struggling organization. The schedule is pretty fitting for them to fight and have a chance.
C #16 - They had a bold plan and it blew up in their face. They had to attack a situation where 2 high rated players retired. So they decided to flow with it and cut Ronnie along with it to start completely over. They acquired 3 count them, 3 draft pick to change the face of this team. They paid the Reapers $3mil of Jason's contract for the 8th pick in the draft. They then swapped their 2013 pick for the Dragonfish's 13th pick in the draft. They assembled 3 rookies who all turned out to be 3's, the hope was somebody would become a 4 but the team had a very uncharacteristic training camp where James is no longer a power player and Corey went down to a 3. It will undoubtedly be a rocky season, but the beginning of something new, and the fans know it. Fun fact: this will be the 1st time since season 2 that 3+ rookies will be starting for a team.
Mid-West
The Midwest has produced the last 3 Conference Champions and it is looking like it will likely produce a 4th with the Reapers and Interceptors in prime form. The Gremlins might sneak in a couple blows and the Scarlet Ember always find a way to win.
B+ #11 - They ended last season with 3 weak links and now are working with none. They traded their pick for Rob from the Pharoahs. Maybe a bad move, Rob is now a 3 and aging. But they picked up Hansen from FA and he improved to a 3 replacing perpetually disappointing Eric. Melisizwe is now a 3, Casey looks poised to lead this team, and Chicagoans are praying Donte gets out of his slump. The schedule is pretty stacked, outside of the division they face the Skylarks coming out of the blocks. They also hit Houston at the end of the year.
C+ #7 - Maybe some trepidation on their part after winning it all on a season that maybe couldn't be improved upon. They had one objective: replace Dian. They were able to sign away Ricky for a fat contract, and that tied up some money so they couldn't really wheel and deal. They couldn't sign their rookie Brass (DD) because he was too expensive, so they settle on Pete Moss. He turned out to be the worst player with a contract in the league! The schedule starts off with a Championship rematch on National TV at home, then goes to OKC where the hot Reapers will wait, following a preseason victory over INT. It tapers down a little after wards, but bookends with Reapers and then Dragonfish. May not be a perfect season, but they should be sitting pretty in the playoffs.
A+ #2 - They have arrived. They showed everyone and the Hong Kong public that they are one of the premier teams in the league. Only 2 seasons removed from being 0-10. They traded a pick to help Jason's contract which is kind of been transferred to help Charlie's (PHA) contract. That trade also included the acquisition of Limberg for REP's 2013 draft pick. No weak links, and Reid joins Jason and Miller among power players, this team is set. The schedule should favor them more times than not, the Southern opponents should be good games though. Most importantly, the Interceptors games will be the test of the season. Fun fact: The Reapers will play the Skylarks for the first time ever after coming in as expansion teams together in season 2.
B- #12 - Not good, not bad. They cut some cap room by getting rid of Bruce. They drafted Skogstad (SWE) and got Sven from free agency for $5mil, but he improved to a 4 so it may be worth it. This team now has a distinct Swedish tinge to them. They need to take care of Jack before he starts letting it affect his play. But, they usually never really shake things up and end up in the post season, so, they hope to build on a very unexpected Conference Championship season keeping with their methods.
Let's get ready to rumble!
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