Wow….Okay this week sucked. I am not even talking about the 5SS victory renege – I am talking about how I feel. I was ahead of schedule. My article
was done. I started on Monday before the games were complete. Tuesday arrived and the standings looked great and there was a lot to discuss. My
article was engaging, it was funny, it was enlightening, it was everything you would want from a 30 minute sitcom – but in paper form. And then darn it all to
heck! The standings took a midweek dow jones like tumble and all my story lines and character arcs went askew. Its just not fair. In the words of the
immortal Chris Brockman: “fuck this shit.”
Stupid Yahoo!. Anyways – here are the whatever few paragraphs I can salvage from my would-be Pulitzer prize winning expose, lets get on with it…..
Not to belabor the point, but even prior to Yahoo!-gate, this week may have been one of the most exciting weeks – for better or worse – weeks in ROFF
history. Quick recap for Week 10:
But before I get off the topic of Yahoo!-Gate 2008 (because you know there will be more), the outcome is fair. Hines Ward didn’t make the catch, and fair
trade deserved the win. It was a high scoring bloodfest, no doubt. For fair trade, the jump from 12th to 8th is tremendous. Hopefully with the addition of
TJ Houshadmaeidak the winning streak will continue (in Week 12). As for 5SS I wouldn’t write them off yet, there are still other team’s seasons to ruin.
Playoff Scenarios
Asterisk Update: Double G got theirs, as promised…albeit through a loss, but in nonetheless.
Seven Wins: A victory this week, Sherm and NJJ qualify for the playoffs. They will even get an asterisk.
Three Wins: Loss and 5SS is officially out. Technically still alive with a win, but the four 5-5 teams play each other quite a bit over the next three weeks,
which will likely put them out of reach for a five-win team. 5SS needs to go 2-1 at the very least in order to eschew the ivory crown. Which means a loss all
but spells number one pick. Tough break for the former champ.
Race to the Ivory Bowl
The following teams are officially eliminated from the 2008 ROFF Toilet Bowl Derby: GG, Sherm, NJJ and Nomads. Ten teams still in the running! Good
Luck!
Another sad bit of news for Mr. Cantor regarding the toilet bowl, every single team that was in the 14-hole going into Week 11 ended the season in the 14-
hole and laid claim to the Circular Idol.
History Lessons
I don’t know if anyone else has noticed, but scoring is down tremendously in our league vs last year at this time. Perhaps a result of poor QB play? Last
year we had Derek Anderson, Peyton Manning, Big Ben, Favre, Brees and some other guy…I cant seem to recall. Take a look at the scores for this week
in 2007 and 2008 and draw your own conclusions:
2007 would blow away our 2008 squads.
6-4 Teams: There have been 19 teams with a 6-4 record and only one 6-4 team has ever missed the playoffs (in case you missed last week’s article, that
was my squad in 2006 – absolutely quit on me). I don’t see this happening this season. Nomads are the lone 6-4 team and also have the 2nd highest
point total in the league.
5-5 Teams: 15 teams have been 5-5 in the past six seasons and nine of them made the playoffs. Last year there were three 5-5 teams, two made it in,
the other went 0-3 and missed the playoffs. And one of those teams ended up the League Champion…ahem..Hungry Horses..ahem
4-6 Teams: Speaking of Senor Deay..here we find our defending champion. There have been 15 teams with a 4-6 record and four have made the
playoffs. Not since 2004 has this happened. BDay has a good shot because he plays two 5-5 teams in the next three weeks, making the opportunity to
jump into the elite eight all the more real.
Teams under the Microscope
Coffeeon3rd
My dance partner in the acquisition of the convalescing Cajun, Marques Colston, C3 has emerged from the pack and is in good position to make a playoff
push. Looking ahead, the next 3 games are very difficult as each opponent is ranked above them with a combined record of 17-13 (the second hardest
schedule remaining). Looking backwards, C3 has been quite unpredictable, scoring less than 80 points four times but also scoring more than 110 points
four times, most recently last week. I think this inconsistency is coming to an end in large part thanks to the trade completed last week. While RB may
have been a weakness, the improved health of Bush, McGahee and Felix Jones and the addition of MJD may have solved a lot of problems for this squad.
The only question mark moving forward is at QB. Palmer didn’t work out from the draft and currently C3 is using a rotation of Hasselbeck and Flacco.
Sitting at 5-5 with a point total comparable to the top 4-6 teams, I would be surprised if C3 missed the playoffs.
fair trade
My distinguished opponent this week. fair trade, or as I occasionally misspell, friar trade, is gunning for the first winning season in franchise in history and
a return to the post season after a 2 year absence. While C3 has the second hardest remaining schedule, fair trade has the most difficult (18-12). The
low point total for fair trade really has them at a handicap, but for the last four weeks their points scored have gone up every week. From the start, fair
trade has collected running backs (the latest, Cadillac, could be useful down the stretch) and was finally able to trade one for an elite WR last week.
Whether this was too little too late, we shall see. But keep in mind, no team has won a higher percentage of their games (60% ) in the second half than fair
trade.
Soaring Pigs
Not much has been said about our defending champion. A preseason favorite, Soaring Pigs is still in the picture, peering in at #11. Not as well publicized
as the 5SS score revision, Parker lost a point due to a Welker reception/non-reception and is now ranked below the Tools by less than a point; whereas he
was ranked ahead by a point…and this week, the Tools and the Pigs, both trailing close behind in points to the current 4-6 leader and #8 seed, BDay, will
face each other in the only 4-6 vs. 4-6 matchup this week. A loss eliminates no one, but essentially puts each of the next two weeks into the “must-win”
column. Having scored 95+ points in each of their first four weeks, the Pigs have only hit that total once (last week) in the last four weeks. The Pig’s
remaining opponents have a combined 15-15 record. After this week, it is a trip to the cellar (5SS) and the final week is a trip to the attic (GG). At this time
last year, the Pigs were at 5-5 in 8th place and put together a trade the eventually brought them the trophy. With only a few days remaining is there
something brewing in LA?
Peanut Gallery
Who are you and your neighbor rooting for? Besides the teams mentioned above, here is the rundown:
Week 11 Matchups
Crazy good matchups! The top 4 are pretty safe, it’s the rest of the bunch that could get shuffled around a bit.
Top and Bottoms: The top teams are safe – these games mean much more to the teams on the bottom
Safesiders: Both these teams are safe and will more than likely make the playoffs.
Messy Middle: These games could shift things around quite a bit
Three weeks left – is anyone thinking about the 2009 draft yet?
was done. I started on Monday before the games were complete. Tuesday arrived and the standings looked great and there was a lot to discuss. My
article was engaging, it was funny, it was enlightening, it was everything you would want from a 30 minute sitcom – but in paper form. And then darn it all to
heck! The standings took a midweek dow jones like tumble and all my story lines and character arcs went askew. Its just not fair. In the words of the
immortal Chris Brockman: “fuck this shit.”
Stupid Yahoo!. Anyways – here are the whatever few paragraphs I can salvage from my would-be Pulitzer prize winning expose, lets get on with it…..
Not to belabor the point, but even prior to Yahoo!-gate, this week may have been one of the most exciting weeks – for better or worse – weeks in ROFF
history. Quick recap for Week 10:
- 3 of the 7 games were decided by less than ONE point
- 137 points was not enough to win one game
- Neither was 129 points
- #1 and #2 laid eggs
- A two-time champion was robbed a victory and exiled to the 14-hole for at least 2 more weeks
- And we have TEN teams within one game of the 8-Spot!
But before I get off the topic of Yahoo!-Gate 2008 (because you know there will be more), the outcome is fair. Hines Ward didn’t make the catch, and fair
trade deserved the win. It was a high scoring bloodfest, no doubt. For fair trade, the jump from 12th to 8th is tremendous. Hopefully with the addition of
TJ Houshadmaeidak the winning streak will continue (in Week 12). As for 5SS I wouldn’t write them off yet, there are still other team’s seasons to ruin.
Playoff Scenarios
Asterisk Update: Double G got theirs, as promised…albeit through a loss, but in nonetheless.
Seven Wins: A victory this week, Sherm and NJJ qualify for the playoffs. They will even get an asterisk.
Three Wins: Loss and 5SS is officially out. Technically still alive with a win, but the four 5-5 teams play each other quite a bit over the next three weeks,
which will likely put them out of reach for a five-win team. 5SS needs to go 2-1 at the very least in order to eschew the ivory crown. Which means a loss all
but spells number one pick. Tough break for the former champ.
Race to the Ivory Bowl
The following teams are officially eliminated from the 2008 ROFF Toilet Bowl Derby: GG, Sherm, NJJ and Nomads. Ten teams still in the running! Good
Luck!
Another sad bit of news for Mr. Cantor regarding the toilet bowl, every single team that was in the 14-hole going into Week 11 ended the season in the 14-
hole and laid claim to the Circular Idol.
History Lessons
I don’t know if anyone else has noticed, but scoring is down tremendously in our league vs last year at this time. Perhaps a result of poor QB play? Last
year we had Derek Anderson, Peyton Manning, Big Ben, Favre, Brees and some other guy…I cant seem to recall. Take a look at the scores for this week
in 2007 and 2008 and draw your own conclusions:
2007 would blow away our 2008 squads.
6-4 Teams: There have been 19 teams with a 6-4 record and only one 6-4 team has ever missed the playoffs (in case you missed last week’s article, that
was my squad in 2006 – absolutely quit on me). I don’t see this happening this season. Nomads are the lone 6-4 team and also have the 2nd highest
point total in the league.
5-5 Teams: 15 teams have been 5-5 in the past six seasons and nine of them made the playoffs. Last year there were three 5-5 teams, two made it in,
the other went 0-3 and missed the playoffs. And one of those teams ended up the League Champion…ahem..Hungry Horses..ahem
4-6 Teams: Speaking of Senor Deay..here we find our defending champion. There have been 15 teams with a 4-6 record and four have made the
playoffs. Not since 2004 has this happened. BDay has a good shot because he plays two 5-5 teams in the next three weeks, making the opportunity to
jump into the elite eight all the more real.
Teams under the Microscope
Coffeeon3rd
My dance partner in the acquisition of the convalescing Cajun, Marques Colston, C3 has emerged from the pack and is in good position to make a playoff
push. Looking ahead, the next 3 games are very difficult as each opponent is ranked above them with a combined record of 17-13 (the second hardest
schedule remaining). Looking backwards, C3 has been quite unpredictable, scoring less than 80 points four times but also scoring more than 110 points
four times, most recently last week. I think this inconsistency is coming to an end in large part thanks to the trade completed last week. While RB may
have been a weakness, the improved health of Bush, McGahee and Felix Jones and the addition of MJD may have solved a lot of problems for this squad.
The only question mark moving forward is at QB. Palmer didn’t work out from the draft and currently C3 is using a rotation of Hasselbeck and Flacco.
Sitting at 5-5 with a point total comparable to the top 4-6 teams, I would be surprised if C3 missed the playoffs.
- Besides pulling for themselves, C3 will also be rooting for BDay. If they both win, C3 could be in 5th place next week.
fair trade
My distinguished opponent this week. fair trade, or as I occasionally misspell, friar trade, is gunning for the first winning season in franchise in history and
a return to the post season after a 2 year absence. While C3 has the second hardest remaining schedule, fair trade has the most difficult (18-12). The
low point total for fair trade really has them at a handicap, but for the last four weeks their points scored have gone up every week. From the start, fair
trade has collected running backs (the latest, Cadillac, could be useful down the stretch) and was finally able to trade one for an elite WR last week.
Whether this was too little too late, we shall see. But keep in mind, no team has won a higher percentage of their games (60% ) in the second half than fair
trade.
- Fair trade is in a precarious position. They will be rooting for BDay, combined with a win of their own would put fair trade in 6th place with two weeks
left. They will also be pulling for 5SS and Sherm just to create some space below.
Soaring Pigs
Not much has been said about our defending champion. A preseason favorite, Soaring Pigs is still in the picture, peering in at #11. Not as well publicized
as the 5SS score revision, Parker lost a point due to a Welker reception/non-reception and is now ranked below the Tools by less than a point; whereas he
was ranked ahead by a point…and this week, the Tools and the Pigs, both trailing close behind in points to the current 4-6 leader and #8 seed, BDay, will
face each other in the only 4-6 vs. 4-6 matchup this week. A loss eliminates no one, but essentially puts each of the next two weeks into the “must-win”
column. Having scored 95+ points in each of their first four weeks, the Pigs have only hit that total once (last week) in the last four weeks. The Pig’s
remaining opponents have a combined 15-15 record. After this week, it is a trip to the cellar (5SS) and the final week is a trip to the attic (GG). At this time
last year, the Pigs were at 5-5 in 8th place and put together a trade the eventually brought them the trophy. With only a few days remaining is there
something brewing in LA?
- The Pigs are rooting for the Colts and GG – combined with a win of their own, the Pigs could be in 7th place this time next week.
Peanut Gallery
Who are you and your neighbor rooting for? Besides the teams mentioned above, here is the rundown:
- GG: Redskins
- Sherm: Jets (congratulations)
- NJJ: Giants
- Nomads: GG, Sherm, 5SS and Colts
- Born: BDay, GG, Sherm and 5SS to create some separation
- Colts: 5SS, GG, Sherm to create some separation
- BDay: GG, combined with a BDay win could put BDay at #7 and in the playoff picture….Sherm, 5SS to a lesser extent to separate from the pack.
- Tools: A BDay win would bring Colts back into the mix, but a Colts win and a GG win would put the Tools potentially into 7th
- FBC: A win combined with a Colts and GG win could put FBC into 9th
- Nose: If GG, 5SS, Colts all win, they could be in 10th
- 5SS: If GG, Colts – its time to play catchup
Week 11 Matchups
Crazy good matchups! The top 4 are pretty safe, it’s the rest of the bunch that could get shuffled around a bit.
Top and Bottoms: The top teams are safe – these games mean much more to the teams on the bottom
- Double G (8-2) vs. fair trade (5-5) fair trade needs to insulate their poor point total with some wins. A win here could put give them some security in
the 6-spot. GG needs to insulate their ego from the slings and arrows of fortune’s discontent. - Shermtanks (7-3) vs. Nose (4-6) a victory puts the Shermtanks into the postseason for the 3rd straight year – a loss puts Nose closer to the Toilet
Bowl and makes that Week 13 matchup with 5SS much, much scarier.
Safesiders: Both these teams are safe and will more than likely make the playoffs.
- NJJ (7-3) vs. Nomads (6-4) A win puts NJJ in the post season. A loss will hurt Nomads record, but probably keep them ranked at 4th.
Messy Middle: These games could shift things around quite a bit
- C3 (5-5) vs. Born (5-5) Both teams received new RBs last week. This week, they try them out against each other. A win puts one 5-5 team into the
plus .500 column, the other could be sucked back in to the depths of 5-6 teams – and with a lot of 4-6 teams, the fall could be great. - Tools (4-6) vs. Pigs (4-6) With 12 hours remaining, both of these teams eschewed trading. The winner is in good position to make a playoff burst,
while the loser falls into must-win mode. - Bday (4-6) vs. Colts (5-5) Battle of the henhouse – who let the wolf in? Much the same way when Brock gave himself up to victory-virgin 5SS. The
Bandit could instill similar confidence in the young BDay and possibly rip off a Championship tear? - 5SS (2-8) vs. FBC (4-6) Two trade partners now vicious enemies. A loss will be devastating to both teams. A win provides playoff hope for FBC
and a win provides hope of escaping the dark and lonely 14-hole for 5SS
Three weeks left – is anyone thinking about the 2009 draft yet?
