Pittsburgh Franchise Football League 2011 News & Notes

Week 3

 

Around the League

PFFL East Standings

Franchise VP W-L-T PF PB Max PF PP PA PWR Eff Strk Cleantown 11 3-0-0 495 0 185 540 374 40.67 91.7% W3 Syndicate 10 3-0-0 387 108 148 458 340 31.43 84.5% W3 IC Lightning 9 2-1-0 481 14 191 531 367 36.98 90.6% W2 Cousins Mc 8 2-1-0 423 72 159 451 388 32.00 93.8% L1                       Capital 8 2-1-0 412 83 150 477 405 33.56 86.4% W1 Commish East 8 2-1-0 383 112 147 433 352 28.29 88.5% L1 T Bones 4 1-2-0 368 127 166 420 427 25.50 87.6% L1 The Jolly Roger 4 1-2-0 322 173 129 375 365 24.19 85.9% W1                       Midquippa 3 1-2-0 329 166 140 385 348 22.99 85.5% L2 Nasty Aggravators 3 0-3-0 375 120 142 453 447 25.69 82.8% L3 Weekend Warriors 2 1-2-0 330 165 130 401 348 22.26 82.3% W1 Dego's R Us 2 0-3-0 356 139 131 404 500 24.89 88.1% L3

PFFL East Week 4
#1 Cleantown vs. #9 Midquippa
Cleantown 175 Nasty Aggravators 142	Going into the game Cleantown had the highest efficiency rating in the entire league while their opponent sported the worst rating in the East. This week however the Aggravators won the coaching battle 93% to 85% but lost the game 175-142. Cleantown may have lost their #1 coaching rating but they replace it with the #1 ranking in the East. They stand as just one of three teams in the entire league still without a loss and maintain their #1 point ranking league wide. And they now play the #34 ranked team league wide in points. Could it be the Kevin Cody Consortium is making a comeback in 2011? With both Hillis and Foster out they were relegated to Delone Carter as a starting back. They could have stole one here considering their opponent put up just 100 points but other than their QB not one other position player broke double digits. And now this week they face the #1 scoring team in the league. But they do at least get Hillis back this week and possibly Foster and they will need them both against a red hot Cleantown.
Weekend Warriors 100 Midquippa 83
#2 Syndicate vs. #10 Nasty Aggravators
Syndicate 109  T Bones 100	It seems lady luck is repaying the Syndicate for being a bitch last year. They are 108 points behind Cleantown but are tied in wins with them and just 1 back of them in VP. Last year it was just the opposite for this team as they led the East in points for most of the year yet posted a losing record. The issue was definitely in doubt going into Monday night though, with just a two-point lead and Hightower against the T Bones and Witten. The loss had Dean so flabbergasted he unknowingly was posting Sandlot messages on the East board. Speaking of flabbergasted and message boards go the the Sandlot League and read some of the posts from Mickey or Dean for that matter. On second thought maybe you better not if you value your sanity. It's just down right unlucky when you get 2VP for your points yet still lose your game. In fact down right unlucky is what the Aggravators have been so far sitting in the middle of the pack in points but without a win. Actually it hasn't been all bad luck as once again and for the third straight week they chose to play Roethlisberger over Stafford and once again and for the third straight week Stafford outscores him. No it didn't matter this week or even last but in week 1 it did and 1-2 is better than 0-3. I guess Stafford will just have to wait for Pittsburgh's bye week to come off the bench.
Cleantown 175 Nasty Aggravators 142
#3 IC Lightning vs. #8 The Jolly Roger
IC Lightning 178 Cousins Mc 126	For the second straight week the Lightning put up a big number resulting in back to back firsts in the East. After starting the season in the bottom tier they leap frog to the middle tier in week 2 and now the top tier in week 3.  They are second only to Cleantown in total league points but still trail the Syndicate in the standings who have 100 less points. They are heavily favored over their opponent this week and are just waiting for Cleantown's first loss to allow them the top spot. See Vincent I said a whole bunch of  nice things about you this week and never mentioned the fact that I beat you in week 1. Sitting at the bottom of the East point rankings The Jolly Roger can feel fortunate they are not also sitting in the bottom tier. They can also feel fortunate they got to play the injury depleted Commish East this week. This week however they shouldn't feel fortunate playing the surging IC Lightning who has averaged over 180 points the last two weeks. The schedule is working in their favor however that they can stay out of the bottom tier with a loss and it's not like IC Lightning can't be beat. Commish East did beat them in week 1 after all.
The Jolly Roger 114 Commish East 91
#4 Cousins Mc vs. #5 Capital
IC Lightning 178 Cousins Mc 126	No shame in getting beat by a team that puts up 178. And although the loss cost them their undefeated status it didn't cost them their top tier status as they drop just one position to fourth. But the real shame is the loss of Britt. There are only so many players capable of putting up big numbers week in and week out and Britt looked to be one of them.  Add in the fact that they already have Colston out for at least two more weeks and it will be hard to hold on to that top tier status. After a convincing victory over the Dego's, the only thing separating Capital from the top tier right now is eleven points. And the only thing stopping them from getting in the top tier this week is their opponent this week. There is no danger of them moving into the bottom tier with a loss but a win and the top tier is theirs.
Capital 150 Dego's R Us 131
#6 Commish East vs. #12 Degos R Us
The Jolly Roger 114 Commish East 91	What a difference a week makes! At the start of week 2 Commish East was atop the East. Four injuries including their #1 pick and one week later they fall off a cliff to sixth. They are in no danger of falling below 8th this week but if they don't get some people healthy soon below 8th is where they will be. But they did at least beat IC Lightning in week 1! Commish East lost their #1 pick in week 2 to injury but the Degos probably feel like they never had a #1 pick. Their #3 receiver has as many points as their top pick Chris Johnson. Although they sit in the cellar of the East in 12th they have two things going for them: One is they are just one solid win away from 8th and the middle tier and two they at least still have their #1 pick.
Capital 150 Dego's R Us 131
#7 T Bones vs. #11 Weekend Warriors
Syndicate 109  T Bones 100	Even if the T Bones would have pulled this game out on Monday night they most likely would still have been right where they are in seventh; except with more VP and closer to the top tier than the bottom. Getting just two points out of their #1 pick Turner didn't help. BTW what is it with first picks this year. At least half of them are either busts or injured. I don't think the Warriors have any complaints about their first pick AP but may have a few issues with some of their other players. They haven't been under 100 points this year but in two of the three weeks 100 is all they got. And the one week they got some decent points 130 it was only good enough for 9th that week. At least they got the win albeit a 2VP win. And that's where they sit right now with just 2VP so kind of desperate for a second win I would think.
Weekend Warriors 100 Midquippa 83

 

PFFL Central Standings

Franchise VP W-L-T PF PB Max PF PP PA PWR Eff Strk H Hammers 9 2-1-0 417 47 162 478 409 34.08 87.2% W1 TD's 8 2-1-0 464 0 193 492 405 33.42 94.3% W1 Arnie's Army 8 2-1-0 422 42 152 457 366 33.10 92.3% W1 TnT 8 2-1-0 417 47 179 445 341 27.84 93.7% W2                       Frannie's Train 8 2-1-0 403 61 179 428 370 29.23 94.2% W2 JR's Boys 7 2-1-0 373 91 144 533 354 33.91 70.0% L1 Little Johnny & Will's 6 2-1-0 372 92 158 430 390 25.94 86.5% W2 Sharks 6 2-1-0 355 109 121 394 370 24.98 90.1% L1                       Park Valley 5 1-2-0 351 113 131 434 378 27.03 80.9% L2 Bartertown 4 1-2-0 341 123 150 380 368 23.06 89.7% L1 Twisted Helmets 4 0-3-0 387 77 139 443 485 29.33 87.4% L3 Snake & Shake 1 0-3-0 348 116 125 431 414 23.29 80.7% L3

PFFL Central Week 4
#1 H Hammers vs. #12 Snake & Shake
H Hammers 162 Twisted Helmets 139	In a very close Central the Hammers jump from fourth to first with their victory over the Helmets. Had they lost this game they would be somewhere in the middle of the middle tier. That's how close the Central is right now. You can get a six position jump with a win or loss. Last year saw a lot of discord amongst the decision makers on this team but the decision to take Brady early seems to have put all that in the past. They now get the defending champions who sit at the extreme opposite of the standings in last. Do you think the defending champs regret changing conferences about right now. It's not over yet but a first to last is staring them right in the face. The irony here is they chose Vick in the draft five picks before the Hammers took Brady. The beauty of hind sight! It's hard to call a game this early a must game but already 5VP from the middle tier this is pretty close.
Arnie's Army 152 Snake & Shake 101
#2 TD's vs. #6 JR's Boys
TD's 193 Sharks 121	The TD's exploded this week with the current high week of the year of 193 points. No they didn't have Brady but they did have Welker and his 51. The Sharks just had no chance in this one. Like the Hammers they jump four positions but since 4VP is the max they have to settle for 2nd place for this week anyway. They now get the underachieving JR's Boys who come into the game with the worst coaching rating in the league of 70%. The Boys currently sit in 6th but as close as the Central is right now the TD's could conceivably fall to sixth with a loss. The Boys are really struggling right now with picking the right lineup as their 70% rating demonstrates. They did a little better this week posting a 79.7 rating but lost their first game and yes this game was winnable. The strange thing is this was their best rating of the year and the only game they lose! In their defense, upon inspection of their roster, they really don't have many obvious choices. Their choices have been more unlucky than wrong. Well so far they are 2-1 with a 70% rating and just 2VP from being #1. Imagine what a mid 90 percentile rating would have them...
Little Johnny & Will's 109 JR's Boys 98
#3 Arnie's Army vs. #8 Sharks
Arnie's Army 152 Snake & Shake 101	Well they make it 3 weeks in a row they play Sanchez over Tony Romo but I guess three's a charm because this time it worked out. The pivotal win moves them to 2-1 and moves them from the middle to the top tier. But with 1VP separating the top 5 teams a loss could undo it all so again another pivotal game. Considering they are ranked 2nd in Central points and 7th overall in the league they are a considerable favorite to go 3-1. We have been expressing how close the Central is and how one game could drastically change a teams position in the standings and the Sharks loss this week couldn't illustrate this any more. Coming into the week they were 2-0 in second place. One loss later they are 2-1 and in 8th. Sooner or later weak points will show and although the Sharks haven't put up bad numbers, they have all been below this years averages. If 2-1 has them in 8th, 2-2 could put them in the bottom tier.
TD's 193 Sharks 121
#4 TnT vs. #7 Little Johnny & Will's
TnT 118 Bartertown 84	The Central conference is not only close but disoriented as well. TnT wins their game yet loses ground in the standings dropping from 3rd to 4th. And ground in the standings isn't all they lost. While they did win their game they lose Britt for year. Not sure the last time I saw this many injuries to top players so early in the season. A win dropped them one spot in the standings this week so you can imagine what a loss will do. They at least have no danger of the bottom tier. Little Johnny got by the Boys to earn their second win and are now one of 8 teams at 2-1. They are just 3VP behind the leader but with 5 teams between them and that leader they are not really as close as it sounds. Unlike their opponent this week a loss could leave them below the cut line so a very pivotal game for them as well.
Little Johnny & Will's 109 JR's Boys 98
#5 Frannie's Train vs. #10 Bartertown
Frannie's Train 139 Park Valley 128	The Train can thank Park Valley's decision makers for this one. Up 4 on Monday night it was their Dallas defense against Fred Davis. The fact that the Valley chose Davis over Felix Jones is the reason they are in the middle tier and 2-1. The win puts them right in the thick of the Central as 1 of 4 teams with 8VP and 1VP behind the leader. They should at least send the Valley a thank you card. With Stephen Jackson on the bench Bartertown needed Chris Johnson to finally step up but he remained so-so, so so does Bartertown with a 1-2 record and a bottom tier address. Obviously they still have potential in Jackson when he starts playing and if Johnson quits playing around they could compete in a very close conference that is still totally up for grabs. And TnT has become a little more beatable with the loss of Britt.
TnT 118 Bartertown 84
#9 Park Valley vs. #11 Twisted Helmets
Frannie's Train 139 Park Valley 128	Second guessing is easy after the fact but the Valley has to be second and third guessing their decision to play Fred Davis over Felix Jones, on a Monday night, IN DALLAS! I'm sure they cringed every time Cooley caught another pass. Well what's done is done and since this conference really is still totally up for grabs it is nothing they can't overcome. You won't see many 0-3 teams with 4VP. At actually 6th in Central scoring it is flat out unlucky they are without a win but they are not without any VP and the first sort order of the standings is VP. This conference is as close as it gets right now but it won't stay that way. This game is actually huge for both teams.
H Hammers 162 Twisted Helmets 139

PFFL West Standings

Franchise VP W-L-T PF PB Max PF PP PA PWR Eff Strk Schleprock 12 3-0-0 454 0 166 528 370 38.31 86.0% W3 Archie's 9 2-1-0 419 35 154 477 358 35.45 87.8% L1 Brookline 8 2-1-0 434 20 177 469 334 31.94 92.5% W2 Endzonerz 7 2-1-0 380 74 140 461 315 28.84 82.4% W2                       Bid 66 Bandits 7 2-1-0 352 102 150 448 367 29.30 78.6% L1 Detroit Lions 5 2-1-0 355 99 132 443 383 26.28 80.1% W2 Irish Talbots 5 1-2-0 387 67 153 473 371 30.27 81.8% W1 French River 5 1-2-0 385 69 153 440 418 28.49 87.5% W1                       Smiley's Snipers 5 1-2-0 347 107 138 442 377 27.02 78.5% L2 B&B 3 1-2-0 330 124 120 376 371 23.76 87.8% L2 MNE 3 1-2-0 320 134 117 434 429 24.39 73.7% L2 Commish West 3 0-3-0 350 104 122 403 420 24.76 86.8% L3

PFFL West Week 4
#1 Schleprock vs. #10 B&B
Schleprock 166 MNE 89	Schleprock is in first so that must mean they have either Brady or Welker on their team. They have Brady. What they also have is the most VP in the entire league 8; which is the most you can have after the 3 weeks. They also have the largest lead over 2nd in the league of 3VP and while they do lead the West in scoring, they are ranked 4th overall in the league. Oh well I guess you can't have everything. But they are close as they could lose this week and still remain in first even if the 2nd and 3rd-place teams win. That's amazing to be in that position this early in the season. Last year B&B owned this conference for most of the season but have struggled so far this year. It seems every team with Chris Johnson is struggling right now. But I would still rather have him than Jamaal Charles right now. In need of a win they don't need a game against the top team in the conference but it is what it is. They actually have some top players they just need them to produce. Mainly CJ and Turner and both do have the potential to have big games. It's not over if they lose this game but they can definitely forget about the top spot at least if they do.
French River 153 B&B 107
#2 Archie's vs. #9 Smiley's Snipers
Detroit Lions 132 Archie's130	Archibald almost pulled this one out on Monday night but fall 2 points short. It would have been a great win but the reason they lose this one is Deon Branch's big fat zero! No, the real reason they lose this one is because they had to play Branch because Miles Austin was hurt. Last week we mentioned that Austin's injury hurts their scoring and it seems it now has cost them a win. They drop from first to second but they would have done that anyway because of Schleprock's 166 points. OK they still hold a top two address and now play the 9th ranked team so there is still more good than bad going on here. With the VP system not all wins and losses are equal. They get beat badly by the Talbots and in return the standings treat them badly dropping them from the top tier all the way to the bottom. It's rare a team bypasses a tier entirely but 0VP weeks have that ability. They may be in the bottom tier but the VP system works both ways as they have the same VP points as the next three teams above them. Don't know if they get back in the top tier with a win but should at least get out of the bottom with one.
Irish Talbots 125 Smiley's Snipers 82
#3 Brookline vs. #5 Bid 66 Bandits
Brookline 148 Commish West 116	As expected Brookline has little trouble with Commish West and moves into the promised land of the top tier. Ranked 2nd in West points their opponent this week is 80 behind in points scored but just 1VP behind in the standings. And since their opponent also has the same record 2-1 this game most likely means staying in the top tier or leaving it. After a solid 2-0 start the Bandits don't show up in week 3 and consequently get evicted from the land of the byes. Who didn't show up was Hillis and Foster literally and add in your QB and WR playing in a torrential downpour and you have little chance for a successful week. Well both may play this week and the weather conditions shouldn't be a factor whomever they play at QB so they should give Brookline a much better game than they gave the Endzonerz. Most likely a win moves them back into the top tier.
Endzonerz 135 Bid 66 Bandits 68
#4 Endzonerz vs. #6 Detroit Lions
Endzonerz 135 Bid 66 Bandits 68	The Zonerz caught the Bandits on the right week for sure missing both Hillis and Foster giving them an easy win and an important win that moves them into the top tier. But that success will be short lived without another win. The schedule and standings are such that if they lose this game they should lose the top four.  The Lions had to sweat one out on Monday night but can thank Witten who's 12 points were just enough to keep Archibald from overtaking them with Hightower and Moss. They were up 21 going into the night but I'm sure when Hightower scored the trepidation level was high. But Witten did just enough to keep Archie's from overtaking them and they now have an opportunity to move into the high rent district. Right now they stand dead in the middle of the conference 2VP from the top tier and 1 win from the bottom so a crossroads game for them for sure.
Detroit Lions 132 Archie's130
#7 Irish Talbots vs. #12 Commish West
Irish Talbots 125 Smiley's Snipers 82	Yes the Talbots pick up the win but what I don't understand is why they didn't play Sanchez. This team is part of the Cody Consortium isn't it and so is Arnie's Army yet for three straight weeks Arnie's played Sanchez over Tony Romo yet here they play Orton over Sanchez. Kevin what's going on. Has there been a hostile take over of the Consortium? Who's running the show here? With decisions like this you may even lose to Commish West this week! I would like to blame it on choosing the wrong players each week but that's just not the case. This team just can not win in this conference. Including the last two years they are 7-18 in their last 25 games in the West conference. Just think how embarrassing it would be for the Talbots to lose to this team this week.
Brookline 148 Commish West 116
#8 French River vs. #11 MNE
French River 153 B&B 107	Well here we go another Cody Consortium team? Just how many are there anyway? And how did they manage to score 153 points after losing Charles in week 2 and not having Stephen Jackson in the lineup again? It's this deregulation stuff. We need to reign in these greedy corporations once and for all. They pay no taxes and now they demand they win their games with their best players not on the field. It's tyranny I tell you. It's not a good start to the season but it's actually a better start than they had last year. This is actually a very important game for them this week. A win may not get them out of the bottom tier but it will at least set it up for them to get out the following week. But a loss could alienate them from the byes completely and relegate them to fighting for a wildcard spot the rest of the year. Do you think all the teams that took Vick wished they had taken Brady instead?
Schleprock 166 MNE 89

Sandlot Defending League Champion M4

Welcome to the 2nd season of the PFFL Sandlot League

 

PFFL Stuff

The Score: The scoring came back to Earth a bit this week but is still elevated well above last year's pace. In fact this week's 125 ranks as the second highest of last year. A correction from last weeks scoring notes: The record high week that was set in 2007 was 134.8 and not the 120.1 that was listed. The 120.1 was the scoring average for the final week of 2007. The bottom line is through the first three weeks of this year the scoring is 11 points higher than last year. Week 2 Year Beginning East Central West Overall 2011 5-Year Ave 125 129 121 125 127.9 116.9 ● After three weeks there are more teams without a win than without a loss. Three teams remain undefeated while five teams are still seeking their first win. Not every team has a win but every team has at least 1VP. ● Not one team in the East has an efficiency rating under 82%. Both the Central and West have teams in the 70 percentile. ● The Dego's R Us defense continues to be the most porous in the league. With 150 more scored against them this week that makes an even 500 on the year or a weekly average of 166 they must compete against. ● The Syndicate is the only team with a 3 posted in the Coulda Won - Woulda Lost section of the Power Rankings. The 3 is under the Woulda Lost. Last year at this time that same 3 was in the Coulda Won column. ● The byes will start next week in week 5. The first teams off are: Baltimore, Cleveland, Dallas, Miami, St. Louis, and Washington. ● Every first-place team has either Tom Brady or Wes Welker on their roster. Can you imagine if any team had both of them right now. They are currently one-two in overall PFFL scoring with Brady one and Welker two. Cam Newton is currently ranked 4th in overall points. ● Six or half of the 12 first round picks are not ranked in the top 30 in scoring. ● Regular Season Games Remaining: | 8 |

League Total Point Rankings Rk Franchise PF 1 Cleantown 495 2 IC Lightning 481 3 TD's 464 4 Schleprock 454 5 Brookline 434 6 Cousins Mc 423 7 Arnie's Army 422 8 Archie's 419 9 H Hammers 417 10 TnT 417 11 Capital 412 12 Frannie's Train 403 13 Syndicate 387 14 Twisted Helmets 387 15 Irish Talbots 387 16 French River 385 17 Commish East 383 18 Endzonerz 380 19 Nasty Aggravators 375 20 JR's Boys 373 21 Little Johnny & Will's 372 22 T Bones 368 23 Dego's R Us 356 24 Sharks 355 25 Detroit Lions 355 26 Bid 66 Bandits 352 27 Park Valley 351 28 Commish West 350 29 Snake & Shake 348 30 Smiley's Snipers 347 31 Bartertown 341 32 Weekend Warriors 330 33 B&B 330 34 Midquippa 329 35 The Jolly Roger 322 36 MNE 320   Average 384

PFFL Defending League Champion Snake & Shake

Welcome to the 20th Season of the PFFL!