Pittsburgh Franchise Football League 2011 News & Notes

Week 6

 

Around the League

PFFL East Standings

Franchise VP W-L-T PF PB Max PF PP PA PWR Eff Strk Cleantown 23 6-0-0 932 0 185 1028 727 41.33 90.7% W6 Syndicate 20 5-1-0 808 124 148 891 703 34.05 90.7% W1 Cousins Mc 17 4-2-0 812 120 159 947 753 33.99 85.7% L1 IC Lightning 15 4-2-0 802 130 191 935 719 32.75 85.8% L1                       Capital 13 3-3-0 756 176 150 859 789 30.25 88.0% W1 T Bones 11 3-3-0 724 208 166 831 730 27.37 87.1% W1 Commish East 11 2-4-0 736 196 147 853 753 28.01 86.3% L4 Dego's R Us 10 2-4-0 723 209 143 798 797 26.81 90.6% L1                       Weekend Warriors 9 3-3-0 665 267 130 787 657 25.28 84.5% W2 Midquippa 6 2-4-0 644 288 140 793 709 23.86 81.2% L1 Nasty Aggravators 5 1-5-0 644 288 142 791 793 22.23 81.4% W1 The Jolly Roger 4 1-5-0 610 322 129 746 726 22.05 81.8% L3

PFFL East Week 7
#1 Cleantown vs. #12 The Jolly Roger
Cousins Mc 120 Cleantown 139	Cleantown continues cleaning up in the East and the entire league for that matter as they remain the only unbeaten team in the league. In back to back weeks they beat the current #2 team to stay atop the East but despite another 4VP week they fail to increase their lead over 2nd. The Syndicate's 4VP keeps their lead at 3VP but they do double their lead over 3rd to 6VP. And their success isn't confined to the standings: They have earned weekly winnings in 5 of the first 6 weeks including two firsts with one being a Team of the Week; throw in a serious 120 point lead in the East and a 61 point lead league wide and you have the undisputed #1 team in the league. Can it get any better? Yes. After having to play the #2 team in back to back weeks they now get the #12 team. Do I have to say it? Yea Kevin! This loss cuts deep for sure. Even if they would have pulled this one out they would still be in a lot of trouble but now, I won't say hopeless, but I might say it if they get another 0VP this week. The only positive I have for them is Cleantown will be without Welker. The negative is they still have to play the #1 team in overall league points in desperate need of a win. Mathematically no they won't be eliminated with a loss but one look at the standings above and in practicality they probably will be.
The Jolly Roger 95 Weekend Warriors 98
#2 Syndicate vs. #4 IC Lightning
Commish East 121 Syndicate 142	The Syndicate do what they had to do to keep pace with Cleantown earning a weekly first and 4VP. They gain no ground on the #1 team but they do advance to 2nd. With the Town playing the #12 team this week they will probably have to do an encore to stay just 3VP back. A loss will be devastating in their quest for the top spot but not in the overall picture as they have a solid 7VP lead over the middle tier. With all the players they have on a bye this week they most likely don't have a 4VP week. In fact they have so many important players off they may need to win to get any VP. Luckily their opponent is in no better shape so at least a win is still a good possibility. Not losing any ground in the standings after putting up your worst week of the year is a good thing; but falling from 4 to 8VP back of first is a bad thing. Picking right this week posting a 91.5% coaching rating is a good thing; but netting just 86 points with that 91.5% rating is a bad thing. Having 5 New England players including Brady to pick from every week is a good thing; but having New England and all those players on a bye this week is a bad thing. The Syndicate will also be short quite a few top players this week equaling things up is definitely a good thing; but Capital and the middle tier just 3VP behind and the likely hood of you putting up more than 2VP maybe not likely, definitely a bad thing. Vincent if you don't like this good thing bad thing thing, we can go back to not mentioning that week 1 loss to Commish East. Let me know!
IC Lightning 86 T Bones 133
#3 Cousins Mc vs. #10 Midquippa
Cousins Mc 120 Cleantown 139	Hey I give them a lot of credit for doing this well. They played this game almost literally without a backfield and still put up 120. And even though they lose as expected because of being so short handed, they still manage 1VP in the loss. Ok they lose 2nd and now have a serious gap between them and first but considering the 2nd place team now has to deal with this week what they had to deal with last week, 2nd is there for the retaking. And they better do it this week because Rodgers is off in week 8. They might have got away with one last week but not this week. You lose by 4 and Peyton Hillis gets you 1 point, ouch! The first four weeks they wait on Foster; he finally returns and Hillis disappears. This game can be really frustrating and if they lose again this week it's going to get even more frustrating. They will be far from out of it with a loss but what is now out is the conversation about byes. From here on out were talking nothing but wildcard.
Capital 122 Midquippa 118
#5 Capital vs. #9 Weekend Warriors
Capital 122 Midquippa 118	Had Hillis not gotten benched or whatever happened to him that he got just 1 point, Capital would be kicking themselves for playing Burress and his 2 points over Harvin and his 15. But Burress' 2 points on Monday night was at least just enough to put them into the top four in weekly points and earn them all 4VP. It made no difference in their position in the standings but it moves them to within 2VP of the Lightning and the top tier. Important game for them this week in terms of positioning. A win could get them in the top tier and will keep them competitive for the top two. But a loss will change their focus to staying out of the bottom tier. Down 26 going into Monday night with Shonn Greene and the Jets D I'm sure the Warriors were putting most of their hopes on Greene; but it was the Jets D's 21 that got them the W. That's two wins in a row now but they remain in the bottom tier. One more VP would have got them out this week but now it will take 3 in a row if they want to go somewhere they haven't been all year, out of the bottom tier. And unlike last week the schedule is such this week they rise above it all with a win.
The Jolly Roger 95 Weekend Warriors 98
#6 T Bones vs. #8 Dego's R Us
IC Lightning 86 T Bones 133	Seeing as there's no gloating on the message board over the huge win over Vincent I can only assume Dean took some medication that wasn't prescribed to him. But I digress. We should be talking about their game. Did they again leave points on the bench? You guessed it. Had they played Alex Henery instead of Mason Crosby they would have gotten 2 more points and a 100% coaching rating instead of the 98.5 they recorded. Don't know how optimistic the Gumbas were down 18 on Monday night with Davone Bess and Reggie Bush left but considering their opponent still had Keller I would think not much. I would think even without Keller not much. Considering Bess and Bush together got just 13, point made. The loss didn't cost them a tier but it did cost them tier position dropping them from the top of the middle tier 5th to the bottom 8th and just 1VP from the bottom tier itself. CJ on a bye last week hurt them and playing with him this week may keep them above the cut line.
Dego's R Us 83 Nasty Aggravators 95
#7 Commish East vs. #11 Nasty Aggravators
Commish East 121 Syndicate 142	Considering their opponent put up the top number in the East this week they had no chance but they at least salvage a VP. Actually they were just 2 points from another VP and that just happened to be the difference in playing Newton or Romo. Can't complain too much losing four in a row and not in the bottom tier. Five in a row however... Hey they finally get it right! For the first time in the six weeks of this year they play the right QB. It didn't matter in the game outcome, in fact only one of the six did, but they play Stafford over Big Ben and it pays off. But they weren't mistake free: They leave Arrelious Benn and his 16 points on the bench. He was their highest scoring WR for the week and they leave him on the bench. If it's not one thing it's another.
Dego's R Us 83 Nasty Aggravators 95

PFFL Central Standings

Franchise VP W-L-T PF PB Max PF PP PA PWR Eff Strk Arnie's Army 18 5-1-0 809 24 152 871 676 33.48 92.9% W4 Park Valley 17 4-2-0 767 66 160 900 757 32.22 85.2% W3 Frannie's Train 15 4-2-0 767 66 179 812 682 29.47 94.5% W2 Little Johnny & Will's 13 4-2-0 737 96 158 829 715 27.68 88.9% W1                       Sharks 13 4-2-0 722 111 134 781 728 27.62 92.4% W2 TD's 13 3-3-0 833 0 193 944 804 31.78 88.2% L2 JR's Boys 12 3-3-0 726 107 144 942 758 31.33 77.1% L1 Twisted Helmets 10 1-5-0 741 92 155 837 847 28.19 88.5% L1                       Bartertown 9 2-4-0 712 121 150 800 750 25.82 89.0% L2 TnT 9 2-4-0 699 134 179 817 729 23.83 85.6% L3 H Hammers 9 2-4-0 698 135 162 826 770 27.24 84.5% L3 Snake & Shake 8 2-4-0 715 118 137 846 710 26.27 84.5% W1

PFFL Central Week 7
#1 Arnie's Army vs. #8 Twisted Helmets
TD's 103 Arnie's Army 151	And the Caissons keep rolling along!  They blitzkrieg their opponent to the tune of a Team of the Week and they are now the only Central team to hold the top spot in consecutive weeks. And what's impressive they do it without one of their starting RBs. Well we said they were deep at RB and they proved it and they will have to prove it again as again one will be on a bye. Obviously it didn't matter putting up the highest number in the league without one this week but this will be the third straight week they have one of their 3 RBs on a bye. Hate to see what they do when they have all 3! With a solid 5VP lead over 5th no danger in losing the top tier but just 1VP ahead of 2nd first is anything but secured. Their points have been solid but wins have been hard to come by for the Helmets but this week it was their points that let them down. Having the most points scored against in the entire league is the reason they are 1-5 but solid points is the reason they are not in the bottom tier. This week however they miss out on a sub-100 opponent and put up their worst effort of the year for yet another loss. But the Central race from top to bottom being the closest of the three right now they are getting away with it. As long as you are not in the bottom tier you are eligible to win it all and they hang just above the cut line in 8th. Don't think they can expect a sub-100 effort from their opponent this week however so definitely can't afford another dud.
Frannie's Train 96 Twisted Helmets 75
#2 Park Valley vs. #10 TnT
JR's Boys 113 Park Valley 131	The big Valley keeps the Army in their sights earning all 4VP to keep within 1VP of the leader. Getting 35 from your kicker and defense was definitely a bonus but they'll take it and take a win that keeps the top spot just a win away. They will need the Army to cooperate with a loss but first they must get by TnT. They created some separation from the middle tier so unlike last week they shouldn't lose the top tier with a loss. The last three weeks TnT has gotten just 13 points total from the QB position and the last three weeks they lose. This week they hope to stop the bleeding with Tebow and turn around a freefall that has landed them in the bottom tier. Considering the closeness of the Central no one in the bottom tier is more than 1 win away from escaping so not the end of the world to be there with 5 games remaining.
Snake & Shake 137 TnT 79
#3 Frannie's Train vs. #11 H Hammers
Frannie's Train 96 Twisted Helmets 75	Not sure even where to go here. After their trading debacle don't think they expected to win this one but they do albeit a 2VP win. It seems Vick and McCoy were all they needed but they do drop a position to 3rd. Ok but this week they won't even have Vick and McCoy or anyone really so if they win this week... I'm just going to stop right there. That's three L's in a row now. A drop of just one position isn't that bad but when your already in the lower tier it isn't good. What is good is the closeness of the Central Conference. Just 10VP separate all 12 teams. The Hammers may be in 11th but they are just 4VP from a bye. Anyone and everyone is in this race right now. But although there are still 5 games left, this conference can't and won't stay this close so an important game for sure. And an important game they will have to play without Brady however.
H Hammers 102 Little Johnny & Will's 132
#4 Little Johnny & Will's vs. #5 Sharks
H Hammers 102 Little Johnny & Will's 132	After a 3rd to 8th drop with a loss in week 5, a week 6 wins brings them right back to the top tier in 4th. The top tier isn't especially close so a win this week and they may move up 1 spot if that. In fact it's possible they drop out of the top tier even with a win. But with just 5VP separating 4th from 12th, a free fall is possible again with a loss. With just 5 regular season games remaining actually a huge crossroads game. Not all the Central games were final going into Monday night but this one was the only one really in doubt. The Sharks took an 8 point lead into the night with Shonn Greene for insurance. Their opponent came in with all their hopes on Santonio Holmes. Greene hasn't done much this year and didn't do much this night either, but his 8 was just enough to keep Holmes' 15 at bay for a huge 1 point win. In a super close conference the Sharks keep super close to the top tier actually just 15 points out. With Fred Jackson off they will need Greene to finally show up because although they are right up against the top tier fence, the bottom is just a stone's throw away.
Bartertown 121 Sharks 122
#6 TD's vs. #12 Snake & Shake
TD's 103 Arnie's Army 151	Not sure how but after two well below average scores of 103 and 106, the TD's still lead the conference in points. However after two straight losses, they drop from 1st to 6th. Right now they sit dead in the middle 5VP from the top and 5VP from the bottom so a definitive crossroads game for sure. No chance of dropping to the bottom tier with a loss but another loss will make it very difficult to get back into the top tier. The Snake has been shaking quite a bit the last two weeks in a desperate effort to get out of the cellar. They manage a second win but don't manage a move up as they remain in dead last. But what they do manage to do is put the middle tier in sight now just 2VP away. The middle and bottom tiers are very tight so a loss won't doom them but the weeks are starting to run out and so will the opportunities.
Snake & Shake 137 TnT 79
#7 JR's Boys vs. #9 Bartertown
JR's Boys 113 Park Valley 131	The Boys are the only team with a sub 80% coaching rating but this week they put it all together and post a near perfect 98.3% rating. The problem though it didn't relate to points. It did at least relate to a VP keeping them in shouting distance of the upper tier just 1VP away. In fact although they drop two positions from 5th to 7th, they actually got 1VP closer to 4th. Such is the Central right now but a loss this week and I would think that gap grows considerable. After Holmes' TD on Monday night I'm sure Bartertown became very optimistic but the comeback falls just 1 point short. But the 1VP earned made sure they didn't fall in the standings. To the contrary that one simple VP moved them up from 11th to 9th. And with the Helmets just above them with a 1-5 record, they could move up and out of the bottom tier with just another VP; but I wouldn't count on it.
Bartertown 121 Sharks 122

PFFL West Standings

Franchise VP W-L-T PF PB Max PF PP PA PWR Eff Strk Brookline 18 4-2-0 871 0 177 965 720 35.31 90.3% W2 Schleprock 16 4-2-0 794 77 166 925 725 32.94 85.8% W1 Bid 66 Bandits 15 4-2-0 740 131 166 863 736 30.69 85.7% W1 Smiley's Snipers 14 3-3-0 731 140 149 872 743 29.59 83.8% W1                       Detroit Lions 13 4-2-0 735 136 151 866 706 30.54 84.9% L1 B&B 13 4-2-0 689 182 131 773 681 26.48 89.1% W3 Archie's 13 3-3-0 757 114 154 853 742 30.67 88.7% L1 Irish Talbots 12 3-3-0 760 111 153 899 736 30.49 84.5% L1                       Endzonerz 11 3-3-0 722 149 140 849 743 27.89 85.0% W1 MNE 10 3-3-0 693 178 142 835 789 26.55 83.0% L1 French River 5 1-5-0 708 163 153 817 774 24.91 86.7% L3 Commish West 5 0-6-0 697 174 126 782 802 23.77 89.1% L6

PFFL West Week 7
#1 Brookline vs. #2 Schleprock
Brookline 124 Detroit Lions 115	As promised Brookline gets to keep their seat at the head of the table with a win. And I'll make that same promise this week. I will also promise #2 Schleprock steals the seat if they lose. Five weeks remaining, a 2VP lead and a game with the #2 team you have the lead over. This game is not about earning a bye, although if they win it will be a high probability, it is about who the #1 team in the West is. If Brookline wins they stretch their lead to the point where it would take more than 1 week for someone to catch them. In a short 11-week season that is huge. George all the nice guys in the world are counting on you to prove nice guys can finish first. They lose the top spot in week 6 mainly because of key players on a bye. This week they throw their full compliment out and secure not only the win but a weekly first. Ok damage undone but they must win again to reclaim what was theirs two weeks ago. But as luck would have it once again with the #1 spot on the line they have bye issues. Don't know if they will get another chance like this if they lose, but even more important they dropped from 1st to 5th the last time they lost; and could do so again or even worse if they lose this week.
Schleprock 137 Commish West 120
#3 Bid 66 Bandits vs. #4 Smiley's Snipers
Bid 66 Bandits 114 MNE 97	With the help a a 21-point effort from the Jets defense, the Bandits hold off MNE on Monday night to secure a tier-changing win. The week before a tier-changing loss dropped them from 2nd to 6th. Not quite back in the top two but a win this week could change that. The West isn't quite as close as it was but it seems the schedule has determined that this week will decide who's who in the West top tier as all four teams are playing each other. They don't necessarily lose the top tier with a loss but they will lose 3rd and serious ground to 1st and 2nd. A good chance a loss would have put them in the bottom tier but a close win puts them in the top. We predicted the conference wouldn't be as close as it was last week this week and it has spread out to the point a loss would have probably put them 2 wins away from the top tier. The point is a huge strategic win standings wise for the Snipers who now are in contention in the upper tier. As mentioned the entire top tier is playing each other this week so this is a game of position for the stretch run. It's possible they keep the top tier with a loss but unlikely.
Smiley's Snipers 108 French River 103
#5 Detroit Lions vs. #10 MNE
Brookline 124 Detroit Lions 115	The problem with carrying 8 tight ends is, well I'm not really sure, but why they are carrying 8 tight ends I'm even more unsure. Since their 1 and only WR was on a bye, the 4 receivers they played were obviously all TEs. Could they have won this one? If they picked the exact right 4 TEs yes but they didn't and that is hindsight so lets move on. The Lions are still having a pretty good season and although the loss drops them out of the top tier form 3rd to 5th, the opportunity is there for an immediate return with the entire top four competing against each other this week. McCoy on a bye hurts but they have 2 other solid RBs to play and not one of their 8,000 tight ends are off. MNE was 11 down going into Monday night and although their opponent had the Jets defense left, they had to figure a good chance with Santonio Holmes in their column. I think a WR over a Def would be chosen most of the time anyway. The 15 points with Holmes was solid but the Jets D just put them away with 21. Ok they break out of the bottom tier last week just to go right back in this week. The good news is they can't drop any further this week even with a loss but at 2VP back of 8th and just 5 games remaining, you don't want to end up with one of those all or nothing games in week 11.
Bid 66 Bandits 114 MNE 97
#6 B&B vs. #7 Archie's
B&B 131 Irish Talbots 102	It took three-straight wins but the third time is a charm for B&B as they escape the darkness of the lower regions to the sunshine of the middle tier. The three-game win streak has put them in the heart of the conference race and the schedule has now given them a chance to crack into the top tier if they can make it four in a row. A loss however will force them to win at least 3 or maybe even all 4 of their remaining games after this week to get a bye. So important game, yes. As feared and stated last week, the schedule and standings were such a loss would probably create a substantial drop in the standings. And I would think 2nd to 7th is a very substantial drop. And as also stated last week the standings would change considerable after last weeks games and the opportunity to recover what would be lost with a loss would not be there. Ok a setback for sure and now it will probably take two wins to get back to the top tier and by that I mean two in a row starting this week of course.
Archie's 103 Endzonerz 134
#8 Irish Talbots vs. #11 French River
B&B 131 Irish Talbots 102	It's incredible how much teams have been moving in the standings in a single week but slowly but surely that is coming to an end so teams need to now set themselves up for the stretch run. The Talbots drop from 4th to 8th but as we indicated these big jumps are coming to an end so a win this week is more about staying out of the bottom tier than getting back into the top. This week any way. We called it a must game and it was a close game but not close enough. The fact that there are 5 games remaining states their season is far from over. The fact that they are 7VP from the middle tier states they better win if not all, at least 4 of the last 5.
Smiley's Snipers 108 French River 103
#9 Endzonerz vs. #12 Commish West
Archie's 103 Endzonerz 134	Huge win for the Endzonerz not so much in getting them out of the bottom tier because it didn't, but it puts them in a position that even the byes are still possible. For the byes to be possible this is a must game for sure. A loss won't end their season just their potential for a bye. Bottom line a win puts them in the middle tier with 4 games left to get into the top tier. A loss will change their focus to getting out of the bottom tier and earning a wildcard. Playing against the team scoring the most points in the week guarantees a loss. Oh, wait that was Commish East; no I'm sorry, that was Commish Sandlot. Wait, I was right the first time that was Commish West. Are you kidding me, all three! No I'm not. Are we having fun yet. I think whatever disease Commish West has has spread to all three teams. Last week was a must win. Now I would think in advance we can call each of the next 5 weeks must wins.
Schleprock 137 Commish West 120

Sandlot Defending League Champion M4

Welcome to the 2nd season of the PFFL Sandlot League

 

PFFL Stuff

The Score: Well these six-team bye weeks have certainly taken a bite out of the scoring. After an extremely high first four weeks, the scoring has actually been below average the last two. The yearly average drops about two more points for a total drop of almost five points over the last two weeks. The overall yearly scoring average is still well above the norm however. Week 6 Year Beginning East Central West Overall 2011 5-Year Ave 113 114 116 114.3 123.5 116.9 ● There is still just one undefeated team remaining in the league, Cleantown. Only one team has recorded a perfect undefeated season and that was the 2006,11-0 Imitators South. They have a ways to go but Cleantown is no stranger to challenging the record as they went 10-1 in the East in 2007. ● The 100% game efficiency rating is becoming less rare. The reason I believe is all these 6 team bye weeks. Teams simply don't have as many choices to pick from when they have 4, 5 and even more players on a bye. ● All three teams that the three Commish teams played this week in the East, West and Sandlot came in first in points for the week. Just lucky I guess...   ● The Team of the Week Honors have been spread out evenly so far amongst the three conferences with each conference earning two each and no team as yet has earned more than one. ● Even after a 98.3% effort, the JR's Boys continue to have the worst efficiency rating in the league at 77.1%. No other team is under the 80 percentile.   ● The league had its first experience with the new rule added this year of a trade arbitrator in the Central. You can view the details and arbitrators decision on the Central message board here: Trade Arbitration Decision  There are other arbitrator sites out there but this one was chosen because it guarantees a decision the same day as long as all information is sent to them by 5 pm. To make a long story short the arbitrator allowed the trade. There were a couple glitches being the first time but after experiencing the process I now know the proper way to do it if it is needed again. ● This week's byes: Buffalo, Cincinnati, New England, NY Giants, Philadelphia, SF 49ers ● Regular Season Games Remaining: | 5 |

League Total Point Rankings Rk Franchise PF 1 Cleantown 932 2 Brookline 871 3 TD's 833 4 Cousins Mc 812 5 Arnie's Army 809 6 Syndicate 808 7 IC Lightning 802 8 Schleprock 794 9 Park Valley 767 10 Frannie's Train 767 11 Irish Talbots 760 12 Archie's 757 13 Capital 756 14 Twisted Helmets 741 15 Bid 66 Bandits 740 16 Little Johnny & Will's 737 17 Commish East 736 18 Detroit Lions 735 19 Smiley's Snipers 731 20 JR's Boys 726 21 T Bones 724 22 Dego's R Us 723 23 Sharks 722 24 Endzonerz 722 25 Snake & Shake 715 26 Bartertown 712 27 French River 708 28 TnT 699 29 H Hammers 698 30 Commish West 697 31 MNE 693 32 B&B 689 33 Weekend Warriors 665 34 Nasty Aggravators 644 35 Midquippa 644 36 The Jolly Roger 610   Average 741

PFFL Defending League Champion Snake & Shake

Welcome to the 20th Season of the PFFL!