Week #8 is in the books! We almost had an upset; we got a blowout and well the predictable close game from the East Coast teams happened again. This week felt like the start of relaxing or panicking of your franchise depending on your allegiance. We also had our first playoff clinch, with it being no surprise the Chicago Hounds. I debated doing the coaches hotseat theme this week but due to my previous commitments limiting my viewing ability (I will elaborate later) as well as wanting more data, I proposed this idea. Rather than strictly going after the coaches, I will recommend one thing I think your team needs to fix before the postseason, or what you need to do to make the postseason.
#1 Chicago Hounds – The First and Last 20 Minutes
I know Coach Latham has high standards for his Chicago
Hounds Side but, he is giving Greg Popovich levels of not being satisfied with
his team despite their record. Not only clinching a playoff spot but a home
field advantage for the entire postseason is a huge accomplishment for the
Chicago Hounds. The first half highlighted the first time where it appeared
Chicago was on the back foot, until cementing a 36-26 win over the Legion. Also
by the way, I think we have a new location for the worst camera angles and
quality in the league. Starfire you’ve been replaced. Which is too bad because the
pitch actually looked excellent.
If there was a flaw to this Chicago Hounds team is that they
seem to be a predator that likes to play with its food. Particularly on the
front and back end of games, some ill discipline and poor defense have allowed
for teams to give the illusion of a fight or make the score look more
respectable. Between the water breaks Chicago has looked unbeatable for most of
the year, which is fine for the regular season. However, the postseason is a different
beast. I think Chris Hislenbeck said it best in an interview with American
Rugby Rising this past week, where he commented on the shock on losing a
massive lead against New England in the Conference Finals. Chicago cannot afford
to get complacent and need to figure out their issue.
Chicago returns home after a comedically long flight delay
to face a hot Seawolves team with much more on the line. It will not shock me
if Chicago decides to rest some key guys to protect them for the playoffs. Particularly
their back row has gotten beaten up the past two games and they could benefit from
the rest. I am not just saying this because I hope the Seawolves take advantage
of the opportunity haha.
#2 California Legion – Discipline
Well... California Legion you tried to use the Bay to your advantage,
and you failed. Interpret what you will. However, the first half showed the strengths
of this side with some flashy and exciting rugby. For a time, Chicago looked
beatable, and then the Hounds kicked into another gear. While they no longer
control the other home playoff spot, Coach Holies men have the tools and games
necessary to dictate their destiny. However, besides their ultimate Achilles heel,
which is the rain, discipline has let them down throughout the season. The ill-disciplined
opener against Anthem ages worse by the week, they nearly choked against Seattle,
the Meakes red card was an issue against DC, poor handling in New England and
well…several penalties in the ruck against Chicago. The Legion cannot afford to
let these mistakes dictate games as the season progresses. These failings have
bailed out their opponents, and it will continue to punish them going forward.
California
will hope their one off All Black cosplay jerseys gives them luck for their
last home game of the season. In their last matchup against Old Glory, it took
a last 20-minute collapse from their opponents for the Legion to come out on
top. The Legion will want to impress their fans in Sacramento and assert their
dominance in the state of California. If they lose it will be a 2-3 record with
their only wins in former MLR stadiums…
#3 Seattle Seawolves – Stop Playing Favorites
I really, really wanted to put Seattle at number two in the
power rankings. However, despite the 3-game winning streak, I think the
Seawolves have a more difficult ending to the season then the Legion ironically
and anticipate some momentum to falter. The 57-21 win over Anthem was beautiful
to witness (delayed), as it felt like Clarke’s men finally played a complete
game. The return of Coetzer was a welcome return unleashing new dimensions to
the offense. However, Coach Clarke’s kryptonite nearly ruined this game…he has
favorites. JP Smith was a late scratch from
the game with Nolan coming in at 11. This game should prove that JP, as great a
player he can be, has no business being played at winger. Clarke’s stubbornness
to stick with his favored 23 unless he has to. Part of me doubts if we didn’t have
the injury crisis if we would’ve seen guys like Calvin Luilamaga, Vavao, and
Walsh who have excelled in their limited doses. With Lindenmuth likely returning…and
other guys potentially getting healthy like Peculo and McLean if it will ruin
the momentum of this current squad.
Seattle heads to Chicago for a highly anticipated matchup.
(I was hoping to go to this game earlier in the year but instead I have to be a
responsible adult and move out of my apartment…) After frankly an embarrassing showing
at Starfire, Coach Clarke will need to rally his men to defeat his former assistant
in Coach Latham.
#4 Old Glory DC – Unlock the Offense
Am I shocked by this result? No. Does this change my opinion
about Old Glory? Also no. The men from DC won in an entertaining 24-23 victory
over their rivals New England. Is there a name for this game? I know Deely
coined the Red, White and Blue but can we find another? The Battle of the
Founding Fathers? The Revolutionary War? Throw out your best name. However,
what my main criticism of Coach Cross has been, and remains, is the failure to maintain
the offense at a high level. They have these short bursts of brilliance and
then a stale, flat and stagnate base line. James Deely of North American Rugby
Database highlighted the lack of impact by the Centers in DC’s lineup. While Depperschmidt
did get that try, I do think that point stands. Coach Cross needs a complete
game and to better utilize his offensive weapons.
DC will
want revenge against a Legion side they should have beaten a few weeks ago.
Honestly, if they can find a way to keep the ball out of their hands while
taking advantage of the opportunities in the opposing 22, I would not be
shocked if DC pulls off the upset.
#5 New England Free Jacks – Hurry Up with the
Reinforcements
So, were the reinforcements a ploy to sell more tickets or
were Balekana and Quattrin genuinely not ready? They could have been the
difference between a winning or losing season for the three-time champs. You
are telling me having Balekana in at 14 instead of Van Der Bank wouldn’t have
seen some sort of line break? Quattrin’s cleaning up one of the worst lineout
percentages in the league? JFS also potentially now back will be a boost but
come on Coach Martin, where are the stars? Some of the selections have certainly
been interesting and I am curious to see if we will see these guys in the next
week? What they will not be able to help with is for the first time in four
seasons, the New England Free Jacks will not have a winning record. The dynasty
is not dead…but they do be looking like they about to have the plug pulled.
The moniker of the “must win” game has already been
overblown this season, by me as well to be fair. However, the Anthem and New
England Free Jacks game is the definition of must win. The Loser is most likely
to be eliminated from the playoffs in all but paper. Coach Martin needs his
best players on the pitch desperately to maintain relevance.
#6 Anthem Rugby Carolina – The Defense
Guys, I’ll admit it, I was wrong about the Anthem. I
compared this team to the 2024 Dallas Jackals. I was wrong, but not too far
off. This is the 2023 Dallas Jackals. That squad went 2-14 after going winless,
the previous year. However, even that Dallas Jackals side led by Coach Cuca was
able to have four games where they kept their opponents below 20 points. Granted
we haven’t really had any true defensive masterclasses where points are a luxury
this season. Yet, what Coach Cuca’s teams have seemed to have struggled with historically
is defense. Even in his best season with the Jackals, his team gave up 450
points while also scoring the second most points in the league. This season his
Anthem side is scoring the 4th most points while giving up the most.
If Anthem wants any shot of making the post season, they need to crackdown on
defense because they cant seem to outscore their opponents when in a shootout.
New
England is probably the best-case scenario for them given their offense is no
where near the level of a Seattle, Legion or Chicago. If Anthem can utilize
their home crowd and halt a frankly iffy Free Jacks attack, it could be what
they need to save their season.
Conclusions
I apologize for the briefness in my analysis this week as I
had to catch up on the games with replays while doing errands. This past
weekend I received my master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma (BOOMER
SOONER) and its been a fun weekend of celebration. Next week, I will be
addressing the theme of Coach’s hotseat as we will have just two weeks of MLR
regular season rugby left.