SFL Weekly: June 27th Edition

SFL WEEK 13 POWER POLL
1. Minnesota Freeze (12-1)
- They barely squeaked out a 2 point win over Oklahoma, but they now sit atop of the SFL Power Poll and the Midwestern Division thanks to the league's no.1 defense in points.
2. Michigan Stags (11-2)
- Maybe we were wrong to question Michigan's depth. They're staying healthy and scoring points.
3. San Antonio Marshalls (11-2)
- San Antonio is 0-2 vs. Dallas and 11-0 vs. the rest of the league. Tim Rattay has not fared well vs. his former team, throwing 1 touchdown 8 picks over the two contests.
4. Dallas Six-Shooters (9-4)
- Can you make a case for a hotter team in the SFL? The Six-Shooters have a four game win streak over winning teams, having scored double digit victories in each contest.
5. New Jersey/New York Marauders (8-5)
- The defense really stepped it up, holding the Explorers to 142 net yards while Ken-Yon Rambo proved that Steve Smith is not Tony Graziani's only target in this offense with a 11 catch, 144 yard performance.
6. Columbus Explorers (8-5)
- That was not a good day for Anthony Calvillo. He failed to connect with his receivers and could not set up good rushing opportunities for Michael Turner.
7. Orlando Rockets (7-6)
- Just when you think the Spacemen are over the injury bug, they lose to impact players for the season in consecutive weeks. Orlando needs a change in fortune with the Bulldogs still nipping at their heels.
8. Seattle Orcas (7-6)
- Seattle needed every second of overtime to topple the Phantoms, 16-13.
9. Philadelphia Bulldogs (6-7)
- The team found a way to get the ball to Antonio Bryant more (7 catches), but it didn't do them much good in the end.
10. San Diego Diablos (6-7)
- Kevin Glenn is not the most consistent quarterback in the league, but he can spread the ball around and help the team put points on the board when needed.
11. Las Vegas Bandits (5-8)
- Tarvaris Jackson may have taken his last snap in the SFL. After a 2009 break out year, T-Jack has not impressed new ownership. What went wrong with this team?
12. Nashville Renegades (4-9)
- Jeff Garcia shined again, while Laurence Maroney and Warrick Dunn combine for 130 yards of offense.
13. Chicago Crusaders (4-9)
- The season is done for Chicago, but at least the team scored a signature win on the 2010 season.
14. Toronto Phantoms (3-10)
- The Phantoms played their b-hinds off, while Nick Setta missed two potential game winning field goals from 48 and 43 yards out in overtime.
15. Oklahoma Roughnecks (2-11)
- Jamaal Charles returned a kick back 100 yards for a touchdown just before halftime. It was almost enough to score what would have been the biggest upset of 2010.
16. Los Angeles Centurions (1-12)
- Ben Mauk spread the ball out well, hitting 9 receivers (6 of which had 3 receptions or more) for 355 yards and 2 scores on the day. But as usual, LA can't make it happen in the clutch.

SFL Week Thirteen Offensive Player of the Week: Recently acquired quarterback Seneca Wallace went through a lot of growing pains when he was announced the starter in Chicago. The trade finally paid off with Wallace passing for 231 yards and a pair of scores. He also ran for 54 yards and had 5 crucial first downs using his legs.

SFL Week Thirteen Defensive Player of the Week: The Phantoms didn't record the week 13 victory, but Simeon Rice was on fire, recording a pair of tackles for a loss and 3 sacks. He also deflected a pass and forced a fumble in the losing effort.

SFL SHORT SHORTS
All signs pointed towards the Tennessee Copperheads hiring former Volunteer head coach Phil Fulmer, no official announcement has been made yet, however..........the Bandit's mid-season addition, rookie kicker Louie Sakoda, is 9 of 9 since joining Las Vegas ........former league owner Matt Hakin has expressed interest in returning to the SFL.........2009 Rookie of the Year Mike Hart is starting to question his role in Michigan, where has rarely gotten off the bench this year, playing third fiddle to Jerome Harrison and Aaron Brown..........the Los Angeles Centurions are expected to bring the recently released LenDale White in for a workout at some point........Nashville Renegades quarterback Jeff Garcia is the favorite to win the 2010 SFL Newcomer Award, he has passed for 1254 yards, 11 TDs, and 3 picks while rushing for 129 yards and a score............Graham Harrell is the only rookie quarterback to have thrown a touchdown pass this season, no rookie quarterback has passed for over 100 yards.........Joffrey Reynolds scored only his second touchdown of the season last week, Milt Stegall scored his first and maybe last in the week 13 victory.........other than Aaron Brown, the trio of runningbacks drafted in this year's first round have combined for 339 yards of offense thus far.

MVP WATCH
1. WR/PR Steve Smith, New York Marauders
92 receptions for 1370 yards and 14 TDs, 3 additional punt returns for scores
2. HB Jamaal Charles, Oklahoma Roughnecks
998 yards rushing (4.6) and 5 scores, 415 yards receiving and a score, two additional kick off returns for scores
3. HB Jerome Harrison, Michigan Stags
1104 yards rushing (4.7) and 8 scores, 152 yards receiving
4. QB Tim Rattay, San Antonio Marshalls
3943 passing yards (65.0%), 25 TDs and 16 picks, 153 yards rushing and 1 score
5. CB Nathan Vasher, San Antonio Marshalls
85 tackles and 7 interceptions returned for 288 yards and 3 scores

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR WATCH
1. WR Austin Collie, Las Vegas Outlaws
74 receptions, 780 yards and 4 TDs
2. WR Quan Cosby, San Antonio Marshalls
27 receptions, 517 yards and 4 TDs
3. WR Johnny Knox, Orlando Rockets
41 receptions, 461 yards and 3 TDs
4. HB James Davis, Philadelphia Bulldogs
271 rushing yards (3.6), 3 scores and 117 yards receiving
5. OT Jamon Meredith, Minnesota Freeze
Started 12 games for the Freeze, who have allowed the fewest sacks in the league.

THE HOT SEAT
1. David Cutcliffe, Nashville Renegades X
- Cutcliffe was informed he and his coaching staff will not be retained for 2011.
INTERIM REPLACEMENT: Offensive coordinator Mike Leach as of week 12.
RUMORED REPLACEMENTS: Phil Fulmer
2. Mike Hohensee, Chicago Crusaders X
- Despite being a great face for the Chicago franchise, Hohensee's pass happy offense just does not fit. Chicago will let Hohensee fill out the season but will not return in 2011.
REPLACEMENT: Jack Pardee*
3. Randy Edsall, Los Angeles Centurions
- Los Angeles has actually praised Edsall, but they'll likely go with someone with more pro experience.
RUMORED REPLACEMENTS: Marty Morhningweg, Norm Chow
4. Mike Stoops, Oklahoma Roughnecks
- The former champion coach is all but a lock to be replaced this offseason.
RUMORED REPLACEMENTS: Josh Huepel, Phil Fulmer, Mark Stoops, Clint Dolezel
5. Chan Gailey, Las Vegas Bandits X
- Gailey's long tenure with the Bandits came to an end when the Buffalo Bills came knocking.
REPLACEMENT: Gary Gibbs as of week 9*

RISING STOCK: WR Charles Frederick, Seattle Orcas
Frederick's late touchdown grab helped the Orcas come back vs. the Phantoms. Charles "E.T." Frederick has quietly become a great multi-facet player for the Orcas, having excelled down the field, in the back field, and returning kicks.

FALLING STOCK: QB Tarvaris Jackson, Las Vegas Outlaws
Jackson was one of the most productive quarterbacks in the league last year and guided the Outlaws to the Western Conference championship game. Jackson started out hot this year, but has been benched after several weeks of lousy play.

TOP AVAILABLE FREE AGENTS
1. CB Fred Smoot
2. HB Ahman Green
3. HB LenDale White
4. S Keith Davis
5. C Alex Stepanovich
6. QB Ken Dorsey
7. HB Edgerrin James
8. OL Shawn Andrews
9. WR Koren Robinson
10. DB Pete Hunter
11. LB Barrin Simpson
12. WR Travis Taylor
13. TE Jeb Putzier
14. CB Michael Hawthorne
15. QB Erik Meyer
16. P Desi Cullen
17. OT Tavita Thompson
18. QB Ken Dorsey
19. CB Ahmad Carroll
20. QB Jared Zabransky
21. OL Adrian Jones
22. WR Skyler Green
23. QB Cody Pickett
24. HB Jon Cornish
25. QB Andre Woodson

IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TOMORROW

EASTERN CONFERENCE ROUND 1
Orlando Rockets (4) at Michigan Stags (1)
Columbus Explorers (3) at New Jersey/New York Marauders (2)

WESTERN CONFERENCE ROUND 1
Dallas Six-Shooters (4) at Minnesota Freeze (1)
San Antonio Marshalls (3) at Seattle Orcas (2)

GOOD LUCK NEXT YEAR
Los Angeles Centurions (1-12)
- The Cents were the first team eliminated from playoff contention. LA has some pieces to work with, this team could be competitive next year under Ben Mauk or Daunte Culpepper.
Toronto Phantoms (3-10)
- After several questionable, if not laughable, offseason moves it is no surprise this 2009 playoff team has fallen to such new lows. The team still plays hard week after week, hopefully they'll carry that intensity to Birmingham next year.

MEL KIPER JR.'S TOP 3 SFL DRAFT PREDICTIONS
1. Los Angeles Centurions select HB Jon Dwyer, Georgia Tech
- LA either stays in house or grabs a quarterback in free agency. Dwyer is a no brainer, especially considering BenJarvus-Green Ellis' poor play.
2. Oklahoma Roughnecks select OT Ed Wang, Virginia Tech.
- Oklahoma is going to have to find someone to protect Casey Printers if they want him to make a comeback. Hell, even if Printers is gone they need someone to protect next year's starter to even give him a chance.
3. Toronto Phantoms/Birmingham Suns select QB Tony Pike, Cincinnati
- This franchise starts back up with a new face in-spite of Buck Pierce's often heroic play.