Monarchs halfway point review

[Paul-London]

(Okay so its a few weeks over due)

London after making the playoffs the last two years are now strugging with a 4-5 record and a non-existant passing attack.

OFFENSE

As always Joe Hall has been a great RB for London, hes on his way to another 1000 yard season and is the core to the offense.  However the passing attack is once again been non-existant as last year.  One problem are the offensive schemes, three in three weeks doesnt help matters and the team have gone back to the offense which gave them a playoff spot last year.

The main problem is at WR, Kassim Osgood showed potential last year and this year played well at times but he can be non-existant.  Two new starters in the passing attack are still taking their time to get used to working with QB Drew Henson.  TE Dan Curley has 27 catches and is on his way to a 40 catch season but more is expected of this talented TE.  Dan Sheldon was their big hope in the passing attack, Sheldon should get 1000 yards but currently has just one touchdown.

The biggest problem is no one seems to want to partner Sheldon.  Osgood was hot/cold, Triandos Luke didnt do much and was traded to Paris.  Now in comes former 1st round flop Christopher Liess who was dire in his first game for London with 1 catch for 5 yards.

The offensive line are playing well but age is creeping up on this unit.

DEFENSE

The team rank 5th against the run but a poor 14th against the pass.  The team recently traded for All-FWL LB Mark Brown who will immediately start.  Tito Rodriiguez a quality veteran has been shoved down to LB4 and he isnt happy about that.  Bobby Brooks will return to OLB and promising rookie LB Anthony Trucks moves to play alongside Brown.

The defensive line has done well, veteran DE Mark Word is on his way to another 10 sack season, Eric Powell is having his best season yet with 7 sacks.  At DT there have been changes, former 1st round pick DT Melila Purcell has been benched but might be given one final chance.  DT Jake Sparks has played well but the team want more action from their DT's and might use their young trade pickup Aaron Hunt as a starter.

The secondary has allowed a lot of yards, Eric Hill Jnr has moved in to start ahead of Richard Yancey.  At CB Jeremey LeSuer is as always having a great year, his partner Marcell Allmond is struggling as teams normally focus on beating him.  Allmond might also be traded as the team are high on young CB Evan Oglesby.

OUTLOOK

London feel they have a talented team but too many changes in the offseason at WR and DT have hurt them and they could miss out on the playoffs.  They feel they have a good nucleus of players but next year expect to bounce back.  Trading too many leaders like DE Nick Burley, DT Junior Ioane might have hurt the team.

[jcompton-Orlando]

Owning the tiebreaker with Rhein is pretty key for you, because barring a collapse in Austria (not impossible!), yeah, you'll be on the outside looking in. But it's also not impossible you could make it in at 7-7 with a little luck.

Win your games against the cellar dwellers and steal a win from either Frankfurt or at Kreinstadion, then hope Rhein can't get any traction against its pretty tough schedule and can't manage more than a couple of wins. If you both finish 7-7, you'll take the spot on the head-to-head.

Then again, hell, there's nothing stopping one of my teams from losing five straight...

[Paul-London]

I feel i have a good team but the next two games away at Scotland, and away at Austria are obviously key.  Me losing at home to Austria was huge.

If i can get 1 win out of those 2 i feel confident about Paris/Barcelona but Frankfurt might be on a late charge.

I feel i have a good team but its just not firing in the passing attack, once that clicks (As Frankfurts offense has this week) i think i'll be alright.  Normally its difficult to get a decent rushing attack and once you do you win a lot, i've got a great one with HB Joe Hall but my passing offense last year and this year has been very dull.

[jcompton-Orlando]

Yeah, that's why the theme of your last five weeks has to be "Let's Steal Two!" You only have Barcelona at home--but you never know when the Wembley Turf Monster will turn your QB into a quivering fumbling mass of flesh and cause you to lose the "easy ones." You like your chances if you go 8-6... but historically, middling teams with 4 out of 5 games on the road don't win 4...

So it might be time to start putting the hex on Rhein and Austria.

[Paul-London]

I hope for a 7-7 season but cant see a late push for the playoffs.  I've learnt in the software there must be a 'hidden' factor about momentum, once a teams 4-0 etc they normally fly into the playoffs, start losing and its tough to turn it around.

It all comes down to Drew Henson, late last year he started throwing for lots of yards but i think i've made too many changes in the offseason for things to click into place.  Its like Henson isnt on the same page as his new WR's and TE, next year hopefully but so far this year the signs havent been great.

Still think i've got a good team but just not my year this season