Week 8

At the conclusion of last weeks game against Team Ice the Predators thought they needed a win against the Seed Men (5-2) to qualify for the playoffs. There is five teams in the running for the final four playoff spots and the only team the Predators have to worry about is Pat Catans. Pat Catans is 3-4 and the Predators hold the head-to-head tie breaker because of the 8-6 win in week one. Pat Catans final two games are against Team Ice and Seed Men. A loss in either game will automatically eliminate Pat Catans from playoff contention and it is unlikely they will win both games. It is exciting news for the Predators that they will most likely be going to the Playoffs, but two losses in the final two weeks will assure them the last and final playoff spot and most likely, a first round match up against Martindale. A team that has caused the most trouble for the Predators so far this season. Martindale is on a three game winning streak and has only Robinson (0-7) and BAMF (4-3) left on their schedule. Assuming Martindale wins out and locks up the 3rd seed, they will eventually play the 6th seed in the first round. That leaves the fourth and fifth seeds wide open. BAMF's (4-3) remaining schedule consists of The Gunners and Martindale and the Seed Men's remaining schedule is the Predators (4-3) and Pat Catans (3-4). The Predators final game of the season is against The Gunners (7-0), so this weeks game against Seed Men is still very important in terms of seeding in the playoffs. A win this week will almost assure the Predators a first round game against BAMF or Seed Men. A loss this week will force the Predators to win the final game of the season against a very talented Gunners team, who score over 40 points a game and give up less than five, and assure the Predators a first round matchup against Martindale. It is a lot of "what ifs" but something the Predators should be aware of.

Offensively this week against Seed Men, the Predators will most likely see a lot of man. They have played man almost entirely the whole season and it is a good bet they will continue. The Predators will use both #7 Brown and #45 Price at quarterback this week and will need to use crossing routes and double routes to neutralize Seed Men's man defense. Crossing routes are difficult to cover in man, especially if the defense doesn't switch, because defenders have to run through offensive and defensive players to stay locked on their man in coverage. And double routes (slant and go, out and up, stop and go, post-flags) are effective if the defense bits on the first route. It will be interesting to see how the Predator offense adapts to Seed Man's man coverage because they have struggled with it this season when they have seen it. It will also be interesting to see how the quarterbacks handle it because anyone on the offense could be open and that's a lot to have to see when the rusher is barreling down on them. The Seed Men have some fast, athletic players and as the game goes on those players will most likely have their best coverage guys on #2 Long, #27 Clapper, and either #7 Brown or #45 Price (whoever isn't at quarterback). This leaves #1 Clark, #52 Oberhaus and #53 Wlotzko to deal with the rest of the Seed Man defenders. Man defense is a really good opportunity for those three Predators to get open and make a significant difference in the game offensively because anyone can be open in man defense.

Defensively the Predators will see a quarterback who isn't very fast, but loves to scramble. He has a rocket arm but at times is suspect with his accuracy. If the Predator rush (#53 Wlotzko and #45 Price) play as they did last week, the Predators should be in good shape. The Predators will need their red defense to be at it's best of the season for the Predators to be successful. As long as the rush is strong and the defensive backs play their assignments, the Predators should win the game.

The scores of these two teams games have been similar against opponents they both have played, so this one should come down to the wire and the team who commits the least penalties will most likely win the game. The Predators and Seed Men go head-to-head this Thursday at 9pm.