2021 - The Semi Final Xmas Eve Pod

 Hello and welcome to the semi final episode of the LOC Report! Coming to you on Christmas Eve no less. Coach Leach is back from a bye week holiday to preview the semi finals and recap the Wildcard bowl with Commissioner Stubbs. Plus, the 2021 LOC award nominees are revealed.

2021 - The First Wildcard Bowl

 Hello and welcome to another episode of the LOC Report! Whilst the Co-host is off galivanting in Sweden (we do hope you're having a nice time by the way Chris), the Commissioner is left to batten down the hatches and perform another solo rendition of the pod - but at least the content he is working with is good, as he recaps the Week 14 and sub sequential playoff events, before previewing the first ever Wildcard Bowl in the first of the new 3 week format of the LOC playoffs.

2021 Power Rankings: Post-Season

Good evening, Coaches! We’ve made it to the end of the regular season! Our new, expanded playoffs which I totally understood all season and in no way misled anyone. There is plenty to celebrate for some, a rookie in the playoffs, consecutive regular season crowns, and, most impressively of all, a first season (by this writer) with no missed articles! I jest, I’m clearly just green with envy at having no fantasy success of my own to celebrate. Anyway, as has become tradition, the final Power Rankings of the season will be a look back at how teams were ranked after draft day, when we all still had hope in our heart. And, if you can’t be bothered with all that, my thoughts on the playoffs are at the end. Either way, enjoy this final edition! 

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To refresh everyone’s memory, teams are shown in order of final standings, with my Week 1 ranking in brackets.

12. U R Gould (10) 3-11 Final Record

The most notable thing about this team, post-Draft, was that they came away without a QB. Perhaps I underestimated quite the influence that would have – OBJ wasn’t the only person who spent too much of the season relying on Baker. I wasn’t too far off the mark though.

11. Burdettinators (8) 5-9 Final Record

Another team I overestimated slightly, although they lost Gus Edwards before the season had even started and Calvin Ridley part way through, understandably affecting their final standing. In general, I questioned the depth and thought Dak could be a steal, not bad again.

10. Tom’s Tyrants (9) 5-9 Final Record

More or less on with this one as well, overly reliant on Murray to be an x-factor in a team that struggled for standout performers. A decent points scored and end of season form showed the makings of a solid team, but it was never any more than that.

9. Patistan (1) 5-9 Final Record

Yeah, so, miles out. But, they did make the playoffs based on their points scoring, so I’m going to cut myself a little slack. They stayed at the top of the Rankings for a while, and then, as is tradition for Patistan, the injuries set in. All in all, they’ll be happy they’re in the playoffs, that’s all that matters.

8. FTMAL (12) 6-8 Final Record

There was a short while when I thought that FTMAL, and the gods of the auto-draft, were going to make me, and the rest of the league, look rather silly. As it was, they ran out of steam and did topple down the rankings, still far exceeding my early season expectations mind.

7. Gridiron Gang (5) 6-8 Final Record

Not far off in placement, but way off in analysis. Zeke and Nuk, who I questioned, were the driving force behind the more successful parts of Gridiron Gang’s season. Injuries were a constant issue for them, but I was correct with questioning whether QB would hold them back – it did.

6. Buccing The Trend (2) 7-7 Final Record

A team I was clearly too high on, for times this season they looked like they would like up to my dark horse label. I wasn’t convinced by Sanders, but it turned out they had several other question marks leading to vastly inconsistent scoring throughout the season.

5. Bear Necessities (4) 7-7 Final Record

Pretty close on this one, but off the mark on analysis again, thinking Diggs and Wilson would be the x-factors, when in fact Swift and Fournette were the difference makers. I’m not giving myself any points for calling Kelce a key player, that’s the equivalent on betting on another Covid Christmas…

4. Napolitans (6) 7-7 Final Record

For a long while, my ranking looked terrible, a team that nothing was going right for up until mid-season. From there, it became the Jonathon Taylor show, as he dragged them into the playoffs. Lamar and, eventually, Kittle also proved key, with the what I deemed a ‘good value’ draft proving correct.

3. IKSAN (11) 9-5 Final Record

My biggest failing, they far exceeded my expectations. Because I absolutely refuse to be entirely wrong, I will point out that my biggest negative on them was a lack of spark, and that has been the case for a decent part of the season. A well-balanced team was their greatest strength.

2. The Dream Team (3) 12-2 Final Record

Pretty close here, as they only slightly exceeded my expectation. I liked the explosive players and high upside rookies, all of whom seem to have come off. And that’s how to go 12-2, folks.

1. Forge Flyers (7) 12-2 Final Record

The other run-away team this year, but I was a long way off post-draft. There isn’t too much to report really, I was just very wrong. Coach Leach saw the potential in these players where I, and others, doubted it, and to say he proved his point doesn’t quite do it justice.

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Believe it or not, that is actually slightly better than I managed last year. The analysis was invariably closer than the actual rank, admittedly. None bang on the money either, which I’ll admit has disappointed me – luckily I’ve gotten used to disappointment this season. 

So, let’s try our luck with some playoff predictions. Last year I did nail this but, as I’ve already mentioned, I’ve only just grasped the playoff format, let alone the teams in it. 

Let’s see, the battle of the wildcard, in which health/covid looks to be playing a key role. For me, the matchups are near unilaterally with IKSAN, who have also been the more consistent team of late, hard to go any other way. 

The next round is when the big hitters come in, and we’ve seen what they’ve been doing all season. Outside of another Jonathan Taylor 50-pointer, I think it would be crazy to bet against either of them. 

Which leaves us the big one. Anyone following the rankings this season will have spotted that I have been a bigger fan of The Dream Team, partly due to health, but Forge Flyers constantly defied my doubts to claim the Regular Season Crown (again). The matchup of the week is undoubtedly Rodgers against the Vikes, with most others being middling to poor. Having said all that, I’m sticking to my guns. Coach Nathwani to pick up a first (and overdue) Stubbs trophy.

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And that is that, another season in the books. I hope you all enjoyed it, and are now redy and raring either for playoffs or for next year. I also hope these weekly ramblings provided at least some entertainment. Good luck to those of you still chasing the big prize, but that is all from me. EDOTLOCCA signing off. Laters.

2021 - Final Call

 Hello and welcome to the last episode of the LOC Report for the 2021 LOC Regular Season! Crazy to think we are at week 14 already - it has been another season full of drama, wonder, disappointment, and everything in between this season - and is once again set up for a wild finish. Join Commissioner Stubbs and Co-host Chris Leach for the recap of Week 13 and the preview of Week 14 before the playoffs commence.

2021 Power Rankings: Week 14

Hello, hello! Welcome to the final week of the regular season! We’ve finally made it and, thanks to the expanded playoffs and rule changes, never have we had so many teams still with a chance of doing just that – making it. With current seeds 4-8 all on the same record, and seed 9 also still very much in contention, this year has proven a record low for forking, I guess no one is mathematically out, but we might need to see a 200-club entry for some of them to make it. Not sure we could handle even more excitement with the chaos that is bound to ensue! Anyway, back to the final league-wide Rankings of the season, enjoy!

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Firstly, we have the teams that have spent the last few weeks very much along for the ride.

12. U R Gould (3-10) No Change

So, Week 13 was the whimper that should have secured the No. 1 overall draft pick. But, thanks to good old RNG, tanking is a fruitless endeavour in the LOC. Playing Mac Jones, in a night when he attempted just 3 (three!) passes, more or less sums up their season, unfortunately. On the upside, TNF heroics from a finally healthy Dalvin Cook has nearly matched their Week 13 output. I feel like the importance of draft day will have been reiterated for LOC14.

11. Burdettinators (5-8) No Change

Well, that is quite the feather in their cap. In a season where more or less nothing went right for them, they toppled the team that had only lost once previously. Goes without saying that it of course counts for nothing, but nice to be able to say they did it at least.

10. Tom’s Tyrants (5-8) No Change

The best of the rest, for whatever solace that brings. Hint; none. Finally hitting their stride in this far too late portion of the season, we’re seeing glimpses of what could have been. An admirable attempt at spoiling it for another team in Week 13 as well.

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Right, into the quagmire that is the playoff race. Good luck. I’ve thrown in some playoff chance percentages, just for fun. Disclaimer; the grand total of maths that went into the percentages was making sure they added up to 300% for the three spots available, nothing else, deal with it.

9. FTMAL (6-7) No Change

Despite what I can only assume is the most points ever scored by the TE position for any one team in any week of any season, they were a long way off the pace last week, as they have looked for most of the second half of the season. They’re behind on points, and they’ve got a tough matchup to finish the season. Playoff chance: 20%

7.5. Buccing The Trend (6-7) Down 0.5 & Gridiron Gang (6-7) Down 1.5

Right, stay with me here, I’m trying something new. Basically, I’m fed up of writing what more or less amounts to the same blurb twice for these guys, they have been near inseparable for the past several weeks. They both tallied decent scores last week, but were far from competitive in their respective matchups. After 13 weeks of competition, a mere 11 points splits them and now, fittingly, they face each other in Week 14 in what could well be a ‘winner is in’ situation. It is most definitely a ‘loser is out’ scenario, though. I literally can’t split them anymore. 

Well, maybe, just about. The Wilson and Jones plays from BTT seem risky, but Kamara should go off. GG are more solid, but Michel, Hopkins and Jacobs could all have matchups go against them. Taysom Hill, the ultimate TD vulture is my X-Factor. Never thought it would come down to that. Playoff chances: GG 43%, BTT 42%

6. Bear Necessities (6-7) Down 2

It was a good week, but it wasn’t good enough. If anyone was going to separate themselves, I thought it would be Coach Stubbs Sr, but they missed their chance. Their points for leaves them in a good spot, they are very much a win and in candidate, with a potential lose and in as well. But, I don’t think I was alone in believing Mattison was going to provide them more RB1 games than he did, an early return from Cook could make the TNF performance a critical moment in this playoff race. Playoff chance: 50%

5. Patistan (5-8) Up 3

Right, last week I said they did themselves no favours, this time around everything went right. With all of the 6-6 teams fluffing their lines, Napolitans (more on them soon) managed to sneak into the playoff seeds, leaving points for as a near 1-horse race, a situation I predicted a few weeks prior. Also helping, a league-leading score on the week, impressively compiled without any abnormally high individual scores and losing several key cogs to byes – they look dangerous again. Playoff chance: 70%

4. Napolitans (6-7) Up 1

The only team that still has two realistic routes into the playoffs, they are one last good week away from completing a remarkable turnaround. Getting Kittle back in full swing is ideal timing, but they also lost Moore just as he was proving to be a useful contributor. An ill-timed bye week for Taylor, to say the least, at the most critical point of the season so far. Playoff chance: 75%

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And breathe again, we’ve gotten through the storms and into clear water.

3. IKSAN (8-5) No Change

It’s been coming for a little while, but they have secured their spot with a consistent run of scoring and wins. The variety of options they have made for themselves when picking the roster each week is what has gotten them to this place. I would imagine Coach Sherwood would have no qualms with being placed in his own little tier here, the important thing is that they have risen from that convoluted mess beneath them.

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They’ve been in their own tier for the rest of the season, seems silly to take it away from them now.

2. Forge Flyers (11-2) No Change

Remarkably, a loss. I would imagine no one saw that coming. Still the number 1 seed and favourite to do the double on the regular season crown, I think their sights have been set on the post season for quite a while now. It was still a decent score even on a losing week with Rodgers on a bye.

1. The Dream Team (11-2) No Change

Also looking for a second chance at the rule named after him, Coach Nathwani holds onto my top spot. They’ve held onto Williams for the entire season, and he looks to have come good at just the right time, matchups and opportunity could make him the key guy for the playoff run.

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And there we have it, I have done all that I can. No doubt, my sage words have helped each and every one of you through this tumultuous season. And, for that reason, I feel that it is only fitting that I too can claim to be a part of the glorious post season. Yeah, we’ll go with that. See you all there! Well, not all of you, that would kind of defeat the purpose. How about – see the good/lucky few there!?

2021 Power Rankings: Week 13

Good evening, everyone! After the surprisingly timely rankings last week, a return to form was surely incoming, and here we find ourselves. On the upside, no missed weeks this season! I am as surprised as you are. So, in the spirit of speed, a classic one sentence blurb this week, enjoy!

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12. U R Gould (3-9) No Change

A Kicker is going to end up their MVP this season, enough said. NFL equivalent: Seahawks.

11. Burdettinators (4-8) No Change

One of their better weeks of the season, but very much under the category of too little too late. NFL equivalent: Jets.

10. Tom’s Tyrants (4-8) No Change

Mediocrity purists, it just hasn’t been their year. NFL equivalent: Saints.

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Okay, a little more for the teams that, you know, still have something to play for.

9. FTMAL (6-6) Down 1

Looking like they’re going to blow a very promising start, they haven’t been able to adjust throughout the season like they did last campaign. NFL equivalent: Broncos.

8. Patistan (4-8) Down 1

They did themselves absolutely no favours last week, and this seemingly stacked roster now seems a strong candidate to be on the outside looking in. NFL equivalent: Browns.

7. Buccing The Trend (6-6) Down 1

Bad, then good, then bad again, then… oh you get the picture, consistency has been their greatest enemy this year. NFL equivalent: Raiders.

6. Gridiron Gang (6-6) Down 1

Back to better scoring form but not managing to get a win and some much needed breathing space, injuries continue to haunt them. NFL equivalent: 49ers.

5. Napolitans (5-7) Down 1

Their first falter for a while, but they still seem to be in a good spot, in need of a bounce back week. NFL equivalent: Colts

4. Bear Necessities (6-6) Up 5

A massive jump justified by both a seismic swing in their favour and also the coup of securing Mattison for the rest of the season – possibly the most ‘everything went right’ week in LOC history? NFL equivalent: Bengals

3. IKSAN (7-5) No Change

Not at their best early in the season, but roster quality if shining through and they look good for the post season. NFL equivalent: Chiefs.

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And a little less again for these guys, basically running out of superlatives anyway.

2. Forge Flyers (11-1) No Change

Health seems to be a non-factor, they are just a winning machine. NFL equivalent: Packers.

1. The Dream Team (10-2) No Change

Young, explosive and exciting, plus they win a lot of games. NFL equivalent: Cardinals.

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Just how I like my rankings, short and sweet. Hope you enjoyed your bonus team pairings. If you didn’t, blame it on Boris, everything else is his fault.

2021 - Holidays Have Come Early (For Some)

 Hello and welcome to another episode of the LOC Report! As we enter December, we enter the last stretch of the LOC season. We have now seen two teams punch their ticket to the playoffs, with 3 left to go. Commissioner Stubbs and Co-Host Chris Leach recap week 12 and look ahead to the season defining week 13 matchups.