2020: A Historic Game Indeed

 Welcome to the final episode of the LOC Report for the 2020 season! It's been a great season with many twists and turns along the way, but it had to come to an end eventually - it's leaving us with a bang though, as HOF Commissioner Stubbs and Co-host Chris Leach recap Corona Bowl XII and reveal the 2020 Award Winners.

2020: Corona Bowl XII

 Welcome to the penultimate episode of the LOC Report for the 2020 Season! It has been a weird year in many different ways, but we have finally reached the final season of the week, and now know who will be facing off in Corona Bowl XII. HOF Commissioner Stubbs and Co-host Chris Leach review the first round of the playoffs, before previewing the all important Corona Bowl. 

2020: You can't cancel the LOC

 Welcome to the Playoffs one and all! We're here at last, Week 15, where the season truly starts. Join HOF Commissioner Stubbs and Cohost Chris Leach to recap everything that went down in week 14, and previewing the first round of the playoffs. The award nominees are also revealed...

2020 Power Rankings: Final Edition

Welcome, everyone! To the end of all times the season! Can’t beat a two week holiday before the playoffs. The ol’ double bye week for your EDOTLOCCA, well deserved I’d say (with an uncontrollable grin on my face that is). So, final episode of the Rankings this week, and its ones of my favourites (because it’s easier than normal). Firstly, we’ll compare the first set of Rankings to the final standings – gotta laugh at yourself, aye? Secondly, I’ll treat you to my playoff rankings/predictions, just as a treat/jinx. Right, it’s nearly Christmas, and I know everyone has loads of plans (lol), so let’s crack on with it!

FYI: teams will be ordered in final standings, and I’ll put my original Ranking is brackets.

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12. The Tuckfards (11) Final Record 3-11

I called this team solid but not spectacular. Turns out was half right. A team generally capped in upside was missing the magic touch we have come to expect from Coach Merritt. Next season will be better! None of this retiring sh*t please.

11. Gridiron Gang (3) Final Record 5-9

Wow, (spoiler) my first bad call. Only wrong by 8 positions. But equally, the first team to come along that was ravaged by injuries. They weren’t the only one to write off 2020, for a variety of reasons. More on that later. 

10. IKSAN (7) Final Record 6-8

And the second team ravaged by injuries. You may spot a theme in the lower half of these final standings. My early rankings questioned the depth and reliance on TEs, but said he’d get by on CMC. We all know how that went. Bring on the 2021 spreadsheets.

9. Patistan (4) Final Record 7-7

Yep, the theme continues. They played the majority of the season without picks 1 and 2, it could have been so different. They fought all season and did well to hit .500, but they couldn’t match my expectations. Justin Jefferson helped a lot, if only we were still doing keepers…

8. The Dream Team (2) Final Record 7-7

And another team that fell short of my predictions. They were doing so well for so long, but in what appears to have become a Dream Team pattern, they ran out of legs. I called them well balanced, I wasn’t wrong, they all faded as one.

7. Tom’s Tyrants (8) Final Record 7-7

Annnnd finally, I was close again! Only 1 out. I said this team was unspectacular, picking up Herbert midseason was the extra juice, shame they started 0-5.

6. Bear Necessities (12) Final Record 7-7

Well, I said they’d be the hardest to call. Turns out they were bang in the middle. On record that is. In fact, they were the high scorers in the league, and I had them ranked 12^th which was not my finest hour. At least I said I didn’t think they’d end up being the worst team! Credit to Coach Stubbs Sr. in a ‘what-could-have-been’ season.

5. Buccing the Trend (10) Final Record 8-6

Can I tell you a secret? 1 week ago, this team was my Corona bowl favourite, I think they were very unlucky and the playoff teams should be happy they didn’t make it. I clearly didn’t think that originally, however. In my defence, I thought they had no depth. They also stayed healthy , so that kind of negated it. If only the teams below them had tried that…

4. Burdettinators (6) Final Record 8-6

The difference between the final standing and my ranking? James Robinson. Fact. He brought the consistency that allowed this boom or bust team to boom. For that reason, I’m claiming I nailed the first rankings. Now I’ll quickly call the next play before the booth review.

3. ASIPE (5) Final Record 8-6

I was higher on this team than other well-known LOC Media sources. Turns out none of us were high enough. Never bet against auto-draft! On that note, I’m sure I’m busy on Draft Day this year. Take nothing away from Coach Nunn though, he may have had good pieces, but he made them even better.

2. U R Gould (9) Final Record 9-5

My second worst call of the season, 7 places wrong. Tbh, it was a great draft. They believed in Arizona and it has worked out well. The consistent but undervalued WRs have been fantastic, the only thing that stopped them taking the regular season crown was the Chubb injury. A well-earned first playoff appearance.

1. Forge Flyers (1) Final Record 9-5

Wahey! Nailed it! Who cares about the other rankings when you can back the winner! On that note, I’m off to the ponies, gonna make my millions. Back to the LOC, they haven’t been as dominant as previous regular season winners but, backed by a massively in-form Henry, they have made a big statement. The question is, should I back my original horse? Better read on, hadn’t you?

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So, the playoffs is a 2-time winner showdown and 2 teams facing off whilst looking for their first Stubbs trophy (that’s right, I remember what it’s called). Do I think my previous No. 1 will do the job? I’m certainly backing them to make the Corona Bowl. The other conference championship is closer, but whoever wins it, they’re my champion. That’s right, a new champion is coming! (Not just because I want to remain in joint first for Stubbs trophies. Who are we going for though… I can genuinely see it going either way. I’m calling… errr… ASIPE (or whatever they’ll be called by then), so close, but they have the matchups.

Good luck to everyone (who is still in)! It’s going to be great! Unlike my start of season projections… Merry Christmas people!

2020: The Last Hurrah

 Welcome to the final episode of the LOC Report for the Regular Season! In what has been a tumultuous year, the LOC has shone resolutely and provided enjoyment and escape for all, but we're not quite finished with it yet. Join HOF Commissioner Stubbs and Co-host Chris Leach to look back at the pivotal week 13 games, and a game day preview of the all important legacy defining week 14 games.

2020: The end is in sight

Welcome to another episode of the LOC Report! Many months ago it would have felt impossible seeing us getting to this point, but here we are, entering Week 13, and the 2020 LOC Season is reaching it's conclusion. But before we get there, HOF Commissioner Naithan Stubbs and Co Host Chris Leach take a look back at Week 12 and forward to Week 13

2020 Power Rankings: Week 12

Hello, hello! Come in, come in! Don’t wipe your feet, there’s no time. And actually, don’t come in either, you know, lockdown stuff. But we can do this quicker by just shouting at you on the driveway anyway. Utilising the government tier system might actually benefit this speed edition of the rankings anyway, it fits with the LOC nicely, so;

- Tier 1 – the lucky bastards somehow escaping most of the madness

- Tier 2 – the vast majority, enveloped in chaos, scared and confused

- Tier 3 – f**ked

And if you want any more information on the tiers, please visit the government website. It doesn’t exactly relate to the LOC, but its doesn’t really seem to relate to anything else either, so can’t hurt.

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- Tier 3

12. The Tuckfards (3-8) Non-mover

Said they were out last week, unsurprisingly they are still out. If we were in Scotland, they’d be rocking tier 4. And, unfortunately, it looks like they are ending 2020 with a bit of a whimper. Bring on 2021!

11. Gridiron Gang (4-7) Down 2

Not mathematically out as such, but equally pretty darn far from in. With Ekeler back and the Lions both close, they could still ruin it for someone else though – and that is basically what being in tier 3 is all about, right!?

10. Patistan (5-6) Up 1

I thought they were out a couple of weeks ago, but they keep surprising me with wins. Much like the team below them though, they seem to be too many wins and too many points scored behind. They got kicked out the club they were in, but found another one open just down the road (yeah, I’m still doing the nightclub thing, even when in a rush).

- Tier 2

9. IKSAN (5-6) Down 1

They were really close in a week with a few good matchups. You feel they needed this one, but the early season form keeps them hanging onto contention. It’s never too late. Unless they lose again this week, then it’s too late.

8. Bear Necessities (5-6) Up 2

Massive win, was fully ready to Tier 3 them, until last week. What a time to turn up and, as the second-high scorers in the league they are still very much (just about) in the running.

7. The Dream Team (6-5) Down 2

And the losses keep coming. The change from early season consistency to just not being able to find the points has been drastic. They only lost by just over a point this week, and posted a good score, but that could be the result we look back on at the end of the season.

6. Tom’s Tyrants (5-6) Non-mover

Ran out of momentum, despite actually having a decent week. The lose doesn’t take them out of the running, but they need a few things to go their way now. Their destiny is no longer in their hands. If they keep scoring the way they have been the last few weeks, it’s possible.

5. Burdettinators (6-5) Down 3

Wow, talk about close. Reckon either coach will look back on that result at the end of the season and realise how critical it was? Burdettinators needed it more and got it, they stay a game away from the division and the wildcard. Seems a harsh drop, but it’s more about what other teams around them did.

4. Buccing the Trend (7-4) Down 1

Not a good score to put up on the eve of the tier system coming into place. Despite the win, league joint record, and holding the wildcard spot, they stay in tier 2. They can’t afford any more sub-80 weeks already having notably less points than their nearest rivals.

3. His Dak Materials (6-5) Up 4

Good win, rest of the division lost, and another great entry to the team name list- pretty much a good week all round. High scorers in the league and now atop their division, they are very much looking good.

- Tier 1

2. U R Gould (7-4) Up 2

The message is easy here, keep winning ad you’re in. This team deserve their spot in the top tier as they have looked a consistent threat since getting healthy, putting together a string of good weeks.

1. Forge Flyers (7-4) Non-mover

Clinging onto the top spot, although they’d probably 

have the tier all to themselves if they’d managed another yard. No one is more than a game outside the playoffs, and that includes them. Their points for is just enough to provide a slight buffer.

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Right, if I don’t post this quickly, you literally won’t have time to read it. Although, as this is the end of the article, you’d presumably already know whether you had time or not. Unless you read things in a weird order? Now I’m just rambling, definitely no time for that. We’re done here.