Year II was a little weird: while their final order of finish was up for grabs until the final weekend, it was clear most of the season that Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo were the class of the division.
Istanbul went on to win the championship, and should be in the hunt once again. Rio and Tokyo are both among the most identifiable teams in the league, with Rio’s offense built around Jim Brown and the offensive line and Tokyo depending on the lightning offense of George Blanda. Of those 2, Tokyo is the most likely to slip, as their defense remains a massive question mark.
The rest of the division is harder to assess: Addis Ababa was great Year I, but thoroughly mediocre in Year II. Lomé, Sydney, and Cape Town all have potential and Beijing remains an enigma wrapped in a full house backfield.
#The New Receivers
Four new faces are key to their teams success in Year III. Potentially the biggest impact can be made by Brandon Marshall‘s move to Rio, giving the Carnival the #1 receiver they’ve been missing.
But don’t be surprised if A.J. Green in Lomé or John Stallworth in Sydney have huge years with top end QBs now finding them in more diverse offenses. And, finally, Cape Town landed themselves a steal in TE Antonio Gates, who really could be a major missing piece for them.
#Stepping Up
Out of the trio of Cape Town, Lomé, and Sydney, I would bet most on Lomé making the big step up. Jim Kelly is the real deal, the offense looks to be largely improved (when your biggest question is how to get enough touches to both Marshall Faulk and Thurman Thomas, you’re doing alright), and there is enough depth on defense to get by.
#Blanda Gonna’ Blanda
There is a lot riding on Tokyo’s Kimble Anders, who grabbed the starting spot with his running and receiving out of the backfield, but if he falters, Abner Haynes moves over from Rio with an eye on the starting job. Wait, what? Did we just start a conversation about Tokyo focusing on the running game?
Well, sure: Blanda gonna Blanda, and a healthy Demaryius Thomas has defenders quaking in their boots. It’s hard to see the defense as any worse than last year, even if it’s equally hard to see them as terribly improved (but if the LB corps can be healthy, the quartet of Von Miller, Jack Ham, Randy Gradishar, and Karl Mecklenburg could be intimidating).
So maybe the key to the Swallows this year actually is the, dare we say it, running game.
Projections
Playoff Teams
Addis Ababa, Istanbul, and Rio de Janeiro.
It’s a bit of a crapshoot. Tokyo’s defense remains suspect, and Addis Ababa seems to have too much talent to keep struggling. But all 3 of these teams could miss the top 3 as well.
Eighth Place
Beijing.
I mean, why argue against history?
Player Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: LaDainian Tomlinson (AAA)
Defensive Player of the Year: Ray Lewis (IST)
Best Newcomers: Antonio Gates (CTO); Brandon Marshall (RIO); John Stallworth (SYD)
Best Rookies: Alan Faneca (IST); La’Roi Glover (TOK); Charles Mann (BEI)