AFL Power Rankings: 2006 Week 1
John Hoh
Thursday February 2, 2006
And it’s probably that age factor that had me report in the preseason power rankings that Randy White was the Blaze coach. Yes, I did look it up this time and it should have been DANNY White. Well, the two names rhyme. And Randy and Danny both played for the Cowboys in the "No Fun League."
Certainly week one of 2006 provided drama, excitement, some thrilling games, and some upsets. It became obvious a team can be affected when the kicker is hurt just before the game starts. Utah started fast winning its first game. Last year’s ArenaBowl participants picked up where they left off last year.
Herein are the 2006 Week 1 Power Rankings. And remember, these are only my opinions and are not scientific. Any attempt to use this information for betting purposes is solely at the gambler’s discretion.
| Rank | Team | Record | Previous Rank | Next Up |
| 1 | Colorado Crush (COL) | 1-0 | 1 | @GA |
| Crush gets leg up in divisional race, next game is a replay of ArenaBowl XIX. | ||||
| 2< | Georgia Force (GA) | 1-0< | 2< | COL |
| Force looking for revenge. Strong start against a division rival. | ||||
| 3< | Chicago Rush (CHI) | 0-1 | 3 | NY |
| Losing kicker just before the game starts was tough. Replacement kicker left Hohensee no choice but to go for two after touchdowns. | ||||
| 4 | Los Angeles Avengers (LA) | 1-0 | 4 | @PHI |
| LA gets a good start in defending divisional crown. Will find out if the Soul really has soul this year. | ||||
| 5 | Nashville Kats (NAS) | 1-0 | 9 | CLB |
| Kats start strong against three-time Eastern division winners. Given their finish last year, is this an omen for 2006? Host a Columbus team that surprised the Rampage. | ||||
| 6 | Philadelphia Soul (PHI) | 1-0 | 12 | LA |
| Impressive game against the Storm. Host the Avengers next. Philly’s defense looked good in week 1. Hey, maybe we’ll have some defense in the league this year! | ||||
| 7 | Utah Blaze (UT) | 1-0 | 15 | DAL |
| The ex-Rattler factor helped Blaze soundly defeat the SaberCats. If one wasn’t looking at the helmets, one would think this was an old Arizona-San Jose rivalry game. | ||||
| 8 | Dallas Desperados (DAL) | 1-0 | 11 | @UT |
| Jerry Jones gets his team to start the year against the two expansion clubs? How did that happen? | ||||
| 9 | Austin Wranglers (AUS) | 1-0 | 14 | AZ |
| Good win over the Glads. Trip to Arizona looms. Can Austin start out 2-0? | ||||
| 10 | Orlando Predators (ORL) | 0-1 | 5 | KC |
| Close loss to Georgia. Host the Brigade next, which will look vaguely familiar to the old VooDoo. | ||||
| 11 | Tampa Bay Storm (TB) | 0-1 | 6 | @GR |
| I know, I was questioned about my placing Orlando over Tampa Bay last week. I retain that order if only for the fact Orlando loss a close game to an ArenaBowl participant last year while the Storm were blown by a team failing to make the playoffs last year. But with Tim Marcum at the helm, don’t think the Storm will blow over! | ||||
| 12 | New York Dragons (NY) | 0-1 | 7 | @CHI |
| A loss to the Kats is tough. The schedule doesn’t get easier on the road in Chicago. | ||||
| 13 | San Jose SaberCats (SJ) | 0-1 | 8 | @LV |
| Tough loss—the first home opener loss in 8 years—leaves the S’Cats hungry for a win. Odds are against Vegas in this one. | ||||
| 14 | Columbus Destroyers (CLB) | 1-0 | 18 | @NAS |
| OK, I give the Destroyers credit for the win. But I’m still not a believer. | ||||
| 15 | Las Vegas Gladiators (LV) | 0-1 | 13 | SJ |
| A loss to Austin, followed up with a game against the S’Cats who were defeated at home by an expansion team, this does not look good for the sabered soldiers. | ||||
| 16 | Kansas City Brigade (KC) | 0-1 | 16 | @ORL |
| Growing pains in KC. Who scheduled the Brigade to start with two road games? | ||||
| 17 | Arizona Rattlers (AZ) | 0-1 | 17 | AUS |
| Arizonans are pining for the glory days of yore. Or wishing those players in Blaze had the snake-y "R" on their helmets again. | ||||
| 18< | Grand Rapids Rampage (GR) | 0-1 | 10 | TB |
| A loss to the Destroyers? Ouch! | ||||
John L. Hoh, Jr., is a free-lance writer from Milwaukee who grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, as an avid Dolphins fan. He followed Arena Football since its inception, at one point watching tape-delayed games on low-powered WAV-TV in Waukesha. His happiest day was when Milwaukee was awarded the Mustangs franchise; his saddest when the Mustangs were contracted out of the league. John is married to his wife Maija (13+ years) and has a young son, Matthew. John pines for the return of the Arena Football League to Milwaukee.
