Ryan’s "Power" Rankings
Ryan McCarthy
Wednesday May 15, 2019
The first installment of a purely subjective list
Welcome to the first ever installment of Ryan’s “Power” Rankings. Similar to other “power” rankings, this ranking system is entirely subjective based on my observation of all six teams. I could have started this in Week 1, but I would have rather let the chips fall in the first quarter of the 2019 season to fairly surmise how to rank each team.
So, without further ado, here is the premier installment of Ryan’s “Power” Rankings:
1.
Albany (3-0): For the first two games of the season, the Empire defense helped win them both games while the offense struggled to get in sync. This week, the offense finally got going; it had a near-perfect week against Philadelphia, scoring on seven offensive drives. The defense, meanwhile, has forced a turnover in every game; Jack LB Terence Moore and DB Arkeith Brown each have two interceptions. The Empire will travel to Columbus this week for their second of three consecutive road games. It will be interesting to see if they can continue their current pace against the Destroyers, who they dominated three weeks ago, but is finally playing their first home game.
Albany (3-0): For the first two games of the season, the Empire defense helped win them both games while the offense struggled to get in sync. This week, the offense finally got going; it had a near-perfect week against Philadelphia, scoring on seven offensive drives. The defense, meanwhile, has forced a turnover in every game; Jack LB Terence Moore and DB Arkeith Brown each have two interceptions. The Empire will travel to Columbus this week for their second of three consecutive road games. It will be interesting to see if they can continue their current pace against the Destroyers, who they dominated three weeks ago, but is finally playing their first home game.
2.
Philadelphia (2-1): The Soul started the season 2-0 with victories over Atlantic City, where they came back from a 14-point deficit to win, and over Baltimore, where they used a big third quarter on both sides of the ball to defeat the Brigade. This past week, they matched Albany with touchdown after touchdown, but little mistakes prevented them from a victory. This week, they travel to Washington to face the Valor. After surrendering seven touchdowns to the Empire, they’ll face dual-threat QB Arvell Nelson, so their secondary will need to be especially alert when Nelson is on the field.
Philadelphia (2-1): The Soul started the season 2-0 with victories over Atlantic City, where they came back from a 14-point deficit to win, and over Baltimore, where they used a big third quarter on both sides of the ball to defeat the Brigade. This past week, they matched Albany with touchdown after touchdown, but little mistakes prevented them from a victory. This week, they travel to Washington to face the Valor. After surrendering seven touchdowns to the Empire, they’ll face dual-threat QB Arvell Nelson, so their secondary will need to be especially alert when Nelson is on the field.
3.
Baltimore (2-1): In the season opener against Washington, Boyd threw six touchdowns, three to WR Joe Hills. But against Philadelphia in Week 2, the Soul defense forced Boyd to throw nine consecutive incompletions and sacked him once as the front four frustrated the Brigade offense. After allowing Columbus to stay close through the first three quarters in Week 3, the Brigade pulled away in the fourth quarter to a closer than expected 48-30 win. This week, the Brigade will play their first road game of the season in Atlantic City, where season sack leader Monte Lewis will be waiting for them.
Baltimore (2-1): In the season opener against Washington, Boyd threw six touchdowns, three to WR Joe Hills. But against Philadelphia in Week 2, the Soul defense forced Boyd to throw nine consecutive incompletions and sacked him once as the front four frustrated the Brigade offense. After allowing Columbus to stay close through the first three quarters in Week 3, the Brigade pulled away in the fourth quarter to a closer than expected 48-30 win. This week, the Brigade will play their first road game of the season in Atlantic City, where season sack leader Monte Lewis will be waiting for them.
4.
Washington (1-2): The Valor could be 3-0, but mistakes have impeded them from having a better record. In the season opener against Baltimore, QB Arvell Nelson threw two interceptions and K Pat Clarke missed four extra points. Against Albany, the Valor was only 3-of-7 in the Red Zone and went 0-for-3 on fourth down conversions. Fortune finally favored the Valor with a win this past week against Atlantic City. Nelson threw for three touchdowns and added two scoring runs. The Valor stay home this week to face Philadelphia, who look to bounce back after a shootout loss to Albany.
Washington (1-2): The Valor could be 3-0, but mistakes have impeded them from having a better record. In the season opener against Baltimore, QB Arvell Nelson threw two interceptions and K Pat Clarke missed four extra points. Against Albany, the Valor was only 3-of-7 in the Red Zone and went 0-for-3 on fourth down conversions. Fortune finally favored the Valor with a win this past week against Atlantic City. Nelson threw for three touchdowns and added two scoring runs. The Valor stay home this week to face Philadelphia, who look to bounce back after a shootout loss to Albany.
5.
Atlantic City (1-2): The Blackjacks should be 2-1 had it not been for the blown lead in Week 1 against Philadelphia. The expansion team had a 21-7 lead on the Soul until James Romain’s pick six changed the game in the Soul’s favor. The Blackjacks’ home debut did not disappoint as a stout performance on defense that included four sacks and a pick six lead to a win over Columbus. The Blackjacks gave Washington a fight, but the Valor held the ball for over 10 minutes in the final frame, which helped seal the win. The Blackjacks return home to face Baltimore for which should be an entertaining game between arguably two evenly matched teams.
Atlantic City (1-2): The Blackjacks should be 2-1 had it not been for the blown lead in Week 1 against Philadelphia. The expansion team had a 21-7 lead on the Soul until James Romain’s pick six changed the game in the Soul’s favor. The Blackjacks’ home debut did not disappoint as a stout performance on defense that included four sacks and a pick six lead to a win over Columbus. The Blackjacks gave Washington a fight, but the Valor held the ball for over 10 minutes in the final frame, which helped seal the win. The Blackjacks return home to face Baltimore for which should be an entertaining game between arguably two evenly matched teams.
6.
Columbus (0-3): To say that the Destroyers have had a rough go three games into the 2019 season is a bit of an understatement. They were dominated by Albany in Week 1 and gave both Atlantic City and Baltimore good games in Weeks 2 and 3. The underlying theme for the Destroyers, though, has been lack of quarterback protection: they have youth on just about every facet of offense and that includes the offensive line. The line gave up two sacks against Albany, four to Atlantic City, and two more against Baltimore. This week, they’ll face Albany again, but in the confines of Nationwide Arena. Can the offensive line protect QB Grant Russell, who has kept the Destroyers in games? Or will the Empire spoil the home return for the Destroyers? Time will tell.
Columbus (0-3): To say that the Destroyers have had a rough go three games into the 2019 season is a bit of an understatement. They were dominated by Albany in Week 1 and gave both Atlantic City and Baltimore good games in Weeks 2 and 3. The underlying theme for the Destroyers, though, has been lack of quarterback protection: they have youth on just about every facet of offense and that includes the offensive line. The line gave up two sacks against Albany, four to Atlantic City, and two more against Baltimore. This week, they’ll face Albany again, but in the confines of Nationwide Arena. Can the offensive line protect QB Grant Russell, who has kept the Destroyers in games? Or will the Empire spoil the home return for the Destroyers? Time will tell.
Ryan McCarthy has been an on-and-off Internet columnist and blogger since 1997. He has been an avid follower of Arena Football since 1990 when the Albany Firebirds were established. Ryan currently attends Regent University, where he is pursuing his Bachelors degree in Communications with a Journalism concentration. He anticipates graduating toward the end of 2019. You can follow Ryan on Twitter at @rwhoisryanmcc
