May 17, 2013 by Charlie Eisenhood in Analysis, Rankings with 1 comments
After a revenge win over the Madison Radicals, the Windy City Wildfire move back to the top of the Midwest rankings at #2 overall. Even more impressive was that the Wildfire got the win despite playing without Brodie Smith, their primary handler and the league’s leading assister (with 62, he has 29 more than the next closest player!).
They may need to get used to the new Brodie-free system, as Smith has to get an MRI to check on what could be a serious injury.
Despite the Wildfire’s success, the Toronto Rush remain as the #1 team in the league after they fought through ugly weather to secure a comfortable win over New York this week.
Here are the full AUDL Power Rankings — see below for discussion.
1. Toronto Rush (6-0) — Another easy win for the Rush this week as they continue their quest for a perfect season. They hit the road this week to take on the streaking Rochester Dragons; the Rush are still a heavy favorite.
2. Windy City Wildfire (6-1) — The Wildfire avenged their only loss of the season with a 16-15 win over the Radicals in Madison. It was their fifth straight win and, assuming Smith gets healthy, they are once again the team to beat in the Midwest.
3. Madison Radicals (3-2) — The Radicals are just half a game ahead of the Revolution for second place in the Midwest, and they need to get a win over Detroit this weekend to stay there. Detroit won their first meeting 25-24.
4. Cincinnati Revolution (3-3) — With back to back wins over the Mechanix, Cincinnati now finds themselves in the thick of the playoff picture and moving up the Power Rankings. This weekend, they face the Alleycats for the first time this season.
5. Detroit Mechanix (3-3) — The Mechanix will look to avoid a three game skid with another upset of Madison this weekend. That is the first game of a tough back-to-back; they face Minnesota on Sunday.
6. Philadelphia Phoenix (2-1) — After a surprise week off due to weather, the Phoenix rematch the Breeze this weekend on the road. The Breeze have been improving and this game will be a bellwether for the Eastern Division. If the Phoenix win this weekend, they will solidify themselves as the second team in the East.
7. New York Empire (2-3) — On their first road trip of the season, the Empire did not keep their composure and dropped both games, including one they were supposed to win against Rochester. They were missing a handful of starters, however. They face the Hammerheads in New Jersey in an important test this weekend.
8. Minnesota Wind Chill (1-5) — The Wind Chill have now lost five straight and are freefalling through the Power Rankings. The relative strength of the Midwest is the only thing keeping them out of the basement. They have now faced every Midwest Conference team — their only win came in week one against the Alleycats.
9. Indianapolis Alleycats (1-3) — The Alleycats have to be relieved to have their biggest star, Cameron Brock, back after missing just one game with a brain hemorrhage. This — their first matchup against Cincinnati this season — is an important game for them as they look to end their three-game losing streak.
10. DC Breeze (2-3) — The Breeze got a comfortable win against the New Jersey Hammerheads this weekend to vault themselves out of last place in the league. A win against the Phoenix this weekend would show the East their slow start didn’t mean much.
11. Rochester Dragons (2-4) — With back-to-back home wins, Rochester is on the rise. They still at home this weekend to face the Rush, and simply putting up a good game would be impressive.
12. New Jersey Hammerheads (1-4) — The road has not been kind to New Jersey, where they are now 0-3 after losing to the Breeze last weekend. The Hammerheads were missing some talent in that game, but they didn’t show up to play, falling behind 7-1 in the first quarter. They have a chance to redeem themselves against New York at home this weekend.
