Biggs’ Eye View: APDFL Rankings

As we speed towards the 2022 APDFL Commissioner’s Classic, the league begins the march to the championship. As the case perennially, the APDFL promises to delight and enthrall fans with an exciting brand of football. Now, as the custom, player movement will dictate how the season progresses. However, talent takes teams to a point. Execution and coaching provide the difference between looking great on paper and hoisting the championship trophy. Below, are the top five teams, as of February 15, 2022.

1. Crescent City Kings (2021 APDFL Champions)

The Kings, despite fielding a roster of only twenty-six, capped off a miraculous playoff drive, culminating in their first championship. Now, the proverbial target sits directly on their backs. Head Coach Frederick Washington knows this. Cognizant of the pitfalls that champions face, the Kings will exercise caution on their path.

Cause For Excitement: The addition of DL Carlos Coler gives the Kings a hellacious, versatile threat on the defensive line. Coler’s blend of power and motor, paired with Jerron Washington will give Crescent City a formidable duo.

Cause For Concern: Can the Kings maintain the same hunger and intensity as the defending champion? Complacency remains the enemy of sustained success. Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

2. Georgia Thrashers

No team in the APDFL boasts the depth and athletic talent as the Thrashers. After falling short during the playoffs, the Thrashers’ braintrust embarked on a recruiting spree, rarely seen at this level. Quarterback Kivon Taylor holds a boulder-sized chip on his shoulder. Taylor set every conceivable passing record and did not take home a single award. Rightfully, he feels slighted and will channel this frustration into making APDFL defenses pay dearly. Meanwhile, William Howard looks to build upon a phenomenal 2021. Defensive tackle Marcus Singleton will play a full season with a clear mind and zero distractions.

Cause For Excitement: The addition of elite offensive linemen and ATH Marquavious Favors. With the offensive line providing Taylor extended time to scan the field, the Thrashers become even more dangerous. Moreover, the versatile Favors excels, regardless of position or circumstance. That level of dynamic playmaking enhances the Thrashers’ chances.

Cause For Concern: With the most talented roster in the APDFL, the expectation for the Thrashers remains the championship. Nothing less than winning the APDFL Championship. As a result, the enormous pressure on their shoulders would crumble most organizations. Can they rise to the occasion?

3. Mississippi Dynasty

The Dynasty found itself in an unfamiliar location last spring. In watching the championship game from the stands, the Dynasty ventured into unwanted territory. To a man, that did not sit well. In fact, several veterans decided to return to set right what they perceived as wrong. With this intention, the Dynasty took a rather long look in the mirror. The stingy defense held opponents to fewer than twenty points in nine of ten regular-season games. Adding linebacker Corey Wells to the mix will make the Mississippi defense downright scary.

Cause For Excitement: Future first-ballot Hall of Famer ATH LeSteven Jackson returns full-time. Jackon, regarded by many as the best leader in league history seeks to guide his team back to the promised land. With Jackson, stats do not matter. Winning, nothing more is the only goal.

Cause For Concern: When Head Coach Mike Lloyd retired at the conclusion of their season, the Dynasty lost the calming influence. Without Lloyd at the helm, how will the Dynasty navigate the season?

4. Columbus Storm

The Storm enters 2022 with a new attitude. Granted, they exceeded expectations, making the playoffs in their second season. The Storm remains one of the youngest teams in the league. With a roster featuring at least two dozen players under the age of twenty-eight, Columbus brings a youthful exuberance to the field.

Cause For Excitement: By adding quarterback Marcus Brooks and ATH Iquan Deed, the Storm managed to solidify two of their biggest needs. In Brooks, Columbus possesses a player, hellbent on silencing doubters and former teammates. Meanwhile, Deed’s ability to play any position on the field makes him a matchup nightmare for defenses.

Cause For Concern: Can the Storm offer protection for Brooks? If the APDFL is known, for one thing, it’s pass rushers. A year ago, the Storm struggled to contain edge rushers.

5. Georgia Cobras

The Cobras take the field with Dion Graham as the quarterback. Graham lead the Cobras to a championship game berth in 2019. Lavon Downs and Javier McGriff still continue to confound and befuddle defenses. Jarod Lewis gives the offense balance. Lewis broke the league record for rushing touchdowns.

Cause For Excitement: Linebacker Harry Burke offers sound, technical tackling, and the ability to jump a route for an interception. While the Cobras are known for their offense, Burke alters their defense with his ability to impact games.

Cause For Concern: The Cobras start their season with back-to-back games with 2021 playoff teams. If they falter early, can they recover, in order to make a deep playoff run?

Warning

This list will not remain intact. One of these teams will fall from the rankings. Life in the APDFL provides for a chance for an organization to climb the rankings and make its presence felt. People will question this list and that is fine. Between the lines should be the focus. Words never won a game, playmakers do.