Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2021 1:18:49 GMT
THE MATCHUP:
Week-2 of the 2036 Continental Football Association kicks off with a matchup between, and this is no “Bull”, two up and coming teams, but both with Week-1 losses, as the Birmingham Bulls take on the London Bulldogs. The Bulls are hoping to keep a short leash on the Bulldogs and the Bulldogs are hoping to turn this into a dogfight instead of trying to run with the bulls. One of these teams is going to take a horn in the ribs or leave with their tail between their legs!
The London Bulldogs, battling in one of the toughest divisions in the CFA, and one season removed from being the CFA’s Continental Bowl 2034 Champions, floundered under CPU ownership last year. But they still have most of the core players to make another solid run for all the chips and their new GM is hoping he is up to the challenge. His men are ready for war, but can his coaching staff provide them with a winning battle plan?
On the other side of the gridiron are the Bulls who have only made the playoffs once in the last seven years but they have signed 14 new players to their roster this prior to week 1 alone, let alone their numerous free agency acquisitions, including one of the best Guards in the CFA, former Templars Guard, David Gray, giving them an added edge in the trenches where every game is truly won or lost. The Bulls have a full new roster and new hope, nothing more dangerous than that!
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PLAYERS TO WATCH: BIRMINGHAM
PLAYERS TO WATCH: BIRMINGHAM
Led by shutdown corners Mark Box and Michael Mercier, it is hard to imagine the Bulldogs getting much going in the air other than in the middle of the field where even then it is patrolled by two stellar LBs in Wilbur Main and Anthony Soliz. This fearsome foursome will dictate much of what London will do and how.
The Bulls will also be hoping that Juan Colbert will have a bounce back game after a poor showing in week 1 where his QBR was 57.9 and they hope to see the same production out of their backfield by committee of Dana Sparrow and Justin Key.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: LONDON
Andrew Burton, QB for the Bulldogs, will be hoping to continue moving the ball downfield in Week-2 to his hot receiving duo of James Longoria and Paul Streeter who each had 100+ yard days in Week-1. Look for Bulldogs to try to get RB Dave Reese more involved to make more of an impact in Week-2.
Defensively, the Bulldogs will hope for another strong showing from LB Leonard Hernandez who had 7 tackles and 2 TFL in week 1. They will also hope DE James Reid can continue to bring some heat and notch another sack or two in Week-2.
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KEYS TO A BIRMINGHAM VICTORY:
Offensively, the Bulls will need to rely on their backfield by committee again and hope they can deliver the same results on the ground as they did in week 1 where they combined for 191 yards. If Birmingham can continue to grind out a strong running, and perhaps get a chunk play or two in the air, that should give the defense the rest they need and keep control of the game.
KEYS TO A LONDON VICTORY:
London will have to abandon their reliance on the short-to-med passing game and connect on some balls deep downfield to beat Birmingham. Establishing the deep ball should also open up the ground game for the Bulldogs. London will need to ramp up their running attack this week after only putting up 33-yards on 10-carries against the Blue Demons last week. “Gotta run the rock to improve your stock!”
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PREDICTION:
Both teams had terrible seasons last year, but in the CFA, you are only as good as your current season and what’s done is not only done, but irrelevant. What counts is what you do this year, and every year is a new chance to make a name for yourself.
Birmingham will continue to own the ground game while the Bulldogs will own the air. The winner will be the team that can overcome their week one demons and provide a two-pronged attack.
My prediction is Birmingham by seven-points thanks mostly to their energy level with all the new faces and the Bulldogs just won’t be able to run with the Bulls and their ground game.
Birmingham – 28
London – 21
LINE: LON +6.5
O/U: 53
- Kent Rawluk – OSN contributing journalist
