Talons Central Power Rankings 3/31/2010

With opening day just two days away, the AFL Writers Association released their Top 8 Poll:

1. Chicago Rush
2. Tampa Bay Storm
3. Dallas Vigilantes
4. Cleveland Gladiators
5. Orlando Predators
6. Spokane Shock
7. Milwaukee Iron
8. Arizona Rattlers

I am not quite confident in this poll. I cannot see what the Rush have done to deserve the ranking. They have lost much of the talent they had in 2008 (Damian Harrell to the Iron, Donovan Morgan to the Talons) and didn't seem to replace it. Also, the Orlando Predators are another team that hasn't done much to deserve the five spot. The Predators were easily outmatched in their scrimmage with the Tampa Bay Storm. They are definitely in my bottom half of the league.

My Final Preseason Power Rankings are as follows:

1. Milwaukee Iron
2. Dallas Vigilantes
3. Tulsa Talons
4. Cleveland Gladiators
5. Jacksonville Sharks
6. Tampa Bay Storm
7. Spokane Shock
8. Arizona Rattlers
9. Chicago Rush
10. Alabama Vipers
11. Utah Blaze
12. Orlando Predators
13. Iowa Barnstormers
14. OKC Yard Dawgz
15. Bossier-Shreveport Battlewings

Milwaukee has made all the right moves this season. They easily have the best offensive talent in the league and will be hard to stop. The turning point will be how effective their defense is.

Dallas has looked great this preseason, however, there are rumblings of resentment towards to team in their own locker room. If this proves to be true then it could affect the team detrimentally.

The Talons have a great receiving core, probably second to only Milwaukee. In addition, they have many AFL veterans on defense. Their success will depend on QB play.

Be sure to check in next week for the next set of Power Rankings after opening weekend!

EDIT:

For fairness gonna add in the Fan Poll done by AFL Fanzone (Mainly because I just saw it. Somehow I missed it.):

Preseason Rankings (Points) [First Place Votes]
1. Dallas Vigilantes (134) [5]
2. Milwaukee Iron (131) [9]
3. Arizona Rattlers (94)
4. Tampa Bay Storm (64)
5. Jacksonville Sharks (63)
6. Spokane Shock (62)
6. Tulsa Talons (62)
8. Chicago Rush (61)
8. Cleveland Gladiators (61) [1]
10. Orlando Predators (35)

Others receiving votes; Iowa (22), Alabama (19), Oklahoma City (7), Utah (5), Bossier City (2)