2023: Power Rankings Week 5 - a podcast by LOC Films

 Hello again, the Commish is back to deliver another edition of the power rankings in relief of the EDOTLOCCA! After my rusty return to the literary action last week, I couldn’t let another week go without having another shot to make good on it (definitely nothing to do with Tom not being able to write the article again this week). September is in the books, so let’s see the state of play in the LOC heading into October.

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12. Jamal Fix It (0-4) - No Change: look, this team is definitely better than their 0-4 record. They showed last week the classic Ross penchant for a good week with a roster that otherwise seems adrift - Coach Nunn is just unfortunate it was against the week’s highest scorer. To be honest, I saw enough to move them off the bottom, but potentially losing Tee Higgins for at least a week or 2 takes them back a bit. They are getting Taylor back, but I need to see that impact before I believe it. They’re going to get wins this season.

11. Buccing The Trend (0-4) - No Change: If not for injury Coach Taylor may have had the grace of falling down. They faced a good opponent too, but it still wasn’t a great week - however, like Ross’s team, they’ve shown enough to get wins this year. Jacob’s finally got going, evans hamstring injury opens the door for Godwin, and Barkley is returning. Tua and the special team will have better days so the turnaround could be coming sooner rather than later. 

10. Tom’s Tyrants (1-3) - down 1: I was confident enough to lock them on the pod last week, but it appears that confidence was misplaced. Burrow needs to get right, or Coach Barnes needs a new QB. Until either or both of these things happen this team will be held back. Allen is the pillar, they have a couple of nice backs in Cook and Robinson, but this roster just doesn’t have a lot of juice. But Tom certainly knows how to turn a team around. 

9. U R Gould (4-0) - up 1: the king lives. Once again they were fortunate in their opposition, but they did have a decent week - largely courtesy of benching fields and an aj brown blow up. I do like the Stroud addition though. I just struggle to see much upside with this team outside of pollard and brown though, and they’ve not both been super thus far. They started Sam LaPorta this week - that tells you where the team is at. 

8. Great Scott (2-2) - down 3: don’t let the win last week fool you, this team has its problems. You look at the team and can see the potential, but we’re just not getting it right now. Lawrence and jags haven’t got going, Chase is at the mercy of burrow. St Brown is hobbled, Mostert has an Achane problem, Sanders has a bad offence problem, and Gibbs has a Montgomery problem. Achane is the only juicy option on the bench, and he could be special, but he needs some of the other names above to start firing to help him. If things do click this team will be dangerous.

7. Forge Flyers (1-3) - up 1: they did it, set off the fireworks, they got a W! It was due. Yes, they benefited from a great D score, but cousins also let them down (and Coach Leach will be turning to Richardson im sure, who is entering stud level territory). If Henry can properly get going there’s more than enough of a supporting cast here to get their season back on track. They’re probably one of the more complete top to bottom teams in the league too, so are set up well for byes. 

6. The Dream Team (2-2) - down 2: I think it’s becoming increasingly clear to me this team needs Herbert and Hill blow up weeks to work. But to be fair, they’re two players that have a penchant for that, and their blow ups are or the nuclear nature. They do have other good pieces on the roster too, the ceiling is high but the floor is also low. A classic flashy boom and bust dream team team. 6th seems like the logical spot for this team

5. Burdettinators (4-0) - up 1: the undefeated start continues, now there are only 2. This team is the better and more worthy one. Despite all the injuries, I’d still take this team too. The starting lineup is solid, no doubt about it. But I just can’t shake the feeling that it needs some depth, as these aren’t guys you want to HAVE to rely on week in week out. Understandably, there is not much depth on the team. It will be interesting to see how they fair in the byes - but if they stay healthy they’ll do fine. 

4. IKSAN (1-3) - down 3: Coach Sherwood’s 80+ weekly points stretch since the end of 2021 has come to an end. Injuries pregame, during the game, and players returning from injury will do that - especially when your star QB doesn’t have a stellar week. When they do get healthy though this team could light it up. My beloved Alexander Mattison may not be throwing away his shot after all. Don’t get used to seeing IKSAN 2 games under 500, there’s a reason it doesn’t happen too often. The fall is more about other teams as opposed to them themselves.

3. Bear Necessities (3-1) - down 1: Another solid week and another win. Coach Stubbs Sr has a robust roster from top to bottom, and it’s easy to see them return to playoffs after narrowly missing out last year. Yet, there are some cracks in the roster that may be starting to appear. Mixon has been afflicted by the bengals slow start. Nacua has been a revelation, but what will the offence look like with Kupp back? Williams has a hip injury, and Robinson has an Arthur Smith problem. The upside is tantalising, but the shine coke come off if this team a little bit. 

2. Gridiron Gang (3-1) - No change: definitely not moving myself up to the cursed number 1 spot, let’s hope the power rankings goods don’t see through my guise. No, joking aside, Gridiron Gang remain in 2 despite coming off this seasons weekly highest score because it was a very top heavy effort by 3 players. No doubt the starting 6 of this team have a case to be the best in the league, but behind that it’s a bit sketchy. I could do with 1 or 2 of my prospective guys emerging and solidifying to really elevate this team. 

1. Patistan (3-1) - up 6: what a rise, and for good reason. The loss was a narrow one, in a week where the team was strong. There is a mighty fine coaching and GM effort going on here to field a good QB each work, and it’s working. The team is dripping in talent, you’d struggle to poke holes in any of the players. Kamara has only added to that seemingly. We’ve said in seasons past “this is pats year”. Well gentlemen, the year where we’ve not been saying that and they’ve been seemingly going under the radar a little more, could in fact be this year. 

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And there you go, hopefully I have made up for my teething problems of last week! The bye weeks are here and the added struggles from which will separate the contenders from the pretenders - so buckle up guys!

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