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Friday, Feb. 9, 4:00 PM ET
Hilton & The
Swammi Jockey For Control
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Hines remains positive his game will improve,
even after going 2-30 after two seasons.
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With Smolka and Ellis both lacking PS 2
units, and Tennessee still struggling to develop a sound game plan, the
NFC east should be in the hands of either Jacksonville or Dallas. The crown
has rotated from The Swammi (99) to Hilton (2000) over the past two seasons.
The Swam had the upper hand on Hilton from 97-99. But in 2000, Hilton began
to even the score, taking three straight from The Swam in the last two seasons.
Hilton ran away with the division and posted his best ever 13-3 regular
season record. Meanwhile, The Swam has been trying to get over the big game
hump. After making the playoffs for the past four years, including a trip
to the Superbowl, The Swam has yet to win the big game to take him over
the top. Last season, the Pokes dropped a heartbreaker to the NY Jetsin
the first round of the PFL playoffs, after leading 24-10 at the start of
the 4th quarter. In the previous season, it was a devastating loss to The
Creator in PFL Superbowl III. Despite all of the regular season success,
the question mark over The Swammi's head is can he get the monkey off of
his back and finally win a PFL title in the league he helped to start.
A Long Time Coming
After coming into The PFL as league
doormat, Joe Hilton has elevated his game to command respect as one of
the PFL's top ballers. Hilton dominated last season trouncing everyone
in his tracks with the exception of Minnesota, Green Bay and Buffalo.
But back in the day...Hilton was known as "owen" because his
record each week was always "0 and" something. After starting
out 0-8 in 1998, Hilton finished 5-11. Two 9-7 playoff seasons were followed
by last season's 13-3 finish. However, an upset lost to Tom Poon in the
divisional playoff round ruined Hilton's bid for his first Superbowl.
This year he comes back with a Jaguar team more loaded than ever. The
Jags can play stingy defense as well as explode offensively, making them
one of the most dangerous teams on the game.
Dark Horse?
Alex Smolka has never quite lived up
to that stellar 1998 Cinderella season. That year, Smolka went from a
9-7 record, 4th seedin the playoffs, to a Superbowl berth in PFL Superbowl
II. Smolka's run in the playoffs proved two things. One, when the second
season begins, its anybody's ball game. Two, you can never count out Smolka
in the playoffs. His run was spectacular defeating Teddy B, The Swammi,
and top seed Keith Franklin before falling to The Creator in Superbowl
II, one of the most exciting games ever played. However, Smolka has been
on the decline since posting an 8-8 record in 99 and last seasons disappointing
7-9 record. After four years with New England, Smolka left the Pats for
the explosive offensive firepower of the Broncos. With Terrell Davis,
Brian Greise, Rod Smith and Ed McCafferty, Smolka will at least be considered
the dark horse of the division.
Struggles Continue
Both Tennessee and Indianapolis face
uphill battles to compete in this division. Both teams were swept by Dallas
and Jacksonville last season. Tennessee's struggles are rooted deep. Hines
still has yet to develop the type of execution to get him a winning record.
With experience his game will improve this season. Although Hines posted
identical 1-15 records over the past two years, it was evident that last
year, although he still lost many games, he was much more competitive
in those losses. This year, he needs to have some breakthroughs especially
against Indianapolis, NY Giants, Atlanta, Washington, and Miami, all of
whom are on his schedule. Both coaches are rich in talent. Between the
two of them, Eddie George and Edgerrin James, Steve McNair and Peyton
Manning, Marvin Harrison, Yancy Thigpen, Carl Pickens,and the list goes
on. But these two struggling coaches have not been able to put their teams
in positions where the talent can work for them. It starts with the fundamentals
of understanding schemes, and execution on the joystick. Look for Hines
to have the edge early since Zo Ellis has still yet to obtain a PS2 unit.
Nevertheless, until these two coaches improve in those areas, they will
continue to find it difficult to step out of the NFC East basement.
The Swammi's Predictions
1. Jacksonville
2. Dallas
3. Denver
4. Tennessee
5. Indianapolis
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