Setup for the Super Bowl

For nearly an hour after yesterday's SMG Divisional Championship game, Shrapnel's General Manger, Eric-L, patiently answered questions as hordes of reporters and media analysts swarmed around his podium during the post game media conference. At times, Liao just nodded and smiled ... amazingly serene for a GM that just won his divisional championship game. Regardless, his team is now one step away from completing one of the most astonishing franchise turnarounds in CTDB history.

After suffering through a horrible 2001 season with a 3-10 record, the Shrapnel team has seemingly come back from the dead and has been the hottest thing since Mike Vick. Led by supplemental first round pick, Aaron Brooks, GM Liao's high octane passing offense eventually proved too much for the Philadelphia Phreaks in the championship game. "That was a rough one," admitted Ping Shen, GM of the Philadelphia Phreaks. "[Clinton] Portis was a rockstar for us but you have to hand out props where its due. Eric has done a hell of a job. Their team has so many offensive options, it was just a bit too much. As good as the DIRTeByRDeeZ have been this year, I think this will be one hell of a matchup. I expect to see plenty of fireworks. It's gonna be a good game."

Down the 101, the Birds lived up to their billing once again, steamrolling yet another team. With a ten game win streak on the line, the Birds have momentum if anything. According to Birds' GM, Jon Yang, "We've been pretty hard to stop once we get rolling. Our guys are just playing so well, I wish we had additional starting positions because its been hard to sit guys like Chad (Johnson) and Koren (Robinson). Eric has put together a damn good team over there and this will be a great SuperBowl. Its good for our league, its good for the game, and a win would be damn good for our franchise."

CTDB Guru, Evan, analyzed the matchup in yesterday's conference call. "Sources familiar with the Shrapnel franchise indicate that their leading receiver, Owens, will likely be held out of this weeks game with a sore gluteus maximus muscle. Surgery has been discussed as a possible option. This is huge for the Birdeez as Owens has been one of the elite receivers this year. Regardless, this game will feature two of the most mobile quarterbacks in the league with Michael Vick and Aaron Brooks. We're going to see a lot of 8 man fronts and a lot of frantic linebackers. In terms of the running game, you'll see a lot of hard physical running.

My guess is that we'll see a standard 3 wide 2 back set out of the Birds this game. Green, despite the injuries, will be back in the starting lineup with Corey Dillon. These two have been relatively quiet this year but are as explosive as ever. On the other side of the field, Tiki Barber and Eddie George have been the anchor of the Shrapnel team, providing stability and putting up consistent points week in week out. With the lightning quick Tiki and the bruising Eddie George in the backfield, the Shrapnel has one of the best change of pace running games in the league. The key to this game, however, will be the passing game. With only 3 active receivers on the roster, an injured Terrell Owens will leave a huge gap in the Shrapnel passing game. Liao will be scouring the free agent wire but with the quality of the remaining talent so low, it will be very difficult for him to fill TO's shoes.

On the otherhand, the Birds are stacked in their passing attack. With Rice and Plastico playing so well, the talented duo of Chad Johnson and Koren Robinson have had a tough time finding playing time. Hitting a gold mine with the strong armed Mike Vick and the fact that the Birds have receivers coming out of their ears, I expect to see a lot deep bombs and deep crossing patterns out of this offense. But if I had to put my money on one team, the best play of the week would have to be them dirty dirty Birds. Their offense has been huge and I see no reason that that will change this week."