Here's a quick update of Taco's 2005 Team Rankings:

Note: PTR = Previous Taco Ranking

[b85e6a45]1. Tampa Bay Torpedoes[/b85e6a45] (11-5) Owner: wademoore PTR: 1

If the injuries continue then Tampa Bay will have a disappointing season.

[b85e6a45]2. Oregon Ice[/b85e6a45] (12-4) Owner: Grid Iron PTR: 3

Going undefeated in the preseason has added to the confidence of this impressive team.

[b85e6a45]3. Santa Cruz Privateers[/b85e6a45] (9-7) Owner: *open* PTR: 2

If Brett Hedges improves his accuracy then this team will become a force. Hedges looked impressive in the preseason with 3 TD passes and only 1 INT.

[b85e6a45]4. Detroit Vampires[/b85e6a45] (10-6) Owner: fantastic flying froggies PTR: 5

2003 is now a distant memory and the Vampires have high expectations for 2005.

[b85e6a45]5. Charleston Sixpacks[/b85e6a45] (14-2) Owner: Sovereignstar PTR: 4

Timothy Gordon has knee tendonitis but is expected to play through the pain.

[b85e6a45]6. Hartford Attack[/b85e6a45] (8-7-1) Owner: Masked PTR: 6

Undrafted rookie DT Irv Dawson made a lot of plays during the preseason including a 3 sack performance against Tucson.

[b85e6a45]7. Sacramento Dragons[/b85e6a45] (13-3) Owner: *open* PTR: 9

RB Alexis Rounds plans on setting a team record for rushing yards behind the Dragons' monster offensive line. The team went 3-1 in the preseason including a 46-0 victory over Hartford.

[b85e6a45]8. Honolulu Blue Pacific[/b85e6a45] (9-7) Owner: MrBug708 PTR: 7

Ronnie Tu expects to still be playing in January when he turns 30 years old.

[b85e6a45]9. Baltimore Bombers[/b85e6a45] (10-6) Owner: 3ric PTR: 10

This high scoring offense signed another big weapon in WR Gregory Rice.

[b85e6a45]10. Denver Dynomite[/b85e6a45] (11-5) Owner: varacel PTR: 8

RB John Lubin is expected to carry the offense while DT Gary Davis anchors the defensive line.

[b85e6a45]11. Chicago Hitmen[/b85e6a45] (5-11) Owner: dberner30 PTR: 13

Chicago is one of those teams who could have a breakout season in 2005. Their biggest weakness is at cornerback but the Hitmen expect Dennis Polston to finally get some interceptions this year.

[b85e6a45]12. Memphis Express[/b85e6a45] (9-7) Owner: GoldenEagle PTR: 12

You won't find a better pair of defensive ends than Isaiah Melo and Horace Williams. These two have combined for 47.5 sacks over the past two years.

[b85e6a45]13. Tucson Toros[/b85e6a45] (8-8) Owner: Fonzie PTR: 14

5th round draft pick Matthew Pitman has a good shot of taking Chris Franck's starting job.

[b85e6a45]14. San Antonio Armadillos[/b85e6a45] (10-6) Owner: Ryche PTR: 11

Is Chester "the molester" Brumley worn out from his 700 carries over the past two seasons?

[b85e6a45]15. New Orleans Breakers[/b85e6a45] (6-10) Owner: backbreakers PTR: 17

The Breakers have 29 new players that weren't on the team last year.

[b85e6a45]16. New York Empire[/b85e6a45] (5-10-1) Owner: jamesumd PTR: 16

The faster that DT Mark Coleman recovers from injury the better.

[b85e6a45]17. Boise Stampede[/b85e6a45] (10-6) Owner: SportsBizzer PTR: 20

9-7 in 2003, 10-6 in 2004, will be it 11-5 in 2005? This team is solid and will be competitive in every game.

[b85e6a45]18. Albany Engineers[/b85e6a45] (11-5) Owner: thater PTR: 21

Yes, they have salary cap problems but that won't affect their play on the field. Having Rocky McFarland in the lineup makes Albany an elite team. Unfortunately for the Engineers he has hurt his throwing elbow and will miss the season opener.

[b85e6a45]19. Fargo Boxcars[/b85e6a45] (6-9-1) Owner: MC PTR: 23

Who will start at quarterback against El Paso on opening day? Will it be Don Martinez or 2nd year player Dwayne Bridges?

[b85e6a45]20. Shreveport Pride[/b85e6a45] (6-10) Owner: Raven Hawk PTR: 18

Don't believe it if someone tells you that rookie Jerald Barber is too small to play defensive tackle. The 6'1", 266 lb. lineman has the potential to be an elite player.

[b85e6a45]21. Durham Bulldogs[/b85e6a45] (4-12) Owner: Taco PTR: 19

After bringing in 23 new players the Bulldogs are still the oldest team in the league. We'll find out if you can teach old dogs new tricks.

[b85e6a45]22. Anchorage Unknown[/b85e6a45] (8-8) Owner: *open* PTR: 26

The loss of center Kelly Cannon due to a broken arm leaves a big hole in the middle of the Anchorage offensive line.

[b85e6a45]23. Boston Panthers[/b85e6a45] (8-8) Owner: flere-imsaho PTR: 25

The rumor in Boston is that RB William Sheehan will again carry the ball over 400 times this season.

[b85e6a45]24. Las Vegas Crawfish[/b85e6a45] (10-6) Owner: The Afoci PTR: 22

First round draft pick Terry Grayvil is still holding out which further weakens an already questionable secondary.

[b85e6a45]25. Tulsa Talons[/b85e6a45] (5-11) Owner: Doug5984 PTR: 24

The Talons finally have a shutdown corner in Damon Jankowski. He gives the whole franchise a sense of respectability.

[b85e6a45]26. Atlantic City Phantoms[/b85e6a45] (7-9) Phantoms Owner: General Mike PTR: 15

Atlantic City released starting QB Jesus Dennis and now will count on Alvin Delatorre (1 TD with 7 INTs last year) to lead the offense.

[b85e6a45]27. El Paso Rockets[/b85e6a45] (5-11) Owner: JeeberD PTR: 27

QB Ernest Lorenzo has to be more motivated now that the team drafted Dustin Hayes with the #4 overall draft pick.

[b85e6a45]28. Arizona Outlaws[/b85e6a45] (5-11) Owner: Condors PTR: 30

Arizona ran for 219 yards against Tampa Bay in the final preseason game. A successful running game will be key for this team as they don't have an experienced QB on the roster.

[b85e6a45]29. Huntington Beach Capitalists[/b85e6a45] (8-8) Owner: Primal PTR: 29

In 2003 they started 12-0. In 2004 they started 0-4. What kind of start with the Capitalists have this year?

[b85e6a45]30. Cleveland Flats[/b85e6a45] (4-12) Owner: TLK PTR: 31

RB Toothpick Lang finally ended his holdout and will get thrown right into the starting lineup. Many expect Lang to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

[b85e6a45]31. Long Beach Calibri[/b85e6a45] (5-10-1) Owner: daedalus PTR: 28

Expect a lot of "3 yards and a cloud of dust" from the Long Beach offense this year. The team would love to start out the season with a victory in the Beach Bowl to forget about their 0-4 preseason.

[b85e6a45]32. Seattle Thunderbirds[/b85e6a45] (2-14) Owner: Aylmar PTR: 32

QB Charles Dever's ruptured achilles tendon has ended his season and probably the Thunderbirds season too. 2006 can't come soon enough.

(Somehow) we're not last! Woohoo!

Thanks, Chris.

I completely agree with your assessment..

We'll see how these backups to Alvey are, but they're also running behind a banged up line...