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Post by scobserver on Sept 17, 2014 6:27:40 GMT -5
Now that the NBL has completed its non-league, pretty much, looks like a down year for them...looks like a Newman sweep, if CN gets one close NBL game it will be a surprise...
Any truly good teams have and will squash Casa this year--they've been so strong for so many years, but this season looks to be a rebuild. Rancho's defense won't be able to stop anybody truly good, either. Monty not looking any better than those other two.
And I am unimpressed with Windsor's 3-0 start. They did beat Miramonte, which is an eye opener, but Miramonte seems to be in a once in a decade off year. 5-2 in the NBL is the best Windsor can hope for, I believe....would not be surprised if they went 3-4.
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Post by bella on Sept 17, 2014 12:04:39 GMT -5
Hard to argue! Overall a very down year for northbay football. I actually picked Rancho to win the NBL followed by Newman. But your right the defense has been questionable and I can see Newman just out scoring them.
Casa bit off more than they could chew this year preseason wise. Last year was their year. With their move to the NBL they wont run off a streak of 10 straight league titles. Coaching is there and in most years they have just as much talent or more than anyone. Most years they'll still be a top 3 team.
Monty, I really don't know what kind of team they will be. I was thinking 3rd or 4th in league. Still think that's possible.
I'm a little higher on Windsor. Again 3rd or 4th between them and Monty. Carillo? Great girls soccer team.
MCAL is way down. MC lost a ton (see Casa). Novato is a shell of what they were years ago. Tam actually could be a surprise team, they always have athletes. I think San Marin wins it this year. I think Stanfel has done a very good job carrying over what Hickey did in turning the program back around.
SCL? Sans Analy also way down. I honestly believe the gap between the SCL and the NCL1 is very minimal (again minus Analy). St.Helena, Clear Lake, Middletown would be in the upper half of the league.
HD-N?? I'd differ to someone like logger, I haven't
had time to really look into it this year and couldn't give an honest opionion. I'd say Eureka and Ferndale...I know going out on a limb!
Good post scobserver! Nice to see someone talking football. This board has been silent since Ben had to move on, unfortunately!
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Post by 4thqtrcomeback on Sept 18, 2014 8:43:35 GMT -5
I couldn't agree more. The NBL and SCL are WAY down. I don't remember Casa and Rancho's defense being this soft over the past 15 years. Newman, like Casa has a tough schedule, and although they don't have an elite team this year, CN still looks like they will be solid. Windsor off to a good start, but no huge wins. I think they will be in the top three. Monty, hard to gauge at this point, maybe they will hang in with Analy a little better than Casa and MC.
Other than Analy, the SCL is down too. Big props to Analy though. I actually think Healdsburg may be the 2nd best team in the SCL and they are 0-3. Middletown and St. Helena aren't your average small school programs, although neither of these clubs have one of their elite teams this year. I look for Elmo to go at least .500 this year.
MCAL: They are worse off than the NBL. MC down, Justin down, Novato down, Redwood down. San Marin looks to be up. I think it will end up MC, San Marin, then Novato.
NCL1 - no elite small school teams this year, but Fort Bragg, Middletown, and St. Helena look tough and should be in the top three. Cloverdale, Clear Lake, and Kelseyville appear to be up this year. With that said Normally Middletown plays Salesian tough, but got beat pretty bad this year, so it's hard to tell.
Unless there is some major improvement, it could be a short run in the playoffs for the Redwood Empire this year. (Besides Analy)
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Post by scobserver on Sept 18, 2014 21:02:49 GMT -5
Yes, my beloved SCL is not looking good. It's hard to believe not long ago Analy went about five decades without winning a single league title...now they'll hit mercy rule against every league opponent. Agree that SCL is getting at NCLI level. Good thing El Mo and H'burg are a bit improved...their enrollments are in 600s and 700s so their "fall" is a bit understandable, but Piner and Elsie in the 900s and Petaluma and Sonoma Valley about 1300--demographics change, and a different world. Elsie always seems to have enough players to make it through a season, but that's about it. Does anyone know if Elsie will field a JV this year?
In the MCAL, good for Tam, maybe they can make a move....which shows it is possible for a "down" program to claw back, but you have to wait a long, long, long, long, time!
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Post by mc415 on Sept 20, 2014 10:42:12 GMT -5
So much for San Marin beating MC for the crown this year in MCAL
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Post by scobserver on Sept 22, 2014 22:03:39 GMT -5
I guess we have to add the MCAL to the list of north bay leagues down this year...maybe the HDNL rules all this season!
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Post by Ben Herrington on Sept 28, 2014 0:37:06 GMT -5
NBL is down because Casa is down. Rancho is going to be strong, so far they have been. Montgomery is right where they should be and will be a contender in Div. II. Are the Clayton Valley? Obviously not, but no one is. Newman is a year away, but will make noise in Div. III, place them in the semis.
Windsor is the question mark, they are undefeated so far but how good are they? I think pretty good. As good as Casa last season? Not sure. FYI, Windsor and Newman play in week 10... could be the NBL championship.
Casa Grande is in trouble, 0-4, could be looking at 2-8. Santa Rosa, though improving, is weak. Same with Ukiah. So yeah... I guess that's a fair statement saying the NBL is down. But Windsor could change it all.
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