What I would like to know is what you all think of a 4-6 team even being allowed into the playoffs. As league rules dictate, the top two teams from each division make up the four-team playoff field. Arlington was just in a really suck division, but they WERE #2 at 4-6, then went on to beat division regular season champ Houston in the semi to reach the championship game, which they won.

Is it right that 4-6 Arlington got to compete in the playoffs in the first place? Quite a Cinderella story. In the North Division, both the second- and third-place teams, Seattle and St. Louis, had better records (7-3) than Arlington. Because of Arlington being allowed in the playoffs, which some will consider a travesty, should the league change the rule where the four teams, league-wide, irrespective of division, with the four best regular season records, make up the playoff field? I can imagine a lot of St. Louis fans screaming for that right now.

(05-13-2023 10:49 PM)Purple Wrote:  What I would like to know is what you all think of a 4-6 team even being allowed into the playoffs. As league rules dictate, the top two teams from each division make up the four-team playoff field. Arlington was just in a really suck division, but they WERE #2 at 4-6, then went on to beat division regular season champ Houston in the semi to reach the championship game, which they won.

Is it right that 4-6 Arlington got to compete in the playoffs in the first place? Quite a Cinderella story. In the North Division, both the second- and third-place teams, Seattle and St. Louis, had better records (7-3) than Arlington. Because of Arlington being allowed in the playoffs, which some will consider a travesty, should the league change the rule where the four teams, league-wide, irrespective of division, with the four best regular season records, make up the playoff field? I can imagine a lot of St. Louis fans screaming for that right now.

This happens in the NFL as well (teams with sub .500 records qualifying for the playoffs).
Some frame this conversation by using the terms "deserve/deserving". I much prefer to frame this discussion with the term "earn".
Arlington did what was needed in the regular season to qualify and then beat the teams they faced to win the championship. They earned it.

I believe that the Pac-12 did away with their divisional alignment to have the two teams with the best conference records play in their championship, vice what can happen with a divisional alignment.
The drawback to a not having divisions is that schedules aren't balanced, where the current format has all the same opponents for the members of the same division for the XFL and 14 of 17 games against common opponents in the NFL.
College conferences with divisions usually have unbalanced schedules for the cross-division games.

IMO should be division winners and two wild cards. St. Louis would be in.

(05-14-2023 08:54 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  IMO should be division winners and two wild cards. St. Louis would be in.

That's exactly what I was thinking, two division champs and two at-large based upon league-wide regular season records. No 4-6 team should be chosen over a solid 7-3 team.

However, now that a 4-6 team has won the league championship, how do you argue with the process that put them there? They were clearly superior to the 9-1 team they faced last night.

I watched Ta'amu play a lot and never got the sense that he was better than average. I would have started King at QB because of his ability to create on a broken play. But it could be a symptom of the somewhat boring playcalling rather than a talent deficiency. The offense was overly simplistic at times, and it showed on Saturday.

(05-15-2023 09:13 AM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  I watched Ta'amu play a lot and never got the sense that he was better than average. I would have started King at QB because of his ability to create on a broken play. But it could be a symptom of the somewhat boring playcalling rather than a talent deficiency. The offense was overly simplistic at times, and it showed on Saturday.

And that was kind of the knock on his selection as league MVP. Besides not having the best stats, he was regularly swapped out for King when the offense needed a boost.

(05-15-2023 09:13 AM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  I watched Ta'amu play a lot and never got the sense that he was better than average. I would have started King at QB because of his ability to create on a broken play. But it could be a symptom of the somewhat boring playcalling rather than a talent deficiency. The offense was overly simplistic at times, and it showed on Saturday.

Ta'amu definitely had his worst game of the season. He is actually very good.

I've seen a couple news releases, Nooch signs something with the Broncos.

And has already thrown his first pick six...

So how does Liam Fornadel, an offensive line XFL all-star, not get a camp invite? Am I missing something?

(05-18-2023 03:24 AM)JMU2K_DukeDawg Wrote:  So how does Liam Fornadel, an offensive line XFL all-star, not get a camp invite? Am I missing something?

Looks like he gets shafted due to the timing of the mini camps and the XFL championship. Had they not been in the title game he'd have been free to sign and attend those camps, but I believe they're all over now, so he'd have to sign an actual contract and get on the roster and not just a tryout spot to see if they want him on the roster.

(05-18-2023 06:01 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(05-18-2023 03:24 AM)JMU2K_DukeDawg Wrote:  So how does Liam Fornadel, an offensive line XFL all-star, not get a camp invite? Am I missing something?

Looks like he gets shafted due to the timing of the mini camps and the XFL championship. Had they not been in the title game he'd have been free to sign and attend those camps, but I believe they're all over now, so he'd have to sign an actual contract and get on the roster and not just a tryout spot to see if they want him on the roster.

If a NFL franchise is interested in Fornadel he’ll get a free-agent contract. There’s no need for a minicamp invite. Healthy and talented OL players are in short supply, and the small amount of money involved makes it a near certainty that Liam will be signed by a team. There’s enough film out there on him to generate interest. Given his history of injuries, the only question will be passing a physical.

Just saw it was announced the XFL will be holding a draft on June 16, 2023, for any players that were eligible for the recent NFL draft and/or are not under contract with a pro team. I'm guessing we might see some Dukes selected like Percy and KT.

I'll be playing golf with Rutgers OL coach in next few weeks and I'll mention Fornadel. He was an NFL OL coach and coached Josh Wells and is a huge fan of his as a player and person. His son is an assistant NFL OL coach currently as well after playing collegiately at Towson.

(05-18-2023 11:42 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  Just saw it was announced the XFL will be holding a draft on June 16, 2023, for any players that were eligible for the recent NFL draft and/or are not under contract with a pro team. I'm guessing we might see some Dukes selected like Percy and KT.

Why though? I don't think XFL teams have offseason programs. They did a draft last November and then did another one in January. I understood the January one was specifically for the opportunity to draft guys that weren't on NFL off season contracts (basically practice squad or guys on their last year of NFL deal that the team didn't want to hold onto). The only thing I can figure is that its an attempt to get certain guys under rights before they can sign with USFL or CFL.

https://www.xfl.com/xfl-latest-news/xfl-...ay-june-16

XFL TO HOST 2023 ROOKIE DRAFT ON FRIDAY, JUNE 16

Offseason Rosters Expand to 90 Players

Arlington, TX (May 18, 2023) – The XFL today announced that the XFL Rookie Draft will be held virtually on Friday, June 16, 2023, opening the door of opportunity for undrafted players who meet the following requirements:

Eligible to have been drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft
Not under contract by a professional football team
XFL personnel directors and coaches have been actively evaluating talent for its 2024 season, including players who were invited to NFL rookie minicamps but did not sign a contract.

To allow for the increased number of players, XFL team rosters will be expanded from 51 to 90 players during the offseason.

Drafted rookies will be placed on XFL rosters with players who finished the 2023 season on active and reserve lists.

All players who sign an XFL contract, including players who remain under contract from the 2023 season, will have an “NFL Out” until Tuesday, December 26, 2023, following the conclusion of Week 16 of the NFL season.

ABOUT XFL
The XFL is a fan-first, fast-paced global professional football league with innovative rules and an enhanced 360-degree game experience. Anchored in world-class football, the XFL brings entertainment and innovation to advance the sport, expand player opportunities, and change the way that fans experience the game. The XFL has eight teams in Arlington (TX), Houston (TX), Las Vegas (NV), Orlando (FL), San Antonio (TX), Seattle (WA), St. Louis (MO), and Washington D.C. The XFL is owned by Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, and Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird Capital Partners and launched in February 2023.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Jeff Altstadter, VP of Communications
jeff.altstadter@xfl.com

Bianca Gamez, Director of Communications and Media Relations
bianca.gamez@xfl.com

Dan Gagnier / Lindsay Barber, Gagnier Communications
XFL@gagnierfc.com

I think we see all of the JMU guys who were offered rookie camps invites get drafted in the XFL rookie draft if they aren’t signed to NFL practice squad deals. Todd could even be a top QB pick for the draft.

Is it strange that I am excited for the XFL draft?

(05-24-2023 08:54 AM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  Is it strange that I am excited for the XFL draft?

Considering it is one of the best paths for guys from G5 schools like JMU to prove themselves to NFL teams, no, not at all.

I'm guessing they can't draft the NFL UDFAs that are going to summer camps as they are "under contract by a professional team." I would think that also includes USFL or CFL players too.

That would basically mean the draft pool is (1) rookies that weren't signed after mini-camp try-outs, and (2) vets that were released in the offseason and haven't resigned anywhere?