Brass Overview
Remmy's Take: Let's not be surprised if Seymour rebounds and battles Derby for the runner-up in the Brass. We're not psychics and we rarely ever predict the future correctly (Kyle may disagree) but it seems like Ansonia's division to lose. Derby took a big, big hit losing Mr. All-everything, Jacob Tomczak. But Ray Kreiger is still commanding that offense which means Derby has a shot. The Raiders will run into problems this season holding their opponents to fewer than 20 points per game. I think the defense is their weakness and they will have to win high-scoring shootouts to be competitive in the Brass. Wilby is supposedly making strides as a program but we have yet to see the new-look team win a game. I don't feel they are a contender this year but watch out for the Wildcats of Waterbury in a couple of seasons. And then there's Watertown, Wolcott, and Crosby. Don't know what to say about these three squads entering the season, but I will be surprised if either of the three are competing for the division title.
Kyle's Take: Unless there's a surprise hiding in Seymour, Watertown, or Wilby, the two teams fighting for the Brass Division championship are going to be Ansonia and Derby. The Chargers may be the best all-around team in the league while the Red Raiders may have the best passing game. I wouldn't rule out either of the Wildcats--what should be an improved Seymour squad and a Patrick Russo-coached Wilby team--making a run or the Indians stealing a few games, but the division is likely Ansonia's or Derby's to win.
Brass Key Game
Remmy's Take: Seymour vs. Derby. This game has the potential to be a great one. Yes, Seymour went winless last season. But things may be looking on the up-and-up at DeBarber in 2011. A small and depleted Derby squad may be the prey the 'Cats are looking for. My honorable mention is Wilby vs. Ansonia. This is a game at Jarvis Stadium just prior to Thanksgiving. The Chargers may be caught looking forward to payback on Naugatuck and depending on the type of year Wilby has (if it has a good one), I can see an upset brewing in A-Town.
Kyle's Take: Ansonia vs. Derby. This is the obvious choice to be the de facto Brass Division championship. The Red Raiders had it sewed up before Montrell Dobbs led the Chargers back at Jarvis Stadium. Kreiger and the Derby passing game will be strong, but can they beat Ansonia with an unproven running game and an unflattering defense? My guess is no.
Copper Overview
Remmy's Take: This year's Copper division, collectively, certainly has better horses in the stable compared to the teams in the Brass. It will be brutal road for the winner of this division. It has teams like St. Paul, who may very well throw the ball 50 times per game, the defending NVL champ in Naugy, a team that lost its best player but can still put up big-time points in Sacred Heart, teams like HC and Woodland, and last but not least, the team with a chip on its shoulder in Torrington with arguably the top player in the NVL--Brenden "You Ain't Kiddin'" Lytton.
Kyle's Take: The Copper is undoubtedly going to be the most exciting, competitive division with any one of five teams having a legitimate chance of winning the championship. Defending champion Naugatuck, runner-up Woodland, and Class S playoff team Sacred Heart will have retooled offenses while Lytton-led Torrington and David DiGiorgi-led Holy Cross may be the division favorites. Throw what could be an explosive St. Paul offense and the quirky Kennedy unit in the mix, and just about every division game should be outstanding.
Copper Key Game
Remmy's Take: Torrington vs. Naugatuck. Don't tell me Torrington isn't looking to blow out Naugatuck after last year's shellacking in Litchfield County. Naugatuck lost some of its stars but after seeing its defense make some big-time plays at the spring game, I know it'll be a war when Lytton takes handoffs and sees a pack of Greyhounds trying to catch him. I have to believe T-Town's line will have something to prove in the trenches. I am sure Holy Cross will make some noise but I can't see any of its games being bigger than my Copper key game of 2011--the Raiders vs. the 'Hounds. I still believe Holy Cross has a shot at winning the Copper despite not having a game that really stands out compared to T-Town's offense vs. Naugy's defense.
Kyle's Take: Week 6. Call it riding the fence, but I can't see one game determining the division championship the way Naugatuck-Woodland in Week 8 did last season. In Week 6, Torrington travels to Woodland while Naugatuck meets Holy Cross at the Stadium. All four of these teams figure to probably still be alive at this point in the season so they'll both be crucial games. I wouldn't be surprised to see the advanced tiebreaker rules used to determine the 2011 Copper champ.
Predictions
Remmy's Brass Division
1. Ansonia (9-1, 6-0)
2. Derby (6-4, 5-1)
3. Seymour (5-5, 4-2)
4. Watertown (5-5, 4-2)
5. Wilby (4-6, 3-3)
6. Crosby (3-7, 2-4)
7. Wolcott (3-7, 2-4)
Kyle's Brass Division
1. Ansonia (9-1, 6-0)
2. Derby (6-4, 5-1)
3. Seymour (6-4, 4-2)
4. Wilby (4-6, 3-3)
5. Wolcott (3-7, 1-5)
6. Watertown (2-8, 1-5)
7. Crosby (2-8, 1-5)
Remmy's Copper Division
1. Holy Cross (8-2, 5-1)
2. Torrington (8-2, 4-2)
3. Naugatuck (7-3, 4-2)
4. Woodland (5-5, 3-3)
5. Sacred Heart (4-5, 2-4)
6. St. Paul (3-7, 2-4)
7. Kennedy (2-8, 1-5)
Kyle's Copper Division
1. Torrington (8-2, 5-1)
2. Woodland (8-2, 5-1)
3. Holy Cross (8-2, 5-1)
4. Naugatuck (6-4, 3-3)
5. St. Paul (5-5, 2-4)
6. Sacred Heart (4-5, 2-4)
7. Kennedy (0-10, 0-6)
* Torrington wins division based on better record vs. common opponents.
Remmy's NVL Championship
Ansonia over Holy Cross
Kyle's NVL Championship
Ansonia over Torrington
Your turn! Share your picks, and what you think of ours. We'll post them later on the Preseason Picks page.
1. Ansonia (9-1, 6-0)
2. Derby (6-4, 5-1)
3. Seymour (5-5, 4-2)
4. Watertown (5-5, 4-2)
5. Wilby (4-6, 3-3)
6. Crosby (3-7, 2-4)
7. Wolcott (3-7, 2-4)
Kyle's Brass Division
1. Ansonia (9-1, 6-0)
2. Derby (6-4, 5-1)
3. Seymour (6-4, 4-2)
4. Wilby (4-6, 3-3)
5. Wolcott (3-7, 1-5)
6. Watertown (2-8, 1-5)
7. Crosby (2-8, 1-5)
Remmy's Copper Division
1. Holy Cross (8-2, 5-1)
2. Torrington (8-2, 4-2)
3. Naugatuck (7-3, 4-2)
4. Woodland (5-5, 3-3)
5. Sacred Heart (4-5, 2-4)
6. St. Paul (3-7, 2-4)
7. Kennedy (2-8, 1-5)
Kyle's Copper Division
1. Torrington (8-2, 5-1)
2. Woodland (8-2, 5-1)
3. Holy Cross (8-2, 5-1)
4. Naugatuck (6-4, 3-3)
5. St. Paul (5-5, 2-4)
6. Sacred Heart (4-5, 2-4)
7. Kennedy (0-10, 0-6)
* Torrington wins division based on better record vs. common opponents.
Remmy's NVL Championship
Ansonia over Holy Cross
Kyle's NVL Championship
Ansonia over Torrington
Your turn! Share your picks, and what you think of ours. We'll post them later on the Preseason Picks page.
