| 02 February 2010
The Madden Challenge Finals Tournament is this week in South Florida. The eight best players in this year's tournament series have to win at least four more games to be crowned the champion. All eight players are former regional winners. All of them have lengthy tournament experience, and their thirst for winning is big.
In this entry, we look at the 5 through 8 seeds and see how they got here, plus what it will take for them to win it.
More after the jump ...
LilManz
Region: Philadelphia
Entry: Wild Card
Seed: 5
First-round opponent: Prodigy
Teams used: Pittsburgh, Dallas
How he got here: After a good showing in Dallas where he finished seventh, he did a little better in Anaheim, getting a few key wins, including a shutdown victory over Problem. Two events resulted in two top-seven finishes, which only two other players had accomplished in the tournament (Problem and Brusk). That put him on the brink of getting a Wild Card berth, although he still had a lot of work to do. In Orlando, the cards fell his way, as Brusk was eliminated early. And although he finished ninth, the contenders that could have kept him home lost as well.
Analysis: It's the great sports talk radio discussion, "Did he win it, or did the others lose it?" While the other seven -- this includes Fool -- won enough to get in, LilManz was out before Survivor Sunday in Orlando and didn't know if he had done enough. That's not the best of momentum builders for him. But I like his chances. I think he has a good enough of a defense to hold the other seven opponents down. The key in the Problem victory in Anaheim was that he controlled the clock, which is very crucial in playing Problem. Doing more of that in Miami will get him far.
He will win the tournament if: he can hold opponents to under 10 points and continue to prevent the big run, which he has done in all three tournaments. Winning the turnover battle is a bonus.
Fool
Region: Northeast
Entry: Wild Card
Seed: 6
First-round opponent: Dynasty
Teams used: Philadelphia, Dallas
How he got here: The 2006 champion took a hiatus from the game, but came back for the 2009 season and worked his way to the Finals Tournament. He had rough battles, facing two former finals champions three times, but prevailed twice. The second win -- against Problem -- proved vital as he put himself in a position to win one of the two wild card berths. He finished fifth in Orlando, which was good enough to get to Miami. Now, he has a shot to win the Northeast's fifth Madden Challenge championship.
Analysis: Fool might be the enigma of the final eight. Yes, he's won the whole thing before; the way he's gone through this tournament series has been a very unique one. Dominant wins were followed by 14-10 nailbiters. The only thing consistent was his winning and placing. Experience has been his biggest ally, despite the changes to the game.
He will win the tournament if: three things happen. First, he becomes consistent in one area. He's won with a mix of offense or defense. I think to counter the other seven guys, he has to come in focused on one side of the ball. That might have to be offense to match what everyone else (except Problem and LilManz) has been doing in the three regionals. Second, he needs to break a couple big ones early in the games he plays. Finally, he can't clock in any of the matches he's playing. Almost everyone tried to do that in Dallas and Anaheim, and that didn't work.
Los
Region: Southeast
Entry: Anaheim regional champion
Seed: 7
First-round opponent: Problem
Teams used: Dallas
How he got here: He had an average showing in Dallas; however, aveage didn't get hi anywhere in the standings. Then, he rolled over people in Anaheim, beating Dynasty in the championship. Los proved to everyone why the move to the Miami Dolphins was a bad decision, as his offense was too much to overcome. Out of the three regional champions, he is the only player to win undefeated.
Analysis: Los is the best case for "great player using a great team." Dallas is the best overall team in the game, and Los exploits its strengths. It comes down to whether someone can match what he does on the field.
He will win the tournament if: he gets a lead early and builds on it. That's how he won in Anaheim. He jumped on almost all of his opponents early and then choked away at their life support.
Evil Ken
Region: Midwest
Entry: Orlando regional runner-up
Seed: 8
First-round opponent: Jet Steele
Teams used: New Orleans
How he got here: After two no-shows, Evil Ken put it all on the line in Orlando, and he did it with a team not used as often – New Orleans. The quick-strike offense up the middle, and clutch third-down conversions propelled him all the way to the title match, where he held down Prodigy. However, in the overtime final, an interception spelled his doom. By getting to the final match, he qualified for the Finals Tournament.
Analysis: Regardless of whether he won or lost the tournament, he was going to face Jet Steele in the first round of the Finals Tournament. In other competitions, a surprise entry like him would have the other entrants questioning whether they’re ready to compete. Evil Ken is only a surprise in the team that he used to get there. And because it’s a new team and scheme – run after the catch was crucial to Evil Ken’s success – that means the rest of the field is dissecting the plays and coming up with a defense to stop it.
He will win the tournament if: he is able to dominate on defense. He’s capable of scoring and scoring quickly, but even with his offense, he cannot get into a shootout. There are too many others that can put up 24 easily, but the difference is that they have a defense. The key will be to put up 7 and then getting an immediate 3-and-out.
