Looking Forward
22-04-2014, 22:53
There are more exceptional finishing machines in Newton than there are dedicated finisher spots to go around. Opportunistic scoring and the fact that several of the elite teams have already played other roles will spread the load some, but there are going to be some great scorers who have to adapt to new roles quickly. The specialized trussing and assisting robots could find themselves in a favorable position to serve as difference makers between tightly matched alliances. Since putting the ball into a goal shouldn't be a huge concern to most elimination alliances, it's going to be the teams that can move the ball through the cycle efficiently in the face of defense that will have a leg up.
TIPS:
3847 and 1983 took very different approaches to building a machine to play Aerial Assist, but both teams ended up constructing highly functional, complimentary alliance members. In a region not famed for its defense, Skunkworks has been a strong defensive presence for years and is so once again in 2014. Their high release linear truss and great ball security make them ideal for back court support. Spectrum's ranged inbounding made the Robowranglers look silly at times during Lone Star semis, but ultimately 148 bested Spectrum twice this season. They're not quite as stout as Skunkworks is, but they're quick and aggressive without the ball. Their great inbounding and effective passing may make them an ideal 2nd round selection, especially given that they can fill in for a trussing role as required. Neither team is an elite finisher, but both could make a lower seeded alliance quite dangerous in the eliminations.
The Bomb Squad has long been known for their swerve drives, so it's not shocking that they opted to use one again in 2014. However, when a team that opted not to compete in 2013 unveils a swerve drive that can navigate around the field with the same grace as the Bomb Squad, it turns heads. 16 and 368 drive their machines as well as any swerve on the planet, and are exceptionally fun to watch because of it. Both are also adept finishers that can slide away from defenders. Barring catestrophic failure, both will be picked up during alliance selection. One may be eliminated quickly, but on the right alliance they have the potential to be handfuls for the other alliance.
Frequently the alliance that wins a division (or all of championship) does so in large part because an awesome team slides much further in alliance selection than they should have. Last year 610 was one such example. The Coyotes hope to be picked earlier this season, and their quick scoring robot is certainly capable of earning them a spot in the first round. While they've made their mark as a front-court finisher thus far this season, they may have to take on some additional responsibilities in a deeper and more competitive field than they've faced this season, as they'll no longer be the top dog. They're almost certainly going to have to take more chances with their prized articulated intake, which they've tended to protect in earlier events, when digging for balls in contested areas.
It's been a while since 1986 last took the field in week three, but the Missouri powerhouse will be ready to compete. Titanium has excelled at maximizing assists, even from teams that are struggling to possess the ball, and are capable of playing with just about any type of partner. With their strategic flexibility, multi-ball autonomous, and emphasis on gathering tie-breaker points, expect Titanium to be either an alliance captain or very close to it.
The Byting Bulldogs have quickly risen through the ranks of autonomous powerhouses in FRC. 3539 executed a consistent 7-disc auto mode last year, and is one of a handful of teams to have a 3-ball routine this year. Their unique design to accommodate their autonomous desires resulted in a machine with an incredibly accurate close range shot with a high release point. The downside is a higher center of gravity that makes rapid maneuvers and forcing their way into position a little bit tenuous. The engineering is tremendously impressive, but it isn't the best suited machine to outlast defense, which is a large part of why they haven't won an event this season.
DARK HORSE:
Normally when a team wins two districts, reaches the finals at another, then goes on to win Michigan State Championship, they're viewed as one of the elite teams in their division. 314 may be the least heralded MSC champ in a while, but they could easily be picked well before they were in Ypsilanti. The Megatron Oracles' strong drive-train and kiss passing allowed them to play a support role excellently at MSC, but they have the potential to handle much more responsibility on the right alliance.
SLEEPER:
With the Kil-a-Bytes and Robots by the C not attending the competition this weekend, 25 is the most practiced and consistent catching machine at championship. Raider Robotix nabbed a number of different truss shots from several different teams during MAR champs, earning a first round selection to the number 6 alliance despite not being able to launch the ball. With the additional round of alliance selection, there's a better chance that some alliance captain may be lured by the potential for ten more points per cycle, and in the right circumstance 25 could be an x-factor in the eliminations. But catching is incredibly difficult with the intense defensive focus on most elimination matches (even for gifted catching specialists like 25), so they might not be plan A for an elimination alliance.
LOCKS:
This isn't the first time 971 has entered championship with an undefeated record, and if history holds it should be a favorable end result for Spartan Robotics. 971 was undefeated in 2009 heading into Galileo, granted they did have three ties and only competed at one regional (SVR). Their undefeated streak was ended quickly, in qualification match 2, and some Friday morning struggles and a 0-5 start made things look grim for them initially. However, they rebounded on Saturday, caught the attention of top seeded Wildstang and were 2009's edition of a great team picked far too late in alliance selection. The end result was a world championship. It's unlikely that their premiere scoring machine will struggle that much initially on Newton, and less likely still that they'll still be on the board at the end of the 2nd round. Expect Spartan Robotics to be picked or picking very early.
Two regional victories and a finals appearance in the stacked SVR event this season helped prove that last year's success was no fluke for 1678. The Citrus Circuits head into championship with a stunning 50-4 record, with three of those losses coming at the hands of Spartan Robotics. They're among the elite mid-field trussing robots in FRC, with the ability to get the ball to the human player from within the white zone, dual-intakes, and a lightning quick drive base to get quickly to the inbounder or their defensive responsibilities. If they can align with a top notch finisher once again, they stand an excellent chance at playing for a long time on Saturday afternoon.
The story of 1114's season so far has been the two semi-finals upsets they suffered in Toronto and Waterloo, even with their subsequent win in Windsor-Essex. The Simbots will look to change that on Newton, preferably by reaching Einstein for the fourth consecutive even-numbered season. No team in FRC history performs as consistently during the championship qualification rounds as Simbotics, who have either captained or been offered an invite to the #1 alliance in all but one season dating back to 2006. That one year they missed, 2012, they were invited to the #2 alliance instead and won their division. 2008, 2009, and 2010 saw them seeded #1 on their field, making them the only team in FRC to ever do rank on top three seasons in a row. Expect more of the same from 1114 on Newton this year, as Simbot Evolution is among the best power forwards in FRC, a more than capable trussing machine, a terrific inbounder, and was the top selection at all three events they attended (including being selected before the Cheesy Poofs at Waterloo). Few powerhouses have adopted the defensive responsibilities of Aerial Assist with the same vigor as 1114, either. They should be playing for a long time on Saturday afternoon.
Just a reminder, these predictions are not meant to be comprehensive or even necessarily "the best" teams on the field. Rather, they provide a glimpse of some of the most interesting competitors. If you don't like the predictions, go out there and prove them wrong!
TIPS:
3847 and 1983 took very different approaches to building a machine to play Aerial Assist, but both teams ended up constructing highly functional, complimentary alliance members. In a region not famed for its defense, Skunkworks has been a strong defensive presence for years and is so once again in 2014. Their high release linear truss and great ball security make them ideal for back court support. Spectrum's ranged inbounding made the Robowranglers look silly at times during Lone Star semis, but ultimately 148 bested Spectrum twice this season. They're not quite as stout as Skunkworks is, but they're quick and aggressive without the ball. Their great inbounding and effective passing may make them an ideal 2nd round selection, especially given that they can fill in for a trussing role as required. Neither team is an elite finisher, but both could make a lower seeded alliance quite dangerous in the eliminations.
The Bomb Squad has long been known for their swerve drives, so it's not shocking that they opted to use one again in 2014. However, when a team that opted not to compete in 2013 unveils a swerve drive that can navigate around the field with the same grace as the Bomb Squad, it turns heads. 16 and 368 drive their machines as well as any swerve on the planet, and are exceptionally fun to watch because of it. Both are also adept finishers that can slide away from defenders. Barring catestrophic failure, both will be picked up during alliance selection. One may be eliminated quickly, but on the right alliance they have the potential to be handfuls for the other alliance.
Frequently the alliance that wins a division (or all of championship) does so in large part because an awesome team slides much further in alliance selection than they should have. Last year 610 was one such example. The Coyotes hope to be picked earlier this season, and their quick scoring robot is certainly capable of earning them a spot in the first round. While they've made their mark as a front-court finisher thus far this season, they may have to take on some additional responsibilities in a deeper and more competitive field than they've faced this season, as they'll no longer be the top dog. They're almost certainly going to have to take more chances with their prized articulated intake, which they've tended to protect in earlier events, when digging for balls in contested areas.
It's been a while since 1986 last took the field in week three, but the Missouri powerhouse will be ready to compete. Titanium has excelled at maximizing assists, even from teams that are struggling to possess the ball, and are capable of playing with just about any type of partner. With their strategic flexibility, multi-ball autonomous, and emphasis on gathering tie-breaker points, expect Titanium to be either an alliance captain or very close to it.
The Byting Bulldogs have quickly risen through the ranks of autonomous powerhouses in FRC. 3539 executed a consistent 7-disc auto mode last year, and is one of a handful of teams to have a 3-ball routine this year. Their unique design to accommodate their autonomous desires resulted in a machine with an incredibly accurate close range shot with a high release point. The downside is a higher center of gravity that makes rapid maneuvers and forcing their way into position a little bit tenuous. The engineering is tremendously impressive, but it isn't the best suited machine to outlast defense, which is a large part of why they haven't won an event this season.
DARK HORSE:
Normally when a team wins two districts, reaches the finals at another, then goes on to win Michigan State Championship, they're viewed as one of the elite teams in their division. 314 may be the least heralded MSC champ in a while, but they could easily be picked well before they were in Ypsilanti. The Megatron Oracles' strong drive-train and kiss passing allowed them to play a support role excellently at MSC, but they have the potential to handle much more responsibility on the right alliance.
SLEEPER:
With the Kil-a-Bytes and Robots by the C not attending the competition this weekend, 25 is the most practiced and consistent catching machine at championship. Raider Robotix nabbed a number of different truss shots from several different teams during MAR champs, earning a first round selection to the number 6 alliance despite not being able to launch the ball. With the additional round of alliance selection, there's a better chance that some alliance captain may be lured by the potential for ten more points per cycle, and in the right circumstance 25 could be an x-factor in the eliminations. But catching is incredibly difficult with the intense defensive focus on most elimination matches (even for gifted catching specialists like 25), so they might not be plan A for an elimination alliance.
LOCKS:
This isn't the first time 971 has entered championship with an undefeated record, and if history holds it should be a favorable end result for Spartan Robotics. 971 was undefeated in 2009 heading into Galileo, granted they did have three ties and only competed at one regional (SVR). Their undefeated streak was ended quickly, in qualification match 2, and some Friday morning struggles and a 0-5 start made things look grim for them initially. However, they rebounded on Saturday, caught the attention of top seeded Wildstang and were 2009's edition of a great team picked far too late in alliance selection. The end result was a world championship. It's unlikely that their premiere scoring machine will struggle that much initially on Newton, and less likely still that they'll still be on the board at the end of the 2nd round. Expect Spartan Robotics to be picked or picking very early.
Two regional victories and a finals appearance in the stacked SVR event this season helped prove that last year's success was no fluke for 1678. The Citrus Circuits head into championship with a stunning 50-4 record, with three of those losses coming at the hands of Spartan Robotics. They're among the elite mid-field trussing robots in FRC, with the ability to get the ball to the human player from within the white zone, dual-intakes, and a lightning quick drive base to get quickly to the inbounder or their defensive responsibilities. If they can align with a top notch finisher once again, they stand an excellent chance at playing for a long time on Saturday afternoon.
The story of 1114's season so far has been the two semi-finals upsets they suffered in Toronto and Waterloo, even with their subsequent win in Windsor-Essex. The Simbots will look to change that on Newton, preferably by reaching Einstein for the fourth consecutive even-numbered season. No team in FRC history performs as consistently during the championship qualification rounds as Simbotics, who have either captained or been offered an invite to the #1 alliance in all but one season dating back to 2006. That one year they missed, 2012, they were invited to the #2 alliance instead and won their division. 2008, 2009, and 2010 saw them seeded #1 on their field, making them the only team in FRC to ever do rank on top three seasons in a row. Expect more of the same from 1114 on Newton this year, as Simbot Evolution is among the best power forwards in FRC, a more than capable trussing machine, a terrific inbounder, and was the top selection at all three events they attended (including being selected before the Cheesy Poofs at Waterloo). Few powerhouses have adopted the defensive responsibilities of Aerial Assist with the same vigor as 1114, either. They should be playing for a long time on Saturday afternoon.
Just a reminder, these predictions are not meant to be comprehensive or even necessarily "the best" teams on the field. Rather, they provide a glimpse of some of the most interesting competitors. If you don't like the predictions, go out there and prove them wrong!