[Madison]

Originally Posted by Joe Johnson

Sacramento
This one has the making of deja vu all over again. The Sacramento has 22 teams competing in their 2nd (or third in the case of #114) competition of the 2007 season (60%). But 14 of those teams competed in San Jose. Could get interesting.

Some might make a big showing of the Poofs heading to another state this week but I think there are plenty of great teams left to head to the capital.

Team #114 was the number #1 seed in Silicon Valley. They picked #2 Seed, Team #100. They were eliminated in the Semi's due to some well played defense and a lack of a solid ramp. If Los Altos wins #1 Seed again (as they should) will they go with Woodside and Carlmont Robotics again? Hard choices but somebody's got to make 'em. They better get a good ramp if they want to advance to the final match and perhaps even bring home the big trophy.

114 and 100 both have solid scoring machines this season and should do well. They can compliment one another with good strategy if they think ahead and are sure to do well if they pair up again in Sacramento. They need to find themselves partnered with a good ramp that'll stay out of their way for most of the match, but that's a tall order if you're picking up teams at the tail end of the draft.

This regional is packed with other talent. Finalist and Champions include Teams #766, #852, #997, #1280 & #1760.

The Raging Seabiscuits (Team #1280) is an interesting study in the FIRST Fates, they were partnered with #114 in OR in Week 1: 3 matches after lunch and they are packing up their pits. Week 3 rolls around, they they come to San Jose: Champs. Is it the team or the partners or both? Time will tell.

Do not underestimate 766 or 852 this weekend. I had the pleasure of working with both during our run at the banner in San Jose and am very impressed by their talent. They each have solid machines -- 852 was performing better than or the same as 254 all weekend long at SVR and 766 has a machine that really started to shine near the end. What sets these teams apart, though, is the solid coaching behind the glass. These teams played off one another fantastically well and deserve more respect than they seem to get around here. I'd never know of them before heading to SVR, but I'll be singing their praises for awhile.

1280 is a good group, too, and always has solid machines. In Portland, it seemed like they were focusing a lot of their efforts on using their twin lifters effectively and that had mixed success -- with an obvious trend of improvement. Conversely, San Jose was all about their arm and they did much better for it. Statiscally, they were a superior scorer to their partner, 190, but that statistic may have been what hurt my alliance in the end. 190 was no slouch, either and I ignored them for too long. Watch out for these guys; especially if they have the good sense to stick with that arm and worry about the lifts only when they've got the time to show off.

As to #997, of course they won big at the PNW Regional, and I hear tell they are a pretty good ramp/lift team which we know is often the difference between competing and winning, but I am REALLY pulling for them because they are out of Corvallis, OR. Which is the home of my friend and coin op amusements competitors, Slambot by Morrowbotics. Mike Morrow is good people.

997 is a good lifting machine that plays solid defense thanks to the Outback Manufacturing-supplied two-speed tread drivetrain. It's the same system that Poof bodyguards 753 have used in the past and serves 997 just as well. 997 has to play good defense to ensure the victory since their lifts are pneumatically actuated. One lift is easy enough, but that second robot can take some time climbing to new heights, so it's imperative (and likely) that 997 doesn't let the other alliance get a run on tubes.

I'm interested in seeing the outcome of this event, if only because so many teams we've played with and against are competing again this weekend. I'm pulling for 766 and 852, though. Those folks deserve a few more awards.