|
Predictions Championship 2014: Galileo
Galileo is on a roll, and the three consecutive Einstein championships it has claimed leading into this season is already less probable than the thirteen years of the "Curie curse." With the exception of 2010, the world champions have emerged from Galileo every year since the IFI dream team formed in 2008. The depth and diversity of teams on the field certainly allow for the possibility of the division's success to continue. There are a number of teams well suited to play specialized roles, and several have earned their keep supporting other teams. Not to mention there's at least as many teams that integrate catching into their match strategy on this field as any other. Despite what it lacks in name recognition, Galileo should be able to put together some very dynamic and high powered contenders.
TIPS:- Three of MAR's finest finishers will be taking the field on Galileo. 193, 225, and 1218 were some of the best teams in the Mid-Atlantic at scoring in the high goal from the open court, and at least two should have an opportunity to show their skill again in the eliminations. MORT Beta has had every elimination result possible so far this season, and if they can carry the level of play they showed at MAR championship over to Galileo they shouldn't have to worry about missing the eliminations for the first time in 2014. Vulcan Robotics is terrific at scoring without much space, or even with another robot on their bumper. They've had the most experience as a trusser of the trio, but also the most issues with rim outs in autonomous and the are only one that lacks a multi-ball autonomous mode (both of which could raise some concerns for alliance captains without reliable 2-ball routines). TechFire is the most dangerous, with the ability to bury shots as soon as they're open and a double-hot autonomous mode. They translated that into wins in Chestnut Hill and DC, and being the first overall (declined) selection at MAR Championship.
- The Children of the Swamp failed to reach eliminations the past two times they attended champs, but 179 is fully capable of ending that streak this weekend. They're a quality scoring machine and they don't hesitate to disrupt the opponent's inbounding and trussing efforts. What sets them apart is their ability to put on catching clinics if they're given room near the truss and a partner with a soft lob.
- It took the fusion of CRyptonite and the Robonauts to stop 148 from winning in Alamo back in week one. In their two events since then, the Robowranglers didn't allow a power pair to form in front of them again, seeding #1 in Dallas and Lone Star en route to winning both events. Their preferred shot areas are akin to a powerforward, but they tend to take more of a finesse approach to reaching those locations and don't always display the kind of defensive tenacity typical of that role. The potential for another Einstein appearance is there, but they'll need excellent partners and to avoid some of the heavier defenders.
- 558's "truss and destroy" mentality and torque-heavy, 6-CIM drivetrain live right up to the New England defense stereotype. The Robo Squad was a brutally effective backcourt machine that was the perfect compliment to some of New England's finest finishers this season. With more than 70 matches of hard contact on their machine, the grind of Aerial Assist has surely begun to take its toll. If 558 can maintain their aggressive style of play and effective truss scoring, they'll be among the best backcourt machines in the division.
- IRS' solid and consistent play was crucial to them being on the #1 alliance at all three districts they attended, even if they couldn't reach the finals until they paired up with Skunkworks. The captains of the inaugural PNW champion alliance should be one of the better close range finishers in the division. 1318 isn't as quick as some of the Galileo favorites, but they're smart away from the ball and not afraid to help their partner's out of sticky situations. They probably won't be a high pick, but they should win more often than they lose and be a valuable contributor to an elimination alliance.
- There's not a team in FIRST who is better at understanding FRC games than 2337. While their robots aren't usually quite on par with the top handful of Michigan elite teams, the Enginerds usually come out the gate ready to execute strategies that maximize returns. Their ability to drive high assist scores this year is second to none, and their robot was built for an open-field game. Their top spot in the FiM standings heading into MSC was a result of that, as was their #2 seeding at the event. The Enginerds are capable finishers and solid trussers, but are among the best alliance partners to have in all of FRC this year.
DARK HORSE:- A fair bit of attention has been paid to the fact that Pink did not qualify for Championship this year, but most of it has glossed over the terrific alliance that knocked them out in Chesapeake. 2363 rebounded from being eliminated in the semi-finals in Virginia based on fouls to land the top overall selection at the event, then proceeded to run 6-0 through the eliminations, generally playing a free-flowing style comparable to what was seen by the winning alliance in Vegas. Triple Helix has a great two-ball autonomous, is an accurate finisher, is effective on both ends of an assist pass, presents a large inbounder target, and even catches a truss every now and then. With this being only their second trip to championship, they haven't built up the same name recognition as some of the other teams on Galileo, but they should be able to hang with almost everyone in the division and another trip to elims will help boost their acclaim.
SLEEPER:- 973 won it all before by playing a lot of effective defense and having a killer end-game mechanism. With no bonus points awarded at the end of the match this year, the Greybots strategy will have to be a little different than it was in 2011. They're a wrecking ball on the field, and are very effective at bulldozing paths and disrupting shots. But they have no issue possessing the ball, enabling quick 3-assist cycles, and can truss when needed. Combined with the potential for autonomous blocks as a goaltender, 973 has the potential to be the type of team that can change the complexion of an elimination series.
LOCKS:- HOT hasn't returned to Einstein since winning back-to-back titles in Lunacy and Breakaway. If they fail to win Galileo this year, it will the first time since the inception of divisions in 2001 that 67 has a graduating class not experienced Einstein. The Heroes of Tomorrow of the past set the bar unreasonably high with nine appearances in the division finals in the past eleven years, including five division wins and three world championships. Yet the 2014 HOTbot already has two event victories, something that the 2013 team did not accomplish, and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with most of the 67 machines of the past. Excellent defense ended their run in the MSC finals, but 67 is still one of the top tier finishing machines in FRC this season, and if their partners are patient and accurate with their ball manipulation, it's hard to see their alliance getting shut down again. While no team is a sure bet to reach Einstein in Aerial Assist, betting against HOT doesn't seem like a wise option either.
- Even if you don't factor in their district chairman's award, it's hard to believe that Shockwave is only a second year team. Last year's Curie rookie all-stars hit it out of the park this year, building one of the best scoring machines on the planet. They grasped many of the subtle features that even grizzled veterans failed to identify, and the end result is a robot capable of scoring under defensive pressure better than almost any other. Even with opponents on their bumper, 4488 finds a way to get into shooting position and hit the mark. Their #1 ranking and gold medals at both district events were no fluke, even if they fell just short of winning a banner as the top invite in Portland. There's a good chance that 4488 could end up being an alliance captain. If they can find partners who compliment their skill set, look out.
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!
|
They may call us geeks and nerds, but deep down under that prejudice they know they want to be the hard-core, sleep-deprived, hand drill-toting, robot builders we know we are! - vijay24 [more] 
23-04-2014, 06:15
Hybrid Mode
