queenanne_1536

Devils will be vying for the title with this show - 1,000%. It's been almost 20 years since Devils weren't in a position to win the title. The most foolish thing anyone in this activity can do is count the Devils out. You know every single staff member on every single corps is trying to figure out how to beat the Blue Devils.

For years, that was me. I was a part of that chorus. It stemmed from marching against them in the '80s and the hatred I had towards them continues to this day, although it has dulled quite a bit and I was actually happy they won last year because I thought their show was slightly better than Bluecoats. I also loved them in 2017. But from the mid-80s through 2016, I was singing in that chorus - singing that song you so eloquently crafted. Then I woke up and saw it for what it ####### is - the Devils are just the best. Period. End of. They are so good that no one has won without beating just them since 2006. They know how to play the game, they know how to design the best of designs, and they have the best talent. They are IT. I always say, "If you think you're the best, and you haven't beaten the Blue Devils yet, than you ain't the best!" I said that in 2018 and 2019 when Bluecoats fans thought early season they had a clear run to the championship, and I will say it as long as BD finishes 2nd or higher.

The last time the Devils were out of contention was 2006. The Devils will certainly be in contention come finals. They and the Bluecoats have the best designed shows of the season. It is a repeat of 2019 - hopefully, with the Bluecoats coming out on top this time. If I had to bet money, I would bet the only corps with a shot at beating the Devils is Bluecoats, and the only corps with a shot at beating the Bluecoats is the Devils.

Now George is saying Devils won't be in contention come finals? BAHAHAHAHA. Good grief. Someone buy this guy a shot.

You bring up interesting points, and I don't think I understand it any better than you. I don't know. I just saw a difference in the designs of the top 3 corps (and Cavaliers) vs Boston and Crown in 2019, especially on the visual side. To me the top 3 corps (and Cavaliers) were more about staging and body movement and less about marching a difficult and cohesive drill, which both Crown and Boston had in my opinion. I liked Bluecoats and Devils in 2019, didn't like Vanguard, but loved Boston and Crown (especially Crown) the most because those are the shows I like. I just see that stark difference in design, and in my opinion design took Cavaliers to 5th and kept Boston in 6th, and talent kept Crown in the top 4 but design kept them out of the top 3. I'm not pretending I'm an expert here by any means, because I'm so baffled by it. I am not a judge, but I cannot understand how Crown did not beat Vanguard in 2019, and I don't understand how you win Music and finish 4th. It's the design. It's all down to the design. The judges eat up what Devils, Bluecoats and Vanguard are doing, and they frown (for lack of a better word) on what Crown is doing. BAC is playing the game this year. Their show is much more designed in the vein of the top 3 from 2019 than their own show in 2019. Blue Devils always play to the sheets. They are not going to win every year. Their 2013 show definitely played to the sheets, as did Crown. Things are different today than in 2013. Design is different and what gets rewarded and what gets dinged is different. Devils 2018 show played to the sheets too. Vanguard was just spectacular and had one of those shows that was just unbeatable. 2016 Bluecoats revolutionized the way crops do props and the uniforms they wear. That show launched us into the new era. It was one of the first times Devils weren't in the forefront of moving things forward. But look at how many corps followed Bluecoats lead in 2017. It was remarkable. The sheets baffle me. What wins and what loses baffles me (sometimes). I just think based on what we have seen in the past, no one is going to touch Bluecoats and Devils this year. They are hands down the two best designed shows, and they obviously have the talent to back it up.

I couldn't resist. I remember him attacking me in 2016 when I said the Cadets were going to struggle to stay in the top 5 when I saw their show for first time in June of that year, and again in 2017 when I said I think Boston had a better show and could beat the Cadets by seasons end.

I think 3rd or 4th for Crown. I saw a high camera angle of their show. It is FANTASTIC! Everyone is going to love it, but the design seems on par with their 2017-2019 designs, which are just not being rewarded by the judges. Crown or Bluecoats winning would make me so happy because they are my two favorite shows this season by far. Honestly, I was just baffled last year at how Crown finished 4th. You all know I'm a huge Vanguard honk, but I was baffled that Crown didn't beat them or have a shot at the title. The sheets suck, IMO. * Just want to make it clear that I'm not judging the quality of the performance I saw on video from Crown, because you can't judge those things through a video shot on a cell phone. I'm judging the visual design.

I said that last night too. I am a Vanguard Honk, but there is NO WAY that Bluecoats and Devils are not going to be the top 2 at finals. Absolutely no way.

Unfortunately, more and more are going to play to the sheets - Boston, Madison and Regiment for example have really upped their game this year in terms of playing to the sheets. It's unfortunate that a corps like Crown can't win.

NEVER!

I can't stop thinking of this show. Stop it Bluecoats - you're turning me into a fan of yours.

Great. See ya never. Not trolling - just challenging you, which you can't handle.

You probably think the Cadets have a shot at the top 3 again.

Yep, and it saddens me because I hate how the sheets are. I love Crown. Favorite show in 2019. I thought it was the best, but the judges didn't. Their design this year to me is a design in the same vein as 2019. A year talent kept them in the top 4 and design kept them out of the top 3.

Not an expert. I just pay attention. Go to fromthepressbox.com and study past scores. There is very little movement from the beginning to the end of the season. Beating BD is the tallest order in DCI and if you start the season down 2 points to them, it's unlikely things are going to end differently. I hope I'm wrong here, because Vanguard is my #1 and I want them to win every year, but it's not looking good. Boston doesn't have the show to challenge Bluecoats or Blue Devils. Crown has all the talent, but their design concerns me.

Not really. In 2018, BD beat Vanguard at the 1st and 3rd show (by under a point) - Vanguard won everything else. No one challenged them. In 2019, Vanguard beat Devils at the first 4 shows, all by under a point. Devils then passed them up for good. In 2019, Bluecoats reigned unchallenged out east, and Devils and Bluecoats flip-flopped to the end. No one else challenged them. In 2017, Devils went undefeated and beat Vanguard by under a point most of the season. Bluecoats beat Vanguard by under a point at their first meeting and never challenged them again. If you're 2 points down from someone right now it's just not going to happen. I doubt Vanguard is going top Devils and I doubt Boston is going to top Bluecoats. It's just unlikely to happen. We just don't see a lot of up and down movement through the entire season. Some, but not very much at all.

I saw a video of the show from a high vantage point. I'm not judging the quality of the performances as I make my assessment, I am judging the design. The show is awesome. I love it. It will definitely be one of my favorites. The brass is killer. I also loved the guard book and guard unis. I WISH a show like this would win. I wish that so hopefully the activity will take another turn where shows like this are rewarded vs the shows of the last year's top 3. I'm basing my opinion of what the judges did in 2019. In 2019, talent kept Crown in the top 4, and design kept them out of the top 3. They won music and still couldn't place higher than 4th because their design killed them in GE and Visual (well killed them enough to keep them out of the top 3). I feel much the same about this years show, the design is on par with their 2017-2019 designs. I just don't think it's going to be enough to contend with Devils and Bluecoats (who have those superior designs that play perfectly into the judges hands), but it may be enough to knock Vanguard to 4th. We'll see. In 2019, I thought Crown had the most thrilling and challenging show. It was my favorite. But, it didn't play to the sheets the way Devils, Bluecoats and Vanguard did. If you don't play to the sheets you don't win and you might not even medal. DCI is slowly killing itself and the sheets is one of the ways it is doing it. I don't like it, but it is what it is. If Crown wants to win again, they are going to have to play the game, and they aren't playing the game.

I would design a show to appeal to the judges. When you don't, Madison 2019 happens. I don't like the way the sheets are designed, but it is what it is and it's a competitive activity.

I agree with almost everything you said. This is I think the best Bluecoats show yet. It is incredible. Weird, bizarre, incredible. I loved every minute of it, and I'm not a Bluecoat fan. I liked their 2014-2019 shows enough, but this show I'm nuts about.

Yes, I realize you cannot compare scores from different shows. I am basing my predictions on design, because design is all that matters. If you don't have the design, you don't have a shot at the title. When you have the design, then the execution decides it. After seeing everyone but Cadets, I believe only two corps have the design to win - Bluecoats and Blue Devils.

After tonight, I'm going to update my predictions! 1. Blue Devils 2. Bluecoats ---- or ---- 1. Bluecoats 2. Blue Devils The rest is gravy!

Well folks, it's 2019 Part Deux! BD vs Bloo for the title.

I would agree to an extent, but in my opinion Boston is not going to beat Bluecoats or BD. Boston has been overhyped once again. It's better than 2019, but it's not on the level of the medalists, IMO. The only corps that is going to beat Bloo is BD, and the only corps that is going to beat BD is Bloo. I'm sticking to it. I'm also sticking to Crown and Vanguard fighting it out for 3rd, Boston in 5th and Cavies in 6th. That's how I see it now. May change, but this is where I'm at.

I may be wrong, but I don't think so. Vanguard (my favorite) just doesn't have the show to beat Bloo and BD. I've seen Crown and I don't think they have the show either. I just don't. To me, BD and Bloo are by far the two best designed shows this year and design is what wins. Design kept Crown in 4th (rather than challenging for the title in 2019) and design is going to keep them out of the top 2 this year. They may get 3rd though.

I hate BD. I admit it. I do. It goes all the way back to when I marched. I hate 'em. I hate that they win all the time. But, you know, it took a long time for me to get past that bias and see things for what they ####### are. BD isn't stale. BD doesn't just park and blow. BD's show's aren't easy. BD doesn't have the judges in their pocket. BD does drum corps best. That's it. That's why they win. They are the best, and until you beat BD you ain't the best. June of every single year, since 2007, BD is the front runner. They are the frontrunner right now in June 2022, and and that won't change if and until someone beats them (like Vanguard did in 2018).