2016 Prediction Thread

[shofmon88]

Tough call for top 4. They're all so amazing.

SCV falling to 7? Not seeing why that would happen.

They've been 7th as recently as 2010. It's hard to tell with Vanguard. They could be 7th, or they could win.

[redhowes]

This could have been a better posted thread everyone.... Comment on the content. What are the camps like ?

[Tobias]

Doesn't seem to be a problem with BD and crown playing runs standing still.

Crown moves when they play runs, not like Cadets but they move. BD moves the least at the top IMO. Still confused why they get the credit they do.

[3rd&10]

1. Bluecoats

2. BD

3. Crown.

4. Vanguard

5. Cadets

6. Blue Knights

7. Cavaliers

8. Phantom

9. Scouts

10. Crossmen

11. Blue Stars

12. Crusaders

13. Troopers

14. Academy

15. Colts

16. Oregon Crusaders

17. Spirit

18. Mandarins

19. Surf

20. Pacific Crest

21. Cascades

22. Pioneer

[BRASSO]

This could have been a better posted thread everyone.... Comment on the content. What are the camps like ?

Since this is a prediction thread, along these same lines that you are requesting, I'm predicting continued great camp turnouts for all the perennial Top 10 World Class Division Corps.

[777hornman]

Since this is a prediction thread, along these same lines that you are requesting, I'm predicting continued great camp turnouts for all the perennial Top 10 World Class Division Corps.

only the top 10??

[JoshClements403]

1. Crown

2. Cadets

3. Blue Devils

4. Blue Knights

5. Bluecoats

6. SCV

7. Phantom

8. Boston

9. Madison

10. Cavies

11. Bluestars

12. Colts

13. Crossmen

14. Troopers

15. Oregon

[Herk]

1. Crown

2. Cadets

3. Blue Devils

4. Blue Knights

5. Bluecoats

6. SCV

7. Phantom

8. Boston

9. Madison

10. Cavies

11. Bluestars

12. Colts

13. Crossmen

14. Troopers

15. Oregon

I think it's realistic to predict BK passing SCV, but them passing Bluecoats is something else. I certainly would like to see that, though.

[DrumManTx]

Well, some final offseason thoughts before we get into May and move ins. I'm also really bored getting ready for finals, so this was a nice break. Tried to keep my prediction window to 2-3 placements, though I could have opened up those windows a lot wider. These are more overall thoughts than predictions, but just some food for thought on what we're looking at across the board in 2016. Being honest, but I want everyone to succeed!

First of all, no comments, just some placement predictions for Open Class corps:

Gold - 32nd - 36th

Guardians - 30th - 35th

River City Rhythm - 28th - 32nd

Louisiana Stars - 26th - 30th (Really excited to see how they do):

Music City - 24th - 28th

7th Regiment - 24th - 28th

Legends - 24th - 28th

Spartans - 22nd - 26th

Genesis - 18th - 21st

BDB - 15th - 20th

SCVC - 15th - 20th

2015s World Class Non Finalists:

Pioneer - They made a shift last year, show design seems to be moving towards stuff that will be more successful. Musical selections are more diverse and translate better to the field. Think the Joan of Arc could be very good for them. Great story, great thematic potential, but still them for sure. I'm excited to see what they do, best corps for them in a few years last year even if the scores didn't show it.

Final Offseason Prediction - 25th 27th

Jersey Surf - Hmm. On one hand they're great fun. On the other...I'm not sure how they move up. I understand the membership makeup is pretty young so it might be necessary, but saw their move in date is well into June? Pretty late start and puts them at a disadvantage from the get go. Not sure if they made any staff changes, but I think there are some areas that could just be way better designed from the get go to set them up for more success. Mainly talking the drill if I'm being honest, paired with the uniform choices last year it made for some incredibly hard to read stuff, and I don't think that was the members fault. This was pretty obvious in their ensemble visual score at prelims. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED the Bridgemen show and even the show after that, just feels like they're trying to replicate that feeling without much success. I get that their goal is to give their members a great experience regardless of placement, but I don't think that has to slide in the show design. Well designed doesn't have to mean serious. Not trying to be mean, just being honest. We need more just fun shows, just do it right. There are a ton of hungry Open Class corps under them that overtook them in finals week.

Final Offseason Prediction - 26th - 30th

Cascades - I'm a huge advocate for these guys. I think their last two shows have been PERFECT vehicles for where they are talent wise and it has shown with two incredibly energetic and fun shows that are also incredibly solid on all levels design wise. Pretty general theme again this year they could do a lot with, paired with a great list of composers to work with. Big jump from 2013 to 2014 and again to 2015. Don't see any reason why that can't continue in 2016. Excited to see these guys.

Final Offseason Prediction - 19th - 21st

Pacific Crest - Last year was hard to watch. From San Antonio on there didn't seem to be ANY growth. Theme didn't develop into something that was easy to get, consistent prop malfunctions in the closer not to mention a pretty disappointing reveal (or total lack of one) when it opened, and just a lack of energy the last few weeks of the season. Which is a shame, I though they had a show that could really develop early on. They always impress me early on with their talent, they've just seemed to really fizzle out the last two years. Some staff changes in place, so I'm hopeful this changes. I put all that on design, not on the members in the slightest. 2010, 2012, and 2013 were fantastic. I want to see those kinds of shows again! I want everyone to succeed.

Final Offseason Prediction - 18th - 20th

Mandarins - Totally opposite story here. A fantastic total package marriage. Musically and visually alone it's alright, but paired it was a great package that got a ton of peoples attention on here. This is an example of someone who can embrace their heritage as a corps, but doesn't let it be a negative restriction. Great performances in all sections, especially some huge improvement in the guard over some previous seasons where they didn't really add much of anything. They really enhanced the visual package. Hope they can grow on that, was fun to watch.

Final Offseason Prediction - 18th - 20th

Spirit of Atlanta - Another turnover year. Cleaned house. Word is it's for the better. We'll see. I'm always weary of when that happens. Last time it did with Spirit I made the bold prediction of 10th. Was pretty sorely dissapointed. Don't know what to expect. We're getting another back to our roots southern style show, which is what the last two were being sold as, especially 2014. I'm willing to give it a chance, I'm just being cautious this time. I absolutely adored the identity they had from 2010 - 2013. And I hope they can find one again. Hoping this goes better than 2014.

Final Offseason Prediction - 15th - 17th

Oregon Crusaders - Great show theme. Fantastic source material. Best World Class placement in 2015 (16th taking out SCVC). All ingredients for them to continue to build. All they need to do is build that visual program and guard and they'll be set. I think design wise it was pretty solid last year, just didn't get super clean as an ensemble visually. Brass is great and that drumline is KILLER! The show last year was good, however I felt myself missing that oomph they had in 2013 and 2014 that really drew me in. This music should not have that problem. Incredibly diverse and exciting stuff. It's not every day you get to hear Muse, Queen, Hermann, and Bjork in the same room together! Really excited to see what this group brings. Not just as a corps, but as an organization. They seem to have really built something special up there. If we're going to have a North West corps in finals any time soon, it's them.

Final Offseason Prediction - 14th - 16th

The Academy - Wow. Last year was one of the most pure, fun, and just downright enjoyable shows to grace the field in a LONG time for me. Pretty much everyone enjoyed this fantastic Mary Poppins show. It didn't try to be too complicated by bringing the whole story to the field, but rather just focused on the pure essence of that movie and music and brought it to life in a energetic and childhood nostalgia immersing presentation. Strength across the board, especially as an entire ensemble. Keep doing what you're doing. I look for growth over a few seasons paired with staff retention for corps I predict as having a chance at making the jump to the next big group, just add a little more difficulty, and that finals spot could be yours in the near future.

Final Offseaosn Prediction - 12th - 14th

Colts - Last two seasons, fantastic stuff. Design was top notch, especially visual and color guard. Brass made HUGE strides. And most of those teams are gone. Show theme is a big shift. So I'm not really sure what to think. Sometimes this happens and it turns out just find and even better, but when they make a huge change from something that was working incredibly well, that always makes me weary. I always hope to be proved wrong in those instances.

Final Offseason Prediction - 14th - 16th

Troopers - They have grown in some way every year the past three years and have been SO close to the big show again on Saturday in 2013 and 2015. So close. 11th in GE in 2013 and 2015. They know how to design and sell a show. You could argue guard and visual are the two main things that kept them out, and it seems like staff wise they took care of those this offseason. I'm getting a good feeling here. The show theme and music are staying Troopers, but a more updated and modern Troopers. Let's not discuss the uniform until we see it. Haha. But I get the sense they REALLY want that spot in 2016, and have the ingredients to get it.

2015 Finalists:

Final Offseason Prediction - 11th - 13th

Crossmen - Solid season in 2015. Visually outstanding, musically solid. Show theme did feel a tad dry though as compared to shows like 2012, 2013, and 2014 though. Needed some more emotional tugging. But they're downright solid when it comes down to it. No real weaknesses, and some great assets. Interesting show choice in 2016, as in we have no idea what to expect from an all original show and a pretty broad theme that doesn't give us much to chew on. I'll put it this way, I think this show could be incredibly refreshing and fun or incredibly boring and stock as an all original conceptual show. It won't be performance levels that hurt/help them because they're really solid there.

Final Offseason Prediction - 10th - 13th

Blue Stars - Like Crossmen, solid season in 2015. A little of a drop compared to 2014. Made some great changes, namely bringing back Kevin Ford who we know has had great success, with them and in other places as well. I'm hoping that fixes what was obviously the weakness from San Antonio on last year, visual, cleaned house in terms of visual staff too. All the caption heads are in place again which is a great thing. Brass grew last year, color guard bit off a huge show difficulty wise, and percussion was as hot as ever. Hearing lots of good things, think this could shape up to be a good one. I always say with them it's a matter of the show, not the captions doing their job. Excited to see what the show is.

Final Offseason Prediction - 9th - 11th

Boston Crusaders - They really finished strong last year after an early season that was pretty rocky for awhile. Great color guard performance, and solid brass and percussion performances. Show really sold in the end. I think they just need to maintain and grow, maybe not fill the field up SO much with props which was my only real beef with the show in the end, just felt like it really restricted the drill design. Other than that, solid.

Final Offseason Prediction - 8th - 10th

The Cavaliers - A show theme that was very divisive in its message paired with the sickness they dealt with in the last few weeks made for a end of season lull that kept them from finishing a little higher. I felt really bad for them, I love the Cavies! This years show seems already easier to get though, and they made some design team changes that I'm sure won't let a lack of clarity happen again. Hinshaw is back........I really feel like he deserved a second chance after 2012, that show was doomed from the get go and it definitely wasn't him that let it down. And having to follow Gaines? Nobody was going to fill that void. No one. I really think he is a great writer and could be really good for them. I think the brass grew quite a bit in 2015, they tackled a MUCH harder book than they usually do, and did so to a lot of success. Percussion is always great, and I think the guard was just given a crappy theme to portray that didn't allow them to really shine. Like Blue Stars, I think it's a matter of the show the fantastic members are given. And on the surface, it seems great.

Final Offseason Prediction - 5th - 8th

Madison Scouts - One of the biggest, most pleasant surprises out of last year. They're the one corps of last years bottom six finals group that seemed to just have a really great season. Fantastic drill, HUGE brass, great percussion, and an improved guard paired with a refreshed Madison style show combined for a fantastic show which was their highest finish since 2005. Revisiting Jesus Christ Superstar should be huge fun from them. Don't see any reason to put them any lower honestly.

Final Offseason Prediction - 7th - 9th

Phantom Regiment - Well, Don Hill is gone and Pitts is in. Mr. Hill, you're a fantastic arranger, and maybe you weren't given the tools to succeed, but I think this is for the best. They're in one of those 6th - 8th lulls where they're doing their job of being Phantom, but not really excelling at it. They REALLY sold that show at finals the past two years, but it was clearly maxed out to every hundredth. Music this year is sans a classic rehash, and is great source stuff overall. No theme yet. I hope this is a sign of them changing it up a bit, because I REALLY want Phantom, the magical whisks me off my feat regardless of where they place, Phantom.

Final Offseason Prediction - 5th - 7th

Blue Knights - Talk about a corps that's found it's place. They have a look, a sound, and a way of designing in a way that makes you say THAT'S Blue Knights! Their only weakness is in visual performance and guard, they're incredibly solid and growing in all other areas. Get those equal, and it's lights out. I have a really good feeling here.

Final Offseason Prediction - 5th - 6th

Santa Clara Vanguard - I loved last years show. But it did have some faults. I think musical continuity and just substance were just a tad lacking, and that's what made them not be a part of the monster four in front of them. Haven't heard a lot this year, so I can't say much. They have a dream team staff, so anything is possible.

Final Offseason Prediction - 4th - 6th

Top 4:

Final Offseason Prediction - 1st - 4th

All of these corps are contenders right now, easily. They all have certain things that make them eligible. We won't know until we see the shows who REALLY has the shot, but there is no reason in the world one of these four couldn't win it all.

The Cadets - So close last year. A few factors came into play finals week that landed them here. I know there are people who will disagree with me, call me a hater, ect., but I think they ended up in the right place. Sorry. However, NOT by the spread they were in 4th by. There is no way they were over a point down from 3rd. They should have been within half a point of third and around a point off the champion. I don't think it was the substance argument, I just think that the obvious things that have been beaten over caused that to happen. Okay. Let's move on. I'm sick of hearing all the talk about 2015 when there is so much about 2016 to discuss. Cadets are playing MACKEY, that should eliminate any discussion of 2015 right there. And mixing it with Pines of Rome? WAH. That's one area I feel like they've already improved upon. They're broadening their musical landscape, and based on what I've heard it's still distinctly Cadets. There's one 2015 issue marked off the list. Guard. They made staff changes. Caption head has had fantastic success at the WGI and DCA level. Will that translate to DCI? I hope so. I'm just glad they addressed it. Another 2015 issue, marked off. Theme. This sounds very interesting. I have no idea what we're going to get. Which I haven't been able to say about Cadets in quite a long time honestly. It has substance, and huge potential. Another 2015 issue, if you thought it was one, marked off. So they seem to be addressing every single thing that was torn apart, #####ed about, and criticized about last year. Which was a shame because that was a #### good corps. And if that kind of corps gets a #### good show, it could be really scary and lights out from day one.

Bluecoats - I remember at the beginning of 2015 everyone writing them off as a one trick pony in 2014 and that they couldn't possibly finish that well again. I was very satisfied that they did, and even though they dropped a placement in 2015, they were WAY closer to first in 2015. Around half a point compared to well over two in 2015. They have no weaknesses, and that's incredibly important. They have really cleaned up their act visually, in terms of design and performance. They were pretty clean finals week, and it showed. Guard was GREAT! I think they were a HUGE unsung hero for them last year. Their equipment choices and writing paired with some incredibly effective dance moments made for an incredibly solid, and hugely contributing guard. I think those two things gave them a serious edge over Cadets at Championships. Then you have GE. .15 out of first, and first place from BOTH judges in finals in GE 2 content. What they're doing is working, and it's being noticed too. Brass is close to being one of the best, percussion is (see Jeff Prospieres 1st in finals), and the guard is growing huge. GE is there. Visual is there. They just need a tenth or two more across the board, and they could be looking at their first championship. I think their challenge is keeping their electronic/groovy minimalist thing fresh. That's the great thing about being solid across the board, it just takes a little more from each caption to push them over the edge.

Carolina Crown - So close. That show was HOT the last two weeks of the season, finals night there was just enough room for BD to slip by. And I don't blame it on the percussion, entirely. I think their run was just a tad reserved compared to semis, but I don't think that did it either. I think there were a few little things. First, drill was pretty standard. Not bad by any means, but definitely not my favorite from Leon May. It just felt a bit restricted to in front of the back hash between the 30s. Also, I don't think that was their hottest visual ensemble corps either. Guard was perfectly fine, amazing even, but in terms of drill cleanliness, it was lacking compared to some corps around them. I can say much of the same for 2014. I think they need to tighten things back up visually to 2013 level if they want to win again, and that's vital when BD is the absolute visual monster they are. I'm hoping for their theme to be a little more fleshed out in 2014 instead of just being implied, that's more of a personal preference though. The only other thing I'd say to keep improving on is percussion, they're getting there. Other than that, they're easily in line to be a contender again. No reason they can't win. If they can give us 13 minutes of the last 30 seconds of their show, they'll be unstoppable.

Blue Devils - Talk about a show I didn't buy until the very end. They reminded us they were still human in the early/mid season of 2015. But they really pulled it together finals week with three incredibly energetic and magical performances, not letting that huge penalty in prelims phase them one bit. A tiny crack opened and they took it finals night. No weaknesses at all, it's just a matter of them selling the show like they did finals night last year. If that was a young corps, I'm scared to see what they do a little older.

Edited May 1, 2016 by DrumManTx

[George Dixon]

^^^^^ GREAT post!! I agree so much!