Two weeks in, who’s impressed us most?

Stand up Div 5, time to go to work

Call it how I see, yes I’m back in the vicinity, bringing what you need plus all of the amenities. For the first time in a long time, I am covering one of the most talked about divisions in FPF. No added pressure that it also consists of 42 teams all vying for the right to be called champions. Thank you Yannick Doston for stepping in and handling business while I was away. Please note that at the start of the 2015 season, I was not scheduled to cover our crazy division, but when a staff member was unable to do so, I gladly accepted to take over.

So without further ado, welcome to your weekly dose of FPF madness. Every week will not have the same format so stay tuned to make sure you do not miss a beat.

Looks like we have a few bullies on the block A few teams have already jumped out the gate with near flawless performances and are taking pride in leaving their opponents in the dust. No surprise that these teams are undefeated and steadily building momentum. Here are but a few.

Old Guns (2-0)

I was always thought to respect my elders. So any team with the word “old” in it, instantly gets my nod of approval. With the formalities out of the way, quarterback play is usually a strength within a Rehan Sarwar-coached team and this year is no different. No, I am not taking about Alexandre Gaudet, who continues to show that he can not only get it done as a QB in this league, but also as a receiver. Last year’s leading receiver for the Old Guns has already made his presence felt having hauled in 15 receptions for 122 yards, while finding the end zone in consecutive weeks. Impressive as that may be, I would like to shine the spotlight on the solid play of Vince Pisano as of late. Although his play did seem quite uneven at times last spring, he has settled down and seems in control of a highly productive offence. Ring the dinner bell, these Old Guns will be feasting in 2015.

TOPSZN (2-0)

There might not be anything more important to an FPF offence than the relationship between a quarterback and a receiver. And right now, the offence’s primary strength is in the form of receiver Jamal Henry and quarterback Jordan Maxwell. The blueprint is simple. Out of Maxwell’s 354 passing yards in his first two games this season, 204 have gone to Henry. Stop us if you can is the statement the duo is making here. This team understands how to play to their strengths and managed to fit its players into schemes that generate success. The bad news for opposing teams does not end there. There is also reason to be optimistic on the defensive side of the ball having only yielded 31 points in two games. Watch out. These boys are for real.

The Gryphons (2-0)

With several playmakers returning for the winter season, The Gryphons have the potential to field one of the best offences in the division. Of course much will depend on the play of the quarterback Aleksander Papich, but so far so good. A talented receiving corps has helped take some of the pressure off Papich’s shoulders as there are plenty of candidates to throw the ball to. Marc Heron and Joe Kano are just the tip of the iceberg.

Who’s sitting pretty?

Blackshirts (1-1)

Any time a player has double digit tackles in a single game, two things come to mind. The offence is picking on him or the player is just that much of a beast. In Emilio Pampena’s case, the later would apply. Trust me, no one picks on this guy. You could, but you won’t like the end result. Oh yeah, don’t forget to factor Jason Armenti in the mix with a couple of sacks under his belt. Someone disrupting the timing on offence by chasing down QBs is something that can be overlooked. On the other side of the ball, looks like Dylan Taylor might be there guy they look for as a deep threat. Every team is entitled to an off game. I believe the Blackshirts got theirs out of the way and could potentially go on a run. Question marks can quickly become exclamation points for this talented team. They just have to get by the Sphinx first in their Week 3 matchup.

We Dem Boys (1-0)

Hol up, hol up. Well I will say this. These boys better be making noise after choosing to name their squad after one of the hottest anthems. Based on the name-only, I am intrigued. Looking at their roster on paper, I am a fan. Haven’t seen their jerseys yet, but 2 out of 3 isn’t bad. With a combination of experience ranging from Clockwork and Smokin’ Aces, this team has loads of experience in this league. Alex Apostolakis appears to be the Cream of the Crop in their solid defensive unit, forcing two turnovers in only one game. I look for the players on We Dem Boys to be dynamite and boost their already impressive FPF résumés this season. Let’s see if y’all can make WIZ KHALIFA proud.

My Jekyll-Hyde of the week Let’s make one thing clear here. Being on this list is not a bad thing. On the contrary. It means you have shown glimpse of excellent football and have the potential to not be overlooked. Now you just need to do it on a consistent basis.

Rednecks (1-1)

There are more similarities to the Rednecks and the CFL’s Ottawa REDBLACKS than their colors and logo. Like any expansion franchise, or rookie FPF team, you are bound to face some speed bumps during your inaugural campaign. The Rednecks hit their road block only two weeks into the season. After opening the season with an impressive defensive shutout, the Rednecks suffered the same fate and earned their first loss of the season. It happens to the best. With a tough schedule in the coming weeks, this team can ill afford more unpredictable outings. The experience will come with time, but until then Julien Michaud is holding down the fort and showing his versatility with defensive stats in tackles, sacks and interceptions. Keep it up guys.

A few key games in Week 3 along with some predictions

Golden Flashes vs Venom

Golden Flashes rebounded nicely after a disappointing season opener. That is the mark of a confident team, not allowing themselves to be rattled early on. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Venom. The good news for Venom is having played tough opponents early on will only help their progression as the season goes on. They battled some of the division’s top contenders and will be stronger for it. Venom is going to need another solid performance from their all-star rusher Mathieu Bilodeau. He is a quiet guy, but if he starts rolling early on, the Golden Flashes will be in a battle. In the end, I think the big man Mr. Alexandre Guertin will have his team ready to rock and roll. Golden Flashes will win.

Hot Boys Hotline vs Les Guerriers de L’espace

Winning close games is starting to become the staple for Hot Boys Hotline. I guess they enjoy the rollercoaster ride. But winning in this fashion is not always a matter of chance. Big shutout to Alex D’Aquila, who I am sure won’t apologize for winning close games, especially faced with his team’s schedule so far. However, common sense would tell us that if the Hot Boys Hotline continue to play in close ones, we can expect them to lose some of those.

As for Les Guerriers de L’espace are concerned, I always enjoyed watching Alex David play in the slot and at snapper. He has excellent hands, deceptive speed and doesn’t have the typical division 5 body of a snapper. But now you can find him lined up 8 yards behind the line of scrimmage in his new role. I expect a transition period as he is now seeing the game from a different perspective as the team’s pivot. Luckily for David, Georges Élie-Voyer is a nice target to throw the ball to. His style of play actually reminds me of David’s so the two have to continue to work on their chemistry. This one should be close and having been involved in a lot of close games early one, the Hot Boys Hotline know how to get it done.

Green Latern Corps vs Butterfingers

How can I not mention my boy Kevin Lubin—the Black Mamba himself. All I ever hear from him is “Hey Mongeau”. This is usually reserved for FPF’s own Moe Khan. Maybe a trend is starting. That being said, a tie is never the way you want to jump start your season, but it is better than a loss. So what does Green Latern Corps serve up as an encore? A huge victory. That simple. Lubin put up his usual monster numbers.

Mendy Cardichon, who is arguably one of the division’s top receivers, has elected—for now to play QB. Cardichon showed significant improvement from his last outing with translated into the team’s success. I am confident that this team can find a balance and an identity. After that, it is entirely up to them as a team to put it together as Steevens St-Fleur and Fadel Assane are also very capable of being the difference-makers in close games. Green Latern Corps will win.