Division E: Wild-Card Preview

Welcome to Week 12 of FlagPlus Football Spring Season, otherwise known as the first round of the playoffs.

Before I jump into the Wild-Card preview, I want to talk about something that’s going on right now in the world of football. Having written for Division E/6 for the last 3 years, a lot of you know that I am a San Francisco 49ers fan. While I think my 9ers will be better than most people think this upcoming season, I know that we won’t be going anywhere, until we get a real starting Quarterback, whether it be Kirk Cousins, Sam Darnold, Jimmy Garoppolo, or whoever.

 

Just like the rest of you guys, I am eagerly awaiting the start of another NFL season. As excited as I am to spend my Sundays, and Monday, as well as Thursday nights parked in front of my, or somebody else’s TV watching the greatest sport in the world, I am as equally disappointed that I probably won’t be seeing Colin Kaepernick on the football field.

 

Unless you live under a rock, or you were somehow in a coma for the last 11 months, I am sure you have heard about Kaepernick’s non-violent protest of the United States national anthem before NFL games, and his choice to talk about important social issues through the media.

 

As you are also surely aware, the man nicknamed Kap, is currently an unrestricted free agent, as no team has chosen to sign the Quarterback.

 

Many people have their opinion both for and against Kaepernick’s decision to protest, and they are entitled to it. However, Michael Vick’s idiotic suggestion this past week, that Kaepernick, should cut his hair and change his image, in order to get a job, is ridiculous, and provides us a view of the society that we live in. Whether Kap has an afro, or has his hair braided, shouldn’t matter, and more importantly, it should not take away from the message he is trying to deliver.

 

Unfortunately, Vick’s comments, speaks to the view that no matter how important a message somebody trying to deliver might be, if they look, or act different than what people conceptualize as normal, that person, and what they have to say, is automatically suspicious, ignored, or deemed wrong.

 

What makes this whole situation sad, and even a little bit comical, is who the suggestion came from. I, like a lot of people was a Mike Vick fan when he came into the NFL in 2001. The first time I saw him play, was in the 1999 BCS National Championship game when his Virginia Tech Hookies, took on my Florida State Seminoles. Vick’s dynamic abilities, athleticism, cannon arm, and electric game, instantly got my attention. The fact that he was the same color as me, gave me an extra sense of pride.

 

Not long into his tenure with the Atlanta Falcons, I was given a Vick jersey for Christmas. That #7 jersey, along with my Jerry Rice 49ers jersey, were two of my most prized possessions, and started what became my sizeable collection.

 

When Vick was sent to jail, for dog fighting, I knew that what he did was wrong, but I still felt like I was being robbed, because he was being taken away from us. As we all know, after nearly 2 years served, he got out, and received a second chance.

 

When Vick was released from prison, he needed to clean up his image, seeing that he not only helped kill and torture dogs, but he lost millions of dollars in sponsorship, and endorsement money, legal fees, as well as lost income that he missed while he was incarcerated.

 

As we all saw this week, O.J Simpson, got second, or really a third chance, despite the fact that he more likely than not killed his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman, and nearly nine years ago, was sent to jail for robbery and kidnapping.

 

Life is unfair, and we have all at one point or another in our lives, have experienced it one way or the other. My point in bringing all this up, is that a young, talented, experienced, and winning Quarterback, is currently unemployed.

 

From a pure football perspective, it is more than fair to say that Kaepernick’s performance has faltered since Jim Harbaugh left for Michigan after the 2014 season. It is also fair and important to mention the talent-drain, that has gone on in the 9ers locker-room during the same time frame, as the franchise has said good-bye to 8 Pro-Bowlers, including offensive talents like Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin, Vernon Davis, and Mike Iupati.

Despite all the loses, after being named the starting Quarterback in Week 6 last season, Kaepernick, threw for 16 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. While those numbers might not blow you away, keep in mind that he was throwing to the likes of Jeremy Kerley, Quinton Patton, and Garrett Celek…not exactly household names. More importantly however, if you spread-out Kap’s numbers over an entire season, they were better than a number of other passers, including, Carson Wentz, Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler, Andy Dalton, Tyrod Taylor, and Cam Newton among others.

 

As much as certain members of the media try to portray the Quarterback/Civil Activist as a locker-room distraction, it didn’t stop some of his 49er teammates, as well as numerous other players across the league, from joining him in kneeling and raising their fists in solidarity during the National Anthem in various cities across the NFL.

While Kaepernick might not ever turn back into the player he once was, when he took the NFL by storm, and ran into the record books, due mostly to Defensive Coordinators figuring out how to stop Kap’s bread and butter in the read-option, when given the chance with a creative play-caller, as he had last season under Chip Kelly, the QB, still showed some of the flashes that made him a star in the league.

 

From a basic social perspective of right and wrong, what is happening to the 29-year-old is flat-out wrong. Kaepernick, has never tortured dogs, been investigated for domestic violence, been arrested for drugs or alcohol issues, and most importantly, has never killed anybody, or been suspected of doing so. Yet, we see time and time again, that multiple players, both in the NFL and throughout sports, are given second and even third chances after getting mixed up in some of these situations.

 

The only thing Kaepernick, was guilty of, was exercising his freedom of expression, that gave him the ability to kneel during the anthem, and refreshingly using his platform as a professional athlete, to talk about important social issues that usually get swept under the rug, or ignored, because it mostly effects minorities, and/or people that are viewed as lesser. The fact that the Nevada product even went out of his way to make it known that he wasn’t trying to insult the military, speaks volumes about him.

 

Personally, I think it is disgusting that at least for now, there aren’t any NFL owners who are brave enough to go against the grain, and give Kaepernick a job. He has stated numerous times this off-season that he is comfortable working as a backup. While there are some clowns like Jason Whitlock, and Trent Dilfer, who will say that it is a mistake to bring him in because he is a distraction, or he isn’t a good QB anymore, Kap has proven that he can still play, and more importantly, many of his former teammates and coaches have done on record, and said that he wasn’t a distraction last year.

 

In a league where Quarterbacks like Ryan Fitzpatrick, Mark Sanchez, Austin Davis, Blaine Gabbert, T.J Yates, Dan Orlovsky, E.J Manuel, and anybody on the Jets’ roster are employed, but a passer who has a cannon for arm, can run like a deer, and came within a play of leading his team to the Super Bowl ring isn’t, is simply unacceptable.

 

I fell in love with the game of football at the age of 13. The grace, skill, and the power of the game, is what attracted me to it, as did the camaraderie in the locker-room, and the friendships that I made, many of which I still have today, and are the reason why I started playing and eventually working for FPF. Because of all those reasons I am not going to sit here and try to pretend like I am not going to watch the NFL, until Kaepernick comes off the free agent market. While my love for the game will never change, what’s going on right now, has made me question the society we live in even more, and it has made me realize that what I once thought was the greatest league in the world, is pathetic, unjust, and afraid.

 

 

Before I start this playoff preview, I would like to thank the Montreal Raiders, Here For The Beer, Fourth & Twenty, Friday Night Tykes, Raccoons, and my team the Striking Samurais for coming out this season. All of the teams came within a game or two, and a play or two of making the post-season. My advice to the 6 squads, is to use the 2017 spring campaign as a learning experience, plug up the holes on the roster, and get ready to come back stronger and better, because the 2018 Winter Season, will be here before you know it.

 

Conference A

Bye-Week:

Greendale Human Beings

Homosapiens

West Delisle Squad

YAMAJO

 

(5) Los Avocados vs (12) Sons of Mitches

 

Last Meeting: Los Avocados 24-6 (Week 5)

 

In their previous matchup, Los Avocados’ Josh Vasquez had a whale of a game, as he went 13 of 17 passing, for 124 yards, and 4 touchdowns, and spread around the ball to multiple receivers. Vasquez, even added an interception on defense for good measure.

 

For Sons of Mitches, they played a solid first-half on defense, as they were only down 6-0 at the break. Clearly, they couldn’t keep up the pace, as they were constantly on the field due to their ineffective offense.

 

For Los Avocados to advance, they will need play a full game offensively. One key for that, will be getting the reigning Wide Receiver of the Year, Thomas Zorko, going early and often. In their first meeting, Zorko, had 5 catches for 84 yards and 2 TDs.

 

On defense, they will need to force Quarterback Patrick Manning to beat them with the deep ball. Manning, who is much more accurate throwing short, threw 3 INTs in Week 5.

LA, will also have bottle up SOM receiver Jordan Farray, once again, as the fifth-year veteran had 3 receptions for a season-low 16 yards, although he did score a TD.

 

To preform both duties, the team will need another strong performance out of Mathieu Guindon, and Mathieu Nolin. The former recorded a pair of INTs and pass deflections, while the latter registered a game-high 7 tackles in their first meeting.

 

I fully expect the Sons of Mitches to perform better this time out, as they will have Jarred Stewart in the lineup, after he missed the first game. Despite that, I still don’t think SOM, has the firepower to keep up with Los Avocados.

 

Prediction: Los Avocados 32-12

 

 

(6) Dirty Mike n the Boys versus (11) Le Choix de Président

 

Last Meeting: N/A

 

For Dirty Mike n the Boys to be successful, they will need to rediscover the defense that held 6 opponents to three touchdowns or less in the regular season. This team is better when defenders Tyler Doucette, Jonathan McQueen, and Jordan “Pick-6” Allard, are flying around getting hands on errant passes.

 

The team will also need Rusher Gianni Johnston, to constantly keep the heat on LCP Quarterback Gabriel Béland-Lapointe, as he has been known to toss more than his fair share of 50/50 balls when he is under pressure.

 

For Le Choix de Président to pull off the upset, they will need to protect the ball on offense. As much as Gabriel Béland-Lapointe, has improved as a Quarterback this year, his aforementioned penchant for taking risks with the ball will need to be corralled. Getting the rock in the hands of play-makers Nicolas Lefebvre, and Gabriel Allard (no relation to Jordan) with high percentage passes, will be huge.

 

The other key for President’s Choice, will be to play an entire game. As I have said numerous times on the podcast this season, the team has played one half of football throughout the year. In the playoffs, that will lead to them being one and done.

 

Dirty Mike n the Boys have the talent and experience to go all the way. Lately however, they have been the victim of missed calls, cockiness, and excuses. Simply put, the real season has begun gentlemen, while calls still have a chance to occasionally be missed, the excuses go out the window, and teams show up to battle, so you need to respect them, and play from the opening whistle to the closing one. If DMNTB, does that, they will win. Tonight, I think they will.

 

Prediction: Dirty Mike n the Boys 41-12

 

(7) Farmers versus (10) Little Giants

 

Last Meeting: Little Giants 24-14 (Week 2)

 

The score was more flattering than the actual game, as the Little Giants, who were up 18-0 at halftime, and cruised to the win, despite a comeback attempt from the Farmers in the second half.

 

In the contest, the Farmers were victimized by the duo of FPF veterans Dylan Drake, and Brandon Doyle. Drake, caught 4 catches, for a season-high 75 yards, and 3 TDs, while Doyle hauled in 3 passes, for 64 yards, and one trip to the end zone. Both players recorded an interception as well.

 

The Little Giants, are backing into the playoffs, having lost 3 of their last 4 contests. In those games, the team scored more than two touchdowns just once. If they want to come out with the win, LG, must get some production out of their other receivers. Sergio Sicoli, Dylan Boisvert, and Kevin Walsh, among others, will need to step up. The team will also need Quarterback Shane Hughes, to protect the ball. Over the last 4 games, the pivot has thrown 4 interceptions.

 

For the Farmers to win, they will simply need a better performance out of their QB this time around. In the first meeting, Benoit Robidoux, had a horrible outing, as he went 8 of 26 for 63 yards, with 2 TDs and 3 INTs.

They will also need a dominant outing from Wide Receiver Simon Viens. In the Week 2 game, the fourth-year vet, had a relatively quiet evening by his standards, with 4 receptions for 33 yards, and a TD.

 

This game will come down to the Hughes vs Robidoux, and Viens vs Drake matchup. The winner of each one, will be victorious. I think the Farmers, will come out with the slight advantage in both battles, as well as the game itself.

 

Prediction: Farmers 21-18

 

(8) SPARTANS versus (9) Just For The Reps

 

Last Meeting: SPARTANS 25-20 (Week 10)

 

This has the potential to be the best game of Wild-Card weekend, as it pits two teams that have the talent to make long playoff runs, but one reason or another haven’t been able to recently.

 

The SPARTANS could have easily folded when they lost their best player Alexis Bessette to injury, versus the Super Troopers in Week 2. To their credit, the team came together, as the offense became more diversified and gave a chance for guys like Daniel Hernandez (he killed JFTR last week with 3 TDs), Dale Messi, and Daniel Casavant, a chance to shine in more prominent roles.

 

The team also smartly made two key additions before and during the season, in Samuel Bessette, and the criminally underrated Alex Jubinville. The duo has given the team some valuable play-making ability on both sides of the ball.

 

Just For The Reps, made a huge acquisition of their own heading into the season, as they added Quarterback Jared Buck, who played in Division 6 last winter, with The Spanish Inquisition. The move paid off, as Buck finished the regular season with 31 TD passes, and 1,365 yards.

 

The development of Justin Matteo, as a Rusher has been a key to the team’s success, as he led Division E, with a career-high 11 sacks.

 

Wide Receiver Kevin St. Pierre’s play has been the biggest factor to not only the team, Jarred Buck’s success, as KSP, has built off of a solid Winter Season with Rolling Rock (one of the many variations of Just For The Reps) where he set career-highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, with 53, 592, and 12 respectively. While not matching those numbers this year, he put up a more than impressive, 40 catches, for 387 yards, and 11 TDs. I am hoping we get to see St. Pierre versus Jubinville.

 

As I said on the podcast this week, this the ultimate put-up-or-shut-up game. The SPARTANS, will try to exercise their playoff demons, and shed their choker label (catching the ball, and not getting OCs will help in that regard), while Just For The Reps, will try to hush their critics, both real and imaginary, show why they think they are contenders, and play how the talent and experience on their team suggests they should.

 

As hard as it is to beat a team twice, especially in two weeks, I am going with the SPARTANS. They have the speed and size advantage, and the Alexis Bessette ace up their sleeve, as the two-way threat, is playoff eligible.

 

Prediction: SPARTANS 28-21

 

 

Conference B

 

Bye-Week:

 

Hot Boys Hotline

 

Moss City

 

Super Troopers

 

TBA

 

(5) Prime Time versus (12) DGC

 

Last Meeting: N/A

 

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Prime Time is the team that nobody wants to play this post-season. Their firepower, athleticism, and timely play-making, are what make this team so dangerous, and what has seen them win four games in a row, and six out of their last seven overall.

 

DGC, enters the second season, coming off a 53-0 beat down at the hands of the West Delisle Squad. In defense of the team however, they were forced to start WR/DB Andrew Di Mele at QB. I won’t go into his complete stat line, other than to say that he had as many completions as he did interceptions, with 3.

 

Whether the team starts Di Mele, or regular Quarterback Nicholas Borrelli, DGC, will need to score more than the 11 points per game they’ve been averaging all season.

 

Going forward, Prime Time will make teams have to pick their poison defensively, as they will force defenses to have to choose between focusing on either Josh Levine, Brenden Sabloff, Michael Iannella, Meïssa N’Garane, and Vincent Blondin.

 

While DGC Rusher Cory Wener, will force Prime Time QB Stephen Harripersaud, to get rid of the ball quicker than he might like, it won’t be enough to disrupt the flow of their offense.

 

Prediction: Prime Time 42-6

 

(6) Pardon My Swag versus (11) One Speed: Power

 

Last Meeting: Pardon My Swag 31-19 (Week 9)

 

In the first encounter, Pardon My Swag backup QB Jesse Racine, looked like a surgeon, as he dissected the One Speed: Power defense, by throwing for 5 TDs. His favorite target was veteran Myles Keiller, who had 10 catches, for 90 yards, and 3 TDs, all were a game-high.

 

Defensively, the team picked off Peeze three times. In fairness to OSP, they played the game without dynamic Wide Receiver Will Power. His absence, was especially felt in the second half, when his squad had their backs against the wall, and needed to make a play, but couldn’t.

 

The only thing that went right for OSP, was the play of Lucas Blanchard, who had 3 sacks, and the play of Antonio D’Aversa aka Chapman, who led the team with 2 TD grabs.

In their previous meeting, the One Speed: Power kept the game close in the first stanza, as they were only down 19-12 at the half. OSP, will need another strong defensive from solid defenders Daniel Bornstein, Joseph James, and Power, if they want to keep the game close again.

Ultimately though, as has been repeated by Chapman, yours truly, and even Peeze himself, on the podcast all year long, One Speed: Power’s success, will depend on which Peeze shows up. If the one who shows solid footwork in the pocket, and delivers an accurate ball, makes an appearance, than his team has a chance to win. If not, than OSP’s prospects of winning look bleak at best.

 

With Power in the lineup, the offense will undoubtedly be better in the rematch, but it won’t be enough to knock off PMS, no matter whether Racine, or Avery Lalla starts at Quarterback.

 

Prediction: Pardon My Swag 36-28

 

(7) The Pension Plan versus (10) FACE Jazz

 

Last Meeting: The Pension Plan 46-0 (Week 10)

 

Clearly, the first outing was ugly. In all honesty, the game was over at halftime, as The Pension Plan was up 19-0 at the break. Slot receiver Anthony Siggia, who as usual, had a monster game catching the ball, with 8 grabs, for 58 yards, and 3 TDs (all game highs), went in for one play at Quarterback, and threw a 9-yard TD. Siggia, arguably played better than FACE Jazz’s QB duo (for that game) of Joshua Hidalgo-Trivilidis and Josh Hannah, who combined to go 5 of 21 for 52 yards, and 3 INTs.

 

With the team’s starting Quarterback Eddy Rousseau, back behind Snapper tonight, the offense will at least score some points. For the team to win however, they will need to use their speed advantage, to create mismatches against the much slower Pension Plan defense. To do that, they will need to create one-on-one opportunities for Azeem Bailey, Joshua Hidalgo-Trivilidis, and Josh Hannah. The team must also use Bailey as a QB from time to time, and let him run.

 

For The Pension Plan, it will all be about slowing down the pace, using their size advantage to create separation, and forcing the FACE Jazz offense into having to play catch-up.

 

I expect this game to be a little closer than the earlier matchup, however, I still think the winners will be the same.

 

Prediction: The Pension Plan 26-14

 

(8) Smokin Axokotls versus (9) The Expendables

 

Last Meeting: Smokin Axolotls 33-24 (Week 10)

 

Once again, it is extremely hard to beat a team on back-to-back weeks, but that is exactly what the Smokin Axolotls will try to do.

 

In last week’s meeting, the Smokin A’s combination of Jordan Rossie, and Rory Semerjian, went off, as they connected 5 times for 77 yards, and 3 touchdowns.

 

Two-way threat Chris Brockwell, had another solid game for Stef Fennes’ team, as he had 7 catches for 62 yards, and a TD, to go along with a sack.

 

To The Expendables credit, they kept the game very close, despite the fact that they were with their best receiver, and player in Damien Jean-Jacques. Stepping up in his absence, was Remy Montalto, who had 2 receptions for 27 yards, and 2 TDs.

 

At the end of the day, this game will come down to matchups. Rory Semerjian vs Damien Jean-Jacques, Jason Hervieux vs Jason Rossie, Jordan Rossie vs David Roaldi, and the big boys on The Expendables defense, going against the big boys on the Smokin A’s offense, especially in the red-zone, are just some of battles that will decide the contest.

 

This game also has a chance of being the best game of Wild-Card weekend, due to the fact that the teams are so similar, in that they’re deep, have a good mix of size and speed, and they are trying to prove that they are legitimate contenders.

 

I think that this game will come down to the wire, much like it did last week. I am going with the Smokin A’s for two reasons. The first of which, is their playoff pedigree, as they came within a play of winning the championship last spring. Secondly, the team’s offense has more big-play, and fast-strike ability than their opponents.

 

Prediction: Smokin Axolotls 32-30

 

That’s it for this week guys. I will be back with a brief re-cap of tonight’s games, and a lengthy preview of the Divisional Round of the playoffs, which kickoff Tuesday night in Brossard.

 

Good luck to everybody tonight! It’s playoff time, the best part of the season, win or go home. Let’s go!!!!

 

If you loved the article, hated it, or simply like I left something out, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]