Division 5 – Week 7 Recap & Updated Power Rankings

I feel so out of the loop.

I had to take last week off because it was my girlfriend’s birthday and the timing wasn’t the greatest. I spent most of the weekend either hanging out with her, dinner, the works, and the rest of the time was dedicated to putting together the mid-season articles for you guys.

I loved reviewing my notes from the season, reviewing games, stats and everything I had put together so far to give my thoughts on all of the teams, however being away from the field for two of the past 3 weeks makes me feel a little bit disconnected. There’s also just the fact that I missed being on the field as well. Can’t wait to get back out there tomorrow. It looks like I’ll also get to play for the Mavericks again on Wednesday, so watch out Lockdown, coming for ya.

I wanted to take some time to talk about trash talk. I think most of us are guilty of this, including myself, and I’ve been curious if most people think that it’s simply part of the game? Is it allowed? Is it uncalled for? When can you do it? Is there anything off limits?

All of these questions often come up and I can be biased because I enjoy doing it and to me, it can make the game interesting. There can be no greater feeling than throwing shade at the guy lined up in front of you only to burn him on the next play. At the same time, if he shuts you down, you’re standing there looking and feeling pretty stupid. I should say that I also believe that if you are clearly much better than your opponent, skill wise, it should never be a situation where you are rubbing anything in or humiliating your opponent. In my mind, it really only should be used when there is a relatively even matchup and you are simply trying to gain a mental edge.

How about on the other side of the coin? Should one engage or instigate some kind of trash talk when you are losing? Obviously, if you are losing and not worried about looking stupid, why not? If anything, it has the potential to take your opponent off his game – especially if you go the silly, nonsensical route. Even better, a la Andrew Luck, you can complement your opponent on every play.

In professional sports, you’d be ignorant to say that it did not happen, often, and that most players can engage in some kind of trash talk during the game and then be perfect gentleman and friends after the game. This is honestly my favorite kind. I’m actually more inclined to trash talk if I know the player across from me personally and I enjoy an ongoing rivalry with other players. It’s an added element to the game and can help hype up certain matchups. I would not be surprised if some of you that are reading now have heard me trash talk. I especially like to do it on defence as I am not the most agile defender and it can be fun for me to make a play on a guy much more athletic than myself. On the flip side, I find it much easier to trash talk when I play wide receiver than I ever can as a QB. There is not greater feeling than posting up a defender and coming down with the ball. Bonus points for using just one hand.

Ultimately, whatever side of the fence you fall on when it comes to this topic, we should all be mature enough to know the limit and when to stop. After the game, we have to keep in mind that we’re all paying to play and that we all play for fun. We’re not competing for a Super Bowl or anything even close and we have to be mindful that people come from different backgrounds, have different levels of experience playing football and view the topic differently.

At the end of the day, we have to be respectful, not cross any lines. But if your opponent is game, then why not put up some bulletin board material? Oh, but please, never use the scoreboard tactic if you’re winning. Nobody thinks that’s clever anymore.

The cleverer you can be, often yields better results. If you can get the ref smiling along with you, well you’ve just won a bigger battle than the game itself.

Tread carefully, my friends.

Week 7 – Recaps

Division 5A

Buffalo Wild Wings vs Dope Boys

This is the kind of game that demonstrates exactly who the Buffalo Wild Wings are. If you read my midseason review, I mentioned that their strengths are having a dual threat QB and solid defense. How did this game end? Well, Tristan Rinaldis had 77 yards on the ground on only 5 attempts. Throw in a touchdown. On defence, they came up with 3 interceptions and kept a very solid QB in Eric Lalonde to 50% passing and only 156 yards. Not one of his receivers hit the 50 yard mark, either.

Just as they did in this game, if the Buffalo Wild Wings get out to an early lead, they can beat anybody in the league. Their defence knows just how to pressure the opposing receivers and have the QB on the other side force throws into tight windows. They have athletes that can cover almost anybody and do a great job switching up between man and zone to keep the other team guessing. It took the Dope Boys more than a half to finally score and by then it was too late.

The loss makes it very difficult for the Dope Boys to get into the playoffs. They sit in a 5 way tie for the last spot and have a sub .500 division record at 1-2 and the Warriors and Albatros are 2-2. They are not completely out of it at all, but I get the sense they will need to win 3 out of their last 4 to give them a chance. Buffalo Wild Wings, on the other hand, sit at 3-3 in the same Conference and now officially control their own destiny. If they stay consistent on defence, their offence will only get better. Looks like they’re heating up… couldn’t resist.

Los Avocados vs Pigeon Squad

Just like an actual pigeon, The Pigeon Squad don’t seem to be going away. I wonder if that’s where they got their name… hmm. I’m sure the tie last week was frustrating and they came out and made sure they got the win this past week. This team is much better than their record, and their losses come to teams like Grand Lionel and Finessers, two other top teams in the league. Los Avocados now fall to 1-5 and will need some luck to make the playoffs.

The first half of the game was an offensive show. Each team traded scores and Los Avocados actually went into the break with a lead. Their offense played very well, led by Joshua Vazquez who had one of his best games of the season. Ultimately, a costly interception in the second half was the difference in this game. Pigeon’s squad’s defence was able to step up, whereas Los Avocados defence did not have a single pass deflection or interception which lead to Pigeon Squad scoring on every drive.

Kevin St-Pierre really stood out for Pigeon squad, scoring 3 touchdowns on offense and had two interceptions on defense. Justin Santillo and Michael Timmis had 11 catches between them and while nobody had a huge yard total, that just shows how effective Jared Buck was at distributing the ball. Mathieu Guindon had a big game for Los Avocados in the losing effort with 6 catches for 51 yards and 3 touchdowns.

This game was a make or break for both teams. Pigeon Squad, with the win are now tied for 8th place and Los Avocados are out of the playoff picture. There is more of a divide between the top teams and bottom teams in Conference B, however Pigeon Squad might just be able to take advantage of that and squeak in.

Division 5B

Sterdam vs. Black Knights

What a display of athleticism in this one. Strong QB play on both sides, especially by Sidney Tremblay-Lacombe who made one of my players of the week below. In total, he had 162 yards through the air for 3 TDs, and another 48 yards on the ground for another TD. Not only did he ball out on offence but he had 4 tackles, an interception and 2 pass deflections on defence. His leading receiver in this one, Gabriel Poisson, also had a strong game with 75 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns.

As athletic as the Black Knights are, they truly had a problem playing against a dual threat QB. Sidney was able to take advantage of broken coverages all game long and finished with a 75% completion rate. Although Dynell Pierre had a strong game defensively, he was never able to get going offensively and the Black Knights became one dimensional as Stephane Larosiliere tried to hit Charles Rousseau-Belanger often or use his feet.

The game was extremely close, especially as the Black Knights were opportunistic and converted on all 3 extra points to put the pressure on, even though they were down by a score going into the second half. Both defences rose to the occasion in the second half and this was truly a back and forth game. With the win, Sterdam now sits one game up on Black Knights who hold down the last remaining playoff spot in Conference A. Both teams hold their destiny in their hands moving forward.

Blue Team vs. Browns De Boucherville

This game started out fairly evenly and it was a tough game played on both sides. The Browns de Boucherville were very much in this game the entire time, but missed on only a few drives and Blue Team were able to take advantage. Besides throwing 1 interception which ultimately had a huge impact on the final, Alexandre Fafard had a very good game both in the air and on the ground. He threw and ran for a combined 126 yards and 3 TDs, but ultimately it fell just short.

The first half ended 6-6 and Blue Team were able to make the necessary adjustments to leave the Browns de Boucherville frustrated and winless. Being a new team in the league, this game is a great one to learn from and tweak their game moving forward. There is definitely a few signs to be excited about, but they have just not been able to put a complete game together this season.

For Blue Team, everything seemed to be clicking for Alexandre Raymond. He threw for 173 yards on only 10 completions, so naturally he finished with 5 TDs. He looked for mid-range to deep throw often and he was often successful. David Horwood led the pack with 6 catches for 108 yards with the touchdown and also had 7 tackles on defence. I would have loved to have him in my segment below, but couldn’t get in touch with him. David, if you’re reading this, get in touch my man.

Blue Team are now sitting above .500 and are back in the win column after a tie last week and a loss the week before. They will have a tough matchup this week against the Super Saiyans.

Power Rankings

Division 5A

Longhorns (6-0) – They get my top spot due to having a stronger schedule than the other undefeated teams.
Grand Lionel (7-0) – Already 7-0 because they played during the bye week. I’m fairly certain I’ve mentioned how weird that’s been. Either way, they’ve been dominant.
Greendale Human Beings (6-0) – More of a 2B, they get the third spot because they only beat their toughest opponent by 5. They have yet to play anybody stronger than the Mud Dogs.
Hot Boys Hotline (5-1) – They have been flashy all season against a string of tough opponents.
Finessers (5-1) – One of the better +/- in the league, they are a confident group who have been playing well. Confident is putting it lightly, I would check out my segment below. One word, majestic.
Smokin Axolotls (5-1) – They have yet to play against a top team in the league, but nevertheless, they have excelled.
Ghosts (5-1) – With just one loss, I think these guys are sliding under the radar… almost as if they were, invisible?
Texas BareManz – These guys have a few ballers that are relatively new to the league and a very capable QB in Jaylan Grandison. It’s all about putting everything together at the right time for these guys.

Division 5B

Wrecking Crew (6-0) – The last remaining undefeated team deserves the top spot, right? Harripersaud and crew are showing the division how it’s done.
Falcons (6-1) – Did Super Saiyans dethrone the top team? Yes. Am I worried? Not really.
Takeover (4-1-1) – They have over 200 points scored in 6 games, they will be fine. Moss City just humbled them a little bit, though.
Super Saiyans (4-2) – I’ve had my eye on these guys but they started slow. They are no longer under the radar.
Mogadishu Pirates (4-2) – The rest of the league should be very concerned about the fact that they added somebody like Nikki Papich.
The Process (4-2) – They have a very talented team, they just need to work on being more consistent. Their only losses come against strong teams.
Retired All Stars (4-2) – This team goes as does McRodly Jean Marie. They can compete with all of the top teams.
Sterdam (4-2) – My wild card team; Sidney Tremblay-Lacombe has the ability to just takeover games.

“You ball, You get the call”

Welcome to another week of my top performers getting some spotlight. We have our first double interview with Ryan Kharouf and Nirosh Suresh. It’s a lot of fun, for me, to see the differences among answers, especially if you compare Ryan’s to Daniel Lazzara. One is far more politically correct, while the other is more entertaining. You can decide which kind of answer you prefer, but for the article to stay interesting, I think a healthy balance is great.

Remember, all of this is potential bulletin board material if you are playing these guys soon. Oh, and if anybody that reads this knows David Horwood, he’s the most recent of the “ex girlfriends” that I am trying to track down. I am not trying to get back together, promise!

Division 5A

Greendale Human Beings – Alex Joltopuf – 10 catches, 94 yards, 2 TDs, 1 tackle, 2 interceptions

Do you ever feel that when you have a good game you’re creating tension between brothers?

I don’t think it creates tension. The team is pretty unified! We usually make fun of ourselves if we have a tough game. We try and keep it light so people play hard and don’t overthink it.

Looking at your remaining schedule, I fully expect you guys to go 10-0. Is that important to you as a team or is it championship or bust?

For me it’s championship or bust. We have been playing well overall but we can’t be surprised come playoff time. So for me it’s clutch to come back with a championship!

Has anybody ever compared your last name to a Pokemon? Asking for a friend.

haha! Asking for a friend eh?? Yeah all through highschool I was jigglypuff! Even now, when I meet new people I get that question

Finessers – Ryan Kharouf – 17/25, 241 yards, 6TDs, 4 tackles, 1 Interception & Nirosh Suresh – 7 catches, 100 yards, 2, 2 tackles, 1 PD

Based on your previous interviews, is it safe to say that Nirosh paid you off this game?

Nirosh: Hell nah

Ryan: my season just cost a little less for sure, i might leave with a profit if it continues #tripleallstars

What WR duo in the NFL would you consider Nirosh and Alex? Nirosh, would you agree?

Nirosh: Amari= Nirosh, Crabtree=Alex

Ryan: Redzone threat Alex so Crabtree and Nirosh deep threat shifty route runner like cooper.

Back on the winning side of things, what would you both say is the biggest difference between last week and the week before against Texas Baremanz?

Ryan: last week was a fluke, but i aint even mad. Loyola’s lighting sucks so its hard to catch my majestic passes. But you got to lose at some point so we did. Good luck to our opponent from now on. PS: i started the game 3/3 3TDs 100yards…am i good or what?!

Nirosh: Aside from what Ryan said, a lot of things go unmentioned when you guys talk about our team. It’s false that our team is only made of 3 players (Ryan, Alex and I). Every player in our team has a vital role. Our selfless captain Marwan is a solid player and a lot of teams sleep on him in the redzone. Sacha is a solid corner, who shuts down and comes through in the clutch. Jad is the heart of our defense, it is due to his rushing ability that our defense is capable of competing agaisnt high powered offenses. Roy a solid halfback with the will to win. Finally, last but not least, Thomas-Gerin-Lajoie, an all around player with solid hands, elusiveness and quickness.

10 Guys, One Cup – Daniel Lazzara – 5 catches, 111 yards, 3TDs, 1 tackle, 2 INTs

Would you say you just had your best game of the season?

Its always fun to have a great game on the stat sheet however I don’t really look at it being my best game statistically I’m just focused on getting the W for my teammates

You guys have literally alternated wins and losses the entire season. What’s missing to string a few wins together?

We haven’t been consistent but this is also our first year playing together so I think we can start getting some momentum off a big win like this and hopefully keep it rolling. When Matt is on point there’s no telling how deadly our team can become.

Not a lot separates 5th through 12th in your Conference, which teams would you say are your biggest competition?

It’s a competitive division, which I think is great for the league itself. However when it comes to finding out who our biggest competition is, I would say it’s ourselves. All the games we have lost has just been a result of us shooting ourselves in the foot. I believe that we have a chance to be the best team in the division, and hopefully our play over the next couple of weeks leading into playoffs will prove so.

Division 5B

The Process – DonnDre Borden – 3 catches, 44 yards, 2TDs, 3 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD

You’re having a great year so far on both sides of the ball, where does the uneven rating come from?

Uh well last year at one point our quarterback got injured and i had to take his spot unfortunately so iguess that affected my offensive rating

You guys sit at 4-2, what do you need to do to be successful as a group?

Both games we lost, we had teammates that were late, if we show up on time and warm up, and get those little mess ups out of the way, theres no reason we should lose

First time on the article, what’s something that most people don’t know about you?

I hate throwing the football, i can throw.. im not that bad, i dont think my stats last were to to bad, but i hate it because when i was 11 I broke my arm, i was rolling out to the left trying to throw but got hit and it snapped on the ground, i had thought my arm was in the ground until i looked up and i didnt see a hole i knew my arm was broken

Sterdam – Sidney Tremblay-Lacombe – 15/20, 162 yards, 3TDs, 6 rushes, 48 yards, 1 TD, 4 tackles, 1 INT, 2 PD

You literally did it all last game against the Black Knights. Was that your most comfortable game? If so, why?

On savait que la game était importante et on est arrivé bien préparé. C’est certain qu’au fil des matchs je m’habitue et je suis plus confortable.

Is there anybody in the NFL that you try to model your game after?

Le flag est un sport different du vrai football. Avec la haute importance de l’aspect course, je peux seulement m’identifier a des qb mobiles comme mariota ou vick.

What are some embarrassing moments or facts about your team/teammates?

Le rituel d’avant match de Nicolas Desjardins : 3 Molson dry

Super Saiyans – Jordan Allard – 15/22, 176 yards, 4 TDs, 3 rushes, 12 yards, 1 TD 4 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PD, 1 TD

I gotta ask, which Saiyan would you compare yourself to and why?

I know its very cliche but as captain I’d have to say Goku. It’s my job to lead the and make sure my guys are ready to play & that we finish the game with a W.

What contributed to the slow start and what was the biggest change you guys made?

I take responsibility for the slow start. If you look back at week 1 against The Process, we only put up 6 points offensively. That will not win you any games. So I scrapped/re-invented my playbook and got in touch with some Qb’s that I play with in higher division for some advice and really just took it easy out there, taking what’s given instead of forcing throws which is what we saw against The Process. The rest all came with time, a couple of new additions to the league as well as the team so our chemistry wasn’t where we wanted it to be. once we all got on the same page on both sides of the ball we got our confidence back.

I know that you’re an eagles fan, how sweet would it be for a SuperBowl and FPF championship in the same year?

Mogadishu Pirates – Nikola Papich – 5 catches, 88 yards, 3 TDs, 2 tackles

You’ve had a long absence from FPF. What contributed to the break and how does it feel to be back?

I’ve been dealing with a serious back injury since 2012 (my last full season) which ended my college career and limited me to only a few guest appearances here and there. So needless to say being back on the field has been amazing so far and I’m excited to join the Pirates for our playoff ride

FPF seems well routed in the Papich family – I’ve played with and against Sasha and also against your Dad on one occasion. Would you say you guys cheer for eachother out there or are more on the competitive side?

You’d be hard pressed to find a family more competitive than ours (we’re right up there with the Gronkowskis) but that doesn’t mean we don’t love seeing each other succeed. During my hiatus from football I got a lot of joy seeing Sasha put up big numbers no matter what division/team he played for. Sasha and I have never had the chance to play against each other in football but if the day ever comes it would be matchup for the ages.

Should we be expecting you to play with the Pirates for the rest of the season?

Absolutely! I’ve known most of the team since I was a kid and I’m sure many people would kill to have young Kaner throwing them the ball. I was lucky enough to join an already elite squad and I’m excited to see how far we can take it this year.