Peeze’s Playbook: Division E, The Divisional Round

Peeze’s Playbook

By Paolo Della Rocca

Divisional Round

A lot has happened since I wrote my last article. I got married and left for a quick honeymoon. I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who reached out to congratulate me on the field, in their articles or by DM. It s truly appreciated.

Also, the season came to a close and the playoffs are set to begin. One important thing to remember that while the playoffs in Division E are set to re- seed after this round, Division E2 will work as a bracket and teams will not be reseeded from round to round. I’ve made predictions on the previous podcast and some are different from what I’ve included here. As I wrote keys to success for either team it’s allowed me to reconsider my position on some games.

Mambo vs. Lockdown

Mambo’s season was pretty much par for the course from this successful group of FPF players. They went 6-4 and proved that they could put up points with the best teams in division E.
Nikki Papich has a great connection with Tim Horner. Horner is a great receiver and is a matchup nightmare. However, Papich only completed 47.1% of his passes this season. This is an inefficiency that Lockdown can take advantage of.
In the end the success of the Lockdown defence will rest on the shoulders of rusher Joe Pirrera. If he can contain Nikki Papich (no small feat). This will force him to make accurate throws. Something he hasn’t always shown the ability to do.
Quarterback Pat Riot will put points on the board. His 35 touchdowns in 9 games showed offensive proficiency. However, that scoring pace is a war under 4 touchdowns a game and that simply will not be enough against a Mambo team that showed an ability to put up 30+ points on multiple occasions.
Last time these teams played Mambo destroyed Lockdown by a score of 46-19.

Prediction: Mambo 40- Lockdown 26

Chocolate Barracudas vs. Blackouts

This is an interesting matchup between two teams who have scratched and clawed their way into the post season.
Sonny Elias needs to protect the ball in this game. In their best games, Chocolate Barracudas have put up points and the mistakes they’ve made haven’t hurt them.
The game planning is obvious, Lusson Pierre is the deep strike player on the team and Chris Williams is the receiver in space. However, look for the ball to go to snapper Matthew Fernandes on key downs.
Blackouts redone defence has been impressive to me all season long. Chris Cione and Julien Lachance are aggressive defenders and it has paid dividends.
If Ryan Vanslet plays for Blackouts it will completely change the face of this game. Ryan Vanslet is a matchup nightmare and in order for Chocolate Barracudas to manage that, Lesson Pierre will have to take him away himself. Julien Lachance is not the kind of quarterback that will look one way. He will make them pay by spreading the ball.
This game will be slow paced and ugly but in the best kind of way!

Prediction: Blackouts 19-Chocolate Barracudas 18

Green Means GO! vs. Canes

Quarterback Dave Allen has picked apart teams this entire season. The Canes don’t have a strong enough defensive system to stop him. Their only chance is to go man-to-man and try to win with youth and athleticism. Karim Yasmine and Eugene McLaren are the two that need to be stopped above all else. If you’re Canes, you need your best to take away their best.
Louis-Bernard Dube has done a decent job of rushing the quarterback all season. That is great in most cases except that Dave Allen won’t move and will just hit quick passes so the goal for the rusher is to take away an angle and hope to minimize the quick slants and hooks to GMG’s offensively dominant side.
Since taking over as the full time quarterback Francis Lanctot has led the team to a 1-1-1 record and has a 3.5:1 TD to interception ratio. On the surface this seems like a complete mismatch but I will point out their game may be a touch closer than it may appear.
For Canes Charles Vinette has been a star. However, I will say that they’ll need to slow this game down because Dave Allen won’t make many mistakes so they’ll need to capitalize when he does.
For Green Means GO! They simply need to be the more imposing team. Thy have a great defence and the offense has been efficient.

Predicitons: Green Means GO! 31-Canes 19

Diablos vs. Thundercats

Michel Deguire is the concern for me. Charles Verrault looked good at quarterback when healthy. With Deguire back in the saddle he brings a career 57:66 touchdown and interception ratio. Even the game he looked best in this season he threw 3 interceptions in a win.
On defence Diablos will lean heavily on dependable pair of corners in JD Joly and Alex Levesque. The defence is the strength of this team but they will need turnovers to have a chance at success.
Maxim Sauvageau and Jean-Phillipe Huard have been ball hawks. Given this team’s offensive ineptitude at times, they will need their defensive playmakers to create opportunities.
When they played earlier this season, Thundercats won 32-24 and forced three interceptions. If the game follows the same game script, they should win.

Prediction: Diablos 25- Thundercats 20

Replacements vs. Nemesis

Overall, replacements offense has been much improved. Once they cross mid field they struggle as Frank Teoli-Colatrella tends to rely on the same mirrored play. Nemesis need to know that’s coming and need to take the away.
Replacements have a wide variety of receivers that can do damage for the boys in blue. They have six receivers with 4 touchdowns or more. This makes them very difficult to deal with, If replacements want to win this game they will use that to their advantage. That said, expert Simon Huard to be highly targeted.
Pascal Nkengue has been stellar on defence and he as well as Cory Sim-Robertson need to limit big plays for Replacements to be successful.
There’s no way to hide it, Nemesis will rely on Mendy Cardichon and Jerson Previllon to be the flash and the grinder respectively on both sides of the ball. However, Arnaud Prince-Duthel may be the star on this roster.

Prediction: Nemesis 31=Replacements 12

Brewers vs. Trojans

Brewers are much improved. Jefferey Lefevbre’s experience at quarterback is starting to show and his presence on defence allows him to read the defence the same way his opposing number would.
Alexandre Fafard is one of my favourite “new” FPF QBs. He’s smart, and has a strong arm. Often the issue is that he overthrows passes that are otherwise easy competitions. However, he does have the ability to make tough throws and that’s a benefit in the playoffs.
Mathieu Pilot and Guillaume Bolduc have been the main targets for Trojans all season and they’ve been excellent. However, someone else will need to step up. This will be the key to Trojans success.
Louis-Phillipe Tremblay had several interceptions early in the season. Since then he hasn’t had an impact on the score sheet on defense. He hasn’t played since week 6 but I think him appearing for a playoff appearance will make a difference.
Brewers have a couple of interesting pieces on offense. Chris Morin is a great check-down at snapper. Jason Stephenson is a big physical receiver and these two are the keys to keeping the offense moving from drive to drive.

Prediction: Brewers 26-Trojans 24

Lionhearts vs. Summer Birds

Chris Rose is a very good number one reciever and he’s helped Lionhearts turn things around quickly. He scored 2 touchdowns and was Emilio Greco’s star receiver all season long.
Emilio Greco still has some learning to do. One aspect is if he could avoid running left every time. Most of all Emilio Greco needs to take less deep shots and move the ball consistently without turning it over.
On the other hand, Ryan Eichler has quietly put together a very good season. He threw 38 touchdowns and he had a 104.2 QBr. He has relied too heavily upon Noah Groper but in this game I don’t think Groper can be stopped. This is a game where he will need to be the best player on the field.
Summer Birds are on a two game winning streak and seemed to have steadied the defence. They need to play complimentary football and either side of the ball needs to protect the interest of the other in order to win this game.

Prediction: Summer Birds 34- Lionhearts 20

Division E

Los Banditos vs. Honor Game

Los Banditos may simply be the most unstoppable force in the division. Loic Savoiz-Seguin and Vincent Benjamin are a problem at this level. They adapt well on defense and they are a perfect fit for Francis Desrochers slant and fly style offence. These three just need to be themselves.
This game happened before and resulted in a forfeit win for Los Banditos but in the game, Honor Game simply could not keep pace. David Daoust needs to change game plan every second drive to deal with Los Banditos constantly adjusting offense.
Julien Wilson may truly be the key for Los Banditos all post season. He’s a contributor on both sides of the ball and often the Chris Bosh of an FPF big three needs to step up and this is his role.
Terry Bablis is a solid rusher but containing Francis Desrochers is no simple task. That will absolutely be the Key to Honor Game having a chance to keep pace in this game.

Prediction: Los Banditos 46- Honor Game 21

Bud Knights vs. Los Siete Amigos

This is possibly the best game on the docket. Mathieu Kieljan needs to avoid taking unneccessary deep shots. Laurent Foucault, Vincent Duquette, Shawn Babin and Shyanne Stewart are very good receivers that can do damage on short and intermediate routes as well as deep balls.
Los Siete Amigos are as good a roster is there is in the division. Felix D’Aoust is a top 5 rusher in ALL FPF! He’s averaging 1.9 sacks per game in his 38 GP. Nicolas Lessard is a legitimate div 1/2 talent and Benjamin Reid is a very athletic two way player (three way in a pinch). The issue all season is that they’ve had some roster inconsistency. I have to believe that come playoff time, these boys will be ready to roll.
Los Siete Amigos ended the season on a 3-1 record and look very much in playoff form. Etienne Brisson will need to protect the ball and keep the ball away from the Bud Knights defence.
Mathiey Kieljan will likely not play a perfect game. He needs to rely on the experience of Stephen Harripersaud when it comes to proper pacing so as to not let the mistakes snowball and get away from him.

Prediction: Los Siete Amigos 33-Bud Knights 21

Tough Lungs vs. Bozy Boys

Bozy Boys had to play their last game without stellar qb Pier-Luc Dussault. If Dussault is there, it’s hard to imagine Bozy Boys losing a division E playoff game.
One of the few teams that could pose an issue for Bozy Boys is Tough Lungs. Olivier Doleyres accumulated 19 sacks this season. His size and quickness are a package that will cause some trouble for Pier-Luc Dussault. If Tough Lungs are to win, he’s going to need to have a huge game.
I don’t know if Bozy Boys have quite seen anything like Justin Lerner. As a receiver he is incredibly quick and can contort his body and haul in seemingly impossible catches. Perhaps Nick Richard or George Zergotis are the pieces that can limit him. If they don’t Bozy Boys won’t win.
Alessio Muro will likely be schemed away by the Tough Lungs defense. Daniel Spina will need to elevate and be the number one target in this game.

Prediciton: Tough Lungs 34- Bozy Boys 31

Pardon my Swag vs Mean Machine

On the surface, Mean Machine is the type of team that Brad Evans struggles against. They are aggressive in the flats and in the past this is exactly how PMS have come undone in the playoffs. However, I think Mean Machine are a touch over aggressive and while Brad Evans will make a mistake here and there I do think it will lead to opportunities.
Jacob Titleman is a very good athlete. He’ll need to use his legs to create more opportunities for Mean Machine. When throwing he simply needs to make smart reads and control the pace of the game.
Pardon my Swag need to avoid Daniel Goloff and Jake Titleman on defense. As such I expect Brandon Keiller to have a bigger game than Myles Keiller in this game as he tends to play a more possession role on this offense. The same will likely go for Alexis Bouvenger.
In Mean Machine’s last game against a contender they lost to Trailer Park Boys in a game where they could not get the ball moving. Maintaining offensive stability will be key.

Prediction: Pardon My Swag 25-Mean Machine 18

Monday’s Malted Melamine

Let me know your thoughts by reaching me at @PeezeFPF on twitter, @Peeze Della Reeze on Facebook or by emailing me at [email protected].

On this week’s podcast Stefano Berardi, Moe Khan and I discuss, pocket squares, the evolution of the good cop, bad cop maneuver and the thin line between theft and inspiration. You can see back episodes on youtube @ www.youtube.com/flagplusfootball.

Have a great and safe week of action. See you at the fields!