Division 1 Mid-Season Report

After a well-deserved Super Bowl bye-week, let me be the first to say welcome to the second half of the FPF Winter season.

By this point in the season, the kinks should be ironed out, chemistry starts to form, mistakes should lessen, and execution should be consistent. For certain teams that is the case, while for others not so much. With the first half of the season now in the rear-view mirror, let’s look how each team is doing.

I don’t want to give out arbitrary grades because they are too fluid. I can give a team a B+ today, and tomorrow they deliver an F performance. Also, I am currently back in school, and I am honestly tired of grades. I know I used a report card as the cover photo, but the other options were lousy, so here we are.

Division 1

Allstars (4-1)

Their only loss this year was a 1-point defeat at the hands of the Kangaroos two weeks ago. This team has firepower on both sides of the ball, and their execution especially on offense has reached the point where it is almost a shock when they don’t score.

The Allstars have shown they can beat teams in multiple ways, as they have won nail-biters while also blowing out opponents.

They currently sit in first place in Division 1, one point up on their biggest rival in the Braves, who they beat by two points in Week 3, and who they play tomorrow night in what will be a must-watch game in Lachine at 6PM.

Strengths: Chemistry, depth, consistent big play ability, championship experience, defense, and a guy named Kevin Wyeth.

Weaknesses: Complacency? Braves in the Finals?

Braves (3-2-1)

They currently sit in second in Division 1 and are coming off back-to-back blowout wins versus Double Straddle and KGP+. They also have the always dreaded tie after their Week 1 showdown with Flag Moi L’Sac, and a forfeit loss to the Kangaroos in Week 2.

Led by Quarterback Jonathan Maheu, this offense is simply lethal as they have seven Receivers that have at least three touchdowns. The offense has speed to kill teams underneath with Mike Pierrecin, the Pilon brothers, and William Trottier, and the ability to hurt you deep and in the redzone with Georges Gariépy and Guillaume Beland. The addition of the criminally underrated Phil Pharand makes this team even more dangerous, as the 2-time All-Star is an impact player on both sides of the ball. His defense has really stood out so far, as he is second on the team in tackles (18) and interceptions (2).

Strengths: Depth, versatility, interchangeable pieces, chemistry, and championship experience.

Weaknesses: Deep ball defense, Allstars in the Finals?

Kangaroos (3-2)

Talent? Check. Statement victory? Check. Firepower to match with the division’s elite? Check. The only thing we need to see out of this team is their ability to beat the top teams on a consistent basis. They have a hard-fought victory over the Allstars, who blew the Kangaroos out to start the season. Their Week 2 win over the Braves however was by forfeit. Can they knock them off in Week 10 for real this time?

They also lock horns with Flag Moi L’Sac tomorrow, and again to close out the regular season. What will their record look like Monday morning? This team has the talent and skill to go all the way. The question is will they?

Receiver AJ Gomes is the heart and soul of the offense. He leads the way with 11 touchdowns. The team has other solid options at the position in Sam Mashtoub, Darren Wiltshire, Nicholas Gomes-Risso, and Jeanslee Alexis. The question is where is the rest of the production? Only two other players have more than 10 catches (Mashtoub and Wiltshire) and no one has more than three touchdowns. That will need to change.

Strengths: Talent, skill, explosive playmakers, and championship experience.

Weaknesses: Lack of turnovers, only one statement win, secondary support?

Party Crashers (3-1)

They have three wins, but two of them are against winless KGP+. The other is against the Kangaroos, which is impressive.

This squad has weapons and speed at every position. They also possess championship experience. While they have another chance to add a check into the win column with a game against the winless Bulldogz tomorrow night in Lachine, the schedule gets much tougher after that as they have matchups with the Braves, Double Straddle, and Flag Moi L’Sac over the next few weeks. The Party Crasher’s top ranked defense will have their hands full.

Strengths: Roster, defense

Weaknesses: Strength of schedule so far.

Double Straddle (3-2)

They have a marquee win over the Party Crashers to kick off the season and followed it up with back-to-back wins over the winless Bulldogz. Since their (3-0) start, they have dropped two straight. While losing two in a row isn’t a death sentence, it is the way they lost that raises cause for concern. Their loss to the Braves was by 29 points, while Flag Moi L’Sac beat them by 31.

Even when looking at their two wins against the Bulldogz, Double Straddle, beat them by a combined three points. Not exactly awe-inspiring.

The team has a chance to get back on track tomorrow night as they take on KGP+. After that is the meat of their schedule, as they take on the Kangaroos, Party Crashers, and the Allstars before another matchup against KGP+ to close the regular season. Can Double Straddle add some wins before they reach the finish line?

Strengths: Roster.

Weaknesses: Defense, lopsided defeats, Rusher, Lack of turnovers.

Flag Moi L’Sac (2-2-1)

Led by Quarterback Alex Nadeau-Piuze, this team has the highest scoring offense on Division 1 with 230 points. The next closest team the Kangaroos are four touchdowns behind. Their offensive capabilities were on full display the last two games as they demolished both Double Straddle and the Bulldogz by a combined 64 points.

The biggest problem for Flag Moi L’Sac, is that they are (0-2-1) against their biggest rivals in the Braves and Allstars. The team will have a chance to remedy the situation, as they take on the Allstars in two weeks. Before they get there though, they will have a tough matchup with the Kangaroos tomorrow (the first of two in the next five weeks) and a showdown against the Party Crashers as well. It will be a tough hill to climb for a team looking to join the championship conversation.

Strengths: Championship experience, playmakers, and chemistry,

Weaknesses: Record versus the elite, no signature victory, tough upcoming schedule.

Bulldogz (0-4)

They have the lowest scoring offense in all of Division 1 with only 98 points scored so far. The next closest team (Double Straddle) has 35 points more. That simply won’t cut it no matter what division you are playing in.

Led by Quarterback guru Myles Gibbon, it is more than a little surprising that they have struggled so mightily on that side of the ball. The team does have some weapons on offense in Marvin Steinberg, Ryan Dobbs-Garnett, Tony Desmond, and Yohan Miron among others (Thomas Coutu and Kenny Baye need to get the ball more). But this is where chemistry and timing come in. Gibbon is making is his first return to the field since 2019. He plays with Steinberg and Dobs-Garnett in Co-Ed 1 on Fast Not Furious, but he does not have extensive experience with the other members of his offense.

On defense, the team gives up just over 35 points a game (35.2) Their biggest problem though is a lack of sacks, as they only have one, and zero forced turnovers. Those are some serious problems.

This team has skilled players, but the lack the one dominant player who can take over games at the snap of a finger stands out. From Patrick Jérome, AJ Gomes, Anthony Brisebois, Mike Pierrecin, J.D Chevalier, Kevin Wyeth, Jonathan Maheu, Daniel Lazzara, Quaid Johnson, Guillaume Paquet, Samuel Nadeau-Piuze, Georges Gariépy, Quaysie Gordon-Maule, James Ohayon, James Drysdale, and both the Semerjian and Pilon brothers, among others, every team has at least one of them. This squad does not.

Strengths: Playmakers and skill

Weaknesses: Chemistry, offense, defense, Rusher, Lack of turnovers, Lack of elite game-changers

KGP+ (0-4)

The second lowest scoring team in the division (106 points) finds themselves in the basement due to Quarterback play, or should I say a lack of good QB play. Through four games, this team has trotted out four different passers. Not even the San Francisco 49ers could pull that off. FPF Hall-of-Famer Phil Cutler is the best option on the roster, but he has only played one game so far. This team will go nowhere as long as they have uncertainty and subpar play at the position.

The team has a chance to crack the goose egg in the win column, as they take on Double Straddle tomorrow, followed by back-to-back games versus the Bulldogz. Let’s see what happens.

Strengths: Championship and big game experience. Top-end talent at Receiver.

Weaknesses: Quarterback, offense, Rusher, Lack of turnovers.

The Super Bowl was fantastic. As has been the case for the majority of the playoffs, I was wrong on picking the winner, but I am not mad cause the game was a treat to watch. It was also great to shut up the numerous Eagles fans who have been talking trash about how good Philly was all year. They beat Daniel Jones, and a no Quarterback-led 49ers squad. When they play a team with not just a great QB, but without a shadow of a doubt the best in the game, they lose.

I still respect what they did cause they made the Super Bowl, were the better team in the first half, and despite getting severely outplayed in the second, only lost the game by three points. Except for his last throw, Jalen Hurts was phenomenal. He will deserve whatever extension he and the Eagles agree upon.

The only negative that came out of the game besides Rihanna’s less than we expected halftime show (props to her for still doing it while pregnant. She should have had someone make a guest appearance), was the NFL’s race problem when it comes to Head Coaching hires. How does Eric Bieniemy get passed over again, especially when he just beat the Eagles Defensive Coordinator in Jonathan Gannon who was hired as the Head Coach of the Cardinals the day after, and Philly’s OC in Shane Steichen, who the Colts hired as their HC 24 hours later as well?

The lame excuse that Bieniemy who is a former NFL Running Back didn’t call plays for the Kansas City Chiefs is bogus. Doug Pederson and Matt Nagy didn’t call plays under Andy Reid, in KC, and they both got HC jobs.

Becoming the new OC of the Washington Commanders is a risky but necessary move. The Ownership under Daniel Snyder is dysfunctional to say the least. They have no franchise QB, and HC Ron Rivera appears to be on the hot seat (I am pretty sure that played a role in him taking the job). Sitting around waiting for Andy Reid to retire could have paid off, but who knows when that will happen. I hope this works out for Bieniemy. He is long overdue an opportunity to be a Head Coach in the National Football League

As is always the case when the Super Bowl is over, it means the NFL season is as well. The XFL makes its comeback today. The USFL is right around the corner, and the CFL is not far behind them. They are still football, there are some talented players in all three leagues, and it is better than no football at all, but it still isn’t the same as the NFL. Sundays won’t be the same until September. Sigh

Picks

 KGP+ vs Double Straddle – KGP+ (Upset Special #1)

Braves vs Allstars – Braves (My Pick for Game of the Week and Upset Special #2)

Bulldogz vs Party Crashers – Party Crashers

Flag Moi L’Sac vs Kangaroos – Kangaroos

Last Week: N/A

Season: (12-8)

That’s it for this week. Good luck to everyone in their games tomorrow.

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