Division 3: Quarterbacks, Matchups, and Picks
Welcome to Week 3 of the FlagPlus Football Winter Season.
The caption was a joke, but I think you get the picture.
Just like the National Football League, where the final four teams remaining, the New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs, have two future first ballot Hall Of Famers, a frontrunner for the NFL MVP award, and a player who went from looking like a potential first overall bust, to becoming a Pro Bowl player, it’s all about the Quarterback.
While Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, and Jared Goff, probably have no intention of hanging up the shoulder pads, to play flag football anytone soon, if you haven’t noticed, FPF is no different. From Week 1 all the way to the Finals, no matter if you play FPF Jr., Co-Ed, 35+, or any of the six male divisions, you can have the best receivers in the world, but if you don’t have a legit QB, who can make all the throws, beat teams with his or her arm, head, and if possible legs, your team won’t be going anywhere.
That sentiment was never more clear than this past week, as the QB play in Division 3, was all over the spectrum.
In the TOPSZN versus Trinity game, we saw a short-handed Trinity team, that was playing without their starting QB in Jean-Félix Marquis. Filling in for him, was former All-Star Marc-André Lapointe.
Unfortunately for Trinity, Lapointe‘s All-Star selection was for his play as a receiver, and not for being a QB, as the 16-year vet completed 3 of 24 passes, for 34 yards, and was intercepted 5 times.
Trinity would go on to lose the game (42-0), marking the first time in four seasons, that the team was held off the scoreboard.
Nonetheless, credit to Lapointe, for trying to make it work at the game’s toughest position. This however, is yet again another important reminder that when building a team, you should always have a legit backup Quarterback.
After looking as the answer at QB for Olympia Performance, Cory Watson, was given the hook this week, after going 4 of 10, for 37 yards, and an interception.
Coming in for him was Beau Babbitt, who completed 11 of 21 passes for 102 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t nearly enough, as they were beaten (46-13) by Scored your GF.
Speaking of Scored your GF, after going through the St. Laurent field situation last week, they made their official FPF debut, and they proved worth the wait, as the team put up 46 points.
While Quarterback Arno Desjardins, only completed 11 passes, he added his name to the list of stellar QB play, by having five of the throws go for touchdowns. He also ran for 40 yards, and a TD as well.
Also having a heck of a game for Scored your GF, was two-way player Bruno Provencher, as the 6-year vet had a 40-yard TD on offense, and added two interceptions, and a pick-6 on defense.
Scored your GF, potentially caught a break in the schedule, as they face smother struggling squad in The Magicians, let’s see if SYGF, can they build off of their strong debut?
The other team also affected by the scheduling mishap in St. Laurent, in the South Harmon Institute of Technology, also made their season debut. They didn’t miss a beat offensively, as they went toe-to-toe in a shootout with Blue Chips, by putting up 32 points.
Unfortunately for South Harmon Institute of Technology, they lost by three points (35-32), as the Blue Chips, were able to connect on more conversions, than their opponents.
Needless to say, the Quarterback play on this game was solid. Jordan Mitchell, and Jake Applebaum, combined for 10 touchdowns, and both recorded a QB rating of over 104.
Yes, Applebaum, only completed 40% of his passes (11 for 20), but don’t forget, it was the team’s first game of the year, and he and his squad will only get better from here.
After getting shutout in Week 1, and using four different Quarterbacks, the Freshmen, responded with a strong first half against KGP, as trailed the veteran squad (14-12) at the break.
While the Freshmen defense had a letdown by allowing 20 second-half points, and the offense sputtered as well, by not putting up anymore points, the team has seemed to settle on Savage Thompson O’Reilly as their QB.
After completing 2 of 5 passes for 20 yards in Week 1, the rookie had a much better outing, as he connected on 12 of 21 passes, for 132 yards, 2 TDs, and 2 INTs. You have to walk before you can run. While wins will be hard to come by, the team appears headed in the right direction.
The best way to describe the Big Ballers’ offense last week, was lost, in their (24-0) loss to the Dirty Dawgs. Quarterback David Polynice, wasn’t horrible, but he definitely didn’t make enough plays offensively, as he went 10 of 24, for 110 yards, and 3 INTs.
Polynice, came out guns blazing in Week 2 versus Sweat & Beers, as he threw for 5 touchdowns, and a career-high 239 yards. His connection with Wide Receiver Gabriel Poisson, was lethal, as the 2-time All-Star, caught 3 of those TD passes, to go along with 162 yards.
Although Big Ballers, would go on to lose (34-30) to Sweat & Beers, they have to be happy with the direction their QB, and their offense are headed. Let’s see if Polynice and his team, can pick up where they left off this week, when they play The Crew, Monday night at Stade Hebert.
I must admit, I tried to recruit Lonnie Johnson, to throw for my team this year. Much to my protest, the 2-time champion, and All-Star declined, saying that he didn’t feel like he could compete for an entire season in Div 3, electing instead to throw with FlagPlus Football, in the 35+ Division.
Clearly, Lonnie was wrong, as the Phillip Rivers of FPF, as I like to call him (he has a knee brace too, and is never a threat to run), threw for 240 yards, and 6 touchdowns, as a sub for Top Sauce, who were missing their starter, in Vince Nardone. Sigh…
Like I said at the top, Quarterbacks are the foundation that any good team is built on. In Division 3, we have some good, and even great ones, in Jordan Mitchell, Neil Etinson, Jesse Dupuis, Jarryd Taylor, Jimmy Lee Janvier, Jean-Félix Marquis, Phil Cutler, and Theo Ojeaha to name a few.
We also have a couple of newcomers in Erminio Iadeluca, Samuel Caron, Jean-Samuel Coderre, and Samuel Bédard, who can jump into the upper echelon, and few others who look promising after solid Week 2 performances.
Needless to say, it’ll be interesting to see how the position and numbers look, as the season marches on.
Matchups
Marcus Mitchell (Blue Chips) versus Vinny Gualano (BearSkins)
Two top level receivers, who are the key cog that makes their respective offenses so dangerous, Marcus Mitchell, and Vinny Gualano, also know how to find the endzone, as they have already combined for 11 touchdowns this season.
Both also play with Quarterbacks in Jordan Mitchell, and Neil Etinson who have no problem airing out the ball, and are more than capable of lighting up the scoreboard.
Which pass catcher will do more damage, and more importantly, which team will emerge victorious?
Samuel Caron (Les Studs) versus the Lightweight defense
I rarely ever play defense, so when my team’s D was on the field during our game against the Alpha-T’s, Saturday in Lachine, every so often I would look over to Field #3, and catch a glimpse of Les Studs versus Top Sauce. There was a lot of yapping in the game, put there were even more big plays.
Fast forward to less than a minute before five plays. Down (37-33), Top Sauce Wide Receiver Kenton Lowe, caught a 7-yard hook on the sideline, and purposely stopped at the 1-yard line.
Naturally, the thinking on the play, is to milk the clock, and score a few plays later, giving the ball back to Les Studs, with very little time.
Mission accomplished, as Top Sauce scored, and gave the football back Les Studs, with four plays remaining.
The only problem with this ploy, is that despite having stud defenders like Justin McLean, Chris Milard, and the aforementioned Lowe, Top Sauce, seemingly forgot to play defense for the final four plays, as Caron, delivered three quick strikes, to put his team in position to score, and then doing just that, as he hit his favourite Wide Receiver Félix Laflamme, for the 16-yard winning score to end the game.
In fairness to Top Sauce, Lowe told me this week, that with the exception of the INT recorded by Les Studs Defensive Back Olivier Frechette, on the first play of the game, neither team really played any defense.
Up next for Caron and his offense, is what should be a tough test, in a veteran Lightweight defense. Headlined by Cory Kennedy, Justin Blanchard, Anthony Vandrame, and Anthony Briesbois among others, they have the speed, and talent to create stops, as they did in their (32-20) win over LGM, last Sunday in Lachine.
Let’s see what happens tomorrow night at Loyola.
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Alexis Gaumont (The Alpha-T’s) versus Quaid Johnson (The Brotherhood)
For the first time in what seems like forever (Week 7 last Winter Season vs the Warhawks), The Alpha-T’s Alexis Gaumont, was held without a reception in a game. Luckily for him and his team, they were able to overcome the rarity, as they hung on to a (24-19) win over The Commission.
This week, Gaumont and TAT’s, take on another aggressive defense in The Brotherhood.
Led by Concordia Stinger Free Safety, and ball-hawk Quaid Johnson (Lonnie’s son), who had a Div. 3 high three interceptions in Week 2 versus the Cougars, the potential matchup between both players, even if only for a couple of plays, will definitely be worth watching, as both players the speed, and playmaking ability to take over a game in a heartbeat.
Picks
Trinity vs KGP – KGP
Olympia Performance vs South Harmon Institute of Technology – South Harmon Institute of Technology
Cougars vs Top Sauce – Top Sauce (My pick for Game Of The Week #1)
Blue Chips vs BearSkins – Blue Chips
TOPSZN vs Martine et le flag – Martine et le flag
Sweat & Beers vs The Commission – N/A
Lightweight vs Les Studs – Les Studs
Jaguars vs Dirty Dawgs – Dirty Dawgs (My pick for Game Of The Week #2)
The Brotherhood vs The Alpha-T’s- The Brotherhood
Freshmen vs Junkyard Dogs – Junkyard Dogs
The Magicians vs Scored your GF – Scored your GF
LGM vs Les Maloudes- Les Maloudes (Upset Special)
The Crew vs Big Ballers – The Crew
Last Week (8-4)
Season: (16-7)
NFL Picks
New England Patriots @ Kansas City Chiefs – Kansas City Chiefs (Upset Special sort of)
Clearly, I was wrong about the Chargers. Last week, I said that they would knock off the Pats, due to their ability to rush the passer, and because when their backs have been against the wall and they are perceived as the underdog, the Bolts had proved throughout the season, that they can knock off the “better” team.
While the last two statements are true, Brady and the boys, were having none of it, as they crushed Phillip Rivers, and the Chargers (41-28), in a game where the score was even nearly that close.
I was also wrong in saying that the Colts would beat the Chiefs. Kansas City, who finished with the second worst defense in the league after the Cincinnati Bengals, smothered the Colts offense all game long.
After being wrong in predicting the two teams I thought would be battling for the AFC Championship, let’s see if I can get it right this time.
Despite the spectacular 129 yard performance by Chiefs Running Back Damien Williams, against the Indianapolis Colts last week, not having Pro Bowl RB Back Kareem Hunt, in the lineup will be huge for Kansas City, as Hunt, was just as lethal as a receiver, as he was carrying the ball. He was also a Pats killer, as he had 431 yards, and 4 touchdowns in two career games versus New England.
Finding a fourth source of big play ability, to go along with Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Patrick Mahomes, will be key for Kansas City.
For the Chiefs to win the game, they will need to get pressure up the middle. That starts and ends with Defensive Tackle Chris Jones. While Dee Ford, and Justin Houston, get a lot of attention, and justifiably so, with 15.5 sacks, Jones, is as equally important to the K.C defense.
We’ve seen it twice from the New York Giants, and last year from the Philadelphia Eagles, if you an pressure Brady, and bet him off his mark, he turns into for lack of better terms, a mortal Quarterback.
For the Pats to win, they will have to do what they do. Have Belichick play a defense that will confuse Mahomes, as he did to Rivers, and force the odds on MVP favorite, into bad throws, and turnovers.
On the other side of the ball, Tom, just needs to keep on beating Father Time.
Despite the fact that the Chiefs, didn’t really show up in the first half, the Week 6 showdown was a really solid game, as the Patriots , were up by 15 points at one time, before seeing K.C take their first lead of the game with under 5 minutes remaining, only to have New England hit a game-winning field goal with 3 seconds left.
While the pressure is all on Kansas City, with them holding the number one seed, the team still being looked at as chokers (although a little it less so, after beating Indy), and the game being at Arrowhead, I think Andy Reid, and K.C, will find a way to pull through and win it late, which in the process, will cement the MVP award, for their young QB.
Also, Chiefs Safety Eric Berry, is expected to play. While he has only suited up for 3 games this year due to injury, the former All-Pro, has played in coverage versus Rob Gronkowski in the past. The Chiefs defense, who gives up only an average of 17 points at home, will be that much better with the presence of Berry.
Los Angeles Rams @ New Orleans Saints – Los Angeles Rams (Upset Special)
Another championship showdown, that is a rematch from a near classic regular season game. New Orleans took the first matchup (45-35) on the shoulders of Saints Wide Receiver Michael Thomas, who had a franchise-high 211 yards, and in the process, managed to turn the clock back, with his Joe Horn cellphone touchdown celebration.
The only prediction that came through last week, the Los Angeles Rams ( I almost called them St. Louis) ran all over the Dallas Cowboys, for 275 yards.
As I said last week, Todd Gurley II, would be a factor, and boy was he ever, as he ran for 115 yards, and a touchdown on 16 carries.
Much to the surprise of everyone with the exception of maybe his parents, C.J Anderson, who earlier this season was sitting on the couch, after getting cut by the Oakland Raiders, ran 23 times, for 123 yards, and 2 touchdowns.
Anderson, joined Khalil Mack, and Amari Cooper, as former Oakland Raiders, who have gone on to bigger and better things, after leaving the sinking ship. I am sure Ryan Pace (Bears), Les Snead (Rams), Brett Veach (Chiefs), Chris Ballard (Colts), or Mickey Loomis (Saints), will be the candidates for Executive/General Manager of the Year, but I REALLY think it should go to Jon Gruden. After all, he did help two teams, the Bears, and Cowboys make the playoffs, and he helped the Rams, get yet another key piece key piece to their dominant offense.
Just as surprising as their decision to run the ball down the Cowboys’ throats, was the Rams ability to stop the run, as they shutdown Ezekiel Elliott, holding the league’s leading rusher to a season-low 47 yards, on 20 carries.
In Week 6, the Saints were the healthier team, as the only real contributor they were missing on either side of the ball, was Wide Receiver Ted Ginn Jr. This time around for New Orleans, that isn’t the case. While Ginn Jr will be available, the team will be without stud Defensive Tackle Shelden Rankings (torn Achilles) and Tight End Benjamin Watson (illness). Their Offensive Line is also banged up as well, which is exactly what you don’t want to be, when facing the likes of Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Ndamukong Suh, and company.
Also, the Rams will have All-Pro Cornerback Aqib Talib, back in the lineup, as he missed the first meeting as well. Something tells me, Michael Thomas won’t be putting up 200 plus yards tomorrow night.
Yes, New Orleans is (6-0) at home in the playoffs in the Drew Brees, and Sean Payton era, but all good things must come to an end, and let’s be honest. If Alshon Jeffrey catches that pass, the Saints would most likely be watching the game on TV like the rest of us, and we’d all still be talking about Foles magic.
I think the Rams win on a late score.
Last Week: (1-3)
Playoffs: (4-4)
That’s it for this week. With midway point of the campaign just around the corner, I will unveil my first Elite 8 Power Rankins.
Good luck to everybody this week, and enjoy the games this weekend.
If you loved the article, hated it, or so play felt like I left something out, feel free to contact me at [email protected] or on Twitter @BADNEWSB51