Categories: DivisionDivision 6Men'sWinter

Division 6D Midseason Report

Peeze’s Playbook

Week 6

By Paolo Della Rocca

 

I’ve lived a pretty fortunate life.  I’ve been born with freedom and in a wealthy, safe country and it is the only experience I’ve ever known.  Yet, the establishment of individual freedom is very important to me.  It always puzzles me when people in free nations are willing to sacrifice freedom in the face of fear.  

The first such example of this that was clear to me was shortly after the terror attacks on September 11th.  The signing of the Patriot act seemed crazy to me for a country that was built on protest and freedom from their oppressors.  More recently, two Canadian laws had implications that I found terrifying.  Firstly, the passing of the “pitbull ban” initially included a clause that allowed local police to search homes without a warrant.  Given the fear of potential Pitfall attacks, people seemed willing to allow for legal authority to search their homes with no criminal wrongdoing and without due process.  Now, in the height of “reefer madness”, people who oddly feared the green cloud that had long since been settled above our city.  This fear has led to a law that allows police officers to pull cars over and administer testing without cause.  Moreover, police may now enter your home within 2 hours after arriving and test for driving under the influence.

Those who are mired in fear will say that if you’ve done nothing wrong then there should be no issue.  However, this creates a precedent that will be difficult to reverse if our society is in a different place years from now.  To offer a local police force the authority to enter your homes, without cause and interrogate you is a terrifying prospect when you consider, that we do not now what our society will look like in years to come.  Prior to Maduro and Chavez, Venezuela was not subject to the reality they’ve since had to deal with for the better part of the last two decades.  Canada is a safe and free country right now.  My hope is that we continue to keep it that way instead of allowing politicians to violate personal rights and freedoms by wielding fear in the face of those who are willing to sacrifice liberty.

 

How I Ranked You

(copy and pasted from my Division 6 Midseason Breakdown)

The first thing that infuriates teams is the ranking. I’ll hear things like, “we’re expected to finish higher than team X, how are they ranked higher than us?” Or “we beat team B, how can they be ranked higher than us.”  The short answer is: because I felt like it.  The long answer is, this is an extended power ranking.  The rankings indicate your recent level of play, not where I expect you to finish. I’ve looked a trends, when teams have lost, who they’ve beaten and so on.

 

The Grading System

(copy and pasted from my Division 6 Midseason Breakdown)

This is an unfair grading system.  I’m saying it on the front end. It’s based on how you’ve performed as compared to the media’s expectations at the start of the season.  These weren’t expectations you asked for but it helps me create content and in the end, that’s my job.  So here’s that the grades corresponds with:

A:The team has far exceeded expectations

B:The team has exceeded expectations

C:The team is performing as expected (the Bears are who we thought they were! So to speak)

D:The team has underperformed

F: Bro get your hand out of the blender  

 

Mid-Season Report

  1. Bballers (4-1): For three games Bballers have given us what we expected.  They’re too strong a team for the division.  Adding Gab Wiseman and Charles Verrault removed the only chance most of division 6D would have had as their knowledge of FPF has helped breach the gap for a new and overpowered team.  Yet, they lost their first game and they were put to the task by Los Siete Amigos.  There is a chance they have yet to reach their potential.  However, I don’t think it’ll affect them in the regular season.

Key Players: Gianni Casati, Vincent Beauregard, William Paquette

Grade: C-

Predicted Record: 9-1

  1. Macdo (5-1): It seems as though Macdo have finally decided on Victor Nolin as the signal caller.  The team’s defense was where they earned their keep in the fall but Nolin has added a level of explosiveness that makes Macdo truly fun to watch.  It is high risk and high reward but so far the seasame seeded yellow scourage have had far more reward thank risk (especiallt as compared to a Big Mac).  Etienne Cardinal is a great athlete and one of the best up and coming receivers I’ve seen this season.  There aren’t a ton of tests for Macdo the rest of the way.  Expect them to be promoted to the Div 6 playoffs.

Key Players: Etienne Cardinal, Xavier lafortune, Victor Nolin

Grade: A+

Predicted Record: 8-2

 

  1. Los Siete Amigos (4-1): I liked this team a lot in the fall season and they’ve given us reason to be hopeful for their future. Alexandre Fafard is one of the hardest throwers I’ve seen in a while.  If he learns to select the right throw the offense will match the defense as a truly deadly unit.  Felix D’Aoust is a veritable unknown but has already recorded 9 sacks this season.  They pushed BBallers as hard as they have been since their week 1 loss. The rest of the way they have few challenges in their path.

Key Players: Etienne Brisson, Felix D’Aoust, Alexandre Fafard

Grade: A

Predicted Record: 8-2

 

  1. Trailer Park Boys (4-1): This was the second new team I loved watching in the fall.  There seems to be something in the autumn air that allows teams to develop quickly.  Aside from allowing me to make references from one of my favorite TV Shows of all time they boys are one of the best defensive units in the division.  I mentioned in an article in the fall that they appeared to have talent but lacked structure.  It appears the coaching of FPF veteran Matt Leblanc has gone a long way in a short period of time. TPB haven’t allowed more than 18 points and are averaging 4.67 points against in their last three games.  Their 13 interceptions are a sign that they’ve become an intelligent, aggressive group.  I’m excited to watch their continued progress.

Key Players: Antoine Meunier, Mathieu Gascon, Phil Ramsey

Grade: A+

Predicted Record: (7-3)

  1. Potatoes (3-2):  The offense for the Potatoes is too one dimensional.  As good as JJ Cosentini is, he is currently accounting for 34.9% of the team’s receptions and 36.2% of the team’s total yardage.  They have made it work but there are some teams ahead that will challenge them by taking away the top receiving option. Samuel Lamothe has made some improvement but is still turning the ball over too frequently and isn’t leading the offense to scores on a consistent enough basis.  I think they’ll be a middle of the pack tea later in the season but for now they’re making it work.

Key Players: JJ Cosentini, Billy Cortoglou, Jeremy Pelletier

Grade: B-

Predicted Record: (5-5)

  1. Les Casses (4-1): There was always a chance Les Casses would be good.  We all know Samuel Caron’s tackle football pedigree and there is therefore a chance his team of friends would indicate that his friends are also athletes.  The latter appears to be true.  Olivier Laforest couldn’t have asked for a better QB coach and he is improving each week. Les Casses seem capable of winning close defensive struggles as well as games that require them to put up points. They do face a couple of challenges before the season is over however.

Key Players: Louis Breton, Jeremie Barette, Julien Pare

Grade: B

Predicted Record: (7-3)

  1. Brewers (3-2): In my wildest dreams I didn’t think Brewers would have improved this much in such a short period of time.  Look, I can’t control what I dream about; it is what it is!  They lost a questionable first game to BDR and most recently to the inconsistent Potatoes.  Brewers aren’t perfect but they have come a long way and a lot of that has been on the arm of Jeffery Lefebvre.  Where they’re currently positioned may suit them best as I do not think they are ready for the stronger teams atop div 6.  They will be a frontrunner in 6D if permitted to stay there.

Key Players: Eric Pawlusiak, Jeffery Lefebvre, Christopher Morin

Grade: A+

Predicted Record: (5-5)

 

  1. Llamas Pyjamas (2-2): The season has been somewhat unbalanced for Llamas Pyjamas.  They appear to struggle against experienced or more physically gifted teams.  This is common place for newer teams in FPF that either haven’t accumulated a wealth of athletes or can’t beat teams schematically.  They have won the games where they were the favorite either and won thise games handily so that is worth mention. Olivier Goddard’s 15 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions has shown that he has developed quickly.  The team needs to help him defensively and so far they’ve been solid but unspectacular. They have a tough schedule in the second half of the season and will need 

Key Players: Eric Pawlusiak, Jeffery Lefebvre, Christopher Morin

Grade: B-

Predicted Record: (5-5)

 

  1. Past Our Primetime (3-2): I had the opportunity to watch past our Primetime this past week.  It was not pretty. Many of Emile Janda’s passes were impotently hitting the turf and Arnaud Prince –Duthel didn’t fare much better. Prince-Duthel and Joshua Vasquez currently account for 78% of the team’s completions and 83.3% of the team’s touchdowns.  It has worked to a degree as they’ve beaten some of the weakest competition in the division but whenever they face a quality opponent, they are not successful.  Be ready to see some close wins and some bad losses.

Key Players: Joshua Vazquez, Arnaud Prince-Duthel

Grade: B+

Predicted Record: (5-5)

  1. Gold Rush (2-2): I’m having trouble getting a read on this team.  They are young, quick and athletic.  They also turn the ball over and do lack a good deal of knowledge that will help them improve down the line.  They’ve also had some roster issues as evidenced by the 8 players with a single game played. Jake Star has not protected the ball and needs to take more of what the defense is giving him.  He’s only completing 52.2% of his passes and I have a feeling gold Rush would otherwise be a lot better.

Key Players: Tyler Stern, Matthew Levine

Grade: B

Predicted Record: (4-6)

 

  1. Real Bros of Simi Valley (3-2): This team gives me a horrendous pulsing headache. Not only do they make me feel old with a reference I clearly can’t understand as their team name but they also are capable of laying an absolute egg against BBallers before edging out Bud Knights in a tight win. I have been leading the charge to have Ryan Shapiro throw for the Real Bros.  He took some reps last game and threw all 4 of the team’s offensive touchdowns (he also added a pick six on defense).  Please, put in the guy who had a 32 point second half.

Key Players: Ryan Shapiro, Evan Leibinger, John Francom

Grade: C+

Predicted Record: (4-6)

 

  1. Bud Knights (2-3): The Simon Dagenais curse is real.  This was one of the most exciting fall teams, the added veterans Stephen Harriperssaud and Brad Evans, I’ve heard constantly the Mathieu Kieljian has improved by leaps and bounds.  Yet this team is under .500 at the midpoint. That includes an upset win against BBallers in week 1!  I do think they’ll turn it around and they’ll have a great second half of the season in part due to an extremely soft schedule.

Key Players: Shawn Babin, Brad Evans, Mathieu Kieljan

Grade: D-

Predicted Record: (7-3)

 

  1. Rosedale Renovations (2-3): With veterans Aaron Ownby and Azeem Bailey on this team I thought that this team may surprise some.  Unfortunately more often than not Rosedale Renovations have struggled to score more than two touchdowns.  On defense Azeem Bailey has made quarterbacks pay.  They’ll need their defense to continue to put them in great position if they expect to do some real damage in division 6D this season as I expect the offense to struggle moving forward.

Key Players: Azeem Bailey, Thomas Beaucher

Grade: D+

Predicted Record: (4-6)

 

  1. Fighting Tigers (2-2): I keep wanting to like Seth Galina as a quarterback.  He’s incredibly knowledgeable and often in low divisions, it translates to some level of success.  The team has talent as well as Cory Werner, Roger Emeka and Emilio Pampena are all proven players with a strong track record.  However, Fighting Tigers have yet to score more than 20 points in a game and in 3 starts Seth Galina has thrown 7 interceptions.  

Key Players: Benoit Dussault, Roger Emeka, Corey Werner

Grade: D

Predicted Record: (5-5)

 

 

  1. DGC (2-3): I was convinced that DGC was ready to dominate this division. Instead, Sean Martin is still not yet completing half of his passes.  This is while playing in a system that creates wide open space for receivers.  Recently we’ve seen them win two one score games and a blow out loss to Trailer Park Boys.  The second half of the schedule doesn’t lighten up but they may do just enough to earn a spot in the post season.

Key Players: Andrew Di Miele, Nick Kypriotis, Foti Evangelista

Grade: D-

Predicted Record: (4-6)

  1. Dirty Birds (2-3): Dirty Birds are a decent defensive team.  The are also learning as evidenced by poor defensive showings against Real Bros of Simi Valley and Ballers where they allowed a combined 89 of their 131 points allowed this season.  Offensive productions has been largely scattered save for what they’ve gotten from Leo Augoustis.  The team lacks firepower and are about to enter a very difficult stretch of games.

Key Players: Leo Augoustis, Danny Levine

Grade: C+

Predicted Record: (3-7)

  1. BDR (1-4): I had the chance to watch them in person this week.  It was rough. Had BDR submitted a proper roster in the preseason they would have been placed in division 6 rather than 6D.  Yet, they fine themselves at the bottom of the developmental division. Vince Romano has struggled at the pivot and is posting a 23.3 QBR.  That simply won’t get it done.  Their only win was a one score win in the opener (when teams aren’t sharp). Luckily they have a couple of winnable games; unluckily I don’t know if the offence will be effective enough to win those games.

Key Players: Mike Apa, Brad Demers, Giancarlo Brullo

Grade: D

Predicted Record: (2-8)

  1. Chocolate Barracudas (1-4): The best quarterback play that the team has had has come from Sonny Elias in his one start.  Still there weren’t many completions.  In their defence, their schedule has been difficult. It lightens up some but I think the goal this season is for this team to learn and improve heading into next season.  Lusson Pierre is one of the most versatile players in the division.  However, it would appear that quarterback isn’t one of the positions he can succeed at.  If this new alignment is permanent I think we will see small, but significant improvements in the second half of the seasons.

Key Players: Lesson Pierre, Matthew Fernandes

Grade: D+

Predicted Record: (2-8)

  1. South Shore Seamen (0-5): This is a tough league to start off in.  FPF is very competitive and teams even in the lowest divisions have athleticism and schemes that are effective. South Shore Seamen are learning that quickly.  I suggest the reach out to me on Facebook or at [email protected]. I’ve helped a lot of teams that are starting out and I’d love to help you guys as well. Quarterbacking is the main issue as the team has just 3 passing touchdowns and the qb with the most reps has thrown only one of them while also throwing 8 interceptions. Hopefully they can learn the game enough to have more competitive games before the season is done.

Key Players: Stephen Gusew, Gabriel Ciccarelli

Grade: C-

Predicted Record: (0-10)

  1. Lionhearts (0-5): I went to met with this team, observe them and offer help.  I was expecting total incompetence.  Luckily, this wasn’t the case.  Lionhearst have decent size and athleticism, clean exchanges on snaps and guys who can make plays.  Simply, they don’t know the game.  W’ve put them in the PEeze and Eagle mentorship program and I hope that will help.  Emilio Greco has promise at quarterback but takes too many chances. defensively, they are in decent position and tackle well.  These are pillars to build around. 

Key Players: Alessandro Pietrollino, Anthony Iannancronz (not his name but this name is better)

Grade: D+

Predicted Record: (1-9)

 

Saturday’s Secondary Slopes

It’s done!!!! It’s finally done!!! 16 pages and two parts and now I can go back to my regular weekly column. I truly hope you enjoy the read. For further analysis, tune in to the official FPF podcast Calling the Audible, where Moe Khan Simon Dagenais and I work to annoy each other as we discuss the best superheroes who decided against capes, whether or not the massage chair industry is healthy and the best shows to binge during snow storms.

Tune in to Facebook live on the FPF Facebook page on Thursday nights at 7:00pm, watch it later on www.youtube.com/flagplus or download the podcast on iTunes or Podomatic!

Thank you all, falettinme be mice elf agin.