Evolve or be Irrelevant; Week 4 Recap

             As time goes by and everything around us evolves and adapts to survive, it would be foolish if we didn’t do so ourselves. Why let past success and self-confidence be the demise to future success? Why does it seem so unnatural for some to be honest in their self-reflection? Why is it so hard? It’s the law of the jungle people: survival of the fittest. When you stop evolving and you allow your environment to grow around you, you become the pray. If you’re honest enough with yourself and realize you no longer belong in the jungle because you have done everything you can and can no longer adapt, then you have given up and became the pray. Changing jungles will not help, a self-reflection is required for you could eventually become the pray in a different environment. Evolving is to grow and to develop as an individual, a teammate and more globally as a team, which can be achieved through experience. It’s easy to ignore all signs and make yourself believe it’s all going to be fine, but it won’t. It won’t be fine until you’re honest. And being honest may be too harsh for some people…in fact it is those people who will eventually become the pray.

 

              That being said I can already hear some people say, “dude it’s just flag”, “we play for fun”, “calm down Vinnie you suck”… Let me be clear, I do not play anything for fun. It’s not fun to not be able to compete at a high level. Losing is not something I will ever accept or settle for. It’s the teams who lack passion and interest who end up lagging behind. I do not filter the truth when it comes to sports; we were not all cut out to do this, we can’t all be the lion in this movie.

 

Different ways to adapt and evolve according to me:

1-Tweaking a roster with something that has become a household necessity in flag. Ex: Size, speed, rush, a mobile snapper.

2-Letting a player go who has become dead weight.

3- Finding someone better than you at your position and finding a better fit      for your skill.

4- Always bring in youth with a new mind set.

5- Be honest when analyzing your product.

6- Get an outside in point of view.

7- Change the play caller or the plays.

8-Never settle!

 

Week 4 Recap For Division 2:

 

-Tough game for Wolfpack, who showed up this Saturday without their starting quarterback. Cold Fusion continues to impress me with their ability to make plays. Every week a new stud shows up to play. This past week Frank Bruno was the flavour of the week for Cold Fusion. Jason Prince is going to be named GM of the year with all these call ups he’s been able to acquire and remain under cap. The addition of Jordan McLaren has made a huge impact for CF’s defence. Jordan has the ability to shut down any receiver in this division and he showed off in this one with his 3 picks. Justin Lavallee is looking like a quarterback on a mission; his mission being to prove me wrong. So far Justin has done just that.

 

-Chernobyl Circus won a game they obviously couldn’t afford to lose against Wolverines. Both teams now sit at 2-2 on the season and will need to fight week in and week out for their seat in the playoffs. Mathieu Thuot made his case as to why he should be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Mathieu finished the game with 2 interceptions, 2 passes defended on defence and 7 receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown. CC takes on the number one defence next week in Flag Football Fantasy, this will be a true test as to where Chernobyl sits offensively.

 

-TMT surprised me this past weekend with their ability to trade punches with Les Monsieur Chats and put points up on the board. TMT has quickly adapted to flag football and is a team to watch out for. They may be new and young but they are passionate about football and they look like a competitor to me. One thing they will have to adjust moving forward is their deep coverage. Tshitshi Bukasa was in full control of his offence throwing for over 200 yards and rushing for another 80. Bukasa’s bulk of the passes went to Ethan Makonzo who had 3 touchdowns in the losing effort. Les Monsieur Chats are going to have to step up their game. Ultimately, they have one of the best rosters in the division but have yet to play like it. Nicola Centomo was able to abuse the deep zones over and over again which explain the 238 yards on 9 completions and 6 touchdowns; basically every throw went into the end zone. TMT will have to bring their “A” game next week against a desperate Wolfpack.

 

-Flag Football Fantasy is looking like the team to beat. FFF has given up less than 10 points per game. They have by far one of the best-looking defence in flag history. They managed to keep BC et Les McGonagals off the score sheet and keep Joel Houle to 57 yards total through the air. BC is winless and is not about to catch a break in their schedule. Up next for BC is CLR forces, another top tier defensive team. I don’t see a team beating FFF in the near future. It might come down to week 10 against Legends for first place in conference B.

 

– Clockwork came out on top 39-26 in my game of the week against Legends. The score doesn’t really reflect the game that well since it was a much closer game until Marco put in a last 40 bomb to Rich Humes with 3 plays to go. All in all this came down to Clockwork getting it done on defence. Two important turnovers early in the game by Clockwork made Legends chase all game and they never overcame it. Marco Masciotra and Theo Ojeaha make a very dangerous duo on offence and on defence. Theo is one of the best players in flag football and makes everyone around him better. The supporting cast for Clockwork is made up of established role players like Matt Petrone and Alex Apostolakis. The depth on this roster will carry them far into the playoffs. Legends need to erase this one and move forward.

 

-Usual Suspects finally gets their first win of the season. Leon Holder had his best game so far throwing for 214 yards, 7 TDs and no turnovers. Sean Kennedy and Kenton Lowe led the receivers and combined for 13 receptions, 112 yards and 5 touchdowns. ONS’s defense continues down the slump they have been on. They are unable to create turnovers and have given up more points than any other team in this division. You can’t demand perfection week in and week out from Kevin Wyeth to win games, eventually this defence is going to have to get it together if they wish to have a chance. It seems like if the offence isn’t perfect then they have no chance. It is unrealistic and unfair to create those expectations.

 

 

My Week 4 Freaks for Division 2:

 

QB- Leon Holder – 26/30 for 214 yards and 7 TDs… I’ve been waiting a while to give you credit and now you’ve given me a reason! Welcome to the league of Freaks!

 

WR- Adam Bailey – 7 Receptions for 89 yards and 4 TDs… FREAK is definitely what you are! I don’t think you needed me to tell anyone, your play does the talking!

 

DB- Jordan McLaren – 3 INTs 1 TKL and 1 PD… If only Jordan would show up early to warm up a little, I wonder how many picks he’d have then?! Jordan you’re a FREAAAK!

 

R- Alexandre Gatien – 2 SACKs… Two sacks alone is not the most impressive stat line, but being 7 feet a million and rushing is freakish to say the least!

 

The KISH Award (for most outstanding two-way player) goes to:

 

Marco Masciotra: 19/27 for 271 yards and 6 TDs… 2 TKLs and 1 INT

 

 

My Picks Div1:

 

Demons (+2) VS Terror Squad

Express (+7) VS Montreals Finest

Flag Moi L’Sac (-2) VS DK

Rainmakers (-3) VS D-Boys

 

Last week I went 2 in 4 making me 5 for 8 on the season… that puts me at 63%

 

My Picks Div2:

 

Clockwork (-3.5) VS ONS

TMT (+1.5) VS Wolfpack

Usual Suspects (+6) VS Cold Fusion

Chernobyl Circus(+2.5) VS Flag Football Fantasy

Wolverines (+5.5) VS Les Monsieur Chats

The Commission (+3) VS Served With Ice

#NoRegard (-2.5) VS Shakalooinz

BC et Les McGonagals (7.5) VS CLR Forces

Legends (-3) VS Gladiateur

 

Last week I was 6 and 3 making me 19 in 27… 70% so far on the season.

 

Game of The Week:

 

Chernobyl Circus VS Flag Football Fantasy

 

Keys to the game:

 

FFF Defence- FFF defence averages 11 points against per game. The mix of the Taylor brothers, Kris Robertson, Adam Bailey and Stephan Osman make them a defence without holes. There are no liabilities, pure confidence and defensive accountability. They can line up in man all day against any offence and hold their own.

 

CC’S Short game- Patrick Chenard’s ability to find his receivers underneath and allow them to make plays will play a key role in driving the field. The problem remains putting points on the board when the field is shorten and FFF’s ball hawks have less ground to cover. David Polynice will be running his drag routes underneath probably every other play, so if FFF gets caught in man Polynice will be tough to chase. Chenard has to be patient; take what they give you and find an innovative way to get in the end zone. I would recommend using your feet; run as much as possible. Pat just needs to give his receivers a chance to make plays and not turn the ball over.

 

Benny Goodfriend- Benny has been backed by his defence when needed early in the season. He now seems to have found his rhythm and is getting to be on point with his receivers. Surrounded with the kind of talent on this roster, it’s tough for Benny to struggle. He has to remain confident and continue to make plays. We know the defence will show up, but can Benny do the same every week? I don’t think he’ll ever be in a situation where he has to out due himself and I think that will relieve just enough pressure to carry him through to an excellent season. This week he’s up against a giant of a rusher in Alex Gatien. It has thrown off quarterbacks in the past but shouldn’t fluster Benny too much. He just needs to make a small adjustment in depth and understand Alex’s arm length takes away anything short to your snapper.

 

This week we have a treat: two extremely talented squads going against each other in my game of the week. Both sides have all the components required to be successful in flag. They have size, speed, experience, football IQ and an abundance of pure athletic abilities. Hard to pick against such a hot defence in FFF although Chernobyl might have enough speed in the Thuot Brothers, Nicolas Arsenault-Hum and Polynice to eventually find a mismatch, but I just don’t see it happening enough to make a difference.

 

My pick: Flag Football Fantasy

 

Thank you for taking the time to read my article. Once again good luck to everyone! Don’t forget to check out the podcast by G.M Kolethras and I, Thursday night around 10:15! Follow me @VinceNardone for very little action on twitter or stop me at the field to chat. Till next time… Get better, make adjustments, learn and move forward.