Categories: DivisionDivision 3Men'sWinter

Flo’s Forecast: Division 3 Season Preview

I received an unexpected message a few months ago from my arch-nemesis Paolo Della Rocca aka Peeze Della Reeze. He told me that he wouldn’t be writing weekly articles anymore and was looking for his replacement. After losing in the division B semi-final this spring (as a top seed might I add) to my team, and endless nights weeping in his bed all alone subsequently, I guess he finally realized that if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. And so, here I am, the new FPF writer. I’m really looking forward to this season and so big thanks to Peeze and of course Mr. commissioner Rob Campana himself for inviting me on board.  For those who don’t know me, I’ve played in this league for a while now and have met a ton of great people. I’m the quarterback of the Predators and so I’ll be seeing you guys on the field. Be nice to me and I might not call you out in my articles. FPF is truly a privilege so to every newcomer this season, get out there have some fun and best of luck to all!

What to Expect?

Mise-O-Jeu: This weekly segment will peg none other than Peeze vs. myself as we pick every game straight up and against the spread.

FPF Survivor Pool: Every week, I’ll ask fellow FPF writer to pick one winning team in division 3. Once you pick a team, you can no longer pick them again. Last one standing wins bragging rights and the chance to peg Peeze in the head with a football.

FPF FanDuel: If any of you have not heard of FanDuel, it’s basically an online weekly fantasy platform. Instead of picking a fantasy team for the year, you pick them for one game. If you’re good at it, you can make a gross amount of money..so check it out! As opposed to FanDuel, there will be no salary cap because well, that would much too long of a process. Anyways, for this segment I’ll pick 1 quarterback, 4 receivers, 1 snapper and a team defense that will likely light it up that week.

 Points will be awarded as follows…

 QB’s:

  • 1 point per 10 yards passing
  • 3 points per passing TD
  • 1 point per 5 yards rushing
  • 5 points per rushing TD
  • -2 points per interception
  • -1 point per sack

 

WR’s:

  • 1 point per 5 yards
  • 5 points per TD

 

 Defense:

  • 1 point per 3 tackles
  • 1 point per 2 PD’s
  • 2 points per sack
  • 3 points per INT
  • 5 points per pick-six
  • 10 points for allowing 10 points or less
  • 8 points for allowing 11-20 points
  • 6 points for allowing 21-30 points
  • 4 points for allowing 31-40 points
  • 2 points for allowing 41-50 points
  • 1 point for allowing 51 + points

 

Studs/Duds of the Week: Here I’ll highlight a few players that put the team on their backs (stud), or cost their team (dud).

Things We Learned: This will be a place for random thoughts along with anything important that we may have learned through the week’s games.

Power Rankings: I’ll include a power rankings segment of who I believe the 10 best teams in division 3 are at that given week.

Season Preview

The 2016 winter is just around the corner with games starting on January 9th. We are close gentlemen! Here’s a team-by-team preview of how I see each team faring this season.

Conference A East

Sea Assassins: We’ve all come to expect a high-octane offense from this team paired with a subpar defense. Will this year be any different? They will score points with reigning division 3 quarterback of the year Daniel Lazzara throwing to a lethal combination of Zack Jauniaux, Alex Blanchet & company. They will be a playoff team but can Lazzara get over the playoff hump? He’s shown signs of slowing down once playoff time rolls around.

Prediction: 7-3

B.D. Bandits: Defense, defense, defense. This team has a great one. They make you work for every yard but in a division so deep with talent, will a strong defense be enough? Their offense struggles to score points and against the upper echelon teams, that’s a recipe for problems. They managed to pull off a stunning upset of the Wild Boys in the first round of last year’s playoffs before bowing out to the eventual champion Les Buddays.

Prediction: 5-5

The Brotherhood: This is a team nobody will want to play. The roster is loaded with studs and the defense should be dominant. Adding Theo Ojeaha to the mix will do wonders for them. According to a reliable source, Ojeaha will end up quarterbacking this team, and that is not good news for the rest of the division. Ojeaha has a successful season under his belt and in any case, the receiving core is so stacked that the offense should be good enough to outscore most opponents. Only elite offenses will be able to reach 20+ points vs. this team.

Prediction: 8-2

Les Buddays: The defending division 3 champs return this winter to try and make it two in a row. However, they will do so without their starter from last year Frederic Dupuis who had enjoyed a great year. The team turns to Simon Vallee to lead them to the promised land. They have a lot of talent and great chemistry. Their success hinges on how Vallee performs.

Prediction: 6-4

La Sauce: Making the jump from division 4 to division 3 last winter was not as seamless as they would have hoped as they finished with their first losing season. The once dominant defense from their division 4 days struggled to stop potent offenses. They come back this year with some reinforcements but this team’s success will largely depend on if Francois Raymond bounces back.

Prediction: 5-5

Killer Instinct: They make the jump from division C to 3 this winter after enjoying a 7-2-1 season this spring. They gave up 18.7 points per game ranking them 1st in scoring defense. Their offense did struggle to score points but they’ve added MTL Finest’s Nathan Taylor to help spark them. This team is an unknown commodity right now but could very well be in the thick of things at the end of the season if Taylor can find success. I think they will be fine.

Prediction: 7-3

Triple Sixers: The former division 2 contenders drop down to division 3. Any team with Pat Jerome will be dangerous but it just speaks to how far the league has come that the Triple Sixers could very well finish near the bottom in their division.

Prediction: 5-5

 

Conference A West

Metamayhem: The finalists from last year are back to try and finish what they started. They struggle some at the beginning but really came together come playoff time. They fell apart vs. Les Buddays in the championship game as their offense looked sloppy and simply couldn’t get anything going. They’ve added two-way playmaker Joel Malkin to the mix and they will be dangerous. They have tons of experience in big spots with 4 of their players (Anderson & D’Amour, Predators Div B; Adams & Nowakowski, STL Div C) winning championships this spring. If Holowach can be more consistent and limit the interceptions, the supporting cast is good enough to make another playoff run.

Prediction: 6-4

Predators (by Paolo Della Rocca): The Predators’ family tree has seen a great deal of success recently and that includes two recent championships. Their merger with #NR has only served to grow that family of teams and help it mature in a positive direction. That said this team looks more like last year’s Division 3 team than the core we saw this summer. Floreani has a lot of threats that people are starting to become familiar with. Alexandre Noel, Simon Bosquet Beaudoin and Jacob Bernett are all becoming household names. This is a team that I think will take a few early, and somewhat unexpected losses before going on a run into the playoffs. We know that when the Preds get hot they typically cause havoc in the playoffs. I can definitely see that scenario play out this season.

Prediction: 7-3

OTF: After an up and down first season last year, they’ll look to make some noise. The Meshesha brothers are back, and Kendal Mayers has added two-way stud and very underrated Justin Julien to the talent pool. They’ll have a great defense once again but will the offense step up to match?

Prediction: 7-3

Laval’s Finest: If Jordan McLaren plays full-time with this team, they automatically become a dangerous team. With McLaren and Rod Mashtoub back there, forget about the deep ball vs. their defense. Something tells me that won’t be the case and if so, this team will be a .500 team at best. Mashtoub showed improvement last season and the division B experience should really help him going forward. If he can be consistent and limit interceptions, this team will fight for a playoff spot.

Prediction: 4-6

Nuggets: With two-way studs Raphael Ducas-Lapalme and Timothy Godber, this team has two playmakers. However, I’m just not buying this team until proven otherwise. Fred Mallette dominated divison D in the spring but this is a huge step up in competition.

Prediction: 2-8

Mongoose: You never know what you’re going to get with this team. They either win the championship or they struggle to make the playoffs.  They always have a great defense. They have great chemistry and a lot of speed on this team. Their success falls largely on the shoulders of quarterback Alexandre Gaudet

Prediction: 6-4

F.O.E. : This team looks like a merger between some #NR and some Golden Eagles players. The Moses brothers make any team worthy of mention. Hugo Lalonde brings over-the-top speed and Kevin Lubin adds a blend of playmaking ability and defensive smarts to the table. Whether J. Moses or Lubin will quarterback this team remains to be seen but the athletic ability of this team should be enough to win a few games on its own.

Prediction: 4-6

 

Conference B East:

Jumpmans: Essentially “Shmoney” from division 4 last year, this team makes the jump man..pun intended. They have some talent with the Cecere brothers but even with a weak schedule, I just don’t see them having much success in this division yet. They will be a tough out though.

Prediction: 3-7

Westpark Boys: They make the jump from division 4 after a 4-win season. One man wrecking crew Ameet Pall will likely be a top receiver in the division but they just aren’t deep enough to be a contender in division 3 this year.

Prediction: 2-8

Game Changers: They’ve been through a lot. The loss of Terrence Dobson really impacted this team and Anton Sakiz as they limped through the spring season. Sakiz is a solid QB but against the top defenses of this division, I unfortunately just don’t see Game Changers seeing much success.

Prediction: 3-7

Dirty Dawgs: Ryan Lelinowski and Dave Chitayat form a dynamic duo as proven by their impact on Legends last winter. They also have Jelani McLaren, who should contribute in a big way. They will be a pesky team but I don’t see them making the postseason.

Prediction: 5-5

Les Eudistes: Les Eudistes are like a box of chocolates….you never know what you’re going to get. That being said, this team is talented and playing in the weakest conference in division 3. That will propel them to the playoffs easily. Marc-Andre Paradis looks to replicate his dominant season at corner from a year ago.

Prediction: 7-3

Dark Moose Returns: Darksiders from spring division B have upgraded by adding playmaker Justin Blanchard to the team. They will look to avenge an upset playoff loss to the champion Predators in which they were outplayed on both sides of the ball. Seeing as they play in the weakest conference in the division and don’t play many teams with a good defense, this team should coast to the playoffs rather easily while scoring at will. Their defense, which was ranked 1st in scoring in Division B, should be just as dominant. Championship contenders.

Prediction: 9-1

Wolfpack: Former division 2 outfit slides into division 3 this season. Again, playing in a weak division will help this team and they should be in the mix of things come playoff time.

Prediction: 6-4

 

Conference B West

Grip N Rip: Vinny Gualano’s team makes the jump to division 3 and should be successful even after a shocking and humbling loss to STL in the division C playoffs this spring. Gualano has created a perfect system for himself and his receivers that play to his strengths. It has proven successful in C and 4 and I believe it will serve him well this season as well. The defense is very strong and although losing James Donald will hurt, adding Rich Humes and Jason Prince will more than balance things out for them. They should win their division and be a force in the postseason.

Prediction: 8-2

Past Our Prime: The old guys are past their prime, but they certainly don’t play like it. They play to their strengths and always find a way to win. After being dismantled in the regular season by the Predators, they pulled off an impressive upset victory by scoring at will on the Preds. Craig O’Brien is a smart QB that reminds me of Peyton Manning. His knowledge of the game and accuracy make up for his decreasing arm strength. Losing Vinny Gualano hurts but they will sneak into the playoffs.

Prediction: 5-5

Two and a Half Dans: I love Two and a Half Dans. They always push the limits and no matter how overmatched they may seem to be, no matter how unorthodox their style of play is, they get it done. Danny McFee is a top rusher in this division and throughout the league. Adding Rochdi Benabdelkader will really help this team, even it’s only on a part time basis. I think they find a way to get to .500. I’m rooting for you boys!

Prediction: 5-5

Mercenaries: They have some top end talent and they will be tough. However, I see them more as a middle of the pack team that might look to play spoiler and/or sneak into the playoffs.

Prediction: 5-5

Fun Boys: This is a team I think can surprise some people and come out of nowhere. As opposed to what I originally thought, Phil Cutler will not be starting the season at quarterback for this team; Liam Mahoney will. Still, no matter who is throwing for this team, they should put up a lot of points and with big physical, fast receivers, should be a great deep ball team as well. They’ll challenge Grip ‘N’ Rip for the conference and be a dangerous team in the playoffs.

Prediction: 8-2

Snatchers: This version of Snatchers does not feature Kevin Lubin or Hugo Lalonde. And that looks like trouble for Simon Dagenais and company. I like Simon’s ambition here but they just do not have the personnel to keep up in division 3. Unfortunately, I can’t see them winning much.

Prediction: 1-9

Ball Busters: Carmine Pollice will probably win receiver of the year again…but that’s because Dylan Taylor will target him 10 times a game. Jamie Ojeaha is a nice piece and they have a weak schedule.  That being said, this team is not a playoff team and will likely finish under .500.

Prediction: 4-6

 

Preseason Power Rankings:

  1. Dark Moose Returns
  2. The Brotherhood
  3. Fun Boys
  4. Predators
  5. Grip ‘N’ Rip
  6. Killer Instinct
  7. OTF
  8. Sea Assassins
  9. Metamayhem
  10. Les Buddays

 

Observations:

  • Conference A seems a lot stronger than Conference B…at least on paper.
  • Division 3 should be extremely competitive this year. The eventual champion will have earned it.
  • If you are immature enough to start a fight on the field, then please by all means do not step onto the field, FPF does not want nor need you.
  • Please do not forfeit any games, no matter if your team is in the playoff hunt or not. This is really shitty for the other teams and the integrity of the league. Field a team for 10 games and have some courtesy towards others.
  • Rivalries are always fun and this season, we will have many of them renewed!
  • If it wasn’t really obvious already, Peeze really hates me. He claims it’s because I won a championship without him (make it two now) but I think he secretly has a crush on me. I love you man, but not in that way.

 

Best of luck to all teams for week 1! If you want to reach me for any inquiries or to disagree with me, feel free to hit me up at [email protected] or DM me @JFloMusicMTL on Twitter.