Food For Thought (Div 3) – Week 4

After four weeks of football, I’m surprised how very few surprises we’ve had. Apart from that astounding win by Served with Ice over Briscoe High Hawks (Scott Kelly blames the booze), most teams are exactly where I pictured them to be.

Still, some franchises aren’t doing too well. The Rude Bwoys, who I saw making a decent playoff run, have only managed 1 win after four weeks. Their offense just doesn’t seem potent enough.

The Gold Standard, who were dubbed division dodgers even before the first snap, are also licking their wounds after a 1-3 start. Their problem? A tough schedule. That’s what happens when you keep the same name in a lower division… Nevertheless, if I had to bet on a 1-3 team’s chance of reaching the playoffs it would be them.

Surprisingly enough, the rookie team of CF (I still don’t know what this means…) led by receiver-turned-QB Sevag Kaloussian boasts a winning record of 3-1. Even more impressive, they are averaging 36 points per game (excluding their forfeit win). Is this due to their weak schedule? I guess we’ll find out soon enough.

The most intriguing team in the division remains Prestige World Wide. While one would think that their defence would be a definite weakness, they only gave up 68 points in 4 games. With an opportunistic offence led by Alex Lever and his all-star trio of Anthony Comeau, Charles Baillargeon and Maxime Laflamme, Prestige World Wide might be a few wins away of turning me into a believer.

 

All-Division Team

Inspired by my fellow writers, I have decided to form my very own D3 fantasy team (no higher division players allowed). The goal is to constitute an unbeatable team. Frankly, I’m pretty sure if these guys played together they could make a splash in D1…! Here’s how it goes:

 

QB – Daniele Gentile (Dirty Birds)

WR – Louis Richard (VPC)

WR – Sébastien Pereda (Patriotes)

SB – Eric Bishara (Dirty Birds)

SB – Kevin Challenger (VR6)

Center – Anthony Da Ponte (Briscoe High Hawks)

 

My offense is pretty basic. First you need a QB who can spread the ball with precision, who is solid under pressure and has the FPF mileage necessary to master the small playing field. Second, you want very tall outside receivers to make those tough sideline catches and get to those jump balls in the endzone. Third, some sick speed at SB for some quick 5 yard passes that become 20 yard gains because of the defence’s inability to tackle them. Lastly, you need a center with very good hands and creative route running since he will be bailing out the QB in times of trouble.

 

Rusher – Matt Kirouac (D-Boys)

MLB – Phil Cutler (KGP Champs)

CB – Giovanni Lanni (D-Boys)

CB – Rashawn Perry (SWAT)

Safety – Gordon Hogan (Dirty Birds)

Safety – Anthony McComber (Big TDs)

 

On my defence, I focused on players who can routinely make spectacular plays. Yes, I may have sacrificed some tackling ability, but the INT count should be through the roof. The number one quality my safeties and my CBs can display is great balance. This will enable them to transform those useless pass defended into INTs. To complement them, I would need a versatile MLB with excellent tackling ability and some experience at every defensive position as well as a speedy but disciplined rusher.

 

PLAYOFF RACE

Since intra-divisional play hasn’t yet started, it is still difficult to make a clear assessment of the standings. However, some teams are better prepared than others to face the next 6 weeks. For those who are 0-4, it’s already pretty much over in terms of reaching the post-season. For all the 1-3 teams, it’ll be do or die come week 5.

 

Conference A

1. D-Boys (4-0)

2. Sandlot Saints (3-1)

3. Big TDs (3-1)

4. Park-X Streets (3-1)

5. Briscoe High Hawks (3-1)

6. SWAT (3-1)

7. Green 18s (3-1)

8. Knockaround Guys (2-2)

————-

9. Served with Ice (2-2)

10. Dirty Dawgers (2-2)

11. Yari’s Autonomics (2-2)

12. Gold Standard (1-3)

13. KGP Champs (1-3)

14. Picksquad (1-3)

15. Hurricanes (0-4)

16. Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies (0-4)

 

Conference B

1. Dirty Birds (4-0)

2. Terror Squad (4-0)

3. VPC (3-1)

4. Prestige World Wide (3-1)

5. CF (3-1)

6. Maniax (2-2)

7. Patriotes (2-2)

8. Snookers (2-2)

————-

9. Bandits (2-2)

10. Eagles (2-2)

11. Grindteam (1-3)

12. Rude Bwoys (1-3)

13. VR6 (1-3)

14. Langers (1-3)

15. Sons of Cyr (0-4)

16. Souljahs (0-4)

 

OFFICIAL D3 POWER RANKINGS (and predictions)

 

1. Dirty Birds (4-0): They average 43 points for and their next opponent averages 17 points against…

Prediction: Dirty Birds  40 – Prestige World Wide  26

 

2. Terror Squad (4-0): I will be very surprised if this game is not an offensive shootout.

Prediction: VPC  33 – Terror Squad  39

 

3. Briscoe High Hawks (3-1): It seems like Scott Kelly’s arm is acting up again…probably too much partying…

Prediction: Briscoe High Hawks  32 – SWAT  27

 

4. D-Boys (4-0): By far the D-Boys’ toughest challenge this season. Can they contain a scrambling QB?

Prediction: D-Boys  19 – Big TDs  20

 

5. Big TDs (3-1): A potential low-scoring nail-biter, this game will come down to Jamil Springer vs Matt Kirouac.

Prediction: D-Boys  19 – Big TDs  20

 

6. SWAT (3-1): Who are they: A 50 point-a-game or a 13 point-a-game team?

Prediction: Briscoe High Hawks  32 – SWAT  27

 

7. Served with Ice (2-2): After an amazing performance against BHH, they have a chance to cement their place in the Power Rankings against a struggling underachiever.

Prediction: Served with Ice  32 – Gold Standard  25

 

8. VPC (3-1): For all their offensive skill, they lack the defensive depth to stop the Terror Squad.

Prediction: VPC  33 – Terror Squad  39

 

9. Park-X Streets (3-1): Likely the most one-sided matchup in these rankings, the Streets cannot lose this one without losing my faith in them.

Prediction: Park-X Streets  31 – Picksquad  19

 

10. Prestige World Wide (3-1): They have yet to allow more than 24 points in a game. This will change…

Prediction: Dirty Birds  40 – Prestige World Wide  26