Inside the Redzone (DC) – Week 5

Welcome to Inside The Redzone, a la week cinq! It is now the halfway point of the 2009 Division C Spring season and thus far, it has been a great beginning. An important note to all captains: if you are planning on adding new players to your team, those players must play every game from week 6 until week 10 to be eligible for playoffs (5 games in total are needed to qualify for post-season). It is the responsibility of every captain to make sure that all players have played at least five games and it is well documented by the league because when playoffs start, most of the appeals (if not all) will be rejected. Also, please review the OC/UR (Objection Conduct/Unnecessary Roughness) Tracker on our website’s homepage. As it is written on our website, “The new rule stated that an accumulation of five OCs and URs (combined not seperate) will result in an automatic one game suspension for the following game after the fifth three-play ejection.” They do no reset until after the season is finished at which point, in playoffs, you’ll have a new limit which will probably be lower than 5. Why is this done? Keep in mind that we are here to compete and play hard but also it is a recreational league designed for its participants to have fun. Next week, I’ll be doing a mid-season recap but now it is time to look at the week that was!

 

WEEK 5 Headlines

 

 

THE DRIVE TO FIVE!

 

For Teh Lulz have won another game and are now 2-2-1 which also means that they are only 3 wins away from reaching their ultimate goal. John Patrick Mancini (a FPF veteran previously of Walk-Ons, Organized Chaos and Buckeyes) has joined this squad on a part time basis however it is a great move because his experience in the league will definitely be an asset to For The Laughs. Similary the Martin Tougas watch is underway. He has played three games this season and is therefore 2 games away from qualifying for the playoffs. The million dollar question is what will happen first: For The Laughs achieving 5 wins or Martin Tougas playing 5 games? Flying Weasels will play For The Laughs so one team is most probably getting one step closer to their goal.

 

Rude Awakening

 

Where were you all at 18:00 EST this past Sunday? I can guarantee that you weren’t watching the end of the Cobras/Rude Bwoys game because most of us had already dismissed the Rude Bwoys. Well they definitely proved everyone wrong as they defeated the Cobras by a score of 33-27. Matt Clow had a statement game throwing for 210 yards and 5 TDs while also having an interception on defense. The Rude Bwoys scored a late TD to win the game and are getting better each week. They are 2-3 at this point but you can expect them to do better in the remaining five games. I had a chance to speak with the young superstar Vadim Chernyak after game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kHBSM9eepk.

 

 

UNCORKING THE CHAMPAGNE

 

This past weekend Lockdown earned their first victory of the season against Affreux. It was a close game; the final score was 28-20. I was lucky enough to be at the sidelines as the game reached the end, the Lockdown were in the last 5 downs of the game and had possession of the ball. They needed a first down to secure the win and here is how it went down: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7OP3vty-GM.  I liked the hard work and enthusiasm that this team showed. They were definitely the better team that night. Andrew Preiss (Lockdown) had 3 receiving TDs while the QB threw for 4 TDs. Notable mention to Affreux’s Daniel Feltham who had 106 yards receiving and 3 TDs. Before the game, I had advised both teams that whoever wins the match will get a video interview for my column. Therefore being man of my words, I present a post-game interview with the captain of Lockdown, Mathew Preiss who also caught the first down pass on 4th down and 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZZXIYTpa9o. 

 

Also Balls Deep played a much safer game, which helped them win their first game of the year. It didn’t help that Run’n’Wild’s QB Jeff Lyall wasn’t present at the game however nothing can be taken away from Balls Deep because they showed up to play, literally! I was quite shocked to see two cameramen (one on the roof and one on the sidelines) who were taping the Balls Deep offense and defense. I would suppose it is for their game film sessions in which case they should definitely review their offense because Geoff Comeau threw for 3 INTs and they definitely could have been avoided. In any case, a job well done!

 

FOTC: Contender or Pretender?

 

If anyone thinks for one second that FOTC aren’t for real, you better think again. They defeated the Bandits quite easily this past weekend by a score of 21-7. The Lemieuxs on Flight Of The Concords (Jonathan and Simon) had a great day on Sunday. Furthermore Marvin “Marvelous” Renaud was the X-Factor, no pun intended, on this team. FOTC are for real this season folks and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Some people (I can’t reveal for security reasons) have labeled them as the Flying Weasels rejects but nothing can be further from the truth. They will have two tough match ups in as many weeks against KGP Champs and Triple Sixers, respectively so this is their chance to further solidify their status as a contender.

 

 

How ‘Bout Them Cowboys

 

The Cowboys have shaken off their rusty start to the season and now seem to be back on track. Their current record is 3-2 and they stand in 4th place in conference B. It is time to look at some of the players who are making a big difference on this team. I would start with QB John Moodie and snapper Dave Allen who are on my top 5 list in Division C. Additionally the supporting cast of Vince Mancini (250 yards, 7 TDs), Karim Yasmine (193 yards, 3 TDs) and Derek Soles (169 yards, 2 TDs) are making it hard on opposing defense. Also keep in mind that this team is missing their Winter 2009 All-Star Karl De Nie who has a great rapport with John Moodie. Also we must factor in that Kory De Nie (captain) is playing hurt but when healthy is an excellent rusher for the Cowboys. Therefore putting everything into perspective, it is quite clear that the Cowboys are doing a great job with their current roster and will get stronger on weekly basis in the second half of the season.

 

 

Three STAR-wars Of The Week

 

 

3rd star: Jonathan Lemieux (FOTC) – 13 of 27 for 111 yards and 3 TDs however no interceptions. He was mistake free and ran the offense methodically; also taking out a strong Bandits squad.

 

2nd star: Andrew Preiss (Lockdown) – He had 6 catches for 78 yards and 3 TDs while also helping his team win their first game of the season.

 

1st star: Matt Clow (Rude Bwoys) – 16 of 26, 210 yards, 5 TDs and 1 INT. Also, he had an interception on defense however more important, he pulled off the first big upset in the Spring 2009 Division C season.

 

 

 

TOP GUNS – Part III (Snappers)

 

Here is a list of the top 5 snappers in Division C (in no particular order):

 

Dave Allen (Cowboys) – I can tell you that this gentleman will not intimidate you when you line up against him but rest assured that he is NOT to be taken lightly. He has excellent hands and will catch some balls that boggle the mind. He is definitely a viable option for John Moodie and an asset to any team. Furthermore, I have never seen him throw a bad snap. Nickname: Super Dave

 

John Lyristis (Terminators) – He is one of the best offensive players in division C (but can definitely play in a higher division). He runs great routes, has good speed and definitely knows where to find the holes in defense; not to forget he has good hands too. If anyone remembers watching him in the Winter 2009 Division 3 finals, he had an excellent game. He can change the game with his quick catches and converting them into long gains. Nickname: The Hawk

 

Jason Edwards (Chaos) – This is the first time he is playing snapper full time as he is normally a receiver. He has a decent snap and definitely turns it up afterwards. He is one of Eugene McLaren’s favorite targets because he can make great catches in difficult situations. If it is a 4th down situation and you need a big time play, call on Jason Edwards. Nickname: The Electric Edwards

 

Corey Belliveau (Bandits) – Corey is a smart and talented football player. If you get a chance to watch him on offense, he can definitely put on a show. It is often hard for a snapper to snap the ball, run a deep route and make a great catch however Corey makes it look quite easy. He also uses his height to his advantage and is the X-Factor in any game he plays. Nickname: UN-BELLIVEAU-BLE

 

Ben Wilner (KGP Champs) – He doesn’t have the best snap however he is very quick to get open and give Cutler an option. He is second on the team with TDs and is a great redzone threat. Ben runs decent routes but is better at making the catches that even most receivers aren’t able to make. Nickname: Wildman Wilner

 

 

In next week’s column, I’ll look at the top 5 rushers in Division C.

 

 

Tip Of The Week

 

There are often times when a team tries to gain an edge over their opponents and there are many ways it can be done. Today, I’ll talk about one of them. On offense, you should try to do double counts. Simply put, it should be discussed in the huddle that the snapper will snap the ball on three. Why is this done? It is used to draw the rusher offside which will result in a flag. A lot of times, the rusher will be drawn offside but will back up and start again however you have still bought yourself a few extra seconds.

 

There are a couple of things to keep in mind. One, the receivers must be highly conscious of the snap count because a lot of times the receivers will go offside rather than the rusher. Two, you must make sure that a flag is on the field before thinking it is a free play because as I stated before many rushers back up to the 7 yard bag and start again in which case the referee will NOT throw the flag. Last, you can’t do it too often because the element of surprise is not longer present; instead try to do it once in a while to catch the defense off guard.

 

Week 6 Review

 

These are a few of the games that will be fun to watch:

 

1. BOOM! Goes the Dynamite vs. Snookers (6pm on field 1) – Snookers have been struggling lately (3 game losing streak) and have to wake up fast however they will be in tough because Dynamite is a talented team. So I see the game coming down to the end with Dynamite maybe even pulling the upset.

 

2. Flying Weasels vs. For Teh Lulz (7 pm on field 1) – Please read my headline on top “THE DRIVE TO FIVE”.

 

3. Rude Bwoys vs. Cowboys (8 pm on field 1) – Both of these teams are coming off big wins however which team will keep it going? Cowboys have more depth on the roster however Rude Bwoys are no stranger to upsets therefore expect an exciting finish.

 

4. Triple Sixers vs. Bandits (10 pm on field 1) – Last week Triple Sixers were missing their two best receivers but managed to win a close one so they are a confident bunch however they take on the talented Bandits who are coming off a loss therefore they would want redemption. Triple Sixers are undefeated and this is their first big challenge of the season.

 

 

That’s it for this week’s column, hope you enjoyed it. As always, I welcome your feedback and welcome any suggestions you might have for my column. Please contact me at [email protected] or via Facebook. Good luck to all this weekend and catch you all next week!