Mid Season Report DivE Part 1

Peeze’s Playbook

Week 5

By Paolo Della Rocca

 

By now you’ve gathered that my writing style us somewhat non traditional. For some it is a journey that we experience together while for others it is distracting as all they wish to do is find their own names.  Still, this article and the next will b more traditional.  I’m looking at the teams in Division E and ranking them while assessing their progress.

 

A Few Explanations

 

I always do this in the most convoluted way possible that no one truly understands and as such, it angers most of my readership.  The first think to note is the ranking.  The ranking works as a power ranking.  If I rank you as the top team it is related to who you’ve played so far.  A team may rank higher than others where the predicted record is not as good as lower ranked teams.  I have painstakingly gone through the entire schedule an picked each game.  

 

The grading system works as follows. Based on how I expected your team to play before the season your team is:

 

A: Far exceeding expectations

B: Exceeding expectations

C: Meeting expectations

D: Failing to meet expectations

F: Failing

 

The reason this isn’t simply related to your record is simple.  To base it entirely on your record would mean you’d have a grade and a record that ostensibly meant the same thing.  Therefore, to make this article mean something, I’ve created said rating system.

 

I’ve also only ranked a few of the teams.  The reason for this is that, it takes time.  Part two will be available after some games have been played but I will reference this games as I go along.

 

Mid-Season Report Pt.1

 

1. Los Banditos (5-0): LB are the cream of the crop.  Vincent Benjamin is a monster on both sides of the ball and offensively the team rounds out nicely with a well built receiving squad that features Julien Wilson and safety blanket Felix Proulx.  Defensively, Loic-Savoiz Seguin is the second half of Los Banditos’ twin towers.  Finally their success this season was going to depend largely on how well Francis Desrochers performed at quarterback.  He has been incredible and Los Banditos are undefeated.

 

Grade: B+

Key Players: Vincent Benjamin, Loic Savoiz-Seguin, Francis Desrochers

Predicted Record: 9-1 

 

 

2. Bud Knights (5-0): Bud Knights came into this season with a strange set of circumstances.  They were known for a rugged defence but had a disappointing second season in FPF.  However, the addition of Laurent Foucault has restored this defence’s elite status.  Mathieu Kielljan has avoided mistakes and put his team on the path to success. Bud Knights are back! Dilly, Dilly!

 

Grade: A-

Key Players: Michael Pietrobon, Laurent Foucault, Shawn Babin

Predicted Record: 8-2

 

3. Los Siete Amigos (4-1): LSA’s only loss of the season came in week 1.  Since then they’ve been perfect. The defence is anchored by an incredible rusher in Felix D’Aoust.  His speed, size and long-wingspan make him a matchup nightmare for every quarterback in the division. Etienne Brisson was the team’s only question mark heading into the season.  His patience and athleticism has been impressive and Nicholas Lessard and Benjamin Reid are dynamic and Los Siete Amigos figure to be in the mix of things by season’s end.

 

Grade: B

Key Players: Nicholas Lessard, Benjamin Reid, Felix D’Aoust

Predicted Record: 8-2

 

4. Threat Level Midnight (5-0): The question for TLM coming into the season were entirely about the quarterback position.  Is Jo Lemieux too good for Div E?  Would we see the good Jonathan Lemieux we’ve known in season’s past or would it be the Jonathan Lemieux we have seen recently who makes mistakes and turns the ball over. So far Jo Lemieux has been more the former. Moreover, despite the familiar host of names it’s Etienne Hortikius Goulet has been the main receiving threat for this offence.

 

Grade: B+

Key Players: Jonathan Lemieux, Etienne Hortikius Goulet, Julien Proulx

Predicted Record: 9-1

 

5. Mean Machine (3-1-1): Spring season has taken it’s toll on most teams. Mean Machine were not immune;  Jake Titelman was slated to play quarterback but missed the first two weeks of the season. Mitch Fergenbaum and Jordan Schwartz filled in admirably.  Howeer, for three weeks heading into the heart of the season.  Now that he’s arrived we can safely say, this team is well built to compete.  The defence has compiled eleven interceptions by the mid-season mark and the offense has speed and ability across the field.

 

Grade: A-

Key Players: Jake Titelman, Daniel Goloff, Derek Sigler

Predicted Record: (7-2-1)

 

6. Brewers (4-1): Brewers have played well.  It’s just about that simple.  Jeffery Lefebvre has been fairly consistent.  It does bother me that the only game he didn’t turn the ball over wa sin a forfeit win.  However, the Brewers defence has held serve and he has done enough to win more often than not all season.  Jason Stephenson is a very good defender and is leading this team in what has been a steady team effort.

 

Grade: A+

Key Players: Jason Stephenson, Christopher Morin, Jeffery Lefebvre

Predicted Record: (7-3)

 

 

7. Pardon My Sawg (4-1): The roster is well built. And the team has been performing well.  They’re only loss came to an elite team (Los Siete Amigos).  Unfortunately for Hawaiian Shirts Co. This has been their MO in passed seasons.  They tend to demolish some of the worse teams in the division but will lose to the stronger teams in the division.  This is a chance for Brad Evans to change the narrative.  To do so he’ll need to do a better job protecting the ball.

 

Grade: C+

Key Players: Myles Keiller, Brandon Keiller, Brad Evans

 

8. Jean Guy (4-1):  So I’m not entirely sold on Jean Guy. I will admit that 58 points against in five games is incredibly impressive.  However, despite the fact that they’ve stifled everyone they’ve played against the inability to score is worrisome. I understand how good that defines is, however, Christopher Chartrand’s 8 touchdowns and 7 interceptions is simply not sustainable. They are winning games but will certainly be challenged down the line unless this improves.  I think we’ll see a mid season lull for Jean Guy but until then, results are results.

 

Grade: B-

Key Players: Emile Lamy, Simon Laporte, Kien Pieton

Predicted Record: (7-3)

 

9. Honor Game (3-2): In the three games that Honor Game has won, they have looked invincible.  They won in decisive fashion while blowing out their opponents.  In games that they’ve lost Honor Game has struggled to move the ball.  We’ve seen the best of and the worst of Dave Daoust so far this season.  The offense is simple, Dilan Daoust helps move the chains and Jonathan Hared takes the top off the defense.  If David D’Aoust makes good decisions, this formula, while predictable, is tough to beat.

 

Grade: B

Key Players: David Daoust, Devin Daoust, Jonathan Hared

Predicted Record: (5-5)

 

10. Blackouts (3-2): This team is better than they let off. Chris Cione is a dynamic player and while the team has their flaws, they are playing really well.  Julien Lachance has done a great job of running the offense and despite getting beat bad by Honor Game this past week, the team has performed above expectation.  They are tough to beat in the red zone and move the ball (albeit it slowly) when on offense.

 

Grade: A

Key Players: Chris Cione, Julien Lachance, Yvan Hazikama

Predicted Record: (6-4)

 

11. Bozy Boys (3-2): Bozy Boys have talent.  The position where they are most talented is at quarterback where the cowards have been trotting out former U Sports quarterback Pierre-Luc Dussault on the reg.  Not only does he obviously have a great arm, his ability to make plays with his legs is impressive.  The team is fast, young, full of playmakers and a quarterback who can make the best of it.  Expect Bozy Boys to be cowardly contenders from jump-street.

 

Grade: A

Key Players: Pierre-Luc Dussault, Alessio Muro, Daniel Spina

Predicted Record: (7-3)

 

12. Trailer Park Boys (3-2): The cap on their scoring has yet to be lifted. He defense legitimately attacks the flats and allows few passes deep.  They stuggle to stop intermediate passing but that is also the hardest area for Division E quarterbacks to attack. Despite the lack of total scoring Antoine Meunier has the offense moving, whether its him churning his legs or passing and using his speedy receivers, to get yards after the catch.  Once the light got off for Antoine Meunier and he becomes a ore lethal red zone passer, he will be an elite quarterback.

 

 

Grade: C+

Key Players: Antoine Meunier, Alex Meunier, Will Richard

Predicted Record: (7-3)

 

13. X-Sterminators (3-2):  This is nonsense.  Why not just call your team exterminators? It’s pronounced the same, the alternate spelling isn’t clever and it’s just as long to write.  If anything all it’s done is break my autocorrect on the reg. X-Sterminators (dumb) can be summed up with one word: size. Alex Finkelstein and Mike Knopp are huge targets for quarterback Shayne Feinberg. Still in three games Feinberg has thrown 8 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.  This is an issue that needs to be resolved before the end of the season.  I think they’re solid but, there’s a lack of consistency that keeps X-Sterminators from being elite. To further prove this fact, the team lost the same amount of games with Mike Knopp at quarterback than they did with Shayne Feinberg.

 

Grade: C

Key Players: Alex Finkelstein.Mike Knopp, Ryan Castiel

Predicted Record: (5-5)

 

14. Lockdown (2-3): Pat Riot is likely the best quarterback in the division.  He and Eagle knew what they were getting into with this team however.  The team is fairly new to FPF on the whole and there will be some growing pains.The team has relied offensively on Steven Alberico and Shawn Fontaine.  On defense Alex “the Eagle” D’Aquila hasn’t been able to fully ge this team to commit to concepts and they’re allowing a ton of points.  Until they get get everyone contributing Lockdown will continue to struggle.

 

Grade: C

Key PLayers: Pat Riot, Shawn Lafontaine, Steve Alberico

Predicted Record: 4-6

 

15. Green Means GO! (3-2): So far, GMG have been exactly what they’ve been expected to be. A middle of the pack team that turns the ball over about as well as they create turnovers.  Dave Allen has struggled somewhat but is being elevated by a strong defense that is built around Eugene Mclaren.  The team has some learning to do but with Coach Allen a the pivot, the timing and spacing mistakes should vanish soon.

 

Grade: C

Key Players: Dave Allen, Eugene Mclaren, Karim Yasmine

Predicted Record: (4-6)

 

16.Mambo (2-3): Mambo is an offshoot of the U.  Nikki Papich is throwing it (and often running when the occasion calls for it).  The team has a great mix of athleticism and experience.  However, the season did not get off to a great start as they lost three of four games to some of the division’s top talent. They reversed their fortune somewhat as they faced off against Clinkers and handed them an midseason defeat. In that game the connection between Nikki Papich and Tim Horner looked unstoppable. Let’s hope this is a sign of things to come.

 

Grade: D

Key Players: Tim Horner, Nikki Papich, Kyle Pedvis

Predicted Record: (4-6)

 

17.Clinkers (2-3): Unfortunately Marc-Andre Desaulniers return to the lowest division in FPF has not seen him play as the dominant force as we expected.  The team is probably the best group he’s been surrounded by.  0-3 in their last three weeks have them reeling.  During that time Clinkers have not scored more than three touchdowns in any game.  Maxime and Jeremie Ledoux have been the entire defense as the brothers have tallied all of the teams interceptions and sacks.  Clinkers have been thoroughly underwhelming.

 

Grade: D

Key Players: Jeremie Ledoux, Maxime Ledoux, Sean Thomas Furlong

Predicted Record: 6-4

 

Sunday’s Sworn Slippers

This is the midseason report.  A little over half of it actually.  Stay tuned for part 2.  Let me know your thoughts by reaching me at @PeezeFPF on twitter, @Peeze Della Reeze on Facebook or by emailing me at [email protected]. 

For further analysis, tune in to the official FPF Division E podcast Calling the Audible where Moe Khan, Stefano Berardi discuss the money laundering, doing actual laundry and the only true recipe for Spaghetti Carbonara. You can see us on Facebook live or on youtube @ www.youtube.com/flagplusfootball. 

Have a great and safe week of action. See you at the fields!