Offense, offense, and yeah, some defense too.

Welcome to Week 2 of the FlagPlus Football Winter Regular season.

Although the captains of all the affected teams have been notified, just a quick reminder, that the games that were cancelled last Saturday at the Stinger Dome, due to the less than ideal weather we experienced, will be made up on Saturday February 3rd.

Last week I talked about teams who lit up the scoreboard, as nine squads topped the 40 point plateau. In Week 2, there were a number of Quarterbacks who dominated the stat sheet, as Jeff Rosenblatt (Keyport Lock), Shea Harbour (69ers), and Jarryd Taylor (TOPSZN), all topped the 400 yard mark, and a number of other passers came within a hair of accomplishing the feat as well.

While FPF is a league that is driven by offense, passing for that many yards is still eye-opening, considering the amount talent, especially on defense, there is in Division 4A and 4B. Let’s see if the numbers can continue.

With offense dominating the first two weeks of the season, a couple of questions must be asked. Firstly, is this just a case of some early-season bugs for multiple teams on the other side of the ball?
Secondly, and arguably more importantly, is this trend something that will last?

 

While the next few weeks will surely give us some results, the answer to the both questions, might not be as simple as you think.

Kevin Lubin, of Show Me Your TDs, was a one-man wrecking crew against the Backyard Bullies, as he had 4 catches for 66 yards, and a touchdown, to go along with an interception on defense.

After not playing in the Spring Season, and only playing a handful of games last winter, it’s nice to see the 3-time All-Star back in the league full-time, while not only playing for the Show Me Your TDs, but for the Wolverines, and Power Rangers as well.

The Commission, got into the win column in Week 2, with a 37-30 victory over Gotham. TC, was short-handed, as they were missing 3 players from their lineup, none more important than their best receiver in A.J Gomes, who missed the game due to suspension.

Despite starting the game down a player while they waited for a sub to arrive, the Spring Division C champs, used a solid defensive effort to limit the Gotham offense to just 12 first-half points. and intercepted opposing Quarterback Chris Rivest, three times on the evening.

In the bigger picture, for a TC squad that is breaking in a rookie QB Alessandro Barazzoni, showing they can get the job done without their best player, and receiver in Gomes, is huge.

 

After having a shaky effort as a Quarterback, and as a team in their Week 1 loss to the B.D Bandits, Travis Moses, and Up & Coming, rebounded in a big way, as they used a 26-point second half, to beat the Siths 39-19. Moses, who threw for five touchdowns on the evening, added a sixth, as he picked off opposing QB Gino Di Fazio, and ran it back to the house.

For anyone that has followed, or played in FPF the last couple of years, you know that trio of Jeremy Anderson, and the Moses brothers (Travis and Jordan) have been as dangerous as any group of players in the league. This year, with the additions lower division players like the speedy Azeem Bailey, and underrated Brandon Keiller, Up & Coming, have some new weapons at their disposal.

If the team, and their Quarterback, prove that their Week 1 performance was just a small blip on the radar, and the new additions deliver as expected, Up & Coming, has the potential to go a long way this year.

It certainly didn’t take long, but we got our first tie of the season, as the Jaguars, and Friends in Low Places, played to a 20-20 draw, Sunday night at Stade Hebert.

What makes the end result so puzzling, is some of the stats that were put up in the game. Wide Receivers Woodly Stephan Appolon of the Jaguars, and Friends in Low Places’ Jared Buck, combined for 10 catches, for 206 yards, and 3 touchdowns.

More often than not, when you see those kinds of numbers being tossed around, you expect teams to score a little more than three touchdowns apiece.

One reason for the low point total, at least from the FILP side, was the performance of Jaguars Rusher Darryl Dorcely. The fourth-year player, and two-time All-Star, joined the stat party as well, by picking up an extremely impressive 5 sacks of the speedy, and elusive Danny D’Amour.

Here’s to hoping both squads can find the endzone at least a few more times this week.

 

Random Thoughts

 

When accepting picks from Peeze, always verify that he sends you not just all the games, but make sure he doesn’t pick two different teams in the same game.

 

Just a reminder, that team photos will be taken starting tonight, so if you have guys on your team who either want to look pretty, and love themselves like Vinny Gualano, and/or love having their picture taken, like Domenico Benevento, make sure to bring your A-game for the camera this week.

After resembling a competent Quarterback against the choke artists, known as the Pittsburgh Steelers, last week in the Divisional Round will Blake Bortles, revert back to the guy we saw against the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round?

For the Steelers, and their fans, like FPF Founder Rob Campana, will Head Coach Mike Tomlin, ever have to answer for the horrible coaching decisions he made in the loss to the Jags, and more importantly, will the team’s offense take a step back next year, now that they decided not to renew the contract of scapegoat, and now former Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley?

Is it too early to give Danny D’Amour, of Friends in Low Places, the rushing title right now? So far in two contests, the FPF vet, has a Division 4 leading 10 carries, for 94 yards, and a touchdown. If he keeps up this pace, D‘Amour, will have 40 rushes, for 376 yards, and 5 TDs.

The next closest player to D’Amour in rushing, is Jagerbomb Quarterback Simon Duchense, who has 77 yards, on 11 rushes. He is on pace for rush for 312 yards.

Obviously, there is a lot of time left in the regular season, and things can change, but right now, these two are literally running away with Division 4A.

 

It’s early in the season, but there are a number of matchups this week that are not only intriguing, but could easily steal the spotlight.

In 4A, the TOPSZN vs Backyard Bullies contest, looks like one of those very games, as it will feature the young, and explosive TOPSZN offensive led by aforementioned Quarterback Jarryd Taylor, and receivers Hasani Worrell, Khalil Kerr, and Kevin Donnet, taking on an veteran, as weĺ as championship-laden defense with names like Sean Avraam, Vinny Gualano, Rich Humes, and Alex Moreau.

Taylor, and his TOPSZN squad, will be looking to rebound, after a tough 27-26 loss, to The Alpha-T’s, last Saturday in Brossard.

Speaking of The Alpha-T’s, in a battle of champions from the last few seasons, the Alpha-T’s are set to take on Mutation, in a match-up of two teams with a lot of play-making ability, and speed to burn.
The potential matchups in this one, like Alexandre Samson versus Bryan Mongeau, will definitely be worth watching, as both players make up for their lack of height, with speed, precise route running, and the ability to take a play to the house at any given moment.

The game will most likely come down to which Quarterback makes a mistake, for as good as Jean-Félix Marquis (Mutation) and Jesse Dupuis (The Alpha T’s) have been over the duration of their FPF careers so far, each pivot usually makes 1-2 throws a game that could easily end up in the hands of the opposition.

Last week, I picked the All Hooks versus Lobster Dinner matchup as my pick for Game of the Week. As expected, the game delivered as it went down to the wire, and saw All Hooks, escape with the 26-24 victory.

Coming up huge for his team in the victory, was Jean-Christophe Ferland, who had 4 receptions, for 50 yards, and a TD, to go along with 2 sacks, on the other side of the ball.

Throughout my time at FPF, I have always stood by the fact that extra points are important. This game proved no different, as All Hooks, went 2 for 4 on theirs, while Lobster Dinner, came up empty on all four of their attempts.

Another game that came down to conversions, was the Be Ready/Norfolk In Chance affair, as Be Ready walked out of the with a 19-18 victory. I personally hate it when a game comes down to a play that doesn’t even merit a stat, but as we all know, each and every point is important.

Earlier, I mentioned that Simon Duchense, and Danny D’Amour, were running away with the rushing title in 4A. Two Quarterbacks, who are doing the same in 4B, are Charles-Olivier Lavigne of All Hooks, who has 7 rushes for 85 yards, and two scores, and the league’s leader rusher in Jordan Mitchell of the Blue Chips, who through two games, already has 12 carries for 124 yards, and a TD.

It will be interesting to see who ends up atop the leaderboard at the end of the regular season.

The Small Giants, made me look like a genius, as I picked them in my Upset Special, and they came through as they knocked off noname© 35-26, Wednesday night at Stade Hebert.

Leading the way for the Small Giants victory, was Quarterback Justin Lerner, who threw for four touchdowns, and Defensive Back David Germain, who picked off noname© QB Jonathan Grizzley, and ran it back for a TD.
Division 4B, definitely has a number of matchups that will provide must-watch action as well. One prime example of that, will be the LV versus Team Ethnik showdown, tonight in Brossard.

Gabriel Côté, who leads LV, and their Division 4B leading offense, will be in for a potentially tough matchup, as they face an Team Ethnik defense that while lacking in household names, has the speed to make plays on that side of the ball.

The addition of Meïssa N’Garane, to Lobster Dinner, is roster move that not only paid off right away, as the second-year player had a touchdown in his debut, but it should really pay dividends all year long, as the two-player has speed, and length to spare. The more games he plays, the better he will become.

The team will need N’Garane, and the rest of their defenders to bring their A-game to Stade Hebert, on Wednesday night, as they take on a high-scoring Les Studs offense, led by Samuel Caron, who has put his name, along with Etienne Cloutier (Sphinx), Nicolas Gendron-Vallée ((Vikings), and Jonathan Brown (Lobster Dinner), among others, in the Quarterback of the year race early on.

Just my two cents, but I think another game to keep your eye on, will be the Sphinx versus All Hooks contest. Two veteran teams, with difference-makers on both sides of the ball, who have shown in the past that they are just as capable of putting up points, as they are of stopping them. Mark my words on this one.

 

My 4A Picks

Gotham vs 69ers – 69ers

TOPSZN vs Backyard Bullies – Backyard Bullies

Siths vs The Commission – N/A

Brocassion vs Warhawks – Brocassion (Upset Special #1)

Les Montagnards vs Up & Coming – Up & Coming – (My pick for Game of the Week #1)

 

Mountain Lions vs LOB – Mountain Lions

Show Me Your TDs vs Top Secret – Top Secret

Alpha T’s vs Mutation – Mutation (My pick for Game of the Week #2)

The Tide vs Friends in Low Places – The Tide

Jaguars vs Keyport Lock – Jaguars (Upset Special #2)

B.D Bandits vs Jagerbomb – Jagerbomb

 

Last Week 6-3-1

Season: 6-3-1

 

Peeze’s 4A Picks

69ers

Backyard Bullies

The Commission

Brocassion

Les Montagnards

LOB

Show Me Your TDs

Alpha-T’s

Friends in Low Places

Jaguars

Jagerbomb

Lasst Week: 5-4-1

 

My 4B Picks

LV vs Team Ethnik – LV

Martine et le Flag vs The Manglers – The Manglers

Past Our Prime vs Vikings – Vikings

39 cent wings vs Be Ready – Be Ready

A-Squad vs Tone It Down – A-Squad

Mean Machine vs Grinders – Mean Machine

Norfolk In Chance vs Le Red Tiger – Norfolk In Chance

Blue Chips vs Small Giants – Blue Chips

Grabuge vs Truth Squad – Grabuge (Upset Special #1)

Sphinx vs All Hooks – All Hooks (My pick for Game of the Week)

Lobster Dinner vs Les Studs – Lobster Dinner (Upset Special #2)

noname© vs Game Changers – Game Changers

 

Last Week: 6-4

Season: 6-4

 

Peeze’s 4B Picks

LV

Martine et la Flag

Past Our Prime

Be Ready

A-Squad

Mean Machine

Le Red Tiger

Blue Chips

Truth Squad

All Hooks

Lobster Dinner

Game Changers

Last Week: 6-4

Season: 6-4

 

Bonus NFL Picks

Last Week: 3-1

I would’ve been a perfect 4-0, had the Atlanta Falcons had any resemblance of a red zone offense, besides just having Matt Ryan rollout bunch of times, and toss it up to Julio Jones.

Jags – (the potential Myles Jack and/or Telvin Smith matchup versus Gronk will determine the outcome of this one. Also, don’t be surprised to see Jalen Ramsey get some snaps against the Tight End.)

Vikings – I don’t know about you guys, but Nick Foles, didn’t impress me whatsoever against the Falcons. This week against a MUCH tougher Vikings defense, who will stack the box to eliminate the run game, Foles, will have to win the game with his arm. I really don’t see that happening, especially against a Vikes squad, who already had the better story (Bradford, Bridgewater, and Keenum) and now, seems to have destiny on their side, curtesy of the phenomenal ending vs the Saints.

Speaking of that ending, a lot of people are asking to lay off Saints Safety Marcus Williams for his mistake on the game-winning touchdown. Yes, it sucks that it happened to essentially a kid, especially one who had a really good rookie season this year with 4 interceptions, but firstly, he is a professional, and secondly anything other than what he did on the play would have ended the game. Missing the tackle is one thing, but purposely moving out of the way, and then taking out your teammate, who was in position to make the play, is indefensible. Even if he had smoked Vikings Wide Receiver Stefon Diggs, and gotten a15-yard penalty for a hit on a defenseless receiver (I don’t see how that would be possible, seeing thay Diggs caught the ball in mid-air with his back facing Williams, and if the Safety would have actually done his job and hit Diggs, the impact wpuld have been to the back on the WR’s legs or lower back at the highest) the Vikes would’ve had to kick a 51-yard Field Goal to win the game. If you think that is simple, please see[ Anderson, Gary and Walsh, Blair].

Obviously, Williams, didn’t mean for the mistake to happen, but it doesn’t change the fact that it did. 

That’s it for this week guys. I’ll see you guys next time with a re-cap of this week’s games, and a preview of the Week 4 matchups.

If you loved the article, hated it, or simply felt like I left something out, feel free to email me at [email protected] or on Instagram @BADNEWS51

Cheers!