Offensive Struggles Highlight Week 2 recap

Welcome to Week 3 of Division E. Before we get into the preview of this week’s action, let’s recap a little bit of the festivities from Week 2. There were a lot of things we saw from this week that stood out. In last week’s article, I talked about a couple of teams struggling on offense, and even worse, some that got shutout. It appears that a couple of squads didn’t get the memo over the long weekend, as four teams couldn’t hit double digits, while two more failed to get on the scoreboard. As I said last week, this is a league that encourages offense. While there are some impressive defenses in Div. E, there is still no excuse for not scoring. Go make a play guys!

One of the main reasons we have seen a bit of a struggle offensively so far, is because it’s still obviously very early in the season. Another reason, is because of teams, and more specifically quarterbacks, making questionable decisions with the ball.

Instead of taking easy and higher percentage throws, so far this year I have seen a lot of QBs try to get their Matt Stafford on, and throw into coverage 25 to 30 yards downfield. Checking down or taking safe 5 yard throws AREN’T illegal in this league. Help out your offense and yourself by occasionally taking what the defense gives you, and just move the chains via the dink and dunk. You’d be surprised how often that works.

The last thing I noticed over the last week, and for the entire season so far, is the rushing numbers that have been put up in Div. E. So far, we have seen Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers, and Running Backs rush 204 times for 1,879 yards and 7 touchdowns. Obviously, scrambling QBs like P.J Belec, Massimo Cicchini, Jordan Allard (I told you he was fast), are an outlier, nevertheless, the ground game is working for a number of teams. When used correctly in FOF, the run game can be an extremely effective weapon. Clearly, some teams are taking advantage of it. Keep up the good work!

Fantastic shootout between Beastmode and Trinity, that saw our first tie of the season, as both teams battled to a 32-32 draw. We got to see some great receiving performances from Beastmode’s Nicolas Blais who had a game-high 7 catches for 134 yards, to go along with 2 touchdowns, and Trinity’s Antoine Dansereau-Leclerc, who putting impressive numbers of his own with 4 grabs for 87 yards and a game-high 3 TDs.

 While not getting a W sucks, both sides need to remember that they still get a point, and that come be the difference at the end of the regular season, when it comes to making or missing the playoffs.

Subbing as a scorekeeper this past weekend, I had a chance to work the game between the Krusaders versus Jagys & Chill and Les Huards vs Smokin’ Axolotls. I got to see some dominant and encouraging performances from multiple players from all four squads.

What stood out to me most, was that despite coming out on the losing end, both Phillippe Tremblay of Les Huards, and Patrick Geffard of the KRUSADERS kept going hard to the final whistle. Both players showed a lot of hustle, made plays for their teams, and kept cheering on teammates well after both games were well out of hand. Geffard in particular, made sure his Quarterback Ainsley Dejoie, kept his head up, despite the fact that the QB had a really rough performance. It’s always great to see that kind of effort and enthusiasm. Those are the types of guys teams need if they want to become successful.

Last week I talked about Quarterbacks Jordan Rossie (Smokin Axolotls) versus Gabriel Beland-Lapointe (Les Huards) as a matchup that would be a must-see. Clearly, I was wrong, as Jordan Rossie severely outplayed his counterpart. Jordan, who took over the role as the team’s starting QB from his brother Jason last Winter Season, has proven that he is not only a playmaker, but he is smart with the ball as well. In 13 games at the position counting last year’s playoffs, he has thrown 38 TDs and only 15 INTs. I look forward to seeing what he does with more experience behind Center this season.

Beland-Lapointe on the other hand looked shaky, unsure of himself, and hesitant delivering the ball. Those are never good traits to show on the field. It’s early in the season however, so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. Things don’t get any easier for him or his team however, as they face a tough Les Bonhommes Jaunes squad Tuesday night.

 

Let’s take a look at who balled last week…

Will Power (Smokin’ Axolotls): The third year two-way player, and the man with arguably the best name in the game, had a monster game vs Les Huards. While his 3 receptions for 26 yards doesn’t really impress anyone, the fact that all 3 catches went for touchdowns does. The 2 momentum changing INTs he had for his team do as well.

His teammate Jason Kokolakis wasn’t too shabby either, as he had 3 catches for 36 yards and a TD, to go along with a game-high 6 tackles, and 2 INTs, one of which he ran back for a TD, and more importantly seemed to break the backs of Les Huards.

Philippe Diquinzio (Jagys & Chill): After the team’s impressive outing versus the KRUSADERS, I honestly had a lot of players to choose from. Quarterback’s Jean-Felix Daloze 5 touchdown passes was nice, two-way player Simon Duchesne’s 3 TD catches and 1 INT definitely caught my attention, but Diquinzio’s two TD receptions, and two pick 6’s stole the show Sunday night at the Stade de Montreal.

Nathanael Niedermann (Gyr): Simply put, the man put up 7 sacks vs Dirty Mike n the Boys. When you get that many, you guarantee yourself a place on the list.

Daniel Hernandez (SPARTANS): Arguably the best Cornerback in Div. 6 this past Winter Season, Hernandez has brought his game over to the Spring Season, as he registered 3 INT Tuesday night in Brossard against FACE Jazz. He now has four picks on the season, putting him one behind…

Simon Bosquet Beaudoin (Aliens) for the second week in a row, the FPF veteran recorded a pick-6, as he put up 3 INTs against the Rolling Thunder, to go along with the 2 he posted last week versus Dirty Mike n the Boys. This has the looks of an amazing battle to see who will end up as the Div. E Defensive Player of the Year.

Simon Laporte (Jean Guy): The rush king has found a new position – Quarterback. Making his debut at his new spot, the FPF veteran who coming into his team’s game Tuesday night in Brossard had attempted 2 passes in his 7 seasons in the league. Laporte went a respectable 8 of 19 for 123 with 3 TDs and 3 INTs. His TD passes along with the 2 sacks he put up at his usual place in the lineup, were enough however, to lead his team to a 33-14 win over the Tigers.

 

Let’s see who took the Fall last week…

Gabriel Béland-Lapointe (Les Huards): I had a chance to talk to him before his aforementioned game against the Smokin’ Axolotls. He genuinely seems like a good guy, and he has a pretty awesome beard. Unfortunately, 6 interceptions is still 6 interceptions.

Goon Squad and FACE Jazz: Just like a solid sack total, if you fail to put up any points on the board, you end up on the list. Step It Up boys!

Gyr: How do you get 7 sacks from your rusher, and barely manage to win the game? That’s CRAZY!!!! If I was Nathanael Niedermann, I would demand to play for free. Don’t laugh, there are a lot of teams especially in higher divisions, that don’t charge their rusher to play.

Rahul Mohan (Tigers): He lost the battle to a first-time QB, and he threw 5 interceptions in the process. Talk about a rough night.

Eddy Rousseau (FACE Jazz) Six completions and 4 INTs. You veterans should know the rules by now. For you newbies, if you have almost as many, or more INTs than completions…you end up on the list.

 

Matchups

Justin Lerner (The RoadRunners) versus Philippe Diquinzio and Simon Duchesne (Jagys & Chill)

Lerner the Quarterback turned Wide Receiver, has put up solid numbers so far at his new position with 7 catches for 1178 yards and 5 TDs. As I mentioned earlier the J&C dynamic duo combined for 4 INTs and 2 TDs last week against the KRUSADERS. Let’s see which side keeps bringing the noise.

Mathieu Roy-Caissy (Aliens) versus Nathanael Niedermann (Gyr)

The GYR rusher picked up an amazing 7 sacks last week vs Dirty Mike n the Boys. This Sunday he takes on the speedy Mathieu Roy-Caissy. In two games so far this year, the Aliens’ QB has yet to be sacked. The winner of this battle will go a long way to determining who wins the game.

Victorious Secret versus Goon Sqaud

These were two of the worst teams in Division 6 last Winter Season, where they combined for 5 wins. Both squads faced off in Week 9, and surprisingly, it turned into a really good game, that saw Victorious Secret win on a second half offensive surge. Both sides lock horns again this Sunday at Stade de Montreal at 9PM. I have a feeling it will another game worth watching.

 

Picks (Favorites in bold)

KRUSADERS vs TDs and Beer – TDs and Beer  

Suh-Tang Clan vs Beastmode – Beastmode

Gyr vs Aliens – Aliens (My pick for Game of the Week)

Trinity vs Permian Panthers – Trinity

Gronky Kong vs Smokin’ Axolotls – Smokin’ Axolotls

The RoadRunners vs Jagys & Chill – The RoadRunners (My upset special)  

Victorious Secret vs Goon Squad – Victorious Secret  

SPARTANS vs Tigers – SPARTANS

The Warriors vs Super Troopers – Super Troopers   

Jean Guy vs FACE Jazz – Jean Guy

Rolling Thunder vs Dirty Mike n the Boys – Dirty Mike n the Boys

Les Huards vs Les Bonhommes Jaunes – Les Bonhommes Jaunes

Last Week: 7-4-1

Season: 7-4-1

 

That’s it for this week. I will be back next Friday, with my recap from Week 3, and my look ahead to Week 4. Thanks for checking out the article.

Take care, see you next week, and let’s go Raptors!

If you loved the article, hated it, or simply felt that I left something out, feel free to contact me at [email protected]