Categories: DivisionDivision CMen'sSpring

Preseason’s Article – A look at what’s to come

And so it begins.

Welcome back.

I missed you, did you miss me ? Of course you missed me, who am I kidding.

Many of you were wondering who would have the privilege of writing Div C for you guys this season, well, look no further. I came back with a more typical format than my bilingual articles I had some of you guys process through every week in Div 4; I’ll write up one “lengthy” (It’s summer for me too) article per week. With 26 teams this season, I’ll try my best to distribute the coverage and make sure everyone feels noticed and loved.

As expected, I will be the voice of reason in Division C. I pick winners and favorites, don’t take Terry Tam and Moe Khan’s words in their weekly podcasts too seriously; they don’t even know!

In all honesty, give their podcast a listen every week; they do a fantastic job and their chemistry is always fun to listen to. They are the next best thing.

I will try to keep a semi-traditional format every week; tossing around some Players of the week award, a few recaps, a few previews, my famous Power Rankings, some predictions; you know, the usual. I also have a few ideas to keep things interesting as the season goes so I hope you all stick around long enough to witness it!

Enough with these introductions, I’m not Peeze.

Let’s get this show on the road.

 

Preseason

Before jumping into Week 1’s matchups (Previews and Predictions), I decided to give you guys a little taste of what’s to be expected this season from my point of view. Keep in mind, this list is unofficial (well, it’s Division C official, because I wrote it, but it’s my own personal opinion. If you don’t like where you are ranked or what I think of you, you have a full 10 weeks to prove me wrong and shock the FPF Nation. Your fate lies in your own hands, literally).

 

Conference A

The Punisher : A revamped version of Lynx with some new faces, The Punisher are looking solid if they decide to go with Mathew Bourbonnière-Morin under center. Loaded with underrated athletes in both Bourbonnieres, Ladouceur and Prosper, this team is scary from top to bottom. Not the flashiest bunch, but they know how to pack a punch.

Preseason Grade : B+

Two and a half Dans : The Infamous Dans are back (Yes, I’m renaming you guys officially once again). Adding Matthew Rupcic to an already loaded roster can’t hurt. The Dans had a great season in Winter finishing in the top 8 and taking down Shamrocks in the playoffs; they are bound to excel once again. I don’t need to develop any further about this unorthodox offense and their gritty defense; they will win games with this even stronger roster.

Preseason Grade : A

Laval’s Finest : LA’s Finest boosted their ranks with Jad Aridi and Rod Mashtoub and look fierce headed into Division C. With Theo Bekelis and Rod Mashtoub in the lineup, I’m curious who will be under center when the whistle blows against Patriotes week 1. Either way, I believe this team has the chemistry and the overall talent to overcome many adversaries. Their first few weeks will be crucial and they don’t have it easy.

Preseason Grade : B-

CREAM Team : CREAM Team is back and I’m thrilled. First, because I’m not facing them. Second, because I loved these guys in Division 4 and the extra experience they’ve gained will go a long way. Facing against a strong squad week 1, it will set the tone for their season. I expect CREAM Team to have another fantastic season.

Preseason Grade : A

ZOO : Le ZOO is back and I believe they fit the division properly. I do not expect ZOO to go undefeated this season (I am not Moe Khan), but I do foresee good things for Frank Kaye’s offense. Losing a few key players on defense, ZOO will have to tweak their roster, but with this much depth, it’s bound to get back in rhythm pretty quickly.

Preseason Grade : C+

Patriotes : I remember Patriotes’ glory days like it was yesterday. With this roster and their past experience, we have to give Patriotes a serious contender seed. Chauvin is coming off a bad injury, but took some games last season to get back into rhythm and he’s back with his boys now. Seeing all key players back, I have high hopes for these guys to surprise plenty.

Preseason Grade : B-

Hitmen Retro : I have learnt not to bet against Carmine Pollice and Gino Di Fazio. Although neither can play QB, they remain dangerous threats on both side of the ball and serious QB coachs. These guys will be underestimated due to the average age of the team and will make you regret it within minutes.

Preseason Grade : B-

Killer Instinct : Black Ice is back with a revamped roster and I really like how this one looks. Osman is a great addition and Stanway can really lead these guys back to glory (Average Joes kinda glory). They might actually have the Killer Instinct this season.

Preseason Grade : B-

Longhorns : Longhorns caught fire real late last season, but fell short of a playoff berth. With that momemtum, going into Div C was a brilliant idea. Their newfound defensive depth is dealing serious damage and Jon Moodie continues to excel in his offense. There’s no reason we should overlook Longhorns this season. Their first few weeks will set the tone for what might be a memorable season.

Preseason Grade : B

Westpark Boys : A brand new team, with many new faces, led by Matt Bond will make their debut Sunday night in Lachine. It’s hard to predict a new team’s success without any info on the players, so I’ll restrain myself, but I do hope them the best.

Preseason Grade : C

Served With Heat : A slightly different looking Served With Ice came down into Division C with a change at Quarterback. Jordan Panetta will play receiver while Karl Lavallée will take the field under center. With their experience and talent, the transition should go smoothly and Served With Heat could become a serious contender in Div C this season.

Preseason Grade : B

Nashville’s No Fly Zone : With names like Eddy Martinez, Rich Humes, Steve Sanner, Matthew Bishara on a roster sheet, I’d be scared to face them any given week. With many that can play QB, I’m curious to see who will take snaps as we approach Week 1. A deep roster with so much talent; this team is bound to make noise.

Preseason Grade : A-

TOPSZN : Moving up from Div 5 and adding a few talented players, TOPSZN is looking to make some noise in Division C this season. I’ll be honest, I don’t know much about this squad and I haven’t seen them play so they’ll have to impress me starting off against a strong KGP Champs squad.

Preseason Grade : C

 

Conference B

Game Changers : I expected Game Changers to be in Division B this season, but they’ve lost a few key members and this revamped roster is now in Div C. With Sakiz at the helm, nothing but glory awaits Game Changers. Very strong roster on both sides of the ball, this team is to be feared. Oh, and they added Ryan Aridi.

Preseason Grade : A+

PRIMETIME : The 4 Daousts are back being David’s arm with a few other familiar faces. I really like this roster from top to bottom. It’s talented enough to compete and sweep Division C, but it’ll come down to David’s ability to move the chains more than anyone else’s.

Preseason Grade : B

Team Ethnik : Team Ethnik is back after their shocking victory over Crisp last Winter in the playoffs. Losing a few key players, they turn to Jonathan Brown to lead this team to glory. Every season, Team Ethnik is underrated and they prove us wrong. Will this be another one of those?

Preseason Grade : C

Keyport Lock : I haven’t followed much of Keyport Lock’s success last season, but with the new additions to the roster including a few names from Legends, this team could become a threat in Division C faster than we’d expect.

Preseason Grade : C+

Damps 25/8 : What appears to be a revamped Texas Baremanz without Sinagra is lining up in Division C under a new name. Last season, I had the pleasure to face them and I knew they’d make noise in the following seasons; the players are a lot better than we give them credit for. With the right QB, this team is going places.

Preseason Grade : B-

Predators Lite : After Simon Bosquet-Beaudoin’s success as a QB in the lower division (he did win the award), he rallied most of his higher division squad behind him to give it a shot in Division C. Predators Lite is built around strong core players and good chemistry; I can’t really see any flaws there.

Preseason Grade : B+

Grip n Rip : Our Division 4 champions moved into Division C with a purpose; back to back championships. With a very similar roster (lost Da Silva, but the rest is the same), GnR is looking to do the improbable. With their roster’s strength and the way the division is, they are already looking pretty good.

Preseason Grade : A-

The Brotherhood : Back after a tough Winter season, The Brotherhood moved down from Division 3 to Division C by changing up QBs. With Jamal Gittens back under center, Brotherhood could have success once again. The roster is well built and the players are talented enough to compete and possibly dominate in Div C.

Preseason Grade : B+

Snatchers : After a disappointing finish to their Winter season, Snatchers moved down from Division 3 into Division C with a tweaked roster. Slightly weaker, but built around less players, Snatchers are looking pretty strong pre-season.

Preseason Grade : B+

KGP Champs : KGP Champs is back in a lower division with a different QB at the helm. The squad looks pretty similar and the key players are back; we’ll just have to wait and see just how deadly Phil Cutler is at the receiver position.

Preseason Grade : B

Les Blues Branleurs : Last season, Les Blues Branleurs caught fire late in the season and couldn’t clinch, but their gained experience has them looking great heading into Division C. With a slightly different roster than Division 3’s LBB, I’m still pretty confident Minh Ton-That will surround himself with talented athletes and find ways to win games.

Preseason Grade : B-

Top Sauce : Vince Nardone is giving himself a shot at the pivot position and built a team to dominate. With a very deep roster, it’s a matter of time before chemistry kicks in on offense. Defense is bound to be dangerous and Top Sauce shouldn’t be underestimated.

Preseason Grade : B+

STL : This new version of Ball Busters really caught my attention. With the new additions in Nowakowski and Ojeaha, I don’t see any reason why STL shouldn’t be considered highly dangerous. This defense is especially threatening.

Preseason Grade : A-

 

Power Rankings

Like every week, I’ll give you guys a nice rundown of what I consider Division C’s Power Rankings. The top 10 teams will be displayed here; obviously it’s very subjective, but undefeated is undefeated after all !

  1. Game Changers: This was a no-brainer for me. I love the roster and I believe Sakiz will have another monstruous season.
  1. Two and a half Dans : Constantly underrated, The Infamous Dans will not be overlooked this season. I expect big things from these guys this season.
  1. Grip n Rip: Our previous Division 4 Champions are back. Can they pull off back-to-back wins?
  1. CREAM Team: I was high on them last season and I still am. The gained experience will work wonders for them.
  1. Nashville’s No Fly Zone: I’ll have to find an acronym sooner or later because I’ll be mentioning this team’s success more often than not.
  1. STL: Although I’m curious as to what it stands for, the new additions really sold STL for me. This is Dylan Taylor’s best roster.
  1. Predators Lite: Loaded is the first thing that comes to mind. I really like this squad.
  1. Snatchers: I hate giving my own team credit, but we’re built to compete.
  1. Top Sauce: It’ll all come down to Vince Nardone’s effectiveness as a QB, because this roster is spectacular.
  1. The Punisher: The Bourbonniere-Morin brothers are underrated in FPF and they’ll make many opponents pay this season.

 

Previews

  • Top Sauce, lead by Vince Nardone under center, will be taking on Snatchers with the Spring Season opener. Basically, FPF staff game where Nardone, Eagle and GM face off against me. The strength of both teams will be accessed and we’ll be able to know where both teams stand right off the bat. Both defenses should look pretty good out there, but the real matchup will come down on either QB’s ability to move the chains and put up points. Considering this to be Nardone’s debut, I have the edge, but he might be a better QB than we’d anticipate! Definitely a fun opener with opponents who know and have faced each other before.
  • STL is facing off against Les Blues Branleurs in their season opener and it’s bound to be a great game. Ton-That’s experience under center is really starting to shine even if Reda Malki isn’t back in the lineup this season. STL’s roster is monstruous and I believe Dylan Taylor will have one of his best seasons in FPF this Spring. It’ll be a great faceoff and it’ll end up being more offensive than we’d expect, but STL will take this one down the stretch.
  • Served With Heat will take the field against an hungry Longhorns team that will be looking to upset in their very first match. With Karl Lavallée under center, Served with Heat will look slightly different from their Served With Ice counterpart. Chevalier, Panetta, Lavallée might just be too much to handle for the Longhorns’ defense down the stretch, but it doesn’t mean Moodie won’t have another great game to kick off his season.
  • Two powerhouses oppose in this week 1’s matchup when Game Changers will take the field for the first time and test SBB’s Predators Lite. With the QB of the year award last season, Simon Bosquet-Beaudoin is looking sharp at the helm of a loaded roster, but Game Changers’ lineup is simply ridiculous. Both teams, on paper, have one of the best rosters and this matchup is bound to be spectacular from whistle to whistle. Rust and lack of chemistry could be the X-Factor since it’s a week 1 matchup.
  • Our Division 4 Champions will face off against a very talented Brotherhood squad in Week 1 and it’ll be a serious test to the division’s skill level for both teams. An “avant-goût” of what Division C has to offer! Knowing Vinny Gualano really likes to play the matchups, Brotherhood might just be that team he’s scared of facing. Both gritty defenses will give the opposing quarterback headaches, but I think Gualano’s experience will prevail against Gitten’s.
  • In what I consider this week’s Game of the Week, The Punisher will make their “debut” against CREAM Team. Fresh off a sickening loss, CREAM Team will look to get back into their FPF form by shocking the Nation with their week 1’s matchup. On the other hand, The Punisher has that kind of roster we’ve been underestimating for far too long. Both teams are built to compete and win; I’m just happy I’ll be there to witness it firsthand.

 

Predictions

Sadly, this season, no one wants to face the undisputed champion in predictions! Nonetheless, I shall keep predicting the future and letting you guys know who I think will win in the upcoming week. It’s all fun and games and I get to hear you guys complain when I pick against your team!

Top Sauce vs Snatchers : —-

Patriotes vs Laval’s Finest : Patriotes

TOPSZN vs KGP Champs : KGP Champs

STL vs Les Blues Branleurs : STL

Served With Heat vs Longhorns : Served With Heat

Killer Instinct vs Westpark Boys : Killer Instinct

Hitmen Retro vs Nashville’s No Fly Zone : Nashville’s No Fly Zone

Team Ethnik vs Keyport Lock : Team Ethnik

Game Changers vs Predators Lite : Game Changers

Grip n Rip vs The Brotherhood : Grip n Rip

Two and a half Dans vs ZOO : Two and a half Dans

The Punisher vs CREAM Team : CREAM Team

Damps 25/8 vs PRIMETIME : PRIMETIME

 

{Editor’s note: As Simon’s only competition, I, G.M. Kolethras decided to edit his article after he posted it and insert my picks for Week 1 as well, and continue doing it to show him that I’m still the expert around here. Look for us to keep a weekly tally on who was right.

Top Sauce vs Snatchers : —-
Patriotes vs Laval’s Finest : Patriotes
TOPSZN vs KGP Champs : TOPSZN
STL vs Les Blues Branleurs : STL
Served With Heat vs Longhorns : Longhorns
Killer Instinct vs Westpark Boys : Killer Instinct
Hitmen Retro vs Nashville’s No Fly Zone : Hitmen Retro
Team Ethnik vs Keyport Lock : Team Ethnik
Game Changers vs Predators Lite : Game Changers
Grip n Rip vs The Brotherhood : Grip n Rip
Two and a half Dans vs ZOO : Two and a Half Dans
The Punisher vs CREAM Team : The Punisher
Damps 25/8 vs PRIMETIME : PRIMETIME

 

}

 

 

 

 

That is it for me for this week. If you have any comments regarding the article, don’t hesitate to hit me up on twitter @DagenaisFPF or at the fields. I’ll be scorekeeping games on Sunday and Tuesday nights, so I’ll get to see most of you guys. My official FPF email [email protected] also works, but get with the times, Twitter is where it’s at. Feel free to yell at me if you see me walking around, always glad to talk some FPF. Until next time…!