The GM`s Scouting Report – Initial Thoughts

I`ve aways felt that introductions seemed kind of frivolous. They`re a way for the writer to either chime in and give their opinions on something that has nothing to do with the division that they`re covering (like what I`m doing right now) or it`s a way for the writer to artificially inflate the content of the article and make it seem longer (ALSO like what I`m doing right now.) So, I present this as an alternative: I`ll do my best to provide an introduction that is either short or relevant, or hopefully both. Those who have read my articles in the past will know that I don`t normally present an entire section devoted to stats, because that`s something that you can easily find on the site yourselves. So, for both these introductions and the content as a whole, I`ll do my best to ensure that there is very little filler and as much content as possible. So, until something comes up and I`m left with a short article that needs to be padded a little bit, we can move on to the best part of the article – everything after this!

 

 

On The Radar:

 

In the preseason article, I mentioned teams that I thought would be top contenders. In addition to those, these teams might not be the top names that everyone is going to mention early on, but they’re definitely teams that have sparked my interest and are worth looking closer at throughout the season.
 
Shmoney – Simply put, John Abbott football. One QB (McGrath), and three top receivers (Cecere, Ohayon and Vizzi) this new team took on an established Ball Busters team Week 1 and came out ahead. With the Cecere brothers on the squad, they have enough flag experience to guide them yet have a lot of potential as a totally new team who will definitely make some waves. Also, with Texas BareManz having lost in Division 3, they have the right to claim that they`re the better John Abbott football team.
 
ZOO – The changes of personnel have changed the caliber of Zoo that this team is; they now look like the San Diego Zoo instead of Parc Safari. The new addition of Jeremie Gauthier and the re-addition of Francois Deslauriers to this core is indeed promising, especialy when you have Frank Kaye going 15 for 17 with 6 touchdowns. If there was a season to bet on ZOO to go more than 10 weeks, this is it.
 
Les Duck Dynasty – A team that lost in Week 1 but still impressed. Falling 2 points short to an on-point TCO team in a heated match, Les Duck Dynasty look ready to compete. Formerly named Les Predateurs, this team has made the transition from tackle to flag well but are plagued with a difficult schedule. They have the talent, but we`ll see if they can close out games in order to make the postseason. One thing you know is that they will definitely be battle-tested.
 
Power Rankings
 

10: Les Affreux – Martin Jackson did indeed have a great first outing as predicted. I would like to see how he fares against some of the deeper defenses in Division 4, but for now Les Affreux sneak into the top 10 due to their teamwork and cohesiveness.  

9: A-Squad – Kevin Lubin used all the weapons on A-Squad to their full potential and pounded on his higher division teammate Simon Dagenais. If they say that defense wins championships, this is a team that we can expect to go really, really far in the postseason.

8: TCO – Now that the smoke and mirrors have fallen away, Matt Rupcic has emerged as the quarterback for this team. Having the ability to buy a ton of time with his feet and the ability to throw on the run, Rupcic at QB is the perfect complement for the TCO defense.

7: Game Changers – One loss has not sold my stock on this team yet. This team is both strong and deep, and lost to another top-10 team. However, we’re about to see if they’re the real deal with a game against Marco in the Middle this week, or if they’re just another good team playing under their potential.

6: 69ers – Closed out a high scoring game against a solid team with two opportunistic pick-sixes (including one from the rusher.) I said in the preseason that this is not a team that you’ll want to take lightly as they’ll adapt to their opponents, and that’s exactly what they did. Expect big things.

5: 6 Fast Guys Plus Ryan – Managed not to fall into a slump after losing half of their roster. They had a good confidence booster against a weak BMS team, but it’s time to see if they’re ready to compete with a game against Crisp coming up which should establish where both teams sit.

4: Crisp – Like 6 Fast Guys Plus Ryan, Crisp will have to prove themselves in this week’s matchup after playing against a new team to the division. Crisp are going to have to play to their potential and not allow any external factors to interrupt them.

3: Grip n Rip – Definitely impressed with a win over the Game Changers. Vinny Gualano didn’t have overly impressive numbers at the pivot, but the Grip n Rip defense is definitely one to talk about. They’re about to get battle tested against the Shamrocks.

2: Marco in the Middle – Managing to tie against the other top team while missing their quarterback and starting safety, Marco in the Middle have the potential to change a game at a moment’s notice. Look for the fun matchup of Gordon Hogan vs. everyone this week.

1: Shamrocks – Looked a little sloppy due to tardiness and laziness, the Shamrocks still managed to come out with a tie. They have a ton of playmakers who are capable and can wreak havoc on division 4, expect to hear their name often.

Other Teams that I Felt Were Relevant: I was feeling particularly productive, and since 17 teams won in the first week, I figured that some would merit a quick mention as well.

Playground – They have a ton of size on offense with Cote, Foucault, Centomo and Derek Daoust. The question is whether or not they`re deep enough on defense.  

Black Ice – I like this roster and the additions to it, however I`d like to see how they fare against a team that isn`t brand new.

Recipe 4 Disaster – A tough loss to a top-tier team. This team has all the components to go far, however will Jake Applebaum be able to adjust to the depth of the D4 defenders? 

Bruthers – Like everyone else, I’m curious as to whom this Connor O’Brien is. The Bruthers are a solid assembly of talent (including the Rainmakers’ Dan Adler) and we’ll all be keeping an eye on them.
 

Top Offseason pickups:

– Marc-Andre Paradis (Maloudes)

A player who definitely doesn`t get enough press for his style of play. Part of the Eudistes roster in Division 3, Marc-Andre is a quiet player on the field who lets his play do the talking. With a ton of football IQ and field awareness, Marc-Andre can cover a TON of ground and match up well against whatever receiver lines up in front of him. As an addition to this Maloudes team, he`ll be able to provide that higher division experience and input that will help les Maloudes succeed even further in Division 4.

– Mendy Cardichon (Trapstars)
 
Mendy is a top-tier talent who usually limits himself to the lower divisions. Possessing that killer mix of both size AND speed, Mendy could easily be a two-way division 2 player. As an addition on this Trapstars team, he adds depth to the roster and gives them the ability to compete with even the best of Division 4.

– James Nowakowski (Black Ice)

Black Ice have made some changes and they all look for the better. Nowakowski might be the two-way pickup of the year for this team. A phenomenal athlete with breakneck speed and endurance to spare, James has the ability to consistently find himself in the right place at the right time. Along with that, the ability to shred tacklers and being able to make a catch or interception worth that much more makes him without a doubt a go-to player for any team.

– Niccola Centomo (Playground)

A top-tier quarterback in both the FPF world (Les Messieurs Chats) and in the touch football circuit (Got Skillz), Centomo is an invaluable asset both as a receiver and as a potential play caller. While not eligible to throw in the division, he can still provide input on plays at hand and ensure that points are put up, both from a logistics point of view as well as a production point of view. He might also be the organized voice that this Playground team needs in order to succeed.

 

Weekly Predictions
 
It has come to my understanding that Simon Dagenais is already claiming that he’s going to do better than me in these weekly picks. It’s time for the gloves to come off and for all of us to see who’s better at predicting and knowing the teams in the division. Teams whom I have picked to win, please do not disappoint.  

Coyotes vs. Team Ethnik – Team Ethnik  
Local 89ers vs. BMS Goats – Local 89ers   
Grip n Rip vs. Shamrocks – Shamrocks  
Game Changers vs. Marco in the Middle – Marco in the Middle  
Ball Busters vs. Ghosts – Ball Busters   
Les Affreux vs. Lobster Dinner – Les Affreux   
A-Squad vs. Bruthers – A-Squad  
Two and a Half Dans vs. Certified Flyguyz – Two and a Half Dans  
Dragons vs. Whisperers – Dragons
Crisp vs. 6 Fast Guys Plus Ryan – N/A   
CREAM Team vs. Shmoney – Shmoney   
Longhorns vs. Playground – Playground 
Black Ice vs. SouthSide Ballers – Black Ice    
ZOO vs. Punt Returners – ZOO  
TCO vs. 69ers – TCO 
Justice League vs. TrapStars – Trapstars   
Maloudes vs. Eskimo Brothers – Maloudes  
Mustangs DG vs. Backyard Bullies – Backyard Bullies   
Les Duck Dynasty vs. Recipe 4 Disaster – Recipe 4 Disaster   
Sandlot Saints vs. Show me Your TDs – Show me Your TDs    

 

Well, that’s it for me. You can send me a message, talk to me on the sidelines or tweet me at @gmkole44. Until next week, the GM is out!