The War Room (D3) – Playoff Preview (Round 1)

Playoffs have finally arrived and if you are still reading my column, I’m assuming one of two things; either your team is in the sweet sixteen or your vanity has overshadowed your good sense as you await my d3 awards for the regular season… Whatever your reason for stopping by and reading this drivel, I hope it brings some entertainment to your weekly routine.

 

Now on to the sweet sixteen…

 

Conference A:

 

D3 Hybrid Vs Bandits:

 

D3 Hybrid 

Scouting Report

QB:      M. Roy 1427 Yards, 44 Tds, 8 Ints

WR:     J. Pilon  340 yards, 9 Tds

Def:      A. Pilon 11 sacks

 

Bandits

Scouting Report

QB:      J. Kiraly 1346 yards, 34 tds, 9 ints

WR:     A. Bozzo 440 yards, 12 Tds

Def:      C. Belliveau 10 Ints

 

Bottom Line: This game will come down to how well the Bandits defense plays; with the likes of the Pilons and Dudek, it will be very difficult for the Bandits to match up properly. This will allow Mike Roy to pick apart a team that is lucky to make the playoffs in the 8th seed.

 

Prediction: D3 Hybrid

 

Falcons  Vs Tennessee Studs:

 

Falcons

Scouting Report

QB:      S. Richard 1497 yards, 38 Tds 9 Ints.

WR:     M. Ouimet  624 yards, 17 tds

Def:      JF Cloutier 12 sacks

 

Tennessee Studs

Scouting Report

QB:      L. Guilbault 469 yards, 15 tds 2 ints

WR:     A. Ginzburg 221 yards, 8 tds

Def:      A. Ginzburg 26 tackles, 4 Ints

 

Bottom Line: This game will come down to the run and gun offense of the Studs vs the disciplined defense of Adi Sharma’s scheming Falcons. If the Studs can go vertical down the sideline, they might have a shot. But lets be honest, S. Richard has enough gas in his tank to fuel a Falcons offense that has no problems putting up points. 

 

Prediction: Falcons

 

SWAT  Vs Walk Ons:

 

SWAT:

Scouting Report

QB:      G. DiFazio 1633 yards, 38 tds, 7 ints

WR:     S. Haney  480 yards 11 tds

Def:      G. DiFazio 6 Ints

 

Walk Ons:

Scouting Report

QB:      M. Godyn 1094 yds, 32 tds 9 ints

WR:     R. Castleton 509 yards 16tds

Def:      M. Oliver 11 Ints  

 

Bottom Line: This game is going to come down to the Walk Ons and if they can pull together as a team in light of the do or die nature of the playoffs. Both teams are well matched on paper, QBs have met before and both have two favorite targets. It will be the surrounding cast which will need to step up if they are to advance.

 

Prediction: N/A

 

Rage  Vs Red Rebels:

 

Rage:

Scouting Report

QB:      S. Brosseau 1582 yards, 38 tds 10 ints

WR:     S. Sicotte 381 yards, 7 tds

Def:      C. Giguere 4 Ints

 

Red Rebels:

Scouting Report

QB:      R. Wrzesien 1172 yards, 22 Tds 9 ints

WR:     P-A Lebouthillier 577 yards, 13 tds

Def:      P-A Lebouthillier 12 Ints

 

Bottom Line: If Rage can contain LaFlamme and Lebouthillier, they will win this game easily. Rage is playing very well of late but has no real statistical stars on defense. Loaded with good receiving corps, Brosseau shouldn’t have a problem moving the ball on the Red Rebels. Red Rebels need a good game from their QB if they plan on slowing the tempo of the game and pulling out a close one.

 

Prediction: Rage

 

 

Conference B:

 

Ruff Ryders Vs GPK:

 

Ruff Ryders 

Scouting Report

QB:      P. Lapierre  1892 yards, 47 tds, 10 Ints

WR:     M. Champagnie 624 yards 19 tds

Def:      M. Champagnie 9 Ints

 

GPK

Scouting Report

QB:      M. Stagg 1613 yards, 37 tds, 20 Ints

WR:     J. Smyth 502 yards 14 tds

Def:      D. Batten 8 Ints

 

Bottom Line: The GPK are reeling after their loss to the Walk Ons and really with the performance they put on with backs against the wall, the Ruff Ryders may be feeling pretty confident. However, Stagg and co. do have some good offensive firepower and can strike back if the Ruff Ryder Defense isn’t up to snuff.

 

Prediction: Ruff Ryders

 

D-Boys  Vs AMB Eagles:

 

D-Boys

Scouting Report

QB:      N. Pattyn 1092 yards 19tds 14 ints

WR:     M. Kirouac 246 yards 6 tds      

Def:      M. Kirouac 22 sacks

 

AMB Eagles

Scouting Report

QB:      R. Beladjat 1151 yards 34 tds, 11 ints

WR:     G. Abu 456 yards 15 tds       

Def:      G. Abu  4 ints

 

Bottom Line: The sack machine Kirouac will have a field day on Beladjat if he doesn’t release the football early. D-Boys have been questioned with a soft schedule and this matchup is very favourable for them. If Mr. Abu can rise up to the challenge, he will have to single-handedly pull this one off for the Eagles.

 

Prediction: D-Boys

 

Wildcats Vs Ballerz:

 

Wildcats:

Scouting Report

QB:      P. Chadi 1623 yards, 35 tds, 17 ints

WR:     K. Morin  533 yards, 14 tds

Def:      K. Regimbald 4 Ints

 

Ballerz:

Scouting Report

QB:      M. Tougas 1264 30 tds, 7 ints

WR:     A. Lever 428 yards 10 tds

Def:      A. Lever 4 Ints     

 

Bottom Line: This is the best game of the sweet sixteen. The matchups are great and the previous tie between both squads demonstrates what a close game it will be. I think the real question is which QB wants it more. I’ve seen both struggle at times and rely a lot on their defense to make plays. The key to this game will be consistency in the passing attack.

 

Prediction: Ballerz

 

DIP vs Titans:

 

DIP:

Scouting Report

QB:      S. Chebbo 680 yards 20 tds, 4 ints

WR:     J. Hebert 580 yards 12tds

Def:      R. Hassani 6 ints.

 

Titans:

Scouting Report

QB:      M. Rene: 1564 yards 41 tds 9 ints

WR:     J. Void 678 yards 17 tds

Def:      Zecevic 6 sacks 14 Pass Deflected

 

Bottom Line: This game can go either way, both teams have shown flashes of brilliance this season and at other times have looked lost. I like the Titans passing attack due to the stellar play of the best receiver in D3 Jacques Void. If Mathieu Rene can stay the course and work the short and middle of the field, they should have no problem beating DIP. If DIP steps up its offense, this could be a shootout.

 

Prediction: Titans

 

My D3 awards will be announced next week….

 

D2 Playoff Picks Edition:

 

1. Pacmen over Notre Dame : Wyeth all Day!!!1

2. Phoenix over Homosapiens: Experience wins…

3. Nixon’s Renegades over Thundering Herd: Shouldn’t be close…

4. Waterbuffaloes over Texas All Stars: Knowledge of game vs pure speed

 

This tune is for you:

 

1. Run to you by Roxette dedicated to Matt Kirouac who willl be running to the AMB QB all night long.

2. Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell dedicated to A. Knights who won two way player of the year for his domination in D2 for the Shockers.

3. Superstar by Lupe Fiasco dedicated to all the award winners especially G. Ward for excellent FlagPlus seasons

4. Ready for Whatever by T.I. dedicated to the division one and two bye holders as they await the winners of this weekend.

5. Boys of Summer by Don Henley dedicated to the G-Men who were champs in summer only to back it up with a playoff missing follow up.

 

Quote of the week:

 

Why are you joggin? This isn’t the botanical gardens, run your route already!

                                                            – Anonymous on a certain Shocker receiver