The War Room (DB) – Week 5

Mid Year Review:

 

It’s that time of the season already where we can look back on the first 5 weeks of play and try to draw some conclusions. This spring has yet to identify any real favorites as most teams are within a few points of first place. The two undefeated teams are in Conference A East, where the G-Men and Motley Crue face off this week to sort out who the legitimate super power is, but with the shaky QB situation of the G-men and the nail-biting wins of the Crew, I would be hard-pressed to label either the odds on winners for Division B fame. That being said, I have listed the order in which I think the teams will finish and the team’s MVP in my opinion to date.

 

Conference A:

 

East:

 

G-Men:

Defending spring champs are exactly where they need to be at the midway point, nightmare of a schedule left however.

Team MVP:  Nareg Yessayan, making a serious case for two-way player of the year.

Projected Finish:  (9-1)

Tough Outs on Schedule: Motley Crue, Mercenaries, Falcons and Thundering Herd 

 

Motley Crue:

Some close calls early on but have managed to eek out the wins, won’t be so easy in the second half.

Team MVP: M. Rene, the man at the helm is a passing machine

Projected Finish: (7-3)

Tough Outs on Schedule: G-Men, Falcons, Choppers

 

Dirty Birds:

Joe Birds is hiding in Florida after his team’s early disappointment, but they look to regroup with a slightly easier schedule in the second half.

Team MVP: Jon Young, he exudes all the characteristics of QB and has a chip on his shoulder when playing.

Projected Finish: (3-7)

Tough Outs on Schedule: Mercenaries, Motley Crue

 

CCI Eagles:

The season is turning into a learning process, but they have shown glimmers of hope.

Team MVP: Fred Salem, nice TD total, a man to watch in the second half of season

Projected Finish: (1-9)

Tough Outs on Schedule: G-Men, Choppers

 

 

 

 

West:

 

Mercenaries: A team loaded with talent, hasn’t made a believer out of me so far.

Team MVP: G. Di Fazio, distributes the ball well to his surrounding targets, keeps them in check.

Projected Finish: (7-3)

Tough Outs on Schedule: G-Men, Alkaholiks, Falcons, Choppers

 

Falcons: Great start to the season, new stars emerging, looks promising…

Team MVP: S. Richard, QB, the heart and soul of this team

Projected Finish: (7-3)

Tough Outs on Schedule: Mercenaries, G-Men, Motley Crue

 

Choppers: A team with the potential to upset everyone on a given day, needs to play more consistent.

Team MVP: S. Avraam, consistently helping out on both sides of the ball, until the game gets close and he puts Chad Byers in.

Projected Finish:  (6-4)

Tough Outs on Schedule: DIP, Mercenaries, Motley Crue

 

Primetime Panthers: Not the way this team had hoped to start the season, but I think they can improve in the second half.

Team MVP:  Ryan Perry and Derek Daoust, the two most talented players it seems on this team.

Projected Finish: (3-7) 

Tough Outs on Schedule: Falcons, Choppers

 

Conference B:

 

East:

 

North Shore: A solid new team to the ranks, I expect big things from them in the playoffs.

Team MVP: D. Dorsnie, an interception machine.

Projected Finish: (8-2)

Tough Outs on Schedule: Kings, Alkaholiks

 

Kings: A big game against North Shore will decide where this team is headed, but so far looks promising.

Team MVP: Francois Lebeau, good distribution of the football, looks poised to take his game to the next level.

Projected Finish: (6-4)

Tough Outs on Schedule: Thundering Herd, Motley Crew, Dip, North Shore

 

Thundering Herd: A relegated Div A team searching for an identity, needs a leader, perhaps sign the legendary Moe Khan?

Team MVP:  TBD, who will step up?

Projected Finish:  (3-3)

Tough Outs on Schedule: Kings, Alkaholiks, G-Men

 

 

RHC: An emotional team who can be labeled as the upset special on any team’s schedule. Don’t take them lightly!

Team MVP: Sebouh Kaloussian, a great receiver, the pride and joy of RHC

Projected Finish: (4-6)

Tough Outs on Schedule: DIP, Thundering Herd and North Shore

 

 

 

West:

 

Alkaholiks: If all members are in the lineup, they are a dominant force. But absences have become an issue.

Team MVP:  P. Lapierre, he is the leader of this team and is their driving force

Projected Finish: (6-4)

Tough Outs on Schedule: Dip, Mercenaries and Thundering Herd

 

DIP: The attitude on this team is legendary and the dink and dunk offense is impressive. But will they implode?

Team MVP: S. Chebbo, gets the job done, somehow… And that commands respect!

Projected Finish: (6-4)

Tough Outs on Schedule: Alkaholiks, Choppers and Kings

 

Predators: This season is being used as an experiment for the Monarchs of 2010, that being said, don’t invest in the Monarchs too much.

Team MVP:  D. Majeur, turning into a great receiver threat, bright spot of this team

Projected Finish: (4-6)

Tough Outs on Schedule: DIP

 

Redemption:  This team has no reason why it isn’t a legit Division b contender, it boggles my mind how they are not performing like I know they could.

Team MVP: A. Knights, C’MON the team is built around him

Projected Finish: (3-7)

Tough Out on Schedule: Falcons, Kings, Thundering Herd and Alkaholiks

 

 

Castleton’s Random Thoughts of the Week:

 

1. DIP: Congrats on the win vs Thundering Herd, quite impressive. But your QB needs to work on his mechanics if you hope to ever play in a higher division. Some of his throws are just plain ugly and careless.

 

2. Thundering Herd: Don’t give up on your season, where is the passion we once saw in all you men? You are tougher than that performance…

 

3. Falcons: How many Falcons are on that OC list? Geez! You guys need to watch that or you will be suspended before season’s end.

 

4. Playoff Eligibility: You need to start playing now if you would like to be eligible for playoffs. No excuses come playoffs if the roster on the net is inaccurate. Captains stay ALERT.

 

5. Stephen Primeau: One of the most loyal FlagPlus players had his return to action (after a hamstring injury) as starting center for the Shockers, and put on a great showing. Glad to have you back, P!

 

6. J. Hebert, DIP: Keep it up buddy; you are making quite the friends list in FlagPlus. May I suggest a mouth guard and shoulder pads in the playoffs?

 

7. Touch for a Cure Charity Touch Football Tournament:  Anyone who wants a great day of football should enter.  The cost is $20.00 per player, and it is 6 vs. 6.  All proceeds go to the Montreal Children’s Hospital.   You can register your team at www.touchforacure.com . I have played in it for 2 years now, and have thoroughly enjoyed it.  Hopefully my QB Rob Campana will cut down on his redzone interception ratio this year…

 

 

Castleton Connection:

 

This weeks Questions are:

 

a) Favorite moment on a FlagPlus Football field so far would have been…
b) Who is the best player in FlagPlus Football all divisions this season in your opinion?
c) What’s your favorite youtube link and why?
d) If you had to choose the music to your own highlight package, what song would it be?
e) Who is the best ref in the league and why?

 

Jonathan Lemieux, WR,  Flight of the Conchords:

 

a) My favorite moment… Every week this season is my new favorite moment… The FOTC are playing quite well and we are having a lot of fun and we intend on keeping it that way!

b) My knowledge of the higher divisions is a little bit limited, but from what I’ve seen, I would say that Kishon Thompson is probably the best. The energy he brings to the game is incredible.

c) It’s hard to pick only one, but this is probably one of my favorite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bupnmV8dhwU
Dave Chappelle is just too funny!

d) Wow a highlight!!! I would probably choose something like Iron Maiden – Run for the Hills or the classic AC/DC – Thunderstruck. I love old hard rock music!

e) I can’t say that I know any ref’s name (which I am ashamed for). But overall, I can say that they do a very good job. The game is so fast it’s hard to see everything.

 

Stephen Primeau, Center, Shockers:

 

A) Shockers winning the division last season (winter 2009), going undefeated through the regular season and getting our first playoff W.

b) I gotta keep it green and black and give the credit to Andre Knights. He is a monster on both sides of the ball and the ultimate competitor and teammate.

c) Man, I have no idea. I pretty much only youtube music videos or songs I wanna hear and not download. Actually, if I had to pick one…in the spririt of ring number 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFeulbmvqjg

Howard’s rookie season and a preview of things to come, lol. Why? Amazing dunk by my favorite all time athlete. Nuff said.

D)It would be one of these 3:
Blue Armour by Ghostface feat. Sheek Louch
In The Name Of Tragedy by Motorhead
Na Na Nana Na Na by Jim Jones.

E) I only know one of the ref’s names, so he wins by default, Leo (Gervais)! He’s a good and patient ref and is willing to explain any and every call he makes without seeming insanely annoyed.

Alexander Khamis, DB/WR, G-Men/Bandits:

 

A)Without a doubt it was beating the Buckeyes last spring season in the DB finals…..they played a real tough game and had us on our toes the whole way. Holding a trophy was only part of the memory, sharing that moment with my closest friends on field 3 of the catalognia complexe is what makes it much more memorable and I’ll cherish that moment for a while!!

B) I’m not just saying this because he’s on my team, but this guy is unstoppable, and you do not want to throw a ball anywhere near him because I promise you…IT WILL BE PICKED…
NAREG YESSAYAN
8 Interceptions by week 5…
23 Receptions for 367 yards, 8 Touchdowns…

WHO HAS STATS LIKE THAT HALFWAY INTO THE SEASON ON OFFENSE AND DEFENSE?!?!?!???!!

C)
I really have two..
1) The Resiliency video by the Giants before Superbowl 42
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGnAnrjTPyw&feature=related

2) Brian Dawkins Weapon X highlight reel, produced by Brian Dawkins..
That video pumps me up right before game time…even if I’m not tackling anyone..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe5B8W8ZyR4

D) Robert Tepper-No Easy Way Out…
It’s the song from Rocky IV when he’s driving in his Lamborghini
Great song if you never heard it!

E) I Don’t know any of the names of the Refs except Danny Roy, and he doesn’t cut it as my fav..especially after taking away my touchdown in the DB finals when Paul DID NOT cross the line of scrimmage!
I’d give it to the white haired french guy (Jean-Luc Gervais / Frank Drebin)…he always cracks jokes on the side with me in between plays! Wish I knew his name..

 

Danny Roy, WR/ Referee, Cowboys:

 

a) — For me it has to be the Div. 1 final this winter. It was the most exciting game I’ve ever seen in FPF, it was non stop action right from the beginning and I think the only way a game like that should have ended was in OT.

b) —- In my opinion the best player in all of FPF this season is Paul Lapierre, he can play just about every position and play it very well, he’s got the size and talent to play both sides of the ball and I think if you ask any QB in any div. which one receiver they had to through the ball to on the last play of the game to win the game it would be him.

c) — Music video’s from the 80’s and 90’s, the music and concepts were good not like the crap most artists produce today.

d) —-Bon Jovi’s Keep the faith

e) —To quote you Ross when asked about if you think the Shockers will win it all in div. A this spring “I’ll sustain from this one” I’ll just say that I think all the refs do a great job to the best of their abilities

 

Vincent Roy WR/Safety, Falcons

 

a) —I think I have to go back to winter season of 07 Div 3,i was playing for the Packers(Falcons now),we were 8-1 and we played the Wolfpack who were undefeated at 9-0 on week 10 with the conference title on the line, they were highly favored to win it but we managed to win the game and the conference title in a wild one, I think the score was 42-32.

b) —Well I’m not gonna surprise anyone here by saying that Paul Lapierre has to be the best player in FlagPlus Football.mmmm where to begin, great hands, good leap, great QB’s ability, great snapper,plays good defence (he got 30 tackles in 4 games in DivA, that’s exactly the double of his closest opponent)O yeah, and by the way, he’s like 6’5” 250 pounds!!!

c)—I love to watch great comebacks or upsets in sports, it remind me that a game is not over till its over.

d)—Love today, Mika………….no seriously, Breathe in Breathe out by Bush (aka Machinehead)

e) —I don’t know their name but Ii can tell that they are much more consistent this year, every ref calls the same things so we know what to expect from them.

 

 

Quote of the week:

 

“I’m not coming back to play for fun…I’m coming back to finish a quest for a title…I came close with rehan’s misfits (Note by Mr. Solarik: “Rehan dropped 3 tds in the endzone to get mopped by the demons in the final”)  But I have all the faith in the world in the team mr kamel has put together and his confidence in me taking the helm. I owe him in return a repeat.”

            – K. Solarik, on his return to FlagPlus as the new QB for GMEN