The Wrath of Khan (DA) – Finals Preview

 

Well, we have finally made it to the DA finals. After 13 weeks (in reality 11 since there was two bye weeks) the two best teams have made it to the pinnacle of the FPF season.

 

If the league schedule makers were smart (which they are), they should have allowed the Shockers and Happiness to play each other for 10 straight weeks right up to the finals. In fact, this could have been FPF’s introduction into the sport of cricket where teams play each other for days.

 

If these two teams did duke it out for the entire season, it probably would have been an even spilt down the line. Let’s take a look at the position matchups for this weekend.

 

Receivers:

 

Both squads possess the best group of receivers in DA that resulted in four players in the top-10 receiving this spring. Six players on the Shockers had at least 12 or more receptions, while the Happiness produced seven players who had at least 10 or more receptions.

 

The depth has been evident for both squads as their offenses combined for 641 points during the regular season.

 

An important edge will go to the team able to get more YAC (yards after catch). In researching the regular season averages for the top five receivers for each club, the Happiness averaged 12.8 yards per reception, while the Shockers average 11.2 yards per catch. However, in their two matchups, the Happiness average dropped by 1.3 yards. But the Shockers increased by .7 yards a game.

 

Furthermore, let’s take a look at the potential starting lineup for both squads this Sunday night.

 

Paul Lapierre

Andre Knights

Ricky Martin

Kishon Thompson

Jamal Pierre

Ross Castleton

Marc Champagne

Shawn Haney

Sean Farmer

Karim Binette

 

 

On paper the Happiness have the decided edge due to the size, skills, and explosive playmaking abilities. But excluded from this list are Rochdi Benabdelkader, Mike Godyn, and Stephen Primeau. With losses of these pieces, both teams will need to make sure that whoever they have on the field will produce positive yards on Sunday.

 

It is obvious that Champagne and Knights will get their touches on the football. However, the key elements for both teams are for Martin, and Thompson to be the catalysts for their teams. Both teams will need the nastiness of these two players to keep the beanbags moving by getting the tough yards in between the hash marks. They will need to exert their muscles (sorry Ross Castleton) to display who is king over the middle.

 

Edge: Happiness

 

Defense:

 

Without question the best defense in DA was the Shockers, as they allowed an average 15.1 points per game. The Happiness were ranked second as they allowed an average of 19.6 points per game.

 

The Shockers have integrated some outside ingredients to a solid nucleus of players with their spring additions of Thompson and Jason Prince.

 

The Prince signing helped correct a problem at the pass rusher position where Vadim Chernyk was ineffective during the winter season. Prince finished the season as the sack king as he amassed 16 sacks for the season. If that is not scary, the Shockers have additional help at that position, as they have their young stallion of the future, Jon Young who did a marvelous job containing Texas All-Stars quarterback Nathan Taylor, as he finished with five sacks for the night.

 

No one should forget who the Happiness have, and most likely the best pass rusher in all of the FPF, in the form of Stephane Cole. Cole has left his mark on many quarterbacks by forcing them to alter their throws, footwork, and passing plays. If Cole is healthy enough to rush the quarterback, it might alter the passing decisions by Shockers quarterback, Kevin Wyeth.

 

Sack Artists: A breakdown of what the pass rushers did during the regular season.

 

 

49ers

Titans

Rainmakers

TSA

Happiness

Shockers

Cole

5

 

 

2

 

1

Prince

8

2

3

1

**2

 

Young

 

 

 

*5

 

 

*Young’s five sacks were achieved during the playoffs against the Texas All-Stars.

** Prince’s two sacks against the Happiness were at the end of the game when Happiness were running out the plays.

 

For the primary rushers, Cole, and Prince, they played in eight games this season. However, both of these players bulk of production came at the expense of 49ers quarterback, Richard Shefteshy as they combined for 13 sacks. Looking at the overall breakdown, Prince was the more consistent rusher, whereas, Cole did his damage in spurts.

 

For the rest of the unit, the Shockers will miss the height and smarts of Mike Godyn. With Karim Binette playing on the other side, Godyn was stout at the other cornerback position throughout the year. Who will replace him? I am sure that team captain Andre Knights will conjure up some alignment where Kishon Thompson will drop back into the deep quarter of coverage on Champagne’s side. If not, then the spotlight will be on Gary Bloomfield to keep the opposition on his side in check. The only question mark on Bloomfield, will his lack of height come into play inside the redzone, since the Happiness tend to throw the jump ball to their taller pass catchers.

 

As for the Happiness, the key to their game plan will not be Champagne, or Martin on defense, but Adi Sharma. He is the FPF version of Tedy Bruschi. He might not be the most gifted athlete on the field, but he compensates by using his football IQ to create turnovers. It will be an intriguing chess matchup between Sharma and Wyeth. Who will be able to checkmate each other? Sharma does not have to guess right, but he has to make sure his compatriots are in the correct position to make the play. The Happiness led all of DA with 19 interceptions, so they do have the knack for being around the football.

 

Furthermore, the Happiness will need to force turnovers, not third or fourth down situations against the Shockers. They can ill-afford to get into this predicament because Wyeth has had tremendous success on late down situations.

 

Clearly, the Shockers have the edge in this department. All the players on the field know their assignments, and they have ability to alter the decision making process of the opposing quarterbacks due to their pressure, and aggressive styles. The Shockers are always calm on defense. They will need to continue to play their quiet physical style to get under the skin of the Happiness who are prone to blowing up once or twice during a game.

 

Edge: Shockers

 

Quarterback:

 

The glamour position, Kevin Wyeth, and Benny Goodfriend have put up incredible numbers this season. Some questioned whether or not these quarterbacks would succeed playing in new environments. Both proved that they are more than capable to adjusting to whoever they are throwing to.

 

Which quarterback will be able to make the defense guess wrong? Wyeth has the God-given ability to seamlessly be able to go to his fourth or fifth reads on a play.

 

Will Benny Goodfriend be able to get to his secondary reads? The question mark about Goodfriend is his tendency to develop tunnel vision and locking on one or two receivers only. Goodfriend will need to trust his intuition and get the ball to Pierre or Farmer when others are covered. Both have the physical capability to outmuscle any opponents.

 

The only roadblock that could happen with Wyeth is the timing issue with his receivers, since there was two bye weeks during the playoffs. Goodfriend on the other hand, has been playing with his teammates in various tournaments, so it should not be too tough of a transition back onto the smaller field.

 

The Wyeth experience factor will play a huge role in the finals. His ability to maximize his talents has made him one of the best quarterbacks in FPF. Will Goodfriend be able to get over the hump and lead his team to victory? Keep in mind, only four yards separated these two for the most passing yards in DA. The end result will be poetry in motion, watching these two artists at work.

 

Edge: Shockers

 

 

Final Prediction:

I will not predict a final score, since I will be a part of the broadcast team. But for the Happiness, they need to maximize the tangibles they have on offense with their size, and speed. For the Shockers, they need to continue to play that calm aggressive style of football. It will be a great game to watch this Sunday night.

 

Percentages%

 

10%, that Marc Champagne will return an interception for a touchdown.

 

10%, that my colleagues, Ross Castleton, and Rey Starwar will combine to win all three division titles this weekend. As a broadcast journalist, I must keep my opinions objective. But as a WEPL brother, I will be pulling for them to bring home more titles to the family.

 

20%, that Benny Goodfriend will throw a redzone touchdown to Paul Lapierre.

 

25%, that Jason Prince, and Stephane Cole will combine for three sacks this weekend.

 

35%, that Kevin Wyeth will have 20 or more completions.