Tua, Blacking Out and some Flag Football Coverage

Firstly, in case it wasn’t clear: I’m not a doctor. I’m also a Dolphins fan so read this with whatever bias you believe I have (it’s likely accurate). Prior to Thursday’s game I felt uncomfortable with Tua taking the field. The idea that the team played in 115 degree heat and was expected to play 4 days later was nonsense in the first place. I don’t know for certain that the Dolphins play caller came into the game with a head injury but it certainly looked like it to my untrained eye.

I’ve heard about how he was cleared by an independent doctor, I’ve heard he was cleared by the team, and I’ve heard that his back injury caused him to stumble as if he had alcohol injected straight into his brain. The independent doctor has since been relieved of his duties for making “several mistakes”. So where does this leave us with our seemingly justified distrust of the NFL and their protocols.

Where my mind was drawn was a season of the true crime podcast: Unraveled. In one of the seasons they looked at courtroom experts. One of the considerations was that the specialists were often hired by the district attorneys and had an inherent bias to find information that would help their employer and thus keep them employed. I thought of the independent doctor who’s lone voice usually stands in opposition to the team, players, league and fans who want players on the field. Do they feel the innate call to clear players? Is the protocol itself er on the side of playing time? I hope Tua’s better and I’m glad that injury wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

Peeze’s Playbook: Week 2

#Sub Regard

Perhaps the thing that makes FPF unpredictable is that, as a byproduct of being a rec league players will miss games. In some cases they are very predictable missed games (like when a player such as Kendal Mayers is injured), others are less predictable like when someone’s child can’t sleep because you didn’t remember that the one scene in Ghostbusters is scary for kids and now the little bugger can’t be more than 3 feet of you without melting down. Then there are those absences which are planned. This is the case for Travis Moses who missed this game due to vacation plans (not judging, I missed a playoff game in spring because vacation is awesome).

The plus side is that when you have the notoritiy of #NR and playing in a high division with few teams comin by subs is easier than other contexts. Such would be the case for #NR. Instead the difference in a 46-44 (in favor of KGP) match would be another element that decides so many FPF games: converts! Despite taking a 30-28 lead in the first half Adam Sinagra and his offense were simply inefficient after their scores. They went 0-5 on their first half converts and despite scoring a full touchdown more than their opponents, #NR held a slight 2 point lead heading into the half.

Phil Cutler showed his FPF experience with his game management as KGP would open the second half with a score. This created an opportunity for KGP to attempt an onside kick. Cutler threw a 23 yard pass to Khalil Kerr and just like that, they were awarded a second consecutive possession. Matt Lepage would cash in on this with a touchdown on the next play. Adam Sinagra felt the screws; #NR picked up the pace and ended a quick drive with a score to Kenny Baye. KGP knew the deal was and started dragging out the play clock and controlled pace. When #NR took the field they could not score fast enough as the 6 yard touchdown pass to James Tyrell would leave less than 5 plays and the opportunity for KGP call game.

Once is the Loneliest Number

There are times when I think of Jeff Rosenblatt as FPF’s answer to Ryan Fitzpatrick. Both are quarterbacks who’s tenure will likely be underappreciated despite how much they made of improbable beginnings. Both players are smart and incredibly fun to watch. Plus, look at Rose’s player pic. Ok fine, it’s mostly the pic.

Rosenblatt lead his Run it Once out against Kangaroos. He knew going in, this was going to have to be a game of execution. This was cemented with a 40 yard touchdown to Jeanslee Alexis on the first play of the game. Dan Lazzara seemed to have little concern for executing as the game began as scripted. On the other hand it ws Raoul Baroudi beginning the game as the pivot for Run it Once. This led to a 3 and out and the ball as quickly returned to Kangaroos. Four plays into the future saw Jesse Dupuis celebrating after a short score.

It would be 12-0 before Rosenblatt took his first snap of the game. This really is not the game script that Run it Once had in mind. Dan Lazzara ran his offense with break neck pace and he kept the pressure on RIO. When the game was all said and done they will have scored every 3.1 plays. I’m certain the score to Marty Freedman on Rosenblatt’s first drive felt great. But it’s the kind of great that’s reminiscent of taking a drunken shower. It feels great but the entire time you know the cold water’s around the corner. I take long showers, it is what it is. An L is what it is for Run it Once and unfortunately for them, they won’t be able to run this one back.

The Last Thing I Remember

It’s alarming how often I get to bed and wake up without remembering how I got there. Certainly part of the reason is that I don’t sleep enough. I also do enjoy a contemplative late night stroll where I engage in incredible thoughts. The Blackouts seem more, present despite the name. Adam Sinagra will outmatch most FPF QBs in Tier 2. However, the disparity is even greater when facing him is backup Kris Hope. If Obi-Wan was the rebel alliance’s only Hope, Kris was wishing he could be catching passes instead of throwing them. In absence of Jarred Buck, Friends without Danny knew it would be tough. Hope actually held his own. He connected with Chad Buck and Justin Santillo for scores and Brendan Sabloff hauled in two more. However, with only 6 completions that were not touchdowns the offense just lacked continuity. Combine that with interceptions by Chris Cione and Michael Khazaka and you likely end up with a lopsided score.

Despite allowing 32 points Blackouts seemed not to stress as they hung a half century on their opponents in this game. Sinagra was handing out scores in pairs as Julien Lachance, Ryan Vanslet, Michael Khazaka, and Anthony Mungiovi each caught 2 touchdowns. I know that Friends Without Danny were without their quarterback. I still think this speaks volumes about Blackouts. Their offense looked legitimate and paired against a weaker Tier 2 team, they did what was expected of one of the tier’s top teams. The division’s gap seems to be growing each week.

Kenari War Paint

I may be in the minority but, I didn’t like Obi-Wan (the TV show). The entire show was a series of wouldn’t it be cools and what ifs that not only thumbed it’s nose at continuity but also gave no consequences to any of what happens during that series. The series relies on the “coolness” of having Vader fight his former mentor twice (an act that both defies continuity and also has no consequence all at once. What is the point of them facing off if we know they both make it to a New Hope. Additionally, no one suffers any consequence at all. I don’t even know how the world of Star Wars ends up at a point where the Jedi are all but forgotten when the Empire doesn’t kill any of the fringe characters that we meet during these shows. Also, Kenobi and Skywalker are both genius military strategists but the confounding premise of the final battle seems to simply be incompetence..but I digress).

On the other hand, 4 episodes in on Andor and it is excellent. Firstly, like Rogue One, it’s one of the few Star Wars movies that actually details the war. Perhaps more interestingly, it artfully examines the militarization of a malcontent who joins a rebellion. Also, on a personal note, I’m thrilled that it doesn’t involve the same seven or so characters from the Skywalker saga.

I don’t know, I picked this game because:

I was there
It was a flimsy excuse to review 2 Disney/Star Wars properties.

So the game was one between Lockdown and Warriors. In Lockdown I saw kind of hat we’ve come to expect. Buck Aneer runs an offense taht is equal parts explosive and dangerous. I saw 2 throws in the first two drives that were interceptable. Still, the pair of Antoine and Guillaume Caron were targeted early and often. Of Aneer’s 29 attempts 16 were thrown to a Caron. Clearly, they asked for the manager before the game. Listen, if you didn’t read it out loud, it’s not my fault that you didn’t get the joke. Part of the magic that is Lockdown’s offense is how many chances Buck Aneer is willing to take. I don’t think anyone saw this game being close if they were going to allow 45 points to the Warriors but they did in fact lose this game 45-36. Buck Aneer threw 2 interceptions but did light the defense up for 6 touchdowns.

There were a few issues during this game as one of the referees poorly measured the rushing cone, downs were repeated AND yardage was given when a flag guarding was called and late in the game there seemed to be s tacky/petty call against Eagle as the referees were seemingly tired of his complaints. Either way, Warriors did what was expected. They were mechanical in their approach. They moved the ball and Mitch Fergenbaum showed how dangerous he can be in the redzone by attacking the back of the endzone at will.Wariros were 7 for 7 in the redzone which also seems like a strange scorekeeping issue as Mitch Fergenbaum also recorded a rushing TD which is impossible in the redzone…but whatevs… Adam Rabinovitch proved to be particularly annoying in the 45-36 win as he scored on three receptions.

Musings, Rambling, Lies and other Assortments

Andy Dalton would have awesome hair if he wasn’t a ginger.
The Penetrators only two score win was against Save the Turftles. It’s strange because that may be their only competition.
Stephen Harripersaud has 1001 yards passing in 4 game sin Tier 1. Don’t tell me he’s not an elite passer.
Done with the slander, Will Power is excellent at tracking the ball in the air. He may not look the part but he’s Him!
Zack Stacey seems to haven taken the reigns at QB. I don’t know if the 5 TD performance is sustainable or just the schedule easing up.
Celia Lamarre is making her presence known. She has 4 sacks already for EZ Fun
James Drysdale is the piece that I think Mangoose was missing. It adds length and speed to a team that ha sit in spades but more than anything it’s a next level playmaker on key downs.
Vortex…eyes emoji
Incredible Thought: If time travel were possible and we brought technology back to the past, nothing would ever be created. Our ancestors would reverse engineer from tools that would otherwise be created in the future. However, if they reverse engineer the device prior to its invention it would never have invented. Rather, such tools would simply have existed starting X year.
Les Brutes beat up on Louvres du Nord but Maude Lacasse continues to impress. Her 8 touchdown passes is a feat in a 44+ 10 play game.
Villains defense is still looking good but Les Petit Phoques looms in week 4.
STL dropped one to Blessed and another to Braves in a single week.

Denouement

For those who have any thoughts, commentary or complaints, I am very easy to find. I’m @peezehss on twitter, @pdellarocca and Peeze Della Reeze on facebook. You can also take a chance by emailing me at [email protected] but I don’t check it because it’s a variety of emails trying to sell me premade canoli shells and cuddle companions for hire. I really need to use incognito mode. Please check out the works of my colleagues Lory Oulette (I fixed it!) and Ignacio Valdez Manzenedo as the three of us are covering all of the fall league as part of a joint effort.

Remember that each week you can join the party on our Facebook page or at www.youtube.com/flagplus on our weekly podcast: Calling the Audible. We are still trying to figure out when the shows will be available and how to get it live on air.

Till next week, I want to thank you falettineme be mice elf agin!