Weekly Extra Point (Div A & B) – Week 6

FPF has officially gone insane. There is no rhyme or reason to the way any of these games are going. Among the results from last week’s action:

 

· The Mercenaries lose their 3rd game in a row, 2 of which have been against DB opponents. They are the only DA team to have lost 2 games against DB teams. That being said, they’ve faced the toughest DB opponents (Blazers, Triple Sixers and Messengers of Happiness, 11 wins combined), compared to the other DA teams.

 

· Speaking of the Messengers of Happiness, their win over the Mercenaries (in their only interdivisional match-up of the season) allows them to keep pace with the Triple Sixers for the top spot in the DB rankings.

 

· The Rainmakers post their 5th win in a row, and remain the only DA team NOT to lose against a DB team.

 

· Kevin Wyeth put together another superlative performance, as DA Finest seem to be getting back on track. His absence against Darkside in Week 4 (and the ensuing loss) seems to have been the spark the Finest needed. He’s gone 34/38, 482 yds, 11 TDs and 0 INTs in their last 2 wins.

 

· The Blazers finally got their first win of the season, against the Snookers of all teams. It was a tough first half of the season for the Blazers, who lost their first 3 games (Gladiateurs, Mercenaries, Triple Sixers) by one score or less, before getting blown out against the Messengers of Happiness and My Ditkas. They currently have the worst defence in DB, allowing a whopping 40 points per game. And the inconsistency of Leon Holder at QB hasn’t been helping. When he’s been good (curiously, against DA teams in particular), he’s been lights-out. But he’s had some weak games, and that has put increased pressure on the defence to perform at a level it is not equipped to compete at. A little more consistency from Holder and we might see the Blazers round into form in the late stages of the season like they did in W12.

 

 

The great debate

 

I think we saw more commentary on the state of the FPF game in the past week or two than we have in the past 5 years. This was all spurred by a Week 5 DA-exclusive tweak: changing from 4-down football to 3-down football. The idea behind the change was that DA/D1 offences have simply become too potent. By changing the amount of downs, it was thought that it would help improve the quality of the games, causing more turnovers and helping the defences have more of an impact. With the level of offence we’re currently witnessing, it’s simply become too difficult to prevent these QBs from getting 10 yards in 4 downs. As a defence, you’re facing guys like Kevin Wyeth and Carmine Pollice who can practically score at will, and if your offence turns the ball over once, that’s basically the ball-game.

 

I had originally planned to go through this debate point by point, but Jon Brown of DC’s Formerly Teamless put it about as good as I ever could have hoped to:

 

“I think this rule change is a good one. A lot of players only play D and it seems like Div 1 teams score on almost every drive. There are a lot of awesome defenders out there who don’t get the respect they deserve bacause the div 1 offenses are too good when they have 4 downs. In lower divisions, it works because QBs aren’t as accurate, receivers drop balls, etc. leading to a lot more INTs and 4-down stops. Div 1 just seems to come down to extra points made a lot of the time. It does make those extra points crucial, but I think it will be nice to see some strong defensive games from those top teams. It would be nice to sometimes see a 13-6 type of game in Div 1 once in a while.

 

I’m not sure that it would make less teams go up (besides, nobody is moving up these days anyway). A lot of people are not moving up because they think it will be impossible to stop the high powered offenses of Div 1. Now with three downs, you have a much better chance of stopping those teams. Obviously you only get 3 chances on offense too so it makes it tougher to score too. I think what would happen is that you would see a different type of QB moving up. Some players need to throw a lot of short balls to move the chains. Those teams need their 4 downs. But there are a lot of QB’s who are better at throwing mid range-deep balls almost every play. This three down rule wouldnt really affect them too much since they only use 1 or 2 downs to move the chains now anyway. Those teams could move up feeling confident that their defense could now have a chance to get some defensive stops once in a while.”

 

The only problem I foresee with the change is that guys like Wyeth, Pollice and Byers would likely still dominate with 3 downs instead of 4. The switch to 3 downs might disadvantage all QBs, but it would affect the elite QBs to a lesser degree than the others. That being said, I still think it’s an idea worth exploring, because it does improve the quality of the game in the higher divisions.

 

Another idea proposed by some was changing the spot of the rusher bag to 5 yards from the line of scrimmage, instead of 7. I actually like this idea too, as it makes the QBs have to make their reads faster. Anything that makes their job a little harder, will make for more interesting games, in my opinion.

 

The relentless facebook debate about both ideas’ relevance in FPF has been entertaining, but ultimately futile. In the end, these changes (if they happen) will only affect players from the higher divisions. Having all of FPF vote on something that will not affect them is unnecessary and irrelevant, though it has been thought-provoking. The fact remains that any change we’ve ever made has been in what we consider to be FPF’s best interest. Some changes we’ve made have been unpopular at the outset, only to become accepted with time. I think if these ideas were implemented, they would have similar fates. As my friend Moe Khan always says, time will tell…

 

 

Catching up with…

 

 

 

The FPF media machine is great for a lot of things, but one area in which I have to admit it can improve significantly is its lack of depth. What I mean by that is our tendency to skim the surface of a story instead of probing deeper and finding more interesting information. Doing this requires effort, attention to detail and, most critically, cooperation from the teams/players. None of that is necessarily easy to achieve on a regular basis.

 

 

Since I stopped appearing on the WEPL, my role in FPF was shifted from observing individual teams towards looking at the bigger picture. Due to this change in focus, I’ve had to rely on sometimes-shallow analysis and oft-repeated catchphrases to keep up with several of the teams I now find myself covering. And while that type of information can be useful in certain situations, I find that it generally paints a somewhat inaccurate portrait of a team.

 

As a result, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Every week, in this segment, I will delve into the dynamics of 2 teams, with the help of one of their key players. The goal here is to provide a fuller picture of the team I’m writing about, while avoiding the clichés we’ve all become too accustomed to hearing/reading on a regular basis. So join me, as I catch up with the…

 

 

 

Gladiateurs

 

Key losses: Alex Manseau, Philippe Leduc

 

Manseau et Leduc risquent de ne pas pouvoir participer aux séries à cause d’un manque de parties jouées. Manseau est, selon Alex Lever, le meilleur joueur défensif des Gladiateurs. Leduc est un receveur de passes qui a déjà connu beacoup de succès dans FPF. Ce sont des lourdes pertes pour une équipe qui n’a pas beaucoup de profondeur.

 

Key additions: Aucun

 

Secret weapons: Marc-André Lebeau

 

Marc-André Lebeau a terminé la saison W12 4e en réceptions et 5e en verges parmi les receveurs des Gladiateurs. Dans les 4 saisons jouées avec François Lebeau comme son quart-arrière, il n’a jamais mené l’équipe dans ces 2 catégories. C’est donc dire que jouer avec son frère n’est pas si avantageuxque ça! Du moins, c’est le cas avec les Lebeau. Ceci étant dit, près de la zone des buts, il devient un joueur clé pour son équipe (il a mené son équipe en touchés 2 fois et a terminé 2e 2 fois). Il a une excellente chimie avec son frère, et il sait comment trouver les trous dans la zone défensive des adversaires.

 

X-Factors: François Lebeau

 

François connaît une saison très moyenne, comparativement aux autres quart-arrières de la DB. Comparativement à ce qu’on attendait de lui, sa saison S12 est un véritable désastre. Il est en train de connaître sa pire saison depuis ses débuts dans FPF. S’il continue à son rythme actuel, il terminera la saison avec une fiche de 1976 verges, 38 touchés et 18 interceptions. Sa fiche de W12 : 2346 verges, 58 touchés et 5 interceptions. Tout cela avec les mêmes joueurs et contre un niveau de compétition similaire à ce qu’il voit présentement. Il devra retrouver sa forme de W12 si les Gladiateurs veulent compétitionner pour le championnat de la DB cette saison. Et s’il réussit à le faire…watch out. Il y a peu de QBs dans FPF qui sont aussi dominants que Frank Lebeau quand il joue à son plein potentiel.

 

HOFers: Aucun

 

Controversy: La défensive

 

La défensive demeure un point faible pour les Gladiateurs, qui ont alloué 221 points en 6 matchs (une moyenne 36.8 par match). Mais si one regarde les équipes contre lesquels ils ont joué, on comprend mieux cette statistique. Dans leurs 3 défaites, ils ont alloué 41 points (contre les Triple Sixers), 44 points (contre les Snookers) et 67 points (contre DA Finest). Ces 3 équipes (2 de la DA et 1 qui aurait pu en faire partie) ont dominé la défensive des Gladiateurs. Dans leurs 3 victoires (contre des équipes de la DB), les Gladiateurs ont alloué 69 points (une moyenne de 23 par match). Évidemment, il y a un lien entre la performance de la défensive et les résultats des matchs. Mais étant donné la puissance des équipes contre lesquels ils ont joué, j’aimerai attendre quelques matchs avant de tout mettre sur le dos des joueurs défensifs.

 

What they will need to do to be successful:

 

Leur philosophie organisationnelle est de contrôler le jeu en attaque, et d’arrêter leurs adversaires 1-2 fois en défence. Malheureusement, dans leurs 6 premiers matchs, les Gladiateurs ont eu beaucoup de difficulté à accomplir ces 2 tâches avec constance. En W12, François Lebeau a été exceptionnel et la défence était exceptionnellement mauvaise. En S12, la défence joue un peu mieux, mais Lebeau connaît une baisse de régime, et l’équipe ne paraît pas plus dangereux qu’elle l’était la saison passée (quand les Gladiateurs n’ont même pas atteint les séries). Leur performance en attaque va sûrement s’améliorer d’ici la fin de la saison. Mais ils ne peuvent pas tout laisser sur les épaules de Lebeau. Les Gladiateurs sont une vraie équipe : ils n’ont pas de joueurs étoiles, et ils n’en veulent pas. Tous leurs joueurs sont travaillants, polyvalents et ont un bon esprit d’équipe. Ces joueurs devront améliorer leur rendement aussi. Nicolas Guimier est considéré par plusieurs comme le meilleur joueurs de centre de la DB. Charles Baillargeon est un rusher qui a une bonne combinaison de rapidité et d’expérience (d’où ses 90 sacks du quart-arrière en carrière). Simon Rhéaume est un des meilleurs tacklers de la ligue entière. Marc-André Lebeau est un receveur intelligent qui réussit toujours à se démarquer. Matthew Bishara et Alex Lever sont 2 joueurs qui peuvent tout faire, des 2 côtés du ballon. Ça sera à tous ces joueurs de contribuer plus qu’ils le font, et ce tant en attaque qu’en défence. Je crois que cette équipe possède tout ce qu’il faut pour dominer la DB. Ça restera à eux de le prouver.

 

 

 

Big TDs

 

Key losses: Danny Guarna, Anthony McComber

 

Guarna was one of Jamil Springer’s top receivers during the W12 season (2nd in receptions, 2nd in yards and 1st in TDs). McComber almost won Two-Way Player of the Year in DB during the S11 season with Park Street Elite. On a team without much depth (only 6 players have played 4 games or more), they could have used the added boost these two players provided in W12.

 

Key additions: Paul Lapierre, Rashawn Perry, Ryan Perry, Jason Prince

 

Lapierre is one of the best centers in the league. The Perry brothers are solid all-around players who can make plays on both ends of the ball. Jason Prince is a veteran with superb quickness. Prince will need to play 3 out of the next 4 games to qualify for the playoffs. All four have played in significant FPF match-ups in the past and all four (assuming Prince qualifies) will help strengthen the playoff roster of the Big TDs, a core that is high on athleticism but low on big-game experience (with the exception of Jamil Springer, of course).

 

Secret weapons: Ryan Browne, Chris Cesari

 

Browne has been a steady performer for this group over the seasons, averaging 35 rec., 303 yds and and 8.6 TDs per season in the 5 he’s played as a full-time member of the team. The stats don’t tell the whole story though, as he possesses what QB Jamil Springer called ”possibly the most reliable hands in the league”. Considering some of the guys he’s played with, that’s high praise. Add in a smattering of clutch plays over the years and you’ve got yourself a guy the Big TDs are very happy to have on their side.

 

Chris is the least-known of the 3 Cesari brothers who have played with this group. While his numbers have never been awe-inspiring, they have steadily improved from year to year. He is always in the thick of things on the defensive side of the ball, and has led the Big TDs in tackles for the last 2 seasons. He might not be the flashiest player on their defence, but in W12, he notched more INTs (5) than he had in his entire FPF career prior to that point (4). He’s a consistent and dependable defensive player who seems to be developing an affinity for big plays.

 

X-Factors: David Cesari, Jamil Springer

 

Like his brother, David Cesari has improved from season to season. He has used his athleticism to become an excellent two-way player. Among the Big TD receivers, he finished 2nd in receptions, 1st in yardage and 2nd in TDs in W12. As a rusher, he had 14 sacks, finishing second in D3 (tying Ryan Aridi and trailing Matt Kirouac). As he is, he’s a key player for the Big TDs. If he continues to improve, he can become one of the elite players in all of DB, and can become a significant contributor in a long playoff run.

 

Jamil Springer is an obvious choice as an X-Factor, if only because he is not your prototypical QB. He runs the ball as well (and as much) as any QB we’ve ever seen in FPF (career numbers going into this season: 132 rushes, 1357 yards, 17 TDs), and yet his passing numbers have been quite solid (passer rating in his 5 seasons playing QB: 125.1, 95.2, 119.1, 125.8, 97.4). Usually, most QBs who run a lot do so because their passing is inadequate, and because gaining yards on the ground is the best way for them to move the beanbags. Springer is a true dual-threat QB. The only thing that’s been able to slow him down has been his temper. He has had disciplinary issues in the past, and he has to be careful to keep his temper in check, for the good of the team, if nothing else. A long suspension would effectively ruin any chance the Big TDs have at competing this

season.

 

 

HOFers: Paul Lapierre

 

We all know what he brings to the table on the field. And there’s no doubt his presence has helped Jamil Springer improve as a passer. But Paul Lapierre’s biggest contribution to the Big TDs has been with his knowledge and understanding of the game. He brings a succesful, championship-winning mindset to this team, and his chemistry with Jamil Springer will help ensure the Big TDs don’t back down from any challenges in their way. We’ve already seen them come thisclose to beating DA Finest, and they have been the only team to beat the Messengers of Happiness this season. In those games, they certainly displayed a championship swagger we haven’t seen from them before.

 

Controversy: Jamil Springer’s past brushes with the disciplinary committee

 

See X-Factor section.

 

What they will need to do to be successful:

 

The Big TDs have been a succesful franchise, putting together several solid seasons in DB and D3. That being said, they’ve fallen short of the ultimate prize every time, most notably losing 2 Conference Final games against the G-Men and the D-Boys. They have added proven championship players to help get them over that hump. They now have the experience, all they need is consistency. They’ve played exceptionally well against some of the premier teams on their schedule, and they’ve played absolutely mediocre against some of the others. The playoffs are all about being consistently excellent for 4 weeks in a row. They are likely to be a playoff team, but if they want to finally win a championship, they will have to play with postseason urgency in every game. From my vantage point, that’s all that’s missing between the Big TDs and their first taste of FPF glory.

 

 

That’s it for this week.

 

 

Special thanks to:

 

· Alex Lever, for the information about the Gladiateurs.

· Jamil Springer, for the information about the Big TDs.

· aaaaaand last but not least, the Daron Basmadjian Fan Club, for your excellent taste in team names. That being said, Eric Bishara, it’s starting to get weird. Take the poster down.

 

 

 

Think I’m wrong? Think I suck? Think I’m great? Think anything? Drop me a line at [email protected] and let me know how you feel. Whether it be interesting topics for the column, game facts I may have missed in my coverage or just some good old-fashioned hate mail, I welcome any and all comments.

 

 

Good luck in Week 7…