Categories: DivisionDivision AMen'sSpring

Weekly Extra Point (Div A & B) – Week 7

Another week, another nonsensical set of results for me to try and make heads or tails out of. I’m the kind of guy who takes comfort in knowing that, 9 times out of 10, what should happen WILL happen. As you can imagine, this FPF season has made me feel VERY uncomfortable. That being said, it’s a lot of fun to cover, because on any given Thursday, Saturday or Sunday, any team can win any game. And again, this week saw some interesting results:

 

 

  • I have been the first to laud the Rainmakers’ run to the top of the standings this season. I’ve been asked if I think it’s a fluke, and if I think they have what it takes to truly contend, and I’ve always replied in the affirmative. Their 38-31 loss to the Big TDs doesn’t change my mind, but it does plant a seed of doubt. Their final 3 games will truly show this team’s face. Week 8 sees them face off against a Mercenaries team fighting for their playoff lives. Week 9 features a rematch against DA Finest, a team they beat for the first time ever earlier this season. And Week 10, they will face off against the Snookers, the only DA team that has beaten them this season. 3 games left before the playoffs, Rainmakers. Make ‘em count.

 

  • And how bout those Big TDs? They are definitely the most unpredictable team in the playoff picture right now. They have two winnable games in Weeks 8 and 9 (Maniax and Blazers, respectively), followed by a huge game against the Triple Sixers to close out the season. Even if that game doesn’t have any playoff implications by the time Week 10 rolls around, it will be a very good barometer of what the Big TDs are truly capable of.

 

  • The Messengers of Happiness may be coming back down to earth, as they lost their second game in the last 3 weeks, this time against the Park Street Elite. In both losses, it seems like the offence is to blame. The defence, currently ranked 4th in points allowed, gave up 61 points in those two games. That gives an average of 30.5 ppg, not much higher than their season average of 28.7 ppg. This past week, they held PSE QB Scott Kelly to a miserable 57.1 passer rating. But in those two losses, MoH QB Rochdi Benabdelkader had very difficult outings, posting his two worst QB ratings (89.9 and 70.5) of the season. The MoH offence scored only 46 points (23 ppg), almost 10 points less than their season average of 32.7 ppg. Clearly, this team goes where Rochdi goes. That sets up the blueprint for their opponents. Get under his skin, and you’ll win.

 

  • PSE got their second win in the past 3 weeks, and they’ve done so against teams with a combined 8 wins. These wins have turned them from a cellar-dweller to a team with a legitimate shot at the playoffs. They have a chance to solidify their playoff positioning in the next two weeks, as they face the Blazers and My Ditkas, who they are jockeying with for the right to participate in the big dance.

 

  • The Mercenaries FINALLY get back on the winning track, breaking their 3-game losing streak with a 38-32 win over My Ditkas. The win comes thanks to a big first half effort, which saw the Mercs outscore their opponents 26-7. And that lead would prove to be pivotal, as the Ditkas turned the tables in the second half, outscoring the Mercs 25-12 but falling just short of the comeback. Of note, Nathan Thompson missed his second game of the season and was replaced by Benoit Morin, who had a solid game once he shook off the rust.

 

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…
 
 

Darkside

 

 


Key losses: Shawn Haney

 

Most Empire teams face an incredible amount of roster turnover, and this team is no different. This may be the first season for the Darkside, but the core of players is somewhat familiar. As a new team, I would usually leave this section blank, but Shawn Haney’s Week 3 departure deserves special mention. Like most players on Gino Di Fazio’s teams, he was slotted to play a certain role, instead of being the centrepiece he probably felt he should be at this stage of his career in FPF. He left the team and joined DC’s Pump and Ditch, and has been very successful on both sides of the ball, to the general surprise of no one. My goal in writing this section is not to demean Haney’s move, but to highlight the inherent risks involved by running a team as stringently as Gino does the Darkside. If I may quote Princess Leia here, “The more you tighten your grip, the more star systems will slip through your fingers”. Something for Di Fazio to keep an eye on.

 

Key additions: Jacques Void, Laurent Foucault


Kind of hard to keep track of when pretty much everyone is new.  Jacques Void has played quite a few seasons with Carmine Pollice as QB, but this will be his first with GDF throwing him the ball. Foucault has been a solid addition to the team (more on him below).

Secret weapons: Laurent Foucault

 

Foucault has been one of the top receivers for every team he’s played on in FPF. He might lack a bit of FPF experience (only 4 seasons), but his talent is undeniable. He’s a prototypical GDF find: talented athlete who has bounced between a few teams, never really finding his place. Di Fazio is a specialist at finding these diamonds in the rough and giving them a home. The Empire evaluation on Foucault is that he might be a bit raw, but with a couple more seasons under his belt (and a little more chemistry with his QB), he will be a great player in FPF. Right now, he’s tied for 3rd in rec., he’s 2nd in yards and he’s tied for 1st in TDs.

X-Factors: Robbie Robinson


No player fits the profile of an X-Factor better than Robbie Robinson. He is an elite athlete who can literally play every position on the field. He’s fast, agile and has great football IQ. When the ball heads his way, you just know he’s going to make a play, on either side of the ball. The most recent wrinkle in his game has been splitting QB duties with Gino Di Fazio, in order to give opposing defences a different look. Based on his numbers, the results have been promising: 19/27, 246 yds, 6 TDs, 0 INTs, 138.3 QB rating.  He’s also rushed 5 times for 35 yards and 2 TDs. That’s in addition to his 13 rec., 159 yds and 4 TDs as a receiver. And his 4 tackles, 2 INTs and 2 PDs on defence. The guy can do it all.

 


HOFers: Gino Di Fazio

 

A member of the 2012 class of the FPF HOF, Di Fazio’s nomination was due in equal parts to his impressive numbers at the QB position and his near-fanatical devotion to winning (as his numerous individual awards and multiple championships can attest to). Few people in FPF are better at judging what is necessary when building a championship contender, and nobody is better at finding players who can fit that model. He’s always willing to try a new player or new strategy to get that all-important win, which has served him well over the years. That being said, as a player, he is the embodiment of high-risk/high-reward. Often among the leaders in yards, TDs AND INTs, Di Fazio is certainly not afraid to put the ball up and trust his receiver to make the catch, no matter the defensive match-up. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. When it does, his teams are unstoppable. When it doesn’t, it’s usually to their doom. But now…

 


Controversy: Di Fazio/Robinson

As mentioned earlier, Darkside has implemented a dual QB system this season, the principal outcome of which has been a marked difficulty in stopping their offence (they are currently 2nd in points scored, trailing the Messengers of Happiness by a single point). In addition to the duelling-banjos routine, if Di Fazio gets injured or is just having an off-night, Darkside can count on an experienced QB to fill in and continue to move the beanbags. It all sounds great, but I see trouble in the distance. This system has worked well during the regular season, but both players are proud athletes who undoubtedly have supreme confidence in their ability to lead this team to the Promised Land. In the playoffs, the stakes are higher and some players’ attitudes may change. What happens if the Di Fazio-led offence has a few bad drives, but Gino refuses to give Robinson a shot at righting the ship? What happens if receivers start to prefer one QB over the other? I’m not saying any of these things will happen. I’m just saying they might. Those types of problems have been the downfall of many a two-QB system in the past.
 

What they will need to do to be successful:
 
Regardless of who plays QB for Darkside, the reality is that, in S12, their biggest problem has been their defence. The surprising part is that, statistically speaking, the Darkside defence hasn’t been terrible. They’re currently allowing 31.5 ppg, which puts them in the middle of the pack in DB. They have had brief bouts of success, separated by maddening stretches of inconsistency. As Jon Lyristis puts it, “it’s been quite the roller coaster ride on that side of the ball”. They have a lot of talent, but defence is oftentimes more about chemistry and communication than it is raw skill. With 3 weeks left in the regular season, it is now critical for Darkside’s defence to improve, if they want to have a legitimate chance at claiming the DB crown.

 

 

Park Street Elite

 


Key losses: Anthony McComber, Gordon Stanway, Nigel Thomas

 

Stanway and Thomas were solid contributors on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, respectively. McComber was one of the top two-way players in DB in S11.

 

Key additions: Ryan Aridi, Ben Joseph, Marvin Golding, Jelani McLaren


Aridi was brought in for his rushing expertise, and he has delivered fairly well (currently ranked 3rd in sacks). Joseph was added for defensive depth, experience and dependability (tied for lead in tackles, with 22). Golding has only played 3 games, but you don’t have to sell me on Marvin Golding as a player, or as a teammate. If they can get him eligible for the playoffs, it will be a HUGE addition to their roster.


Secret weapons: Jelani McLaren

 

McLaren isn’t particularly well-known to most FPF observers; prior to this season he had only played 12 games over 2 seasons (with the Kardiac Kids and the Maniax). His strength is his speed, his athleticism and, most importantly, his uncanny ability to make contested catches deep down the field. He routinely makes the kind of catches that totally deflate an opposing defence’s ego. Among receivers with 15 catches or more, he is currently ranked 5th in yards per reception (16.9).  His chemistry with QB Scott Kelly is growing from week to week, and he is slowly becoming a bigger piece of the offensive puzzle.


X-Factors: Danny Guarna


For a guy with only two FPF seasons under his belt before S12, Danny Guarna sure has made a name for himself. 65 catches, 1043 yards and 25 TDs in 17 games will do that for you. It’s no coincidence that PSE’s only two wins of the season have come in games in which he was leading receiver. He leads his team in all offensive categories, despite having missed 3 games. It’s safe to say that if Danny Guarna had played more than 4 out of 7 games this season, he’d probably be in the discussion for Receiver of the Year. As it is, he’ll have to settle for being called a “beast” by his QB, and an X-Factor by me.


HOFers: N/A

 

 


Controversy: No huddles/no plays

 

Scott Kelly doesn’t run what anyone would call a conventional FPF offence. No huddles, no play calls; basically, go out there and get open. It sounds insane, but it absolutely works for him. In his 5 prior seasons as a FPF QB, his passer rating only dipped below 100 once, during his injury-plagued S11 season (in which he still managed a 91.4 rating). Few people throw the deep ball as often or as well as he does. Most importantly, he was named Playoff MVP during a championship run with the Briscoe High Hawks in S10. So the guy knows what he’s doing. I’m putting this controversy to bed.

 

What they will need to do to be successful:
 

Despite my impassioned defence of the no play-calling strategy (or lack thereof), this season has been a struggle for the PSE offence as a whole. They’re ranked 2nd to last in points scored (25.4 ppg) and they’ve only scored more than 30 points twice in their first 7 games. In S11, they were ranked 2nd in DB with 35.2 ppg and scored more than 30 points 5 times in their first 7 games. The inconsistency of their roster, along with the losses of significant offensive contributors like Anthony McComber and Gordon Stanway certainly didn’t help this situation. They seem to have found their identity over the last few weeks, and have 2 big victories over top opponents (over Darkside and the Messengers of Happiness) to show for it. But they have been winning those games not because of the PSE offence, but in spite of it. The PSE defence has been stepping up (Patrick McLennan called a heck of a game against the MoH), but the big improvement has to come from Kelly himself. He’s on pace to have his worst season as an FPF QB, and he’s thrown 5 INTs over his last two games (both wins, oddly). He can do much, much better. When he’s playing with confidence, when he’s truly feeling it, few defences can stop him. If he can regain that form, PSE might just surprise a few more teams before it’s all said and done.

 


That’s it for this week.

 

Special thanks to:

  • Jon Lyristis, for the information about Darkside.
  • Scott Kelly, for the information about the Park Street Elite.
  • aaaaaand last but not least, the Daron Basmadjian Fan Club, for your excellent taste in team names. Good luck in the second game of your double-header against my favorite childhood cartoons.

 

 

 

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.