Bombsquad’s breakdown (D2) – Week 3

Bombsquad’s Breakdown

It was a dark and freezing weekend, as the teams of FPF, once again, took to the frozen turf of Loyola or Lachine, and if you played in Brossard, which some of you did, then that’s the equivalent of being brought a blankie and some hot cocoa to keep you warm while you watch reruns of Seinfeld! But I’m not bitter, no, not at all! Okay, maybe a little. So now that most of you can feel your fingers again, let’s get to the crazy weekend that just took place.

Countdown to Detonation

7. The lustre is still all over Jay Ulley as he once again torches another team for 7 TDs through the air and then to top things off, in addition to going 18-28 for 243 yards, he runs one in as well! Another huge defensive performance, as the boys in Gold are setting a defensive Standard for the league; Scott Mironowicz picked off Matt René twice and also had 2 passes defended. On offense, Scott scored twice and helped sink a flailing Air Squad who really need to pull it together. René passed for a measly 91 yards. Albeit they played one of the top teams in the division, but those are the games where you need to step up and they did not. Only time will tell if the talented but inexperienced Air Squad can stop being a doormat for D2.

6. As predicted, the Kingz held court in the matchup with X’s and O’s. No love was shown to Josh Vazquez, who was intercepted 4 times. His game wasn’t that bad as he threw for 13-18 for 159 and 4 TDs, but you are not going to win if you consistently turn the ball over multiple times. Last week was an anomaly and now you know what happens when you play the higher calibre teams in D2. Carmine Pollice rebounded from the Ruff Ryders’ loss to put up 7 touchdowns while going 22-34 for 244 and 1 INT. Charles Baillargeon was big for the Kingz, catching 7 balls for 90 yards and a big 3 TDs. Maxime Laflamme and Matthew Thibault also each caught 2 td’s to round out the scoring.

5. All Blacks win a tight one against the Wolfpack. Pascal Murray and Chris Bridgeman had very similar games as each threw 5 TDss. Bridgeman counted on Lee Galletti to get him 3 of those majors as Alain Rousseau accounted for 4 for the Pack in a losing cause. It was a very well fought battle, as neither team was able to intercept the opposing qb and in the end, it came down to the all important converts. The All Blacks have got off to a rocket-like start, but still do not have me convinced as their three opponents to date have combined for only one win. Their schedule doesn’t get any harder in the foreseeable future. Their next 3 opponents have only 2 wins combined. Not until week 7, when they face the Kingz, will we know where to place these All Blacks. As for the Wolfpack, well it’s that time of year again for them to turn things around. Let’s see what happens.

4. G-men (a.k.a. C-Men) neuter the Wildcats. Gianni Settino threw 14-21 for 236 yards, 6 TDs and 1 INT. The big story of this game was the stellar performance of Nathan Taylor, who caught 7 balls for 175 yards and an unheard-of 5 touchdowns. This team is off to a great start and let’s see how far down the road to perfection they can make it. As for the enigma that is the Wildcats. No TD passes. And where is your QB? Pierre-Marc Chadi, who carried them to a D3 title two years ago, and had some success in D2 last winter, ended up with 58 yards passing? 12 points scored and one of the scores was a pick-six. The offense has to step up their game quickly, or it could turn into a long season for the former champs.

3. As predicted, the Ruff Ryders made MOMO Nation cry no-MO! Another week of stifling defence for the Ryders, picking off Yannick Vanasse four times and holding him to only 9 completions for 85 yards. MOMO looked strong at the start of the season, but now seems fairly inconsistent. Looking at the Ryders, Paul Lapierre is still having a slow start to the season. Throwing for only 115 yards and 3 TDs while getting picked once. This team is stacked with talent and is up there with Gold Standard competing for top defence. If Lapierre can start putting up big points, this team will go deep in the playoffs.

2. One Night Stands pound the Triple Sixers. That must have been some wake up slap from Kishon Thompson and Ryan Brewster. Craig O’Brien is back from obscurity going 14-21 for 170 yards and 4 TDs and 2 INTs. Not to mention some assistance from Brewster, who threw for a TD as well. Congrats to the O.N.S. for their first win, looks like I’m the one who needs to be slapped now. (SLAP!). That’s better. And I guess the best way to cover Pat Jerome is to hope he doesn’t show up. Which is what happened. He was not able to make the game and in turn the Sixers looked more than ordinary. Without his biggest weapon, Karim Chaoual could only muster 3 TDs and 157 yards passing. A tale of two teams. Let’s see what happens next time Jerome is on the field.

1. Mercenaries clip the Wolverines’ nails. After two weeks of fairly close games, the Wolverines were completely manhandled by the Mercs. Adi Sharma’s return of to the field brought with it a stingy defence who collected four picks off QB Patrice Machabée. The Wolverines’ offense looked frazzled and their defence looked confused. I believe this game is the game for the Wolverines to look upon and say it’s time for us to turn it around. They can and hopefully will. As for the Mercs, they were coming off a disappointing loss to the C-Men and really looked to be on the warpath scoring 5 TDs in the first half, seemingly at will. There is no denying this team is full of talent. Let’s see if all the ego’s can work together, going forward.

Just like the flag out of the end of the Joker’s gun, after he pulls the trigger. Boom!

 

SHOWSTOPPA!!! Yes, all you haters out there, get ready to groan, this week’s ‘showstoppa’ has to be Carmine Pollice who recorded 3 interceptions on defence, in  the Kingz win over X’s and O’s. It was a very strong team performance, but Pollice rose above all and picked off the opposing QB three times and took control of that game. Good job.

‘Golden Boy’. Well it could have been two weeks in a row for Ulley, if not for the ridiculous performance by Nathan Taylor, who caught 7 balls for 175 yards and, you read it right before, 5 TDs! Good game Mr. Taylor, you are this week’s Golden Boy.

 

Now let’s get to some picks shall we!

I believe the All Blacks will continue their winning ways this week against the Wildcats. The Wildcats are very unpredictable, but they need to figure out who is throwing for them and commit to that person. As for the All Blacks, full steam ahead!

I am going to call a Wolfpack upset of the Triple Sixers. The Sixers are coming off a surprising loss. I’m sure they will have Pat Jerome back this week, but looking at last week’s results, we know the Pack will pounce, and cover Jerome with everything they have.

The Gold Standard and the Mercenaries are going to be locked in battle this weekend. The Mercs will be without defensive guru Adi Sharma. It will definitely be a great game to watch. The offensive prowess of both teams will be on display. It will be the defence of one team or the other that wins out.

Now that Craig O’Brien has found his swagger again, I will look for O.N.S. to take it to the Wolverines. I believe the game will be very close, but in the end, O.N.S. will sleep soundly, as the Wolverines stare at the ceiling wondering what happened.

Will this be the week Air Squad gets its first win? Nope. MOMO Nation will expose how weak the Air Squad defence really is. My advice to the Air Squad,: you need to make adjustments on the defensive side of the ball. Don’t stick with the same look all game long. Not sure why the Air Squad did not take on close friend Jacques Void at the beginning of the season, but they could sure use him now.

The Kingz and the G-Men, this is going to be a great game. I have played the C-men and personally I believe Camine Pollice will see the same holes in their defence that I did, and the Kingz will come out on top. Not taking anything away from the boys in blue. They have an all-star roster, but I think the experience at the quarterback position will be the difference in this game.

And last but not least the Ruff Ryders will hug the X’s and O’s so close to them, I would be surprised if the X’s score more than 2 TDs in the entire game. The defence is too stingy and the talent is too high on the Ryders for this squad. I am predicting a large margin of victory. Don’t prove me wrong!

 

So there you have it,

The results from week three.

Who’ll win in week 4,

Just wait and see.

 

So strap on your cleats,

And take to the field.

And we shall see,

What results your team yields.

 

As always, please feel free to email me at [email protected] for all comments and weather forecasts. Until then, another week has been defused.