Conversions, Matchups, and Kaepernick

Welcome to Week 7 of the FlagPlus Football winter season.

After last week’s Mid-Season Review, I got a lot of positive feedback from players around the league. I just would like to say thanks. I will do something somewhat similar, a little later in the season, just after the ¾ mark, so look out for that. As always, I welcome teams and players, to prove me wrong, or in some cases, right.

Since I started for FPF ALLLL the way back in 2009, I have talked about the importance of conversions. Although they only take one play, conversions are extremely important, as they can make or brake a game, or in some cases a season.

As frustrating as conversions can be to both sides of the ball, they have shown that they can be the most exciting play in a game.

They are the only play that I can think of, that makes teams abandon whatever game plan they had going in, and decide to go for the jugular.

Think about it, how many times have you seen a team trailing by one point after scoring a touchdown, and decide to go for two points from the 10 yard line to get the win, instead of going for the easier 1-point conversion, from about the 5 yard line, and taking the tie? Exactly.

Simply put, you can score 50, or even 100 points in a game, but if your opponent does too, than it doesn’t matter. Just like defense, conversions are often the deciding factor between a win, loss, or even a tie.

My whole convo about conversions (see what I did there?) is this. So far this season, eight games have been decided by 2 points or less. That doesn’t factor in the numerous others contests that came down to less than a touchdown.

This past week, the BearSkins and KGP matchup, was perfect example of what I was talking about, as the BearSkins, stopped a mini 1-game losing streak, by beating KGP (33-32).

This game featured some dynamic performances, especially by opposing Wide Receivers, in Sasha Papich (BearSkins), and Anthony Comeau (KGP), as they combined for six touchdowns.

As you probably expected, this game came down to the final play. After KGP, got a touchdown from Anthony Comeau to get within one, they decided to go for the two point conversion, and the win.

After unsuccessfully trying to get the BearSkins, to jump off-sides, resulted in a false start by KGP, they went for the two from the 15 yard line. On the play, Phil Cutler, threw a corner route to Matt Kirouac, the 2013 Hall OF Famer, jumped out and caught the ball, but unfortunately for him and his team, he only got one foot down in the endzone, so the play went incomplete. BearSkins win.

 

Blue Chips versus Trinity matchup also went down to the wire.

As per usual with each team, Trinity threw the deep ball early and often, while the Jordan Mitchell of Blue Chips, chucked up a lot jump balls, and piled up yardage on the ground as well.

With Blue Chips trailing (30-22) with less than 5 plays remaining, BC, was able to get within 2 points, as they got a touchdown from Mitchell.
Going for the tie (I guarantee you they would’ve went for 3 if it was possible) the pass, by Mitchell went incomplete, game over.

 

Cougars versus Sweat & Beers, also came down to convos, last Saturday in Brossard.

This was a back and forth game, that featured a rejuvenated Sweat & Beers team with Rocco Christiano, moving from Wide Receiver to Quarterback, as he replaced Robbie Robinson, who missed the contest due to illness.

Christiano, the lower division passer, showed he had the chops at least for one game, to hang in D3, as he went 19 of 22 for 204 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 1 interception.

The Cougars, came into the game, without their best player as well, as they were missing two-way difference-maker AJ Gomes.
Both traded scores the entire game, which made the bout close and exciting throughout.

Fast forward to the final moments. After Sweat & Bears, got a late go-ahead score via a touchdown scramble by Christiano, the Cougars answered back, with less than 5 plays, as Quarterback Erminio Iadeluca, hit Dante Sparagna, with a TD pass to bring the team from St. Leo, to within one point.

On the final play of the game, Iadeluca dropped back, and fired a ball through the back of the endzone that sailed over everybody’s head. Final score (37-36) Sweat & Beers.

Credit on the play to Sweat & Beers Rusher, and all around good guy, Mile Zenobi, for providing a solid rush all game, and forcing the Cougars essentially into a check down offense, despite the fact that they had the speed advantage over their opponents.

Like I said at the top con versions play a huge, and important role in this game. This past week was just further evidence.

 

Those of you that know me, know that I am a San Francisco 49ers fan. The same people also know I am a Colin Kaepernick fan. I am not to debate whether not he should be in the NFL. All I will say on that matter, is that if guys like Mark Sanchez, Derek Anderson, Eli Manning, Blaine Gabbert, Sam Bradford, Josh McCown, Brian Hoyer, Matt Schaub, Deshone Kizer, Blake Bortles, Ryan Tannenhill, Case Keenum, Nathan Peterman, Cody Kessler, Josh Johnson, Andy Dalton, (yeah, that’s right) Jay Cutler (last year) , and a slew of other QBs can find work, Kap should be able to as well.

It is plain as day that he is getting blackballed, for his protests.

 

The popular argument among anti-Kap people, is that he is/was a horrible Quarterback. While I am the first to admit that he regressed after Jim Harbaugh left my 9ers, I also point out that so did a lot of San Fran’s talent. Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, Delanie Walker, Patrick Willis, Justin Smith Aldon Smith, half our starting Offensive Line, and Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio. You’re welcome Bears and Broncos.

 

Look at the Green Bay Packers this year, giving time to a bunch of rookie Wide Receivers, or the Dallas Cowboys, after losing Dez Bryant, and Jason Witten, and before the Amari Cooper trade. Fact of the matter is, if you take a QB’s best targets away, they will struggle no matter who they are.

 

The downgrade from Harbaugh, to Jim Tomsula, couldn’t be overstated either.

The lack of talent post Harbaugh, and lack of good coaching stunted the growth of a player, who was came from an option offense in college, and was still learning how to play the position traditionally.

I could go on, but I’ll get to my main point instead.

On Friday, it was announced that Kap, and former teammate Eric Reid, reached a settlement with the NFL in the duo’s collusion case against the league.

When I first heard the news, I was happy that both guys are getting paid. After having a day to think, I wonder what the future holds. Obviously, Kap is a polarizing figure, no matter what side of the fence you sit on. His anthem protests, against social inequality, police brutality, and systemic racism, is something that I fully support.

For some people, the protests were a distraction. That always bugs me when people say that. If he, or someone else was standing up for victims of child abuse, I am certain, the word distraction wouldn’t be associated with him. He probably would still be in the NFL too, but that’s another story.

The fact that he had the courage to stand up to for something dealing with race, is a whole other ball game, because if we’re being honest, the issue of race makes most people uncomfortable.

Getting back to the future, while I am sure he would take an NFL offer, a big part of me believes that he most likely doesn’t want to play football anymore. His messages is still in the national conversation. His time with the 9ers, along with his Nike deal, and new NFL so to speak, ensure that he will never go hungry. The fact that he isn’t in the league, makes his message even stronger. Kap, also seems to have found his true calling, as voice for the voiceless, and a pioneer.

Naturally, the uninformed will say he and Reid, are sellouts. Don’t kid yourself. The reported settlement from the NFL, cos somewhere between $70-$80 million dollars, roughly around what Kap and Reid would have made combined, over the next few years in the league. Money, that they would have received, if it wasn’t for their situation. Also, collusion is extremely hard to prove without a smoking gun, so you have to figure, the duo, and their lawyers, decided this was in their best interest.

Going forward, I wonder if this is it. I would’ve loved to see actual evidence proving their was collusion, but again, it was probably next to impossible.

I would have loved to see what Kap would have become with good coaching again. While he struggled reading defenses, and sometimes put too much heat on his passes, you can’t teach his arm strength, or his ability to run with the football.

Part of me hopes that Kap will get another chance, and maybe now that the lawsuit is over he will, but I highly doubt it.

Thankfully, Eric Reid, received the chance to continue his career. He is a really solid Safety, and a playmaker as well, who simply got punished for supporting his friend, and standing up for a more than worthy cause.

In time, just like Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson, Jim Brown, Willie O’Ree, Malcolm X, John Carlos, and Tommie Smith before him, Kaepernick, will be celebrated more by people, for trying to help fix a country, and a nation that is quite possibly broken beyond repair. All of those aforementioned gentlemen were hated, and vilified at one point, and now all these years later, they are looked at as leaders, and cultural icons, who stood up for what’s right.

While he is hated by some, (you can’t please everybody), he is loved by others. More importantly, his message, will always be in the national conversation, as long as football is played, and for that I say mission accomplished.

 

Matchups

Jordan Mitchell (Blue Chips) versus Jimmy-Lee Janvier (Jaguars)

After starting the season with four straight wins, Blue Chips, have come crashing back down to earth, as they have lost two straight games. Their latest defeat, was to Trinity.

The Jaguars, who I wrote last week, hadn’t beaten anybody impressive, continued their dominance of lesser teams, by pounding Olympia Performance (45-24). In the Jags defense, they can only play who is on their schedule.

Jags Quarterback Jimmy-Lee Janvier, had a solid outing, throwing for 7 touchdowns. In fact, he had more TDs, than incompletions (5).

After going (0-2) against top teams, in The Alpha-T’s, and Dirty Dawgs, the Jags, will face another upper echelon squad, in Blue Chips.
Both teams are fast and athletic, and have Quarterbacks who can go throw for throw with the best in Division 3.

The Jaguars need to beat a good team, not just to earn some respect, but to get into the postseason, and prove to themselves that they can get it done.

Blue Chips, desperately need to get back on track.

Which QB will lead their team to a much-needed win?

 

Kevin Smuda (South Harmon Institute of Technology) versus Mathieu Houle (The Alpha-T’s)

 

Arguably the two biggest Wide Receivers in all of FPF, both passes-catchers have tasted championship glory, and they play a huge part in their team’s success.

While Smuda, is without question the more physical WR of the two, he also has better hands, Houle, is a terror in the red zone, as he uses his body to create separation. More importantly, his connection with TAT’s Quarterback Jesse Dupuis, is nothing short of phenomenal, as the two always seem to find each other no matter how tight the coverage is.

For South Harmon Institute of Technology, they are coming off of a shocking (40-14) blowout win over the Junkyard Dogs. Tomorrow’s game against TAT’s, is the second of five games, that they play against some of the best teams in the division. Can they keep the statement victories coming?

For TAT’s, it’s simple. Go undefeated, and win another championship.

Which big man, will step up, and lead their team to victory?

 

Bruno Provencher (Scored your GF) versus Gabriel Poisson (Big Ballers)

I played against Gabriel Poisson, and his squad in Week 4, and I have written about both of these guys in lower divisions in the past. I can say with 100% honesty, that both players have speed, and they can definitely ball.

At (2-2), but currently losers of two straight, with teams like the Jaguars, Blue Chips, South Harmon Institute of Technology Scored your GF, needs to snap out of their funk, if they want to make the playoffs.

In order to do that, it will have to start on defense. So far this season, SYGF, has given up 122 points. They’ve also scored that much too. In the last two weeks, they have surrendered 83 points, to the BearSkins, and Dirty Dawgs respectively. They need to stop the bleeding, and it starts with Provencher, who leads the team with 3 interceptions.

For the (0-6) Big Ballers, they simply struggled to score, with only 65 points this season. With remaining games against Blue Chips, Jaguars, and Les Studs, Wednesday’s tilt against Scored your GF, is probably their best, and last chance to get a win.

To get that first victory, they will need their best player in Poisson, to carry the load. I talked last week about the inability of Big Ballers QB David Polynice, to connect on the deep ball. The gameplan going forward (if not already) should be to deliver the ball to their best playmaker on short and intermediate routes.

Who will propel their team to a W?

 

Elite 8

 

The Alpha-T’s

Les Maloudes

Dirty Dawgs

Trinity

Les Studs

Junkyard Dogs

South Harmon Institute of Technology

The Crew

 

Picks

 

LGM vs Dirty Dawgs- Dirty Dawgs

The Magicians vs Sweat & Beers – The Magicians (Upset Special)

Top Sauce vs Martine et le flag – Top Sauce

Les Studs vs TOPSZN – Les Studs

The BrotherHood vs Trinity – The BrotherHood (Upset Special #2)

BearSkins vs The Crew – BearSkins (Upset Special #3)

Blue Chips vs Jaguars – Blue Chips

KGP vs Lightweight – Lightweight

Olympia Performance vs The Commission- N/A

Freshmen vs Cougars – Cougars

Les Maloudes vs Junkyard Dogs- Junkyard Dogs (My Pick for Game Of The Week)

The Alpha-T’s vs South Harmon Institute of Technology – The Alpha-T’s

Big Ballers vs Scored your GF – Big Ballers (Upset Special #4)

Last Week: (8-3)

Season: (43-21)

 

That’s it for this week’s article. I’ll be back next week, with a look at Week 7, and a preview of Week 8.

Good luck to everybody in their games.

Cheers.

If you loved the article, hated it, or simply felt like I left so nothing out, feel free to reach me at [email protected] or on Twitter @BADNEWSB51