Division D-1 Midseason Report

Conference A

Half-A-Stars (5-0-1)

Grade: A

I thought about giving us a slightly worse grade because of the tie, however the numbers kind of speak for themselves. Almost double the next best team in terms of plus/minus, 45 fewer points scored and wins against most of the teams we will be contending with, it’s hard to say that we haven’t been achieving our goal so far. Andrew has a ton of options on the offensive side and we’ve really come together defensively. I know we’ll have a target on our back from here on out but we welcome it. Don’t screw up though, we’ll have it on tape.

Predicted Record: 9-0-1

Most Intriguing Player: Andrew Langburt

 

Les Princes de la Rive-Sud (5-1)

Grade: A

Both statistically and on the field, they have been one of the best teams in the Division. Julien Fiset-Cyr is having one of his better seasons and he has a solid group working around him. Mathieu Girard-Provost is enjoying a lot of success as Fiset-Cyr’s number 1 wide receiver with Marc-Antoine Viens and Antoine Gagnon-Griffin providing the support system. They are big, tall, and athletic and prove week in and week out that they are tough to beat regardless of the circumstances. Their only loss came against Bird Gang who have been quietly gaining momentum as the season has gone on and if ever there was such thing as a “good loss”, that may have been it. The rest of the division should be on high alert because I don’t see them taking anybody else lightly the rest of the season.

Predicted Record: 8-2

Most Intriguing Player: Mathieu Girard-Provost

 

Unknown Talent (5-2)

Grade: B+

The young guns taking the division by storm, they are also proving that they have a lot of depth. Santino Sparagna just stepped in at quarterback against Hot Sauce Sports and got the job done. Say what you want about Peeze, that defense isn’t a joke and their backup QB came in and proved just how good this team is. Nicholas Groppini is their standout on both sides of the ball, but Danta Sparagna is the ball hog and does the dirty lifting. They have 6 guys on both sides of the ball that can burn you and excel with the deep ball so you’ll need to be ready. A true test to see how they measure up with the top teams will come in Week 10, their warmup for the playoffs against Les Princes de la Rive Sud. All I know is that these guys can ball and should not be taken lightly.

Predicted Record: 7-3

Most Intriguing Player: Nicholas Groppini

 

Bird Gang (4-3)

Grade: B+

If the AJ Gomes quarterback experiment ever fumbles, they can rest easy knowing they have Anthony Lazzara to take over if necessary. I got to see parts of their game against the Super Saiyans this week and they could not be stopped. Dan Lazzara is proving that he can be counted on as a primary receiver and nobody seems to have an answer for him. When at full strength, the combination of him, Anthony and Domenico Manno have been able to get open for an often scrambling Gomes. While their offense can sometimes be a work in progress, this team prides themselves on a ball hawk style defense that can force teams into turnovers, and it helps when you have somebody like Dernst DuBuisson-Desmornes rushing the quarterback. One thing is for sure, this team has championship pedigree and that experience, combined with their athleticism can get them a long way.

Predicted Record: 6-4

Most Intriguing Player: Dan Lazzara

 

A-Town (3-4)

Grade: C

After a hot start, they seem to have slowed down quite a bit and I think that has a lot to do with an inconsistent roster. This weekend was an interesting one as they didn’t have enough guys to start the game, but luckily two Division C players stayed behind to play and helped keep the game close against Team Ethnik. At full strength, they have one of the best and most talented rosters in the division. Emile Plante has a strong arm however often uses his short passing game to get the ball to Shelder, Marneris or Dorcely and let them break as many tackles as physically possible. From what I’ve seen, the receivers on the team need to do a better job catching balls for Plante and they’re on strong signal caller away on defense to be at the top of the Conference.

Predicted Record: 4-6

Most Intriguing Player: Jimmy Marneris

 

Hot Sauce Sports (3-4)

Grade: D

Whenever you have a team with William Power, Vinny Gualano and Justin Blanchard, there is absolutely no reason to cut you any slack when it comes to analyzing your progress. I don’t care who the quarterback is. They haven’t been quite able to gel as a unit and Peeze can ultimately be playing a little better as well, but their biggest hurdle has been giving up more than 25 points per game. They have the talent to beat their opponents in one on one matchups but it still seems to be a 50/50 ball every time and I don’t think they have really put their best foot forward on the defensive side. I’m anxious to see this team come playoff time, if they get there, and see who stays on the field in crunch time. This team was built to win football games and so far they are falling short.

Predicted Record: 4-6

Most Intriguing Player: Justin Blanchard

 

Team Ethnik (4-3)

Grade: B

There are a lot of big names on this team and they get their fair amount of recognition, as they should, but these guys have a few secret weapons that I hope to use this platform to expose a little bit. That’s what the media is for, right? Defensively, William Bissonnette is a fantastic rusher and middle defender, quick and sure handed when de-flagging. On the offensive side, his brother I believe, Alexei Bissonnette, has pure speed and excellent hands that the defense needs to be aware of. They both play well above their rating and in my opinion, are the reason for this teams success. Top that off with Charles Verreault and Jean-Christophe Ferland and an experienced quarterback in Benoit Lawlor, you have quite the recipe for success. Also, while David De Andrade doesn’t get a ton of exposure, he’s quite possibly the nucleus of the team on both sides of the ball. After Voodoo next week, they have a tough final 2 weeks to close out the season and should finish with an even record unless they can surprise a few people.

Predicted Record: 5-5

Most Intriguing Player: Charles Verreault

 

Hurricane SZN (3-4)

Grade: C-

If there was a team that needed a forfeit victory more, I challenge you to find me one. This is your typical team with a ton of talent that is having some trouble putting it all together. They’ve had a few good games with Ryan McGrath at quarterback, a solid victory with Bradley Parent back there as well but overall they just simply have not been very consistent. With Andel at the helm, their defense should also be better than it’s been – 23 points per game given up is simply too high when you have a younger, inexperienced quarterback. You end up forcing him to score 30 plus points every night and that’s the primary reason why they’re so close to the .500 mark. Brandon Parent is one of the best players in the Division and often needs to put the team on his back, but he shouldn’t. If they can spread the ball around a little bit more and figure out their weaknesses on the defensive side, they can sneak into the playoffs and do some damage.

Predicted Record: 4-6

Most Intriguing Player: Brandon Parent

 

Voodoo (0-7)

Grade: F

I rarely give out such a poor grade but this is very much due to the fact that this team had much higher expectations coming into the season and they have had better seasons in the past. I seriously just can’t explain it. All of their pieces are around – St-Armand, Marcil, Garofalo, yet they just can’t seem to buy a game this year. To make matters worse, it looks like guys are already starting to not show up – granted it was St-Jean weekend, but with their record now winless in 7, it’s tough to imagine them being too excited for their games. If there is one shining spot for this team, it’s that Frank Kaye’s sportsmanship and love of the game never waivers. Looking forward to seeing them have fun at the field the rest of the way and building on that next season.

Predicted Record: 1-9

Most Intriguing Player: Angelo Garofalo

 

Conference B

 

Outlaws (6-0-1)

Grade: A

Another season, another undefeated Outlaws team. We’re all getting used to this by now but in this case, they are hoping that history does not actually repeat itself. If you haven’t noticed, they are also the kings of the close game this season, having won 4 of their games by a total of 7 points, most recently a 1 point game this past weekend against Random White Dudes. With a tie also on their record against Half-A-Stars, they are proving that they can hold it together in close games and avoid defeat in most scenarios. They have a roster that’s second to none in the Conference, fielding guys like Vincent Benjamin, Shyanne Stewart and Jonathan Svetna, they even have a solid “7th man” if you will when Isaiah Allard joins them. The hard part of their schedule is now officially out of the way and there should be nothing stopping them from finishing undefeated yet again. The question remains, will they choke in the playoffs?

Predicted Record: 9-0-1

Most Intriguing Player: Shyanne Stewart

 

The Sheriff (5-2)

Grade: A-

Luis Begin still healthy. Alexandre Noel and Alexis Bessette dominating as planned. Double digit turnovers in only 7 games and wins against Bird Gang and Random White Dudes all culminate to a pretty strong season so far for the boys in blue. You can’t discount their 1 point loss to Outlaws also earlier in the season in a game they probably should have won. They have a very strong 1-2 punch on offense and with Luis Begin in the fold as well on defense, they have the tools necessary to beat any team. Having a strong rusher is task number 1 against The Sheriff as you will need to contain Luis and force him to stay in the pocket like his hero. Secondly, you’ll have to find a way to take away his first and second target and force him to throw into traffic which will often result in turnovers – he has almost 1 in every game so far this season. I have to admit that I slept on them a little bit earlier in the season but they are proving they belong, thanks in large part to the emergence of Bessette. It’s tough to see them losing again, but for fun, give me one upset in their final 3 games. My money would be on Hurricane SZN.

Predicted Record: 7-3

Most Intriguing Player: Luis Begin

 

Super Saiyans (3-4)

Grade: C

One of the hottest topics of the season so far has been where the hell have the real Super Saiyans been? Goku still training with King Kai? Vegeta in the hyperbolic chamber? Whatever it is, while we know that Saiyans often start slow, they’ll need to find a new form if they have any hopes of doing damage in the playoffs. Besides Jared Gallant, nobody else is averaging 3 catches per game. In fact, Jordan Allard is only averaging 13 completions per game total, which doesn’t give his teammates the chance to get into the game and make momentum shifting plays. It’s leading to dropped balls, poorly run routes and sloppy play all around. This past week against Bird Gang was an example of that, having trouble against a defense that didn’t field AJ Gomes. They gave up way too much of a lead early and just couldn’t claw back in time – a microcosm of their season if you will. They have a reputation of a solid defense and that just hasn’t been true this season, and Jordan Allard is feeling the most of that. If I had to bet on any given team rebounding or turning it on at any moment though, this would be the team.

Predicted Record: 6-4

Most Intriguing Player: Jordan Allard

 

Les Centaures (3-3)

Grade: C+

My pick for hot and cold team of the Division goes to these guys. They have all of the talent and experience they could ask for but for some reason, one week they have it and the next they don’t. Jordan Rossie is a good quarterback and he has a plethora of weapons including Jason, Hugo Allomanno, Blake Butler and Chris Brockwell. That group also make up a strong defense as well but I don’t know if they simply all don’t make it out every week or if they are doing some experimenting on both sides of the ball. They’ve beaten Super Saiyanns and Show Me Your TDs, which hasn’t actually been that hard this year but still says something – but they have lost to teams like Hot Sauce Sports and Random White Dudes. Whenever this kind of season happens the team is usually a wild card going into the playoffs and gets an upset or two. I’d be very careful if I play against them in the first or second round, because chances are they are a better team than their final seed.

Predicted Record: 5-5

Most Intriguing Player: Hugo Allomanno

 

Random White Dudes (3-4)

Grade: C+

Very tough loss this week against the best team in the Conference has to gut wrenching, but there’s a lot of positive to be had. If Jared Buck can limit the turnovers and continue to utilize Danny D’amour, Ryan Vanslet and Michael Timmis in the middle of the field, they can be a tough offense to slow down. Defensively, with D’Amour calling the plays, they should be able to matchup against anybody and they often have a bend but don’t break mentality. I’m very curious to see how they match up against a team like Unknown Talent who is a little younger and more athletic. It will be a good test for the experienced group and should help them prepare for their final two games. They play a run and gun style which can be effective, however they will need to tighten things up on the defensive side.

Predicted Record: 5-5

Most Intriguing Player: Danny D’Amour

 

Legend of 7 (2-4)

Grade: D

After a pretty good start to the season with wins against Longhorns and LOB, they have had their fair share of trouble since. They haven’t been happy with Antoine Lemire at quarterback and the proof is in the pudding so to speak. He’s thrown more interceptions than touchdowns for a team that isn’t even doing too poorly defensively. They have a lot of athleticism and we see this a lot with new teams where they just aren’t able to gel right away. Sometimes you can get over this hump with a strong quarterback, however that hasn’t been the case. DonnDre Borden and Tabari Yearwood lead the way on offense and defense respectively but it can be tough when the ball doesn’t seem to find them. I wouldn’t throw at Tabari either but DonnDre should be a primary target on almost every play. 8 catches in 5 games is definitely not enough. Overall, this team will learn a lot by playing together and hopefully they can find some magic in a bottle for their last 4 games. I think they can grab a win or two but it will be tough considering their opponents.

Predicted Record: 3-7

Most Intriguing Player: DonnDre Borden

 

Longhorns (2-5)

Grade: D-

Ah, the Longhorns. I really feel like a difference in a few plays during the season could have their record flipped. I’m thinking of the pick 6 to end the game against Unknown Talent and a few others. Eugene McLaren looks like Brett Favre out there, running and gunning and taking tons of chances. They are paying off for the most part, but he has way too many turnovers. If you cut the interception total by even 25%, that’s 4 more opportunities for drives and they are not losing games by much. With two tough games remaining against Outlaws and Super Saiyans next week, their season isn’t doomed but it will be extremely difficult to make the playoffs. We’ll see if Adam Rosen and Patrick Jazon can do enough together to get them out of this jam.

Predicted Record: 3-7

Most Intriguing Player: Adam Rosen

 

LOB (2-4)

Grade:D

Another team where I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. Especially after week 1, I had them flying high in this division and thought they’d be in a much better spot to compete week in and week out. Cory Johnson is having an extremely similar season to Eugene McLaren of the Longhorns and both teams have taken similar trajectories – way too many interceptions and he seems to be suffering from having a real number 1 threat that can bail him out of any situation. Adam Rockman and Lonnie have been solid, but they can be contained if you’re smart on defense and the good news is that they have been playing relatively well defensively, only about 22 points per game and led by Darnell Kevis Riley and GM Kolethras. They have an opportunity to turn things around but it doesn’t get easy right away with a date with Half-A-Stars.

Predicted Record: 4-6

Most Intriguing Player: Adam Rockman

 

Show Me Your TDs (1-5)

Grade: F

Another grade relative to expectations at the start of the season and very honestly, expectations that remain every week. With the roster that they have, Mike Addona at quarterback, I still don’t ever expect them to lose however, they continue to baffle me. One of the best one-two punches in the Division, the problem is not with Anthony Addona or Alex David. They also have one of the leagues bright young stars in Simon Ryan-Plourde who’s been a spark for them but obviously has not been enough to take these guys out of the basement of the Division. I would argue that they have the most difficult schedule of any team, but the worst part is that it doesn’t get much easier with games left to play against Super Saiyans and The Sheriff. It’s been a season to forget for this group of FPF Stars that will surely find their way in future seasons.

Predicted Record: 2-8

Most Intriguing Player: Simon Ryan-Plourde