Food for Thought (Div B) – Week 11

 

1 down, 2 to go…

 

It looks like odd numbers were in luck last week as only the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th seed survived the quarterfinals onslaught. The greatest surprise came at the expense of the Terminators who were unceremoniously kicked out of the playoffs by the streaking Maniax who, must I remind you all, have not lost since early June.

 

The G-Men, who looked rustier than a heartless tin-man, had all sorts of problems getting rid of the Alkoholiks. Lucky for them, All-Star QB Gianni Settino shook off some dust near the end of the game and pulled off a stellar performance in overtime.

 

The other 2 matchups went pretty much as expected. First, Alex Lever ripped through the Blackshirts defence like a Sheldon Souray slapshot through a mediocre goalie.

 

Later on, Jamil Springer tried everything he could to overpower Redemption but Andre Knights’ stellar performance and a small but important contribution from all his teammates showed that Redemption’s supporting cast is simply better as a whole than the Big TDs’.

 

 

How to get a seat at the press conference – 101

 

While some were brilliant in week 1 of the playoffs, others barely escaped from their first round encounters. But now that the roles are inversed, the careless might become alert and the dominant could slip into a drowsy confidence. This is what we should expect will happen this week:

 

G-Men (1) vs Maniax (7)

 

Clearly the most potentially entertaining matchup of this round, the proverbial question marks are all above the G-Men’s heads. How are they going to stop the second hottest team after themselves?

 

G-Men Game Plan

 

1. Avoid getting sacked

 

2. Integrate short passes well in the offensive scheme

 

3. Limit Rapha Beladjat’s rushing

 

For the Maniax, it’s all about staying focused and using all their players in order to disrupt the G-Men’s weakest links.

 

Maniax Game Plan

 

1. Use everyone on offence and be creative

 

2. Put pressure on Gianni Settino with good rushes

 

3. Do not let the G-Men convert when they enter the red zone.

 

 

Prestige World Wide (3) vs Redemption (5)

 

With all the respect that is due to Redemption’s defence, I do not see how they will survive their date with Prestige World Wide. Maybe Andre Knights will once again steal the show, who knows…

 

Redemption Game Plan

 

1. Drain time away with long drives and short passes

 

2. Be opportunistic on both sides of the ball

 

3. Limit the long plays

 

If Alex Lever spreads the ball around, it will most likely be a very long night for Redemption since they do not have the talent to cover simultaneously Pat Jérôme, Phil Leduc, Wesley Joseph and Matt Brethour.

 

Prestige World Wide Game Plan

 

1. Take what the opposition gives you; do not force plays

 

2. Limit Andre Knights’ gains

 

3. Stay focused and avoid mental errors

 

 

Represent!

 

Once again, congratulations to the 12 All-Stars who will represent Division B in the All- Star Game on August 22nd. As I have already talked about the award winners as well as Jean-Richard Verger, Bryan Nguyen and Philippe Leduc in previous articles here is my take on the other 5:

 

Gianni Settino (G-Men): Selected to his first All-Star game, Gianni will be a tough contender to surpass in the “Strongest Arm” QB contest. Finally playing with a strong cast around him, he has achieved new heights in FlagPlus Football and showed that he might become a top Division quarterback in the near future.

 

The fact: Gianni is mostly known for his unending appetite but few know that his favourite beverage is 3.25% milk!

 

Paul Kamel (G-Men): The heart and soul of his team, Paul can play any position on the field. He is relied on for several trick plays as running back or even QB and constitutes a deep threat anytime he aligns himself near the sidelines. Most of all, Paul Kamel is a passionate and loyal player who leads by example on and off the field.

 

The fact: On top of being a die hard fan of the New York Giants, Paul loves to listen to the Food Network as well as trying out new recipes at home!

 

Nareg Yessayan (G-Men): 3rd G-Men player selected to the All-Star team, Nareg certainly dwarfs all his teammates with his impressive height. Even more impressive is his uncanny ability to catch jump balls and make catches without going out of bounds. Also one of the least outspoken players in the league, Nareg has earned the admiration of others by respecting his opponents and his sport.

 

The fact: Nareg is the most decorated all-star in Division B having won Receiver of the Year twice and Two-Way Player of the Year once!

 

Mike Smith (Alkoholiks): Even though he is not as recognisable as some of his teammates, Mike is clearly the MVP on his team. The ultimate utility player, he does whatever his team needs and even more. Definitely someone to keep track of in future seasons.

 

The fact: After realizing that the WEPL was snubbing him in the first weeks of the season, Mike confronted the FlagPlus analysts and demanded that they gave him some media recognition…which they gladly did!

 

Jacques Void (Blackshirts): His team’s loss in the first round shows just how much Jacques is important to his team. Who knows what would have happened if he had not been sidelined by a broken finger? Nevertheless, this season was once again a success for him as he challenged Bryan Joseph and Anthony Thompson for the Receiver of the Year award right till the end.

 

The fact: In all 3 seasons he’s played with Mathieu René, one of them has won an individual award (Jacques won Receiver of the Year once and Mathieu won back to back QB of the Year awards)!

 

 

Technically Speaking…

 

For any questions regarding statistics, rule clarifications or for any other FlagPlus Football related enquiries please email me at [email protected]. As always, I hope I have entertained you as much as you entertain me weekly. See you Sunday.