Food for Thought (Div B) – Week 4

While many key players went MIA during week 4 thanks to disturbing localized tornadoes and untimely alien abductions (pardon the glamorization), I was not short of storylines to sell my editor this week.

The last of the Mohicans, the undefeated Snookers, fell before a late but hungry Evolution crossing off their name from the 10-0 list in the process.

Les Patriotes, who keep marching boldly on the Div B battlefield, will have a chance to show they are for real in their next 4 games as they will arguably face the toughest opponents in their team’s history.

Park Street Elite keep adding to their win streak as well as their mean streak as they are rapidly becoming the Broad Street Bullies of FPF.

And, due to an inexplicable crotchet from the FPF gods (yes, I just used Dictionnary.com’s Word of the Day), the Big TDs managed to surmount an early 12-0 lateness penalty for the second time this season…

In the words of Hall-of-famer Kishon Thompson: “ Lesssss Goooo!”

 

The last Indian has fallen

Yes, the Snookers have been brought back to reality after their tremendous start to the season. Evolution simply needed the win more than they did last week. However, this doesn’t make the Fighting Tony Tabets a less dangerous opponent going into week 5. While they lack the star-power and glamour of other teams, they make up for it in grit, intelligence and experience.

After being long heralded as a defender, Raffi Kozanian is showing he can dish it out on offense as well. Since two of the three receivers posting a better yards/game average are ineligible for individual awards in Div B, “Just Kozy” stands a pretty good chance of claiming some hardware come late July.

While their offense has been productive, showing a solid 6.25 Att/TD average, some credit needs to be handed out to the Snookers’ defense for their 3-1 start to the season. Man defence seems to be the bread and butter for this squad as they’ve racked up an impressive 13 PD, second only to the Patriotes’ 16. With six batted balls, Serge Moumdjian is one of the leaders and unsung heroes of the Snookers’ hermetic shutdown squad.

 

Are they for real?

Can the Pats build on their early season success? Yes. Will the going get tougher for them as the season goes on? Yes. No matter how strong the opposition or how large the spread against them is, these Flying Frenchmen will keep the games close.

If I was to compare them to another team in Div B, it would definitely be their next opponent, the Snookers. A strong defence and an opportunistic offence seem to define both their identities. However, the Pats lack the higher division experience of their counterparts. Will it show in the teams’ next tilt?

 

Park Street Bullies

Despite Scott Kelly’s rollercoaster QB stats, PSE is off to a thundering start. They lead the division in Points For (148), Differential (+29), Interceptions (14!), TDs (23) and major penalties (5). The team’s Att/TD ratio of 5.43 (3rd) is a testament to the long-ball game they play. Many, including myself, have questioned Scott Kelly’s passing ability this season. While the long play has served him well, his completion percentage of 43.6 (10) and his passer rating of 84.2 (9) are light-years away from what he has shown in past seasons. It seems that injury is what is preventing him from excelling: “I’ve been playing with tendinitis in my elbow. It’s killing me out there. I’d love a bye week.” If this is true, I can only imagine how strong PSE would be with a healthy Kelly behind center…

For the moment, the slack is being carried by Anthony McComber and Alex Grace. Impressive on both sides of the ball, they will most likely be competing against each other for Two-Way Player of the year status. With 10 INTs between them, this physical duo is outplaying the opposition physically on defence and on offence. Factor in some excessive celebrations and a couple of shove matches and you have the makings, in PSE, of a widely detested opponent!

 

Think Big!

Why do things the easy way when you can get away with the hard way? Jamil Springer and the Big TDs may have been the first team in FPF history to overcome 12-0 lateness penalties twice in the same season! Without Ryan Brewster, Jeff Millar and Chris Cesari and with a benevolent Moe Khan playing both ways, the TDs feat is that more fantastic.

Springer is on his way to setting career highs in all offensive categories and perhaps even contend for QB of the Year! As of right now, he would most likely finish second to Nincheri in the voting but a second place finish would be fantastic nonetheless!

Ryan Browne has always been the Robin to Springer’s Batman, rendering him stronger while staying in his shadow. Despite his anonymity, Browne is one of the premier snappers in the division and the cog that makes everything run smoothly for the Big TDs.

 

Power Rankings

(All my predictions will be tweeted via @Score_keeper on game day.)

1. Big TDs (3-1): Only “the man with the afro” has been able to scheme his way around them. And there is only one “man with an afro”…

2. Snookers (3-1): Despite their first loss, Snookie’s Snookers are one of the only teams close to reaching perfect synchronisation at this point. Chemistry is working wonders for them.

3. Park Street Elite (3-1): Will they go unchallenged in their bid for the Conference’s top spot? It all starts this week.

4. Patriotes (3-1): In the Snookers and the Trojans, they will find their true tests. Are they a legit Div B team? We will know after the double-header.

5. Trojans (2-2): Without Vinny Gualano for week 5, Donald Shepherd and Adam Ciampini will have to step up.

6. SWAT (2-2): Gino has shown his team can pull a win off no matter who is on the roster. But really, WHO will be on that roster?

7. Evolution (2-2): All they needed was to get things going and that’s just what they did. Look out for the Darkhorse!

8. Terror Squad (1-3): After three straight losses, they will be playing for their season Thursday against PSE.

9. Prestige World Wide (1-3): When will Alex Lever’s luck change? When he will be able to punch it in from inside the red zone…

10. Broccasion (0-4): Time to take the bull by the horns and get that first win of the season. The oldest guys on the team should NEVER be the ones with the most enthusiasm and energy!

 

Be sure to follow me on twitter @Score_keeper where I will be blogging live from Brossard and Lachine on game day!

If you have any comments, suggestions or rants, feel free to email me at [email protected].

See you at the field!