The Wrath of Khan – Week 1

In what has been anointed as the most highly anticipated FPF season since the league’s inception in 2005, there are many questions that will be answered throughout this season. For starters, can the Hurricanes win a third consecutive D1 winter championship and potentially become the greatest FPF team of all-time? In division 2, can newly promoted, Nixon’s Renegades have the same success as Notre Dame when last winter, they made the jump from D2 to D1, but now, are back in D2, does it sound confusing? Will parity continue to have a presence as there were a plethora of upsets from the Express winning the D2 title and now have been promoted to D1. As for the D3, and D4, in fairness to these 2 leagues it is more of a developmental league and having fun with your friends. However, we have seen individual players from these 2 leagues being poached by the bigger clubs in the higher divisions, hopefully these upcoming stars will stay their respective teams.

As for this scribe, back in our October meeting, I was given the assignment by the powers to be, to cover Division 2 this winter. I told the WEPL staff, even though I do play in D1 and D2, I strongly believe that D2 has more parity, storylines, and upsets. Please don’t think that D1 is nothing more than a “Billionaire Boys Club” where only the strong survive, because there has been a fair share of upsets in the upper ranks as well. But in-terms of how the format is in D2, the number of teams, the recruiting wars, and in talking to a few players, there is a sense of excitement just like in the NFL that the competition will be close. 

Without further notice, I will put on my “Johnny Wishbone” cap on in breaking down the 2 conferences. I know my predictions will go down the drain after week 4, and some random team who I deemed destined to finish dead last (hello Gators of winter’08) and should be demoted to D3, will end-up finishing in first, and win the D2 title. However, the old saying is, “you can’t be right, until you are wrong!”

In breaking down Conference A, my outright favourites, are the Monarchs, Shockers, Waterbuffaloes, and Messengers of Happiness. These 4 teams all possess something that the rest of their conference does not have. An established quarterback! It is imperative to have a trigger man since this is a quarterback driven league. With the tandem of Mike Roy, Rick Nincheri (Monarchs), Mike McNair (Shockers), and Craig O’Brien (Buffaloes), and Benny Goodfriend (Happiness), instantly, these teams are clearly above the rest in Conference A. However, we should not discount the potential titanic glacier that can potentially destroy the Monarchs ship with Roy and Ninchieri due to Ninchieri’s superior QB skills than Roy’s, but only time will tell. However, I have been reminded on numerous occasions by my WEPL co-host, Ross Castleton, which last year, I stated Roy was a D1 quarterback, what team is he playing for in D1? McNair, and O’Brien have the potential to air it out, thus creating potential shootouts with the opposition so get on your Mercurial track shoes for any games involving the Shockers, or Buffaloes. The only question I have for the Shockers, who else besides Andre Knights will become the second go-to receiver on the roster? Goodfriend, with the arsenal he has with DA spring playoff MVP, Rochi Benabdelkader, one must consider if they can compete in D1?

Now, the teams who are in the middle of the pack in this conference, Texas All-Stars, Thundering Herd, and Nixon’s Renegades. The common denominator between these teams, they are ticking time bombs waiting to explode due to the intensity their players bring onto the field. All of these players wear their emotions on their sleeve, which is not a bad thing, but they all have potential to make some positive noise in D2 if their mind is in the right frame. The Texas All-Stars will no doubt be the fastest team that will remind everyone of how Jamaica’s own Usain Bolt ran past the competition at ’08 Olympics. The All-Stars, led by the Taylor brothers (Nathan, and Garrett), have one of the best up and coming receivers in Anthony Thompson, but will the quarterback position be a problem? Thundering Herd as a whole is comparable to the stock market. For example, quarterback, Tom Cesari is an all-pro for one game, but then the next game his skills are comparable to Billy Joe Hobert. On the other hand, the Herd has this slow methodical way of beating their opponents, but they will need to keep their emotions in-check especially a game breaker such as Jamel Springer who did not help his cause during the spring playoffs where he had a few choice words for the officials. In what might be a surprise to the six people who read my column, the Renegades have players who can definitely compete in D2. Robbie Robinson, Liam Mahoney, Scot Mironowicz, and Mike Dwyer will all be key components in helping this Renegades team be competitive than a laughing stock. The only question that remains, can quarterback, Kirby Short be able to adjust to the faster pace game in D2?

Finally, the bottom feeders of this conference are Byrdgang, Brotherhood, Seminoles, and All Blacks. Even though I have Byrdgang at the bottom of this list, this team does have talent led by U of M’s own, Reggie Charles but beyond that can his teammates adjust to the flag version over the tackle game? Brotherhood, lead by former Sharks quarterback, Nick Barriere just like Kirby Short, can he adjust to the faster pace and higher level of play? The Noles, unless Corey Johnson (formerly of the Machine in D1) can instill a D1 attitude to his teammates, this might be a carbon copy of last year’s performance by the Machine in terms of competing but losing in the end. The All Blacks, with Myles Gibbon no longer there, Tony Tabet is a solid addition, but once again Myles Gibbon was the team. One suggestion, maybe the All Blacks should consider throwing the ball to Adam Ferguson, he has that Wes Welker in him.

Conference B, without a doubt in my mind the contenders are, Click Clack, Sharks, and Phoenix. Some might question my choice on why Click Clack would get my vote as one of the best teams in Conference B? It is simple; they have been a perennial contender. As the G-Men, with many similar players (but a different QB), they won the ‘08 DB spring league, and now are primed for a deep run this winter. Click Clack, led by the mouthpiece, the heart, and soul of this franchise, Paul Kamel will be one who will dictate how this team fares on the field. With Daniele Gentile throwing the football, if Click Clack is smart, they should consider using some sort of “wildcat” formation and rename it “wild giant”. Sharks, any team who has Carmine Pollice on their squad will automatically be included into the equation of this division. Without Pollice the Sharks would become an endangered species. However, the addition of Kevin Bernavil, his “Percy Harvin” skills will make it difficult for any opposing teams to solely concentrate on Pollice. The Phoenix has been perennial contenders, but has come up short in the end, maybe the reason last season is because they had Rehan Sarwar. With Martin Tougas throwing, regardless of the score, it will be an air show. However, with the likes of Adi Sharma captaining and steadying the defense, and Tony Khoury’s D1 experience on-board this has the makings to be a great run this season. Keep in mind, I have not even mentioned Nick Raymond’s name. 

In the middle of the pack are, Notre Dame, Mercenaries, Homosapiens, and Red Ballers. Many FPF competitors questioned the motives of Richard Shefteshy for dropping back into D2, but with a talent laden roster from Kishon Thompson, Hamid Mahmoudi, J-M Laplante, and Tom Nikoletopoulos. Shefteshy will be making a full-time move to quarterback, and he will have weapons to pass the ball to, but will it be the Alex Smith, or Matt Cassel that will show up on the weekends? Mercenaries, led by Gino Di Fazio, will be throwing the ball no matter what. He will keep his team in-games, but will they mentally be alert or will they fall asleep at the wheel? Homosapiens, great team chemistry, some opposing players think they should be a D1 team, only time will tell if they are in the correct in their assumption. Red Ballers, just like Carmine Pollice, anyone who has Ryan Kastner on their team will be a contender. Kastner’s roster has a McGill influence which down the road might be a feeder team for the Rainmakers in D1.

The bottom 5 of this conference are, Pacmen, Black Knights, Turf Toe Inc, Wolfpack. Phil Ackaoui has put together a solid roster with former Alouettes receiver, Shaun Diner on-board. But the question remains, does the team roster equal up to Diner’s ability? Furthermore, the Pacmen would have a decent shot if FPF was all about special teams since that is what Diner excelled at during his time with the Alouettes, but this league is not won on punt coverage. Turf Toe Inc, one of the original members of FPF, always makes it a game, but will fold like a Coleman chair in the end. Wolfpack, I thought they exceeded expectations last year, and this time around they will not sneak up on anyone.           

 

Conference A:

1.      Monarchs (8-2)

2.      Messengers of Happiness (7-3)

3.      Shockers (7-3)

4.      Waterbuffaloes (6-4)

5.      Texas All-Stars (6-4)

6.      Nixon’s Renegades (6-4)

7.      Thundering Herd (5-5)

8.      Byrdgang (4-6)

9.      Brotherhood (3-7)

10.  Seminoles (3-7)

11.  All Blacks (3-7)

Conference B:

1.      Sharks (9-1)

2.      Phoenix (7-3)

3.      Click Clack (7-3)

4.      Homosapiens (6-4)

5.      Notre Dame (6-4)

6.      Red Ballers (6-4)

7.      Mercenaries (5-5)

8.      Wolfpack (5-5)

9.      Pacmen (4-6)

10.  Black Knights (4-6)

11.  Turf Toe Inc (2-8)

 

 

Percentages%

6.4%, that Monarchs quarterbacks, Mike Roy and Rick Nichieri will each throw for 20 touchdowns this winter, and that is if Mike Roy plays any quarterback.

15%, that a D2 team will go winless this winter.

15%, that a D2 team will go undefeated this winter.

30%, that Carmine Pollice will win D1 and D2 MVP this winter.

34.6%, that Andre Knights will have 10 touchdowns each in D1 and D2.