Weekday Quarterback (D3) – Week 7

 

As the regular season begins to wind down, you would like to think that the playoff picture is beginning to clear itself up, yet with just three more weeks to go, there is very little that is set in stone.

Conference A has three teams tied at the top of standings with 6-1 records, while Conference B has two teams tied with 6-1 records and one team close behind, with a 5-1-1 record. The last few weeks will feature some dog fights, as teams fight for either the last few playoff spots or the number one seed in their respective conferences.

This week we will look at the teams currently on the playoff bubble, in addition to our usual headlines.

Headlines

Are GPK for real after winning 5 consecutive games?

GPK managed to win its fifth game in a row this week, and did it by beating a playoff quality opponent in FOTC. If you look at the five teams that GPK defeated in the last few weeks you would have to be impressed, there is only one team of the five that could be considered an easy victory. GPK beat the Sandlot Saints, the Titans, Sweet Tangerine Dream, the Trojans, and the previously mentioned Flight of the Conchords. Mike Stagg is getting the job done at QB for GPK, even though his numbers are not off the charts. He has only passed for 21 touchdowns, which is low on a team that has recoreded five victories. Ryan Joyce has been the most productive receiver for GPK, with 345 yards receiving and 5 touchdowns to this point. The offense is very balanced with five different receivers having caught five touchdowns. This team will be tested in the next two weeks as it faces the extremely hot Dirty Birds and the most intimidating team on anyone’s schedule, SWAT. We will really get an idea of how good this team is, heading into the playoffs.

Have we given the D-Boys enough credit for their fantastic season?

There was a point in time this season when I was not convinced that the D-Boys were a legitimate threat to repeat as Division 3 Champion, but when you’re wrong, you’re wrong. I have not given this team enough credit and there are very few teams that look as strong as the D-Boys do right now. After back to back convincing victories over teams with at least 5 wins, they look like they are poised to head back to the championship. Danny Gentile has found a way to slide into the QB position for this team and he hit the ground running as soon as he took the job for the D-Boys. Gentile is on pace for 50 touchdowns this season, and seems to be the favourite to win the QB of the year award right now. All that being said, this team is great because of the players that surround their star QB. The Lanni’s provide the team with great role players and some grit, while the true threat on this team has come to the forefront in Matt Kirouac. Kirouac is finding ways to produce for this team on both sides of the ball. As a rusher, he is providing enough pressure on opposing QBs to force ill-advised throws. On offense, he has established himself as a real threat at receiver, as well, which is evident after his three touchdown performance two weekends ago. The D-Boys will get another serious test this weekend as they face off against a Warriors team that seems to have found its legs following an up and down beginning to the season.

Will the Conference A, South division have four teams that finish with a .500 record?

There is always one division that seems to have four teams battling for playoff berths up until the very end of the season, and right now the south division of Conference A has established itself as the group of death. There are no teams in that division that can be thought of as an easy win, thanks to resurgence of the KGP Champs over the past few weeks. Two teams, DK and Briscoe High Hawks, have already eclipsed 5 victories which means that they will finish above .500 and the Snookers currently have 4 victories. It looks as though at least three teams will finish .500 or better and if the KGP Champs can manage two victories in their last three games then they will also finish with a .500 record. The Snookers and KGP Champs will both be fighting for a final playoff spot and they face each other in week 9. That game could decide if both finish with at least 5 wins and could decide whether either of these teams can sneak into the playoffs at the eleventh hour.

Playoff Picture

Right now in Conference A the playoff picture looks like this:

1. Briscoe High Hawks (6-1)

2. Dirty Birds (6-1)

3. Warriors (5-2)

4. Darkhorses (4-3)

5. DK (6-1)

6. Rude Bwoys (5-2)

7. Monarchs (4-3)

8. Snookers (4-3)

Bubble teams:

Sweet Tangerine Dream (3-4): Remaining games versus Raiders, Titans and Dirty Birds

Big TD’s (3-4): Remaining games versus SWAT, Dirty Birds and Titans

Broccasion (3-4): Remaining games versus Served with Ice, NTMC and Darkhorses

KGP Champs (3-4): Remaining games versus Dip, Snookers and DK

Looking at the teams on the bubble and who they have left to play, the two teams that have the easiest path are Sweet Tangerine Dream, as they should win at least two of their remaining games and KGP who could realistically win two of their games as well. Big TD’s have huge challenge ahead of them and Broccasion is still a longshot with two very tough games in the last three weeks. If I had to choose a team out of the four bubble teams to sneak in, it would be the KGP Champs, who I think are playing their best football of the season right now.

 

Right now in Conference B the playoff picture looks like this:

1. D- Boys (6-1)

2. Served with Ice (6-1)

3. SWAT / GPK tied with 5-2 records and identical point differential

4. Bandits (4-3)

5. Maniax (5-1-1)

6. SWAT/ GPK (5-2)

7. Trojans (4-3)

8. VPC (4-3)

Bubble Teams:

Terror Squad (3-4): Remaining games versus Briscoe High Hawks, Sandlot Saints and Bandits

Cobras (3-4): Remaining games versus Souljahs, Rangers and FOTC

Raiders (2-5): Remaining games versus Sweet Tangerine Dream, Trojans and GPK

Terror Squad looks like the most likely team to jump into the playoff picture with two winnable games, one of them being against their division rival Bandits. If Terror Squad can manage to beat Sandlot Saints and then beat the Bandits in week 10 there is a chance that they will overtake the Bandits and become one of the top four seeds. It is not going to be an easy climb for Terror Squad but it is a realistic scenario. The Cobras have the easiest schedule of all the bubble teams, and they could possibly run the table and finish with six victories on the season. The game against FOTC will be very tough, but they have shown that they are vulnerable at this point in the season. The Cobras will also need some help from teams playing the Trojans and VPC. The Raiders are still technically on the bubble but with three tough games coming up it looks as though their season is over. They will need a tremendous effort from their team and a lot of help from the rest of the league.

That is all for this week. I hope the conference standings have helped clear up some issues for certain teams. There are three weeks left until the playoffs begin and it promises to be a tremendous few weekends. I hope to see all of you around as we reach the climax of the regular season. Have a great week and remember to tune into the WEPL with Moe Khan, Alex Porras and I.