We have just about made it to another wonderful season in the MFL and am I glad. No more sitting around on the weekend, time to get out and get a tan.
This season we have a total of 50 teams across 5 divisions and that can only mean lots of exciting games. This year we have both Le Ber and Arthur Therrien, so it will be just like last season with players maybe having to change locations if they are on multiple teams and that means the possibility of a few games starting a few minutes late.
We will be running the kids league once again and with that there is a new rule that I will bet gets at least 10 unsportsmanlike calls this season. I know it will be difficult at first, but we can’t have that language with children around. I will let you all know that with the kid’s league going on that there will be 4 to 6 Kousaie’s at the field this season (ed’s note: I broke the no swearing rule reading that) and you all know what that means it will be loud, so if you don’t want to hear us bring earplugs. That was your one and only warning about it.
I’m looking forward to getting out there, playing and seeing most of you.
Players to Watch & Season Predictions
Now I would normally jump into my recaps or the previous week, but since we are heading into week 1 there is nothing to talk about. Instead I will talk about 1 player on each team that you should watch out for, and I have excluded QBs and rushers since those are the easy picks to make since they impact the game the most.
Division 1
Iron Wolves
Demario Cooper. In past season he has balled out on both sides of the ball, but he also tends to miss a bunch of games.
Prediction: 3-7 with Jon at QB (ed’s note: ouch)
Centurions
I could have gone with Simon, but by now everyone knows what he can do and that’s why teams need to figure a way to stop Samuel Collette. Samuel is the guy that makes plays when they need to be made.
Prediction: 4-6
Les Gros Coqs
With so many good players to choose from I went with Boris Gagnier because he is coming back from an injury, and I have to see how his body holds up.
Prediction: 6-4
Outlaws
Ariel Librati. He isn’t a huge offensive guy but makes his plays on defense. Can he keep averaging over 1 pick a game this season?
Prediction: 7-3
Trollers
I’m going with the brothers Jeremy and Ashton as both are new to the team and that can only mean one of two things: either they get loads of balls or they get none (ed’s note: I’m assuming this is some sort of an example of a false dichotomy). Both can be considered number 1 targets, it’s just how they get used that I want to see.
Prediction: 5-5
Division 2
Thunder Buddies
Quentin Leduc. At only 15 years old, we will see how he handles playing against bigger opponents and how much Steve will trust him.
Prediction: 6-4
Spritz Gang
Laurent Foucault. How does he fit in with the team. We all know he can play, but can he play nice and fill a role for Spritz Gang?
Prediction: 2-8
Master Chiefs
Avery Klimas. With Willie out of the picture can Avery step up fill the void and lead the defense. Will he handle the pressure that will be put on him to do so?
Predictions: 6-4
Idaho Udapimp
Eric Schiocchet. This guy can play at least against lower division players, now he needs to show he can play up in the harder divisions and I think he will this season.
Prediction: 6-4
Jagerbomb
JF Daloze. A few seasons ago was an absolute stud last season he took a step back and this season lets see how he rebounds back to the player he was.
Prediction: 7-3
Nice TDs
I went with the young kid on Thunder Buddies and I will do the same here, except Kaiden Dewey will have his dad throwing him the ball and I saw over the winter some of the remarkable catches he made, and I can see a bunch more plays like that this season.
Prediction: 6-4
Marvels
Alexandre Szalipszki will need to do a lot for this team to win games. He will need to make big plays on offense and must get a bunch of picks on defense for this team to have much of a chance.
Predictions- 3-7
Pocket Rockets
Julien Proulx has coached and has years of knowledge and I want to see how he gets along with the way Leo calls his defense and how long it will last until he gets fed up or takes over the play calling.
Prediction: 4-6
Division 3
Iron Wolves
Michael Lesniak and his lowered rating fit into this team. Lesniak normally plays center, but they have Mauricio there and Lesniak is a solid tackler, but can become a liability on defense if put in the wrong place. Will he find his place or be an outcast all season?
Prediction: 4-6. Jon’s arm won’t hold up all season and Josh will be under center by week 6. (ed’s note: I’d be upset, but I think giving me 5 weeks is actually pretty generous)
RawSauce
With most team focusing on Yvan, Gabriel Boucher will need to continue to tear it up like he did last season by putting up big numbers on both sides of the ball.
Prediction: 3-7
Douilles Molasses
Jeremy Trudel. He is their best player based off stats and this season teams might try and focus on him more so how does he deal with the defense keying on him and will he still be able to make plays.
Prediction: 3-7
Double Dippers
Manuel Allard-Roy has chemistry with their new QB and should see his targets go up and get chances to make loads of plays in key situations.
Prediction: 7-3
Average Joes
The addition of Ryan McSweeny is huge for this team and should provide them a true safety on defense. The question is will Ryan step up with the pressure or fall flat.
Prediction: 8-2
Bines
Simon Beaudoin is a stud and can score from anywhere on the field at any time and yes, I am including on defense as well.
Prediction: 6-4
Mustard Tigers
Jie Ouyang took some time off to recover from injuries, but with him being back he should help by giving them anther weapon and a little more speed.
Prediction: 2-8
Phoenix
I could have left this blank since it my team, but I will let everyone know that I think Cory Sim-Robertson will end up playing a huge part of our team and no one knows him.
Prediction: NA
Red Cats
James Nguyen is back after taking last fall off and I think this season he is the key for this Red Cats team. He will need to win the jump balls in the redzone and on converts.
Prediction: 4-6
Villains
This team was tricky to pick someone, but I was able to do some digging around and decide that this season Samuel Thompson O’Reilly is going to be the player making plays for this team.
Prediction: 3-7
Pocket Rockets
Phillip Charpentier will be the player that needs to step up since most teams will be focusing on Willie. Phil is tall fast and has great body control expect to see him flying all over the place.
Prediction: 7-3
Division 4
Iron Wolves
I could have gone with Jon for this pick since I’m sure he will be calling the plays, but we won’t be in the huddle for that. I end up going with the player Jason will depend on to make plays for him and that is Conner McAleer. Conner might be young and just learning the game, but he has speed and won’t get tired.
Prediction: 2-8
RawSauce
Yvan Desjardins is going to tear up this division and do it easily. He will be this season’s version of Alexis and get every ball in key situations.
Prediction: 7-3
Sooners 45
Jose Luis Castro jr is a very good play and very shifty. Teams ill have a hard time tackling him in the open field.
Prediction: 4-6
Bines Low Fat
Thomas Cote-Parent if I remember correctly, he is their center and always finds the hole to sit in and I expect him to do the same, but make a few more players miss once he has the ball in his hands.
Prediction: 7-3
Airborne
I expect the father son connection to be on point and that means lots of balls for Benoit Maynard. Ben has developed into a very good defender that relies on his instinct and makes great breaks on the ball.
Prediction: 5-5
Les Bouchers
Felix Begin might be short, but he can play all over the field on defense and once he gets the ball in his hands is hard to grab those flags. I expect to see 500 plus yards and at least 10 TDs from him this season.
Prediction: 5-5
Super Friends
With everyone looking towards Alex Morin since he killed it last season and that will give Alex Noivo the chance to show not only is he a stud on defense, but he has moves on the offensive side of the ball as well.
Prediction: 3-7
Drama Club
Roxanne Roy will be the player that gets left alone every game, and she will make teams pay for it. She should end up as one of their top players at least on offense, but watch out when you see her line up as rusher as she is quicker than she looks and doesn’t miss many if any flags.
Prediction: 5-5
Udaho Idapimp
Mason Miller played well in the winter and I expect to see him getting better with more games played. He is still learning the game, but can do a bit of everything. Teams can’t overlook him or it will be a long day.
Prediction: 6-4
Cyclones
Stephen Biddle might not be fast and might not look like a football player and that is fine because Stephen has good hands, makes most of the catches when the ball is thrown to him and on defense just seems to always be in the right position. He should get an opportunity to make more plays this season and I see him making them.
Prediction: 4-6
Black Diamonds
David Ferron is going to be the player Rob depends on to make plays. David is a decent player, but needs to make sure he shows up and if that happens, he should be able to have success on both sides of the ball.
Prediction: 3-7
Division 5
Phoenix
David Brebant has played with me from the very beginning of Phoenix and every year he has improved, and I expect to see him becoming a bigger part of the team.
Prediction: NA
Improbables
I went with the only other person allowed to go shirtless at the field and that is Alex Laroche. With the team having a new QB and most of the time they rely on their center, expect Alex to get a bunch of balls and don’t be fooled by his appearance, he does have moves and makes players miss all the time.
Prediction: 4-6
Titans
Austin McMahon has been a beast for this team and with the improvement of other players this should get him some softer coverages and he will definitely take advantage of that.
Prediction: 5-5
Los Pollitos
Guillaume Mayer. This guy is tall, fast and has good hands. If the ball is thrown high to him, he should come down with it all day long.
Prediction: 1-9
Sour Peeps
Benjamin Poitras will need to play like he did last season in order to help Jocelyn keep improving. Ben is solid on both sides of the ball and always seems to make a play a the right time.
Prediction: 6-4
Mimosa Crew
Nikhil Sharma is a very reliable receiver and someone Curren depends on to make plays. Last season he was able to do all that will he be able to do it again this season.
Prediction: 5-5
Bear Hood
Albert Nguyen is just a role player in D3 and D4 but in D5 he should be a main target for Simon and show his other teams what he can do on both sides of the ball.
Prediction: 4-6
The Legendaries
I feel that on this team that Marianela Read-Rainville will get the opportunity to show what she can do. She was new to the league last spring and with the team around her she should find herself open often.
Prediction: 6-4
Tropic Thunder
Brody Vaincourt is a decent player, but what he will have to do is show his skills as a play caller on defense. Stu might give some insight, but it will be up to Brody to make sure it gets done.
Prediction: 6-4
Big Booties
Barbara Donais needs to show Josh she is a reliable receiver and force teams to account for her and by doing that it will get other players open.
Prediction: 6-4
My Ball Zack Ertz
Scott Fulton needs to step up and be the leader for the team and getting them set in position. Once he has the team knowing what to do, he can concentrate on putting up stats.
Prediction: 3-7
Jungle Squad NA no roster has been posted yet.
Free Agents 1, 2, and 3 I will skip because they are new teams with no one other than their QBs that I know, and I don’t feel its fair to judge a team or players that I have never seen before. I do feel that all 3 Free Agent teams will struggle at the start of the season, but should improve as the season goes on (ed’s note: what brave insight!). They will have to listen to what the players with experience are telling them.
I have more I could have said about every team, but I don’t want to give to much insight into what I know about each team. When I picked my players, I tried to pick players that should be able to show what they can do as well as a few that might be in new situations and have to prove themselves.
Studs & Duds
I feel this is way more fun for everyone than picking a player of the week. I’m still going to pick a player who balled out which is expected, but I will also be picking a player that disappointed and just didn’t show up. I know everyone will be trying to be the Stud of the week but what you really don’t want to be is my Dud. I’m going to start off by telling you who is Stud & Dud of the offseason.
Stud
Matthieu Demers for joining the Media team and starting a Podcast exclusively for Brossard and by doing this will save Terry & Will a minute of their show and it will also give the players from Brossard something to look forward to each week.
Dud
Willie will earn this if Terry and him do a podcast prior to week 1. I can already see the look on Terry’s face being like what are you talking about? (ed’s note: that is what my face is like. If they “do” a podcast? Not “don’t do”?) It happens every week, but since they have been off for so long, I expect to see more of them this week.
I know they aren’t flashy picks, but who else could I have gone with? Jon as the Stud for getting the season started, like we need him walking around like he is a star or something. I could have put me as the Dud for not fixing up the field, but I was told the city was handling it. (ed’s note: Dud of the Week: The city of Montreal!) Week 1 will be interesting to see who ends up winning after having so long off.
