Word from the Mouth: Week 10 - Playoffs! edition!
As a reminder to all of our playoff teams, you are limited to 6 players in a game if you have any subs playing. 7 players if your QB only plays offense. You are also allowed to have an additional player available in case of injury, but note that the injured player is out for the game if they are replaced.
Now that the warmup season is out of the way and all the pretenders have been eliminated we can get to the real season. We have the three best teams in the playoffs, which we all saw at the beginning of the year. Then we end up with what people were thinking was a stacked team or super team crawl in with a 5-5 record and needed to win their last game to get in. The playoffs could be interesting.
Week 10 Recap
Trollers vs Henchmen (32-13)
So this was a game that had a little playoff implication when it started. Henchmen were able to march down the field and score on the opening possession. Trollers then did the same on a play that deserved a flag for PI. Jon told me the night before that Francis was going to light us up and he did on me with the no call. Jon was asking how do you not turn around a yard or two from the back of the end zone line. After that Trollers took over the game not allowing another point until Henchmen’s last drive of the game. I will say that Henchmen did a horrible job of catching the ball consistently. Svetna did make a ridiculous one handed catch on a ball thrown behind him and in between two defenders. These two teams will play again this week. Will we see more of the same, we will have to wait and see.
Outlaws vs Revolucion (56-18)
Was this even a game at any point? Raph and Revolucion needed this win to get some momentum for their second game. As you can see from the score and the video that didn’t happen. Outlaws look to be rolling after a huge loss last week to Bitter Boys. Here is a link to the video of this game. https://www.facebook.com/montrealflagfootball/videos/215173286070074/
Watch the video you can tell for yourself also Smuda makes a great one handed catch.
Les Gros Coqs vs 4Simbas (37-24)
This was a game between two teams that get really fired up really fast, there was bound to be some fireworks in this one. There wasn’t so don’t expect to hear any except a player getting bumped in the nose and having to come off and get a band aid. On 4Simbas first possession they scored, so I asked Dom what was going on and he looks at me and goes maybe we will lose on purpose so we can play the Trollers in round one. I knew in my head that there is no way they would lose on purpose especially since they already lost to them once before. This game was back and forth most of the game. Both QBs did a good job of spreading the ball around and they each had a few nice runs. Charles had a big game on offense for Gros Coqs. After watching this game and seeing what was the video game of the week this game was way more exciting.
Trollers vs Bitter Boys (45-18)
So after these two teams played last time Trollers wanted to show how dominating they can be. Last week Bitter Boys helped the Trollers out by beating Outlaws, they weren’t going to beat the top two teams to end their season. I knew this was going to happen and didn’t want any part of it. Trollers had all but locked up the first seed even if they lost as long as they gave up less than 42 points. I was trying to convince my team to just take the forfeit and finish at 8-2 instead of 9-1 or still losing the game and giving up more points. Plus someone could have gotten hurt and been lost for playoffs. I will say Bitter Boys are a good team and no one should over look them moving into the fall season.
Revolucion vs Henchmen (12-19)
This game was for the fourth and final playoff spot. You would have expected a more offensive game with so much on the line. Maybe both teams had a case of the dropsies. This game ended up being long and slow. Both teams had a few long drives and ate up the clock. I know that is the way Jon plays, Raph is a little more up tempo. I will say that ,ost of the Henchmen had just played in a division two game and all of Revolucion just finished getting smacked around by Outlaws, so everyone was tired and could have used a break in between the most important game of the season. I will say that Henchmen did bring in a sub to put them at 7 players for the game since most it was their third game of the day. I want to know how Jon was able to complete a pass for 50 yards and out of those 50 yards how many were in the air. My guess is 5 and Marvin ran the rest of the way. It would have been nice to see this be a more exciting game with so much on the line for both teams. Next time we should do what NFL does near end of season and move games to primetime. It wouldn’t be last minute they would know from the Saturday before. Just a suggestion.
Playoff Match ups
#1 Trollers vs #4 Henchmen
This game is a rematch of one that just happened this past week. I think it will be a better game this time around. I just want to remind Henchmen that it is customary to go out the night before and drink all night long. This is what teams do in division one. This week Trollers will have Max back under center and should be able to generate more points than last week. I also can’t see Henchmen dropping all those balls again. So this game is going to come down to a few plays and who makes more of them. Both teams have a tone of talent. I can see that the top players still being able to make plays. This game will be decided by one of the teams role players. So for Henchmen I can see Francis or maybe Ian being that guy that needs to come up big (ed’s note: both out…). For the Trollers it could end up being Dave, Kevin or Andre with the pass rush. Those are the guys that I can see making a huge impact since everyone else will be getting all the attention.
Winner- NA
#2 Outlaws vs #3 Gros Coqs (GOTW)
QB- So Steve is your prototypical passer; sit in the pocket, make a quick read and get the ball out of his hands. Every now and then he will evade the rusher and maybe even another player as he scrambles for a few yards and 9 out of 10 times a first down. Dom on the other hand is a guy who uses his legs and forces the defense to adjust to him and where he is running. If the defense sits in their zones he will take off and kill you that way if you come up to make a play on him he will find the open guy. These two couldn’t be any different. I have played with Steve on other teams for a few years now and I love the guy, but I have to give the advantage to running ability of Dom. I have seen him beat teams too many times just by running.
WR- Gros Coqs have a great bunch of receivers that anyone of them could beat you. Bresse is the guy for Gros Coqs, Vincent is a good center and Dom will check it down to him quite often. After those two they still have Charles, Boris and Etienne who are all solid and missed games so their numbers don’t pop off the page at you. Outlaws are stacked with Smuda, Shyanne and Remy outside along with Eric manning the middle. They have a lot of speed on the roster that just needs to get used properly. Smuda is top 3 receiver if not the best in the league. I know Shyanne is reading this and has a stupid look on his face like “what about me?” Now if I was given choice to pick either group to be on my team I would easily take Outlaws. They are fast enough and have way more size, so Outlaws are given my advantage in this one.
Defense- So Remy was my choice as the top rusher in the division and defense starts up front. If you can pressure the QB constantly and fast you won’t have to cover as long. The question is will Remy be able to contain Dom from running wild. In the secondary the Outlaws are pretty weak, that is after Smuda and Shyanne. The team has 14 picks by those two guys only. How does everyone else bat 28 balls away and not end up with 1 pick? Gros Coqs have a different problem, their defense is weak all over. They have only managed to get 5 sacks as a team, 11 picks, and batted 43 balls away. Their defense isn’t bad, but it isn’t great either. If they settle down and play like they can they are very solid it just hasn’t happened much this season. I have to go with Remy and give the Outlaws the advantage. He is the best rusher and can change a game on his own.
X Factor
So this is something new I figured I try it and see how it goes.
Outlaws- Stopping Dom from running if they can do that and force him to throw then they will win the game.
Gros Coqs- Smuda, stopping him. That is what needs to be done if they want any chance in winning this game.
I know it might seem obvious what my X Factors are. These two teams have played many game against each other and they are normally good games. Outlaws have always had trouble eliminating the run from Dom and Gros Coqs can’t match up with the size of Smuda. So this will be interesting to see how it plays out.
Winner – Outlaws
Final Thoughts
So we are here, Madden has come out or will be by the time this is posted. So you know someone is going to be up all night playing it trying out new plays and seeing if they work. I have played madden and football my whole life and yes you can run some of the same concepts or even plays, but will they work ya? Of course, you’ll just need the right players to run the plays. I will be one of those people up for the next few nights mastering the game, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be ready Saturday 9:30am to dominate in my game. Now that it is the playoffs you have to give it your all if you want any chance in playing in the finals. So no more go out have fun play safe, leave it all out on the field don’t let one of your teammates down dig deep and suck it up we’re all men out there. That’s it for this week see all you teams that made the playoffs on Saturday.