Word from the Mouth: Week 4 - 4 By 1 Edition!
Here we are almost at the half way point of the season and to my surprise all the teams have looked competitive. I figured going in that the Bitter Boys would struggle to stay together and end up getting blown out, but they have held their own. The defending champs don’t look like the same as they have in past years and, yes, they are a good solid team when they all show up, but that hasn’t happened yet this year. KOLB is the only winless team, but have been in a really close game with the undefeated Outlaws. 4Simba looked like they might make a run at the playoffs this season. Henchmen have come on strong after a week 1 loss. Revolucion had a good tough game against Outlaws this week and lost by less than a TD. If they show up and play like this every week they will surprise a few teams and might creep into the playoffs. Outlaws and Trollers are the only undefeated teams left, but how long will that last? Outlaws have two games this week against Henchmen and 4Simba. Should Outlaws get by both those teams they will be playing the Trollers the following week where we could be left with one or no undefeated teams left.
Week 3 Recap
Henchmen vs KOLB (46-13)
Yes, the Henchmen won. Ya for you guys for beating a team that had 5 players and recruited my kid from division 3 to make the 6 players just so they could play the game. To me this was a win, but it doesn’t prove how good you guys really are. This week will do that when you play (read: beat) the Outlaws.
(Note the Henchmen are 1-1 going into this game and not 0-2 like the video says!)
Bitter Boys vs Trollers (38-40)
This was a very close game that shouldn’t have been that close. Bitter Boys were without JS behind center and they brought in Alex who was more than an adequate replacement. I felt going into the game (and I’m sure I wasn’t the only Troller that felt this way) that it was going to be an easy game. Boy were we all surprised. Bitter Boys are better than they look and should be in most of their games. Trollers will need to play better defense going forward if they don’t want every game to be so close. I know I felt that some of the defensive play calls weren’t right based on the situation.
La Revolucion vs Outlaws (19-22)
Both QBs in this one seemed to be a little confused and each threw 3 balls to the other team. I expect that from Raph, but from Steve not really. This game was won by a safety and a convert. Raph you have been around long enough to know that when you’re in the end zone just throw it away and don’t take a sack. Close games are always won and lost by converts, not just in the MFL, but in football in general. Never thought I’d say this, but Steve got outplayed by Raph. I know that was hard to write I love bugging Raph and Steve is my QB on another team, still can’t believe I just did that. Going forward Revolucion need to play like this every week. Outlaws are going to be fine as Steve has been around and knows how to bounce back.
4Simba vs Gros Coqs (32-31)
This game was a shocker, this was also the GOTW video. You can see that the video captured a lot of big plays but it also missed what really went on during this game. Louis Dufour went off for 2 picks, 9 tackles, 3 catches, 2 scores, and 66 yards. He was by far the most dominant player on the field. Normally I would be saying that Dom was, but not today. I said this before and I’m sure I’ll say it again: converts. Gros Coqs did have the ball and a chance to tie it after they scored with 2 seconds remaining in the game. They elected to go for 1 then changed their mind and called a timeout to go for 2. Right before the score I had said to Ben that if they score I would go for 2 and spread everyone out and run. Dom had been killing them all day with big runs when they left the middle open. They score call a time out go for 2 and you’ll never believe what happened. Bad snap over Doms head, that’s it game over. After the game I asked Dom what he was going to do on the convert and he wasn’t sure or he wasn’t going to tell me. This was a heck of a game and I’m sure Les Gros Coqs will be looking to avenge this loss next week against La Revolucion, but to get another shot at 4Simbas it will have to wait until the last week of the season (ed’s note: second to last and last week matchups!) which could have playoff implications.
GOTW (Game of the Week) - Outlaws vs Henchmen
QB- Here we have two of least mobile QBs in the division and both play the same sort of style. They control the clock and play it safe more often than not. Neither one has great arm strength (ed’s note: wat?), but both can make all the throws needed to win a game. This will come down to who is the smarter QB. Steve is very good at drawing up plays to get guys open. Jon is the same way, but some of his plays are predictable based on formations. I think both QBs are good enough to win this game, but I think Steve will have a few new wrinkles to his offense and that will be the difference in the game. Advantage Outlaws
WR- Both rosters are pretty stacked and it is hard to guess who will be there or not be there. Henchmen have Svetna, Andrew, Kris, Dahic, Demario, Carmelo and the sure handed Francis (on every 3rd or 4th ball thrown to him). So that is a tough lineup to stop, but on the other team Outlaws have probably the most dominate player ever in the MFL in Smuda. The Outlaws also have some of the fastest guys in the league with Vince and Remy. Both Adams are solid but I have heard a rumor going around that Andrew might be done for the season. I have to go ahead and give the advantage to Henchmen.
Defense- To me defense starts with the rusher and Henchmen have been going by committee and have had both Carmelo and Andrew rushing. I figured that Carmelo would have been a safety from how he performed in the past at that position. Outlaws do the same with Remy and Durant rushing. Dahic is a great safety and the ball should go nowhere near him unless you want it to get picked off. Outlaws have only 1 person with picks on their team and that is Smuda. To me when I watch the Outlaws play and see him as the 1 high safety I would attack that all day knowing he isn’t as fast as some of the other guys out on the field. Smuda might not be the fastest guys but it is rare that he gets caught out of position. I will have to go and give another advantage to Henchmen.
Outcome of this game will be determined by who controls the ball and the clock. I think Outlaws are going to be at a disadvantage with Andrew possibly out and Eric maybe missing again. Plus it might rain and I think Steve will have a harder time dealing with it. I think Henchmen will pull out the victory, but I had to flip a coin to see what came up.
Predictions
I’m glad that this past weeks games were a lot closer except for one which was lopsided. I was able to pick 2 of 3 games correctly. So on the season I’m sitting at 7 out of 9 so far this season. Will I be able to keep it up all season? 7 more weeks and we will know. Predictions in bold.
Outlaws vs Henchmen
Outlaws vs 4Simba
Revolucion vs Gros Coqs
Bitter Boys vs KOLB (ed’s note: this game is cancelled and moved to a later date)
That is how I see the weekend playing out. I might be wrong but 77% of this season I have been right so you can all but guarantee that I got at least 3 games right. Who is going to prove me wrong?
Power Rankings
We ended up with what some people are calling an upset last weekend when 4Simba beat Gros Coqs. I even got that game wrong, but it makes it difficult to pick games or do my power rankings when teams come with a different roster every week.
#1) Trollers
#2) Outlaws
#3) Henchmen
Here we go, the Henchmen have made it into my list. I wonder if they will be able to stay there after this weeks match up against the Outlaws. This is the week that we see if they are for real or if they are just here trying to play with the big guys.
Final Thoughts
The season is starting to get interesting and should stay that way for the rest of the season. Already it looks as if it could become a two team race in the western conference between the Trollers and the Outlaws. The East looks to be a little closer especially with 4Simba beating Gros Coqs this past weekend. We still have plenty of games left to go and anything can happen at any point. So please remember to play hard, have fun, be safe, and I’ll see you all Saturday.