1986 Midseason Evaluation

USA Today, May 20, 1986

Ten weeks down, seven to go, and with all 16 USFL teams completing the divisional bye weeks, we are down to the home stretch, where seasons will be made or lost. Let’s take a look at all 16 USFL teams and assess the year to date, the stars on the rise, and the outlook moving forward.

BALTIMORE BLITZ (8-1)

STATUS: The Blitz look poised for another Championship run, after falling just short last season. With a 4 game lead in their division, the 4th rated offense and the 3rd rated defense, there is not a lot the Blitz need to improve on as they head towards a postseason bid. Their biggest test is likely to be a matchup with the currently undefeated Michigan Panthers in week 15.

STAR ON THE RISE: Most of the Blitz’s big hitters are not new to the squad: Evans, Spencer, Flowers, Ah You and Eddie Ray Walker, but if we wanted to highlight a contributor who is not getting a lot of press, we would look squarely at TE Mark Keel, second on the team with 40 catches for 433 yards. Keel has been a solid escape valve for Vince Evans on those plays where Evans cannot run his way to daylight.

FUTURE: The biggest concern looking ahead is not whether or not Baltimore can make the playoffs, it is whether the Blitz can retain their talent once the free agency period (and NFL raiding period) opens. With Junior Ah You, Jackie Flowers, Keel, LB Ben Apuna and LT Ronnie Delaney all up for new contracts, the Blitz may find themselves short a few star players after the free agency period.

PHILADELPHIA STARS (4-5)

STATUS: A losing record and 4 games behind Baltimore is not where the defending champs expected to find themselves at this point in the season. After 3 straight Atlantic Division titles, the Stars are scrambling just to catch a Wild Card berth. The team has been solid, but has lost some games that should not have gotten away from them. Early losses to New Jersey and Birmingham hurt, but more recently the Stars have not won the close games against top competition like Baltimore, Denver and Oakland.

STAR ON THE RISE: Two veteran acquisitions on defense have been all that was advertised. CB Everson Walls has 39 tackles, 10 pass defenses and 2 interceptions on the year, while DT Jumpy Geathers has 7 tackles for loss among his 35 tackles. Both came to the Stars from the NFL and have helped Philly hold onto the 3rd best pass defense in the league.

FUTURE: The Stars have a favorable schedule the rest of the way, with upcoming games against Pittsburgh, Arizona, and two against the Federals, a team they tend to dominate. We expect they will make the playoffs, and then their experience might prove invaluable. Looking at Free Agency, the Stars will put a priority on keeping LB Sam Mills and SS Scott Woerner. Chuck Fusina is also up for a new contract, but we expect him to sign soon.

NEW JERSEY GENERALS (4-5)

STATUS: While their record still leaves a lot to be desired, the Generals are clearly a much-improved team this season. With victories already over Philly, Arizona and Los Angeles, the Generals are a more balanced, more dangerous team. They still have defensive issues (14th in yards allowed) but have not allowed teams to score at will. Their offense is 5th in the league, and has shown a much better balance of Walker’s rush game and Doug Flutie tossing the ball. They need to find a way to win more of the close ones as they have already lost to New Orleans by 6, Jacksonville by 4, and Baltimore by 4. If they can turn a few more of those close games into wins, they could find themselves in the playoff mix.

STAR ON THE RISE: Rookie TE Brent Jones is making a good first impression. He leads the team in receptions with 43 and has become a security blanket for Doug Flutie. He has also proven an adequate, if not solid, blocker, something which was projected as a problem coming out of college. Now, if the Generals would start utilizing Jones in combination with FB Keith Byars to diversify the offense some more, they might be tough to defend.

FUTURE: New Jersey has a rough road ahead, with games against Michigan, Oakland and Baltimore, but they also have several games where they should be favored. They need to realistically look at going 5-2 over these 7 weeks to have a solid shot at a playoff spot. And, if that is not tough enough, they need to do this while also working with the front office to ensure that this is not Herschel Walker’s last year in New Jersey. The flagship player of the team, if not the league, has to be top priority, even if that means letting other talented players like Gary Barbaro and Jim LeClair go.

WASHINGTON FEDERALS (3-6)

STATUS: Once again the Federals went into a season with a lot of optimism, and once again by week 10 they appear to be out of the running. So what is the answer? Do they blow it all up and rebuild? Is this the end of Lee Corso’s time in the capital? Our guess is that they look for a major retooling and that means Corso will go. The Federals need to do something dramatic in order to finally expand what is one of the league’s smaller fan bases.

STAR ON THE RISE: Not everything in DC is a sad story. There are some young players, particularly in the receiving corps, who the Feds can look to for the future. This includes 2nd year TE Mark Bavaro, who has 30 catches and 5 TD’s this season, and rookie Webster Slaughter, who has missed some games to injury but has shown some flashes of real talent too. On defense, LB Brandon Zavala has been a bright spot on a pretty bad squad. Safety Mark Kelso should also be retained as he has tried to steady a weak backfield.

FUTURE: We expect the Federals to pull out a few more wins, but once again to miss the playoffs. Then there will need to be a purge. They have some players to keep and build on, but it might just be time for a new coach, new quarterback, and new philosophy if this team is ever going to leave the divisional basement.

JACKSONVILLE BULLS (6-3)

STATUS: After falling behind Tampa Bay for 1 week, the Bulls were able to once again rise to the top of the Southern Division. But for many around the league, the Bulls success remains a paper lion. The Bulls are only 7th in yards per game and scoring, while also coming up middle of the pack in most defensive categories. They are 3rd in the league against the run, but is that enough to truly compete. That they have 6 wins to date is impressive, especially with their star QB, Doug Williams, in the middle of what appears to be an ugly contract negotiation with the front office.

STAR ON THE RISE: The signing of LB Gary Reasons away from the NY Giants was a bold step for the Bulls defense, and while the D has not exactly been “lights out”, Reasons has been a very solid starter, recording 53 tackles (2nd on the team) and 3 sacks (tied for the team lead). They will need him to improve in pass coverage as Jacksonville tends to give up too much in the middle of the field, but Reasons has been a net positive for the squad so far.

FUTURE: The Bulls are in a neck-and-neck race with the Bandits for the division title, just as it was last year. They have faced their toughest foes already and now have no one on the schedule ahead of them with a record above 5 wins. They need to win the games they should and look at Week 16 for their rematch with the Bandits as a key game for their season. As an ’84 expansion team the Bulls have fewer free agents to be concerned about as other teams, but they have to find a solution to their Doug Williams issue, either by signing him or creating a sign & trade option that Williams will accept. It is a distraction, and one a team in this tight a playoff race cannot afford.

TAMPA BAY BANDITS (5-4)

STATUS: After a rough start (0-2) the Bandits have again put themselves in a position to compete for a playoff spot. The loss this past week to Michigan may also act as a wakeup call for a team that is trying to be one of the league’s elites. The Bandits, as always, are an offensive powerhouse, 1st in yards and passing, and 2nd in scoring, but they need to improve on their 15th ranked scoring defense. Too many games see them keep foes in the game by not clamping down and preventing shootouts.

STAR ON THE RISE: We wish we could clearly spotlight a new face in Tampa, but the Bandits are living on borrowed time with all their major contributors, at least on offense, being in their 3rd or 4th year in Tampa. Steve Spurrier has drafted for depth, not starters, and that means that we are still looking to Reaves, Anderson, Truvillion and Gillespie to do the heavy lifting.

FUTURE: Tampa has a tougher schedule ahead of them than Jacksonville, so they may need some help if they are going to win the division. They also have to avoid a slip-up with longtime rival Birmingham right on their heels. In the front office, the priority will be to resign Eric Truvillion before the season ends and he has a chance to scamper off to the NFL. There are a few others on the roster who Tampa would like to retain, but Truvillion has to be the top priority.

BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (4-5)

STATUS: After a disastrous 1985 campaign, the Stallions are at least relevant again, if not back to the top form they showed in ’84. They still lose too many games against top competition, while racking up wins against some of the league’s weaker teams, and their offense still suffers from being too one-dimensional around Joe Cribbs, but they are a team that could put together a late run.

STAR ON THE RISE: Rookie wideout Ernest Givens is making the most of his shot in Birmingham. He has been named the rookie of the week on several occasions, and his 640 yards receiving is best on the squad. Coach Dotsch needs to be a bit more innovative, to get the ball in his hands more often, but when he does make a catch, he has shown some great moves to build his YAC totals and prove dangerous.

FUTURE: Other than a tough matchup against the Panthers, Birmingham has a pretty favorable schedule and could pull together a string of wins. It is a tough hill to climb with both Tampa and Jacksonville ahead of them, but the Stallions are still in this thing. As far as contracts go, the Stallions are in pretty good shape. While they would like to retain players such as Jim Smith, Earl Gant or Issaic Holt, none of these players is absolutely essential, giving Birmingham some room to shop or negotiate to build up the team.

MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (1-8)

STATUS:New year, new coach, same old issues. Despite the presence of sack master Reggie White, the Memphis Defense remains pretty atrocious. They rank near the bottom of the league in several categories, including being #16 against the rush. On the offensive side, Memphis has suffered with injuries to key players like QB Walter Lewis and WR Mel Gray. The trade of HB Marcus Dupree to New Orleans is looking worse each week as Dupree has found new life as a Breaker. It is just a bad year in the Mid-South.

STAR ON THE RISE: It is hard to find anyone on the squad other than White who you would want to highlight. What is concerning is that even free agent pickups have been less than advertised, particularly DE Booker Reese, who simply is not getting free from initial blocks. He has only 9 tackles on the year, which for a team that most others run against is a bad sign.

FUTURE: Not so bright they need to wear shades. Memphis needs an infusion of talent, and a year without injuries. They have a long way to go to produce a winner in Memphis. As an expansion team they have fewer big names coming up for contract renewal, and with a lot of underperformers, the Stallions may let a lot of players like WR Willie Gault or CB Jeff George go as they seek the greener grass on the other hill.

MICHIGAN PANTHERS (9-0)

STATUS: Michigan once again looks to be the dominant team in the league, and a frontrunner for the Championship. They have managed to win all 9 games, but they do have a few challenges in their future schedule, with the biggest being a showdown against the Baltimore Blitz in Week 15. The Panthers have managed to avoid any major injuries this season, and if that streak continues they will be tough to slow down. They have the #1 scoring defense, #1 yardage defense and pass defense. In addition to this they are in the top 3 in points per game, yardage per game, and passing. Those signs demonstrate their dominance this year.

STAR ON THE RISE: Many predicted that the loss of TE Mike Cobb to the NFL this past offseason would negatively impact the Panthers’ pass game, but the shrewd scouting of Butch Rolle out of college has proven that the Panthers do not rebuild, they just reload. Rolle has 26 catches for 205 yards (both 3rd behind the Big 2 receivers) and has proven to be an adept pass blocker when held in to help protect Bobby Hebert. He could improve his run blocking, but in this offense that is a tertiary requirement.

FUTURE: What can you say about an undefeated team except that the odds are still against Michigan to finish the season 16-0. That said, they should easily win the Central Division and the #1 seed in the conference playoffs. That means everyone has to come to the Silver Dome and that is bad news for everyone else. But, that said, we saw in 1983 how a dominant Michigan team was felled by an injury to Bobby Hebert, so they also have to start to think about protecting their most valuable players. Speaking of that, this offseason may be the end of the Panther dynasty, as they have a lot of free agents to protect from both USFL and NFL poaching. Chief among them is Hebert, but with John Corker, Ronnie Paggett, Derek Holloway, CB Clarence Chapman and LB Alonzo Johnson also up for contract renewal, the reality is that Michigan simply cannot keep everyone. Do they retain their top notch defense and try their hand with Jack Trudeau at QB, or do they spend the huge numbers to retain Hebert and risk losing Corker, Holloway and others?

NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (5-4)

STATUS: The Breakers may have changed divisions but their view has not changed at all. Every year they seemed to be limited to playing for a wild card because they simply could not keep pace with the Philadelphia Stars, and now they find themselves 4 games behind the Michigan Panthers. The more things change, the more they stay the same. The good news for New Orleans is that they have developed a pretty solid fanbase in short order and that the expected challenges from Houston and Pittsburgh have just not materialized. They stand in a good position to get a wild card, but have to watch out for competition from the Pacific Division.

STAR ON THE RISE: The Breakers have always seemed to find a running game regardless of who the lead back was. First it was Richard Crump, then Buford Jordan, then many expected rookie Dalton Hillard to take the lead, but the early season trade with Memphis to bring Marcus Dupree to the Big Easy has proven to be sheer genius by the Breakers’ front office. Since arriving at the Super Dome Dupree has been reborn, jumping from an average around 60 yards a game in Memphis to over 100 yards a game for the Breakers. What this means for Hilliard and Crump remains to be seen, but the Breakers seem dedicated to the run game and that could help them in the long run.

FUTURE: The Breakers likely need to do no worse than 4-3 in their final 7 games, but they expect to do better than that. Can they compete once they get into the playoffs, or will it be another one-and-done situation for them? That is the big question. On the contract side, they do have a few players they might need to fight for, including LB Marcus Marek, TE Dan Ross, WR Frank Lockett, and FS Bobby Melendez. They will likely need to restructure Marcus Dupree’s contract and may want to lock in Tony Eason as well, though many are still somewhat leary of Eason’s growth to date, so that could be a tough sell this year, when it is a luxury, not a necessity to resign him.

HOUSTON GAMBLERS (2-7)

STATUS: So many predicted so much more for this squad, but the addition of new OC Bruce Coslett has not produced better results for QB Jim Kelly and the Houston offense. Far too often the offense sputters and Kelly is still running for his life on too many plays. The Houston defense is actually looking pretty solid, 3rd in the league in yards per game, and 2nd in pass defense, but the offense ranks 15th, which is stunning for a team with Kelly and those receivers.

STAR ON THE RISE: Simon Fletcher is turning into a frightening pass rusher before our eyes. He leads Houston with 6 sacks and is regularly getting double teamed. If Houston had more to offer on the defensive line, we could easily see Fletcher joining the ranks of White, Ah You, and Paggett atop the sack rankings.

FUTURE: It is not coming together this year that seems clear. Rather than their usual 7-9 finish, the Gamblers may find themselves with 3-4 wins and that may mean the end of the Jack Pardee era with the team. They need to draft better for both O-line and D-line and they clearly need to do more to help Jim Kelly succeed. The good news is that most of their best players are still under contract through 1987. They have to decide if they want to keep wideout Clarence Verdin and SS Keith Moody, but both could easily fit under their salary cap, which leaves them in much better position than most of their division.

PITTSBURGH MAULERS (1-8)

STATUS: We think it is safe to say that the Todd Blackledge era in Pittsburgh may be over. After leading the Maulers to 7 consecutive losses, Blackledge was pulled for newly arrived former Wrangler Alan Risher, and Risher produced a win in his first outing. The Maulers will likely try to move Blackledge to a team seeking a backup, but that means they need to shore up the QB position this offseason. The other area that clearly needs work is their last-ranked scoring defense. They do not rank higher than 11th in the league in any category. You are not going to win with poor QB play and even worse defense, and that will not play for long in the Steel City.

STAR ON THE RISE: Hard to find a budding star on the Maulers roster. This team is Mike Rozier and then what? Duerson is a solid safety, rookie Bob Buczkowski started the year strong with all 5 of his sacks in the first 6 weeks, but has faded. LB Dino Hacket has played well as well, but none of it has added up to wins.

FUTURE: The masochistic among us are sad that the Maulers do not play the Showboats this year. Of their upcoming games we like the matchups against Washington and a rematch against Houston (their 1 victory) as the best changes for future wins. They will certainly have a top 3 draft pick this year, and we expect they will be looking at QB with that pick. As for their free agency situation, again, as a 1984 expansion team they have fewer players than most who need a new contract. Mike Rozier is one of them, but we anticipate he will be signed long before free agency opens. The same is likely true for SS Duerson and WR Danny Buggs. Alan Risher signed a 1 year deal, so the Maulers will be looking at the next 7 weeks as an audition for a long term deal. If he struggles as much as Blackledge has, he too may be gone in favor of a big name rookie hurler like Vinny Testaverde or Jim Harbaugh.

DENVER GOLD (6-3)

STATUS: The Gold are this year’s Cinderella story. Under new head coach Mouse Davis last year’s Pacific Division bottom dwellers are taking a legitimate shot at winning the division. Davis came in with the reputation as an offensive mind, chief proponent of the wide open Run & Shoot offense, but it has been the defense which has raised eyebrows. Denver is the 2nd rated scoring defense, behind only undefeated Michigan, and is first against the rush, allowing a paltry 52 yards per game. And while the offense has improved, it is not a full-fledged run & shoot as Davis has adapted to some of the personnel still in place, which were signed with a power run game in mind. Denver has some competition and tough games ahead, including 2 matchups against the Oakland Invaders, but their formula of efficient offense and shut down defense positions them well to take the division title.

STAR ON THE RISE: Let’s give kudos to two rookies who have become immediate contributors. On defense LB Kurt Gouveia has had a strong season, and shown flexibility, moving between an OLB position on most downs to taking over as the team’s MLB on passing downs. He has a firm grasp of the defensive scheme and has shown an ability to adjust on the fly. On offense WR Bill Brooks has quickly become a fan favorite for his bravery going over the middle and his timely 3rd down catches. He has 42 grabs for 434 yards so far this season, just a handful behind team leader Vic James, and he has proven to be a reliable 3rd down target.

FUTURE: We like the direction that Mouse Davis is taking this team. They have some weapons, between James, Brooks, J.T. Smith and 2nd year TE Jay Novacek, and they have a defensive mentality that avoids big mistakes and big gains, while stifling opposing rushers and making teams one-dimensional. This is a team that could pull an upset or two in the playoffs, though an eventual trip to Michigan’s Silver Dome is a daunting task. Looking at the offseason, the Gold have their main interest in preserving their offensive line and their LB corps. They may not be able to retain all however. They have 4 different starting linemen up for renewal and on defense both Putt Choate and Greg Gerkin from the LB corps are also in negotiations for a new contract. With both free agency and the expansion draft on the horizon, the Gold should be busy trying to figure out who is dispensable and who is not.

ARIZONA WRANGLERS (5-4)

STATUS: The Wranglers started out the season with a bang, going 5-1 and taking command of the division, but injuries, particularly to QB Rick Neuheisel, and poor play on defense have led to a 3 game losing streak as Arizona now find themselves tied with a surging Oakland squad behind Denver. Arizona will be testing out rookie Robbie Bosco at QB after three tough weeks for veteran Greg Landry. Their hope is that Bosco’s athleticism will rekindle the offense. They will need to do something as they have a tough road ahead, with games against LA (twice), Philadelphia, New Orleans, Jacksonville and Denver. If they can find some offensive continuity, they will have a chance, but if not, expect them to get leapfrogged by Oakland and perhaps LA as well.

STAR ON THE RISE: This has been a breakout season for former Cornhusker Owen Gill. He seems to have gotten a wakeup call when the Wranglers drafted Darryl Clack in the offseason, and he has taken charge of the backfield with 595 yards on the season. His average is still only 3.8 yards, but he has shown the ability to break some big gainers, and a toughness which has gained him confidence in the coach’s eyes. Expect Clack to cut into his carry load going forward, just to avoid a late season slowdown, but Gill still has a shot at 1,000 yards if he can get the ball steadily.

FUTURE: This season’s future likely lies firmly at the hands of the quarterback. If Robbie Bosco can perform well and stop the team’s slide, or if Rick Neuheisel can return, and return to top form, in the next few weeks, the Wranglers could make a late season surge. If QB play continues to hinder the offense, they likely fade further away. And then, this offseason the Wranglers need to focus on resigning some of the low-profile positions that help the team stay steady. Center Jeremy Wilkins is a top priority, as are aging LB’s Stan White and Jim Fahnhorst. The future for veteran QB Greg Landry is very much in doubt as the 38 year old is likely to retire if Bosco pushes past him on the depth chart. The Wranglers would also very much like to resign CB Frank Minnifield and tackle Jason Totten. A lot of mouths to feed and a lot of pressure to upgrade other positions as well means a busy season for the front office.

OAKLAND INVADERS (5-4)

STATUS: After losing their first two games, Oakland has found their stride, winning 5 of 7 and their last 3 games, including convincing wins over top teams such as Philadelphia and Jacksonville. One of their losses was also a very solid game at Baltimore. This is a team on the rise. Brian Sipe has found the fountain of youth and is playing his best ball. Arthur Whittington has returned to pre-injury form and has an iron grip on the lead back position, with 992 yards already. The offense is #1 in scoring, 2nd in yards, and 1st in rushing, all strong signs that this team will continue to ascend. They have two games vs. Denver on the horizon and those are likely to define the year for the Invaders. If their unstoppable offense can overwhelm Denver’s immovable defense the Invaders could claim the division title for the first time in franchise history.

STAR ON THE RISE: He is no rookie, but newly arrived Mark Duper has clearly brought the flash he showed as a Miami Dolphin with him to Oakland. His 664 receiving yards and 19 yard average have helped Brian Sipe take the top off defenses. He leads the team with 6 TD receptions and is now drawing the double coverage that used to hinder Henry Ellard. With both receivers in top form, defenses have to play a dangerous game of doubling only one at a time. Duper’s presence opens up the field, making life easier for Ellard, TE Raymond Chester, and even for Arthur Whittington, who finds far fewer 8 and 9 man fronts to face.

FUTURE: Offense has always been the name of the game in the USFL, and with the show the Invaders are putting on, this team can go far. Coach Vermeil would certainly like to see the defense play a little more cohesively but if he has to win by shootout, this team seems ready to do that. The Invaders, having had a major roster purge since their 1984 4-12 season are a lot like an expansion team, with few key players coming due for new contracts. The biggest name will be TE Raymond Chester, and beyond that it is about assessing the depth on the team. With that being the case, the Invaders are one of few teams that perhaps have more to lose in the expansion draft than in free agency and NFL poaching.

LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (4-5)

STATUS: It all started out so well, what happened? The Express started they ear 4-1, but have now lost 4 straight, and to be honest, we cannot pinpoint exactly why. The easiest target is the run game. LA has a solid passing game but are 15th in the league in rushing, despite having talent in the tandom of Tony Boddie and Kevin Mack. Of course we should probably also critique the defense, as many have, as the Express allow nearly 400 yards a game in offense (380 to be exact), which is second worst only to Pittsburgh. They come off a bye this week, just one week after providing the sad sack Memphis Showboats with their only win on the season. They signed former Cleveland Brown LB Chip Banks to help shore up the defense and rumor has it that they have been focused on new run schemes during their 2 week hiatus, but will this be enough?

STAR ON THE RISE: He hasn’t played a down in LA yet, but all eyes are on Chip Banks. The Express badly need a run stuffer and a potential blitzer to scare opposing offenses. Banks was both in Cleveland and will likely get a lot of snaps from day one.

FUTURE: LA will likely need some help to move back into playoff contention. They start off the 2nd part of their season with a brutal 3-game road stretch, at Arizona, Baltimore, and Michigan. That could push them to 4-8 and out of contention right there. They need to pick up at least 1 of those games, preferably next week against Arizona, to have a shot. With both Tony Boddie and Kevin Mack up for new contracts this year, the run game will be vital not just for LA wins but for evaluation of talent moving forward. If Boddie can not improve on his YPC, he may be a salary cap victim as the Express go with the younger, bigger Mack.