SCORES
WSH 24 BLT 38 Huge crowd for Blitz home opener goes home happy.
NJ 17 PHI 40 Philadelphia dominates every phase of game vs. Generals.
TBY 28 BIR 23 Bandits claw back to .500 with big win in rivalry game.
MEM 21 JAX 27 Bulls eke past winless Showboats to remain undefeated.
PIT 14 MGN 38 Williams returns with big game vs. winless Maulers.
OAK 31 ARZ 38 Late Neuheisel to Johnson TD pulls Wranglers to 3-1.
DEN 26 LA 20 Solid defensive game by Gold knocks off unbeaten Express.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Houston Gamblers 31 New Orleans Breakers 32
Sometimes a change of scenery is all it takes for a player to find their groove. After a year and a half of struggles in Memphis, former OU one year wonder Marcus Dupree, playing before an enthusiastic New Orleans crowd, busted out for his first 100-yard day as a pro. Rather than shuttle DuPree in alongside Dalton Hilliard, as expected, coach Dick Coury gave the new arrival the ball early and often. Dupree responded with 109 yards on 22 carries. That, paired with another solid game from the split-personality QB of the Breakers, Tony Eason, was enough to hold off the Gamblers.
Dupree did not find the endzone, but his dynamic runs, particularly off the right side, powered the Breakers offense and kept rookie Dalton Hilliard on the bench, with only 3 carries on the day. Eason would throw 3 touchdowns on the day, including 2 to star wideout Nolan Franz. Kelly would also throw two touchdowns, unfortunately one of them was a pick-six touchdown to the Breakers’ Bobby Melendez. This first quarter mistake loomed large ina back and forth game that saw Houston fall behind 10-0, fight back to tak a 21-20 lead in the 3rd, build it to 28-20 and then 31-26 before the final New Orleans drive of the game put the Breakers back on top to stay. Somehow, with only 1:35 left in the game, Houston opted to play man defense, and Breakers slot receiver Charlie Smith used his one-on-one coverage with a safety to burn the Gambler defense for a 50-yard score. Kelly got the ball back with time to move downfield and kick a winning field goal, but two offensive line penalties pushed the Gamblers out of field goal range with time running out and a Kelly Hail Mary was swatted down to preserve a home opener win in front of close to 50,000 new Breakers fans in the Big Easy.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
Normally we would give this award to a player on a winning team, and certainly there were some solid performances on both sides of the ball in this week’s games, but perhaps the best performance of the week was not on the field at all, but in the stands. For the first time since week 10 of the 1984 season, the attendance average for the week was over 40,000. This was due in large part to outstanding crowds in Baltimore (51,404) and New Orleans (48,224) for the home openers for both relocated squads. It is certain to say that at least from an attendance standpoint, relocating the struggling Chicago and Boston franchises looks like it will pay off. But kudos should also go out to the USFL’s marketing team, which has worked with local clubs to expand attendance across the league.
Who would have thought just a few months ago that we would be seeing Los Angeles averaging over 30,000 a game after 3 homestands, or that Oakland would be close to 34,000 on average? Michigan opened its season this week with a solid 40,102, and both Southern Division teams with divisional rivalry games were strong, Jacksonville with 42,301 to see the Bulls take on a winless Showboats squad, and Birmingham, where 51,202 Stallions faithful came out to see their team take on the Bandits. Even the often cynical Philadelphia fans showed up big this week, with 39,242 on hand as the Stars beat the Generals handily. So, a game ball to the marketing and ticketing personnel of the USFL and to the league’s market support initiatives, which, after 4 weeks of the 1986 season, seem to be doing all they can to ensure the success of the league and build solid fanbases in its 16 markets.
NEWS & NOTES
Things are indeed getting tough in Pittsburgh and Memphis, where both the Maulers and Showboats are still looking for their first wins. First year Head Coach of the Showboats, Vince Tobin has not yet been able to get results from the squad, and the trade of fan favorite (though underachieving) HB Marcus Dupree has not been received well by the shrinking ranks of the Showboat faithful. While Tobin’s defensive acumen has apparently improved the Showboat defense, with all 4 opponents held to scores in the 20’s, the offense has not kept pace. And with the Showboats facing 3-1 Arizona and 4-0 Michigan before their Week 7 bye, Tobin could be facing a lot of pressure to make more changes or show some progress soon. Changing team culture is not a quick move, and despite some solid performers on the Showboats (Reggie White, Walter Lewis, Mel Gray) the team needs to find an identity or once again suffer a 10-loss season.
In Pittsburgh third year coach Joe Pendry is firmly on the hotseat. In his first two seasons with the Maulers, Pendry has managed only 11 combined wins (6-10 in 1984, 5-11 in 1985) and most expected that the arrival of DC Ernie Stautner and new OC Roman Gabriel would mark a turning point for the team. But, after an 0-4 start, and with tough games against New Orleans, Jacksonville and Baltimore before their bye, the pressure is on for them to get a win soon. Most of the blame seems to be falling on QB Todd Blackledge. Once a hero at Penn State, Blackledge has simply not proven he can lead the team to victory as a pro. His 62.0 QBR is the worst in the league, and a 3:4 TD:INT ratio is also not winning over fans. But, with only former Cowboy castoff Glen Carano and journeyman Dan Manucci as the backups, what options does Pendry have.
Talk around the Steel City is that Pendry needs to sign a new QB now, with the expectation that anyone brought in could start after the Maulers’ Week 8 bye. Rumors have been swirling that they are in talks with former Oakland Invader QB Fred Besana and former Federals QB Alan Risher (recently cut by the NFL’s Buccaneers). Others are pointing to a possible trade with the most likely targets being Washington’s Babe Laufenberg and Tampa’s Jimmie Jordan. But a third avenue exists, if Pendry and the DeBartolo’s want to spend a bit more. There are several NFL quarterbacks who are still in contract negotiations this offseason with their clubs and could be ripe for a late “poaching” by the Maulers. Would the usually conservative Maulers take a wild swing and try to land someone like Vikings QB Tommy Kramer, the Cardinals’ Neil Lomax, or the Colts Mike Pagel? A lot is on the line in Pittsburgh, and particularly for Pendry, as another 10-loss season is almost certainly going to lead to a change.
INJURIES
The bad news keeps coming for the Showboats as QB Walter Lewis is expected to miss at least a week, perhaps two, with an abdominal tear. This means untested 2nd year player Damon Allen will likely get the next start. Arizona will be without SS Vincent Edwards, who suffered a hip injury in this week’s win, as well as CB Frank Minnifield, still dealing with a shoulder issue. The remainder of the injuries we saw this week are to rotational or backup players, which could still impact teams, but should prove manageable for most squads to absorb.
LOOKING AHEAD
Week 5 features the Atlantic and Central in divisional play while the Southern Division heads out west to face the Pacific. A huge game in the east as Philadelphia (2-2) travels to Baltimore (3-1) for the first time. New Jersey and Washington will try to keep pace with a win in RFK. Facing the 2-2 Breakers at home may be the best chance for a Pittsburgh win before their bye, while Houston has the unenviable task of trying to steal a win in the SilverDome against the Panthers. Out West it will be Memphis @ Arizona, Birmingham @ Oakland, Jacksonville @ Denver, and Tampa Bay in LA. Both the altitude and the Gold’s defense could prove a tough challenge for the undefeated Bulls, while in LA, the matchup between two outstanding offenses should make for a fun game under the sun.