We have our Championship teams set. With victories in the Conference Title games, Houston and Memphis punched their tickets to the 1988 USFL Championship. For Houston it is a return for a 2nd consecutive year, while Memphis makes it to the title game in their first ever playoff season. It will be the battle of Kelly v. Kelley, or maybe it will be a coming out party for one of the league’s best defenders, Reggie White. In this week’s column we will look at how both teams got there by recapping the Conference Title games, then preview the matchup in the USFL’s 6th title clash. We will also reveal the 1988 USFL award winners, and highlight an intriguing coaching rumor.
USFL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND
NEW JERSEY GENERALS 14 MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS 24
Defense wins championships, that is the old axiom about football, and apparently it holds true. Memphis held New Jersey to only 74 total yards rushing, shutting down Herschel Walker and containing Doug Flutie, on their way to the Eastern Conference title. In the battle of big time backs, Walker’s 45 yards and 3 YPC average were blown away by Greg Boone’s 131 yards and 6.6 yards per carry. It simply came down to which team won the line of scrimmage and on both offense and defense the answer was the Memphis Showboats.
The tone was set on the game’s first drive, as Memphis took the opening kickoff and marched the ball down the field, killing 6 minutes on a drive that saw only 3 passes. Memphis gave Boone the ball 7 times on the drive, benefitted from 2 New Jersey penalties, and eventually punched it in on a Boone dive over the left guard. Throughout the drive Memphis’s o-line took control of defenders, created holes for Boone and allowed Memphis to pick up first downs without the need for a big third down play. This would be the story all game long, as the Generals’ defense was simply unable to win battles up front. They would not sack Mike Kelley all game, and they would be unable to contain Boone.
The same was not true for the Generals’ offensive line, which struggled to create holes for Walker and saw Doug Flutie harassed, chased, and sacked 3 times. The pressure was a consistent theme of the day, leading to two Flutie interceptions and hamstringing the New Jersey run game. Flutie would hit Brent Jones with a scoring toss as the 1st quarter closed, but that would be the final General score until the game was settled.
The second quarter belonged to Memphis, as they scored 17 unanswered points on two Mike Kelley touchdown passes and a Haji-Sheikh field goal. All three drives demonstrated Memphis’s ability to run the ball and use play action to confound the Generals’ defense. Memphis finished the day with no receiver gaining over 50 yards, but Kelley hit7 different receivers on the day, while focusing the attack on the ground game. Surprisingly Buford Jordan got only 4 carries on the day, though with Boone averaging over 6 yards per carry it is easy to see why coach Tobin kept the ball in his hands.
New Jersey, which had found ways to work through Philadelphia’s #1 ranked defense a week earlier, were unable to do the same against Memphis, which used run blitzes to support their defensive line and mixed zones with effective man on man against the Generals. One of the more interesting twists was the use of LB Derrick Jacks as a shadow for TE Brent Jones, often in combination with a safety to prevent Flutie from using his favorite safety valve when feeling pressure. Flutie ended up dumping the ball to Walker on multiple occasions, leading to gains, but not the type of break-out plays that would keep drives going.
New Jersey would score again in the 4th, but by this point, Memphis’s 17-point lead had all but assured victory. The Showboats, before a second straight huge crowd at the Liberty Bowl (estimated at 56,000) milked the clock and ended the game without a real threat from New Jersey to get closer than the 10 points that we see in the final score. It was a solid victory, highlighted by a well-conceived defensive game plan from the former Stars Defensive Coordinator and now Head Coach of the Showboats, Vince Tobin. And now the Showboats, in the playoffs for the first time in the franchise’s 5 seasons, find themselves in the USFL Championship.
HOUSTON GAMBLERS 27 NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 21 OVERTIME
Memphis will face Houston in the title game after the Gamblers held the explosive New Orleans Breakers in check, withstood a comeback, and pulled out a thrilling victory in overtime. Houston overcame a 263-387 yardage deficit and 2 Jim Kelly interceptions by equalizing the turnover total, intercepting league MVP Matt Robinson twice. They contained the rush attack of the Breakers, while relyiing on rookie Thurman Thomas to drive the offense. He would finish the day with 132 yards rushing on 25 attempts, clearly outpacing the combined total of 91 yards from Dupree and Hilliard.
The game started out looking like New Orleans had Houston’s number once again. The Breakers held Houston to a 3-and-out on their first drive, and then scored quickly, with Robinson hitting All-USFL receiver Nolan Franz on a 40 yard scoring strike. They would add a Tim Mazzetti field goal on their second drive to take an early 10-0 lead, and for the fans that packed the Super Dome, things were looking good. Houston finally responded on their third possession as Kelly found Ricky Sanders for a 17 yard catch to get the ball into Breaker territory, then, 4 plays later, Thurman Thomas found space on a well-designed draw play, breaking into the New Orleans secondary and juking free safety Frank Wilder off balance to find paydirt. New Orleans responded 2 drives later with another Mazzetti field goal, and at the half it was the Breakers up by a tenuous 13-7 margin.
The third quarter saw only one scoring drive, as both teams managed to hold the other out of the red zone and force punts. The score was a Kelly to Sanders TD pass to end a 7 play drive which began with a Clarence Verdin kick return to the 48 yard line. The short field was enough for Houston to take advantage and take the lead, 14-13. They would begin the 4th with a second strong drive, this time powered by Thomas, who not only toted the rock 6 times on the drive, but also caught 2 balls, including the scoring play, as he leaked out of the backfield late and powered his way into the endzone to put Houston up by 8.
New Orleans was looking to be in trouble as they went 3-and-out again on the following possession, but with 3:41 left in the 4th they got a break on a blown defensive play that ended up in an 86 yard touchdown from Robinson to Charlie Smith. Cornerback Domingo Bryant had position on the play but went for the interception instead of the tackle, when he missed on the attempt to snag the ball, it fluttered into the hands of Smith, who was then able to turn and race past safety Keith Moody to provide New Orleans with the much-needed score. They would still need a 2-point conversion to tie the game, and they got it when Dan Ross found space along the endline and Robinson hit him on a looping pass for the equalizer.
The game would go to overtime as Houston could not get in field goal range for Dave Jacobs on the game’s final possession in the 4th. New Orleans was unable to move the ball on their first possession, and Jim Kelly was picked off on Houston’s first possession of the extra period, but on three straight plays the Breakers were stuffed by the Houston defense, and once again would have to punt. Houston quickly moved down the field on an 16-yard Kelly to Verdin pass, suplemented by a facemask penalty on the tackle. 2 plays later Kelly hit sanders on a corner route on 3rd and 3, a daring call that caught the Breakers’ defense thinking run and Houston took the game 27-21. The Gamblers now return for a second shot at the title, having won two road games to get there, and with the knowledge of prior experience to guide them as they head to Philadelphia for the USFL Championship Game.
CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
We have what looks like another well-matched championship in the USFL, as both Houston and Memphis are capable of playing lock-down defense, both have backs who are threats in both the run and passing game, and both have QB’s who are not afraid to throw the ball into tight coverage. If there is a clear advantage on either side it is the quality of Houston’s starting receivers, with Sanders and Verdin a notch above Memphis’s lineup of Billy Joe Edmunds and Tim Moffett. Memphis’s best weapon may be first year tight end Keith Jackson as they are still without veteran Mel Gray, who has missed most of the playoffs with a bum knee.
Houston will try to get Thurman Thomas going early, and hope to use the run game, and timely screens to slow down Reggie White and the Memphis pass rush. Memphis will likely use a short passing game, focused on Jackson and HB Greg Boone to get playmakers in space, as Houston rarely allows big rushing totals with a straight power game. With both quarterbacks prone to some risky throws (Kelly threw 18 interceptions this year, Kelley just behind him with 16) it may be a question of which defensive backfield capitalizes on some poor decisions and turns incompletions into interceptions.
Our pick: We like the pluck of these Showboats, but there is nothing like the experience of coming so close only to fail to motivate a team. We think Houston learned some lessons in their close loss to Philadelphia last year, and they will enter the game motivated, focused and disciplined. Memphis, with so little playoff experience behind them, is sure to feel the pressure and get caught up in the hype, so we give the mental edge to the Gamblers, and that may be just the edge they need. Our pick is Houston 24 and Memphis 20.
USFL AWARD WINNERS
Some controversy this year as the USFL’s tendency to avoid multiple awards to the same player created some challenges for the league in their annual awards. While each of the winners was certainly worthy of praise, there are many who feel that deserving players were slighted in favor of statistics that may not have led to W’s.
USFL MVP: This one was not controversial as Matt Robinson had a season to remember for the New Orleans Breakers. He led the league with 38 TD passes, threw for over 3,600 yards, and helped the Breakers become the league’s most dangerous offense.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Here Robinson could have won again, and many expected the award to go to either Herschel Walker, the league’s leading rusher, or to Pittsburgh QB Alan Risher, who led the league in passing yards, but the league went a different direction, recognizing the dual achievements of leading the league in both receptions and receiving yards, by awarding the OPOTY to Texas Outlaw wideout Carlos Carson. While Carson’s 116 catches for 1,775 yards were impressive, they were not the mind-blowing numbers we have seen from receivers in the past, and that led to some questioning of why Carson would stand out above Walker or Risher.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kurt Gouveia, Denver’s star linebacker, did it all this year. He finished the season 2nd in tackles with 119, 2nd in sacks among linebackers with 8, and forced a league-best 11 fumbles this year. While some wanted to make the case for Texas CB Najee Mustafaa, Gouveia’s game was the most balanced, and his leadership on Denver’s defense was a key factor in their division title run.
COACH OF THE YEAR: Bill Arnsparger, in his first year in the USFL, made quite an impression. Leading the Breakers to the best record in the league and turning the Breaker offense into a dynamic force in the league. It is not unusual for a first year coach to win the award, and certainly not surprising considering the Breaker’s 9 game win streak and offensive 3-ring circus.
OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: This one was a no-brainer as Thurman Thomas put together a year that would be the envy of every back in the league. He rushed 342 times for 1,331 yards and 9 scores, but he also caught 51 balls, gained 423 yards in the air and added 3 more touchdowns as Houston’s lead back. While Chicago’s Michael Haynes and Jamie Morris also had solid years for the Machine, there was simply no comparison with Thomas’s impact on the Houston offense.
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: There were a lot of solid contributors among rookies on defense this year. Ken Harvey became a team leader in Oakland by season’s end. LB Chris Spielman notched 100 tackles for the Generals, and Memphis’s Derrick Crudrup snagged 5 interceptions, but the award rightfully went to a rookie who gave veterans Reggie White and Larry White a run for their money and ended the year tied with these two All-USFL defensive ends with 16 sacks. Orlando’s Rueben Davis had a monster year and deserves to be recognized as a high impact defensive rookie.
BALTIMORE COACHING NEWS
We wrote last week about how a potential signing of either QB Dan Marino or LB Lawrence Taylor could send shockwaves through the NFL-USFL relationship, but perhaps that tectonic shift will come from a very different direction. The Baltimore Blitz are rumored to be close to a deal with disgruntled Cleveland Browns coach Marty Shottenheimer. Shottenheimer, who has led the Browns to the edge of greatness with several playoff appearances, is apparently unhappy with the Browns and looking for a bigger and better deal, but, only weeks away from NFL camps, the idea of a head coach, much less a very successful one, jumping ship to join the USFL would certainly be a scandal. If the rumors are true, we could see an escalation of tensions between the two leagues, but we could also see one of the best coaches of the NFL headed to the one of the toughest divisions of the USFL.
Next week is Championship Week. Someone call Ben Franklin because the atmosphere in Philadelphia will be electric. It’s Houston vs. Memphis. Kelly v. Kelley. The Minister of Defense vs. the Houston Hit Squad. It should be a lot of fun. See you there.
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