1988 USA TODAY Western Conference Preview

The second half of our 1988 USFL Season Preview focuses on the Western Conference. Unlike the East, where Philadelphia has dominated, the West is a wide open competition. Michigan, which had won two titles, seems to be in decline, or at least not dominant. Houston came on last year and shocked the league by winning 13 games while Denver quietly won 12 with almost no fanfare. The West was also home to 3 of the 4 expansion clubs, and with this offseason’s reshuffling, they now feature two new teams, Texas and Portland, who will still be trying to get their feet under themselves. So as we look at the West, there is more uncertainty from top to bottom and more possibility for teams to rise or fall. As with our Eastern Preview, we will rank the teams not by division, but by their overall strength in the conference, looking at who each team has lost, who they have added, and what their prospects are for the season ahead. To do so we will use these codes: (Re) Retired, (FA) Free Agency, (T) Trade, (D) Drafted

HOUSTON GAMBLERS (13-3, Conference Champions)

KEY DEPARTURES: HB Lynn Cain (Re), HB Steve Howell (FA), TE Victor Marchand (FA)

KEY ARRIVALS: None

DRAFT RECAP: Amazing what winning will do when it comes to signing draft picks. Houston was able to sign the top names from their draft board, including two outstanding backs to replace Cain and Howell. OSU’s Thurman Thomas can be a 3-down back with outstanding hands to play a role in the passing game, while Keith Woodside from A&M can pound the rock for tough yards. Houston also signed WR Ernie Jones from Indiana and a potential monster in the middle in DT Michael Dean Perry from Clemson.

OUTLOOK: Without signing a single free agent, Houston still got stronger with their outstanding draft class. There was nothing that was flukish about last year. This is a solid team with a defense that can shut just about anyone down and this year their run game should be stronger, making it harder for defenses to pin their ears back and rush Jim Kelly. We see Houston returning to the Championship, and this year they may just get that extra inch needed to win it.

PREDICTED FINISH: 13-3, Central Champions

LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (7-9, 3rd in Pacific)

KEY DEPARTURES: HB Tony Boddie (NFL), TE Cap Boso (FA)

KEY ARRIVALS: LB Bob Cradle (NFL), WR Emile Harry (FA)

DRAFT RECAP: LA struck out on some of their big name draftees (HB Gaston Green, LB Ken Norton Jr) but the players they were able to sign will be difference makers. We like LB Marcus Cotton to start immediately, while HB Mel Farr Jr will help spell Okoye. The Express also signed 3 tackles, with the best of them being Southern’s Gerald Perry. That influx of depth on the O-line will help John Hadl’s new power run offense.

OUTLOOK: LA saw something special in HB Christian Okoye towards the end of last year, and this year John Hadl is looking to play on that by shifting to a more smashmouth power run offense. That shift may help free up Jo-Jo Townsell, Eric Martin and Mel Renfro, making Steve Young’s life easier. We like LA to make a major leap and to win the Pacific due in large part to this shift, and to a defense that could greatly benefit from the speed and power of Marcus Cotton in the LB corps.

PREDICTED FINISH: 11-5, Pacific Champions

MICHIGAN PANTHERS (10-6, 2nd in Central)

KEY DEPARTURES: DT T. Krumrie (Re), K Novo Bojovic (Re), FS R. Gee (FA), QB J. Kemp (FA)

KEY ARRIVALS: K Tony Franklin (NFL), QB Ed Luther (FA)

DRAFT RECAP: Michigan coach Jim Stanley went into the draft intent on rebuilding his offensive line. He got two of his top targets in Wolverine John Elliott and Kentucky’s Dermotti Dawson. While the rest of the Panther draft is rather lackuster, we have seen some highlights in camp from CB/S John Booty of TCU.

OUTLOOK: Michigan is not the juggernaut of past years, and Jack Trudeau, while solid, is no Bobby Hebert. The Panthers still have a solid defense and one of the best LB corps in pro football, but there are holes, and there are questions. We still think Michigan is very likely to again qualify for the playoffs, as they have each year of the USFL’s existence, but they will need to gel quickly and find a formula to be able to advance in the playoffs.

PREDICTED FINISH: 10-6, 2nd in Central

DENVER GOLD (12-4, 1st in Pacific)

KEY DEPARTURES: T John Hull (Re), LB Michael Douglass (FA), T Long Sessions (FA), WR Emile Harry (FA)

KEY ARRIVALS: None

DRAFT RECAP: While LB Fred Strickland (Purdue) looks like a keeper, he may be the only major contributor from what appears to be a weak draft class for the Gold. They drafted for the O-line, but did not land any of the top-rated linemen. Notre Dame center Chuck Lanza may be the best of the bunch, but we don’t see him starting this year.

OUTLOOK: Denver surprised everyone by winning 12 games last year, but with key losses and very little gained in the offseason we just don’t see how they can retain at that lofty height. The Gold look undermanned compared to many other teams in the conference. Coach Mouse Davis is still struggling to make the Run & Shoot viable in Denver, and with no major talent influx this year, we think Denver slips a notch or two.

PREDICTED FINISH: 8-8, 2nd in Pacific

ARIZONA WRANGLERS (6-10, 4th in Pacific)

KEY DEPARTURES: C Jeff Wilkins (FA), DE C. Clark (Re)

KEY ARRIVALS: CB Everson Walls (FA),

DRAFT RECAP: The Wranglers went for help in non-glamour positions in this year’s draft and we think they found some keepers by doing so. Guard Todd Kalis (ASU) and Tackle Todd Irvin (Ole Miss) could get some action in a line rotation, and DE Al Noga (Hawaii) should help offset the loss of the team’s top passrusher to retirement.

OUTLOOK: Arizona is another team we see leapfrogging some folks. Before getting injured, Robbie Bosco showed that he had the right stuff to lead this team. With James Wilder back at HB, Johnson and Lipps at WR, and a healthy Terry Orr at TE, this could be a dynamic offense. Now, if the defense can just be average we see Arizona returning to the playoffs this year.

PREDICTED FINISH: 9-7, 3rd in Pacific, Wild Card.

NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (8-8, 3rd in Central)

KEY DEPARTURES: QB Todd Eason (FA), DE Robert Byrd (FA), HC Dick Coury

KEY ARRIVALS: HC Bill Arnsparger, WR Herman Fontenot (FA), QB Matt Dunigan (CFL), DE Dallas Hickman (FA)

DRAFT RECAP: No one is raving about the Breakers’ draft, but no one is panning it either. They got solid players in tackle Tim Rother (Nebraska) and DE Jerry Reese (Kentucky). They signed FSU’s Danny McManus to be a project behind Matt Robinson and CFL star Matt Dunigan. They also got a possible bargain late in the draft with U. of Miami HB Warren Williams.

OUTLOOK: New Orleans under new coach Bill Arnsparger will be able to run the ball. With Marcus Dupree and Dalton Hilliard, that is a guarantee. But with Tony Eason gone, can Matt Robinson, or Canadian import Matt Dunigan build a solid complementary passing game? And will the Breaker defense bend or break? The Breakers eked their way to 8-8 and a quick playoff exit last year, another quick exit that cost Dick Coury his job with the team. We just don’t see enough here to say that Bill Arnsparger will fare much better this year. But as a very popular figure in Louisiana, he will be given time to build something in the Big Easy.

PREDICTED FINISH: 7-9, 3rd in Central

TEXAS OUTLAWS (4-12, 4th in Central as San Antonio)

KEY DEPARTURES: A lot of roster turnover due to merger & Portland expansion. The biggest loss is likely LB Putt Choate.

KEY ARRIVALS: Several key players come to San Antonio (Texas) from the Outlaw squad in Oklahoma. Chief among them are QB Doug Williams, HB Stump Mitchell, and LB Brian Bosworth. Texas also reached out and signed DT Dave Butz, CB Najee Mustafaa, and WR Dokie Williams from the NFL.

DRAFT RECAP: Safety Kevin Porter may start from day one, and we also like DE Shawn Patterson from ASU. The rest of the signees are likely to be bit players and backups at least this year.

OUTLOOK: We are predicting Texas to improve on the 4-win season that San Antonio had last year. Gaining talent from the Oklahoma franchise during the merger, this new Outlaw team has more to work with than either the Gunslingers or the Oklahoma Outlaws last year. They could surprise some folks.

PREDICTED FINISH: 6-10, 4th in Central

OAKLAND INVADERS (10-6, 2nd in Pacific)

KEY DEPARTURES: QB Brian Sipe (Re), LB Gary Plummer (Re), HB Arthur Whittington (NFL), CB Audrey McMillian (FA), FB Ted Torosian (FA)

KEY ARRIVALS: QB Jeff Kemp (FA), HB Richard Williams (FA)

DRAFT RECAP: The best of the rookie signees for Oakland are on defense, with LB Ken Harvey of Cal leading the pack. We also like CB Chris Carrier and DE Derwin Jones. Tackle Louis Cheek from Texas A&M could also contribute this year.

OUTLOOK: Just as Oakland was building something, age and the NFL caught up to them. The result? They lose 3 team captains and their 3 biggest on-field leaders in one fell swoop. Gale Gilbert has been groomed to take over for Brian Sipe, but no one is sure he is up for it. Oakland also signed Memphis’s lead back, Richard Williams, but he is no Arthur Whittington, and rookie Ken Harvey has huge shoes to fill in the departed Gary Plummer. All in all this is a team that lost a lot of leadership and is going to have to repair the plane while its flying. That is a tall order for any team. Expect a significant struggle this year.

PREDICTED FINISH: 5-11, 4th in Pacific.

CHICAGO MACHINE (2-14, 5th in Central)

KEY DEPARTURES: DE Greg Shields (Re), WR Willie Collier (FA)

KEY ARRIVALS: DE Dwayne Board (NFL), T Ken Lanier (NFL), QB Rusty Hilger (NFL), SS William Cesare (FA), TE Cap Boso (FA)

DRAFT RECAP: We love that Chicago was aggressive in signing for speed in the draft. They signed two speedy receivers in LSU’s Wendell Davis and Northern Arizona’s Michael Haynes. They also tried to help their run game with Michigan back Jamie Morris. Guard Eric Moore from Indiana may also start from week one.

OUTLOOK: Chicago’s offense last year was offensive, and not in a good way. But, rather than try to replace their young QB’s the Machine added talent around them in the draft. They also brought in NFL QB Rusty Hilger, who will challenge but also help develop both Chuck Long and Steve Beurlein. It has been an open competition in camp and we are still not sure who will get the Week One start. That uncertainty is not a good thing, but the added talent in Chicago, as well as a year of experience under Joe Bugel, should help Chicago win a few more games this year.

PREDICTED FINISH: 5-11, 5th in Central.

PORTLAND THUNDER (Expanion Team in 1988)

KEY DEPARTURES: The Thunder inherited a mix of Gunslinger and Outlaw players, so no real departures.

KEY ARRIVALS: In addition to the OKL/SAN players, Portland did sign some NFL and USFL talent, including: LB Billy Ray Smith (NFL), TE Clint Didier (NFL), CB Dwayne Galloway (NFL), DT Mike Golic (FA), HB Rodney Carter (FA), and TE Victor Marchand (FA)

DRAFT RECAP: Portland missed out on some top picks, most notably Chris Chandler from U-Dub, but they did get some quality in the draft. Willie “Flipper” Anderson will contribute immediately, as should DT Roland Putzier and LB Cedric Figaro. They may have also found their starter in the draft, as rookie Kerwin Bell from Florida has moved up the depth chart in camp by showing accuracy to go along with his big arm.

OUTLOOK: Everyone was sure that Washington QB would sign with Portland, but he opted to wait for the NFL call, so it looks like the Thunder may start Florida rookie Kerwin Bell, with former Oakland Invader Fred Besana backing him up. Bell may well be shellshocked and his team does not have a lot of firepower to back him up. We like the signing of Rodney Carter at HB, and Ken Lacy brings experience but may be a step slower these days. Signing rookie “Flipper” Anderson to line up alongside Frank Lockett and Gerald McNeil may help Bell out as well. He may need the help, because other than Putt Choate on defense, we are not sure there is a lot to crow about. This is an expansion team, so some bumps in the road are normal, but this season may feel like a mogul run in Portland.

PREDICTED FINISH: 2-14, 4th in the Pacific

PLAYOFF PICKS: 1-HOU, 2-LA, 3-MGN, 4-DEN, 5-ARZ

CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Houston Gamblers CONFERENCE MVP: Jim Kelly, QB-HOU CONFERENCE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Ken Harvey, LB, OAK