Sporting News, June 30, 1989
After sixteen weeks of football, we are down to ten USFL teams vying for the league championship. The playoffs begin this week with the #4 and #5 seeds battling for the right to play each conference’s top seed in the Wild Card round. It is a round that sees playoff newcomers (Orlando), perennial also-rans (Oakland) and former champions (Tampa Bay), even the defending USFL Champion (Houston) in action. We will break down the matchups and look ahead at the teams waiting in the wings for their chance to play for a title. We begin with this week’s two play-in Wild Card games.
ORLANDO @ TAMPA BAY
Sunday, July 2. 1pm ET
Tampa Stadium
It is a newcomer vs. a retooled former champion as Orlando faces Tampa Bay. It is also a battle of two in-state rivals separated by only 85 miles. The two squared off twice this year, with Orlando winning in Week 6 but Tampa evening the score with a Week 12 victory. Both teams boast offenses which can catch fire and blow through opponents and defenses which run hot and cold, but are much improved over past years.
Orlando has a core of veteran players on offense in QB Reggie Collier, HB Curtis Bledsoe, and WR Wamon Buggs, who have each had both dominating and forgettable games over the course of the season. Bledsoe finished the year with just over 1,100 yards and 9 TDs, his second consecutive 1,000 yard season with the Renegades after several years languishing on the bench in Washington. Reggie Collier also came over to Orlando in their expansion season after several years with the Federals. This year was one of his best, throwing for 3,500 yards and 20 TD’s. The Renegades defense had their best year to date, ranking 5th in points allowed and 4th in yards allowed. Led by DE Rueben Davis (16 sacks) the Renegades were among the league leaders in pressuring opposing passers, a tough test for a young QB to face.
For Tampa the signing of projected NFL 1st round pick and former UCLA standout Troy Aikman has been nothing short of game-changing. After the loss of veteran QB John Reaves last season, a season that saw Tampa miss the playoffs for the first time in team history, there was concern about the future of the Bandits. Reaves retired after the injury-shortened season and Bandit fans saw the end of an era. But with the signing of Aikman the Bandits were reborn. Aikman not only is the runaway candidate of the Offensive Rookie of the Year, but may be in the running for League MVP as well. In his rookie season he has only thrown for 4,300 yards and 29 TD’s, placing him among the league’s elite. He has also immediately bonded with veterans such as wideout Eric Truvillion and HB Gary Anderson. Tampa’s defense proved effective in general (8th in yardage allowed) but had some games in which they simply could not contain some of the league’s high-powered offenses. They have a dynamic rookie on the D-line in DE Keith DeLong, and veteran leaders in the backfield, such as CB Eric Allen.
Our Pick: We like Tampa Bay here. They have been the hotter team down the stretch and we like the weapons available to Troy Aikman, even if the Bandits may have to play without WR Chris Collinsworth. The combo of Truvillion, Gillespie and Brett Perriman, along with the dual threat of Gary Anderson is a lot for a defense to contend with. Orlando will need to pressure Aikman into some mistakes (he did throw 18 interceptions this year) and hope for a big day for Bledsoe to win on the road in Tampa.
HOUSTON @ OAKLAND
Sunday, July 2. 4:30PM ET
Oakland-Alameda Coliseum
Houston was not expecting to finish the year third in their division and playing in the Wild Card Weekend. Oakland is happy to be back for Dick Vermeil’s 3rd playoff season after slumping to a 7-8-1 season in 1988. Both clubs come in at 10-6 and both clubs still seem to be uncertain about their identities. Houston is the defending USFL Champion, but this year they have seemingly alternated between offensive firepower, led by HB Thurman Thomas, and defensive battles. Oakland has more consistently relied on their 2nd ranked scoring defense to pull out close games, but are still a bit unsteady on offense.
After two straight USFL Championship Games, and a victory last year for their first title, we know the major players for Houston. QB Jim Kelly is a gunslinger, willing to take risks to create big plays. He threw for over 4,000 yards for the third time this season, and tossed 30 touchdowns along the way. He also led the league in interceptions with 24 in a year that saw some pretty bad outings. The key to the Houston offense is clearly HB Thurman Thomas, who rushed for over 1,100 yards despite missing 3 games due to injury. Thomas is equally dangerous as a receiver (570 yards on 59 receptions) and can take over games. On defense the key is the linebacking corps, led by veteran Kiki DeAyala and 2nd year player Johnny Holland. They have some injuries in this key group, so expect to see rookies Chris Chenault and Jesse Small see a lot of playing time.
For Oakland, the key question all year has been the performance of QB Gale Gilbert. In his 2nd year as the starter for the Invaders, Gilbert struggled with injuries and inconsistency. He threw for 2,239 yards and 17 TD’s in only 10 games, but he has had games where he seemed to shrink under pressure. The Invaders have a solid receiving corps with Henry Ellard and Mark Duper out wide and one of the league’s best tight ends in veteran Raymond Chester in the middle. On defense, the Invaders have been one of the league’s best this year. FS Robert Sparkman was among the league leaders in interceptions with 7, and the Invaders have a linebacking corps of their own with dynamic 2nd year player Ken Harvey lined up alongside Ron Rivera and Leon White. The one gap in Oakland’s D is the pass rush, with the team needing blitzes to put pressure on opposing passers. That gap may make things easier for Kelly and the Houston passing game than Oakland would like.
Our Pick: We like the defending champions to pull out a win. With Thurman Thomas in the lineup, the Gamblers have won their last 5, and Oakland’s weakness (pass rush) plays into Houston’s offensive strength. However, if Gale Gilbert can find a rhythm, and if Richard Williams finds space to run the ball and provide Oakland with a balanced attack, this Invader squad is capable of knocking off the champs.
LOOKING AHEAD
While these four teams battle this week, the other six playoff squads get a week to rest, recover and prepare for the Divisional Round. How does each team stack up? Who looks like they can win out and take home a trophy?
MICHIGAN (#3 in West)
If Michigan is going to make any run at all in this year’s playoffs it will have to do it with defense. The Panthers have a top 10 defense in both yards allowed and points allowed. The offense, since the season-ending injuries to both Jack Trudeau and John Williams, has been a liability. Michigan has scored over 20 points only once in the last 7 games, 4 of which they lost prior to last week’s 1 point win over Chicago. They have Ronnie Paggett at DE, who can ruin offensive game plans, and they still have two of the best deep ball receivers in the game in Anthony Carter and Derek Holloway, but unless Mark Hermann can be well-protected, Michigan may have to hope for a low-scoring slugfest vs. Denver to move on.
MEMPHIS (#3 in East)
Memphis made it all the way to the USFL Championship last year, thanks to their ferocious pass rush and a red hot Mike Kelley. This year Kelley has been more luke-warm, throwing only 17 TD’s to 20 Ints, but the defense remains solid, ranked 7th in PPG allowed. Where Memphis has excelled this year is in balancing their offense. HB’s Greg Boone and Buford Jordan have combined to score 23 touchdowns, and the ageless Mel Gray again led the league in receptions with 130 receptions. Memphis spent the entire season battling with Birmingham and came up just short of being the #1 seed, so this is a team that can make a serious run if they play to their abilities.
DENVER (#2 in West)
Earlier this year we wrote that despite consistent success, including playoff appearances in 5 of 7 USFL seasons, the Denver Gold simply get no respect. These gridiron Rodney Dangerfields are again an under the radar contender. They finished 6th in yards allowed this year and 5th in points scored. They are not flashy, never have been, but with weapons like Bob Gagliano, Harry Sydney, Bill Brooks and Jay Novacek on offense, the Gold can put up points when called upon. The defense, led by DE Larry White and CB David Martin comes into the game a bit banged up (White is listed as doubtful) but can still play well enough to turn a game Denver’s way, especially at home in Mile High Stadium. Facing the offensively-challenged Michigan Panthers may be just the first game they need to build some momentum.
NEW JERSEY (#2 in East)
New Jersey was the best of a bad division this year. But, unlike their division-mates, the Generals proved that they have what it takes to win tough games. The Generals boast the #1 defense in yards allowed, and the #3 offense in yards gained. And while their defense is also very solid in not giving up points (3rd lowest in the league) the offense can struggle to put the ball into the endzone. The thing with New Jersey is that everyone knows who you have to contain, but few can do it. HB Herschel Walker remains the centerpiece of the Generals offense, rushing for over 1500 yards, often against stacked defenses, to take the rushing crown for the second year in a row and the 3rd time in 7 seasons of USFL football. You stop Walker, and the the New Jersey offense grinds to a halt. On defense, the combo of Chris Spielman and John Offerdahl are tough to manage, and can make plays all across the field. New Jersey does not have a dynamic pass rush, but Gary Jeter and Co. can get enough pressure to feed into a solid secondary, led by veteran Gary Barbaro.
NEW ORLEANS (#1 in West)
The Breakers started the season a bit rough, and were only 4-4 at the midpoint of the year. They have since found their groove and have won 7 of their last 8, with only a 1 point loss in Birmingham to blemish their second half schedule. First in points per game, and with one of the most vicious 1-2 punches in the backfield that you will ever see, the Breakers can put up points in bunches. The combo of Dupree (1,045 yards) and Hilliard (912 yards) is capable of breaking down and tiring out a defense, while QB Matt Robinson has regained his 1988 MVP touch after a rough start, throwing for 3,344 yards and a league-leading 31 touchdowns. Once again the Breakers defense is not a league leader, but they have two dynamic playmakers who can turn the tide of any game. Safety Joe Restic is a darkhorse for Defensive Player of the Year with 80 tackles, 4 interceptions, 2 sacks and 4 fumble recoveries. Second year DE Jerry Reese had a coming out party this year. After a rookie season with an impressive 9 sacks, Reese led the league with 16 sacks this season. A pure pass rusher, Reese is not as strong against the run, but can wreak havoc for opposing QB’s.
BIRMINGHAM (#1 in East)
The Birmingham Stallions have already been through the wars just to get here. In a division where both Memphis and Tampa were in contention for the title until the very last week, these Stallions have earned this seeding the hard way. They have dedicated this season to their departed Coach Rollie Dotsch, and they have played their hearts out all season long. They come into the playoffs having knocked off Tampa Bay, Orlando, New Orleans and Denver in the past 6 weeks, but they come in with a major concern. All-USFL halfback Joe Cribbs is still dealing with a significant knee injury, and may simply not be able to go. Birmingham eked out a win against Tampa without him in Week 16, but a deep playoff run without Cribbs may be tough for the Stallions. Cliff Stoudt depends on play action to be effective, and while a solid grinder, backup Brent Fullwood is not going to force defenses to load the box. Birmingham does have the #1 scoring defense in the league, so if Cribbs is unable to go, it may come down to defensive stops and opportunistic plays for Stoudt and the Stallions.
So there you have it, your playoff preview. Who are we going with to run the table? Well, we started the year picking Los Angeles and Philadelphia, so you may not want to place money on anything we say. Looking over the teams, their injuries, trends, and stars, we like the look of New Orleans in the West and Memphis in the East. Both teams have been hot, and both have the weapons needed to either shut down the opponent or outscore them. So, at this late date, we are going to pick the New Orleans Breakers to win it all, in a close one, over the Memphis Showboats in a matchup that is sure to have the gumbo boiling and the bbq smoking all across the South.