Every year the 2nd week of the USFL playoffs provides some of the most dynamic football viewing of the year, with 8 teams looking to advance one step closer to a league championship. This year’s matchups featured veteran squads and relative newcomers, aggressive playcalling and hard hitting. Four teams would emerge victorious, setting up next week’s Conference Championships, and four would be sent home. This is how it all played out on a fun weekend of football.
FEDERALS SHUT DOWN RENEGADES
ORLANDO 7 WASHINGTON 23
The Washington Federals, led by their dominant front four, pressured and rushed Orlando QB Reggie Collier, disrupting the leagues Offensive Player of the Year (see below) and shutting down one of the league’s most potent offenses. The line, led by DT Jerome Brown and dual pass rushing threats Dexter Manley and Charles Haley, shut down the Orlando run game (26 yards total), sacked Reggie Collier four times and shut down Orlando on three of four 4th down conversion attempts, handcuffing Orlando all day.
Meanwhile, QB Don Majkowski completed 74% of his throws and survived two interceptions to lead Washington to a solid 16-point win, and while the Washington run game is not exactly devastating, it did enough to help the Feds shorten the game and turn Orlando miscues into long Federals drives. Lead back Kevin Harmon got the scoring started with a 1 yard plunge over the pile on a 2nd and goal in the first quarter. TE mike Jones would get the second Federal TD of the day, a 44-yard seam route that surprised the Renegades D and caught them flat-footed. Ray Wershing would add 3 field goals to boost the Washington lead, but the 44,000 in attendance (the largest Federals crowd in team history) knew the score and got loud whenever the defenders took the field. This was a game won by a defense that has come on late in the year, trying to shed their reputation as passive and ineffective for a fanbase that is beginning to believe in this team.
BIG PLAYS DECLAW THE PANTHERS
MICHIGAN 7 ARIZONA 20
In a game dominated by the two defenses, the Arizona Wranglers got two big plays, both Bosco to Trumaine Johnson tosses, to overcome the Michigan zone and power the upstart Wranglers to the win. In a game in which both offenses struggled to sustain drives and which saw a total of 8 sacks, it was two blown coverages that determined the outcome. The first came early in the game, when, on their 2nd drive, Arizona used an effective play fake to Darryl Clack on a 2nd and 2 to draw in defenders, allowing Johnson to get behind the coverage for a 32 yard scoring strike from a bootlegging Robbie Bosco. The second, came in the third, only 4 plays after Michigan tied the game, when Bosco hit Johnson again, this time on a simple slant route, but the Michigan safeties were out of position and Johnson was able to glance off a tackle attempt by FS David Arnold and glide his way 34 yards to build a 14-7 lead. Two field goals for the Wranglers would finish the scoring for the game.
While these two plays defined the game, it was the surprisingly effective Arizona defense that had everyone talking. DT Dan Saleamua was named MVP of the game for his disruptive play, which included a rare sack for the big man as well as several key run stops. LB Brian Noble had 6 tackles on the day, but none more important that a fumble-producing hit on Panther HB John Williams just as the Panthers looked good to tie the game at 14. Rookie CB Vince Buck looked like a future star as he blanketed Derrick Holloway all game. He made 7 tackles and deflected away 2 balls aimed at Holloway, keeping the dynamic playmaker from busting loose and limiting him to a 9.1 yard average on his 6 receptions.
This was Arizona’s first playoff win since the 1984 season, and their first home playoff game ever. With the win over a veteran Panther team, the Wranglers have set themselves up only 1 game away from the Summer Bowl.
ROOKIE BELL TOLLS FOR PHILADELPHIA
PHILADELPHIA 14 TAMPA BAY 19
With the Philadelphia defense focused on containing and rattling Tampa QB Troy Aikman, the Bandits were forced to go against character and push the run game to defeat the visiting Stars. Philadelphia was effective in shutting down starter Lars Tate, but rookie backup Richard Bell provided a change of pace which spurred the Bandits on to victory.
Philadelphia, for its part, played a good game, and Chuck Fusina was able to find both Mike Quick and Quinn Early for scores. The Stars defense also rattled Troy Aikman, freshly back after an injury that cost him the final weeks of the regular season. The Stars recorded 7 sacks against Aikman, but could not hold a 14-13 lead in the 4th quarter. Midway through the quarter Aikman started feeding the ball to the fresh legs of Richard Bell, and the rookie back from Nebraska outpaced and out-moved the tired Stars defense, gaining 29 of the team’s 41 yards on the drive. Bell finished off the drive with a 3 yard scramble to the end zone pylon that put the Bandits up for good. Bell, who only had 25 carries all season would finish the game with 11 carries for 41 yards and a single reception for another 14, well short of Kelvin Bryant’s 75 yards, but enough, and at the right time to help Tampa move on to a rendezvous with the Washington Federals while Philadelphia would have a long quiet flight home for the offseason.
BREAKERS EDGE GAMBLERS IN OVERTIME
HOUSTON 17 NEW ORLEANS 20 OT
Momentum can only get you so far, and home field advantage is real, just ask the Houston Gamblers. After falling behind 17-3 at the half, Houston got two 2nd half touchdowns from Jim Kelly but could not silence the Breakers faithful at the SuperDome, and New Orleans rallied in overtime to grab the game on a 53-yard Tim Mazzetti field goal.
New Orleans looked like they were going to run away with the game, scoring the first 17 points on a Marcus Dupree run and a Nolan Franz TD reception, but just before the half, a costly fumble by punt returner Charlie Smith gave Houston the ability to kick a field goal as time expired and gain some momentum for the second half.
Houston took that momentum and scrapped its way back into the game, all the while holding the Breakers in check offensively. Thurman Thomas was the focal point, gaining 106 on the ground and another 66 yards on 5 receptions to make him the team’s leading receiver. His production drove Houston to the Breaker 4-yard line, where Kelly found TE Keith McKeller to bring the Gamblers back to within 7 at 17-10. Houston would score again late in the 4th on a Ricky Proehl TD catch to even the game at 17, and when the Breakers could not get the ball in range for Mazzetti, the game went into overtime.
In the extra period, New Orleans regrouped. Starting on their own 25 they initiated a 10-play drive that fizzled on the Houston 36 yard line. Coach Arnsparger opted to bring out Mazzetti, the league’s scoring champion, to try the long field goal. Inside the dome, and with over 45,000 Breaker fans wishing and hoping, Mazzetti’s kick flew straight and true, giving the Breakers a huge win over one of their toughest division rivals, and ensuring that they would be back at home next week with a chance to punch their ticket to the Summer Bowl and a possible league championship.
The USFL and Sporting News announced this week the 1990 USFL Award Winners and All-USFL team. With tight races in most of our award categories this was one of the toughest years for the team of USFL coaches and sports reporters to agree on the awards, and some tough choices were made for the ALL-USFL team as well. But, we have winners, so without further ado, here are your 1990 USFL Award Winners and ALL-USFL TEAM:
MVP: In a surprise pick, the selection committee opted to reward defense for the first time in the history of the award, giving the 1990 MVP award to Memphis DE Reggie White. White, who has been among the sack leaders in the league since his arrival in 1984 from the University of Tennessee, led the league in both sacks and QB pressures throughout the season, ending with 21 sacks, 1 short of the record by Junior Ah You back in 1985. White was a wrecking ball all season and with the QB vote split between Stouffer and Collier, his dynamic presence was rewarded with the coveted MVP trophy.
Offensive Player of the Year: Reggie Collier (QB-ORL)—Collier edges out Texas QB Kelly Stouffer for the title, thanks in large part to the conclusion of the season which saw Texas lose their last 4 while Orlando squeeked into the playoffs. Both QB’s were equally impressive this year, with Collier edging out Stouffer with 34 TD passes to Stouffer’s 32, and with 3,991 yards to Stouffer’s 3,656. Stouffer was likely the favorite in his first year as a member of the Texans and his first year as a starter, but missing the final 2 ½ games to an injury did not give him the chance to leave final impressions. Collier is a solid choice, having carried the Renegades all year as their run game struggled to find footing.
Defensive Player of the Year: With Reggie White winning league MVP, the obvious choice for Defensive Player of the Year was Texas LB Brian Bosworth. Bosworth set a league record with 155 tackles this season. He also added 18 Tackles for loss, 5 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, 2 sacks and 3 interceptions. The OU product has been the heart and soul of the Outlaws since joining the league in 1987 with the then Oklahoma Outlaws, with this year being his most prolific yet. The most lopsided of the votes, the only other vote getter was LA cornerback Raphel Cherry, whose 9 interceptions are a new league record, but whose team was simply not very good, diminishing his impact on voters.
Coach of the Year: There were two candidates who split the vote, both took teams with losing records in 1989 and moved them into the playoffs in 1990. The first was former BC head coach and the new many in Philadelphia, Jack Bicknell, who guided the Stars from a 5-win season in ’89 to 10 wins and a playoff berth in 1990. But, most around the league felt that the 1989 season was a fluke for the very talented Stars team, and the jump back into playoff contention was not unforeseen. The other candidate, and the winner of this year’s Coach of the Year is Arizona’s Ted Tollner. Tollner, in his second year with the Wranglers since replacing Frank Kush, Tollner turned around a Wranglers squad which had not had a winning season since 1985. The 6-10 Wranglers were picked to finish at or near the bottom of the Pacific Division but under Tollner’s guidance reversed the record and won 10 games and their first ever Pacific Division title.
Rookie of the Year: This was one of the easier ones. Despite solid seasons from Houston WR Ricky Proehl. Washington WR Terrance Mathis, New Orleans LB Lamar Lathon, and Tampa LB Keith McCants, no first year player proved as impactful and exciting as Texas Outlaw HB Reggie Cobb. Cobb started the year as the starter after a strong preseason and proved to be a vital part of the Outlaws offense all season, gaining 1,108 yards rushing with 7 scores, and while he was not a major part of the passing game, he did score twice through the air for a total of 9 scores. Cobb’s combination of power and initial burst made him one of the most exciting backs in the league, with several memorable straightarm or bulldozer plays making the season’s highlight reels.
1990 ALL-USFL TEAM
Every year there are debates and bar bets made about the annual All-USFL team, and we do not expect that this year will be any different. With limited spots there are sure to be some deserving players left off. Here is your 1990 ALL-USFL Team:
QB: R. Collier (ORL), K. Stouffer (TEX), C. Long (CHI)
HB: M. Rozier (PIT), K. Bryant (PHI), R. Williams (OAK)
FB: U. Johnson (TEX)
T: A. Gardner (MGN), R. Dudley (TEX), L. Smith (PIT)
G: D. Cadigan (ORL), J. Rienstra (HOU), G. McIntyre (OAK)
C: J. Adickes (TEX), J. Wilkins (ORL)
TE: K. Jackson (MEM), C. Didier (POR)
WR: J. Jefferson (ORL), E. Truvillion (TBY), T. Johnson (ARZ), C. Carson (TEX),
B. Blades (JAX)
K: T. Mazzetti (NOR)
DE: R. White (MEM), R. Paggett (MGN), D. Manley (WSH)
DT: J. Brown (WSH), M. Perry (HOU), J. Gaethers (PHI)
LB: B. Bosworth (TEX), D. Jones (WSH), C. Banks (LA), B. Thomas (ARZ),
W. Moss (ORL), E. Kumerow (PIT)
CB: R. Cherry (LA), G. Byrd (POR), D. Bryant (HOU), D. Burroughs (MEM)
FS: F. Wilder (NOR), B. McDowell (MEM)
SS: E. McMillian (PHI), P. Gannon (DEN)
P: H. Hardaway (LA)
KR: C. Verdin (WR-HOU)
PR: T. Nixon (CB-OAK)
It is a rare USFL Conference Championship weekend when the top 2 seeds in each conference have advanced to the finals. Two of these teams will advance for a crack at the league title in the first (renamed) Summer Bowl. In a weekend that will boast talented offensive stars like Troy Aikman, Matt Robinson, Marcus Dupree, Don Majkowski and Lionel James, will it be the offenses that take control or will we see defense win the conference title through takeaways and momentum-shifting stands? Two great matchups and 4 teams all with their eyes on the prize await us this week.
In this matchup we have two quarterbacks with very different trajectories. Troy Aikman came to Tampa as the Golden Boy, a top draft pick from UCLA who Tampa signed away from LA and who was a consensus pick for the Rookie of the Year last season. For Washington, QB Don Majkowski came as a mid-round pick, brought in to learn behind starter Neil Lomax, but when Lomax suffered a hip injury that would turn into a career-ending affliction, Majkowski stepped up and took on the mantle. Both teams can score points in bunches, but both also have defenses which are expert in pressuring the QB and creating turnovers. Looking over the matchups, a key will be Aikman’s protection. He was sacked 7 times in their win against the Stars, and Washington has a D-line that can really shrink the pocket and get in your face. That is a matchup to watch. Our prediction? We are going with the Federals, thanks to that D-line as both teams will focus on the passing game, and we trust Washington to keep Majkowski from feeling the heat that Aikman is likely to face.
Is this finally the year that the Breakers get over the hump? This is their 8th consecutive playoff appearance, butthey have never been able to break through and get to the Championship game. This year has perhaps been their most dominant, as the defense has finally risen up to complement their explosive offense. In Arizona they face an opponent new to this type of pressure, young and eager but very inexperienced in playoff football. In many ways the Wranglers are modeled after the Breakers, an homage to their success. They have a strong-armed QB and a top flight wideout in Bosco and Trumaine Johnson, and they run a very similar two-back rotation in the Clack-James combo, very similar to New Orleans’s Dupree-Hilliard combo. They too have a lot of talent on defense, led by LBs Brian Noble and Broderick Thomas, and they have a strong special teams group capable of shortening the field. It is a great matchup of two similar teams, but seeing how similar they are, we have to go with the more experienced side and pick the Breakers to finally get that monkey of their backs and punch their ticket to the Summer Bowl in Orlando.