Sporting News, February 10, 1990
The free agents are signed, the draftees are in camp, the rosters are filling In, new coaches are installing their philosophies and their game plans. It is time to get the 1990 USFL season started. So much has changed this offseason, both on the field and off, and so much is unknown. There is hardly a franchise in the league that does not look quite different from last year. In the Eastern Conference we have a new coach in Philly for the first time in team history, roster upheavals across the 10 franchises, and new optimism in almost every camp. Can New Jersey repeat their magical run to a title? Is Orlando ready to take on the “big boys” in the South? Is there a break-out team in the Atlantic just waiting to shock the league? Is there a coach whose job is on the line if the season starts out rough? So much to look forward to and so many questions. Let’s take a look at the Eastern Conference and try to get some answers.
ATLANTIC CONFERENCE
Predicted Finish: New Jersey (11-5), Baltimore (9-7), Philadelphia (7-9), Pittsburgh (6-10), Washington (4-12)
NEW JERSEY GENERALS (10-5-1 in 1989, League Champions)
Biggest Change: The Generals lost two key contributors on offense in TE Brent Jones and FB Keith Byars to the NFL. In trying to replace them, they decided to bring back a fan favorite, FB Maurice Carthon. But no one expects Carthon and rookie TE Derrick Walker (Michigan) to be able to produce the same numbers. Expect Doug Flutie to have to do more to find receivers or to scramble out of trouble.
Biggest Question: Does this squad have what it takes to repeat? The Generals defense is solid, led by LB Chris Spielman, but not overpowering, so it will once again take balance across the team and a mix of timely offense and opportunistic defense for New Jersey to overcome a packed Southern Division. Playing in a somewhat weaker division may help New Jersey get home field advantage, which would improve their chances of a repeat.
Rookie to Watch: New Jersey went for a lot of depth in the draft, but the one player who could find himself starting soon, other than Walker, is former Syracuse LB Terry Wooden. Wooden has the skills to play either outside position, though he will need to bulk up a bit to be most effective.
Outlook: The Generals are the clear favorite to win the division, but once the playoffs start, they will face some tough opposition if they hope to repeat.
BALTIMORE BLITZ (6-9-1 IN 1989, 2ND in Division)
Biggest Change: Baltimore came out of the NFL “raids” largely scott free, which has angered many around the league who blame the NFL’s more aggressive posture on the Blitz’s pursuit of Marty Schottenheimer. They have been vilified by fanbases around the team, so the biggest change may just be the perception of the team as a pariah by fans in every stadium they will visit.
Biggest Question: Can the Blitz revive their run game? Tim Spencer has not had a 1,000-yard season since the league’s 1st in 1983. He keeps coming up with 700-850 yards, but that is not enough to warrant an uncontested starting job. And yet, Baltimore seems unwilling to fully replace Spencer. They used a mid-round pick on San Jose State’s Johnny Johnson, but we don’t see him pushing Spencer out of a starting position. So it may just be more of the same for the Blitz offense.
Rookie to Watch: LB Bryce Paup from Northern Iowa was Baltimore’s early defensive pick, but the guy who has been impressing everyone in camp was 7th round pick John Randle, the feisty DT from little Texas A&I. He has a real shot of becoming a starter for the Blitz after an impressive camp.
Outlook: Baltimore, by virtue of adding more pieces than they lost, is poised to potentially challenge New Jersey. A lot will depend on how the QB position plays out, with Eric Kramer challenging longstanding starter Vince Evans last year with some strong outings. Coach Schottenheimer loves to run the ball as well, so this year will test whether the Blitz have the backs they need to ground & pound.
PHILADELPHIA STARS (5-11 in 1989, 4th in Division)
Biggest Change: It has to be at the top, where the resignation and very quick signing of Jim Mora by the NFL’s Saints has led to uproar across the league. While the USFL’s tampering lawsuit hinges largely on just what transpired between Mora and the Saints, the arrival of Jack Bicknell from BC is hopefully going to bring some calm to a team that spiraled last year, failing to make the playoffs for the first time in team history.
Biggest Question: Can this defense rebound and play solid football in 1990? The Stars have always been known for a methodical offense and a shut down defense, but last year teams were not intimidated, and the Stars were not anywhere near their usual mistake-free selves. Losing CB Cris Dishman will not help, but Philly concentrated heavily on defense in the draft, signing two DT’s and using a territorial pick to bring in Penn State LB Andre Collins, who may become a Week One starter.
Rookie to Watch: Philly’s offense still runs through Fusina, Bryant and Mike Quick, but the signing of TE Eric Green from Liberty gives Fusina another weapon to try to keep drives moving. Green looks like a solid dual role player who can help in the run game and find space against zone defenses.
Outlook: We do not believe the Stars are as bad as their 1989 record indicated. They may not be the juggernaut of the division any longer, but this is a team that can finish above .500 if they can get the defense to gel and keep on keeping on with Fusina and Byrant.
PITTSBURGH MAULERS (5-11 in 1989, 5th in Division)
Biggest Change: The biggest issue in the offseason for the Maulers was not the NFL (they lost no players) but their own budgeting office. The Maulers were well over the cap despite having a roster that is not filled with big names, so they had to make some trades to cut salary. Out are T Dwayne Massey and underwhelming WR Shawn Collins. In were multiple draft picks. The Maulers will have a lot of rookies on the roster, and have to hope that some shine this year.
Biggest Question: Will the Maulers ever find a defense that works? The Maulers were once again near the bottom of the league in yards allowed, and not great in scoring D either. They signed two safeties and a DT (Pitt’s Tony Siragusa) in the draft, but no free agents to help out. That may well mean another long season of missed tackles and big plays against that D.
Rookie to Watch: Siragusa is a fun hometown pickup, but perhaps the two most promising signees were both offensive linemen. We love the energy from Hawaii guard Leo Goeas, and in camp we have seen a lot of potential as well in center Roman Fortin from San Diego State. Mike Rozier must be happy to see both rotating into the lineup.
Outlook: The Maulers’ offense will be entertaining, with Rozier going for a rushing title and Alan Risher making plays all over the field, but once again that defense needs to figure out something that works or it will be another losing campaign for the Maulers.
WASHINGTON FEDERALS (6-10 in 1989, 3rd in Division)
Biggest Change: Talk about a talent drain, Washington’s offense took 3 big hits. The NFL scooped up both TE Mark Bavaro and HB Craig James, kneecapping the Federals’ offense. Then Washington hurt themselves by trading away Webster Slaughter to Portland. They drafted 3 wideouts, a halfback and a TE but that is a lot of weight on rookies to come through.
Biggest Question: Who will tote the rock? The expectation is that Coach Rutigliano will give the Week One start to Kevin Harmon, with a lot of Alfred Jenkins as a 3rd down back. Rookie Andy Murray from Kentucky may also get a chance, but can this combo match the consistent 1,000-yard production of the departed Craig James?
Rookie to Watch: After drafting 3 wideouts, Washington has to hope that at least one of them is a quick learner. New Mexico’s Terrance Mathis is the speediest, Mississippi’s Willie Green has the best range, and returner/receiver Kerry Simien (Texas A&M Kingsville) has the quicks, but are any of them ready to step in and provide Don Majkowski with a reliable target?
Outlook: We love the Majic Man, but is there enough around him to compete? This looks like a squad that needs to sign some free agents and get one more draft in them before they are ready to return to the playoffs.
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
Predicted Finish: Tampa Bay (11-5), Memphis (10-6), Orlando (9-7), Birmingham (7-9), Jacksonville (6-10)
TAMPA BAY BANDITS (10-6 in 1989, 3rd in Division, Wildcard)
Biggest Change: The loss of Gary Anderson will hurt this team. No other back has been so consistently involved in a team’s passing game, with the possible exception of Houston’s Thurman Thomas. Anderson has rushed for over 1,000 yards 5 times in 7 seasons and has been over 40 receptions each of the past 5 years. Losing him to the NFL was a big hit.
Biggest Question: With more pressure on him this year, how will Troy Aikman’s second year look? Aikman is likely to have a weaker run game with Lars Tate and rookie Richard Bell (Nebraska) trying to replace Anderson. He may have to hope the defense is improved, which we think it is, and expect to throw the ball out wide more often.
Rookie to Watch: When the Bandits failed to sign Emmitt Smith, hearts sank on the gulf coast. He seemed a natural fit but opted to join the Dallas Cowboys instead. So, the pressure is on late round pick Richard Bell to prove that Tampa did not need to use a high pick in the open draft to secure a productive back. He will certainly sit behind Lars Tate at first, but if he cannot get carries fans will wonder why Tampa did not draft another back higher up or do more to sign Smith.
Outlook: The Southern Division could be a very tough nut to crack this year. Four teams look like legitimate contenders for the title, but despite the concerns about the run game, we like what we see from the Bandits. Their defense and the obvious talent of QB Troy Aikman may just be enough to put them over the top.
MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (11-5 in 1989, 2nd in Division, Wildcard)
Biggest Change: Memphis came out of the offseason largely unscathed. The one big move, trading Walter Lewis to LA, may leave their QB bench a little thin, with an untested backup and rookie Cary Conklin of Washington as the only backups behind Mike Kelley, but if Kelley stays healthy, the rest of the roster is primed for a deep playoff run.
Biggest Question: When will Mel Gray slow down? The 35-year-old certainly did not show signs of slowing last year, winning Offensive Player of the Year with 130 receptions and 1,427 yards. He has caught over 100 balls and gained over 1,100 yards each of the past 3 seasons, and Memphis has not done a lot to take the weight of the passing game off him. Expect TE Keith Jackson to be Kelley’s second target as Memphis did not sign or draft a complementary receiver for Gray.
Rookie to Watch: First round pick Tony Savage (DT, Washington State) should get into the rotation early on, and Coach Tobin hopes he can occupy some blockers to allow Reggie White and Booker Reese to blow up quarterbacks all year long.
Outlook: Memphis has been on the cusp of greatness for 2 years now, and if Tampa is not what we expect, then this year the Showboats may just go all the way. They need Kelley to throw more TD’s than Int’s this year (17 to 20 last year) and protect the ball. If he can do that, this team could be scary good.
ORLANDO RENEGADES (8-8 in 1989, 4th in Division, Wildcard)
Biggest Change: While the loss of SS Bill Bates will sting, the signing of former Houston Oiler DE Ray Childress will help us forget about that. Childress will force teams to reduce their double teaming of his opposite, Rueben Davis, creating a 1-2 combo on the line that rivals that of Memphis’s White & Reese. Expect a lot of scared looks on opposing QB faces when they head to Orlando this year.
Biggest Question: Is defense enough? Orlando had a solid D, and now it looks even stronger, but they did not add much for the offense. They got TE Danta Whittaker from Birmingham, but he is not exactly a gamebreaker, so what new wrinkle will Coach Schnellenberger add to make the Orlando offense more dangerous?
Rookie to Watch: Orlando signed only 6 of their rookie picks, and we are having a hard time picturing any of their signees becoming a starter this year. SS Alton Montgomery (Houston) has the clearest path with Bates now in the NFL but may not outperform reserve SS A.J. Greene.
Outlook: Defense can win championships, and the 8-8 Renegade’s deep playoff run last year proved that they can bring the heat in the postseason. They just need to maximize their offensive output to win more consistently and avoid becoming a 5 seed again.
BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (12-4 in 1989, Division Winner)
Biggest Change: Losing Art Still was huge. Bob Barber is not getting any younger and having a gamechanger like Still opposite him made his life so much easier. While we like the look of rookie DE Anthony Pleasant (Tenn State), we are just not sure he is going to create the types of blocking scheme chaos that Art Still did.
Biggest Question: Will youth be served? Birmingham had to purge some veterans to get under the salary cap, but the benefit is that they ended up with multiple draft picks, signing a whopping 9 of those picks. And it looks like a really well-chosen haul. So the question becomes, can a team rely on young players in key positions? If the answer is yes, then Birmingham could repeat. We are not so sure, which is why we have them sliding back a bit.
Rookie to Watch: There are three players from this draft that may be asked to start on day one. Pleasant is one, Tackle Richmond Webb, the Stallions’ #1 pick is another, and surprising rookie TE Shannon Sharpe from Savannah State may just find himself in the starting 11 as well. We all expect good things from Webb, but Sharpe has been a revelation in camp and could become an impact player for the Stallions offense.
Outlook: Birmingham is talented, no doubt, but they are also incredibly reliant on just a few veterans, none of whom are spring chickens anymore. Will Joe Cribbs’ hip be back to form? Is Cliff Stoudt losing some arm strength? Can Barber be a dominant force on the D-line without Art Still? We see potential issues this year for the Stallions.
JACKSONVILLE BULLS (6-10 In 1989, 5th in Division)
Biggest Change: When you lose a leader like Gary Clark and then your bellcow back also departs, you have some questions. Fortunately, the Bulls had a deep wideout group, with Hassan Jones, Brian Blades and Weegie Thompson all capable of absorbing Clark’s offensive output. The same may not be true in the run game. With George Adams now a NY Giant, and with Spencer Tillman traded to LA, Jacksonville took a shot at Arizona’s James Wilder, who has underperformed since coming over from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL.
Biggest Question: It has to be Wilder. After some great seasons in the NFL, Wilder went to Arizona and struggled, barely making it to 1,000 yards in 1988 and fallng short last year. He is backed up by Tommy Agie and Jamie Covington in Jacksonville, so Coach Hall may opt for a committee approach, but if the Bulls cannot run the ball, this may be a long year in north Florida.
Rookie to Watch: The two best looking rookies are both in the defensive backfield, SS LeRoy Butler and FS Mark Carrier, but the fan favorite may be the high-motor DE Bill Goldberg. Goldberg has already become a character in camp, one the fans seem to adore. So, while he may not be the day one starter, he may find himself with some TV endorsement deals. That may not help the Bulls win more games, but it always helps to have players the fans like.
Outlook: A lot is going to be asked of QB Chris Miller this year. Without George Adams to fall back on, and with questions about Wilder at HB, expect teams to pressure Miller and focus on the pass game against the Bulls. We should also mention that the Bulls D was in the bottom half of the league in every major category last year and relying on two rookies in the defensive backfield may not help improve that situation.
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