To say it has been an interesting first season under the new NFL-USFL agreement is an understatement. While the agreement put strict limits on the timing of contact, negotiation, and signings, it certainly did not slow down inter-league transfers. In addition to several significant player signings, no fewer than 3 USFL coaching positions were filled by NFL staff (Erhardt in Birmingham, Infante in Baltimore, and Wyche in New Jersey), with a fourth (Buddy Ryan) only 1 year removed from his last NFL head coaching position. Among the players it is hard to say which league faired better. The USFL signed QB Dave Krieg away from Seattle, LB Pat Swilling from New Orleans, and wideout Irving Fryar away from the Patriots. The flip side of this saw the reining USFL Offensive Player of the Year, wideout Carlos Carson sign with the NFL Eagles, one of the league’s best corners, former Express defender Raphel Cherry, go to Detroit, and defensive End Reuben Davis leave the league runner-ups to play with the Arizona Cardinals.
For the 20 USFL clubs, the 1992 draft was also a mixed bag, with few big-name quarterbacks, halfbacks or receivers in the mix, the draft was more of a mean and potatoes affair than most fans want, but that does not mean that several teams did not either improve in key areas or attempt to fill gaps left by free agency or retirements. Looking at the rookie class of 1992, there are some players who are expected to start right away, and some who could make a huge impact in their first year. Here is our ranking of the Top Ten Rookies Most Likely to Impact Their Teams:
Philippi Sparks, CB-ARZ: While signing HB Tim Lester and WR Courtney Hawkins may have gotten more press, we think that this ASU product has a chance to be the best rookie of the Wranglers’ crop and can immediately help out a weak pass defense.
Marc D’Onofrio, LB-PIT: Having lost both Dino Hackett and Manu Tuiasosopo in free agency, Pittsburgh needs to restock their linebacking group, and this Penn Stater should be primed to step in and contribute right away.
Edgar Bennett, HB-JAX: He will begin the year as the #1 fullback for the Bulls, but we expect the FSU back to get his share of carries, particularly if James Wilder seems ineffective once again.
Chester McGlockton, DT-TBY: Tampa needs to shore up the center of their D-line, and this Clemson product has the skills to add some dynamism to their pass rush while also helping to stuff the run game.
Sam Gash, FB-WSH: The Feds are depending on the Penn State fullback to clear the path for Barry Word, who is giving up all FB duties. We fear for the linebacker who tries to take on Gash and then Foster on the same play. What does it feel like to get hit by two locomotives?
Quentin Coryatt, LB-HOU: At Texas A&M Coryatt showed skill in both run coverage and pass rush. If he can play at the same level for the Gamblers, he will help the Houston D with his speed and range.
Santana Dotson, DE-MEM: With Booker Reese gone, Dotson will step in as a Day 1 starter opposite Reggie White. He may not get the numbers himself, but if we see Reggie rebound from a disappointing 1991 campaign, it is a sign that Dotson’s presence is impactful.
Rodney Culver, HB-MGN: The golden-domer may not be the Day 1 starter in Michigan, but Coach Stanley is going to give him his chances to show what he can do for the Panthers, and that could lead him to a starting roll by mid-year.
Troy Vincent, CB-STL: Coach Elway may just go with two rookies at CB, with Vincent and Steve Israel. Of the two, we see Vincent as the most likely to grow into the role right away.
Siran Stacy, HB-OAK: With Richard Williams gone, Stacy will be handed the starting job right away. It is up to him to hold that position, and to produce, for the league champions.
Beyond the rookies, we saw significant roster turnover in the league this offseason. Retirements, both anticipated and unexpected, were a big part of the story. In addition to the surprise retirement of HB Richard Williams of Oakland, and the anticipated retirement of Chuck Fusina from Philly, the biggest loss this year is likely to be the recently announced retirement of quarterback Jeff Kemp. While Kemp only started a few games for the Oakland Invaders, any time a player feels the need to retire as the result of an on-field injury, such as Kemp’s spinal issues, it is sad for the league as well as for the player. We certainly wish Jeff well moving forward.
We also saw significant movement in the Free Agency Pool. Teams used the market to try to offset retirements, improve roster groups, and upgrade key weak areas on their roster. In some cases we think teams ended up weaker than before, while in others there were definite upgrades to the roster. Looking at all the movement, both within the USFL, and between the USFL and NFL, here are our picks for the 10 Most Impactful Free Agent Movements:
10. Dan Saleamua (ARZ to PIT): An immediate upgrade on the D-line for the Maulers, and now a huge hole there for the Wranglers.
9. Bill Brooks (DEN to BAL): Brooks is about as reliable a receiver as you will find. Baltimore needs some of that reliability in order to build an offense. Pair Brooks with Jackie Flowers and you now have a solid combo to pressure defensive backfields.
8. Louis Lipps (ARZ to PIT): Lipps never had enormous numbers, but he is exactly the kind of field-stretching talent that Pittsburgh needs to open up that offense for Coach Marchibroda.
7. Pat Swilling (NFL-Saints to HOU): Between rookie Quentin Coryatt and NFL vet Pat Swilling, the Houston LB corps just got a whole lot faster. Expect a lot of blitzes out of Swilling and this group, and a lot of pursuit of the outside run. A very solid player who will make Houston’s D better.
6. Chris Miller (NJ to DEN to BAL): The Blitz benefit from Denver’s QB shuffle and New Jersey’s QB curfuffle. Miller is a quick upgrade from Eric Kramer and should win the starting position, and hopefully a more dynamic offense, within the season’s first month.
5. Dalton Hilliard (NOR to ORL): The one issue Orlando had last year was a weak running game with Curtis Bledsoe losing significant steam before his retirement. We all have seen what Hilliard can do in tandem as part of the Breakers’ HB duo. Now he gets the chance to be a true #1 back with the Renegades.
4. Raphel Cherry (LA/STL to NFL-Lions): Another huge NFL poach as one of the USFL’s best all-time corners jumps to the Lions rather than make the move from LA to St. Louis. The Knights now plan on starting rookies at CB, so a huge downgrade here.
3. Dave Krieg (NFL-Seattle to DEN): We love the move to pick up a savvy veteran playmaker from the NFL, and Krieg can play in a very similar style to Vince Evans, allowing Coach Walton to devise one offensive scheme regardless of who starts week one.
2. Irving Fryar (NFL-New England to NJ): Settling on Doug Flutie as QB, Coach Wyche immediately jumped into the deep end of the pool to bring in one of the NFL’s most underrated wideouts. Fryar is immediately the #1 receiver in New Jersey, and will free up Lam Jones to go deep more often.
1. Carlos Carson (TEX to NFL-Eagles): You cannot lose perhaps the best receiver in the league and hope to be the same offense. Carson going to the NFL was predictable but still devastating, and we just don’t see Quinn Early coming to Texas as an even swap.
So we arrive at early March, when, in past years the USFL would already be playing, and we are still 2 weeks away from the season openers thanks to the modified league schedule. As we look at how each team weathered this tumultuous off-season, and look ahead to another season of spring football, we realize that unlike in the early years of the league, when Michigan and Philadelphia were almost a lock to compete for the title, the league has seen a lot of parity over the past 3 years, with 8 different teams appearing in the Summer Bowl since 1988 (Houston & Memphis in ’88, New Jersey and Denver in ’89, Washington and Arizona in ’90, and Oakland and Orlando last season). This bodes well for all those teams who have not quite gotten over the hump yet, as it seems that fortunes can change very quickly in the USFL.
Let’s take a look at the league’s 20 franchises and see the key questions being asked of each as the season approaches.
ORLANDO RENEGADES (13-3, 1st in Southern, Conference Champions)
1. Will the duo of Ray Childress and Chris Doleman equal the sack totals of the NFL-bound Reuben Davis?
2. Is Dalton Hilliard the answer to awaken a dormant run game?
3. With two rookies slated to start (DT Joel Steed, OT Leon Searcy), has Orlando done enough to bring youth to the team?
WASHINGTON FEDERALS (10-6, 1st in Atlantic)
1. If the only rookies likely to start this year are a fullback (Sam Gash) and a punter (John Jett), are you drafting well enough to stay at the top?
2. Can Barry Word make the full shift to halfback or is Washington asking too much of him now that Kevin Harmon is gone?
3. Just how scary will the Feds’ D-line be if Brown, Manley, and Haley can all stay healthy?
JACKSONVILLE BULLS (10-6, 2ND in South)
1. Does adding rookie HB/FB Edgar Bennett help the Bulls get more out of Wilder and Morris?
2. Is Tony Eason’s bubble going to burst, or is his ascension to MVP last year a permanent upgrade?
3. Is the signing of CB Domingo Bryant enough to move this defense out of the bottom 10?
NEW JERSEY GENERALS (9-7, 2nd in Atlantic)
1. Will rookies Amp Lee, Mark Chmura, or QB Dave Brown ever get on the field, or is it all about building depth?
2. What does adding Bob Otto to the rotation mean for USFL Sack record holder Phil Hansen and veteran Gary Jeter?
3. With only Cody Carlson and rookie Dave Brown behind him, is Doug Flutie ready to put the drama behind him and show his full potential in a Sam Wyche offense?
PITTSBURGH MAULERS (9-7, 3rd in Atlantic)
1. Is Alan Risher a playoff quality quarterback or are the Maulers still hamstrung at this key position?
2. Did acquiring Louis Lipps add enough to the offense to return them to the playoffs?
3. Is Dan Saleamua the answer at DT to help the Mauler run defense finally show up?
BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (8-8, 3RD in South)
1. Does Cliff Stoudt have new head coach Ron Erhardt’s full confidence, or is 2nd year gunslinger Brett Favre going to challenge him for the starting nod?
2. The defense is overhauled, with Manu Tuiasosopo, Chris Dishman, and Vencie Glenn brought in to boost a bad squad. Is it enough?
3. Who will step up in the Stallions’ receiving corps? Givens? Knight? Dawsey? Or Shannon Sharpe?
PHILADELPHIA STARS (8-8, 4TH in Atlantic)
1. Is Browning Nagle ready to assume the mantle of Chuck Fusina? If not, is Gagliano ready to step in?
2. Can an aging WR corps of Quick, Donovan, and Phelan still get the job done?
3. Is there enough talent left on this defense to carry the load if the offense falters?
MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (7-9, 4th in South)
1. How much of an impact will rookie WR Carl Pickens make in his first year?
2. Is a backfield of Greg Boone, Tommy Agie, and Spencer Tillman on capable enough?
3. What will new coach Ron Erhardt emphasize in his new offense?
TAMPA BAY BANDITS (6-10, 5th in South)
1. Can rookies Chester McGlockton and Brad Culpepper shore up the interior of the D-line?
2. Will Aikman get enough run support from a backfield combo of Eric Bienemy and Kevin Harmon?
3. Is rookie Robert Brooks ready to fill the shoes of Willie Gillespie in the slot?
BALTIMORE BLITZ (0-16, 5th in Atlantic)
1. Will it be Kramer or Miller at QB?
2. Will Bill Brooks be enough to improve the passing offense for the Blitz?
3. With both John Randall and Joe Klecko healthy, can this D-line finally stop the run?
OAKLAND INVADERS (10—6, 1ST in Pacific, League Champions)
1. Is Aeneas Williams ready to be the new face of the Oakland Defense after a Summer Bowl MVP performance?
2. Is Alabama’s Siran Stacy up to the challenge of replacing Richard Williams as the lead back?
3. Did a relatively stagnant front office do enough for Oakland to repeat?
TEXAS OUTLAWS (12-4, 1st in Central)
1. Can Texas start a revamped O-line with rookies at both tackle positions (Troy Auzene and Eugene Chung) and really expect to keep Kelly Stouffer among the league’s elite passers?
2. How big is the loss of Carlos Carson and can Eric Metcalf and Quinn Early step up?
3. Can a D-line made up of Kevin Fagan, Lester Archambeau, Blaise Winter, and Mark Mraz play well enough to offset any offensive shortcomings this year?
NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (11-5, 2nd in South)
1. Can either Ericc Pegram or an unretired Rueben Mayes step in to Dalton Hilliard’s shoes to keep New Orleans’s halfback rotation system afloat?
2. Is Matt Robinson’s leg fully healed and is his mind right to start another season?
3. The Breaker defense was #1 in the league last season, but can they keep up that intensity?
PORTLAND THUNDER (10-6, 2nd in Pacific)
1. Now that the weight is fully on his shoulders, is Kerwin Bell ready to be the unquestioned starter for the Thunder?
2. Portland spent 5 draft picks on defense, but are any of them ready to contribute right away?
(DE Frank Kmet, CB Dale Carter, CB Muhammad Oliver, LB Glenn Cadrez, FS Horace Smith)
3. Is the tackle combo of Bruce Armstrong and Siupele Malamala the most intimidating in the league?
HOUSTON GAMBLERS (9-7, 3rd in Central)
1. Did they do enough (signing TE Ron Heller and QB David Klingler) to help the offense move out of mediocrity?
2. Will rookie Quentin Coryatt and NFL vet Pat Swilling make this LB corps the fastest in the league?
3. Is Ashley Ambrose ready to replace Domingo Bryant as the #1 CB on the team?
MICHIGAN PANTHERS (7-9, 4th in Central)
1. Will rookie HB Rodney Culver unseat veteran Vince Workman as the bellcow back?
2. Is a receiving corps of Derek Holloway, Daron Carter and Johnny Holloway good enough?
3. How is Ronnie Paggett still playing DE at this level at his age? Will it all end quickly?
DENVER GOLD (6-10, 3rd in Pacific)
1. Did Denver do the right thing in trading away Chris Miller to sign NFL vet Dave Krieg?
2. Can a backfield of Smith, Tate, and Mueller help the Gold control the clock?
3. Is Willie Gillespie really a #1 receiver, or will Mark Carrier step into that role?
CHICAGO MACHINE (5-11, 5th in Central)
1. Does Marty Schottenheimer have enough in this roster to contend in the Central?
2. Is 2nd year back Ricky Watters ready to break out in his sophomore season?
3. Is the defensive backfield of Eric Thomas, Robert Massey, William Cesare and Mike Fox the league’s hardest hitting?
ARIZONA WRANGLERS (5-11, 4TH in Pacific)
1. Just how will rookie HB Tim Lester impact the Clack-James rushing rotation?
2. Can rookie WR Courtney Hawkins work his way into the starting lineup this season?
3. Can the Wrangler defense improve enough to return Arizona to the playoffs?
ST LOUIS KNIGHTS (4-12, 5th in Pacific as LA Express)
1. How long will Coach Elway wait before swapping David Archer for an ineffective Dan McGwire?
2. Will rookie CBs Troy Vincent and Steve Ismael both start in the Knights’ nickel package?
3. How can a team with Eric Martin, Rocket Ismael, and Todd Christiansen not be Top 10 in passing?
A lot of questions as the season approaches, a lot of hopes as well as 20 USFL franchises set their eyes on the prize, Summer Bowl 1992 in RFK Stadium, Washington D.C.. We know you won’t let us off the hook without making predictions for the year, so here is our best guess as to who will be standing tall when August rolls around.
SEASON PREDICTION
ATLANTIC SOUTH CENTRAL PACIFIC
WSH 11-5* ORL 10-6* HOU 11-5* POR 10-6*
PIT 9-7* TBY 9-7* NOR 10-6* OAK 9-7*
NJ 8-8 JAX 8-8* TEX 9-7* DEN 8-8
PHI 7-9 BIR 6-10 CHI 7-9 STL 6-10
BAL 4-12 MEM 5-11 MGN 6-10 ARZ 4-12
SUMMER BOWL 1992: Orlando 21 Houston 17
LEAGUE MVP: Troy Aikman, QB-TBY
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Siran Stacy, HB-OAK
COACH OF THE YEAR: Dennis Erickson, POR