October 3, 1998
COACHING NEWS
Just about six weeks since Summer Bowl 1998 and we have three of our five head coaching positions filled. We told you about the quick hires of Marty Schottenheimer in New Jersey and Galen Hall in LA, well now add the Ohio Glory to the list of teams ready to roll with a new head coach. Many speculated that the Glory would look to hire a defensive-minded coach, since defense was such an issue for them last season, but the Glory zigged when many expected them to zag.
The Glory went the college route to sign a very successful college coach, former San Diego State head man Al Luginbill. Luginbill, who does have something of a defensive pedigree, having come up through the ranks as a DB coach at Wyoming, a LB coach and defensive coordinator at Arizona State, and then a Head Coach for the Aztecs, comes to the Glory after having spent the last 2 years with the Denver Broncos of the NFL. Luginbill inherits a Glory squad with a rising star at HB in Ohio State’s Eddie George, one of the best receivers in the league in speedy Joey Galloway, and an NFL transfer at QB in Kerry Collins. He also inherits a defense that gave up over 400 points last year and was simply unable to stop the run. That may be a tough task for the former Sun Devil and Aztec coach to fix immediately, though they likely will focus on that side of the ball in the draft.
This leaves only the Jacksonville and Chicago positions still open. Chicago has stated that they plan to wait on signing a coach until they have the chance to evaluate NFL coordinators, which likely means a January hire, leaving their GM in charge until then. Jacksonville has been looking at coaches, and has interviewed two so far, including former KC Chiefs defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham and former LA Raiders Head Coach Mike White. We expect a signing in the next few weeks from the Bulls, and again, defense seems to be the mindset.
RETIREMENTS
The league announced the 1998 roster of players who have officially made retirement plans and the list will certainly leave some teams with significantly altered draft and free agency plans. As always, quarterback retirements head the list, and this year is no different. Three USFL starters are among the 7 quarterbacks who have announced and filed their intent to retire, none being real surprises, but all three having an impact on their teams to be sure.
Jack Trudeau (POR): The starting QB for the Portland Thunder was expected to call it quits after another rough season that saw him miss 6 games to injury. Trudeau played with Portland for 5 seasons after another 8 in Michigan. He came to the league as a backup but was thrust into the starting job with the Panthers when Bobby Hebert signed with the NFL after the 1986 season. In his 8 years in Michigan, Trudeau led the Panthers to the playoffs three times, but won only one playoff game in that time, a far cry from the dominance of the Hebert-led teams. After relocating to the Thunder for the 1994 season, he would lead the Thunder to three playoff appearances, including a run to the 1997 Summer Bowl. He retires with career stats of 172 games started, 42,143 passing yards, 295 touchdowns, 127 interceptions, and a lifetime QB Rating of 91.9.
Trudeau’s retirement leaves Bill Musgrave (who started 5 games for the Thunder) and Jon Stark on the roster at the QB position. While Musgrave played will in relief, the timing of Trudeau’s retirement almost demands that Portland take a shot at signing University of Oregon QB Akili Smith, a hometown hero who will count at 50% against the salary cap and who would help to further interest in the club in the Rose City. To have a shot at the Duck QB the Thunder may need to find a trading partner as Smith is considered a potential Top 10 pick in both the USFL and NFL Draft.
Robbie Bosco (PIT): Another decade-long starter in the league, Bosco came to the USFL out of BYU in 1986 and after 1 year on the bench became the starter for the Arizona Wranglers in 1987. His stint with the Wranglers was somewhat spotty, with a lot of poor clubs in his years there, though the Wranglers and Bosco did have one really strong season in 1990, leading to a 10-6 record and an appearance in the 1990 Summer Bowl. In 1994, after struggling to an 8-8 season with Arizona, Bosco was traded to Pittsburgh as the Wranglers positioned themselves to sign Jake Plummer. In Pittsburgh Bosco suddenly found himself on a club with more offensive weapons and a pretty good defense to boot. The move paid immediate dividends, with that defense and Bosco leading the Maulers to a league title in his first year in the Steel City. From that charmed 13-3 title season, the Maulers and Bosco have slipped in the past three years, dropping to 9-7 a year later, and then 7-9, before this year’s tough 8-8 season. He retires with 38,936 yards passing, 240 touchdowns, 153 picks, and a lifetime QB Rating of 85.0.
Pittsburgh seems prepared to move on from Bosco after selecting Charlie Batch in the first round of last year’s draft. After a year learning the system, we expect Batch to take over at QB, though the Maulers may well opt to bring in a veteran to back him up if he struggles, we don’t expect the Maulers to be a player in the QB hunt during this year’s draft.
Chris Miller (CHI): Miller played only one year in Chicago after signing with the Machine after a long career in Jacksonville and Baltimore. Known as a gunslinger, Miller often balanced strong TD numbers with equally high INT numbers. His final year in Baltimore was hiss most prolific, with 4,104 yards and 33 scoring throws, but also 25 picks. In Chicago he struggled to gain the trust of Coach Marty Schottenheimer, and spent most of the season on the bench behind Alex Van Pelt. In the 4 games he started he threw for 1,191 yards and 7 scores, but also 6 picks. He retires with nearly 37,000 yards passing and a lifetime QB Rating of 82.7.
Chicago would have liked to keep Miller on for another year, though it was clear that they saw him more as a mentor and veteran backup than a true starter. The Machine now are faced with a decision, trust that Alex Van Pelt can grow into the position as a true starter. rely on Jeff Garcia, recently acquired from the Blitz, or take a shot at a QB with their highly-prized #2 overall pick. With such a strong QB class, the Machine are likely feeling a lot of pressure to look at candidates like Kentucky’s Tim Couch, Syracuse’s Donovan McNabb, or Oregon’s Akili Smith. However, with serious issues on defense as well, the GM and scouting staff could also opt to trade down, garner more picks, and focus on a QB later in the draft, hoping that either Van Pelt or Garcia can put together a solid year as they groom a more raw prospect to supplant him.
In addition to these three starters, three veteran backups are also hanging up the cleats, longtime NFL player Frank Reich will transition within the Memphis organization, taking on a coaching assistantship with the team. Washington backup Eric Kramer, after bouncing throughout the league for his entire career, will also step into retirement as a player, as will long time Houston (now LA) backup option Sean Salisbury, who is expected to get a position with one of the USFL TV partners after dabbling in football analysis with ESPN in the offseason on NFL and college games.
But QB is not the only position that will see several high quality players finish out their careers. Wideout is another position of transition for a lot of teams as several big play receivers are riding off into the sunset.
Oakland will have to provide Ryan Leaf with a new target as longtime #1 Henry Ellard has opted to retire. The 35-year old receiver played his entire career with the Invaders, starting all 16 games as a rookie and never relinquishing his starting role. In his 15-year career in Oakland, Ellard caught more than 100 passes on 5 different occasions, and went over 1,000 yards in receiving 9 times. The multiple-time All-USFL receiver, and likely future Hall of Famer, finished his career with 2,198 receptions, 16,313 yards receiving and 122 career touchdowns. He was a key member of Oakland’s 1991 championship squad, and was voted to the All-USFL team 4 times.
In New Orleans, the big departure is that of Herman Fontenot, who played 11 seasons in the Crescent City after starting his career in Washington. Fontenot only started 9 games as a wideout for the Federals, but in New Orleans he blossomed, playing in the slot as a third receiver until 1994, when he stepped up and became the primary weapon for Jaime Martin and the Breakers. In his final 5 seasons in New Orleans, he averaged 89 receptions and just over 1,000 yards per season. Known as a shifty route runner, Fontenot seemed to get better with age as he used wiles more than pure speed to get open.
Chicago will also lose a key weapon as longtime Machine #1 target Wendell Davis calls it a career. Davis had more than 1,300 receptions as a member of the Machine, including six 1,000-yard seasons, and a career best 11 touchdowns in 1997.
While the departure of offensive playmakers tends to be headline material, there are plenty of retirements on the defensive side of the ball across the league that will also impact several clubs. Among All-USFL talent and key positional players who have announced their retirement this offseason we find Michigan CB Garland Rivers and Memphis CB Derrick Cudrup, Oakland FS Robert Sparkman, Houston LB Fred Strickland, and Atlanta DE Dale Rogers (ATL). Among Offensive linemen who will be missed we find guards Juan Casteneda (CHI), Mike Wythcombe (PHI) and Duval Love (JAX), and tackle Robert Curry (ARZ). And, lest we forget the special teams, Portland kicker Al Del Greco and Baltimore’s longest tenured player, kicker Luis Zendejas also announced that they have laced up the kicking boot for the last time.
NFL SIGNINGS
Retirements are not the only cause of grey hairs among USFL GM’s. Free agency and the NFL transfer window also lead to a lot of late nights and lost sleep. This offseason, during the initial window, we saw some very good players jump to the fall. Among those that may cause the greatest hardship to their USFL squads we find:
FB Sam Gash (WSH)—One of the league’s best blockers leaves the Federals for a hefty $500,000 salary (hefty for a fullback) with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens.
TE Shannon Sharpe (BIR)—One of Brett Favre’s favorite weapons also heads to the fall and the lure of big money to sign with the Denver Broncos.
CB Lorenzo Lynch (PHI)—Philly’s #1 corner turned 31 this year, which is still plenty young to garner interest from the Los Angeles Raiders.
C Frank Winters (CHI)—Another blow for the Machine offense as Winters heads north to play for the Green Bay Packers, something Chicago fans in general are not fond of seeing.
DE Fred Stokes (TBY)—While not an elite DE, Fred Stokes was a mainstay for the Bandits, but now will play for the New Orleans Saints this Fall.
G Brian Bollinger (BAL)—A solid run blocker and inside pass protector, Bollinger leaves the Blitz for a shot with the Arizona Cardinals.
LB Marcus Cotton (STL)—Part of that killer Knight defense, Marcus Cotton was expected to be a big target in free agency, and so it was, with the NFL Seahawks paying top dollar for the 32-year old.
DT Mike Golic (POR)—The sturdy DT of the Thunder will likely finish his career in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins, who signed him to a 2 year deal.
QB Kerwin Bell (TBY)—A bit of a surprise, Bell, who started his career as a starter in Portland, before winning a title this year as Troy Aikman’s backup, will move on to the NFL as the backup for rookie QB Peyton Manning.
TE Mark Chmura (NJ)—One of Spence Fisher’s safety valves and a valuable red zone target, Chmura will be another USFL player headed to Green Bay.
HB Terrell Fletcher (WSH)—This one will hurt in DC as the lightning of their Thunder & Lightning backfield bolts for the Bolts, the San Diego Chargers.
FS Merton Hanks (LA)—The Express can ill afford to lose one of their best defenders, but after struggles with a bad defense in LA, Hanks heads up the coast to the San Francisco 49ers.
DT Lester Archambeau (TEX)—Another solid D-lineman heads to the NFL, this one from Texas to the Atlanta Falcons.
USFL SIGNINGS OF NFL PLAYERS
But, as is almost always the case, for players lost to the NFL the transfer window also allows for NFL players to shift to spring, helping the USFL restock its rosters. While not many big names have moved clubs in this window, there were a few worth noting.
Washington responds to the loss of Sam Gash at fullback by signing a pretty solid option from the Detroit Lions, former Stanford road grader, Tommy Vardell.
Arizona strengthens the line for Jake Plummer by signing guard Marco Rivera away from Green Bay. From the Frozen Tundra to the Valley of the Sun.
Los Angeles makes their first defensive signing of the year, picking up another Packer in linebacker George Koonce.
Atlanta also snags an NFL linebacker in the St. Louis Rams’ Roman Phifer.
Denver and Chicago both try to boost their QB protection as well, with the Machine signing former Bear Andy Heck, while Denver opts for former Panther Blake Brockermeyer.
New Jersey responds to the loss of Mark Chmura by spending a bit of money to sign a pretty solid receiving TE out of the NFL, former Steeler Mark Bruener.
And finally, St. Louis adds another quality slot receiver, replacing Emile Harry, who will not be resigned, as they snag Indianapolis Colts wideout Torrance Small.
FREE AGENCY
And we have saved some of the best moves for last, with players now in full free agency signing from one USFL club to another. Several big names are already off the board, changing the potential balance of power across the league. Here are our 5 biggest moves of USFL to USFL Free Agency so far:
1. WR Carl Pickens leaving Texas to sign with the Chicago Machine. After losing Wendell Davis to retirement, Chicago wastes no time bringing in a top level receiver. Pickens played only 1 season with Texas after signing away from Memphis, but his “make it or break it” one year deal certainly paid off. He will earn nearly 1.1 million in Chicago after catching 85 passes for 1,193 yards and 11 scores in his first season in Texas. For the Outlaws, the loss of Pickens paired with the retirement of Fryar puts them once again on the short end of the stick when it comes to outside receivers.
2. FS Mike Dumas departing the Federals, where he was a team captain and defensive stalwart. Dumas now heads to Tampa Bay, who certainly hope that he can help their defense make life easier for that championship-winning offense.
3. Orlando LT Matt Patchan got such a good offer from the Arizona Wranglers, where he will be Jake Plummer’s new primary bodyguard, that he could not stay in Orlando. This is horrible news for Scott Mitchell, who lacks mobility and needs a solid protector on his blind side.
4. Tampa Bay gained a big piece in Dumas, but also loses one in CB Eric Allen. The 31-year-old Allen makes his way across the country to sign with Portland. Hope he likes the rain.
5. WR Cedric Tillman, who had a bit of a breakout year in Birmingham replacing the injured Ernest Givens and catching 61 balls for 1,316 yards and 14 touchdowns for the explosive Stallion offense, cashes in on the sudden success and will now be a top target for QB Doug Flutie in Michigan.
These five moves certainly impact both their new clubs and their prior employers. Other noteworthy moves include LB Paul McGown leaving Jacksonville for Chicago, guard Will Shields moving from the Bandits to the Stars, New Jersey DT Leonard Renfro headed to Texas, and Denver LB Trev Alberts moving to the already stacked St. Louis Knights. Oh, and in case you were wondering, we have seen a bit of QB movement as well, with Mike Pawlowski signing on to back up Troy Aikman in Tampa Bay, and veteran Scott Zolak taking his skills from Orlando to Washington.
Still a long way to go in USFL Free Agency, though the NFL Window will not reopen again until January. Looking at our big board, here is our best Baker’s Dozen of remaining free agents still available:
DE Scott Keller (PIT)
CB Sonny Gordon (PIT)
WR Dedric Smith (LA)
CB James Hasty (NOR)
CB Torin Dorn (BAL)
G James Richard (STL)
HB Glyn Milburn (PHI)
QB Timm Rosenbach (ATL)
TE Keith McKeller (SEA)
G John Rienstra (HOU)
LB Tracy Scroggins (WSH)
WR Jeff Query (TBY)
HB Kantroy Barber (JAX)
That is it for now. We will be back with another report in January, preparing for the USFL Draft and the NFL-USFL Transfer Window. For now, it is back to the NFL and College Football right here on Fox.