January 22, 1999
BIG TRADES FUELED BY HOPE
The USFL is often a frustrating combination of high hopes and harsh realities. We have gotten used to the fact that it is very common for 50% or more of the big name draft candidates end up with the NFL (just as they have gotten somewhat used to many of their draftees signing with the USFL). And while this is a somewhat frustrating reality for fans, never knowing if that star player is really headed to your team or not, imagine how incredibly frustrating it is for GMs around the league, especially when top picks are in play. So, when you get huge trades to move up and make the big pick, you better hope you have a good feel as to whether the guy you want this year is ready to sign on the dotted line. Nothing is worse than making a big splash pick and then having them head to the NFL, leaving you high and dry.
This reality tends to diminish the number of draft pick trades that the USFL sees, because it is risky to put all your eggs into one basket. It is also why in the USFL draft it is so common to see teams use multiple picks on one position of need. If you need a new QB, for example, you are better off using both a 1st and 3rd round pick on one, unless you are 100% confident that your top pick is coming to town. And trading up to sign a guy better come with a near guarantee that he is signing.
So it was a bit surprising that the huge news in this year’s draft was just that, two teams moving up to sign what they believe will be a franchise-defining player. In the case of Portland, trading into the Top 10 by swapping picks with New Jersey (and providing the Generals with a 1st rounder next year as well), to get their replacement for Jack Trudeau, the tradeoff was not too painful. The one that really shocked the league is what the New Orleans Breakers did to capture the #1 pick of the LA Express. We need to break this one down, because it is wild.
ALL IN FOR THE BIG MIKE'S MAN CRUSH
We all knew that Mike Ditka loved Texas HB Ricky Williams, but clearly the rest of the Breaker staff either fell in love too or really wanted to keep Big Mike from yelling at them for being too chicken to make it happen. With the Breakers hoping to jump over Jacksonville and Chicago, both rumored to be looking seriously at Williams, they knew they would need LA’s top pick. The Express knew this too, and with their eyes set on a QB, and one they felt they could pick up later in the draft, UCLA’s Cade McNown, the Express were willing to play hardball and milk Ditka’s obsession to their maximum benefit.
The Express front office did just that. Giving up their #1 overall pick, as well as their pick in the 3rd round, garnered them practically a full second draft as New Orleans sent them the #4 pick, the Breakers’ 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 7th round picks this year, and their 2nd rounder next year, a total of 5 picks for 2, and for LA to only drop down to 4th meant they still were getting their hands on a top player. That is a haul for a club that needs a full reset on their roster. The move gave the Express 15 picks in the league’s 10 round draft, including 4 picks in the first 3 rounds and two picks each in the 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 7th rounds.
For New Orleans the deal means they are shoving all their chips into the center, betting it all on Ricky Williams being a generational star who dominates through the run in what is typically a pass-happy league. For Ditka, who was on a very hot seat all season, this is make or break. We now look to Williams, who could also opt for the NFL after their draft next week, but who, we suspect, gave New Orleans a lot of indications that he will sign one of the most lucrative contracts for a running back in football history. Without that near-guarantee we cannot imagine the Breakers’ brass giving nearly their entire draft to the Express.
MOVING UP FOR THE LOCAL COLLEGE STAR
The second big draft day deal saw Portland move up 8 spots into the top 10. This move was a direct result of QB Jack Trudeau's announced retirement. While the Thunder might have liked what they saw out of Bill Musgrave in relief this season, they had a homegrown Heisman hopefull just down the road in Eugene and the ability to sign the talented and very marketable Akili Smith all but forced their hand. The problem for Portland was that the odds that Smith would drop to their #16 spot was not good. They would need to move into the top 10, possibly the Top 5 to have a shot at the athletic QB.
Top 5 was not going to happen, but in New Jersey at #8 they had a willing trade partner and a position that gave them a very good shot at selecting Smith. They had no choice but to go for it, and the Generals knew this. New Jersey played hardball at first, and ended up with a pretty solid haul to move from 8th to 16th. The Thunder would give the Generals their 1st and 6th round picks this season in return for Portland's #16 first round pick, their 6th rounder and their 1st round pick in the 2000 draft.
So, we are working from the assumption that both Ricky Williams and Portland’s selection of Akili Smith, the U. of Oregon hometown hero, are all but locked up, but that still leaves a ton of mystery about the rest of the draft. So, in reviewing this year’s draft, we are going to look at fit, and look at potential, but we will not evaluate or grade the draft, because we all know that the draft is just the start. It now all comes down to who will sign with the USFL and who will end up in the NFL next fall. That remains a huge asterisk next to each draftee’s name. Before we review each club’s draft (In order of selection), let’s look at some of the other newsworthy results of the past month so that these stories are not forgotten
OTHER NOTEWORTHY TRADES
MADDOX TO TEXAS: The big moves by New Orleans and Portland were certainly the headliners, but there were several other trades worthy of mention. New Jersey got themselves extra picks by trading with Portland to move from 8th to 16th in the first round, but they also picked up an extra 6th rounder in that deal, and they added an extra 3rd rounder by trading out-of-favor backup QB Tommy Maddox to the Outlaws. That move allowed Texas to improve their QB room after struggling with Sacca or Graziani whenever Kelly Stouffer went down, while avoiding the need to compete for QB talent in the draft itself.
KNIGHTS SHORE UP THE LINE: Memphis also added a 3rd round pick by trading away swing guard Todd Rucci to the St. Louis Knights. St. Louis gave up their 3rd rounder as well as backup CB Rodney Young to acquire the well-regarded Rucci, a player likely to move into the starting RG position for the Knights after they lost James Richards to the Stallions in Free Agency.
HOUSTON GETS A PROSPECT AT QB: Denver and Houston also pulled off an interesting trade, though this one did not involve any picks. The Gold, very satisfied with Mark Brunell as their starter and looking at 4 signalcallers in their QB room, opted to send young Matt Hasselbeck to the Houston Gamblers, who are apparently focused on the position this offseason. Houston sends Denver tackle Adam Meadows, a position of need for the Gold, and adds Hasselbeck to a QB room that could also potentially include first round pick Tim Couch. Our suspicion is that Couch is viewed as something of a 50/50 proposition, and that the trade for Hasselbeck allows Houston to adjust if the Kentucky product opts for the NFL. We still expect Chuck Hartlieb, who set league records this year for both pass attempts and completions to be the Week 1 starter, but we know that both Hartlieb’s and the club’s rough second half of the year had Houston looking to possibly upgrade. Couch would be seen as the heir apparent, while Hasselbeck is something of an untested commodity, but one who certainly provides decent depth behind whoever the starter ends up being.
It will not be official until the NFL-USFL transfer window opens up the week after the Super Bowl, but all indications point to both Chicago and Jacksonville signing current NFL coordinators to lead their teams in 1999.
In Chicago it seems that offense is the name of the game as the team wants to maximize the investment in Kerry Collins, Eddie George, and Joey Galloway, their biggest stars. Stories out of the Windy City have San Francisco 49er OC and QB Coach Marty Mornhinweg pegged as the man for the Machine. Mornhinweg certainly has the offensive chops to build something in Chicago, though we have to wonder why the focus is on offense when it is the Machine defense that totally collapsed this season. The potential shift to a West Coast style offense may work well with the talent found in the Machine, particularly Ricky Watters at HB. The retirement of Wendell Davis, and the uncertainty at QB will be challenges for Mornhinweg to be sure. But, maybe the draft would help resolve those areas of concern.
In Jacksonville, the emphasis seems to be trying to find a way to slow down the offenses of division foes Orlando, Birmingham, and Tampa Bay. That is a tall order, and from the reports out of Bulls’s sources it will be the task of new Head Coach Gunther Cunningham. Cunningham is well known for his defensive schemes and tough attitude. Currently serving as the defensive coordinator for the NFL KC Chiefs, he has previously served with the Raiders, Chargers, and a brief stint as a defensive line coach in the early years of the Birmingham Stallions. Jacksonville clearly had D-line on their radar in the draft as well as they used the #3 overall pick on local product, Jevon Kearse from the Gators. We expect the chance to stay close to Gainesville and play for a defensive-minded coach like Cunningham may be just enough for the UF product to sign with the USFL Bulls, at least that is certainly the hope of the fans of the Garnet & Orange.
DRAFT IN REVIEW
OK, we have looked at the trades that impacted this year’s draft, and we think we have a handle on the new coaches either signed or ready to sign as soon as the transfer window opens, so now let’s get to the topic everyone is talking about, the 1999 USFL Draft. We will look at each team’s top pick, and highlight notable players taken in later rounds, including one darkhorse taken after round 5 who we think could just make the squad and make an impact. Again a caveat, the NFL Draft is next week and we all full well know that upwards of 50% of the early round players are likely to sign with the senior league, so don’t get too attached to any one player, because we won’t know until the flurry of signings ends just which of these picks is actually going to be wearing your favorite USFL club’s jersey come opening day on March 20.
1. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS
1998 Record: 6-10 (Pick acquired in trade from LA)
Head Coach: Mike Ditka
1st Round: HB Ricky Williams-Texas. We all knew Ditka coveted the big Longhorn back, and after trading away Terrell Davis (to Pittsburgh), they absolutely needed to land this big fish. Based on what they were willing to give up to move into the top pick of the draft, we fully expect that there is already a verbal agreement between Williams and the Breakers, so fans in New Orleans might just be justified in buying their #34 jerseys in Ocean Blue.
Other Notable Picks: After trading away so many picks, the Breakers did not have a lot of draft capital left. They ended up with 5 picks on the day by getting 2 from LA and 1 from Pittsburgh in the Davis trade. Of the players selected not named Ricky Williams, the best prospect is CB Daylon McCutcheon from USC, though we could also see 3rd round wideout D’Wayne Bates (Northwestern) make the squad.
Darkhorse: Two potential late round picks who could stick in the Big Easy are 6th rounde4 Keion Carpenter, a rangy safety from Va Tech, and 9th round pick Jerry Wisne, a big guard from Notre Dame who probably should have gone in an earlier round. Not a lot of depth for New Orleans in this truncated draft, but with these two groups needing depth, we could see both Wisne and Carpenter getting a shot to make the squad.
2. CHICAGO MACHINE
1998 Record: 3-13
Head Coach: TBD (Rumored to be Marty Mornhinweg
1st Round: QB Donovan McNabb-Syracuse. Chicago is sending a signal, to the league, but also to Alex Van Pelt, that they are not going to sit on their laurels after plummeting out of playoff contention in 1997 to the 2nd worst record in the league in 1998. McNabb is an athletic QB who can throw on the run, but is also big enough to stand firm in the pocket and lengthen plays. If Marty Mornhiweg is, as expected, the new head coach, he may have a steep learning curve to pick up the complexities of the West Coast Offense, which may mean sitting behind Van Pelt and/or Garcia for a year. That reality may also impact his decision to come to Chicago or see what the NFL has to offer.
Other Notable Picks: Chicago is clearly building around a new offense, and they did what many USFL clubs do, doubled down on the key positions. In addition to drafting a good looking tight end in North Dakota’s Jim Kliensasser and a versatile wideout in UVa’s Terrence Wilkins, the Machine went back into the QB pool in the 4th round, drafting another Cavalier, UVa QB Aaron Brooks. Brooks is seen as more of a project, but his initial role may well be as insurance if McNabb does not jump at the chance to learn the West Coast offense in the Windy City.
Darkhorse: In the later rounds, Chicago alternated between offensive bulk and defensive depth, having already signed Bulls’ LB Paul McGown and Seattle CB Robert Massey in free agency. The dark horse we like of the later picks is 8th round pick Tony Booth. Booth played both Strong and Free Safety at James Madison, and as a smaller school product looked good against lesser opposition, so the big question is if his game will hold up at the pro level.
3. JACKSONVILLE BULLS
1998 Record: 3-13
Head Coach: TBD (Rumored to be Gunther Cunningham)
1st Round: DE Jevon Kearse-Florida. With Williams off the table, the big question is whether the Bulls would go after a more versatile back than Natrone Means in Edjerrin James from Miami or go for defense with Jevon Kearse. Both are local Florida players, so the team could sign either at only a 50% cost to the salary cap, but with defense being the emphasis for the Bulls, and with Means being adequate if not all they might want, the choice seemed clear. As we said earlier, we expect the lure of staying in north Florida and playing for many of the same fans who supported him as a Gator will help Jacksonville land Kearse, a total beast to defend. We expect Kearse to be tormenting Brett Favre, Scott Mitchell, Heath Shuler, and Troy Aikman all year.
Other Notable Picks: Jacksonville did eventually pick a back, taking Michigan State’s Sedrick Irvin in the 3rd round, and while he certainly can help the Bulls’ run game, he is a lot like Means, so it does not really expand what the Bulls can do on offense. They also added beef in the form of Notre Dame tackle Luke Petitgout, who, should he sign, could be a starter at RT almost immediately. The Bulls also added a kicker to replace the retired Pete Stoyanovich, selecting Nebraska kicker Kris Brown with their final pick of the day.
Darkhorse: We expect Brown to be the kicker, so that is not really a darkhorse. So, looking at the other later round picks, I guess the best shot would be 8th rounder, DT Antonio Dingle, out of UVa (What is with all the Cavaliers this year). Dingle’s a space-filler who could help stuff the run, but needs to work on his block shedding if he is going to be more effective on passing downs.
4. LOS ANGELES EXPRESS
1998 Record: 2-14 (Pick acquired in trade with New Orleans)
Head Coach: Galen Hall
1st Round: WR Torry Holt-NC State. This one was a shocker. Everyone and their uncle expected the Express to use their first pick, shifted from #1 to #4 to lock up UCLA QB Cade McNown, who has already expressed interest in playing for the Express and staying in LA. The Express instead took a chance that McCown was not on most team’s wishlist. They waited and he was there at the top of the 2nd round, so the Express get him at a much lower cost than at #4 overall (assuming the drop to the 2nd round is not enough to dissuade him from coming to the Express at all.) With their first pick, they surprised many by selecting one of the best weapons a rookie QB could ask for, NC State’s prolific passcatcher, Torry Holt. The speedy and smooth Holt would be an instant upgrade for a receiving corps that has been very disappointing behind #1 receiver Mike Pritchard.
Other Notable Picks: Thanks to the generosity (or foolishness) of the Breakers, the Express had almost more picks than they knew what to do with. That said, they seem to have made very good use of them, if they can sign the selected players that is. In addition to Holt and McCown we like the selection of LB Khari Samuel from UMass, FB Shawn Bryson from Tennessee, and DT Cletidus Hunt from Division 2 Kentucky State. The Express also landed a punter late on in Marshall’s Chris Hanson.
Darkhorse: Hanson was a need pick, but with so many picks, there are a few “luxury” selections among the Express haul as well. One that could just pan out is 9th round pick J.P. Machado, who played 3 different offensive line positions at Illinois. He could fit in at Center or Guard for the Express as they look to improve their offensive line rotation.
5. ATLANTA FIRE
1998 Record: 6-10
Head Coach: Sherman Lewis
1st Round: DT Anthony McFarland-LSU: Another team with major defensive needs, Atlanta looked to shore up the interior of its line with the selection of McFarland in the first round. If the big man from LSU comes to Bobby Dowd this spring he will likely be worked into the rotation on the D-Line right away. At LSU he was a beast and all indication is that he can also be a beast against pro talent.
Other Notable Picks: Atlanta may have reached on a few of its picks, but they are a team that needs to fix some major holes, so hitting on a few darkhorses may pay off. Among the more interesting picks we find DE Peppi Zellner from tiny Fort Valley State and punter Brian Moorman from Pittsburg State (which we just learned is in Kansas and not PA. Who knew?)
Darkhorse: Atlanta went for speed in picking wideout Troy Smith from East Carolina in the 8th round. If he signs with the Fire, expect Smith to be sent on a ton of fly routes to take advantage of Jeff George’s big arm.
6. SEATTLE DRAGONS
1998 Record: 7-9
Head Coach: Joe Tiller
1st Round: WR David Boston-Ohio State. This one was not a shocker, though many expected Seattle to have their pick between Torry Holt and David Boston. LA surprised them, but in Boston they certainly do not have any regrets. The lanky and speedy Buckeye may be tough to sign as he will certainly get a lot of attention from the NFL, and playing in Seattle, with their somewhat uncertain QB situation could also play a role in his final decision. That said, were he to come to Seattle, he would almost certainly line up opposite Eric Metcalf to create one of the fastest 1-2 combos in the league.
Other Notable Picks: Seattle focused a lot on their problematic offense, selecting Ohio State HB Joe Montgomery in the 2nd round, TE Jerame Tuman (Michigan) in the 3rd, and OG Edwin Mulitalo (Arizona) in the 3rd. They would add some late round defensive help in LB Bryan Jones from Oregon State, but it seems clear that offense was the emphasis.
Darkhorse: Of all the offensive players other than Boston to be selected, the one with the best path to a starting gig may well be 10th round pick Cecil Martin, a big burly fullback out of Wisconsin who is used to opening holes for big backs. Expect him to become Corey Dillon’s closest pal in camp as he may be key to helping Dillon move into the elite ranks of USFL rushers.
7. MICHIGAN PANTHERS
1998 Record:
Head Coach: Skip Holtz
1st Round: LB Andy Katzenmoyer-Ohio State. The Panthers of the 80’s lived and died by their aggressive LB corps led by John Corker. Looks like they want to go back to that with the selection of Andy Katzenmoyer. A born leader and a force in the middle, Katzenmoyer would be a solid upgrade for the Panthers and an immediate starter. Weird as it is for a club in Michigan to snag the Buckeye product, unless he is selected by Cincinnati or Cleveland in the NFL Draft, he may opt to sign for big money and stay in the region.
Other Notable Picks: Michigan’s picks were universally praised, but there are questions about the ability of the club to sign some of the talent they selected. In addition to Katzenmoyer, most pundits believe they found value in their picks of safety Cory Hall of Fresno State, TE Desmond Clark of Wake Forest, and DT Marcus Sprig from Troy. None of these are huge pro-player factories, so there is a decent shot that they will take the money and run to the USFL rather than hold out for NFL offers, but time will tell.
Darkhorse: Michigan offered one of the comedic moments of the night when they selected punter Chris Hanson in the 10th round, only 6 picks after LA had already picked the Marshall punter. That move cost the Panthers the pick, but they signed another punter on the first day of post-draft free agency, so we can forgive them. Their best late pick, one that was actually available, was CB Corey Ivy of Oklahoma, who had some off-field issues that complicated his draft, leaving him unselected until the 8th round. If he signs and if those issues are able to be resolved, he could be a steal this late in the draft.
8. PORTLAND THUNDER
1998 Record: 10-6 (Wild Card: Pick acquired in trade with New Jersey)
Head Coach: Vince Tobin
1st Round: QB Akili Smith-Oregon. The Thunder did what they needed to do to get the Oregon Duck QB who will immediately become their starter (assuming he signs). The move gets them a top prospect at the position at half-price (on the salary cap), will build yet more local connection for the fanbase, and may even help Robert Drummond not have to carry the team quite as much. Smith has the chance to sign to a team that only 1 year ago was in the Summer Bowl and which has a good amount of talent on both sides of the ball.
Other Notable Picks: While Smith was the big get, Portland also went for a big name in the 2nd round, selecting Colorado LB Joey Porter. Those two players could make or break their entire draft. Porter has potential to add some speed and energy to the blitz packages and can play the run tough as well.
Darkhorse: Not a lot of names folks would recognize in the later rounds for Portland, and they gave up some draft capital to New Jersey to move to #8, but we do like 6th round pick Kelly Greg, a road grader at DT who can free up others to engage in the pass rush and who would make the run game a tougher prospect (of course we are always amazed that Portland never seems to put together a decent run defense, so who knows.)
9. HOUSTON GAMBLERS
1998 Record: 7-9
Head Coach: Ray Willsey
1st Round: QB Tim Couch-Kentucky. This one honestly surprised us. We all thought Houston would go HB or DE, which they did later in the draft, but we did not think they were serious contenders in the QB hunt, especially not after the trade that brought Tommy Maddox to Space City. But, Couch is a top prospect at the position, and the team that lived and died with Jim Kelly at the helm may just feel that while Hartlieb is not horrible, he also has not been consistent enough in turning attempts into points. The hard part here may be that Couch is also expected to be a top pick in the NFL Draft, perhaps even a #1 pick, which means Cleveland, and that would be closer to home and closer to his fanbase.
Other Notable Picks: Houston did go HB in the 2nd round, adding Kevin Faulk, the shifty back from LSU, to the mix. Faulk and Dorsey Levins (received in trade from Pittsburgh) could combine into the type of “Thunder and Lightning” combo which several teams seem to prefer over the single bell cow prototypical 1-back offense. Faulk is an excellent receiver and could be the answer on 3rd down even if Levins becomes the main ballcarrier.
Darkhorse: Perhaps one of our favorite late round picks in the entire draft, Purdue DE Chike Okeafor was a steal for Houston in the 7th round. Not only do we think Okeafor can make the squad, we expect he could be an impact player within 3 years. He has both speed and power, but needs to learn some technique to grow into a true pro edge rusher.
10. OHIO GLORY
1998 Record: 7-9
Head Coach: Al Luginbill
1st Round: LB Chris Clairborne-USC. The fans all wanted Ohio to draft local legend Andy Katzenmoyer, but Michigan swooped in and stole him out from under. So, not wanting to miss out on an impact LB altogether, the Glory settle on USC’s Chris Clairborne. Not sure if the allure of Columbus, Ohio will be enough to draw Clairborne to the USFL, but if he comes he is likely to be a week 1 starter for a Glory defense that is going to need to improve if the club has any hope of becoming a playoff contender in the stacked Atlantic Division.
Other Notable Picks: The Glory stayed on defense for the majority of their picks, which makes sense considering how bad that D was this year. In addition to Clairborne, the Glory hope to add DE Lamar King (2nd round) from Saginaw State, DE Jared DeVries (Iowa, 3rd round), CB Mike McKenzie (4th round from Memphis) and even loaded up with three late LB picks we will talk about next.
Darkhorse: Clearly concerned that Clairborne will go to the NFL, Ohio spent three late picks on bargain basement versions of the USC product. The first was UCLA’s Brendon Ayanbadejo in the 7th round, followed by CLemoson’s O.J. Childress in the 8th. With their final pick in the 10th they went for a different type of player, from a small school, Division III’s Clint Kriewaldt from tiny Wisconsin-Stevens Point, a more typical MLB model who will need to adjust to the speed of the pro game.
11. PITTSBURGH MAULERS
1998 Record: 8-8
Head Coach: Emmitt Thomas
1st Round: CB Champ Bailey-MEM. The Maulers want to get back to being a defensive power in a division defined by good defense (Washington, Philly, Baltimore, even New Jersey all have solid squads). If they can add Georgia’s Champ Bailey, that would go a long way to them being able to do so. Bailey will get a lot of attention from the NFL as well, but going to a team with something of a defensive pedigree may be an enticement for the former Bulldog.
Other Notable Picks: DE Dimitrius Underwood of Michigan State was the Mauler’s 2nd round pick, sticking with the defensive theme. He too would be a big add for Pittsburgh. The Maulers also used picks on safeties Chris Jones (Clemson) and Rashard Cook (USC) hoping to get some depth for that secondary.
Darkhorse: Our favorite of the Mauler’s later picks is one of the few offensive players taken. Georgia TE Jermaine Wiggins would be a good add for a club that has struggled at the position since the retirement of Mike Shaw. Wiggins is a big body who has surprising speed in the open field. He needs to work on his run blocking if he wants to be on the field every down, but he could see some spot duty with the Maulers if he signs on the dotted line.
12. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS
1998 Record: 8-8
Head Coach: Jim Mora
1st Round: HB Edjerrin James-Miami. Ever in search of a halfback, Memphis tries again by going for the home run ball in the first round, selecting U. of Miami two dimensional threat Edjerrin James. James will have a lot of NFL interest, as well he should, but you know that Coach Mora is going to pull out all the stops to get one of the best backs in recent years on his squad.
Other Notable Picks: Memphis is clearly trying to help out Heath Shuler with more weapons. In addition to selecting James, they also go for wideout Craig Yeast of Kentucky (one of Tim Couch’s favorite targets) and two late round halfbacks with speed and good hands, Western Illinois’s Aaron Stecker and Oklahoma’s De’mond Parker.
Darkhorse: We are going to break our own rule here and focus on a player from Round 4, a player many had as a possible 1st round pick, Tennessee LB Al Wilson. How and why Wilson fell is a mystery, and certainly being a 4th rounder is not a good enticement to sign before the NFL offer, but Wilson is a Tennessee guy, which may hold some sway if Coach Mora can play the home town hero card. Time will tell, but if they do get Wilson on board, he could be an impact player for Memphis, something they sorely lack outside of Reggie White.
13. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS
1998 Record: 8-8 (Wild Card)
Head Coach: Ron Erhardt
1st Round: DE Mike Rucker-Nebraska. The Stallions have offense to burn, but that D just lets them down time and again, and while Rucker is not a prototypical edge rusher, he has talent and he is a physical specimen, so perhaps the Stallions see potential here for a big difference maker. Honestly, with the needs they have, DE would not have been our first pick for them, but it is still a good pick.
Other Notable Picks: Birmingham went O-line with their next two picks, selecting Wisconsin tackle Aaron Gibson in the 2nd round and Duke guard Lennie Friedman in the 3rd. They lost some line depth and some talent in free agency, so you know Brett Favre is happy about this, but they had shots at some solid defenders too, but passed (If there is one thing B’Ham knows how to do it is pass, after all.)
Darkhorse: We are not sure why Birmingham selected a FB in the 10th round, because Mike Alstott is as solid as they come at the position, but they went with U. of Miami’s Nick Luchey. So we select Luchey here not because we think he will get the nod for the Stallions but because there is a really good chance that he is traded or cut and becomes a potential find for another club where his talents are more needed. A weird pick for this club to be sure.
14. ORLANDO RENEGADES
1998 Record: 9-7 (Wild Card)
Head Coach: George O'Leary
1st Round: QB Dante Culpepper-UCF. We called this one. While many saw Culpepper as a project not deserving of 1st round consideration, the Renegades are perfectly positioned to take him. Not only does the big QB have a local fanbase, not only does he come with minimal cap impact, but he can sit behind Scott Mitchell and develop. A solid pick for the Renegades if they can outbid or outshmooze the NFL to get him inked.
Other Notable Picks: Orlando spent a lot of draft capital on offense this year, which is a bit of a surprise, except that when you are in a division with Birmingham and Tampa Bay perhaps fighting fire with fire is the best option. In addition to Culpepper, the ‘Gades selected HB Amos Zeroue from West Virginia, WR Brandon Stokley from SW Lousiana, and WR Donald Driver of Alcorn State ( a solid 4th round pick).
Darkhorse: The darkhorse for the Renegades may be at Tackle, another offensive pick, where little known George Merriweather from Division II Texas A&M-Commerce could make some noise, at least as a swing tackle. He played both tackle positions as well as some snaps at center, so that versatility could pay off come cut day.
15. OAKLAND INVADERS
1998 Record: 9-7 (Wild Card)
Head Coach: Dan Reeves
1st Round: C Damien Woody-Boston College. A no nonsense pick in the midst of a no nonsense draft for Oakland. No glitz here, just a solid player who will help make Ryan Leaf’s life easier. Woody would be the starter in Week 1 if he were to start, and Oakland can be an attractive destination.
Other Notable Picks: The Invaders went safety 3 times in 10 rounds, so you know they mean busiess. First off the board was Clemson’s Antuan Edwards in the 2nd round, then local kid Marquise Smith of Cal in the 4th, and finally Floriday’s Tony George in the 5th. They likely won’t sign all 3, but getting 2 of 3 would be very helpful for a secondary that needs more talent.
Darkhorse: While not as flashy as 3rd round pick WR Marty Booker, the addition late of HB Madre Hill of Arkansas could be a solid step towards improving the Invader run game. They also added a less-heralded but solid fullback in the 9th round with NE Louisiana’s Alan Ricard.
16. NEW JERSEY GENERALS
1998 Record: 7-9 (Pick acquired in trade with Portland)
Head Coach: Marty Schottenheimer
1st Round: CB Antoine Winfield-Ohio State. New Jersey went for quantity over quality by moving back from #8 to #16 but picking up several picks to do so. With the #16 pick they looked to add more depth to the secondary by signing Ohio State’s Antoine Winfield, an undersized but dynamic corner in coverage.
Other Notable Picks: In addition to Winfield, New Jersey added more defense in the form of LB Bobbie Howard of Notre Dame, DT Jason Wiltz of Nebraska, and another corner (always helps to double up) in Fred Vinson of Vanderbilt. Their biggest offensive reach was to find a second receiver to line up opposite Terry Glenn. In Syracuse’s Kevin Johnson they might have someone who can fill that role (and the cap discount for a Syracuse player also helps).
Darkhorse: Our favorite late round General selection has to be safety Pierson Prioleau from Virginia Tech. 7th round is not that late, but it is later than where we think Priolieau’s talent should have sent him. We expect that were he to sign with New Jersey, he could make the squad as the Generals need more depth at the position.
17. TEXAS OUTLAWS
1998 Record: 8-8 (Wild Card, advanced to Division Round)
Head Coach: Jack Pardee
1st Round: WR Troy Edwards-La Tech. Texas is still trying to figure out their receiving corps. It has never fully recovered from the departure of Eric Metcalf a couple of years back. Now, with Irving Fryar retiring and Carl Pickens departing in Free Agency, there is a lot of question about just who will be lining up for Texas this March. Signing Troy Edwards, a speedy and quick player from Louisiana Tech would be a good step, but they also need some veteran leadership as well.
Other Notable Picks: Texas went with a lot of offensive picks this year, selecting two wideouts late (Zola Davis of South Carolina and Eugene Baker of Kent State), a halfback in Notre Dame’s Autry Denson, and a tight end in Nebraska’s Sheldon Jackson. Will those picks pan out? Will they sign? If not, the Outlaws could be hitting the training camp waiver wires pretty hard.
Darkhorse: Of the late round picks, Texas has only one defender on the list, but he is an intriguing prospect. Nebraska linebacker Chad Kelsay is a motor guy, a gym rat, and what he lacks in pure athletic talent he makes up for in effort. You need that on a team, especially on one that is on the cusp in so many ways.
18. BALTIMORE BLITZ
1998 Record: 10-6 (Wild Card, advanced to Division Round)
Head Coach: Lindy Infante
1st Round: CB Chris McAlister-Arizona. A solid pick for a team that already has a pretty solid defense. McAlister would be a good addition to the Blitz secondary, especially with Torin Dorn headed to Portland this offseason. He may not be a pure cover corner, but he is not afraid to come up and participate in run defense, and his zone skills are pretty solid.
Other Notable Picks: What is it about slower, bulkier, power backs that Baltimore loves so much. The latest is Boston College’s Mike Cloud, a bowling ball player much in the mold of Barry Foster, Derrick Fenner or Tim Lester, former Blitz pounders.
Darkhorse: After what seems 40 years in Baltimore, Luis Zendejas retired, and that fact meant that Baltimore would actually have to look at kickers for the first time in a long time. They decided to look a lot earlier than most clubs would, and snagged Kansas State’s prolific kicker Martin Gramatica in the 4th round. Yes, not technically a dark horse, late-rounder, but still, how often do we talk about drafting kickers?
19. PHILADELPHIA STARS
1998 Record: 10-6 (Division Winner, Lost in Division Round)
Head Coach: Raymond Berry
1st Round: OT John Tait-BYU. The Stars go for the big tackle, hoping to both protect Bobby Hebert and build up a run game that let them down in the offseason. Tait is a good candidate for both tasks, and could slot in at right tackle, allowing more flexibility with the veteran tackles to focus on the left side of the line.
Other Notable Picks: LB Mike Peterson of Florida is a need pick for Philly, and honestly may be more essential to sign than even Tait is. The Stars live and die by defensive stops, and their LB corps got very old very quickly, so adding a young rangy player like Peterson would be a huge bonus for the Stars.
Darkhorse: DT Garrett Johnson of Illinois is a bit raw, and a bit uneven, but given some time, and some solid coaching, he could blossom into a late round gem for the Stars.
20. DENVER GOLD
1998 Record: 12-4 (Division Winner, Lost in Division Round)
Head Coach: Dick Jauron
1st Round: LB Hannibal Navies-Colorado. An intriguing pick for the home team. Most had Navies as a 2nd or 3rd round selection, but perhaps the lure of a local kid who counts half on the salary cap, paired with Denver’s usual frugal approach to signings makes sense for this club. Certainly you cannot have enough LB’s, as is evident by the Gold also selecting Texas A&M’s Dat Nguyen 3 rounds later.
Other Notable Picks: Nguyen would be a great addition for Denver, as would 2nd round pick, wideout Peerless Price of Tennessee. The Gold keep falling short in the playoffs, and a good 2nd option for Brunell could help free up Keith Jackson in the middle and help the team prepare for the eventual departure of Odessa Turner.
Darkhorse: Safety Eric Thigpen from Iowa has the tools, but never seems focused enough for the job at hand. That is why he fell to the 8th round, and that is what will have to change if he is to make the squad and get some time on the field for Denver. If he can get his mind right, he can be a solid player in this league.
21. ARIZONA WRANGLERS
1998 Record: 8-8 (Wild Card, Lost in Conference Title Game)
Head Coach: Art Shell
1st Round: OT Matt Stinchcomb-Georgia. The Wranglers have gotten used to picking much earlier in the draft, so entering as the #21 pick after a really impressive playoff run in August has to be a bit of a shock for Coach Shell. He seemed to handle it well, going for solid talent over stretch potential. Stinchcomb is not going to sell a lot of jerseys in Phoenix, but what he does for Jake Plummer and the Wrangler offense is provide both solid protection and open holes. A good pick, and a potential late 1st round signing that would move this club even closer to contention.
Other Notable Picks: We love the Stinchcomb pick (can you tell?) but we are also quite fond of the selection the Wranglers made in the 4th round. Georgia back Olandis Gary shared carries in Athens, but has a lot of potential. He will likely be part of a rotation at HB in Arizona, but the Wranglers need a go-to short yardage guy and Gary has the build and the temperament to be that guy.
Darkhorse: Not a lot of names stand out here, and we promised we would not highlight every kicker taken (sorry, Jose Cortez of Oregon State), so we are going to mention safety Anthony Poindexter of Virginia, Arizona’s 8th round pick. The secondary in Tempe is pretty solid, so making the team may come down to helping out on special teams for Poindexter.
22. WASHINGTON FEDERALS
1998 Record: 10-6 (Wild Card, Lost in Conference Title Game)
Head Coach: Paul Hackett
1st Round: LB Barry Gardner-Northwestern. It is still puzzling to us that the Feds went with Gardner in the first round and then added UVA’s Patrick Kerney in the 2nd. Most folks had Kerney going long before Gardner, so maybe Washington just got lucky. Either way, this combo would be great additions to the Federals’ defense, as if they need more, but where is the offense?
Other Notable Picks: Kerney is a great 2nd round value, but we asked about offense and we are not sure that either Florida wideout Travis McGriff, or the surprise pick of UW QB Brock Huard in the 5th round make a lot of sense for the Federals. Some odd picking all around.
Darkhorse: Washington, a team with a clear starter at QB in Kordell Stewart, went out and drafted two QB’s, when we all suspect only 1 could make the squad. They went with Huard in the 5th and then added U. of Miami signal caller Scott Covington in the 8th round. Weird. Of all the drafts this year, we think the Federals left the most people scratching their head.
23. ST. LOUIS KNIGHTS
1998 Record: 14-2 (Western Conference Champions)
Head Coach: Jim Johnson
1st Round: TE Reggie Kelly-Mississippi State. The Knights went TE twice in the first 3 rounds, always a cautious move, and while many question the impact of going with a TE pick in the first round, any time you can get a potential starter in the late stages of that round the position really does not matter. Kelly has potential to be the kind of receiving TE that the Knights, and especially QB Todd Collins, could use to great effect.
Other Notable Picks: With Darrell Thompson moving on, the weight of the run game falls on Ahman Green. We think he will be a clear starter, but so many clubs, including St. Louis, love the dual back format, so we were not shocked that the Knights are looking to sign McNeese State’s Cecil Collins after seleting him in the 4th round. He does not have breakaway speed, but has some shiftiness, which will work for him behind the solid Knight offensive line.
Darkhorse: QB Michael Bishop, taken in the 7th round is about as far away from Todd Collins you can get in the position. A great scrambler and decent downfield runner, Bishop is raw athleticism while Collins, who is neither fleet of foot nor big of stature, is more the system QB with a mind for detail. If the Knights do sign Bishop, we would love to see them develop some plays for him that make good use of the threat of the run, something Collins does not offer.
24. TAMPA BAY BANDITS
1998 Record: 13-3 (League Champions)
Head Coach: Mike Seifert
1st Round: DE Tony Bryant-Florida State. With success comes roster poaching, and the Bandits certainly saw that this offseason, losing several key players. They opted to go for home-grown talent with their first two picks and landed a solid potential starter in FSU defensive end Tony Bryant. Bryant can be a bit erratic, which is why he was not taken earlier, but when he is on, he is dangerous. Tampa needs to add some danger to their pass rush, so this pick makes sense.
Other Notable Picks: We did not expect many offensive players to be taken by the Bandits, but we did think they needed to replace Jeff Query, who departed in free agency. Chris Doering may step up, but he is more of a possession receiver and not a threat to break the big one. Drafting Tai Streets of Michigan in the 2nd round may have been a little early, but he certainly fits the mold for the kind of field-expanding receiver that Tampa likes to employ.
Darkhorse: Our final commentary of the edition will go to Mr. Relevant, the USFL’s answer to the NFL’s Mr. Irrelevant selection. This year that would be Tampa Bay’s 10th round selection of “Hunter the Punter”, Notre Dame punter Hunter Smith. Sure, the Bandits rarely punt at all, but when they do it is good to have a punter who can coffin corner the ball to make the other offense go down a long field. That is one of Hunter Smith’s specialties. He does not have the strongest leg, but he can aim the ball about as well as any one at the college level. Any time you are the last player drafted and you have a better than 50/50 shot of making a team, a real shot, that is a solid pick.