Houston and New Jersey came into this weekend hoping to play David to the Goliaths of the 2002 USFL season, Memphis and Ohio, but Goliath was feared for a reason and in the two conference finals the two best teams in the league this season showed why they are who they are. Memphis managed Houston’s defensive front and found the points they needed to pull out a win in the 4th quarter while Ohio did what they always seem to do, putting up a 28-0 run in the middle of the game to upend the Generals and punch their ticket to the Summer Bowl in nearby Pittsburgh. So it will be the matchup of the 14-0 Ohio Glory and the 11-3 Memphis Showboats in a Summer Bowl that could make history. We begin our preparations for the Summer Bowl by looking at how both teams got here, updating news from around the league, and then we will preview the big game.
A review of how the Ohio Glory got to the Summer Bowl is a pretty easy one to summarize, they have won every game this year. Some have been blowouts as their prodigious offense simply overwhelmed many teams over the course of the season, but it has not been a season without challenges. All three matchups against division foe Chicago have been close affairs that required Ohio to pull out a win against the Machine’s tough defense. The Glory almost fell to Nashville in Week 4 before pulling out a 2-point win. Similarly they struggled against Houston and Washington, two of the league’s better defenses. In Week 13, only a few weeks ago, they met these same New Jersey Generalas at home and barely snuck by with a late score to avoid the upset.
So, when facing the Generals for a second time, a win was not guaranteed despite the impressive resume the Glory have put forward. Add to that the reality that they would go into this game without Eddie George, a huge piece of their offense, and there was plenty of doubt that this time the Glory would find a way to remain perfect on the year and make their way to the league title game. New Jersey came in with a good gameplan, a mix of run and pass to control the clock, a combination of zone defenses to force Kerry Collins to dink and dunk to form long drives, and a focus on the passing game, de-emphasizing the threat of the run.
The plan proved effective as the game opened, with New Jersey stumping the Glory offense through a quarter and a half and the Generals’ offense putting up the first 10 points of the game. Tom Brady found Anthony Becht from 23 yards out early in the 2nd and New Jersey appeared to be rolling, but Ohio has proven that they are rarely down for long and what happened over the next 2 ½ quarters proved it.
The Ohio run began with a blown coverage exploited by Kerry Collins as Joey Galloway was supposed to be double teamed, but the safety drifted towards TE Stephen Alexander, freeing up the speedy Galloway. Collins spotted the mistake and threw a perfect deep ball to Galloway for a 32 yard score. This first score seemed to crack the ice for Ohio, as New Jersey seemed deflated by the score and the prospect that their defense was not going to be able to hold. On their next possession, Ohio scored again, taking the lead when Lamont Warren dove in from the 4-yard line after a 13-play drive in which Collins proved he could be patient when the defense did not give up the big play.
Scoring last in the first half and getting the ball to start the third, Ohio had a chance for a morale-busting back-to-back flip of the scoreboard. They took that chcance, and on their first drive of the half, Collins found rarely-used HB Michael Riley (called in to provide a breather to Lamont Warren). On a route that has worked for Eddie George so frequently, Collins hit Wiley out of the backfield and the back did the rest, following a block from Chad Johnson down the sideline for 6. Now up 21-10, Ohio would not look back.
The Glory would add a 4th TD, this time Collins to Chad Johnson, in the 4th, and while they would eventually allow new Jersey a late score to bring the game’s final line to 28-17, it was over earlier than that. Ohio had scored 28 unanswered points and in so doing had broken New Jersey’s belief in themselves. Even without Eddie George to balance the offense, Ohio would rack up 385 total yards and 302 in the air to outpace the Generals. The perfect season would continue and the Ohio Glory would be appearing in their first Summer Bowl with a chance to make history as the USFL’s first and only undefeated league champion.
It was a very different story for Memphis in their game against the Houston Gamblers, champions of the Southwest Division. It had been a very different end of the year for Memphis as well. The Showboats began much as Ohio had, winning their first 9 games and looking nigh-invulnerable in doing so. They too had a diverse and high-powered offense, and were looking like a potential undefeated team as well. But in Week 10 the cracks started to show. First a loss at home to the Washington Federals (whose defense also put a scare into Ohio), then 2 weeks later a second loss to division rival New Orleans, and finally, in a game where Memphis protected the health of key starters, another loss in division, this time to Nashville.
Memphis had recovered their swagger a bit last week, avenging their loss to the Breakers with a win at home in the Divisional round, but they now faced another sturdy defense, much like the Federal defense that cost them the perfect season. Houston had shut down Portland in their divisional matchup and came into the game hoping to put pressure on Heath Shuler with their formidable front four. Memphis would counter by offering a regular dose of draw plays and screens to Garrison Hearst. Hearst would finish the game with 107 yards on the ground and 37 more in the air, including a key TD.
Houston would play the Showboats close however, thanks in part to a solid day from Matt Hasselbeck, who threw for 2 scores. With Memphis focused on Antonio Freeman, Hasselbeck threw to TE David LaFleur (5 for 43 yards and a score) and Cedric Tillman (4 for 149, including a nice 64-yard gainer that led to a Boniol field goal.) After three quarters the two clubs were locked up at 20 points apiece. Houston had sacked Heath Shuler 3 times and forced a pick earlier in the game, but in the 4th quarter, Shuler was able to move the ball on a long 14-play drive, connecting with 4 different receivers before putting the Showboats on top with a TD toss to Tydus Wynans from 7 yards out. Houston would try to respond, but would settle for a field goal on their next drive, leaving Memphis with a 4-point lead and 5 minutes to play. Houston’s defense did what it needed to on the next Memphis possession, forcing a 3rd and 13, and then forcing Shuler to throw the ball away on 3rd down. When the Gamblers got the ball back, they were down 4 with just over 3:30 left to play. But, this time it would be Memphis showing some defensive swagger.
After a couple of first downs by Houston got the ball to the 43 yard line, the Memphis defense tightened. On first and 10 from the 43, the Showboats sent a blitzer up the middle, catching the Gamblers unprepared and forcing Hasselbeck to throw the ball away despite an open Tillman in the flat. On 2nd down, a screen to Kevin Faulk gained only 1 yard, forcing a 3rd and 9 from the Houston 44. Again Memphis dialed up pressure, this time sending SS Alvin Walton on a blitz on the left side. The Blitz forced the tackle to decide between Walton and DE Sedrick Clark. Clark got pressure on Hasselbeck, and the QB threw up a ball he should not have, off the back foot and fluttering. It did not find Antonio Freeman, but instead fell to CB Fred Weary for the Showboats. Memphis took over possession and simply ran the clock down.
The Showboats would be returning to the Summer Bowl, their 2nd trip in 4 years. They would face an unbeaten Ohio team in the matchup most of the country wanted to see, and would open as a 5-point underdog.
LEAGUE AWARDS ANNOUNCED
We have our 2002 USFL League Award winners and the All-USFL Team of 2002. This week, as part of their Summer Bowl festivities, the league held its celebration of the best of the 2002 season, and while many of the Showboat and Glory players were unable to attend the celebration in New York, they were certainly a big part of the evening as many of the awards and accolades headed their way.
MVP: No shock here as Kerry Collins, QB of the Ohio Glory walked away with this one by a wide margin. Collins finished the season as the only QB to throw for 4,000 yards (4,361 to be exact) and the only QB with over 30 touchdowns (39 to be exact). When you are the leader of the best offense in football, and an undefeated team to boot, this is to be expected.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: In the tradition of splitting the OPOTY and the MVP, which is usually a QB, the voters again recognized the Ohio Glory but by celebrating HB Eddie George. George rushed for1,155 yards while also being a major contributor in the passing game, where he racked up another 878 yards. Add in his league best 17 total touchdowns (in 14 weeks) and George, who is sidelined for the league title game due to an injury suffered in the divisional playoffs) is a very worthy recipient indeed.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: This vote was a lot closer, as there were a range of players, from the D-line, through the league’s top linebackers, and into the secondary, who deserve attention. While Phil Hansen certainly got his share of votes, and fans in New Orleans lobbied for Lamar Lathon, the league opted to recognize one of the best corners in the league this year by giving the award to Texas Outlaw Jimmy Hitchcock. Hitchcock led the league with 7 interceptions, and was the only player to record 3 defensive touchdowns as he returned three of his picks to the house. He also forced 3 fumbles, recovering two himself, and contributed to the run defense as well, making 80 total tackles on the year.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Orlando QB Joey Harrington came into a tough spot. His club had won the league title the year before under the veteran leadership of Scott Mitchell. When Mitchell surprised everyone by making a late announcement of his retirement, the Renegades had to scramble to develop a plan at the position. They would eventually pull off a major trade with the Portland Thunder to acquire a territorial draft pick and with that pick they selected Harrington, the Oregon Duck field general. Harrington did not start the season under center, but quickly was called upon to lead the Renegade offense, never an easy task for a rookie. The results, while not earth shattering, were strong. Harrington threw for 2,319 yards and 15 touhdowns, but more importanlty, he kept Orlando in the playoff hunt all season and got them to within 1 game of winning their division. A solid first year to build on and enough to win the young QB the ROTY award.
COACH OF THE YEAR: Many are upset that Al Luginbill did not win this award, with all the pressure of leading a club to a perfect 14-0 season, but as we all know, this award often goes to the coach who took a team well beyond their expectations. Joe Vitt was not even a head coach when the season began, but when he took over the 0-5 Portland Thunder, after the firing of Ray Rhodes, many felt he would be lucky to win 2 or 3 games and then get a pink slip as his interim status ended. What happened instead is that Vitt won his first game at the helm of the Thunder and then went on to win 7 of 9 games and the Pacific division title to boot. If ever a coach outperformed expectations it was Joe Vitt this season, and the voters rewarded that phenomenal feat with this award. Portland rewarded it with something even more helpful, as we discuss later in this article.
ALL-USFL TEAM: The 43 players who make up the All-USFL Team were announced this week and it was a cavalcade of talent. Here is the full roster, and then, just because this is always a talking point around the water cooler, the biggest snubs, as we see them.
QB: K. Collins (OHI), J. Plummer (ARZ), H. Shuler (MEM)
HB: A. Green (NSH), E. George (OHI), T. Davis (PIT)
FB: L. Centers (MEM)
TE: A. Cooper (MEM), J. Mills (ORL)
WR: J. Galloway (OHI), B. Emmanuel (NSH),
T. Glenn (NJ), C. Johnson (OHI), T. Owens (JAX)
OT: A. Johnson (TBY), R. Webb (BIR), J. Ogdon (LA)
OG: M. Verstegen (JAX), A. Faneca (LA), C. Johnson (OHI)
C: C. Raymer (MGN), M. Tucker (LA)
DE: P. Hansen (NJ), C. Doleman (ORL), K. Pittman (HOU)
DT: J. Randall (BAL), P. Williams (ORL), J. Brown (WSH)
LB: D. DuBose (PIT), M. Vrabel (JAX), L. Lathon (NOR),
B. Thomas (ARZ), M. Lewis (LA), M. Barrow (WSH)
CB: J. Hitchcock (TEX), T. Buckley (JAX), M. Echols (JAX)
FS: J. King (MEM), T. Terrell (OHI)
SS: L. Milloy (MGN), S. Lumpkin (DEN)
K: K. Brown (JAX)
P: J. Carlton (PHI)
Snubs: Hard to argue with the 43 players listed above, but these others also deserved recognition but just missed the cut: QB Trent Dilfer (NOR), HB Corey Dillon (SEA), TE Steve Johnson (NOR), TE Anthony Becht (NJ), WR Rob Moore (BAL), WR Matthew Hatchette (POR), OT Wayne Gandy (BAL), OG Todd Rucci (NSH), DE Bruce Smith (ATL), DT Sam Adams (JAX), LB Brian Urlacher (CHI), LB Tedi Bruschi (TEX), CB Will Allen (POR), CB Corey Raymond (OHI), FS Ed Reed (WSH), and K Jeff Hall (MEM).
TRADING BLOCK OPENS EARLY
While free agency cannot officially begin until the Wednesday following the Summer Bowl, there is no limitation on trades, and we have started early with a few teams making moves to try to bolster positions they see as weaker in the draft or free agency pool, while other clubs are adding talent or draft picks ahead of free agency. We had three significant trades just in this past week to kick things off.
Baltimore is trying to find more protection for their QB and were willing to lose some depth to bring that in. The Blitz send DE Mike Jones off to Portland to bring in a potential RT in Portland’s Matt Hill. Portland also gave up the 4th round pick they had from the Breakers (from a 2001 trade) to acquire a solid edge rusher on the right side, someone who could line up opposite John Abraham and hopefully provid a bit more support to free Abraham up to rush the passer. Both teams improve positoins of concern with this swap.
The same could be said for a trade between Boston and Pittsburgh. With Boston having traded away Aaron Brooks and not resigning Mark Bulger, the QB room was looking a bit bare behind Drew Bledsoe. With this trade Boston acquires a quality backup in Pittsburgh’s Jim Miller. Miller was in a constant battle with native Pittsburgher Alex Van Pelt to back up Charlie Batch. Now Miller is likely to be the clear #2 in Boston. Pittsburgh gets guard Paul Zakauskas in return, a solid run blocker to help Terrell Davis. The question now is what Pittsburgh does about a 3rd QB. They could bring in a developmental player or sign someone who might challenge Batch more than Van Pelt is able to. That is an intriguing option, and one we should monitor as the offseason moves along.
The biggest name to be traded in the past week came yesterday, when Washington announced that they had reached an agreement to send HB Reuben Droughns to Portland. We said Portland needed to boost their run game, and bringing in a local former duck will be sure to bring some excitement to the Thunder. Droughns was in committee with Deuce McCallister this season in Washington, with 121 carries to McCallister’s 123. It appears that Washington has decided that splitting carries is not what works for them and has bought into using McCallister as their main back. That freed up Droughns, who now is likely to be the Week 1 starter for Portland, replacing Napoleon Kaufmann in that slot. In return for Droughns, Washington picks up a 1st round pick, one of two that Portland had in this year’s draft. Portland sends the pick they received from Orlando last year to acquire a proven back. This now gives Washington two first round picks, though both are in the 2nd half of the round.
FREE AGENT FINDS
Looking ahead to Free Agency, which will begin in less than a week, the question of who moves on, who resigns at the last minute, and who takes their shot at the NFL is a big one. Every offseason we see rosters turn over, sometimes building depth with mid-range players, sometimes ending up worse than they began as players seek better opportunities, and occasionally landing that one gamechanger who turns a mediocre team into a potential champion. Looking at the unsigned players and free agents on the market this year, we believe we have found the 10 players most likely to impact the 2003 season by joining a new team, bolting to the NFL, or getting a sweetheart deal to return to their club. Follow these 12 players and you may get some insight into next season.
FB Richie Anderson (ARZ): It may seem odd to see a fullback on this list as the position has fallen out of favor with so many teams who prefer the 3-receiver set, but Richie Anderson is a difference maker. He is poorly used in Arizona’s scheme, but for a team that wants to develop a power run game he could turn a 900-yard rusher into a 1,500 yard rusher, and that is nothing to sneeze at.
LB Jesse Armstead (JAX): A dynamic playmaker with good range and strong fundamentals, Armstead is never going to log 10 sacks or lead the league in tackles, but he will be around the play and can stick to tight ends in coverage. A solid option for teams looking for a good 4-3 outside LB.
LB Levon Kirkland (SEA): A more aggressive player than Armstead, Kirkland is the guy you bring in when your defense needs more energy. He will get the other backers to play with passion and he will lead by example. Expect 2-3 years more out of Kirkland, as he looks to finish out his career with a winning squad.
OT Korey Stringer (BAL): A big, hard to move, tackle, perhaps better suited for a club with a pocket passer than a scrambler. Stringer won’t pull and is not ideal on screens, but if you want to deal with a power rusher on the outside there are few who can stonewall them like Stringer.
TE Steve Johnson (NOR): Undervalued at the position, Johnson has potential to be an 80-reception, 800 yard receiver in the right system. It is quite surprising that New Orleans would let him go. He is not going to bust a 60-yard play like an Adrian Cooper, but on 3rd and 7 he can be a QB’s best friend.
DT Joe Salave’a (Birmingham): The best inside d-lineman available. He can take up space, make runners dance behind the line, and occupy 2 blockers to free up a DE on pass rush. There are several teams in need of this around the league, so expect Salave’a to go quickly.
OT Blake Brockmeier (LA): The Express should not have let Brockmeier go on the market. He has been very good both protecting Cade McNown and supporting the LA rushing attack. Look for Brockmeier to go for top dollar since solid left tackles are worth their weight in gold in a passing league.
HB Dorsey Levins (ARZ): Another good back that Arizona just never found the right way to use. A shame too, because Levins has skills. For the right team he could easily gain over 1,000 yards from scrimmage, maybe 1,500.
DE Robert Porcher (DEN): Overshadowed by Leslie O’Neill, Porcher is a solid edge rusher in his own right. Denver is going to be hurting losing both in the same year, but Porcher never felt the love from the Gold and now he is on the marekt and available to one of the many teams looking to upgrade at the position.
WR Muhsin Muhammad (MGN): We like his speed and jumping ability, but wish he was a better route runner on short and intermediate routes. Lined up across from a quality #1 receiver, Muhammad can be a good 2nd option or a deep threat to open things up underneath.
HB Errict Rhett (TBY): What was Tampa Bay thinking here? Did they not think there would be a market for a HB who has been over 1,000 yards twice in the past 3 seasons. Sure, he is hitting that dangerous age where backs tend to lose a step, and maybe they feel good about the prospect of signing U. of Miami star Willis McGahee (Miami being a Bandit T-draft school), but to allow Rhett to potentially walk to a rival like Memphis or Orlando seems foolish.)
WR Joe Horn (MEM): Another veteran who deserves better. Joe Horn had 1,152 yards and 8 TDs this season, his 5th consecutive 1,000 yard season. Yes, the Showboats have until Wednesday to sign him before he becomes a free agent, but the two parties seem light years apart in their numbers. If Horn has a big game this Sunday he could have a big paycheck by Thursday, with teams across the league battling to sign him for what is likely to be his last USFL contract before retirement. Memphis has a lot of players to sign, but to miss on Horn seems completely foolhardy.
And, just to finish off the Free Agency Preview, we probably should take a look at some of the top NFL players who are still not under contract with their current clubs and who would be available when the NFL-USFL transfer window opens. Not a particularly deep pool, as it rarely is in August, but there are a few names worth watching.
OFFENSE: Among skill players the most intriguing are at the QB position, where a USFL team could hope for a quick fix. Of the QB’s available we have one former USFL starter in Rodney Peete, who was with Detroit after several years in Canada. Is he ready to return to the league that cast him off years ago? A younger option, but one who could be quite attractive is Jeff Blake, an athletic QB who feels a bit like a potential Kordell Stewart. Tony Banks andJason garrett are two more players who could be interesting signings for a USFL club.
The HB pool Is quite a bit more shallow, though we think that there are a few names worth mentioning. Cecil Martin is a strong inside rusher who could help teams with their short yardage needs. Detron Smith and Leon Johnson are also prospects who could find a home in the USFL, and Stanley Pritchett also has some skills that could prove intriguing if the price is right.
Among receivers the top unsigned player in the NFL right now is Ike Hilliard of the Giants. He would be the type of big target that many teams covet. If you are looking for a slot receiver, you can do worse thatn Brandon Stokley, who could be available in a week. Others to look for are MarTay Jenkins, and kevin Lockett. Add to this some halfway decent tight ends like Lamont Hall, Fred Baxter, and Hunter Goodwin and there are some guys worth taking a shot at.
On the O-line, our pick for the best of the bunch is tackle Flozell Adams. He could be a Day 1 starter at either left or right tackle if a USFL club is willing to pay the big price he will demand. Others to consider are Mike Rosenthal and Wayne Gandy. At guard you have some solid performers like Cameron Spikes, Doug Brzezinski, Jamar Nesbit, and Mo Collins. And at center Joe Zelenka, David Binn, and Todd McClure look like strong options.
DEFENSE: For the defense, our top pick would have to be LB Chris Claiborne, a solid cover man with good instincts and range. For a more violent hitter look at Hannibal Navies, another quality LB available. Others in that group include Jeff Posey, Keith Newman, and Orlando Ruff. On the D-line you are not going to find a Jerome Brown or Leslie O’Neill, but you could make good use of DTs like Brandon Noble, Jeff Zgonina, or former USFL’er Daryl Gardener. And at DE how about Chuck Nwokorie, a younger, speed rusher with a lot of upside. If you want more experience, how about Carl Powell? In the secondary you could go for speed with cornerbacks like Todd McBride or Ken Irvin, or you could go for a savvy safety like Dexter Jackson, Earl Little, or Keion Carpenter. Safety is probably the deepest group in the entire pool, as we also like Omar Stoutmire, Sammy Knight and Barrett Brooks as options to switch leagues.
Finally, for those clubs that just want someone new at kicker, you are sure to find a few available. Right now it looks like the best of the bunch are either senior specialist John Carney (who seems to flip leagues more than any other player) or take a shot at Mike Hollis. Morten Anderson, the ageless wonder, is also still interested in playing even as he comes close to qualifying for AARP membership.
The good news this week is that our two Summer Bowl contenders come into the game relatively healthy. Yes, we are still wondering if this is the game where Eddie George’s absence hurst the Ohio Glory, but they have no new injuries to account for after a clean game vs. the Generals. The only new injury for Memphis was a hip stinger suffered by WR Cedric Wilson, but after 2 days of rehab, Wilson is listed as probable for Sunday’s championship, so we don’t see any issues here as the Glory and Showboats prepare for their clash at Heinz Field.
COACHING CAROUSEL
We have our first official hire of the offseason and it is a no brainer. Portland has removed the “Interim” title form Joe Vitt, making the former DC and interim head coach their full-time choice. It just makes too much sense for them not to do this. Vitt took over an 0-5 team when Ray Rhodes was let go and he turned them into a playoff team. His 7-2 record and the upset win over Nashville made him a local hero and made his permanent hire practically a foregone conclusion. This week that decision was made official, and both players and fans in Portland seem ready to get on board with Vitt as their new leader.
A second position may be announced this week as well, with Seattle looking to sign a coach soon. Rumors have the decision down to two top candidates, former Jacksonville head man Jim Fassel and former Steeler and Gold DC Marvin Lewis. Both bring a lot of experience to the position, though Lewis has never been a head coach before. His defensive mindset is respected and the results undeniable. For Fassel, his tenure in Jacksonville was a bit up and down, but he showed an ability to relate to players and develop rapport with his team. Expect an announcement any day on one of these two candidates.
In Oakland and Birmingham things seem to be moving a lot slower. Many suspect that the ownership in Birmingham, led by their GM, former head coach Ron Erhardt, may well take over the offseason processes and then look to sign a coach closer to the start of the season, a late NFL hiring perhaps. In Oakland, the expectation is that a coach will be hired before the draft, but the Invaders have a wide net cast and are planning at least 5 interviews over the next couple of weeks. Unless someone truly wows them, this could take a while.
PORTLAND IN PERIL?
More news out of Portland and not the good kind. The investigation into the finances and management of Worldcom CEO and lead owner of the Portland Thunder, Bernard Ebbers, has turned up significant potential concerns. There are now allegations of widespread fraud and manipulation of corporate valuation which could realistically lead to charges being brought against Mr. Ebbers. It all feels like shades of what we saw in St. Louis just a year ago. The charges are different, and the issues do not relate directly to the ownership of the Thunder, but any actions taken which could lead to the seizure or the freezing of Mr. Ebbers’ assets would be disastrous for the Thunder.
League officials are working loosely with authorities, but the main thrust of the investigations are largely outside of their purview. Where the league needs to focus their attention is on the ownership structure, a structure they approved fewer than 12 months ago, for the Thunder. There is every possibility that minority owner Phil Ruffin may be called upon to take over the club, something he has seemed reluctant to do. Never mind the concerns that a Las Vegas casino owner would be a majority owner of a professional sports franchise, something no league has condoned in the past 60 years, but there appears to be real doubt that Mr. Ruffin has the resources necessary, or is in any mindset to make available the needed financial resources to operate as the principal owner of the Thunder franchise. What does this mean for the Thunder? Well, while the initial impact of the investigation into Worldcom was to halt the negotiations for a new Portland sports facility which would house the Thunder, the issues now spread far beyond stadium construction. Were Mr. Ebbers to be forced, either by the courts or the league, to divest from the Thunder, the immediate impact would be a significant financial shortfall in the ownership itself, one which could force the league to take over primary control of the club until additional owners could be found. This, in turn, puts into question the ability of the Thunder to find ownership that would retain the team in Portland, particularly if stadium construction is delayed or scuttled altogether.
The resulting uncertainty, as well as the very real potential for a league buyout means that Portland fans, who felt secure in their salvation from the fate we have seen in Atlanta and St. Louis, may once again be cast into the very risky proposition of seeking additional ownership, ownership that may very well look at the bottom line and decide that Portland is not the best location for the franchise, or that without the new stadium and the financing that Ebbers was expected to provide to the project, that Portland football is not viable. This is, of course, the fear among the Thunder faithful. The very real concern is that the Thunder, whether under league ownership, or private ownership led by Mr. Ruffin, may seek to reassess the commitment to the city, to construction of a new stadium, and to the Thunder remaining Portland’s USFL home.
So, here we are, preparing for one of the most hotly debated Summer Bowls in USFL history. Is Ohio a team of destiny, prepared for one more win to enter the status of legends, or is Memphis the right team at the right time to knock them off. The hype around this game is amazing, the ticket sales have far exceeded expectations, with prices now rising as high as $1,500 for the top level seats on the secondary market. Had the game been played at Ohio Stadium it seems clear that they could have sold out the league’s largest venue, but Pittsburgh is abuzz with fans from both clubs as well as USFL fans in general who want to be there for this historic game.
But what about the teams? We broke down the various factors of the game, looked at both clubs, took into account the Eddie George injury, and weighted all the factors, and what we see is a far more balanced account than most Glory fans might want to admit. This one very well could come down to big plays or unforseen errors turning the tide. Here is how we see it, with our rationale to follow.
PASSING: Both of these clubs can toss the pigskin all over the field. In Kerry Collins and Heath Shuler we have two of the biggest stars in the league, and two of the best field generals going head to head. You have the yardage leader in receiving in “Big Play” Galloway, and you have the best tight end in the league in Adrian Cooper. The difference, as we see it, is in the secondary targets. Joe Horn and Joey Galloway are great targets. Adrian Cooper and Chad Johnson can be devastating as well, but Johnson, for all of Cooper’s skills, is just a more dangerous option. And then, when we go to the third or fourth option, you have Steven Alexander or Robert Ferguson for the Glory and Tydus Wynans or Larry Centers for the Showboats. The edge has to go to Ohio. Add to this Al Luginbill’s offensive innovation and this one is all Ohio.
RUSHING: If Eddie George were able to suit up this would be a big upside for the Glory, but with their main man sidelined we have to give the edge to Garrison Hearst and the Showboat offense. Neither team makes a living off the run game, but of the two, with both defenses focusing on the aerial attack, the Showboats have a better shot at using the run as a meaningful part of their offense. Lamont Warren might get some touches, especially if Memphis opt to use the Nickel as their base defense, but we just don’t see Ohio’s run game as more than an occasional curveball.
BIG PLAYS: As good as Memphis’s passing game can be, and as talented as Joe Horn and Adrian Cooper are, they just don’t compare to the big play capacity of this Ohio Glory team. Galloway and Johnson are so tough to cover and the offense is designed to find matchups and exploit them with over-the-top throws to receivers in single coverage. Memphis simply cannot match that and will have to focus on minimizing these opportunities for Kerry Collins, while Shuler uses a controlled approach to move the ball more methodically.
BALL SECURITY: When we look at turnovers, these two teams are neck and neck. Ohio had one fewer turnover this season than Memphis did, but both were among the best in the league in protecting the ball. We did not want to have any ties in these categories so we give Ohio the slight advantage, but this one is very close.
PASS RUSH: Memphis has the advantage here. Neither club has a big name edge rusher, but Memphis’s Dameaion Jeffries, with 13 sacks can be dangerous. Ohio uses the blitz more often than Memphis, and needs to if they want to generate a pass rush. That means more receivers in single coverage. If Memphis can use pressure to get to Collins without blitzing, they get an advantage here.
COVERAGE: We are also giving Memphis the advantage here. Ohio tends to give up more passing yards, which may be largely due to teams desperately trying to make up for big deficits early, as the Glory defense is designed to protect a lead, but Memphis’s secondary is solid, and we see them as the stronger unit as a whole. Darrien Gordon will likely be locked up with Joey Galloway all day, while Terrance Shaw and Fred Weary will likely alternate between Chad Johnson and Robert Ferguson. At safety the combo of Tebucky Jones and Alvin Walton will have their hands full, but likely will be spending a lot of time lined up deep to help with whichever Ohio receiver starts sprinting first. For Ohio the pressure will be on FS Pat Terrell to deal with Adrian Cooper in the middle of the field, which may mean that either Mike Riley or Corey Raymond could find himself on an island with Joe Horn. Based on this, and the overall strength of Memphis’s coverage capacity, we have to give the edge to them.
RUN COVERAGE: Ohio’s run defense looks strong on paper, but the question is whether or not that is because teams have to pass against them to play catchup. We think that this is a factor, but we also like the way Coach Luginbill uses his front 7, never overcommitting to the pass to the point where the run is an easy tactic for offenses. DT La’Roi Glover is solid in the middle, and LB’s Clint Kriewaldt, Glenn Cadrez and Nick Griesen are all solid tacklers, and that can make the difference betweena 2-yard run and a 6-yard run. For Memphis, we expect a lot of nickel and dime coverage, which means they could be susceptible to the run if Ohio opts to test them on it. In a nickel the two backers who will remain on the field are Jim Schwantz, and Will Overstreet, both good technical players but not very speedy, so an outside run game could hurt them unless SS Alvin Walton can come up to assist. Advantage Ohio.
TAKEAWAYS: Another very even statistic with Ohio having a slight edge. Again, is this due to their ability to play with a lead and have teams overemphasize the riskier passing game over the run? That seems to be the consensus, however, in games where the score was closer, and Ohio has had a few of these, the defense has still proven effective at getting turnovers when needed. We like Ohio here, but recognize that if either team can finish +2 or better in the turnover battle, they have a real shot at winning this game.
KICKING GAME: Memphis has the advantage here. While Ohio’s Don Silvestri led the league with 56 PAT kicks, he was only 19 of 27 on field goal attempts, while Memphis’s Jeff Hall was among the league leaders in not only scoring, finishing second only to Jacksonville’s Kris Brown (123 to 129) but his 30 field goals included some real bombs from deep. Weather is expected to be perfect for the kicking game, so we expect Memphis to have the advantage, although, against Ohio field goals may not be enough.
RETURN GAME: If we were just talking about punting, Memphis would win this hands down. Ohio’s strategy of calling for a fair catch on nearly every punt means that their returner, Travis Fisher had the fewest punt returns of any regular return man in the league. But, when it comes to kick returns, that is where Ohio shines. Malcolm Floyd led the league with 844 return yards, a 29.1 average. And while Memphis’s Titus Dixon was also Top 10 with a 23.2 average, we have to say that in a game that could be high scoring, the edge here goes to Ohio.
COACHING: Jim Mora Sr, winner of three Summer Bowls with two different teams vs. Al Luginbill, appearing in his first league championship. You know what we are going to say here. Yes, Coach Luginbill’s offensive schemes are dynamic and innovative, but when it comes to making the right call at the right time, to motivating men to play their best when they most need it, or devising the perfect scheme to take away another team’s best players, Coach Mora has the clear edge. In a game with this much pressure, not only to win a title, but to attempt the perfect season, coaching is essential to calm nerves, settle emotions, and focus attention. We think that for all the on-field strengths of the Showboats, if they are going to win this game it is because of Jim Mora’s experience, savvy, and strength of will.
OUR PICK: Do we go for history or do we take a shot at the underdog who have a lot of bite in them. When our team first started looking into this game we were all in on Ohio, but as we looked over the different aspects of the game, and really started focusing on what it must be like to try to prepare for a game with this much pressure, the experience of Memphis, especially that of Coach Mora, started to make us question our initial perceptions. We may be way off base, but we think that the Showboats are the team that can finally get the better of Ohio. We see all the pressure and expectations on an Ohio team that has never been here before, and we see Memphis having nothing to lose, and that makes them dangerous. We think this will be pretty wide open, but in the end, we are going to pick the upset and say that it is Memphis over Ohio 29-27.
Save the Thunder! (Again)