A week of upsets as some of the league’s supposed weaker sisters rose up and took a bite out of some playoff contenders. Oakland stifled Houston just a week after their first loss of the year, Portland stunned New Orleans in the Super Dome, Atlanta upended Tampa Bay, and Los Angeles exploded for 40 against a Texas team that had lived off its defense. A week to show that on any given Sunday any team can find the right formula to knock off an opponent, and yet, despite this, we are looking at two clubs who have made it 7 weeks without a blemish on their records and wondering if either Memphis or Ohio have what it takes to go 14-0 and complete the league’s first ever unbeaten regular season. All this plus Boston reveals the three candidates for their new team name and lets fans vote on which will be the newest entry into the USFL. But we start with a mild upset, and a big game in the Southeastern Division as Orlando went into Jacksonville and earned a win against the division leader.
Orlando’s three wins this year had all come on even-numbered weeks, with losses each odd week, so a Week 7 matchup against division-leading Jacksonville did not bode well for the rebuilding league champions. And yet, they relished the chance to go up against a Bulls team who had racked up 5 wins, but only 1 against a team at or above .500. An earlier loss to the Oakland Invaders had raised eyebrows across the league, and the Bulls were still fielding questions about their 19th ranked offense. This was a chance for the Renegades to break their win-loss alternating schedule and make a statement that the defending league champions, for as much as they look like a different team this year, are still a team to merit attention.
But the game did not start off the way the Renegades would have liked. The much-criticized Jacksonville offense started strong with a gameplan that alternated Kenny Bynum runs with Jake Delhomme’s short passing game. The Bulls scored on their opening, first a 2 yard pass from Delhomme to rookie TE Jeb Putzier. Just 21 seconds later the Bulls defense also answered the critics, picking off Joey Harrington on an ill-conceived pass play from the Orlando 7 yard line. Mike Echols, last week’s Rookie of the Week, made a play on 2 in a row by snagging Harrington’s throw away from Keenan McKardell and sprinting the short 7 yards to paydirt to put Jacksonville up 14-0 as the 1st quarter wound down.
To his credit, Harrington recovered well after that shocking play, and Orlando would fight their way back into the game over the next quarter. On their first drive after the pick, Harrington would lead the Renegades down the field, eventually hitting his favorite target, John Henry Mills, with a 9-yard score. After an Owen Pochman kick made the score 14-10 Bulls, Orlando got payback on Jacksonville with a pick six of their own. Delhomme had the ball tipped at the line and Ryan McNeill was in the right spot at the right time to return it 27 yards for a score and Orlando’s first lead of the game.
Jacksonville would also rebound, and a late Kris Brown field goal meant that the two Florida rivals would enter the half knotted up at 17 apiece. This score would remain intact throughout the third quarter as both teams made effective halftime adjustments to the defense. Neither team had much success with their run games as each defense played conservatively to protect against the run. Jacksonville’s Bynum would lead all rushers with 78 yards, while Sedrick Irvin, the former Bull, logged only 57 yards on 23 carries for Orlando. It would b up to the quarterbacks to determine this one.
Jacksonville retook the lead 6 minutes into the final period, when a short drive allowed Jacksonville to get into field goal range and Kris Brown connected on a 51-yarder to go up 20-17. After Orlando went 3-and-out on their next possession, Jacksonville had a shot at putting the game away, and it looked like they were headed that direction as they moved the ball into the red zone on an effective drive against the Orlando defense, but just as they looked like at least another 3 was coming their way, the Renegade D stepped up. LB Dexter Coakley was sent on a blitz, and as he burst past Irvin, he was able to clip Jake Delhomme’s arm, causing his pass to flutter just enough for CB Fernando Bryant to not only catch up to Donnell Bennett, but to step in front of the Bulls’ receiver, picking Delhomme off and keeping Orlando within 3.
Joey Harrington would do the rest, connecting with 4 different receivers on a 9 play drive that ended when he found Donald Driver in the back of the endzone for a touchdown with 2:32 left to play. Bulls defenders pleaded with the ref to see what appeared in replay to be a clear pick by TE Rickey Dudley, freeing Driver, but no call came. Orlando kicked the ball off to Jacksonville with 2:32 left to play and now it would be up to Delhomme to earn the Bulls’ 6th win.
Jacksonville started the drive with a 6-yard swing pass to Bynum. Delhomme then hit Javon Walker for 14 yards on 2nd down and it seemed Jacksonville was in business. But, after failing to connect with Dez White on first down, Delhomme saw a pass to Terrell Owens fall to the ground when safety Todd Franz clipped Owens’s arms just as the ball arrived. Third and ten and Chris Doleman pressured Delhomme into an errant throw that sailed well over Owens and out of bounds. It was 4th and 10 on their own 37. Orlando showed blitz, but dropped 7 into coverage, rushing only 4. Despite this both Chris Doleman and DT Pat Williams were quickly pressuring Delhomme, and the immobile QB was forced into an early throw, tryin to find Donnell Bennett on an out route. The ball was off target and Bennett dove unsuccessfully to reach it. A turnover on downs with only 1:03 left to play led to 2 straight kneeldowns for Harrington and a much deserved win over the Bulls. Orlando was now 4-3 and above .500 for the first time all year. Jacksonville falls to 5-2, only 1 game up on the Renegades and Birmingham in a tightening Southeastern Division.
HOU 7 OAK 14
Perhaps the most surprising of the Week 7 upsets, not because Oakland won at home, but because their usually sieve-like defense played like worldbeaters against a Houston team that struggled to get anything going. Houston was held to only 218 total yards, including a sad 40-yard rushing day as Oakland played in the nickel formation for most of the game. Rodney Thomas was all the offense Oakland needed as he rushed for 141 yards against the Gamblers, keeping the 1-2 punch of edge rushers out of their element.
POR 24 NOR 7
The Thunder are 2-0 under interim head coach Joe Vitt, a surprise to be sure, but not as much of a surprise as the way they handled the Breakers in New Orleans. New Orleans converted only 2 of 13 third downs and Ricky Williams was limited to 60 yards rushing as Portland won in all 3 phases of the game. Akili Smith helped his own cause with a 54-yard scramble turned TD run, while Correll Buckhalter and Napoleon Kaufmann combined for 117 yards rushing for a revived Portland club.
TBY 10 ATL 16
Tampa Bay’s offensive resurgence came to a crashing halt in Atlanta as the Fire held them scoreless for nearly 40 minutes. Tiki Barber rushed for 107 and the game’s deciding score as Atlanta contained Trent Green and the Bandit passing game through a well-designed 2-deep zone scheme. Coach Fox limited Randy Moss to 2 catches on 4 targets by shading a safety over to help CB Tyrone Poole with Moss.
TEX 13 LA 40
The Express found their offense against one of the better defenses in the league as Tory Holt had a monster game with 6 catches for 174 yards and 2 scores. Add in a combined 28 carries for 116 yards and 2 scores by the combo of rookie DeShaun Foster and veteran Antowain Smith and you have the makings of an upset at Farmers Insurance Field. It did not help that Ryan Leaf completed only 14 of 32 passes, including 2 picks, or that Carl Pickens had a game high 3 drops for Texas. An ugly loss for the 4-2-1 Outlaws.
SEA 29 NSH 18
The Dragons are making their case as a potential dark horse, knocking off the Knights despite the return of Todd Collins at QB. Brian Griese was efficient, going 20 of 29 with a lone TD to David Boston, but the key was Corey Dillon’s 105 yards despite frequent 8 or 9 man boxes on early downs. The Dragon D also did its part, forcing, and we are not kidding here, 6 turnovers in the game. Todd Collins threw 3 picks, but there were also fumbles, one each from Bert Emmanuel, Todd Collins, and TE Reggie Kelly. All things considered, it is amazing this game was as close as it was.
DEN 14 BIR 20
Denver’s win streak ends at 3 as Birmingham edge closer to Jacksonville thanks to a big day for the defense on a rainy summer afternoon at Legion Field. The game had to be stopped for almost 40 minutes as a lightning storm rolled through Central Alabama, but the delay only seemed to help Birmingham, who came back from a 14-7 deficit after the delay, scoring the game’s final 13 points to take the home win to move to 4-3 at the season’s midway point.
ARZ 28 MEM 31
A really good game at the Liberty Bowl on Saturday night as Arizona challenged the unbeaten Showboats all evening. Jake Plummer got loose several times, rushing for 2 scores and throwing for a third. But, in the end, the Showboats proved their quality, scoring the final 21 points of the night as they fought back form a 28-17 deficit to take the 31-28 win. Two late Adrian Cooper TD’s including the game winner at 1:33 left were what it took, but Memphis moved to 7-0.
OHI 49 MGN 27
Ohio joined the Showboats as they notched their 7th win of the season, though theirs was hardly as close as the Memphis game. Kerry Collins went 21 of 26 for 430 yards and 5 scores against a Michigan secondary that had no answers. Joey Galloway scored 3 times and racked up 101 yards, but it was Chad Johnson, with 126 yards on 5 receptions who broke the back of the Panthers.
PIT 14 CHI 16
Chicago kept pace one game behind Ohio with another defensive gem as they limited Pittsburgh to only 45 yards rushing and 259 total yards. Chicago got one Duce Staley TD run and then relied on the foot of Tim Seder to build up a 16-7 lead before a late Batch to Davis TD toss made the game close at the end.
WSH 17 BAL 20
A modest upset as Baltimore got the win at home against their rivals thanks to 99 yards and 2 TDs from Ron Dayne. Kordell Stewart ended up as the leading rusher for Washington as neither Deuce McCallister nor Reuben Droughns could find much room against a re-energized Baltimore defense.
PHI 9 NJ 34
New Jersey was all over backup Chuck Hartlieb in his first start in 3 years, sacking the former Gambler 4 times and snagging a pick-six as well. Philly’s onlyTD was a pick six as well as a tipped ball fell to DB Corey Fuller. The offense was 0 for 12 on third down and mustered only 70 yards passing as New Jersey dominated throughout the day.
PHILADELPHIA QB CONCERNS
While starter Will Fuller could return to action next week after a 1-game hiatus, that does not solve the issue at the QB position for the 1-6 Stars. Philly did not expect to be in this position even with the retirement of Bobby Hebert, but it seems clear that they have weaknesses that Hebert’s arm helped to hide. A power run game with Stephen Davis and Ladell Betts relies on a solid passing game to keep defenses honest. With teams crowding the box, neither back is able to make much hay. The defense too is dealing with too many 3-and-outs and too much time on the field as Philadelphia cannot sustain drives and provide respite for the defense.
So, what options does Philadelphia have? If they continue to flounder, we would not be shocked to see Coach Mora test out what he has in mid-round signee David Garrard of ECU. If Garrard shows potential, the Stars could look in free agency for a solid backup, as it seems neither Furrer or Hartlieb is an answer. There are several potential candidates among the QB’s whose conract is up this year, including A.J. Feely in Arizona, Mark Bulger in Atlanta, Kris Kershaw in Houston, Jim Miller in Pittsburgh, and Kent Graham in Tampa Bay.
But, assuming Garrard plays as we would expect a mid-round rookie QB to play, Philadelphia may need to search elsewhere. There are a couple of starters unsigned across the league, but we don’t expect Trent Green, Kerry Collins, or Heath Shuler to remain unsigned until Free Agency. All three are too vital to their teams to let them test the waters. Over in the NFL, there is one QB who is currently unsigned and who may be attractive to the Stars. Jeff Blake, the one-time starter for both the Cincinnati Bengals and New Orleans Saints became a free agent this past spring. He has been holding out for a possible starting job but is only receiving NFL offers as a backup. Could the Stars swoop in during the next NFL-USFL transfer window? And if they can, do they want to? Blake is not exactly the type of star-caliber starting QB that teams often shoot for in the NFL transfer window. He is serviceable, but has a lifetime QB Rating of only 83.3, not exactly an immediate winner.
The other option is to go for a solid backup, keep Garrard in development, but sign a top level rookie QB. What does the 2003 crop of potential rookie QB’s offer? Actually quite a bit. There are 4 QB’s who are getting 1st or 2nd round evaluations at this point, though we will have to see how their 2002 seasons go before any true evaluation is possible. The best of the bunch, and a player that the NFL certainly covets, is USC signal caller Carson Palmer. Palmer is the picture of a classic pocket passer, poised and accurate. He seems the early frontrunner to be a top pick in both leagues. With his rights held by the LA Express, Philly might have to consider trading what will almost certainly be a Top 3 position in the open draft to acquire LA’s first T-Draft selection spot.
The second option will be available in the open draft as no one holds Marshall University as a protected school. Marshall’s Byron Leftwich is a bit more of a physical talent, more athletic than Palmer but also less polished. In many ways he is similar to Garrard as a QB with physical tools and a strong arm but less experience against top flight opponents. The other two potential QB picks are slightly lower on the ratings list, with Florida’s Rex Grossman and Cal’s Kyle Boller both showing potential but also showing some issues that might have them drop into the 2nd round in either the NFL or USFL Draft. Both are also protected players in the T-Draft, with Oakland holding the rights to Cal-Berkely and Tampa Bay having first crack at Florida players.
UNSIGNED, BUT FOR HOW LONG
Our midseason look at players who in their contract year may be a bit premature, as surely a good number of these players will resign before Free Agency kicks in after Week 14, but there are certainly some intriguing names, and not just the two starting QB’s of our 2 unbeaten clubs (Collins of Ohio and Shuler of Memphis). Among the names to watch over the next two months, these potential free agents are the ones GM’s across the league are hoping to see available for the taking:
Washington DT Jerome Brown has to be a priority signing for the Feds. But does that mean that CB Charles Woodson will be on the market?
Texas has both starting wideouts on their final year, Lake Dawson and 31-year old Carl Pickens.
Tampa Bay needs to resign both Errict Rhett and Randy Moss, but do they have the cap room to do it, especially with Trent Green also at the end of his contract?
Seattle signed Godfrey Miles last offseason, but does that leave enough under the cap to resign his LB mate Levon Kirkland?
Pittsburgh has one job this offseason, resign Terrell Davis. We cannot imagine him leaving since the Maulers have a ton of cap room.
Orlando DE Chris Doleman is another must-sign player, which means that others on the roster may have to be allowed to leave, others like DE Israel Ifeanyi or SS Tyrone Carter.
Ohio will resign Kerry Collins, we know that, but when they do will they have room to resign others like DE Vonnie Holliday or G Chuck Johnson?
New Orleans got Clyde Simmons from Portland in a contract year, so it is a great chance for the DE to prove himself and either get a good deal from the Breakers or test the waters.
With Hines Ward in the fold, will Michigan pay out the big money to retain Muhsin Muhammad?
Heath Shuler is the one guy Memphis must resign, which means WR Joe Horn, CB Darrien Gordon, and DT Barron Tanner may slip through into the market.
LT Jonathan Ogden says he wants to remain on the Express, but he could easily become the highest paid lineman ever if he goes into the market.
Houston went right up to the cap limit to secure their defense, which may mean they cannot compete to retain Antonio Freeman this offseason.
LB Brian Urlacher is the top priority for the Chicago Machine. Expect them to spend the money to keep him happy.
Birmingham has never developed the run game they hoped for, and that may mean that FB Mike Alstott could be looking elsewhere this offseason.
Atlanta’s Bruce Smith sees his contract run out this year, and many speculate he will retire, so will Atlanta take the risk to resign him or look for youth?
MIDSEASON PLAYOFF PICTURE
It is too early to seriously rank teams for the postseason. We will start that in Week 10 as always, but just looking at the standings, here is our quick evaluation:
ALMOST CERTAIN
Ohio & Memphis: They are both undefeated and when we look ahead, the question isn’t whether or not they can qualify for the playoffs. The question is if they can go unbeaten.
Chicago: The Machine have only 1 loss this year, and a killer defense. We don’t see them missing out, but unless they can catch Ohio, they may just be the best team ever to get stuck playing a Wild Card game.
LOOKING GOOD
Jacksonville, New Orleans, Texas, Houston: All 3 have only 2 losses, though Houston’s last 2 games are troubling, and the blowout Texas suffered this week makes us a bit nervous as well. Still, going into the halfway point with only 2 losses is a strong sign that they are solidly in play.
ON THE CUSP
New Jersey, Seattle, Birmingham, Orlando, Baltimore, Washington, Arizona, and Denver: All of these clubs are either 4-3 or 3-4, so squarely in the middle of the pack. So, what do we think about them? Seattle may have the easiest path, since the rest of the Pacific is so down this year. Arizona and Denver are not both likely to get in as both are chasing the 2 Texas teams, and we think that at most the Southwest Division will be able to produce 3 playoff teams. New Jersey has a shot at the Northeast Title, as do both Baltimore and Washington, but we could easily see only the division winner get a playoff nod, so this will be a battle to watch.
SLIM CHANCES
The entire cluster of 2-5 teams. Are there any who could emerge? Well, LA is in a weak division and their explosion this week showed they still have some offensive talent to deal with. Tampa Bay has also had some strong offensive games, but is that enough? And we are still trying to figure out what has caused the Knights to decline from a Summer Bowl contender to a 2-5 club in just one year.
NO SHOT
We hate the idea of putting 1-6 Philadelphia here by themselves, so we are also going to categorize a few of the 2-5 clubs here too. Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Michigan, and Portland have just not shown enough to make us believe that a 5-2 second half and a total of 7-7 is really realistic, much less the 8-wins that it likely would take to make the playoffs. We knew these 4 teams were rebuilding, and that is what we see this season.
No season enders this week, which is a good thing, but still several issues to deal with across the league. Nashville will likely be without Ahman Green this week (deep thigh bruise) which is tough for the Knights, but he could be back by Week 9. In Chicago the big concern is the right leg of DE Simeon Rice, a big part of their defensive success. He could be back in as few as 2 weeks, but 3-4 seems more likely.
Similarly, New Orleans’s Clyde Simmons is looking at 1-2 weeks with a hyperextended knee, but Breaker faithful are hoping it is just 1. A third DE is also out this upcoming week as Atlanta will be without Greg Ellis, possibly for as long as a month, with a wrist injury that makes it hard for him to grasp with his right hand. In Arizona, the concern is for DT Kenard Lang, whose knee was evaluated and there is strong indication of an ACL injury which could be 4-6 weeks if not longer. Finally, Texas will also be without DT Mark Campbell for at least a month after a fracture in his right arm was detected.
BOSTON GIVES THREE OPTIONS FOR A “BC” IDENTITY
The Boston Football Group (recently renamed to remove the prevalence of Colonials as a name option), has released the three choices for fans to vote on for their new team’s identity. Under pressure from USFL leadership to develop options should the NFL and NE Patriot owner Robert Kraft not sign a proposed agreement to allow “Colonials” as an untested infringement on the Patriots identity, Boston has complied, and gone a step further. The club has announced a deal with the Boston Globe to host a name the team contest on the Globe’s online platform, and supported by their sports section in the print edition. They are offering fans three choices, complete with logos and helmet mockups. One of these three will be the new identity for USFL football in Boston, and ownership of the recently-purchased and soon-to-relocate Atlanta Fire, are stating that they will abide by the will of the fans in Boston regardless of the NFL negotiations.
The first option made available is the obvious one, the Colonials identity the Boston Football Group has held since its inception. The only change from the original group design is a color shift, with gunmetal grey replacing sky blue as one of the team’s colors. Paired with navy blue and metallic gold, the logo features a stylized eagle as part of a “medallion” format which resembles early Continental Army medals worn by generals such as George Washington or Massachusett’s own William Heath (of Lexington & Concord fame). The theme will be revolutionary Massachusetts, a winner in the region, but a clear concern when it comes to the identity clash with the New England Patriots of the NFL.
The second option is also a military reference, but far less specific in nature. Ownership released images of a logo and helmet for the Boston Cannons as a possible identity. Cannons, of course, is a nice double meaning, as the reference not only to military artillery, but to the strong arm of a winning QB, much like that of future Boston starter Drew Bledsoe. The logo for the cannons also resembles a military emblem, two cannons crossed with a cannonball at the base. It also feature two “explosion” indicators with flashes of athletic gold behind the grey and navy cannons. It seems clear that Boston ownership is set on navy, grey and gold as the team colors despite the name, but the difference is that this logo, and the logo for the 3rd name option, use a bright athletic gold (yellow) and not the more metallic and less-saturated gold of the Colonials option. The Cannon’s helmet is also navy, not gold, as the Colonials present. It would feature the logo on either side, and have a grey stripe that finishes at the back bumper with a repeat of the gold and white flash of the cannon.
Finally, Boston completes their trio of “BC” names again with a military theme, but this one paying tribute to the rich naval history of the city. Home to the famous Charlestown/Bston Naval Shipyard. The Boston Commanders celebrate naval leadership with a logo depicting the bow of a destroyer, cannons at the ready. The sea is depicted not with curved waves but as a series of chevrons, while the sky behind the ship is cast in bright yellow, as if at dawn, to form a shield-shaped logo. The helmet for the Commanders features a single thick yellow stripe, with chevrons in grey and white at the front bumper, all on another navy helmet.
All three designs will share a secondary logo as Boston revealed a “BC” monogram that will accompany whichever name is chosen. Ownership has stated that they are happy with all three options, all of which celebrate local history, as well as support for the military (past and present). They will abide with the fan vote (assuming the USFL leadership agrees, which early indications seem to indicate.
So how do fans vote? Well, we have made it easy. We have added a webpage to our site which directly links to the Boston Globe vote. You can see all three primary logos and helmet mockups there, cast your vote for which identity you would like to see Boston adopt, and participate in the final decision for USFL in Boston. The link to our Boston Poll is above in our main menu. The vote will take place between now and Week 14, with results being posted during the Wild Card Weekend recap.
One last note, due to concerns related to disgruntled Atlanta Fire fans, no write in option or comments section will be provided with the vote, simply 3 options to select from. That seems smart considering the significant pushback the sale of the Fire has generated among a fanbase that seems to have gained more energy from losing their club than from having them for the past 7 seasons.
The season’s second half kicks off much as the season began, with all 24 USFL clubs in inter-conference play. That does not diminish the stakes as we have several really intriguing clashes between teams battling for potential playoff position, as well as some potential spoilers hoping to make news with a surprise win. The best game of the week may well be the matchup of 7-0 Memphis at 5-2 Jacksonville. The Bulls are hot after letting their game with Orlando slip away, and Memphis has been tested lately. This one should be a good one on Sunday night. The other unbeaten team, the Ohio Glory, hope to get win #8 as they host the Houston Gamblers. Can the Gamblers’ D hold up against the furious attack of the Glory? Another intruging cross-country battle will take place at RFK, where the Federals (3-4) will host the Seattle Dragons (4-3), with both clubs in hot pursuit of a playoff spot. Chicago has a tough defensive challenge as they try to contain Jake Plummer and the Wranglers at Soldier Field. In Atlanta, it is a regional rivalry that never really took off as the Fire host the Birmingham Stallions.
Other games to check out include 4-3 Orlando hoping to get a 5th W as they host the Nashville Knights. The Breakers are in Tampa Bay to face the Bandits, while Denver heads to Ford Field to take on the Michigan Panthers. Texas takes their division-leading 4-2-1 record to Pittsburgh, where the Maulers are hoping they can edge back to respectability with a win. Oakland will travel to New Jersey, Baltimore hosts LA, and Portland flies cross country to Philadelphia in a game that may impact draft order more than any playoff hunt.