Midway into the USFL season and for the first time in a long time we arrive here with no teams winless and none undefeated. The Boston Cannons took care of the last unbeaten team, winning a big divisional game at Alumni Stadium to make 6-1 the best record in the league. At the midseason point we have 2 teams with only 1 loss, 4 with only 1 win and 12 within 1 game of .500 as the league sees a lot of parity and a lot of teams fighting to make a name for themselves. The 2-time defending champs join Pittsburgh and Chicago with 5-2 records in a three-way tie atop the Central Division. Arizona and Denver are battling to control the Southwest, and there are 3 of 4 teams within 1 game of the lead in 4 of the 6 divisions. All this in a season that has seen quarterbacks get pulled, others lost for the year to injury, and at least one starter summarily dismissed from his club after throwing a tantrum. It’s mid-season in the USFL and, as always, there is just a lot to talk about. We start with a fun game between two teams hoping that this season marks the beginning of a reawakening as Houston took on Oakland.
HOUSTON GAMBLERS 22 OAKLAND INVADERS 26
Gamblers versus Invaders would not have been a marquee game when the season began, but with both teams coming into the game at 3-3, it was a game that had a lot of intrigue. Houston was set to start Kris Kershaw for a second straight week, but there was a lot of questioning as to whether this would be the game where fans would see Doug Flutie take the field for the first time in 2 years and the first time as a Houston Gambler. For Oakland the story was that the new look Invaders were hoping to get over .500 at midseason. As a club that has had losing seasons for 7 of the past 8 seasons and only 1 playoff appearance since 1994, this would be a huge step forward.
Houston started the game off well, scoring on their first drive as the run game opened up the Oakland defense. Kevin Faulk would get the opening score on a 7-yard touchdown run, his 5th carry on the drive. After back to back 3-and-outs by both teams, a perfect coffin corner kick by Gambler punter Adam Lindsey left the ball on the Oakland 1 yard line. That special teams play led to a safety on the very next play, giving Houston an early 9-0 lead.
Oakland responded in the 2nd quarter, figuring out how to get through the Houston defense and scoring on three consecutive drives. They opened up their scoring with a short Joe Nedney field goal, then, on their next drive, connected on a Trent Green to Taylor Jacobs TD toss. Jacobs, the 2nd year receiver out of Florida, has been coming on this season, with 17 receptions over the first half of the year. Jacobs would score the 2nd Oakland TD as well, following a Jerome Wood pick of Kris Kershaw. The second Green to Jacobs TD gave Oakland a 17-9 lead with 1:26 left in the first half. Kershaw would rebound from the pick and lead the Gamblers on a two-minute drill that produced a field goal, and the game went to the break with Oakland up 17-12.
In the third quarter Oakland offset the earlier Houston safety by landing one of their own as Kris Kershaw tried to throw his way out of the endzone, but a holding call in the endzone produced a safety and Oakland now lead by 7, 19-12. That lead would not hold as Houston finished up the third quarter with Kershaw hitting TE Dan Campbell for a 20-yard TD toss. After a short drive by Oakland produced a couple of first downs and eventually a punt, Houston started again on offense. On 1st and 10 Kershaw was hit hard by Oakland DE Eric Curry. He would have to come out of the game and out onto the field came Doug Flutie, looking spry for a 40-year old quarterback. Flutie would direct the rest of the drive, completing 1 of 2 passes, and helping the Gamblers get into field goal range for Josh Brown. Brown’s kick gave Houston a 22-19 lead with just over 11 minutes left in the game, and Flutie would go back to the sideline as Kris Kershaw was cleared to come back in.
Both Oakland and Houston denied the opposing offense any leeway over the next 3 possessions, so when Oakland got the ball back with 4:01 left to play, there was a real sense of urgency to the drive. The Invaders turned to backup HB Justin Fargas to spark the offense. Rashaan Salaam had taken most of the carries, but was held to only 3.1 yards per carry. On his first carry in the 4th quarter, Justin Fargas broke through the line and dashed for 20 yards. On his second he added another 17, and then, with the defense now wary of the back, Trent Green faked the ball to Fargas and found WR Dante Stallworth for another 20. Within just 2:03 the Invaders were at the 11 yard line and looking to go ahead.
The Gamblers would tighten in the red zone, stuffing Fargas on 1st and 10, then breaking up a pass attempt to Christian Fauria on 2nd down. It appeared they forced a field goal on third down when a pass to Burress went wide and out of bounds, but a yellow flag appeared, and when the Ref announced defensive holding, it meant 1st and goal from the 6 yard line. Three more downs for Oakland to get it done. Justin Fargas got the Invaders to the 2 with a 4-yard run on first down, and with the clock still ticking, Trent Green called the team to the line and calling a quick snap. He knew what he was doing, with the Houston defense not yet fully set he was able to find Burress on a slant route, and the big recever snagged the ball and fell to the ground for the game winning TD.
It was a tough loss for Houston, which had played well despite their issues at QB, but for Oakland it was just the kind of last minute win that had been eluding them for so long. For Green it was a chance to show a skeptical Oakland fanbase that he could be an answer for them, if only perhaps a short-term one. The win moved Oakland to 4-3, and put them in a tie for 1st place with the Seattle Dragons in the topsy turvy Pacific division.
PHI 15 NJ 21
A big game in the Northeast as two 3-3 rivals faced off in Giants Stadium. New Jersey got 124 yards combined from Curtis Enis and James Jackson, and Tom Brady threw two touchdowns as the Generals held off the Stars.
WSH 19 BAL 32
A shocker in Baltimore as the Blitz dismantled their biggest rival. Ben Roethlisberger stood in the pocket against Washington’s pass rush, completing 24 of 31 for 311 yards and a big 33-yard TD to Rob Moore as Baltimore came back from a 19-3 halftime deficit by scoring on 5 of 6 drives in the second half. DB Chris Crocker got the ball rolling with a momentum-shifting 49-yard pick six play that electrified the Baltimore crowd and the team, leading to a complete momentum flip in the game.
TBY 24 BOS 34
Two of the league’s most explosive teams matched up in Boston and Drew Bledsoe outdueled Daunte Culpepper as the two former NFL starters both survived blitzes designed to slow them down. Bledsoe withstood 6 sacks and Culpepper 5 as the two defenses took their chances by blitzing early and often. The result? Chad Ochocinco burned the Tampa Bay defense for 191 yards and 2 scores, while Randy Moss racked up 118 yards and a score as both teams traded haymakers all day.
ORL 13 JAX 24
Jeff Blake’s first USFL start was a tough one as Orlando simply could not sustain drives against the Bulls. Blake would end the day with 161 yards and 2 picks to go with one TD to Keenan McCardell. Second year back Fred Jackson would be the big star for Jacksonville, rushing for 3 scores on only 8 carries as the Bulls held off the Renegades to move to 4-3 on the season.
PIT 16 CHI 13
A real slobberknocker at Soldier Field where both defenses played like it was a Week 14 game for a playoff spot. Neither team could run the ball effectively in this one, and while Chicago’s Curtis Conway had the biggest play of the day, a 55-yard TD catch, it was the Maulers who found a way to pull the game out in the end, moving both teams to 5-2, but also putting Ohio temporarily atop the division.
OHI 26 MGN 20
The Glory took their share of first with a win on the road in Michigan, but the Panthers did not make it easy for Ohio. Drew Brees and Hines Ward found their connection, hooking up for 7 catches totaling 123 yards and a TD that kept Michigan in this game until late. With Joey Galloway blanketed, Kerry Collins had to look elsewhere, and he found Eddie George early and often. George would finish the game with 97 yards rushing but also 123 through the air.
DEN 15 BIR 17
Mark Brunell returned to action, but struggled as the Birmingham defense tested his fitness. He would finish with 274 yards and a pick, far better than Brett Favre’s 115 yards passing against Denver’s D, but not good enough to get Denver a W. Touchdowns by Joe Horn and Terry Battle (subbing for Shaun Alexander) helped Birmingham hold on and win a tough defensive battle in Legion Field.
LV 14 NOR 20
Aaron Brooks got his first start in Las Vegas and threw 2 touchdowns, but that was all the offense the Thunder could muster, as Reuben Droughns rushed for a paltry 13 yards on 9 carries. New Orleans fared much better, with the combo of Troy Davis and Olandis Gary accounting for 101 yards on the ground. Throw in a Bubba Franks TD and a pair of David Green field goals and you end up with a 6-point win by the Breakers.
TEX 17 LA 38
The Express raced out to a 24-0 lead in the first half and then coasted their way to a comfortable win as Cade McNown and Keyshawn Johnson had big games. Rookie Mewelde Moore also turned a lot of heads, racing for 93 yards on only 10 carries as he subbed for DeShaun Foster. Jeff Lewis did not have a strong day for the Outlaws, throwing three costly picks as he tried to pass Texas back into the game.
ARZ 20 MEM 6
It was supposed to be a homecoming game for the Showboats, but delays with the stadium refurbishing led the game to be played in Oxford, and the wear of having no true home field is clearly showing on the lackluster Showboats. Heat Shuler completed only 13 of 34 pass attempts, racking up only 105 yards passing as Memphis’s offense looked anemic all game long. Santana Moss and Larry Fitzgerald both hauled in 6 passes apiece for a combined 184 yards as Arizona moved to 5-2 and are tied with Denver atop the Southwest division.
SEA 31 NSH 37
A good one in Music City as the Dragons and Knights battled back and forth all game. Ahman Green won the halfback duel with Corey Dillon, outgaining the Dragon 98-47, but the story of the day was Todd Collins and his 5-TD performance. Collins found Bert Emmanuel for 3 of the 5 scoring plays, with the last of those scores being the game winner for the Knights.
Why is Todd Collins Not Considered "Elite"?
We are going to start off our midseason recap in something of an odd way, highlighting a player we just don’t think gets enough positive press, Nashville QB Todd Collins. It is a good week to highlight the 10-year veteran from Michigan as he just had one of his most prolific games, tossing 5 TDs against the Seattle Dragons. Our question about Todd Collins is why no one ever talks about him. He is the Rodney Dangerfield of USFL quarterbacks, no respect. No respect at all.
We admit that Collins never puts up numbers like his namesake Kerry Collins, or Brett Favre, or this season Drew Bledsoe, but what Collins does is control an offense designed to keep games close and find ways to win. In his tenure with the Knights, both in St. Louis and Nashville, the Toddster has averaged more than 20 TDs a season, fewer than 11 picks per year, and averaged around 67% completion rate. Yes, his QB Rating is not astronomic, but it is a solid 92.4 for his career, a mark many QBs can only hope to aspire to.
And what about his teams? Since he became the regular starter for the Knights 6 games into the 1995 season, Collins’s Knights have won 3 division titles, appeared in a Summer Bowl, and finished below .500 only twice in 10 years. That is a pretty good record.
So why the lack of respect? Well, the obvious answer is that Nashville has typically won with its defense and its run game. They have averaged in the mid-20’s in points per game each year, while rarely averaging over 20 PPG allowed. They also have been in the mid-to-low end on passing yards per game. But does this speak to a deficiency at QB or a philosophy of how to play the game? It seems to us that while Collins is not a true gunslinger like USFL legends Jim Kelly, Bobby Hebert or Brett Favre, he is the consummate system quarterback, playing his role, leading his team, avoiding mistakes and turnovers, and producing wins. Not flashy, not the kind of player you choose for your custom team on USFL2K4 for Playstation, but a player who will not cost you games either. Is that really so bad?
OK, enough soapboxing. On to our midyear report.
The 5 Best USFL Defenses after 7 Games
We start by looking at the Top 5 defenses this season in the USFL. A few you will expect, a couple will probably surprise you. Here they based on their PPG Allowed ranking.
5. Pittsburgh Maulers: Likely you expected them to make this list. Pittsburgh allows an average of 17.6 points per game. Not too shabby. They do this primarily because they only allow 77 yards per game on the ground. That is impressive. You know who we love on this defense. Linebacker De<etrious DuBose is a monster who makes backs try to go the other way. But we also should point to DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, who not only leads the team with 5 sacks, but also has 9 tackles for loss. Throw in a corner in Patrick Surtain, who is not afraid to take on backs, and rookie safety Sean Taylor, who is just going to get better each week, and you can see why the Maulers are tied for first in the Central Division.
4. Birmingham Stallions: Yup, you saw that right. No longer does Brett Favre have to throw it all over the yard to get a W. It helps that the Stallions have developed a run game to kill some clock and reduce opposition playcount, but the defense deserves some props as well. The Stallions are averaging 16.7 point sper game allowed, and they are doing it in large part because of a newfound pass rush. Mike Rucker came on strong last season, and his rein of terror has continued this year with 8 sacks this season, only 1 off the league lead. Add in blitzes that have given Lawyer Milloy, Chris Draft, and Antwan Odom their shot at sacks as well and the Stallions are making life tough for opposing QBs.
3. Arizona Wranglers: Another surprise name. The Wranglers have always had the LB position locked down, but this year, after Broderick Thomas departed, they seem to be playing better team defense. They are 3rd in the league with fewer than 16.5 points per game after 7 weeks. They have recorded sacks with 10 different players, including DE Gary Walker, who leads the team with 7, and they have 3 players with multiple picks, including FS Tyrone Drakeford and both starting corners. Nickel back Asante Samuel is also looking like a big piece of the puzzle for the Wranglers. And, lest we forget the LB’s, they have fond a youth movement with 2nd year player Lance Briggs, and rookie Karlos Dansby flanking veteran Winfred Tubbs in what has become a more athletic, faster group. Scary, really, and for quite a while to come it would seem.
2. Chicago Machine: No shock here. The Machine have made a living by making life miserable for opposing offenses. They allow exactly 16 points per game, and just over 200 yards per game passing. Led by the man in the middle, Brian Urlacher, and his 60 tackles this year, the Machine are as tough to run on as they are to pass against. The big story this year is on the D-line, where 3rd year player Anthony Weaver is leading the league with 9 sacks. He had 10 as a rookie, 16 last year, and is on pace for 18 in 2004. That is exactly the kind of growth Chicagoans love to see in a defensive player. Not good news for the other 23 teams.
1. Denver Gold: Understated and undervalued, that is what we often think of Denver and their defense, but when a team is allowing fewer than 14 points a game (13.9) and under 200 yards passing per game (176.1) you have to say that this is a monster of a defense. Those are epic numbers for any team, and no surprise that we find Denver at 5-2 with those numbers. They have figured out how to replace retired DE Leslie O’Neill, rotating Marcellus Wiley (6 sacks) with Ryan Denney (3) and Chris Kelsay. They have four solid LBs in Dat Nguyen, Kawika Mitchell, Chris Cowart, and Alsherwood Singleton, and their combo of Sean Lumpkin and Jamel Williams at safety is perhaps the league’s best duo. The Gold have very few defensive weaknesses, and that means they are a real threat to go all the way this year.
Defense Wins Titles, But Offense Puts Butts in Seats
While we love a good defense, the general consensus is that it is offensive firepower that gets fans excited, and with the example of Ohio winning back to back titles, apparently a dynamic offense can also win a ring or two. So, who are the most well-oiled scoring machines this year? Here is the top 5.
5. Arizona Wranglers: The only team to appear on both Top 5 defenses and offenses, this has to be a good sign for Coach Fassel and the Wranglers. As good as their defense has been, the offense has also pulled their weight, averaging 26.6 points per game despite being middle of the pack in both passing and rushing yards. Jake Plummer feels this team has the best offensive talent he has had in his career, and with both rookie wideout Larry Fitzgerald and former Star Stephen Davis joining the Wranglers this season, we tend to agree. The talent is there, to score and to keep you from doing the same. That is a good combo to have.
4. Seattle Dragons: The emergence of Byron Leftwich as a legitimate star has made Seattle a bandwagon favorite. They still run their offense through Corey Dillon, and he still produces, with Seattle averaging over 110 yards rushing per game, but it is the arrival of Leftwich that has made the Dragons truly dangerous. Leftwich is making connections with David Boston, Ken Dilger, O.J. McDuffey, and receiving HB Brian Mitchell, throwing a combined 7 TDs’ to this quartet. Their 27.9 points per game are a step back from the Top 3, but not by as much as folks may imagine.
3. Ohio Glory: After two years as the undisputed kings of the scoreboard, the Glory seem to have slipped just a bit. They are still good enough to average 29.7 points per game, and that has helped them get to 5-2 at the midway point. We don’t need to highlight the keys to the Ohio offense. You know the names already: Collins, George, Galloway. But, the key to them being truly dominant may just be finding a 2nd elite receiver. Can Troy Brown take on that mantle?
2. Tampa Bay Bandits: Bandit Ball is back and Coach Spurrier has the perfect architect for a gunslinging style in former Minnesota Viking Daunte Culpepper. The former UCF quarterback’s return to Florida has been a triumph, and no one is happier than Randy Moss, who is more than happy to run under Culpepper’s deep rainbow throws. But here is the thing. It’s not all the deep ball. The Bandits can run the ball with McGahee, can throw short with Shockey and Doering, or can go over the top. That multiplicity of options is just not what a defensive coordinator wants to deal with.
1. Boston Cannons: As rough as Spurrier has made life for defenders, the Cannons have been even more deadly, as Tampa Bay discovered this week. Boston’s signing of Chad Ochocinco has been an immediate success, with Ochocinco proving he truly is a #1 receiver, leading the club with 8 TDs and 805 yards in only7 weeks. But he is not alone in the team’s successful transformation into the next great offense. TE James Whalen has come out of nowhere to gather in 28 passes for 422 yards. Robert Ferguson is much better suited as a 2nd receiver and is finding open spots in the zones, leading to 5 TDs already. And Tiki Barber has never had an easier time finding running lanes as teams have to respect the deep ball. It is a winning combo for the Cannons, who are looking very much like a club that wants to use Ohio’s formula of the past two seasons to take on the league.
The other Side of the Coin
We’ve looked at the top 5 offenses and defenses, but what about the teams struggling to put it all together. They deserve some attention to. When we look at the weakest offenses in the league, one team stands out, and not in a good way. Yes, both Las Vegas (16 ppg) and Texas (15.4 ppg) are struggling, but Memphis is just a disaster at only 10 points per game. You will not win many games scoring the equivalent of 1 TD and a field goal per game. And this is a Memphis team that made its name on offense with Heath Shuler commanding respect around the league. What happened? Well, they let Joe Horn leave in free agency and have not done well in trying to replace him. Adrian Cooper is getting older and the Showboats just don’t have a credible run game to free up the play action pass. The result, a league low 165 yards per game passing. Not good enough, not even close.
Looking for the worst defenses in the league? Try Orlando, Las Vegas, and Baltimore. The Thunder make the list of worsts on both sides of the ball, like the Bizarro version of Arizona. Coach Vitt may be on a very short leash if he cannot improve one or both squads. The very worst defense however belongs to the Baltimore Blitz. The once-formidable Blitz defense is a shadow of its former self, allowing a whopping 32.6 points per game, nearly 6 points higher than 2nd place Orlando. They are bottom 5 in nearly every defensive category, except sacks, where the combo of James Farrior, Chuckie Nwokorie, and Andrew Wadsworth have a very respectable 17 sacks between them. The Blitz can get to the QB, but apparently cannot keep him from completing big plays, as Baltimore leads the leagues with the most 20+ yard plays allowed. Looks like Coach Coughlin has some work to do.
A good week by recent standards, with no new players added to the IR of any of the league's 24 clubs. That is not to say that there won't be some teams dealing with injuries, just that all of the players added to the injury report this week are expected back relatively soon. Among those who could be out the longest we find Chicago FS George Teague (4-6 weeks with abdominal tear) and Denver SS Sean Lumpkin (4-6, wrist). In the 1-2 week group we find Texas DE Dimitrius Underwood (Toe), Birmingham HB Shaun Alexander (hamstring) and Boston HB Tiki Barber (shoulder). Doubtful for this week are Ohio LB Glenn Cadrez (hip), Texas WR Ike Hilliard (hamstring), Baltimore WR J.J. Stokes (meniscus) and Arizona HB Stephen Davis (toe). That's a lot of teams without their starting halfback, an adjustment each club will need to make to put a successful offense on the field to be sure.
The second half of our Midseason Report Card will focus on individuals rather than squads. We will look at the 5 players who have jumped into the national consciousness this season, the 5 who are surprising us with their underwhelming 2004 output, and then finish up with 5 things to watch for over the season’s 2nd half, and our picks for the Top 5 players who could be impactful out of the 2005 draft, and who should go all in to sign them. We start with our Top 5 Breakout Players of 2004.
5. T.J. Duckett, HB, Texas
The big back who failed to impress the Panthers in his rookie season and was unceremoniously dealt to the Outlaws, is having the best season of his young career. His per carry average is finally up over 4 yards a play, sitting at 4.3 after 7 weeks. He is well on his way to a possible 1,000 yard season, and he is avoiding the fumbles that hurt him with the Panthers as a rookie. He is a bit off the pace for the rushing title, but Texas will be very happy if 1,000 yards is in his future.
4---Robert Ferguson, WR, Boston
We have mentioned Ferguson before in this report. He is without a doubt benefitting from the presence of Chad Ochocinco in Boston, averaging 4.5 receptions a game, and on pace for his first 1,000 yard season. He also has 5 TDs after 7 weeks, matching his season-long total from 2003, when he was the team’s primary receiver and dealing with double coverage. He is freed up with Ochocinco opposite him, and he is clearly growing into the role of the inside and underneath target.
3—LB Mike Vrabel, Jacksonville
Vrabel has been a good player for a while now, but this season he is upping his game. He leads the Bulls with 48 tackles, has also added 4 sacks and 4 forced fumbles. These are very solid numbers on a defense that still has some holes. Vrabel, who had 100-tackle seasons from 1999-2002, looks to be on pace to do it again, but this time with more blitzes and more sacks. He is a good player to build around for the Bulls.
2—Daunte Culpepper, QB, Tampa Bay
We have seen a lot of quarterbacks come over to the USFL after starting their careers in the NFL, and sometimes they find success, but more often than not they are somewhat underwhelming. That has not been the case for Culpepper, who found the right coach in Spurrier to unleash his gunslinger nature and his cannon arm. The former UCF Knight is averaging just under 275 yards per game, with 13 touchdowns in 7 weeks. He has Tampa Bay at 6-1, with already 2 more wins than in all of 2003, and he has fans in Tampa Bay talking about Bandit Ball once again.
1—Anthony Weaver, DE, Chicago
As much as Culpepper has Tampa fans buying up #8 jerseys, Anthony Weaver is becoming Chicago’s favorite son. The third year player has exploded on the scene this year. He imnpressed as a rookie with 10 sacks coming out of Notre Dame. Improved on it with 16 sacks in 14 games last year, but now is on pace for 18 or more this season. But it is not just the numbers, it is the style that has fans clamoring to watch Weaver play. The big DE is putting together a highlight reel to die for, tossing lineman like rag dolls, or speeding around them like they are statues, disrupting run plays, and terrifying quarterbacks. It is beautiful to watch as long as you are not coaching the opposing offense. Weaver has a one sack lead right now over Mike Rucker (BIR) and the omnipresent Phil Hansen (NJ). Can he keep it up all year long?
Disappointed!!!
We have seen the good, what about the bad? Yup, we have that too. Here are the five players who came into the season with a lot of promise, potential, and pressure to succeed, but have fallen flat through the season’s first half. Not too late to turn it around, but right now things don’t look good.
5—Akili Smith, Ryan Leaf, and Joey Harrington: We are going to put the trio of benched starters at QB in the same boat. In each case the results did not come, the losses did, and the hope that they could make a difference this year has turned to a sense of despair in Las Vegas, Baltimore, and Orlando. Smith had shown signs of improvement over the past couple of years, but has backslid in 2004. Harrington had a strong rookie year, but back to back problem seasons, punctuated with interceptions, have folks wondering where the rookie went. And Ryan Leaf, what can we say about Leaf? He has his moments as a player, but his mouth gets him into trouble, and he loses the trust of his teammates. Quick to blame others, thin skinned, and ultimately not strong as a team leader, Leaf was cut by a coach who just won’t stand for his antics, and no one has stepped up to sign him, which we expect would send a message, if only Leaf’s ego was open to hearing it.
4—Heath Shuler, QB, Memphis: We are putting Shuler in a different category because for so long he was so good. This is a former MVP, a player who threw for 4,000 or more yards over 4 straight years (1998-2001), and who has had seasons with 36, 38, and 47 touchdowns. After 7 weeks he has 2 so far this year. Two touchdowns in 7 games!!!! What has happened? As much as we want to blame the Showboats for not surrounding him with receivers, the truth may be worse than that. Shuler may have hit the wall. After 10 outstanding seasons in Memphis, has he fallen off the QB cliff and lost what made him special? We cannot say for sure, but if he continues to struggle, at some point Coach Mora may need to bench him, and that is something we did not come into this year expecting to say.
3—Larry Johnson, HB, Philadelphia: The Stars put a lot into Johnson, from signing him as a rookie to a pretty sizable contract, to allowing Stephen Davis to walk in Free Agency, expecting Johnson to exceed the aging HB’s totals from 2003. What have we seen so far? A lack of vision that has the big back missing developing holes and making the wrong cut, and a simple lack of push when he takes the first hit. In 7 games, Johnson has only 322 yards, an average of 46 per game. He is averaging a sorry 2.8 yards per attempt. None of that is what a bell cow back has to do. The Stars may have gotten stars in their eyes watching Johnson at Penn State, but he is not running against Indiana and Northwestern any more, and we are not seeing enough to keep putting Philly’s hope in the former Nittany Lion.
2—DE Chidi Ahanotu, New Orleans: Every time we think Ahanotu is ready to become an elite pass rusher he seems to fall off the face of the earth. He has 3 sacks so far this year, and seems to have eaten himself out of football shape. We get it. New Orleans is a tough town to stay fit in, what with all the gumbo, beignets, and bread pudding, but the Breakers counted on Ahanotu to be their sack leader, and 3 in 7 games is not good enough.
1—Dwayne Rudd, LB, WSH: What the what? Is this the same Dwayne Rudd who had 112 tackles in 2001 for the Generals? He has 7 tackles in 7 games. How is that even possible? You would expect players to just trip over him if he just lay on the ground more than 7 times. He has gone from 112 tackles his last year in New Jersey to 86 in his first year in Washington, 60 last year, and now is on pace for 14. 14!!!??? This is not good at all for the Federals, who now have to be thinking that Rudd is done, and may have to move a bench player into the starting lineup. They have some options in 3rd year player Torrance Marshall and 2nd year player Keyon Whiteside, but the fact that this is a topic of discussion for what should be an elite LB corps is just a big surprise, and not the kind the Feds were hoping for.
Second Half of the Season Keys to Watch For.
Seven weeks down, seven to go, so just what do we think is going to happen over the second half of the season? With so many teams lingering around .500 a run by any club could be huge. We also have several divisions where we are likely to go down to the wire, so there is a lot that can happen. Here are our Top 5 storylines to follow as we race towards midsummer and the USFL playoffs.
5—Rivals Worth Tracking
Denver and Arizona are very different teams, but these two rivals have one thing in common, they both look legitimately strong this year. The Wranglers have finally built up a defense and a run game so that Jake Plummer does not have to play Superman each week. The Gold have the league’s best defense and after surviving a scare when Mark Brunell went down, their offense may be ready to shrug off a slow start and prove dangerous as well. These are two very good teams that don’t like each other very much. Watching them battle their way through the season to a Week 13 showdown in Tempe should be hugely entertaining.
4—Can Oakland Do This?
The Invaders are in the unfamiliar position of leading their division at the halfway point. Has Coach Green really turned the culture around for Oakland, or will they fade down the stretch? It won’t be easy for the Invaders as both LA and Seattle are certainly strong teams, capable of going on a run. The Invaders are a game up in the division despite giving up more points than they score, which is an ominous sign, but this squad may just be ready to put an end to nearly a decade of futility. If you like an underdog story, this is the storyline for you.
3—Can Ohio Hold Court in the League’s Toughest Division?
The Ohio Glory have been dominant over the past two seasons, but they are getting seriously challenged by not one but two division rivals as both Chicago and Pittsburgh have closed the gap and are real threats to the Glory. All three are tied at 5-2 after 7 weeks, and with each still playing each other over the final 7 weeks, this should be a royal rumble for the ages. Will it be Ohio’s offense, Chicago’s stifling D, or the toughness of the Maulers that wins out?
2—Coaches Feeling the Heat
While most of our storylines feature clubs battling for playoff position, this is a story about survival. There are several coaches who are already feeling the heat, and deservedly so as their teams struggle to put together a complete game. Will any be released before the season ends? And what will Black Monday look like. Among the favorites right now to be on the street by August 1 we have a legend of the game in Memphis head coach Jim Mora, an interim coach who few thought would last this long in Las Vegas’s Joe Vitt, and a Summer Bowl winner whose team has disintegrated around him in Orlando’s George O’Leary. Add in real danger for Texas’s Chan Gailey and you have four men who will be fighting for their coaching lives over the next two months.
1—Tampa Bay and Boston Battle for the Division
This is the most intriguing battle in the USFL, of all the divisions, in part because no one expected these two clubs to get this good this fast. These two could easily be fighting not only for their division title, but for the top seed in the playoffs as well. Add in the excitement of two explosive offenses and two coaches who come with very different back stories and you have a great story to watch play out over the next 7 weeks. Get the popcorn ready, this could be a blockbuster summer.
Looking to the Future
As much as we want to savor every drop of football goodness the 2004 season has to offer, we cannot help but take a sneak peek at the potential Class of 2005 and wonder just who could be next year’s Byron Leftwich, Willis McGahee, Larry Fitzgerald, or Karlos Dansby. Here is our best guess at the top 5 potential talents available in the USFL Draft come January, and our pick for the team that should make whatever deal they can to get that player on their squad come February.
5—WR Braylon Edwards of Michigan: A big target with even bigger potential, Edwards is the preeminent red zone target in this year’s class, and he can go deep too. As a Wolverine, Edwards could be protected by the Panthers, and in all honesty, unless Charles Rogers shows some real upside in the next 7 weeks, we absolutely think the Panthers should try again by signing Edwards if they can. If Michigan does not go after Edwards, the obvious landing spot should be Memphis, where the Showboats sorely need a big target for Heath Shuler. They could and should provide whatever the Panthers and Edwards’s agent demand.
4—HB Ronnie Brown of Auburn: The Tigers have two outstanding backs in Brown and Cadillac Williams. Either one could finish the 2004 season as the top HB in the draft. We like Brown’s upside a bit more than that of Williams, but now comes the interesting part. With 2 power backs at Auburn, and with the Stallions very happy with Shaun Alexander, Birmingham could opt to trade away their top 2 of 4 Territorial Draft picks, get some real draft capital in the open draft, and still sign two studs from Auburn or Alabama at positions they really need. So, who should go after Brown? Las Vegas seems the obvious choice. Their run game is just awful, and while they need to improve the line, starting with a top flight HB like Ronnie Brown is not a bad way to go for the Thunder. Heck, they could even offer less for Birmingham’s 2nd round T-Draft pick and just take whichever Auburn back is not picked #1.
3—LB Demarcus Ware of Troy State: A player who will be there at the top of the Open Draft, Ware’s potential is limitless. He has been one of the few players on lower tier teams who dominates even in games where his team is seriously overmatched. There are few teams that don’t need an upgrade at linebacker, but the two that seem poised to go after Ware are both in the Northeast. Baltimore may have the best shot at him, but Philly will be right there as well. Both need youth and a killer instinct in their linebacker corps, and Ware could provide just what they need.
2—HB Cedric Benson of Texas: Is Benson the next Ricky Williams (in a good way, not a suspended for smokin’ weed way)? A lot of folks think so. Benson is a big, bruising back, just the kind of thing that teams who use a 3-receiver spread set need to force teams into single coverage. With T.J. Duckett having a good 3rd year for the Outlaws, they are likely to be willing to trade away the T-Draft pick that would secure Benson. The thing is, the team we like best as a perfect landing spot is unlikely to get a shot. Houston would be a perfect landing spot, pairing Benson with Kevin Faulk for an electric “Thunder & Lightning” combo, but the odds that Texas would allow their arch rival a shot at Benson seem slim at best.
1—Aaron Rodgers of Cal: Arguably the best QB in a pretty thin pool, challenged only by the more athletic but more erratic Alex Smith of Utah, Rodgers seems tailor made for a team on the cusp. He is protected by Oakland, and we think the Invaders would be a perfect home for the Cal Bear. He could sit behind Trent Green for a year, just as Eli Manning has done in New Orleans this year, and then emerge as the starter in Year Two, a perfect set up for success. Oakland has a solid #1 receiver in Plaxico Burress, and Taylor Jacobs is developing into a reliable target as well. The line is still a concern, but if Oakland can land Rodgers in the T-Draft, they can then go after some line help in the Open Draft and free agency. Seems a perfect match, but can the Invaders once again get burned after failing to sign either Carson Palmer or Philip Rivers in the past 2 drafts? Can it happen a 3rd time?
We have looked at the big picture for weeks 8 through 14, and even further ahead, to the draft, but it is time to get back to the present. We have a good slate of games to kick off the second half of the season, as all 24 clubs are in interconference play. The game of the week has to be Arizona at Chicago. These two franchises, who once swapped both owners and rosters, will exhibit two very different styles of play when they clash at Soldier Field on Saturday.
Another game to watch features 6-1 Tampa Bay hosting the New Orleans Breakers. The Breakers made a run all the way to Summer Bowl 2003, so they should not be overlooked in this clash of Gulf Coast clubs. Seattle is in DC as it is a battle of Washington’s in the nation’s capital. A win by the Dragons and they are back up to .500, but Washington is in a battle with New Jersey and cannot afford to drop to 4-4. The Generals are at home this week as they face the surprising Invaders from Oakland. Both are 4-3 and hoping to move well above .500 with a win.
The defending champs, Ohio, are at home, where they face the Houston Gamblers. Houston could start Doug Flutie in this one, as Coach Wade Philips has been keeping mum about the starter ahead of this game. We have two new starters for certain this week as Las Vegas will start Aaron Brooks against the Stars at Lincoln Financial Field and Orlando will give Jeff Blake his first USFL start as the Renegades host the Nashville Knights at the Citrus Bowl. In other games, Memphis is at Jacksonville, Birmingham will be in Boston to face the Cannons, Denver is in Michigan to face the Panthers, and Texas will take on that tough Pittsburgh defense at Heinz Field.
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