Part two of our 2004 USFL Season Preview and we turn our eyes on the teams and their possibilities this year. Having realized a long time ago that we simply were not good at forecasting the USFL, we have brought in experts to do the impossible for us. We start our look at 2004 by bringing in three of the most respected voices in the world of football, starting with former Oakland Raiders Head Coach and current NFL commentator John Madden.
JOHN MADDEN (CBS Sports)
“What do I see when I look at the USFL? I see an exciting league with a lot of exciting players, playing in a wide open format. Reminds me a lot of the old AFL where I got my start. You got these guys, I mean, you got Collins and George in Ohio just putting up points, but then you have someone like Washington, trying to play it classically by playing defense and handing the ball off to McCallister. It’s a blast, it really is.”
“So what do I see this year? Well, that Culpepper signing is something special. You see him down in Tampa with Randy Moss and Coach Spurrier, and you know it’s gonna be wild, just chuck it deep and let Moss run under it. But they have McGahee too, and he is a ballplayer. That guy can juke and spin, and just make things happen.”
“I like Ohio again, how do you not, but keep an eye on what Steve (Spurrier) is doing down in Tampa Bay. I think they will put it together quickly. And out West, that is tougher. What do you do with Denver? I mean they like to play like its 1968, but do they have the horses to pull it off? And now you have Keyshawn in Los Angeles, that could be fun to watch. But I love defense, so I am going to pick Houston to rebound and make a run. They have two monsters on the D-line, and they just added a really good corner in Shaun Springs. That could make a huge difference for them. So I am going to go with Ohio and Houston as my two picks.”
CHRIS BERMAN, ESPN
“ You know everyone is going to talk about Ohio, oh… Madden already picked them. I believe that. Ok, so let’s just say it is not Ohio, because it is so hard to repeat, and now they lose Chad Ochocinco, that has to be a blow. So, we look at who else might be there. Pittsburgh was close last year, they were close, but not quite there, and I don’t know if Charlie Batch can get them there, but Terrell Davis is for real, and that defense is for real too. Now they add Sean Taylor, who was just a beast at the U, that is a big add.”
“And I like what the Wranglers are doing. They basically bring in two head coaches, Jim Fassel, who you know will get that defense a lot tighter, and then Greg Landry, a guy who really understands USFL football, and you give him not only Jake Plummer to work with, but also a veteran like Stephen Davis and the best rookie receiver since Randy Moss with Larry Fitzgerald from Pitt. That is quite a combo.”
“So, the Swami is looking at Pittsburgh and Arizona as two teams on the rise, and if it is not going to be Ohio for a third year, one of those two might be in position to knock them out.”
TROY AIKMAN, FOX
“You know I want to talk about the Bandits, but I am going to put that aside and talk about a team that is still somehow sneaking under everyone’s radar, New Orleans. Yes, they made a big splash signing Eli Manning out from under the San Diego Chargers, but I still see Trent Dilfer running the show this year. Let the rookie watch and learn, maybe get him some late game action, but don’t rush him. The Breakers are a team that wins with defense and by giving their backs the ball. Don’t change that. They came really close last year, almost knocked off the Glory in the Summer Bowl. They are going to be tough again this year”
“In the East, I don’t know. Washington is always there. Pittsburgh is solid. And the Southeast could go any direction, even Boston could be there when it is all over. So, let me talk about Boston for a minute. They go out and sign away Chad Ochocinco from the Glory, which hurts Ohio, but also gives Drew Bledsoe something he has never really had with this club, a true #1 receiver. I like that move a lot. I also like that they brought in Troy Brown as a good slot option or maybe even the #2, and then they have Tiki Barber, who is only getting better now that teams have to double up on Johnson. I think Boston could surprise some folks.
So there you have it. Three football experts all trying their best not to focus exclusively on the Ohio Glory and the attempt to threepeat. In a league with 24 clubs and a history of making a repeat, much less a threepeat, nearly impossible, anything can happen. All 24 clubs made moves this year to try to compete at the top level, to dethrone the champion or to just get better. So who was successful in doing it. We scoured all the moves, all the new faces, and we tried our best to figure out the mystery of who can take on the Ohio Glory and compete for a title. Here is our look, division by division, starting with the Central, home to the 2-time champion, and moving through the league, as we explore what is new for each team and explore their possibilities for the 2004 season.
COACH: Al Luginbill
2003 RECORD: 12-2, League Champion
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: The departure of Chad Ochocinco was the biggest disruption to the league champions. You don’t lose 1,000 yards and 14 receiving touchdowns and just brush it off. The Glory signed Philadelphia veteran Troy Brown to step in at #2, but expect to also see a lot of rotating faces at receiver, including 3rd year WR Reche Caldwell, 2nd year WR Justin Gage, and smatterings of Malcolm Floyd and Tyree Davis as well.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: Ohio’s free agent signings, other than Brown, were largely depth-builders, players like NFL halfback Patrick Pass and DE Chris Combs. In the draft they added two prospects at OT, including South Carolina’s Travelle Wharton, who starts the year at RT. Another Buckeye, Craig Krenzel, starts the year as the #3 QB. All in all we don’t see a lot of big contributions coming from new players this year.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: As long as the Glory have Collins, Galloway, and George working together on offense, this team will put up points. They may have slipped a step, but is that enough for others to catch up to them? Pittsburgh and Chicago will try, but we think their only real competition will be from outside of the division. We see them going 13-3 and potentially being a #1 seed and a favorite to get back to the Summer Bowl again.
COACH: Jack Bicknell
2003 RECORD: 9-5, 2nd in Central
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: The trade that put Pittsburgh into position to draft and then sign Sean Taylor is a huge story for the Maulers. Taylor is an early favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year based on his days at Miami. But the departures of 9 players from a roster that was not all that deep should not be ignored. The late retirement of David Rocker also means that Pittsburgh’s run defense may need time to figure out a Plan B.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: It is all about Taylor, which makes sense. That was a big move by the Maulers, and they got the man they wanted. The only other rookie who we expect to see a lot of playing time right away is K-State center Nick Leckey, who should be a regular up front.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: The Maulers feel like a team on the rise. They are fast on defense and have top level talent at both WR (Rison) and HB (Davis), but we still are unsold on Charlie Batch as a championship caliber QB. It is question no one wants to address in Pittsburgh, but it is the big question going into a season where once again the Maulers will be chasing Ohio. Our pick is for 9-5 again, and 2nd place again.
COACH: Marty Mornhinweg
2003 RECORD: 9-5, 3rd in Central
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: It is not a story Machine fans want to hear, but the departures seemed to outweigh the new arrivals for Chicago. Losing T John Thierry (retirement), WR Johnnie Morton (NFL), DT Sean Gilbert (Free Agency), and G Leo Goeas (Free Agency) is a lot of quality no longer with the Machine. We do like that they addressed the O-line by bringing in Jim Pyne, the All-USFL-quality center from Washington, and DT Darwin Walker could also be a good add, but it does not feel like enough to keep pace, much less gain ground on Ohio or Pittsburgh.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: We mentioned Pyne and Walker, which is basically the main influx of veteran talent. In the draft we also find a dearth of immediate impact players. TE Ben Hartsook will get some snaps, as will NC State product Sean Locklear at guard, but we do not see a gamebreaker in this year’s draft for Chicago.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: The Machine picked a bad year to more or less stand pat. While other teams were wheeling and dealing, Chicago did very little to upgrade their roster. That does not feel like a good plan in a division that has a dominant team and a second club in ascension. We think the Machine take a step back, which might prod them to do more next year. How does 6-8 motivate the Machine?
COACH: Dick LeBeau
2003 RECORD: 0-14, 4th in the Central
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: Starting over, that is the story. Coach Dick LeBeau takes over a team that was just miserable all season and needs to make sweeping changes. The Panthers’ offense had absolutely no punch, despite generally high regard for QB Drew Brees’s abilities. Of course, not needing a QB meant that Michigan could trade out of the top spot in the draft and pick up more picks to get more young talent. The question is whether or not Dick LeBeau can mold a young roster into winners any time soon.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: The draft for the Panthers was dedicated to trying to get some playmakers on offense. They signed Michigan HB Chris Perry out of the T-Draft, and then added two wideouts in Washington State’s Devard Darling and Texas A&M’s Jamaar Taylor. They also signed two potential starters on their desperately needy offensive line, Florida tackle Max Starks and Nebraska center Josh Sewell. Adding veteran tackle Mike Gandy was also an important move.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: It will be a long road back for the Panthers. We like some of the young talent, and if lineplay gets better, that will help a lot. With more of a disciplinarian in LeBeau in charge this club will not shoot itself in the foot nearly as often, and we think that alone could be worth a win or two. We see Michigan with 3-4 wins as a realistic expectation and 7 wins as a best case scenario.
COACH: Gunther Cunningham
2003 RECORD: 9-5, 1st in Southeast
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: The Bulls were another quiet team this offseason. No big signings, no draft day dramatics, so the biggest story was clearly receiver Terrell Owens’s decision to jump to the NFL. Owens will certainly be missed, but the emergence of Anquon Boldin last year as a rookie certainly helps Bulls fans feel like they still have a #1 to turn to. The question now becomes who will be the #2 receiver? Rookie Rashaun Woods could be there by year’s end, but for now it looks like Coach Cunningham will have alternate between Javon Walker and NFL signing Tai Streets.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: Streets will get a shot at the #2 receiver spot, but seems better suited in the slot. LB Allen Aldridge should be a nice addition to the LB corps, but the most excitement is around rookie WR Rashaun Woods, who has speed, but is a bit rough on his routes. That will take coaching, but the talent is there.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: The Bulls will look very much as they did in 2003. Is that good enough to retain the lead in the Southeast. We are not so sure. Boston, and even Tampa Bay could be ready to give them a run for the title this year. We think they slip a bit, perhaps snagging a Wild Card, perhaps not. Our pick is for Jacksonville to finish right in the middle of the league, 7-7 just feels very possible this year.
COACH: John Fox
2003 RECORD: 7-7, 2nd in Southeast
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: Landing Chad Ochocinco was a huge move for the Cannons. After 2 years without a true #1 wideout, QB Drew Bledsoe now has one of the most dynamic weapons in the game at his disposal. Ochocinco will be a distraction at times, no doubt, but he will also force defenses to adjust, which will allow more room for Tiki Barber, and if Boston can score just a few more points per game, they could easily leapfrog to the top of the division.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: In addition to Ochocinco, Boston nabbed two potential contributors in the draft, with DE Jason Babin being the biggest get. Adding NC State receiver Jerricho Cotchery could also be a nice addition for the Cannons, who plan to place him in the slot. Not as big in media coverage, but certainly for Coach Bicknell, was landing Wrangler CB Fred Smoot, a nice addition to a secondary that at times last year looked lost.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: Boston feels like another team on the ascent. After countless losing seasons in Atlanta, the relocated Cannons were decent at 7-7 in their first year in Boston. Fans will now expect more, and we think this Cannon club can deliver on that. They are our pick to win the division, and we think 10 wins is within grasp.
COACH: Steve Spurrier
2003 RECORD: 4-10, 3rd in Southeast
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: Bandit Ball is back! Sure, the media guys have never said it left, but the deal that brought Coach Steve Spurrier back to Tampa Bay is huge for the Bandits. It means not only media attention and local swagger, but a real chance to rekindle the magic of the early years of the Bandits. And Spurrier does not come empty-handed, his moves in January to trade Trent Green to Oakland and bring in NFL QB Duante Culpepper have the Gulf Coast buzzing about the deep ball from Culpepper to Moss.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: The Culpepper signing is all anyone can talk about in Tampa, and it certainly is huge, but we think adding Sean Gilbert on the D-line and Miami Hurricane LB Jonathan Vilma in the LB Corps may even be more impactful. Tampa Bay also signed a very intriguing CB in tiny Tusculum’s Ricardo Colclaugh.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: The Bandits have some big time playmakers on offense, and they may have a decent defense as well with these three additions. 7-9 wins feels very possible for this newly-energized Bandit squad.
COACH: George O’Leary
2003 RECORD: 3-11, 4th in Southeast
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: Dropping from 12-4 to 3-11 in only 2 seasons is not a good look for O’Leary and the Renegades. This is the vital 3rd season for QB Joey Harrington, who definitely seemed to regress after a decent rookie season in 2002. If he is not the answer, then Orlando could be in trouble again. They brought in two backups in former NFL QB Jeff Blake and former Heisman winner Koy Detmer, but this season will likely still depend on the development of Harrington.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: The best case scenario for Orlando is that the two QB’s brought in to back up Harrington never see the field. But other new faces should, including rookie TE Ben Troupe, Ohio State product Michael Jenkins at WR, and free agent signing Corey Sears at DE.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: The Renegades still seem a bit lost on both sides of the ball. What is their identity? It used to be defined in part by QB Scott Mitchell and DE Chris Doleman, but they are both gone, so what does Orlando have to stand on? Not much yet, and that could spell another rough year. We see 3-4 wins as a likely cap for a team that needs to find its identity.
COACH: Paul Hackett
2003 RECORD: 13-1, First in Northeast
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: Which is larger, 11 different players leaving via free agency or retirement, or the the new faces in town. Well, the good news is that very few of those who left were starters, and at least 1-2 of the new arrivals are likely to slot right into the Feds’ roster. Honestly, the Federals live and die by their defense and we think the addition of rookie SS Bob Sanders might make them just a bit better.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: Sanders was the biggest get, after failed attempts to trade with Tampa to draft Sean Taylor. Will being a clear 2nd choice give Sanders a chip on his shoulder. Washington hopes he comes to town with something to prove.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: The Federals are still what they were last year, a team that controls the ball, shuts you down on third down, and keeps games close. They lost a shootout to Ohio in the playoffs last year, but really did not do much to add more to the offense, which tells us that they think they have what they need for a title run. We are not so sure. They may still win the division, but a lot of teams have improved this offseason, and one challenger is right behind them in the form of the Generals. We think 11-3 may be about as good as the Feds can be this year in a tougher season for them.
COACH: Bill Parcells
2003 RECORD: 9-5, 2nd in Northeast
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: Prime Time, that is the story. Ok, not the whole story, but adding the best cornerback in football is a gamechanger for the Generals. They basically just cancelled out the best receiver for each opponent, forcing QB’s to look for alternatives while also running away from the ageless Phil Hansen. And to make it even more challenging, New Jersey upgraded other positions on defense as well.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: Adding Prime Time was huge, but signing rookie DT Tommie Harris of Oklahoma and LB Dontarrious Thomas from Auburn make the Generals better in all three levels of their defense. Sean Ellis, Phil Hansen, and now Tommie Harris are going to make life very difficult for opposing offenses. A good draft and one of the biggest free agent signings have to make Coach Parcells happy.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: So we know about the defense, what about Tom Brady and the offense? We are still concerned that Terry Glenn is a one-man show in the receiving corps. Yes, TE Anthony Becht is solid, but he is not Shannon Sharpe or Keith Jackson. And we cannot overlook that HB Curtis Enis has not averaged 4 yards per carry since 2000. Is that enough offense in a league where the Ohio Glory have been blowing the doors off people? Maybe not, but at least in the division, New Jersey seems to be matching up well against Washington. We see them challenging the Federals. 10-11 wins for New Jersey is a very solid goal.
COACH: Tom Coughlin
2003 RECORD: 6-8, 3rd in Northeast
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: The Blitz got the hard-nosed disciplinarian they wanted to lead the club, and then they went out and got a big ol’ hoss of a QB for the future. Two very exciting moves for a club that has languished in the middle of the pack for a long time. We love both signings, but we are a bit worried about how the challenge of Ben Roethlisberger will impact starting QB Ryan Leaf. And if Leaf falters, will the finicky Baltimore crowd start calling for Big Ben? That will be a situation worth monitoring.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: Trading with Michigan and then signing Roethlisberger feels like a very big shift in the philosophy of the usually tepid and reserved Blitz ownership. The rest of the offseason felt much more like them, signing role players like LB Mike Maslowski or TE Jay Riemersma and having a pretty quiet post-Big Ben draft. So did they do enough?
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: Coach Coughlin is trying to ground expectations in Baltimore. This is not a quick fix project. A new culture is needed, a new leader has to develop, and a new identity, but we think the Blitz are headed in the right direction. It may take a few years to develop but we like what we see this year. Probably still in the 6-7 win range, but with more potential to be dangerous.
COACH: Jim Mora Jr
2003 RECORD: 4-10, 4th in Northeast
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: Coach Mora enters the season very much aware that he is on the hotseat. There are plenty of folks who thought retaining him after a 4-win season was a mistake. The coach has shaken things up, letting veteran HB Stephen Davis go, bringing in Amani Toomer from LA, and then signing a Penn State legend who has had a rough go of pro football in Ki-Jana Carter. Desperation or deliberation? That is the question with the Stars rebuild.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: We like the signing of Toomer as well as of SS Sam Shade of the Maulers. Not so sure about Ki-Jana Carter, but he will largely serve as a change of pace back to big Larry Johnson. Honestly, the best signing was NFL guard Damien Woody, a roadgrater in the run game and a solid pass protection guy too. Brian Griese has some new weapons, and should have more protection. Can that pay off for him and the Stars?
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: The Stars feel to us like a team that needed a major rebuild but got a few tweaks on the fringes instead. It just does not feel like enough for them to be able to make headway in a division with two very heavy hitters in Washington and New Jersey. We think 4-5 wins may be the cap again for Philly, and if that is the case, then the rebuild begins next year at the head coach position.
COACH: Mike Nolan
2003 RECORD: 9-5, 1st in Southern Division
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: Archie’s kid is coming to the Big Easy! That’s all anyone can talk about in New Orleans these days. Nevermind that the Breakers made it all the way to the Summer Bowl and played the Glory quite close without Eli Manning. It seems that after the USFL missed out on his older brother Peyton, now one of the NFL’s superstars, they were not going to miss out on the younger Manning boy. Eli comes to New Orleans, but as of now the starter remains Trent Dilfer. Could Eli actually sit for a year, or will we see him on the field at some point this season? If you leave it up to the fans in N’awlins, he would be on the field one way or another.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: The unspoken story for the Breakers is that they managed to make it to a Summer Bowl and not suffer a mass exodus as teams picked apart their roster. New Orleans lost no starters and only 6 bench players in free agency. They didn’t spend big either, focusing, clearly, on the draft. So what about the draft? Anyone not named Manning going to get some attention? There are two players, actually, who we should keep an eye on. Fullback Thomas Tapeh comes from Minnesota and should be a day 1 starter. Tight End Chri Cooley from Utah State has also looked very good in camp and could see significant playing time.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: The Breakers sort of snuck up on us all, barely holding off Birmingham to take the division and then upsetting both LA and Denver on the road to make the title game. They will not be able to sneak up on anyone this year. That said, they still look like the most complete team in the division, and possibly in the entire conference. They don’t have the explosiveness of LA, but they have a very solid squad top to bottom. That will get you far in this league. We see 11-3 and a run at the #1 seed as very much their goal for the year.
COACH: Dennis Franchione
2003 RECORD: 8-6, 2nd in Southern Division
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: The loss of Deion Sanders was a big hit for a team that was not living up to its potential on defense even with the future Hall of Famer. When we add in the losses of DE Cedric Scott, LB Barrett Green, and DE Renaldo Turnbull, Coach Franchione finds himself rebuilding the entire defense. That is sure to put even more pressure on Favre and the offense to put up points.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: Birmingham tried to plug holes with the draft this year. DE Antwan Odom from Alabama, LB Darrell McGlover form Miami, but we are not sure if either will start for the Stallions. Odom will almost certainly get some field time as players rotate in opposite Mike Rucker, but what will his impact be?
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: Franchione’s first year at Legion Field was a good one, moving Birmingham to 8-6 and a Wild Card game. From what we see his second year may be tougher. The Stallions lost some talent, and did not make big moves to replace it. Their roster screams “middle of the pack” to us, so we are going to say 7-7 and perhaps the Stallions get more aggressive next offseason.
COACH: Jim Mora Sr.
2003 RECORD: 7-7, 3rd in the Southern Division
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: It was a bit of a rotating door in Memphis this summer, with 8 players leaving via free agency, but another 5 coming in. None were gamechangers, but that means that they did not gain any ground either. The 2002 Western Conference Champions fell hard last year as inconsistency plagued them all season. Coach Mora is going to need to get more out of them, particularly out of the defense and the run game, if the Showboats are going to rebound.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: Memphis had a solid draft, with two week one starters in their haul, speedy wideout Lee Evans and center Casey Kramer. The other potential draftee who could see the field a lot is DT Marcus Tubbs, who could rotate in with Barron Tanner and Rashad Moore through out the year.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: Memphis is the kind of team that could go 10-4 if all goes well or 4-10 if it does not. They have talent, though some of it is getting a little long in the tooth, but do they have a coherent style of play? On defense the answer seems to be no, and they need one. We are going to split the two poles here and say that the Showboats could also end up around 7-7.
COACH: Jim Johnson
2003 RECORD: 6-8, 4th in the Southern Division
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: The early story was the loss of some pretty good players from last year’s disappointing 6-win club. Guard Gennary DiNapoli, LB Mike Caldwell, DT Don Sasa, FS Earl Little, these are players who will be missed. But, as the winter went on, the Knights kept on signing players, 5 solid free agents all told. DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila is the big name, and the Knights hope he will bring big numbers to the pass rush, but others like CB Otis Smith, WR Kevin Lockett, DT Kris Jenkins, and DE Ta’ase Famui are going to contribute as well.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: It is getting crowded in the Defensive End group with the arrival not just of veterans KGB and Famui, but with a really good looking late round draft pick, Jared Allen out of Idaho State. Allen was by no means guaranteed a spot on the roster, but we now expect to see him in games this year, as he has moved up to the swing position behind KGB and Osi Umenyiura. With the ability to rotate players on the ends, expect Nashville to improve their sack totals and cause more turnovers this season.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: If Nashville does see an uptick in both turnovers and sacks, they could easily move from basement to penthouse in this very even division. The key to the offense is still Ahman Green, but the defense has talent at all three levels, especially on the line, where plays can be made or blown up. We like what Nashville has done, and we are going to pick them to challenge New Orleans. 9-5 and in the mix is our pick.
COACH: Dick Jauron
2003 RECORD: 11-3, First in the Southwest Division
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: Retirements were the story in Denver. Free agency was not bad for them, but they had 4 important players all call it a career this offseason. WR Dedric Smith, LB Marvcus Patton, FS Mark Carrier, and C Jay Leeuwenberg are all important veteran leaders and solid players. They will be hard to replace, and that could spell trouble for the Gold. Denver was stunned by New Orleans in the Western Championship, and that will sting for a while, but without veteran leadership, they may have trouble returning to those heights.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: Denver did what Denver always seems to do, go small, spend little, and try to get guys who fit the system. No one is jumping over the moon at the signings of rookies like WR Devery Henderson or DE Marquise Hill, but you can bet they will be asked to contribute.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: It is amazing that Denver can so regularly be one of the league’s better teams and yet at the same time be so utterly boring. Aside from the Rashaan Salaam situation a couple of years back, there is rarely anything exciting to talk about in Denver, either on the field or off. Expect the Gold to somehow crush out 9-10 wins this year. What may be actually interesting about that is that it may not be enough as we see 2 other teams in the division headed their way.
COACH: Chan Gailey
2003 RECORD: 7-7, 2nd in Southwest Division
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: Texas made the playoffs, despite losing in week 14 last year, but they cannot count on luck and tiebreakers to get any further. They also cannot count on any game-changing stars headed to town. The Outlaws had one of the quieter offseasons. No big trades, no NFL signings, just a few depth-building free agents. It was dull, to be honest. And we worry that dull is not going to work for Texas this year.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: Still trying to figure out why Texas let UT wideout Roy Williams slip out of the T-Draft and end up with rival Houston. That seemed like such a no-brainer pick for the Outlaws. But it happened, leaving Texas with a somewhat underwhelming draft class headlined by Oregon DT Igor Olshansky and Texas CB Nathan Vasher. Just not a lot of excitement generated there.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: We honestly think Texas stayed about the same talent-wise, but we think both Arizona and Houston got significantly better, so that does not bode well for the Outlaws. We say they slip to around 5-9 and find themselves at the bottom of the division by season’s end.
COACH: Jim Fassel
2003 RECORD: 6-8, 3rd in Southwest Division
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: The Wranglers had just about the opposite offseason as the Outlaws, making big moves, signing big names, and getting their fanbase excited about a new coaching staff and some new weapons. Jim Fassel begins his tenure in Arizona with a lot of good will as he brings with him both LB Karlos Dansby and WR Larry Fitzgerald, two very good looking rookies.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: We will certainly hear a lot about Fitzgerald and Dansby this season, but we should not forget that perhaps the most relevant signing to the success or failure of Arizona’s 2004 season is not one of the big rookies, but veteran HB Stephen Davis. It seemed like every year under HC Art Shell there was lip service paid to the run game and every year it fell apart. Can Davis be the catalyst to get an actual run game threat into the arsenal of the Wranglers? Or will Jake Plummer again lead the club in rushing?
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: The pairing of Fitzgerald with Santana Moss and QB Jake Plummer is exciting to consider. We are also really intruged about a LB Corps that now boasts rookie Karlos Dansby alongside veterans Lance Briggs and Winfred Tubbs. Arizona could be ready for a big leap upward, though I feel we have said that in the past. We are going to be optimistic with them and say 10-4 and 1st place in the mix for the Wranglers.
COACH: Wade Phillips
2003 RECORD: 4-10 and 4th in the Southwest.
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: Two signings really lit a fire under the Gambler fans. The first was stealing CB Shaun Springs away from the NFL. He is a top level cover corner and lined up opposite Ronde Barber, Houston now has a 1-2 combo in the defensive backfield to parallel their killer 1-2 punch on the D-Line. The other was rookie WR Roy Williams from Texas. Expect a lot of Longhorn fans to be cheering for Williams each week.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: Williams was the big name signing, the one nobody thought would get away from the Texas Outlaws, but he is headed to Houston, not San Antonio. But the other rookie surprise, adding OK State HB Tatum Bell in the second round was the true coup. They got lucky as Bell, for unknown reasons, started slipping, and the Gamblers were able to get him without having to move back up into the first round. Adding Bell and Williams to the Houston offense is going to be big.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: The Gamblers still have some issues to work out, and we are still not fully sold on Matt Hasselbeck with this offense, but the talent level is definitely there to make a run if they can stay organized and move the rookies along quickly. We think it is not outrageous to look at 9 wins for this club.
COACH: Galen Hall
2003 RECORD: 10-4, First in the Pacific Division
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: Up until Tampa Bay’s signing of Duante Culpepper, the biggest NFL-USFL transfer story had to be the return of Keyshawn Johnson to LA. A USC grad, Keyshawn has a larger than life personality and the talent to back it up. In LA that talent will be used to better control the ball, and to free up speedster Tory Holt deep. Keyshawn can also excel at deep balls, but with his frame we see him handling a lot of intermediate routes and forcing safeties to make impossible decisions on who to cover.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: LA got hit hard by free agency, with players like Amani Toomer, Travis Kirschke, Barry Minter, and Bryan Stoltenberg headed elsewhere. But they turned around and did well for themselves also, signing not only Keyshawn Johnson, but adding DT Norman Hand and LB Adalius Thomas.
In the draft, LA targeted USC defensive end Kenechi Udeze early and despite being a high NFL pick, Udeze signed with the Express. They also added quality with WR Bernard Berrian of Fresno State and Tulane HB Mewelde Moore. A very good draft indeed for the Express.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: LA won the division last year before being unceremoniously bounced from the playoffs by New Orleans. That loss has stung the Express and they look very much like a team on a mission. With Johnson, Moore, and Berrian joining Holt, Foster, and McNown, the Express have the makings of a top 3 offense, and that could mean a serious run to their first ever Summer Bowl appearance. We like them to win 10-12 games and fight for the top seed this year.
COACH: Marvin Lewis
2003 RECORD: 8-6, 2nd in Pacific Division
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: Coach Marvin Lewis got Seattle to the playoffs in his first year with the club, and while they looked good in beating Birmingham in the Wild Card round, they stumbled against Denver in the Divisionals. The Dragons found their QB in Byron Leftwich and this offseason they looked to improve the defense, adding FS Omar Stoutmire and LB Barry Minter. Unfortunately they lost All-USFL safety John Lynch to the NFL in the process. So are they better on defense or will Leftwich and the offense have to carry the team again?
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: Seattle’s draft was a bit of a head scratcher. We like DE Travis LaBoy from Hawai’I, but they went all over the map, selecting and signing WR Reggie Williams and QB Cody Pickett from UW in their T-Draft, but the only Open Draft signees were from the lower rounds, including two mid-round DTs who may not see much of the field.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: The Dragons should be fun to watch, with Leftwich throwing to David Boston, Corey Bradford, Ashley Lelie, and newcomer Reggie Williams. They can still run as well, with Corey Dillon leading the way. But can their defense hold up? That will be the big question. We think another playoff run is possible, but we are not sure they can overtake LA this year. We say a Wild Card at 9-5.
COACH: Joe Vitt
2003 RECORD: 6-8, 3rd in Pacific Division
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: Inaction was the story as the Thunder clearly spent all their time trying to get the show up and running in the desert. Despite losing 3 players to the NFL (including HB Correll Buckhalter) and having both LB Greg Biekert and QB Rick Mirer leave to other USFL teams, the Thunder made only a few fringe signings of their own, snagging TE Brian Kozlowski from the NFL and adding some linebacker help in Shawn Barber and Antony Jordan in free agency. We like the addition of DeShea Townsend, and it was an upgrade to bring in Mike Vanderjagt to be the new kicker in Las Vegas, but this feels very much like treading water, and when you are 6-8, you really should not stand pat.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: While we were unimpressed with the Thunder’s free agent signings, we have no complaints about their draft, expect perhaps that they need to find a way to sign more players. They Added a solid safety in Georgia’s Sean Jones, got a good inside back to get tough yards in Notre Dame’s Julius Jones, and may have a mid-round steal in UCLA linebacker Brandon Chillar.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: The story this year feels like the story the past 2 years, the Las Vegas Thunder will go only as far as QB Akili Smith can take them. If he grows into the role, they could top .500, if not, they may turn to backup Aaron Brooks, obtained in trade from the Breakers. Hard to see either of those QB’s leading the Thunder deep into the playoffs, and isn’t that the goal? We say 6-8 once again.
COACH: Dennis Green
2003 RECORD: 2-12, 4th in Pacific Division
OFFSEASON’S BIG STORY: Dennis Green has his hands full, but he seems to be off to a better start than his predecessor. When he, just like the year before, had his top draft pick, another big-armed QB, slip through his grasp, he did not stay with the mediocre options on hand. He made a deal with Tampa Bay and brought a solid “bridge” QB to town in the form of Trent Green. Green (the QB, not the coach) has issues with staying healthy, which could be a concern, and he is certainly not a long-term solution, but he gives Oakland a much better chance to win some games this year. And for those still upset that both Carson Palmer and Philip Rivers turned down the Invaders, just remember that in 2005 we expect Cal QB Aaron Rodgers to go pro, so maybe the third time is the charm for the Invader faithful.
DRAFT & FREE AGENCY FINDS: So, in addition to trading for Trent Green, what did Dennis Green do in the offseason? He made another swap, sending Robert Mathis to Philly for LB Henri Crockett. Crockett is an upgrade at the position, but we are worried that Mathis may have been on the path to being a very good edge rusher and Oakland may have given him away too cheaply. Other than that, and a few odd signings like punter Josh Bidwell (NFL), guard Glenn Roundtree (BOS), and safety Jerome Woods (TBY), not a lot until the draft. In the draft Oakland went for beef, signing OTs Vernon Carey (Miami) and Kirk Chambers (Stanford), and DT Dwan Edwards (Oregon State). From camp it looks like Carey will be the starter at LT, so that may be a bit of a wild ride this year.
OUTLOOK & PREDICTION: It should not be hard to improve upon a 2-win season. They have a solid guy at QB, able to make smart calls and Burress, Stallworth and Fauria are a decent 1-2-3 option at receiver. If Rashaan Salaam or Justin Fargas can start finding holes behind that Invader line, the offense could be adequate. The defense needs to generate more pressure and more turnovers. If they can, Oakland could leap over Las Vegas and with 5-7 games but we don’t see a playoff run just yet.