Welcome to our two part preview of the 2006 USFL Season. In this first article we will be focusing on the offseason moves, the recently completed NFL-USFL Transfer window, the latest trades, and the always hit-or-miss post USFL Draft signing period. We will also take our best guess at the 5 most improved teams, and the 10 players to watch this season. In the second half of our season preview we will look at each club and each division and give our best estimate of what we should expect from this first year of a 26-team league. What can we see ahead for Atlanta, St. Louis and all 24 returning clubs? Will we have another Cinderella season or will the heavy hitters regain dominance? Let’s kick it all off with the 2006 USFL Draft, the players signed, and those who got away. We will follow the order of the first round, which did see all 26 teams participate, though with just a bit of shuffling.
ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS
T-Draft Signees: QB Brad Smith (Mizzou), WR DT Montavious Stanley (Louisville), DE Elvis Dumerville
1st Round, Pick 1: QB Vince Young (Texas)—Signed with Houston Oilers of NFL
Open Draft Signings: WR Sinorice Moss (Miami), OT Rashad Butler (Miami), TE Owen Daniels (Wisc)
Draft Grade: The SkyHawks swung for the fences in taking Vince Young #1 overall, and as so often happens, he was also the top target for the NFL, signing with the in-state Houston Oilers. But, other than that pick they had a pretty good run, including landing all 3 of their T-Draft selections, including a back up plan at QB with Missouri’s Brad Smith, and a pretty good looking DE in Elvis Dumervil. Their best signing from the Open Draft may well be TE Owen Daniels, though Sinorice Moss in the 2nd round was also a good selection.
We grade this a solid B+ for the expansion franchise.
BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS
T-Draft Signees: LB DeMeco Ryans (Alabama), WR Ben Obomanu (Auburn)
1st Round, Pick 2: DE Mario Williams (NC State): Signed with Tennessee Copperheads (NFL)
Open Draft Signings: S Ko Simpson (So Car)
Draft Grade: If it were not for the T-Draft this draft by Birmingham would get an F. They were able to sign only 1 of 7 picks in the Open Draft, 4th rounder Ko Simpson. It is not that they picked bad players, it was that they were unable to offer enough to avoid players like 1st rounder Mario Williams from departing for the NFL. This happens to at least one team each year, where just everyone they pick goes to the fall, but Birmingham has never seen a year like this. We give them a D because at least in DeMeco Ryans they get a strong player who should see the field this year.
ATLANTA FIRE
T-Draft Signees: HB P.J. Daniels (Ga Tech), QB D.J. Shockley (UGA), TE Leonard Pope (UGA)
1st Round, Pick 3: S Michael Huff (Texas), Signed with Los Angeles Raiders of NFL
Open Draft Signings: G Deuce Lutui (USC), C Jason Spitz (Louisville), WR Demetrius Williams (Oregon), DT Anthony Montgomery (Minnesota)
Draft Grade: Atlanta fared much better than Birmingham in their signings, largely because they had a lot of cap room to swing around. That did not help them with #1 pick Michael Huff, making it the top 3 USFL picks who all signed with the NFL, but it did help them land 4 of 7 Open Draft picks and all three of their T-Draft selections, including the developmental QB selection of D. J. Schockley. With this draft, Atlanta focused on the O-line and depth at their skill positions. We give Atlanta an A- for landing players across the entire roster who could help them grow into a competitive team.
LAS VEGAS THUNDER
T-Draft Signees: DT Haloti Ngata (Oregon)
1st Round, Pick 4: LB A. J. Hawk (Ohio State), Signed for 4 years.
Open Draft Signings: HB Jerome Harrison (Wash St), DE Dave Tollefson (NW Mo ST), S Jarrad Page (UCLA)
Draft Grade: The Thunder were in talks with St. Louis even after their pick of Vince Young. They had wanted to move up to draft Young, and then they had wanted to see if St. Louis would trade Young for a QB at the #4 slot. That did not work out, and perhaps that is best for the Thunder, as Young ended up in the NFL anyway. They ended up going with the player their head coach, Jerry Glanville wanted, LB A.J. Hawk out of Ohio State, and they landed the big-hitting linebacker, making the Thunder the first team to sign a 1st round pick (in draft order, he was not the first to sign). Add to this the signing of one of the draft’s best D-linemen in Oregon’s Haloti Ngata, and you have two solid signings. Ngata was a T-Draft selection, made when Las Vegas was granted a 3rd school, and they chose Oregon, clearly with Ngata in mind. Those two may be the only two who stick on the roster, but they are two who should make an impact. We give them a B and expect Coach Glanville to get both Ngata and Hawk into an aggressive defensive scheme from day one.
TEXAS OUTLAWS
T-Draft Signees: CB Cedric Griffin (Texas), TE David Thomas (Texas)
1st Round, Pick 5: LB Chad Greenway (Iowa), Signed a 4-year deal.
Open Draft Signings: WR Marques Colston (Hofstra)
Draft Grade: There was a lot of talk of Texas trading out of the #5 spot to get more picks, and perhaps they should have done that, since they were able to sign only 2 of the 7 draftees selected. One of those two was their 1st rounder, LB Chad Greenway of Iowa, who should immediately be seen on the field for the Outlaws. The other was a promising wideout form Hofstra, who will get a chance to start as a kick returner, but whose speed is certainly something Texas needs. Other than that, their draft is somewhat lackluster. With only 4 incoming rookies, we can only give Texas a C.
ARIZONA WRANGLERS
T-Draft Signees: WR David Hagan (ASU), G Kili Lefotu (Arizona)
1st Round, Pick 6: LB Ernie Sims (FSU), Signed by NFL Detroit Lions
Open Draft Signings: DT Claude Wroten (LSU), DT Kyle Williams (LSU), WR Domenik Hixon (Akron), LB Blake Costanzo (Lafayette), C/G Greg Eslinger (Minnesota)
Draft Grade: Arizona went for the 3rd straight LB in the first round, and were the one club unable to seal the deal, as Ernie Sims opted to join the NFL Lions. They spent a lot of picks on the offensive and defensive line, and did pretty well in signing players, a total of 7 from their 10 picks. Those are pretty good results, but are the players good as well? The most interesting thing we see in the draft for the Wranglers is their tendency to double up on positions of need. They drafted two guards (depending on how Eslinger comes in), two wideouts, and two DTs. We are intrigued to see which of the two LSU teammates at DT ends up winning the battle for playing time and a possible position next to Jason Peter in the 4-3 that Coach Fassel runs. Overall a decent haul, but no immeditate game changers. That’s a B in our book.
DENVER GOLD (From Pittsburgh)
T-Draft Signees: TE Joe Klopfenstein (Colo), S Daniel Bullocks (Neb)
1st Round, Pick 7: QB Matt Leinart (USC), Signed to a 3-year contract
Open Draft Signings: T Eric Winston (Miami), DE Mark Anderson (Alabama), LB tim Mcgarigle (NWestern)
Draft Grade: Everyone knew Denver would be trying to move up to nab a QB, and everyone knew which one they preferred. There was talk of moving to #4 or #6, but the Gold found a trading partner in Pittsburgh at #7, moving all the way up from 20 by sending the Maulers LB Kawika Mitchell and picks both this year and next. But, they got the man they wanted, inking USC’s Leinart within 4 days of the draft. Other than their rookie QB, the draft was pretty uninspiring, though we think Winston can be a contributor on the O-line and TE Joe Klopfenstein is a local favorite among CU Buff fans. We give this draft an A- because the Gold knew the one position they could not miss on, and they did what was needed.
ORLANDO RENEGADES
T-Draft Signees: WR Brandon Marshall (UCF), CB Dee Webb (Florida)
1st Round, Pick 8: DE Kamerion Wimberly (FSU), Signed to 3-year deal.
Open Draft Signings: C Chris Chester (OU), CB Cortland Finnegan (Samford), G Fred Matua (USC)
Draft Grade: When Jacksonville failed to select Wimberly with one of their 3 T-Draft picks, Orlando started licking their chops. They had coveted the athletic Seminole edge rusher and they got their chance without having to trade up. The rest of their draft was pretty drab, though we do like Chester as a road grater of a center. UCF’s Brandon Marshall is a big, tall receiver who could be a good red zone target for Jeff Blake. Our grade, a solid B if Wimberly pans out, which all indicators seem to prophesize.
LOS ANGELES EXPRESS
T-Draft Signees: HB Maurice Jones-Drew (UCLA), S Darnell Bing (USC)
1st Round, Pick 9: CB Tye Hill (Clemson), Signed with NFL St. Louis Rams
Open Draft Signings: LB Stephen Tulloch (NC State), QB Brodie Croyle (Alabama), DT Gabe Watson (Mich)
Draft Grade: With so much talent at USC, there was a lot of surprise that the Express did not go after big name players like Bush, White, or Leinart, but neither QB or HB was a position of need. They went with a significantly less-expensive option in Jones-Drew, and then tried to focus on defense in the open draft. Missing on Tye Hill leaves bit of a gap at corner, but Stephen Tulloch could be a steal in the 4th round. We give them a C because they added depth but no immediate impact players.
NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS
T-Draft Signees: DE Melvin Oliver (LSU), WR Skyler Green (LSU)
1st Round, Pick 10: S Donte Whitner, Ohio State, Signed with NFL Buffalo Bills
Open Draft Signings: LB Jamar Williams (ASU), DT Barry Cofield (NWestern)
Draft Grade: The chaos of Katrina and the prospect of playing the entire 2006 season on the road (essentially) clearly impacted the ability of the Breakers to sign their draft picks. They landed only 4 of 10 selections between the two drafts and none before the 4th round of the open draft. That is another tough reality for the club, who will hope to bounce back with a better draft in 2007. Our Grade, D, for depressing reality.
NEW JERSEY GENERALS
T-Draft Signees: G David Joseph (OU), DT Dusty Dvoracek (OU), WR Travis Wilson (OU)
1st Round, Pick 11: DE Tamba Hali (Penn State), Signed to 4 year deal.
Open Draft Signings: WR Miles Austin (Monmouth)
Draft Grade: If it were not for New Jersey holding Oklahoma as a protected school, where would they be? The weird geographical anomaly works in their favor as the Generals land all 3 OU picks from the T-Draft, including a solid guard in Joseph. They also did a good job of wooing Penn State’s Tamba Hali, who will be the latest in New Jerseys’ attempt to resurrect a devastating pass rush after the retirement of Phil Hansen. Other than Hali, the Generals pretty much flubbed the open draft, signing only WR Miles Austin from tiny Monmouth College. Our Grade: C-, with Hali being the main bright spot.
OHIO GLORY
T-Draft Signees: WR Santonio Holmes (Ohio St), CB Ashton Youboty (Ohio St)
1st Round, Pick 12: LB Bobby Carpenter (Ohio St), Signed by NFL Dallas Cowboys
Open Draft Signings: LB Terna Nande (Miami-OH), DT Le Kevin Smith (Neb)
Draft Grade: What a weird strategy Ohio used this time around. They don’t select LB Bobby Carpenter in the T-Draft, when they could have had him with no competition, instead going for Holmes, Youboty, and safety Nate Salley, and then they use their 1st round pick on him. Of course he was none too pleased about being overlooked in the T-Draft, so he signs with the Dallas Cowboys, costing Ohio their 1st round pick. That was a major strategic bungle if you ask us. Holmes may end up the only player to make this squad, but that is not enough for us to overlook how shoddy their strategy was. Our Grade, an F.
BOSTON CANNONS
T-Draft Signees: LB Manny Lawson (NC State), DT John McCargo (NC State),
1st Round, Pick 13: HB Joseph Addai (LSU), Signed with NFL Colts.
Open Draft Signings: TE Garrett Mills (Tulas), CB DeMario Minter (UGA), S Charlie Peprah (Alabama), DE Brent Hawkins (Ill St), T Zach Strief (NWestern), G Rob Sims
Draft Grade: Boston’s draft depends on how you look at it. On the one hand, they signed 8 of 10 draftees, and they were very effective using NC State as a T-Draft school, landing both Manny Lawson and John McCargo, but they made a very odd 1st round pick in LSU’s Joseph Addai. Weird in that Addai clearly would be a backup to Tiki Barber. Maybe they know something about Barber’s plans that we don’t but this was one that confused the room because it was not seen as a priority. But, Addai ended up jumping at the chance to be the lead back for the NFL Colts, so it is a bit of a moot point. Talent wise, the Cannons seem to have done better in the T-Draft than the open draft, but at least they have 8 new bodies in camp, which is better than most teams can say. Our Grade, B- with more points for quantity than quality.
BALTIMORE BLITZ
T-Draft Signees: DE Darryl Tapp (Va Tech), OT Jimmy Martin (Va Tech)
1st Round, Pick 14: T D’Brickashaw Ferguson (Uva), Signed a 4-year deal.
Open Draft Signings: LB A.J. Nicholson (FSU), G Michael Toudouze (TCU), HB Wali Lundy (UVa)
Draft Grade: No team loved the run on 1st round linebackers more than the Blitz. Ben Roethlisberger has to be overjoyed that D’Brickashaw Ferguson dropped all the way to #14. Most drafts had him as a top 8 pick and had Baltimore looking at defense here and getting a tackle later, but with Ferguson available, they lucked out. It means that they did not get quite as much defensive talent as they had wanted, but Big Ben and the Blitz offense are certainly happy it worked out as it did. We give Baltimore an A- just for not screwing it up and passing on the big tackle when he dropped to them.
MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS
T-Draft Signees: CB Johnathan Joseph (So Car), S Vickiel Vaughn (Arkansas)
1st Round, Pick 15: TE Marcedes Lewis (UCLA), Signed with Jacksonville in NFL.
Open Draft Signings: DT Jonathan Lewis (Va Tech), LB Tim Dobbins (Iowa St)
Draft Grade: Memphis was a mess this year. We have no idea what they were thinking. They did not have a lot of top talent in the T-Draft, so signing Joseph was about as good as they could hope for, but when it came to the Open Draft it was reach after reach. Maybe they thought that if they drafted players ahead of their grade, they would jump at the chance to play for the Showboats, but even that strategy did not work. Picking Marcedes Lewis with Vernon Davis still on the board was a complete head scratcher, and they couldn’t even sign him. They signed only 4 of 10 picks, and we don’t see a lot of help here. We are giving Memphis an F, only because there is no grade G.
NASHVILLE KNIGHTS
T-Draft Signees: QB Jay Cutler (Vandy), DE Parys Haralson (Tenn)
1st Round, Pick 16: C Nick Mangold (Ohio St), signed with NFL NY Jets.
Open Draft Signings: WR Brandon Williams (Wisc), LB Brandon Johnson (Louisv), S Dawan Landry (Ga Tech), DT Babatunde Oshinowo (Stanford), P Sam Koch (Neb), G Max Jean-Gilles
Draft Grade: If the Showboats were a clown car, Nashville put together a Rolls Royce draft. True, they failed to sign their 1st round pick, center Nick Mangold, but they landed 8 or 10 picks, which is top notch work by the front office, and better yet, they both acquired positions of immediate need (LB, S, DT) and may have set themselves up for a smooth transition if the rumors of Todd Collins’ impending retirement are true. Cutler is a bit raw, but he has a ton of talent in that arm. We give Nashville an A for this well-rounded draft and for the success in signing 8 of 10 picks.
MICHIGAN PANTHERS
T-Draft Signees: C Chris Morris (MSU), DT Domata Peko (MSU)
1st Round, Pick 17: HB Reggie Bush (USC), signed by NFL Saints.
Open Draft Signings: G Isaac Sowells (IU), HB Leon Washington (FSU), LB Keith Ellison (Ore St), DT Kedrick Golston (UGA), G Dan Stevenson (NDame), K Matt Prater (UCF)
Draft Grade: When Reggie Bush slid all the way to the Panthers, it created a dilemma. The club certainly could use a talent like Bush’s, but being drafted 17th meant that he would be very tough to sign if the NFL drafted him Top 5 as many thought they would. When the Saints made him the #2 overall pick there was no doubt Michigan would lose out on him. They recovered well, signing 6 of 7 Open Draft picks. While none of the signed players would have the cache of Reggie Bush, there are some really good value picks there, including Ellison, a tackling machine for the Beavers, and Golston, a very solid run-stuffer in Athens. We also think the Panthers were smart, recognizing that Bush may go to the NFL, they also picked a versatile HB in FSU’s Leon Washington in the 4th round. They landed Washington, so expect their offense to still use a rotation with Fred Jackson taking the lead, Ladell Betts getting the short yardage carries, and Washington playing a role on 3rd down. We give Michigan a B+ for a deep draft, even if they missed on their first pick.
HOUSTON GAMBLERS (From Jacksonville)
T-Draft Signees: DT Johnny Jolly (TAMU), S Willie Andrews (Baylor)
1st Round, Pick 18: TE Vernon Davis (Maryland), Signed a 4-year deal.
Open Draft Signings: DE Victor Adeyanju (IU), FB Lawrence Vickers (Colo), T Tre’ Stallings (Ole Miss)
Draft Grade: When Memphis shocked everyone by picking Marcedes Lewis over Vernon Davis, the Gamblers got to work and made a deal with Jacksonville to move up 6 spots and land the consensus “rare find” talent at tight end. Congratulations, Matt Hasselbeck, you have a middle-of-the-field weapon. Add him to a receiving corps with Antonio Freeman, Roy Williams, and Koren Robinson and this may be a Houston offense to rival the glory days of Kelly and Thomas. The run game did not get the help it needed, when 2nd round pick LenDale White of USC opted for the NFL, but overall this was a pretty solid draft. We like Adeyanju and Vickers to get in games early. Stallings and Jolly could also find themselves on the field in their rookie campaign. We will give Houston an A-, and kudos for going up to grab the guy they wanted.
OAKLAND INVADERS
T-Draft Signees: DE Justin Jenkins (Stanford), G Aaron Merz (Cal)
1st Round, Pick 19: CB Kelly Jennings (Miami), signed with NFL Seahawks.
Open Draft Signings: QB Ingle Martin, HB Jerious Norwood, TE Quinn Sypniewski
Draft Grade: Count Oakland as another club that had trouble signing their top picks. From the first 4 rounds, only HB Jerious Norwood in the 3rd signed with Coach Green’s club. Add to that a pretty unspectacular crop of grads from Cal and Stanford, and you end up with a pretty weak draft, one we don’t see helping the Invaders much this year. We have to give Oakland an F because they had 10 picks and we don’t see where they have improved.
PITTSBURGH MAULERS (From Denver)
T-Draft Signees: S Bernard Pollard (Purdue), DE Rob Ninckovich (Purdue)
1st Round, Pick 20: HB Laurence Maroney (Minn), Signed with NFL Patriots.
Open Draft Signings: G Chris Kuper, DT Orien Harris, QB Brad Gradkowski
Draft Grade: Losing Maroney to the NFL means that there is still no solution to the Terrell Davis situation. Davis is not getting any younger and now the Maulers have only 2nd year player Brandon Jacobs and journeyman Fred McAfee behind him. That is a problem, maybe not immediately, but Davis is seeing fewer and fewer carries each year. When we look at who Pittsburgh did sign (5 of 10 picks), we are not that impressed. Had they not been granted a 3rd team in the T-Draft (with Pitt and WVU producing very few players this year) they would have had a truly pawltry draft. Ninckovich is an interesting prospect, and Pollard could also help back up Sean Taylor, but that is about it. We will give Pittsburgh a D, which is not going to help them move back into playoff position in a tough Central Division.
PHILADELPHIA STARS
T-Draft Signees: HB Michael Robinson (PSU), S Calvin Lowry (PSU), G Tyler Reed (PSU)
1st Round, Pick 21: CB Antonio Cromartie (FSU), Signed for 3 years.
Open Draft Signings: LB Chris Gocong (Cal Poly), DE Jeremy Mincey (Florida)
Draft Grade: The Penn State pipeline to the Stars continues, though the Stars opted for signability and did not go for some of the bigger names available like Tamba Hali. They signed all three Nittany Lions, so that is good, and they also landed their 1st round pick, Seminole CB Antonio Cromartie, who we see starting opposite Quentin Jammer to create a very tough situation for opposing QBs. We also like Gocong to develop, coming out of a smaller school. A solid B overall.
WASHINGTON FEDERALS
T-Draft Signees: WR Marques Hagans (UVA), T Brad Butler (UVA)
1st Round, Pick 22: DE Mathias Kiwanuka (BC), Signed for 4 years.
Open Draft Signings: WR Jason Avant (Mich), LB Omar Gaither (Tenn)
Draft Grade: We are still somewhat shocked that the Federals did not take a shot at D’Brickashaw Ferguson in the T-Draft, but they had other priorities. They went for wideout, trying to find someone to line up along with Deion Branch. We are not sure Avant or Hagans are ready to start at this point, so it likely will still be veteran free agent Bobby Engram. We love the pick of Kiwanuka, who probably should not have fallen all the way to 22, but Washington will be happy he did. He will partner with last year’s rookie Erasmus James, and veteran Greg Spires in a 3-man rotation, with veterans Anthony McFarland and Kenard Lang filling up the middle. A solid addition. And don’t sleep on Gaither. He has a lot of athleticism and was disruptive at Tennessee. An A- for the Feds, which is a good grade for a team picking this late each round.
TAMPA BAY BANDITS
T-Draft Signees: CB Devin Hester (Miami), LB Leon Williams (Miami)
1st Round, Pick 23: T Winston Justice (USC), Signed for 4 years.
Open Draft Signings: DE Elvis Dumervil (Louisville), QB Omar Jacobs (BGSU), TE Charles Davis
Draft Grade: When you have Miami as your T-draft feeder school, you are always going to find talent. Some interesting choices by the Bandits. Rumor is they may try to move Hester, known for his speed, to wideout, or allow him to play both ways. What we know for sure is that he will be returning kicks and punts for the Bandits. Winston Justice is a big, strong tackle, perhaps best suited to play on the right side, which may mean that Marvel Smith is moving over to the left side. Tampa Bay signed 6 of 10, but we think they are kicking themselves that 2nd round pick Brian Calhoun, the speed back out of Wisconsin, got away. We give Tampa a solid B for basic competence here.
JACKSONVILLE BULLS (From Houston Gamblers)
T-Draft Signees: DT Broderick Bunkley (FSU), S Pat Watkins (FSU)
1st Round, Pick 24: WR Greg Jennings (WMU), Signed for 3 years.
Open Draft Signings: G Willie Colon (Hofstra), TE Jeff King (Va Tech), QB Reggie McNeal (TAMU), DT Fred Evans
Draft Grade: Thanks to having one of the top 3 edge rushers in their T-Draft, Jacksonville basically landed two first round talents, Bunkley and Jennings. We also really like Willie Colon as a mid-round signing. Not sure what J'Ville sees in Reggie McNeal, because they chose him ahead of more established options like Clemson’s Charlie Whitehurst or Alabama State’s Tarvaris Jackson. With two quality picks signed, we have to give the Bulls an A, but it is an A- because we are just not sure what else they have added.
CHICAGO MACHINE
T-Draft Signees: TE Anthony Fasano (NDame), WR Maurice Stovall (NDame)
1st Round, Pick 25: CB Jimmy Williams (Va Tech), Signed for 4 years.
Open Draft Signings: T Charles Spencer (Pitt), DT LaJuan Ramsey (USC)
Draft Grade: We think the two golden domers could develop into solid players, and Williams was a need pick at a position Chicago certainly had to fill, but overall there is not a lot of “pop” in this draft. No big name, no immediate impact that we can see. That for us is a problem, C-.
SEATTLE DRAGONS
T-Draft Signees: T Joe Toledo (Wash), WR Adam Jennings (Fresno)
1st Round, Pick 2: LB D’Qwell Jackson (Maryland), Signed for 3 years.
Open Draft Signings: DT Jesse Mahelona (Tenn), G Paul McQuistan (Weber), WR Mike Hass (Or State)
Draft Grade: The pick of Jackson seemed a bit of a stretch, but he likely would not have been there at the 52nd pick, so maybe it was a now-or-never move. Honestly, our favorite pick was McQuistan in the 3rd round, so that should tell you that we are not very excited about the additions made in the draft by the surprise League Champions. But, hey, maybe it will work out. We give them a C for now.
FREE AGENCY UPDATE
With the draft completed, the short span between draft day and the first preseason games once again was a whirlwind of activities as teams tried to lock in rookies, but as we see each year, the melt from the USFL draft through the NFL Draft and into training camp led to significant gaps in the rookie class for many USFL clubs, and that always leads to a late frenzy of free agency signings, with teams trying to patch holes in their roster or improve key positions. Due in part to the expansion process, we saw a larger-than-average pool of free agents unsigned until this post-draft period, but within the final weeks of the offseason, both in the USFL pool of free agents and in the NFL-USFL transfer window, there was a lot of action. Let’s first look at the USFL talent that has found a new home within the league, and then take a look at the top NFL players to make the jump, after a short down period, from NFL season to USFL season, including, for the third year in a row, a veteran QB. We begin with the 10 biggest USFL free agent signings of the last month.
10-WR Bobby Engram (PHI to WSH): After 5 seasons in Philly, and a 1-year “show me” contract in New Orleans, Engram joins the Federals a 3-year deal. Engram’s one year with the Breakers proved very beneficial, as the oft-overlooked receiver saw his targets jump to over 100 and his yardage hit exactly 1,000, his first career 1,000-yard season. That helped him garner a sizeable pay increase in his new contract, and helped Washington try once again to find a receiver to line up opposite Deion Branch. While youngsters like Courtney Roby and rookie Jason Avant might get some field time, we expect the Feds to stick with Engram and Branch as the primary receivers in their play-action scheme.
9-LB Dwayne Rudd (WSH to PIT): Coach Rivera continues to build his desired defense by adding a thumper in Rudd. The veteran LB who comes over from Washington, where he he had 89 tackles in 2005, will likely take an ILB position in the 3-4 Rivera wants to run, joining Nate Webster, Eddie Mason and John Odom in the LB group, though we also see Donnie Spragan and Kawika Mitchell also seeing some rotations as well.
8-WR Joe Jurevicious (BOS to BOS): The Cannons resign Jurevicious after a long wait in the free agency pool. The 5-year USFL vet (with several prior years in the NFL) will stay in Bean Town, where he had a breakout season last year with 1,143 yards as the #2 receiver behind Chad Ochocinco. His role will likely be very similar in 2006, but expect the Cannons to try to work in some younger options like Jerricho Cotchery, Cedric Wilson and Clarence Moore into the mix as well.
7-WR Cedric Tillman (WSH to NOR): One of two late-signings at wideout for the Breakers, Tillman will again play the role of the #2 option, but he moves from Kordell Stewart to Eli Manning. The Breakers become Tillman’s 8th team in his 15 seasons, the very definition of a journeyman having started his career in St. Louis (3 years), and then playing for Birmingham (4), Michigan (1), Ohio (1), Jacksonville (1), Houston (1), and Washington (3). Not quite ready to retire at 36, Tillman gives it another go with a 1-year deal to join the Memphis-Birmingham-Houston-Portland Breakers this year.
6-FB Chris Fuamatu Ma’afala (ORL to ATL): Halfbacks Rod Smart and Kevin Faulk of Atlanta are both elusive, but smaller backs, so getting them a powerful lead blocker was a priority, and Chris F-M certainly fits the bill. The 8-year vet of the Renegades is not a threat out of the backfield, but is certainly capable of taking on a linebacker to free up the ballcarrier. Expect to see some I-formation in Atlanta with him on the Fire roster.
5-DT Kenard Lang (ARZ to WSH): The Federals love a strong D-line, it is part of their tradition and their strategy in a competitive Northeast Division. Adding Lang, to line up with Anthony McFarland inside, and then put rookie Matthias Kiawanuka and 2nd year DE Erasmus James outside and the Federals like what they have, as they hope to be able to get pressure without blitzing, allowing them to flood the field with defenders in coverage and linebackers freed up to pursue the outside run.
4- SS Lawyer Milloy (BIR to TEX): Coach Mackovic continues to focus on defense, adding one of the best safeties in the league to his roster. Milloy, a 10-year vet, signed a 2-year deal to relocate to San Antonio, his 4th team after a 3-year stint in Birmingham. With the 3-time All-USFL safety lined up alongside FS Travares Tillman and corners Jimmy Hitchcock and Nathan Vasher, the Outlaws have built themselves what many would consider the best defensive backfield in the league.
3-DE Andre Wadsworth (BAL to ATL): The moment Birmingham drafted Mario Williams, a player Atlanta had targeted at #3 in the draft, they had to move to plan B to try to build a pass rush. Wadsworth has not been a consistent 10-sack contributor in Baltimore, but he was clearly the best option available to the Fire. They will almost certainly place the 8-year vet on the left side, with Denver acquisition Chris Kelsay on the right.
2-WR Keenan McCardell (ORL to NOR): McCardell was without doubt the best receiver available in the free agency pool all winter, and he was picky, but eventually the Breakers were able to provide terms, and a clear role on the team, that fit with McCardell’s desire to be a featured receiver. The 10-year vet will be the primary target for Eli Manning with the Breakers, with Cedric Tillman (acquired from Washington) likely lining up opposite him, and Az-Zahir Hakeem returning to the slot role where he excels. Expect Coach Nolan to use a lot of 3-receiver sets to maximize opportunities for all three receivers, and to spread the field for Troy Davis to be effective in a one-back offensive alignment.
1-LB Michael Barrow (WSH to NSH): We knew all along that Barrow would likely not go unsigned leading into the NFL-USFL transfer window. He was too much of a game-changer for a USFL club to let him go, and he certainly would have been a major target of the NFL as well. After visiting with three clubs in the past month, Barrow signed a 3-year deal to join the Nashville Knights, where he will certainly become a focal point for Coach Johnson’s defensive scheme. The 34-year-old Barrow may not be a 100-tackle guy, but he is an aggressive blitzer, and proficient in chasing down halfbacks. Expect Nashville to put him on the strong side and to set up blocking to free him to wreak havoc.
Additional signings of note over the final month include: C Mike Devlin (ORL to BAL), QB Rick Mirer (TBY to STL), LB Rahim Abdullah (MEM to ATL), FB Casey Kramer (MEM to LV), HB Ahmaad Galloway (BIR to DEN), DE Tom Burke (BOS to JAX), FS Eric Brown (MGN to JAX), and DT Marcus Stroud (OHIO to LV).
And we should not leave the free agency list without noting a few solid players who, rather than make a switch, decided to call it a career and announced retirements. Among those making late retirement announcements we saw Nashville G Todd Rucci, Texas SS Mike Minter, Baltimore C Matt Elliott, Pittsburgh G Rod Milstead, and, for the second time, Arizona LB Kevin Hardy.
The Late-January and early-February NFL-USFL transfer window is often the option of last resort for teams that are still unsettled in key positions. While the August window almost always favors the NFL, the mid-winter window is usually when we see the bigger names shift form Fall football to the Spring. This was certainly the case this year, when August saw the departures from USFL to NFL of players like DE Eric Curry, SS Rodney Harrison, DTs Gilbert Brown and Renaldo Wynn, LB Chris Cowart, and halfbacks Reuben Droughns and Brian Westbrook.
What has troubled the NFL, and something they are now openly discussing as a problem, is that the USFL seems to be targeting quarterbacks, and good ones, as they make their push for late signings in the Jan-Feb window. In 2004 it was Daunte Culpepper, last year it was Kurt Warner, and this year again we saw a veteran QB, one with several All-Pro accolades, jump from the NFL to the USFL. In all three cases, these veteran QBs were seen as heading into perhaps their final contract, but even so, for the NFL to lose quality veterans while at the same time seeing significant USFL success in signing rookie QBs means that the impression that the USFL as a more wide-open game, is causing the NFL to see a drain of QB talent is unlikely to be met well by the senior league.
So, who was the NFL veteran to sign with the USFL this year? And with whom? Well, anyone who has been paying attention knows the answers to those two. Las Vegas, unable to trade up to #1 to get the rookie QB they wanted, Texas’s Vince Young, and uncertain at QB with recent CFL signing Henry Burress seen as the current starter, were in need of help. Add in Jerry Glanville’s desire to be seen as a newsmaker and to build a winner and quickly in the desert, and it makes sense that the Thunder would be the team to try to make a splash with an NFL QB signing. They did just that only 1 week before camp concluded, in the final days of the transfer window, signing 3-time All-Pro and 2000 MVP QB Steve McNair of the Houston Oilers. McNair, who was drafted by the Oilers out of Alcorn State, led the club for 10 seasons, including a Super Bowl win in 2003. But with Houston signing Texas standout Vince Young this year, McNair was clearly not happy, and found another option with the Thunder.
While Henry Burris has been named the starter for the season opener, we fully expect that as soon as McNair is up to speed on the Thunder offense, he will supplant the CFL QB. It is a move that is intended to improve the Thunder offense, of course, but perhaps more importantly for the Thunder ownership and for Coach Glanville, it is a signing that is designed to increase talk of the Thunder and to make them a hotter ticket in the very fickle entertainment market in Sin City. Las Vegas needs to build a fanbase in the city, something they have struggled to do with Aaron Brooks at QB, and the hope is that McNair brings with him the cache of an NFL champion.
But, of course, McNair was not the only signing of note this past month. Several other prominent NFL players made the leap and will sacrifice down time to start a new season only 10 weeks after the NFL season concluded. Among the most notable NFL signings by USFL clubs are the following:
QB: Backup Jamie Martin joins Boston from the St. Louis Rams and former NY Giant Jesse Palmer will be Jake Delhomme’s backup in Jacksonville.
HB: The Machine sign former KC Chief Derrick Blaylock to back up Michael Turner.
WR: Cincinnati’s #1 receiver, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, unhappy with the frugality of the organization made good on his threat to leave in the offseason and now gets both the cash he was hoping for and the chance to sell himself in the country’s biggest media market, joining the New Jersey Generals.
TE: Three solid signings as Saint Lamont Hall joins the Knights, Viking Jermaine Wiggins finds himself with Ohio, and Steeler Walter Rasby is the newest Memphis Showboat.
OL: 49er C Brock Gutierrez goes down I-5 to join the Express in LA, while former Redskin Ethan Albright will stay in town with the rival Federals. Guard Ray Brown joins Albright in shifting from the Redskins to the Federals, a move that is sure to heat up the animosity between the two pro football teams in the nation’s capitol. Tackle Ed Ellis is the other noteworthy O-line defection, leaving the Giants for the desert in Arizona.
DL: No top flight edge rushers make the leap, though Eric Flowers, who has potential but has been underutilized, leaves the Rams to join the Panthers. DT Chartric Darby jumps from the Bucs to the Jacksonville Bulls, and Ellis Johnson leaves the Broncos to provide depth in the D-line rotation for the Thunder. The biggest name to make the leap from the D-line has to be DT Luther Ellis, another Bronco, who move to Pittsburgh to play for Coach Ron Rivera.
LB: Neither Carlos Polk (Chargers to Gamblers) or Keith Burns (Bucs to Knights) are expected to serve in backup roles with their new teams, but depth is always a good thing.
DB: CB David Terrell leaves the Raiders for the Invaders and S Idrees Bashir joins the Bandits from the Colts. Bashir will likely battle Jorge Pratt for the starting position at SS with the Bandits.
ST: Punter Bryan Barker leaves frigid Green Bay for sunny Jacksonville.
And, of course, the NFL did not go entirely without any signings in the 2nd transfer window. Several older veterans, unable to find early homes in the USFL opted to join the NFL and get a longer recovery and rest before hitting the field next August. They include DT John Parella (NJ to the Raiders), Safety Mike Minter (TEX to the Cowboys), TE Marcus Pollard (PHI to the Colts), OT Andre Johnson (HOU to the Copperheads), and QB Will Furrer, who actually joined the Baltimore Ravens not as a player but as an assistant coach. The only surprise was the decision of QB Marques Tuiasosopo to leave the USFL, wait the extra 6 months, and then continue his career in Seattle, where he is expected to back up veteran Brad Johnson.
In our second article we will break down all 26-USFL teams and look ahead to Week One of the season, but we leave you with our writer’s list of the 10 stories to follow this year as we look ahead to the 24th season of USFL football.
10—Which 4th place team can rise in 2006?
We are going to exclude the two expansion teams from this topic and focus on the 6 clubs that finished last in their divisions last year: Birmingham, Las Vegas, Texas, Pittsburgh, Orlando, and New Jersey. Seems odd to include NJ here, so we won’t. That leaves 5 clubs, all last in their divisions, and all hoping they have done enough to make a leap this year. Looking over the 4, we put our money on two of the five. Pittsbugh is in a tough division, but they are only a year off from a 10-4 season, though with a new head coach a lot will change. We like that they have a veteran at QB, though admittedly Charlie Batch has been off-and-on over his career. They also have an All-USFL halfback and a pretty good crew of young receivers. The defense will be the project for Coach Rivera, but he has done it before and we think he can change the fortunes of the Maulers. The other team, one with perhaps an easier path, is the Las Vegas Thunder. Their two-win season in 2005 was about as bad as it gets, but we like the aggressive moves the Thunder have made this offseason, not the least of which was snagging a former NFL All-Pro to play QB. We may not see Steve “Air” McNair under center for a couple of weeks, but we think he will help provide a spark once he is ready to get in games. We also like the additions of DT Marcus Stroud (FA), A.J. Hawk (Draft), and Haloti Ngata (Draft) to help Jerry Glanville get a defense that can at least slow down opponents. Add the fact that the Pacific Division, despite the playoff run of the Dragons, is not considered an elite group, and we could envision a scenario where Las Vegas gets some early momentum and builds a solid season, perhaps even a playoff season, this year.
9—Which Expansion Club will win more games in 2006?
So hard to tell before the first game is played. St. Louis appears to have more options in the run game, and they have a coach who has helped develop a winner before in Art Shell, but Atlanta is more settled at QB, with Jeff Lewis capable of leading the squad to some early success. We honestly would be shocked if either team were able to manage more than 4-5 wins, and a season with 2 or 3 is very likely. But if we had to pick one, we think Atlanta may have a more favorable schedule in the Southeast than St. Louis has in the Central, where they have to deal with Ohio, Chicago and Michigan 6 times.
8—Can Matt Leinart keep Denver relevant in the Southwest?
It is always tough when a rookie has to replace a longstanding and revered player who has retired. That is even tougher at the QB position, just as Jason Campbell how his 2005 season went. We like Leinart as a good fit in Denver, and there is certainly talent on both sides of the ball for the Gold, so the USC rookie will not be asked to carry the team on his back, but we still expect Denver to struggle in a division where all three division foes seem to have gotten better this offseason.
7—Who has the inside track for Rookie of the Year?
As tempting as it is to pick Matt Leinart, it seems unlikely that he will have the kind of rookie year we saw from others like Byron Leftwich or Brett Favre. It is just such a hard position to excel at early, especially for a more cerebral and less physically gifted player. The position that lends itself to immediate success tends to be the halfback position, as we saw last year with Frank Gore’s outstanding season. So, who is the runner in position for immediate success? We don’t have any rookies who have been handed the lead back position, but one who could see a good share of carries, and will have every opportunity to get into games is Los Angeles’s Maurice Jones-Drew. Jones-Drew will split carries with DeShaun Foster, but Coach Jackson has said that he wants a running back committee to keep all backs fresh for the latter stages of the season. So, while he is not destined for a 1,000-yard season, Jones-Drew may have the best shot at making a good first impression. If not him, then defenders like Haloti Ngata, A.J. Hawk, Tamba Hali or DeMeco Ryans could be in the running.
6—Which player will bounce back from a bad 2005 to find success in 2006?
A lot of players are hoping that their fortunes improve in the new season, but when we look for players who took a dip in 2005 and are hoping to bounce back, the obvious choice is Terrell Davis in Pittsburgh. Davis, who had 6 consecutive 1,000 yard seasons between 1999-2004, dipped to only 736 yards and saw his carries drop from 308 in 2004 to only 197 last season. This was partly due to migraine issues, which forced him to miss plays, but also due to the ineffectiveness of the Pittsburgh offense. If the Maulers can get some semblance of a passing game going, Davis has the talent to once again be among the league leaders, that is if turning 30 does not cause the dreaded halfback cliff to take hold.
5—Which coaches start the year on the hotseat?
Usually not a hard thing to figure out. We look at who underperformed in 2005 and yet returns this year. The first name on everyone’s lips is Birmingham’s Dennis Franchione, who went 8-6 in his first year with the club, but then stumbled to a 4-10 and a 2-12 season the past two years. Part of this can be attributed to roster turnover, especially at QB, but if Franchione does not prove he can develop his young QB, Jason Campbell, and produce at least 6-8 wins this year, we cannot see him returning to Legion Field in 2007. Others who may be on thin ice include Mike Nolan with the Breakers and Jim Fassel in Arizona. Nolan has a herculean task in trying to keep his Breakers on task with all the upheaval Katrina has caused to their lives, their city, and their team’s plans for the year. He may get a pass as long as the Breakers remain competitive despite all the distrcations. Fassel has to show that he can return to the immediate success he had in his first year with the Wranglers. Last year’s collapse needs to be an anomaly and not a trend.
4—Which quarterbacks are playing for their USFL careers?
It sounds harsh, but the truth is that no other position is as scrutinized as that of Quarterback, so no other position can be as unforgiving. We see three different QB’s for whom 2006 is a make or break season. The first is Jason Campbell. A bad sophomore year, after a pretty atrocious rookie campaign, and he could immediately be considered a bust. And, with the 2007 draft likely to have as many as 5 QB’s considered 1st or 2nd round options, headed by LSU’s JaMarcuss Russell and Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn, it would be a bad time for Campbell to be questioned as a potential bust. Charlie Batch is another quarterback under a lot of pressure to prove himself. Batch has led Pittsburgh to the playoffs, but most folks point to other aspects of the team as the reason for those runs, with Batch often viewed as more of a problem than a problem-solver. Another bad year at Heinz Field and Batch could easily lose the support of Coach Ron Rivera. Finally, we have to look at Todd Collins in Nashville. The consummate “game manager”, Collins has been a solid contributor for the Knights, but now that they have drafted Jay Cutler, whose are is a lot more lively, there is a chance that Collins’s game management skills will be pressured to do more or for Nashville to see just what they have in Cutler, a quarterback with more upside to be sure.
3—Can Seattle Do it Again?
We are not asking if they can win the title again, we just want to know if they can simply win the division? They were a Wild Card at 6-8 last year before their unforeseen playoff magic took them all the way to a title. One would assume they must be the best team in the Pacific, but they finished 2 games behind Oakland, and the Invaders have no intention of giving up just because Seattle had a good run. We also think LA has too much talent to fade from consideration, and we already said that Las Vegas looks like a team that could take a leap. Seattle’s position is precarious. They lost some good players this offseason and they still have not really addressed some of the bigger needs on their roster. They will need some more magic to stay on top this year.
2—Is Ohio’s run over?
When they won back to back titles, including an undefeated 2002 season, we thought for sure that we were looking at a dynasty that could define the decade, but the past two seasons, but Ohio has gone from 14-0 in 2002 to 11 wins in 2003, 10 wins in 2004, and 9 wins (without a playoff spot) in 2005. Is the dynasty gone so quickly? On paper the offense is as scary as ever, and adding Ohio State wideout Santonio Holmes could provide the Glory with the 1-2 punch they lost when Chad Ochocinco left for Boston. But Eddie George is not getting any younger, the O-line has seen some defections, and the defense has never achieved elite status. Ohio is still a solid team that could certainly rebound, but with Chicago and Michigan right on their heels, it will not be a given that Ohio returns to the playoffs this year.
1—Who is this year’s player to watch?
If you have to watch one player, someone who will astound and amaze, it might have to be Frank Gore in Nashville. Yes, he is not an unknown after his Rookie of the Year campaign, but knowing how Coach Johnson loves to use the run game, and knowing that most backs do better in their second year, after finally getting a full offseason, the sky is the limit for Gore. Of course, last year we said this about Larry Fitzgerald after a strong 2004 in Arizona, and his production dropped. We expect a rebound from Fitzgerald, if Plummer can stay healthy, and we see Gore as a different case. Unlike a receiver, who is dependent on his QB for production (production that did not come for Fitzgerald once Plummer was hurt), a running back can largely make or break his own season even if the QB is only middling. Were we in a 16-game season, we could actually see Gore challenging Herschel Walker’s 23-year-old rushing title. With only 14 games, we still think that 1,500 yards is quite possible.
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