We love divisional battles in the USFL. The rivalries, the history, the built-up animosity between the teams and the fanbases of each club. Even new rivalries can be intense thanks to the importance of each game. This week we had a ton of them, with 8 of 13 games being divisional matchups. Not all the games were arch-rival games, but each one had an added intensity with both teams knowing that a loss in division is doubly damaging. So, we begin our Week 6 report with our 8 divisional games, and then look at the other 5 games, which did not lack for drama either. And, no better place to start than with one of the most intense and most heated rivalries in the league, New Jersey vs. Philadelphia.
NEW JERSEY 20 PHILADELPHIA 22
The Stars made it two in a row in the division even without wideouts Amani Toomer and Roddy White as they hold off the first place New Jersey Generals and get right back in the hunt in the Northeast at 3-2-1. Once again the Stars would need to comeback and once again it would be the foot of Mike Nugent who would get them the win, although this time it was not a last-second kick.
Philadelphia got 102 yards and 2 touchdown runs from Ahman Green and the defense would sack Tom Brady 5 times as Philadelphia took the latest edition of this storied USFL rivalry. They started off the scoring on defense as DT Seth Payne sacked Tom Brady in the endzone for 2. They added 7 more on an Ahman Green TD run on the ensuing drive, and New Jersey was down 9-0 early. The Generals scored on a 12-yard Curtis Enis run to pull back in range, but Green’s second TD of the quarter closed out the first with Philadelphia up 16-7.
The second quarter saw Philadelphia extend the lead to 19-7 but New Jersey would regroup and dominate the next quarter and a half. New Jersey added two Longwell field goals in the 2nd to pull back within one score at 19-13 at halftime. In the third, they added a TD to take a slim 1-point lead, with Brady hitting T.J. Houshmanzadeh, the NFL import, from 14-yards out.
Philadelphia had been here before, down one in the final quarter. They had found a way to win in this exact situation last week at Washington, and they did so again this week at home. Midway through the 4th, Mike Nugent connected on a 37-yard kick and Philadelphia held onto a 22-20 advantage. The defense would do the rest, picking off Brady on New Jersey’s next possession, and then frustrating the New Jersey QB on a last gasp drive by playing dime defense and creating a solid zone defense that Brady was unable to crack.
The Stars win pull them to within a half game of Boston and New Jersey with 8 games left on the schedule. With Roddy White expected back this week, and Toomer the next, the Stars have gone 2-0 without their wideouts, and now hope to get healthy as they head to Tampa Bay before another stretch of divisional games, with Baltimore, Boston, and New Jersey on the slate for weeks 8-10. New Jersey has two games with Washington in the next three weeks and a long road trip to LA sandwiched between them.
BIRMINGHAM 23 NEW ORLEANS 20
The surprising battle for first place in the Southern Division, played in Houston with the Breakers as the home team, looked and felt like a clash between two contenders. Both defenses played well, with Eli Manning picked off 3 times by the Stalliions, but Shaun Alexander’s 102 yards rushing (5.1 YPC) and a late Jason Campbell TD run helped propel Birmingham to a win and a shocking 4-2 record.
LAS VEGAS 17 LOS ANGELES 34
The battle atop the Pacific division between the Express and the Thunder was a showcase for LA’s defense, led by DE Keneche Udeze, who came back from injury to make 11 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble, and for Cade McNown, who threw for 318 yards and 2 scores against a Las Vegas D that had been supporting the club through their 4-1 start. Steve Mcnair completed 21 of 30 for the Thunder, but for only 169 yards as LA doubled up the Thunder to push Las Vegas a game back in the standings.
OHIO 24 MICHIGAN 21
The Glory picked off Drew Brees twice, and rookie Santonio Holmes scored his 2nd TD of the year as Ohio edged the Panthers to move to 5-1 atop the division. Michigan outgained the Glory, thanks in part to a 72-yard day from Fred Jackson, but in the end could not get into range for rookie kicker Matt Prater and were forced to go for a Hail Mary. No luck on the low-probability play and Ohio held on for a key divisional win.
WASHINGTON 10 BOSTON 31
The Federals dropped their 2nd consecutive division game, slippin to 2-4 as Boston was hot at home in Alumni Stadium. Tiki Barber got an unusually heavy carry count as he rushed 30 times for 135 on the day, adding in two touchdowns to help Boston push their advantage from 14-7 at the half to 28-7 after three. Without Deion Branch, Washington simply did not have the firepower to catch up, likely leading to the trade with Pittsburgh and Memphis to bring in some help at wideout (see below).
TAMPA BAY 14 ORLANDO 12
You have to hand it to the Renegades. They are playing every game to win and not giving an inch. But, that was not enough as the Bandits built a 14-2 lead by the half, and held off the Renegades through the second half to take the division win and send Orlando to 1-4-1 on the year. Orlando limited McGahee to only 27 yards rushing, but Daunte Culpepper connected with Kevin Johnson late in the first half and the Tampa Bay defense held off Orlando’s late comeback try.
ST. LOUIS 34 PITTSBURGH 24
The loss to expansion St. Louis, the Skyhawks’ first win of the season, was all Coach Ron Rivera needed to shake things up. His defense was unable to rattle Quincy Carter, despite earning 6 sacks on the day, and St. Louis scored 31 unanswered points after falling behind 17-3 in the 2nd. Expect some big changes as Rivera looks to retool the entire roster, with the first change coming this week.
TEXAS 13 ARIZONA 21
Jake Plummer is having a strong season, helped by at least some semblance of a run game for the Wranglers, who take the divisional win at home thanks to TDs from Stanley Pritchett and Deuce Staley, with a Plummer to Fitzgerald TD the game winner. It was 21-3 at the half, and the Wranglers kept the ball for 18 of the 30 minutes in the 2nd half as they slow-played Texas to preserve the win, moving them to 3-3 in a closely fought Southwest Division.
NASHVILLE 13 HOUSTON 10 OVERTIME
A defensive slugfest in NRG Stadium goes to the visiting Knights, who even their record at 3-3 with the win. Neither team could do much on offense as the defenses held both out of the red zone most of the day. Houston got a late Hasselbeck to Robinson TD to send the game to overtime, but in the extra period could not score on their opening drive. Nashville did just enough to get Matt Stover in range, and the veteran kicker got the Knights the win on the road.
DENVER 26 CHICAGO 10
Denver’s defense showed up big, earning both Dat Nguyen and Jamar Fletcher recognition as defensive players of the week. Nguyen’s safety and Fletcher’s pick-six helped propel Denver to the lead and the D kept Jeff George from coming back late. On offense, the combo of Cedric Benson and Ahmad Galloway rushed for102 yards and a TD, but that did not stop Denver from trading for a third back later in the week (see below). Chicago got 100 yards from Michael Turner, but could not get points on the board as they drop to a surprising 2-4 on the season.
SEATTLE 16 BALTIMORE 13 OVERTIME
The transcontinental flight was not enough to keep Seattle from edging the Blitz, scoring 10 points in the 3rd to flip form a 13-3 deficit to an overtime win. Baltimore looked good early, scoring on their first 3 possessions, but Seattle clamped down on QB Alex Van Pelt in the 2nd half, picking off the veteran backup twice, as they mounted the comeback and got the game winner in OT.
JACKSONVILLE 26 OAKLAND 12
The Bulls got 112 yards form Antowain Smith and TD catches from TEs Tim Euhus and Jeff King to upend the Invaders in Oakland. Oakland was 1 of 8 on third downs and failed on three 4th down attempts as Jacksonville’s defense came up big when called upon. The win drops Oakland 2 games behind Seattle and LA in the Pacific, while a 4-2 Bulls team tries to stay on pace with Tampa Bay in the Southeast.
ATLANTA 17 MEMPHIS 13
If Memphis needed more incentive to make a multi-team deal and bring a viable QB to town, this defeat at home to expansion Atlanta gave them the motivation they needed. The Showboats were held to only 257 yards of offense, and could not come back after a Jeff Lewis to Josh Reed TD gave Atlanta the lead with 12 minutes left in the game. QB Ken Dorsey completed 17 of 28 passing, but was ineffective when pressured, with Memphis failing on their final 6 third down attempts on the day.
Three Way Trade Brings Jon Kitna to Memphis
The story of the week is trades across the USFL, and none was bigger than the three way deal between the Showboats, Federals, and Maulers. Memphis was desperate to upgrade at QB as their season melts away with Heath Shuler’s future uncertain. Washington is looking at a month or more with top wideout Deion Branch sidelined, and Pittsburgh is hoping to add defensive muscle to a team that is the league’s last winless club. Desperation made this 3-way deal, brokered by the Federals, possible.
In the deal, Washington sends veteran backup Jon Kitna to the Showboats. In return they get 2nd year wideout Mike Williams from Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh also sends a 3rd round pick obtained from Denver in the offseason to the Showboats, who give up starting DE Damaeion Jefferies to the Maulers. Washington gets speed outside, Pittsburgh gets more muscle on the D-line, and Memphis gets a veteran QB on a 1-year deal, hoping they can resurrect their season.
Expect Kitna to need at least a week in Memphis to pick up the system before he sees game action, but both Jefferies and Williams to see game action right away for the Maulers and Federals. The former Showboat DE will likely start at right end opposite Kyle Vanden Bosch as the Maulers take on Denver this week at Invesco Field. Williams is expected to take over Deion Branch’s spot opposite Cedric Tillman this week as Washington hosts the New Jersey Generals, while Kitna likely will be the #3 QB this week as Ken Dorsey again gets the start for Memphis as they travel to Birmingham, but could start as soon as Week 8 in a key clash against another rival, Nashville, in Memphis.
Denver and Texas Both Try to Upgrade Their Offenses as Midseason Trades Take Shape
The three way deal seemed to kick start the midseason trading block, as 2 days later we saw two more deals done. Denver, still trying to find their run game, sent CB Terrance McGee to the LA Express for 3rd down back Mewelde Moore. Moore has seen his carries and catches diminish as rookie HB Maurice Jones-Drew sees his role increase each week. They send the shifty back to Denver to take on the Rod Smart role, while they add some depth at corner with McGee, who is likely to slot in as the nickel back for the 5-1 Express.
Texas hopes they have added the kind of speed that can stretch defenses, something they have sorely lacked, as they trade to bring Tim Dwight in as the split end opposite Ike Hilliard. To acquire Dwight from expansion St. Louis, they send OLB T. J. Slaughter to the Skyhawks. For Coach Shell in St. Louis, adding defensive skill is essential as his Skyhawks, fresh off their first win of the year, face daunting offenses nearly every week in the Central Division. With Dwight off to the Outlaws, Bryant Johnson will line up along with Taylor Jacobs and Sinorice Moss to form one of the youngest wideout groups in the league.
Texas will start testing defenses with Dwight and Hilliard this week, as they face rival Houston at the Alamodome. With Slaughter gone, Chad Greenway will shift over to Strongside linebacker, and Tarek Saleh will take over in the middle. Jamie Winborn will be the swing backer in Coach Mackovic’s 3-4 alignment.
Three deals all involving starters this week, and we expect more to come between now and the Week 10 trade deadline as close races across all 6 divisions mean teams are looking for an edge and a way to stay relevant.
For what feels like the first time in a long time we had a week without any new players added to the IR list. The most serious injury this week was a foot injury to Philadelphia tackle Todd Wade, which team doctors say could cost Wade only 2-3 games. Every other new name on the injury report is either Doubtful or Questionable, but expected to be back in action after perhaps only 1 week away. That group includes Birmingham DT Henry Slay (Shoulder), Texas CB Marlon Kerner (wrist), New Orleans LB Ben Leber (concussion), Memphis tackle Anthony Clement (wrist), Tampa Bay corner Ricardo Colclough (toe), and Baltimore free safety Marquez Pope (pinched nerve in hip).
USFL Owners to Meet Next Week
The USFL Spring Meetings open up next week and there is certainly a lot to discuss. A recap of the 2006 expansion process and a look ahead at the process for 2008 will be a primary topic of discussion, as will ongoing support for the New Orleans Breakers this year and next as they hope to return to the Super Dome in 2007. The sale of the Breakers will also be a topic of discussion as the initial agreement was tabled following Katrina and the devastation it created not only in New Orleans but across the Gulf Coast. The league is also hoping to work with ESPN to expand the reach of the ESPN Football Network, to have the USFL’s own version of a football network shift from a higher tier add-on to an initial tier network, offered whenever ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNews are available.
The goal is to get the channel in more homes. There is also talk of the USFL reaching out to the SEC to see if one of the biggest college conferences would like to get into the EFN to provide more extensive college coverage, particularly useful to keep the network engaged during the fall, when most attention shifts away from the USFL to the NFL and college ball. Finally, the owners are expected to accept the resignation of Commissioner Dick Ebersol, and to begin the process of locating a new Commissioner for 2007 and beyond. A lot to discuss, and a lot of concern as well, as the NFL conversations about QB play and the signing of top talent has made the USFL appropriately nervous.
College signings and QB play have been at the center of the USFL business plan since 1983’s surprise signing of Herschel Walker, and if the NFL starts to target both, it could leave the spring league in a financial war that it may not be able to win. So, a busy meeting in New York, one that could bring about some news worth exploring further.
Breakers Welcomed to Portland
The New Orleans Breakers arrived in Portland on Tuesday and were met by nearly 2,000 fans at PDX airport. Portland rolled out the red carpet, hosting a welcome reception for the club, and providing Head Coach Mike Nolan with an oversized check for nearly $120,000 in funds to be donated to the USFL Cares Katrina Project. The city has rolled out the red carpet for their 8-week guests. The Breakers will train at Lewis & Clark College, play their games at the newly dubbed Columbia Sportswear Stadium, becoming the first tenants to play there, almost 2 years before Portland’s official return to the USFL, and the players are being housed in a combination of local hotels and a few rental homes. Welcoming displaced Louisianans and Mississippians has been a national endeavor, but the reception in Portland feels different, like a combination of charitable support and football fever.
The Breakers will play their first “Portland” Breaker game in Week 8, when they host the Renegades and ticket sales have been strong, with nearly 41,000 seats sold to that game, a combination of nearly 18,000 Portland seats sold for the 4-game package, and nearly 22,000 sold for the first game. It seems very clear as well that the fans in Oregon will be rooting hard for the Breakers, giving the team a true home field advantage despite being nearly 2,000 miles from the Delta.
Week 7, the halfway point of the year, brings us some rivalry games across several divisions. Houston and Texas is always a big game, and even more so this year with no team in the Southwest more than game out of first. Oakland will be in Seattle, and if the 3-3 Invaders want any chance at getting into the Pacific Division race, they cannot afford to fall 3 games back of first. New Jersey is in Washington in a big game for both Northeast foes. Memphis travels to Birmingham to renew that classic southern rivalry. Ohio faces Chicago again, hoping to deliver a knockout blow to the Machine’s playoff hopes by sending them to 2-5 with a Glory win. Atlanta heads down to Orlando and could jump over .500 if they can secure a surprising 4th win in their first 7 games as a new USFL club. Finally, Michigan travels to St. Louis, hoping to keep pace with Ohio in the Central.
In inter-divisional games, we have New Orleans in Baltimore, Boston with a tough road game in Jacksonville, Las Vegas heading east to face the Nashville Knights, Pittsburgh hoping to score their first win in a tough place to do it, Denver; and Philadelphia faces a tough road game as they take on the Bandits at Raymond James. LA is in Arizona for the Sunday Night finale for the week. The Wranglers are hoping to move over .500 with a win, but LA is 5-1 and needs to hold off the Dragons in the Pacific.