Two games with very different styles produce two very different opponents for Summer Bowl 2007. If you like defensive football, we had that for you this week. If you prefer a high-scoring affair, we had that too. We had strong run games in both games, a 31-0 scoring run in one game, and a goal line stand to secure a victory in the other. This weekend may not have produced the two closest games of the postseason, but it certainly did not lack for drama. Let’s get right into it with our two game summaries, and then, before we preview the 25th USFL Championship Game, Summer Bowl 2007, we will check in on news out of the league office, and the first signing for the Charlotte Monarchs. But, first things first, we look at how Memphis and Chicago blazed their trail to Glendale.
Jacksonville Bulls 20 Memphis Showboats 38
We had a feeling this would be a high-scoring game, but Memphis’s 31-0 scoring run was certainly not something we, nor any Bulls fans, could have foreseen. The star of this game was undoubtedly Memphis HB Cadillac Williams, who averaged 7.2 yards per carry on his way to 133 yards rushing, making mincemeat of the Jacksonville defense missing a key piece in Lavar Arrington, and making life considerably easier for QB Brett Favre, who only threw 21 passes, completing 15 for 289 yards and a score. For Jacksonville, they had some success early but then had a huge drought that lasted over half the game, a drought that would dig them a hole they could not recover from.
The game started well for the Bulls, who got the only score of the first quarter, a 33-yard Medlock field goal. Both teams probed and tested the opposing defense over the first fifteen minutes, and it appeared Jacksonville was the first to find some issues with the opposing D when they finished off the quarter with a 72-yard drive that would provid the game’s first touchdown, just as the 2nd period started. Jake Delhomme would complete 4 of 6 passes on the drive, including the first scoring toss, an 8-yarder to the back of the endzone and #1 receiver Rashaun Woods.
But, just as Jacksonville started to find its way, Memphis also discovered the route to victory would be the ground game. On the ensuing drive, and now down 10-0, Memphis did not panic and abandon the run game, they doubled down on it. Cadillac Williams and Lionel Gates would tally 7 runs in 9 plays as the Showboats marched down the field. The drive ended when Williams burst through the line on a 3rd and 1 to find that most of the defense was now behind him. He took the ball the final 29 yards and in for the score. Memphis had found a way to exploit Lavar Arrington’s absence, double teaming at the point of attack and allowing Williams a shot at evading the pursuing linebacker. It was a formula they would use throughout the game, and with much success.
Both teams traded field goals to close out the first half, Jacksonville’s Justin Medlock first, then Memphis’s Jeff Hall. When both teams marched into the locker rooms, few could have imagined that the Jeff Hall field goal with 15 seconds left in the half would be the first points in a 31-point onslaught.
Memphis opened the second half with the ball, and they again used the run game effectively to move the ball into Jacksonville territory. The success on the ground forced Jacksonville to bring up their safeties, and that made it easy pickings for Brett Favre to locate Sidney Rice for a score from the 11. Rice slanted across the field, and with the safety out of position, Favre was able to lead him and put Memphis up 17-13 early in the 3rd.
After a Jacksonville punt, the Showboats would do it again. The small contingent of Bull fans who were at the Liberty Bowl were clearly distressed as the Showboats again moved the ball effectively. When backup HB Maurice Smith dove in from the 1 and Memphis took a 24-13 lead, both the Bulls’ fans and their coaches started to get worried.
It did not get better for Jacksonville when the fourth quarter opened. The Bulls struggled to get into scoring range, failing on two consecutive drives to cross the 50, while Memphis seemed to have the formula to outperform the defense. Seven minutes into the final period Memphis scored again, this time a short crossing route to Alvis Whitted. They were now up by 18 with only half a quarter to play. When Delhomme failed to connect with Donald Hayes on a 3rd and 7 on the next drive, Jacksonville made the decision to go for it on 4th down from their own 22. Down, 3 scores they really had no choice. The 4th down play was equally thwarted, and Memphis took over, with the ability end the game. They scored again, this time Lionel Gates plunging in from the 1. Up by 25, the game was all but over.
Jacksonville would score late, with several Memphis starters out of the game, but the game was not close enough for Coach Childress to push for the onside kick. He kicked the ball away, acknowledging that the Showboats would be the victors and would return to the Summer Bowl for the first time since 2002’s match against the unbeaten Ohio Glory. Brett Favre would be back in the Summer Bowl for the first time since the 1993 season, nearly 15 years earlier. On a week where Coach Haslett learned that he had been named Coach of the Year, there was no sweeter way to celebrate than to help bring the Showboats back to the Show.
Chicago Machine 17 Ohio Glory 10
A very different game in Columbus, when the Machine and Glory faced off for the third time this season. The two had split their two regular season games, with both clubs holding court in their home game. This third game would have the same intensity but a much lower score than the 36-21 Ohio victory or the Chicago win by 37-20 only 2 weeks later. This game would be one of frustration for both offenses, but particularly for the Glory, who were held to their lowest offensive output for the year by a Chicago defense that not only frustrated Kerry Collins at every turn, but produced one of the most memorable goalline stands in league history.
For a game that would finish 17-10, the game began with both offenses having success early. Ohio won the toss and took the ball to start the game. They would need only 1:54 to put points on the board, as an early deep ball to Joey Galloway, one of only 2 catches on the day for the Glory star, got Ohio in range, and Eddie George put the score on the board with a 16-yard run. Chicago would return the favor, taking considerably longer to move the ball 67 yards, but they too would put points up on their first possession, with rookie QB Brady Quinn finding Curtis Conway for the equalizer at the 5:11 mark of the quarter.
From this point on the defenses for both squads would find their footing. The second quarter saw both teams struggle to put together drives. The result was a pair of field goals, one for each club, as the only scoring, and the game went into the half tied up at 10. While Brady Quinn was dealing with nerves and multiple zone coverages, Kerry Collins was facing regular blitzes and a lot of pressure on any passing down. By game’s end he would be sacked 7 times, from 7 different players, as Chicago mixed up their blitzes.
The third quarter would be particularly bad for Collins, as two separate drives were stunted when Chicago defenders brought Collins to the ground on key 3rd downs. Fortunately for the Glory, Chicago was also not having much luck with their consistency. Michael Turner, who finished the game outrushing Eddie George 118 to 86, would have a decent run, only to be followed by an incompletion, or a loss on the next play. Both teams struggled to get within 30 yards of the endzone the entire quarter, and these struggles continued into the 4th quarter, the game still knotted up at 10.
In the final period, Chicago would finally break the stalemate. Two converted third downs, one on a questionable defensive holding call, the other on an outstanding catch on a low ball by TE Anthony Fasano, got Chicago into field goal range. But on the kick, Ohio jumped offsides, a second killer penalty on the drive. The 5-yards gave Chicago a first down in the red zone, and they would move the ball down to the 1. From their Quinn found Donald Driver on a bootleg pass and Chicago would take the lead with 4:03 left to play.
Ohio had one chance to equalize, and a team known for quick strike offense, would use every advantage in moving the ball down the field. Coach Luginbill started alternating between George and Alexander staying in to block, hoping to provide more time to Collins. The strategy was effective. Collins had the time he needed, and he connected twice with Reche Caldwell to help move the ball into Chicago territory. After a 1st and 10 run by George that netted only 3 yards, Collins found Caldwell again, this time taking the ball down to the 4 yard line with only 1:01 left to play.
It would be first and goal from the 4. Four plays to tie the game and send it to overtime, or to go for 2 and win it outright. It would be a daring call, but we will never know if Coach Luginbill would have made it. On first and goal from the 4, the Glory tried to fool Chicago with play action, but the Machine secondary was ready, and, seeing no one open and DE Anthony Weaver bearing down on him. Collins was forced to toss the ball away. On 2nd and goal from the 4, Ohio tried the run, but Eddie George was stuffed after a gain of only 1. It would be 3rd and goal from the 3.
The Glory were in range to use a wide array of playcalls, including some from the 2-point PAT playbook. That was apparently the source for their 3rd down play, one which saw Stephen Alexander apparently stay in to block only to leak out into the flat. The play initially seemed to be setting up for an Ohio TD, but MLB Brian Urlacher caught on quickly, and by the time the ball got to Alexander’s hands, Urlacher got to Alexander, hitting the TE with an impact that forced the ball out of his hands and safely to the ground.
Fourth and goal, 3-yard line, and 27 seconds on the clock. Ohio’s return to the Summer Bowl after a 3 year absence would all come down to one play. Again, Luginbill went into his short-yardage playbook, this time looking for a call that would allow Collins to find Galloway, his most trusted receiver. A rub play was called, but Chicago had called a very shallow zone, one disguised by shifting linebackers, but a zone nonetheless. When Collins looked towards Galloway, the big receiver was simply not open. Collins pivoted to try to seek a secondary option when Chicago DE Israel Rayborn broke free of the block of the RT, and clipped Collins. The Ohio QB managed to hold onto the ball despite the glancing blow from Rayborn, but now he was turned around. By the time he realigned himself, the pocket was collapsing. He would make a desperation toss to the corner of the endzone and wideout Reche Caldwell, but the ball sailed wide and out of bounds. Chicago would hold on, and take over the ball on the 3.
A kneel was all it took for the Machine to claim victory and punch their ticket to Arizona and Summer Bowl 2007. They had played a brilliant defensive game, limiting Collins to only 203 yards, Galloway to only 2 receptions, and Eddie George to 86 hard-fought yards on the ground. The Chicago offense, while hardly explosive, had done enough, and avoided mistakes that would benefit their opponent. And now, for the second time in three years, the Machine would be in the title game.
Birmingham Fans Furious About Favre Success
While there are a lot of fanbases unhappy to see Memphis representing the East in this year’s Summer Bowl, including disappointed Boston and Jacksonville fans, no one seems more upset about it than the fans of the Baltimore Stallions. While the Stallions were mired in a 6-8 season, their “retired” quarterback had returned to the USFL after less than 2 years away, and was leading their archrivals into the league title game.
To be fair, the complaints of many Stallion fans this week are very much about sour grapes. Despite the brilliance of Brett Favre during his career with the Stallions, he had only managed to bring Birmingham to the Summer Bowl 1 time. Then he had declared his retirement form football in a somewhat obvious ploy to invalidate a contract with Birmingham that he had found inadequate. As soon as the inter-league agreement allowed, he had signed with the NFL, spending only 1 season with the New York Jets. After moderate success, paired with an elbow injury, with New York, Favre again declared his intention to retire. The Jets released him before anything was filed, but this freed him to join the USFL once again and Memphis had jumped on the chance to acquire the former Stallion.
Had Memphis made it back to the Summer Bowl with Tom Brady or Cade McNown at QB, we would still be hearing some commotion out of Birmingham. That is what you expect from rivals. But with Favre at the helm, the anguish and feelings of betrayal from nearby Alabama are deafening. There is nothing the Stallions, or the league for that matter, can do about the situation, as you might expect. And while the league seems to be celebrating the return of Favre as a win for spring football, fans in Birmingham are not in a celebratory mood. At the end of the day, this will be just one more feud point in the rivalry between Showboat Armada and Stallion Nation, but it is one that is likely to feel very personal to the Stallions.
Michael Turner, The Quiet Killer
Go back through our weekly recaps and let me know how much we focused on halfback Michael Turner of Chicago. Not a lot there, is there? So, now, with Chicago headed to the Summer Bowl, we feel we should rectify that oversight. The truth is that Turner had his best season as a member of the Machine, scoring his second consecutive 1,000 yard season and surprassing his career best by over 300 yards from 2006 to 2007.
Turner finished the year behind only Ricky Williams, Deuce McCallister, and T. J. Duckett with his 1,345 yards and his 9 touchdowns tied him for 4th best among backs. In the postseason, Turner has been even better, averaging 112 yards a game and helping Chicago run their way past LA, Seattle, and Ohio to claim the Western Conference crown. On a team with an inexperienced, though talented, quarterback, having someone like Turner take over in the playoffs has made this run possible. Yes, we have to acknowledge the quality defense that Coach Mornhinweg has put together, but kudos as well to a largely unheralded halfback who has been outperforming his media coverage all year, and has certainly gotten our attention in the postseason.
League Suspends Two Playoff Players For Conduct Violations
The USFL has long been a less restrictive, less penalty-laden league than the NFL, but that does not mean that anything goes. Yes, the USFL made its name by comparing itself to the “No Fun League” and by allowing players to be more animated and rambunctious, but what happens on the field and what happens off the field can be very different things.
This week, the league offices in New York have, for the first time since the Ricky Williams drug suspension, handed down multiple game suspensions due to post-playoff issues with two players. Orlando’s Brandon Marshall will be forced to miss the first 4 games of the 2008 season after being apprehended by police in a Tampa area strip club after what can only be described as a brawl with other patrons. The good news for Marshall is that he complied with sobriety and drug testing, and while he was clearly inebriated, no drugs were found in his system. There may still be some legal wrangling as others at the club have threatened to file assault charges against the renegade Renegade, but without drug violations the penalty from the league office is somewhat moderate, meaning that Marshall can practice with the club during training camp and the preseason, but must miss weeks 1-4 of the next season.
Similarly, strong safety Mike Doss of the Ohio Glory had a rough week. Not only did the Glory lose to their rival, Chicago, but on Tuesday, the league announced a 2-game suspension for Doss after investigating violations of team policy which occurred during the bye week. Apparently Doss thought it was appropriate to bring one of his firearms to the Glory facility. When the gun accidentally went off in the training room, fortunately firing directly into the floor, the team sent Doss home. But, with firearm possession on team facilities directly violating both team and league policies, something had to be done. The team appealed to the league for a ruling on the league policy before installing any team disciplinary action, and, after 2 weeks. The league has responded with a 2-game suspension. Some argue that Doss should have been removed from the Divisional and Conference playoff games, but, as per league policy, no suspensions go into effect until the conclusion of an investigation, meaning that Doss was present and on the field for both games and will now miss the first two games of 2008.
Great news on the injury front as the Conference title games produced no new concerns for either team. Memphis receiver Lee Evans, the lone injury listed last week, is now upgraded to “Probable” and is practicing with the team. For Chicago, Tommy Polley and guard Sean Locklear are, of course, out and on IR, but Alan Ricard is back at full strength and no other members of the Machine are listed as having injuries worthy of reporting.
2007 All-USFL Team and Award Winners Celebrated
As has become tradition, this Tuesday the USFL hosted its Awards Ceremony in Phoenix, just 11 miles from the site of Summer Bowl 2007. At the black tie event, the five major awards for the season were celebrated, along with the full roster of the All-USFL team. There were a few surprises this year, and, as always, a few deserving players simply did not make the cut, but the overall feeling at the event was one of gratitude and celebration.
MVP: In one of the tighter races in the past decade three quarterbacks vied for supremacy, with votes split between Byron Leftwich of Seattle, Brian Griese of Michigan, and Drew Brees of Orlando. In a narrow margin, with only 2 more votes than 2nd place, the newest Renegade came away with the trophy. After a rough 0-4 transition to Orlando, Brees shone as the season progressed, winning 9 of 10 games and leading Orlando to the Southeast Division Title. Brees finished the year 5th in yardage, tied for 2nd in TD passes, and 6th in passer rating, but the success of the Orlando team with Brees at the fore was clearly the main motivator for him to be named as the player who had the most value for a USFL franchise.
Offensive Player of the Year: Often a battle to be the best non-QB in the league, this year it was a QB who walked away with the trophy. Michigan may not have made the playoffs, missing out on the final Wild Card spot due to a tiebreaker, but there was no denying that Brian Griese had a monster year. Griese finished the year as the league’s top rated QB, as well as the #1 QB in terms of yardage and touchdown passes. His victory here, while not considered the MVP, is actually a perfect synopsis of what differentiates the MVP and OPOTY awards. In second place was David Boston, Seattle’s prolific receiver, a fact, paired with Leftwich’s loss to Brees for MVP, is likely to be viewed as “East Coast bias” by fans in the Pacific Northwest, but to say that Griese did not have a monster year would be insincere and jaded.
Defensive Player of the Year: This vote was also close, with fans of the big men pulling for Kavika Pittman of Houston, and DB enthusiasts pulling for Renaldo Hill, the league’s interception leader from LA. But, with both the sack and pick totals not being as high as in past years (even past 14-game seasons), there was simply not as much to back up the calls for either Hill or Pittman to win the title. The award instead went to the leading tackler on one of the league’s most recognized defensive groups. Brian Urlacher of Chicago’s nasty LB corps was the winner this year, and if the playoff results are any evidence, it looks like the voters made the right decision.
Rookie of the Year: The most clear cut vote of the awards this season, this year’s Rookie of the Year goes to Las Vegas halfback Marshawn Lynch. The eccentric, but charismatic halfback finished the year 7th on the rushing leader board with 1,271 yards, surpassing familiar names like Eddie George, Sedrick Irvin, and Antowain Smith. Williams averaged 4.2 yards per carry on a team that did not have an explosive passing game to pull defenders away from the line. He also scored 9 touchdowns for the Thunder and was surprisingly effective in the passing game, with 41 receptions for 395 yards and a score. A worthy winner in a year with a lot of solid performers, including Nashville safety LaRon Landry (who would also get recognized on this night), Memphis LB Patrick Willis (headed to a Summer Bowl) and Philly LB Paul Posluszny.
Coach of the Year: While some votes were split between Philadelphia’s Jim Harbaugh and Seattle’s Marvin Lewis, the runaway winner was Memphis Head Coach Jim Haslett. The former assistant to Jim Mora Sr took over the Showboats this year, got a huge present in the arrival of Brett Favre, and then got out of the way as Favre helped bring Memphis a Southern Division title and the #2 seed in the East. Now, we joke about how Favre improved the Showboats, and he certainly was a big part of the success this year, but we should recognize that Haslett’s defense improved dramatically, and the overall scheme of the offense also allowed Cadillac Williams to have his best season as a pro. Haslett’s “tweak” of the Mora formulas on both sides of the ball were as instrumental as the arrival of a former MVP at QB for the Showboats, and his win here is certainly well-deserved.
ALL-USFL TEAM: Let the debates begin. Here is the 2007 All-USFL team, and yes, we know, some of your favorites did not make it. Nature of the beast.
QB: Byron Leftwich (SEA), Drew Brees (ORL), Brian Griese (MGN)
We can hear the cries from Columbus and Boston as neither Collins nor Bledsoe makes the cut this year, the first time in a long time we can say that.
HB: Ricky Williams (OAK), T. J. Duckett (TEX), Ahman Green (PHI)
A fitting swan song for 3-time Rushing Leader Green, who announced his retirement this week, but sad for Deuce McCallister, who finished 2nd in yards this year.
FB: Rick Razzano (MGN)
Always a tough category, since there are not a lot of stats to measure. Razzano wins, despite Michigan not exactly lighting the world on fire with its run game.
TE: Jason Whitten (JAX), Bennie Joppru (MGN)
Whitten made the transition to the Bulls and immediately became a go-to receiver and a huge part of the #1 offense of the season. Joppru is lesser-known as a deep ball receiving TE, but as a combo blocker/receiver he is among the best.
WR: David Boston (SEA), Joey Galloway (OHI), Rashaun Woods (JAX), Chad Ochocinco (BOS), Randy Moss (TBY)
Boston dominated this year, and while there are no complaints about any of the other 4, fans of the Skyhawks have to be upset that their best player, Tyler Jacobs, was overlooked.
OL: Mike Gandy (T-MEM), Wayne Gandy (T-NSH), Jonathan Ogden (T-LA), Vincent Manuwai (G-SEA), Jaime Nails (G-BOS), Aaron Snyder (G-JAX), Trey Teague (C-TBY), Brad Meester (C-MGN)
What are they feeding those Gandy boys? Two brothers make the team at the same position.
DE: Kavika Pittman (HOU), Kyle Vanden Bosch (PIT), Mike Rucker (BIR)
No complaints here, except for perhaps fans of the Machine who had two DE's with 10+ sacks, but neither Weaver or Rayborn matched the numbers of these three.
DT: Sean Gilbert (OHI), Brian Noble (SEA), Pat Williams (ORL)
No avoiding these three space-occupyers. All three make opposing centers and guards worry about looking bad.
LB: Brian Urlacher (CHI), Antonio Pierce (WSH), Kevin Mitchell (TBY), Hannibal Navies (MEM), Roosevelt Colvin (OAK), James Harrison (NJ)
Always a tough category, with very scary men left off the list, men like DeMeco Ryans (BIR), Na'il Diggs (ATL), and Hunter Hillenmeyer (NSH)
CB: Renaldo Hill (LA), Tyrone Poole (BOS), Will Allen (LV), Charles Woodson (WSH)
Picks, pass defenses, and even the occasional open field tackle of a back, that is what you get from these four corners.
S: Shaud Williams (SS-HOU), LaRon Landry (SS-NSH), Marcus Wimberley (FS-BIR), Tyrone Drakeford (FS-STL)
Two huge surprises here. First, that LA's Troy Polamalu does not make the list, and second, that rookie LaRon Landry of Nashville becomes the only rookie selected to the All-USFL list despite not winning Rookie of the Year honors.
ST: Tim Seder (K-CHI), Chris Gardocki (P-PIT)
You almost never see controversy about the special teams picks, but there are some who are saying that Doug Pelfrey, who had a better FG % and just as many field goals as Seder, should have gotten it. Seder likely outpaced him thanks to 36 PATs vs. only 16 for Pelfrey. That is more an issue with Washington's weak offense than Pelfrey's leg.
Big Name Free Agents On the Clock
With only 10 days to go until USFL Free Agency officially opens, there is a lot of buzz in the air about some of the top flight talent that has chosen to seek a new home. In some cases it is due to finances, in others a dispute with the coaching philosophy, but what we can see this year is a handful of players whose teams absolSutely did not want in the free agent pool, but who are there and are likely to fetch top dollar to relocated.
In a year with an expansion draft scheduled for October, we would normally expect a very slow opening month of free agency. Teams who sign a new player have to either protect that player as one of their 15 reserve players or risk losing them before they even play a game, but when you have talent that is hard to find every day available, it seems clear that there will be an initial feeding frenzy, at least at the top of the Free Agent list as teams do their best to sign a difference maker ahead of the Expansion Draft protected player lists coming due in mid-September. Looking at this year’s pool of talent, these 8 names stand out as players who no one expected to be available, and everyone will have to consider, and consider fast.
Terrell Buckley (FS-JAX): One of the premier safeties in the game, and a lifelong Jacksonville Bull since 1992, Buckley is likely on this list because he has indicated that he is contemplating retirement at age 37, but if he still believes he has a year or two left in him, someone could land a great veteran leader and an All-USFL coverage safety to their roster. The Bulls would love to have Buckley retire as a Bull, but that decision is now up to him and the right offer could keep him in the game.
Sedrick Irvin (HB-ORL): Hoping to cash in on his first ever 1,000 yard season (1,200 yards actually), Irvin is testing the waters. He has said that he is open to returning to Orlando, and why wouldn’t he be? The Renegades are an up and coming team with the arrival of Brees. But, with several teams desperate to revive their run games (looking at you, Arizona and Michigan), Irvin may get some very lucrative offers.
Korey Stringer (LT-PIT): Another aging veteran who could be looking at retirement, Stringer may also get a very convincing counter offer from a team that is going all in on 2008 as their year. You don’t find quality left tackles on the open market every day, so if there is a team that feels that adding Stringer, even for only one year, is the difference between a deep playoff run and a title, he will be wooed.
Shaun Alexander (HB-BIR): We have been saying for years that Alexander has been wasted in Birmingham. First, during the Favre years, the offense was never balanced enough to give Alexander the carries and the quality of line play he needed. Then, in recent years, the offense itself atrophied to such a degree that even when Alexander was the focal point, he had to battle for every yard. This is a clear case of a player getting a chance to finish his career on top by going to a team that sees his talent and will focus their offense around him. Just who that is, we don’t know, but we are sure there will be some bidding on the 29-year old back.
Jevon Kearse (DE-LA): With the Express needing to resign 3 key defenders (Kearse, Udeze, and Polamalu) we knew someone would be the odd man out. We did not expect it to be Jevon Kearse, but apparently his salary demands were just too high for LA to match and still retain at least 1 other star defender. So, the “Freak” finds himself looking to sign with a third team after stints with the Bulls and Express. Edge rushers are about as valued a commodity as QB’s these days, so expect someone to open up the vault and welcome Kearse to town.
Tory Holt (WR-LA): Another victim of LA’s salary cap woes. Tory Holt has proven that he is a dynamic deep threat, and improved with Keyshawn drawing away safeties. If he can go to a team that already has a proven wideout (say Boston or Ohio, for example) he could again form a deadly deep ball duo and help a team get over the hump.
Charles Woodson (CB-WSH): One of the greatest shut down corners in USFL history, Woodson will likely become the highest paid cornerback in league history as he departs DC. Washington did what they could to resign him, but their cap situation and their need for roster improvements in several areas meant that they just could not meet market value for Woodson. Expect a heated bidding war here, which means that this corner will get to choose exactly where he wants to be.
Randy Moss (WR-TBY): We know that Randy had some issues with Coach Spurrier, and some issues with management as well in Tampa Bay. The team never did find a suitable #2 to help draw coverage away, leading to teams blanketing Moss each week and reducing his numbers. He is still one of the most dangerous deep men, and one of the elite 50/50 receivers in any football league. He would be the automatic #1 receiver anywhere he went, and he will get to pick the QB he wants to play with, at least from somewhere around 10-12 bidding teams. Expect a big paycheck, and a playoff ready team for Moss.
Charlotte Gets Player One with CFL Signing
After seeing the Portland Stags sign their first player, apparently Charlotte got a bit jealous. With few NFL caliber players just sitting around waiting for a call, Charlotte went a different direction in search of a player who could help form the base of their new franchise. They headed north.
This week the Monarchs presented former NFL halfback Robert Edwards as the first member of the 2008 roster. Edwards, a product of UGA, the school that brought the USFL both Herschel Walker and Terrell Davis, joined the New England Patriots out of college in 1998. In his rookie year in the NFL he impressed many by rushing for over 1.100 yards for New England. But he would soon become the victim of one of the most bizarre and unnecessary injuries in NFL history, blowing out his knee in a sandlot touch football game held by the NFL during their All-Pro Weekend in Hawaii. Edwards would miss the entire 1999 season and see only minimal action in 2000. He would attempt a comeback with the Miami Dolphins in 2002, but was limited to only 107 yards on 20 carries before again facing injury.
The story easily could have ended here for the former bulldog, but just like his alma mater’s mascot, Edwards was tenacious and stubborn. He worked tirelessly to rehab his knees and build up both strength and flexibility in hopes of returning to pro football. He made that return in 2005 with the CFL’s Montreal Allouettes.
In his first year in Montreal, Edwards looked fully back to the rookie form he had shown in the NFL, rushing for nearly 1,200 yards in the pass-happy Canadian game. Edwards is currently midway through his second CFL season for Montreal, and is on pace to surpass 1,000 yards again. Charlotte was able to sign Edwards to a 2008 contract because there is no deal between the USFL and CFL preventing what is called a “futures” contract, a contract that begins with one league as soon as the current deal with the 2nd league is completed. Were Edwards with the NFL, where such an agreement was created in the early 80’s due to concerns about USFL poaching of players like Lawrence Taylor, a signing now by the USFL would not be possible, but, as some teams have done in the past (Las Vegas with Henry Burris comes to mind), Charlotte was able to take advantage of Edwards’s contract extending only through November 2007 to sign the back to a 2008 deal.
While CFL fans will likely be very displeased with the signing, Charlotte Monarch fans are more than ready to root for a player making a comeback after a truly bizarre injury cut his NFL career short. All expectations are that Edwards will enter Monarch camp this winter as the #1 back. For now he is happy just to be the #1 Monarch, first of many to be signed this summer.
SUMMER BOWL 2007 PREVIEW: CHICAGO v. MEMPHIS
Chicago vs. Memphis for the USFL title in its 25th season. For the Machine, this will be their third trip to the title game, the fourth for a Chicago-based franchise (the Blitz in 1984 were the 4th). I doubt we have to tell you that no team from Chicago has ever won the title. For Memphis, this will be the 3rd trip to the Big Show, having won the title in 1999 and having come close in ’88 and ’02. We all know the big names in this game, Urlacher, Favre, Turner, Ferguson, Driver, and Williams. But just which team has the better roster as a whole? We break it down position by position to try to see who may just have the upper hand in Summer Bowl 2007.
QUARTERBACK
As good a year as Brady Quinn has had as a rookie, this is no contest. Brett Favre would already be in the USFL Wing of the Hall of Fame had he stayed retired (well, technically, no, not yet, but he is a sure 1st ballot guy). Now, with Memphis, Favre returned as if he had never left, throwing for over 3,500 yards and 28 touchdowns. If Chicago is going to win this game it is because they will find a way to force Favre into some of his patented “bonehead” interceptions and not his also-patented “What just happened?” touchdown tosses. Expect Brady Quinn to avoid making mistakes and allow the D and the run game to shine, but expect Favre to be a focal point for Memphis.
ADVANTAGE MEMPHIS
HALFBACK
While both Cadillac Williams and Michael Turner have had some good games, including both having solid performances in their respective Conference Championship, the clear advantage here goes to Chicago. Turner was a Top 5 rusher this year, gaining 1,345 yards for the Machine, while Williams did not crack the Top 20. The Machine offense is designed to free up Turner and forced defenders to get out of position to deal with him. Oh, and when Turner needs a breather, Chicago can trot in Maurice Clarett, who averages 4.8 yards per carry, so it is no rest for the defense.
ADVANTAGE CHICAGO
RECEIVERS
This is a tougher call. It depends on what you like. Chicago has experience and quality route running with Donald Driver, Curtis Conway, and their 2-TE set of Shea and Fasano. Not the fastest receiving corps in the league, but one that can get that 3rd down conversion and keep the chains moving. For Memphis, particularly now that Favre is the QB, big plays are more important than consistent conversions. Robert Ferguson and Lee Evans can both go deep. Slot receiver Sidney Rice has been a good addition this year, and if Favre needs a safety net, TE David Martin has been consistent, if not particularly dynamic.
We think that each team gets what they want from the passing game, so we don’t really see one as vastly better than the other.
ADVANTAGE: PUSH
OFFENSIVE LINE
Two things stand out here. First, that Brady Quinn has been sacked about half as frequently as Brett Favre, and second, the run game. We could qualify the sack stat by saying that Favre has always held the ball a bit too long, hoping to make a big play, while Quinn is quick to get rid of the rock when he feels pressure. That could explain some of it, but we also recognize that Mike Gandy, Memphis’s best tackle, plays on the right side, leaving LT Anthony Clement to deal with each defense’s best rusher. When we add in Chicago’s emphasis on larger packages and interior runs, we have to favor the Machine here.
ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO
DEFENSIVE LINE
This one, on the surface, is a no-brainer. Chicago has two players in the Top 20 sack leaders for the season, with Anthony Weaver’s 15 sacks placing him 4th in the league and linemate Israel Rayborn also in double digits with 11 sacks. Memphis has Julius Peppers with 12, which is solid, but they also have to resort more often to the blitz. But, what about run coverage? Does that swing things to the Showboats? Absolutely not. Chicago has the #1 run defense in the league, the only team to limit their opponents this year to fewer than 1,000 total yards, only 59.6 yards per game, while Memphis allows nearly double that at 96 yards per game. So, we said that on the surface Chicago has the edge here, but deep down they do too.
ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO
LINEBACKERS
Brian Urlacher is the Defensive Player of the Year, so that pushes us to Chicago immediately, and if they had their starting three of Urlacher, Brooking, and Polley, they would almost certainly be our pick here, but Polley is out and replacement Carlos Emmons simply does not have the same range or instincts. Meanwhile, Memphis’s 3 LB’s are no slouches. Kirk Morrison in the middle, Hannibal Navies on the strong side, and rookie Patrick Willis on the weak side have been dynamic, disciplined, and dependable, a great 3-D combo. We are still going to give Chicago the advantage here, just because Urlacher is so impactful, but it is much closer than many might initially imagine.
ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO
SECONDARY
Coy Wire is the key to Memphis’s defense. While corners Keion Carpenter and Terrance Shaw are solid, it is the combo of Wire and Tebucky Jones that make Memphis’s secondary tick. When they are on, this is a tough team to pass against. The only problem has been consistency. Chicago is not a spread offense, by any stretch of the imagination, so the challenge for Jones and Wire will be the tight ends over the middle. If they can avoid getting boxed out by the larger receivers, they can be effective against Chicago’s passing game. As for the Machine, they had to rebuild their entire secondary after losing 3 of 4 players in 2006. They started with corner Al Harris, a legitimate shut down guy. Then added safety Sammy Knight. But we are not as impressed with free safety Leomont Evans, who can often be found out of position, and the remaining corners, Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden are not going to intimidate Brett Favre.
ADVANTAGE: MEMPHIS
SPECIAL TEAMS
Well, Tim Seder was the league’s All-USFL kicker this year, making 29 of 34 field goals and all 36 extra points. Jeff Hall, who has been consistent over the years, only got 18 attempts, and missed on 5 of them. He too connected on every PAT, but has not had as many pressure kicks as Seder to be sure. Neither Reggie Hodges (CHI) or Brad Costello (MEM) have distinguished themselves in the punt game, and neither Lionel James nor Marlin Jackson have provided much of a spark in the return game, so as a group, we have to give this to the team with the All-USFL kicker.
ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO
COACHING
Jim Haslett took over the Memphis Showboats this year after several years under the tutelage of Jim Mora Sr, and all he did in his first year is win Coach of the Year. Marty Mornhinweg has been in charge in Chicago since 1999 and in his time with the Machine has produced 6 playoff seasons and now 2 Summer Bowl appearances. So, do we side with youthful enthusiasm from a pretty solid coaching tree, or veteran leadership returning to the title game for the 2nd time in 3 years? Our heart goes with Haslett, but our head says Mornhinweg.
ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO
So, this is very interesting. Memphis is a 2-point favorite, and it seems most of the pundits are leaning towards them just on the QB comparison, but when we look position group by position group, what we find is a 6-2 Chicago advantage with one Push. That seems like a pretty good indicator that folks are underestimating the Machine. So while it is entirely possible that Brett Favre takes over this game and Memphis wins going away, we are going to trust the analysis and make our pick for Chicago, ending that city’s USFL title drought at 24 years.