Just 3 days until the USFL Kickoff Classic in Columbus, where the Glory will unveil their Double Trouble combo of Joey Galloway and Randy Moss against the Michigan Panthers. There is a buzz of anticipation around the country. Two new teams, a lot of new faces, a rookie class looking to make an immediate impact, and what feels like a wide open field, all gunning to take what Memphis won last year, the John Bassett Trophy. It is also a year in which we may have more coaches beginning the season on the proverbial hot seat than ever before. A lot of stories to follow this season, a lot of games to enjoy, and a lot of excitement all around.
We will analyze the season to come in two parts, starting with the big stories of the new season, a review of the USFL Draft, and our predictions for what may be a very unpredictable year. In part two we will do our usual team by team analysis, providing you with players to keep an eye on and teams that may surprise you. We get started with our 10 Stories to Follow in 2008.
10 Stories to Follow in 2008
A lot has changed across the face of the USFL this offseason, and with America still debating the San Diego Chargers’ surprising upset of the 18-0 Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XLI, fans are eager for more football action. From the look of it the USFL is ready to provide what America wants. As we look to the 2008 USFL season, kicking off this week, there is a lot to focus on, a lot of stories to monitor. Here are the 10 we believe will be worth tracking all year long.
10) Texas Lone Star
Eight years in and the 2000’s have not been kind to the Texas Outlaws. Five 10-loss seasons, only 1 winning season (7-6-1 in 2002) and only 1 playoff appearance (a quick exit in the Wild Card round in 2003) to show for eight years of efforts. To say that San Antonio’s club has been underwhelming would be selling short just how bad it has been. Average attendance has dipped nearly 10,000 fans per game over that time, and a sense that the club was spinning its wheels has been unavoidable.
Coach Norv Turner was brought in to try to change that culture, but last year struggled to a 4-10 record, once again relying on an over-the-hill QB to try to get it done (George, after Dilfer). But Coach Turner is beginning to build the club he wants and that starts with a new direction at QB. George was benched to finish last season, and let go in the offseason (He has not officially retired yet, but it is expected.) In his place is a rookie QB who fits the mold of the prototypical pocket passer, a 6’6” tower of a QB with a cannon for an arm and a reputation for fearless throws. Joe Flacco is the new face of the Texas Outlaws, direct out of the University of Delaware, where he led the Blue Hens to the FCS National Championship.
Flacco will not be going it alone, Texas also brought in talent across the roster, including a promising young TE from nearby UT in Jermichael Finley, a jitterbug of a slot receiver in Texas Tech’s Danny Amendola, and free agent help in fullback Rick Razzano (MGN) and 3rd down back Troy Davis (MGN). The hope, of course is that these additions will diversify the offense, allowing T. J. Duckett to find more room as the lead back, and providing Texas with a team capable of competing with what has been a pretty mediocre Southwest Division. But make no mistakes, the focal point of this new look Outlaw offense is Flacco. He has a solid and very speed-oriented receiving corps, led by veteran Muhsin Muhammad and featuring Marques Colston and Tim Dwight as downfield threats, with Dedrick Ward and Amendola underneath. The hope is to improve 2007’s 22nd ranked offense and 23rd ranked passing game, hoping to complement a defense that plays well against the pass (7th in 2007). While the rookie class of 2008 has a lot of potential stars, the only one that matters in Texas is this lone star, Joe Flacco and, as the song goes, the eyes of Texas are upon you, young man.
9) Run Game Revival?
While Texas hopes for a new aerial attack, many teams across the USFL are hoping they have done enough to retool their run games. On the one hand we have teams like Atlanta, New Jersey, and Boston, who are hoping they have done enough to replace retired bellcow backs Terrell Davis, Curtis Enis, and Tiki Barber. On the other you have teams that have struggled to find a run game hoping their free agent spending spree will change the narrative. Houston nabbed the biggest HB prize in free agency, landing former Stallion Shaun Alexander to be the new lead back. Arizona took the next best option, landing Orlando’s Sedrick Irvin as they once again try to find a way to develop an offense beyond Jake Plummer.
Each club has gone a different way, but all with the same goal, produce a viable rushing attack. For Atlanta the solution was to land Arkansas back Darren McFadden with their first round pick. McFadden opens the season as the undisputed #1 back. That is not the case for another top rookie back, as New Jersey’s Ray Rice is expected to continue to compete with returning free agent James Jackson for carries. In Boston a third rookie is also competing for carries as Illinois’s Rashard Mendenhall will battle former Golden Domer Tony Hunt to see who gets the lead position.
For Houston and Arizona, their new backs are known commodities. Both Alexander and Irvin have proven they can tote the load as a lead back, but each was looking for a more promising opportunity. We are not sure they have found it. Both the Gamblers and the Wranglers have struggled with run blocking and with putting together a coherent run-based game plan. Will that change this year? Arizona has another new OC, while Houston is lead by a defensive-minded head coach in Wade Phillips, so the question of whether or not landing a quality back in free agency is enough to revive a legitimate rushing attack will be on display in both cities.
8) New Faces in New Places
Halfback is not the only position where free agency has changed the face of the league. Several big name free agents jumped ship this year, finding new homes and now trying to find their place in new systems. Among the bigger names are, of course, Randy Moss, who we will discuss a little later, as well as fellow wide outs Tory Holt and Curtis Conway, cornerback Charles Woodson, and DE’s Jevon Kearse and Julius Peppers. Which ones can adapt quickly and which ones find themselves in a better place, that is the question being asked.
It seems obvious that Conway is likely going to be a focal point for the Charlotte offense, but an expansion team is a tough place to play. Holt is certainly in a more ready-built scenario in Baltimore, where he will catch passes from Ben Roethlisberger. Charles Woodson is sure to be just as effective as a shutdown corner no matter where he plays, but will that help revive an Atlanta defense that slipped a bit last year from their early 2006 success? For Kearse and Peppers, the goal is to solidify their place as elite pass rushers. Peppers returns to North Carolina, where he played his college ball, and will be the focal point of the expansion Monarchs’ defensive scheme. Kearse finds himself in Michigan, where the Panthers already boast one of the best linebacking corps in the league. Can he do for the Panthers what he did in LA, turning the team into one of the sack leaders in the league? Early bets are on big impacts from Kearse and Holt, and more measured upticks for Conway, Peppers and Woodson, but we have been wrong before.
7) Wild, Wild West
The Pacific Division was one of the most intriguing and exciting races last year, though largely a battle for 2nd place with 13-1 Seattle well out in front. In 2008 it looks like it could be even more competitive. Seattle still looks like a team that could go all the way to another title, led by QB Byron Leftwich and HB Corey Dillon. The Dragons are hoping a healthy Darnerien McCants means they finally have a 2nd receiver to pull coverage away from David Boston. They also hope that rookie CB Leodis McKelvin helps to solidify a secondary that had some issues.
If Seattle falls back, all three remaining Pacific clubs are hoping they will be the ones to step up. Los Angeles eked out a 2nd place finish last year on tie breakers with Oakland. They lost Tory Holt this offseason, a big hit to be sure, but feel good about free agent acquisition Brandon Lloyd lined up opposite Keyshawn Johnson. They are also high on two rookies who look to start on defense from Week 1, first round pick Dominique Rodgers Cromartie at corner and yet another USC Trojan from the T-Draft Keith Rivers at LB.
Oakland feels they have done what they need to if they want to leapfrog the Express and catch up with the Dragons. Oakland added rookie depth on defense with DT Sedrick Ellis (USC) , LB Stanford Keglar (Purdue), and cornerback Zackary Bowman (Nebraska), but the rookie they are most excited about was T-Draft selection DeSean Jackson, who they plan to give a lot of looks in the slot. The speedster adds a quick strike option that the combo of Plaxico Burress and Greg Jennings lack.
Finally, Las Vegas put together a league-leading defense last year, and Coach Jerry Glanville doubled down on that D in the offseason, signing safety Chad Scott away from the NFL and adding rookie talent in LB Bryan Kehl (T-Draft) and DT Red Bryant (Texas A&M). But Glanville also addressed some offensive needs, signing veteran WR Amani Toomer to line up opposite Matthew Hatchette. The offense will still focus on 2nd year back Marshawn Lynch, but Glanville is counting on more balance to help keep drives alive and provide his top flight defense with more rest, which can lead to more aggression.
6) NFL to USFL Transitions
Compared to last year, perhaps compared to most years, the NFL-USFL transfer window produced fewer shocks than usual. Yes, there were some losses in the form of free agents heading to the fall. Players like CB Jimmy Hitchcock, DE Cedrick Harden, S Torrian Gray, or WR Drew Bennett left holes in USFL rosters, but nothing like what we saw in 2007 with Tom Brady and Cade McNown both jumping ship.
Coming in from the NFL we also saw a mix of underutilized players and some who the NFL simply seems to have given up on. Perhaps the biggest name is former Carolina Panther QB and likely Charlotte Monarchs starter Chris Weinke. After 5 seasons with the Panthers, Weinke spent 2007 as a backup in San Francisco. Charlotte saw potential in the former FSU quarterback and signed him to a 3-year deal. After competing with former CFL QB Henry Burris and former NFL and New Jersey starter Kelly Holcombe in camp, Weinke has been named the starter.
Another NFL rehabilitation product who is expected to start this week is halfback Robert Edwards, the first player signed by the Monarchs. Edwards saw his career resuscitated last year with Montreal of the CFL and is now hoping to prove himself once again in the U.S. game with the expansion Monarchs.
Two quality receivers who found themselves in bad situations also jumped leagues this year, with Carolina’s Keary Colbert headed to Denver and Seattle’s D. J. Hackett also joining the expansion Monarchs. Others making the jump include HB Maurice Hicks (49ers to Bandits), CB Michael Boulware (Oilers to Outlaws), LB Calvin Pace (Cardinals to Breakers), DE Reynaldo Wynn (Saints to Generals), DT Kimo Von Oelhoffen (Eagles to Wranglers), and Portland’s big gamble, quarterback A. J. Feeley. Which of these former NFL players will survive the rigors of back to back seasons and make waves in the USFL? Which teams will benefit from a shrewd signing across the transfer window? We will find out soon enough.
5) The Expansion Derby
Two new teams join the league this year, but with St. Louis finishing 1-13 and hiring a new coach in the offseason, it feels almost like we have 3 expansion clubs to discuss (Congratulations to the Atlanta Fire for moving themselves out of this category with two solid opening years.)
The Skyhawks have the advantage of two years of experience in the league, experience and roster building, and yet it feels very much like they are starting over with former USFL QB Doug Williams at the helm as their new head coach. Williams wasted little time putting his stamp on the club, signing former Orlando and Seattle QB Jeff Blake to run his offense and trading last year’s starter, Luke McCown, to Houston for a 4th rounder and backup Sage Rosenfels. He also drafted for offense, with Kansas State’s Jordy Nelson expected to compete for snaps with Bryant Johnson and Sinorice Moss, both opposite Taylor Jacobs, the lone All-USFL player on the Skyhawk offense.
Charlotte made a splash by signing away 5 NFL players during this January’s transfer window. In the haul they found their starting QB in Chris Weinke and their #2 receiver in D. J. Hackett. They also dipped into the CFL to land DE Fred Perry and lead back Robert Edwards. In the expansion draft they landed some big name talent in the shape of TE Dan Campbell, WR Brandon Marshall, LT Wayne Gandy, DT Kyle Williams, and CB Carlos Rogers. In Free Agency they landed Julius Peppers to provide pass rush, Curtis Conway and Az-Zahir Hakeem to haul in passes, and safety Reggie Tongue to solidify the secondary. It is an impressive roster-building effort by the front office and head coach Jim Mora Jr., but how quickly can this group of individuals become a team?
A similar question faces Portland Stags’ head coach Rich Brooks. The former Oregon coach built his roster knowing that he would be competing in a very tough Pacific Division. He started with NFL QB A. J. Feeley, added free agents like TE Bubba Franks, WR Andre Davis, LT Korey Stringer, and DT Jason Fisk, but focused most of his attention on the expansion draft and rookie draft. In the ED he landed some big names as well, with the draft bringing big time talent like FB Ovie Mughelli, TE Visanthe Shiancoe, WRs Koren Robinson and Roddy White to the offense, and DE Elvis Dumervil, LB Channing Crowder, and CB James Trapp to the defense. Portland found their starting HB in the T-Draft, signing Oregon star Jonathan Stewart, and in the Open Draft they added WR Leslie Hawkins (Cal) and OT Breno Giacomini (Louisville).
On paper St. Louis looks the most likely to win more games, as we expect they should, but we are particularly intrigued by the roster that Charlotte has put together. If Jim Mora Jr. can get this team to gel they could prove to be a tough squad to face, and certainly the Southeast Division may be an easier path than either the Central or the Pacific. But, since we never saw a 7-7 season and playoff appearance in the cards for expansion Atlanta in 2006, we are not betting the mortgage on any of these teams finishing last.
4) Swan Songs for a Legendary QB
Last year we spent a good part of the season wondering if Boston’s run to the #1 seed would be the final season for QB Drew Bledsoe. With a disappointing divisional round exit from the playoffs fueling the fire, Bledsoe announced he would return for the 2008 season, but earlier this year he made it official that 2008 would be his final season and that he would retire at the conclusion of the year. Bledsoe and the Cannons are hoping that departure is delayed by a deep playoff run as the Cannons are doing all they can to repeat as Northeast Division Champions and give it one more run for a title.
Last year the injury to Tiki Barber derailed Boston’s playoff hopes. This year, with Barber having retired in the offseason, the question is whether or not they have done enough to replace him. Boston drafted Illinois halfback Rashard Mendenhall and have 2nd year Notre Dame back Tony Hunt competing for carries, but neither is the type of all-purpose weapon that Barber has been for Boston since the team moved from Atlanta. Bledsoe will once again have Chad Ochocinco (now discussing possibly changing his name back to Johnson) and Joe Jurevicius as targets. Boston also added New Mexico speedster Marcus Smith in the draft and brought in FB Daiman Shelton to help the run game, but is it enough? In what appears to be a pretty weak NE Division, Boston is certainly the favorite to repeat as division champs, but the playoffs will be another story. Will Bledsoe’s swan song be enough to motivate Boston to their first title or will he depart without delivering on the Cannons’ title hopes?
3) Coaches Who Need Wins Now
Every season begins with some coaches feeling pressure to turn things around at risk of their jobs. But it is rare that the number of coaches in this position is more than 2 or 3. This year we count nine who should be worried. That is a huge number, but it is a realistic portrait of where things stand. These coaches fit into three categories, each with its own challenges.
GOOD BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH
These are likely the most secure, the coaches whose teams have improved, but are they improving fast enough? Or are they plateauing just below a success level the owners hope to reach. In this group we find Jerry Glanville in Las Vegas, Tom Coughlin in Baltimore, Dick LeBeau in Michigan, and Dick Jauron in Denver. With the clubs hovering around .500 and failing to make the playoffs, there is pressure to show growth, not stagnation. If Glanville can find an offense to go with his defense, the Thunder could take a step. If Brian Griese can repeat his 2007 OPOTY season and Michigan could also find a run game. If Baltimore could finally cash in on the potential we all see in Ben Roethlisberger, or if Denver could recover their defensive swagger, any one of these teams could make the next step and get back to the postseason, but if they don’t these coaches could take the fall.
ARE WE THERE YET?
Coaches brought in to rebuild teams often have a short timespan to show improvement. That is the situation for Washington’s Sean Payton after back to back 4-10 seasons. It is also true for Norv Turner in Texas. Both Payton and Turner enter their third seasons with their clubs and need to start showing some return on investment or risk a changing of the guard.
WHAT IS THE PLAN HERE?
This may be the most precarious group. Coaches whose teams seem to be flailing, occasionally good, then awful. No sense of whether they are rebuilding, retooling, or just spiraling out of control. We put in this group Mike Nolan in New Orleans, who survived a 1-13 debacle last year but cannot survive another. The same for Arizona’s Jim Fassel, who many expected to be out after last year’s 2-win season. Add Ron Rivera in Pittsburgh to this group as well. The Maulers have looked better with Rivera at the helm, but he has yet to put together a winning season in the very tough Central Division. A fourth consecutive losing year could spell a pink slip for Rivera.
2) The Rookie HB Class of 2008
As you may have gleaned from some of our other stories to follow, this is a big year for rookie halfbacks getting a shot at starting. After the success of Marshawn Lynch last year, the pressure will be on to find the back who can step in and take over an offense. The USFL is still a pass-first league, but having a solid run game is key to success on many levels, and these rookies will be asked to provide that from day one. Looking across the league, these are the backs we see as being tasked with toting the rock and providing a spark to their offenses.
The Backups: No pressure here, just some talented backs who will get carries for teams that already have established starters. This includes Kevin Smith in Ohio, BenJarvis Green-Ellis in Nashville, and Mike Hart in Michigan. Any production from these three will be gravy for their teams.
The Shared Role: These rookies are likely to get more carries, but in what is very clearly a dual-back or stable strategy in which no one back will be expected to carry the ball 24 times a game. Expect them to see increasing carry numbers as time goes on and they get up to speed with the pro game. In this group are backs like Philadelphia’s Steve Slaton, Birmingham’s Felix Jones, and Orlando’s Jacob Hester.
The Five: These are the backs who were drafted and signed with the intention of them coming in on Day 1 as the starter and the bell cow for their offenses. We know that some will struggle, and if a team is lucky one, maybe two will start to put it together by midseason. Will we see another Lynch out of this bunch? That is tough to predict, but here is our best guess.
Rashard Mendenhall (BOS): A big back with some shiftiness, Mendenhall has some solid attributes, but anyone in Boston who thinks the Illinois product is going to step directly into Tiki Barber’s role and find immediate success is delusional. Boston is going to need to rely a bit more on Bledsoe and Ochocinco because what Mendenhall can offer is more limited than what they got from their All-USFL back in past years.
Ray Rice (NJ): Rice is a bit undersized, but he is like a runaway bowling ball when he gets moving. We like him in Coach Crenell’s system, but the issue in New Jersey is that they look like a team that is still retooling. Their QB, Kevin Kolb, is an unknown factor. They lost their one elite receiver this offseason, Terry Glenn, and now look like a team very weak at the wideout position, so defenses are likely to focus on the run first, and that is not a good starting point for the back out of Rutgers.
Jonathan Stewart (POR): Very talented, very consistent, but Stewart has signed on with an expansion club, which means a lot will be asked, and, quite possibly, not a lot of help will be coming from other areas of the team. If Portland has a typical expansion club defense, that means a lot of games playing from behind, which is never good for a halfback to have good production. If we are wrong, and if the pieced-together line can come through, Stewart could put up solid numbers.
Matt Forte (NOR): We love the fit of Forte and the Breakers. This is a club that has needed a dynamic back for many years. Forte can be a factor in the passing game, which will certainly help Eli Manning, but he can also be a 1,000 yard rusher if given the chance. He proved that at Tulane, where he was often facing much better ballclubs, but still produced. The Breakers, if they use him right, could have found a gem in this Green Wave product.
Darren McFadden (ATL): When you are the first halfback off the board in the draft,and when that happens with a Top 10 pick, a lot is expected of you. When you are replacing a legend in Terrell Davis, that expectation grows even more. Atlanta is still unsure of their QB position, with Garrard once again barely beating out Tyler Thigpen in camp, so once again the run game will be central to the Fire’s offensive scheme. McFadden is the type of back who could rise to that challenge. He lacks the explosiveness of Marshawn Lynch, but shares “Beast Mode’s” drive and power, which can go a long way in a league where pass defense comes first.
1) Randy Moss and Ohio’s Legacy
You pretty much knew this had to be our #1 story. Ever since the signing was announced it is all anyone could talk about. Pairing Randy Moss with the Ohio Glory offense feels almost unfair. Clearly Ohio is looking to solidify its legacy as the Team of the 2000’s by winning a third title, and with the Moss signing they immediately become the favorite to win Summer Bowl ’08. It was not automatic, not by a longshot. In the month leading up to free agency no fewer than 7 clubs spoke with Moss’s agent about the receiver’s plans. By the time free agency rolled around, just after Summer Bowl ’07, five teams had prepared comprehensive bids, including Ohio, but also New Jersey, Los Angeles, Portland, Texas, Chicago, and Washington. Moss would have his pick, and while several of the clubs involved could provide a more than generous contract, only a few were true playoff contenders without Moss (LA, Chicago, and Ohio), and of those three only one could boast a 3-time league MVP at quarterback. The combination was a winning one for the Glory.
So now Ohio has their triple-threat of Collins, Galloway, and George, but they also have perhaps the best deep ball receiver in pro football history in Randy Moss. What are defenses going to do? They still have Stephen Alexander to deal with over the middle, but now they face two receivers who can take the ball to the house on any play. We expect teams will move to 3-deep zones and try to pressure Collins quickly with blitzes, but few have the ability to do that, and, of course, doing so will mean creating more room for Eddie George to gash nickel and dime defenses with inside runs and draws.
It is a conundrum the entire league now faces. How to stop what may prove to be the most dangerous offense ever assembled in the USFL, and that includes Bandit Ball, the Run & Shoot, and Boston’s high octane “Cannonball Run” offense. Things just got a lot uglier for the rest of the Central Division, if not for the entire league as they try to figure out how to stop what could be the most-talented offense in 25 years of USFL football.
2008 College Draft in Review
In reviewing our top stories of the year, we have highlighted some of the rookies who have signed on to the spring league, including a legion of running backs who could shine this year. But how did it all go down? We had some major signings out of the Territorial Draft, followed by an exciting first round of the Open Draft and some quality depth in rounds 2-7 as well. As usual, there were many who got away (the NFL is, as always, a fierce competitor for talent), but the USFL fared well this year, or, we should say, several teams fared well. Looking at the first round 15 of 28 selections ended up signing with the USFL club, and several top T-Draft picks also landed with their local USFL club, so a good year all in all.
We are going to recap the draft by reviewing the first round, and as we look at each club’s pick, we will explore what happened with that pick and highlight some of the talent those teams acquired through both the Open and Territorial Draft, so that you have a good idea of which rookies you may want to watch out for this year. So, without any further ado, here is our USFL Draft in Review for 2008.
CHARLOTTE
1st Round Story: There was a lot of talk of whether Charlotte would stick with the pick or make a deal, as St. Louis had done 2 years earlier, moving down to add more picks. They got a fair share of offers, but decided to stand pat, and with their first pick they went with the player they had as the Best Player Available, linebacker Jerod Mayo of Tennessee. Mayo would sign with the Monarchs only 3 days later.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: Our favorite mid-round signing by Charlotte came in the 4th round, where they picked up a sure-handed and elusive receiver in Kentucky’s Stevie Johnson. Johnson became a favorite target in camp and has worked himself into a regular role in the offense, just behind starters Hackett and Marshall.
T-Draft Success: Safety DaJuan Morgan and CB Cary Williams both signed with the Monarchs, and both have made the squad.
NEW ORLEANS
1st Round Story: The first of the NFL signings, New Orleans selected OT Jake Long out of Michigan at #2, bu the was taken #1 by the Miami Dolphins and apparently the Fins offered more than New Orleans could match.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: The Breakers never landed a tackle, but did improve their offensive skills players with the signing of Houston Cougar WR Donnie Avery in the 2nd round and a very strong T-Draft.
T-Draft Success: A lot of talent in the T-Draft as the Breakers signed all three picks: HB Matt Forte, WR Early Doucet, and QB Matt Flynn. Both Forte and Doucet are expected to start this season as rookies.
PORTLAND
1st Round Story: The Stags went for a dynamic edge rusher in Ohio State’s Vernon Gholston, but the New York Jets had more to offer the big man, so he is headed to the Big Apple.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: The Stags did not pick another DE until the 7th round, when they landed Gardner-Webb’s Brian Johnston. In fact, the Stags struggled, signing only 4 draftees from the open draft, none of whom are listed as starters in Week 1.
T-Draft Success: The Stags fared better in the Territorial Draft, where they landed starting HB Jonathan Stewart and backup QB Dennis Dixon, both from Oregon. Still, for an expansion team, that first draft is huge, and the Stags did not get enough to feel good about it.
TEXAS
1st Round Story: One of several teams considering a QB, Texas wanted to deal to make sure they got the one they wanted. They found a willing trade partner in St. Louis, who once again move down in the draft to pick up more talent. Texas sent the Skyhawks their pick in the 1st and 2nd round to move from #7 to #4, leapfrogging both Arizona and Atlanta, two teams potentially in the QB market. They selected big Joe Flacco out of Delaware, and they succeeded in signing the Blue Hen QB to be the new face of their franchise.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: Keep an eye on 3rd round pick Chris Harrington out of A&M. He currently sits just behind starters Tim Crowder and Dimitrius Underwood on the DE depth chart, but we expect to see him get a shot on passing downs.
T-Draft Success: The Outlaws think they found two real contributors in their territorial picks, signing elusive slot receiver Danny Amendola from Texas Tech and big target, TE Jermichael Finley out of UT.
ARIZONA
1st Round Story: If Arizona had been hoping to sign Flacco as the heir to Jake Plummer, they did not show it, turning in their card almost immediately after Texas’s deal. That card listed LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey on it. The Wranglers were hoping to build up their D-line, unfortunately Dorsey had a strong offer from the Kansas City Chiefs two weeks later and he jumped at it. Swing and a miss for Coach Fassel, who cannot afford too many of those.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: While we like OLB Bruce Davis and WR Matthew Slater, both USC products that LA passed on, the most intriguing signing was QB Colt Brennan out of Hawaii. The 4th round pick has similar skills to Jake Plummer and could be a protégé that would benefit from 1-2 years behind the Wrangler Mr. Everything.
T-Draft Success: Center Mike Pollack from ASU fills an immediate need, but will rotate with free agent Ben Claxton at least at first.
ATLANTA
1st Round Story: The Fire were another team looking at both Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco, but they too passed on Ryan as they saw a chance to jump on the first HB available in the draft. They had expected St. Louis to go for a halfback, having already signed Jeff Blake over from Seattle to be the QB for Doug Williams. When the Skyhawks traded down with Texas, it mean that Atlanta could have their pick, and they wasted no time selecting, and then offering Arkansas back Darren McFadden a 4-year deal that the NFL Raiders could not match. A signing that could help Atlanta take the next step.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: Atlanta did eventually pick a QB, Alabama’s John David Booty, in the 5th round. They also signed LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar out of BC, but that was where their Open Draft success ended. 3 signings in 8 rounds.
T-Draft Success: DE Marcus Howard (UGA) and FB Mike Cox (Ga Tech) did sign on with the Fire. Cox is likely going to win the FB role with the Fire while Howard is buried in the depth chart right now.
ST. LOUIS
1st Round Story: For the second year in a row, St. Louis chose to drop down in the 1st round to add more picks. The move this year took them from #4 down to #7. With the 7th pick, they did take a shot at the only other consensus pick at QB in BC’s Matt Ryan. We are still not sure why. They had already signed Jeff Blake, but having traded last year’s starter, Luke McNown to Houston, maybe they thought they could upgrade. No such luck. Ryan was a very early pick of the Atlanta Falcons and signed with the NFL club.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: With 2 second round picks (theirs and Texas’s) St. Louis had better luck. They picked and landed both Michigan LB Shawn Grable and Maryland DT Dre Moore, two players who will rotate into the defense for the Skyhawks.
T-Draft Success: Jordy Nelson was the only big name signee from the T-Draft, and he has looked good in camp. He will likely not see much of the field early on, with Taylor Jacobs, Sinorice Moss and Bryant Johnson ahead of him, but should get some snaps as the season progresses.
TAMPA BAY
1st Round Story: The Bandits did not travel far from home for their first pick. When Jacksonville did not select DE Derrick Harvey in the T-Draft, Tampa Bay started wooing the big man. They picked him at #8 and signed him within 48 hours, one of the first of the USFL signings this year.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: In addition to Harvey, Tampa signed WR Earl Bennett out of Vandy, TE Matt Sherry from Villanova, and LB Jesse Nading from Colorado State. Of the three, Sherry is the only one expected to see significant snaps, currently #2 at the TE position on the depth chart.
T-Draft Success: The Bandits struggled with their picks from FSU, USF, and South Carolina. Only DT Andre Fluellen made the squad through camp, and he sits 4th on the depth chart right now.
BIRMINGHAM
1st Round Story: With Shaun Alexander headed off to Houston, Birmingham needed to find a HB who could help them keep what semblance of a run game they have intact. They opted for the 2nd of 2 Arkansas backs taken in the draft, Felix Jones. The Stallions seem happy with Jones, who is expected to split carries with veteran Marion Barber for now.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: Neither Barber nor Jones are huge contributors in the passing game, which makes the signing of 6th round pick, Danny Woodhead, out of Chadron State, so vital. Too small to be an every down back, Woodhead is seen as a 3rd down receiver primarily, something the Stallions have lacked in recent years. Another help to the run game came in the form of tackle John Greco of Toledo, who starts the year as the starter at right tackle.
T-Draft Success: Two potential starters out of 3 players drafted is a very good return on investment for the Stallions. CB Jonathan Wilhite is slotted in as the Week 1 nickel back and DT Quentin Groves is currently the swing DE, able to replace either RE Antwan Odom or LE Mike Rucker as needed.
PITTSBURGH
1st Round Story: Coach Rivera again went defense with his first pick, selecting Kansas CB Aqib Talib. Unfortunately, Talib decided that the warm weather and nightlife of Tampa Bay was preferable to the scene in Pittsburgh, signing with the NFL Buccaneers.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: The Maulers signed only 3 players from their 8 Open Draft picks, midround guard Chester Adams from UGA and late round WR Andrew Hawkins (Toledo) and LB Alvin Bowen (Iowa State). That does not bode well for Rivera, whose drafts have been underwhelming each year.
T-Draft Success: Left tackle Jeff Otah from Pitt will start at Right Tackle, so the draft is not a total waste, but again, more was expected.
NEW JERSEY
1st Round Story: New Jersey had already signed their HB choice from the T-Draft, Ray Rice by the time they picked in the Open Draft, so that took them out of the HB derby and allowed them to focus on other needs. They opted to go for line help, selecting Uva tackle Branden Albert. Unfortunately, the big guy would opt to go to the NFL, leaving NJ without help at the position and looking for late Free Agent help.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: Our favorite signing by the Generals was safety Tom Zbikowski in the 2nd round out of Notre Dame. He is already penciled in as the opening day starter.
T-Draft Success: LB Curtis Lofton and HB Ray Rice help New Jersey feel better about their draft this year. Rice will start the year in competition with James Jackson, who resigned after testing the free agent waters. Lofton will serve a swing role, both at strongside and middle linebacker.
HOUSTON
1st Round Story: Houston also went OT, trading with Washington to move up to #12 and then selecting a tackle, one of 3 in a row in the draft. They selected USC’s big man, Sam Baker, but, like New Jersey, they were outbid by the NFL as Baker opted to join the Tennessee Copperheads.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: Houston did what New Jersey did not. They handcuffed their 1st round pick, selecting another OT in the 3rd round, UTEP’s Oniel Cousins. Cousins excelled in camp and won the RT position opposite his new mentor, LT Mike Pearson. Houston also got some help on the inside as Oregon State product, guard Kyle DeVan has earned a spot on the roster. Finally, kicker Dan Carpenter from Montana has won the kicking competition and will be the opening day kicker after being an 8th round pick of the Gamblers.
T-Draft Success: Two of Houston’s 3 picks signed, LB David Hawthorne of TCU and center Cody Wallace from A&M. Both are on the final 53 but buried in the depth chart for now.
DENVER
1st Round Story: Finally a tackle who joins his USFL club. Denver got their man in Boise State’s Ryan Clady, another success story for USFL clubs picking players from smaller programs. Clady is another draft pick who will start as a rookie, again at Right Tackle, though we expect he will get some snaps on the left side as well.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: Denver is hoping that 2nd round pick, LB Thomas Williams of USC will work himself into games. Right now he sits deep on the depth chart and will likely only contribute to special teams. Unfortunately, no other picks are looking like they will see much action either.
T-Draft Success: LB Jordan Dixon also made the squad, a pick out of Colorado, but he was the only signee of the 3 T-Draft picks, so disappointment there for Denver.
LAS VEGAS
1st Round Story: The Thunder wanted to get some help for QB Steve McNair in the form of a young wideout, but Michigan State’s Devin Thomas opted to join the NFL Redskins instead. That leaves a pretty shallow receiving corps behind Matthew Hatchette and free agent signing Amani Toomer.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: The Thunder found their kicker in the 7th round, Taylor Mehlhaff from Wisconsin, and they added DT Rd Bryant to the defense, but he has been hampered by hamstring issues in camp, so his spot on the roster is not secure.
T-Draft Success: LB Bryan Kehl of BYU was the only one of three picks to sign with the Thunder. He is currently on the Practice Squad, which is not a good sign for him seeing any time on the field.
BALTIMORE
1st Round Story: The Blitz need help on defense, and they spent a lot of draft capital on that side of the ball, but they missed on their first pick, USF cornerback Mike Jenkins. The Blitz felt good about signing Jenkins until the player’s childhood team, the Dallas Cowboys also selected him. From that point on the cause was lost.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: The Blitz did manage to land LB Tavares Gooden of Miami (3rd round), but that was the only defender to join the squad from the draft. OTs Chad Rinehart (Northern Iowa) and King Dunlap (Auburn) did sign and now provide depth behind D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Matt Hill.
T-Draft Success: WR Harry Douglas of Louisville will get some snaps backing up Ted Ginn in the slot, while TE Jacob Tamme (Louisville) will get even more snaps as the #2 TE as Baltimore likes to use 2-TE formations to help spring Ron Dayne into the secondary.
MICHIGAN
1st Round Story: The Panthers landed their top choice, safety Kenny Phillips of Miami (FL) after only 3 days of negotiations. We guess he just did not want to head off to the chaos that is the NY Giants right now.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: In addition to Phillips, the Panthers signed OG Mike McGlynn (Pitt), TE Gary Barnidge (Louisville), and FB Jerome Felton (Furman) to bolster their offense.
T-Draft Success: Here is where we think Michigan struck gold, signing two Wolverines with great upside, Wideout Mario Manningham and HB Mike Hart. Neither will start in Week 1, but both bring a lot of positives with them and should contribute to a Michigan offense hoping to grow around Brian Griese.
NASHVILLE
1st Round Story: Nashville also went Safety in the first round and also landed their man, though many feel that taking Arkansas State’s Tyrell Johnson was a bit of a stretch. But, in the USFL, any talent you can sign is a good pick. Half of the teams in the 1st round got absolutely nothing with their picks.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: Bowling Green center Kory Lichtensteiger was happy to sign with the Knights, bringing him closer to his Tennessee roots. The Knights also may have found a keeper in 6th round FB Peyton Hillis, whose blocks helped both McFadden and Felix Jones become 1st round picks. We know Frank Gore will be happy to see him on the roster.
T-Draft Success: We are so intrigued by former Ole Miss HB BenJarvis Green-Elllis that we are almost sad that he likely will see very few carries sitting behind both Gore and Leon Johnson on the Knights’ depth chart.
LOS ANGELES
1st Round Story: The LA Express were patient, keeping their fingers crossed that one of the top corners in the draft would drop to them at #18, and that patience paid off. LA selected, and later signed, the top man on their draft board, Tennessee State’s Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, a player with a ton of skill and a lot of attitude to boot.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: Thanks to some trade moves, LA finished the draft with 9 picks. They signed 6 of them. That is pretty solid. Our favorite, aside from DR-C above is DT Ahtyba Rubin, and not just because his name is fun to say. The Iowa State prospect will sit behind Daryl Gardner and Igor Olshansky for now, but don’t forget that name.
T-Draft Success: USC is such a source for the Express. The club was able to sign both LB Keith Rivers and DE Lawrence Jackson, with Rivers immediately plugging in as the starting Weak Side LB alongside Tatupu, Adalius Thomas and Akin Ayodele in what is looking like a very athletic group.
WASHINGTON
1st Round Story: By this point you probably had thought we somehow forgot about the Feds. We did not. The Feds started the day with the #6 pick, but trade down with Atlanta to hold #12, picking up tackle Mike Williams in the process. They then traded the #12 pick to Houston, dropping to #19 and adding CB Sheldon Brown along the way. Two veterans added to the roster and 13 picks later, they finally got around to making a pick. Sadly, their choice, OT Duane Brown form VA Tech would end up signing with the Oilers of the NFL, but at least the Feds got some talent out of the round.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: Overall, the Feds had one of the better drafts, landing not only veterans through trade, but signing OT Ryan Considine form La Tech, and TE Kellen Davis from Michigan State. But, it was the T-Draft where the Feds did their best work.
T-Draft Success: All three T-Draft selections signed on with the Federals, including two immediate contributors, DE Chris Long of Virginia and CB Brandon Flowers of Va Tech. Add in LB Xavier Adibi and you have a very strong T-Draft for DC’s club.
PHILADELPHIA
1st Round Story: The Stars had a rough day (in hindsight) on Draft Day. Only 2 of 8 picks signed, with 6 opting for the NFL, including first round pick, DT Kentawn Barber of UNC.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: Of the two who did sign, only HB Steve Slaton out of West Virginia is expected to see much action, splitting time with veteran Michael Robinson as Philly tries to cobble together a run game without Ahman Green.
T-Draft Success: LB Dan Connor out of Penn State will see the field subbing for Paul Posluszny in some downs.
OAKLAND
1st Round Story: The Invaders were absolutely shocked that USC DT Sedrick Ellis was still on the board at 21. They jumped at the chance to sign the big man, and their enthusiasm carried over to the negotiations with Ellis and his agent. Despite Ellis being chosen 14 picks higher in the NFL Draft (#7 by New Orleans), the West Coast product opted to sign with the West Coast team, much to Oakland’s benefit.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: Ellis was by far the biggest signing of the day for Oakland. While LB Stanford Keglar (Purdue), CB Zackary Bowman (Nebraska), and TE Mike Merritt (USF) all made the roster, none are seen as first year starters.
T-Draft Success: The Invaders are giddy with options when it comes to how to use former Cal WR DeSean Jackson to open up the offense. Jackson is slated to be the slot receiver for QB Joey Harrington, and the Invaders are expecting his Yards After Catch to be a huge factor for them.
ORLANDO
1st Round Story: Having lost Sedrick Irvin to free agency, the Renegades prioritized the HB position, so they were happy to see ECU’s Chris Johnson fall to them at #22. Unfortunately, Johnson got an offer from the Tennessee Copperheads that was more than the Renegades could match, so it was a miss on their pickin the first round.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: Orlando would handcuff the Johnson pick, selecting LSU halfback Jacob Hester in the 3rd round, and Hester would sign on the dotted line. But a Hester-Davenport rotation is not exactly what the ‘Gades were hoping for.
T-Draft Success: No player in any camp has impressed scouts and coaches more than Miami product Calais Campbell. Immediately penciled in at LE for the Renegades, Campbell had 2 sacks in his preseason debut, and has been a monster in camp. Looks like a draft-defining signing to us.
BOSTON
1st Round Story: Boston tried to move up in the draft to land a HB, but failed to find any takers. So, at #23 they waited. When Chris Johnson was taken by Orlando at #22, many thought they would change gears and go for a wideout, but they stayed the course, selecting Rashard Mendenhall of Illinois. The big back signed on with Boston, and while he is going to get every chance to tote the rock for the Cannons, just how he fits into the Cannonball Run offense is still to be seen.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: In addition to Mendenhall, Boston signed WR Marcus Smith (ASU), LB Jonathan Goff (Vandy), and TE Keith Zinger (LSU). Not a bad overall haul, though we expect Mendenhall to be the focal point.
T-Draft Success: Yes, the Cannons signed 2 of 3 picks, but both OG Donald Thomas (UConn) and WR Paul Hubbard (Wisconsin) are fringe players who could end up on the practice squad rather than the game day 53.
SEATTLE
1st Round Story: Seattle was another team looking for a corner, and finding one in this year’s draft. Leodis McKelvin will join Marcus Truffant and Ray Mickens in what is becoming a formidable defensive backfield.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: Not much to be excited about beyond the first round as Seattle went for depth more than anything. Center Jeremey Zuttah is a developmental project out of Rutgers and he is perhaps the biggest name of the other signees.
T-Draft Success: FB Marcel Reese out of UW will be the starter on opening day, while QB Alex Brink of WSU will find himself on the practice squad as the designated 3rd QB.
JACKSONVILLE
1st Round Story: With Rashaun Woods and Donald Hayes clearly #1 and #2 in the receiving corps, the selection of Eddie Royal in tail end of the 1st round seems an odd choice for Jacksonville, but clearly a case of Best Player Available. We will never know how that choice would pan out since Royal signed with the NFL Broncos instead, but it did have some heads scratching on draft day.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: Some good talent later on, like 2nd round pick DT Pat Sims of Auburn, 3rd round pick, CB Charles Godfrey of Iowa, and LB Joe Mays, an underrated tackler out of Division I-AA North Dakota State.
T-Draft Success: WR Andre Caldwell from Florida shows that the Bulls are just not happy with the depth behind their two breakout receivers.
OHIO
1st Round Story: The Glory tried to bolster their D by selecting CB Antoine Cason from Va Tech in the first round, but Cason would end up signing with the San Diego Chargers instead. A rare miss in what has been a very good offseason for the Glory.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: Of Ohio’s 6 open draft signees, 4 have made the roster: LB Philip Wheeler (Ga Tech), HB Kevin Smith (USF), DT London Cohen (Ohio), and HB Clifton Smith (Fresno). That is 2 halfbacks of the three that the Glory kept on the roster. So it is Eddie George and 2 rookies behind him.
T-Draft Success: Ohio State did not produce a single signee for the Glory this year. That is a rarity. They did land safety Haruki Nakamura and DE Angelo Craig, both from Cincinnati and both deep on the depth chart.
CHICAGO
1st Round Story: Chicago stayed local, and went with a bit of a first round stretch, selecting Indiana University wideout James Hardy. Generally considered a 3rd round talent, Hardy was quick to sign with the Machine and land that first round money.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: In addition to Hardy, Chicago signed 2nd round pick, CB Reggie Smith of OU, and 4th round pick, Andy Studebaker, a DE from tiny Division III Wheaton College, just down the road from Machine camp.
T-Draft Success: Only Notre Dame DT Trevor Laws signed with the Machine, and he will now sit and learn from Ted Washington.
MEMPHIS
1st Round Story: Memphis also played their 1st pick conservatively, choosing Purdue TE Dustin Keller. Keller signed and will now get to line up with Brett Favre as understudy to David Martin at the TE position.
Best Mid & Late Round Signings: CB Antwaun Molden (EKU) and LB Spencer Larsen will likely see some spot duty in their first year.
T-Draft Success: Two good prospects here: WR Pierre Garçon and DT Marcus Harrison could contribute this year for the defending champs.
Standings & Playoff Predictions
Twenty eight teams, all sitting at 0-0, with all the hope and opportunity of a new start in front of them. And yet we know that for every winner there will be a loser, for every success story, a missed opportunity. The season lays ahead, but what should we expect. Well, our track record shows that we should expect the unexpected. There will be a team that surprises with its success, and another who fails to meet expectations. Stars will emerge, others will fade. There will be upsets and blowouts, close shaves and pyrrhic victories. We sat down, reviewed the full schedule, analyzed rosters and schemes, personnel and permutations and this is the best we could come up with. So, as with all our prognostications, don’t bet the deed to the ranch on this, but feel free to decide if we are way off base or right on the money. Our predictions for 2008 are here.
Predicted Finish
BOSTON 10-4 *
BALTIMORE 9-5 *
PHILADELPHIA 7-7
WASHINGTON 6-8
NEW JERSEY 4-10
Boston is the clear frontrunner as they try to send Drew Bledsoe off with a title, but the retirement of Tiki Barber produces a big hole to fill, a role we are not confident rookie Rashard Mendenhall can occupy. That means that others will have a chance to close the gap with the Cannons. We believe Baltimore, now with Tory Holt as a target for Big Ben and some new additions on defense can be the team to challenge Boston. Philadelphia is also dealing with the departure of their bell cow back, so they too will struggle to reach the heights of 2007. Washington, assuming a fully recovered Kordell Stewart should improve over 2007, while New Jersey is clearly in a retooling phase after losing both Terry Glenn and Curtis Enis to retirement and still having a huge question mark with Kevin Kolb at QB. This appears to be Boston’s division to win, with a challenge from an improving Blitz squad.
Predicted Finish
ORLANDO 12-2 *
JACKSONVILLE 8-6 *
ATLANTA 7-7
TAMPA BAY 5-9
CHARLOTTE 3-11
The Orlando Renegades won 8 straight games before bowing out in the playoffs last year, and they only got better in the offseason. DE Calais Campbell looks like the real deal and has ‘Gade fans talking about the next Chris Doleman. If he lives up to his potential this Renegade defense could be very tough, and we already know that the offense with Drew Brees at the helm is very dangerous. Jacksonville is still a contender, but we see the gap growing as we pick Orlando to be the top seed in the East. Atlanta could improve beyond the 1 game we have given them and could be a serious Wild Card contender again. Tampa Bay is still reeling after the departure of Randy Moss and their offense looks significantly weaker, which is not a good look for them. Charlotte appears on the surface to be the stronger of the two expansion clubs, but that will not translate into a lot of wins in what is becoming a tighter division.
Predicted Finish
MEMPHIS 11-3 *
NASHVILLE 9-5 *
BIRMINGHAM 7-7
NEW ORLEANS 5-9
The defending league champions still look like the strongest team in the division, though Nashville will give them a run for their money. The Showboats added some depth on offense, especially at WR and TE, which will help Brett Favre have more options. Nashville did not add much in the draft, but the addition of veteran Terrell Buckley to the DB group should provide more stability, and, to be honest, we just don’t see the Stallions or Breakers leaping up to 2nd. Birmingham has improved in several areas, but their QB situation is still a mess. For New Orleans, we think they had a good draft, but they basically have new faces at both WR positions and a rookie HB, so they are going to need time to develop, but is it time Coach Nolan does not have?
Predicted Finish
OHIO 12-2 *
CHICAGO 10-4 *
MICHIGAN 7-7
PITTSBURGH 5-9
ST. LOUIS 5-9
We will be honest. As we reviewed the schedule we had a hard time not picking Ohio to go 14-0, but we understand that we may just be wrapped up in the Randy Moss hype. The defense still has some questions and Chicago proved last year that they are a tough divisional opponent for the Glory. The Machine are clearly the 2nd contender in this division. If Brady Quinn shows growth from his first year to his second, the Machine could very well challenge Ohio for the top spot in the conference. Michigan feels like they have stagnated. We love what Brian Griese did last year, but that run game is just not much better year to year. So, if the defense improves, they could challenge, but for now we think .500 is very likely. Pittsburgh and St. Louis bring up the rear, and the Skyhawks could surprise if Coach Williams can get Jeff Blake into a rhythm. The Cody Pickett experience in Pittsburgh so far has had very mixed results and we are not sure about the rest of the offense.
Predicted Finish
HOUSTON 8-6*
DENVER 7-7
TEXAS 5-9
ARIZONA 4-10
One of the hardest divisions to pick since teams rarely get to 10 wins and when they do, the next year they seem to fall apart. Arizona could be a 2-win team again or could win 10. That just seems to be the way they go. Houston and Denver are much more consistent, but we give the edge to the Gamblers thanks to the acquisition of a legitimate #1 HB in Shaun Alexander. Texas could be improved, but Joe Flacco will need time to learn the pro game before they are ready to compete. So, for now, we stick with Houston as the lone playoff squad here. Denver could challenge and we have no idea what to expect form the Wranglers.
Predicted Finish
SEATTLE 11-3 *
OAKLAND 9-5 *
LAS VEGAS 9-5 *
LOS ANGELES 6-8
Another division that is very tight, especially at positions 2-4. Seattle seems a step above the rest, as last year’s 13-win season proved, and they have only added more to a pretty good roster. Oakland is our pick for 2nd place, and could challenge Seattle, as they were the only team to beat them last year in the regular season. They should be more “multiple” on offense and their defense is solid. Las Vegas was all defense, no offense in 2007. If they can get to even a middle-of-the-road status on defense, they could be a real handful. The pressure is on Steve McNair to finally produce numbers like he did in the NFL. Adding Amani Toomer and a 2nd year for Marshawn Lynch could make it possible. As for LA, we have a hard time believing that Seneca Wallace’s success last year is repeatable. Teams started to figure out the Express late last season, and with the departure of Tory Holt it will be even easier to defend their pass game. The departure of Jevon Kearse on defense is equally as devastating, so we think a slip is likely.
SUMMER BOWL 2008 PICK
You know what we are thinking. It is what everyone is thinking. Ohio is going for dynsasty status and they have the weapons to do it. Yes, a better defense would be good, and they may struggle against teams with a strong pass rush that prevent deep routes from developing, but they look very much like a favorite to us. We have their dynamic offense going up against Orlando and their potentially formidable defense. Add to the fact that the Renegades have a sneaky-good offense themselves and we think a Renegade-Glory Summer Bowl could be a real fun game. So, we pick Ohio to fulfill their self-proclaimed destiny, but it won’t be a cakewalk. Orlando will be a tough foe to knock off in July.
OHIO 29 ORLANDO 27
We wrap up the first half of our season preview by doing what we do each week, previewing the next week’s action. Next week is Week 1, so here we go with the full slate of action. As always, games in bold are broadcast nationally on the corresponding network. Those in blue are divisional matchups.
FRIDAY @ 8pm Michigan Panthers @ Ohio Glory NBC
SATURDAY @ 12pm New Jersey Generals @ Philadelphia Stars ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm Chicago Machine @ Tampa Bay Bandits FOX
SATURDAY @ 12pm Birmingham Stallions @ Jacksonville Bulls FOX
SATURDAY @ 4pm Baltimore Blitz @ Arizona Wranglers ABC
SATURDAY @ 4pm Boston Cannons @ Texas Outlaws FOX
SATURDAY @ 8pm Las Vegas Thunder @ Los Angeles Express ESPN
SUNDAY @ 12pm Nashville Knights @ Atlanta Fire ABC
SUNDAY @ 12pm Denver Gold @ Pittsburgh Maulers ABC
SUNDAY @ 12pm Washington Federals @ Charlotte Monarchs FOX
SUNDAY @ 4pm Houston Gamblers @ Portland Stags ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm Orlando Renegades @ St. Louis Skyhawks FOX
SUNDAY @ 4pm New Orleans Breakers @ Memphis Showboats FOX
SUNDAY @ 8pm Seattle Dragons @ Oakland Invaders ESPN
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