Boston makes a huge statement as Adrian McPherson steps up, but in Ohio another starting QB goes down as Brady Quinn is done for the year. Denver gets a big divisional win and Orlando gets back on the winning track. Philadelphia loses a 2nd in a row as the Blitz claw their way further into the playoff picture, and Nashville stuns the Federal faithful at RFK with a statement win. All this, plus our look at coordinators who could get the call up to new head coaching positions in 2009, in This Week in the USFL.
CHICAGO MACHINE 20 OHIO GLORY 17
A costly win for the Machine ,as they knock off Ohio in Columbus, but lose Brady Quinn for the year in the process. In a game that saw Chicago’s defense hold Kerry Collins to a stunningly low 151 yards passing, it was the Ohio pass rush that may have done the most damage, when, midway through the 3rd quarter, LB Brandon Ayanbedejo brought Brady Quinn down awkwardly. The result was a broken fibia, not as nasty as the famous Joe Theisman injury, but clearly a very painful break. Quinn was carted off the field with his club down 10-9 and it would be backup Kyle Orton who would have to fight for a Machine win.
In the first three quarters, with Quinn at the helm, Chicago had only mustered 3 field goals, which put them behind by a point after Collins connected with Randy Moss for a 12-yard TD, the only score of the 2nd quarter. In the 4th quarter, with Quinn out of action, Orton would lead the Machine on their only TD drive of the day. The Purdue product connected with Donald Driver and Aaron Shea on the drive, but it was backup HB Maurice Clarett who would give Chicago the lead on a 1 yard plunge. Orton connected with Fasano on the 2-point PAT and Chicago was up 17-10.
Ohio would battle back in the final minutes of the game, and when Collins hit Eddie George with a scoring toss with only 1:57 left to play, many in the stadium wanted Coach Luginbill to go for 2 and the win. He did not, sending out Josh Brown to tie the game. Chicago would have a chance to break the tie with just under 2 minutes to play.
Kyle Orton would get the job done, completing 3 of 5 passes, and making use of both Turner and Reno Mahe as receivers out of the backfield. With only 16 seconds left on the clock, Chicago opted to go for the game winner on 3rd down, playing it safe rather than risk another play from scrimmage with no time outs left. Tim Seder was money, and the kick put Chicago up without enough time for Ohio to come back.
Chicago now shares 1st place with Michigan and Ohio falls 2 games back at 6-4, but the road will not be easy for the Machine moving forward. Chicago will start Kyle Orton the rest of the way, with former Wrangler Andrew Walter the backup. With the trade deadline passed, there are not a lot of options for Chicago to pick up a 3rd QB. Expect them to sign a 1st or 2nd year player who was a camp body this year as really the only option.
JACKSONVILLE 19 ORLANDO 27
Orlando gets back on track and Jacksonville fades after their big upset last week. Despite 121 yards from Antowain Smith, the Bulls could not upend the Renegades in Jacksonville. Touchdowns from Brees to Jenkins and McCaerins, paired with a solid 70 yards from Jacob Hester gave Orlando enough to take the W on the road. A Robb Morris pick-six also helped the cause as it took a 19-17 deficit and turned it into an Orlando 24-19 lead, a lead that would hold for the ‘Gades.
CHARLOTTE 7 TAMPA BAY 31
The Bandits continue their dominance of the SE Division with a completely dominant performance against the Monarchs. Tampa Bay scored the final 28 points of the game, including 2 TDs from Willis McGahee to go with his 113-yard day. Henry Burris got the start for Charlotte, but even a 22 of 36 day was not enough to keep pace with the Bandits on this day.
MEMPHIS 20 NEW JERSEY 16
The Generals raced out to a 13-0 lead in a shocker, but faded in the second half, giving up touchdowns to Lee Evans and David Martin as Memphis roared back to take the win. Kris Kershaw was back under center for the Generals, but completed only 9 of 22 throws, showing that New Jersey just does not have an answer at QB right now.
ATLANTA 31 BIRMINGHAM 3
A bit of a shocker as Atlanta manhandles the Stallions in Legion Field. Birmingham only mustered 6 first downs in a game where they simply looked incapable of getting anything done. Meanwhile. Tyler Thigpen went 14 of 20 and threw for 2 scores as Atlanta ran all over the Stallions. Rod Smart, on only 16 carries, ran for 148 yards, a 9.2 YPC average, while Darren McFadden rushed for 74 yards as well.
ST. LOUIS 8 SEATTLE 27
Their 0-4 start long behind them, the Dragons continue to look like a serious threat as they dismantle the Skyhawks. David Boston catches 4 balls for 107 and a score and the combo of Dillon and Sproles combines for 130 yards as Seattle rolls in this one.
LOS ANGELES 13 LAS VEGAS 28
LA Drops to 3-7 after another division loss with QB Play still an issue. Jeff Garcia put up 52 balls, but completed only 26 and threw 2 picks in the process. Meanwhile Tony Banks, in for the injured Steve McNair, went 14 of 25 and threw for 2 scores as the Thunder improve to 6-4 and well within the playoff hunt.
HOUSTON 16 DENVER 21
The big SW Division clash was a bit lopsided until a late Houston score brought things a bit closer. A Greg Clark TD from Leinart put Denver up 21-9 with 11 minutes to play. Houston got a score from Alexander but could not draw any closer. Cedric Benson had some success in this one, gaining 95 yards on 17 carries, subbing for a dinged up Mewelde Moore.
BALTIMORE 27 PHILADELPHIA 17
Two losses in a row for the Stars as Baltimore gets the better of them in the Linc. Baltimore went up 3 with only 28 seconds to go, and Philadelphia’s Kurt Warner made it 10 when on his first pass of a desperation drive, he threw a pick-six to Ken Lucas, turning a neck and neck game into a 10-point Blitz win. Philly still leads the division, but it is getting tighter with Washington and Baltimore both chasing the Stars.
NASHVILLE 31 WASHINGTON 10
The Feds could have tied Philly at 8-2, but they were solidly thrashed by a fired-up Nashville Knights club. Frank Gore and Leon Johnson combined for 160 yards and 2 scores, and Jay Cutler, going 14 of 19, threw for 2 scores in one of his better games. The Knights corralled McCallister and forced Stewart to beat them, and on this day he did not have it in him.
NEW ORLEANS 20 BOSTON 39
Still reeling from the Bledsoe injury, Boston rallied behind Adrian McPherson and got a huge win at home against the Breakers. McPherson went a respectable 13 of 25 for 222 and 2 scores, but it was Rashard Mendenhall and the D that gave this game to Boston. Mendenhall had 130 yards and 2 scores, while the D limited Matt Forte to only 18 yards rushing on the day.
ARIZONA 3 TEXAS 27
Interim Coach Tom Olivadotti fared no better than Fassel had with the Wrangler offense as Texas shut them down and just kept adding more points. T. J. Duckett rushed for 103 yards and 2 scores, but it was the defense, sacking Jake Plummer 4 times and limiting Sedrick Irvin to only 53 yards, that won the day for the Outlaws. Rookie QB Joe Flacco also had a strong game, going 21 of 30 for 258 and a scoring toss to Marques Colston.
MICHIGAN 25 PITTSBURGH 16
The Panthers take care of business in Pittsburgh to retain a share of 1st place in the Central. Justin Fargas rushed for 2 scorers and the defense held the Maulers to only 73 rushing yards on the day as Michigan moves to 8-2 and sends Pittsburgh to their 7th loss of the year.
PORTLAND 23 OAKLAND 28
The Stags were game, but the Invaders had just a bit more and came away with a hard-fought win at home. A. J. Feeley threw for 244, but also tossed 2 picks, while Ricky Williams rushed for 93 yards and a score. Portland actually outgained Oakland 333-248, but Oakland took advantage of turnovers, like the Feeley pick-six thrown to LB Roosevelt Colvin, to snag the win, their 9th on the year.
Chicago Now Relies on Orton
With Brady Quinn now on IR, the 8-2 Machine may be poised atop the Central Division, but they will have to go with an unknown commodity at QB the rest of the way if they want a return trip to the Summer Bowl. Kyle Orton, who was drafted by the Machine in 2005, has appeared in a grand total of 1 regular season game in the past 4 seasons. He did go 20 of 37 for 190 yards and 2 scores in that game, and he certainly looked poised this week, helping Chicago come back twice to take the win in front of a hostile Ohio crowd.
He may get a bit of an easy first start as the Machine are at home against 2-8 St. Louis next week, but then it gets nasty again, with a rematch against Ohio in Week 12 and a trip to Michigan in Week 13. Orton can make himself a hero in Chicagoland if he can lead the Machine to a division title and into the playoffs, and with next year a contract year for the QB, he could also build some value with good outings, but, first things first, Chicago needs to figure out the best gameplan to play to his strengths and maximize their own chances to hold on to the division.
Boston Rallies Behind Adrian McPherson
While the Cannons are certainly saddened by the shortened season that Drew Bledsoe now faces, they did their best to rally behind former Syracuse QB Adrian McPherson, and the 4 year vet paid them back with a solid game and a big win for the Cannons. McPherson, who started 3 games last year when Bledsoe had a less significant injury, has put up good numbers over his career. He came into this year with 9 TDs’ to only 3 picks, and an overall rating over 100, not something you often see from a QB who has so few snaps in his career.
Like Orton, McPherson will now get a shot to show what he can do, and the message is clear. McPherson can either win himself the job as Boston’s starting QB in 2010, or open the door for the Cannons to bring in a QB in the offseason. Rare that a backup QB has such an opportunity to make an impression, and certainly not in the way he would have wanted, but this could be a big break for the humble Orange QB. Will he take advantage of it for a Boston team with nothing to lose.
Is Coach Austin Headed for One and Done?
We hate to point out the obvious, but Kent Austin is not showing us many signs that he has Birmingham headed in the right direction. Sitting at 1-9 and failing to score a TD in 2 of the past 3 games, the Stallions don’t just look like a team that needs to retool a bit. They look like a team bottoming out and in need of a total overhaul, but will ownership find reasons to allow Austin to be the man to do that overhaul. So far this year the offense has been pure misery and the defense is rated dead last in both scoring and yards allowed, not something that shows positive signs for the future.
It is not common to have a one-and-done coach in the USFL. It has only happened twice in league history, with Roman Gabriel in Pittsburgh in 1987 and then Wayne Fontes with the LA Express in 1998. Could Austin be the third to suffer this embarrassing fate? There certainly does not seem to be a lot of optimism in Birmingham that the club will suddenly start finding success. They face Las Vegas this week and then have two potentially winnable games at 3-7 LA and then home to 3-7 Charlotte. If they go 0-3 in that stretch, then the die may be cast. Finishing the year with the Breakers, Knights, and Showboats, creates the potential for Birmingham to finish the year 1-15, a record Stallion fans will not find any humor in.
Orlando & Seattle All the Way back In
While an 0-4 or 1-4 start is often the end of a team’s playoff hopes, we have seen the occasional team battle back to squeak their way into the playoffs. This year it very much seems that the Renegades and Dragons are not looking to eke in, but to reassert themselves as serious contenders. Since going 1-4 to start the year, the Renegades have won 4 of 5 to even their record at 5-5 after 10 weeks. Though a serious slip in week 9 to the Breakers has some fans fearful of a decline down the stretch, the rebound win against the Bulls was a good sign that this team will continue to fight for a playoff spot. They will do so without Calais Campbell, at least for another 2 weeks, but with an offense that has improved steadily since a shaky opening month.
In Seattle, the 0-4 start of the Dragons is nearly all but forgotten. The Dragons have rattled off 6 consecutive wins, and now control their own playoff destiny. Looking very much like the squad that won the Pacific Division last year, Seattle has 4 divisional games left in their final 6 games, and could make a run at division-topping Oakland. The defense has come on, allowing only 20 points combined in their past 2 games, and the offense is averaging a very solid 23 points per game, nearly 28 points per game over just the 6-game winning streak. We are not sure what caused Seattle to have early season losses to teams like Portland and New Orleans, but they have shown since then that they have found their stride and are looking like one of the better teams in the league. A 10+ win season seems more likely than not, despite the early losses for this Dragon squad.
It may still be too early to start seeing teams lock up playoff spots, but what we are seeing is a clustering of clubs between 6 wins and 6 losses, 10, in fact, and all likely battling over only 4 playoff spots. While the 1-loss, 2-loss, and even 3-loss teams might look somewhat secure atop the playoff rankings, the clubs at 6-4, 5-5, and 4-6 have to be at their best to ensure that they have a shot at a postseason paycheck.
Right now Tampa Bay and Oakland are the two surprise #1 seeds, with Philly and Michigan in hot pursuit. Denver and Memphis are the third division leaders in each conference, but the chase for divisions is going to be a busy one down the stretch. Philadelphia has only 1 game on Memphis, the same in the Southwest, where Denver has a 1 game lead on Houston. Michigan and Chicago are separated only by a tiebreaker at the moment, while Oakland and Tampa bay have comfortable leads, 3 games for the Invaders and 3 for the Bandits.
Today the action is in those mid-ranges. In the East Baltimore at 6-4 has a 1 game lead on the pack, while Orlando barely edges Nashville for the final playoff spot, thanks to a tiebreaker. In the West, Seatle and Las Vegas have the tiebreaker advantages over Ohio and Houston, all sitting at 6-4, while expansion Portland is still in the hunt at 5-5. And don’t count out either Boston or New Orleans. Both sit at 4-6, but a run down the stretch could easily put them in contention.
This week we may also see our first official eliminations, as Arizona and Birmingham could find themselves out of it with losses again this week. It may just be a matter of time for both, as a 9-loss team is already very unlikely to sneak into the postseason.
Brady Quinn’s leg was the story of the week, but his was not the only injury to impact teams this week. Several other players were also placed on the IR this week, including Charlotte HB Travis Prentice (MCL), Boston guard Chuck Johnson (ACL), and Orlando safety Kevin Williams (arm). Others who could be out for the next couple of weeks include LA defensive end Keneche Udeze (toe), Memphis SS Coy Wire (hamstring), Michigan center Jeff Faine (leg), New Jersey wideout T. J. Houshmandzadeh (knee), and Denver LB Kendrell bell (hip).
Expected to return to action this week are Portland DT Kendrick Allen, Michigan LB Shawne Merriman, Philly HB Michael Robinson, Houston LB Keith Brooking, Thunder CB Antoine Winfield, and Texas WR Muhsin Muhammad.
Coordinators Who Could Get the Call in 2009
With one Head Coach position already open and several more expected, don’t be surprised if there is a lot of buzz about a coordinator for one of the league’s more successful teams getting a call to take over as head coach somewhere else. We asked GM’s around the league who the hottest prospects are among the league’s offensive and defensive coordinators, and these six names kept cropping up, so we thought we would give you a bit of insight into each, as they could very well be taking on the main job for a club near you.
Memphis OC Turk Schonert: While fans like to give all the credit for Memphis’s offensive success to QB Brett Favre, teams around the league also recognize the work of OC Turk Schonert to build an offense around Favre’s talents. The Showboats are averaging nearly 365 yards of offense per game (second only to Seattle) and are also among the league leaders with 24.9 points per game, and while Favre is a big part of that, Schonert is also getting a lot of attention as a coach who gameplans to find weaknesses in an opponent’s defensive scheme.
Ohio OC Bart Andrus: Another obvious choice for many is the mind behind Ohio’s offense. Again, the players get a lot of the credit, but the coach is the one juggling the roster and the playcalling to maximize team success. In the case of Andrus, the question is less about maximizing talent and more about ensuring that all the big players—Moss, Galloway, George, Alexander—get their touches and their opportunities for big plays.
Denver DC Perry Fewell is the name being cited most often on the defensive side. Denver does not have the big name defensive superstars that some other clubs have, but they are still one of the league’s stingiest defenses, and a lot of that is due to the scheme and the weekly gameplan that Fewell is putting into action. Denver is allowing only 13.7 points per game, and are among the league leaders in stuffing the run and making teams one dimensional. A lot of clubs at the bottom of the standings could use that kind of boost to their defensive stopping power.
Philadelphia DC Jim Tomsula: On of the breakout stories of this season has been the emergence of the Philadelphia defense, and that shines a light on Stars defensive guru, Jim Tomsula. The Stars defense has emerged as a swarming squad that simply does not whiff on tackles. A lot of effort and a lot of motivation are the key to the Stars’ success, and Tomsula is seen as the man keeping that focus in place for the team.
Oakland OC Tom Ramsey: Back on offense, former LA Express QB and current Oakland OC Tom Ramsey is getting a lot of attention for his mentoring of Joey Harrington. Once considered expendable when he struggled in Orlando, Harrington has found new life under the tutelage of the former Express QB. Ramsey has designed a power run offense with Ricky Williams that allows Harrington to enjoy clean pockets and the benefits of play action, making him a far more effective QB than in past years.
Finally, expansion Portland has had great success in their first year, and a lot of credit is going to the defense led by former Generals and Invaders LB and current Stags DC Chris Spielman. Spielman's unit is allowing only 16.9 points per game and fewer than 190 yards passing each week. Cobbled together in one offseason, the roster is a hodge podge of veterans and younger talent, and Spielman has them working well as a unit, not just as individuals. The ability to build a successful defense quickly has been noticed around the league and could merit a few interviews for the Breakers’ all time tackle leader turned defensive coach.
Oakland Reveals Updated Uniform for 2009
The Invaders become the third and final team to unveil a new look for the next season, a look we very likely will be seeing come the postseason. It is a design that retains many of the familiar elements of Invader designs over the year, with a callback to earlier renditions of the team’s uniform. It comes with a new secondary logo, a rondel patch which at present is not found on the uniform, but will be used around the stadium and in some marketing materials. The wordmark is also slightly altered, now featuring a navy drop shadow, a feature we will see repeated in the uniforms.
The Reebok redesign features a return to the original striping for the Invaders, thick sky and white stripes with a thin navy border on the helmet and gold pants, with variations of the same theme on the white pants and the new sky pant set. The jerseys feature no sleeve stripes, simply a large primary logo on each sleeve. The number font has been modified and now features outline piping and a drop shadow as well. Finally, the collar features a small team logo with stripes behind it in offsetting colors. Overall a very clean, somewhat traditional look for the Invaders.
We move from 1984 to 1987 with our next batch of Mt. Rushmore selections. With 4 teams added in 1987, we start with Orlando and Chicago, and next week we will finish up with the Thunder and the Outlaws. With fewer years to work with, these are a bit tougher, but there is still a lot of talent out there that these four teams can draw on.
ORLANDO RENEGADES
When I mention the Orlando Renegades, what is the first name that comes to mind? If you don’t say Chris Doleman, then I am not sure you are really a USFL fan. In 11 seasons with the ‘Gades (’92-’02) Doleman was a dominant force on the defensive line, recording 198 sacks, an average of 18 per year, and currently the #4 total all time. While Renegade fans are certainly excited about Calais Campbell’s start as a pro, the reference for Doleman’s time with the team is still vivid.
Second among vote getters for the Renegades was an original USFLer, wideout Wamon Buggs. Buggs came to Orlando in the 1987 expansion draft, after having played 1 year with the Chicago Machine and 3 with the Arizona Wranglers. With Orlando he would play another 9 seasons, and when he retired he held the team records for receptions, yards, and touchdowns. He still holds the team record for both yardage and receiving touchdowns, and still is a popular jersey to see at Renegade games.
Third up is QB Scott Mitchell. Mitchell is a bit of a surprise, as many in our bullpen expected Reggie Collier to get more votes as the original Renegade QB and the player who still holds most team passing records. But, it was Mitchell who took the Renegades to the top of the mountain with their 2001 league title. So, despite some up and down play, Mitchell gets the nod. It should be noted that due to his somewhat shorter tenure in Orlando, while most career records are still held by Collier, it is Mitchell who holds the season records for attempts, completions, and passing yards.
For their fourth selection, Orlando fans doubled up on the QB position, giving Reggie Collier his due. Collier was the starter at QB for the Renegades from 1987 through 1994, and while he was not able to bring a title to Central Florida, he did help Orlando reach the playoffs in three straight years, peaking in 1989 when the 3-year old club made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals before falling to the eventual league champion Generals. As we said already, Collier still holds the career records for Orlando in most passing categories, including attempts, completions, TDs, and yards.
CHICAGO MACHINE
Chicago’s second USFL club arrived in 1987 and struggled through several rough seasons before they finally made the playoffs for the first time in 1993. But, despite their early struggles, they still had several talented players, worthy of a space on the club’s Mt. Rushmore. First among them was one of the early draft success stories for the Machine, defensive end Simeon Rice. Chosen as a territorial pick from the University of Illinois, Rice became a fixture at left end, racking up double digit sacks 6 times in his 11 year career. He remains the Machine’s career record holder in that one category, but he also remains a regular fixture at USFL games in the Windy City.
Second among the fan vote was a running back, and while Chicagoans do not hold Ricky Watters in the same rarified air as Walter Payton, they do think enough of the Notre Dame product to elect him to the Machine Mt. Rushmore. Ricky’s entire 9-year career was with the Machine, and before he jumped to the NFL for two largely forgettable years, Watters rushed for 8,482 yards and 58 touchdowns as a member of the Machine. Watters was a big reason Chicago made their first of three (losing) Summer Bowl appearances in 1994, a season in which he rushed for 1,042 yards, his first 1,000 yard season.
Another member of the 1994 team to make the Chicago Mt. Rushmore is wideout Wendell Davis. Davis came to the USFL and the Machine in the 1988 draft and would remain a member of the Machine until he retired in 1998. A 7-time 1,000 yard receiver, Davis was a steady influence at a time when Chicago seemed to question their offense year in and year out. He retired with team records for receptions (862), yards (11,458) and receiving touchdowns (65), three records that still remain intact.
Finally, the voters from Chicago and the national Machine fanbase selected a linebacker, one in a long line of linebackers revered by Chicago football fans. Gary Reasons played 11 seasons for the Machine after coming over from Jacksonville. He arrived with a bang, scoring his only 100-tackle season in his first year in Chicago, but despite never hitting that height again, Reasons was a fan favorite and a steady performer for over a decade. He might be a bit in the shadow of Brian Urlacher these days, but there are still a lot of Machine fans who recognize that Reasons was one of the original Machine members in 1987, and a major contributor to their eventual success as a franchise.
The weather is starting to heat up. Memorial Day is not far off. Spring is slowly morphing into summer, and the USFL is heading towards its final weeks. Time to get serious, get hot, and get ready for a playoff run. Week 11 in the USFL provides us with some key matchups that could help propel teams into a postseason sprint, or make the path ahead a lot rougher.
The weekend opens with the Gamblers in Oakland, an interdivisional matchup of two playoff hopefuls.
On Saturday we have another round of the Battle of Tennessee, with Memphis traveling to Nashville. Philadelphia at Boston is the nightcap, and after the Cannons’ big game and Philly’s back to back losses, there is a growing sense this could be an upset. On Sunday Orlando @ Baltimore is an intriguing interdivisional game, as is Denver @ Seattle, but the biggie is the night game on ESPN when Ohio travels to Michigan, hoping to draw closer to the top of the Central Division.
FRIDAY @ 8pm Houston (6-4) @ Oakland (9-1) NBC
SATURDAY @ 12pm Memphis (7-3) @ Nashville (5-5) ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm Las Vegas (6-4) @ Birmingham (1-9) ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm Pittsburgh (3-7) @ Atlanta (3-7) FOX
SATURDAY @ 4pm Texas (3-7) @ Portland (5-5) ABC
SATURDAY @ 4pm Washington (7-3) @ Arizona (1-9) FOX
SATURDAY @ 8pm Philadelphia (8-2) @ Boston (4-6) ESPN
SUNDAY @ 12pm Charlotte (3-7) @ Jacksonville (3-7) ABC
SUNDAY @ 12pm Tampa Bay (9-1) @ New Jersey (2-8) ABC
SUNDAY @ 12pm Orlando (5-5) @ Baltimore (6-4) FOX
SUNDAY @ 4pm Denver (7-3) @ Seattle (6-4) ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm St. Louis (2-8) @ Chicago (8-2) FOX
SUNDAY @ 4pm Los Angeles (3-7) @ New Orleans (4-6) FOX
SUNDAY @ 8pm Ohio (6-4) @ Michigan (8-2) ESPN