Four teams remain unbeaten at the one-quarter mark of the season. Three remain winless. But the biggest story is who those teams are. Washington, picked by many to bring up the rear in the NE Division sits at 4-0 along with Philadelphia, while Seattle, a heavy favorite to compete for the Western Conference title, sits at 0-4, stunned by yet another game that got away from them. This story tops our headlines, but we also saw monster performances by St. Louis’s Taylor Jacobs, Memphis’s Robert Ferguson, and Oakland’s Joey Harrington in a week that saw 8 games won by less than 1 touchdown.
ARIZONA WRANGLERS 28 ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS 31
The Skyhawks need four weeks to do it, but they get one in the win column after a dramatic finish to a give and take game against the Wranglers. The story of the game was Jeff Blake, who made up for 3 picks with two TD passes and an 88-yard TD run that even Jake Plummer had to admire. Blake, with that run, and just a few others, became St. Louis’s lead rusher for the year, but also led them to their first win of the season.
This matchup of 1-2 vs. 0-3 was one of the most entertaining games of the week, and , thanks to a quirk in scheduling with ABC at the 4pm slot, was broadcast nationally for those who wanted to tune in. It started as it finished, with scoring a seeming inevitability. The points started with Arizona getting on the board with their first drive of the game, as Nick Folk put them up 3-0 at the 9-minute mark. St. Louis responded with a TD drive, led by two nice catches by top receiver Taylor Jacobs. The drive concluded with Bryant Johnson scoring on an 11-yard play. St. Louis would then cap off the 1st period with a field goal of their own to start Quarter Two with a 10-3 lead.
Arizona would score again in the second, but again it would be 3 points only. Held at the 7 yard line, Coach Fassel opted to go for 3 instead of a low-percentage 3rd and goal play from 7 yards out. Up 10-6, St. Louis ran down nearly eight and a half minutes on their next drive, mixing runs by Bush and Rhodes with Blake play action passes until Michael Bush capped off the drive with a 1-yard TD run to expand the lead to 17-6.
That is how it went to the half, with St. Louis hoping to double up by taking the first possession of the 3rd for a score as well . They would not have to wait long. After a penalty on the kickoff put the ball on the St. Louis 12 yard line, they got instant offense on their 1st and 10 play. Jeff Blake, after faking the ball to Michael Bush, dropped back to look for a receiver, but Arizona had called a blitz. Feeling instant pressure, Blake left the pocket and made the decision to run for yards. What he got was an 88-yard sprint through the Wrangler defense. The blitz meant that there was no linebacker to stop Blake early on, and when he made it to the third level, WR Bryant Johnson put a hit on SS Clifton Black that freed up Blake to angle towards the sideline and keep running. CB Jimmy Williams made a poorly-timed dive for Blake’s legs, missing the QB completely, and then it was just gliding the final 20 yards in for the score. A huge play that put St. Louis up 24-6 early in the 3rd.
But something about that play lit a fire under the Wranglers. Arizona would go on to score on their next 5 possessions of the second half. Three of those were field goals once again, but wedged in between was a 28-yard TD pass from Plummer to Fitzgerald, and, finally, with only 1:44 left on the clock, Plummer found TE Kevin Everett from 5 yards out to put Arizona up 28-24. It was a huge defensive collapse for the Skyhawks, aided by 2 Jeff Blake picks in the final 22 minutes of action. Arizona hadscored 22 points with no response from the Skyhawks, and now, with just 1:44 left, St. Louis trailed by 4, needing a touchdown.
Blake, who had been taking on the goat (scape, not Greatest Of All Time) persona over much of the second half after his explosive run, would need to find some big play energy to help avoid a 4th straight St. Louis loss. It helped that he had Taylor Jacobs on the outside. Of the 6 plays that comprised the Skyhawk’s game-winning drive, 4 of them went to Jacobs. One incompletion to TE Fred Baxter, and the winning TD toss to Bryant Johnson, his second score of the day, were not Blake to Jacobs tosses. With just 17 seconds left on the clock, Blake found Johnson on a crossing route, and St. Louis pulled ahead for good.
It was a signature win for Blake, who still needs to clean up some decision making, but whose athleticism and spirit were on display. St. Louis had their first win and their fans had a game to remember.
OHIO 20 DENVER 30
For all the predictions of a dominant year from Ohio, they are not yet feeling that way, dropping their 2nd game in 4 tries as they fall short in Denver. The Gold kept pace all day thanks in large part to 147 yards rushing, a stat that helps explain their 33-27 minute advantage in possession. A defense that picked off Kerry Collins 3 time is also a big factor in the Gold’s win.
WASHINGTON 31 ORLANDO 10
The Federals remain white hot, particularly QB Kordell Stewart, who comes back from a season-ending injury in 2007 to look like a man on the mission. The Washington QB went 12 of 14 for 4 touchdowns in a dominant performance against Orlando. The Renegades slip to 1-3 as their run game is unable to help out Drew Brees, who went 30 for 36 but could connect on only 1 TD pass.
NASHVILLE 14 PHILADELPHIA 19
The Stars don’t look dominant in any phase of the game, but they just keep winning. In this one, 111 yards from rookie HB Steve Slaton was the big surprise that the Knights could not adjust to in time. Jay Cutler struggled again, completing only 7 passes all game as Philadelphia’s defense held the Knights to only 3 of 14 on third down.
BIRMINGHAM 12 BALTIMORE 38
The Blitz rebound from last week’s tough loss by dominating the Stallions at M&T Bank Stadium. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 273 and 3 scores as Baltimore kept the pressure on the two unbeaten teams in the Northeast. The Stallion run game was hamstrung with rookie Felix Jones out of action. Marion Barber rushed for only 38 yards despite being the primary ballcarrier all game.
NEW ORLEANS 17 SEATTLE 16
Another good outing for the Breakers and another bizarre loss for the Dragons. Seattle went up 16-14 on a Dave Rayner field goal with 7 minutes left to play, but once again failed to hold the lead. Eli Manning, who was 17 of 23 for 187 and 2 TDs on the day, led the final drive that ended with David Green kicking the game winner as New Orleans reaches the ¼ mark at 2-2, while Seattle is a stunning 0-4.
HOUSTON 13 TEXAS 10
The Outlaws are also mired at 0-4 after losing a tough one to in-state rival Houston. Both defenses played well, or perhaps both offenses played poorly in this one. The game was 6-3 Houston until the 4th period when both clubs scored their only touchdowns. Texas had a chance to send the game to overtime, but failed on a 4th and 4 play before they could reach field goal range.
CHARLOTTE 30 MEMPHIS 34
The Monarchs had Memphis on the ropes in this tighter-than-anticipated matchup. Robert Edwards rushed for 104 and Chris Weinke added 233 in the air, but in the end Brett Favre found Cadillac Williams for the game winner in the game’s final minute. Favre finished with 361 yards and 3 scores, with both Lee Evans and Robert Ferguson over 100 yards apiece.
MICHIGAN 24 JACKSONVILLE 22
The Panthers stay unbeaten by the slimmest margin. After falling behind 24-6 in the 3rd, Jacksonville came alive to score three times in their final four possessions. A late Jason Whitten touchdown got them within two, but the Bulls could not connect on the 2-point PAT and Michigan was able to hold on and avoid overtime.
NEW JERSEY 0 BOSTON 23
The Generals are embarrassed again as they are shut out for the 2nd time by a division foe this season. Boston limited the offensively-inept Generals to a measly 126 total yards, while racking up over 360 themselves. Jason Elam was the story in this one, setting a USFL record with 7 field goals on the day. That and a safety were all the points Boston needed in this bizarre game.
LAS VEGAS 24 PORTLAND 14
The Thunder sit at 3-1 after knocking off the Stags in Portland. The Thunder D picked off Portland QB A. J. Feeley 3 times, and Marshawn Lynch rushed for 92 yards and 2 scores to power the Thunder in this one. The Stags handed the ball to rookie HB Jonathan Stewart 32 times, but at 2.3 yards a clip, it was not a winning strategy.
TAMPA BAY 23 ATLANTA 22
Tampa moves to 3-1, but it was not easy in Atlanta as the Fire scored twice in the 4th to go from 17-9 to 17-22. The Bandits would win the game in the final minute when Jeremy Shockey took a Culpepper pass 67 yards for a score, straight-arming Atlanta safety John Howell in the process. Willis McGahee rushed for 109 and a score as well as Tampa stands atop the Southeastern Division after ¼ of the season.
CHICAGO 16 PITTSBURGH 15
The Maulers played Chicago tough in this battle of defensive-minded clubs, but two Michael Turner scores in the second half, including a 30 yard TD catch from backup Kyle Orton (who got the start for a dinged up Brady Quinn) were enough to give Chicago the one-point victory. Bill Grammatica was called on to attempt a 60-yarder for Pittsburgh at the final whistle, but the kick did not have the distance and Chicago escaped with the win.
LOS ANGELES 13 OAKLAND 42
Jeff Lewis threw two picks and no back for LA gained more than 2.5 yards per carry as Oakland dominated this California Derby. Joey Harrington would throw for 3 scores and backup HB Jurius Norwood would score twice as Oakland went from a 13-7 deficit at the half to a dominant 42-13 win on Sunday night.
Washington, Philadelphia, Michigan and Memphis Flying High
While many predicted good things for the defending champion Memphis Showboats this year, and are likely not surprised at all to see them sitting at 4-0, few expected them to be joined in the small group of undefeated teams at this juncture by Michigan, Philadelphia, and Washington. So, just what has gone right for each club to find them unbeaten a quarter of the way through the season?
For Memphis the answer is pretty simple. Brett Favre is putting up MVP numbers and he is getting a lot of help from his top 2 receivers, Robert Ferguson and Lee Evans. Favre currently leads the league with 1,271 yards passing and 9 touchdowns (tied with Brian Griese in that category). His receivers rank #1 and #5 in yards after a big Week 4 game that saw both go over 120 yards on the day. In other words, Memphis is doing what they did last year to win the league title. They are scoring points (#1 scoring offense at 29.8 PPG) and they are doing enough on defense to avoid losing shootouts. We saw this coming, so this is not a surprise.
Philadelphia was a playoff team last year, and many predicted good things, though a 4-0 start was not seen as likely. How have they done it, two reasons stand out. They currently hold the #1 scoring defense, allowing a measley 11 points per game in their first 4 games. They have the 2nd ranked pass defense, giving up only 166 yards per game, and they are solid against the run as well. All of this is good for the Stars’ prospects moving forward. What is even better is that their offense, which was a question mark coming into the season, is currently 7th in scoring and 12th in yards, both respectable positions. Despite losing Ahman Green to an unexpected retirement, Philadelphia has managed to put together the #6 rushing attack with the unheralded combo of Michael Robinson and West Virginia rookie Steve Slaton. A strong defense paired with a running attack sound very much like winning football for the Stars.
Michigan began the year with an 11-point victory in Ohio, and that game has springboarded them to success throughout. Despite a tough schedule that also included Houston, Denver, and Jacksonville in their first 4 games, the Panthers have managed to hold Top 10 rankings in points, yardage, passing, rushing, points allowed, yards allowed, and passing yards. That is an impressive array of strong points. The offseason additions of Leonard Renfro and Jevon Kearse have made their front 3 more formidable, which has, in turn freed up their outstanding linebacking group of Merriman, Katzenmoyer, Thurman and DeMarcus Ware. On offense, Brian Griese is tied with Brett Favre with 9 TDs in 4 games, and is third behind only Favre and Brees in QB Rating. But what is most surprising is that Michigan, with the combination of Justin Fargas and Leon Washington, is currently third in rushing behind only Jacksonville and Washington, averaging 127.2 yards per game. If the Panthers can stay balanced on offense, with their new found defensive might up front, they could easily be a top seed in the West.
Finally, there is Washington, who have suffered 2 consecutive 4-10 seasons, and who had a lot of questions with Kordell Stewart coming back from season-ending injury last year. What has happened right for the Feds? Well, first off, Kordell Stewart is playing lights out football. He may not be in the Top 5, but his QB Rating of 100.7 is the best of his career, and he is doing something that has not been happening much in DC the past two seasons, getting the ball into the end zone. Washington is 4th in scoring at 25.5 points per game and they are not doing it all off the foot of Doug Pelfrey. Add to this a defense that is 3rd in yards allowed (235 per game) and 4th in scoring (only 14.2 points per game) and the Federals have their fans comparing this squad to the 1997 squad that brought them their last title.
Good times to be sure to be a fan of the Boats, Stars, Cats, or Feds. But not good times everywhere.
Orlando, Seattle, and Ohio are puzzlingly in trouble after 1 Quarter
The Orlando Renegades, Seattle Dragons, and Ohio Glory were picked by most to be among the elites for 2008, and yet, after three weeks none of the three are over .500, they are a combined 3-9, and Seattle has yet to win a single game. What is going on with these three?
Ohio is at least at .500, but after a bad loss in the home opener, they won two games before falling in Denver. The defense has been a problem, ranked 22nd in the league at 21.8 points allowed per game, and 24th in passing yards allowed. In other words, teams can pass on them, and that passing is leading to scoring. But what is perhaps more surprising is that the Ohio offense, which everyone was talking about in the offseason, has yet to really find its way. The team is averaging a respectable 22.5 points per game, good enough for 12th, but not good enough when you basically give up that many each week as well. Kerry Collins is only completing 55.2% of his passes, and is being criticized for going for the bomb way too often, which is understandable when you have Moss and Galloway out wide, but he is missing on far too many of those throws. Eddie George is averaging less than 3.5 yards per carry, which is another factor in Ohio’s offensive woes. They could still turn that around, and likely we will see Coach Luginbill try to shorten routes just to get Collins on track, but the defense may be a problem they cannot resolve this year.
For 1-3 Orlando, the issue has been twofold, the run game, without Sedrick Irvin, has imploded, leaving a lot of responsibility for offensive production on the shoulders of Drew Brees. Brees has good numbers, but the Renegades are struggling to put points up, averaging only 18.5 per game. Meanwhile, on defense, opponents have been able to find room against the Renegades. Orlando is giving up 115 yards per game, including 93 to McCallister this week, 126 to McGahee the week before, and a combined 134 to Eddie George and Kevin Smith of Ohio in Week 2. Rookie Calais Campbell has been a shooting star for Orlando, but they need more against the run and they need to find a back who can get them 70-80 yards per game, because right now relying on Najeh Davenport and rookie Jacob Hester is not getting it done.
And that leaves Seattle. The winless Dragons have been letting games slip away, which is not surprising when you give up nearly 123 yards per game on the ground. They also have been one of the lowest scoring teams in the league, at only 15.2 points per game (24th of 28 teams). That is a shock. Byron Leftwich is only completing about 54% of his throws, and still has not found a viable second receiver beyond David Boston. Corey Dillon seems to be slowing down, averaging only 3.1 yards per carry, and the team just seems sluggish when they have the ball. And yet, despite a winless record, Seattle has not been out of any game. They led late in the last two against Las Vegas and New Orleans, but gave up late drives to lose both. They have lost their 4 games by 14 (@ Oakland), 5 (Portland), 3 (LV), and 1 (New Orleans), so they are close. If they could just get more energy on offense and not fade down the stretch on defense, they could turn this around. This week they are in Birmingham, where the Stallions are also 0-4. If they cannot get a win here, they could have more problems than we know.
Turner & Austin Struggle to build a new culture
We mentioned Birmingham at 0-4 for new head coach Kent Austin. In Texas the Outlaws are also 0-4 at the start of Coach Norv Turner’s 2nd season. In both cities, the problems are numerous, but one of the biggest is the culture in place with both teams. Birmingham seems mired in a nostalgia for the past, the glory days of Favre, while Texas has bought into the narrative that they will find a way to lose, having suffered through countless seasons that start strong and fade fast down the stretch. Changing the mindset of both teams is firmly the #1 task that Austin and Turner must address.
In Texas there is hope in new QB Joe Flacco, who has had some moments, and has yet to throw an interception. In Birmingham the QB situation is a constant knock on the team and the fanbase is getting antsy. This is Jason Campbell’s 4th year at the helm, and his numbers are just not good enough. We did see improvement in 2007, when his QB Rating jumped from an average of 63.5 in his first 2 seasons to a solid 91.7. He also had a much better TD-INT ratio of 16-5 in 2007, but this year, through four starts, he is reverting back to bad habits. He is dumping off the ball much too often, missing open receivers, and his TD-INT ratio has also dipped back to mediocrity.
But, QB is not the only area of concern for these two teams. Texas is not getting the production they count on from T. J. Duckett, with the club averaging only 88 yards a game and their big back stuck at just over 75 per game. If they could get back to 2007 numbers in the run game they would be in better shape. Of course, when you have the 25th ranked defense (both in yardage and points allowed) even a run game will not get it all done. The defense has been looking better after 2 straight weeks of allowing 30+ points. This week, against Houston they looked very much up to the task, so there is hope there as well.
For Birmingham it is a very similar refrain. The Stallions are dead last in rushing with an average of only 59 yards per game (Joe Cribbs must not be happy at this point). Marion Barber is struggling just to get mediocre numbers at 2.8 yards per carry. Rookie Felix Jones is a bit better at 3.7 yards per carry, but he was forced to the sideline this week and could miss more action. And, as with Texas, the defense is not pulling their weight either, dead last in scoring, allowing over 36 points per game, and dead last in yards, with teams averaging over 400 yards a game against the Stallions, despite the efforts of Mike Rucker on the edge. No run game, a shaky QB, and a truly awful defense is not a formula Coach Austin can count on for many wins. He would be wise to purge house, make some trades, and try to shake things up if he wants more than a cup of coffee as a USFL head coach.
We knew it would happen eventually, Week 4 and we have our first IR placements. Oakland was forced to put guard Logan Mankins on the list after a severe groin tear (something no man wants to suffer) required surgery this week. In Texas CB Aaron Ross was also put on the IR after breaking a bone in his right foot. The Outlaws will also be missing DE Chris Harrington for at least 8 weeks, so things are not looking very bright (even with the stars at night, deep in the heart of Texas).
Birmingham got word this week that veteran WR Joe Horn will very likely be out 6-7 weeks after reevaluation of his broken leg. Washington could be without LT Mike Williams for 2-4 weeks with a groin issue of his own, while Arizona will be without CB Asante Samuel and Philly without safety Anthony Dorsett, both with shoulder issues. Finally, New Orleans is hoping to have promising rookie wideout Early Doucet back in Week 6, but there is a chance his hamstring issues could linger beyond that.
Among those listed as Doubtful or Questionable this week we have Bulls’ HB Antowain Smith (knee), Atlanta center Jim Pyne (ankle), Memphis guard Dan Santucci (back), Chicago QB Brady Quinn (neck), Las Vegas CB Will Allen (wrist) New Jersey DE Shaun Ellis (neck) and Philadelphia receiver Reche Caldwell (concussion).
Four games down, enough of a sample to see who is coming up big for their teams this year, who can be relied on week in and week out, and who is outpacing expectations. In other words, who is each club’s Most Valuable Player. We know that every year the league-wide award tends to be a battle of the league’s most prolific quarterbacks, but in a team-by-team analysis it is clear that many times the most valuable player on a roster may be from almost any position. Here is our first-quarter way too early MVP for each team, just to get a sense of who is playing their best ball already this year.
Arizona: WR Larry Fitzgerald
The Wranglers have a lot of issues, but receiver is not one of them as the combo of Larry Fitzgerald and Santana Moss continues to be a highlight for the Copper Kids. Of the two, it is Fitzgerald who is making bigger plays and finding himself open more frequently. Fitzgerald has 4 scores in 4 games andis averaging17 yards per catch for the Wranglers.
Atlanta: WE Josh Reed
Another receiver as veteran Josh Reed is having a career year through four games. Reed is tied for 5th in the league with 24 receptions, and 4th overall with 385 yards. Still only 1 TD, but he is clearly a valuable commodity for an Atlanta Fire team that is still trying to determine if they are comfortable with their QB play or not.
Baltimore: QB Ben Roethlisberger
The Blitz are a team that is definitely not questioning their QB play. With the arrival of Tory Holt juicing up the Blitz attack, Ben Roethlisberger appears to be living up to the potential we have only seen in flashes before. He has 7 TDs and is already over 1,000 yards, on pace for a 4,000 yard season. And the good news is that it is not all Holt, though his presence has been a huge lift. Holt has 283 yards, but TE Antonio Gates has 232 and flanker Marty Booker is at 256. If they could just get speedy Ted Ginn into the offense more, they could have a real dynamic passing attack.
Birmingham: DE Mike Rucker
This one is a no brainer. Rucker seems to be the only defender on the Stallions who understands what his role is. He leads the team and the league with 7 sacks in 4 games, and yet the Stallions still have the worst defense in the league. Someone get this man some help.
Boston: WR Chad Ochocinco
While rookie HB Rashard Mendenhall has been a pleasant surprise, there is no doubt that Boston is Chad Ochocinco’s town right now. His 448 yards and 6 touchdowns are monster numbers after only 4 games. Number 85 is the core of the Boston offense, and despite double teams, he is still getting the job done.
Charlotte: WR D. J. Hackett
A lot of players are making names for themselves in Charlotte, but none more than former NFL wideout D. J. Hackett, who leads the team with 335 yards receiving on 26 catches. He immediately became Chris Weinke’s favorite target in camp and that rapport is holding over to the regular season.
Chicago: LB Brian Urlacher
When isn’t Urlacher making big plays? To be honest, he was a bit off last year, despite still racking up big tackle totals. He seems hungrier and more aggressive this year, already adding a sack and forced fumble to his 36 tackles on the season. Chicago lives and dies by its LB corps, and based on Urlacher’s play, they should go far this year.
Denver: LB Kendrell Bell
Denver is off to a good start at 3-1, and they are a hard team to sift through and find one player who is going above and beyond their very-effective ‘team first” mentality. We picked Bell because he leads the team in tackles, but also has 2 sacks and a forced fumble. But we could make a case for about 4-5 different players on defense for the Gold, a good sign that a team-focus is working in Denver.
Houston: LB Keith Brooking
One more linebacker to talk up as Houston’s MVP is Keith Brooking. Hedoes not have the most tackles on the team (that is Shaun Williams), or the most sacks (Kavicka Pittman), but what Brooking has is a range of accomplishments, including 21 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 5 pass defenses, and some of the best hits of the early season.
Jacksonville: WR Rashaun Woods
Ask fans to name an undervalued player in the league and you will hear Rashaun Woods’s name come up quite a bit, especially around the Bulls. Woods has been a highlight reel for the Bulls once again this year, with 5 touchdowns already. Jacksonville has great offensive balance, so it is hard for teams to double up on Woods, a fact that keeps a smile on the receiver’s face all game long.
Las Vegas: HB Marshawn Lynch
We looked over the Thunder defense, but in the end we had to go for the obvious choice, halfback Marshawn Lynch. Despite only averaging 3.2 yards per carry, Lynch’s 110 touches in only 4 games means he can find himself among the league rushing leaders, and with 5 TDs those yards are being used to transform into points.
Los Angeles: LB Keith Rivers
One of two rookies to be listed as a team’s MVP, but so much deserved. Rivers not only leads the team in tackles, but has 4 sacks and 2 picks in his first 4 games. He fit right in opposite Tatupu and Ayodole and has been in immediate difference maker for an Express team whose offense has needed all the help they can get.
Memphis: QB Brett Favre
No shock here, Favre leads the league with 1,271 yards passing, 9 TD passes, and a QB rating of 127.9. While we know Favre well enough to expect that the trifecta will not hold all season, his presence has made Memphis what they are today, league champions.
Michigan: QB Brian Griese
Another QB who has transformed his club. Griese has had a revival of epic proportions in Michigan. His yardage this year is not astronomical (thanks in part to a better run game), but his 9 TDs ties Favre for the lead and he has the Panthers undefeated after 4 games.
Nashville: HB Frank Gore
With Jay Cutler still clearly not right after dealing with a major injury last year, Frank Gore has once again become the focal point of the Knights’ offense. He currently stands 5th in the league with 327 yards, but he is the whole show for Nashville right now.
New Jersey: LB Donterrious Thomas
Not a lot has gone well for New Jersey this year, but after playing in only 9 games last season due to injury, Thomas has come back in better shape than ever, and currently leads the Generals with 35 tackles.
New Orleans: DT John Thornton
We thought of splitting this award with QB Eli Manning, but it is so rare that a defensive tackle gets any recognition that we did not want him to have to share the honor. Thornton currently leads the Breakers with 31 tackles, and how often do DT’s lead in that category? He also has two sacks on the young season, helping boost the front line’s potential threat to QBs.
Oakland: SS Pearson Prioleau
A bit of an unsung hero most years, Prioleau has helped to hold down the Oakland Invader secondary since becoming the regular starter in 2003. This season he is second on the team with 29 tackles, and has been used as much as a nickel corner as in a standard SS role.
Ohio: WR Joey Galloway
For all the talk of how dominant Randy Moss would be in Ohio’s offense, it is still Galloway who leads the club in targets, catches, and yardage. The Glory have not exploded as many felt they would, which explains the 2-2 start, yet Galloway still remains one of the league’s most dangerous receivers.
Orlando: DE Calais Campbell
Our second rookie, and this one was a no brainer. Campbell sits only 1 sack behind league leader Mike Rucker of Birmingham, and his non-stop engine has helped to solidify Orlando’s defense and make the pass rush truly dangerous. In addition to Campbell’s 6 sacks, the Renegades have added 10 more thanks to offenses having to account for Campbell on every down.
Philadelphia: WR Charles Lee
Lots of potential candidates for the 4-0 Stars, but we go with a receiver who was supposed to be a spot player, but who stepped up in a big way when Reche Caldwell went down. He currently leads the team in receiving yards, after a huge 113 yard day this week.
Pittsburgh: CB Patrick Surtain
Surtain is tied for the league lead with 3 picks, but also third on the team with 22 tackles, and not afraid to take on halfbacks as well as wideouts. Surtain has become the lead member of a very good DB group that includes SS Sean Taylor, FS Scott Shields and fellow DB Dre Bly.
Portland: LB Mike Maslowski
One of Portland’s first signings, the former Blitz LB has found a home in the Pacific Northwest, and a leadership role within the Stag defense. Working with Channing Crowder and Ben Leber, Maslowski locks down a LB group that is a big reason the Stags are currently 7th in the league in yards allowed.
Seattle: LB Godfrey Miles
It has been a horror show of a start for the Dragons, but don’t lay any of that on Miles. The Seattle LB has done all anyone can ask, 2nd on the team with 27 tackles, but also adding 3 forced fumbles and 2 sacks. In coverage he has given up receptions on only 4 of 16 passes thrown his way, and despite Seattle’s miserable start, Miles remains an elite player.
St. Louis: WR Taylor Jacobs
The run game is still flailing, the QB situation still unstable, and Taylor Jacobs is still one of the league’s most dynamic receivers. Currently 3rd in the league with 398 yards receiving, Jacobs is still drawing double coverage on most passing plays.
Tampa Bay: WR Chris Doering
The Bandits are a surprising 3-1 and Daunte Culpepper is having a bounce-back year with 7 TDs in 4 games, 5 of them to Doering. Always an unsung “possession guy” in Tampa Bay, this year Doering has stepped up, averaging 22.3 yards per catch and showing the way in a receiving corps most were ready to write off when Moss left.
Texas: SS Lawyer Molloy
The one consistent performer on what has to be honestly called a pretty bad defense, Molloy leads the club in tackles and has 2 picks, helping Texas overcome its many other shortcomings. If he could just get some help on defense, maybe the Outlaws could win a game here and there.
Washington: FS Ed Reed
It would be easy to praise Kordell Stewart for his return to good form, but Washington has always been a defense-first team, and this year it is Ed Reed leading that defense. The safety leads the league with 3 picks (tied with 2 others) and has also been a monster in run defense. Where goes Reed, there goes the Federal Defense.
Two teams with some tough calls to make as we look at the Mount Rushmore, the 4 best players of the past, for the Tampa Bay Bandits and the Denver Gold.
TAMPA BAY BANDITS
A lot of history with this team, and a lot of very good players. Just as a reminder the selections must be players who have retired from football, so Randy Moss, Daunte Culpepper, or Willis McGahee are not eligible. So who is? Let’s see who the fans picked.
A tough call at QB right off the bat as old timers lean towards John Reaves, but the younger fans are all over that Troy Aikman action. Aikman wins out, both statistically and in the overall assessment of the fans. His 1998 season alone could have gotten him onto the mountain. A league record (still standing) 54 touchdown passes in a 16-game season. Nearly 5,700 yards, and a league title. That is a one way ticket to legendary status. When you realize it was just the best year in what was a pretty stellar 12-season career for the UCLA product in Tampa Bay, it is easy to see how Troy got onto the mountain with ease.
The next selection is also something of a slam dunk. Wide Receiver Eric Truvillion was, believe it or not, undrafted by the NFL in 1982, but when the USFL came around the next spring he wasted no time proving the stodgy fall league wrong. Truvillion finished the 1983 season with 1,700 yards receiving on only 49 catches, a stunning 28.9 yard average, oh, and 18 touchdowns to boot. He would beat that last total in ’84, with 19 TDs, and then blow it out of the water with a 25 TD season in his, and the league’s third season. Even after 25 USFL seasons, Truvillion still holds the top 3 season records for yardage by a receiver (85, 86 and 12), three seasons in which he toyed with 2,000 yards. He also still holds the receiving TD record with that 25 TD season in 1985. No doubt he belongs front and center in this Mount Rushmore.
Third up is a halfback, a position the Bandits have quietly had success with over many years. Currently it is McGahee, originally it was Gary Anderson, but our man fell right in the middle. The Florida Gator who spent 9 years toting the rock for the Bandits, Errict Rhett. Rhett was always seen as a secondary weapon to the pass game, but what a weapon! He had three 1,000 yard seasons, but also put up a statement season in 2000 with 18 touchdowns and 1,342 yards. He may not be the first halfback you think of when you look back on the history of the USFL, but for the Bandits he is still one of the greats.
Finally, when a man holds the club record for both interceptions and forced fumbles, you have to respect the impact he had for your team. That man is CB Eric Allen, who played with Tampa Bay from 1988 until 1998, finishing his career in Chicago. Twenty-two forced fumbles and thirty-two picks are the legacy of this ballhawking DB, and one of the better defenders ever to lace them up for the Bandits.
DENVER GOLD
The Gold are a team that has always been built on the team concept, more than on acquiring big name stars, but with the success the franchise has had over the years, it does not take much to find players who deserve a spot on Denver’s Mount Rushmore.
The favorite son of the Gold is no surprise on this list. LB Kurt Gouveia sat at the heart of the Denver D from his arrival in 1986 through his retirement in 2001. Retiring with over 1,300 tackles, 60 forced fumbles, 42 picks, and nearly 900 tackles for loss, Gouveia was the heart and soul of Denver’s underestimated defense and their team as a whole for nearly 2 decades.
If Gouveia was the team’s heart, QB Mark Brunell was its brain. The left-handed passer came to Denver in 1993, but did not get his first start until the 1994 season. Once under center, he would rarely leave that spot until his retirement in 2005. Brunell was consistent and confident week in and week out. He had 8 seasons with 3,000 or more yards, and hit the 20 TD mark in 7 consecutive years for a Gold offense that was never a big play group, but would wear foes down over 60 minutes. Brunell only made 1 All-USFL team in his career, but in the Mile High City he is looked at with almost the same reverence as NFL Hall of Famer John Elway.
The third pick is a true homer pick. David Martin was a 4-time All USFL player, but he was also a man who lived and breathed Denver. He stayed in town each offseason, working with kids and community organizations, while training each offseason in the tough Colorado winters to be the best he could on the field. At his best he was an elite cornerback, and while Bruce Pickens has more career picks than the 8-season starter Martin, it is Martin who still has the club record for interception return yardage.
Finally, the Gold fans looked at the long history of the club with a forgiving eye, naming troubled HB Rashaan Salaam as the fourth member of the Mountain. Salaam certainly had his highlights for Denver. In 7 seasons he rushed for 1,000 or more yards 5 times and was a pivotal player in the 1999-2001 run that saw the Gold make three consecutive Summer Bowls, winning the middle one in 2000, I large part due to Salaam’s 1,492 yards. Yes, he had issues, and yes, he was essentially shunned by the team after a major incident with law enforcement, but with time comes healing, and it seems the fans in Denver remember the good years more than the bad nights.
NEXT WEEK
Week five and we are already sensing some desperation in places like Seattle, Orlando, Texas and Nashville. Meanwhile fans in Michigan, Washington, and Philly are beginning to believe in their teams. Will we see preseason favorite start to play like it, or will the unusual start to the season continue into the second 4 games. Here are the games that kick off the next segment of the season.
FRIDAY @ 8pm Orlando (1-3) @ Chicago (3-1) NBC
SATURDAY @ 12pm Philadelphia (4-0) @ New Jersey (1-3) ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm Seattle (0-4) @ Birmingham (0-4) ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm Jacksonville (2-2) @ New Orleans (2-2) FOX
SATURDAY @ 4pm Houston (2-2) @ Arizona (1-3) ABC
SATURDAY @ 4pm Portland (1-3) @ Michigan (4-0) FOX
SATURDAY @ 8pm Oakland (3-1) @ Las Vegas (3-1) ESPN
SUNDAY @ 12pm Atlanta (1-3) @ Charlotte (1-3) ABC
SUNDAY @ 12pm Denver (3-1) @ Washington (4-0) FOX
SUNDAY @ 12pm St. Louis (1-3) @ Tampa Bay (3-1) FOX
SUNDAY @ 4pm Pittsburgh (2-2) @ Ohio (2-2) ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm Texas (0-4) @ Los Angeles (2-2) ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm Baltimore (3-1) @ Memphis (4-0) FOX
SUNDAY @ 8pm Boston (2-2) @ Nashville (1-3) ESPN