Four weeks in and we are down to three unbeatens, all in the Eastern Conference, and 4 winless teams, including two playoff teams from 2008. Baltimore and Washington keep their strong starts rolling, as does Charlotte’s surprisingly strong start. Memphis and Seattle lose again, and while the Showboats can squarely point at their injured QB as the reason, Seattle once again has to ask what is going wrong at the beginning of the year yet again. Jacksonville is also 0-4, which is certainly not where they wanted to be at this point. Meanwhile, surprisingly strong starts, not only from Charlotte, but from Pittsburgh and Nashville, have those fan bases excited about their prospects. We look at all the results from a busy week four, the injuries that could impact next week’s interdivisional action, and we get the semifinalists for the Hall of Fame Class of 2009 from the league offices, so let the debates begin.
PHILADELPHIA 14 WASHINGTON 20 OVERTIME
A war of attrition in Philadelphia as the Federals and Stars battled into overtime to decide a winner. In a game that saw no scoring at all in the 2nd or 3rd quarters, a 7-0 Federals lead evaporated in the 4th, with 21 points scored in the final period as the defenses tired. The Stars were able to limit Kordell Stewart to only 164 yards passing, and picked him off 3 times, but in the end his legs did them in.
Washington got the early lead on a Stewart to Kennison TD toss, but for most of the game, neither team was able to do much on offense. Philadelphia’s HB duo of Steve Slaton and Michael Robinson combined for only 52 total yards on the ground, and Kurt Warner completed only 24 of 41 passing. Meanwhile, Stewart went 17 of 35 and had 3 drives halted by picks, including 2 from Antonio Cromartie for the Stars.
By the end of the 3rd period, however, the two defenses were beginning to tire, and in the 4th we saw some fireworks. It started with Philadelphia’s first scoring drive of the day, a 67-yard drive that concluded with Warner hitting Terrell Owens from 14-yards out for the equalizer. Washington would have their own long drive next, taking nearly 7 minutes to drive the field before Deuce McCallister put them back on top once again, diving into the endzone from the 2 with only 1:56 left on the clock.
Having held Philly’s offense in check all game, the hope was that the Feds could hang on during the final 2 minutes, but the pass rush which had produced 8 sacks in the game was winded, and the Stars found ways to get the ball out of Kurt Warner’s hands. They needed only 5 plays to tie the score once again, thanks in large part to Reche Caldwell’s outstanding 1-handed grab on a deep ball, and the fact that the Washington safety, Gibril Wilson, failed to touch Caldwell down. He got back up and sprinted to the endzone for the tying score. Replay confirmed that Wilson had not touched Caldwell on the ground, so the play stood and the game went to overtime.
In the extra period, Washington won the toss and took the ball. It would take them only 2 plays to end the game. After an inside run by McCallister netted them 4 yards, they called a bootleg for Stewart, hoping he would be able to get the first down. He did far more than that, eluding the initial tackle, then spinning out of a 2nd tackle attempt and sprinting 75 yards to paydirt and the win, a stunning play that caused RFK to erupt. That run put Stewart at 103 yards for the day, surpassing McCallister’s 99 yard effort, and once again proved that the veteran was still the most dangerous dual threat QB in the league.
Washington moves to 4-0 and remains tied atop the NE Division with the 4-0 Baltimore Blitz. Philadelphia now drops to 2-2, even with Boston, but 2 games back of the division co-leaders.
OHIO 6 CHICAGO 13
It took nearly a month into the season, but we had our first truly weather-impacted game as the Friday Night game was conducted on the tail end of a thunderstorm front that dumped about 2” of rain on the Columbus area just hours before the start of the game. Both teams slogged through a muddy affair, with Chicago able to score the only touchdown on a night with strong winds and ongoing showers throughout.
LOS ANGELES 17 CHARLOTTE 23
A good one early on Saturday as the Monarchs move to 4-0 with another solid defensive performance. They gave up 2 TDs to LA, but that was not enough as Dan Campbell and Autrey Detson both scored for the Monarchs. Two late field goals broke the 17-17 tie and gave Charlotte their fourth win of the season, sending LA to 2-2 on the year.
BALTIMORE 16 NEW JERSEY 9
The Storm that battered Ohio on Friday moved to the East Coast on Saturday, but with a turf field it may have been wet and windy, but not muddy in the Meadowlands. In the rain, Blitz HB Ron Dayne sloshed out 86 yards and a key score to help Baltimore survive an improving New Jersey defense. Both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Ben Roethlisberger were forced out of the game, so it ended up being Chris Simms barely holding on against Kevin Kolb.
ATLANTA 38 JACKSONVILLE 14
Kyle Orton had himself a career day, completing 22 of 26 for 359 yards and 5 touchdowns as Atlanta was firing on all cylinders in this one. Josh Reed had 143 yards, while both Marcus Robinson and David Tyree caught two scoring tosses each for the Fire.
LAS VEGAS 13 OAKLAND 17
The Thunder drop to 1-3 despite picking off Joey Harrington twice. Jake Plummer also threw two picks, including one in the final minute of play that sealed the fate of the Thunder. It was not a pretty game, though both defenses had their moments. Ricky Williams did return, and rushed for 86 yards, but both teams struggled to find the endzone all game.
ARIZONA 17 DENVER 13
The Wranglers pull off the upset at Invesco Field as David Carr tosses two TD passes, including a 4th quarter throw to Larry Fitzgerald which proved to be the game winner. Derrick Anderson, in for the injured Matt Leinart, was unable to answer and Denver drops their first game of the season as Arizona evens their record at 2-2.
HOUSTON 7 TEXAS 9
The Outlaws give up an early touchdown but then completely shut down the Houston offense for three quarters, slowly kicking their way back and ahead. Despite 2 picks, Joe Flacco and the Outlaw D get the win in front of nearly 50,000 in Dallas’s Cotton Bowl. Another game that was not pretty, but Texas will gladly claim their first win, and to get it against their rivals is even sweeter.
BIRMINGHAM 27 MEMPHIS 14
The Stallions get their first win as Memphis continues to struggle without Brett Favre. Mike McMahon was picked twice and sacked 5 times by the Stallion D, while Kyle Boller had his best game in Birmingham, going 18 of 30 for 173 yards and 2 scores. Memphis led at halftime 14-7, but the Stallions scored 20 unanswered in the second half to send the 2-time defending Eastern Champs to 0-4 on the year.
ORLANDO 21 TAMPA BAY 17
Another dominant defensive performance from Calais Campbell helps power Orlando to the win. Campbell not only added 3 more sacks to his league leading total, but one was a sack-fumble-recovery-TD. Throw in an efficient 20 of 30 for 244 and 2 scores from Drew Brees and Orlando moves to 3-1 while sending Tampa Bay to their third consecutive loss.
MICHIGAN 24 BOSTON 37
The Panthers suffer their first loss of the season as Drew Bledsoe throws for 338 and Rashard Mendenhall has a POTW game with 167 yards rushing and 2 TDs. Boston’s D also stepped up, limiting Michigan to only 40 yards rushing on the day, making their offense one-dimensional, and then going all out on pass rush. Griese was sacked 9 times in the game, including 3 times by Jason Babin, moving him to #2 in the league behind Campbell.
PORTLAND 24 SEATTLE 21
Déjà vu all over again as Seattle drops to 0-4 to start the year. Portland got a stellar game from HB James Stewart, who rushed for 134 and the go ahead score, while Corey Dillon was limited to only 46 yards on 21 carries, a 2.2 YPC average. With the win the Stags move to 2-2 on the year.
NASHVILLE 13 NEW ORLEANS 16
The Knights drop their first game, falling behind 9-0 on three David Green field goals and then 16-6 on a late Chris Cooley TD catch. Neither team could establish a lot on offense as the defenses dominated this matchup, with both teams going 5 of 14 on third down and both committing 2 turnovers.
PITTSBURGH 35 ST. LOUIS 20
The Maulers move to a surprising 3-1 on the year thanks to their run game, which racked up 165 yards and 3 scores. Cody Pickett struggled a bit, throwing 3 picks, but Jeff Blake also struggled with 2 picks of his own as Pittsburgh pulled away in the 3rd quarter on 2 DeShaun Foster TD runs. The Skyhawks sit at 0-4 and calls for Josh Freeman to start are getting louder.
Coach Williams Stands by Blake.
Despite an 0-4 start, Coach Doug Williams is not wavering in his decision to have Jeff Blake start the season. Blake, who last year led the league with 22 interceptions and who has a 2-16 record all time as the Skyhawks starter, is getting the start again in Week 5 despite the pressure mounting to see what rookie Josh Freeman can do. According to Williams, the issues the Skyhawks are facing this season go well beyond his QB and the QB should not be the scapegoat.
We cannot argue with that assessment. The issues in St. Louis certainly go much farther than poor QB play. While Blake’s 4 game totals are hardly All-USFL material (69 of 131 for 860 yards, 3 TDs and 4 picks), they are also not the entire story. The Skyhawks are averaging only 87 yards per game on the ground, and, worse yet, they are 27th in the league in both points allowed (a whopping 31.5 per game) and yardage (384 yards per game). While an inability to sustain offense is a part of this issue, the defense also has to be called out for failing to get off the field or to detain the opposition. St. Louis just gave up 35 points to Pittsburgh, 41 to Michigan the week before. You cannot pin that on Blake. However, the Offense has converted only 16 of 64 third down attempts, a pretty miserable 25%, not nearly the disaster that is Las Vegas (9 of 58 for 15%) but certainly not the kind of numbers that will get you many wins. That particular statistic is largely on Blake, or perhaps Blake and his offensive line, since the QB has been sacked and pressured enough to make 3rd down a real challenge.
Will Williams change his tune if the club slides to 0-5, 0-6, or worse? One expects that the pressure will certainly be there if they do and at some point ownership is going to demand to see the high cost rookie QB in action, but just when that moment will come is still very much unsure.
Could We See a Defensive MVP in 2009?
Yes, we are only 1 month into the new season, but if you had to pick a frontrunner for MVP right now, how could it not be Orlando DE Calais Campbell? The 2nd year end is averaging 3 sacks per game, just scored his first TD, and has altogether been a nightmare for opponents. Orlando has more going for them, of course, and the addition of Albert Haynesworth has certainly made life more difficult for opposing offensive coordinators, but what Campbell is doing is stunning. He sits at 12 sacks after only 4 weeks, a pace that would shatter the USFL record of 29 sacks (in a 16-game season) for another Renegade, Chris Doleman.
If Campbell toys with Doleman’s record, and if Orlando stays at or near the top of the Southeast Division, I don’t see how he could be passed over for MVP consideration. In a year where the offensive stars are more balanced, with no one absolutely blowing up the competition, the singular “must watch” nature of what Campbell is doing cannot be ignored. We have to expect that defenses will start trying to adjust to find ways to slow down the former Miami Hurricane, and keeping up a 3 sack per game pace seems very challenging, but with 10 games left and only 18 sacks needed for the record, Campbell is the first challenger to that lofty number we have seen in a long time. Were he to be able to match or surpass Chris Doleman’s 16-game record in only 14 games, he would absolutely be my MVP votegetter.
Will Holcomb Get the Start for Memphis?
That was the question asked of Coach Haslett after another poor outing for the Memphis offense in the absence of Brett Favre. With their MVP QB expected to miss at least another 4 weeks, and with the club on the edge of disaster at 0-4, Memphis fans are not feeling very patient when it comes to their backup. Yes, McMahon has been with the club for 3 years and knows the offense well, but he is just not getting results, and Memphis cannot afford to go to 0-8 before Favre arrives, especially not in a 14-game season. The Showboats clearly do not believe that rookie Keith Null out of tiny West Texas A&M is pro ready, so what other choice do they have?
The Showboats picked up free agent QB Kelly Holcomb, formerly of the Generals, and before that the NFL with Indianapolis and Cleveland. But before Showboat fans get too wrapped up in trying to replace McMahon, they should realize that Holcombe has a USFL lifetime QB Rating of 74.9, most of that coming with the Generals in an 11-start season in 2007. Admitedly, in that season, he did throw for almost 2,000 yards and 11 TDs, which is more than McMahon’s entire lifetime total, but it is not as if Holcomb is an All-USFL QB just sitting in the wings. For Coach Haslett has to believe that to put Holcomb into the game, he has to offer the Showboats a better chance to earn a win than McMahon, and with only 2 weeks on the roster, that just does not seem likely at this point.
What is Wrong in Jacksonville?
The Bulls sit at 0-4 after the league’s first month, and seem like a team that is just not putting in the work needed to win games. After a relatively close 24-17 loss on opening day to Orlando, the Bulls have just gotten worse and the results more one-sided. They lost by 10 to Baltimore in Week 2, again not horrible, but in Week 3 fell to Ohio by a score of 45-17, and this week, dropped a home game to winless Atlanta by 24 points, losing 38-14 in a game that Las Vegas had them set as a 5-point favorite. So what seems to be going wrong for a club that not long ago was seen as an up and coming franchise?
We looked over all the stats and we think we have 4 statistics that demonstrate Jacksonville’s key issues.
The Run Game is Under-Utilized.
The Bulls are not balanced, that is clear. Jake Delhomme is being asked to pass far too much, risking turnovers and creating too many long 3rd downs to convert. Why? It seems that Coach Childress is just not putting much trust in HB Antowain Smith. This absolutely baffles us as Smith has averaged over 1,200 yards per season since 2004. He is also averaging 310 carries a year, while this year he is just getting enough carries, not even reaching 20 per game, which, for a clear lead back should be a minimum. There is fear that the 32-year old has hit the cliff, and that is evident in his drop from 4.2 YPC last year to only 3.2 this year, but with fewer carries, he is not getting those late game opportunities when backs tend to break more plays and wear down defenses.
The Secondary Is Giving Up Big Plays
It is not that there is not talent in the Bulls’ secondary, but new arrivals Mike Brown and Eric Waddle have not seemed comfortable in Coach Childress’s system, and seem to be out of position far too often, leading to far too many plays going for big yards after the catch. It seems that Eric Waddle in particular wants to be an “in the box” safety, but Childress’s design for the defense should have him in center field, not creeping up to the line. With more 20+ yard pass plays allowed than any other team in the Eastern Conference, this is an issue that the Bulls need to sort out quickly.
They Are Not Targeting Jason Whitten Enough
You know we hyped up Whitten in the season preview, but apparently Coach Childress and the offensive coaching staff were not reading what we wrote. Whitten currently stands 4th on the team in targets, roughly 6 per game, and most of those are dump offs when Delhomme cannot find a deep receiver. We are not seeing plays designed to make use of Whitten over the middle, meaning that the defenses are not being asked to account for the big receiver. Add to this the fact that the target to catch ratio of both Rashaun Woods (21 of 40) and Jerricho Cotchery (only 7 of 30 targets caught) means that there are a lot of incompletions leading to a lot of short drives and 3-and-outs.
They Cannot Get to the QB Without Blitzing
Another pretty obvious statistic when you look at the game film. DE’s David Bowens and Tom Burke may be leading the team in sacks, but of their combined 5 sacks (a full 7 behind just Calais Campbell alone), 4 of them have come during a blitz package when the tackle has opted to handle the blitzer. The Bulls are not able to get pressure with their line, so they are forced to send linebackers and safeties on the blitz, which, in turn, leads to more 1-on-1 coverage, and more deep pass plays, bringing us back to issue #2 above. If the Bulls could drop their backers and safeties back, they could keep the receivers in front of them and not give up the backbreaking deep balls that we have seen this season.
There, 4 issues identified, now it is up to the Bulls to see how they can address them.
Two more players added to IR across the USFL this week as Atlanta loses their top receiver, Josh Reed to a PCL injury. Reed is expected to be out of action well into the fall. In Pittsburgh, backup LB Buster Davis suffered a shoulder/scapula injury which will put him on the IR as well. Not quite as severe, but still requiring lengthy absences are a fractured jaw suffered by G Scott Shaw (ORL), a broken tibia for Nashville DT Shaun Ellis (4-6 weeks), and a back injury that may keep star Memphis LB Patrick Willis out at least 2-4 weeks.
Expected to be out at least 1 week are Denver DE Chike Okeafor (wrist), Tampa Bay DE Derrick Harvey (arm), LV tackle Kenyatta Walker (abdominal), Houston FS Willie Andrews (retinal detachment), and Philadelphia TE Brent Celek (hip). We also have 3 starting QB’s likely to miss this week and listed as Doubtful in today’s injury report: Baltimore’s Ben Roethlisberger (concussion), New Jersey’s Ryan Fitzpatrick (thigh), and Denver’s Matt Leinart (knee).
Hall of Fame Nominees Announced
This week marked the annual announcement of the semifinalists for the Hall of Fame Class of 2009. This includes 7 players who retired at the conclusion of the 2004 season as well as three returning nominees from past years. The 7-3 breakdown is a bit unusual, as most years we see either a 5-5 or 6-6 split, but it is within the rights of the selection committee to balance first-time and returning nominees, and apparently, they felt that there was a strong cohort of first years to be recognized. So, here, without any further ado, are the 10 semi-finalists, from which we will get the league’s 5 new inductees later this summer.
QB Doug Flutie (NJ 85-95, MGN 96-02, HOU 04)
With one of the longest tenures of any USFL player, Doug Flutie was a staple of USFL football ever since he came to the league as the Heisman Trophy Winner back in the 1985 season. He would spend the first 11 years of his career in New Jersey with the Generals, lined up in front of Herschel Walker and winning a title for New Jersey in 1989. Known for his elusiveness, creativity, and “Flutie Magic”, the BC product was considered one of the toughest QBs to defend against in the league and could be seen on everything from car commercials to his ubiquitous “Flutie Flakes” cereal. After 11 seasons with New Jersey, Flutie had himself an entire 2nd career in Michigan, where he took over as the starter for the Panthers, throwing for over 4,500 yards on two separate occasions (1998 and 1999), with a career-best 48 TDs in the 1998 season for the Panthers.
Flutie would have been eligible for the Hall two years ago, but after initially leaving the game in 2002, he came back when the Houston Gamblers needed an emergency QB in the 2004 season. Flutie would play sparingly in that season, but the decision to give it one more go meant that he did not qualify for the Hall until this year. We cannot imagine any way that his name will not be among the 5 inducted in October. He is in many ways Mr. USFL, a spokesman for the league and a symbol of its early days as a league that gave chances to so many who might otherwise have been out of the game.
OT Richmond Webb (BIR 90-04)
You could not expect more from a left tackle than what Richmond Webb provided to both Cliff Stoudt and Brett Favre over his career. A brick wall with a reputation for being a bit nasty at times, Webb was the primary protector for the Stallions’ line for 15 seasons. He started 210 of 225 games, including 167 in a row during his career and was pivotal in the championship run of the Stallions in 1993. A 9-time All-USFL selection at the most coveted line position, we think Webb will be a strong candidate to be a first-ballot inductee.
CB Vince Buck (ARZ 90-94, OHI 95-99, LA 00, HOU 01-04)
Buck played for 4 clubs over his 15-year career, with a championship ring always eluding him. He started everywhere he went, with 222 starts in 231 games, and was known as a superb pass defender, with 325 passes defended and 44 picks over his career. Buck’s versatility and ability to make up ground are often cited as his strengths as a player.
LB Lamar Lathon (NOR 90-04)
A lifetime Breaker, Lathon came to New Orleans in 1990 as a rookie out of the University of Houston. Voted the Defensive Rookie of the Year and named to 4 All-USFL teams, Lathon was the glue that held together the Breaker defense for over a decade. In that time, he amassed nearly 1,400 tackles. The main drawback for Lathon may be that his Breaker teams were not always particularly solid on defense, and in the later years the clubs had some pretty shaky seasons.
SS LeRoy Butler (JAX 90-93, HOU 94-96, ORL 97-00, TBY 01-04)
A 15-year vet who played both safety positions at one point, a 4-time All-USFL nominee, and a league champion in 1996 with the Gamblers, Butler was listed among the best at the position for well over a decade and feels very much like a potential first-ballot nominee. He retired after 3 years in Tampa Bay, his 4th club in the league, with 1,116 tackles. Never afraid to play close to the line, Butler recorded 31 sacks over his career. His pick numbers are not high, but that was never his role in the secondary. We expect a lot of support for his nomination.
HB Rashan Salaam (DEN 95-01, OAK 03-04)
We knew this day would come, when voters would have to decide whether Salaam’s off the field antics, antics which got him a 1-season suspension and cost him his spot on the Denver Gold roster, would disqualify him for the HOF or not. The numbers are certainly impressive, nearly 9,000 yards and 72 TDs in only 10 seasons, including 5 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, three All-USFL nominations, the rushing title in 1998 and both a ring and an honor as the Playoff MVP in the Gold’s 2000 championship season. But, of course, it was that 2000 title that led to the extensive celebration that got Salaam in so much hot water.
Just how much the drug-filled party following the 2000 Summer Bowl tarnishes Salaam’s on-field accomplishments remains to be seen. He served his 1-year suspension, returning to the league with Oakland in 2003, and rushing for 762 yards and 7 scores in his final season in 2004. We suspect that Salaam will get consideration but seems like a longshot to be a first-ballot inductee. There is just too much stigma to his career to obtain that honor, despite his obvious talent as a ballcarrier.
DE Clyde Simmons (TBY 99, POR 00-01, NOR 02-04)
Our second somewhat controversial nomination, as Simmons spent only 6 seasons in the USFL after a lengthy NFL career). Yes, during those six years he had solid numbers, averaging nearly 10 sacks per year and helping to bolster all three clubs, but he was never nominated to a single All-USFL team during his time in the league, and his highest sack total in any year was 11 in 2001, hardly Hall of Fame numbers. The concern here is that a potential Hall of Fame NFL player is getting some form of preferential treatment.
OG Will Shields (TBY 93-98, NJ 99-03)
The first of our returning nominees, Shields played 11 seasons in the USFL and was effective as both a pass blocker and lead blocker on run plays. He was a 5-time All-USFL selection, playing primarily right guard, and started 157 of his 163 games in the league. He allowed only 38 sacks in 11 seasons in the league and won a title in 1998 with that amazing offense of the Aikman-led Bandits.
LB Marvcus Patton (DEN 90-03)
In his second year of eligibility, Patton was close to qualifying in his first go, so he may be the most likely repeat candidate to get inducted this year. The UCLA product came to Denver as a rookie and made an immediate impact. In his 2nd year he was named the Defensive Player of the Year, and he would retire in 2003 as a 3-time All USFL player, and as a Champion thanks to the Gold’s 2000 season title.
LB Pat Swilling (MEM 90-91, HOU 92-02)
In his 3rd year of eligibility, this may be Pat Swilling’s best shot at a gold jacket. The one-time Showboat emerged as a starter with the 1992 Houston Gamblers, helping the Kelly-led Gamblers to league titles in both 1992 (his first year with the club) and in 1996. Named to 4 All-USFL teams, Swilling retired in 2002 with 905 career tackles, 165 for a loss behind the line, and 44 career sacks.
Best of the USFL
Our ongoing series of the Best of the USFL turns back to the Defense today as we look at the big men in the middle, the defensive tackles. Whether manning the nose in the 3-4 or hitting the gaps in the 4-3, the defensive tackles are at the heart of line play and the ability to disrupt both the run and the pass. So, who are the best at their position in the league? We had quite a bit of debate about this, and it took quite a while before we could separate out five from a pretty good pack. In part this is due to the lack of stats that most DTs accumulate, but it is also because this may be one of the deeper and most balanced positions in the league. But, after much discussion, here is our Top 5 DTs in the league today.
Richard Seymour (HOU): In a line that features Kavika Pittman and Osi Umenyiura it is tough for Seymour to get a lot of press, but that does not diminish his abilities or his impact. The 8-year veteran is one of the most disruptive tackles in the game, and capable of handling dual blocks all game long. Not much of a penetration tackle, Seymour only has 14 sacks, but he is murder on blocking schemes and occupies space better than anyone in the game today.
Leonard Renfro (MGN): Signed by the Panthers after a long career in New Jersey, New Orleans, Houston, and Nashville, Renfro had a career year in 2008 with the Panthers, racking up 65 tackles, 20 more than in any previous season. An ageless wonder, Renfro is playing in his 17th season in the USFL, and is still putting up strong numbers, with 22 tackles already this year.
Luis Castillo (TEX): The youngest of our 5 defensive tackles, Castillo is entering only his 5th season in the league, but has already made an impression. He only started a combined 8 games in his first two years with the Outlaws, but has since been a starter in 34 consecutive games, and his numbers have been impressive. Castillo is not a classic nose tackle, but fits in well next to Chris Hovan, making it possible for him to penetrate into the backfield, disrupting blocking schemes. One of the best stunting DTs in the game, he frequently swaps position with Chris Canty to confuse and confound blockers.
Shaun Rogers (NSH): Back to a true nose tackle with Rogers and the Knights’ 3-4. Rogers may be injured right now (expected to miss 4-6 games) but when he is in the game, this 9-year veteran knows how to occupy space and blockers. He had career numbers in 2008, starting 15 games and recording 81 tackles, one of the highest totals for any DT in the past 10 years. Add to that 5 sacks last year (and 2 already this year) and you can understand why Rogers is considered one of the most disruptive DTs in the USFL.
Anthony McFarland (WSH): Our final pick was a tough one, but in the end, McFarland’s 10 seasons with both Boston and Washington won out over the new hot commodity, Orlando’s Albert Haynesworth. While no one can deny the impact Haynesworth has had in only 4 games, McFarland has been a steady force for the Federals since coming to them in free agency in 2005. Before that he was an anchor for Boston’s defense and has only missed 2 games in his 10+ seasons.
Among those just missing the cut we find Haynesworth, who is making a big impression immediately, along with Baltimore’s Jeff Zgonina, LA’s Daryl Gardener, and Chicago’s big man, Ted Washington. Among younger players to watch is New Jersey’s B. J. Raji, Jacksonville’s Marcus Stroud, and Las Vegas’s Haloti Ngata.
Week 5 is another fully inter-divisional week, meaning that it is all about matchups at the top and bottom of the standings. At the top we have 3-1 Orlando hosting 4-0 Baltimore and out West a clash of division leaders as 3-1 Denver visits 3-1 Oakland. At the bottom it is a battle of 0-4 teams when Memphis heads to Jacksonville. Or, for you masochists out there, the 0-4 Skyhawks travel to 1-3 Las Vegas. Is this when the Thunder get their season truly started? Quite a few mismatches as well as 1-3 Atlanta host 4-0 Washington, Undefeated Charlotte head to Birmingham, and 0-4 Seattle try to get on track against 3-1 Michigan.
FRIDAY @ 8pm Denver (3-1) @ Oakland (3-1) NBC
SATURDAY @ 12pm Washington (4-0) @ Atlanta (1-3) ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm Birmingham (1-3) @ Charlotte (4-0) ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm Memphis (4-0) @ Jacksonville (0-4) FOX
SATURDAY @ 4pm Michigan (3-1) @ Seattle (0-4) ABC
SATURDAY @ 4pm Ohio (3-1) @ Houston (2-2) FOX
SATURDAY @ 8pm Baltimore (4-0) @ Orlando (3-1) ESPN
SUNDAY @ 12pm Philadelphia (2-2) @ New Orleans (3-1) ABC
SUNDAY @ 12pm New Jersey (1-3) @ Nashville (3-1) FOX
SUNDAY @ 12pm Pittsburgh (3-1) @ Texas (1-3) FOX
SUNDAY @ 4pm Arizona (2-2) @ Los Angeles (202) ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm St. Louis (0-4) @ Las Vegas (1-3) ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm Chicago (2-2) @ Portland (2-2) FOX
SUNDAY @ 8pm Boston (2-2) @ Tampa Bay (1-3) ESPN