A bit of a mixed week, as most are, with a few real nail biters in Ohio, Washington, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville. We had an upset in New Jersey as the Generals upended Drew Bledsoe and the Cannons thanks to a very stingy D, while in Orlando the Pittsburgh Maulers asserted to the nation that they were a true threat in the Central Division. We got a great game between two other Central Division rivals as Michigan and Ohio went toe to toe, while New Orleans and Charlotte both held off upset bids in action this week. Trades were the order of business this week as well, with several teams hoping to improve their playoff chances by filling noticeable gaps in their rosters, while others looked to the future by obtaining some draft picks. All that and a new deal for the league to get gear made by a new partner and you have a packed Week 6 just ahead of the midseason point. Let’s start off our coverage this week with that game in Columbus, where the Panthers and Glory fought to claim a spot at the top of the Central Division.
MICHIGAN PANTHERS 33 OHIO GLORY 28
Forget the Buckeyes and Wolverines, the Glory-Panther rivalry was the reason for Ohio and Michigan to get riled up this week. Ohio led from the opening score all the way until the 1:24 mark of the 4th, but two late Griese to Coles TD tosses in the 4th sunk Ohio’s hopes and propelled Michigan to a key divisional road win.
It was a game with a bit of everything. Eight sacks, 7 TD passes, and 3 receivers over 100 yards apiece, but unlike what most pre-game prognosticators expected, it was Michigan who got the better of the passing game, with Brian Griese outdueling Kerry Collins, 434 yards to 334. Griese also had one more TD pass than Collins (4 to 3) and with both Hines Ward and Bennie Joppru going over 140 yards receiving, it appears the Panthers have figured out how to exploit the Ohio defense.
The game was dynamic from the outset. Ohio took the opening kickoff and turned their first possession into 7 points as Collins hit Joey Galloway with the game’s first touchdown. Michigan responded with Griese finding his tight end, Joppru for 7 to wrap up the first quarter. In the second it was Galloway again, this time on a quick rub play at the goalline. Michigan responded with a field goal, and Ohio pulled ahead by 11 as Kevin Smith closed out the first half with a rare TD run.
The third quarter opened with Michigan receiving the kick and they marched the ball down the field, with Griese tossing his 2nd TD, a beauty of a fade route to Hines Ward. The 2-pointer failed and Ohio led 21-16. Michigan cut it to 21-19 with a Matt Prater field goal as the third quarter ended, but Ohio would stretch out the lead again. With 7 minutes left in the 4th, Ohio got a 14-yard TD reception from Bulls import Javon Walker and led by 9. Michigan would need two scores in the final 7 minutes.
The Panthers were undaunted, and with 3:54 left to play they got the first of the two scores they needed. It was a quick strike, with Griese finding Laverneus Coles in single coverage and taking the slant & go route all the way to the house, an 82-yard strike that had the moderate Panther contingent at Ohio Stadium on their feet. The defense would hold on the next drive as Ohio forced Michigan to use all three time outs, but ended up giving the ball back to the Panthers with 1:57 left to play.
Time for a two-minute drill, and Griese ran his to perfection. Michigan stayed in a 3 receiver, 1 TE, 1 back formation with Ward, Coles, Randle-El, Joppru and Leon Washington as the main targets for Griese. He hit Joppru twice, gaining 33 yards on two plays before finding Laverneus Coles once again, this time a 15-yard TD pass with just 17 seconds left to play as Michigan snatched victory away from the Ohio Glory. The Panthers, with the win, move to 4-2, tied with Chicago just one game behind surprising Pittsburgh. Ohio drops to .500 at 3-3 after 6 weeks.
BALTIMORE 21 WASHINGTON 17
A truly classic I-95 Showdown between the unbeaten Federals and the 4-1 Blitz as Baltimore gets a late score on a screen to Dayne that shatters the Feds’ undefeated run. The game started 14-0 Washington thanks to a Stewart to Branch TD and a pick-six from Mark Simoneau, but Baltimore battled back, with scores from Darrius Heyward-Bey and Jacob Tamme. Both clubs looked like serious contenders as they went back and forth in a great game that sets up a tie between these two atop the NE Division.
BOSTON 9 NEW JERSEY 10
A shocker in the Meadowlands as the Generals’ defense takes it on themselves to get a W for Coach Edwards. Boston’s O-line, which had been playing so well, let up 5 sacks and Bledsoe, under constant pressure, tossed 3 picks as the Generals simply won with their D alone. The only TD of the game was a pick six from Nate Clements as neither offense could do anything.
ATLANTA 23 TAMPA BAY 26
A surprisingly good game from two 1-win teams as the Bandits pulled out the W in a 4th quarter that saw the two clubs combine for 27 points. Willis McGahee was on fire, rushing for 141 yards and a score, while kickers Nate Kaeding and Josh Scobee combined for 7 field goals in the game. Marcus Robinson emerged as the Atlanta #1 receiver with 9 receptions for 122 yards and a score.
CHARLOTTE 19 JACKSONVILLE 17
The Monarchs get back in the win column with 10 points in the final period to upend the Bulls in Jacksonville. Down 17-10, the Monarchs got a Coutu field goal to pull within one score and then snagged the win in the final seconds as Chris Weinke found D. J. Hackett for a last second touchdown in a very exciting final 2 minutes. Charlotte moves to 5-1, while the Bulls are looking for answers at 1-5.
BIRMINGHAM 22 NEW ORLEANS 27
The Stallions look like a much-improved team, but it is not enough as the Breakers pull this one out with a pair of 4th quarter field goals. Jerome Pathon was the surprise star for New Orleans, catching 3 balls for 119 yards, 2 of them going for touchdowns.
MEMPHIS 9 NASHVILLE 20
It was a slow and steady strategy that led Nashville to the rivalry win over Memphis, pulling away in the final period with TDs from Frank Gore and Robert Meachem as Memphis continues to struggle without Favre at the helm. Kelly Holcomb got the start and went 14 of 32 for 229 but was sacked 4 times.
CHICAGO 17 ST. LOUIS 6
Coach Williams’s decision to keep Jeff Blake as the starter was undone by a blitzing Tommy Polley, whose hit on Blake sent the QB to the bench, bringing on rookie Josh Freeman for the first time this year. Freeman looked pretty solid, completing 22 of 34 passes for 281 yards, but he also survived 6 sacks as Chicago just did not allow St. Louis to get into a rhythm. The Machine offense was a bit shaky, which might explain the trade we saw this week (see below), but it was enough to get the Machine their 4th win of the year.
ARIZONA 7 TEXAS 22
Rian Lindell’s 5 field goals, and a lone score from T. J. Duckett were enough to get Texas the W in Dallas, as Arizona struggled. David Carr was sacked 7 times and was held under 200 yards passing, while Sedrick Irvin was limited to 62 on the ground as Texas established a defensive presence in the game and did not let up, earning their 2nd win of the year.
DENVER 20 HOUSTON 23
The Gamblers avenge their Week 1 loss in Denver with a 3-point victory at NRG Stadium. With Matt Hasselbeck out at the half after a bad blow to the head, Luke McCown rallied the Gamblers and got the win for Houston. Matt Leinart returned for Denver but could not get the win as his 2 TDs were offset by two picks.
LAS VEGAS 15 SEATTLE 10
Seattle fell to 1-5 after giving up the first 15 points of the game, including a safety on Byron Leftwich that Coach Glanville is still complaining should have been a defensive TD. Leftwich spent the game running for his life, sacked 7 times by Las Vegas, as they sent blitzers from every direction. Marshawn Lynch had his first 100-yard game of the year as the Thunder ground down the clock over the second half, not allowing Seattle enough possessions to come all the way back.
LOS ANGELES 9 OAKLAND 13
Another defensive showdown as Oakland seemed somewhat unsettled by Plaxico Burress’s absence. Joey Harrington completed only 12 of 23 passing, but did connect on the key play, a 13-yard TD toss to TE Mike Merrit to get the win. LA outgained the Invaders but just could not get into the endzone.
PORTLAND 14 PHILADELPHIA 23
In the first of our two extra-divisional games, Philadelphia took care of business at home to move to 4-2, one game back of the Feds and Blitz. The Stars sacked A. J. Feeley 6 times and Kurt Warner connected with both Steve Smith and Terrell Owens for scores. No sharpies were seen this time around as Owens behaved himself against the Stags.
PITTSBURGH 23 ORLANDO 15
A huge road win for the Maulers, who are beginning to get some believers around the league, as they head into Orlando and pull off one of the best comebacks in league history. Down 15-0 at one point and 15-7 at the half, Pittsburgh scored 23 unanswered points after knocking Drew Brees out of the game with an ankle injury. Cody Pickett threw two 2nd half TDs and Dshaun Foster ran one in to give Pittsburgh the win and put them all alone at 5-1 atop the Central Division.
Burress to be Charged
Not surprising, but still problematic for the Oakland Invaders, star wideout Plaxico Burress has been charged in Alameda county with three counts, including a felony count for illegal possession of a firearm within city limits. He was also charged with reckless endangerment and illegal discharge of a firearm for the incident that saw him shoot himself in the thigh as the gun in his waistband went off while he was dancing at a local club.
The injury already put the receiver on the IR for the year, but now, with criminal charges pending, there is a risk that Burress will have to serve time as well as pay fines, none of which makes him an enticing free agent to resign, or a good target for another team. Burress’s contract expires in August, and the hope had been that his incentive to have a big year would help Oakland get over the hump and find their way to the Summer Bowl.
With Burress gone for the year, his chances of improving his options as a free agent are melting away. Criminal charges which could impact the 2010 season as well could make it much easier for Oakland to let him go, and much harder for another team to explore signing the 10-year veteran. For the Invaders, whose offense clearly suffered this week, the added complication made finding an alternative all that much more imperative, and they pulled the trigger on a trade this week that is designed to do just that (see below). For Burress, the news of the charges could be the sign that he may have a long year ahead of him, not just rehabbing his injured leg, but his image as well.
Trade Wire Gets Hot as Teams Try to Fix Issues
Whether through injury or just poor play, the first six weeks of the season have revealed some areas of need for nearly every team in the league, and as we typically see in the month before the Week 10 trade deadline, the trading block starts to get busy around this time of year. Several noteworthy trades clearly send the message that contenders are trying to patch holes and teams below .500 are trying to find answers. Here are the 5 moves that could have the biggest impact over the next 8 weeks.
OAKLAND hopes they found their substitute for Plaxico Burress. After moving Greg Jennings into the #1 slot, they went out and found a new potential #2 receiver in Memphis’s Pierre Garçon. The 2nd year receiver had 22 catches for 349 yards last year in Memphis, but has struggled this year with the dicey Showboat QB situation. He has only 2 catches in 6 games with the Boats, but now gets a chance to sign on with a 5-1 Oakland club looking for a reliable #2. Oakland sends a 3rd round pick this year and a 4th in 2011 to Memphis for their wideout.
TEXAS, who had a strong week in the pass rush department, might have just gotten a whole lot more dynamic in that area after trading with New Jersey. The deal brings veteran DE Reynaldo Wynn to Texas, while sending some reinforcements to New Jersey to try to boost their moribund run game. Wynn, who had 11 sacks last year, his first with New Jersey, looked like a star on the rise, but clearly was one the Generals were willing to part with to try to solve their offensive woes. In return for Wynn, the Generals pick up guard Tuten Reyes, a definite improvement on the interior of their line, and also nab one of the better backup HBs in the league in R. J. Redmond. With Kerry Joseph leading all General rushers with only 116 total yards in 6 games, the hope is that Redmond can rotate with Joseph and 2nd year back Ray Rice to try to develop some kind of viable run offense for the Generals.
Run game was also the focus for Birmingham, as they sent a 4th round pick to St. Louis to obtain HB Michael Bush. There were high hopes for Bush in St. Louis when he was drafted in 2007, but with only 165 yards last year after a 370 yard rookie campaign, Bush had dropped to 3rd behind Larry Johnson and Dominic Rhodes on the Skyahawk depth chart. In Birmingham he will rotate carries with Felix Jones as the Stallions hope to revive a run game to take pressure off of QB Kyle Boller.
Chicago is also trying to amp up their offense, but their concern is at the receiver position. With Curtis Conway gone to Charlotte and rookie Johnny Knox struggling to fill the #2 role next to Donald Driver, the Machine made a deal with Denver to bring a legitimate 2nd option to Soldier Field. The Machine sent slot receiver James Hardy and a 3rd round pick they had from Atlanta to the Gold in order to acquire veteran Anquon Boldin from the Gold. Boldin, who had his best years in 2003 and 2004 in Jacksonville, has been reliable but not spectacular while in Denver. He will now move into the #2 slot for the Machine, hoping to get a revival to his career. In Denver, Keary Colbert, who had a strong rookie campaign in 2008, will move into the #2 slot and make room for Jacquez Green and Hardy to take over the slot duties.
One more move, and one more receiver sent to a new spot. Nashville felt good about their trio of wideouts (Derrick Mason, Robert Meachem, and Ahmad Merrit) but were not seeing the production they wanted from TE Justin Peele, so they make a deal with Portland to bring All-USFL (2008) tight end Bubba Franks over to the Knights. Franks, who began his career with Washington before spending 4 years in New Orleans and then joining Portland in the expansion draft, had a career year with the Stags, catching 67 balls for 707 yards in Portland’s inaugural season. He now will become Jay Cutler’s primary safety valve. A 33-year old veteran at the position, Franks is in a contract year and could be hoping to impress to get one final contract with Nashville for the future. For the Knights, it is all about taking advantage right now of a weaker Southern Division and hopefully making a playoff run this year.
Breakout Players of 2009
Six weeks into the season and time to take a look at who is breaking out and making a name for themselves this year. We will bypass the rookies who we have already discussed and look at some veterans who are exceeding expectations and building some buzz around the year. Here is our list of six players to watch as they are turning heads this year.
QB Dereck Anderson (DEN)
Weird that we would start with a backup QB, but in two appearances this year Anderson has made an impression. Denver is clearly going with Matt Leinart as their main man, but Anderson has thrown for 573 yards in only 2 appearances, and has a 4:0 TD:INT ratio in those games. He still has 3 years on his contract with Denver, but we could certainly see some teams making trade inquiries if Anderson has a chance to get into more games and can play at a high level in those opportunities. If not, he may just become a designated “relief pitcher” for the Gold, much as Don Strock was for the David Woodley Dolphins back in the day.
HB Shaun Alexander (HOU)
Seems odd to call a 9 year veteran a breakout player, but since coming to Houston from Birmingham, Alexander has been all the Gamblers could have wanted and more. In 7 seasons with the Stallions, the back had only one 1,000 year season, his 2007 year, which led to his deal with the Gamblers. Since coming to Houston, Alexander racked up 1,141 yards and 9 TDs in 2008 and is on pace for another 1,100-1,200 yard year in 2009. He has topped 100 yards twice already this season for the Gamblers, and his presence has helped to diversify the Houston offense, taking pressure off of Matt Hasselbeck and making Houston’s defense a more rested and more dynamic group.
WR Michael Jenkins (ORL)
Orlando’s #1 receiver has not exactly been a household name since coming into the league in 2004, but the league leader with 40 receptions in 6 games is certainly on people’s tongues now. Jenkins is on pace for a 100 catch season, and should be able to surpass his 1,125 yards from 2008. He still needs to find ways to get open in the endzone (only 1 TD this year), but he has emerged as an outstanding 3rd down possession option in the receiving corps for Drew Brees.
TE Dallas Clark (PHI)
Clark had a good year last season, with 74 receptions and 690 yards, but this year he is also proving to be a key redzone target for Kurt Warner, catching 3 touchdowns already this year. He is on pace to surpass 80 receptions for the first time in his career and he is providing a safety valve when the two big-name outside receivers (Owens and Smith) are unable to shake coverage.
DE Carl Powell (OHIO)
A 6 year veteran at end, Powell was never seen as a significant force as an edge rusher, but Ohio has tweaked their scheme and this season Powell has emerged, with 6 sacks in 6 games. Sure, it is not the ludicrous 17 sacks that Calais Campbell has put up, but it does put Powell well on the way to the first double-digit sack total of his career. With Vonnie Holliday still a major factor at left end, having Powell get more opportunities and convert them into sacks is a huge plus for the Glory.
LB Jamie Winborn (SEA)
Yes, the Dragons are a disappointing 1-5, but don’t lay that on Winborn, who is having a career season. The 8-year veteran who has never had more than 66 tackles in any season to date (in Chicago, Texas, or Seattle) is on pace for well over 100 tackles, with 43 in 6 games. Shifting Winborn from the strong side to the MLB spot, surrounded by Takeo Spikes and Piso Tinoisamoa has been a huge change for the veteran linebacker, but one that clearly seems to suit him well.
Washington receiver Eddie Kennison was the injury news this week as the former Blitz wideout was carted off the field on a backboard. It was a scary moment, the result of a helmet to helmet collision that left the receiver prone on the ground for several minutes while the two training staffs attended to him. Reports out of the hospital is that it was a spinal contusion, caused by the compacting of two vertebrae in his neck. He does have movement in all extremities and is conscious and able to maintain conversations, but the neck had to be isolated and placed in traction to allow swelling to go down. Kennison is out for the season, but is expected to recover and have full movement and sensation.
Others who could miss substantial time due to injuries suffered this week include Philadelphia guard Damien Woody (wrist), Michigan WR Mario Manningham (shoulder), Tampa Bay center Trey Teague (ACL), and St. Louis QB Jeff Blake (torn meniscus). New Jersey just cannot buy a break. Just one week after trading away one of their DE’s their starting LE, Shaun Ellis goes down with a partial tear of the hamstring and will miss 2-3 weeks. Their halfback, Ray Rice, is also out next week and could miss more time with a hand injury, though the Generals did just bring in another back. Atlanta CB Charles Woodson is expected to be out at least a week with swelling in his knee, while Texas WR Marques Colston, Portland LB Mike Maslowski, and Charlotte DT Kyle Williams are all listed as doubtful. Houston QB Matt Hasselbeck remains in concussion protocols and is listed as Questionable for this week’s game.
USFL & Adidas Agree to 8 Year Deal
League offices in New York announced this week that the 2010 season will mark the final year of the licensing and uniform provision deal with Reebok as the league has come to an agreement for an 8 year deal with Adidas to provide all team uniforms as well as a range of fan gear. Reebok had been the second league-wide purveyor of team gear, following Nike in the 1990’s, but was outbid in their efforts for a renewal by the German-based sports apparel and gear company most widely known for its soccer market. Adidas has been in the business of designing and providing gear for American football (as opposed to “global” football or fútbol) for only 5 years, beginning in 2004 with several NCAA Division 1 teams. This will be the largest deal in the world of football for the company.
As part of the deal, Adidas will work with the USFL’s internal design and marketing team as well as with all 28 franchises on design elements, as well as any adjustments or updates to logos and branding for the league franchises. The deal calls for them to work with 4 clubs per year over the first 7 years of their contract on template and uniform design as well as branding in general.
What has caught the eye of many familiar with sports branding is that the deal specifically makes reference to both “heritage” and “alternate” lines, which may very well mean that the USFL, like the NFL in 1994 and since, will be open to allowing teams to mix throwback or retro looks, as well as alternative looks into their on-field wear as a regular feature of league play. There was a brief window in the 1990’s where a handful of teams tried their hands at alternate gear, including Tampa Bay’s famous all black look, but the strategy was deemed to run counter to brand identity and was quickly abandoned. The language of the Adidas deal may not only mean that we could see some retro looks from the early 1980’s over the next few years, but that teams could also explore looks using their secondary logos, or alternate color shemes. Is anyone ready for the Panthers in burgundy helmets? Washington in all black? Or what about the Oakland Invaders in navy? Could be happening, but we won’t know until the 2011 season, when the first four teams undergo their Adidas redesign.
Best of the USFL: Safety
One of the most impactful, and yet often undervalued positions on the field is that of the two safeties. Just the fact that the free safety and strong safety are being lumped together as if they were interchangeable is an indicator of the position’s lack of respect. But, with only 12 weeks to cover the entire league, some compromises had to be made. To help acknowledge the importance of both positions, we are expanding our honorable mention list so that we can adequately reference some of the outstanding talent that the USFL has at the position. We start with the Free Safeties and will finish up with 3 strong safeties as well as several others worthy of consideration.
FS Ed Reed (WSH)
Considered the gold standard at the position, Reed has spent 8 years terrorizing receivers, cutting down backs, blitzing the QB, and captaining one of the league’s most revered defensive squads. What is perhaps the scariest thing to consider is that 2008 may well have been Reed’s best season, one in which he touted his highest totals for both tackles and interceptions while helping the Federals return to the playoffs, largely on the strength of their pass defense.
FS Mike Doss (OHI)
Starting his 7th season with the Glory this year, Mike Doss was one of the most highly touted safeties to come out in the draft, and, as is so often the case for the Glory, they used their territorial rights to Ohio State products to snatch Doss out of the draft pool before others could get a shot at him. More of a centerfielder than Redd, Doss’s game is all about shutting down the deep ball and providing support to the corner, coming over the top on a receiver to eliminate the bomb, deep out, or post pattern.
Other Free Safeties we considered, and there were several, include Memphis’s Tebucky Jones, Boston’s Jerome Woods, Pittsburgh’s Scott Shields, and, of course, Denver’s interception-minded ballhawk, Jamel Williams.
SS Troy Polamalu
Was there any doubt that one of the hardest hitting safeties in the game would make the list. Polamalu is the epitome of the run-stuffing, close-to-the-line safeties which have become so fashionable in the game over the past decade. A USC product, LA snatched up Polamalu and made him a starter on day one, and they have never regretted that decision. More likely to log more sacks than picks each year, Polamalu’s game is all about shutting down the run and keeping short passes from turning into big gainers.
SS Adam Archuleta (BAL)
Very much in the same mold, a hard hitting enforcer in the secondary, is Archuleta, a 9-year veteran in Baltimore. Archuleta has only 5 picks in those 9 seasons, but he is still considered one of the best strong safeties in the game, one that scat backs, tight ends, and slot receivers dread encountering over the middle.
SS Sean Taylor (PIT)
Another hammer in the middle of the field, Taylor is fast, aggressive, and smart, a total package for a safety. Only in his 5th year and recently resigned by Pittsburgh to a long term deal, Taylor is perhaps the best pure tackler on our list. He had 84 solo tackles last year, most among any safeties, and he is also an effective blitzer, making life difficult for opposing QB’s both in coverage and at the line.
Other strong safeties making an impression across the league include Nashville’s LaRon Landry, Charlotte’s Reggie Tongue, and two recent free agency relocations, Mike Brown, now with Jacksonville, and New Jersey’s new defensive acquisition, former Federal Bob Sanders.
Midseason is a time to gear up, get serious, and make a run, and there is no better way to do that than with a nice range of divisional games. Lots of good matchups here, highlighted by Charlotte @ Orlando in the Southeast, and Michigan @ Pittsburgh in the Central. The South is also matched up against the Southwest as the two 4-team divisions face off, producing an interesting game in Denver, where the 3-3 Gold will host the 4-2 Breakers.
FRIDAY @ 8pm Los Angeles (3-3) @ Portland (2-4) NBC
SATURDAY @ 12pm New Jersey (2-4) @ Washington (5-1) ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm Michigan (4-2) @ Pittsburgh (5-1) ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm Ohio (3-3) @ St. Louis (0-6) FOX
SATURDAY @ 4pm Nashville (5-1) @ Arizona (2-4) ABC
SATURDAY @ 4pm Memphis (0-6) @ Texas (2-4) FOX
SATURDAY @ 8pm Oakland (5-1) @ Seattle (1-5) ESPN
SUNDAY @ 12pm Charlotte (5-1) @ Orlando (4-2) ABC
SUNDAY @ 12pm Atlanta (1-5) @ Chicago (4-2) FOX
SUNDAY @ 12pm Jacksonville (1-5) @ Tampa Bay (2-4) FOX
SUNDAY @ 4pm Baltimore (5-1) @ Las Vegas (3-3) ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm Birmingham (2-4) @ Houston (4-2) ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm New Orleans (4-2) @ Denver (3-3) FOX
SUNDAY @ 8pm Boston (3-3) @ Philadelphia (4-2) ESPN