March 10, 2010
Season 28 of the USFL, the plucky spring football league that could, is about to kick off and It may well be one of the most exciting and unpredictable seasons in league history. No fewer than 7 of the league’s 28 teams are expected to have a new starting QB, if not Week 1, then by midseason at the latest. The USFL had one of its most successful draft seasons ever, landing not only 2008 Heisman Trophy winner, Sam Bradford, Florida legend Tim Tebow, and 2009 Outland, Lombardi, Nagurski, and Bednarik award winner Ndamukong Suh, but a total of 20 projected NFL first round selections, a bold shot across the bow of the senior fall league.
With defending champion Boston starting a new era with Adrian McPherson at the helm, clubs across the league feel like the title race is wide open. Can record-smashing sack artist Calais Campbell lead Orlando to the mountaintop? Will the arrival of LaDainian Tomlinson give the Wranglers the run game they have always been lacking? Is Tim Tebow the real deal or a fullback in disguise? This season is full of questions and full of possibilities as the USFL gets ready to kick off once again for 16 weeks of spring football and a playoff race that no one feels confident in predicting.
Top 5 stories of the offseason
So. Where do we start? In a wild offseason that saw teams flying all over the free agency pool, franchise altering trades, some huge NFL acquisitions, and a wide-open draft, what are the stories that will most impact the 2010 campaign? We picked five that we think will make or break the season for their clubs, their divisions, and the league.
5) St. Louis Spends Big to Change their Destiny
To say that the St. Louis Skyhawks have started their USFL journey poorly would be an understatement. Just 10 combined wins in four years of play have made the Gateway City’s team the worst of the four recent expansion clubs, and moving on to their third head coach in that short span has not helped the club’s image either. Now, going into their 5th season, with ticket sales beginning to wane, and another head coach starting fresh, the club is desperate to show signs of life, and to spend their way to success.
New head coach Bruce Arians arrived in St. Louis with a lot of optimism, but not much talent on the roster. Ownership and the front office seemed to recognize this and started spending this offseason to build some pieces for Arians to work with. Now, the cupboard was not entirely bare. 2009 rookie QB Josh Freeman showed some signs of life in a rough first season. Wideout Taylor Jacobs has been flirting with All-USFL status since the club first arrived, and the offensive line has some quality to it. But in past years it was just not enough. So, what did the Skyhawks do this offseason to boost their chances?
To start, St. Louis signed two of the top-rated free agents on the board, locking up stud defensive tackle Richard Seymour for the next 3 seasons and adding bell cow back Antowain Smith to a halfback group that has been lacking a true #1 for 4 years. These two new arrivals immediately improve two of the worst aspects of the Skyhawks’ performance, run production and defensive line play. The offense will almost certainly revolve around Smith’s run game and play action, with Freeman trying to get receivers Taylor Jacobs, Jordy Nelson, and Sinorice Moss into more 1-on-1 coverages. The defense will focus on stuffing the run and making clubs one-dimensional, led by Seymour and MLB Wali Rainier.
Throw in rookie RT Bryan Bulaga, and two rookie starters on defense (CB Jordan Pugh and SS Kendrick Lewis) and you have a lot of players coming to St. Louis with a lot to prove. Will it be enough for the Skyhawks to finally work their way out of the Central Division basement and into a playoff hunt. That seems a bit optimistic, but stranger things have happened.
4) LT Brings Hope to the Desert
When you are a club that has finished below .500 in five of the past seven seasons, and your franchise has had only one 1,000-yard rusher in 27 seasons, you get excited when one of the best running backs in the NFL, and a likely first-ballot Hall-of-Famer comes to town. Fans in Arizona are loopy for LT, selling out every #21 jersey available before Christmas, and then selling out another run before the season has even started. Hope is sky high in Arizona that the arrival of a legitimate superstar at halfback, even if he may be in the final years of his career, is enough to revive a moribund offense and a franchise that yearns to be among the league’s best after nearly a decade of disappointment.
Tomlinson will not be alone as QB David Carr is hoping for a sophomore surge, something we have seen quite often from NFL quarterbacks who struggle with the long back-to-back NFL-USFL seasons when they first arrive, but who flourish in their second year, after a much-needed period of rest and recovery. The Wranglers have talent at wideout with Larry Fitzgerald a verified beast on one side. They also added excitement, and a lot of downstate fans from Tucson, with the drafting and signing of former Wildcat TE Rob Gronkowski. This could very well be the offense that sees the greatest change of look, scheme, and results from 2009 to 2010, and if so, the Wranglers and LT-mania may just be getting started.
3) Baltimore Takes a Hit
No other way to describe it, the Blitz got blasted in free agency, losing not only defensive team captain James Farrior (now in Houston) but also their best edge rusher, Jared Allen (now a Mauler). For a team that prides itself on hard-nosed, hard-hitting defense, these two subtractions are huge, and have a lot of the Blitz Nation asking what Baltimore is trying to do. Baltimore seemed to focus on offense more than usual this offseason, signing slot receiver Craphonso Thorpe and QB Mike McMahon in free agency, and bringing in rookie HB Anthony Dixon and WR Preston Parker in the draft, but they did not totally ignore the defense. In addition to drafting DE Alex Carrington and LB Brandon Spikes with their other two open draft picks, the Blitz traded for Charlotte CB Nnambi Asomugha and signed free agent DE Tim Crowder.
What we seem to have with the Blitz is an attempt to get younger on defense while also providing more weapons to Big Ben, perhaps indicating a shift towards a more offensive-minded strategy overall. This could very well be a career-impacting shift for Coach Coughlin, who has taken no small amount of heat from fans (and we suspect ownership as well) for not building up the offense over his tenure. With two of his biggest defensive leaders now gone, the defense will have to reset and the offense will certainly have to step up.
2) Randy Moss and Keyshawn Together in the Express Lane
They may arguably now form the best 1-2 combo at wideout in the league, but they are certainly #1 when it comes to quotes. Keyshawn Johnson and his new BFF Randy Moss are making headlines and making waves in LA. But will those waves turn into wins for an Express team that has yet to ever taste the sweet sip of championship champagne.
The trade that brought Moss to the City of Angels was not a cheap one, costing LA both its first and second round picks in this year’s draft, as well as a pick next year, but the Express needed a shot in the arm, and Moss absolutely brings them one of the most dynamic pass catchers in league history. Pairing him with Keyshawn means that LA can now disrupt almost any coverage, and the benefits of having two top end wideouts should extend to HB Maurice Jones-Drew as well, who could very well benefit from fewer stacked boxes. At the very least, we know the local news teams in LA will get plenty of quotes from the Express this season as they premier one of the most extroverted buddy movies of the season.
1) Which New QB Will Take Command?
With no fewer than 7 clubs making a QB change this year, the question is not if we will see a new star rise in the USFL, but which one. You have two potential breakout stars in rookie QBs Sam Bradford of New Jersey and Tim Tebow in Jacksonville. Neither is expected to start week one, with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh McCown currently listed as the starters on both clubs’ depth charts, but it will not be long before we can expect these two big-name college players make their debuts for the USFL.
In Boston, Arizona, Birmingham, and Ohio the plan was clearly to stand pat and show confidence in the players already on the roster. Boston had a good sense of what Adrian McPherson can do after he started several games in 2009 and played very well doing so. Arizona and Birmingham have stuck with David Carr and Kyle Boller respectively, hoping for a sophomore surge, while Ohio promoted longstanding backup Chris Redman to the starting position, bringing in only a developmental draft pick in Cincinnati’s Tony Pike as a new signal caller.
With no one biting at NFL starter Chad Pennington during the NFL-USFL transfer window, at least not yet (there are still 10 days left in the window if someone reconsiders), and with very little available in the free agent market, it was not a great year to try to start over. That is where Washington found themselves. They explored some trade options, but balked at the prices being required to snag a suitable QB, so they opted to sign the best option available in free agency, former Fire QB David Garrard. Garrard is slated to start, with mid-round rookie prospect Joe Webb as his backup, a new feel for the Feds to be certain.
Both Washington and Boston had mad early inquiries with the Jacksonville Bulls about Jake Delhomme, but the Bulls got the compensation they wanted from Memphis and Delhomme now suits up as the starter for a Memphis squad that struggled through a 2009 campaign where Brett Favre was largely unavailable. Memphis sent 3 draft picks and TE Dustin Keller to the Bulls but now feel they have a transitional QB who could help them win in the short term until they can develop a young talent.
Why do we see so many clubs looking at veteran backups or transitional QB? The answer is the 2011 draft pool. Unlike this year, where there was a big gap between the top 2 QB prospects and the rest of the pool, in 2011, the QB room looks stacked. It is expected that we could see as many as 6 QBs graded as 1st round talents, including Washington’s Jake Locker, Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert, FSU’s Christian Ponder, TCU’s Andy Dalton, Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick, and darkhorse, Auburn’s Cam Newton. Beyond this top-heavy cluster of potential first year starters, teams could also find developmental options in players like Arkansas’s Ryan Mallett, Iowa’s Ricky Stanzi, or UNC’s T. J. Yates. So, it is not surprising that what we see this year is teams hoping to get decent results for a season and then quite possibly positioning themselves for a big draft in 2011.
USFL Draft Class is One to Remember
Every year we witness the USFL Draft, followed closely by the NFL’s, and then the real fun begins. In most years, USFL teams tend to land perhaps 35%-40% of the early round picks made, and then do significantly better in the later rounds, producing around a 50% signing rate overall. With the Territorial Draft also in play, USFL clubs hope to land enough talent rated as 1st or 2nd round grade to bring in both name recognition and actual on-field ability to compete at a level comparable to that of the NFL. In most years the results are mixed. That was not the case this year.
With the anticipated dip in potential NFL transfers coming to fruition, it became clear to most clubs that the draft was where the topflight players would be found. Yes, there were some big names that came across, like Tomlinson, new Panther DE Adewale Ogunleye, Taylor (see above), and newly signed HB Thomas Jones, now a Breaker, the pool was smaller and the timing more awkward, so the draft was where the focus would turn. And that turn produced amazing results.
Of the 35 players who received first round grades from ESPN in their draft analysis, 19 signed with the USFL, a stunning 54%, far higher than in past years, and among the draftees who will be joining the spring league, we find some of the biggest names in college football from 2009. It started with Heismann winner Sam Bradford and multiple award-winner Ndamukong Suh, but it did not end there. Here is our rundown of USFL signees, listed in the order they were taken (and lost) by NFL clubs in their 2010 draft.
Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford—Drafted by the Rams, signed by the New Jersey Generals
Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh—Drafted by the Lions, signed by the Denver Gold
Tennessee S Eric Berry—Drafted by the Chiefs, signed by the Nashville Knights
OK State OT Russel Okung—drafted by the Seahawks, signed by the Michigan Panthers
Florida CB Joe Haden—Drafted by the Browns, signed by the Ohio Glory
Alabama LB Rolando McClain—Drafted by the Raiders, signed by the Charlotte Monarchs
Clemson HB C. J. Spiller—Drafted by the Bills, signed by the Jacksonville Bulls
Cal DT Tyson Alualu—Drafted by the Jaguars, signed by the Oakland Invaders
Texas S Earl Thomas—Drafted by the Seahawks, signed by the New Orleans Breakers
USF DE Jason Pierre-Paul—Drafted by the Giants, signed by the Tampa Bay Bandits
Idaho G Mike Iupati—Drafted by the 49ers, signed by the Portland Stags
Ga Tech WR Demaryius Thomas—Drafted by the Broncos, signed by the Atlanta Fire
Iowa OT Bryan Bulaga—Drafted by the Packers, signed by the St. Louis Skyhawks
Florida QB Tim Tebow—Drafted by the Broncos, signed by the Jacksonville Bulls
Rutgers CB Devin McCourty—Drafted by the Patriots, signed by the New Jersey Generals
Cal HB Jahvid Best—Drafted by the Lions, signed by the Seattle Dragons
TCU DE Jerry Hughes—Drafted by the Colts, signed by the Houston Gamblers
FSU CB Patrick Robinson—Drafted by the Saints, signed by the Tampa Bay Bandits
Indiana OT Rodger Saffold—Drafted by the Rams, signed by the Texas Outlaws
That is nineteen of the top 35, and when you look at the breakdown of how the draft went, you see the value and potential advantage of the USFL’s territorial draft as many of these players were drafted to remain with clubs that are close by to the colleges where they made their name. Tim Tebow is a great example, staying in Florida where he already has a huge following, rather than heading off to Denver to start over. The same can be said for Eric Berry, C. J. Spiller, Tyson Alualu, Jason Pierre-Paul, Demaryius Thomas, Devin McCourty, Jerry Hughes, and Patrick Robinson.
It is proof positive that the T-Draft not only helps teams obtain locally known talent, but also helps players stay closer to home, and closer to a fanbase that is already pre-disposed to support them, which includes supporting them with local sponsorship deals ranging from car dealerships to real estate brokers. That added opportunity to obtain supplemental income from endorsements and TV commercials, playing off their college name recognition, is clearly a factor in negotiations, and, at least this season, gave the USFL a huge advantage as they poured attention and money, let’s be honest, on the college class. They did not land everyone, with some big names like Alabama DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma OT Trent Williams, and Fresno State HB Ryan Matthews sticking with the NFL, but the certainly outperformed expectations, something the NFL cannot be pleased with, but which delights USFL fans.
Late Player Acquisitions Set Up Hectic Preseason
A flurry of late signings,both from the USFL free agent ranks and from the NFL transfer window have shaken up the preseason rosters across the league. While most players will likely see action in Week 1, there are a few who we expect will need a bit more time to adapt and earn a spot on the field. Looking over the transaction boards in the past few weeks, these are the most notable additions, starting with the USFL free agent ranks:
Atlanta added OG Chester Pitts to help shore up the right side of the line for Kyle Orton and Darren McFadden.
Birmingham added OT Marshal Yanda and HB Andre Brown for depth on their roster.
Boston found a viable backup and possible competition for Adrian McPherson, landing former NJ Generals starter Kevin Kolb. They also added two more linemen in center Greg Eslinger and tackle Mario Henderson.
Charlotte has added more talent to their WR group, after signing Darnerien McCants earlier this winter, they just signed Steve Breaston to the roster as well.
Jacksonville traded a 2011 5th rounder to Portland to acquire Cody Glenn.
LA solved their kicker vacancy, signing veteran Neil Rackers to a 2-year deal.
Nashville also settled on a veteran kicker, signing Connor Barth to a 1-year trial deal.
Oakland sent a 5th rounder in the 2012 draft to Jacksonville to acquire receiver and kick returner Joey Jamison. They also made a deal with Charlotte to acquire QB Curtis Painter, the 4th option in Charlotte’s QB room, now the 3rd stringer for the Invaders.
Pittsburgh continues to build depth, signing journeyman QB Henry Burris and a solid TE prospect in Owen Daniels.
And from the NFL ranks we have a handful of signings to report, though the window will remain open through Week 2 of the regular season. Added to USFL rosters through the transfer window we see…
Memphis boosted their LB group, adding Copperheads MLB Keith Bullock on the 2nd day of the window. Bullock is expected to start this week.
Tight End Ben Watson left the struggling Patriots to sign with the Orlando Renegades, where he will line up as the 2nd TE behind Greg Olsen.
Pittsburgh continues to build that defense, adding former Houston Oiler cornerback Dunta Robinson. Robinson is not yet listed on the active roster, but could be ready to go by Week 2 or 3.
Finally, WR Chris Chambers is the newest member of the Texas Outlaws’ posse of wideouts. A solid possession receiver, Chambers will likely play the swing position, subbing for either Marques Colston or Brandon Marshall as needed.
There is still significant NFL talent out there to be signed if any USFL clubs are interested in regular season additions. With two weeks left in the window, some of the names being mentioned include Miami Dolphin edge rusher Jason Taylor, NY Jet HB Thomas Jones, Buccaneers’ WR Antonio Bryant, Vikings HB Chester Taylor, San Diego DT Jamal Williams, Tennessee corner Nick Harper, and Pittsburgh safety Ryan Clark.
USFL TEAM PREVIEWS: 2010
As we look at all 28 USFL squads, we will review the story of their 2009 season, the major offseasons departures and arrivals, their draftees, and an overview of each club's prospects. We will also include the starters as set for Week One, with rookies highlighted in blue and all players who EA Sports Keith Jackson USFL Football 2010 (now available for both Playstation and Xbox formats) lists as a player with a rating of 85 or higher in bold.
Head Coach (Years): Tom Coughlin (7th Season)
2009 Story: Baltimore began the 2009 season as one of the hottest clubs in the league and a favorite pick as a Summer Bowl contender. They ran out to an 8-1 start and spent several weeks atop the division, but a 1-4 finish, including 3 divisional losses, put on display the weaknesses of the team, namely a defense that struggled to put together a pass rush and an offense that was too dependent on the play action game. In the playoffs, the 9-5 Blitz scored a big Wild Card win at Washington, but then fell 23-13 to the eventual champions.
Departures: DE Jared Allen, LB James Farrior, CB Tyrone Bell, WR Marty Booker, HB Wasli Lundy, OT Matt Hill
New Arrivals: QB Mike McMahon, WR Craphonso Thorpe, DE Tim Crowder, CB Nnambi Asomugha
Draft Recap: The Blitz were not among the teams to sign the most players, and they struggled signing their T-Draft selections, but they did land two defensive players who they feel can contribute right away in Florida LB Brandon Spikes, already slated as a starter, and Arkansas State DE Alex Carrington, who could act as a swing end, rotating in as he learns the pro game. HB Anthony Dixon and WR Preston Parker will likely start the year as reserves and on special teams.
Outlook: It is hard to see the losses of James Farrior and Jared Allen as anything but bad news for the Blitz. A club built on aggressive defensive pressure is now going to struggle to achieve that pressure, and rookie Brandon Spikes joins a LB group (Angelo Crowell, Tavares Gooden, and Cato June) that does not look or feel like one of the league’s elite squads. A lot will now fall on Ron Dayne, Ben Roethlisberger and the Blitz offense if Baltimore hopes to compete in the very tough NE Division. We think a Wild Card is likely the goal they should be setting for themselves.
Head Coach (Years): John Fox (9th Season)
2009 Story: The league champions did not spend most of the year as a Summer Bowl favorite or a division leader. Early season losses left Boston with a 3-3 record six weeks in, but Boston finished they ear 7-1 and on the final week of the season they lept past Baltimore and Washington to claim not only the division title but the #1 seed as well. In the playoffs they knocked off Baltimore and New Orleans on their way to the Summer Bowl, where a furious comeback in the fourth quarter gave Boston their first title.
Departures: SS Shane Welton, DT Henry Slay, CB Jason Bell, FB Theron Wilson, LB London Fletcher, QB Drew Bledsoe, G Chuck Johnson, DE Hugh Douglas, FS Jerome Woods
New Arrivals: DE Andre Wadsworth, QB Kevin Kolb, P Frank Whalen, FS Darnell Bing, DE Chauncey Davis
Draft Recap: Boston’s draft was not one to write home about. The Cannons were only able to sign 5 of their 10 selections, and most were lower round picks. Safety Taylor Mays from USC is the most likely to see the field early in the season, though Boston does hope to see DE O’Brien Schofield of Wisconsin develop into a rotational player.
Outlook: The Cannons are still reveling in their first title, and good for them. It is a transition year with Adrian McPherson getting his shot to be the starter as Drew Bledsoe rides off into the sunset. He will have at his command one of the best 3-receiver groups in the league with Chad Johnson, Joe Jurevicius, and Percy Harvin, so the weapons are there. The defense has talent as well. Jason Babin has been among the sack leaders for several years now and LB Chris Clairborne has developed into a very solid defensive play caller. This is a team that could remain at or near the top of the conference even with the transition to McPherson. There is still a lot in the arsenal of the Cannons.
Head Coach (Years): Herm Edwards (2nd Season)
2009 Story: The Generals came into the year expected to struggle, and that assessment was dead on accurate. New Jersey got a surprise early win against Tampa Bay, but would lose 4 of their first 5 and would win only 4 games all season, finishing in last place as most had predicted.
Departures: CB Mike Rumph, K Ryan Longwell, QB Kevin Kolb, OT Marshal Yanda, LB James Harrison, LB Bobby Howard, TE Jonathan Stupar
New Arrivals: LB Scott Fujita, LB Piso Tinoisamoa, OT Garrrett Reynolds
Draft Recap: New Jersey swung for the fences in their T-Draft and were willing to back up picks with payouts, which enabled them to land two key targets, including Heisman Winner Sam Bradford. While Fitzpatrick is still listed as the starter for now, it seems inevitable that Bradford will be given his shot this year. The Generals also brought in Rutgers CB Devin McCourty, who is expected to start right away, and they are also very high on an early round pick from West Texas A&M, tackle J’Marcus Webb.
Outlook: Fans in New Jersey are excited about Sam Bradford, and well they should be. The 2008 Heisman winner may well be the best QB they have had since Flutie, and that includes 2-time Summer Bowl Champion Tom Brady. Now, the question is, does Bradford have the weapons he needs to find success? We are very leery of a HB group led by Ray Rice and R. J. Redmond, and outside of Mark Clayton, Bradford will need more from Houshmandzadeh and slot receiver Santonio Holmes if he is going to succeed. Of course, he also has to get into the starting lineup. Right now it is Ryan Fitzpatrick still at the helm.
Head Coach (Years): Jim Harbaugh (6th Season)
2009 Story: An early favorite to win the division, the season got away from the Stars. After a 4-2 start, Philadelphia found consistency an elusive goal, dropping 4 of their final 8 games to finish just over .500 and occupying a Wild Card spot. They had one of their best games of the season in the Wild Card round, stunning the Orlando Renegades with a 30-15 road victory before falling to the 7th seed New Orleans breakers at home in a bizarre playoff game.
Departures: G Flozell Adams, FS Anthony Dorsett, WR Charles Lee, LB Paul Posluszny, HB Michael Robinson, WR Terrell Owens, LB Chris Gocong, G Taylor Whitley
New Arrivals: WR Troy Williamson, FS Jairus Byrd
Draft Recap: The Stars made a choice at LB, going for Sean Lee over NaVorro Bowman. The greater need was in the middle after the free agency departure of Paul Posluszny, and Lee fit the bill. They also signed Minnesota WR Eric Decker, hoping to recover some of the lost production from Terrell Owens’s quick exit to Birmingham. Other than that, it looks like mostly depth and practice squad fodder for the Stars.
Outlook: The Stars faded pretty hard down the stretch last year, and they did not add a lot in the offseason outside of rookie LB Sean Lee. Losing Terrell Owens means that they are asking a lot of Reche Caldwell, and with Michael Robinson gone, Steve Slaton has to step up. All in all this looks like a team that has lost more than they gained this offseason, so a slide could be in the working unless Coach Harbaugh knows something we don’t.
Head Coach (Years): Sean Payton (5th Season)
2009 Story: Coach Sean Payton’s Federals had one of the hottest starts in the league, opening the year 5-0 before their first loss, and were sitting pretty at 8-2 before two rough losses late in the season dropped them from the division lead to a Wild Card position. They faced a familiar foe in Baltimore during Wild Card weekend and found themselves upset at home by a team that knew them well.
Departures: QB Kordell Stewart, DT Kenard Lang, CB Rashad Bauman, WR Mike Williams, WR Courtney Roby
New Arrivals: QB David Garrard, WR Bryant Johnson, DT Cournelius Griffin
Draft Recap: There was a lot of speculation that Washington would go after Jimmy Clausen, but they went defense with their first pick, selecting and signing Georgia DT Geno Atkins. It was not until the third round when they looked at QB, and it seems they went for a player who was as close to Kordell Stewart in style as possible, choosing UAB’s dual threat, Joe Webb. Webb will likely back up David Garrard as Washington assesses both as potential starters. Two quality players in the T-Draft also signed, Uva cornerback Chris Cook and Va Tech tackle Ed Wang.
Outlook: We hate to say it, but it seems clear that the Feds were just not ready to lose Kordell Stewart. His retirement seemed to catch them off guard, and they were slow to adapt. We just don’t feel confident that Atlanta cast off David Garrard is ready to be the man in DC, and rookie Joe Webb is too raw to throw to the wolves in a very tough division. We still like the Fed’s defense, especially at LB where Pierce, Wake, and Simoneau are formidable, but the offense has to be more than just Deuce McCallister and we are not sure there is more available.
Head Coach (Years): Tom Ramsey (2nd Season)
2009 Story: Early thoughts that Atlanta could be a Wild Card contender looked unfounded as the Fire struggled to come out of the gate. An 0-3 start turned into a 1-7 midseason disappointment, but then something clicked for Coach Ramsey’s team, who found their defensive footing on their way to 5 straight wins. Sitting at 6-7 and potentially looking at a Wild Card spot with 1 week to go, Atlanta watched as Philadelphia wrapped up the final Wild Card and their game against Charlotte would mean nothing.
Departures: C Jim Pyne, QB David Garrard, G Gennaro DiNapoli, DE Andre Wadsworth, OT Richard Mosley, FB Mike Cox, C Edward Amador
New Arrivals: C Chris Spencer, G Chester Pitts. QN Jordan Palmer
Draft Recap: Atlanta got the offensive weapon they had hoped for, signing T-Draft wideout Demaryius Thomas from Ga Tech. The local star will start the year opposite Josh Reed. ECU punter Matt Dodge won the competition for that slot, and linemen Ted Larsen (NC State) and Thomas Welch (Vandy) also made the 53-man roster.
Outlook: A late run at the postseason last year has made Atlanta a hot ticket in the offseason, but other than rookie Demaryius Thomas, what are we supposed to be excited about? Their defense is solid, we give them that. But what is their offensive scheme? Are they going to go to more of a vertical game? Can McFadden regain his form from a strong rookie year? There are a lot of questions. However, with 3 potential All-USFL players on the O-line in LT Zach Strief, RT Max Starks, and C Chris Spencer (new to the Fire), the line could be where the Fire find their success. And that is not an entirely bad place to start.
Head Coach (Years): Jim Mora Jr. (3rd Season)
2009 Story: The Monarchs had a fast start to 2009, shocking many by going four weeks without a lose, before dropping a surprising game to the Stallions. In midseason a 4-game losing streak crashed the Monarch’s optimism, but they would go into their season finale against Atlanta hoping to sneak their way into a Wild Card spot. That would not happen, but the season-ending win over the Fire did allow Charlotte to finish the year at a very respectable 7-7 in only their 2nd year of existence.
Departures: OT Wayne Gandy, HB Travis Prentice, TE Dan Campbell, WR Az-Zahir Hakeem, LB Scott Fujita, HB Antwone Womack, G Chester Pitts, WR Lance Moore, CB Nnambi Asomugha, QB Curtis Painter
New Arrivals: WR Darnerien McCants, SS Shane Welton, HB Fred Jackson, LB Adalius Thomas, OT Matt Hill, TE Mike Merrit
Draft Recap: The Monarchs struggled to sign their draftees and it shows. Only LB Rolando McClain is considered a top talent, while TE Mike Caussin and HB Deji Karim are the only other signees who made the active roster. They added some bodies in post-draft free agency, but overall a pretty rough year for a team hoping to build on a solid 7-7 season.
Outlook: Charlotte’s fast start last year surprised many. Predicated on a Top 10 defense, the Monarchs needed to find more balance and more offensive capacity in the offseason. We are not sure they have. We like Rolando McClain and the signing of Fred Jackson certainly helps Charlotte vary their run game, but we are just not sold that Chris Weinke is the answer or that a receiver group of D.J. Hackett, Stevie Johnson, and Darnerian McCants is enough to keep Charlotte out in front of their opposition.
Head Coach (Years): Leslie Frazier (1st Season)
2009 Story: To call 2009 a lost season would be an understatement for the Bulls. Jacksonville lost their first 4 games before earning a win against a Favre-less Memphis squad. They would then go on to lose their next 6 games before earning their only other win on the year. Jacksonville finished with the worst ranked defense in both points and yards allowed, a distinction no club wants to earn.
Departures: HB Antowain Smith, QB Jake Delhomme, FB Madison Hedgecock, LB Rashaad Jeanty, CB Corey Graham, DE Tom Burke
New Arrivals: CB Rashad Bauman, DE Carl Powell, LB Cody Glenn, TE Dustin Keller
Draft Recap: Thanks to the Jake Delhomme trade, Jacksonville finished the draft with 12 total picks, but it was in the T-Draft where they made their hay, landing not only Florida superstar Tim Tebow at QB, but also locking up Clemson’s C. J. Spiller. The speedy Clemson HB is slated to start Week 1, while Tebow will likely get some snaps behind veteran backup Josh McCown at first. A surprise standout from camp was USF wideout Carlton Mitchell, who should be on the field quite a bit after impressing in the preseason. TE Andrew Quarless and CB Sam Shields may also see significant early season action.
Outlook: A whole new look, a whole new team, essentially. That is what it feels like after Jacksonville’s 2-12 season and the aggressive move to trade away Jake Delhomme to Memphis. The excitement around Tim Tebow and C. J. Spiller is clearly in full effect, but will that lead to improvements on the field? Spiller has a chance to be a real weapon, and, as for Tebow, a lot will depend on how he is used by Coach Frazier. He is not a traditional pocket passer, by any stretch, but if Frazier and the offensive coaching staff can find a way to harness his athletic ability, he could be a real find. Now, as for that defense. The less we say about it the better.
Head Coach (Years): Emmitt Thomas (6th Season)
2009 Story: Calais Campbells astounding run to 34 sacks in 14 games was one of the stories of the year, but the Renegades as a whole were also a great show each week. Orlando won 8 of their first 10 games, and finished the year with a 2-game lead over Charlotte for the division title. Their season-long success, paired with one of the best defenses in the league made it all the more shocking that they failed so incredibly in their opening playoff game, dropping the Wild Card matchup to the Stars and giving up 30 points in the process,
Departures: C Todd McClure, HB Cedric Benson, G Scott Shaw, WR Brandon Stokely, HB Najeh Davenport, WR Donte Stallworth, QB Matt Cassel, SS Tyrone Carter, DE Chauncey Davis
New Arrivals: LB Paul Posluszny, G Steve Sciulo, HB Leon Johnson, WR Karl Williams, TE Ben Watson, WR Antwan Randle-El
Draft Recap: Not a lot of big names among Orlando’s 6 signees, but the Renegades are hopeful that at least 2 selections will see the field early. James Madison DE Arthur Moats is expected to rotate in opposite Calais Campbell and Baylor Center J. D. Walton has won the starting job in his first season. Beyond that, we may see some action from LB Darryl Sharpton (Miami) and TE Dedrick Epps (Miami), two solid T-Draft acquisitions.
Outlook: Orlando was expected to do more in the postseason last year, and looking at this season, with the additions of Posluszny, Ben Watson, Atwan Randle-El, and Karl Williams, this team looks ready to make good on the promise of last year. This could be a runaway division for the Renegades, because we don’t see a clear competitor for the top spot. Their biggest challenges may come in the postseason against some tough teams from the NE or Southern Divisions.
Head Coach (Years): Steve Spurrier (7th Season)
2009 Story: After a 14-2 season in 2008, the collapse of the Bandits was a real shock to USFL fans, many of whom saw Spurrier’s team as a Summer Bowl favorite. The formula which worked so well a year ago just did not get results in 2009 as Tampa Bay’s defense sunk to the bottom quartile of the league. The offense had moments, but was not consistent enough, leading Tampa Bay to drop an incredible 7 games from their 2008 heights, finishing only 5-9 on the year and in 4th place in the Southeast.
Departures: DT La’Roi Glover, WR Karl Williams, G Lennie Friedman, DE Orpheus Roye, CB Samari Rolle, HB Maurice Hicks, WR Ernest Wilford
New Arrivals: G Ben Hamilton, OT Kurt Vollers, LB Mike Triplett, WR Deverey Henderson
Draft Recap: The Bandits were another team who had more success in the T-Draft than the Open Draft, landing two of their 3 territorial picks, both immediate impact players in DE Jason Pierre-Paul and CB Patrick Robinson. Of their Open Draft selections, only 3 signed with the club and all three were rounds 4 or lower.
Outlook: The Bandits went from 14-2 to 5-9, so which year is the anomaly? There is a lot of talent on this club, on both sides of the ball. They just need to find ways to put their playmakers in position to make plays. McGahee should benefit from one of the better O-lines in the game, as should Culpepper. The D-line needs to improve so that Jonathan Vilma, Zeke Moreno, and the ageless Kevin Mitchell can roam sideline to sideline and end plays before they get to the secondary. Rookie Patrick Robinson will also have a lot to do as he jumps right into the #1 cornerback position. If someone is going to truly challenge Orlando this year, it may be a resurgent Bandits squad.
Head Coach (Years): Mike Shanahan (2nd Year)
2009 Story: Most expected the Stallions to struggle in 2009, and they pretty much did, starting the year 0-3. Wins over Memphis and Charlotte brought some hope, but the Stallions could not find a consistent winning formula, finishing the year at 4-10 and ranked in the bottom five in scoring, yards, and points allowed.
Departures: K Kris Brown, LB DeWayne Dotson, WR Joe Horn, G Steve Sciulo, TE O.J. Santiago, OT Charles Molina
New Arrivals: G Solomon Page, WR Terrell Owens, TE Jabari Halloway, OT Marshal Yanda, LB Nick Koutavides
Draft Recap: The Stallions hope they have found themselves a halfback who can make an impact in Auburn’s Ben Tate. They are also happy with center Matt Tenant, who could be named the starter for Week 1. Beyond that, we are not seeing a lot of quality among the 6 overall signees the Stallions landed with their 11 picks this year.
Outlook: The Stallions are gambling that, given an offseason to recover and absorb the system, Kylle Boller can be a quality starter in the USFL. They gave him a top flight weapon in Terrell Owens, and the line has talent as well with Jeff Backus and Ben Grubbs two very solid pass protectors. Will the run game benefit from the arrival of Ben Tate? Will another receiver step up to be a viable option for Boller? And, perhaps more importantly, can this defense begin to show some signs of consistent quality beyond Mike Rucker? That is a lot of ifs.
Head Coach (Years): Jim Haslett (6th Season)
2009 Story: After two consecutive Summer Bowl appearances, Memphis was again predicted to be a contender in 2009, but an 0-2 start to the season got even worse when in the 3rd game of the year QB Brett Favre went down with a serious injury. He would miss 9 games in the long Showboat season, and they would not recover, struggling to find offense without their superstar QB. By the time he was able to return to the field, the season was already out of control and Memphis would finish a 10-game loser at 4-10.
Departures: QB Brett Favre, LB Bart Scott, QB Mike McMahon, DE Quintin Moses, HB Maurice Smith, CB Terreance Shaw, DT Leon Bender, OT Garrett Reynolds, TE Dustin Keller, LB Keith Bullock
New Arrivals: CB Tyrone Bell, TE Jonathan Stupar, QB Jake Delhomme
Draft Recap: Philadelphia let NaVorro Bowman pass through the T-Draft, and Memphis jumped at the chance to sign the outside backer. They also landed a quality DT in Tennessee’s Dan Williams in the Open Draft, so two good signings there. Not as flashy as some other teams, but two contributors. The rest of their picks were largely depth players as several draft choices were sent to Jacksonville to bring in QB Jake Delhomme.
Outlook: The short-lived 2nd act for Brett Favre brought 2 Summer Bowls and a title to the Showboats, but the encore has ended (we believe) and Memphis has to move on. Enter Jake Delhomme, a quality starter, but one who was never able to bring Jacksonville to the title game. Can he do better as a Showboat? Well, with a WR trio to rival Boston in Ferguson, Lee Evans and Sidney Rice, he has weapons to throw to. Cadillac Williams should provide the ground game. What he needs is for the talent on defense to show up big. The D-line may be a concern, but Memphis has 4 really good linebackers in Willis, Morrison, and the two new arrivals, NFL Import Keith Bullock and rookie NaVorro Bowman. Thesafeties are also strong, and CB Tyrone Bell was a good addition as well. This could be a surprise team this year if all these new pieces make sense together.
Head Coach (Years): Jim Johnson (16th Season)
2009 Story: The Knights put together a very good season, holding off New Orleans to win the division at 10-4 and earn the #2 seed in the East. They did it mostly on the shoulders of their top-rated scoring defense. In the playoffs, Nashville was expected to throttle the New Orleans Breakers, a club they had defeated the week before to clinch the division. New Orleans stunned the Knights in Nashville, locking down a problematic Knight offense and finding ways through the vaunted defense to win going away 27-3 over the homestanding Knights.
Departures: K Shayne Graham, CB Chidi Iwoma, G Tre Johnson, FS Bhawoh Jue, TE Bubba Franks, DT Cornelius Griffin, WR Derrick Mason
New Arrivals: C Jake Grove, WR Courtney Roby
Draft Recap: More T-Draft success as Nashville was very happy to land two volunteers this year, HB Montario Hardesty and safety Eric Berry. They passed on some talent, like Dexter McCluster, now headed to the NFL, and their Open Draft was not as successful, landing only 2 prospects from the first 6 rounds, but they still seem satisfied with the draft as a whole.
Outlook: The 2009 Southern Division Champion has a plan and they are sticking to it. Play aggressively on defense with KGB and Terrell Suggs making life rough for QBs, and then run the ball effectively behind the best interior line in the league (guards Max Jean-Gilles and Jeb Terry, along with center Jake Grove). Frank Gore is the key. If he can get to 1,400 yards, the Knights will be right there. Add in a true 3rd down back in rookie Montario Hardesty and Nashville could be stronger than ever on offense. That plus their already dominant defense and they will be the favorite for the division.
Head Coach (Years): Mike Nolan (11th Season)
2009 Story: The Breakers were an up-and-down team all season long, hovering at the .500 mark for most of the year. They did, however, go into a Week 14 matchup in Nashville with a chance to steal the division title. They lost that game, but came back to the same stadium the next week and stunned the Knights to move on to the divisional round. Again on the road, New Orleans did it again, upending the Philadelphia Stars to punch their ticket for the Eastern Conference Championship. They could not get it done against the Boston Cannons, however, losing 27-24 in a very entertaining title game.
Departures: WR Jerome Pathon, HB Fred Jackson, C Chris Spencer, SS Kenoy Kennedy, DT Josh Shaw, CB Ahmed Plummer
New Arrivals: WR Santana Moss, HB Michael Robinson, TE Aaron Shea
Draft Recap: New Orleans fell below .500, signing only 4 of 10 picks, but they feel they may have gotten a steal in Texas Longhorn safety Earl Thomas. From the T-Draft they managed to ink both WR Brandon LaFell and DT Al Woods out of LSU.
Outlook: The Breakers flirted with a division title last year, and then dominated Nashville in the Wild Card playoff, so can they do better this year? Can they win the division and still reach another Conference Title game as well? The addition of Michael Robinson to the run game will certainly help, but the big new shiny toy has to be Santana Moss, coming over from Arizona. Paired with the two younger receivers the Breakers have developed, Dwayne Bowe and Early Doucet, Moss gives Eli Manning the best combo of receivers he has ever had. The Breakers could be another potential contender for a division that just continues to improve and now may be the best in the East.
Head Coach (Years): Marty Mornhinweg (12th Season)
2009 Story: Chicago knew they would have to scrap and claw for every win in a tight Central Division that housed the 2008 league champion Panthers as well as improved Ohio and Pittsburgh clubs. A 4-game wins streak showed their potential, putting them atop the division at 5-2 at the midpoint of the season, but a 3-4 finish would drop them to a Wild Card team, and in a Western playoff bracket that saw the favorites pull out every game, Chicago got past Portland only to fall to the top seeded Oakland Invaders.
Departures: FB Alan Ricard, DT Ted Washington, SS Sammy Knight, OT Kurt Vollers, QB Henry Burris, TE Aaron Shea, G Solomon Page, G Sean Mahan, CB Al Harris, FS Jairus Byrd
New Arrivals: LB Kendrell Bell, TE Ben Hartsook, OT Mo Collins, SS Darren Sharper, G Taylor Whitley
Draft Recap: The Machine apparently kept their scouts close to home, with their top 5 signed players all Midwestern products. That includes golden domer, wideout Golden Tate, QB Mike Kafka from Northwestern, Iowa CB Amari Spievey, and Cincinnati DT Ricardo Matthews.
Outlook: How did Chicago land Kendrell Bell? It seems almost unfair. Putting him in a 4-3 trio with Urlacher and Tommy Polley will cause a lot of grey hairs on a lot of offensive coordinators this year. If Chicago can muster even a mid-range offense, they will be a tough out every week. Brady Quinn had great QB Rating numbers last year, but Chicago really needs to see more yardage and more touchdowns out of their starter. If they can increase their offensive production just a touch, they could contend with Michigan in this division.
Head Coach (Years): Dick LeBeau (7th Season)
2009 Story: The 2008 League Champions cruised through what was expected to be a tough Central Division, going 11-3 on the year and 7-0 in divisional games. They boasted the league’s top offense both in scoring (28.5 PPG0 and yardage (407.6 YPG) thanks largely to an MVP season from QB Brian Griese. In the playoffs they crushed Ohio in the first round, shut down the Gold in the divisional round, but fell short against Oakland in the Conference Title Game, giving up 45 points to the Invaders in the matchup in the East Bay.
Departures: HB Justin Fargas, DT Leonard Renfro, LB Shawne Merriman, WR Danny Farmer, DE Eric Flowers, OT Matt Willig, WR Antwan Randle-El
New Arrivals: G Lennie Friedman, HB Antwone Womack, OT Langston Walker, DE Adewale Ogunleye, WR Ernest Wilford, SS Tyrone Carter
Draft Recap: The Panthers are loving Ok State tackle Russell Okung, their first round pick, slated to start the year at right tackle. They also are feeling good about the early improvement of two LB picks, A. J. Edds from Iowa and Nathan Triplett from Minnesota. Neither break into the starting lineup, but both should be on the field in rotation and on special teams.
Outlook: The 2008 Champions were just as good last year, with Griese winning MVP and the club returning to the Western Conference Final before bowing out to an inspired Oakland squad. They did not make many changes in the offseason, although adding rookie RT Russel Okung was a nice pickup. They did lose Shawne Merriman, but with Ware, Thurman, Katzenmoyer and Keith Ellison, that LB group should not lose a step. NFL arrival Adewale Ogunleye could make that defense even better as his presence will make it hard for teams to double up on Jevon Kearse. We see Michigan as one of the elite squads in the league once again, and they could be headed back to the Western Championship if everyone stays healthy.
Head Coach (Years): Al Luginbill (12th Season)
2009 Story: In what would end up being Kerry Collins’s final season in the USFL, Ohio lived and died by its explosive offense. After a 3-0 start, the Glory struggled, dropping their next 3 games, including a shocking 45-17 loss to the hapless Jacksonville Bulls. They would muddle their way to an 8-6 finish, but this was not the same Ohio squad that had dominated the league earlier in the decade. They made the playoffs as a Wild Card, but were quickly bounced from the playoffs by the Panthers. They would then see two big losses as Kerry Collins retired and WR Randy Moss was shipped off to Los Angeles.
Departures: QB Kerry Collins, OT Tra Thomas, OT Langston Walker, DE Vonnie Holliday, DE Carl Powell, CB DeShea Townsend, C Robert Outlaw, FB Mike Templeton, LB Chris Kriewaldt, DT Wendell Bryant, WR Randy Moss
New Arrivals: DT Kenard Lang
Draft Recap: Ohio added picks when they traded away Randy Moss, but they had trouble signing some of their top prospects. They did land Florida CB Joe Haden, a priority for them, and OT Jason Curtis Fox from Miami also agreed to terms. It took a while, but they did manage to wrest Illinois wideout Aurelious Benn away from the NFL, a much needed addition to a receiving corps that needs youth and size.
Outlook: is it the beginning of the end for the Glory’s golden generation? Kerry Collins has retired. Randy Moss was traded away, and we just don’t know how much longer we will see Galloway or Eddie George on the field. It feels very much like the start of a new generation. It also feels like 2010 could be a holding pattern. Ohio will go with Chris Redman at QB, but many are wondering if they are essentially holding back this year in hopes of getting one of the star QB’s expected in the 2011 draft. Seems a dangerous game to play, and an unfortunate strategy if you are a veteran like Galloway or George. Ohio will need more from their defense this year, because we are just not expecting the Redman-led offense to be anything like the glory years of Kerry Collins’s best seasons.
Head Coach (Years): Ron Rivera (5th Season)
2009 Story: The Maulers, in a pivotal season for Coach Rivera, started the year strong, winnin6 5 straight to momentarily lead the division at 5-1 before crashing to earth. Everything that worked for Pittsburgh in the first half of the year started to collapse In the second half. The Maulers dropped the final 5 games of the season to finish at 7-7 and out of playoff contention. Their defense was solid (4th in the league in yards allowed) but they simply could not put together enough points to win some tight games.
Departures: DT Monsanto Pope, WR Jabar Gaffney, G James Rodriguez, WR MarTay Jenkins, WR Travis Taylor, OT Zach Weigert, DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, CB Dre Bly, DE Dameaion Jeffries, TE Alge Crumpler, TE Walter Rasby
New Arrivals: DE Jared Allen, G Bill Ferrario, QB Henry Burris, CB Dunta Robinson, WR Matt Jones
Draft Recap: The Maulers needed a TE out of the draft and they feel they found one in Hurricane Jimmy Graham. Graham starts the year behind veteran Owen Daniels, but we are not sure how long he will be #2 at the position. The Maulers may have also found a late round gem as UMass receiver Victor Cruz has impressed in camp and earned a spot as the slot receiver for Pittsburgh.
Outlook: They started so strong and then collapsed. Not a good look, but that early start did show some potential, and Pittsburgh absolutely did not stand pat this offseason. We love the addition of Daniels and Jimmy Graham as targets in the passing game. We are just not sure either Cody Pickett or Pat White will be the answer at QB. Acquiring Jared Allen could make Pittsburgh very dangerous on defense, so perhaps they are going to go that route, shutting down opposing offenses and winning close games. It will likely be a formula that will need some tweaking this year, and maybe a QB answer next year.
Head Coach (Years): Bruce Arians
2009 Story: Doug Williams’s 2nd year as coach of the Skyhawks did not go as planned. After a 4-win opening year, fans expected a push towards .500 ball from their Skyhawk club, but what they got instead was an 0-9 start, one win against a flailing LA Express team, and a 1-13 season that put them right were they had been in 2007. They backward step cost Williams his position as the Skyhawks try to find a path towards success after a very slow 4-season start to their franchise.
Departures: HB Larry Johnson, OT Ross Verba, WR Bryant Johnson, DE Bryce Fisher, LB Nick Koutavides, SS Bobby Myers, HB Dominic Rhodes
New Arrivals: DT Richard Seymour, HB Antowain Smith, HB Ahmaad Galloway
Draft Recap: No fewer than 3 draft signees will be in the starting lineup for the Skyhawks as they try to bring new energy to the team. OT Bryan Bulaga was a no brainer, and will start at RT, but SS Kendrick Lewis out of Ole Miss, and LB Ryan D’Imperio from Rutgers are also slated to start the year in the starting 22. TE Tony Moeaki from Iowa also signed but has been hampered by a hamstring injury in preseason.
Outlook: Coach Arians arrives in St. Louis with a lot of work to do. The Skyhawks have just never seemed to fully launch into the USFL. They go from 4 wins to 1, back to 4, and back again to 1 win. Now on their 3rd coach in 5 years, the pressure is on to make waves sooner rather than later. St. Louis certainly made waves in the offseason, landing both HB Antowain Smith and DT Richard Seymour. They have a strong offensive line, and their front 3 could be a strength as well. Now, if Josh Freeman can take advantage of an improved run game, the Skyhawks could actually look like a team headed in the right direction.
Head Coach (Years): Jim Tomsula (2nd Season)
2009 Story: Signs of life, that is what we saw from an Arizona club that was simply moribund in 2008 but started to show growth and improvement in 2009. Sure, 5-9 is not where any club wants to be, but it is a nice step up from a 2-win 2008 campaign. Arizona started the year with a division win against Texas, but struggled to find their rhythm. They did seem to play their best within the division with 4 of their 5 wins coming against Texas, Houston, and Denver. That is a good sign that they have a formula that can win division games. Now they just need to learn how to win the rest.
Departures: HB Ahmad Galloway, WR Santana Moss, TE Kevin Everett, FS Damien Richardson, DE Gary Walker, CB Ray Crockett, HB Sedrick Irvin
New Arrivals: DT Monsanto Pope, WR Mike Williams, HB LaDainian Tomlinson
Draft Recap: Arizona wins the T-Draft, signing all three of their selections, including the player many Wrangler fans are excited to see in Glendale, TE Rob Gronkowski, one of the best Wildcat products in several years. OT Shaun Lauvao and LB Travis Goethel also signed. The big name in the Open Draft for the Wranglers is LB Pat Angerer, one of several talented Iowa Hawkeyes to join the USFL this year and a starter already.
Outlook: If they accomplished nothing else this offseason, the Wranglers at least found a way to sell merch, because the Tomlinson arrival has been huge for jersey sales. It hasn’t hurt ticket sales either. Pair LT’s arrival with rookie Rob Gronkowski, and the Wranglers could look very different on offense this year. A lot will depend on the sophomore play of QB David Carr. He struggled last year, in part due to the strain of playing a full NFL season and then jumping to the USFL. If he can improve this year, after a full offseason, he could find himself with a pretty solid offensive squad. The defense still worries us, even with rookie Pat Angerer looking very solid in the preseason. There just are not enough impact players on that side of the ball to feel confident about Arizona this year.
Head Coach (Years): Dick Jauron (13th Season)
2009 Story: The Gold were viewed with suspicion after the 2008 season. Many predicted they were on the downward path despite the arrival of Matt Leinart at QB. Well, the Gold proved the doubters wrong, going 6-2 down the final half of the season to win the division over Houston. They had a top flight defense that led the league with the fewest yards allowed and also finished 6th in scoring defense. In the playoffs, the Gold defeated their division rival, Houston, in the Wild Card round, but struggled against the Panthers, going down 17-9 to the 2008 Champions.
Departures: WR Jacquez Green, HB Mewelde Moore, G Ben Hamilton, LB Joe Odom, LB Kendrell Bell, SS Dexter Jackson, CB Chike Okeafor, WR Devery Henderson
New Arrivals: WR Dez White, LB Shawne Merriman, DE Bryce Fisher, S Roy Williams, HB Maurice Hicks, C Edward Amador
Draft Recap: They did it. The notoriously thrifty Denver Gold showed Ndamukong Suh the money, and he showed them the respect, signing a 4-year deal that makes him the highest paid non-QB in this year’s draft. Suh is an immediate impact player for Denver. The Gold also landed a backup for Matt Leinart, signing Central Michigan’s Dan LeFevour. A midround pick who has impressed is Florida LB Dekoda Watson, who could be in the LB rotation for the Gold from Week 1 after a strong camp.
Outlook: Denver got about as far last year as anyone thought they could. To go further this year they will need to show improvement on both sides of the ball. Losing Kendrell Bell on the defense was not a good start, but signing Shawne Merriman, and then Ndamukong Suh, were two huge steps in the right direction. If Suh is everything advertised, Denver’s defense could be among the best in the league. That takes pressure off of Matt Leinart and a pretty inexperienced offense. Javon Ringer takes over as the main back, with help from Maurice Hicks, but it will still depend largely on how Leinart develops after a pretty mediocre 2009.
Head Coach (Years): Wade Phillips (10th Season)
2009 Story: The Gamblers spent battling Denver but also battling themselves. Good games would be followed by flat performances. Games like a 9-7 loss to Texas or a 17-13 defeat at home to Arizona kept the Gamblers from the division title. They finished the year with a Top 5 defense in both scoring and yardage allowed, but could not defeat Denver in Denver in the Wild Card round, leading to a one-and-done situation for the second year in a row.
Departures: G Chris Naole, QB Brock Huard, DT Richard Seymour, G Bill Ferrario, LB Sam Cowart, CB Tramon Williams, WR Matt Jones
New Arrivals: FB Madison Hedgecock, LB James Farrior, G Manuia Saveea
Draft Recap: Houston did not get any immediate starters in the draft, but feel they have good developmental talent in DE Jerry Hughes of TCU, guard Jon Asamoah of Illinois, and CB Marquis Johnson from Alabama. With Kavika Pittman practically eligible for AARP membership, the development of Hughes will be a priority for the Gamblers.
Outlook: Houston’s acquisition of Shaun Alexander last year was a game changer. They went from one of the worst run games to one of the league’s best. Now, what did they add this offseason? How about LB James Farrior? That is a huge upgrade. Bringing in rookie DE Jerry Hughes could also be a great benefit as both Pittman and Umenyiura need to be spelled more often. There is a lot of talent on offense, so the time is now for Matt Hasselbeck to have a career year and help this club get over the hump.
Head Coach (Years): Greg Landry (1st Season)
2009 Story: A bit of a darkhorse among pundits in the offseason, the anticipated improvements in the Outlaw squad just never materialized, leading to the firing of Coach Norv Turner. Texas started slowly, winning only 1 of their first 5 games. They would fare better in the second half of the season, but a 5-9 finish was not what most expected of them. Texas struggled to put points on the board, finishing 26th of 28 teams and averaging only 14.4 points per game.
Departures: DT Chris Hovan, HB Leon Johnson, OT Mo Collins, DE Tim Crowder, WR Craphonso Thorpe, TE Matt Cushing, OT Jermaine Mayberry, WR Michael Crabtree
New Arrivals: TE Dan Campbell, G Gennaro DiNapoli, WR Reggie Brown, LB Bart Scott, HB James Jackson
Draft Recap: Texas needed both quality and quantity in the draft. They may have gotten the former, but with only 4 players signing with them, quantity did not happen. Texas picked and landed Indiana OT Rodger Saffold, one of the best players available from unprotected schools. They also feel good about UCF DT Torell Troup and WR Jordan Shipley, who they got from the Longhorns in the T-Draft. Of the three, only Saffold is a Day 1 starter.
Outlook: Last year Texas was a trendy pick to jump into playoff contention. Not all trends work out. Joe Flacco did not have a good year, and that dragged down the entire offense. The defense was far better on paper than on Sunday. And yet, despite the disappointing results, Texas did not make a lot of moves I the offseason, which surprised us. Other than rookie RT Rodger Saffold, there is pretty much the same squad on the field this year as last. Is consistency enough to produce needed improvement this year? Hard to imagine it is.
Head Coach (Years): June Jones (1st Year)
2009 Story: A 6-8 season may have caused ownership to lean towards firing Coach Jerry Glanville, but his sideline antics, both berating and physically confronting players during games, certainly made the decision easier. A 1-3 start put the pressure on Glanville from the start, and losing 4 of 6 down the home stretch certainly did not help. New QB Jake Plummer seemed adrift, and Glanville’s lack of offensive experience was more than evident. This is a club that held teams to 16.4 points per game, but could not take advantage, scoring only 15.9 points on average.
Departures: WR Troy Williamson, TE Ben Hartsook, K Taylor Mehlihaff, DE Tyrone Rogers, DE Mike Jones, OT Robert Hicks, C Jake Grove
New Arrivals: DE Vonnie Holliday, TE Kevin Everett, WR Marty Booker, K Shayne Graham, WR Derrick Mason
Draft Recap: The June Jones era in Las Vegas did not start off well in the draft, with the Thunder only able to sign 3 players (they added some free agents later). DE Koa Misi and OT Zane Beadles both signed after being T-Draft picks from Utah, but all 4 of Las Vegas’s top Open Draft picks went to the NFL, including top pick Gerald McCoy, the big DT out of Oklahoma.
Outlook: The Man in Black has left the building and left behind something of a mess for June Jones to clean up. Jones is going to want to install a spread, run & shoot style offense. That might make Jake Plummer happy, but as we look at the Thunder roster, we are not sure the pieces are in place to make that work. Marshawn Lynch will benefit from fewer 8- and 9-man fronts. Jake Plummer will need to get rid of the ball quickly, but we are not sure Hatchett, Mason, and Booker are the ideal receivers to run this kind of offense. The defense is largely unchanged from last year, which is fine, since that has been the strength of the club for several seasons. If June Jones can find the right formula on offense, Las Vegas could surprise, but if not, .500 may be a cap for them.
Head Coach (Years): Gregg Williams (1st Season)
2009 Story: After a strong first season, things just kept slipping away from Coach Hue Jackson, and a 5-win season in 2009 was just too much for ownership. LA was 20th or worse in most major categories on both sides of the ball. QB Mark Sanchez struggled to put points on the board and the defense simply could not get their opponents off the field. Losing 5 of their final 6 games, only a season ending win over Las Vegas kept them from a 10-loss season.
Departures: OT Jonathan Ogden, G Manuia Saveea, WR Dez White, FS Darnell Bing, K Connor Barth, LB Adalius Thomas
New Arrivals: WR Lance Moore
Draft Recap: The Express also struggled to sign top picks as another Sooner, OT Trent Williams joined the NFL Redskins instead of becoming the heir apparent to Jonathan Ogden in LA. No LA signees are expected to start in the season’s opening week, with the exception of punter Zoltan Mesko of Michigan. The first to potentially join the starting 22 could be DE Everson Griffen of USC, a T-Draft signee.
Outlook: Randy Moss and Keyshawn Johnson on the field together should be fun. But will it produce wins? Honestly we think the more likely scenario is that the addition of Anthony McFarland and the maturation of Keth Rivers, Clay Matthews, and Dominique Rogers-Cromartie could make LA a defense-driven club. That may be ideal for Mark Sanchez as he continues to develop into the pro game. It certainly would help the Express to be able to rely on the D to pressure other teams and produce short fields, more easy scores would certainly make life easier for new head coach Gregg Williams.
Head Coach (Years): Dennis Green (8th Season)
2009 Story: Five minutes. That is all it took. Oakland was within 5 minutes of bringing home the title, but two late scores from Boston condemned them to be forever known for one of the worst chokes in Summer Bowl history. It is a shame really, because the 2009 season was in many ways a magical one for the Invaders. The team was dynamic on offense, oppressive on defense, finishing in the Top 5 in both scoring and points allowed. They started the year 7-1 and never looked back, winning the Pacific Division by 4 games over 2nd place Portland and locked up the #1 seed in the West. In the playoffs they cruised past Chicago and dominated the defending champions in the Conference Championship. And in the Summer Bowl, they had it, a 12-point lead with only 5 minutes to play, but oh, those last 5 minutes.
Departures: QB Ingle Martin, LB Roosevelt Colvin, FB Sean Smith, DT Joe Salave’a, SS Pearson Prioleau, WR Plaxico Burress, LB Dan Morgan
New Arrivals: LB Joe Odom, QB Curtis Painter
Draft Recap: Oakland selected two HBs in the T-Draft but was unable to sign either Ryan Matthews or Peyton Hillis, so their only new rusher is 5th round pick Joique Bell out of Wayne State. They did land a starter with their 3rd T-Draft selection, Cal DT Tyson Alualu, but beyond that, we don’t see a lot of immediate impact from a draft pool that was more misses than hits.
Outlook: So close and yet so far. We will have to see if there is a hangover effect to the devastating Summer Bowl loss by Oakland. They remain a very talented team and a favorite to return to the Summer Bowl, but it is so hard to say how a loss like that will impact the psyche of this club. This is a team that has all 5 offensive linemen as potential All-USFL candidates, which is just scary for defenses and just hunky dorey for Ricky Williams, Jerious Norwood and the league’s most devastating rushing attack. If the run game is working, it is hard to beat this Invader squad.
Head Coach (Years): Rich Brooks (3rd Season)
2009 Story: Atlanta set the tone in 2006, making the playoffs at 7-7 in their first year of action. Portland could not beat that, but in their 2nd season they became the first of the new 2006-2008 expansion clubs to post a winning record, finishing the season by winning 4 of their final 5 games to land at 8-6 and earn a Wild Card. Inexperience showed in the playoffs as they were quickly dispatched by the Chicago Machine, but a winning season in only 2 years of existence is certainly a strong start for this club.
Departures: G Benji Olson, P Frank Whalen, TE Jabari Holloway, QB Ken Dorsey, G Anthony Oakley, FS Terrance Kiel, LB Cody Glenn
New Arrivals: LB Roosevelt Colvin, CB Mike Rumph, QB Ingle Martin
Draft Recap: The Stags got the guard they wanted in Idaho’s Mike Iupati, a Week 1 starter for them. They also like safety T. J. Ward, picked up in the T-Draft from Oregon, and another guard, Arkansas’s Mitch Petrus.
Outlook: Portland became the first 2006/2008 expansion club to post a winning record, finishing 2009 as the #2 team in the Pacific. They will need to play their best ball to stay in that role or to improve to a division title contender. The Stags consolidated more than updated their roster this offseason. Not a lot of new names to brag about, but the two who should be discussed are both defenders who should have an instant impact on the Stags’ D. Roosevelt Colvin will take over the Strong Side LB position, freeing up Channing Crowder to blitz more often. Mike Rumph provides a solid #2 option behind Marquell Manuel, making it harder to pass against this team. We see Portland as a legitimate Wild Card contender, but we are not sure they are ready to catch Seattle yet.
Head Coach (Years): Marvin Lewis (8th Season)
2009 Story: Finishing at .500 has to be considered a disappointment in Seattle. After 13 and 10 win seasons the past two years, the Dragons seem to be waning instead of rebounding. The defense was the biggest issue for Seattle, with the club struggling to finish 24th in scoring D and 21st in yardage allowed. The 4th ranked scoring offense tried to compensate, but even a 5-game win streak in the season’s second half could not recover from a stunningly bad 1-6 start to the year.
Departures: WR Reggie Brown, LB Piso Tinoisamoa, WR Darnerien McCants, CB Jason David, HB Corey Dillon, DT Wendell Bryant
New Arrivals: WR Chris Chambers, LB Chris Kriewaldt
Draft Recap: Seattle succeeded where Oakland failed, landing the other big HB out of the Bay area with the signing of Cal’s Jahvid Best, a must have after the retirement of Corey Dillon. Best will begin the year rotating with Ladell Betts, but expect him to be the player they count on for big play capability while Betts is the grinder who gets those key 3rd and 1’s. Safety Shann Schillinger from Montana has impressed in camp, as has San Jose State LB Carl Ihenacho, already dubbed “The Nacho Man” by teammates.
Outlook: Could Seattle just skip March and go straight into mid-April? For the second year in a row Seattle was horrible in the first month of the season. They need to start off much more focused and ready to play in March or they will again have to spend the entire season playing catch up. This is a talented team, especially on offense, but it is a team in transition with the retirement of Corey Dillon. Can Jahvid Best step in and become a bell cow back? Or, will the defense be asked to do more to keep Seattle in contention. The strength of the Dragon D is the secondary, with Truffant, McKelvin, John Keith and Paris Lenon ready to shut down the passing game, but they need help from the front four and from a linebacking group that has underperformed, especially in March.
PREDICTING THE 2010 SEASON
So, here we are. We have recapped the biggest moves of the offseason. Discussed the league’s draft success, and looked at the evolution of each of the league’s 28 clubs. So we come down to the toughest part of the season preview, making our picks. As you are all aware, we tend to be pretty far off on these picks, so you should never put up the mortgage with a bookie based on anything we say. We will do our best to explain why we see things going the way we predict, but there is a reason they play the games and inevitably someone will surprise us, either with an epic collapse or a meteoric rise. We will start with the six divisions and then move on to our playoff and award picks.
NORTHEAST DIVISION
We see the Northeast as Boston’s division to claim. Even with a change at QB we still see the defending league champions as the kings of this hill. The division seems to have taken a step back in the offseason, and may now be not quite as formidable as we saw going into 2009. Unsteady QB situations in Washington and New Jersey and some pretty big offseason departures for Philadelphia and Baltimore have us thinking that this will be a division a lot closer to .500 overall, but one that Boston could dominate if Adrian McPherson plays his best ball.
PREDICTED FINISH
Boston Cannons 11-5*
Baltimore Blitz 8-8
Washington Federals 8-8
Philadelphia Stars 7-9
New Jersey Generals 6-10
SOUTHEAST DIVISION
Orlando seems to be head and shoulders above the rest of the division, though we do expect Tampa Bay to be improved, and if either Atlanta or Charlotte can get any type of offense to complement their pretty solid defenses, they could make a Wild Card run. We still see this as Orlando’s division and expect that the Renegades will be focused on a run at the #1 seed by the later weeks of the season.
PREDICTED FINISH
Orlando Renegades 12-4*
Atlanta Fire 9-7*
Tampa Bay Bandits 8-8
Charlotte Monarchs 7-9
Jacksonville Bulls 4-12
SOUTHERN DIVISION
We said it in one of our team profiles, but with significant improvements to the Memphis defense and both Nashville and New Orleans looking like solid contenders, this could be the best division in the East. We expect that to mean that the clubs will jockey for position, possibly costing their division winner a shot at a top seed and a bye. With the USFL returning to 12 playoff teams this year, there are only 6 spots to go around, but the top 2 seeds go back to having byes. The problem is, infighting in this balanced division could lead to the winner being that dreaded 3rd seed.
PREDICTED FINISH
New Orleans Breakers 10-6*
Nashville Knights 10-6*
Memphis Showboats 9-7*
Birmingham Stallions 5-11
CENTRAL DIVISION
We see this as a division where the cluster at the top is spreading out a bit. Michigan is the clear favorite, then Chicago, then we think there is a mid-range group of Pittsburgh and Ohio, and poor St. Louis continues to bring up the rear. The big difference from last year is that we see Michigan and Chicago as having clear advantages over Pittsburgh and Ohio, creating 2 tiers. Will that play out or can either the Glory or the Maulers take the next step up the ladder and challenge the two frontrunners? We think not, but it is something to watch.
PREDICTED FINISH
Michigan Panthers 11-5*
Chicago Machine 10-6*
Ohio Glory 8-8
Pittsburgh Maulers 7-9
St. Louis Skyhawks 4-12
SOUTHWEST DIVISION
It once again looks a lot like a runoff between Denver and Houston, but we do expect Arizona to take some positive steps, and maybe we were just a year too early on Texas. The key for us is trying to see which team will put together the most consistent offense. All 4 teams can struggle with this, so if one can figure it out, they could step up and displace the Gold as the division winner. With 3 QBs all at the early stage of their careers it really comes down to which one makes the biggest leap towards elite status: Leinart, Flacco, or David Carr?
PREDICTED FINISH
Denver Gold 9-7*
Houston Gamblers 9-7*
Arizona Wranglers 7-9
Texas Outlaws 6-10
PACIFIC DIVISION
Oakland looks very much like a club that can dominate the division if not the conference. They came so close last year, and that may spark a fire in them to get it done this season. Behind the Invaders it will likely be a battle between Seattle, depending on their start, and Portland. Either one could reach 10 wins if they can dominate the weaker teams in the division. Those weaker teams are the LA Express and the Las Vegas Thunder. But, and this is interesting, they are not as weak as the bottom of most divisions. They could easily finish at or near .500, so this is a division with one clearly elite club and 4 clubs who are really not all that far from each other.
PREDICTED FINISH
Oakland Invaders 12-4*
Seattle Dragons 9-7*
Portland Stags 8-8
Los Angeles Express 7-9
Las Vegas Thunder 6-10
So what about the playoffs? What do we see happening. Well, we indicated the 12 teams we think make the postseason above. In the East it is three from the South (New Orleans, Nashville, and a surprisingly strong Memphis squad), two from the Southeast (Orlando and Atlanta), and only 1 from the Northeast (Boston), a division that sent 4 teams to last year’s postseason. More balance out west, where we have Oakland and Seattle in the Pacific, Denver and Houston in the Southwest, and Michigan and Chicago joining from the Central. We think it will come down to a 3rd time matchup between the Invaders and Panthers in the West, and a battle between Orlando and New Orleans in the East.
Our Summer Bowl prediction is that Orlando once again sends Oakland home frustrated with another Summer Bowl defeats. As much as we love Oakland’s O-line and run game, we just think the newly reinforced Orlando defense will be too much for them. Add in a touch of Drew Brees, and a solid run game with Knowshon Moreno in his sophomore season, and the Orlando Renegades are our pick to win it all.
As for awards, well, we just don’t see another non-QB winning MVP this year, so we are going to give the title to a former MVP and a player who should benefit from a lot of short fields, Orlando’s Drew Brees. Offensive player of the year will be Randy Moss in LA, where we think he will dominate as a target for Mark Sanchez. Defensive MVP goes to Calais Campbell for the second straight year, which feels like too easy, but why go against the obvious. Rookie of the year could be a QB, Tebow or Bradford make sense, but we think both clubs will continue to struggle, so we are going to go for a HB, and we think the one in prime position for early career success is Seattle’s Jahvid Best. That Dragon team can score points, and defenses cannot load up against the run, so we see Best as having a real shot at 1,200 yards or more.
There you have it, our 2010 preview. Let’s wrap this up by looking specifically at the Week 1 schedule. How will we kick things off this year?
The new USFL season kicks off on Friday night with the defending league champion Boston Cannons hosting division rival Baltimore. Adrian McPherson will have his first start as the heir to Drew Bledsoe. On Saturday, we have Portland hosting LA in an early Pacific divisional game and Ohio visiting Michigan in a border war in the Central. Then on Sunday it is New Orleans headed up to Memphis to face a new look Showboat squad, Washington sending David Garrard up against that nasty Houston Gambler pass rush, and we finish off the week with a beauty of a Pacific clash as Seattle, hoping to avoid another slow start, plays host to the defending Western Conference Champs, the Oakland Invaders. Football is back in session, let’s all rise for the national anthem and play some ball!!
FRIDAY @ 8pm ET Baltimore Blitz @ Boston Cannons NBC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET Tampa Bay Bandits @ New Jersey Generals ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET Orlando Renegades @ Birmingham Stallions FOX
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET Pittsburgh Maulers @ Atlanta Fire FOX
SATURDAY @ 4pm ET Philadelphia Stars @ Denver Gold ABC
SATURDAY @ 4pm ET Los Angeles Express @ Portland Stags FOX
SATURDAY @ 8pm ET Ohio Glory @ Michigan Panthers ESPN
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET New Orleans Breakers @ Memphis Showboats ABC
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET Nashville Knights @ Charlotte Monarchs ABC
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET Jacksonville Bulls @ Chicago Machine FOX
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET Las Vegas Thunder @ Arizona Wranglers ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET St. Louis Skyhawks @ Texas Outlaws FOX
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET Washington Federals @ Houston Gamblers FOX
SUNDAY @ 8pm ET Oakland Invaders @ Seattle Dragons ESPN