Texas continues to impress, an unheralded rookie upends the Panthers, New Orleans gets two pick sixes from the same player, and we have a wild shootout between two teams that have had all kinds of trouble scoring in recent years. It is a topsy turvy early season in the USFL, that cannot be denied. We will have all the scores, the big stories, and a look at the 12 men who were announced this week as semifinalists for the Hall of Fame Class of 2010. All this, plus rumblings out of Dallas as fans and monied interests start once again to make a pitch for a USFL franchise. All this on this week’s This is the USFL.
ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS 37 ARIZONA WRANGLERS 31 OVERTIME
Had you asked us which game this week would be a 68 point overtime thriller, odds are no one on the This is the USFL team would have said the St. Louis- Arizona matchup. These are two teams that have spent the past few seasons in absolute offensive chaos. But, new arrivals like LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Bryant in Arizona, and the emergence of 2nd year QB Josh Freeman in St. Louis are giving hope to both squads that their offensive woes may be a thing of the past. Their matchup this week out in the Valley of the Sun certainly went a long way towards confirming that both clubs have found some offensive weapons.
The Wranglers and Skyhawks combined this week for over 950 total yards, 12 scoring drives, and 8 touchdowns. Not bad for two recent doormats. St. Louis was sparked by 95 yards from Jacksonville transfer Antowain Smith, and another 99 through the air for Taylor Jacobs, the one consistent part of their attack since joining the league in 2006. For Arizona it was a combination of Tomlinson (hampered by a gimpy ankle) and Fred McAfee on the ground, but mostly it was the 273 yards and 4 touchdowns from David Carr that made this one of the better shootouts of the young season.
The game did not start quickly, with both teams’ opening drives fizzling out around midfield. But, on their second possession, St. Louis found their stride, marching down the field in 11 plays to put the ball in the endzone on a Fred Baxter 1-yard dive. Arizona would take only 4 plays and 1:21 to counter, with Carr hitting on his first of four scoring throws on the day. Carr found his favorite target, the lanky Larry Fitzgerald along the sideline and the big receiver went up, highpointed the ball, and came down with it in the endzone for a Wrangler TD that got the fans to their feet.
The second quarter belonged entirely to the visitors, as St. Louis put up 13 points in the quarter on two Bironas field goals and a nice 26-yard corner route score by Jordy Nelson. Arizona struggled in the quarter as Tomlinson was constantly in and out of the huddle, with two separate retapings of his ankle in the quarter. The situation did not look good for the Wranglers, down 20-7 at the half and possibly without the services of their multi-million dollar NFL signing.
But, halftime provided the recalibration that Arizona needed and, receiving the second half kick, they went right into attack mode. On the third play of the half, Carr hit Mike Williams on a 13-yard strike that turned into a 52-yard touchdown when Williams broke the initial tackle and took off. Following a three-and-out by the Skyhawks, Arizona took over again, and again they used a quick set offense to put St. Louis off their game. This drive took 8 plays, but the results were the same, with Carr hitting Larry Fitzgerald for the receiver’s second score of the day.
St. Louis was now down one, but a surprise play changed all that. After moving the ball efficiently down the field, the Skyhawks faced a 4th and 1 from the Arizona 36. They opted to go for it, lining up in a goalline offense, with big backup William Bethea standing behind Freeman. Bethea got the ball, and all the blocking hit just as it was drawn up, creating a surprisingly large gap in the Arizona defense. Bethea burst through the line, shrugged off an arm tackle by the safety and was off. Fourth and 1 became a 36-yard TD for the Skyhawks, who regained the lead after 3, 28-21, thanks to the 2-point PAT.
In the 4th, Arizona would again find their offensive groove, scoring first on a 21-yard Nick Folk field goal to pull within 4. Later in the quarter they would go back on top, scoring on a Domenic Hixon TD receptions, David Carr’s 4th scoring throw of the game. Up 31-28 with 4:33 left, there was a nervous buzz in the stadium as everyone recognized that there was still a lot of game to play. St. Louis felt this too and did not rush their offense, using up nearly all the remaining time before settling for getting down to the 2 yard line. They could not punch the ball in on 3rd and goal, and, taking the conservative approach, Coach Arians sent out the field goal team for a chip shot kick to send the game to overtime.
In the extra period, Arizona got the ball first, but a tipped ball by Tod McBride on third and 6 forced the Wranglers to punt. St. Louis got the ball, methodically worked their way down field, and punched in the winning score after a pass interference call gave them the ball on the Arizona 1-yard line. When Ahmaad Galloway went off-tackle from the one St. Louis had their first win of the season and Arizona dropped to 1-2.
LOS ANGELES 17 LAS VEGAS 26
The Thunder may not have found the formula for the “shoot” part of June Jones’s Run & Shoot offense, but the run is certainly in place as Marshawn Lynch rushes for 117 yards and 2 TDs to power the Thunder to a division win. The Thunder defense did their part as well, holding the Express to only 2 converted third downs all game as Las Vegas moves to 2-1.
CHARLOTTE 20 NEW ORLEANS 28
New Orleans cornerback DeAngelo Smith should have wone the Offensive Player of the Game after scoring twice on two pick sixes against Chris Weinke and the Monarchs. Smith’s 74 and 31-yard interceptions were the difference in the game as both offenses struggled to keep drives going. Charlotte’s Corey Webster also scored on a pick six in a game that saw a lot of early season sloppy play.
WASHINGTON 7 BOSTON 20
The Cannons get into the win column for the first time, and against a divisional foe as well. David Garrard struggled on the day, while Adrian McPherson threw for 258 to help Boston get the W. Most of the credit for the Boston offense has to go to HB Rashard Mendenhall, however, as the big back rumbled for 128 yards and both Boston touchdowns.
TAMPA BAY 21 PHILADELPHIA 22
A tough loss for the Bandits as they give up a Dallas Clark TD catch in the final minute of action to fall in Philly. Daunte Culpepper had a solid outing with 2 TDs while Kurt Warner threw for only 151 and tossed 2 picks in a rough game. Philly managed to stay in the game largely due to the defense and Steve Slaton’s 100 yards on the ground.
ORLANDO 20 PITTSBURGH 10
Touchdowns from WR Karl Williams and HB Knowshon Moreno helped the visiting Renegades top Pittsburgh. The Maulers struggled without DeShaun Foster, with Kenny Watson averaging 3 yards per carry on 21 touches. Calais Campbell added another sack, but is clearly frustrated with the constant double teaming he is facing after his break out year in 2009.
MICHIGAN 20 CHICAGO 24
Rookie QB Mike Kafka continues to impress as he subs for Brady Quinn. The Northwestern product went 24 for 40 and 2 scores, hitting Anquon Boldin with a late TD to steal the win away from the division rival Panthers. Kafka got help from the D, which forced two turnovers and held Michigan out of the red zone for the entire 2nd half.
MEMPHIS 27 NASHVILLE 3
Jake Delhomme and the Memphis offense are beginning to find their stride, but it is the revamped Showboat D that impressed in this game, with rookie LB Navarro Bowman getting the play of the week on a sack-strip-recovery-TD play for the ages. Memphis also got a pick-six from Tebucky Jones as the Showboat D outscored Nashville 14-3.
SEATTLE 9 BIRMINGHAM 10
Birmingham has another defense on the rise as they confuse and confound backup QB Tee Martin for Seattle. With Leftwich out, Martin struggled to only 14 of 49 in the air. The Stallion offense was nothing to get excited about, but their D certainly had Seattle’s number in this one.
ATLANTA 19 JACKSONVILLE 24
The Bulls move to 2-1, again with Tebow on the sideline, but with a big contribution from C. J. Spiller, who rushed for 77 yards on 15 carries, including a 20 yard TD. Josh McCown continued to hold off Tebow with a 2 TD performance as the Bulls edge the Fire and move to 2-1.
NEW JERSEY 12 BALTIMORE 15 OVERTIME
Rookie kicker Leigh Tiffin’s missed PAT proves fatal as it allows Baltimore to tie the game in regulation and then win it in overtime. The Blitz were held without a touchdown on the day but still pull out the win thanks to 5 field goals from veteran Martin Grammatica. Ron Dayne rushed for 110 and New Jersey’s combo of Rice and Redmond put up 146 to keep the Generals in this one, but in the end that missed PAT was just enough for Baltimore to tie the game and then win it in overtime.
PORTLAND 17 OAKLAND 27
The Invaders got 10 in the 4th quarter to pull away from their division rivals and move to 2-1. Ricky Williams scored the game winner, despite being outgained by Jonathan Stewart 98-53 on the day. Portland struggled in the second half after A. J. Feeley was knocked out of the game and replaced by newly arrived backup Ingle Martin.
TEXAS 14 OHIO 6
While Ohio fans want to blame Chris Redman for an 8 of 21 day and for taking 10 sacks, let’s give some credit to a Texas defense that has the Outlaws a surprising 3-0 on the young season. Add in touchdowns from T. J. Duckett and a toss from Flacco to Jermichael Finley and the Outlaws take this one over a struggling Ohio offense.
HOUSTON 20 DENVER 31
The Sunday Night EFN/ESPN special was a good one as division rivals Denver and Houston clashed. It was 10-10 at the half, but Denver controlled the second half thanks to 97 yards from Maurice Hicks. Matt Leinart threw for 3 scores, all 3 to his tight ends, as the Gold move to 2-1.
Texas Doing it with D
With three games in the books, the Texas Outlaws are one of the early stories of the USFL season, and it is their defense leading the way. Allowing only 11 points per game, and not permitting any foe yet to surpass 14 points, Texas is looking like they have the formula on D, and that is without NFL import Aaron Kampman taking the field yet. The Outlaws are doing it with pressure up front as they have 18 sacks in only 3 games. Led by DE Reynaldo Wynn’s 5 sacks, but with contributions from everyone from SS Terrance Holt (3 sacks) to DT Luis Castillo (2 sacks) and LB Chad Greenway, Texas is putting the pressure on offenses with zone blitzes, safety blitzes,and solid man coverage. Cornerbacks Nathan Vasher and Michael Boulware are holding down their men as blitzers overwhelm the opposition’s line. It is a strategy that is working both for the passing game and against the run, as Texas is allowing only 77 yards per game on the ground.
Coach Greg Landry is giving a lot of credit to his DC, former Gambler, Bull, and Cannon LB Johnny Holland, a young coach who moved from strength to linebackers and now DC in only 8 years. Holland’s aggressive scheme is making life tough for opposing offenses, and allowing Landry to focus on QB Joe Flacco’s development. Flacco has improved his QBR to 91.3 this season and has a 5:2 TD:INT ratio in his first three games, all good signs that Texas’s quick start may carry into a season-long improvement over last year’s disappointing 5-9 result.
Not the Rookie QB We All Expected
We have a budding star at QB from the rookie class of 2010, but it is not the one you expected. Sure, all the press has been about the arrivals of OU QB Sam Bradford and Florida’s athletic Tim Tebow now in Jacksonville, but it is unheralded mid-round pick Mike Kafka who is getting results. While Tebow and Bradford carry clipboards, Kafka has stepped in for an injured Brady Quinn and put on a show. Now, admittedly, Chicago is still a run-first, conservative offense, but Kafka has put up 559 yards in just over 2 full games, throwing 5 touchdowns to only 2 picks. With Quinn upgraded to Probable for this week’s game after suffering a nasty groin pull in week 1, we may not see Kafka back on the field this week, but his 2-game rookie debut certainly has some heads turning. Will we see a QB controversy in Chicago? Unlikely as Brady has led the Machine to the playoffs each of the past 3 years, including a Summer Bowl in 2007, but Chicago now has at the very least a very good looking backup, and a potential trade commodity in the future.
Let Youth Be Served
Take a quick look at the QB stats for this year and it seems apparent that there is a youth movement across the league at the game’s most important position. Sitting atop the ratings list we find Josh Freeman of St. Louis, Kyle Orton of Atlanta, Mark Sanchez of LA, and, not far behind, rookies Joe Webb and Mike Kafka. Of course, with the retirements of Kerry Collins, Brett Favre, Drew Bledsoe, and Kordell Stewart in the past 2 years, there was absolutely a need for new stars to develop, and it appears that in the early stages of this season that is exactly what is happening. Just how much the emergence of the next generation of quarterbacks will upend the power structure of the league still remains to be seen, but it is providing optimism in places like St. Louis, Atlanta, and LA, where there have been some tough times in recent years.
And what about the vets? Well, Brian Griese is still in the Top 5 for QB Rating, and when we look at yardage we see other familiar names like Drew Brees, Joey Harrington, and Daunte Culpepper,so it is not a full on conversion from one generation to another, but certainly the young guns are making a statement.
A bad break for the Bulls and for LB Lavar Arrington, as the veteran backer suffered a broken wrist that could potentially keep him out for the year. There is a chance he could return in the final weeks of the year, so Jacksonville has not placed him on IR just yet, but with a minimum recovery time of 8 weeks, there is not a lot of wiggle room for Jacksonville.
In Ohio, it was cornerback Ashton Youboty who got bad news, as his hamstring injury was confirmed as a full tear. That too could be a 2-3 month recovery time. In LA guard Michael Brooks also suffered an injury to his wrist, but fortunately it was not a break, so he could be back in as soon as 2-3 weeks. Charlotte’s defense took two hits with both LB Rey Maulauga and CB Asante Samuel now out at least 2 weeks.
Portland is likely to be without QB A. J. Feeley at least for this week’s game, and possibly longer after the QB suffered a torn abdominal muscle on a scramble. Ingle Martin looks to be the backup who will get the start in Week 4. Others lkely out this week include Memphis CB Keiwan Ratliff, Chicago center Andre Gurode, Pittsburgh center Nick Lechey, and Memphis guard Darnell Alford.
Josh Freeman, who has started the year red hot, is listed as questionable after dislocating a finger in his non-throwing hand late in the game at Arizona. If he cannot go, then it will be veteran Jeff Blake back under center for Coach Arians.
Other questionables this week include wideouts Roscoe Parrish (TBY) and Joey Galloway (OHI), halfback Deuce McCallister (WSH), and cornerback Randall Gay (NOR). Brady Quinn has been upgraded to probable and may replace the very effective Mike Kafka if the week of practice goes as is hoped.
Hall of Fame Semifinalists Announced
Around Weeks 3 or 4 of the USFL season is the traditional date for the USFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame to announce the semi-finalist group of 10-12 former players, coaches, and executives to be presented, and this year they are right on target, presenting 12 candidates for consideration. Over the next 8 weeks the voters will review the candidacy packets for each player, review film, talk with current HOF members about their experiences with the candidates, weigh the pros and cons of each candidate, and prepare to vote later this summer.
By the end of the regular season the votes will be registered and tallied, and no more than 5 new enshrinees will be named. This year, marking 15 years since the USFL and Pro Football Hall of Fame began enshrining players from the spring league, will have a new twist, a “Legacy Nomination”, a sixth addition to the hall, decided on by a select committee of current Hall of Famers, designed to recognize a player whose standard eligibility has lapsed, but who, over the span of time has been seen as an overlooked but deserving Hall nominee. This sixth entrant into the Hall does not appear on our roster of semifinalists, but will be announced when the 5 standard entry hall candidates are revealed later this spring. So, who are the 12 semifinalists for this year?
Returning for nomination from previous eligibility classes we have linebackers Pat Swilling (MEM 90-91, HOU 92-02) and Lamar Lathon (NOR 90-04), defensive back Vince Buck (ARZ 90=94, OHI 95-99, LA 00, HOU 01-04), and a bit of a surprise, punter Chris Mohr (JAX 89-03). Mohr is the first punter to reach the semi-final stage, and would be only the third special teams player to make the hall (after kickers Tim Mazzetti and David Trout) if selected. Buck and Lathon return in their second year of eligibility, while Gambler great Pat Swilling is in his fourth and final year of eligibility.
These four “returning” nominees join a large eight-man list of first year nominees, each of whom have a record of outstanding play, leadership, and accomplishment to back up their nominations.
Adrian Cooper, Tight End (POR 91-94, MEM 95-05)
One of the best pass-catching tight ends in league history, Cooper was a 8-time All-USFL player, with more than 900 receptions for nearly 12,000 yards and fell 1 TD shy of 100, retiring with 99 scoring catches to his name. He helped Memphis win the league title in 1999, and was considered on a par with current Hall of Famers Keith Jackson and Shannon Sharpe. Cooper’s numbers actually far exceed both Hall of Famers in key categories, with 3,000 more yards and nearly 50 more TDs than Jackson and nearly 400 more catches than Sharpe. Cooper has to be considered a strong candidate for first-ballot entry.
Lawrence Dawsey, Wide Receiver (BIR 91-05)
One of the most prolific receivers in league history and a big part of Birmingham’s title contending teams of the 90’s. Dawsey retired in 2005 with 1,008 receptions, 17,912 receiving yards, and 148 touchdowns. Playing his entire career in Birmingham, Dawsey was one of Brett Favre’s favorite targets and helped the Stallions win the 1993 USFL title. If selected, he would become the 3rd receiver from those 1990’s Birmingham clubs to enter the Hall, joining Ernest Givens (Class of 2005) and TE Shannon Sharpe (Class of 2003).
Mark Brunell, Quarterback (DEN 95-05)
The undisputed leader of the Gold offense for a decade, Brunell was an athletic southpaw who helped lead the Gold to their first title in 2000. There is some concern that his somewhat short career (10 years for a QB used to be typical but is now somewhat truncated) and the numbers that produces might be a hindrance to his nomination. He retired in 2005 with 37,968 yards,269 TDs, and 126 interceptions. Brunell was a one-year All-USFL player, another potential issue as there are certainly other quarterbacks with greater resumes and lists of accolades. Just don’t tell that to Denver fans.
Kevin Hardy, Linebacker (STL 96-04, ARZ 05)
A sideline-to-sideline pursuer, hard hitter, and team captain, Kevin Hardy was also a 3-time All-USFL selection. He retired in 2005 with 823 tackles and 35 sacks in his 10-year career. Hardy was a team leader on some of the great St. Louis Knight defenses of the 1990’s, however, the lack of playoff success of the Knights could be a factor in his nomination as could this class of semifinalists, which has 5 linebackers among its 12 candidates.
DeMetrius DuBose, Linebacker (PIT 93-05)
A 9-year team captain for the Maulers and a 9-time All-USFL honoree, DuBose may be the linebacker with the greatest shot at enshrinement this season. In addition to helping Pittsburgh capture the 1995 league title, DuBose retired with nearly 1,400 tackles, 38 sacks, 15 interceptions, and 29 forced fumbles. Intimidating and tireless, DuBose was one of the most feared linebackers in the league for over a decade.
Mo Lewis, Linebacker (JAX 91-94, ATL/BOS 95-01, LA 02-05)
A tackling machine, Mo Lewis joined the expansion Atlanta Fire after three solid seasons in Jacksonville. There he established himself as the leader of a defense that matured far more quickly than the club as a whole. Never playing on a championship team, Lewis nonetheless was honored as an All-USFL player 5 times in his career.
Aeneas Williams, Cornerback (OAK 91-99, ARZ 00, LA 01-05)
A premier “lock down” corner in Oakland, Williams exploded on the scene in his rookie year, helping Oakland win the 1991 Summer Bowl. He was named a team captain in only his 2nd year of play, was honored as All-USFL twice, and retired with 216 starts (every game of his career with 3 teams), over 1,200 tackles, 45 picks, and 30 forced fumbles.
George Teague, Safety (CHI 93-05)
It may be the linebackers and pass rushers who get all the glory in Chicago’s long history of defensive muscle, but George Teague was equally feared by offensive gameplanners and players alike. The 1993 Defensive Rookie of the Year played with a reckless abandon for 13 seasons, retiring in 2005 with 595 tackles, 14 sacks, and 36 interceptions. Never winning a title, Teague was still one of the most iconic defensive backs of the 1990’s.
Which five of these twelve outstanding candidates will make the Hall of Fame Class of 2010? We can let the speculating, debating, and postulating begin. For our money we think Cooper should be a shoe in, Dubose is the most likely of the 5 linebacker nominees, but we also see significant support for Williams, Dawsey, and Lamar Lathon. Who was left out? Our biggest snub from the list is halfback Rashaan Salaam, in his second year of eligibility but still clouded by the scandal that cost him his spot on the Denver Gold and led to a one-year suspension before returning with Oakland.
Group Forms to Bring USFL to Big D
Last year, with the wild success of the Texas Outlaws’ forced hiatus from San Antonio and a season of outstanding support at the Cotton Bowl, we said that all indications were there that Dallas would be a strong long-term option for the USFL. We posited that the league might want to consider having the city host a Summer Bowl, or the occasional Outlaw game, or that the city might once again throw its hat into the ring if and when another expansion round were to be announced in the USFL. It appears we were dead on with that thought.
This week a group of investors and local leaders announced the formation of a new entity called “Destination Dallas” designed to foster interest in bringing the USFL to Big D. The group, led by telecom industry executive Kenny Trout, the group of influential Dallas business and community leaders are doing just as we expected, pointing to the success of the Outlaws’ season at the Cotton Bowl to make the case that after several failed expansion bids, the time is right for Dallas to find its way into the USFL.
Dallas has always been an attractive market. After all, it is the 4th largest metro area in the United States, and the largest without a USFL franchise (significantly larger than either Miami or the Twin Cities). Of course, the issue of Jerry Jones and his very antagonistic attitude to the USFL has often been an issue. Texas Stadium, and now the new Cowboy’s facility in Arlington, have always been off the table for the USFL due to Jones’s ongoing beef with the league as a rival to the NFL and his Cowboys empire. But, with the Cotton Bowl proving to be a more than adequate option in the region, and with strong support for the Outlaws in that stadium last year, the message is clear that the market exists for spring football. But how will Dallas obtain a team?
That may be a bit preemptive to ask, but it is a question of concern. The Destination Dallas group which just announced its existence is still significantly underfunded to realistically bring a club to the city, even with Kenny Trout’s considerable backing. What it does have is enough clout to push for some city or county funding to renovate the Cotton Bowl (which currently does not have a full-time tenant after SMU moved to a campus facility). The group is also fully capable of lobbying both the league and Texas state officials to try to put pressure for expansion or even relocation as an option to bring USFL football to the 4th largest metro area in the country. It is early, admittedly, but this could be the strongest bid from Dallas of the many we have seen over the years.
If this group can shore up their financial backing, they could very easily be a frontrunner should the league opt to expand again within the next decade. The concern, of course, is that an 8–10-year delay before the next expansion round could prove unappetizing for Dallas and the Destination Dallas group, and, once they have their financials in order, they could opt for the more aggressive option of purchasing a struggling USFL franchise and relocating it to the region. That is what concerns many USFL owners who spoke with us, but they recognize that the league by-laws certainly allow for private sale of the franchises, so if there is an owner ready to cash out, there are only limited options for the league to avoid relocation. Again, far too early for serious speculation on this. For now, the focus is on expansion, and consensus building within Dallas for citywide support to bring a second pro football team to the market.
Some very intriguing inter-divisional matchups in Week 4, including the Bandits and Breakers on Friday Night, Portland headed to Memphis, Houston in Chicago, and Nashville in Washington. On Sunday the focus shifts to divisional play, with 5 of 7 games matching familiar foes. The best of the bunch may be Las Vegas traveling to Oakland, while the unbeaten Baltimore Blitz will be in Philadelphia to take on the Stars in the week's finale on ESPN and the ESPN Football Network.
FRIDAY @ 8pm ET Tampa Bay (1-2) @ New Orleans (2-1) NBC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET Portland (1-2) @ Memphis (2-1) ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET Charlotte (0-3) @ Ohio (1-2) ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET New Jersey (1-2) @ Jacksonville (2-1) FOX
SATURDAY @ 4pm ET Houston (1-2) @ Chicago (2-1) ABC
SATURDAY @ 4pm ET Los Angeles (0-3) @ Seattle (1-2) FOX
SATURDAY @ 8pm ET Nashville (2-1) @ Washington (2-1) ESPN
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET Boston (1-2) @ Birmingham (2-1) ABC
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET Orlando (2-1) @ Atlanta (1-2) FOX
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET Pittsburgh (1-2) @ St. Louis (1-2) FOX
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET Michigan (2-1) @ Texas (3-0) ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET Arizona (1-2) @ Denver (2-1) ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET Las Vegas (2-1) @ Oakland (2-1) FOX
SUNDAY @ 8pm ET Baltimore (3-0) @ Philadelphia (2-1) ESPN & EFN