Football can be a cruel game. With everything going right for them, the Michigan Panthers had raced out to a 4-1 start to the season. The Central Division seemed theirs for the taking once again, and possibly even a return trip to the Summer Bowl, but, leading Orlando late in the third, it took only one play for Michigan’s season to be put in doubt. That play, a sack of Brian Griese by 2009 MVP Calais Campbell, left the former Offensive Player of the Year in immense pain on the turf. He would be carted off and we would learn that he was lost to the season with a broken tibia. That is how quickly a season can change. We will discuss Michigan’s situation, along with all the results and news of the week, coming up right now.
WASHINGTON 26 BALTIMORE 20 OVERTIME
A divisional rivalry between two clubs that are so close that it is just not possible to encounter fans of each an a trip to the supermarket. That is what Baltimore and Washington have. These two have been going at it ever since the Blitz relocated from Chicago and created one of the most intense and hotly contested rivalries in the league. The two have met 49 times, with this game representing the 50th. The balance is definitely in Washington’s favor as they hold a 31-18 advantage over the Blitz. But this is also one of those matchups where the team records rarely matter, with both clubs giving it their all regardless of the playoff situation or disparity between team records.
With this kind of track record, we should not be surprised that this one went the distance without a winner and had to add on an extra 15 minutes to get to a final score. Baltimore came in at 3-2, but having lost two in a row, Washington was also 3-2, so this one would impact the standings between the two. It is also not surprising that each teams’ biggest stars were at the center of this game, with Deuce McCallister leading the Federals’ offense with 169 yards rushing,while Ben Roethlisberger powered the Blitz, throwing to both Tory Holt and Darius Heward-Bey for scores.
The only points of the opening period came of the foot of Doug Pelfrey as both teams tested each other out. The first touchdown was also Washington’s, as a fake to McCallister pulled the linebackers in and David Garrard was able to bootleg to the left and cross the plane before taking a hit. Baltimore would bounce back quickly, with Roethlisberger connecting with Tory Holt for the first Blitz score of the day, sending the game to the half with Washington ahead 10-7.
Baltimore received the second half kickoff and marched down field to equalize the score with a Martin Grammatica kick from 52 yards out. When the Blitz D stopped Washington to force a punt, Roethlisberger again went to work. With a lot of help from Ron Dayne (100 yards even on the day), Baltimore moved the ball well and took their first lead of the day when Big Ben hit Heyward-Bey in the endzone with a laser shot.
Having gone from 10-0 up to trailing 17-10, Washington needed some urgency. They got it in spades from McCallister, who carried theball5 times on the next drive, gaining 33 of Washington’s 41 yards on the drive, a drive that ended with Pelfrey again kicking for 3. Baltimore resonded with another Grammatica field goal, and it was 20—13 with 6:10 left to play. Washington would need a final drive to send this game to overtime.
They got just that, again with McCallister at the center. Using the inside run forced the safeties up, which made it possible for David Garrard to find Eddie Kennison down the sideline. Kennison could not bring in the ball, but the officials cited CB Ken Lucas for pass interference on the play, with video clearly showing that he was tugging on Kennison’s jersey in the final moments before the ball arrived. Washington got the all at the 3. After a plunge by McCallister got them to the 1, Washington called a play action pass to Deion Branch, and the play worked out just as it was written up, with Garrard finding Branch in the back of the endzone. Tied at 20, this game was going to overtime.
Baltimore won the toss, but failed on a 3rd and 3 attempt to Antonio Gates, so they were forced to punt. Washington would not give them the ball back, marching 67 yards in 11 plays, including 24 more yards from Deuce McCallister and a brilliant juggling catch from TE Kellen Davis as he fell to the ground but kept the ball from touching . With the ball on the 8, Washington called a play very similar to the one that had tied the game. Forced to respect the run after McCallister’s big day, the linebackers again rushed the line, an Deion Branch again found space behind them. He snatched the ball out of the air, winning the game for Washington. With the win, the Federals remain only 1 game behind Philadelphia. The loss would be Baltlimore’s 3rd in a row, and a bitter pill to swallow as well.
HOUSTON 13 PHILADELPHIA 20
The Stars retain sole possession of first place in the NE Division while Houston’s hopes for a playoff season dim a little as Philadelphia pulls out a hard-fought win at home, thanks in large part to a pick six from Stars’ safety Lance Schulters. Both offenses struggled in this one, as Matt Hasselbeck was picked twice and the Stars, with Steve Slaton sidelined, could not get a run game going. In the end, that Schulters pick-6 was the difference for Philly.
BOSTON 7 NEW JERSEY 17
Sam Bradford gets his first win as he throws for 2 TDs and the New Jersey defense comes up big against Boston. Bradford helped NJ convert 8 of 15 third downs and threw scoring tosses to Michael Crabtree and Matt Spaeth. He was helped by the combination of Ray Rice and R. J. Redmond, who combined for 135 yards on the ground, outpacing Rashard Mendenhall’s 72 yards.
ST. LOUIS 17 CHICAGO 35
Josh Freeman returned to action and threw for 2 scores and 252 yards, but it took him too long to get on track, as St. Louis fell behind Chicago 23-0 before their first score. Donald Driver caught 7 balls for 13 yards and a TD as Chicago’s offense exploded out of the gates. A pick from Darren Sharper and a safety from Ellis Wyms helped the Machine hold off the St. Louis comeback attempt.
OAKLAND 17 NEW ORLEANS 13
Oakland continues to win ugly as Bob Volek goes 16 of 32 for 241 yards and 2 touchdowns. Once again the Oakland D comes up big, holding Matt Forte to only 43 yards rushing and limiting New Orleans to only 3 of 13 on third down. Oakland moves to 5-1 on the year, with Volek 2-0 at the helm.
ARIZONA 14 PORTLAND 26
The Stags even their record at 3-3 thanks in part to the return of A. J. Feeley under center. Roddy White had 100 yards receiving for Portland and the defense sacked David Carr 6 times to help Portland get the W. LaDainian Tomlinson did have his first 100-yard game in the USFL, rushing for 108 on 17 carries, and Larry Fitzgerald caught a 93-yard TD on a wild play, but Arizona just could not turn that into enough points to pull out a road upset.
TAMPA BAY 19 JACKSONVILLE 24
Tim Tebow, in his first start, gets a big rivalry win over Tampa Bay in front of nearly 70,000 fans in Jacksonville. The biggest Bulls crowd ever saw Tebow go 17 of 25, throw his first USFL touchdown, , and get Jacksonville back to .500 with a win over the Bandits. The Bulls’ defense was also huge in the game, holding Willis McGahee to a season-low 27 yards rushing.
SEATTLE 13 PITTSBURGH 24
The Maulers continue to be a threat in the Central, moving to 4-2 on the year, while Seattle drops their fifth game in a row. The Mauler D got a pick-6 and held Jahvid Best to only 48 yards rushing as they dominated the game. Kenny Watson, subbing for Foster, rushed for 83 yards and a score, while Cody Pickett survived 2 picks on the day and got the win for Pittsburgh.
NASHVILLE 30 BIRMINGHAM 16
Kyle Boller struggled through 3 sacks and 3 picks as the Nashville defense throttled Birmingham all game. Willie Middlebrooks returned one Boller pick for 6 points and Montario Hardesty averaged 9.8 yards per carry to gain 108 on only 11 touches, while Frank Gore rushed 21 times for another 62. With the win, Nashville nabs sole possession of first place in the South.
MICHIGAN 21 ORLANDO 20
A road win for the Panthers, but a costly one as Brian Griese is lost for the year after suffering a leg injury, later determined to be a broken tibia, on an ugly sack. Griese had gone 15 of 21 and thrown the game’s first TD, but late in the game, was sacked by Calais Campbell, who immediately called over the training staff. Griese’s leg was contorted and he had to be carted off the field in obvious pain. Drew Brees had been knocked out of the game earlier in the day, so Matt Cassel and Drew Stanton finished up the day.
LAS VEGAS 16 TEXAS 9
A slow moving game with both defenses playing well, but Las Vegas got the decisive score, a Plummer to Mason TD and held the Outlaws to only three field goals to secure the road win and move to 4-2 in the Pacific. Las Vegas won despite 3 turnavers as Texas forced 2 fumbles and picked off Plummer late in the game. The Thunder D did not get picks but sacked Joe Flacco 5 times on the day, also holding T. J. Duckett to only 1.8 yards per carry, going for 38 yards on 21 carries.
MEMPHIS 16 LOS ANGELES 22
The Express use a 16-point rally in the 4th to upend the slumping Showboats. Mark Sanchez shook off some early game issues to throw touchdowns to Keyshawn Johnson and L. J. Smith in the late rally. Jake Delhomme was sacked 4 times and threw two picks as the Express defense flexed some muscle. Keneche Udeze added 2 more sacks to his league leading total. LA got the win despite Randy Moss being held without a reception all day as Memphis blanketed the LA star.
OHIO 17 DENVER 34
The Glory drop to 1-5 with another bad loss as Denver exploited defensive holes all day. Hicks and Ringer combined for 110 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns and Matt Leinart went 14 of 23 for 193 and 2 scores of his own, finding Hicks for the halfback’s 3rd TD of the game. Chris Redman was sacked a nasty 10 times as Denver’s blitzes just kept producing pressure. Eddie George could only manage 28 yards rushing as Ohio simply does not have enough against the Gold.
CHARLOTTE 10 ATLANTA 34
Atlanta jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the 2nd quarter thanks to TDs from McFadden, Julius Jones, and TE Will Heller. They would build up a 34-3 lead before a late Stevie Johnson TD for Charlotte. The win evens Atlanta’s record at 3-3, and puts them in a 3-way tie for first in the topsy-turvy SE Division. The Fire defense was impressive on Sunday Night, holding Charlotte to 1 of 10 on third down and forcing 3 turnovers, all 3 Weinke picks.
Griese Lost For Season
It was obvious as soon as it happened that Griese was badly hurt. Calais Campbell had broken the block from LT Oliver Ross and had a clean shot at the Michigan QB. Griese tried to spin out of the hit, but that put his leg in an awkward position, with Campbell’s full weight falling on it. Campbell stated after the game that he heard the snap, and then heard Griese cry out. He got up quickly and immediately called over the trainers. Griese pounded the turf in obvious pain. The cart was called out, and, with a towel over his face, Griese was carted off. The game ended with a Michigan victory, but news quickly came out that the tibia in his right leg had snapped and been displaced, a break that would end the season for the 2009 league MVP.
Michigan will move forward with Drew Stanton, the MSU Spartan, at quarterback. They have veteran Shaun Hill as backup, but this is certainly a major blow to a team that was viewed as a favorite to make a third straight trip to the Western Conference Final. Sitting at 5-1 and a game up on Chicago and Pittsburgh, Michigan will now have to figure out what Drew Stanton does well, how he can lead the Panther offense, with newly arrived NFL halfback Thomas Jones, and recalibrate to stay atop the division. Michigan faces a tough task with Denver up next, before a huge divisional game at Chicago in Week 8.
Tebow & Bradford Get First Career Wins
A good weekend for rookie QBs as Tim Tebow gets a win in his first start, thrilling a league best crowd in Jacksonville, while Sam Bradford also leads his club, New Jersey, to a win at home. Tebowmania is in full effect in Jacksonville, where number 15 jerseys were easy to spot, and a lot of Gator blue was seen in the capacity crowd. While Tebow’s numbers were not stunning, 17 of 25 for 174 yards, a TD and a pick, it was his “can do” attitude leading the Bulls on the field that got the fans on their feet. The former Gator must have felt right at home with so many Florida jerseys along with Bulls #15s in the stands.
Meanwhile, up in the Meadowlands, Sam Bradford completed 18 of 27 passes for 174 yards, 2 scores and no interceptions, as the Generals defeated the Boston Cannons to move to 3-3 in a crowded NE Division. Bradford, playing without either WR Mark Clayton or TE Anthony Becht, completed passes to 7 different receivers, with slot receiver Santonio Holmes catching 6 balls for 60 yards to lead all pass catchers. With a slim 10-7 lead going into the final period, Bradford led New Jersey on a 79-yard drive, ending with a TD toss to TE Matt Spaeth and the defense did the rest to help New Jersey and its new QB to a W.
Both Bradford and Tebow were major signings from this year’s draft, and both were scheduled to watch and learn, but an injury to New Jersey starter Ryan Fitzpatrick, and poor play from Jacksonville’s Josh McCown, gave the rookies a chance to get on the field. The question now is whether both have solidified their position as the new starter for their clubs. In the eyes of the fans, that is a resounding yes, but will it be so for the two head coaches as well?
Blitz Drop 3rd in a Row
After a strong start to the season, Baltimore has dropped three in a row and fallen back into a 3-way tie for 3rd (4th and 5th too) in the NE Division. There are concerns that QB Ben Roethlisberger’s hamstring injury is affecting his throw, and that the club, in not benching the star QB, is prolonging the injury. The offense is producing yards (321 per game) but struggling to turn yardage into points, averaging barely 19 points per outing, and have not scored over 20 since Week 2.
The defense is also a concern, as the losses of James Farrior and Jared Allen to free agency have created issues in pass coverage and QB pressure. DE Tim Crowder leads the team with only 4 sacks, while newly added NFL import Jason Taylor has seen only spot duty since arriving a couple of weeks ago. Baltimore’s D now ranks in the bottom 8 in both points allowed and yards allowed, not typical for a Tom Coughlin team. With Philadelphia up this week, followed by tough games against Orlando, Texas, and New Orleans, the time is now for Coach Coughlin and the Blitz to get the pieces in place, the defense on the same page, and the focus honed, or the Blitz’s 3-0 start could fritter away in a very balanced and tough division race.
While the Brian Griese injury was certainly the biggest story of the week, it was by far not the only blow to USFL squads. Drew Brees was also knocked out of that game in Orlando, though his diagnosis of a concussion means he could be in the game this week and certainly in 2 weeks. Others are not so lucky. In addition to Griese, Arizona CB Duane Starks was also placed on the IR after tearing a biceps. New Jersey guard Duke Robinson could be out 4-6 weeks after suffering a hip injury in this week’s game, and Atlanta’s defensive captain Na’il Diggs, is expected to miss 2-4 weeks with a stress fracture in his foot. Others out for Week 7 include Orlando DT Kenny Smith (abdomen), Baltimore C Ethan Albright (jaw), Denver LB Dat Nguyen (knee), and Ohio QB Chris Redman (knee). With Redman, Brees, and Griese out, we expect to see Drew Stanton in Michigan, Matt Cassel in Orlando, and newly arrived Dereck Anderson under center for the Glory.
Scouting the QB Class of 2011
With the recent wave of big name QB retirements, injuries to top level starters, and several teams just feeling unsettled at the position, the value of a top flight QB has never been higher, and the quest to get one never more desperate. Every year the QB position tends to get overvalued in the draft, and yet every year we cannot help getting excited about the prospect of a young college superstar turning into the next big thing, especially if our team is able to sign one. Following the initial excitement over Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow this year, eyes have started to turn to the Class of 2011, considered by some to be one of the deepest QB Drafts in recent memory. While perhaps not the Class of 1983, the potential for the Class of 2011 is one to get excited about, especially if your team is one of the lucky ones to have a blue chip option within its set of protected schools. Let’s take a quick look at the six top prospects, along with one wild card darkhorse, expected to complete their college careers this Fall and be available this January for the USFL Draft.
Jake Locker of Washington (Protected: Seattle Dragons): Locker is the clear frontrunner in this group, and a very likely Heisman candidate. A 4-year starter for the Huskies (with an injury shortened 2008), Locker put up great numbers in 2009, throwing for 2,800 yards and 21 touchdowns. He is expected to compete for the Heisman this year and to be a Top 10 NFL draft pick if he comes out in 2011 as most expect (due to a redshirt year, he could hold out until 2012, but most expect he will come out this year.). Seattle holds his rights, but with Byron Leftwich still one of the league’s most dynamic QB’s Seattle will have to decide if they want to swap a known entity for an unknown. They could deal Leftwich, freeing up a lot of cap room, and then sign Locker, or they could stick with their All-USFL QB and let Locker go into the open draft, a move that would likely create a feeding frenzy.
Blaine Gabbert of Missouri (Protected: St. Louis Skyhawks): Gabbert is a mobile, elusive QB who has operated mostly out of the shotgun and in a spread offense. There are some questions about his ability to adjust to a more regimented under-center format. His numbers in 2009 were extremely strong, throwing for over 3,500 yards and 24 TDs for the Tigers. Looking at his USFL potential, we see Gabbert being allowed to reach the Open Draft, because St. Louis may have a lot of needs, but with the early success of Josh Freeman this year, we don’t see QB being a priority. Since Territorial Picks cannot be traded, the best option for the Skyhawks is to make their picks elsewhere and let other teams vie for Gabbert in the Open Draft.
Christian Ponder of Florida State (Protected: Tampa Bay): Ponder is the consummate “pro ready” pocket passer. His numbers the past 2 seasons as a starter for the Seminoles are not as gaudy as Gabbert’s or Locker’s, but his leadership and crisp delivery of the ball are both attractive features in a young signal caller. He won’t wow you with athleticism, but he is efficient with the ball and has great accuracy. And, as with Locker, he forces a decision from the team that would own his rights in the USFL, the Tampa Bay Bandits. Daunte Culpepper is a very solid QB (currently Top 3 in passing yards, and Top 5 in TDs), but he is in his mid-30’s and could be a risk for the long haul. Does Tampa Bay feel ready to move on from Culpepper, or will they too hold onto their known commodity and let Ponder enter the Open Draft unprotected?
Andy Dalton of TCU (Protected: Houston Gamblers): What is it about top QB prospects and USFL clubs that have established figures in place at the position? Houston has been very happy with Matt Hasselbeck over the past decade. While not an elite starter at the position, he is a stable and reliable performer, with a career QB Rating of 90.1 and multiple seasons over 25 TDs and 3,000 yards. Andy Dalton is an intriguing prospect after leading TCU to a 12-1 record last season, throwing for 23 TDs and over 2,700 yards. If he has a strong season this year for the Horned Frogs, we could once again see a team jettison a veteran starter to go after the hot young prospect, especially one who is well known to fans in Texas.
Colin Kaepernick of Nevada (Unprotected): The only top end QB who would not be protected in the T-Draft, Kaepernick could be one of the hottest prospects at the position in the open draft. A very athletic and mobile QB, Kaepernick will have dings against him for the level of competition at Nevada, and for a less than typical offense with the Wolfpack. That said, 2,052 yards and 20 TDs last season, paired with a solid season in 2010 could push “Kaep” up the scouting charts and make him an intriguing option for teams that are more open to a dual threat QB, someone like the Federals, who thrived with Kordell Stewart under center.
Ryan Mallett of Arkansas (Protected: Memphis): Here is one that is ready made. If Memphis does not protect Mallett and bring the big Razorback to the Liberty Bowl in 2011, they should be sued for malpractice. The 6’6” Mallett is the poster boy for the traditional pocket passer. He is tall, strong, has a rocket arm, and a bit of moxie too, not unlike recent Showboat QB Brett Favre. His numbers at Arkansas have been outstanding, and against tough SEC foes too. In 2009 he threw for 3,624 yard and had 30 TDs for the Razoerbacks. We think he is a slam dunk for the Showboats, who can trade Delhomme or keep him on to mentor the younger Mallett. It is as close to a sure thing (assuming the NFL does not snatch him up) as we can envision in this year’s draft.
Cam Newton of Auburn (Protected: Birmingham): Who, you ask? Well, Newton, who was with Florida in 2007, just had a very strong year at Blinn College, a Junior College in Texas, was the top-rated HS or Transfer candidate in the country, and has landed at Auburn. At Blinn, the dual threat QB threw for 22 touchdowns but ran for another 16. He has already been named the starter at Auburn after spring practices. If he can show the same level of physical talent at Auburn that we see on tape from his JC experience, he could rise quickly up the charts. Pair that potential with the fact that Birmingham is very clearly in the market for a QB, and we could see Newton being one of the Stallions’ three protected players. There is a lot to watch for in the 2010 Auburn season, but if you are a Stallion fan, this unknown, but highly regarded JC player could emerge as a real option for the QB-needy Birmingham Stallions.
No Early MVP Frontrunner
2010 has proven to be a tough season to get a hold of, and a tough season for individual achievement as well. Six weeks in, and with the loss of Brian Griese, the defending league OPOTY, for the season, the question of who the frontrunners for MVP are is wide open. Will it go back to Calais Campbell, who has gotten hot the past two weeks? Unlikely unless he can get close to his record-setting numbers from last year. The MVP has almost always gone to the offense, and usually to a QB, but this year that seems like an open competition, with no one player jumping out to an early vote-getting lead. At this point in the season, the hunt for MVP is wide open. Here are our top 6 candidates after 6 weeks:
We start at QB, where there is always a battle for the potential to be viewed as the league’s best. With Griese to miss the rest of the year, the top potential candidates are an odd bunch, and the current #1 rated QB is not one any of us expected. Atlanta’s Kyle Orton leads the league with a 108.4 QB Rating. He has 13 TDs to only 2 picks, but Atlanta is hanging around .500, which is not typically good for an MVP candidate at the QB position. If, however, Orton can get Atlanta to 10 wins or more, and if they are a playoff contender, we could see him as a major player in the conversation, even if his prior seasons have been uninspired.
Another QB near the top of the rankings and with a team overachieving is Kurt Warner of Philadelphia. Warner is having an outstanding year, with 13TD passes, and while his yardage numbers are not nearly as high as some others, his win total right now is among the best of the top QBs. If Philadelphia can surprise us and win a very tough NE Division, Warner is very likely to be recognized as a key reason for their success.
Finally, our last QB nominee, Drew Brees. This too will depend on if Orlando can meet expectations and win the SE Division, preferably going away. If we see an 11-5 Renegade squad at the top of their division, then it may not be farfetched for Brees, who won MVP in 2007, snag a 2nd trophy and make it back-to-back MVPs for Orlando.
Running Back is another high-profile position on offense, but right now, we have Baltimore’s Ron Dayne at the top of the rushing leaders while the Blitz have lost 3 in a row. Dayne is averaging 4.7 yards per carry and has a 50-yard advantage over another 3-3 club’s back (Boston’s Mendhenhall), but we don’t see Dayne as a candidate for MVP unless his club can get back to their early season successes.
A more likely candidate is Nashville’s Frank Gore. Gore is currently 74 yards behind Dayne for the rushing title, but if he can catch Dayne, and if, as expected, Nashville can capture the Southern Division, we could see Gore getting votes for MVP. There is one key factor in favor of Gore, the fact that he does not have a topflight QB helping to balance the offense. Nashville is a Gore-centered offense all the way, with Jay Cutler simply trying to keep defenses honest and not throw games away with turnovers. That helps Gore when it comes to garnering MVP votes.
Finally, if it does go to a defender, and if that defender is not Calais Campbell with another ridiculous 30+ sack season, then we think it should go to Chicago’s Brian Urlacher. Urlacher, who has won Defensive POTY three times and is once again among the leaders in tackles while playing on one of the best defensive squads in the league, is simply due. He is one of the most recognizable defenders in the league, an impact player week in and week out, and if anyone deserves an MVP simply on the basis of career achievement overall, we think it is Brian Urlacher.
What is it about LA and Football?
We all joke about the “late arriving” LA crowds, crowds which often do not arrive at all. That is certainly the case for the LA Express, who have had attendance issues both in their original incarnation, and, after the first Express team left for St. Louis, with the 1995 expansion edition that replaced them. But the issue is not limited to the Express, the LA Raiders have seen the same issues since their heyday back in the late 1980’s. Both clubs, playing in a modern and well-appointed Farmers Insurance Field struggle to put butts in seats even when the clubs are doing well, and when they are not, well, let’s just say that there are seats available if you are visiting LA and want to watch your favorite USFL or NFL road team.
There was a time when LA was a football town, with USC and UCLA at or near the top of the college polls, with the Rams and the Raiders both calling the city home, but those days are long gone. We all remember those painful early seasons for the Express, playing in the vastly oversized LA Coliseum. Back then the Raiders were at the top of their game, but even they could not get the stadium to even half capacity, despite claims that their black and silver merch was attractive to local gangs. The Express were often playing in front of crowds that would not have filled up the venue for the Lakers.
But all that was supposed to change when the Express returned to LA after a 3-year hiatus and with a new stadium in Carson to bring in fans, a more appropriately-sized facility. And yet, 15 years later, while LA has done better than in their earlier incarnation, they have still remained one of the lower echelon of ticket sales in the league. Even in 2001, when the Express looked to be a major contender and finished the year 13-3, they only averaged 34,000 attendance. Since then, and with the team suffering 4 losing seasons in their last 6, attendance has dipped dangerously low, with shared revenue for USFL clubs tied to their ability to reach a minimum of 30,000 average attendance, LA has had a reduced share of revenue 3 of the past 4 years.
Bringing in Mark Sanchez helped a bit, as did other acquisitions, and estimates based on season ticket sales had LA expecting to average 33,000 this year, thanks in large part to excitement over the arrival of Randy Moss to the Navy, Speed Blue, and Silver Express, but even with a solid 17,000 season tickets sold, the club, through their first 6 weeks, and 3 home games, have not averaged 30,000 in total attendance. Their opener against Oakland, an overtime thriller, drew just 36,000, but the two home games since then, a second loss to Oakland, and this week’s victory over Memphis, have been underwhelming, with barely 21,000 entering the gates this week to see the Showboats and Express clash.
The Raiders have seen similar issues, though they still manage to pull stronger numbers than the Express, averaging just under 40,000 per game. So, what is it about LA that makes football such a hard sell? Yes, the weather is nice, but it is nice in other areas of the country, areas like Florida, where both USFL and NFL clubs regularly exceed 50,000 per game. Yes, there are plenty of other options, including 2 MLB clubs, 2 NBA clubs, and 2 NHL clubs all playing during the USFL season, but this is football, and football always seems to be the sport of choice for fans, even in other cities that have multiple alternatives (Chicago, NY Metro, Bay Area, etc.). LA is a mystery and, in many ways, an issue for both the NFL and the USFL. It is much too large a TV market to abandon just because the stadium is not full, and yet it is often embarrassing for the leagues, both leagues, to see teams playing in half-empty facilities. Both leagues want to see their product thriving in the country’s 2nd largest metro area, but both are still trying to find a formula that will get folks off the beaches and into the stadium.
Six divisional games and some other very interesting matchups in Week 7. Perhaps the game with the most buzz is Michigan, with Drew Stanton at QB, heading out to Denver for the Saturday Night Special on ESPN. It will be a huge test for the Panthers as Denver has one of the most aggressive front sevens in the league. Before that game we get some nice games, starting on Friday night when Houston travels to San Antonio for an all-Texas matchup of division rivals. Washington heads to Atlanta, where the Fire have been turning some heads. Oakland will be tested by a Pittsburgh defense that will not be shy about going after Bob Volek at QB. Sam Bradford and New Jersey will be in Arizona, hoping to get on the plus side of .500.
On Sunday, Tim Tebow gets his second start and his first road test in yet another Florida Derby as the Bulls head to Orlando to face Calais Campbell and the Renegades. Philadelphia travels to Baltimore in a game that almost feels like a must win if the Blitz hope to have a shot at a division title. Portland and New Orleans clash in the Super Dome in a battle of 3-3 clubs, and in the nightcap, Ohio, with Dereck Anderson likely to start for the injured Chris Redman, only 2 weeks after coming to Columbus in trade, will face the Chicago Machine, and that defense, led by Brian Urlacher. A good week full of interesting matchups to be sure.
FRIDAY @ 8pm ET HOUSTON (2-4) @ TEXAS (4-2) NBC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET WASHINGTON (4-2) @ ATLANTA (3-3) ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET OAKLAND (5-1) @ PITTSBURGH (4-2) ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET CHARLOTTE (2-4) @ BOSTON (3-3) FOX
SATURDAY @ 4pm ET NEW JERSEY (3-3) @ ARIZONA (1-5) ABC
SATURDAY @ 4pm ET NASHVILLE (4-2) @ LOS ANGELES (2-4) FOX
SATURDAY @ 8pm ET DENVER (5-1) @ MICHIGAN (5-1) ESPN
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET PHILADELPHIA (5-1) @ BALTIMORE (3-3) ABC
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET BIRMINGHAM (2-4) @ MEMPHIS (2-4) FOX
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET JACKSONVILLE (3-3) @ ORLANDO (3-3) FOX
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET PORTLAND (3-3) @ NEW ORLEANS (3-3) ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET LAS VEGAS (4-2) @ SEATTLE (1-5) ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET TAMPA BAY (2-4) @ ST. LOUIS (1-5) FOX
SUNDAY @ 8pm ET OHIO (1-5) @ CHICAGO (4-2) ESPN & EFN