The story of Week 7 in the USFL season is a story of quarterback play. Oakland and Michigan, both forced to go the rest of the year without their starters, struggled to move the ball with backups in place. Rookies Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow got a taste of how tough pro defenses can be, and teams with solid QB play won the day, with Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner both having strong days to propel the Gold and the Stars to convincing wins. With midseason in full effect, the time is now for teams to find their stride and make their mark. No time to waste, so let’s get right to it.
HOUSTON GAMBLERS 20 TEXAS OUTLAWS 17
NBC’s Friday Night Lights game between the Gamblers and the Outlaws had a lot of what makes USFL football work, a divisional bout, an in-state rivalry, and, quite frankly, two teams that just don’t like each other very much. Now, admittedly, in the long history of the Houston-Texas rivalry, the Gamblers have tended to have the better of it, winning at almost a 2-1 ratio (29-15-1 for Houston), but this year felt different. Texas came into the game at 4-2 and one of the early stories of the season. Houston had struggled to a 2-4 record and was not looking very much like the division contender that many had predicted.
The Gamblers, allowing nearly 27 points per game, were at the bottom of the defensive rankings, not a common site, while Texas were in the top 5, allowing only 14.3 points per game. Texas also had stronger offensive numbers, thanks in large part to their run game, averaging nearly 110 yards per outing. So it was no surprise that with the two clubs meeting in the Alamodome, that the Outlaws came into the game a 5-point favorite.
Texas would start the game looking like a team on a mission, driving the ball 52 yards without reaching 3rd down as the combination of Duckett runs and Flacco connecting with Brandon Marshall and Dan Campbell got the Outlaws well into Houston territory before a holding call stalled the drive. The Outlaws would settle for 3, but their first drive looked like trouble for Houston. The Gamblers, however, decided to show their own offensive capabilities with their next drive, one-upping their in-state rivals by putting together a 73-yard drive that ended with Matt Hasselbeck connecting with Ike Hilliard from the 5 to put Houston on top 7-3.
Texas would respond in the 2nd quarter, another long drive powered by Duckett, who would finish the game with an impressive 6.2 yards per carry on 21 attempts for 130 yards. Flacco also looked sharp, throwing to 4 different receivers on the drive, including a TD toss to Marques Colston to retake the lead at 10-7. Houston would equalize the score on their next drive, getting the ball to the 30 before missing on a deep shot to Roy Williams and settling on a field goal. The half ended with Joe Flacco being sacked (1 of 4 on the day), taking Texas out of field goal range and ending a promising drive with a kneel down.
After two short drives got nowhere, Houston received the ball a 2nd time in the 3rd quarter and again found their rhythm. Shaun Alexander had his best run of the day, a 14-yarder on 2nd and 2, and Kevin Faulk contributed a 13-yard run as well as Houston used the ground game to get into position and to punch it in, with Alexander diving into the endzone from the 2. But, as we had seen all day, by the end of the third, it was tied up again, this time Flacco hitting Brandon Marshall on the equalizer with 33 seconds left in the quarter. The game entered the final period knotted up at 17, and with a bit of chippiness as both teams started to get into some extracurriculars after several plays.
The fourth quarter would prove to be a war of attrition and field position. Both defenses held their own, keeping each offense from approaching scoring territory. Despite both halfbacks having strong games, in the 4th, the defenses held. Hasselbeck was picked off by Nathan Vasher to end one drive, Flacco was sacked again (one of 4 on the day) to end another. When Houston got the ball with 1:22 left to play, the game looked to all involved like a game clearly headed to overtime. But, on their final drive, Houston made the plays needed to give Dan Carpenter a shot. First a 13-yard completion to Vernon Davis, then a 9-yard run by Alexander. Had Texas’s defense finally started to tire? Hasselbeck came back with a nice toss to Michael Sims-Walker on a 3rd and 4, and suddenly Houston was in range. They slowed things down, used their time outs, and set up Carpenter at the 23-yard line with a very makeable kick. Carpenter hit the ball right down the center, only to be told that Texas had called a time out just as the ball was snapped. Coach Landry protested the late stoppage, but the refs upheld the timeout, forcing Carpenter to kick again. For a second time the ball went right down the middle, and despite the icing technique Houston got the 3 points that would decide the game.
The win pushed Houston to 3-4 and very much in the Wild Card hunt in the West, while Texas dropped their 3rd game in the last 4 after their strong 3-0 start. A great start to the weekend and another strong chapter in the Battle for Texas rivalry.
WASHINGTON 21 ATLANTA 19
A good battle between two defensive-minded teams sees Washington do just enough to hold off the Fire. This one would come down to a 2-point attempt as Atlanta got a late Josh Reed TD to pull within 2, but on the play to decide if the game would go to overtime or not, LB Antonio Pierce made a key play, getting his hands up and blocking the pass from reaching its target, preserving the win for Washington. Among the standout players of the game were Atlanta’s Josh Reed, who had 130 yards and a TD through the air, and Pierce, who had 10 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble in addition to the key 2-point defensive play.
OAKLAND 3 PITTSBURGH 16
The Maulers were ready for Bob Volek’s dink and dunk strategy, playing close to the line the entire game, a strategy which not only held Volek to only 17 of 42 on the day, but also helped contain Ricky Williams, who rushed for 67 yards but averaged only 3.7 yards per carry. The Maulers struggled with the Oakland D as well but got a Pickett to Jackson TD early and then were content to kick their way to a 13-point win, a win that took the Maulers into a tie for first place in the Central Division.
CHARLOTTE 23 BOSTON 20
Adrian McPherson was sacked 4 times, and despite 92 yards from Mendenhall, the Cannons could not keep pace with Charlotte. A pick-6 from Monarch safety Reggie Tongue helped give the Monarchs a 23-12 lead late in the game, and Boston just could not strike fast enough to wipe it out. In a game that saw Charlotte commit 11 penalties, the Monarchs still managed to eke out the win and move their record to 3-4, the same as Boston’s after the loss.
NEW JERSEY 6 ARIZONA 24
A tough road loss for Sam Bradford as Arizona pressured him all game. Down 14-3 at the half after TDs from Fitzgerald and McAfee, New Jersey just could not break through the Wrangler pass defense with Mark Clayton still injured. Fitzgerald was the star for the Wranglers, catching 2 scoring tosses from David Carr.
NASHVILLE 17 LOS ANGELES 10
Los Angeles’s defense came to play, but the offense did them no favors with only 187 total yards against the Knights. St. Louis held Maurice Jones-Drew to only 47 yards, but Frank Gore finished with the same total, which is never a good sign for the Nashville offense. The game winner was actually a defensive play, with big DT Babatunde Oshinowo rumbling back a fumble for six points and the win for Nashville.
DENVER 24 MICHIGAN 3
Panther fans could not feel good about their team’s chances after the first Drew Stanton start led to only 227 total yards and 3 points. Denver shut down the Michigan offense and touchdowns from Javon Ringer, James Hardy, and Keary Colbert quickly established the 6-1 Gold as the dominant team in the matchup. Stanton completed 16 of 27 passes, but was sacked 5 times by the Gold, converting only 2 of 11 third downs in a tough first game as the new starter.
PHILADELPHIA 40 BALTIMORE 6
Baltimore came into this game calling it a must-win after losing three straight. They left the field thoroughly disheartened as the visiting Stars simply dominated from start to end. Kurt Warner tossed 2 first quarter TDs, and three total, while Steve Slaton, back from injury, rushed for 72 yards and a score as the Stars simply outmuscled and outplayed the Blitz, sending Baltimore to their fourth straight loss.
BIRMINGHAM 10 MEMPHIS 34
The classic rivalry between the ‘Boats and the Stallions started off well for the visitors, with an early Felix Jones TD, but 24 consecutive points from Memphis quickly turned the mood towards the home team. Jake Delhomme finished with 285 yards and 2 touchdowns, Cadillac Williams rushed for 110 and a score, and the defense sacked Kyle Boller 4 times in the second half to preserve a big win for the Showboats, who hope that this marks the beginning of a run for them.
JACKSONVILLE 14 ORLANDO 26
Tim Tebow got his first real taste of a topflight USFL defense as Orlando picked off the rookie 3 times, sacked him 5 times, and generally made his life miserable. Matt Cassel, starting for the injured Drew Brees, had an easier time with the Bulls, tossing 2 scores and completing 17 of 24 on the day. Both TDs went to Michael Jenkins, Brees’s favorite target, and clearly Cassel’s as well. Orlando now stands in first place again, thanks to their 4-3 record.
PORTLAND 12 NEW ORLEANS 15
New Orleans wins ugly, but they do get the win, thanks to a Billy Austin pick-six, a safety from DE Ty Warren, and a pair of David Greenfield goals. It also certainly helped that the defense held Portland out of the endzone on 4 drives, including a 4th quarter drive where a TD was clearly needed. Portland kept feeding the ball to Stewart, and New Orleans was there, holding the back to only 1.6 yards per carry. The final tally was 23 attempts for only 36 yards.
LAS VEGAS 16 SEATTLE 13
Another team that has learned to win ugly is Las Vegas, who again rely on the defense to get the job done. This time, the Thunder send Seattle to their 6th straight defeat, holding the Dragons to only 68 total yards rushing and keeping Leftwich under 50% passing. Jake Plummer struggled, throwing 3 picks in the game, or this one could have been a much bigger win for the Thunder.
TAMPA BAY 40 ST. LOUIS 27
Speaking of big wins, Tampa Bay had their best offensive game of the season. Daunte Culpepper threw for 3 scores and Willis McGahee added two more as the St. Louis defense just had no answers at all. Josh Freeman, and 101 yards from Antowain Smith, kept St. Louis in it early, but over the second half the Bandits just kept pulling away. The win pulls them up to 3-4, which is well within the playoff hunt in the Eastern Conference.
OHIO 31 CHICAGO 18
A shocker, and perhaps a confirmation that the move to sign Dereck Anderson was a good one for Coach Luginbill and the Glory. Anderson looked solid in the role of starter, completing 13 of 17 passes for 218 and 3 scores, while the combination of Eddie George and Kevin Smith rushed for 118 combined yards. The Ohio defense also deserves kudos, with 4 picks of Brady Quinn. While Michael Turner did well to gain 116 yards, the passing game of the Machine was rattled and never found its way in this one.
Why Don’t We Talk about Denver?
This is a question we get asked by Gold fans all the time. How do we not ever talk about the Gold? Sure, they are not a flashy team, and they don’t have the biggest stars, but all they do is win, year in and year out. That is absolutely the case this year, when the Gold tout the league’s top scoring defense, allowing only 11.9 points per game. They are deadly against the run, and, despite not having an All-USFL edge rusher, they lead the league with 36 sacks in 7 games. The balance of the defense is impressive, with 7 players having 3 or more sacks, led by DE Ryan Denney’s 6 and Kamerion Wimberley’s 5. The offense is not too shabby either, currently 4th in the USFL with an average of 22.7 points per game.
Denver is a team without a lot of stars, but with a solid game plan each and every week, and, after 7 weeks, the best record in the West. They already have a 2-game lead on the closest division rival (Texas at 4-3), and they are both 5-0 in the Western Conference and 2-0 in division. Don’t look now, but the team no one ever talks about could well become the talk of the town this season. With Oakland and Michigan both missing their star QB’s, the season feels like it is lining up for the Gold to take a serious run at their second title. There is a long season ahead, but we might all want to start watching, and talking about, the Gold this year.
Are Michigan and Oakland in Danger?
The answer seems to be yes. Losses this week by both division leaders have forced both into ties with teams that are beginning to feel like they can leapfrog the favorites. Las Vegas has won 3 in a row and has a legitimate defense to deal with. Pittsburgh has done one better, winning 4 in a row after a 1-2 start. They too have a legitimate defense as their main threat. And while we are at it, don’t count out Chicago or Portland as well.
If the QB situation for both the Invaders and the Panthers continues to hamstring both teams’ offenses, it is very possible that division rivals take advantage and upend the defending champions to take over the lead in the Central and the Pacific divisions. But what options do Oakland or Michigan have other than to muddle through, focus on the run game and defense, and hope their backups build up some confidence? We try to answer that question below, but for now we leave it as a question to be debated. Can either clu hold onto first place without their star QBs?
Could Favre Come Back Again?
It may seem like a ridiculous question, but with two playoff frontrunners staring down the loss of their starting QBs and desperate for answers, could one of them reach out to Favre and convince him to come back for one more title run? Stranger things have happened. We have not received any official word from either the Oakland Invaders or the Michigan Panthers that they are looking at Favre, but why wouldn’t they? When you consider that the two best unsigned options right now are former USFL and NFL quarterback Trent Green, who retired from the NFL after the 2009 season, and former USFL and CFL signal caller, Charlie Batch, who has been in the CFL since 2006, but is currently without a team. Unlike NFL players, CFL players whose contracts have run out are available without any transfer window needed. That is what limits USFL teams from signing any unsigned NFL free agents, players like Chad Pennington during the months between the two transfer windows, a reality that severely limits the options that Coach LeBeau or Coach Green have if they want to sign a new option at QB for the rest of this season.
With Bob Volek and Drew Stanton the current starters for the two preseason favorites, the temptation has to be there to sign a QB who immediately brought a title to Memphis 3 years ago. He has been retired only about 9 months, so he is the “freshest” of the three options we have named, and certainly the quality is there as a QB. But is Favre interested? Are either of these teams interested? We may find out soon as we draw closer and closer to the Week 10 trade deadline, meaning that help from another USFL team is quickly becoming a non-option. We will see how Michigan fares with Stanton at QB in his second game this week, when the Panthers visit Chicago in a key Saturday night divisional matchup. Oakland has won with Volek and will have him on the field again this week when they visit St. Louis, but we still cannot help but wonder what Favre would look like in sky blue and yellow.
Another rough week on the injury front with two more players added to IR and several others who could miss serious time. Boston got the news that WR Joe Jurevicious not only broke 3 ribs, but that one rib caused a punctured lung, a complication that will slow his progress considerably, forcing Boston to place the wideout on IR for the rest of the season. Nothing quite that dramatic for Arizona LB Karlos Dansby, but the fracture in his pelvic bone is a big deal, and will require at least 2 months to heal before he can start rehabbing, so he too ends up on IR.
Two other players got slightly better diagnoses, but could still miss the next 2 months, returning right at the end of the regular season. Those are FS Marcus Wimberley of Birmingham (back) and New Jersey linebacker Keith Mitchell (knee). Ohio corner Ashton Youboty is expected to be out at least 3 weeks with a hamstring tear, while another corner, Baltimore’s Nnambi Asomugha could miss 2-3 weeks with a neck injury.
Better news for WR Malcolm Floyd of Nashville, whose shoulder may allow him to return to action in 1-2 weeks. We also have several players who are listed as questionable this week, including HB Deuce McCallister (toe), DT Haloti Ngata (elbow), CB Ronde Barber (finger), WR Marques Colston (concussion), and, as mentioned earlier, Orlando QB Drew Brees.
Rookie Review
Seven weeks into the season, nearly at the midpoint, and time to assess where the rookie class of 2010 is. We have seen both blue chip QBs get starts, had time for running backs and receivers to make an impact, and for defenders to step into new roles for their clubs. So who is shining and who has yet to make their mark. Let’s take a look at all 28 teams and highlight their rookie players to see how the Draft Class of 2010 is shaping up.
ARIZONA: TE Rob Gronkowski and LB Pat Angerer were the two stars of the draft for Arizona, and both have gotten off to slow starts. Gronkowski has caught only 8 of the 27 passes thrown his way, though certainly part of that is issues with David Carr’s accuracy. His best game was in Week 2, when he had 60 yards receiving and his lone TD to date. For Angerer it has also been mixed results, as he has 17 tackles on the season, serving primarily as a swing linebacker behind Napoleon Harris or Karlos Dansby. With Dansby going down to injury, we expect to see a lot more of the rookie LB moving forward.
ATLANTA: The rookie story for the Fire is all about wide receiver Demaryious Thomas. Starting opposite Josh Reed, who leads the league in receiving yards, Thomas has drawn a lot of coverage, making life easier for Reed, but he has also produced, with 32 receptions through 7 games, including 3 scores. Thomas has been a key factor in Atlanta’s rise to the Top 5 in scoring and yards, opening up a passing game for Kyle Orton that in past years had been too predictable.
BALTIMORE: Of the two defenders picked by Baltimore in the draft, LB Brandon Spikes has been the only one to make an impact. The rookie backer has 22 tackles in 7 games and has worked his way into the LB group rotation, particularly on passing downs. For DE Alex Carrington the story has been a frustrating one, as he has rarely made the field, and was a healthy scratch in 3 of 7 weeks. Not what Baltimore hoped for when they drafted the big man.
BIRMINGHAM: Auburn HB Ben Tate has shown some flashes, but largely serves as a replacement for Felix Jones over the first 7 games. Tate has 52 attempts to Jones’s 79, despite the fact that his 3.6 YPC is significantly better than Jones’s 2.7 average. The two continue to share touches, with Tate’s biggest game coming in Week 5, when he garnered 16 carries for 73 yards.
BOSTON: To say that Boston’s 2010 draft has not produced much benefit would be an understatement. They signed only 4 of their 10 picks, and only safety Taylor Mayes has seen any playing time. Mayes has 5 tackles on the year, 3 of them on special teams. So Boston is getting pretty much no help from their rookies so far.
CHARLOTTE: Linebacker Rolando McClain has been the high-energy, high-ferocity player that the Monarchs had hoped for. He still struggles in pass coverage, but against the run he has been strong. He has 30 tackles, including 2 sacks, so far on the season and is 4th on the team. A strong start to his pro career.
CHICAGO: QB Mike Kafka was a surprise revelation in the first half of the season, subbing for an injured Brady Quinn and looking very much like a future starter in his 2-game appearance. But, with Quinn back, Kafka is back to holding a clipboard. The other big signing, Notre Dame wideout Golden Tate, has had a slow start, with only 7 receptions on 9 targets over the seasons’ first 7 games. With Donald Driver and Anquon Boldin set as the starters, Tate has seen mostly “fill in” duty. He is not well suited to be a slot receiver, and Chicago prefers 2 WR sets anyway, so his opportunities have been limited.
DENVER: Ndamukong Suh’s 17 tackles and 1 sack do not really tell the story of the rookie DT. With him in the lineup, Denver has improved their defense to become the best in the league in scoring, allowing only 11.9 points per game, and the run defense has been impressive, limiting opponents to only 61 yards per game. Suh cannot get all the credit, but his presence in the middle has certainly helped Denney, Wimberley and the LB group find room to excel. We are not seeing amazing stats out of Suh, but when you watch the film, you can see the impact his presence is having on offenses.
HOUSTON: Guard Jon Asamoah has started on the left side all season and has rated well. He has given up a couple of sacks, but overall his performance has been strong for the Gamblers. DE Jerry Hughes, the bigger name rookie, has played some spot duty behind Kavika Pittman, brought in mostly on early downs. No big numbers yet, but that is to be expected as on obvious passing downs it is still Pittman and Umenyiura on the field.
JACKSONVILLE: While fan excitement has been focused on QB Tim Tebow, it has really been HB C. J. Spiller who has had the bigger role in the early season. Spiller has 246 yards and 2 TDs so far on the season, splitting time with another small back in Travis Minor. Jacksonville has yet to really make use of Spiller in the passing game, in part a product of his issues picking up blocking duties, but also a sign that the QB position has been in flux. With Tebow now the starter, having taken over for Josh McCown in Week 6, there is hope that run-pass options will make both Tebow and Spiller more effective weapons than we saw with McCown. Tebow has 2 TDs and 4 picks in his first 2 starts, so he will need to focus a bit more on ball security. He has had some success running, particularly scrambling when an open receiver is hard to find, but we are not seeing as many run calls for him as we might have expected from Coach Frazier.
LAS VEGAS: Not much was expected of Las Vegas’s small 3-person draft class, and not much has come from it either. Utah tackle Zane Beadles is buried on the depth chart and DE Koa Misi has all of 3 tackles in spot duty behind Vonnie Holliday and Erasmus James. So, not a lot to report here.
LOS ANGELES: When the best thing you can say about a draft class is that the late round rookie punter, Zoltan Mesko, is doing well with a 44.7 average, you know you have a draft class that is not making a huge difference for your team. USC DE Everson Griffen has rarely seen the field, and OT Charles Brown is mostly used on the field goal team, so it has not been a banner group for LA.
MEMPHIS: Perhaps the story of the draft has been the immediate success of the 2 Penn State LBS, with Philly’s Sean Lee and Memphis’s LB NaVorro Bowman making immediate impacts on the field. For NaVorro, six sacks and 37 tackles have made him a player to watch, and for offenses to worry about over the season’s first 7 weeks.
MICHIGAN: The Panthers slotted OK State’s Russell Okung in at right tackle from week one, and the big man has proven to be both a solid pass protector and run blocker. He did give up the sack that cost Brian Griese the season, but it was a blitz that forced him to deal with two oncoming defenders, so not an ideal situation at all for the rookie tackle.
NASHVILLE: While safety Eric Berry has not seen much action outside of special teams, the Knights have to be happy with the early results from HB Montario Hardesty. The rookie back has only 47 touches compared to the 159 for Frank Gore, but he is averaging 5 yards per carry in relief of the Nashville bell cow back. He has also proven to be a solid receiving option and a decent chip blocker, so expect to see more of Hardesty on the field, especially if Nashville wants to keep Gore fresh for a playoff run.
NEW JERSEY: After injury to Ryan Fitzpatrick got Sam Bradford on the field, the OU product has had mixed results. He is struggling to make quick reads, but when he does have a receiver, he has been accurate and shown the arm strength we saw in Norman. So far, in 3 starts, he has 3 TDs to only 1 pick, a good ratio for a rookie QB. The question now is whether a healing Fitzpatrick gets the job back or does Bradford go the rest of the way this season. We should also say that CB Devin McCourty has also proven to be a good choice for New Jersey. They rookie corner has 28 tackles and 9 pass defenses and is proving a solid #2 option behind Nate Clemments.
NEW ORLEANS: Neither Earl Thomas nor Brandon LaFell are lighting the world on fire, but both are contributing and are regulars on the field. Thomas has 23 tackles and a pick at free safety, while LaFell has 11 receptions for 197 yards and a score when he comes in to replace either Dwayne Bowe or Santana Moss.
OAKLAND: While not the impact player of Denver’s Suh, DT Tyson Alualu has had some good games. He has 11 tackles so far on the year, subbing mostly when Sedrick Ellis needs a breather, and he has proven to be a good space-occupier, making life a bit easier for DE’s Justin Smith and Israel Idonije. We expect to see him on the field more as the season continues.
OHIO: The Glory have had a rough year, but their six draft picks have had some moments. WR Aurrelious Benn currently leads the team with 20 receptions as teams have double and triple covered Joey Galloway. He has yet to score his first pro touchdown, but he is proving to be reliable as a route runner. Cornerback Joe Haden has proven to be just as valuable on the defensive side, leading the team with 2 picks and making 36 tackles over the season’s first 7 weeks. The third consistent contributor is center Eric Olsen, who has subbed for Incognito at the position, but also filled in at guard when called upon.
ORLANDO: The revelation of the draft class for Orlando has been DE Arthur Moats. With Calais Campbell getting all the attention on the left side, Moats has somewhat quietly racked up 6 sacks this year, helping Orlando to put pressure on opposing QBs. He struggles a bit against the run, so we are likely to see him as more of a 3rd down player, at least for now, but on passing plays, he is finding ways to get to the QB.
PHILADELPHIA: What can we say about the quick maturation of Sean Lee as the MLB in Philly? He leads the team with 58 tackles, on pace for a 100-tackle rookie campaign. He is solid against the run and has looked decent in pass coverage as well. What has been most impressive is the leadership he has shown in his first year.
PITTSBURGH: Two receivers in the draft class for Pittsburgh. Slot receiver Victor Cruz has 2 TDs on the year, but needs to see more tosses his way, targeted only 19 times in 7 games. TE Jimmy Graham has 11 catches for 106 yards and is working well with Owen Daniels in the 2-TE sets that the Maulers like to run.
PORTLAND: Guard Mike Iupati has been the only rookie to consistently see playing time for Portland. He is holding up well on the right side but has given up 3 sacks this year. Mitch Petrus, the other guard signed by the Stags has seen only spot action in games so far.
SEATTLE: Jahvid Best was given the starting role at HB for the Dragons, but has struggled, averaging only 2.5 yards per carry. Ladell Betts has been seeing more action due to concerns about Best as a lead back. He has proven a decent option in the passing game, but unless he can be reliable as a 1st and 2nd down rusher, we expect Best to continue to platoon with Betts.
ST. LOUIS: A good rookie group with 4 players seeing a lot of action. SS Kendrick Lewis has been all that St. Louis could hope for in his rookie year, with 32 tackles already. Corner Jordan Pugh has seen most of his action at the nickel corner position and has 14 tackles and a pick for the Skyhawks. On offense, tackle Brian Bulaga has looked good at RT after making the switch from his college position on the left. TE tony Moeaki has not unseated Fred Baxter, but has been a good complement, with 10 receptions on the season so far.
TAMPA BAY: Of the two big defensive signings for the Bandits, it is CB Patrick Robinson who has had the more immediate impact. Currently leading the team with 50 tackles, Robinson has proven capable of coming up to tackle rushers, and while he may be giving up a few too many catches to opposing receivers, his tackling has been solid. Robinson also has 2 picks on the season, which is a good start for a rookie thrust into the #1 CB slot. As for Jason Pierre-Paul, he has only 4 tackles and no sacks, and has mostly been used when Derrick Harvey or Derrick Burgess need a breather.
TEXAS: With little production from DT Terrell Troupe or WR Jordan Shipley, the best rookie on the team has been RT Rodger Saffold, who has been a very good addition to the run blocking scheme and has done relatively well at pass protection, giving up 2 sacks, but with a QB in Flacco who holds the ball a long time, that is not bad at all.
WASHINGTON: QB Joe Webb was not expected to play much, but an injury to David Garrard thrust Webb into a start in Week 2, and the rookie did OK. He has 2 TDs and 1 pick, along with 279 yards on the season, is learning the game, and has physical tools that do remind many of Kordell Stewart (perhaps a lower cost version of Kordell). DT Geno Atkins has worked his way into the D-line rotation and has 14 tackles over the first 7 weeks, a solid, if not flashy addition to the Federals’ D.
So, there you have it, if we had to guess as to the top candidates for Rookie of the Year, our money would likely be on one of the two new starters at QB, either Tebow or Bradford, but watch out for Bowman of Nashville, who may not have the sizzle of a Tebow, but whose on field performance has been stellar.
Adidas Reveals a Simple, Traditional Look for the Stallions
The first of the four USFL teams that will get new designs along with new Adidas uniforms was revealed this week at Birmingham city hall. The new look Stallions showcase a look that is simplified, updated, but very much aligned with the tradition of the 1983 founding franchise. The gold is a little darker, a bit more on the grey scale, and the red is richer and deeper. The striping is simplified, with a thick tapered stripe running from the facemask back to the ¾ mark of the rear helmet. A similar stripe is showcased on both the white and gold pant sets. The jerseys are also simplified, with no striping, only the primary logo on each sleeve. The white set is very reminiscent of the team down the road in Tuscaloosa, with the gold outlining also removed from the numbers, though the piping is present on the crimson jersey. It is a classic, traditional, and minimalist look.
While there is a new wordmark used with the primary logo, and Adidas introduced a monogram secondary logo (a B with a football serving as the center bar),the look is not a radical departure, more of a modest evolution of the look for Birmingham.
We expect that some other teams may see far more variation, but for now the response to the new look is one of overall approval, even with the three-stripe pattern which adidas uses as its trademark appearing on the sleeve cuffs and the collar.
FRIDAY @ 8pm ET ORLANDO (4-3) @ BALTIMORE (3-4) NBC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET WASHINGTON (5-2) @ NEW JERSEY (3-4) ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET PORTLAND (3-4) @ BIRMINGHAM (2-5) FOX
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET SEATTLE (1-6) @ NEW ORLEANS (4-3) FOX
SATURDAY @ 4pm ET LOS ANGELES (2-5) @ HOUSTON (3-4) ABC
SATURDAY @ 4pm ET PITTSBURGH (5-2) @ OHIO (2-5) FOX
SATURDAY @ 8pm ET MICHIGAN (5-2) @ CHICAGO (4-3) ESPN
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET TAMPA BAY (3-4) @ JACKSONVILLE (3-4) ABC
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET MEMPHIS (3-4) @ ATLANTA (3-4) ABC
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET NASHVILLE (5-2) @ BOSTON (3-4) FOX
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET OAKLAND (5-2) @ ST. LOUIS (1-6) ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET LAS VEGAS (5-2) @ CHARLOTTE (3-4) FOX
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET PHILADELPHIA (6-1) @ ARIZONA (2-5) FOX
SUNDAY @ 8pm ET TEXAS (4-3) @ DENVER (6-1) ESPN & EFN