Down to the wire games, upsets, and big performances from big name players. That is what the USFL wants to see, and that is what we got as the 2010 USFL season reached the midpoint with a ton of great games and some surprising results. Not many picked St. Louis to knock off Oakland, especially with Bob Volek throwing for 300 yards. Fewer picked Arizona to upend Philadelphia, or for Boston to knock off Nashville, and yet, here we are. A lot to talk about as we review Week 8, look at where all 28 teams stand at the midway point, and revise our predictions moving forward. All right now on This Week in the USFL.
MICHIGAN PANTHERS 27 CHICAGO MACHINE 26
A strong case could be made by either team that this was as close to a must-win game as you could have in the first half of the season. Michigan was reeling, having lost the 2009 Offensive Player of the Year, and the key player in their offense. They had looked pretty bad in their first game with Drew Stanton under center. As for Chicago, sitting at 4-3, a win would pull them even with Michigan and keep them right in the thick of the Central Division race. But only one of the two could win this game. It would come down to the final 30 seconds before we would know who that would be.
It certainly did not look good or Michigan early. Not only did they trail Chicago 3-0 as the first quarter was winding down, but on a 3rd and 8, Drew Stanton took a huge shot from Rocky Boiman, just as he was getting rid of the ball. The hit took Stanton out of the game, meaning that 3rd stringer, Shaun Hill would go the rest of the way. Hill, who had 1 start in the league back in 2005, has only appeared in one regular season game since. He would have to lead Michigan in this game.
And he did just that. On his first drive, relying heavily on the Panther run game, and connecting on his first 2 passes, Hill got the Panthers into scoring range, and former NFL back Thomas Jones did the rest, hitting on a 12-yard run to get the ball to the 7 and 2 plays later taking the ball into the endzone to give Michigan a surprising 7-3 lead. It was the beginning of a day that even the most die hard Panther fans could have anticipated.
Chicago responded to the Panther TD with one of their own, as Brady Quinn connected with Anquon Boldin to go up 10-7. But Michigan again moved the ball well, mixing up screens, draws, inside runs, and short slants. A 46-yard kick by Matt Prater equalized the score. Chicago would add one more Tim Seder kick just before half and this game went into the break with the Machine holding onto a shaky 13-10 lead.
Chicago would receive the opening kickoff of the second half, and they would aim to put Michigan down by 10. Quinn connected with Donald Driver for one of his 9 receptions on the day, then with Anthony Fasano, before turning it over to the run game. With Michael Turner dinged up, it would be Maurice Clarett getting the lion’s share of carries, and on his third carry of third carry of the drive Clarett busted through and rumbled 37 yards for a score that got the Chicago fans on their feet.
Trailing by 10 at the 10-minute mark of the third quarter, Coach Mornhinweg opened things up for Hill, and the veteran backup responded. On a day when he would go 17 of 26 for 228 yards, Hill found Hines Ward for his first TD of the day and pulled Michigan right back into the game. Chicago would back then up again with another Seder kick, but, as the 4th quarter began, Michigan trailing 23-17 meant that they were within one score despite playing with their 3rd string QB.
That tenuous lead would not survive the quarter. Midway through the final period, Hill again found open receivers, moved the ball down the field, helped in part by a nice run by mike Hart and an acrobatic catch by Ward. Michigan moved the ball down to the Chicago 1, and on a quick flip, Hill found Mario Manningham and the Panthers had a 24-23 lead with 7:43 left to play. Soldier field fell quiet as the very real possibility that Michigan could win this game sunk home.
The Machine offense had two tasks, get the lead back, and leave Shaun Hill no time to do anything about it. They completed the first part of the job at hand, using up nearly 6 minutes on an 11-play drive, but once again had to settle for a field goal. Seder connected from 37 yards out, but they left Michigan 1:45 and had only a 26-24 lead. Shaun Hill would have a chance to be a hero.
Michigan took the kickoff out of the endzone and got it out to the 23. That is where Hill and the Panthers would take over. With 2 time outs left and no time to run the ball, it would all be on Hill, and the unheralded “emergency” QB would have to move the team efficiently. On his first play he dumped the ball down to FB Jerome Felton for 6. A quick toss to Manningham again got the Panthers a first down. It was followed by an incompletion, but on 2nd down Hill found Joppru over the middle and the big man rumbled for 12. Another pass to Coles and the Panthers were already on the fringe of field goal range. They wanted to get closer, because Prater, while an excellent kicker from inside 45 yards, has had issues with deep kicks. Hill handed off to Thomas Jones on first down, a play that gained only 2 yards, but on 2nd down Hill connected with Hines Ward and placed the ball at the 22. One more pass, this time to Coles, and the ball was on the 10 with 25 seconds to go. They used Thomas to center the ball. Chicago called a time out, and Michigan brought out Prater on 2nd down to win the game.
Prater connected and Michigan got an unlikely and unexpected road win against one of the toughest rivals in the division. They may have also found themselves a QB they can believe in as Hill finished with a 118.8 QB rating against a very solid Chicago defense. He was cool under pressure and he got the job done when it was most necessary.
ORLANDO 20 BALTIMORE 21
Knowshon Moreno outgains Ron Dayne 111-68, but Dayne gets the last laugh as his 4th quarter TD gives Baltimore a 1-point win in a game that saw both teams battle in the trenches for 60 minutes. Receivers Tory Holt and Darius Heyward-Bey were the stasr for Baltimore, with DHB catching 7 passes for 111 yards, while Holt caught both TD tosses from Big Ben in a must win game for the Blitz.
WASHINGTON 28 NEW JERSEY 23
Sam Bradford’s big day (302 yards on 34 of 51 throwing) kept New Jersey in it, but a rushing TD from QB David Garrard, who is playing a lot like Kordell Stewart in recent weeks, and solid run defense helped Washington get the win at the end.
PORTLAND 24 BIRMINGHAM 23
Portland struggled early but rallied late to knock off the Stallions. It took a 47 yard Crosby field goal with only seconds left to give the visitors the win after Birmingham took the early lead and held it most of the game. Jonathan Stewart’s 109 yards rushing was due to Coach Brooks never giving up on the run despite a slow start, and that paid off in the end.
SEATTLE 25 NEW ORLEANS 18
A fluke loss by the Breakers or is Seattle once again waking up very late into the season? Byron Leftwich threw for 3 scores and the combo of Betts and Best combined for 90 yards rushing as Seattle shocked the Super Dome with 17 unanswered points to shift an 18-7 deficit into a 25-18 win. Nate Burleson and Chris Chambers both caught Leftwich TD tosses in the 4th quarter to stun the Breaker faithful and get Seattle only its second win of the season.
LOS ANGELES 8 HOUSTON 17
It was all about the defenses in this one as both teams frustrated the opposing QB’s and held the run games in check. Maurice Jones-Drew led all rushers with only 53 yards, but Houston got a TD from Shaun Alexander and another on a Hasselbeck to Sims-Walker throw, and that was enough to outlast the Express and move back to .500.
PITTSBURGH 23 OHIO 15
The Battle of I-70 goes to to the Maulers as they sack Dereck Anderson 6 times and rely on DeShaun Foster’s 96 yards to pull out the road win. Cody Pickett was efficient for the Maulers, completing 23 of 36 passing, and finding slot receiver Victor Cruz for his lone TD of the day. Ohio struggled, with Eddie George limited to only 9 carries, and Joey Galloway to only 1 reception in the loss.
TAMPA BAY 13 JACKSONVILLE 6
The Bandits are at .500 and share the division lead after shutting down the Bulls and eking out a win on the road. A Devery Henderson TD was the difference as Tampa Bay and Jacksonville slugged it out. Tim Tebow was picked off twice as Tampa focused their pass rush on containment to avoid the big run. C. J. Spiller was nicked up in the game and finished with only 9 carries as Travis Minor took over midway through the 2nd.
MEMPHIS 20 ATLANTA 27
Atlanta also moves to 4-4 and a share of first in the SE Division thanks to a good defensive stand against Memphis. The Fire held Memphis to only 54 yards rushing, while Kyle Orton survived 2 picks and threw 2 TDs in a back and forth game that finally tilted Atlanta’s way with a late Orton to Josh Reed TD. Reed now leads the league in both receiving yards and TDs at the midway point of the season.
NASHVILLE 20 BOSTON 30
A surprise of a sort as the 5-point underdog Cannons rally behind Adrian McPherson’s 2 TD, 284 yard day to upend the Southern Division leaders. Boston sacked Jay Cutler 4 times, and got a pick-6 from CB Fred Smoot to stifle the Knights. Chad Johnson made a statement with 133 yards receiving, including a 57-yard TD catch at the end of the first half. Boston now moves to 4-4 and is very much alive in the Wild Card race.
OAKLAND 27 ST. LOUIS 29
St. Louis gets their second win of the year, but don’t blame Bob Volek for the Oakland loss. The former backup, pressed into service this year, threw for 401 yards and 3 scores, despite being sacked 6 times. Oakland had the lead with 2:08 left to play thanks to a Volek TD toss to Pierre Garçon, but the defense could not contain Josh Freeman, who completed 4 of 5 on the game-ending drive, with Rob Bironas kicking St. Louis to victory as time ran out.
LAS VEGAS 34 CHARLOTTE 14
With Oakland’s loss, Las Vegas took command of the Pacific Division with a convincing road win in Charlotte. Two Marshawn Lynch TD’s, a third from backup Earnest Graham, and a pick-six from Will Allen were more than enough to sink the Monarchs and move Las Vegas to 6-2 at the halfway mark. The Thunder sacked Chris Weinke 6 times and picked him off twice, including the Allen score, as Las Vegas looked to be in top form.
PHILADELPHIA 18 ARIZONA 21
A stunner at University of Phoenix Stadium as the Wrangler defense showed some backbone even with Karlos Dansby now on IR. CB Jimmy Williams had 10 tackles and a pick to lead the Wrangler D, whileDavid Carr, throwing only 16 passes, completing 11, still managed to throw 3 TDs on the day, with scoring throws to Fitzgerald, Osgood, and Antonio Bryant as Arizona stuns the Stars.
TEXAS 19 DENVER 6
A great result for Texas as they go up to the Mile High City, knock Matt Leinart out of the game (on a legitimate play, no dirty stuff) and then terrorize rookie Dan LeFevour into 2 picks. T. J. Duckett did the rest with 100 yards on 23 carries as Texas pulls within 1 game of the Gold in the SW Division. Texas got only 10 points on offense, as 9 of their 19 points came from a Clyde Adams pick-six and a safety as Chris Harrington sacked LeFevour in the endzone.
No QB Deals, But Trades Are Shaking Things Up
We may not have seen Oakland or Michigan make QB moves, and after this week’s performances by Volek and Shaun Hill, but that does not mean that teams were not wheeling and dealing. We saw several teams make moves ahead of a playoff push and one really interesting trade that sent two disgruntled players across the county. We start there with a trade of two starters between the Generals and the Express.
Both LA and New Jersey are still alive, but trailing in their divisions, and both were dealing with halfbacks who had not only failed to meet expectations, but who were getting vocal about their role on the offense and the lack of connection between their skills and the type of play they were being asked to make. We will see if the two halfbacks benefit from a change of scenery. On Wednesday New Jersey and LA made a deal that would send Ray Rice to the West Coast, far from his Rutgers roots, and send Maurice Jones-Drew to New Jersey, also quite far from his college home, UCLA. We expect both will get some snaps this week, backing up Maurice Morris and J. D. Redmond in the short term before proving their worth as starters. It’s a weird trade, to be sure, but it does make some sense and does give both backs a chance to start fresh.
The other meaningful moves this week were all of the same ilk, a contender making a deal to bring a solid player to the team and trading away either depth players or draft picks, or a combo of both. Perhaps the best of these moves saw Las Vegas add some real stopping power by acquiring DT Kyle Williams from the Charlotte Monarchs. Williams will line up next to Haloti Ngata to form a very formidable 4-man front. Charlotte basically gets a 2nd round pick for their defensive run stuffer. Seems a bit uneven, but it seems clear as well that Coach Mora is looking to the future after a 3-5 start has Charlotte hoping to make more moves.
Another DT hit the road as teams try to solidify their run defenses. In this case it was Houston hoping to make a run at the SW Division and struggling to play solid run defense. They make a deal with Birmingham, sending WR Arnaz Battle and a 3rd rounder to the Stallions in trade for veteran DT John McCargo. McCargo is a very solid run-stuffing DT and should help Houston as they face LT in Arizona, Duckett with Texas, and Denver’s 2-headed HB duo.
LA continued to deal, clearly envisioning a rebuild after a 2-6 start. They send veteran LB Akin Ayodele to Denver, who will put him in the middle, freeing up Shawne Merriman to shift to the strong side to an already solid Gold defense. In return, LA gets LB Leon Joe and a 4th round pick in the upcoming 2011 draft. The move also means that USC grad Clay Matthews now moves into a starting role and out of his swing position.
Finally, Chicago made a deal to strengthen their secondary, acquiring Rashaud Bauman from the Bulls in trade for slot receiver Johnny Knox and a 4th round pick. Baumann will likely take over as the #2 secondary, while Knox will have to earn his place as the top slot receiver for the Bulls.
Some big deals, and certainly some intrigue around the Express and their moves, but we all expected a QB to be moved, and are somewhat surprised not to see one sent off. There are still two weeks before the Week 10 trade deadline, so it is not too late to see some movement. But, will it be Michigan and Oakland as expected, or will someone else make a move to bring in a new option? We will have to wait and see.
Five Big Surprises of the First Half
We will provide our team by team breakdown of the first half of the season and the upcoming 8 weeks in just a bit, but we thought we would pull out from the first 8 weeks the five things which have surprised us the most about the 2010 USFL season. Lots of suggestions, lots of debate, and, honestly a hard time limiting this to just five surprises, but here they are.
5) The Sudden Success of Kyle Orton in Atlanta
Atlanta fans have gotten the best kind of surprise this season as things have really started to click for Kyle Orton. With 16 TD passes to 5 interceptions, and nearly 2,000 yards at the halfway point of the season, we are seeing a major upgrade in Orton’s play over past seasons. His QB rating has jumped from 85.9 in 2009 to 101.7 this year, and his 15:13 TD:INT ratio is now better than 3:1. This has helped keep Atlanta very much in a tight race in the Southern Division. He has had help, with the emergence of Josh Reed and a strong rookie season from Demaryius Thomas, but Orton deserves a lot of credit for working on his game in the offseason and making this very welcome change to his game.
4) Baltimore’s Defensive Meltdown
Unfortunately for Blitz fans, the surprise coming out of their camp is not one that has led to success. Following a strong 3-0 start to the season, Baltimore has dropped 4 of 5 to finish the first half a .500, and a big reason for that collapse has been the failure of their defense. Baltimore trails only St. Louis for the worst scoring defense in the league, giving up nearly 25 points per game. They are the worst team in the league against the run, giving up 138 yards per game, including big games by Knowshon Moreno (111 yards), Deuce McCallister (169), Rashard Mendenhall (159), and Steve Slaton (159) in just the past 5 weeks. We all expected that the loss of Jared Allen and James Farrior could be an issue, but after a strong start, it seems clear that the Blitz have not found a solution. They brought in former Miami Dolphin Jason Taylor to build up the pass rush, but he is not in the game on most early downs, and the current front 7 led by DT Jeff Zgonina and LB Angelo Crowell is just not holding up. If the defense continues to allow teams to run all over the Blitz, a .500 record by season’s end would be a surprise.
3) Washington’s 6-2 Start
We saw a lot of retirements of star QB’s last year, but while Ohio and Boston in particular have struggled to succeed without their former star, Washington seems to be doing just fine. David Garrard, while not lighting up opponents, is doing enough to keep defenses honest, and with the third best run game in the league (and All-USFL back Deuce McCallister), the Federals are 4th in the year in scoring and 7th in total yards, both numbers few would have predicted for them this season. Add to that a defense that has 18 takeaways already this year and you have a 6-2 club that is vying for the division title, not one reeling to recover from the loss of their star QB.
2) Denver’s Run Game
Ask even pretty savvy fans around the country which club has the top run game in the USFL and you are almost certain to hear about Washington, with Deuce; Baltimore, with Ron Dayne, or Texas with T. J. Duckett. The team you would not expect to be at the top is the Denver Gold, and yet there they are. But while Dayne and Duckett battle for the top spot on the rushing leaderboard with just over 600 yards each, the combination of Maurice Hicks (490) and Javon Ringer (428) has Denver at the top of the ranknigs with over 900 yards total rushing on the year. They have become the model of the 1-2 punch or the 2-headed monster. And what makes this combo so interesting is that this is not a Thunder & Lightning combo as we have seen in the past. Not one big back and one scat back, these are two players who are very much alike one another, quick, one cut backs with decent hands and a good first move. That both could end the season with over 900 yards rushing, possible over 1,000, is an amazing feat, and one that has to be making Coach Jauron very happy, as you know his goal is to control the clock and keep a fresh defense, something they are doing better than any team in the league.
1) Texas’s No-Name Defense
Last season Texas was a hot pick to rise up and challenge, but a 5-9 season was all that fans got. It appears we were a year too soon as the arrival of Greg Landry as the new Head Coach has brought to Texas a club that has already matched their win total from last year and is looking very much like a contender. What is perhaps more surprising is how they are doing it. Landry, a former USFL QB, was viewed as a QB guru, signed on to help Joe Flacco mature into a quality USFL starter. He is doing well with Flacco, who has improved his QB Rating from 74.0 last year to 91.6 this year, bu the biggest transformation has been on defense, where the Outlaws now boast the second best scoring defense in the league, allowing only 13 points per game. They also have one of the best pass defenses in the USFL, holding opponents under 200 yards per game.
Texas is doing all this without huge NFL signings, or major trades. They have built through the draft and have put together a team-first defensive scheme. Linebacker Chad Greenway is having one of his best seasons with 67 tackles already (an average of over 8 per game), while DE Reynaldo Wynn is on pace for 16 or more sacks and CB Michael Boulware is becoming one of the best cover corners in the league. They may not be household names right now, but if they can keep this up all year, Texas’s defenders may well start to get the recognition they deserve.
We are in midseason form on the field, but that also means midseason forma on the injury list as well. The two biggest hits this week were against cornerbacks as Baltimore will lose Chris McAllister for the season with a ruptured quad, while Arizona's Duane Starks is also now on IR after tearing a bicep. Not quite so bad, but a big loss for Atlanta is DE Chris Kelsay, who will be out at least 5-6 weeks with a wrist injury. A similar diagnosis in New Jersey for LB Keith Mitchell and his knee.
Players listed as doubtful or out for Week 9, but expected back soon include TBY wideout Davone Best (knee), Texas's leading sack artist, Reynaldo Wynn (hip), Denver QB Matt Leinart (deept thight bruise), and Philadelphia center Matt Birk (hamstring). Questionable for this week are Charlotte LB Rey Maualaga, Birmingham LB D'Onte Curry, and New Orleans HB Michael Robinson.
Midseason Report
Eight weeks down, eight to go. So where do the 28 USFL clubs stand? What is each club’s strength and biggest concern? How do we think they will finish? We look at all 28 teams and where they are right now, looking back at the first half and looking ahead at the weeks to come. Here is our assessment of each team as we head into the second half of the year.
LAS VEGAS THUNDER (6-2)
Biggest First Half Success Story: June Jones was brought in to liven up the Las Vegas offense, but he knows what he has with this team, so it is not a surprise that at the midway point the Thunder are 2nd in the league in rushing and Top 5 in scoring defense. Marshawn Lynch is using the spread formations June Jones has brought to the desert to run against 6, or even 5-man fronts, and that is making him more effective than ever.
Biggest First Half Issue: It seems clear that the Jake Plummer that the Thunder have is not the same player he was in his glory years in Arizona. He is still a solid QB, and he can have moments, but even in the 4-game win streak that has brought Las Vegas to 6-2, his numbers have not been great. Will he be able to bring back some of the magic come playoff time, assuming Las Vegas is in that hunt?
Looking Ahead: With struggling Seattle and LA next up, we could see Vegas at 8-2 before a tougher stretch of games in Weeks 11-16. If Oakland continues to struggle, the Thunder have to be the frontrunners to take home the division title and possibly one of the 2 byes available in the conference.
Predicted Finish: From 6-2, we see an 11-5 final record as a very makeable goal. That should be good enough for a Top 2 seed and a bye week.
OAKLAND INVADERS (5-3)
Biggest First Half Success Story: The run defense has been solid in Oakland for several years now, and this year is no exception as the Invaders are allowing only 70 yards per game. That is making opponents one-dimensional, and allowing Justin Smith to focus on getting to the QB. CB Eric Wright is also benefitting, with 3 picks already this year. Oakland will need that defense to stay strong as they try to find life on offense after the season-ending injury to Joey Harrington.
Biggest First Half Issue: This would have to be Harrington’s injury. We are honestly a bit surprised that Oakland has stuck with Bob Volek and not brought in someone to challenge for starts. And yet, Volek has played solid football in his 4 starts, throwing 6 TDs to only 2 picks and helping keep Oakland afloat. We are not sure afloat is good enough in the long run, but unless there is a surprise coming, it does appear that Volek has Coach Green’s confidence.
Looking Ahead: The next two weeks will tell us a lot. With divisional games at Portland and Seattle, Oakland has a chance to make a stand or to wither. Their hope has to be to remain within 1 game of Las Vegas until the final week, when the two face off at the Coliseum, Oakland hoping the division title is still in reach.
Predicted Finish: We just don’t know if the Invaders have enough to keep pace. We see games at Portland, vs. Nashville, at Denver, and vs. Houston on the schedule and we expect that Coach Green may have to be happy if his team can get a Wild Card. We are saying 9-7 is a good finish for this team.
PORTLAND STAGS (4-4)
Biggest First Half Success Story: We could look at Jonathan Stewart’s success in the first half, or the 642 yards put up by Roddy White, but it would be criminal to ignore the fact that the Stags enter the second half of the season with the top rated pass defense in the league. Allowing only 172 yards per game, Portland is doing it without being a high pressure team. Their sack leader is Jason Fisk with only 4 sacks, but the defensive schemes and a secondary led by DeAngelo Hall is getting the job done. As much of a no-name defense as you will find in the league, players like Terreal Bierria, Mike Rumph, Channing Crowder, and Marquand Manuel are getting the job done.
Biggest First Half Issue: A. J. Feeley appears to be regressing this season, and that is not a good thing. Whereas last year he managed 17 TDs to 12 picks, this year he has only 3 TD tosses in 8 games, a stunningly low number. The Stags will need more from their QB if they hope to contend in this division.
Looking Ahead: Next week’s game against Oakland, along with a Week 12 matchup in Las Vegas will go a long way to determining the season for the Stags. Their 4 wins so far have all come against teams with losing records, so there are questions about how real the threat they pose is.
Predicted Finish: We don’t see it. The Stags have some good players, but we don’t see enough week in and week out to pick them to make the playoffs. We see 8-8 as a likely end point for this club.
LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (2-6)
Biggest First Half Success Story: Not a lot has gone right for the Express this year. Perhaps the best thing we can say is that they absolutely have more big play capacity with Randy Moss lined up alongside Keyshawn Johnson. The two have combined for 994 yards and 9 TDs already this year, which is great, and yet, LA is still only 17th in the league in scoring.
Biggest First Half Issue: The run game with Maurice Jones-Drew was just not working, and with Drew getting more and more vocal about his role, the trade this week seems like a very good chance to reset the table and see if they can have more success with Ray Rice as their lead back. The only concern we see with that plan is that Rice’s production, and his attitude, have looked very much like MJD’s. Both backs have very similar styles, so what is the evidence that Rice will succeed where MJD struggled?
Looking Ahead: The good news for LA is that they will face 6 opponents in the final 8 weeks who are 4-4 or worse. The downside is that they are not likely to win all those matchups. The focus for the Express should be to expand their offense and keep building that defense around Keneche Udeze’s league leading 11 sacks.
Predicted Finish: Getting to 8-8 would be a huge accomplishment. We think 6-10 would even be a good second half for a team that has only gotten 2 wins so far this year.
SEATTLE DRAGONS (2-6)
Biggest First Half Success Story: Is it a positive to say that we have seen this story before? Seattle is the king of slow starts, but the past two seasons they have come alive in the second half. Do we see that this year? If it is going to happen, it will be the defense, not the offense that is likely to lead that charge.
Biggest First Half Issue: Why are we saying defense will win Seattle games? Well, because the offense has been horrible this year. Unlike the past two years when Byron Leftwich and Corey Dillon have bailed out the Dragons, this year Leftwich is struggling, and Dillon is retired. Seattle ranks 26th in scoring and 28th in the run game, and neither of those bode well for a second half rally.
Looking Ahead: Three of their next 4 games are against teams with winning records, including two division leaders. That is going to make for a rough 3rd quarter for the Dragons. They do face Portland twice in the final month, so perhaps they can focus on the Cascade Clash as their playoff this year.
Predicted Finish: Hard to see a rally this year, so we think that 5-11 or 4-12 is very likely what we will see as this club begins to rebuild.
DENVER GOLD (6-2)
Biggest First Half Success Story: The run game highlighted earlier in our article has been a great surprise, and it pairs very nicely with the #1 defense in both scoring and yards allowed. It is hard to run against the Gold, and harder yet to score. With their run game, Denver can control the clock and shorten games, keeping that defense fresh. It is not big play football, but it is winning football.
Biggest First Half Issue: Denver is 22nd in passing yards, which is not a crisis when you have the #1 run offense, but this is a team that cannot fall behind in games and rally. They have to either take the lead early or keep the game to 1 score to stay in games. When thy lost to Philly and Texas they struggled with that, and it showed.
Looking Ahead: Back to back games at Las Vegas and home to Washington will be good measures for this club. They have Texas just one game back, and will face the Outlaws in San Antonio in Week 15, so that could be the game that determines the title.
Predicted Finish: A team that can run the ball and stop the run is a tough team to beat. We think Denver may just be the frontrunner for the Conference Title, one that few people are taking note of. How does a 13-3 season sound to wake folks up?
TEXAS OUTLAWS (5-3)
Biggest First Half Success Story: We already highlighted the Outlaw defense, so how about we talke a bit about an undervalued part of this team, the receiving corps. The arrival of Dan Campbell at TE has given Joe Flacco three solid options on every pass play. Texas has 3 receivers over 300 yards for the year, which is not great individually, but means that this is a club that can beat you with several options.
Biggest First Half Issue: At 9.4 yards per reception, Texas is one of the teams most reliant on long, sustained drives, a far cry from the clubs who are going deep on a regular basis. That reliance on long drives means that Texas cannot make mistakes or drives stall. Penalties, missed passes and negative plays can derail a drive and leave Texas in a position where they are overreliant on their defense.
Looking Ahead: It will be tough to leapfrog over Denver, but staying on pace with the Gold could mean that the Week 15 showdown in the Alamodome is for the whole enchilada, and Texas loves enchiladas.
Predicted Finish: A real shot at a division title, though we think a Wild Card is more likely. We see 10-6 as a realistic finish for this club.
HOUSTON GAMBLERS (4-4)
Biggest First Half Success Story: Houston’s offense has been nicely balanced through 8 games, currently 7th in passing and 6th in rushing in the league. That balance means they can beat you in different ways, but it also means that they are not so exceptional in any one way to be able to be consistent.
Biggest First Half Issue: While the offense has improved this year, the defense is proving less effective than in the past. Kavika Pittman may be hitting the wall, as he is several sacks behind the league leaders, and the linebacking corps of Farrior, DeOssie, Brooking, and Burnett has struggled against the run, giving up 100 yards per game for 19th best in the league. It is not a bad defense per se, but it is no longer elite.
Looking Ahead: The strength of Denver and the rise of the Outlaws may well mean the end of Houston’s hopes to win the division. Starting out now at 4-4, they need to improve in the second half if they want to earn a Wild Card. Another 4-4 half to the year won’t likely do it.
Predicted Finish: We look at the upcoming schedule and we think 8-8 is a very likely scenario for a Gambler squad that just cannot rely on its defense to pull out games any longer.
ARIZONA WRANGLERS (3-5)
Biggest First Half Success Story: With 568 yards over 8 games, we could certainly say that the arrival of LaDainian Tomlinson has been great for the Wranglers, and they may well get their first 1,000 yard rusher in a decade, but the big story for Arizona is the year Larry Fitzgerald is putting up. He has over 700 yards already and is on pace for his first season over 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has benefitted enormously from the balance that LT has brought to the offense, but he is also an incredibly talented receiver.
Biggest First Half Issue: Ugh, that defense. This is a Wrangler team that gave up 37 points to St. Louis, which is not something we see very often. They are in the bottom half of the league in pretty much every category, something defensive-minded coach Jim Tomsula cannot be happy with.
Looking Ahead: The schedule for the Wranglers is not favorable. Getting to 6-10 would be a solid final half for them. Anything beyond that would be a sign that this club has figured some things out.
Predicted Finish: We think 3 more wins may be the ceiling for the Wranglers. They have too many tough matchups ahead to expect more. 6-10 and build for 2011.
MICHIGAN PANTHERS (6-2)
Biggest First Half Success Story: It is hard to say what has worked to get Michigan to 6-2 at the midway point. If we focus too much on the passing game, then we have to acknowledge that with Brian Griese’s injury, that feature of the club is very much an unknown. The run game has not been nearly as successful as in recent years after the departure of Justin Fargas to the NFL, although there is hope that Thomas Jones will be able to contribute as the season progresses. The defense is solid, particularly against the pass, but not dominant. What seems to really be working for the Panthers is the belief each week that they will win.
Biggest First Half Issue: As much as fans are dwelling on the Griese injury, we think the actual concern should be the run game. Mike Hart currently leads all Panther rushers with only 287 yards and a 3.7 per carry average. Leon Washington was not far behind with 271, and in 2 appearances since coming over from the NFL, Thomas Jones has averaged only 2.6 yards per carry to gain 106 yards. One of the three needs to emerge as a legitimate run threat or teams will put their full defensive attention on getting to either Shaun Hill or Drew Stanton, and we are not sure either QB is prepared for that.
Looking Ahead: We are just not sure if Michigan can continue to win games without Griese or a strong run game. They pulled off a big win against Chicago this week, but what if Hill’s strong performance was a fluke? What is plan B?
Predicted Finish: We think it is inevitable that Michigan will fade a bit, and in the Central that can be fatal. From 6-2, we think even a 4-4 finish is pretty good for Michigan, making them 10-6 and a likely playoff team.
PITTSBURGH MAULERS (6-2)
Biggest First Half Success Story: The Maulers have to be overjoyed with their acquisition of Jared Allen and the 9 sacks he has produced. His high-motor style has rubbed off on the entire defense, and it is not just Allen getting to the QB for the Maulers, it is a team effort as the club has 32 total sacks, good enough for 3rd in the league. That paired with solid run coverage gives Pittsburgh a defense the city can rally behind.
Biggest First Half Issue: The plan was for the Maulers to have a run-first philosophy, but the injury to DeShaun Foster and mixed results of the run game in general have forced the team to put more on Cody Pickett’s shoulders. Pickett is just not a QB who is going to carry an offense, so the Maulers have to do more to get their run game on track if they wish to balance their solid D with a viable offense.
Looking Ahead: The Maulers have won 5 in a row to reach the lofty 6-2 point at midseason. They have some very tough sledding ahead with both Michigan and Chicago on the schedule in the next 3 weeks. Win and they may well control their own destiny the rest of the way, stumble and the Maulers will struggle to catch up.
Predicted Finish: We like the Mauler’s chances. Michigan is going to have difficulties moving the ball, and Chicago is already 2 games back, so if they can just win 5 of 8 they could well win the division. We think 11-5 is possible for this Mauler squad.
CHICAGO MACHINE (4-4)
Biggest First Half Success Story: Sounds weird to say, but the Machine are currently the top scoring team in the USFL, averaging 26 points per game. For a team that made their name on defense and methodical offense, this is rarified air for them. What is even more interesting is that they are doing so well with an offense that is only 17th in yardage. That is actually a reflection on the D, which is producing takeaways and short fields for the offense to use.
Biggest First Half Issue: While the D is producing turnovers, they are also giving up too many big plays. Chicago currently ranks 27th against the pass, giving up far too many deep balls. They, of course, have a solid pass rush with Anthony Weaver leading the club with 10 sacks, Their secondary has made big plays, but the key may be whether they can get Rashad Bauman in place quickly. He could be a huge help to the defense down the stretch.
Looking Ahead: We are still puzzled by Chicago’s losses to Jacksonville, Ohio, and this week to a Shaun Hill-led Michigan. They need to clean up their pass coverage and try to get more out of the run game, but we think they could make a run in the second half if they do both.
Predicted Finish: Making up the 2 game lead of the Maulers and Panthers may be a lot to ask, but it has to be the goal for a relatively healthy Chicago club. We think 10 wins ( a 6-2 second half) will get them to the playoffs, but may not win them the division.
OHIO GLORY (2-6)
Biggest First Half Success Story: Perhaps the best thing to happen in a pretty rough 8-weeks for Ohio is the deal that brought Dereck Anderson to Columbus. Since arriving, nderson has thrown for 367 yards and 4 TDs without a pick. That is a significant step up from the production they were getting from Chris Redman. Can Anderson keep up the pace or will defenses catch on to his preferences? Hard to say, but at least the question is giving Ohio hope.
Biggest First Half Issue: Pretty much everything else. The team is 27th in yardage and the defense is not a heck of a lot better. They are giving up over 105 yards per game on the ground, and 307 yards per game total. Neither of those is a good sign for a club whose offense is looking old (Galloway and George in particular) and out of synch.
Looking Ahead: There were concerns that some of Ohio’s moved pointed to the club giving up on the season, but if Anderson can find some success with the Glory receiver group, they may just push to try to reach .500 by season’s end.
Predicted Finish: We think Ohio is simply at that phase of a franchise where they need to bottom out in order to rebuild. We expect they will likely end up with a total of 5-6 wins this season.
ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS (2-6)
Biggest First Half Success Story: The new-fangled offense of Josh Freeman and Antowain Smith has made significant improvements over past years. Averaging 21.9 points per game and nearly 341 yards per outing puts St. Louis in the Top 5 in both points and yards, so the offense put in place by Bruce Arians is working.
Biggest First Half Issue: Sadly, for the Skyhawk faithful, every advance in the offense has been offset by one of the worst defenses in the league. St. Louis is giving up over 30 points per game, the only team in the USFL to do that. They are also allowing 371 total yards per game and a nasty 119.4 on the ground. Not helpful for a club trying to break out of the basement.
Looking Ahead: the Skyhawks have some winnable games on the schedule, including the next two at home against LA and Ohio. We could see them reaching 6, maybe even 7 wins this year, but only if they figure out some way to improve that defense.
Predicted Finish: We are going to say 6-10 for the Skyhawks, which would be their best record in their short 4 year history.
NASHVILLE KNIGHTS (5-3)
Biggest First Half Success Story: No way around it, we have to praise the #1 run defense in the league. Hunter Hillenmeyer and the Knights LB group are cleaning up on halfbacks, limiting teams to barely 52 yards per game. Hillenmeyer, Terrell Suggs, and Keith Burns are making it near impossible for runners to get the edge, and running in the middle, through Shaun Rogers and Babatunde Oshinowo has not been any easier.
Biggest First Half Issue: The offense has done enough to get Nashville to 6-2, but we are all still waiting for Jay Cutler to connect all the dots in the way it seems Kyle Orton has this year. Too many missed opportunities, bad reads, or dump downs when this club should be doing more with the play action game. Robert Meachem is having a good year with 55 catches and 6 TDs’ but there is a huge drop off after him, with Malcolm Floyd second with only 20 catches and no TDs.
Looking Ahead: Nashville is the best team in the division, but is that enough for this squad or do they want to actually make a dent in the postseason? If they do, they will need to find more explosive plays and not rely on Frank Gore to grind out yards.
Predicted Finish: We think, in a relatively weak division, Nashville has the clear track ahead to win the title, and possibly get a bye as a top 2 seed, but then what? We think 10-6 is a likely final record.
NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (4-4)
Biggest First Half Success Story: While some will point out that the 4-4 Breakers are 4-1 against teams with losing records and 0-3 against teams with winning records. When we look at the future, we see a lot of 2-6 and 3-5 teams on the schedule, so maybe the best thing we can say at this point is that the Breakers are in a good position to have a strong 2nd half. They will face Nashville in Week 16, again setting up a potential final week showdown for the division, as we saw last year.
Biggest First Half Issue: How is a team that is 21st in yards and 23rd in yards allowed winning even half their games? It is a bit of a mystery, because the Breakers have the closest margin of any team we have seen this year, scoring 18.5 points per game and giving up 18.4. Now that is as close as it gets. They need more from their defense, or from Eli Manning, or from the run game. Just any area, because if they can improve in just one area, they can open that margin a bit.
Looking Ahead: We cannot picture this Breaker team going on a tear and winning 3 or 4 in a row. They just don’t seem built for it. But, they have Birmingham (2-6), Baltimore (4-4), Birmingham again (2-6) and LA (2-6 in their next 4 games. Could they prove us wrong and go 4-0?
Predicted Finish: If it were not for such an easy schedule (only 1 team over .500 left to face) we don’t think New Orleans would be playoff bound, but we think 5 wins is certainly doable in the next 8 weeks, and 9-7 may just do it.
MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (3-5)
Biggest First Half Success Story: The Showboats have surprised many by putting together a pretty solid defense this season. A lot of credit goes to rookie LB NaVorro Bowman, who has been a terror, leading the team in sacks, while also proving to be a masterful edge containment LB on run plays. Safety Coy Wire, MLB Kirk Morrison, and FS Tebucky Jones are also putting in great effort each week to keep Memphis in games.
Biggest First Half Issue: The run game has been up and down all season for the Showboats, and if there is one thing we know about Jake Delhomme, it is that he is at his best when teams have to respect the run. It has been a 2-headed show more than in past years, with Shonn Greene taking advantage of some lingering injury concerns for Cadillac Williams, currently with 125 touches to Williams’s 89. The problem is that Greene is only averaging 3 yards per carry.
Looking Ahead: With games against Philadelphia, Oakland, Nashville, and New Orleans on the schedule, it will take maximum effort for the Showboats to break .500 this year. They could end up at 8-8, with a bit of help, but to ask for more is to ask a lot.
Predicted Finish: We think it will be 8-8 for the Showboats, but the key will be their two games against current 4-4 teams, home to Baltimore and the Breakers.
BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (2-6)
Biggest First Half Success Story: If there is one aspect of the season that Stallion Nation cannot complain about, it is the arrival of Terrell Owens. Not only has he become a fan favorite, with his always quotable style, but his 454 yards on 45 catches has been the one bright spot in a pretty bleak picture.
Biggest First Half Issue: When you are dead last in both scoring and yardage gained, there is not a lot of good happening. Aside from Terrell Owens, no one else seems to be standing up, and the hoped for 2nd year bump for Kyle Boller is not materializing. The former Cal product is right about where he was last year, though his TD:INT ratio is actually worse. He was 12:9 (4:3) last year and is now 4:7, which is not what you want.
Looking Ahead: We see the Stallions making some trades, looking to the future, and definitely being in the QB market this offseason. Of course, they may also want to look for a stronger HB candidate, more in the WR group, improved line play, and a lot of help on defense, so maybe quantity is the key.
Predicted Finish: If their offense is any indication, the Stallions could be looking at a #1 pick. We think 4-12 would be the ceiling for them this year.
TAMPA BAY BANDITS (4-4)
Biggest First Half Success Story: Tied for first is great, 4-4 is not so great, but the Bandits have to be happy with one thing, the better play of Daunte Culpepper. The Bandit passing offense has improved over last year’s flop. Culpepper has 14 TDs, and while his 8 picks are not welcome, it is still a positive balance. Jeremy Shockey is having a good year with 5 TDs and Devery Henderson is beginning to show signs that he should be getting a bigger role.
Biggest First Half Issue: The Bandits had hoped to solidify their pass defense this year, but sitting at 23rd out of 28 teams is not really evidence that they have. They lack a true edge rusher, with Dereck Harvey and Derrick Burgess combining for 10 sacks in 8 games. The secondary has some talent in Patrick Robinson and Idress Basheer, but they still give up way too many deep balls.
Looking Ahead: The SE Division could stay a tight race until the end. Tampa has 2 games each against Charlotte and Atlanta and are done playing Orlando, so they might have the upper hand on the division, if, and only if, they can get past Atlanta, who are looking pretty solid.
Predicted Finish: We think 9-7 may be the ceiling for the Bandits, but that could very well be enough to win this very balanced division.
ORLANDO RENEGADES (4-4)
Biggest First Half Success Story: Drew Brees has Orlando with the top rated passing game in the league. That is a huge development, especially because Knowshon Moreno and the run game have struggled. Brees has been spreading the ball around, with Jenkins leading the team in receptions (62), McCaerins in yards (600) and TE Greg Olsen looking solid with over 450 yards and 3 scores in 8 games.
Biggest First Half Issue: The pass rush is still there, with Campbell off his ludicrous pace from last year but still tied for the lead with 11 sacks, but the Renegades have struggled with coverage, giving them a sub-par 250 yards per game allowed through the air. They need to improve there if they want to jump ahead of Tampa Bay and Atlanta.
Looking Ahead: The next 2 games, against Chicago and Nashville, will be pivotal. Win those and the remaining divisional schedule (Charlotte twice, Atlanta and Jacksonville) will make or break the season.
Predicted Finish: We still think Orlando is the best team on paper in the division, but on paper is not on the field. If they can go 6-2, maybe 5-3, they could take the division with a 10- or even 9-win season.
ATLANTA FIRE (4-4)
Biggest First Half Success Story: Where did this offense come from? Atlanta is 3rd in the league at 23 points per game and 3rd again with 343 yards per game, mostly due to a very strong season from Kyle Orton. Josh Reed is leading the league with nearly 800 yards receiving, and that has helped Atlanta win 3 of the last 4 games.
Biggest First Half Issue: We still want to see more from Darren McFadden. He has yet to have a season with a 4.0 YPC average, and currently sits at 3.8. Orton’s success should be giving McFadden better looks against fronts not loaded to stop him. We want to see him break more big plays with that opportunity available.
Looking Ahead: Right now, Atlanta is our favorite to take the division. The defense is good enough, the offense is finding its rhythm, and has some playmakers. The path is not easy, with Michigan up next, but they have 2 games with Tampa Bay and one with Orlando, so they can control their own destiny.
Predicted Finish: We think 10-6 is very possible when we look at this team, and that would likely win them the division.
JACKSONVILLE BULLS (3-5)
Biggest First Half Success Story: If I told you that Jacksonville was ranked in the Top 3 in any major category, would you believe me? Well, they are. They sit at #3 in rush defense. A lot of that is thanks to DT Marcus Stroud and LB Mike Vrabel in the middle, but part of it is also that when you can pass against a team with little resistance, why fight it and try to run the ball.
Biggest First Half Issue: We are still trying to figure out what a Tim Tebow-led offense looks like, and it seems that Coach Frazier is also in that position. Tebow had a good first game but struggled the next two weeks. We are still not seeing Coach Frazier running him as much as most would expect, and if he tries to make Tebow a pocket passer, that feels like a lost opportunity.
Looking Ahead: Only 1 of the Bulls’ next 8 opponents has a winning record right now. But, then again, neither do the Bulls. Can they win 4 of 8, maybe even 5? Possbly, but so much depends on if they can find an offense to match their QB’s talents.
Predicted Finish: We knew this was a rebuilding year, and we think that a 6-10 record in a rebuilding year is not such a bad thing.
CHARLOTTE MONARCHS (3-5)
Biggest First Half Success Story: After an 0-3 start, Charlotte has won 3 of 5, with all 3 wins on the road. We are not sure if that is a good thing or not. The one player we would highlight as having a good season is Stevie Johnson, who leads the team with 40 receptions and 509 yards. The problem is, he has been making noise about moving on.
Biggest First Half Issue: I think we have to say that Chris Weinke is not the answer. 10 picks in 8 games and a QB Rating of 75.4 seem to verify this perception. Charlotte may want to start looking over that QB-rich draft class, to see who they might make a play for.
Looking Ahead: Last year the defense helped propel Charlotte to a 7-7 record, but we think 7 wins this year, in a 16-game season, would be as impressive a record, especially with the defense not playing nearly as well.
Predicted Finish: We have to be honest when we look at the 8 games ahead, and that means saying that 5-6 wins may be the most to expect this year from Charlotte.
WASHINGTON FEDERALS (6-2)
Biggest First Half Success Story: What has not gone right for the Federals this year? The offense has been far better than expected, with 3 different receivers over 300 yards on the year, and Deuce McCallister leading the league with a 5.7 YPC average. Yes, David Garrard is throwing too many picks (11 so far), but Washington is ranked 4th in scoring and 7th in yards gained, and no one saw that coming. The defense has been solid, and Antonio Pierce is a potential Defensive Player of the Year, and the Feds have won 5 in a row to take over a share of 1st in the division.
Biggest First Half Issue: We mentioned Garrard’s picks, which are an issue, but perhaps the bigger issue is the difficulty Washington has had with not being able to put teams away. Nearly all their wins are by one score or less, often because they do not hold a lead well. That means every game comes down to the wire, good for TV, not so good for the mental health of the team as every week they are feeling like one bad play could cost them a game.
Looking Ahead: The Feds have a huge game this week in Philadelphia, the winner will be able to control their destiny and has the upper hand in the division race. Washington won at home 26-20, and a sweep would absolutely put them in the driver’s seat.
Predicted Finish: We think that a 12-win season is very much a possibility, and a win this week will almost guarantee them a division title and very likely a bye week.
PHILADELPHIA STARS (6-2)
Biggest First Half Success Story: It has to be the defense, which was middle-of-the-road last year, but has come on to be the defining characteristic of the club this year. The Stars are 3rd in the league in scoring, giving up only 14.5 points per game, a full 10 points below their scoring average of 25.1. They are also 3rd in the league in yardage at 267.5 yards per week. Both of those are signs of a dominant defense. Anthony Hargrove and Robert Mathis have combined for 17 sacks, Rookie Sean Lee has become an immediate leader and is first on the team with 66 tackles, and the secondary is proving to be one of the league’s best. This is a very good sign for the Stars.
Biggest First Half Issue: Despite a couple of good games, the run game has not been consistent for the Stars, and as we saw when Steve Slaton was hurt, the depth is not there to support if Slaton is not available. Philadelphia will need that run game late in the year, especially in the playoffs, so don’t be shocked if they make a move to bring in a solid 2nd option.
Looking Ahead: As we said with the Federals, next week’s game is huge. A win and the Stars are at the helm of their future, a loss and they not only need to catch up to Washington, they need to have a lead on them by season’s end because they would lose the tiebreaker.
Predicted Finish: Beyond the Washington game are a lot of matches against teams that are 3-5 or 4-4, so the chance is there to get 12 or even 13 wins.
BOSTON CANNONS (4-4)
Biggest First Half Success Story: The good news for the 4-4 Cannons is that the defense, particularly the run defense, has been much better than in past years. The Cannons are giving up 80 yards a game against the run, and that has helped them limit foes to 15.6 points per game. Casey Hampton has been solid at NT, and linebackers Chris Claiborne and Ike Reese have been able to play the run very effectively.
Biggest First Half Issue: the high expectations for the offense with Adrian McPherson have not really panned out. At 17.9 points per game, Boston is 20th in the league, and McPherson’s brilliant play in 2008 has not returned in 2010. He has a 2:1 TD:Int ratio, which is not horrible, but he is just not making big plays, and not getting the ball to Johnson nearly often enough. Now, with the season-ending injury to Jurevicius, it is up to Cedric Harvin to step things up and fill the gap.
Looking Ahead: With both the Feds and Stars already 2 games up on Boston, a Wild Card may be the best they can hope for. Their schedule does include 2 games against Philly and one more against the Feds, who the Cannons beat earlier this year, so there is an outside chance, but it will be a tough road.
Predicted Finish: We think it is possible for Boston to win enough games, perhaps go 9-7, to make the playoffs, but likely not to catch whichever team wins next week’s Stars-Feds game.
BALTIMORE BLITZ (4-4)
Biggest First Half Success Story: The first three games of the season were very strong, but the issues have started to show up over the past 5 weeks. So what is the bright spot? Well, once again Ron Dayne is leading the league in rush yards, so you have one piece of the puzzle definitely settled. With over 700 yards through 8 games, Dayne is the engine for this offense, but the Blitz need to do more in the passing game if they want to compete.
Biggest First Half Issue: That defense, ranked dead last in yards allowed and 27th in points allowed. We commented on it above, but it bears repeating, this club has not found a way to overcome the losses of Jared Allen and James Farrior. For all he can provide on passing downs, Jason Taylor is not enough to keep Baltimore in games and prevent big plays from opposing offenses, especially in the run game.
Looking Ahead: Baltimore has a pretty favorable month ahead, though Texas and New Orleans are no slam dunks. Can they build momentum before etheir back to back season ending games at Washington and at Denver?
Predicted Finish: We have largely lost faith in the Blitz to be a playoff team. At this point an 8-8 record would be the best we can envision for them.
NEW JERSEY GENERALS (3-5)
Biggest First Half Success Story: For all the issues the Generals have, the pas defense is not one of them. New Jersey is allowing only 190.5 yards per game, good enough to be 6th in the league, and they are doing it without a true shut-down corner or a monster edge rusher. They are playing solidly in zone coverages, limiting yards after catch, and not allowing the big play. But is that enough?
Biggest First Half Issue: There is a reason that New Jersey traded away Ray Rice and brought in Maurice Jones-Drew. Rick has just not turned into the lead back New Jersey has sought. There is no guarantee that MJD can become that, but with Rice beginning to grumble to the press, the time was right for New Jersey to make a move.
Looking Ahead: A tough one this week at Nashville and, honestly, it does not get much better after that as New Jersey has a 3 more games against Philly and Washington, meaning they have few easy games on the schedule.
Predicted Finish: We think the best New Jersey can hope for is to go 4-4 down the stretch and get to 7-9 for the year. That would be a big step for this squad.
Las Vegas odds for Summer Bowl 2010
The oddsmakers in Las Vegas are beginning to warm up to the Denver Gold, even if fans around the country are still not paying attention to them. Denver has moved into the top position in the Summer Bowl odds, leading the pack with a 6-1 chance (according to the books) to win the title. Next up is Philadelphia at 8-1, then Washington (10-1), Nashville (12-1) and Pittsburgh (15-1). Due to laws against betting on teams in Nevada, the books cannot place bets on the Thunder, so we don’t know just where everyone sees them in the mix, but we expect their odds would be pretty good, just based on their record.
The MVP race is an interesting place to put a wager, as there is seemingly no clear frontrunner there. With Griese and Harrington out of the picture, right now Kurt Warner is the frontrunner among QB’s, with Kyle Orton still getting a lot of skepticism and Drew Brees not having the numbers to back it up right now. Others being looked at include DE Calais Campbell, last year’s winner, as well as Chicago LB Brian Urlacher, HB T. J. Duckett, and WR Josh Reed. But none of these players has taken full command of the race.
For Rookie of the Year we have a smaller pack in the lead, with New Jersey QB Sam Bradford putting up good numbers, Atlanta WR Demaryius Thomas getting a lot of praise, and Philadelphia LB Sean Lee impressing, but the front runner right now has to be Memphis LB NaVorrro Bowman, whose presence on the Showboat defense has helped make that club a surprisingly defensive-minded one.
Finally, our pick for Coach of the year, and the pick of the Vegas oddsmakers, is June Jones of Las Vegas. While the oddsmakers cannot create lines for the team, they can for individual performance, and Jones has helped make Las Vegas into a frontrunner in the Pacific. He may not yet have the tools he needs to really open up the Run & Shoot, but what he has done with the talent he has on hand is putting Las Vegas in a very good position to win the top seed in the Western Conference. Others in the race include Pittsburgh’s Ron Rivera, Philadelphia’s Jim Harbaugh, and Denver’s Dick Jauron.
It looks like NBC and ESPN made their picks well for Week 9, with three really enticing marquee games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night. It kicks off with a battle for the NE Division lead as two 6-2 clubs battle in the City of Brotherly Love. Washington and Philly square off with the winner taking a 1-game lead in the Northeast. On Saturday night it is Orlando and Chicago, both shocked to be 4-4 at the midway point, fighting to get over .500. And on Sunday Night’s EFN and ESPN simulcast, it is Oakland traveling to Portland. With only a 1 game lead on the Stags, and now a game behind Las Vegas, Oakland needs this one, but a win by the Stags and they are right there in the hunt for the Pacific Division Title. Beyond the night games, how about Tampa Bay at 4-4 heading up to Pittsburgh? There is Denver in their rivalry game at Arizona. Atlanta could top .500 as they head to Michigan. And Baltimore in a tough draw as they travel to 5-3 Texas.
FRIDAY @ 8pm ET WASHINGTON (6-2) @ PHILADELPHIA (6-2) NBC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET NEW JERSEY (3-5) @ NASHVILLE (5-3) ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET NEW ORLEANS (4-4) @ BIRMINGHAM (2-6) ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET TAMPA BAY (4-4) @ PITTSBURGH (6-2) FOX
SATURDAY @ 4pm ET DENVER (6-2) @ ARIZONA (3-5) ABC
SATURDAY @ 4pm ET LAS VEGAS (6-2) @ SEATTLE (2-6) FOX
SATURDAY @ 8pm ET ORLANDO (4-4) @ CHICAGO (4-4) ESPN
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET ATLANTA (4-4) @ MICHIGAN (6-2) ABC
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET CHARLOTTE (3-5) @ BOSTON (4-4) FOX
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET JACKSONVILLE (3-5) @ MEMPHIS (3-5) FOX
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET HOUSTON (4-4) @ OHIO (2-6) ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET LOS ANGELES (2-6) @ ST. LOUIS (2-6) ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET BALTIMORE (4-4) @ TEXAS (5-3) FOX
SUNDAY @ 8pm ET OAKLAND (5-3) @ PORTLAND (4-4) ESPN & EFN