Week seven saw some mid-season drama as Los Angeles made their claim as the hottest team in the West, Las Vegas got a win but at a price, all three frontrunners in the Northeast Division remain hot, and all three 0-6 teams drop to 0-7, with one of them pulling the trigger on a change, cleaning house of their head coach and both coordinators in one fell swoop. We also saw things tighten up in the Southeast as Tampa continues to fall after their strong start and Atlanta, Orlando, and Charlotte bunch up with the Bandits at 4-3. Texas and Denver make their case that the SW is not Arizona’s division alone, but the Wranglers just keep winning. We will break it all down for you, along with all the league news of the week. We start with LA’s statement game on the road in Tampa Bay.
LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 30 TAMPA BAY BANDITS 27 OVERTIME
The Tampa Bay Bandits started the year 4-0, but came into this game losers of 2 straight. Los Angeles came in at 4-2 and raring to prove that they were not a fluke. Tampa was a 5-point favorite, proving to the Express that they still have not gained the respect of the country, and they set out to earn it by knocking off the Bandits in Raymond James Stadium.
It did not take the visitors long to make a statement, taking the opening kickoff 74 yards in only 9 plays, with Mark Sanchez, looking fresh off his short injury hiatus, connecting with Randy Moss on a 4-yard TD toss to open the scoring. Sanchez would finish the day with 297 yards passing on a 31 of 45 performance, while Randy Moss would have 6 catches, but only for 46 yards.
Sanchez’s counterpart, Daunte Culpepper, would struggle on the day, throwing 3 picks with no TDs to show for it, but he still managed to get the ball to Joey Galloway 8 times for 113 yards, helping the ageless wonder take the lead in the league’s receiving yardage tally. He also would help get the ball into position for the backs, who scored all 3 of Tampa Bay’s touchdowns on the day, the first one coming from Willis McGahee about 8 minutes into the game. The second would come 5 minutes later as Tampa Bay’s second drive also resulted in a TD run, this time from former Stallion Felix Jones.
LA would equalize the score early in the 2nd quarter, this time Keyshawn Johnson catching the Sanchez TD toss. The two teams would then trade field goals, with LA getting the final score of the first half with only 2 seconds left on the clock, a beauty of a kick from Damon Duvall, 56 yards right down the center of the goalposts. Halftime came and both offenses were having success, 17-17 at the half.
Tampa Bay received the second half kickoff and drove deep into LA territory but a poor decision by Culpepper led to a pass in the endzone being picked off by safety Bhawoh Jue. LA could not respond to the takeaway, returing the ball to Tampa Bay after a 3-and-out. On their second drive, the Bandits would have more success, relying on the run game, they punched the ball in from the 1 with Willis McGahee doing the honors. A late field goal from LA and Tampa Bay took a 24-20 lead into the final period.
In the 4th, the Bandits extended their lead with a 2nd Nate Kaeding field goal, but the defense which had held LA without a TD in the second half could not hold against the no-huddle the Express employed. Getting the ball with 4:07 left to play, the Express marched down the field on 13 plays and with 1:34 left to play, got the equalizer as Ray Rice dove in from the 2. Tampa Bay would try to get Nate Kaeding into position for a game winner at regulation, but a holding call on a 3rd down play pushed Tampa Bay even out of Kaeding’s impressive range and they had to settle for overtime.
In the extra period, LA got the ball first, but on a 2nd and 5 from their own 27, Culpepper again misfired on a throw over the middle, failing to see LB Keith Rivers bearing down on TE Jared Cook. Rivers first tipped the ball, then picked it out of the air to give LA possession on the Tampa Bay 33. The Express ran the ball three times, gaining 8 yards to set up a 43-yard attempt by Duvall. The LA kicker left no doubt, drilling the ball through the uprights and giving LA a huge road win to improve to 5-2.
Tampa Bay loses their third in a row and now sits in a 4-team cluster at 4-3 in the SE Division, while LA sits atop the Pacific, tied with Las Vegas at 5-2, but ahead on the tiebreaker. The Express will return home next week for a tough game against visiting Pittsburgh, while Tampa Bay will try to snap their 3-game losing streak as they face the Atlanta Fire at the Georgia Dome with first place on the line.
CHICAGO 17 NASHVILLE 14
The Machine win their second in a row, and an impressive win as they knock off the Knights in Nashville. The new formula seems to be to let Brady Quinn throw the ball more outside. Touchdowns to Donald Driver and Golden Tate highlight the Machine win, along with a return to sound defensive football as they hold Nashville to only 259 yards of offense (without Robert Meachem in the game).
NEW JERSEY 21 WASHINGTON 24
The Generals give Washington a good scare, but in the end a Shayne Graham field goal sends New Jersey to their 7th defeat in 7 games. Sam Bradford threw for 3 scores, but also suffered 5 sacks and 2 picks against the Federals. Meanwhile Deuce McCallister rushed for 116 and 2 TDs to help lift Washington to 6-1 on the year.
MEMPHIS 17 BIRMINGHAM 24
The Showboats also put in a strong effort, but also fell to 0-7 with a loss in their rivalry game at Birmingham. The Stallions came back from a 17-7 deficit in the 2nd half thanks to TDs from Terrell Owens and Joseph Addai. Rookie Jerrel Jerrigan also had a big game with 108 yards receiving for the Stallions.
JACKSONVILLE 3 PHILADELPHIA 34
Philadelphia was unimpressed with Tebow-mania, limiting the Jacksonville QB to only 150 yards passing, with 3 sacks and a pick. His opposite, Kurt Warner went 13 of 23 for 216 yards and 3 TD tosses, including two to WR Marshall Newhouse, who saw a lot of snaps in the absence of a dinged up Stevie Johnson.
MICHIGAN 27 OHIO 17
The Panthers get their 2nd win of the season as Mike Hart and Thomas Jones combine for 100 yards even and 3 TDs between them. Despite expectation that Vince Young would get the start, it was Dereck Anderson in a game time decision. Fans in Ohio were not pleased, booing Anderson after each failed 3rd down attempt (9 out of 13 were failures).
BALTIMORE 28 ORLANDO 21
The Blitz keep pace with Washington, moving to 6-2 after a tough battle in Orlando. Big Ben threw for 3 scores, including a 76-yard strike to Darius Heyward-Bey to lead Baltimore over the Renegades. Eli Manning could not keep pace as Baltimore actually applied more pressure to him than Campbell and the ‘Gades did to Roethlisberger.
HOUSTON 21 DENVER 24
No mercy for the defending champs who dropped their 5th in a row. Denver’s Jamel Williams returned a Hasselbeck pick for a score and Dan LeFevour, subbing for an injured Matt Leinart in the 2nd quarter, threw for 121 yards and the game winning TD in relief. Shaun Alexander had his first 100-yard game of the year, but it was in vain as Denver held off a late drive to equalize the score and took the win.
OAKLAND 14 PITTSBURGH 34
It was all Maulers as Ronnie Brown had his first 100-yard USFL game and Cody Pickett went 17 of 22 with 3 TDs in a route over the Invaders. The Maulers sacked Joey Harrington 6 times and limited the combo of Norwood and Ryan Williams to 56 rushing yards as Pittsburgh dominated the game from kickoff to final whistle.
ARIZONA 31 BOSTON 13
Arizona stayed spotless and LaDainian Tomlinson had a monster game against Boston, rushing for 140 yards on only 19 carries (7.4 YPC) while also bringing in 3 passes for 45, and adding 3 total touchdowns along the way. Jake Locker was sacked 5 times by the Wrangler D and threw 2 more picks as Boston was simply overpowered by the visiting Wranglers.
PORTLAND 17 LAS VEGAS 30
A costly win for Las Vegas as Marshawn Lynch fractured his tibia, likely costing him as much as 6-8 weeks of action. Lynch went down in the first quarter and was in obvious pain as they brought out the cart to take him for x-rays. Cedric Benson subbed for him, rushing for only 46 yards, but Jake Plummer took up the slack and got the Thunder the win with TD passes to Samie Parker and Legedu Naanee.
ST. LOUIS 21 NEW ORLEANS 14
Actually favored by 2 points, New Orleans could not deliver, falling behind 14-0 before starting to put together an offense. Luke McCown, in for the injured Drew Brees, struggled to complete 23 of 45 passing, but threw two picks. Meanwhile Josh Freeman connected with both Jordy Nelson and Taylor Jacobs to snap a 4-game losing streak and move to 3-4.
SEATTLE 10 TEXAS 37
Joe Flacco was in MVP form, throwing for 317 yards and 4 touchdowns against an overmatched Seattle defense. Chris Cooley and Marques Colston both caught 2 TDs and both Colston and Brandon Marshall went over 100 yards receiving as Texas’s passing game was on fire. T. J. Duckett also rushed for 117, most of it in the 2nd half as Texas cruised to a 27-point victory at home.
ATLANTA 31 CHARLOTTE 7
The as-yet-unnamed rivalry between Atlanta and Charlotte was one sided on this day, with the visiting Fire picking off Jake Delhomme 3 times and holding Fred Jackson to only 45 yards rushing. Atlanta also had difficulty rushing the ball (Anthony Allen led all Fire rushers with only 19 yards), but they got TDs from Allen, McFadden, Josh Reed, and Marcus Robinson to blow past the Monarchs and improve their record to 4-3, alongside Orlando and Charlotte.
Mike Nolan Gets Pink Slipped by Breaker Ownership
With Memphis, New Jersey and New Orleans all dropping to 0-7 there were many predicting that one or more head coach would be let go in the next week or two, but debate raged over which one might go first. We have our answer this week as the New Orleans Breakers parted ways not only with Head Coach Mike Nolan, but with both of the team’s primary coordinators as well. Nolan along with OC Jim Hostler and DC Greg Manusky were all let go on Monday. With the club 27th in scoring and 24th in points allowed, it seems that both sides of the ball are being blamed for the team’s horrendous start.
This was expected to be a banner year for the Breakers. After back to back years in which they came 1 game short of winning the Southern Division, in both cases losing to Nashville on the season’s final week, the team made a big move this offseason, sending Eli Manning to Orlando in trade for 2x MVP Drew Brees. The plan was to develop an offense that would allow New Orleans to overtake the Knights and win the division. What happened instead was a total breakdown on both sides of the ball. Following 3 straight Wild Card seasons, this step back was apparently too much for ownership, which made a huge investment bringing in Drew Brees’s contract.
So Nolan, after 11 seasons with the club, including 8 playoff appearances and 1 Summer Bowl trip, is gone. His coordinators are gone with him. Nolan leaves New Orleans with an 83-85 overall record and a 9-8 playoff record. The club promoted from within to fill all three positions, but certainly a search for permanent hires will begin immediately. Linebackers coach, and former Breaker legend Lamar Lathon takes over as the interim head coach, and very likely will be interviewed for the permanent position as well. His coordinators will be former WR Coach, and another former Breaker player, Nolan Franz, as the OC, and DB Coach Vance Joseph as the new DC.
The new coaching staff will have all of 5 days to prepare the team for a road game in Columbus, where the Breakers will take on the Ohio Glory. Just what changes, if any this week, we see from the club is still to be discovered. Expect a pretty similar plan this week as the new staff need time to update and adjust the team’s approach on both sides of the ball. We do know that Lathon is fond of blitz schemes, as he was when he played, so a more aggressive blitz package is almost certain to be part of the plan. As for the offense, how much Lathon will get involved in Coach Franz’s plans for Brees and company, that is just not known.
So now we look at Herm Edwards in New Jersey and Jim Haslett in Memphis and wonder if one of them will be joining Nolan on the unemployment line before too long. Even money has Edwards as the next departure, after all Haslett did bring a title to Memphis during the short Brett Favre period, so he should have just a bit more good will in place, but following back-to-back 10-loss seasons and now an 0-7 start, just how long Haslett has is very much up for debate.
Three Way Race in Northeast as Feds, Stars, & Blitz Stay Hot
On the other side of the standings we have a very interesting 3-way race going on in the Northeastern Division. Washington currently sits alone in first place at 6-1, but they have both Philadelphia and Baltimore looking very strong at 5-2, just itching for a chance to overtake the Federals. Both Washington and Philly are riding 4-game win streaks, while Baltimore is on a 5-game run, so there is a lot of momentum behind each of these clubs. Washington has a brutal game at Arizona this upcoming week, and then they will face both the Stars and Blitz over the following 3 weeks (Philly in Week 9 and Baltimore in Week 11.) Baltimore and Philadelphia face each other in the week between (Week 10), so this race to the top of the Division is just about to get very very hot.
Texas & Denver Not Giving Up Southwest
While Arizona’s amazing 7-0 start has been the talk of the season, both Texas and Denver are doing their best to remind us that this race is not over. Both are 2 games back with very respectable 5-2 records. Texas will get their shot at the Wranglers first, facing them in San Antonio in Week 9. Denver heads to Arizona for the first of 2 games against the Wranglers a week later, in a Week 10 clash at University of Phoenix Stadium. Texas lost their first matchup with the Wranglers back in Week 4, a 27-25 nail biter. They are hoping that their week 9 matchup will go in their favor with a rowdy Texas crowd supporting them in the dome. Denver has yet to face the Wranglers, and has had only 1 divisional game to date, this week’s win over Houston. They will face Texas at Invesco Field this upcoming weekend, and could be a late factor, facing Houston, Texas, and Arizona in weeks 14-16 to end the season, with both Texas games on the road.
Lynch to Miss 4-6 Weeks With Fractured Fibula
Las Vegas may have gotten the win over Portland this week to move to 5-2 and 2-2 in the division, but it was a very costly win. Marshawn Lynch left the field on a cart and x-rays revealed a fracture in his fibula, an injury that will require a soft boot for at least a month, and very likely could cost Lynch at least 6 weeks of action. The Thunder did bring in Cedric Benson as an insurance policy this offseason, but Benson is hardly the back that Lynch is. The expectation is that more of the weight of the offense will now fall on former MVP Jake Plummer, but Plummer is working with one hand behind his back. He has WR Willie Ponder out for the year and #1 receiver Marty Booker likely out another 2-4 weeks as he heals his broken foot. In other words, the Las Vegas Defense is going to have to be even better if the Thunder are going to retain their share of the division lead with a surging LA Express right there with them.
Right now the starting offense of the Thunder includes Cedric Benson at halfback and NFL import Legedu Naanee, Kahlil Hill and Aldrick Robinson as their starting three receivers. This is not the personnel that Coach Jones had in mind when he started installing a run & shoot scheme a year ago. That puts the pressure on the 3rd rated defense for yardage (4th for scoring) to do even more. The line of Haloti Ngata, Erasmus James and Adewale Ogunleye will need to put pressure on QBs to allow Joey Porter and A. J. Hawk to focus on the run. Corners Will Allen and Antoine Winfield have played extremely well all season, but now will have even more pressure to lock down receivers.
If Las Vegas can survive the next 3-4 weeks, they will get Booker back, then possibly 2 weeks later, Lynch could be ready to return. But with LA right there, and already having beaten Las Vegas in their first meeting, the Thunder cannot afford to slump, even with such a big loss to their offense.
Matt Leinart Likely Out 2-3 Weeks with Non-Throwing Arm Injury
A second injury to impact the next few weeks as QB Matt Leinart injured his non-throwing arm in a collision with a Houston defender this week. That injury took Leinart out of the game and gave backup Dan LeFevour his first serious action. LeFevour did enough to get Denver the win over the Gamblers, but now he will be looking at a minimum of two starts, with Texas up this week in a huge divisional match.
Leinart could be seen at team facilities this week, his arm in a sling for protection, and while it is not his throwing arm, the team will need to see that he can both take hits and use the arm for support and counterbalance in order to have him back on the field. It appears that there is no fracture in the arm, but the prospect of ligament damage could lengthen the departure for Leinart. LeFevour, who had one substitute start in 2010, now takes the helm for at least 2 weeks, but possiblty longer.
In addition to the Lynch and Leinart injuries, we also saw Jacksonville’s plans to move C. J. Spiller to a 3rd down back role upended when promoted HB LaBrandon Toefield suffered a ruptured disc in his first start for the Bulls. He is now on IR and is unlikely to be able to suit up before the 2012 season. The good news is that there appears to be no permanent nerve damage, but Toefield is not expected to see a football field for at least 9 months.
Pittsburgh’s Patrick Surtain got the news he did not want when further testing showed that his abdominal injury was, in fact, a partial tear. That diagnosis stretches his absence from the Mauler defense to at least 4 weeks, even in a best case scenario. In Arizona, rookie HB Stevan Ridley is likely out for 1-2 weeks after dislocating his elbow on a carry this past week. Arizona will also be without backup FS Nate Allen, who is doubtful after turning an ankle in special teams coverage this week.
Others who are questionable this week include Drew Brees in New Orleans, LB Corey Miller for Boston, Charlotte WR Derrick Mason, Nashville MLB Willie Middlebrooks, Houston DE Osi Umenyiura, and Stars WR Stevie Johnson. Expected back in action are NJ wideout T. J. Houshmandzadeh, Seattle WR Nate Burleson, St. Louis guard Leonard Davis, Texas DT Paul Grasmanis, Baltimore DE Robert Quinn, and Memphis LB NaVorro Bowman.
Full Range of 1983 Retro Jerseys Available
Two pieces of news out of Adidas and the USFL this week. The first focuses on the 12 original USFL franchises and the league’s celebration of 30 seasons in 2012. Adidas revealed that they will be producing retro jerseys, both home and away, for all 12 founding franchises. The 24 different designs will be available exclusively at USFLStore.com and at stadia across the league (primarily the 12 cities represented by the 12 franchises as well as relocation “heritage” cities like Baltimore, Nashville, or New Orleans.) The designs recreate the initial designs of each club, will be available with the number 83 to indicate the league’s first season, and will have small commemorative patches similar to the ones all 28 clubs will wear for the 2012 season on the left side of the chest. On the right chest will be a retro Adidas trefoil logo, replacing the current 3-stripe logo found on all USFL jerseys.
This marks the first time leaguewide commemorative jerseys have been available. Several clubs have sold retro jerseys individually, but prior contracts (with Nike and Reebok) have not included production of a series of jerseys similar to this 30th anniversary commemoration series. Individual team jerseys, with player numbers are still available from each club’s home store, so don’t worry, you can still get a retro Herschel Walker #34, John Reaves #7 or Anthony Carter #1.
Bulls Reveal 2012 Uniform Updates
Adidas also revealed the new look for 2012 for the Jacksonville Bulls, the first of the 4 revisions for next season (Washington, Texas, and New Orleans to come). Jacksonville’s look will remain very similar to the current designs, but with a few noteworthy tweaks. The helmet is not changed, nor is the primary logo, but Adidas and the Bulls are introducing two new logos. The first is a “JAX” monogram that features the iconic twin stripe of garnet and orange over pewter lettering. It should be noted that the pewter grey the Bulls are using will be noticeably darker in 2012, creating an overall darker look to the uniforms.
The second new logo is a rondel that highlights the Bulls as a Florida-based team (I guess for those folks who like to joke that it is actually southern Georgia). The logo features the bull logo charging across the familiar shape of the state, surrounded by a hoop that includes lettering stating “Jacksonville Football”. The rondel logo does not appear on the uniform, while the monogram appears on one sleeve, with the standard logo on the other.
The jerseys continue to feature a shoulder yoke and colored sleeves, burgundy on the white jerseys and pewter/grey on the dark jerseys. Orange “horns” emerge from the collar on both jerseys, adding a pop of the color to the front of each jersey. The sleeve cuffs are also orange. Where orange does not appear is as piping on the new number font. The thick block numbers will be either white or garnet with black piping.
The pants feature the same 4-stripe pattern as the prior Reebok design, though the stripes are slightly thicker on the adidas version. There are three pant sets, garnet, white, and the new darker pewter.
NBC to Seek 2nd Weekly Game in 2012
It appears that NBC would like to double down on their USFL broadcasting, but at whose expense? The broadcast giant has long been the host of Friday Night Lights, the opening game each weekend, but are now approaching the USFL and their other broadcast partners about turning the opening game each week of the regular season from a 1-game affair to a doubleheader, with a 6pm kickoff game and a 9pm kickoff game (all times eastern). This would not only double the number of games offered by the network, which, it should be assumed, would come with significantly higher payments by NBC to the league, but would also double the number of teams playing on a slightly shorter week to play on Friday nights.
Expectation is that NBC would negotiate with both ABC and FOX to remove one game from the Sunday slate and reallocate that game to Friday night. Presently there are 5 day games on Saturday but 6 afternoon games on Sunday. A move down to 5 Sunday afternoon games, while a reduction in coverage for both ABC and FOX would allow both networks to do as they do on Saturday and have a nationwide broadcast in the 4pm slot rather than each network alternating regional games with one national game. In other words, a doubleheader on Friday would provide the USFL with 10 nationally broadcast games each week instead of the current 9, reducing the regional coverage to only 4 games per week (always the 12pm slots on both weekend days). That will certainly be welcomed by the USFL, though the alterations to all 3 network contracts will be a bit messy. The hope, of course, is that the increased fees paid by NBC will more than account for any reduction in revenue from FOX and ABC for their lost game on Sundays.
Expect this to get done. NBC certainly has the funds ready to provide to the league, the USFL as a whole is looking at more exposure and slightly higher TV revenue, and would be happy to have both East Coast and West Coast clubs highlighted each Friday Night during the season. As for ABC and FOX, the ability to have a showcase game each Sunday at 4pm is also a likely plus.
What does Week 8 hold for us? Well, the last week of the season’s first half has plenty of divisional matchups, including Friday night’s Oakland-Portland clash, and a few very interesting inter-divisional and inter-conference games. We are particularly looking forward to Saturday’s 4pm match between 6-1 Pittsburgh and 5-2 Los Angeles. The red hot Maulers should be a very good measuring stick to see just how real LA’s early success is.
Another great Saturday clash is Nashville visiting Baltimore on the Saturday night ESPN game. Both clubs come into the game at 5-2 and are looking to solidify a spot as a division leader. On Sunday we have two of the league’s three winless teams, both on the road, as Memphis visits St. Louis and New Orleans, under new leadership, is in Ohio. We also have a really fun SW Division clash between the two clubs vying for 2nd place behind Arizona. Denver hosts Texas as both enter the game at 5-2. Las Vegas, without Marshawn Lynch, has a tough road game in Seattle at 4pm on Sunday, while the nightcap on the ESPN Football Network has Tampa Bay at Atlanta in a key Southern Division match between 2 of the 4 clubs tied up at 4-3. Can Tampa Bay snap their 3-game slide, or will Atlanta assert themselves as a potential frontrunner, hoping to repeat as division champs?
As always, national broadcasts are in bold font. Divisional matchups are in blue.
FRIDAY @ 8pm ET Oakland (3-4) @ Portland (3-4) NBC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET Charlotte (4-3) @ New Jersey (0-7) ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET Michigan (2-5) @ Orlando (4-3) ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET Boston (1-6) @ Philadelphia (5-2) FOX
SATURDAY @ 4pm ET Pittsburgh (6-1) @ Los Angeles (5-2) ABC
SATURDAY @ 4pm ET Houston (2-5) @ Chicago (2-5) FOX
SATURDAY @ 8pm ET Nashville (5-2) @ Baltimore (5-2) ESPN
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET Memphis (0-7) @ St. Louis (3-4) ABC
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET New Orleans (0-7) @ Ohio (3-4) FOX
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET Jacksonville (2-5) @ Birmingham (4-3) FOX
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET Texas (5-2) @ Denver (5-2) ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET Washington (6-1) @ Arizona (7-0) ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET Las Vegas (5-2) @ Seattle (3-4) FOX
SUNDAY @ 8pm ET Tampa Bay (4-3) @ Atlanta (4-3) EFN
Comments