Playoff football is back as the USFL kicks off the 2011 postseason with four Wild Card games. The results this week showed the wide range of quality we expect from the opening playoff games. We had only one truly competitive game, with LA taking an early lead over Michigan and then holding on for dear life over the final quarter. We had a battle of teams that backed their way in, with Baltimore showing that they had more left in the tank than Nashville. We had a potential sign that Arizona was righting the ship and getting back to early season form, and we had a depleted Charlotte squad simply unable to compete with the 12-4 Philadelphia Stars, but it was a win for the Stars that took a heavy toll. We will recap the action this week, take a look ahead at the divisional round, and hit all the top stories from the games and from the other 14 clubs who are already seeing questions arising as retirement announcements begin to impact rosters. It is all right here at This Week in the USFL.
In a battle of clubs that backed their way into the playoffs, it was a chance for one team to right their path and get back to winning ways. That team turned out to be the visiting Baltimore Blitz, who turned two first half touchdowns into a lead they would not relinquish. In the battle of running back, Baltimore’s Ron Dayne had the last laugh, not only outgaining Frank Gore 98 yards to 41, but scoring both of the 2nd quarter touchdowns that helped propel the Blitz to victory. Dayne was helped by QB Ben Roethlisberger’s 17 of 25 passing day and by a defense that picked off Jay Cutler twice and limited Nashville to only 3 of 13 third down conversions.
Up 14-3 at the half, Baltimore got the deciding score from that defense as Ken Lucas picked off Cutler late in the 3rd quarter and raced the ball back 38 yards to give the visitors a decisive 21-3 advantage. Add in a Tory Holt TD catch from Roethlisberger and the die was cast. Baltimore would move on to face the Tampa Bay Bandits in the next round (part of the USFL’s odd playoff tree system that does not guarantee that the lower seed will face the highest seed in each round). For Nashville, it marks 4 straight defeats to end what had been a very promising season, with questions now arising about Jay Cutler’s development and about the offense in general as once again the Knights fail to score more than 10 points in defeat.
For weeks now we have been waiting for the Wranglers to regain the form that got them off to an 8-0 start, and in their home playoff game against Oakland we think we have finally seen it. Arizona dominated the first quarter, with TDs from Carr to Antonio Bryant and an LT TD run to give them a 14 point lead after only 15 minutes of play. By game’s end, Tomlinson would have 110 yards rushing, Bryant would have 2 TDs, and the Wranglers would have a statement game to lead them into the Divisional Round.
Oakland tried to come back, with Harrington throwing the ball far more than is customary for the Invader offense, completing 28 of 48 passes for 292 yards, but with that shift in focus came risk, and that risk manifest as 2 drive-ending picks, including one in the endzone that kept Oakland from pulling back within 1 score. The defense was able to sack David Carr 6 times but the Arizona QB did not turn the ball over and the Wranglers played a steady game throughout. Arizona will now travel to Pittsburgh to face the 13-3 Maulers. If they can play the type of football that they showed in this game, they could stand a very good chance in that game.
Everyone from the Las Vegas books to our own staff felt that this game was ripe for a blowout, and that is exactly what we got. Philadelphia, at 12-4, is considered among the elite of the Eastern Conference, and they played like it against a hobbled and humbled Charlotte Monarchs team. But the victory, easy as it may appear on paper, did not come without a price.
Early in the 3rd quarter Stars QB Kurt Warner threw a pass to his tight end, but on the follow-through his hand hit a Charlotte defender’s helmet. The finger was broken, bent in a way that was uncomfortable to see. He would not return and, up 20-7, Matt Gutierrez would have to go the rest of the way. Gutierrez would not be called on to do much, as a pick six by Stars defender Darren Sharper put Philadelphia up comfortably at 27-7. He would manage the remaining game, completing 6 of 11 passes, including two touchdowns as Philadelphia cruised, but Warner is sure to miss the divisional playoff against Washington. That game now takes on a very different tone from the two regular season matchups, a split series that saw both games down to the wire.
Without Warner, more will fall on the Stars’ defense and on running back Steve Slaton, who only carried the ball 10 times against Charlotte. Expect a much heavier load next week as the Stars try to protect Gutierrez against a fierce Washington defense. So, a big win for the Stars, but a very costly one as they move on in the playoffs.
The closest of the games, this matchup in the West saw LA race out to a 14-0 lead and then struggle to do anything more, allowing Michigan to slowly fight their way back. But, the LA defense was stout all game, holding Michigan to only 26 yards rushing, pressuring Brian Griese, and keeping the Panthers out of the endzone until the final 1:32 mark of the 4th quarter.
Early scores from Randy Moss and a rare Mark Sanchez TD run put LA up early, but Michigan’s defense shut them down from the second quarter on. Meanwhile, Michigan’s offense could get nothing going in the first half, allowing LA to take that 14-0 lead into the half. In the second half, Michigan was forced to settle for Matt Prater field goals until the final minutes of action. Up 14-6, LA held Michigan down for 58 minutes, but on a fluke play just after the 2-minute warning, Hines Ward escaped a tackle on a short slant route and took the ball 45 yards to paydirt. The Panthers were now only 2 points away from tying the game. Brian Griese tried to connect with TE Bennie Joppru on the 2-point play, but was thwarted by the right hand of LB Lofa Tatupu, who forced the ball out of Joppru’s hand before control could be gained and the points scored. With little time left, Michigan’s onside kick attempt failed and LA would milk the clock with 3 straight kneel downs to seal the victory and set up a trip to San Antonio to face the Texas Outlaws next week.
Warner Injury Casts Shadow on Stars’ Big Win
No team wants to see a key player go down in the playoffs, but when it is your MVP-candidate quarterback, the impact is about as profound as it can get. That is the scenario that the Philadelphia Stars are facing this week as they prepare for a very tough divisional matchup against division rival Washington. An inadvertent clipping of a defender helmet by Kurt Warner as part of his throwing motion led to the grisly finger break and dislocation. The injury is expected to require at least a month to heal and for Warner to get full use of the finger, which certainly would impact his grip of the ball and his spiral. This means that by all accounts Warner’s postseason is done.
Backup Matt Gutierrez, the former Michigan Wolverine and 5-year backup to Warner, will get the start against Washington. Gutierrez has certainly started games before, including 6 starts in his rookie campaign. Since that year he has started only1 game, but appeared in several others, often in mop up duty. He now faces one of the toughest challenges any QB can face, starting in a playoff game with only 1 week of reps as the starter and against one of the most innovative and aggressive defenses in football.
The Stars will almost certainly alter the gameplan to protect Gutierrez. Rather than the wide open, vertical game we see with Warner throwing to Stevie Johnson and Reche Caldwell deep, we expect a lot more short and medium routes, more use of slot receivers like Troy Williamson and tight ends Daniel Fells and Brent Celek. They will try to focus on providing a solid rushing attack through Steve Slaton and receiving back Leon Washington, and keep Gutierrez from having to progress through 3-4 receiver reads. But, even with that, the final result, success or failure, will depend on Gutierrez’s ability to deal with pressure, protect the ball, and make good decisions.
Maulers Mum on RB Plan
As the Pittsburgh Maulers prepare to face Arizona in the Divisional Round, they are being very tight-lipped about the one feature of their offense which shifts game to game, the lead back. All season long the Maulers have been altering their plans based on their opponents, in one week using the slashing, quick juke moves of Kenny Watson, and in others the “bull in a china shop” approach of Ronnie Brown. Both backs finished the year with similar totals. Brown rushed 216 times for 888 yards and 9 TDs, while Watson had 209 carries, 786 yards and 4 TDs. The game plan always involves both, but Coach Rivera has tended to favor one or the other in each game, often a decision made before the game begins, but alterable in-game if one back seems more successful early on.
Against the Wranglers, whose rush defense ranks 10th in the league, the bigger back, Brown, may seem the better choice. If Pittsburgh can wear down the Wrangler front line over the course of the game, his runs will become more and more productive. Of course, if Arizona takes a lead in the game, then having Watson in the backfield, a better receiver, could help Pittsburgh challenge Arizona’s pass defense while still keeping the run an option.
It is no surprise that Coach Rivera does not want to reveal which direction he is heading as he preps for the Wranglers, but as fans, we like to debate these things, and that was certainly true in our bullpen, where arguments were made for both backs as to who might find more success against the Wranglers.
New Orleans To Stay With Lathon
Having taken over as interim head coach after New Orleans’s horrific 0-8 start, Lamar Lathon knew that any chance he had to get the permanent job would depend on showing success in his 8 week trial. After losing the first 2 games of that trial, Lathon’s Breakers would win 5 of the final 6 games, including victories over two playoff teams. As expected, that turnaround, and the support the players heaped on Lathon, was enough to land him the permanent gig.
New Orleans made it official this week, naming Lathon the new Head Coach and signing him to a 3-year deal in that position. For the former Breaker LB, it is a dream job, to be able to coach the team he spent his entire pro career as a linebacker with. Lathon only retired in 2004, and now, 7 years later he has risen through the ranks. At the start of 2011 he was the linebackers coach, but with the firing of Mike Nolan and both coordinators at midseason, the chance was given for Lathon to lead the team, and he did just that. Now he is rewarded with an opportunity to mold the team in his image, to bring in some more talent, and to compete in a very weak Southern Division.
Memphis to Interview Several Candidates
The Showboats are now one of three teams looking to add a new coach. They have been active in that endeavor already, reaching out to several potential candidates to set up interviews. Former Minnesota Viking HC Brad Childress is likely to be the first to be interviewed, but Memphis has also sent out feelers to both Philadelphia and Texas about their current offensive coordinators. They are prohibited from meeting with either as long as both clubs remain alive in the playoffs, but the clear message has been sent. The Showboats are looking for an offensive-minded coach who can help groom Ryan Mallett into the next Shuler or Favre.
Meanwhile, no word out of Portland or Chicago about their coaching searches. As we have seen in recent years, it is possible that one or both have their eyes set on someone currently within the NFL, which means they may have to wait until January to make a deal. Both teams have solid front office staffs and long-established GM’s, so it is possible they could go that route, having the GM guide the offseason roster build and then bringing in an NFL name in the winter. But it is also early and it is possible as well that someone within the current playoff teams is the true target, and patience until that club’s playoff run is complete is the order of the day for the Stags and Machine.
As we look ahead to the divisional round, one injury, that of Kurt Warner, is getting the press, and deservedly so. But, every team has questions to answer. Here is our breakdown of the 4 games and the injuries which could impact them.
BAL: OT James Brewer-D, LB Angelo Crowell-P
TBY: FS Bryan Scott-Q, WR Davone Bess-D, OT Marvel Smith-Out, LB Jonathan Goff-Out
For Baltimore there are no new injuries, and Angelo Crowell has moved up to “Probable” meaning that the Blitz will get some defensive help for the matchup. For Tampa Bay, there are several players out of the game, including their All-USFL caliber linebacker Jonathan Goff. The absence of Goff and Bryan Scott from the defense has to be a concern, especially with Ron Dayne coming to town.
PHI: QB Kurt Warner (Out)
WSH: TE Kellen Davis--P
Sure, each team has one player on the injury list, but when one of the two is a backup TE and the other is the starting QB and MVP candidate, Kurt Warner, it seems a bit unbalanced. It will be Gutierrez at the helm of the Stars’ league leading offense when they head to Tampa Bay, and that is almost certainly going to mean that the Bandits load the box against the run and force the backup to try to beat them.
LA: No new injuries, WR B. Lloyd--P , QB B.Croyle--Q
TEX: No injuries reported
No new injuries for LA, and no injuries reported for Texas, so this game could be strength against strength. LA has to find a way to both attack one of the league’s toughest defenses, but also how to stymie what has become a very balanced and dangerous offense.
ARZ: No injuries reported
PIT: G Chester Adams (Out)
Another pretty clean game, injury wise, with Arizona reporting no injuries and Pittsburgh only one. Without major talent missing, this one will come down to gameplan and execution.
Retirement News as Offseason Begins for 16 Clubs
As the postseason marches on, for the 16 USFL franchises not participating in playoff football, it is the offseason which has already taken over the headlines. Yes, free agency is still a few weeks off, and while we know who is still unsigned, there is still some time to make a last second deal. But the other offseason impact point for rosters across the league are the retirement announcements which accompany the end of every season. We have already seen several big name announcements over the past week and a half, and we expect more as the offseason moves along. Here is our recap of the biggest names and most difficult players to replace from the early announcements.
DE Julius Peppers (CHA): A five time All-USFL player on the edge, Peppers played 6 frustrating seasons in Memphis before finding a home with the expansion Charlotte Monarchs. In Charlotte, Peppers flourished, averaging 16 sacks per season in his last 4 years. His presence on the D-line was a key factor in Charlotte’s defensive strategy and a huge part of their playoff run this year. However, injuries and concerns for his knees in particular have caused Peppers to miss games, and, finally, to declare retirement at only 31 years of age. He announced his retirement the day after Charlotte’s loss to Philadelphia, a game in which he recorded a sack and a fumble recovery but had to come out of the game for most of the second half due to knee concerns.
WR David Boston (SEA): The 6-time All-USFL nominee and all-time leading receiver for the Seattle Dragons, David Boston has decided to call it a career after 13 seasons in Seattle. Boston retires with 679 career receptions for over 14,000 yards. He brought in 112 career TDs and averaged nearly 21 yards per reception over 13 seasons, all impressive, and likely HOF worthy numbers.
DT Montae Reager (DEN): “A lineman’s lineman” is how Reager has been described. Reager has been a force in the middle for the Gold since coming over from St. Louis in 2002. Typical of a nose tackle, his numbers are not staggering, though 31 sacks at nose is pretty darn good. His impact is that he consistently took on double teams, allowing the edge rushers and linebackers free access to ballcarriers and the QB. Reager was named to the All-USFL squad 4 times and won a title in his rookie year as a member of the Memphis Showboats.
OT Mike Gandy (MEM): A four-time All-USFL tackle and two-time league champion, Mike Gandy has been protecting his QB’s blindside since his rookie campaign, a year in which he helped Orlando win a title. He played three seasons for the Renegades before joining the free agent pool and signing with the Memphis Showboats. In Memphis he protected Brett Favre during the 2 year run where the Showboats won and then returned to a Summer Bowl. Of his 160 games in the league, he started 144 of them, but retires now at the age of 34.
TE James Whalen (BOS): One of Drew Bledsoe’s favorite targets, Whalen retires after 11 seasons with the Boston Cannons. Over his career as a Cannon, Whalen caught 613 passes for 5,069 yards and 26 touchdowns. He won a title along with his QB, Bledsoe, two seasons ago.
P Brad Costello (DEN): The 34-year old Costello has been punting in the USFL since 1998, having played in Memphis all the way through the 2010 season before catching on for one more year in Denver. One of the most consistent punters in league history, Costello averaged between 43 and 44 yards per punt in eery season since 2002.
Other players announcing their retirements ove the past week include Boston LB Corey Miller, Birmingham WR Arnaz Battle, New Orleans C Todd McClure, Brimingham FS ClarenceLove, and Denver LB Nick Rogers.
League Schedules September Meetings
We have dates for the next league meetings, schedule for the week of September 20-24 in New York. What is on the table for these meetings? Three potential big items are likely on the docket. First and foremost is a potential vote being proposed by several teams to reconsider the 12-team playoff format. We know for certain that both Las Vegas and Orlando are now very much in the camp of those who want the league to expand back to a 14-team playoff, a format used only in the strike-impacted 2009 season. Both franchises had winning records this year but missed out on the post-season, so you know they are in favor of expanding the field.
The second topic is very likely to be how to deal with the aggressive stance taken by Destination Dallas in pursuing a franchise to purchase and relocate. There are very much mixed feelings among league owners, as some are hoping to add Dallas as a large market currently unserved by the league, while others are concerned about the impact that a relocation has on the league’s image. The other major concern is that the Dallas group led by tech billionaire Mark Cuban is not limiting its inquiries to small market franchises, but has been in talks with teams in large markets the league does not want to lose, including Boston, LA, and Chicago.
A third big item, the league is looking at reworking its deal with ABC/ESPN. While the decision to broadcast the Sunday night game exclusively on the ESPN Football Network (EFN) has provided solid numbers for the add-on cable network, the numbers pale in comparison to the Friday and Saturday night games on NBC and ESPN proper. While the network seems happy to get eyes to EFN, and to be able to push the add-on network to more cable subscribers, the league would rather see its Sunday night game as one of its top viewership games, rather than one of its lowest numbers. It is believed that the league may be open to the idea of swapping the EFN night game to allow EFN to broadcast both a Saturday and Sunday afternoon game (producing more national broadcast games by adding a 3rd network to the afternoon slate) and having either ABC or ESPN take over the night game. The networks are expected to push back on this, though the premise of having 2 games per week to boost EFN ratings would be a very enticing offer for them.
And, of course, as always, we expect the meetings to also look at reports from the Competition Committee for some in-game rule adjustments, as well as the Corporate Relations Committee on potential partnership and sponsorship deal adjustments. We don’t expect anything major to come from these two reports, though we do expect that the Competition Committee will look at moving the 2-point play from the 2-yard line to the 5 yard line as a proposal, and that the ongoing issue of how to define what qualifies as a catch or reception will again be dealt with. After several plays this year in which the referees seem to vary wildly on what constitutes possession in cases where balls were either ruled catches or incompletions, this topic is not going anywhere.
Finally, expect the league to be updated on the agreement between the Las Vegas Thunder, the city of Las Vegas, and the league itself, to fund construction of a new domed facility along the Strip in Las Vegas. The deal seems very solid, with each party essentially chipping in for a share of the cost. The location has been settled on, and architectural firms are now competing for the deal, with stadium giant HOK expected to get the contract, but getting competition from both Manika and Perkins as alternative bids.
Let’s take a look once more at each of the 4 matchups this week, focusing on the key player for each team that we think can make or break the game for the teams involved.
Saturday, July 16 @ 3pm ET
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Bandits by 4
Baltimore showed some grit last week against the Nashville Knights, snapping a 4-game losing streak and claiming a win on the road. They will have to be even more steadfast this week as the Bandits are one of the best, and the hottest, teams coming into the playoffs. The Bandits have won 5 in a row to end the season, boast Top 10 rankings in scoring, yardsage, and scoring defense, and come in with a week of rest to prepare for the matchup.
Expect Willis McGahee to be back in action this week, backed up by rookie Shane Vereen. He will partner with Daunte Culpepper and Joey Galloway for the latest “Triple Threat” in Tampa Bay’s long history of potent offenses, but don’t forget as well about players like Chris Doering, David Tyree, or TE Luke Stocker, all of whom have proven to be very effective in the passing game. The Blitz will likely try to shorten the game, keeping the number of Bandit possessions to a minimum, by feeding Ron Dayne with as many carries as he can muster. Will that be enough or will Big Ben have to air the ball out to Tory Holt, Darrius Heyward-Bey and TE Antonio Gates. The Blitz can certainly do that, but we know they prefer to kill clock and keep scores lower if they can.
OUR PICK: We just think Tampa Bay is the hotter club, with more weapons and a better scheme to use them all. Baltimore is 20th in points allowed this year, which means that there will be chances for Tampa Bay to put the ball in the endzone. Bandits 31-24
Saturday, July 16 @ 7pm ET
The Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Outlaws by 5
A matchup of two chronic underachievers who this year had better than anticipated seasons. Los Angeles struggled to move the ball against Michigan, so we are not sure if they are ready for Texas’s 5th ranked defense. The Outlaws are also a challenge for the Express defense, with the top ranked passing offense in the league and the option to lean on T. J. Duckett on the ground as well. LA’s defense is also tough (4th in points allowed) but their offense has struggled, averaging only 18 points per game. If they get into a shootout with Texas they do not match up well.
OUR PICK: We think Texas has the total package, whereas LA is too dependent on their defense to give them short fields to work with. Outlaws 24-16
Sunday, July 17 @ 3pm ET
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh by 4
We are excited for this game. If the Wranglers are back to early season form, this could be one monster of a game. Pittsburgh is strong on both sides of the ball, ranked 4th in points scored and 3rd in points allowed, giving them a league best 8 points per game scoring differential. As we discussed above, they have a 2-back rotation that is tough to defend, and Cody Pickett is having his best year as a pro. But, Arizona, when they are at their best, is equally as dangerous. With LaDainian Tomlinson they can run against even the best defenses, and David Carr has solid options in the passing game with Larry Fitzgerald and Antonio Bryant able to stretch the field while Rob Gronkowski is a matchup nightmare in the middle.
OUR PICK: As much as we want to go with the underdog in at least one matchup, we just cannot pick against the Maulers, who have been the best team all season long. Counting on Arizona to play their best game of the year to match up with the Maulers is a lot to ask. Maulers 27-23
Sunday, July 17 @ 7pm ET
RFK Stadium, Washington, DC
Federals by 7.5
This game with Kurt Warner on the field would be epic. Without him we are hoping that the Stars can keep it close. The Stars have a good defense, good but not great, and they can run the ball, but their entire season has depended on Warner to go deep and loosen up the defense. What will Reche Caldwell and Stevie Johnson do to make life easier for Gutierrez? Meanwhile, Washington is a health squad, with the top yardage offense in the league, 3rd in scoring, and they also have the 2nd best scoring defense in the USFL. That is a killer combo. Expect a lot of Deuce McCallister to loosen up the Stars and force them to defend with 8 or 9 in the box, which is when Garrard will look for Deion Branch and Darnerien McCants deep.
OUR PICK: We have to go with the obvious choice here. Washington 28-18