Eight weeks down, eight left to play, and a season still in the balance. We have surprises galore, like the unbeaten Wranglers and their league best defense, the struggles of the Skyhawks, and the struggles of the league to keep some of their top QBs healthy and on the field. We seem to say this every year, but 2013 has not been the season we anticipated. Sure, there are some teams at the top who we absolutely expected to be there, and there are some at the bottom of their divisions who we foresaw as having issues, but there are many stories we did not anticipate, and many yet to be written. In this special midseason edition of our USFL reporting, we will review the Week 8 action and then focus on where we are and where we think we will be heading in the second half, starting with Week 8’s game of the week, an upset as the Tampa Bay Bandits try to stay in the hunt in what is shaping up to be a hard to predict SE Division.
CHARLOTTE MONARCHS 27 TAMPA BAY BANDITS 34
It started as a dominant performance from the division-leading Charlotte Monarchs, but something happened in the second half and the Bandits rallied behind their offense and a boisterous crowd to score the final 21 points of the game, surging past their division rivals to claim a much needed victory at the midway point of the season.
It was very much a game of two halves, with the Charlotte defense and run game dominating the firs half before Daunte Culpepper and the Bandit passing game found its groove in the second, rattling off 4 touchdowns in just over 19 minutes to shock the visiting Monarchs. The stats bear out this storyline with Charlotte racking up 176 yards rushing (117 from Fred Jackson) while Tampa’s final stat line included 322 yards and 3 TDs from Daunte Culpepper.
The first half did not start well for the Bandits. On only the 5th play from scrimmage, Culpepper threw behind his receiver and was picked off by Asante Samuel. It was a poor throw and Samuel made the Bandit QB pay, returning the ball deep into Tampa’s end of the field. Only 4 plays later Shonn Greene was plunging into the endzone for the game’s first score. Charlotte would dominate the first half, with the line creating alleys for Fred Jackson and Greene and with the offense consistently pushing deep into Bandit territory.
In the 2nd quarter, Charlotte would add a Brandon Coutu field goal and a Fred Jackson TD run before the Bandits ever sniffed the Monarch endzone. Down 17-0, the Bandits started to move the ball late in the quarter and were able to put up two Kaeding field goals to pull within 11 at the break, but they still did not look like a club that was capable of exploding in the second half, and at first they did not.
Charlotte took the opening kick and again moved the ball well, with Brandon Wheedon working mostly through play action, the Monarchs got into range for Coutu and the Monarch kicker added 3 points to make the score 20-6. Tampa Bay needed to find their offense and find it fast. They would find it in the big play just 3 plays after getting the ball back. Using a fake to McGahee to freeze the safety, Culpepper found Santonio Holmes in one-on-one coverage and heaved the ball along the sideline to the big receiver. The corner mistimed his jump and Holmes found himself uncovered with the ball in his hands. Sixty-seven yards later the Bandit receiver scored the first TD of the game for Tampa Bay, pulling them within 7.
But Charlotte proved themselves still capable of moving the ball, going on an extended drive before Wheedon hit TE Brandon Pettigrew for an 18-yard TD strike that built the lead back up to 14 for the visitors. Tampa Bay was very much behind the 8-ball as the 4th quarter began. A loss would drop them to 2-6 and a solid 4 games behind the 6-2 division leaders. They needed to rally.
That rally began as soon as the 4th quarter hit, with Culpepper hitting Vincent Jackson twice on their next drive, a 33-yard strike followed by a 22-yarder that at first looked like a TD before being called back to the 2-yard line after replay. From there McGahee took the ball to the right pylon and the Bandits had again cut into the lead. With 12:44 left, Charlotte did not anticipate an onside kick, but that is exactly what the Bandits did, and did it well, with LB Jerod Mayo falling on the ball after breaking through the thin line of Monarch defenders.
That play seemed to spark the turning of the tide, shocking the Monarchs and rallying the Bandit faithful to make some noise and be a factor in the game. When Culpepper, 8 plays later, used a shovel pass to his fullback to pull the Bandits within 3 points, the 48,207 in attendance moved from engaged to rowdy, the noise level increased dramatically, and the Bandits themselves began to believe that they could pull it off. There was still time, and momentum was clearly on their side. They had tied the score and could win it before overtime would be a factor.
The Bandits blockaded the Charlotte run game on first and second downs and when Wheedon’s pass to D. J. Hackett was off target, the Bandits had successfully shut down the Monarch drive and burned only 1:02 of the clock. They would have time for one more drive and a shot at a major comeback victory. They had confidence now, and a look at the Monarch bench showed the concern and feelings of inevitability that had taken over the visiting side. Culpepper led the drive, which took only 7 plays, six in the air, to reach the red zone. From the 11, the Bandits added 7 yards on a screen to McGahee, and then went for the win. Using a 3 receiver stack on the left side of the line, Culpepper spotted the quick slant to Davone Bess, who had not caught a pass all game, and Bess found the endzone. The bandits had wiped out a 14-point deficit in the final period and were now on top by 7.
Charlotte was spent. They had seen this game as won when it was 20-6, and even at 27-13 at the end of 3 quarters, but the Bandits had put 21 points on the board in the final 15 minutes, and the Monarchs simply could not rally in the remaining time. When the final whistle blew and the teams walked off the field, one was celebratory, greeting the fans in the tunnel, the other dispirited, having let their chance to own the division slip away.
LOS ANGELES 7 PHILADELPHIA 30
The Stars rebound from their Week 7 loss with a resounding victory at home over the Express. Philadelphia outgained the Express 375-268 and put up the first 30 points in the game before a late garbage time LA touchdown in this blowout. Steve Slaton rushed for 2 scores and 113 yards for the Stars to take the Game MVP.
OHIO 14 CHICAGO 31
Chicago is staking their claim to the Central title, with a balanced attack that saw both Doug Martin and Ben Tate score on the ground while Malcolm Floyd scored through the air. Ohio went through all 3 QBs as Chris Weinke got knocked out in the 2nd quarter, then Vince Young suffered an injury after only 2 pass attempts, leaving Tony Pike as the last QB standing for Ohio.
PITTSBURGH 28 WASHINGTON 31
The Feds thought they had this one in hand at 31-7, but a furious comeback by Andy Dalton and the Maulers fell just short as they pulled within 3 with 10 minutes left to play but could not get that one additional score they needed. Deuce McCallister takes over the rushing lead with another 100-yard day while Joe Webb survives 2 picks, including a pick-six to Mauler CB Patrick Surtain, to get another W for Washington.
TEXAS 14 PORTLAND 21
The first big upset of the weekend as the Maulers shock the Outlaws. Two touchdowns and 250 yards from Ryan Fitzpatrick helped the Stags pull it off, but it was a defense that sacked Joe Flacco 7 times and held Arian Foster to only 33 yards rushing that did the most damage.
OAKLAND 24 MICHIGAN 16
The Invaders get TDs from BenJarvis Green-Ellis, Pierre Garçon, and Derek Hagan to upend the Panthers at Ford Field. Michigan played well, but two picks from the league leader in interceptions, Kirk Cousins, helped Oakland take the W on the road.
NEW ORLEANS 17 NASHVILLE 35
A week after knocking off Philadelphia, New Orleans struggles on the road and helps Nashville keep their playoff hopes alive in the clustered Southern Division. Ray Rice rushed for 69 and added another 57 through the air for Nashville. Peyton Manning also tossed 3 TDs, including one to a rare target, FB Peyton Hillis in the Knight victory.
ST. LOUIS 21 LAS VEGAS 34
The Skyhawk offense struggled against that nasty Thunder defense as Josh Freeman was sacked 6 times. Jake Plummer had a great game for Las Vegas, throwing for 3 scores including a 41-yard strike to Chad Johnson that gave the Thunder a 31-7 lead that they would not relinquish. Johnson went over 100 yards on 4 receptions and T. J. Houshmandzadeh contributed a score as well.
BIRMINGHAM 13 ATLANTA 25
Though not a divisional game, the Atlanta-Birmingham rivalry carries over from the college game, so this was a good win for the Fire. Steven Jackson may not have had many yards (only 25 on the day) but he did add 2 touchdowns to help knock off the Stallions. The Fire D held Cam Newton to only 188 yards passing and -3 yards on 5 running plays as Atlanta evens their record at 4-4.
JACKSONVILLE 3 ORLANDO 27
Orlando found some offense against the Bulls, with the run game producing 170 yards, led by Knowshon Moreno’s 94. Touchdowns from Moreno, Murray, and McCaerins were enough to knock off a Bulls team that just could not sustain drives.
NEW JERSEY 20 BALTIMORE 34
Charlie Whitehurst threw for 2 scores, but between Big Ben and Ron Dayne, the Blitz had 4 offensive drives end with 7. That was enough for the Blitz to get their 3rd win on the year and to drop New Jersey to 4-4. Big Ben threw for 338 on 17 of 25 and connected with TE Antonio Gates for 122 yards in one of the best offensive outings all season for the Blitz. New WR Robert Ferguson added 98 yards and a score in his debut with Baltimore.
MEMPHIS 51 SEATTLE 7
The absolute shocker of the season so far. Sure, we expected Seattle to struggle a bit with Mike Flynn at QB, but we never saw Memphis exploding like this. Eli Manning threw for 3 scores, and even backup Matt Cassel got in a TD pass late. Throw in rushing TDs from Knile Davis and Darren McFadden and this game got out of hand quickly. It was 20-0 Memphis at the half and just got worse for Seattle in the second half.
DENVER 23 DALLAS 3
Dallas started Landry Jones at QB and the rookie looked very much like a rookie, completing only 17 of 44 pass attempts and throwing 2 picks to the Denver defense. For Denver, Matt Leinart found Peerless Prices 7 times for 108 before connecting with Golden Tate for a 39-yard TD. Denver would outgain Dallas 395-224 as the Roughnecks drop their 6th in a row.
HOUSTON 12 ARIZONA 27
Houston managed to score more than 10 points against the Wrangler D, but four field goals were not enough as Arizona got 3 TD from Derrick Carr, one each to Larry Fitzgerald, Mike Williams, and Antonio Bryant. The Wranglers trailed 6-0 early, but then came alive and put away the Gamblers to stay unbeaten at the half-way mark of the season.
MIDSEASON REPORT CARD
Let’s get right to the analysis as we go division by division to look at the stories of the season and what we can expect from the second half. We will discuss each division’s major stories and surprises, and then look at each team, what they have accomplished and what unfinished business remains.
The Story of the First Half: Quarterback injuries and how to overcome them is the biggest takeaway from the first 8 games in the NE Division. Both New Jersey and Washington have lost their starters for the year, but the ability of the Federals to overcome that and continue to win games (6 in a row) despite moving from Garrard to Webb has made all the difference. Washington now stands toe to toe with the Philadelphia Stars at 7-1, while New Jersey is 3 games back at 4-4 and looking like a team that just cannot absorb the loss of Bradford.
The Surprise of the First Half: New Jersey going 0-4 in the division. With Bradford gone, we did expect some issues, but in particular two losses to the Blitz have really hurt the Generals’ chances of surviving in playoff range long enough for Bradford to come back. With a tough second half, the Generals need to find some answers, or the season may be done before Bradford is even able to throw passes on the sideline, much less enter games again.
What We Expect Moving Forward: It clearly looks like a 2-horse race, with the Stars and Federals battling it out for the title. The two will clash in Week 15, and that could well be for the division title as these two clubs have looked solid at every step of the way through 8 weeks. Baltimore and Pittsburgh both sit at 3-5 and could conceivably make a run for a Wild Card, but they will both need to do more and do it consistently to make any headway.
CURRENT RECORD: 7-1
STRENGTH: A defense that does not allow many yards (7th best in USFL) and even fewer points (2nd in USFL). Philadelphia is allowing only 11 points per game, 9 fewer than they average on offense.
WEAKNESS: Not many. When they have balance on offense they can be very tough to match up with. The key seems to be shutting down Steve Slaton to force Matt Gutierrez to carry the full load of the offense.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Rookie TE Travis Kelce is seeing more and more snaps, and with that more targets as well. He is already 2nd on the team, beating out the injured Reche Caldwell and slot receiver Troy Williamson. Expect Philadelphia to focus on him as a target even more as the season progresses.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: 13-3, and if they can beat Washington in Week 15, they likely rest their starters in Week 16.
CURRENT RECORD: 7-1
STRENGTH: The Federals are top 10 in several categories, but it is their #1 rated run game that makes the entire team function. Even with Joe Webb at QB they have been able to be the #2 offense in the league thanks to that run game. It also tends to allow them to control the clock, meaning fewer plays for their defense, which is one reason the Feds give up significant yardage but not a lot of points.
WEAKNESS: The passing game has certainly taken a dip with Webb replacing Garrard. Washington now ranks 22nd in the league in passing yards, so the secret to beating them may well be to get an early lead and force them to look to the air more, but that means having a great plan from the start to deal with that defense.
PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Joe Webb. The pressure will be on Webb to continue winning. He has not lost a game since coming in at QB, despite only averaging only 210 yards per game. If the Federals want to avoid being made one-dimensional, they will need Webb to add a bit more to the passing game.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: 12-4—We think they will struggle to upend Philadelphia, but we are not going to say for sure that they cannot. They have the tools to be a very tough foe each and every week.
CURRENT RECORD: 4-4
STRENGTH: The Generals have developed a solid run game and a pretty good scoring defense. If they can allow their QB to be a game manager, they could win more games than they lose, but if not, they could dip below .500 as the season progresses.
WEAKNESS: We are impressed that New Jersey is giving up only 19 points per game, because they are giving up nearly 360 yards on average. They have done well at getting key 3rd down stops and in producing takeaways. If that remains a consistent pattern, great, but if not, then the defense could easily wear down.
PLAYER TO WATCH: HB Maurice Jones-Drew. MJD is having his best season as a General, perhaps of his career, and the Generals need that. His 4.3 YPC is a solid .4 yards better than in any past season, and he has already contributed 8 touchdowns. If MJD can take on the role of a dominant back, then the Generals stand a chance regardless of their QB play.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We are not sold on the Generals as they could go either way over the final 8 games. For that reason we are going to say another 4-4, giving them an 8-8 final record.
CURRENT RECORD: 3-5
STRENGTH: The run game is solid, even with Ron Dayne slowing down a bit, and the defense has had its moments. Baltimore’s strength is in slowing down and shortening games. Where they have been able to limit opposition play totals, they have had a chance. Their worst losses have been when they fall behind early and have to abandon the run.
WEAKNESS: The passing game is still not there. We like what Robert Ferguson brought this past week, so there is hope, but it is still very much a work in progress.
PLAYER TO WATCH: WR Robert Fergusion arrived from Memphis via trade, and now he steps in and is expected to immediately have an impact. That is a lot to ask of an older receiver who now has to learn a new system.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We think Baltimore is a pretty middle-of-the-pack team, and we think they can finish 4-4 over the final 8, which leaves them at 7-9 overall, which feels about right.
CURRENT RECORD: 3-5
STRENGTH: The secondary has proven to be about as good as anyone in the league. All 3 starting corners, Robinson, Bouye, and Smith, have 2 picks apiece, and safeties Sean Taylor and Robert Sands have been intimidators over the middle. If they could get a bit more pressure out of the front 7, they could be a very good defense.
WEAKNESS: The offense has had some good games (42 against Memphis ,29 against Jacksonville), but they have also had some real stinkers (6 points against Chicago being the worst). They are young, are still relying on a HB rotation, and Andy Dalton is still learning. This may be a team to worry about in 2014, but right now they are just too inexperienced.
PLAYER TO WATCH: It has to be the two rookie receivers who are now starters. Adam Thielen has looked like a good reliable option for the Maulers, with 29 catches on 50 targets, including 4 for touchdowns, but they have just not gotten their money’s worth out of slot receiver and return man Tavon Austin yet. He was the bigger name coming out of the draft and fans are still waiting for him to make dynamic plays.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We think 3-5 was fair in the first half and would be fair in the 2nd, so that gives us a final record of 6-10.
The Story of the First Half: Charlotte had the chance to run away with the division, but have not been able to do so and now we have Atlanta, Orlando, and Tampa Bay all within range (2 games) of the leaders. If anyone can string together even a short winning streak, they could take over the lead. There just does not seem to be a dominant team in the bunch, and while Jacksonville is looking like the weakest club in the division, it is not by much.
The Surprise of the First Half: The road struggles of the Bandits. Tampa Bay is 3-1 at home but 0-4 on the road. The main culprit seems to be the defense, which is ranked dead last in the league in points allowed (27 per game) and they struggle against the run in particular. If they cannot get that sorted out, their odds of catching the Monarchs, even with this week’s win over them in Tampa, are not good.
What We Expect Moving Forward: Charlotte will have their chance to make a move and put some space on the rest of the division as they face the Bulls twice and only 1 team with a winning record (Philly) in the final 8 games. Can they be consistent and just wear down the rest of the division, or will someone get hot and make a run at them?
CURRENT RECORD: 5-3
STRENGTH: Going into the season we thought it would be the defense, but the Monarch offense is ranked 3rd in the league, largely due to the success of Fred Jackson and the run game. Charlotte is averaging just under 110 yards per game, and the run game is helping Brandon Wheedon adjust to taking on the starting role after the Delhomme injury.
WEAKNESS: Charlotte is very solid against the run, but they have been taken advantage of in the passing game, giving up an average of 240 yards per game. When you look at their 3 losses (Dallas, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay), in each they simply gave up too many conversions on 3rd and more than 5, almost all through the air.
PLAYER TO WATCH: LB Rolando McClain. The trade of Rey Maualaga in the offseason has absolutely had an impact on the Monarch defense. McLain needs to take charge if the Monarchs are going to repeat their late season success from last year.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We think Charlotte is vulnerable, so we are going to give them another 5-3, but not more than that. Will 10-6 be enough to win the Southeast? Maybe.
CURRENT RECORD: 4-4
STRENGTH: Honestly, it has to be balance, because we look at the numbers and there is no one area where the Fire are Top 5 in the league. They are solid on defense, but not spectacular, they can run at times, though Steven Jackson has not been the breakout star they hoped for, and Kyle Orton has had some decent days. But, this team is 4-4 for a reason and that reason is that they have no squad that is elite just a lot of pretty solid components.
WEAKNESS: We could say consistency, but a better answer may be that this is a team that is not explosive. They can grind out wins, but they are not going to overwhelm anyone. That makes them susceptible to teams that gain momentum or are just hot.
PLAYER TO WATCH: HB Steven Jackson. Since starting in Week 4, Jackson has struggled. Marus Lattimore has a better per-carry average than the NFL veteran. This is not a huge surprise as we often see backs coming to the USFL on tired legs after a full NFL season, but Atlanta simply needs more from the run game, so either Jackson finds a second wind or Atlanta may need to consider putting Lattimore in for more snaps.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We like Atlanta’s toughness and they are well-coached, so we give them a shot. But they would need to possibly go 6-2 to catch Charlotte, and we don’t think that is very viable. We can see perhaps 5-3, which puts them at 9-7 overall and a possible Wild Card.
CURRENT RECORD: 3-5
STRENGTH: Other than the obvious answer of DE Calais Campbell, the run game has been a pleasant development this season. Knowshon Moreno is over 600 yards on the year and he is getting decent support from rookie Latavius Murray, whose 4.5 YPC is a nice change of pace for Moreno.
WEAKNESS: The WR group is just not that scary. Yes, they can make first downs, but now, with Greg Olsen out for the year it is going to be a rough run for 2nd year starter Russell Wilson. He loses his security blanket and must try to find other options.
PLAYER TO WATCH: WR DeSean Jackson. We expect to see Orlando go to more 1-back offense and keep either Barnidge or Schouman in to block at TE, which makes Jackson the best underneath option. Jackson can be explosive, so maybe this will work, but he has only 16 catches so far this season, and 5 drops.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We think Orlando will be lucky to reach .500. They just have too many issues, and in this league a weak passing game is one of the worst weaknesses you can have. We see another 3-5 and a 6-10 final record as pretty reasonable.
CURRENT RECORD: 3-5
STRENGTH: The offense is still pretty darned scary, 2nd in yardage and 4th in scoring. Vincent Jackson is having a big season, Willis McGahee is among the rushing leaders, and Daunte Culpepper is leading the league in TD passes. This team can be a very tough opponent when they have their mojo intact.
WEAKNESS: If the offense is the mojo, the defense is the “oh no”. Tampa Bay has blown leads in so many games this year that fans are afraid to get excited when they build one. Now, they have won 3 of their last 5, and the defense did very well against Charlotte in the 2nd half this past week, but no one has confidence in it yet.
PLAYER TO WATCH: DE Jason Pierre-Paul. If Tampa Bay is going to get off the field more often, it will be because JPP is getting to the QB and making him get rid of the ball. So far only 4 sacks for the LE, but if Tampa Bay can get just a bit more out of him a bad defense can become mediocre, which is all a team with this offense needs for success.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We are going to double down on our preseason enthusiasm for the Bandits. We say they go 6-2 in the second half (with no evidence as to why) and that puts them at 9-7, which may just get them into the postseason.
CURRENT RECORD: 2-6
STRENGTH: Um, no state income tax, maybe? A lot more was expected of this offense, but it is just not happening. They are 28th in scoring, 28th in total yards, and Tim Tebow is again looking like a potential league leader in only 1 category, interceptions thrown. None of that is a strength. We do like the season rookie Barkevious Mingo (6 sacks) is having, so that is a good building block for the future.
WEAKNESS: Name a position on the field, perhaps other than RE. The defense is not good, the offense is horrific. This feels very much like a team that needs a new direction, which is surprising after a halfway decent 2012.
PLAYER TO WATCH: We are struggling to pick one, honestly. Maybe keep an eye on LE David Bowers. As more teams shift their blocking towards Mingo, it should give Bowers a chance to match up one on one with the left tackle, and that could be a good situation for him.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We look at the Bulls schedule and we are not sure where they manufacture more than 1-2 wins over the final 2 months. So, that means 4-12 is what we see as the end result, which is not good news for Leslie Frazier.
The Story of the First Half: Birmingham has been the talk of the Southern Division. Cam Newton has this team believing they are the best squad in the South and early wins over Nashville, and New Orleans put them in a very good position, even if their lead over the Breakers is only 1 game. They have a Top 5 defense in total yards and particularly against the run, and the Stallion passing game has been outstanding. We would love to see more out of Joseph Addai and the run game, but for now, they seem like the class of the division.
The Surprise of the First Half: The decline in Peyton Manning’s abilities. Let’s be honest, even with the neck injury, most of us expected that if Manning was able to play we would be seeing the 3-time NFL MVP and 2-time Super Bowl winner carve up the division and possibly the league. What we have seen this year, with Manning both healthy and rested is a passing offense that is not horrible, but hardly dynamic. The Knights have had some good games, particularly in Week 4 against Atlanta and this past weekend at home vs. New Orleans, but it has been inconsistent. Some bad losses make us question whether the Knights would not be better off retooling around former Mauler Cody Pickett instead of trying to squeeze one more season out of Manning.
What We Expect Moving Forward: The Breakers suffered a bad loss in Nashville this week, but prior to that they had run off 3 straight wins. We think they will make a run at the Stallions, who they face again in Week 11. If they can get the wins they will be favored to get the next 2 weeks (Orlando and Portland), then that Week 11 matchup at home against Birmingham could be a huge springboard for them.
CURRENT RECORD: 5-3
STRENGTH: While we have all been focused on Cam Newton and the 5th ranked passing defense, Birmingham has also put together a pretty solid defense, especially against the run. They are giving up only 77.8 YPG on the ground and that has helped them keep games from getting out of hand.
WEAKNESS: The Stallions’ success in the air has hidden to a great degree their issues with rushing the ball. They are averaging only 64.8 yards per game rushing, and Joseph Addai is not looking at all like the player he was in the NFL. He is averaging a decent 4.1 YPC but has only 63 touches, so maybe it is less a talent issue than a mindset issue.
PLAYER TO WATCH: HB Danny Woodhead. As much as defenses focus on the nasty combo of Moss and Owens (each over 600 yards at the midway point this year), having a back like Woodhead who can be Newton’s safety valve on 3rd down is a precious thing.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We like Birmingham’s makeup, how they pass first and ask questions later, and how they limit team’s ability to control the clock with the run. That is a nice combo when put together. So, for that reason, we are looking at 11-5 and a division title for Birmingham.
CURRENT RECORD: 4-4
STRENGTH: The Breakers have won 3 of their last 4 largely on the strength of their top rated passing game. Yup, guess you missed that, but Drew Brees and company are averaging 276 yards per game. Early Doucet is the big target, with 43 catches and 743 yards already, but Brees is spreading the ball around, with LaFell, TE Coby Fleener, and slot receiver Santana Moss all getting their looks as well.
WEAKNESS: Despite the strength of the passing game, New Orleans has trouble putting games away. Maybe it is the lack of a big bruising back, maybe just play calling, but their games tend to be close because they just don’t pull away and break the spirit of the opposition.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Third year DE Cameron Jordan is finally beginning to look comfortable on the right side. He is on pace with Ty Warren and that combo has been a tough one for the opposition. If he can reach 10-12 sacks, New Orleans might have something on defense to crow about.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We like the Breakers, but not enough for them to catch Birmingham. We think 5-3 over the 2nd half, giving them a 9-7 record and a shot at a Wild Card.
CURRENT RECORD: 3-5
STRENGTH: The run defense is pretty solid, but that may just be because teams are not scared to pass against them. The Passing game for Peyton Manning is also pretty good (7th in the league) and yet somehow the Knight just don’t produce consistent scoring chances. They clearly miss Frank Gore.
WEAKNESS: Ray Rice is having a decent year, but he just does not do as much for the Knights as Gore had. That puts more on the WR group, and they have been somewhat underwhelming this year. Robert Meachem’s per catch average has dropped below 10 yards and Denarius Moore has been injured, or ineffective in far too many games.
PLAYER TO WATCH: The ability of Nashville to compete will likely come down to whether or not they can get more out of Ray Rice. He has started to play a role in the passing game, and now they need to find ways to get him in space in the run game, rather than asking him to drive the ball into the line on power run plays.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We think 4-4 over the second half would be a good upward direction, but it puts them at 7-9 overall, which will be another season without a playoff run, and that could be enough for the team to say goodbye to the coach with the longest tenure in the league, Jim Johnson.
CURRENT RECORD: 2-6
STRENGTH: This week’s 51-point explosion may seem an anomaly to most, but when we look at the numbers, the Eli-led Showboats have been solid on offense, ranked 1st in yards, 2nd in passing yards, and 8th in rushing yards. They can run the ball, and now, with Greg Jennings having a great 1st game in town, they could be a real offensive threat.
WEAKNESS: Which means, of course, that the issue is the defense, and, yes, it is an issue. The showboats average 318 yards against each week, and 23.8 points allowed as well. They are not getting to the QB early and often enough, and they are struggling against teams that can spread the ball out. If you want to know why the top yardage offense in the league is 2-6, that is your answer.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Rookie HB Knile Davis has been explosive, averaging 4.8 YPC and able to break open a play at any time. He is a bit slight, so don’t expect him to be getting 25 carries a game, but he can be a dangerous weapon.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: Memphis is better than a 2-win team, but that defense is holding them back. We think a 6-10 finish would be a very good sign for this team and perhaps enough to keep Brad Childress in the big chair.
The Story of the First Half: As much as we want to point to Chicago’s success, it has to be the 3-5 first half put out by the Skyhawks. Many went into this season looking at St. Louis as a club that could challenge to repeat for the title, and without any major injuries the Skyhawks have just not been that team. Call it a Championship hangover, or just that everyone is giving St. Louis their best effort, but the Skyhawks have some losses that are just not easy to explain.
The Surprise of the First Half: OK, now we can talk about Chicago. Coach Schiano has this club believing. Their defense is just crushing it against the run and allowing only 15.6 points per game. The offense is buzzing and balanced, thanks to Doug Martin and the run game. They have won 5 in a row, including huge wins over Ohio and St. Louis the past 2 weeks. They have a 2-game lead over the Glory and are unbeaten in divisional play. All of that points to the Machine potentially earning themselves a bye week and a nice home schedule in the postseason.
What We Expect Moving Forward: The real battle in the division could be for a Wild Card. Ohio and St. Louis both look like teams capable of doing better, though Ohio’s 3-game losing streak does have us worried that their early success was a mirage. If either can go 5-3 over the second half, they could just find themselves in the playoff picture, as this looks very much like a season where 9-7 or even 8-8 could do it.
CURRENT RECORD: 6-2
STRENGTH: There is a lot we could point to, the 2nd rated rush defense, 3rd rated scoring defense, or the 3rd best run game in the league. All of those are factors that have moved Chicago from potential Wild Card contender to the frontrunner in the division. Wins over St. Louis and Ohio the past 2 weeks have propelled the Machine into first place and they look like a team that could stay there.
WEAKNESS: Brady Quinn is averaging only 190 yards passing per game. Part of that is strategic, but it also may point to a team that would have trouble if they ever fell behind by more than a few points. That is something to watch as they face rematches with both the Glory and the Skyhawks in the season’s final 3 weeks.
PLAYER TO WATCH: DE Tamba Hali has found a place in Coach Schiano’s system. After mediocre seasons in both New Jersey and Chicago (last year), Hali is beginning to find his groove. He has 6 sacks already this year and could be on pace to set a personal best, just what the Machine were hoping for.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We think the Machine could drop a couple down the stretch, but by then they may have the division to themselves. We are going to say 11-5 overall and a possible bye.
CURRENT RECORD: 4-4
STRENGTH: The Glory hold the top scoring offense in the league, lthanks in large part to the emergence of Chris Weinke as a legitimate option at QB. Wienke’s passing offense is rated 6th best in the league and that is making space for Isaiah Pead to get some big runs in.
WEAKNESS: The defense is ranked 23rd out of 28 teams in points allowed, a big reason the Glory sit at 4-4 instead of 6-2. In their 3-game losing streak they have given up 32 points to St. Louis and 31 to Chicago. Both of those divisional losses hurt doubly.
PLAYER TO WATCH: It is still QB Chris Weinke. While he has not thrown a pick in the last 3 losses, he has also not produced the kind of offense expected of him (Week 8 was really not his fault since he was knocked out of the game early.) To be successful in the 2nd half, Ohio needs to see the numbers that Weinke put up early in the season.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We still like what we see from Ohio, enough for us to say they go 5-3 in the second half, giving them a 9-7 record and a shot at the postseason.
CURRENT RECORD: 3-5
STRENGTH: It is pretty simple for the Skyhawks. They need to outscore opponents, and by that we mean they need 30+ points a game to win games. They have the weapons to do it, but nothing has come easy for them this season.
WEAKNESS: That defense has been, well, woof. 26.5 yards per game allowed. 316 yards allowed. It just has not been good at all. They have a grand total of 3 picks from the entire defense after 8 games, and they are not shutting down the run either. This is a huge problem for a team with championship repeat aspirations.
PLAYER TO WATCH: LB Aldon Smith is the undisputed leader of the D. He needs to sit down the entire squad and shake them out of their stupor. Without a more aggressive and more successful defense, St. Louis may not even make the postseason.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We still see enough in the Skyhawk offense to worry about this club as a potential blowout winner each week. We think they can win 5 or 6 games in the 2nd half if they can focus. If we say 5, they likely miss the playoffs, finishing 8-8.
CURRENT RECORD: 2-6
STRENGTH: We are not sure if the Panther pass defense is actually good or if they get a pass because teams are able to run so easily against the D. We will also acknowledge that the combo of LeVeon Bell and Mike Hart has been far better this year than the Cason-Hart pair was last year, when Michigan finished last in the league in rushing.
WEAKNESS: There is some talent on defense, but the two DEs have produced only 4 sacks so far this season. That is putting a lot of pressure on the DB’s, and, with no run defense to speak of, the safeties and corners are forced to play the run far too often. That might explain why the Panthers have a grand total of 2 interceptions as a team.
PLAYER TO WATCH: DE Michael Bennett was considered a huge signing away from the NFL, but so far in Michigan he has been underwhelming . The Panthers need a lot more from their big acquisition. 2 sacks in 6 games is not what they expected and not what they need.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: With Kirk Cousins leading the league in picks and the defense not able to stop opposing backs, this is going to be another long season in Detroit. We think 4-12 is very likely here.
The Story of the First Half: The Arizona defense and just how dominant it has become. The Wranglers have played 8 games and allowed fewer than 70 points this year. They are unbeaten, and they face only 1 team with a winning record the entire 2nd half, a Week 16 clash with Texas. Do we think they can run the table? No, because that is such a big ask. But can they win the division going away? Oh yes, we see that as nearly inevitable if this defense keeps playing like this.
The Surprise of the First Half: Denver’s early struggles were surprising. And if we are not going to talk only about Arizona, that is one we can point to. They started off 1-3, but have found their way the past month to even their record at 4-4 by the midway point. If the current run is more indicative of what Denver can do, well, they may just be back in Wild Card contention. They have already lost twice to Arizona, which means that they don’t have much of a shot to catch the Wranglers, but they could be a menace to both Texas and Houston and may well be a playoff contender by season’s end.
What We Expect Moving Forward: While we all watch to see if anyone can upend the Wranglers, the real fight will be for 2nd place and a possible Wild Card. Right now Texas has the upper hand at 5-3, but both Denver and Houston are only 1 game back at 4-4. The games among these three teams will all be vital as we look at the 2nd half. That means pay close attention to Denver @ Houston in Week 10, Texas @ Denver in Week 11, Houston @ Denver in Week 13, and, Houston hosting Texas in Week 15. Those 4 games will tell us all we need to know going down the stretch.
CURRENT RECORD: 8-0
STRENGTH: The unbeaten Wranglers are the story of the year, and that defense is being compared to the 1985 Bears. That is some company to keep. They are allowing only 8.6 points per game, and only 260 yards, that’s total yards, per game. That is scary good.
WEAKNESS: Arizona’s passing game, despite the good season from Larry Fitzgerald, is still ranked as the worst in the league. Now, a big part of that is because they are grinding Frank Gore up the middle and finding success, rushing for 123 yards per game, but you do not want to be one dimensional. Arizona needs more out of Carr, Fitzgerald, Gronkowski, and Antonio Bryant.
PLAYER TO WATCH: We highlighted Bryant in our players to watch, so we are going to stick with him here. He is slowly taking snaps away from Mike Williams and could be a consistent number 2 opposite Fitzgerald.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: It is so hard to go unbeaten, and with road games at Tampa, Houston, and Texas still on the schedule, we think Arizona drops 1, but that may be it. 15-1 is still pretty impressive.
CURRENT RECORD: 5-3
STRENGTH: Joe Flacco is back and the passing game is looking very dangerous. Flacco is over 2,000 yards at the half-way point, with a stellar 15:2 TD:INT ratio. He is mixing it up too, with 4 different receivers, including HB Arian Foster, over 20 targets so far.
WEAKNESS: While Foster has worked his way into the passing game, the run game has not been stellar for the Outlaws. 90.2 yards per game is likely adequate, but not enough to force teams to think run first and free up Flacco even more. The Outlaws will want to try to get more production from the run game if they hope to disrupt some defenses.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Last year’s DPOTY, Reynaldo Wynn has not made headlines this year, and with 7 sacks so far he is a bit off the pace, but he could and should surge in the second half of the year as Texas has some games against shaky lines, like those of Michigan, Orlando, Dallas, and even Houston to a degree.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: Were it not for the Wranglers, we think Texas’s path to the playoffs would be assured. They have a huge matchup in Week 16, but we expect Texas to be locked into a Wild Card by that point . We place them at 11-5 after 16 games.
CURRENT RECORD: 4-4
STRENGTH: The Gamblers are balanced across all 4 major stats (rushing, passing ,and the defense for both), which can mean that they can beat you in a variety of ways, or that they are pretty good at several things but not outstanding at any. That is not unusual for a team sitting at .500
WEAKNESS: The big Achilles heel for the Gamblers has been their pass defense, which is giving up 275 yards per game. In the USFL a weak pass defense often means big trouble. They also have shown an offense that is spotty, scoring 17 or fewer points in all 4 losses and 28 or more points in their 4 wins. If they could score 24+ consistently, they would be 6-2 and not 4-4.
PLAYER TO WATCH: HB Michael Turner has looked good when he is in the lineup, but he has already missed 4 of 8 games and he does not seem fully healthy, though his 109 yards in Week 7 was a nice perk for the Houston offense. If he can stay healthy, Houston’s offense could be what they need it to be.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We are going to say that Houston gets a healthier Turner and that helps them to 1 more win than in the first half, so that means 9-7 overall, which puts them in the Wild Card race.
CURRENT RECORD: 4-4
STRENGTH: The Gold have a solid D, the best in the league against the pass (only 172 yards per game), and they can run the ball when they focus on it, but it seems like too often they give up on the run too early. This is a team that wants to keep games close and grind them out in the end, and they have the roster to do just that.
WEAKNESS: Explosiveness is what is lacking in Denver. Neither Peerless Price nor Golden Tate are going to turn an 8-yard out into a 50 yard TD. LeMichael James and DeMarco Murray are not exactly turning 3-yard runs into 30 yarders either, with both averaging less than 3.5 yards per carry. Denver needs to find themselves a gamebreaker if they want to truly compete in this division.
PLAYER TO WATCH: DT Ndamukong Suh has started to look like a strong interior pass rusher, not just a run disruptor. He is tied with Bryce Fisher with 4 sacks on the season, which is not a lot overall, but for a true nose tackle is pretty impressive. Now if Denver could get a true edge rusher next to Suh, they would be on to something.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: When we look at Denver and Houston, we see Houston as the better team overall. We think that comes out in the 2nd half of the season, so we pick Denver to finish 7-9 overall, which may just be the mark that costs Dick Jauron his tenure with the club.
CURRENT RECORD: 2-6
STRENGTH: After a surprising 2-0 start, Dallas has lost 6 in a row. Still they do have some bright spots to build on. HB Rashard Mendenhall continues to be a solid option with over 640 yards after 8 games. The defense, though ranked 27th in yards allowed, does have a rising star in DT Star Lotuleilei, who leads the team with 49 tackles, a rarity for an interior lineman.
WEAKNESS: Other than Mendenhall and Lotulelilei the Roughnecks roster is still very much in flux and very much undermanned. Perhaps the biggest issue remains the QB position, where Coach Sherman is going to experiment with rookie Landry Jones from Oklahoma. Jake Locker’s numbers were not horrible (9 TDs, 6 picks, 223 YPG), but he was just not putting the Roughnecks into scoring position consistently.
PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Landry Jones. This is his team to lose. With one start under his belt he has a lot of growing left to do, but if he can find some success, he could find himself locked in as the starter in 2014.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We don’t think the Roughnecks go 0-8 in the second half of the season, though they likely will be the underdog in all 8 games. With 2 games against Arizona, plus matches at Chicago and LA, and home against Philadelphia, Texas and Houston, a 2-14 finish is not out of the question. We will give them 1 upset to finish 3-13.
The Story of the First Half: The upsets. Seattle knocking off Las Vegas, LA edging Oakland, and Oakland manhandling Las Vegas. Each was a big upset, and each has kept this division interesting. We still see Las Vegas and Oakland atop the standings, as we predicted preseason, but there is enough firepower among the other three teams in the division to cause some issues as the season progresses.
The Surprise of the First Half: Honestly, the ability of the Las Vegas Thunder players to stay focused with all that is happening around them. Their primary owner is likely headed to prison. The team is being run by the league and a sale could be eminent. The team could even potentially relocate. Honestly, there is no security or consistency at all in the team’s standing, and yet these players are putting it out there every week on the field and have a real shot at a division title and possibly a bye week as a top seed. That is impressive.
What We Expect Moving Forward: It may all come down to Week 15 when the Thunder host the Invaders. Yes, we could see both stumble a bit before then, but we think this division will end up as 2 teams battling for 1st place, and that game will be the game to determine who gets the division and who may be traveling on the road in the Wild Card round.
CURRENT RECORD: 6-2
STRENGTH: Apparently focus is the key to this club. Despite all that is happening around them, the Thunder are playing very focused and efficient football. The Defense is Top 10 across the board and the offense is now 8th in scoring, their highest mark in a very long time. They have lost 2 divisional games, which is troubling, but they have scored 30+ their last two games, with Lynch back in the fold, so watch out in the 2nd half.
WEAKNESS: The run game was one of the league’s worst with Lynch out. Let’s assume that is going to improve with him back, so then what is the weakness? How about something pretty minor, third options. We love the duo of Chad Johnson and T. J. Houshmandzadeh, but Las Vegas could really use a great 3rd option for Plummer. He likes Kevin Everett at TE, but Everett is not a major weapon. Willie Ponder and Marty Booker have also not shown much in the slot.
PLAYER TO WATCH: HB Marshawn Lynch. He is back from injury and his return could make the Thunder offense one of the toughest to plan for. Plummer has weapons, but the passing game is just that much better when Lynch is intimidating tacklers and forcing safeties to play close to the line.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We like Las Vegas to match their 1st half success, so that puts them at 12-4 and likely gets them the number 2 seed in the West.
CURRENT RECORD: 5-3
STRENGTH: The Invaders pair the league’s 4th best scoring defense (15.9 PPGA) with an offense that may not blow you out, but will control the ball and put more than enough points on the board each week to earn wins. Ryan Williams is having a strong season with over 600 yards already and Joey Harringon, while not as dynamic as he once was, is adapting well to having rookie Keenan Allen as his top target.
WEAKNESS: Consistency on offense has been the biggest issue. When Oakland loses it is because they cannot get into rhythm and they fall behind, which makes play action less viable. They need to play with a lead to be most effective.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Rookie WR Keenan Allen is a frontrunner for ROTY after catching 38 of 59 targets for 488 yards in the season’s first half. Coach Green so liked the combo of Allen and Garçon that he felt OK trading away veteran Greg Jennings and putting the rookie into the number one slot after only 8 games in the league.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We like the look of Oakland’s 2nd half, with 5 games against teams at or below .500 and a huge Week 15 matchup at Las Vegas. We think they win 5 of the 8 games, which puts them at 10-6 and a likely Wild Card.
CURRENT RECORD: 3-5
STRENGTH: This is tough because LA ranks between 16th-28th in every measurable stat. in their 3-game win streak, they showed both defensive fortitude and an ability to score, but that streak was surrounded by 5 losses where both squads struggled.
WEAKNESS: Overall we think the biggest issue is the inability of the offense to consistently build drives. They get the occasional good outing or big play, but they just don’t put together 10-15 play drives and force teams to adjust on defense.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Former NFL and USC Halfback Reggie Bush has yet to top 85 yards in any game. We know it can be tough to play a full NFL season and then add on the USFL games, but the Express need Bush to be the dynamic double threat that he was at USC if they are going to build an offense around him.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We think LA still has a way to go to build a winner. We are going to put them at 5-11 on the year because there is no unit we fully trust.
CURRENT RECORD: 3-5
STRENGTH: Cadillac Williams has given Seattle a solid option at HB, something they have lacked since the retirement of Corey Dillon. His 600 yards is a great start for an offense that has struggled, and is likely to struggle now that Byron Leftwich is ruled out for the rest of the season.
WEAKNESS: Pretty much everything else. The defense gives up way too many yards (321 per game) and third down conversions. The offense only scores 15 points per game, and seems to lack a true identity, a situation not helped at all by the QB shift. Basically, we think the rebuild is only starting.
PLAYER TO WATCH: It has to be QB Matt Flynn, whose 2 games so far have been nothing to write home about. If Seattle has any hope of reaching .500 this year it will because Flynn steps up. Right now that looks like a longshot.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: We are going to keep Seattle matched up with LA in the division, so 5-10 for them as well.
CURRENT RECORD: 2-6
STRENGTH: Well, we can look at this week’s win over Texas, a pretty hefty upset, as a sign that the Stags are still playing hard for Coach Mornhinweg. That is something, not enough, but something.
WEAKNESS: The roster. Look, we could candy coat it, but that is the issue. This is not a roster that can win 10 games, maybe not even 8. The receivers are not dynamic enough, the defense is too slow and the passing game still does not trust Fitzpatrick as their QB. He has moments, but not enough quality play game in and game out.
PLAYER TO WATCH: HB Javon Ringer came over from Denver to help relieve Jonathan Stewart, but has only gotten 23 attempts this year. He is the only Portland back with a 4.0 YPC average, so we think that Coach Mornhinweg needs to give him more touches to see if he can be a viable number 2.
PREDICTED FINAL RECORD: Were it not for the fact that we are also unimpressed by Seattle and LA, we might pick Portland to go 0-8 down the stretch. But, they have Seattle this week, then potential winnable games against LA, Michigan, and maybe even Ohio. We think 4-12 is possible.
REEVALUATING OUR PICKS FOR THE USFL AWARDS
We have reevaluated the six divisions and all 28 clubs, so now we have one task left to accomplish, to reassess our picks for the five major league awards. Once again, our preseason picks were a bit off the mark, but that is why they play the games. Here is our revised look at all five awards and where we see the race at the midway point.
MVP
We saw it as a battle between two of the league’s best QB’s, and it made sense at the time that this would be between St. Louis’s Josh Freeman and Texas’s Joe Flacco. At the midway point, Flacco is still very much a possibility, but now he joins a crowded field that also include Las Vegas veteran QB Jake Plummer and the breakout player of the season, Birmingham’s Cam Newton. The voters love a new face, so if his second half can look like his first, we think it will go to Newton rather than a veteran like Flacco or Plummer.
OPOTY
We said Deuce McCallister was the frontrunner, and we think he is certainly still in the mix. The surprise for us is Ohio’s Steve Smith, who certainly has had good years in the past but seems to be taking on a much bigger leadership role. He is very dependent on Chris Weinke, which does have us a bit nervous about his odds. Right now, we would have to say that McCallister, or Arizona’s Frank Gore, have the two inside tracks.
DPOTY
Last year it went to Reynaldo Wynn, as a bit of a knock on picking Campbell, who plays on a losing team. So, what happens this year if Wynn’s numbers are down and Campbell’s team is sub-500 again? One possible avenue is to look over the Arizona lineup and pick the most deserving member of what has been true team defense this year. That very likely would be team captain Karlos Dansby, but could also be safety Troy Polamalu. Another option would be to look at someone like Philadelphia’s Anthony Hargrove or Washington’s Chris Long, a new face in the sack leaderboard, even if they finish behind Campbell in total sacks.
ROTY
Our original pool included LeVeon Bell, Eddie Lacy and Keenan Allen. Lacy and Bell have been good, but not jaw-dropping. Allen may be in the lead from that trio, but watch out as well for a dark horse like Star Lotuleilei, despite playing on a 2-win Dallas team. Barkevious Mingo in Jacksonville is another very good player on a pretty bad team. But, if wins matter, it may be Keenan Allen who is in the best position to take this award.
COTY
How can it not bee Jim Tomsula? Sure, we love what is happening in places like Birmingham and Chicago, but what Tomsula has done with this Wrangler team is just astounding. They may well have an all-time defense and they will make a major run at an unbeaten season. That is certainly a huge surprise for a club that went 6-10 last year and gave up nearly 27 points per game, 19 more on average than this season.
If we consider a good week on the injury front to be one where no new players are added to the IR, then we have to say that Week 8 was a good week. We are still not sure if Vince Young will be placed on the reserve, testing is still underway to determine the extent of his injury, but it does not appear that any of our other players are headed to IR. That is not to say that they won’t be missed over the next week or few weeks. Certainly the loss of Peyton Manning is going to impact the Nashville Knights, as will Jordi Nelson’s 2-4 week absence. But, if IR is what we want to avoid, well, Week 8 has apparently done that.
OUT
QB Vince Young OHI Groin 6-8 Weeks
WR Jordi Nelson STL Neck 2-4 Weeks
LB Carl Ihenacho SEA Leg 2-4 Weeks
CB Marlin Jackson CHI ACL 1-2 Weeks
CB Ricky Manning ATL Nerve 1-2 Weeks
QB Peyton Manning NSH Ankle 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
WR Antonio Bryant ARZ Shoulder
WR Kevin Johnson PIT Foot
G Damien Woody JAX Hamstring
WR Sam Hurd HOU Knee
QUESTIONABLE
LB Joe Odom OAK Hip
LB Chad Greenway TEX Concussion
LB Buster Davis PIT Personal
QB Ingle Martin LV Back
Protect v. Pamper: The QB Safety Conundrum
In a season that has seen the USFL lose the services of Sam Bradford, Byron Leftwich, Jake Delhomme, and David Garrard, it is natural to ask if anything could be done to ensure that fewer teams see season-ending injuries to their leaders and often the most important person on their roster. At the same time, there are many who complain that the USFL, like the NFL, have done too much to protect their start QB’s, often at the expense of defensive football. The push for more offense, and for everything from more protective “in the grasp” and more liberal “intentional grounding” options, has certainly had its share of detractors, those who feel as if QB’s are being overly-pampered, protected to the point that playing defense is near impossible and that the two leagues are over-legislating a game that is inherently violent and where injuries are to be expected.
The balance between protecting the player most fans want to see, and the player who is often the key to success and retaining the hard-hitting, high risk nature of the game itself is a very tricky one. On the one hand very few fans want to sit through game after game of rotating backup QBs who cannot sustain drives or put points on the board, and yet, at the same time, no one wants to see two-hand-touch any time a DE or LB gets within 3 yards of a QB. So what can you do?
Technology can help to a degree. Better pad structures, items like rib vests, neck rolls, and knee braces can help avoid a good number of injuries. Concussion protocols can also keep a player from suffering one brain injury on top of another, but no padding or high-tech design for uniforms is going to eliminate all the hits in the game, not to mention non-contact injuries such as hamstring, calf, ankle, or even ligament injuries caused simply by running, turning, stopping and starting. Those are just not avoidable.
So, what is the USFL (and the NFL as well) to do about their highly marketable, highly paid QBs and how to protect them. While we at This is the USFL agree that rules against body-slamming a QB, or crashing your entire 300 lb body on top of him are good additions to the rule book, we worry that calls of Roughing the Passer are already too frequent and too often based on actions a defender could not prevent, like being blocked into a QB or having the QB duck their head so that it connects with the defender instead of it being a hit to the chest.
One possibility is to further amend the “Intentional Grounding” rule, allowing QB’s to dispatch the ball as a defense mechanism. After all, by its very nature, IG is a loss of down, which for many drives is already a bad outcome. Does there need to be a penalty thrown as well? What if it was just the loss of down, or perhaps placing the ball at the spot where the QB threw the grounding ball. Giving QB’s the chance to ditch the ball without taking a huge hit seems a better one than forcing him to hold it and take the hit.
Other options which have been floated in recent years seem to go to far. Suggestions that the league limit blitzers to allow only a total of 5 rushers on any play, or that offenses be required to keep 6 players in to block, with either a back or a TE required to not join the passing routes on a play seem too artificial and too detrimental to the innovation that the game needs. We don’t want to see defensive coordinators forced to stick to dense zones with almost no chance of a successful pass rush, and we don’t want to take the talents of the halfback or tight end out of the passing game so they can attempt to block a blitzing LB or free DE.
As we look at the injuries to USFL QB’s over the past few years, including not only this year’s 4 big losses, but also last year’s injuries to Kurt Warner and Joe Flacco, we understand the desire of the league and its teams to keep their stars healthy, but there has to be a way to do this that does not turn the USFL into the Big 12, where no one seems to play defense at all and scores are in the 50’s regularly not because of impressive offense, but pathetic defense. What the USFL needs is a way to balance protection for their stars with respect for the nature of the game.
Philadelphia Extends Harbaugh for 3 More Years
Turning to coaching news, the Philadelphia Stars, who sit atop the NE Division at 7-1, have rewarded head coach Jim Harbaugh with a 3 year extension onto his contract, locking him up through the 2017 season. Harbaugh, who has led Philadelphia to six consecutive playoff appearances, the past two NE Division Titles and a Summer Bowl appearance in 2010, once again has Philadelphia looking very much like a Summer Bowl contender. The transition from Kurt Warner as starter to last year’s hero, Matt Gutierrez has been relatively smooth, even though Gutierrez is not putting up MVP numbers as he did in relief last season. The defense remains one of the league’s best, and Harbaugh continues to make good decisions both on the field and in the draft, having pushed for the signing of TE Travis Kelce, who is turning out to be an excellent selection.
Compared with other longstanding coaches such as Dick Jauron, Jim Johnson, and Dick LeBeau, all of whom appear to be on the hot seat right now, Harbaugh is looking very much like a coach who is in for the long haul and a long run of success with his Stars franchise. Adding 3 more years and another $15M to Harbaugh’s contract seems to be pretty good insurance that the Stars have their coach in place for the foreseeable future.
Will John Join Jim in USFL?
So, with Jim Harbaugh faring so well with the Stars, the question arises as to the future for his brother John. The current coach of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens has had some good years since taking over the team in 2008, but a 4-12 season in 2012 has John potentially on the outs with the Ravens. Could we soon see him in Philadelphia along with his brother? Or would another club in the league take a chance on the former Special Teams and Defensive Coordinator? If his brother Jim has anything to say about it, he will get a shot. Jim was recently asked about his brother’s status in Baltimore, and Jim was not shy about saying that it would be a mistake for the NFL Ravens to let his brother go, but that if they did, he would, as he said, “be overjoyed to face off against him every year in the USFL”.
It would certainly add a new dimension to some of Philadelphia’s rivalries. Of course, it does not look like Washington or New Jersey are looking to change things up and Baltimore just signed Jim Caldwell to a 3-year deal, so the only divisional team that might even be considering a shift is in Pittsburgh, where Ron Rivera has also taken some flack in recent years. For now, Rivera seems pretty secure in the Steel City, and who knows, perhaps the NFL Ravens will see value in retaining their Harbaugh rather than letting the USFL corner the market on Harbaughs.
St. Louis Announces 2014 Uniform & Logo Changes
Following a “Pick the Helmet” contest that ran over 6 weeks of the USFL season, the Skyhawks this week introduced not only the vote winner, but a full uniform redesign. The team will retain its primary logo, the hawk’s head emerging from the Gateway Arch with 3 jets flying through it. The team has added, however, a new secondary logo, one in which a pair of wings surround an upright sword. This new “crest” will tie in with the new helmet, selected by the fans.
That is right, the fan vote skewed heavily towards removing the Skyhawk primary from the helmet and going instead with two wrap-around wings. The new helmet will retain its Clear Sky Blue shell and navy facemask, but will now feature two stylized hawk wings emerging from the facemask and covering both sides of the helmet. Between the two wings is a curved silver stripe, outlined in white and navy, which forms an arc similar to that of the famous landmark of the city, the Gateway Arch.
The Uniforms also update the team’s look along similar lines, with both the white and Clear Sky jerseys now having colored sleeves and a shoulder stripe. The Clear Sky jersey will have navy sleeves and a silver shoulder stripe, while the white jerseys sport a Clear Sky Blue sleeve, and a navy blue shoulder stripe. Both uniforms also have team logos on the sleeves, with the hawk primary appearing on the home jersey and the triangular secondary appearing on the white jersey. The pants move to a wide primary stripe, outlined in two colors, such as silver outlined in white and navy on the Clear Sky pant set, or a Clear Sky stripe with white and navy on the silver pant set. A new navy blue set is also featured in the team’s new look.
With 8 weeks left to the season, the 3-5 Skyhawks are hoping to see significantly more success in the second half of the season. Were they to qualify for the playoffs, the new uniform set would be available to them as they gear up for the postseason. If they do not qualify for the postseason, then these new looks would debut next February during the preseason games prior to the 2014 season.
Friday @ 8pm Nashville (3-5) @ Oakland (5-3) NBC
Saturday @ 12pm Arizona (8-0) @ Tampa Bay (3-5) ABC
Saturday @ 12pm Jacksonville (2-6) @ Charlotte (5-3) FOX
Saturday @ 4pm Washington (7-1) @ Ohio (4-4) ABC
Saturday @ 4pm Las Vegas (6-2) @ Los Angeles (3-5) FOX
Saturday @ 7pm Chicago (6-2) @ Baltimore (3-5) NBC
Saturday @ 9pm Dallas (2-6) @ Houston (4-4) ESPN/EFN
Sunday @ 12pm Memphis (2-6) @ Philadelphia (7-1) ABC
Sunday @ 12pm New Orleans (4-4) @ Orlando (3-5) ABC
Sunday @ 12pm New Jersey (4-4) @ Birmingham (5-3) FOX
Sunday @ 4pm Portland (2-6) @ Seattle (3-5) ABC
Sunday @ 4pm Atlanta (4-4) @ Denver (4-4) FOX
Sunday @ 4pm Michigan (2-6) @ Texas (5-3) FOX
Sunday @ 8pm St. Louis (3-5) @ Pittsburgh (3-5) ESPN/EFN
Those St. Louis Skyhawks uni's are SWEET!!!