And then there were two. Philadelphia knocked off Birmingham in a battle of unbeatens while Arizona took care of Texas in another highly-anticipated matchup, leaving the two as a pair of unanticipated unbeatens after 5 weeks of USFL action. The Wranglers now enjoy a 2-game lead in the SW Division, while Philadelphia remains a game up on the Feds in the Northeast.
Meanwhile, the Pacific got more interesting thanks to our game of the week, a come-from-behind win by the underappreciated LA Express club. In a week that saw all 14 home teams earn victories, we also saw Charlotte again assert their dominance in the Southeast and Ohio take a commanding lead over their division with a big win against Michigan to move to 4-1. The season is taking shape, and it is a shape that has some fanbases very excited about the success their teams have seen so far, while others, like those of 1-4 Atlanta, Baltimore, Nashville, and Tampa Bay are feeling quite differently. We will get right to it with our coverage of the GOTW as LA knocks off Oakland and sends a message that they are in the hunt this year.
OAKLAND INVADERS 20 LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 23
In what has to be considered a statement game, the LA Express won their third in a row, knocked off their top rival, and declared that the Pacific Division would be a 3-team race, not the 2-team competition many had pictured. In other words, they sent a broadside shot across the division. They did this with another solid defensive performance, shutting Joey Harrington and the Invaders out for the entire second half, and with a strong performance from Keyshawn Johnson, long the most ardent of supporters of Mark Sanchez.
Oakland came in holding a share of first place with the 3-1 Las Vegas Thunder. LA was at home after knocking off Portland on the road last week to even their record at 2-2. It had been an impressive win, but even after scoring 41 against the Stags, the Las Vegas books still had the visiting Invaders as 5-point favorites, a spread that seems to have insulted quite a few Express players. They came out fired up and ready to make a point and by the final whistle that point had been delivered loud and clear.
The first quarter saw both defenses winning the day. The two opposing offenses each managed a field goal, but it was clearly a field position game early on. That started to change in the 2nd quarter. After a 2nd LA field goal from Damon Duvall, Oakland had its best drive of the half, working their way down the field over 12 plays, including a conversion on a key 3rd down when Harrington hit TE Joel Dreesen on a 9-yard in route on 3rd and 8. The drive would end with Joey Harrington hitting one of his favorite new targets, rookie WR Keenan Allen, on a fade route from the 12. Allen had to wrestle the ball away from LA defender Marcus Truffant, but in the end the rookie came down with it and with the first touchdown of the game. The score turned a 6-3 LA lead into a 13-6 Oakland advantage, but it would not hold.
LA put together their own drive, relying heavily on the dual threat of newly acquired HB Reggie Bush. Bush caught what appeared to be a 33-yard screen, but had it called back for a hold, but he did carry the ball 3 times for 20 yards, including the scoring play, a dive over the pile from the 1-yard line. LA was back on top 13-10 with just 3:49 left to play, but Oakland was about to complete the longest pass of the game and take it right back.
The play came on 2nd and 6 on Oakland’s next possession. LA set up in man coverage, and while they had Keenan Allen and Greg Jennings well-covered, that left Pierre Garçon in single coverage with a safety, and that is a speed mismatch. Garçon got a step on the safety and Harrington hit him in stride. The rest was a footrace ending in a 72-yard strike that silenced the LA crowd.
The stunned Express went 3-and-out on their next possession, leaving Oakland nearly 1:30 to add to their lead. They would do so with a field goal in the final seconds, heading into the locker room feeling pretty good about their 20-13 lead. They had their 5-point spread, they had made the biggest play of the half, and they would get the ball first in the second half. But, what they did not count on was the LA defense adjusting to the Invader passing game and forcing Oakland to try to run the ball to move it.
That was the strategy coming out of the half. LA shifted to a nickel-dominant formation, daring Oakland to run the ball against 7 and 8-man coverages. Oakland did oblige, a big reason that Ryan Williams finished the game with 102 yards, but the result was 5 straight drives that ended before crossing the LA 45. The Express struggled as well in the third quarter, suffering a pick on one drive, a tipped ball that fell to Oakland safety Sean Jones. They entered the 4th still trailing by 7.
In the 4th, the break for LA came when LB Clay Matthews both stripped the ball from Ryan Williams’ hands and then fell on it, giving LA the ball at the Oakland 33. It would only take 5 plays for LA to get on the board, though it was only a short field goal to pull within 4 at 20-16. While the lack of a TD was disappointing, the strip-fumble was still a crowd-pleaser and the LA defense seemed inspired for the remainder of the game. They shut Oakland down on both of their 4th quarter possessions, nearly picking off Harrington on a 50-50 ball that ended up hittin the turf, and stuffing Benjarvis Green-Ellis on a key 3rd and 2, forcing Oakland to punt the ball away.
But LA was still trailing with 1:47 left to play when they got the ball. They would need a TD to take the game. Mark Sanchez would need to distribute the ball against a blanket zone, and make good use of the two remaining timeouts the Express had at their disposal. The much-maligned QB did just that. He hit 5 different receivers on the final drive of the game. First connecting with TE L. J. Smith, before finding young WR Jerrel Jerrigan for a 7-yard slant on 2nd and 2. He would connect with Brandon Lloyd for 8, then rookie Robert Woods for a very nice 14-yard gain. The ball was at the Oakland 28, but time was running short. That is when Sanchez went to his top target, using a flood route form trip to force the defenders to split their zone. That allowed Keyshawn to be matched against the safety, and when he took off for the corner of the endzone, the safety was out of position. Sanchez pumped once but then let the ball go towards the endzone. Johnson came down with it and the LA crowd erupted as Keyshawn paraded around the endzone triumphantly.
LA had knocked off the Invaders, moved their record to 3-2, and sent notice to the league and, in particular, to their division rivals, that the Express were going to be a factor in this year’s race for the division title.
ATLANTA 13 JACKSONVILLE 18
It was an ugly offensive game from both clubs in ALLTEL Stadium, one in which Jacksonville failed to score a touchdown in the game but still emerged victorious. Both Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow struggled as both teams dealt with offensive penalties and missed opportunities. The lone TD in the game came with 6 seconds left to pull Atlanta within 5, but with no time for a last ditch comeback effort.
MEMPHIS 10 WASHINGTON 23
A costly win for the Federals as a collision on a scramble left David Garrard unconscious on the field. He would be taken to a local hospital in a back brace. While no spinal injury was discovered, the head to knee collision did produce a skull fracture and swelling on the brain which had to be relieved at the hospital. Garrard is expected to make a full recovery, but will be unable to return this season. Joe Webb finished out the game at QB for the Federals, throwing 2 TD passes and completing 20 of 26 passes to get the W for the home team.
BIRMINGHAM 7 PHILADELPHIA 12
The battle of unbeatens was played in off and on rain and high winds, with both offenses being disrupted by the weather and the defenses. Neither team was able to do much on the ground, with Steve Slaton rushing for a grand total of 9 yards while Joseph Addai did little better, rushing for only 17 on the day. In a game that saw 14 punts between the two teams, Philadelphia got 4 field goals form Mike Nugent to pull out the win.
SEATTLE 3 NEW ORLEANS 26
Drew Brees threw for 249 and 2 scores, but it was the much maligned New Orleans defense that stepped up in this one, sacking Byron Leftwich 4 times and producing 2 turnovers. WR Early Doucet was the focus of the offense for New Orleans, catching both of Brees’s scoring throws and finishing the game with 115 yards on 5 receptions.
TAMPA BAY 17 HOUSTON 38
The Gamblers got 4 TDs in 16 completions from Matt Hasselbeck as once again the Tampa defense seemed out of synch. Ike Hiliard finished as the game’s only 100-yard receiver, also nabbing 2 of the 4 Hasselbeck scoring throws. The other two went to Roy Wiliams and HB Herbert Perron. With Michael Turner still sidelined, Cedrick Cobbs again ran for 100 yards in relief, earning 103 on 26 carries.
MICHIGAN 7 OHIO 42
A dominant win against division rival Michigan for the Glory as they scored on their first 6 drives, producing a 30-0 lead. Kirk Cousins was picked off twice by the Glory DBs, while Javon Walker ran wild over the middle of the field, catching 5 passes for 86 yards and both Chris Weinke TDs as the Glory absolutely lambasted the Panthers to move to 4-1.
NASHVILLE 17 NEW JERSEY 24
Bryan Hoyer may have bought himself some good will in New Jersey with a solid 19 of 35, 201-yard, 2 TD outing against the Knights. Combined with a defense that bent but rarely broke against the Knights, New Jersey was able to eke out the win and remain over .500 at 3-2. Peyton Manning threw the ball 44 times, completing 31, but every time Nashville got close in the game, it seemed the NJ defense had an answer.
ORLANDO 13 CHARLOTTE 20
A back and forth game between these two SE Division rivals, but in the end Charlotte built up a 20-10 lead thanks to a Shonn Greene TD run and a Brandon Coutu fieldgoal in the 4th. Knowshon Moreno had 105 yards rushing, but the Monarchs, using three backs, had 118 yards combined, with Fred Jackson leading the way. Charlotte Moves to 4-1 and takes a 2-game lead on the division.
PORTLAND 10 LAS VEGAS 13
With Jake Plummer and both Chad Johnson and T. J. Houshmandzadeh unable to play, the Thunder struggled to put points up. Thankfully Marshawn Lynch was there to run the ball for 130 yars and the only TD for the Thunder. Offense was hard to come by for Portland as well, with Matt McGloin under center, the Stags mustered only 253 total yards of offense, nearly all of it in the second half after they had fallen behind 13-0.
PITTSBURGH 6 CHICAGO 13
Another ugly offensive game, and this one in perfect weather in Chicago. Neither team had more than 230 total yards, and Pittsburgh committed 3 turnovers, all Andy Dalton picks, as the starter returned to action but looked very rusty after 3 weeks recovering from injury. Doug Martin rushed for 90 yards and the lone TD in the game as Chicago, almost reluctantly, improved to 3-2.
DALLAS 14 DENVER 24
The Gold improve to 2-3 and Dallas drops their third in a row as they fall flat at Mile High. Peerless Price and D. J. Williams each caught touchdowns and LeMichael James added a third as the Gold outlasted the Roughnecks on a windy but clear afternoon in Denver.
BALTIMORE 23 ST. LOUIS 26
Baltimore’s woes continue as John David Booty gets a 2nd win, again thanks to the run game, with Eddie Lacy racing to 104 yards and a score. The defense also contributed, sacking Ben Roethlisberger 4 times and limiting Ron Dayne to 68 yards on the day. It was close throughout, but in the 4th, Booty connected with FB Jerome Felton for a short scoring toss and that gave St. Louis a lead it would not later relinquish.
TEXAS 18 ARIZONA 21
In this battle of offense v. defense, this time the defenders kept the edge. The Wranglers sacked Joe Flacco 7 times, but still watched him complete 21 of 32 for 294 and 2 scores. David Carr played a great game in a limited role as the Wranglers handed off to Frank Gore 23 times for 128 yards. Carr threw only 15 passes, completing only 7, but three of those were for scores, thanks in part to Larry Fitzgerald’s after-catch gains. The Wranglers now take a 2 game lead over Texas in the division and remain unbeaten at 5-0.
Garrard Placed on IR After Skull Fracture
A win this week for the Federals, but just like we saw earlier this season in New Jersey, they may have won the battle, but lost the war as a scary injury to QB David Garrard now throws Washington’s season into disarray. It happened on what appeared to be a routine play, but when Garrard tried to throw a low block after a Jahvid Best cutback, he took a huge blow to the back of the head. Laying motionless on the ground, there was fear of a spine injury. The trainers took the facemask off of Garrard’s helmet and put him on a backboard. He was conscious but in obvious distress as they carted him off the field.
Fans would not know Garrard’s situation as Joe Webb helped pull the game against Memphis out for the homestanding Federals, but later that night it was reported that there was no spinal injury, but instead, Garrard had suffered not only a concussion but a fracture to his skull which had produced swelling in the brain cavity. The cavity needed to be drained, and Garrard is likely to spend at least 4-5 days in the hospital as doctors work to ensure that additional swelling does not happen. According to the physicians at GWU Hospital stated that they believe that Garrard is stable and not at risk of life-threatening developments, but that the skull has a chip in it which may require surgical correction.
The Federals have already put Garrard on IR, recognizing that his recovery will require months, not weeks. They will go with Joe Webb at QB for the foreseeable future, with Cleo Lemon as the number 2. Expect them to sign a free agent to the practice squad as their emergency, but both Webb and Lemon are longstanding members of the club and have the confidence of Coach Payton.
Hines Ward Ruptures Hamstring
News was also not good for one of the league’s leading receivers as Hines Ward’s hamstring injury is not a strain, but a tear. The Panther receiver is expected to miss at least 6 weeks, though a longer absence is possible. That is not good news for a 1-4 Panther team that was hoping to develop 2nd year QB Kirk Cousins over the season. Thanks in large part to Ward’s stable presence and ability to make space in zone defenses, Cousins was starting off well, 2nd to only Drew Brees in passing yards after 5 weeks.
The Panthers are expected to go with Mario Manningham as their new number 1 target, with Keary Colbert in the slot and either Kevin Kasper or B. J. Cunningham on the opposite side. That is a significant downgrade from Ward as the primary target. If Michigan were 2-3 or 3-2, we might expect them to make a deal to bring in another receiver, but that seems unlikely for the 1-4 club currently sitting in last place in the division.
Ohio Wins 4th in a Row in Impressive Fashion
We stay in the Central Division to celebrate the rapid rise of the Ohio Glory. With Chris Weinke taking over at QB and with an offense that is beginning to find itself, Ohio moved to 4-1 with an impressive 42-7 destruction of the Panthers this week. It was a game that saw Ohio dominate in every phase of the game, from Weinke’s 22 of 27 passing game to the defenses 5 sacks and 2 picks of Kirk Cousins.
Ohio was picked by many to finish last in the Central for a 4th straight year, but after 3 consecutive 10-loss seasons, the Glory are sitting pretty at 4-1. Sure, this is not the star-studded, high flying offense of the Collins-George-Galloway years, but this is a solid club, one who are able to play complementary football in all three phases. Chris Weinke is third in passing yards, tied for 1st in the league with 11 TD passes, and has an outstanding 98.9 QB Rating, all numbers no one expected from the former backup who seems to have found his groove.
HB Isaiah Pead is also making a good impression with 379 yards in 5 games, while WR Steve Smith is the talk of Columbus with 468 yards and a league-leading 49 receptions, on pace for a whopping 150 for the year.
On defense, the stars for Ohio are across the roster. Chauncey Davis has 5 sacks, while DT Tommy Harris already has 3 this year. CB Chimdi Chekwa leads the team with 30 tackles, but LB Philip Wheeler is right there with 22, followed closing by the other 2 starters, Tommy Polley and James Laurinitis. The kick and punt team is also doing well, with both Ashton Youboty and Justin Forsett putting up solid numbers while the coverage team is holding teams to one of the worst return averages in the league.
Big Weekend for Defensive Football
We talked a bit about the Ohio defense, but this week it was all about defense all across the league. Whether it was Aldon Smith’s big game for St. Louis (highlighted by a sack-fumble-recovery), Tommy Polley’s pick-six for the Glory, Olivier Vernon’s safety, or Baltimore’s Jason Taylor getting a rare tip-catch-return for a pick-six while blitzing. It was a good week for the defenders. We should also mention Arizona’s Adam Carriker, who added two sacks in their big win over Texas, or Denver’s 2-interception game from free safety Dashon Goldson. It was just a good week for the defenders, a reality evident by the fact that of the league’s 28 clubs, 18 were held to 20 points or less, including a 13-6 defensive slugfest between Chicago and Pittsburgh and a 12-7 war of attrition between the unbeaten Stars and Stallions. Some weeks it is glitzy scoring plays that make the highlights, this week it was big hits and huge stops to help teams pull out games.
Another bad week, as once again we lose a top quality starting QB and an All-USFL skill player. But beyond Garrard and Ward, already covered above, there were more big hits for USFL rosters as the season is proving to be a tough one for the training crews. Here is the full injury report for the week (new additions):
OUT
CB Marquand Manuel SEA Biceps IR
QB David Garrard WSH Skull IR
OG Dan Santucci MEM PCL IR
WR Hines Ward MGN Hamstring 6-8 Wks
CB Marlin Jackson CHI ACL 4-6 Wks
CB Brandon Flowers ARZ MCL 4-6 Wks
OT Marco Colombo DAL ACL 1-2 Wks
FS Antuan Edwards LA Wrist 1-2 Wks
DOUBTFUL
WR Demaryius Thomas ATL Toe
DE Antonio Smith MEM Hip
CB Philip Buchanon TBY Concussion
QUESTIONABLE
WR Darnerien McCants WSH Miniscus
CB Dee Milliner ORL Knee
LB Chris Claiborne DAL Foot
DT Kevin Vickerson MGN Finger
DT Marcell Dareus OHI Pinched Nerve
C Stefan Wisniewski DEN Foot
Ohio’s Incognito in Hot Water Over Racial Slurs Overheard on Field
It was a good week in many ways for the Ohio Glory, but they did not escape the week without at least one negative story. During the game, broadcast audio caught Ohio center Richie Incognito’s banter with the defenders, and the language the microphone picked up was not at all appreciated. In addition to the usual expletives and taunting, the broadcast microphones picked up Incognito using both homophobic and racial slurs during the game as he lined up opposite Michigan’s Kevin Vickerson and Jerel Worthy. In addition to terms such as “pansy”, and both the anti-gay “f” slur, the mikes picked up Incognito using the “n-word” on multiple occasions.
NBC shared their audio with league officials after a request from the NY offices. New York then communicated with the Ohio Glory and apparently a joint investigation is underway. No sanctions have been issued yet, but this is certainly a nasty distraction for the team and a troubling issue for the league, which has generally had a strong record of player behavior and race relations. It would not be surprising to see either the league or the Glory suspend Incognito, though we also expect the player to make a statement ahead of this week’s game. If that will be enough to dispel the issue, we don’ t know, but the pressure is definitely on both Ohio and the USFL to make a statement and that could certainly lead to more significant sanctions.
Three Veteran Coaches Who Could Be In Trouble
As we complete 5 weeks, the question of coaching and of coaches on the hotseat certainly has begun to be a conversation both in the press and with fans. What might make this year a bit unique is that the names being tossed around are all coaches who have pretty significant tenures with their clubs. Among those rumored to be in trouble are Denver’s Dick Jauron, Michigan’s Dick LeBeau, and Nashville’s Jim Johnson.
It may seem hard to believe that Jauron, who is in his 16th season with the club and whose tenure includes a 3-year run of Summer Bowls (1999-2001, with a title in 2000) is on the hot seat, but that great stretch was over 10 years ago, and the Gold have been hovering around .500 seemingly every year since then. Could this be a case of diminishing returns for Jauron and the Gold?
Dick LeBeau is another coach in unexpected danger. The Coach of the 2008 league champion Panthers is in his 10th season but has failed to make the playoffs in 2 of the past 3 years. Dropping to 6-10 last year, and off to a 1-4 start this year is not a good look for LeBeau, and the injury to Hines Ward is certainly not going to help. Now, if Kirk Cousins continues to look good this year, and if LeVeon Bell can provide a boost to the Panther run game, we could see Michigan having a strong 2nd half, which could be enough for LeBeau to get another year, but if 1-4 turns into 2-8 and then 4-12, well, that could be a real problem for the veteran defensive coach.
Finally, there is Jim Johnson, who has been in charge with the Knights since before they relocated from St. Louis. Coming to the Knights in 1996, Johnson has had an incredible 19-year run, particularly for a club that has never won a title. He has taken the Knights to the playoffs 12 times in 19 years, which is a pretty amazing record. A win-loss record of 182-159 would be the envy of many coaches, but again, high expectations can lead to a pretty high floor for potential release. The Knights were 8-8 each of the past 2 years, and Johnson’s playoff record of 5-12 has long been a topic of debate among Knight fans. Could a 1-4 start in Nashville this year, particularly after they brought in a bona fide super star from the NFL in Peyton Manning, turn into a very shaky situation for Johnson? Seems hard to believe, but we have seen stranger things, especially when there is a sense that the defensive-minded coach has simply not paid enough attention to an offense that has major issues.
Oakland Reveals 2014 Look, Including Retro Colors
Perhaps trying to clean their palette after a rough loss in LA, the Oakland Invaders opted to hold a press conference this Tuesday to reveal their new look for 2014. Working with Adidas, the Invaders opted to go for a retro, nostalgic look, not with huge uniform changes, but with a reconsideration of their colors. Over the past decade, with changes during both the Reebok and and Nike eras, Oakland has continuously lightened both their sky blue and their gold colors, to the point where the current helmets look more lemon than athletic gold.
That will change in 2014, when the Invaders will return to the colors they first used when they appeared in the league in 1983. Bay Blue is a darker hue while still clearly a sky blue, and the Invader Gold color is far more “mustard” than lemon. It is a welcome change for many Oakland fans, who still sport vintage jerseys with names like Besana, Whittington, Banks, and Manumaleauga on them.
The new, darker uniforms will still feature traditional sleeve stripes, a block number font (now with shadows) and a gold helmet with blue and white stripes (now slightly tapered). It is a traditiona look, though there is some innovation, such as the new Bay Blue pant set, a look designed to appeal to all the Invader faithful who have been with the team since the early 80’s and who need to be enticed to stick with the team when they relocate to Santa Clara in a couple of years.
So, what is on tap after a pretty intense Week 5? Well Week 6 has its intense matchups as well. How about a battle of desperate squads, two teams expected to battle for division titles but who now sit at 1-4? That is what we have under the Friday night lights as 1-4 Nashville visits 1-4 Tampa Bay. Which team can use this game to turn the corner, which will fall even deeper in the hole?
Saturday features a full slate of national games, including some cross-country matchups like Denver in Orlando, Houston in Atlanta, Chicago visiting the hot LA Express. The two night games, however, are traditional divisional grudge matches as New Jersey hosts Baltimore at 7pm on NBC and Dallas tries to spark a rivalry with the Texas Outlaws at 9pm Eastern Time on ESPN and the ESPN Football Network (where the EFN group are bringing in Texas legend Ricky Williams to give commentary).
On Sunday, our favorite early game is the War of the South, with Memphis hoping to sneak up on Birmingham after their tough loss to Philly this week. At 4pm, you will want to check out the Las Vegas Seattle game, as the Dragons are trying to prove to themselves that they too are a contender in the Pacific. Arizona is again at home, trying to move to 6-0 with a win over the struggling Portland Stags. Finally, the nightcap features the current Central Division leaders headed to St. Louis to face the defending league champions. The Skyhawks have won 2 in a row after a shocking 0-3 start, and a win here could truly put them back in the mix with the Glory in the Central.
Friday @ 8pm Nashville (1-4) @ Tampa Bay (1-4) NBC
Saturday @ 12pm Denver (2-3) @ Orlando (2-3) ABC
Saturday @ 12pm Philadelphia (5-0) @ Charlotte (4-1) FOX
Saturday @ 4pm Houston (3-2) @ Atlanta (1-4) ABC
Saturday @ 4pm Chicago (3-2) @ Los Angeles (3-2) FOX
Saturday @ 7pm Baltimore (1-4) @ New Jersey (3-2) NBC
Saturday @ 9pm Dallas (2-3) @ Texas (3-2) ESPN/EFN
Sunday @ 12pm Birmingham (4-1) @ Memphis (1-4) ABC
Sunday @ 12pm Jacksonville (2-3) @ Pittsburgh (1-4) FOX
Sunday @ 12pm Michigan (1-4) @ Washington (4-1) FOX
Sunday @ 4pm Las Vegas (4-1) @ Seattle (2-3) ABC
Sunday @ 4pm New Orleans (2-3) @ Oakland (3-2) ABC
Sunday @ 4pm Portland (1-4) @ Arizona (5-0) FOX
Sunday @ 8pm Ohio (4-10 @ St. Louis (2-3) ESPN/EFN