Playoff football. What else needs to be said? We had 3 of 4 homestanding favorites win, but it was not a cake walk to be sure. Wild Card games rarely are. We had one upset as LA went into Chicago and took advantage of a Machine club weakened by injuries. We had some big performances like Cam Newton’s 151 yards rushing for Birmingham, Deion Branch’s 99 yards and a score for Washington, and Michael Crabtree’s break out game as a member of the Gold. We will recap all four games, take a look ahead at the Divisional Round, and take a moment to celebrate some of the best performances of the season. All right here, right now, in This Week in the USFL.
BIRMINGHAM 24 CHARLOTTE 32
A huge game on the ground for Cam Newton, but trouble in the air as his 2 picks help Charlotte pull out the victory. Newton would complete only 12 of 24 for 138 in the game, but he rushed 10 times for 151 yards, including a ridiculous TD run of 93 yards in the 4th quarter. But it was not enough as Charlotte pulled ahead late and then got a pick-6 to secure the victory in the final seconds.
Charlotte started strong, scoring the first 10 points of the game as Fred Jackson and Shonn Greene got the run game going against Birmingham’s defense. But the Stallions came roaring back early in the first when a scripted run by Newton turned into a 34-yard TD scamper. 9 minutes later the Stallions would take the lead as Newton hit Jabari Holloway for the score that would make it 14-10 Stallions at the half.
The third quarter would be dominated by Charlotte, limiting Brimingham to only 1 first down and containing Newton in the process. But, despite a significant advantage in time of possession, the Monarchs could only muster 2 field goals. It was enough to put them up 16-14, but that lead would not hold during a wild 4th quarter.
The final period began with Birmingham retaking the lead on a 43-yard field goal, but it would be on their next possession that Cam Newton made history. Backed up by a good Charlotte punt, Birmingham found themselves with a 2nd and 6 on their own 7-yard line. The called play was a pass play, but when a huge hole opened in the pocket, Newton scrambled, and before you could say “He is in the secondary”, Newton was racing towards the opposite endzone with Joseph Addai and Terrell Owens providing security to keep tacklers away. It was a stunning play, perhaps not the fastest 90+ yard run we have ever seen, but certainly an eye-popping play that had the Charlotte stadium stunned and silent in disbelief.
But the Monarchs were not phased, now down 24-16, they mounted a drive to get back in the game. It took until the 1:52 mark, but they got the ball into the endzone with Shonn Greene. The 2-point PAT failed and so Charlotte still trailed 24-22. They would need an onside kick to get the ball back, and they got it. Brandon Coutu, one of the league’s best, put the ball right where it needed to be and Charlotte recovered. It would take them 7 plays, but with 10 seconds left on the clock Coutu stepped onto the field again to try a 55-yarder.
The veteran kicker put the ball right between the uprights to give Charlotte a 25-24 lead with only 7 seconds on the clock. Birmingham would take the touchback to save time, and Newton would set up for a needed miracle. What he got instead was an exclamation point for the Monarchs. Trying to hit Randy Moss on a deep out route, Newton’s pass was behind his receiver and Carlos Rogers, the cagey veteran, not only scooped the ball out of the air, but returned it the length of the field to expand the Monarch advantage to 8. 32-24 was the final score, but this was no easy game for the Monarchs. It came down to scores in the final 2 minutes for Charlotte to pull it out.
LOS ANGELES 19 CHICAGO 13
We called this one as having potential upset potential, and that is the way it played out. Chicago’s beleaguered defense did what they could and held LA under 20 points, but the Machine offense struggled all day, converting only 1 third down the entire game and contributing only 245 yards of offense as the Express came in determined to win a slugfest.
Mark Sanchez found the room he needed to pass for 304 yards despite being pressured by Chicago on nearly every passing down. He would have to mix his targets up as Chicago kept tabs on Keyshawn Johnson. Johnson would finish with 6 catches, 2nd year receiver Jerrel Jerrigan would have 6 as well, TE L. J. Smith finished with 5 and Brandon Lloyd had 4. All in all 8 different receivers would catch passes from Sanchez, and while Reggie Bush was limited to only 2.9 yards per carry, his carries did help slow the passrush just a little.
On the other side of the ball, Brady Quinn was efficient, completing 20 of 25 passes, but nearly all within 5-8 yards of the line of scrimmage. His longestwas a 17-yarder to Dobson. Meanwhile, with the LA linebackers keyed on him, Doug Martin could not break free. His average was only 2.8 yards, rushing for 57 yards in the game. The result was that Chicago only managed 3 trips past the LA 40, and 2 of those three drives ended with field goals.
There were only 2 touchdowns in the game, an early Emmanuel Sanders TD catch in the first quarter and a much more impactful L. J. Smith TD catch early in the 4th. The rest of the scoring drives were finished by the kickers, with LA’s Damon Duvall connecting on 4 of 6 attempts, while rookie Jason Myers for Chicago hit on both his attempts, but got only 2 shots at it.
Outgained 361-245 and with a nearly 10-minute disadvantage in time of possession, Chicago just did not have the big play capacity needed to break past the Express and get the win. Los Angeles moves on and will now face a very familiar foe, the Oakland Invaders, in the Divisional Round.
ATLANTA 19 WASHINGTON 24
The early game on Sunday maintained the weekend’s theme of close matchups as the Fire gave Washington everything they could handle. In a game that saw no scoring in the 4th quarter, the Federals felt fortunate to walk away with a victory on a day when they were clearly not at their best. Atlanta had its chances but could not make the big play when it was most needed.
We expected the star of the game to come from the run game, with Deuce McCallister up against former NFL star Steven Jackson, but it was the receivers who gave us the best show, with Jeff Reed and Deion Branch both having good days. Joe Webb would finish with 2 TDs and an 18 of 25 day, while Kyle Orton went 15 of 26, but had two costly picks.
The game started about as well as it could for the Fire, who got touchdowns from both J. J. Arrington and rookie Marcus Lattimore to start off the game. A missed PAT led to a 13-0 lead after one quarter, but Washington roared back in the 2nd. They got their first points on a Deuce McCallister special, a 2-yard run off the right guard. They added a Shayne Graham field goal and at the half were trailing only 13-10 despite a pretty poor first half performance.
In the third, Washington would turn the table with back to back TD drives. The first saw Joe Webb complete 4 consecutive passes to move from their own 46 to the endzone, connecting with TE Kellen Davis for the score. The second saw Deion Branch make a beautiful one-handed catch on the sideline for six points. Suddenly, Washington was up 24-13 and Atlanta needed to respond.
The Fire did that with Marcus Lattimore’s second TD of the game, but the 2-point PAT failed, leaving Atlanta with a 5-point deficit and one quarter left to play. It was a final quarter that would be dominated by the Washington defense. Coach Payton turned up the pressure, bringing weakside blitzes against Orton, and the strategy payed off.
On Atlanta’s first drive, Orton misfired and his pass was picked off by safety Ed Reed. The next drive was ended by a tipped ball by DT Geno Atkins, and the third drive with another pick, this time from LB Dennis Ellerbe. Atlanta would not get the ball back and Washington would survive and advance. They now must prepare to take on their bitter rival, the Philadelphia Stars, a team that beat them twice this season.
DENVER 24 TEXAS 30 OVERTIME
The only divisional matchup of the Wild Card round was another good game, with Denver laying catch up most of the game, but needing to wait until the final seconds to tie the score and send the game to overtime, but in the extra period an unsung hero got Texas the win on the opening possession and sent Texas on to the next round and another divisional matchup, this time with the 15-1 Arizona Wranglers.
It was a good game for both QBs, with Matt Leinart going 20 of 29 for 361 yards and 3 scores, while Joe Flacco completed 17 of 26 for 308 and 3 scores of his own. Denver’s Michael Crabtree had his biggest game since coming over from New Jersey, catching 3 balls, but turning 2 of them into scores, including a 69-yarder to open the 4th. Arian Foster led all backs with 101 yards, but the return of DeMarco Murray gave Denver enough of a run threat that Texas could not play the pass exclusively.
Texas scored twice in the opening period, sandwiching a Denver TD. First it was Arian Foster on a 2-yard dive, but Denver responded with Michael Crabtree’s first score. Then, in a play that would foreshadow what was to come, fullback Rick Razzano caught a 21 yard pass on a play where he was left completely uncovered, something that did not escape Head Coach Greg Landry’s attention.
A field goal made it 17-7 Texas at the half and gave the San Antonio crowd a celebratory mood. But Denver scored the next 10 points, and suddenly the game was tied at 17 with only 7 minutes to play. Dener had added a field goal in the 3rd, and on a 3rd and 7 early in the 4th, they had hit on their biggest play of the game, an out & up to Crabtree that fooled the corner. Crabtree survived the sideline shove of the safety and raced for the 69-yard score to even the score.
Texas would take back their lead on the next possession, moving down the field quickly before Flacco hit Felix Jones for a go ahead score with 3:40 left to play. But nearly 4 minutes meant that Denver would not need to rush, and they didn’t. They milked the clock, moved the ball steadily, and with only 15 seconds on the clock, DeMarco Murray caught a swing pass from Leinart and found the endzone. Coach Jauron opted to go for the tie instead of trying to win the game with a 2-pointer at regulation. It was a reasonable decision but one that he would later regret.
Texas won the toss and opted to take the ball first. Slowly they moved the ball down the field, relying on Foster runs and some short passes, but on a 2nd and 3 from the Denver 40, Coach Landry pulled up the very same play that had worked so well for Razzano earlier in the game. Razzano was again uncovered, an easy toss for Flacco, and with TE Chris Cooley and WR Marques Colston clearing the way, the fullback rumbled the 40 yards to paydirt, sudden death paydirt for the victorious Outlaws.
Texas will head to Arizona for their next game, another tough divisional matchup of two foes who know each other about as well as any two teams can.
Three Retirements That Will Deeply Impact Their Teams
The end of the regular season always brings with it four things: playoff football, coach firings, a free agent pool, and a wave of player retirement announcements. The last two deeply impact how teams enter the offseason and what priorities they will have. For three clubs, retirement announcements of key offensive contributors will certainly impact the offseason. Texas, Baltimore, and Tampa Bay all saw one of their prominent offensive stars announce that their time on the field has ended, creating an immediate need for a backup plan.
In Baltimore, the trade that brought Robert Ferguson to the Blitz has now proven to be a costly one, as Ferguson played less than a full season in the Charm City before announcing that he had decided to step away. Fergusion played for 5 teams over his 13-year career, but will always be remembered for his time in Memphis. It was there that he had his first 1,000-yard season, finishing with 4 of them in Memphis, his fifth being split between the Showboats and Blitz this year. Fergusion was brought to Baltimore to help with a late playoff push. He contributed 5 TDs and nearly 600 yards in 9 games with the Blitz, becoming a prime target for Ben Roethlisberger in the season’s second half.
Baltimore will likely look for a younger wideout in free agency, or will go for a receiver in the draft as their receiving group was seen as a problem leading into 2013 and is now back to square one.
Houston also lost a receiver to retirement as 11-year veteran Ike Hilliard has opted to call it a career. Hilliard spent his first 4 seasons in San Antonio with the Outlaws before jumping ship and finding a home in Houston. He amassed over 10,000 yards and 79 touchdowns over his career and was a consistent 1,000 yard receiver for Matt Hasselbeck and the Gamblers. This season he finished with over 1,100 yards and 75 receptions, also contributing 8 touchdowns on the season.
Houston has some depth at the position, with Roy Williams, Mike Sims-Walker, Bethel Johnson and Sam Hurd all under contract for the next few seasons. They may opt to go with a mid-round rookie pick or T-Draft selection at the position, but we don’t see them trying to find a plug & play starter in free agency.
Tampa Bay likely takes the biggest hit as it appears they were not anticipating that halfback Willis McGahee would step away from the game at 31 years old. McGahee has been a core component of the Bandit offense since coming to the team in the 2003 draft. He had over 1,100 yards in his rookie campaign and has amassed over 12,000 over his 11 seasons, including 1,003 yards this year. A prolific receiver as well as an elusive runner, McGahee’s talents will be tough to replace. The 2012 OPOTY and former All-USFL back is planning to remain in Florida in his retirement (Who doesn’t?) and will likely join the local WDAE Radio Station broadcast team for Bandit games.
Expect HB to be a priority for Tampa Bay, and we expect them to target players who fit the mold of the Bandit back, which is a prolific pass catcher and good inside-outside runner in the mold of McGahee and early superstar Gary Anderson
Other announced retirments include Des Chuckie Nwokorie (DAL), Eric Flowers (LV), and Chauncey Davis (OHI), TE Jim Kliensasser (MEM), FS Tebucky Jones (MEM), kicker Bill Grammatica (ORL), and journeyman QB Jeff Blake (NJ)
A Quick History of Washington & Philadelphia’s Rivalry
While perhaps not as renowned as the Stars-Generals or Feds-Blitz rivalries, the tension between the Stars and Federals has been longstanding and the fans enjoy a friendly rivalry. The two began as franchises in the league’s 1983 season, and while the rivalry was decidedly one-sided in the early years, with Philadelphia finding almost immediate success in the league while Washington often found themselves overmatched and underwhelming, the tide began turning in 1987, when the Feds started to win and started to make regular playoff appearances.
The Stars and Feds have met on the field 56 times in the regular season, with Philadelphia holding the edge 32-24, though the matchups have been pretty even over the past decade. This year, the Stars took both matchups, winning 27-13 in Week 2, but only eking out a 16-15 win in Week 15. The two will meet again in this week’s Divisional matchup. That may not be good news for the Feds, who have never beaten the Stars in the postseason. The two have met twice and Philadelphia has won both outings. The last time they met in the postseason was only 2 years ago, when Philadelphia edged the Feds 27-24 in RFK to advance to the Eastern Final.
Stars-Federals may not be the fiercest of rivalries, but there is certainly a rivalry there, and when it comes to playoff football, there is nothing either club would like better than to knock off their division opponent and advance to the Eastern Conference Playoff.
The California Derby, Playoff Edition
Oakland and Los Angeles face off in the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum this week, reviving another well-known rivalry game. While technically this Express team is not the one that began the California Derby rivalry back in 1983 (that team now plays in Nashville), the SoCal-NoCal rivalry has been a strong one with both iterations of the Express franchise. This season the two split their season series, with both clubs winning at home. Over their history, the “New” Express have been slightly on the defensive, losing 20 of 36 matchups, while winning 16. These two have never met in the postseason, so this year’s clash will be a new chapter in their West Coast rivalry.
Wranglers & Outlaws Are No Strangers
In a Divisional round where 3 of the 4 games are divisional matchups, we cannot forget to highlight the rivalry between the Wranglers and Outlaws. Again not a primary rivalry, as we all know Arizonans like to get riled up about games against Denver while the Outlaws’ primary rival resides in Houston, but the divisional clash is still one that will bring out the fans and get their emotions high. Arizona does hold the advantage all time against the Outlaws, with a 22-16 record against Texas all time. This season, of course, Arizona did sweep the series, winning 21-18 in Glendale and then doubling up with a 19-14 victory just 2 weeks ago, although that game was more of a battle of backups in many ways. Oddly enough, despite both clubs being in the league since the 1980’s (Arizona ’83 and Texas ’87), the two have never met in the postseason, so again, this will be a new chapter in their history together.
Charlotte & New Orleans To Meet for Southern Bragging Rights
The only non-divisional game this week, the Monarchs and Breakers have a very limited history. The two have only met three times, with each taking a victory once and both playing to a tie just 3 weeks ago. Obviously, with Charlotte having come into the league with the 2008 expansion they do not have nearly the playoff history of the Breakers. Charlotte has an overall playoff record of 3-2, having lost in their first playoff game in 2011 before going on their run to the Summer Bowl last year. New Orleans has been a perennial bridesmaid over its history. They have appeared in the playoffs in 19 different seasons, including 9-season run in the late 80’s and 90’s, but they have never taken home the John Bassett Trophy, having lost in their lone Summer Bowl appearance in 2003.
All things considered a very healthy Divisional Round. New Orleans has only one player out, DT Nat Dorsey. Philadelphia has two players who are going to be game day decisions, Oakland is likely to be without DE Justin Smith, but TE Zack Ertz could see action, and Arizona has no injuries to report. Here is the full breakdown, but there is little changed for the 4 Wild Card teams, so we expect all 8 clubs to be fully prepared for action this week.
CHA—QB Jake Delhomme (OUT), FS Chris Crocker (OUT)
NOR—OT Nat Dorsey (QUE)
WSH—QB David Garrard (OUT), DE Chris Long (QUE), OT Vernon Carrey (QUE)
PHI—WR Reche Caldwell (OUT), G Steve Edwards (QUE), CB Sam Shields (PRO)
LA—DE Keneche Udeze (OUT), HB LeRon McClain (OUT), C Alex Mack (DOU)
OAK—DE Justin Smith (DOU), TE Zack Ertz (PRO)
TEX— WR Brandon Marshall (OUT), FS Dennis Linkous (OUT)
ARZ—No Injuries Reported
Celebrating the Best of 2013
As we await the USFL Honors in Denver the Thursday of Summer Bowl Week, we thought it was a good time to issue our own very unofficial awards. In a season that had a lot of highlights, we wanted to point out some of the best performances, whether in one game or the whole season. So, here, with no ado at all, we offer our Best of 2013 Awards.
Best Game by a QB: Daunte Culpepper (TBY)-Week 11 @ Jacksonville. In what would be a 52-28 thrashing of their in-state rival, Daunte Culpepper put up big play after big play. He only completed 15 passes, but 5 of those were for touchdowns, including an 82-yard TD to Vincent Jackson and a 60-yarder to Santonio Holmes. Culpepper went 15 of 19, averaging nearly 23 yards per completion and coming out of the game with a 158.3 QB Rating. A master class in how to play “big play” offense.
Best Game by a HB: DeMarco Murray (DEN)—Week 13 v. Houston. It was a statement game if ever there was one. Murray averaged 6.9 yards per carry and with 21 carries that got him 144 rushing yards. Oh, and lest we forget, 4 rushing touchdowns against division rival Houston.
Best Game by a Receiver: Vincent Jackson (TBY)—Week 11 v. Jacksonville. Yup, the same game as Culpepper’s big day. We have to recognize Jackson as well. Only 5 receptions, but in those 5 receptions he scored 3 touchdowns, including the 82-yarder, and racked up 124 yards. Jackson was simply uncoverable on the day.
Best Game by a Defense: Chicago—Week 15 v. New Jersey. Even without Brian Urlacher, the Chicago defense put on a show against a feeble New Jersey offense. The 33-0 victory was the only shut out of the year for any of the top defenses, and it was accompanied by yardage numbers you just don’t see very often: 165 total yards of offense by the Generals, and only 46 yards rushing. Chicago did not allow New Jersey to cross the 50 the entire game in a dominant performance.
Best Special Teams Game: Brandon Coutu (CHA)—Week 11 @ Atlanta. In a division game that the Monarchs needed to have, it was Coutu’s foot that got them the win. Coutu connected on 4 of 4 field goal tries and a PAT to put up 13 of the Monarch’s 19 points in their 19-14 victory over the Fire.
Best Game by a Rookie: LeVeon Bell (MGN)—Week 14 v. Ohio. In a tight game, it was Bell’s run game that helped Michigan pull out the 30-25 victory. Bell rushed 20 times for 159 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also had 2 catches for 30 yards, giving him 189 on the day.
Breakout Star of 2013: Doug Martin (CHI)—from 90 carries and 347 yards as a rookie to 373 carries and exactly 1,500 yards in his sophomore season, Martin proved the Chicago brass knew their stuff when they traded away Michael Turner and put their trust in the young back. Throw in 12 touchdowns, and you have a new superstar in Chicago.
Comeback Player of 2013: Chris Weinke (OHI)—After 2 consecutive seasons, one in Seattle, and one in Texas, where he did not get a single snap and spent the entire season on the bench, Weinke not only competed for the starting job in Ohio but won it outright on the back of a season that saw him earn a 94.0 QB Rating, 10 points higher than his career best. Weinke earned the starting job in preseason and held it all year long thanks to nearly 3,500 yards passing and 26 touchdowns. His best season by a longshot, Weinke proved that he could be a legitimate starter in this league.
Unsung Hero of 2013: Chase Blackburn (NJ)—An NFL import this past offseason, Blackburn was a bright spot on a pretty gloom & doom New Jersey squad. The former Giant led the club with 124 tackles on a defense that at times looked like it could not tackle anyone. He was among the best linebackers in the league, but will he earn a spot on the All-USFL team? It seems unlikely for this unsung hero of a pretty shaky 4-12 team.
Best Coaching Job of 2013: Andy Reid (LA)—Yes, we all expect Jim Tomsula to get the COTY award, but we should not overlook the job that Reid did in rebuilding the LA Express in the first year of what many saw as a 3-year project. From 6-10 in 2012 Reid infused a winning attitude, and that attitude has produced a club that not only qualified for the playoffs, but won their Wild Card game on the road. Along the way, he helped Mark Sanchez have a solid 3,200-yard season and built a defense that finished 9th in the league in scoring and produced 34 takeaways.
Jacksonville Leaning Towards Quick Hire
Having spent the Wild Card weekend speaking with both Arizona DC Vic Fangio and Philadelphia OC Greg Roman. It is expected that they will want to interview Washington’s Rex Ryan, but that may be the full pool as the Bulls are eager to get a new HC in place as soon as possible. With the firing of GM Andy Dengler along with Coach Leslie Frazier, the Bulls need to get some semblance of a new team in place before free agency opens in August. They have expressed a desire for a GM-HC combo that will work together to strategize about all offseason moves, and the club is likely to have many in mind. C. J. Spiller is a free agent, and, quite frankly, has underwhelmed in Jacksonville, so expect the Bulls to look a different direction to boost their run game. The club could also lose 3 of their top 5 wideouts, all free agents, and are eager to resign DT Marcus Stroud, one of the better players on a pretty shaky defense.
The big question is what can be done about Tim Tebow. He is still a favorite among fans, more on his personality and lifestyle than on his gameday performance. He certainly can make exciting plays, both with his arm and his feet, but his accuracy is marginal at best, and he has been among the worst QBs in the league in ball protection over the past 3 years, thowing 54 picks over that time and giving him a pretty horrific 50:54 TD:INT ratio over that span. His lifetime QB Rating is only 76.6, which, as USFL fans of all stripes will tell you, is not going to get it done in a league that regularly has 5 or more passers topping 100 in the ratings each season. Will the new head coach try to build around Tebow? Bring in a legit run game to take pressure off? Or will the team try to offload the player ahead of his final year of the rookie deal and bring in a more traditional pocket passer? Big questions for whomever takes the helm in Jacksonville, and good reason why the Bulls want those key positions filled as soon as possible.
Who is the Best Option for New Jersey?
That is the question all of Sports Radio in the Tri-State Area has been buzzing with over the past week. There are some who feel that Coach Edwards was cut loose too quickly, especially considering the Generals had a 12-win season as recently as 2012, but for those who were calling for Edwards to go during the abysmal 4-win 2013 season, the big question now is what kind of coach is needed. Some want a defensive taskmaster along the lines of Tom Coughlin or Vince Tobin. Others want someone who can maximize the team’s offensive talent, a Bill Musgrave or Greg Roman. But mostly what fans seem to want is someone who is a proven winner. New Jersey has had success in the past, most notably during a 3-year run from 2004-2006 that saw them win two John Bassett Trophies with Tom Brady at QB and NY football legend Bill Parcells in the big office. Since those halcyon days, results in New Jersey have not been as sunny. Since 2007, when Parcells stepped away from the game, the Generals had a short-stint for Romeo Crennell and then 5 years with Edwards, which seemed headed in the right direction, particularly with that 12-win 2012 season, but with Edwards gone, the question is now squarely put to the Generals’ ownership. Where do we go from here?
Non-Playoff Teams Release Free Agent Lists
Sixteen clubs did not reach the postseason, which means players on 16 teams are now free agents. Yes, it is a bit of a technicality because for the next 3 weeks they can only negotiate with their current teams, and we expect some will resign before the full free agency period begins following the Summer Bowl, but history tells us that players who have resisted contract deals all season long may well be hoping to test the market rather than signing now. So just who is out there? Here is our top 1-2 names on each of the non-playoff teams.
BALTIMORE: The big name is HB Ron Dayne, who the Blitz are still hoping to resign, but in doing so they may lose another important member of the squad, LB Angelo Crowell.
DALLAS: One name stands out, and it is a player the Roughnecks really don’t want to lose, OT Marco Colombo.
HOUSTON: While QB Tim Rattay would be a nice player to bring back, the focus has to be on resigning center Ryan Pontbriand if they can.
JACKSONVILLE: We are expecting that HB C. J. Spiller is going to be allowed to test the waters. He came out of Clemson with the promise of a transformative player, but has yet to deliver on that promise. The player the Bulls may expend more energy to retain is guard Damien Woody.
LAS VEGAS: The Thunder have some cap issues, but they should do what they can to protect FB Manuel White, one of the league’s best. Signing White could mean the departures of both TE Ben Watson and WR Marty Booker.
MEMPHIS: Guard Luis Vasquez is the biggest name on the free agent pool for a Memphis squad that will have spending money this offseason.
MICHIGAN: With both CB Deltha O’Neal and SS Tyrone Carter at the end of their contracts and both contemplating retirement, how much will Michigan invest in these two vets?
NASHVILLE: TE Delanie Walker still has a lot of potential, but may not fit the Knights plans. We won’t know until we know their new coach and his philosophy.
NEW JERSEY: The Generals don’t want to lose either DE Shaun Ellis or OG Tuten Reyes, but they don’t have the funds to sign both, not with so much work to be done on this roster.
OHIO: Slot receiver Javon Walker could be the victim of cap calculations as Ohio ponders just how to add more defenders and how to strengthen their O-line.
ORLANDO: LB Paul Posluszny has been largely quiet with the press, but all we hear is that he is eager to leave the Renegades and get a shot with a contender.
PITTSBURGH: The Maulers want to retain both Ronnie Brown and Kenny Watson, but Watson wants a shot to be a bell cow back, and Brown is winning that battle in Pittsburgh.
PORTLAND: If it is between guard Mitch Petrus and WR Roddy White, we go with Petrus. With a young QB like McGloin under center, protection is key to his success.
SEATTLE: Neither OT Joseph Bragg or WR Chris Chambers are irreplaceable pieces for Coach Mitchell. We could see both leave and Seattle can find other options.
TAMPA BAY: As much as the retirement of Willis McGahee will hurt the offense, a possible departure for CB Patrick Robinson could be as big a blow for a defense that is already considered a real problem for the Bandits and Coach Mike Shula.
Divisional week means 4 pretty tough games. What makes this year’s 2nd round so much more dramatic is that three of the four matchups feature divisional rivals facing off. We kick off with the lone game between teams from different divisions, then finish with 3 straight brawls between foes who know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Could be a very dynamic weekend indeed.
CHARLOTTE MONARCHS (8-7-1) @ NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (9-6-1)
Saturday, July 13 @ 4pm ET
Super Dome, New Orleans, LA
Breakers -4
We expect this one to be a pretty even matchup, after all, the two did play to the season’s only tie game just 3 weeks ago. While the advantage in the passing game goes to Drew Brees and the Breakers, the clear advantage for Charlotte is their run game. Fred Jackson could be the key to success for the Monarchs as they hope to break down a pretty solid Breaker defense. As in the 2012 playoffs, the goal is to limit what is asked of Brandon Wheedon and use the run game to wear down the defense. New Orleans will likely try to establish the run as well, but will be quicker to turn to Brees and the passing game.
Our Pick: We think the Breakers’ D is underrated and that having a veteran leader at QB is always a plus, so we are going with the home team and slight favorite here. Breakers 23-20.
LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (9-7) @ OAKLAND INVADERS (13-3)
Saturday, July 13 @ 8pm ET
Oakland-Alameda Coliseum, Oakland, CA
Invaders -6
Both teams won their home games in the regular season series, but while LA has been inconsistent al season, Oakland has only grown in their confidence and cohesion as the season has progressed. The Invaders can beat you in a variety of ways, with a very solid defense (2nd against the run and 3rd leaguewide in points allowed). Los Angeles is mercurial. At times they look very dangerous, but at others they cannot seem to get out of their own way. They have some solid weapons on offense, and their defense has played some very good games, but consistency has been an issue all season long.
Our Pick: We have to go with the Invaders here. They are just a better team on paper and on the field each week. You don’t get to 13-3 by letting a game slip by. We choose Oakland, 28-20.
WASHINGTON FEDERALS (10-6) @ PHILADELPHIA STARS (12-4)
Sunday, July 14 @ 1pm ET
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Stars -5
The Stars won both regular season meetings and will have a raucous home crowd on their side as they face the Feds. But Washington has some elements that can be tough even for a good Stars defense to handle. Deuce McCallister is always a problem, and QB Joe Webb has been very solid all year long. The Stars, however, will have Steve Slaton back after over a month being sidelined. He was not on the field for the slim 16-15 Philly victory in Week 15, and we think he could push the Stars ove the top in this one.
Our Pick: We think Slaton’s return will provide better balance for Jim Harbaugh’s offense, and that the defense will be energized by the rowdy Philly crowd. We are going with the Stars to win, 24-20.
TEXAS OUTLAWS (10-6) @ ARIZONA WRANGLERS (15-1)
Sunday, July 14 @ 5pm ET
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Wranglers -8
We like this Texas team, and certainly Joe Flacco knows how to pull out tough games, but Arizona has felt very much like a team of destiny and that defense is so disciplined, we just don’t see Flacco and the Outlaw receivers able to make the big plays needed to break down the Wrangler D. The best shot is if the Outlaw defense can step up. They will need to bottle up Frank Gore. That is definitely job one, and then hopefully force some poor throws and possible turnovers from the Wrangler offense. If they can do that, then they may have a chance, but we still think it is a longshot.
Our pick: We have to go with the Wranglers. They do not always produce dominating scores, but they are often well in control of their games despite the scoreboard. That defense is something special and we expect it to be both ready and fully able to contain the Outlaws. Our pick is Arizona 20-13.