A good week for the favorites as 11 of 14 favorites got the W they sought. That said, the three upsets are where the excitement was as Oakland fell to Seattle, Memphis shocked Washington, and Dallas got their 2nd win of the year with a big upset over heavily-favored Michigan, snapping the Panther win streak. Texas and Tampa Bay kept chugging along, reaching 9 wins each, and Jacksonville just kept flopping, now at 0-10 for the season. We begin our coverage with a fun matchup of two fringe contenders as Orlando headed to Birmingham with both hoping to stay relevant in their divisions. We will also take a look at the newly-released USA Today All Under-25 Roster for the USFL, discuss five players who may be entering the final weeks of their careers, and get a peak at the newest fashion out of the Rose City as Portland updates their look for 2015.
ORLANDO RENEGADES 27 BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS 24
This was a game that featured two teams on the cusp of playoff eligibility, Orlando sitting at 5-4 in a tightly-packed SE Division and Birmingham at 4-5 and beginning to drop out of range of the New Orleans Breakers. Both teams saw a win here as a potential springboard to a home stretch run towards the postseason and a loss as a major obstacle to their plans for playoff football. The game also featured two promising younger quarterbacks with Russell Wilson facing off against Cam Newton. Both are mobile and both can get the ball deep, so this was a matchup that promised some fireworks.
While not a high-scoring shootout, the game did feature both quarterbacks throwing for 3 scores, but what made this game our GOTW was simply the way the game played out as one of the biggest comebacks in league history. Birmingham dominated the early going, building up a 24-0 lead midway through the second quarter, but that all changed with one play and Orlando would go on to score 27 unanswered points over 35 minutes of game clock to stun the Birmingham crowd, uncertain how a team that had been so dominant could disappear and be dominated by the trailing opposition.
It all began about as well as a game can for the Stallions. They received the opening kickoff, marched down the field in short order, moving into Orlando territory in only 7 plays and then hitting on the big play to take the game’s first points, a 34-yard strike from Newton to his new favorite target, Dontrelle Inman. With Orlando failing to make a first down on their first possession, Birmingham soon had increased the lead to 10-0 on a Garrett Hartley field goal. It was all looking good for the Stallions early.
Following another short drive from the Renegades, Birmingham got their third possession of the game, and just like the other two, they moved the ball well and put points on the board. This time it was another short pass turned into a long gain as Newton hit slot receiver Julian Edelman over the middle on a quick slant, only to have the elusive receiver juke the safety and race to the endzone for a 29-yard score. Birmingham was up 17-0 and was not done yet.
The ensuing Orlando possession, now down 3 scores, lasted only 1 play as Knowshon Moreno took a pitch from Wilson, bobbled the catch, and let the ball fall to the turf. It was recovered by LB DeMeco Ryans, and despite protestations from Orlando that the ball had been a forward pass, replay showed it was a lateral and possession was given right back to Birmingham. The Stallions wasted no time getting back into the endzone, adding Cam Newton’s third TD toss of the day, a 7-yarder to Inman to go up 24-0 and seemingly put the nail in the coffin for the visiting Renegades.
But, this is pro football, where momentum can be the difference between a blowout win and a fierce comeback victory. Orlando, looking deflated on the sideline, came back onto the field and were quickly forced to punt after only 3 plays. This was a team that simply did not believe in itself, but that was about to change. On the second play of their next possession, lined up at their own 17, Birmingham was itching to put the game away, but an attempt to hit on a big pass would backfire, shifting the game towards the Renegades. Newton connected with Chris Chambers on an out & up, and the Stallion receiver started heading upfield when he was blindsided by Orlando LB Sean Spence, delivering a punishing blow that separated Chambers from the ball. The football bounced erratically, kicked by one player attempting to capture it, and eventually a dogpile formed. At the bottom of the pile was Calais Campbell (Who else?) and Orlando had the ball at the 24 yard line with a chance to shift the energy of the game.
It would take Russell Wilson only 2 plays to transform the turnover into points. The first play was a 16-yard pass to slot receiver DeSean Jackson, the second a perfect fade route to Dwayne Harris. By game’s end, Harris would be the match’s leading receiver with 10 catches,100 yards, and 2 scores, but at this moment, his over the shoulder catch was the spark that gave Orlando hope of responding to Birmingham’s quick start.
Now it was Birmingham’s time to sputter. For the first time all game the Stallions were held without a first down, going 3-and-out and giving Orlando the ball back with 3:03 left to play in the half. Orlando would control the clock, move the ball in small steps, and finish the half off with a 47-yard Billy Cundiff field goal. Now down 24-10, Orlando believed in their ability to come back, the momentum had changed.
In a scoreless third quarter, Birmingham held on, doing just enough to stop Orlando drives from getting into range, but also unable to do anything on offense themselves. The gameplan which had worked so well in the early stages of the game was not adjusting well to Orlando’s new schemes. The Renegades stopped blitzing, leaving 6, sometimes 7 players in coverage and rushing only their front line. Newton missed on passes, and when he tried to scramble, Orlando linebackers were there to spy him. It was a frustrating quarter for the home fans, watching as the Stallions lost all inertia, but still looking at a 14-point lead.
The confidence of the Stallions that they could hold the lead faded quickly in the 4th, when Orlando did what they had not been able to do all game, move the ball from deep in their own end all the way to 7 points. Orlando mounted a 13-play drive, complete with a 12-yard Moreno run, a 21-yard pass to Harris, and 2 third down conversions. The drive ended with Wilson’s favorite target, Harris, snagging a short crossing route from the 5 and taking it across the plane to pull Orlando within 7.
After another failed Birmingham drive, it was clear that not only the momentum, but the confidence had also slid over to the Orlando sideline. Birmingham was now questioning themselves, feeling very much like the game was slipping away, while Orlando was bolstered by a new found confidence in their ability to tie the score. It would take Orlando only 7 plays to do so, putting up the game-tying field goal with 1:38 left to play, another short toss from Wilson to his receiver, this time Doug Gabriel, scoring from the 7. The score led to an eruption of excitement from the Orlando bench and a lot of heads hung low on the Stallion sideline. What came next would break the Stallions’ spirit.
Coach Fox, long a veteran of USFL wars of attrition, saw the lack of spirit and sense of loss on the Birmingham sideline and knew that the Stallion squad was lacking focus. He called for an onside pooch kick from a standard formation, showing that the ball would go deep but then sending only a high bouncer off the tee. The call was perfect. No need to wait for overtime. Orlando took over on the Birmingham 49 with a chance to win the game in regulation.
The Renegades would do just that, moving the ball almost at will against a deflated Stallion squad, getting the ball to the Birmingham 10 before a couple of dive plays to set up Cundiff with a 29-yard chipshot for the win at the whistle. Cundiff connected and Orlando’s sideline celebrated while nearly 50,000 Stallion fans trudged to their cars in disbelief. Birmingham was now 4-6, and while certainly still alive in the Wild Card hunt, they were a defeated unit, while Orlando, now sitting at 6-4 was right in the mix for a playoff spot, with a newfound confidence in their ability to overcome.
PHILADELPHIA 26 PITTSBURGH 13
The Stars defense helps Philadelphia get back to winning ways, shutting down the Maulers when it mattered most, in the red zone. Pittsburgh gained 317 yards on the day, and made 5 trips to the red zone, but came away with only 2 field goals. Meanwhile Philadelphia combined TDs from Travis Kelce (back from injury) and Steve Slaton with 4 mike Nugent field goals to take the W.
POTG: Stars CB Sam Shields: 7 Tck, 1 Int, 1 FF, 1 FR
ST. LOUIS 3 CHARLOTTE 37
It was a battle of backups as Ricki Stanzi and Jeff Tuel faced off after both Freeman and Wheedon injured themselves in late week practices. To say that Tuel had the better day is pretty obvious. Stanzi threw 2 picks while Tuel tossed 2 TDs, but the biggest star of the day was once again Monarch HB Fred Jackson, who rushed for 126 yards and 2 scores as Charlotte rolled to victory and solidified themselves above .500 with a 6-4 mark.
POTG: Monarch HB Fred Jackson: 22 Att, 126 Yds, 2 Td
NASHVILLE 17 NEW ORLEANS 38
The Breakers are breaking away from the division with another convincing divisional win. Drew Brees went 25 of 33 and the combo of rookie Jeremy Hill and Mike Tolbert rushed for 248 yards as New Orleans just outclassed Nashville in all phases. The defense held the Knights to 24 total yards rushing, Early Doucet had 2 TDs and special teams provided 7 points as punt returner Johnny Morant brought one back 65 yards in this dominant Breaker win.
POTG: Breaker QB Drew Brees: 25/33, 204 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int
TEXAS 29 CHICAGO 15
Chicago’s losing streak hit 6 games as Texas picked off Brady Quinn 4 times and Marques Colston went over 100 yards and scored 2 TDs to once again show off Texas’s balanced approach. Joe Flacco only attempted 17 passes in the game, but still got a 14-point win over a flailing Chicago squad thanks to a defense that was all over Quinn and his receivers. FS Earl Wolfe had 3 picks in the game, while CB Nathan Vasher had one, but ran it back for 6 points.
POTG: Texas FS Earl Wolfe: 4 Tackles, 3 Pass Defenses, 3 Ints
OAKLAND 6 SEATTLE 20
A huge upset in the Pacific as the Dragons sacked Joey Harrington 6 times and shut down the Oakland run game to shock the Invaders. Seattle got touchdowns from Dennis Pita and Nate Burleson, but it was the defense that was the story in this one, holding Oakland to only 218 total yards and 0 for 12 on third down.
POTG: Dragon CB Tramon Williams: 7 Tck, 3 Pass Def, 1 Int.
ATLANTA 27 OHIO 24
A tale of two halves as Ohio blew a 24-3 halftime lead with Atlanta going on a 24-0 scoring run in the second half, thanks in part to Brad Gradkowski being given free reign. After trying to win on the ground in the first half, and falling to a 21-point deficit, Coach Ramsey let Gradkowski cook in the second half, and the backup to Kyle Orton threw for 3 scores and led the Fire to a game winning FG in the final minute of play. Gradkowski would finish the game 17 of 26 for 285, 3 TDs and no picks after throwing for only 41 yards in the first half.
POTG: QB Brad Gradkowski: 17/26, 285 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int
LAS VEGAS 7 LOS ANGELES 3
In a game that was quite honestly painful to watch, both the Thunder and Express looked absolutely inept on offense, Jake Plummer was sacked 6 times and rushed 6 times for -2 yards. Mark Sanchez completed only 40% of his throws and the LA run game accounted for only 42 yards on the day as both clubs combined for only 10 points. The lone moment of offensive explosiveness was a blown coverage by the LA secondary which produced an 85-yard Plummer to Kevin Everett TD. This was a game that has to have both clubs worried.
POTG: Las Vegas DT Terrance Knighton: 4 Tck, 2 Scks
WASHINGTON 17 MEMPHIS 21
The second shocker of the weekend as a flat Feds team, clearly looking past the Showboats to next week’s game against New Orleans, got sideswiped by a rejuvenated Eli Manning and a surprisingly effective Showboat run game. Manning’s game was not perfect, he did throw 3 picks on the day, but he also guided the ‘Boats on 3 TD drives. Knile Davis bust out with 89 yards on only 11 carries, helped by Darren McFadden’s 52-yard day, as Memphis stunned the Feds and their own fans with a pretty solid outing for the first time in weeks.
POTG: Showboat HB Knile Davis: 11 Att, 89 Yds, 1 TD
TAMPA BAY 34 JACKSONVILLE 17
The Bandits did not fall for the trap game and put up 21 points in the first quarter to take control and put away the winless Bulls. Rex Burkhead once again impressed in his fill-in role, rushing for 97 yards and 2 scores, while both Vincent Jackson and Santonio Holmes went over 100 yards receiving as Tampa Bay kept rolling towards that top seed in the East.
POTG: Bandit WR Santonio Holmes: 3 Rec, 104 Yds, 2 TDs
BALTIMORE 27 NEW JERSEY 10
A big Baltimore contingent took the ride up I-95 to watch their Blitz in East Rutherford, and they were not disappointed. Darrius Heyward-Bey hit on several big plays, including an 86-yard TD, finishing with 176 yards on the day, and with Anthony Dixon out, Baltimore still dominated on the ground, with Cedric Benson rushing for 64 yards and 3rd stringer Kerwynn Willams going off for 104 yards on only 10 carries. Expect to see more of him after this outing.
POTG: Blitz WR Darrius Heyward-Bey: 4 Rec, 172 Yds, 1 TD
DENVER 30 ARIZONA 20
A big win to boost Denver’s playoff hopes, and a tough loss for the Wranglers at home as former General Michael Crabtree had himself a very nice game with 5 catches and 130 yards, but the big hero for the Gold was DE Bryce Fisher, who had himself a one-play opus that turned the game from a battle to a Denver win. Fisher’s third quarter sack-fumble-recovery-score was the grand slam Denver needed to pull away and put away the Wranglers.
POTG: Denver DE Bryce Fisher: 3 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 Def TD.
PORTLAND 20 HOUSTON 26
Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jonathan Stewart had Portland in this game, but the defense let them down, giving up 124 yards and 2 scores to Carlos Hyde and failing to stop Houston as they ran out the clock over the final 5 minutes. The Gamblers held the ball the entire time, putting up a field goal as time ran out to secure the win.
POTG: Gambler HB Carlos Hyde: 32 Att, 124 Yds, 2 TD
DALLAS 27 MICHIGAN 21
Our third of three pretty seismic upsets as Michigan’s winning streak is done in by the Roughnecks. Dallas got only their 2nd win of the season, upending the Panthers in Detroit thanks to a huge day for HB Rashard Mendenhall. The big man rushed for 143 yards on 21 carries, helping Dallas keep the Michigan defense at bay. Add in 3 TD tosses from Johnny Manziel, including 2 to speed receiver Tim Wright, and a defense that held Kirk Cousins to only 183 yards passing, and you have a win for a team that needed something positive to happen.
POTG: Dallas HB Rashard Mendenhall: 21 Att, 143 Yds, 0 TD
Peyton Manning Announces Intention to Retire
After watching Nashville fall to New Orleans from the sideline, his fifth consecutive game without any on-field action (3 due to injury), Peyton Manning had apparently done some soul searching. In a Wednesday press conference, Manning announced to the Nashville fans and to the country that he would finish out the 2014 Knights season as his last in pro football.
Manning’s stint in Nashville has been a mix of emotions. There was his triumphant return to football after what many considered a career-ending neck injury and spinal fusion surgery, but something has been different about his game since coming over from the NFL Colts. The zip is just not there on his fastball, and the victories did not pile up the way they had for him as a 3-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl winner. This season, after starting the year once again under center, he was injured in a Week 5 game at Pittsburgh, and the injury, to his mid-back, brought up concerns that there would be further complications related to the stability of his spine. Added to this, the Knights opted to stick with backup Cody Pickett at QB even as Manning was cleared to practice and then to play. That was a tough combination of bad news, both physical and professional, for Manning.
Manning, speaking to the press at Nissan Stadium, thanked the Knights for giving him the chance to prove himself, thanked the fans of Nashville and the state that has adored him since his days in Knoxville, and thanked his family for their support and love. He was clearly emotional about stepping away from the game but insisted that it was the right decision at the right time. It is not known if Manning will get another start in what is looking like a lost season for the Knights, though we would not be surprised if Coach Greg Roman gave him the Week 16 game just as a tribute to a future Hall of Famer, what is known is that a player who came to define excellence for nearly a decade in the NFL, has not had the USFL follow up that he and most of us wanted.
Manziel Leads Upset of Michigan
It has not been a coronation season in Dallas for Johnny Manziel, despite the massive jersey sales in the preseason or the hype coming out of Texas A&M and the Heisman. But, when we look at his year, what we see is a rookie QB who is growing into his role. This week’s performance in Michigan was perhaps his best of the season, throwing for 258 yards and 3 touchdowns with no picks and leading his Dallas club to a hard-fought road victory after several near misses in prior weeks.
Manziel’s numbers are not going to win him Rookie of the Year (2044 yards, 12 TDs, 9 Ints after 10 weeks) but there are signs that he is growing, and he is going to be more effective as a sophomore. He is throwing fewer picks as the season goes, making faster reads, using his feat more judiciously, and building rapport with his teammates, especially with 2nd year receiver Tim Wright, who has moved up the depth chart and is now the leading target for Johnny Football with 72 targets and 45 catches. Dallas is still sitting in the SW Division basement, and they still have some pretty big holes on the roster, including depth at WR, but we are seeing signs of hope for the future from the club and from their anointed franchise quarterback and media superstar.
Chicago Makes 2nd Big Staffing Change in 3 Weeks
Something had to give. After a week in which the Machine lost their 6th in a row, the offense scored fewer than 20 points for the 5th time in 6 weeks, and QB Brady Quinn threw 4 picks, it was clear that Week 7’s shuffle in the front office (changing the GM) was not enough. Coach Schiano gave his OC the boot this week, letting Mike Sullivan go and promoting HB Coach and former USFL/NFL back Earnest Byner to the interim OC position. Of course, at the rate the Machine are going, the new owners may decide that Schiano’s entire staff is now interim.
Byner, who played for the Cleveland Browns before coming over to the USFL to run the ball for the Ohio Glory in the mid-1990’s, will now take over an offense that is ranked 25th in scoring at only 16.6 points per game and 23rd in passing. Brady Quinn, once viewed as the franchise QB for the club, is sitting at 14th in yards passing and 21st in passing touchdowns. His 11:12 TD:Int ratio is a career worst, and his QB Rating of 79.7 is the worst of his career by nearly 10 points. Byner will be asked to fix that issue, and quickly. He will also be charged with boosting a run game that was dynamic in 2013 but has just not found its groove this year. With a 3-7 record after 10 weeks, Chicago has only fleeting hopes at a playoff spot, but Schiano and Byner need to show something in the final 6 games or both of them could be following Mike Sullivan out to the street by August.
No Final Week Trades, but a Surprise Signing in Week 10
The trade deadline came and went this week with no last-minute deals made, but that is not to say that there was no roster news, as we got a surprise announcement out of Columbus, a familiar face coming back for one last dance. Ohio held an impromptu press conference on Tuesday to announce that superstar former Glory wideout Joey Galloway, who retired after the 2012 season with the Tampa Bay Bandits, was cancelling his golf outings and lemonades at the club to return to the Glory for the remainder of the 2014 season.
Galloway played 16 seasons in Columbus with the Glory, a key piece of one of the most prolific offenses in league history and a big part of the team’s back-to-back titles and undefeated 2002 season. He and the team agreed to a separation in 2010, when Galloway then went to Tampa Bay and helped them win a title in 2011. He played one more season in Tampa Bay before announcing his retirement, and many thought he would sign a 1-day deal to retire as a Glory team member, but that did not happen. So, it was a huge surprise, but a very welcome one for Glory fans when the team announced not only that the 40-year-old receiver would come out of retirement to become a Glory player again, but that this was not a 1-day deal, but an actual contribution to the team.
Expect Galloway, who has not played a down in nearly a year and a half, to work his way onto the field in very limited packages, but to get a huge welcome from the Glory fans when he does, which could be as soon as Week 13, when Ohio hosts Denver. The Glory, who lead the USFL Central Division with a 6-4 record, could use a boost to the passing game, currently ranked 19th in the league, but more likely will just benefit form the knowledge, mentorship, and locker room savvy of a superstar like Galloway.
While it is still too early for any team to have locked in a playoff spot or for any to be removed from contention, we certainly can see the writing on the walls with our first Playoff Picture report. On the one hand it seems all but assured that Tampa Bay and Texas, both perched atop their conferences at 9-1 are going to be playoff bound, and now are in a position to control their destiny in regard to the top seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Dallas, and particularly Jacksonville, on the other hand are all but assured to be the first teams eliminated from playoff contention in their respective divisions. Beyond these 4 teams, there is a lot to be determined.
Texas holds a 2-game lead on Houston, and 3 games over the other two division leaders, so the top seed is theirs to determine. For Tampa Bay, even a single loss puts Baltimore in play, with the Breakers and Stars also in the mix. Lower down on the playoff standings what we see is what we often see around Week 10, a cluster of teams sitting between 6-4, 5-5, and 4-6. This year that group, the Playoff Peloton, to borrow from bike racing lingo, is made up of 6 teams in the East and another 8 teams in the West. We know that perhaps half of each peloton will qualify for the postseason while the others fall short. So, just what is needed from each club with 6 weeks left. The truth tends to be that a team in this boat that can finish the year with 5 wins out of 6 games is in great shape, ending the season somewhere between 11-5 and 9-7, which is typically good enough. Teams that go 4-2 down the stretch, or 3-3 have a much harder time. Obviously the current 6-4 teams have more wiggle room than those at 4-6, but with all 14 of these teams, the key to locking in a playoff spot is the same, get hot now and string together wins when the season is on the line.
A lot of injuries impacting the league this week. In addition to the two minor injuries which kept both Brandon Wheedon and Josh Freeman out of action this past weekend, we had some pretty impactful injuries during the week’s action, including season-ending injuries to three players, two of them ACL injuries which could take 9-12 months to fully address. Orlando lost 2 wideouts this past week, both potentially for multiple games, while Portland will be without DE Cullen Jenkins and their lone fullback, Greg Jones. Baltimore takes hits on their O-line depth with Alleman and Armstead both expected to miss multiple weeks, while Arizona will be without three players at least this week, one of them being star wideout Larry Fitzgerald. Here is the full list, and it is a long one, as late season injury lists tend to be:
OUT
CB Jason David DAL ACL IR
WR Lee Evans MEM ACL IR
G Andy Alleman BAL Hip IR
WR Jeremy Maclin ORL Abdomen 4-6 Weeks
DE Cullen Jenkins POR Back 4-6 Weeks
WR DeSean Jackson ORL Jaw 4-6 Weeks
FB Greg Jones POR Back 2-4 Weeks
OT Tarron Armstead BAL Groin 1-2 Weeks
HB Kory Sheets JAX Concussion 1-2 Weeks
TE L. J. Smith LA Ribs 1-2 Weeks
CB Mike Mickens ARZ Concussion 1-2 Weeks
LB Kiko Alonso POR Pinched Nerve 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
WR Larry Fitzgerald ARZ Concussion
G John Moffitt ARZ Arm
FS Tyrell Johnson NSH Ribs
TE Coby Fleener NOR Foot
DT Sione Pouha DEN Toe
QUESTIONABLE
WR Josh Reed ATL Thigh
QB Brandon Wheedon CHA Shoulder
LB Chase Blackburn NJ Broken Nose
FS Mark Barron LV Hand
DE Isaac Hilton OHI Toe
FS Clyde Adams TEX Back
CB Charles Godfrey JAX Hip
QB Josh Freeman STL Concussion
USFL & USA Today Announce All Under-25 Team
With an eye towards the future, USA Today this week put out their list of the USFL All Under-25 Team, showcasing the best and brightest of the younger set on USFL rosters across the league. Some names on the list will be well known as they have already had their break out moments, others may be less familiar to you, but are gaining notice among GMs and coaches across the USFL.
Quarterback: Cam Newton, Stallions (23)
While USA Today also cited Andy Dalton of Pittsburgh and Russell Wilson of Orlando as potential up and comers, they viewed Newton as the “already arrived” candidate for the U-25 QB group. Newton had a breakout season last year, and while 2014 has not been the step up that most expected, he is still very clearly the one player on the Birmingham offense that defenses are gameplanning around.
Halfback: Leveon Bell, Panthers (22) and Ryan Williams, Invaders (24)
Running back is a position where youth is often at a premium, so it is not surprising that there were 2 players selected and 4 named (Carlos Hyde and Eddie Lacy were the other two). Williams and Bell are centerpiece players for their teams and regular contenders for the rushing title, though they often have to contend with more veteran players like Deuce McCallister.
Fullback: Tommy Bohanan, Federals (22)
A bulldozer of a back who is also beginning to show some skill in the passing game, Bohanan is one of very few under-25 fullbacks who have been given the full-time job in a position that is falling more and more out of favor each year.
Tight End: Tyler Eifert, Knights (21)
One of the youngest players on our list, Eifert is the clear number one in Nashville and beats out others younger tight ends like Houston’s Rob Housler or rookie Richard Rodgers in Oakland.
Wide Receiver: Adam Thielen, Maulers (22) and Mike Evans, Gamblers, 24
Thielen burst on the scene last year with outstanding numbers and was the rare wideout who came into the league as a mid-range draft pick and was almost immediately thrust into the starting lineup. Evans is the first rookie to make the list, though a slightly older rookie than most. Just missing the cut were fellow rookie Odell Beckham Jr in New Jersey and one of our favorites, Chicago’s Aaron Dobson.
Offensive Tackle: Matt Kalil, Express (24) and Eric Fisher, Dragons (21)
Kalil was a hot commodity coming out of USC, so it is no surprise that we see him here. Fisher was an overall number one pick in the NFL and a huge signing for Seattle, so again, no surprise. Just missing the cut was New Jersey’s Donald Stephenson.
Offensive Guard: Kyle Long, Outlaws (23) and Jonathan Cooper, Monarchs (22)
Both guards started their first week as rookies and have been stalwarts on the inside every since. Both are on playoff contenders, and both can play on either side of the center. Just missing the cut was Riley Reiff, the former Hawkeye now protecting Newton in Birmingham.
Center: Philip Blake, Outlaws (22)
Fans of the Outlaws have to be overjoyed to see 2 names from their O-line on this team, because it means that Joe Flacco could be very well protected for a very long time. Nashville’s Wesley Johnson (24) is the Honorable Mention here.
Defensive End: Barkevious Mingo, Bulls (22) and Robert Quinn, Blitz (24)
Mingo is here largely on the merit of his strong rookie year, because his numbers are down in the Bulls’ 0-10 season this year. Quinn is a name that Blitz fans are beginning to tout as one of the most undervalued players at the position. A potential third candidate is Nashville’s Mario Addison, who has had some injury issues keeping him from being more productive.
Defensive Tackle: Star Lotuleilei, Roughnecks (23) and Aaron Donald, Maulers (20)
Lotuleilei was an instant hit in Dallas, winning POTW in his first game as a pro. Since then he has been a force for Dallas on the inside. Donald, the youngest player on our list, has been a standout in what has been a tough year for the Maulers otherwise. Tampa’s Kawann Short also deserves some praise for his contributions to Tampa’s vastly improved defense (Now 3rd in the league in scoring).
Linebacker: Luke Kuechley, Fire (23), Rolando McClain, Monarchs (24), Khalil Mack, Dragons (22)
Dallas may be kicking themselves that they let Kuechley go, because he is having a great year with the Fire. McClain may not get all the praise, but he is a huge piece of the Monarchs’ defensive schemes, and Mack is growing each week in his rookie year with the Dragons. Also worth mentioning is Sean Porter up in Michigan.
Cornerback: Dre Kirkpatrick, Panthers (24) and Dee Milliner, Renegades (21)
Kirkpatrick was an immediate impact player for the Panthers as a rookie, which we could also say for Milliner coming from Alabama to Orlando. We should also throw in Seattle’s Richard Sherman, who is very tough on the field and one of the league’s best trash talkers.
Safety: Calvin Pryor, Showboats (22) and Eric Berry, Knights (24)
Looks like the state of Tennessee has locked down the safety position for a while with these two outstanding young players. Pryor is just a rookie, and is already one of the best defenders Memphis has. Also worth mentioning is free safety Robert Sands, another good young piece in Pittsburgh.
Special Teams: Kicker Caleb Sturgis, Breakers (21) and Punter Jeff Locke, Outlaws (23) Sturgis just beats out Denver’s Jeff Zeurlein for this spot, while Locke and Seattle’s Pat O’Donnell are both strong legged punters who put their teams in solid position.
Five Players Who May be in Their Final Games
With Peyton Manning announcing his retirement plans, it got some buzz going about others who may be considering hanging up their cleats. This is always a crapshoot because one player’s physical and mental resilience at 36, 37, or 38 may be very different from another. We know, for example, that running backs can step away earlier due to the beating their bodies take, while other positions can see players potentially reach 40 without stepping away. Just look at Joey Galloway’s return to Ohio at age 40 and you see how tough it is to gauge. But, that being said, here are 5 names that we are hearing in the rumor mill as possibly looking at their final games over the next 6 weeks.
DT Paul Grasmanis (TEX): Eighteen seasons at defensive tackle is stunning and praiseworthy, but with the Outlaws potentially on the path to a title, we could very easily see this longstanding figure in their D-line go out on top.
DE Jevon Kearse (CHA): Another D-lineman, Kearse turns 38 this offseason, and it is very rare that a player in his type of physical position would play that late into his 30’s. But, once again, the lure of a title could be pushing his engine.
LB James Farrior (HOU): We keep putting Farrior on lists like this, and he keeps putting up one more solid year after another. He is 37 this year, his 16th in the league, and his numbers are down, so perhaps we have finally seen the swan song happening, but don’t tell him that.
QB Jake Plummer (LV): Not his first time on lists like this either, but 37-year-old Plummer is again in the hunt for a playoff spot, and again could tell Father Time to shove off for one more go.
HB Frank Gore (ARZ): He won the MVP in 2013, but seems to be struggling this year. Yes, Gore is only 33, but just like a dog, you have to count HB years differently than regular human years. Thirty-three is about 85 in human years because the pounding a tailback takes is life-draining.
Portland Reveals Blazing New Uniforms
It is all about blaze orange for the Portland Stags as they revealed their new Adidas-designed uniforms for 2015. From a new orange lid to bright orange jerseys and pant sets, the Stags are embracing their ties to hunter culture, to the north woods of the PNW, and to their unique color scheme. While several elements of the Stag’s 2008 look remain, including the wrap around antlers on the helmet, the shoulder yokes with antler cutouts, and the use of multiple pant sets (now 4 with white, brown, buff, and orange options), the new-look Stags are fully embracing the uniqueness of orange as color.
Portland has been and remains the only team in the USFL to use orange as its dominant color, a fact that is even heightened with the switch of the helmet from brown to blaze. Their colors, originally stated to resemble those of the Cleveland Browns, are distinct due to the vibrant nature of the blaze variant of orange and the inclusion of buff (dull gold) as a tertiary color. The other outstanding feature of Portland’s look is the use of the antler motif on nearly every item of their uniform. This is again heightened in the new Adidas look as the club will now have antlers as part of their pant stripe, with an antler cutout in the main stripe of the pants, causing the contrasting center stripe to end at the mid-thigh instead of continuing to the hip.
The two main logos of the club remain the same, the antler head primary and the football-shaped secondary, but the font used for the team is being modernized. Gone is the swirling script “Stags”and in its place is a serifed block font. The jerseys also now feature a unique shadow feature on the numbers, with the drop shadows going straight down, instead of angled as we most often see in the shadow number style. It is a new look, but one that fans across the nation will immediately associate with Portland’s outdoorsy identity.
GREATEST USFL RIVALRIES: CHICAGO V. ST. LOUIS
Are we cheating on this one? Just a little bit. Why? Well, because it very much feels like the Machine and Skyhawks have stumbled into a rivalry late and are just picking up a baton that has been around for a long time. It is undeniable that the cities of Chicago and St. Louis have had a running feud going for the better part of a century, it has never been much of a football rivalry. The Bears and Cardinals was not a heated NFL clash, even with the Cards having moved from Chicago to St. Louis (now much further afield in Phoenix), and while the University of Illinois and the University of Missouri had their moments, neither is actually in the cities involved here, and they are not even in the same conference.
St. Louis v. Chicago is a baseball rivalry. Always has been. Games between the Cardinals and Cubs can rival the Yankees-Red Sox matchups for drama and fan buy-in. The longstanding rivalry between the two National League foes has trickled into other arenas, most notably the NHL where the Blackhawks and Blues regularly clash, but has never been much in the NFL. Enter the St. Louis Knights in 1992, only 5 years after Chicago's Machine debuted, and we have the start of another spring sport with both clubs in the same division. That familiarity hurt, but when the Knights relocated once again, moving on to Nashville, it created a gap. The Skyhawks arrived in 2006 to fill that gap and give Chicago the chance for more drama with their rival across the state and over the Mississippi.
Is this rivalry bigger than Chicago-Michigan? Honestly it depends on the year and the standings. Is it bigger for the Skyhawks than the Machine? Probably, after all Chicago has other clear rivals, St. Louis does not. The two have only played 17 times, with the Machine holding an 11-6 advantage. They will play again in Week 13, but both teams are struggling to stay relevant this year, so will we see true rivalry passion? We don't know. Many may argue that we have placed this rivalry too high in our list, and that may be true, but there is a joy to the banter between these two fan groups, especially now that the Skyhawks have a title under their belt, something Chicago has tried repeatedly and failed to obtain. It may not be as storied or as intense as some other USFL rivalries, but we are putting this one here because the rivalry of cities is so profound and the potential for annual clashes so great.
Week 11 brings us 7 divisional games, including some of the league’s best rivalries, like Memphis @ Birmingham, Michigan @ Chicago, and New Jersey @ Philadelphia. It also brings us some really huge games as the playoff hunt gets nasty. Friday’s Breakers-Federals game could be a do-or-die affair for the 5-5 Feds, as they sit in 3rd place in a NE Division that is pulling away from them. Saturday includes a great rematch of the Western Conference Finals from 2013, with Arizona headed out to Oakland. The Wranglers, mired at 5-5 also need to get a W, while Oakland has dropped a pair of games recently and cannot afford to let Las Vegas pull ahead of them in the Pacific.
On Sunday we have battles in the three divisions with Atlanta visiting Tampa Bay early, Houston in Dallas late, and Michigan @ Chicago at night, but the biggest game may be in Baltimore, where the 6-4 Charlotte Monarchs hope to derail the surprising 8-2 Baltimore Blitz.
FRI @ 8pm ET New Orleans (7-3) @ Washington (5-5) NBC
SAT @ 12pm ET Memphis (3-7) @ Birmingham (4-6) ABC
SAT @ 12pm ET Ohio (6-4) @ Orlando (6-4) FOX
SAT @ 4pm ET Seattle (4-6) @ Las Vegas (6-4) ABC
SAT @ 4pm ET Denver (6-4) @ Texas (9-1) FOX
SAT @ 7pm ET New Jersey (4-6) @ Philadelphia (8-2) NBC
SAT @ 9pm ET Arizona (5-5) @ Oakland (6-4) ESPN/EFN
SUN @ 12pm ET Atlanta (6-4) @ Tampa Bay (9-1) ABC
SUN @ 12pm ET Portland (3-7) @ Pittsburgh (3-7) FOX Regional
SUN @ 12pm ET Jacksonville (0-10) @ Nashville (2-8) FOX Regional
SUN @ 4pm ET Charlotte (6-4) @ Baltimore (8-2) ABC Regional
SUN @ 4pm ET Los Angeles (3-7) @ St. Louis (4-6) ABC Regional
SUN @ 4pm ET Houston (7-3) @ Dallas (2-8) FOX
SUN @ 8pm ET Michigan (5-5) @ Chicago (3-7) ESPN/EFN
Those Portland new unis afe FIRE!!!! AWESOME!