In Part One of our preview, we recapped the big moves from the past few months, including all the NFL-USFL transfer drama, the latest free agent moves, and the last minute QB shuffle between the Bulls, Express, and Bandits. Now it is time to see what we think the results of all these moves are. In doing so, we will introduce our new Power Rankings, where we divide all 28 teams into 4 categories: Strong, Solid, Incomplete, and Shaky. We will revisit this ranking periodically during the season, reassessing who fits in each category as the games are played out. For now, we will use this system to review all 28 clubs, but first we make our initial division predictions, always fraught with uncertainty and often with just bad calls. But you asked for it, so here we go, our look at the 6 USFL division races in 2015.
DIVISION PREVIEWS & PREDICTIONS
Every year brings us teams that fall of from their past successes, others that find the right formula for success, and every year we see shifting power dynamics across the six USFL divisions. As we explore the division races this year we have to consider key player departures, new arrivals, rookie contributions, and new coaching staffs. It is complicated and at the same time it is all pure speculation, because until the teams take the field and play the games, there is no way to know what we will get. Teams like Baltimore and Michigan impressed us last year, who will do it this year? We are going to take our best shot at sorting out what we see in the tea leaves and give you our best guess at how each division might play out, starting in the Northeast and working our way west.
2014 Finish: PHI 13-3, BAL 12-4, WSH 7-9, NJ 5-11, PIT 5-11
Big Changes for 2015: Steve Slaton is gone from the Stars. The QB controversy in DC ended with Joe Webb shipped out to San Diego. New Jersey drafts a second edge rusher, and Baltimore tries to beef up their already solid defense with the addition of DT Ellis Wyms. But, compared to other divisions, the NE was about as stable as any division in the league.
Outlook: No new QBs, no new coaches, no new teams, so the Northeast is looking like a pretty stable division. But does that mean that we don’t foresee any changes? Not on your life. First off, we have to recognize that Baltimore won it all in 2014, and look to be as good, if not better in 2015. Philadelphia, on the other hand, could struggle with the loss of Steve Slaton to the NFL. We are looking as well at an aging Washington team, who’s big 3: Garrard, McCallister, and Branch, don’t seem to have gotten much new blood to boost their chances this offseason. We are intrigued by some of New Jersey’s moves, particularly adding a good young DE to put opposite Kampmann in rookie Vic Beasley, but in our eyes the most intriguing team is Pittsburgh. The Maulers have more talent than their 5-win season last year demonstrates. We have a feeling they could be this year’s up and comer.
Predicted 2015 Finish: Baltimore 12-4, Pittsburgh 9-7, Philadelphia 9-7, Washington 6-10, New Jersey 5-11
2014 Finish: TBY 12-4, CHA 11-5, ATL 10-6, ORL 8-8, JAX 0-16
Big Changes for 2015: A wholesale reboot for the Bulls, a much needed one. A new QB in Tampa Bay (Sanchez), but one we have doubts about after his time in LA. A big defensive signing by the Fire (Fairley), and Orlando still trying to turn all that talent into wins.
Outlook: We are having trouble seeing Tampa Bay repeat as champion in a very competitive division, not with Mark Sanchez as a last-minute Hail Mary choice at QB. They had their hearts set on landing Jameis Winston, so losing out there left them in a bit of a panic. Charlotte, Atlanta, and maybe even Orlando, are good enough to challenge them. Jacksonville will still bring up the rear, but Coach Del Rio’s completely revamped roster should still be significantly better than what we saw from the Bulls last year. A lot depends on Robert Griffin, but with 3 new receivers and Cadillac Williams now in the mix, we expect the Bulls to at least pull out a few games this year. Our big riser? We are going with Atlanta, now with Kyle Orton on a new contract and with more options at receiver, they could and should make a run much like their Eastern Finals appearance last year.
Predicted 2015 Finish: Atlanta 11-5, Charlotte 10-6, Tampa Bay 8-8, Orlando 8-8, Jacksonville 4-12
2014 Finish: NOR 12-4, BIR 7-9, MEM 6-10, NSH 3-13
Big Changes for 2015: Well, for starts Nashville is now in Las Vegas and the Houston Gamblers join the mix, a much bigger challenge to the Breakers than any of the other Southern teams were last year. We also have a new coach in Memphis as Rex Ryan, son of former Showboat coach Buddy Ryan, takes over an underperforming Showboat squad. We have two exciting rookies in Birmingham with WR Amari Cooper and HB T. J. Yeldon both staying in Alabama, and we have a Breaker squad that added some youth in rookies Tyler Lockett on offense and Kwon Alexander on defense, not to mention a new OT to protect Drew Brees, with Wisconsin’s Rob Haverstein choosing New Orleans over the NFL.
Outlook: We think this is still the Breakers’ division to lose, but we think Houston will make it a challenge. We wish we could say the same about Birmingham, but while we love the rookie additions, we think it will take a year for them both to adapt to the pro game. Memphis now looks like the weak sister in the division, but we love them being aggressive and landing Todd Gurley as their new bell cow back. This is a division with a lot of quality younger players, and that could make it an exciting one to follow.
Predicted 2015 Finish: New Orleans 11-5, Houston 10-6, Birmingham 8-8, Memphis 6-10
2014 Finish: MGN 10-6, OHI 8-7-1, CHI 6-10, STL 4-12
Big Changes for 2015: Let’s see what we have here. A new coach in Michigan, but one very much familiar with the club; a true QB competition in Ohio as an NFL import (Osweiler) and an Ohio State legend (Troy Smith) battle to take the mantle, another possible QB controversy in Chicago, where rookie Trevor Siemian could be putting Brady Quinn on a short leash, and some new weapons for the St. Louis offense as the Skyhawks bring in TE Rob Gronkowski from Arizona and HB Bobby Rainey from the NFL. Basically, this division could be nearly impossible to predict.
Outlook: While the unfortunate health issues with Jim Johnson forced the coach to step down, the Panthers are still in good hands, and they have a nice triad of offensive talent to help them out, not to mention a very underappreciated defense, one that only got better with the addition of rookie LB Lake Ryan. We like Michigan to repeat as champions largely because we don’t trust that any of the other three teams are ready to challenge them. We do like St. Louis’s additions on offense, but worry that Coach Arians needed to do more to fix the D. We also like the addition of Jason Pierre-Paul to the Chicago defense, but now worry that their offense is a concern. As for Ohio, you know the saying about having 2 QBs. They may not really have even one. That has to be a big concern as the season starts.
Predicted 2015 Finish: Michigan 11-5, St. Louis 9-7, Chicago 8-8, Ohio 6-10
2014 Finish: TEX 11-4-1, ARZ 11-5, DEN 10-5-1, HOU 9-6-1, DAL 5-11
Big Changes for 2015: Houston is out, a new Las Vegas Vipers team is in, Gronk is in St. Louis, but Von Miller is now in black and gold. But, when we look across the division, the swap of Houston for the former 3-13 Nashville Knights squad, now in Vegas, seems to have left the division as a 3-team race, which is interesting since 4 teams made the playoffs last year.
Outlook: Texas is still kings of the hill after a Summer Bowl appearance last year. We are not sure how big a loss Gronkowski is for Arizona, as defense is still their calling card. We think Denver could be a real threat if Von Miller can be who he was with the Broncos. That makes the Gold defense a possible Top 5 group and a real threat to Flacco and Carr. We also saw a lot of pluck out of the Dallas Roughnecks last year, and with an offseason to learn more about the pro game, Johnny Manziel should be even better in 2015. The Vipers are likely bringing up the rear, as they did in Nashville last year. They are going to stick with Cody Pickett but signing Jeff Tuel could create a QB controversy if they struggle on offense. All in all, we still see a split between the top 3 teams and the next 2.
Predicted 2015 Finish: Texas 12-4, Denver 11-5, Arizona 10-6, Dallas 7-9, Las Vegas 3-13
2014 Finish: OAK 9-7, LV 9-7, SEA 7-9, POR 6-10, LA 6-10
Big Changes for 2015: While the Thunder relocate from Las Vegas to San Diego, not a lot else changes in this tight division. The biggest shift is for the Express, who trade Mark Sanchez, say they are committing to Aaron Murray, but then bring in Tim Tebow, supposedly as a backup, but we are not so sure. The Thunder have a change at QB as well, with Jake Plummer now playing golf, they bring in Joe Webb to lead the offense. He could slot in well into a QB option style that Plummer used to run with great efficiency. Portland will also have a new QB in rookie Marcus Mariota, along with a new head coach in former Baltimore OC Pep Hamilton. We will see how quickly those two can gel and adapt. Finally, we have Seattle, where they have bolstered the run game with the addition of Joseph Addai and rookie Jay Ajayi. They were already looking like an up and comer last year, while Oakland seemed to be fading late. Will that continue? We think it could.
Outlook: We have already pretty much given up the spoilers on this division. We see Seattle as the biggest possible riser, Oakland and LA possibly slipping a bit, and Portland as a true unknown. So, the missing piece is what we expect from San Diego. We like Joe Webb at QB. We like that they replaced the retired T. J. Houshmandzadeh with DeVante Parker, an exciting rookie, and we like that they added Lamar Miller to help Marshawn Lynch grind down defenses. Are they better than last year? We think very much they could be, and with the controversy of their former ownership, the team sale, and the relocation hopefully behind them, a new city could be getting a new division champion in San Diego.
Predicted 2015 Finish: San Diego 10-6, Seattle 10-6, Oakland 8-8, Los Angeles 6-10, Portland 6-10
TEAM PREVIEWS & USFL POWER RANKINGS
After years of reviewing teams by division, this year we are introducing a new twist to our preseason and midseason team evaluations. Our new team Power Ranking system will provide you with insight into where we see teams throughout the season (not every week, but at least once per month), and will see how we sort teams into one of four categories: The Strong, The Solid, The Incomplete, and The Shaky. Teams can rise and fall, switch categories, and change our perception as the season progresses. We will keep 7 teams in each category, and we will rank teams within each category, so you can see where your team stands from 1st to 28th in our assessment. We start with our preseason rankings as we preview each club.
THE STRONG
These are teams we think can win divisions, finish with 10 or more wins, and compete for a title. They tend to have solid squads on both sides of the ball, sometimes dominant squads in one area, and they don’t tend to hurt themselves with bad decisions or poor execution. We are listing only 7 teams here, so there could be an 8th that will move up after games start, but for now these are the 7 we see as the strongest in the league.
1-BALTIMORE
Head Coach: Jim Caldwell
2014 Record: 12-4 (2nd in NE Division, League Champions)
Departures: HB Cedric Benson (RET), WR Javon Walker (FA), K Nick Folk (FA), WR Donte Do (FA)
Additions: HB Jacquizz Rogers (NFL), DT Ellis Wyms (FA), C Ryan Pontbriand (FA), DT Angelo Blackson (Rook), WR Eli Rogers (Rook), K Josh Lambo (Rook), S James Sample (Rook)
Outlook: It’s pretty easy to say that the defending USFL champion is one of the league’s stronger teams, but after putting up a Top 5 offense and an equally impressive defense, the choice seems pretty legit to us. And while the Blitz took some hits to the depth of their receiving group, the rest of the roster remained largely intact. Add in one of the league’s best defensive tackles in Wyms and a speedy 3rd down back in Rogers and you have the makings of a team that could be a 1 seed in the East and return to a Summer Bowl.
2015 Prediction: 12-4, NE Division Champion
2-TEXAS
Head Coach: Greg Landry
2014 Record: 11-4-1 (1st in SW Division, Western Conference Champions)
Departures: CB Michael Boulware (Ret), CB Cedrick Griffin (FA0, DE Robert Ayers (FA), C Jason Spitz (Trade)
Additions: TE Julius Thomas (Trade), CB Pacman Jones (NFL), QB Bryce Petty (Rook), OT D. J. Humphries (Rook), LB Jordan Hicks (Rook), CB P. J. Williams (Rook)
Outlook: As much as the departure of Michael Boulware could be a negative, if Pacman Jones pans out in the locker room, we know he can be outstanding on the field. Expect him to be both a major feature of the defense and the special teams this year. Beyond that, the Outlaws largely stood pat, but when you make a title game and come within 15 seconds of winning it, standing pat is not a bad thing.
2015 Prediction: 12-4, SW Division Champion
3-MICHIGAN
Head Coach: Sean McDermott (New)
2014 Record: 10-6 (1st in Central Division)
Departures: WR Mario Manningham (FA), OT Russell Okung (FA), QB Tyler Thigpen (FA)
Additions: WR Ted Ginn Jr (FA), LB Jake Ryan (Rook), QB Taylor Heinecke (Rook), DT Darius Philon (Rook), OT Andrus Peat (Rook)
Outlook: The Panthers were something of a surprise last year, but this year we all see them coming. The only major free agent signing was Ted Ginn, who should take over in the slot, a space where Manningham never really excelled. In what could be a pretty weak Central Division, the Panthers could rack up plenty of wins and that could help them oust Texas as the 1 seed.
2015 Prediction: 11-5, Central Division Champion
4-NEW ORLEANS
Head Coach: Lamar Lathon
2014 Record: 12-4 (1st in Southern Division)
Departures: G Dan Buenning (Ret), LB Antonio Pierce (Ret), C Ryan Pontbriand (FA), WR Santonio Holmes (FA0, WR DeMetrius Byrd (FA0, OT Robert Gardner (FA)
Additions: OT Rob Havenstein (Rook), WR Tyler Lockett (Rook), LB Kwon Alexander (Rook), G Nick Easton (Rook)
Outlook: The Breakers will miss Antonio Pierce, there is no doubt of that, but they bring in youth at LB with Kwon Alexander, and they still have a pretty impressive offensive squad. The addition of Havenstein at tackle could help Brees be even more effective this year, and Tyler Lockett impressed us in the preseason with his escapability in the middle of the field. New Orleans is the prohibitive favorite to take the Southern Division again.
2015 Prediction: 11-5, Southern Division Champion
5-ATLANTA
Head Coach: Tom Ramsey
2014 Record: 10-6 (3rd in SE Division)
Departures: FS Curtis Fuller (Ret), WR Josh Reed (Ret), DT Robaire Smith (Ret), LB Orlando Huff (FA), SS DaJuan Morgan (FA), WR Ted Ginn Jr (FA), G Deuce Lutui (FA), HB Marcus Lattimore (Trade)
Additions: G Trevor Canfield (Trade), DT Nick Fairley (NFL), WR Javon Walker (FA), DE Mario Edwards Jr. (Rook), S Derron Smith (Rook), WR Darren Waller (Rook), CB Damian Swann (Rook)
Outlook: We like Atlanta to take the next step and win the Southeastern Division. They came on strong last season, making a surprise run into the Eastern Finals, but this year we think they won’t have to sneak up on anyone. Adding quality in NFL DT Nick Fairley and free agent receiver Javon Walker could go far in helping Atlanta take the crown. Rooies Mario Edwards and Damian Swann could also play a part if Atlanta is to rise to the top of the division.
2015 Prediction: 11-5, Southeastern Division Champion
6-DENVER
Head Coach: Dick Jauron
2014 Record: 10-5-1 (3rd in SW Division)
Departures: TE Robert Royal (NFL), SS Roy Williams (NFL), LB Chris Kriewaldt (Ret), LB Hannibal Navies (Ret), TE Daniel Graham (FA0, DE Bryce Fisher (FA), DT Sione Piuha (Trade)
Additions: TE Delanie Walker (Trade), DE Von Miller (NFL), WR Kevin White (Rook), LB Randy Gregory (Rook), C Austin Reiter (Rook)
Outlook: Everyone is perhaps a bit overemphasizing the Von Miller signing. Yes, it is big. Yes, Denver will now have a vicious front 3 with Justice Cole on the other side and Ndamukong Suh in the middle, but dothey have enough offense to be a dominant team? That has been a question for a long time. And we are not sure this offseason answered it.
2015 Prediction: 10-6, In the Wild Card Mix
7-ARIZONA
Head Coach: Jim Tomsula
2014 Record: 11-5 (2nd in SW Division)
Departures: TE Rob Gronkowski (FA), DE Larry English (FA), LB Lance Briggs (FA), WR Kassim Osgood (FA)
Additions: TE Daniel Graham (FA), DE Quientin Groves (FA), OT Brandon Scherff (Rook), TE Maxx Williams (Rook), DT Tyeler Davison (Rook), WR Jaelen Strong (Rook)
Outlook: Last year the Wranglers started slow and came on late, just falling short against Texas in the playoffs. This year we are a bit worried that losing Rob Gronkowski is a bigger issue than Arizona is letting on, though we do like rookie Maxx Williams to become the target David Carr likes to have over the middle. Perhaps a bigger issue is the loss of both Larry English and Lance Briggs from the Wrangler defense. Is that enough to keep them 1 step behind Texas again. We think it may just be.
2015 Prediction: 10-6, in the Wild Card Mix
The Solid
These teams have a lot of good pieces in place, but may have a few question marks that keep them from being elite. They are strong Wild Card contenders, and may surprise us and move up the rankings if they can put all the pieces together.
8-PHILADELPHIA
Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh
2014 Record: 13-3 (1st in NE Division)
Departures: HB Steve Slaton (NFL), WR Reche Caldwell (Ret), LB Sean Lee (FA), CB Bradley Fletcher (FA), DE Reggie Torbor (FA)
Additions: QB Chad Henne (Trade), CB Cortland Finnegan (FA), WR Ronald Johnson (FA), OT Donovan Smith (Rook), DE Danielle Hunter (Rook), HB Karlos Williams (Rook), LB Mike Hull (Rook)
Outlook: The Stars faded a bit down the stretch, and then suffered a big blow this offseason when Steve Slaton threatened to hold out and was released, eventually signing with the NFL. That is a big loss, and we are not sure Zac Stacy is up to the task in replacing him. However, other than the HB position, Philadelphia is still about as well-rounded and solid as a club can be. They may struggle to stay ahead of Baltimore this year, but we still see them in the playoff mix when all is said and done.
2015 Prediction: 9-7, In the Wild Card Mix
9-CHARLOTTE
Head Coach: Jim Mora Jr.
2014 Record: 11-5 (2nd in SE Division)
Departures: OT Sean Bubin (Ret), HB Fred Jackson (Ret), FB Justin Green (Ret), OT Tyson Clabo (FA), DE Kamerion Wemberley (FA), HB Shonn Greene (FA), QB Jeff Tuel (FA), WR Mark Clayton (Trade)
Additions: HB Darren McFadden (Trade), OT Kelvin Beachem (NFL), HB Ronny Hillman (NFL), WR Donte Do (FA), OT Russell Okung (FA), QB Tyler Thigpen (FA), DT Danny Shelton (Rook), LB A. J. Johnson (Rook), DE Obum Gwachum (Rook), FB Aaron Ripowski (Rook)
Outlook: A lot of change in Charlotte, with some big names out the door, including their top 2 halfbacks, their backup QB, and their left tackle. The moves they made to bring in talent don’t feel balanced with the losses they took, so we are predicting a step back, perhaps dropping as far as 3rd or even 4th in the division if things don’t click with their new arrivals.
2015 Prediction: 10-6, In the Wild Card Mix
10-SAN DIEGO
Head Coach: Dick LeBeau
2014 Record: 9-7 (2nd in Pacific Division)
Departures: QB Jake Plummer (Ret), CB Tyrone Bell (Ret), WR T. J. Houshmandzadeh (Ret), DT Linval Joseph (FA), TE Julius Thomas (Trade)
Additions: C Jason Spitz (Trade), QB Joe Webb (Trade), HB Lamar Miller (FA), LB Eric Kendricks (Rook), C Hroniss Grasu (Rook), CB Tye Smith (Rook), G Terry Poole (Rook)
Outlook: A new city, a new fanbase, a new QB, and a new attitude. The Thunder say they are sick of late season fades and are ready to play until the final whistle. After two consecutive drops out of playoff contention on Week 16, we will believe this is a new team when we see it in July. So, don’t get too excited with a quick start, the key to the Thunder is how that last quarter of the season goes.
2015 Prediction: 10-6, Pacific Division Champion
11-HOUSTON
Head Coach: Wade Phillips
2014 Record: 9-6-1 (4th in SW Division)
Departures: WR Bethel Johnson (NFL), C Justin Hartwig (NFL), DE Osi Umenyiura (NFL), HB Cedrick Cobbs (Ret), LB James Farrior (Ret), WR Kevin Johnson (FA), DE Derrick Burgess (FA), LB Nick Barnett (FA), QB Chris Simms (FA)
Additions: WR Johnny Knox (FA), OT Sebastian Vollmer (FA), HB Christian Michael (NFL), DE Malik Jackson (NFL), DE Dante Fowler (Rook), C Shaq Mason (Rook), LB Ramik Wilson (Rook), OT Cedric Ogbuehi (Rook)
Outlook: Losing both Osi Umenyiura and James Farrior leaves a pretty big leadership gap on the Houston defense, but we do like the addition of NFL veteran Malik Jackson and rookie DE Dante Fowler, to bring some youth and energy to the defense. On offense, this will very much be the same team that surprised us last year with two outstanding rookies. Can they avoid a sophomore slump and show us even more in 2015?
2015 Prediction: 10-6, In the Wild Card Mix
12-SEATTLE
Head Coach: Stump Mitchell
2014 Record: 7-9 (3rd in Pacific Division)
Departures: OT Kenyatta Jones (NFL), G Jeb Terry (Ret), FS Corey Hall (Ret), HB Cadillac Williams (FA), DT Amobi Okoye (FA), WR Dwayne Jarrett (FA), WR Kevin Kasper (FA), LB Akeem Ayers (Trade)
Additions: WR Emmanuel Sanders (Trade), HB Joseph Addai (FA), S Taushaun Gipson (NFL), G Laken Tomlinson (Rook), TE Tyler Kroft (Rook), HB Jay Ajayi (Rook), DE Christian Ringo (Rook)
Outlook: If Oakland was the big slumper in the second half of 2014, Seattle was the rising underdog. We did not expect much from them last year, so a 7-9 finish was a pretty good result. Now, can they take it a step further? The Dragons revamped their run game by signing Joseph Addai and drafting a speedster in Jay Ajayi. The also added a good looking TE in Tyler Kroft, and a solid O-line boost in guard Laken Tomlinson. We are still not sold on their WR group, but adding Emmanuel Sanders is a potentially shrewd move, and we are still feeling good about the direction this club is headed.
2015 Prediction: 10-6, In the Wild Card Mix
13-PITTSBURGH
Head Coach: Vic Fangio
2014 Record: 5-11 (5th in NE Division)
Departures: DE Jerome McDougle (NFL), HB Ronnie Brown (NFL), LB Donnie Spragan (Ret), K Shayne Graham (Ret), DT Dan Klecko (FA), G Chester Adams (FA), G Trevor Canfield (Trade), WR Tavon Austin (Trade)
Additions: C Antonio Caldwell (Trade), HB Marcus Lattimore (Trade), LB Tahir Whitehead (NFL), TE Anthony Hill (FA), DE Shaquile Riddick (Rook), DT Gabe Wright (Rook), DE B. J. DuBose (Rook), K Andrew Franks (Rook)
Outlook: We are not going to hem and haw on this. Our bullpen picks Pittsburgh as a team that could make a big leap this year, and we will stick with that. We love Lattimore as a possible bell cow back, and adding two young and athletic DE’s behind Jared Allen and Aaron Donald on the D-line could make the Maulers a very tough team to throw against. So, that leaves the big question. Is Andy Dalton ready to take a step up and become an elite passer? If the answer to that is yes then this team can make a run in the NE Division.
2015 Prediction: 9-7, In the Wild Card Mix
14-ST. LOUIS
Head Coach: Bruce Arians
2014 Record: 4-12 (4th in Central Division)
Departures: LB Wali Rainier (Ret), LB Marlon Greenwood (Ret), TE Jeramy Stevens (Ret), DT Brandon Mbane (FA), HB William Bethea (FA), LB Brandon Short (FA)
Additions: HB Bobby Rainey (NFL), TE Rob Gronkowski (FA), TE C. J. Uzomah (Rook), LB Bryce Hager (Rook), DE Shane Ray (Rook), P Bradley Pinion (Rook), DT Carl Davis (Rook), G Chris Reed (Rook)
Outlook: I think we have reached the point where we are ready to admit that the dynamic offense that took St. Louis to a title in 2012 is not coming back, but, at the same time, we love the additions they made to spice things up a bit. Bobby Rainey will be a better 3rd down target than Eddie Lacy, but the big move is pulling Rob Gronkowski away from the Wranglers. QB Josh Freeman better have Gronk on speed dial, because he will be a match up nightmare all season.
2015 Prediction: 9-7, In the Wild Card Mix
The INCOMPLETE
This is an interesting group, made up of teams that may be on the downward slope leading to a retooling or renewal phase and some teams on the upward trajectory after bottoming out. In both cases these are teams with a few more questions than answers. They could potentially take a step towards playoff contention, or they could fall off a cliff. Expect a lot of movement within this group as the season plays itself out.
15-OAKLAND
Head Coach: Dennis Green
2014 Record: 9-7 (1st in Pacific Division)
Departures: LB Keith Bullock (NFL), TE Jeb Putzier (Ret), SS Pierson Prioleau (FA), LB Joe Odom (FA), WR Tiquan Underwood (FA),
Additions: LB Donterrious Thomas (FA), S Jordan Richards (Rook), S Mykkele Thompson (Rook), TE Kennard Backman (Rook), DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (Rook), LB Xzavier Dickson (Rook)
Outlook: Talk about fading. The Invaders seemed ready to make a run at the 1 seed and then fell hard, slipping to 9-7 and then bowing out in their first playoff game. It was not a good look for this team that already had a reputation for underachieving. Honestly, we are not sure if this offseason made them a better team or shows signs that they are in decline. But if last season is any indication, this may be the start of a rebuild project in Oakland.
2015 Prediction: 8-8
16-TAMPA BAY
Head Coach: Mike Shula
2014 Record: 12-4 (1st in SE Division)
Departures: WR Vincent Jackson (NFL), CB Ricardo Colclough (NFL), QB Daunte Culpepper (Ret), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (FA), TE Luke Stocker (FA), OT Sebastian Vollmer (FA), CB Barron Miles (FA)
Additions: QB Mark Sanchez (Trade), G/T Brandon Brooks (NFL), TE Greg Olsen (FA), WR Santana Moss (FA), DE Preston Smith (Rook), WR Sammie Coates (Rook), DE Marcus Hardison (Rook), CB Taurean Nixon (Rook)
Outlook: You cannot lose your future HOF QB and an All-USFL receiver and expect the team to respond stronger than before. Oh, and did we forget to say that the Bandits also lost one of their best defenders in JPP? Man, a lot of big names gone, and we don’t really feel the love for Mark Sanchez as the answer either. This could be a tough year by the Bay unless Sanchez and newly arrived targets Greg Olsen and Santana Moss can surprise us.
2015 Prediction: 8-8
17-ORLANDO
Head Coach: John Fox
2014 Record: 8-8 (4th in SE Division)
Departures: WR Doug Gabriel (NFL), CB Lito Sheppard (Ret), CB Cortland Finnegan (FA), TE Greg Olsen (FA), WR Dwayne Harris (FA), G Ben Hamilton (FA), QB Chad Henne (Trade)
Additions: LB Mark Simoneau (FA), G Mike Iupati (FA), WR Breshad Perriman (Rook), CB Kevin Johnson (Rook), G Jon Feliciano (Rook), S Clayton Geathers (Rook)
Outlook: John Fox is under some pressure to escape the middle-of-the-pack finishes of the past few years. He will again rely on the defense, but needs to show that he can build an offense that can win games when they need to. It cannot all be on the big shoulders of Calais Campbell every week.
2015 Prediction: 8-8
18-BIRMINGHAM
Head Coach: Ernest Givens (New)
2014 Record: 7-9 (2nd in Southern Division)
Departures: LB D’Onte Curry (NFL), CB Quentin Jammer (Ret), HB Joseph Addai (FA), DE Quentin Groves (FA), G Herman Johnson (FA), DT Nick Eason (FA), TE Delanie Walker (Trade)
Additions: DT Sione Piuha (Trade), DT Damon Harrison (NFL), DE Greg Hardy (NFL), WR Amari Cooper (Rook), HB T. J. Yeldon (Rook), G Robert Myers (Rook), FB Jalston Fowler (Rook), G Arie Kouandijo (Rook)
Outlook: A legend returns to coach the club as Ernest Givens takes over Cam Newton’s offense. And, oh, look, he brought some new blood with him in Alabama’s dynamic duo, T. J. Yeldon and Amari Cooper. This may be a team that needs another year to reach their potential, but we really like the potential we see here.
2015 Prediction: 8-8
19-CHICAGO
Head Coach: Greg Schiano
2014 Record: 6-10 (3rd in Central Division)
Departures: CB Marlin Jackson (NFL), DE Anthony Weaver (Ret), DT Ellis Wyms (FA), OT Xavier Fulton (FA), TE Anthony Hill (FA), WR Emmanuel Sanders (Trade)
Additions: LB Akeem Ayers (Trade), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (FA), WR Jerrel Jernigan (FA), QB Trevor Siemian (Rook), DT Eddie Goldman (Rook), OT Trent Brown (Rook)
Outlook: We are not entirely sure what Greg Schiano’s master plan is. It feels like Chicago is jettisoning proven commodities and bringing in potential trouble. We are not a fan of a Brady Quinn-Trevor Siemian battle at QB, and yet that seems to be where we are headed, especially if Quinn’s numbers look like last year’s. Chicago did make one undeniably strong move this offseason, landing DE Jason Pierre-Paul to reawaken the pass rush. Anthony Weaver was a solid pro for years, but last year he clearly tailed off. JPP could be the answer, especially if rookie DT Eddie Goldman can absorb blocks like he did in college.
2015 Prediction: 8-8
20-DALLAS
Head Coach: Mike Sherman
2014 Record: 5-11 (5th in SW Division)
Departures: P Frank Whalen (NFL), LB Manny Lawson (NFL), TE Robert Royal (NFL), WR Cedric Wilson (Ret), LB Dat Nguyen (Ret), TE Brandon Manumaleuna (Ret), K Stephen Haushka (FA), G Luis Vasquez (FA)
Additions: DE Larry English (FA), WR Mario Manningham (FA), P Harold Halstead (Trade), LB Lorenzo Mauldin (Rook), DT Jordan Phillips (Rook), LBPaul Dawson (Rook), LB Davis Tull (Rook), OT Andrew Donnai (Rook)
Outlook: The Roughnecks came up with some big wins towards the end of last season, giving fans hope that the team might be turning a corner. Adding quality players like Larry English won’t hurt, but a lot also depends on if any of the rookies can contribute this year. The Roughneck roster still seems a bit shallow compared to the depth of clubs like Texas and Arizona, but they are looking more like a team that could challenge for a playoff spot.
2015 Prediction: 7-9
21-WASHINGTON
Head Coach: Sean Payton
2014 Record: 7-9 (3rd in NE Division)
Departures: FS Ed Reed (Ret), CB Jimmy Williams (Ret), CB Sheldon Brown (FA), SS Gibril Wilson (FA), QB Joe Webb (Trade)
Additions: DT Vinny Curry (NFL), CB Bradley Fletcher (FA), OT Ereck Flowers (Rook), DE Eli Harold (Rook), C Greg Mancz (Rook), S Adrian Amos (Rook), S Kyshoen Jarrett (Rook)
Outlook: Washington feels like a team running on fumes. We don’t know if Deuce McCallister has another All-USFL season left in his legs. We are feeling similar things about both Deion Branch and QB David Garrard. The team just seems old, and perhaps a bit tired to us. We don’t see a lot of help in the rookies either, with the possible exception of OT Ereck Flowers, who could be a nice bookend for the line. But that does not feel like enough in a very tough NE Division.
2015 Prediction: 6-10
The SHAKY
We look at the teams in this last grouping and we see more problems than potential. Whether it is QB insecurity, roster turnover, lack of depth, or just bad play, these clubs are trying to find a formula to get more wins, but the odds are that they are looking at 10-loss seasons or worse.
22-PORTLAND
Head Coach: Pep Hamilton
2014 Record: 6-10 (4th in Pacific Division)
Departures: DE Eddie Freeman (Ret), CB Mike Rumph (Ret), LB Mark Simoneau (FA), G Mike Iupati (FA), WR Koren Robinson (FA), G Paul McQuistan (FA), QB Matt McGloin (Trade)
Additions: LB Lance Briggs (FA), CB Cedric Griffin (FA), QB Marcus Mariota (Rook), DE Arik Armstead (Rook), CB Lorenzo Doss (Rook), G Quinton Spain (Rook), OT Austin Shepherd (Rook)
Outlook: Let’s not put too much pressure on Marcus Mariota to turn things around in his first year. Keep feeding the ball to Stewart. Keep focusing on team defense, and don’t ask the rookie QB to do to much and the Stags could compete in a division that seems to lack a true frontrunner. That said, they have a lot of areas that are looking problematic and even their snazzy new orange helmets won't hide that.
2015 Prediction: 6-10
23-MEMPHIS
Head Coach: Rex Ryan (New)
2014 Record: 6-10 (3rd in Southern Division)
Departures: WR Lee Evans (NFL), WR Greg Jennings (NFL), OT Maurice Williams (Ret), QB Matt Cassel (FA), HB Darren McFadden (Trade)
Additions: WR Mark Clayton (Trade), LB Danny Trevathan (NFL), G/T Jahri Evans (NFL), OT Tyson Clabo (FA), TE Luke Stocker (FA), HB Todd Gurley (Rook), WR Jamison Crowder (Rook)
Outlook: It is very much a new team in Memphis, especially on offense, where Eli Manning has a new, and true, bell cow back in rookie Todd Gurley, and a new primary receiver in Mark Clayton. Losing Jennings and Evans was not easy, but perhaps this will be the shakeup that the team needed. Now, our big question is what can head coach Rex Ryan do with one of the league’s worst defenses in 2014.
2015 Prediction: 6-10
24-LOS ANGELES
Head Coach: Andy Reid
2014 Record: 6-10 (5th in Pacific Division)
Departures: FS Lance Schulters (Ret), LB Leon Joe (Ret), LB Lofa Tatupu (Ret), DT Rashard Moore (Ret), LB Will Overstreet (FA), WR Ronald Johnson (FA), K Damon Duvall (FA), DT Gabe Watson (FA), WR Jerrel Jernigan (FA), FA Nick Collins (FA), CB Coty Sensabaugh (Trade), QB Mark Sanchez (Trade)
Additions: QB Tim Tebow (Trade), LB Nico Johnson (Trade), SS DaJuan Morgan (FA), DT Dan Klecko (FA), K Stephen Haushka (FA), HB Shonn Greene (FA), G Mitch Morse (Rook), WR Nelson Agholor (Rook), DT Michael Bennett (Rook)
Outlook: Andy Reid made some big moves, committing to Aaron Murray, trading Sanchez, and setting up a new offensive style, but the big concern is a defense that lost several important members, including Lofa Tatupu, the heart and sole of the D. Clay Matthews is still there and will need to step up into that space if LA is to compete in a balanced, but weaker Pacific Division.
2015 Prediction: 6-10
25-OHIO
Head Coach: Bart Andrus
2014 Record: 8-7-1 (2nd in Central Division)
Departures: CB Corey Webster (NFL), QB Chris Weinke (Ret), FB Mike Karney (Ret), WR Arrelious Benn (FA), TE Lee Smith (FA)
Additions: CB Jeremy Lane (NFL), QB Brock Osweiler (NFL), S Isa Abdul-Quddus (NFL), DE Kamerion Wemberley (FA), SS Pearson Prioleau (FA), C Cameron Erving (Rook), TE Jeff Heuerman (Rook), OTTyreek Burwell (Rook)
Outlook: Chris Weinke’s decision to retire and join the NFL Rams’ coaching staff is a blow to a team that though they had the QB spot locked in. Now the Glory find themselves between a Brock and a hard place. Do they go with an NFL import who was not exactly impressive in the fall league, or do they give Ohio State grad Troy Smith the shot he never seems to have gotten? Ohio feels once again like an aging team (adding Wemberley and Prioleau is not exactly a youth movement) and the Glory have just not been drafting well lately, so this could be a true test (and a real hot seat) for Coach Bart Andrus.
2015 Prediction: 6-10
26-NEW JERSEY
Head Coach: Norv Turner
2014 Record: 5-11 (4th in NE Division)
Departures: DT Ian Scott (NFL), G Sean Mahan (NFL), OT Orlando Brown (Ret), CB Tay Cody (Ret), LB Donterrious Thomas (FA), G Paul Zakauskas (FA), HB Tatum Bell (FA), QB Bobby Hoyer (FA)
Additions: DT Amobi Okoye (FA), K Nick Folk (FA), G Deuce Lutui (FA), HB Chris Ivory (NFL), CB Sean Smith (NFL), DE Vic Beasley (Rook), QB Brett Hundley (Rook), G Jamil Douglas (Rook)
Outlook: The D-line should be better with the addition of Okoye and rookie Vic Beasley, but we are still worried about the secondary, and we are not feeling great about how little New Jersey did for their offense. I mean, Chris Ivory is solid, but he is not going to bust out 20-yarders on a regular basis. That said, we are interested in seeing how much OBJ has progressed as he prepares for his 2nd year as the clear number one target for Sam Bradford.
2015 Prediction: 5-11
27-JACKSONVILLE
Head Coach: Jack Del Rio (New)
2014 Record: 0-16 (5th in SE Division)
Departures: SS Atari Bigby (NFL), WR Rashaun Woods (NFL), LB Alonzo Jackson (Ret), LB Mike Vrabel (Ret), WR Johnny Knox (FA), SS Mike Brown (FA), HB Lamar Miller (FA), QB Josh McCown (FA), QB Tim Tebow (Trade), C Antonio Caldwell (Trade)
Additions: QB Robert Griffin III (NFL), CB Coty Sensabaugh (Trade), WR Tavon Austin (Trade), LB Sean Lee (FA), DE Robert Ayers (FA), HB Cadillac Williams (FA), DT Grady Jarrett (Rook), HB Matt Jones (Rook), S Cedric Thompson (Rook), DT Deon Simon (Rook), C David Andrews (Rook)
Outlook: Shocked that Jacksonville is not ranked last? Well, this is not the 2014 Bulls. Nowhere to go but up for Coach Del Rio and a very new look Bulls squad. And that is good after an 0-16 debacle in 2014. New QB in NFL renewal project Robert Griffin III, new HB in Cadillac Williams, new receivers all over the field, and hopefully a new defensive strategy, because last year’s epically bad D cannot be repeated. We think this is a team that still has several holes to plug, but they should at least be both competitive and a bit more entertaining than in 2014. Rome was not built in a day, and neither is a USFL winner, but this year is a chance to start over.
2015 Prediction: 4-12
28-LAS VEGAS
Head Coach: Greg Roman
2014 Record: 3-13 (Nashville-4th in Southern Division)
Departures: QB Peyton Manning (Ret), WR Robert Meachem (NFL), FS Stevie Brown (FA)
Additions: S Reggie Nelson (NFL), WR Arrelious Benn (FA), QB Jeff Tuel (FA), WR DeVamte Parker (Rook), DE Nate Orchard (Rook), TE Rory Anderson (Rook), OG Jeremiah Poutasi (Rook)
Outlook: Expectations have to be pretty low if we place you beneath last year's 0-16 club in our rankings, and, well, they are. Not only is the Peyton Manning experiment over, so is the entire Nashville Knights franchise. Now located in Las Vegas, with some deep pocketed new ownership, and a new lease on life, the former Knights, now Vipers begin to rebuild in 2015. We expect Cody Pickett to be the starter, but the signing of Jeff Tuel, who had some strong games in Charlotte, complicates that a bit. We are also interested to see how Louisville speedster DeVante Parker fares as a potential target in this offense. Starting the rookie in T. J. Houshmandzadeh’s spot is a gamble, but one that could pay off.
2015 Prediction: 3-13
SUMMER BOWL PREDICTION
This is always a total crapshoot for us, but we are going to do something we have never done before. We are predicting that the same 2 teams that met in Atlanta in 2014 will meet again in Los Angeles in 2015, but with a different result. Last year Baltimore was a Cinderella story. This year they are the evil stepsister that everyone loves to hate. But, the talent on this team, on both sides of the ball, is legit, so we are picking Baltimore to defeat New Orleans in the Eastern Finals and to represent the East once again. Texas came so close last year. They survived an injury to Joe Flacco, won the SW Division and home field throughout, made it to their first ever Summer Bowl, and gave Baltimore one heck of a game, ruined by one bad play. This year we think they don’t blink at the wrong time. We get another epic matchup and we get Texas holding on to win. Our pick for the 2015 league champion is the Texas Outlaws.
AWARD PREDICTIONS
Last year saw Baltimore clean up with 3 of the 5 major awards going to Ben Roethlisberger, Darrius Heyward-Bey, and Coach Jim Caldwell. This year we think Texas is the big winner, but they will only garner 2 of 3 awards, because everyone expects them to be good, so it is hard for Coach Landry to win COTY if everyone expects them to contend. Here is our look at each of the Big 5 awards.
MVP:
We are giving Joe Flacco his 2nd MVP as we see big things for the Outlaw QB this season. He was close last year, but Big Ben edged him out. That could well be the battle this year as well, with some dark horses in the mix like Atlanta’s Kyle Orton, Seattle’s Byron Leftwich, and maybe even Houston HB Carlos Hyde if he can win back-to-back rushing titles.
OPOTY:
Carlos Hyde cannot be bumped into Rookie of the Year this year, so if he has a dominant year, he would be our frontrunner, but we also think that WR Marques Colston is overdue. With Flacco and the Outlaws expected to again lean heavily on Colston, we think he is our favorite, with Hyde, Heyward-Bey, and another receiver, New Orleans’s Early Doucet, also in the mix. In the end, we think Texas Fever will push Colston to the top of the list.
DPOTY:
Look, the fact that voters just don’t want to hand Calais Campbell the award each year is just becoming old (and honestly unfair). If Orlando can win 9 games, you know Campbell has to be in the mix, especially if he tops 30 sacks again, just an incredible number that has only ever been reached by one man, him. But, if Campbell or the Renegades somehow flounder, then this is wide open. We like the possibilities that Jason Pierre-Paul will have in Chicago, but if we have to go for any edge rusher who is not Calais Campbell, it has to be Denver NFL import Von Miller, who we are all itching to see take the field in black and gold.
ROTY:
Rookie of the year is nearly always a back or a receiver. Well, if that is the case, we have some strong candidates. We love Todd Gurley in Memphis, but we are worried about the showboat line. We also have Matt Jones in Jacksonville, but the arrival of Cadillac Williams will limit his potential. So, that leaves two very likely impact players both on the Birmingham Stallions. We are going to say that this race, like last year’s between Houston’s Hyde and Evans, will be between Birmingham’s Amari Cooper and T. J. Yeldon. But, this year we think it will be Cooper, not the HB who gets it. Why? Well because Birmingham’s offense still runs through Cam Newton, and we see him taking away carries from Yeldon but not targets to Cooper.
COTY:
Coach of the Year always depends on which teams outperform expectations. Now, while we are kind of high on Pittsburgh’s potential, not a lot of others are. So, we will double down on our projected Cinderella story and say that Coach Vic Fangio will be recognized as COTY if the Maulers can jump from 5th place in the Northeast to a possible playoff spot. Other contenders could include first year coaches Pep Hamilton and Henry Ellard if Portland or Birmingham surprise us.
5 BOLD PREDICTIONS FOR 2015
We challenged our bullpen to make some bold picks, asking key questions and polling them on their answers. Here is the collective wisdom of our crew trying to push the envelope a bit and supply us with something beyond simply looking at last year’s records and repeating the same results.
Cinderella Maulers Make the Playoffs
The first question was “What 10-loss Team from 2014 will make the playoffs in 2015?”, and other than 1 vote for St. Louis, the choice was nearly unanimous, the Pittsburgh Maulers. Why? Well, for one thing the once mighty NE Division is feeling like it is on a downward turn, with Philadelphia and Washington in particular looking weaker this year than last, and New Jersey, well, we have no idea what ever goes on in New Jersey. So, the Maulers have an opportunity to take advantage of that.
Secondly, we like the pieces that Vic Fangio has in place. On offense he has a stable QB, one that many feel is ready to take a step forward, a strong young WR group with Thielen and Cruz at the lead, and a defense led by one of the best 3-man D-lines in the game (Jared Allen-Aaron Donald-Dwight Freeny). That line alone is terrifying if you are an OC. Behind it he has solid LBs in Cushing, Posluszny and Davis, and and up and coming secondary led by one of the hardest hitting safeties in the game in Sean Taylor. If the run game, now led by Marcus Lattimore can come together, this Mauler team could well be the revelation of the year. At least we are picking that, which is why we put the Maulers and Dalton on our cover this year.
Joseph Addai Finishes with 1,300 Yards or More
Our next question was “Which free agent finds surprising new life in a new home?”. This one had more variety in the answers. We heard Greg Olsen, Cadillac Williams, and even Rob Gronkowski, but we eliminated him, because his life was quite good before the move to St. Louis, and we wanted someone who had underperformed and now could explode. The winner was HB Joseph Addai. In the four years since coming from the NFL Colts to the Birmingham Stallions, Addai has underwhelmed, with not a single 1,000-yard season, and decreasing numbers each year (909 to 838 to 632 to only 421 in an injury-plagued 2014). Now in Seattle, with a new coach and a new offensive philosophy, not to mention a better O-line, Addai has a chance to show he still has it at age 29. Our pundits and football geeks think he has a real chance at 1,200, maybe even 1,300 yards with a Dragon team that seems to be on the upswing.
St. Louis Rediscovers their Mojo with Gronk
Question 3 was “Which free agent will make his team dramatically better?”. Again, a lot of different opinions here, including Jason Pierre-Paul on the Chicago defense, Cadillac Williams in the Bulls’ backfield, and OT Tyson Clabo protecting Eli Manning’s blind side, but the consensus immediate impact was Rob Gronkowski with the Skyhawks. Ever since Taylor Jacobs left the Skyhawks, Josh Freeman really has not had a go-to guy. Jordi Nelson is a nice receiver, but not a 100-catch guy. Freeman needed a security blanket, and Gronkowski will provide that for sure. We expect his targets to shoot past 100 for the first time in his career, and that could mean 80 or more catches. Freeman will find him early and often, especially if the St. Louis line is as porous as it was last year.
Jeff Tuel Starts More Games than Cody Pickett in Las Vegas
Next question “Which backup QB ends up starting more games than the current starter?” Without considering injury as the reason, our bullpen pretty quickly settled on Jeff Tuel in Las Vegas. That is not exactly a vote of confidence for Cody Pickett, but then, since when have we really been that confident in Cody Pickett? Not since his early days in Seattle. Las Vegas (Nashville in 2014) looks to be a team that is still at the early stages of bottoming out and rebounding. It is likely to be a long season and when a team struggles, the starting QB is often one of the first pieces a coach tinkers with. Coach Roman brought in Tuel after some good games in Charlotte, and we expect that he may turn to him early if Pickett and the Vipers offense struggles, which we fully expect them to do.
Andy Reid Trades Tim Tebow Mid-Season
And Last but not least, we asked “Which USFL player gets traded away midseason?” and we got a lot of votes for QB Tim Tebow. Why? Well, because the acquisition of Tebow makes almost no sense for the Express. Yes, he is a veteran starter, but he is also the starter with the most picks thrown over the past 5 years. Tebow lives on raw athleticism rather than a true QB skillset, and that does not make any sense for an Andy Reid offense. We think Reid will try to filter him into games with some unique play sets, but as a true backup to Aaron Murray we just don’t see how Tebow fits in. But, at some point this season, some team’s starter is going to go down, and if that happens, we could see LA dangling Tebow in front of the team and that sets up a very plausible trade scenario. It’s a bold call to expect a veteran QB to be traded mid-year, but in the case of Tebow, we think it makes a lot of sense.
LEAGUE TO HIGHLIGHT HOLLYWOOD ROAD & FOOTBALL FILMS
Get ready for an alliance between big-time sports and big-time entertainment as the USFL heads “On the Road to Hollywood”. That will be the theme of the season as the league plays towards a Summer Bowl in LA on July 27th. Each week the USFL will highlight a film connected to that theme, either a “road movie” or a movie about football. You will see those films highlighted in our weekly headers, not a ranking, just 8 of the films that define the genre. So, which will appear in the 16 headers? Which traveling films will show up? Could we see Cannonball Run? Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou? or Mad Max? How about football movies? There are a lot to choose from, though many are just not that good. From the poignant (Rudy, Brian’s Song) to the ludicrous (Any Given Sunday, The Waterboy), Hollywood has long had a love of portraying America’s game on screen, and we had a lot of fun helping the league pick 16 films to celebrate on the road to Hollywood and Summer Bowl 2015.
But enough talk, enough prediction, enough armchair quarterbacking, it is time to get to some football. Week One kicks off in 8 days, and we are ready to kick back and watch some games, so what is on the schedule for Week One? Well, the season kicks off, as it often does, with the defending Summer Bowl Champion in action, and this will be a good one. Baltimore heads to Philadelphia for a NE Division battle and a rematch of a divisional playoff from last year that threw the Blitz into the limelight.
On Saturday we have the other Summer Bowl contender, Texas, in action as they head to Ohio to face the Glory. We also have divisional battles between the Federals and Maulers, Renegades and Bandits, and Monarchs and Fire. It all caps off with yet another big divisional rivalry as Denver heads to Arizona in a battle of two teams we ranked in our Top 7.
Sunday has the first regional coverage, as well as the debuts of the newly relocated San Diego Thunder and the relocated and rebranded Las Vegas Vipers, both on the road to open the season. The best game of the day appears to be the nightcap, with ESPN and the ESPN Football Network simulcasting Oakland @ Seattle. It will be the debut of 2014 retired USFL & NFL superstar Peyton Manning as a color commentator on ESPN (where he will be part of both the NFL and USFL broadcast teams) and of former Federals and Breakers LB Antonio Pierce on the EFN broadcast.
Friday @ 8pm ET Baltimore @ Philadelphia NBC
Saturday @ 12pm ET Washington @ Pittsburgh ABC
Saturday @ 12pm ET Orlando @ Tampa Bay FOX
Saturday @ 4pm ET Texas @ Ohio ABC
Saturday @ 4pm ET Birmingham @ Houston FOX
Saturday @ 7pm ET Charlotte @ Atlanta NBC
Saturday @ 9pm ET Denver @ Arizona ESPN/EFN
Sunday @ 12pm ET Jacksonville @ New Orleans ABC Regional
Sunday @ 12pm ET San Diego @ Chicago ABC Regional
Sunday @ 12pm ET Las Vegas @ St. Louis FOX
Sunday @ 4pm ET Memphis @ Portland ABC
Sunday @ 4pm ET New Jersey @ Michigan FOX Regional
Sunday @ 4pm ET Los Angeles @ Dallas FOX Regional
Sunday @ 8pm ET Oakland @ Seattle ESPN/EFN
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