This one is a tough watch, especially if you are one of those men who insists that men should never cry. the story of Bears' halfbacks Gayle Sayers and Brian Piccolo, this one is more about friendship and the spirit of the two NFL players than football itself, though the game is given a fair treatment too. Don't expect a triumphant finale in this story of perseverance and tragedy. You won't get it.
Week 12 brought the first signs of clarity in the playoff race as 4 of the 6 Eastern Conference spots were claimed. It also brought some clarity to the situation of the Texas Outlaws at least for the remainder of the 2015 season as deals were made for the remaining home games for the now homeless Outlaws. It was also a week in which backup quarterbacks were the story, with teams from coast to coast forced to test their depth at the position with the starters sidelined. We will recap all the action, talk about the playoff picture, and share our thoughts on players who are peaking at the right time and others who have just not produced so far this year, but we start with a special feature on the 5 best players under 25 years of age.
The 5 Best Players Under 25
If there is one thing that is certain in football it is that to be a good team you have to be prepared for players to leave and you have to be able to bring in good young talent to fill the gaps. This week we look at five players who are not only filling the gaps for their teams but have quickly become focal points for each club, leaders and producers despite their youth. We had plenty to choose from, but we have chosen five players from the Under-25 crowd who we think will be huge factors for their teams for years to come.
LB Luke Kuechley (ATL), 24
Kuechley was originally drafted out of BC by the then Boston Cannons. The Cannons saw what we all saw of Kuechley in college, a player capable of roaming sideline to sideline and making plays in both the run and the pass game, but with the move to Dallas and a change in the coaching staff, the club became more open to a possible trade of their LB, and the Fire pulled the trigger on a deal to bring Kuechley to Atlanta. With the fire, the young LB has flourished, He is more involved in blitz schemes, but also able to bring in picks over the middle. He became a team captain in only his 2nd year with the Fire, and is now on the cusp of All-USFL honors.
DT Aaron Donald (PIT), 22
The Maulers had no doubt that former Pitt DT Aaron Donald had to be a priority in the 2014 draft. They went all out and landed the pressure lineman, with immediate payoff. Donald produced 5 sacks as a rookie and in his 2nd year is spearheading a Mauler defense that is built on shock and awe. Quick pressure, no safe spot for quarterbacks and disrupted run lanes, that is the key to Pittsburgh’s defense and Donald is right there. His impact on the game does not always appear in numbers, but just watch film and you can see just how devastating his presence can be in the middle of the D-line. We see in Donald a future Defensive POTY for sure.
QB Cam Newton (BIR), 24
The talent is undeniable, the focus, well, that is still developing. With his unique combination of arm talent, speed, and physical power, Newton is a very different type of dual threat QB. We were used to the smaller, slighter scramblers like Doug Flutie, Randall Cunningham, or even a young Jake Plummer, but in Newton you have a runner more in the mold of a one-cut running back, but one who can hit receivers 50 yards down the field. Yes, decision making, consistency, and accuracy remain works in progress, but every DC in the league will tell you that Newton has the ability to destroy a defensive game plan when he is on his game.
DT Star Lotuleilei (DAL), 24
Mired on some pretty bad Dallas teams, Star Lotuleilei was still very much a diamond in the rough. He is the heart and soul of Dallas’s defense and his effusive personality has made him something of a shining star in the region, appearing in commercials for everything from used cars to Buccee’s gas stations. On the field, Lotuleilei is a classic space eater. He won’t get you 10+ sacks in a season, but he will make life miserable for centers and guards, disrupt the inside run, and free up the linebacker to fill gaps and stuff runs. Already an All-USFL player, things are well on their way for a long term position as one of the league’s best.
HB LeVeon Bell (MGN), 23
When he came out of Michigan State and signed with the home town Panthers, Bell was joining a franchise in need of a personality. The Panthers had not been a contender for several years, and in comes this brash, dynamic back. He started his career with over 1,200 yards as a rookie, and now, with the development of another Spartan in QB Kirk Cousins, Bell is helping to build a contender. The Panthers now boast the #2 rush offense in the league, and Bell is the cornerstone, already over 1,100 yards with 4 games left to play, we could be looking at the next regular 1,500 yard man in the USFL.
Honorable Mentions: We said there were a lot of choices, so we want to recognize at least a few of them. Just missing our list were three receives in Pittsburgh’s Adam Thielen, New Jersey’s Odell Beckham Jr and Chicago’s Aaron Dobson. We also thought long and hard about the best O-lineman to come out in recent years, Seattle LT Eric Fisher, and then there are the defenders like Orlando CB Dee Milliner and Michigan LB Sean Porter. I think when you realize that the Maulers and Panthers both have two players named, you understand why both are now looking like solid Summer Bowl contenders and possibly teams that will be at the top of their game for years to come.
BALTIMORE BLITZ 33 WASHINGTON FEDERALS 27 OVERTIME
Ordinarily, when you see an 8-3 team headed to play a 5-6 club, and you know that the 5-win team has the worst defense in the league and is also going to be starting a backup QB who has never started a pro football game, you are going to expect a pretty serous beat down. But, when the game in question is the Beltway Battle between the Baltimore Blitz and the Washington Federals, you know you will get something different. Different is what we got as the Feds took the game to overtime before the Blitz were able to eke out a win on the road against their rivals.
Washington came in a clear underdog, with David Garrard unable to go and Cleo Lemon stepping into the starting role. Yes, the Federals do have the league’ s worst rated defense, but hey also have won their last 3 games, so they were not a helpless cupcake on the Blitz schedule. Washington knew that a win would help propel them to .500 and possibly keep them focused on a potential playoff push. For Baltimore, the hope was for a solid victory, perhaps paired with a Pittsburgh loss, to put them atop the NE Division once again. What we all got was a slugfest with 5 lead changes and a lot of heart from both teams.
As these clashes of familiar foes often do, the game started off slowly, with both teams struggling to deal with the opposing defense’s schemes, but it opens up as the two teams start to find solutions. The score in this clash was 3-3 after one quarter, with both teams bogging down outside the 20 yard line of their opponent. Baltimore would break through on their first drive of the 2nd quarter, catching their first break when an obvious offsides by Washington DE Chris Long gave Roethlisberger a free play. He took a shot on a deep ball to TE Antonio Gates and came through with a 34-yard touchdown strike.
Washington responded with a solid 13-play drive, led by backup Cleo Lemon, who completed 3 of 4 passing before Deuce McCallister pounded the ball in from the 7 to equalize the score at 10. The Washington defense, heavily criticized in local media, stepped up on the next drive with LB Aaron Curry taking the ball right out of the hands of TE Jacob Tamme to give the Feds the ball in Baltimore territory. Seven plays later the Feds were back on top as Lemon hit McCallister with a short swing pass and the back did the rest, carrying a defender into the endzone to give the home team a 7-point lead. Baltimore would kick a field goal right before the half, but at the break, the underdog Federals held a 17-13 lead.
Washington got the ball first and put up a 52-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal to extend their lead to 20-13, but Big Ben once again found Antonio Gates for a score, this time an even more impressive 63-yard play that saw Gates get an absolutely devastating block against the safety by WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, a speed guy not known for his blocking. DHB caught the safety off balance and just laid him out, clearing the way for Gates to rumble to the endzone and equalize the score at 20.
As the 4th quarter began, it was clear that this game would come down to the wire. The game was getting a little chippy with frequent pushing and shoving after plays concluded. Penalties became an issue, with the two teams combining for 12 on the day, largely due to the post-play animosity. It was a key late hit penalty against Baltimore that helped Washington keep their next scoring drive going. Falling short on a 3rd and 4 run, the late hit on Deuce McCallister by LB Brandon Spikes gave Washington the yards they needed for a new set of downs and Cleo Lemon found Brandon LaFell on the very next play for a 17-yard gainer down to the Baltimore 4-yard line. Two plays later Lemon, who would finish the game 31 of 40 for 238 yards and 2 scores, connected with Steve Breaston for the go-ahead score.
Down 7 with just over 4 minutes to play, Baltimore showed no sign of panic. Big Ben conducted a drive that only took 1:23 to find paydirt. Big plays to Hartline and then the scoring toss to his favorite receiver, Darrius Heyward-Bey tied things up at 27 with just over 2 minutes to go. Washington would have a chance to end the game in regulation if they could get in range for Vinatieri.
It looked like the Feds would do it, reaching the Baltimore 37 with 37 seconds left to play, but they wanted to get their kicker closer and that proved fatal to their drive. Lemon made his first true mistake of the game, trying to force the ball to Kelvin Benjamin on an out route that was well covered by Baltimore CB Nnambi Asomugha. The corner had inside position and was able to bring in the errant Lemon pass before falling out of bounds. Baltimore would take a couple of shots, before taking a knee and settling for overtime.
Washington won the coin toss for the extra period but were unable to do much with the ball as Baltimore returned to their aggressive blitz scheme against Lemon. They punted to the Blitz and would not see the ball again. Baltimore drove down the field against a tired Washington defense, combining solid runs by Anthony Dixon and Kerwynn Williams with short passes from Big Ben to Gates, Tamme, and Hartline. Earning a first and goal on the 7, Baltimore simply ground out yards on their way to the endzone. When Jacquizz Rogers subbed for Dixon, his fresh legs were too much for the tired Federals and he easily scooted around the right side for the game winner.
It was the result most expected, a Blitz win, propelling them to 9-3, but it was not the one-sided affair that most had anticipated. The Federals had shown a good deal of grit and determination, but in the end they just could not pull off the upset against their rival.
MICHIGAN 18 CHICAGO 15
We anticipated a blowout here, but the Machine held up pretty well, with QB Brady Quinn having his best game of the year by a longshot. Quinn completed 35 of 51 attempts, throwing for 331 yards and a TD against a Michigan D that rarely gives up big games to opposing QBs. It was a far better day than Kirk Cousins’ 10 of 21 for 117 yards, but it was Cousins who had the last laugh, connecting with Hines Ward for the game winner right at the 2-minute warning. Chicago could have tied the game, but rookie William Hopper missed on a 42-yarder, his 2nd miss of the game.
POTG: Panther SS Corey Chavous: 9 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR
NEW JERSEY 24 PITTSBURGH 41
Another MVP game from Andy Dalton, featuring 4 TD passes, and that was all she wrote for the Generals. Charlie Whitehurst, subbing for the injured Bradford, threw 3 TDs but New Jersey just could not keep up against the Mauler machine. Marcus Lattimore rushed for 103 and both Thielen and Jimmie Graham had over 100 yards on the day.
POTG: Mauler QB Andy Dalton: 16/23, 330 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int
CHARLOTTE 13 PHILADELPHIA 17
This is not the year the Stars wanted or expected, but now they are in the role of spoiler, and they are reveling in it. They upset the Monarchs despite playing without Matt Gutierrez. TDs from Leon Washington and Steve Johnson gave the Stars a 17-10 lead and they just would not give up the game tying TD over the final quarter, holding on for the W.
POTG: Stars LB Terrell Suggs: 7 Tck, 1 Sck
NEW ORLEANS 23 SAN DIEGO 6
Quincey Carter got the start for the injured Drew Brees and dinked & dunked his way to an easy win, completing 21 of 34 for only 188 yards, but adding 2 TDs to the scoreboard. The Thunder have just not had a run game after trading away Marshawn Lynch, limited to only 31 yards combined from Alfred Blue and Larry Miller.
POTG: Breaker WR Donnie Avery: 4 Rec, 50 Yds, 2 TD
LAS VEGAS 7 DALLAS 30
Dallas had no intention of being the Vipers’ first road win, building up a 20-0 lead over the first half and then keeping the Vipers contained in the 2nd half. Jake Locker played well, throwing 2 TDs and the combo of Mendenhall and Spiller contributed 99 yards rushing as Dallas managed the clock and the Vipers offense all day.
POTG: Roughneck WR Tim Wright: 5 rec, 63 Yds, 1 TD
ORLANDO 26 TEXAS 33
Chris Johnson had his best game of the year, gaining 118 yards on only 9 touches, and Joe Flacco survived 6 more sacks to throw 2 TDs and complete 14 of 22 passing. Orlando got a good game from WR Jeremy Maclin (6 Rec, 102 Yds, 1 TD), but struggled to get the Outlaws off the field in front of a rowdy 28,202 in Alamo Stadium. The Outlaws dedicated all the gate revenue to the relief effort for the recent tornadoes, but also lifted the city’s spirits with a solid win.
POTG: Outlaw HB Chris Johnson: 9 Att, 118 Yds
OAKLAND 24 BIRMINGHAM 16
The Invader defense shut out Birmingham in the second half, turning a 16-14 deficit into a 24-16 victory. They held T. J. Yeldon to only 12 yards rushing and double teamed Amari Cooper all game long, a winning strategy for Oakland as they also had offensive success, with Donald Brown rushing for 99 yards and Joey Harrington going 24 of 29 with 3 TDs.
POTG: Invader LB Bobby Wagner: 7 Tck, 3 FF
JACKSONVILLE 10 ATLANTA 23
The Bulls were hoping for another division upset, but Atlanta was having none of it. They outscored Jacksonville 13-3 in the second half and limited Robert Griffin to only 190 yards passing to earn a 5th season victory. Brad Gradkowksi got the start again and looked solid. Steven Jackson and J. J. Arrington each ran for exactly 68 yards, with Jackson adding a TD as well as Atlanta earned the home victory.
POTG: Atlanta CB Darius Slay: 4 Tck, 1 FF, 1 FR
SEATTLE 17 ST. LOUIS 44
The Skyhawks played lights out in the 4th quarter, outscoring Seattle 24-0 to break open a 20-17 game and coast to victory. Eddie Lacy had 3 TD runs and once again Ricky Stanzi looked poised, completing 19 of 35 passes for 204 yards and 2 scores. Joseph Addai was the highlight for Seattle, rushing for 118 yards, but with 89 of those in the first half, he disappeared down the stretch.
POTG: Skyhawk CB Vontae Davis: 5 Tck, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 Int
MEMPHIS 7 HOUSTON 30
Another 300-yard game for Hasselbeck, with 2 passing TDs to halfback Carlos Hyde and a third to Mike Evans, the young studs for Houston came up big again. Houston outgained Memphis 411-226 and clinched a playoff berth by moving to 10-2 on the year.
POTG: Gambler QB Matt Hasselbeck: 19/24, 317 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int
PORTLAND 17 LOS ANGELES 16
It took a game-winning TD from Antwan Randle-El with only 19 seconds left, but Portland finally won a road game. Neither team was smooth on offense, but both defenses played tough in this divisional fight. Ryan Fitzpatrick found Randle-El and Brian Quick for scores to help Portland break their odd home-away differential and move to 7-5 with their first road victory.
POTG: Stags CB Cedric Griffin: 8 Tck, 1 FF, 1 FR
OHIO 13 ARIZONA 19
Four picks from Osweiler helped Arizona keep Ohio at bay and edge them out for a win on a day when Derrick Carr did not look sharp. Carr was sacked 6 times by the Glory, but avoided turnovers, which is something Osweiler could not say. With 9 penalties and the 4 picks, the Glory were their own worst enemies in a game that could have gone either way.
POTG: Wrangler LB Karlos Dansby: 4 Tck, 2 Int
DENVER 14 TAMPA BAY 19
The Sunday night game gave us a minor upset as Tampa Bay won their 3rd game of the year. Neither offense was particularly smooth in this one, with plenty of penalties, missed opportunities, and failed third down conversions, but in the end two late Nate Kaeding field goals helped the Bandits hold off the Gold and take a rare win this season.
POTG: Bandits QB Pat White: 36/46, 293 Yds, 1 TD, 1 Int
Four Eastern Teams Lock In a Playoff Berth
It took 12 weeks but we have our first playoff berths locked in. Not surprisingly we are looking at 2 teams that sit at 10-2 and two at 9-3. The gap between these 4 clubs, Pittsburgh, Houston, Baltimore, and New Orleans and the 7 slot, held now by New Jersey at 5-6 is formidable. But, as I am sure some shrewd readers already noticed, these 4 teams sit in two divisions, meaning that half of them are currently in Wild Card position. There are only 2 division titles to be won so the 1-game gaps between the Maulers and Blitz and the Gamblers and Breakers are huge. They mean that we could very well go 16 weeks before we know who will win each division.
The 2-team races in both the Northeast and Southern Divisions are going to be fascinating, and what is even better is that we could see huge head-to-head battles as the key to both. Houston and New Orleans don’t meet until Week 16 in what could be a huge game with a bye and home field on the line. The Maulers and Blitz play a week earlier, so we are looking at 2 enormous games in 2 weeks as the season wraps up. That is just perfect scheduling from the league and great football for all of us.
Portland Breaks Home/Away Rut but Vegas Cannot
Both the Las Vegas Vipers and the Portland Stags went into this weekend at 6-5, both having won all 6 home games this season and having lost all 5 road matches. Both were playing on the road and both were hoping that they could break their odd two-faced season with a road win. A win for either would put them 2 games over .500 and in very good standing as we head into the final 4 weeks of the playoff hunt. What we got this week was one team able to snap the trend and get their first road win and one who could not.
Portland knew it would be a defensive slugfest in Los Angeles, and they were prepared to win a war of attrition. Both the Stags and the Express struggle to put up points but both have solid defenses, so the 17-16 Stags victory was right on script. Neither team cracked 300 yards of offense and neither produced a 200-yard passer or a 100-yard rusher, but in the end a late Fitzpatrick to Randle-El TD in the final minute gave Portland what they needed. With their road win they now sit at 7-5 and occupy the 5th playoff spot, winning a tie-breaker over Texas for that position and a full game up on the 6-6 teams who are on the outside looking in.
Las Vegas is one of those 6-6 teams sitting 1 game behind the playoff pool. They traveled to Dallas and were pretty handily dispatched by a 5-6-1 Roughnecks squad that has their own designs on a first playoff appearance since relocating from Boston. The Vipers actually outgained the Roughnecks in the game (313-299) but suffered from too many penalties and too many turnovers, allowing Dallas to pull away and win handily. The loss now puts them at 6-0 at home and 0-6 on the road, a very odd pattern for the year and one that will be tested once again as the Vipers travel to Denver for their 7th road game, a tough matchup in a stadium that provides the Gold one of the best homefield advantages in the league.
Philadelphia Playing Spoiler
They may be realistically out of the playoff hunt, and their season is certainly a huge disappointment after a 13-3 Division Title in 2014, but the Stars are still a proud franchise and they are not ashamed to play spoiler down the stretch. The past two weeks the Stars have looked a lot more like their 2014 club than the disappointing 2015 version. Back-to-back victories over the now 10-2 Houston Gamblers and the now 7-5 Charlotte Monarchs have been momentum killers for both of those division leaders. In the two games the much maligned Stars defense has looked like a different team, disrupting the quarterback, plugging gaps in the run game, and playing effective zone coverages. No real clear reason for the shift either, no change in coordinators, no new role for head coach Jim Harbaugh, just better play. If you are a Stars fan that may be enough for now.
The Stars finish the season with 3 division games and a season-ending trip to Dallas in a matchup of cities known for their NFL rivalry (Eagles-Cowboys). They face New Jersey next, and could tie the Generals with 5 wins if they can get the home victory. That might be enough to pull the Stars out of the NE Division basement. They then host the Pittsburgh Maulers for the 2nd Keystone Clash of the season, after going down to the Maulers 27-12 in Week 10. In Week 15 they host the Washington Federals, also currently sitting at 5 wins. A good streak from the Stars could see them leapfrog both New Jersey and Washington down the stretch to finish 3rd in the 5-team division. After the start they have had, a 3rd place finish would certainly be a good sign heading into the offseason.
Outlaws Find Temporary Home, but 2016 is Still Unclear
There is still a lot to be done in San Antonio, and we still have no clear idea on what the future holds for the Outlaws as crews continue to assess the damage done to the Alamodome, but we have some answers to immediate issues. After playing their first post-tornado “home” game at the undersized and somewhat decrepit Alamo Stadium, Texas this week announced that a deal had been reached for the club’s final two home games, this week against Oakland and a season finale against Arizona, to be hosted at 27,000 seat Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos, Texas, home to the Texas State Bobcats. The club had initially sought to play at Darryl K. Royal Memorial Stadium at the University of Texas-Austin, but the sheer size of the stadium and the cost to staff it for a game in Austin, along with the charges to be billed by the University, made it an untenable option. They also looked into playing their last home games at either NRG Stadium in Houston, home to the Gamblers, or the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, home to the Roughnecks, but a monster truck rally in Dallas this weekend, a Kenny Chesney concert in Houston in Week 16, and the two home games for the Roughnecks and Gamblers made both impossible.
The Outlaws were able to make a deal with the Gamblers and NRG stadium should Texas qualify for a home playoff game. They are currently the 6 seed, which would require that they play all playoff games on the road, so this may not be an issue, but it is still feasible that at least 1 home playoff game (Wild Card Round) could be hosted in Houston if the Outlaws qualify to host. For now, they are playing in front of a much smaller crowd than usual, in an open air stadium in the heat of June, not ideal by any measure, but you do what you must in a crisis.
The bigger issue is what the Outlaws will do for the 2016 season. While we don’t know the final status of the Alamodome, it seems clear that the building suffered significant structural damage. There is a chance that it could be partially rebuilt, but many are saying that a full tear-down and rebuild may be required, which could put in jeopardy not only 2016, but 2017 as well. We also have no idea how the breakdown in costs between insurance on the facility, team and league funds, and city/state funds will go. There is real concern that we could be looking at a $1B-$2B project here, and while insurance is sure to be a factor no one believes that the full cost of such a rebuild will be assured by the city’s insurance on the facility. More on the fate of the dome, on the rebuild, and on the plans for the Outlaws in the meantime as we move forward. For now, they plan to host the Invaders in what may be a must-win game for their playoff aspirations in a cozy, intimate outdoor atmosphere at Bobcat Stadium.
Four teams are in, 1 team is out, and 23 others are still in the mix as we start to see the playoff picture come into shape. With victories this week, combined with losses by New Jersey and Birmingham, the Maulers, Gamblers, Blitz, and Breakers are all guaranteed a playoff spot. Since only 1 game separates each of the pairs in both the NE and Southern Divisions, we may not be able to move the “x” for a clinched spot to a “y” for a division title until the very last week of the season.
On the other end of the spectrum, and to no one’s surprise, the 1-9-1 Chicago Machine have become the first team officially eliminated from the playoff hunt. All 23 other teams remain alive. So who might clinch next? Well, the 4 Western teams all bunched up at 9-3 have the easiest path. Losses by Seattle and Las Vegas this week ensure that all the 9-win teams are in with a 10th victory this season. So, expect to see some movement in the West this week. The remaining spots, held by 7 or 6 win teams, are far more precarious, with Charlotte now holding only a 1-game lead on Orlando in the SE Division. Wild Card holders in the West, Texas and Portland hold a 1 game lead over the next contenders (LV and Seattle) but with 4 games left, there is plenty of time for the final spots in the postseason to change hands.
A good week in that no players listed on the new injury report will be placed on IR or even miss the end of the regular season, but still a pretty long list overall, with 2 more quarterbacks potentially missing action next week.
OUT
LB Pat Angerer HOU Groin 1-2 Weeks
OT Eric Fisher SEA Biceps 1-2 Weeks
QB Byron Leftwich SEA Wrist 1-2 Weeks
DE Quentin Groves ARZ Eye 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
DT Dan Klecko LA Hamstring
DE Anthony Hargrove PHI Concussion
CB Joe Haden ARZ Neck
QUESTIONABLE
C Matt Tenant BIR Foot
QB Brandon Wheedon CHA Shoulder
SS Sean Taylor PIT Finger
DT Jerel Worthy MGN Concussion
DT Sheldon Richardson STL Concussion
DE Cameron Jordan NOR Knee
DE Von Miller DEN Hamstring
Seven Teams with Big QB Decisions to Make
It is the most important position on the team, the hardest to scout, and the easiest to mess up. So it is no surprise that we look around the league and say a full ¼ of the teams in the USFL have major QB issues. We picked these seven not because they have the 7 worst QBs in the game, but because they each have a tough call to make over the next year. Sometimes tied to performance, or lack thereof, and sometimes a matter of finances; each of these clubs has to deal with a major issue at QB and a major decision on which direction to head. Here are our 7 QB Quandaries:
Dallas: What to do with Jake Locker? The Roughnecks have a funds issue. They have a starter in Johnny Manziel who seems pretty entrenched in the position (despite only an 81.7 QBR) and they have a backup in Jake Locker who is eating up $4.7M a year, the highest contract on the team. Locker has one more year on his deal, so he could be shopped in an offseason trade, but no one is going to want to pay the full $4.7M for a QB who has not proven he is a reliable starter. Dallas may be forced to find other cuts for their cap this offseason if they cannot shop Locker to another club, and that will hurt their rebuilding project.
Los Angeles: After trading away Mark Sanchez, which still seems smart, they found themselves with Aaron Murray as their starter and Tim Tebow brought in to compete. We are 12 weeks into the season and the general consensus is that neither Murray (60.2 QBR) or Tebow (63.2 QBR) is the answer. Muray seems like he might develop over time, but time is something Andy Reid likely does not have. Tebow has been in the league long enough to show us his ceiling and it is not one that a team would want to rely on. With both QBs on expensive contracts through 2016, we expect LA will take the hit on Tebow’s deal, cut him loose, and try to figure out a plan if Murray cannot show growth.
Tampa Bay: I think we can all agree that Mark Sanchez was not the answer. The Bandits kinda indicated this in the offseason, going hard after FSU rookie Jameis Winston but failing to land the Seminole QB. Only then did they make a deal with LA to get Sanchez. Midseason things were so bad that they then traded with Oakland to bring in Pat White. Is white a long-term answer? Well, his numbers are better. His QBR is over 90, and he did orchestrate this week’s upset of Denver, but we expect he is a stopgap at best.
San Diego: Joe Webb had looked so good in DC, competing with Garrard to be the starter, so the Thunder thought they had made a very shrewd move in trading for him. It has not worked out as they had hoped. Given a larger body of work, Webb has struggled. His 8:13 TD:INT ratio is not what any team wants, and a 69.0 QB Rating is what you might expect of a backup thrust into a game with no snaps in that week’s practices, not what you want in a 12-game starter. So, now San Diego has to decide if they see hope to build up Webb, or will they cut him loose and go for an as-of-yet-unformed Plan B.
Portland: A very different problem exists for the 7-5 Stags. They drafted their “QB of the Future” in Marcus Mariota, figured he would spend a few weeks observing and then get into the game. What happens? Well Ryan Fitzpatrick has his best year as a pro, has the Stags positioned for a playoff spot, and is sitting at a very solid 91.2 QB rating with 17 TDs to only 8 picks. Now what do you do? Do you maximize Fitz-magic’s value by trading away the QB and going with the untested Mariota? Or do you take the hit to the salary cap, keep both on board for one more year and see if Mariota can somehow unseat Fitzpatrick in camp next Winter? The fans want Mariota, but they also want to win, and Fitzie is giving them that. If he gets them not only into the playoffs, but perhaps a round or two deep, fans may well be happy to keep him on.
Ohio: We are back to the 2-QBs = No Qbs situation. We have two pretty shaky options here. Troy Smith started 5 games and built up a 69.4 QB rating and a 3:2 TD:Int ratio (6:4). Not great. Coach Andrus made the call to switch to NFL import Brock Osweiler. He has put up a 67.4 QBR and a 9:11 TD:INT ratio. He has also lost 6 of 7 starts. So, do you go back to Smith? Do you recognize that NFL imports often struggle in the first year after they come over from the fall league, or do you scuttle the entire thing and start over. Other than some delusional fans who seem to think Texas will trade the Glory Joe Flacco for a 6th round pick and a pack of smokes, most everyone thinks Ohio has to pick a QB and stick with him, and then see what the offseason might bring as an option.
New Jersey: This one might be a surprise to many of you. Sam Bradford is the clear number one in New Jersey. He had a fabulous 2012 and a pretty solid 2014. Yes, he has dealt with injuries in both 2013 and this year, but after what we have seen from Charlie Whitehurst, there is no doubt that Bradford is the starter. Here is the problem. Bradford wants out. He has not been happy with the Generals’ negotiations on his contract, and it does expire at the end of this year. He has also been unhappy with the play calling and protection he has received from a pretty iffy O-line. So, with his contract year up right now, he could very well walk. There would be no shortage of both USFL and NFL teams interested in Bradford, so we expect he will be leaving. So, does NJ try to develop 3rd stringer Brett Hundley, drafted from USC this offseason, or do they too have to start from scratch and try to find a short-term solution until they get a true franchise QB to sign on? A tough situation to be sure.
Just to contrast, we thought we should also mention our picks for the 5 teams that have the best QB situations in the league. That is pretty easy to see. In our top 5 we see Baltimore, with Big Ben in the prime of his career and a solid backup option with Tyrod Taylor and Vince Young behind him. We also see Texas as having a very solid plan. Flacco is only 28 and coming into what should be some very good years ahead. If something happens to him, the Outlaws are very happy with backup Kyle Boller as an option. Arizona is looking good, with David Carr locked in through 2019. Nick Foles is on a contract year and the Wranglers would love to keep him as a backup, but if he cannot go, they could still find a young backup with a skillset similar to Carr so they can keep one offense if Carr goes down. Our 4th team in this pool (not ranked, just listed) is Houston. Matt Hasselbeck is having a career year, but he is 37, so there is a chance that he won’t be around much longer. That is OK according to many Outlaw staff as they really like what they have seen from Colt McCoy, their 26-year-old backup. McCoy has been patient, as every year we hear rumors that Hasselbeck will step away, and for now he is just watching and learning, but we think he will be the guy once Matt does hang up his cleats. Finally, we have to say that what we have seen from Ricky Stanzi this year has us very pleased with St. Louis’s situation. Freeman is the clear starter for the Skyhawks, but having Stanzi able to step in and win games is a luxury most teams just don’t have. The backup is sitting with a 10:6 TD:INT ratio and over 1,200 yards since he came in for Freeman in Week 8. Not too shabby at all.
Third Quarter Power Rankings
Here we are, 12 weeks into a 16 week season, and time for our next peek at the power rankings across the league. How has the last month updated our assessment of the 28 teams in the league? Who is moving up and who is slipping? Let’s get right to it.
THE STRONG
1—PITTSBURGH MAULERS (10-2) UP 4
The Maulers continue to impress, going 4-0 over the last quarter and gaining the advantage over the 2014 champion Baltimore. This is beginning to feel very much like a team of destiny, and not just because we are so pleased to have called them the Cinderella of 2015 in our season preview.
2—HOUSTON GAMBLERS (10-2) NO CHANGE
Houston fans are going to be upset with us for not bumping the Gamblers to the top of our list, but they went 3-1 this quarter and the Maulers went 4-0, so we had to give the nod to Pittsburgh. Not to worry, Houston, there are still 4 games left to prove that we screwed up.
3—ARIZONA WRANGLERS (9-3) UP 4
The Wranglers may be the hottest team in the league right now, having regained their defensive swagger and are now looking very much like the team to beat in the West.
4—BALTIMORE BLITZ (9-3) NO CHANGE
We are not going to punish Baltimore for a 3-1 quarter and we are not entirely convinced that they are any worse off than they were at midseason, so they stand pat at 4. This is a very good team and one that can still take the NE Division if they can get past the Maulers at season’s end.
5—NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 9-3) DOWN 4
A 2-2 third quarter drops the Breakers from first to fifth. They can rebound quickly, especially once Drew Brees is back to 100% but for now we see them as weaker than 3 other teams in the East.
6—OAKLAND INVADERS (9-3) NO CHANGE
The Invaders are a solid team, to be sure, but are they explosive enough to get out of the conference? The defense is there, we know that, but when we look at their offense we are still not sold.
7—ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS (9-3) UP 1
We moved the Skyhawks from “Solid” to “Strong” because they are showing us that they are more than just Josh Freeman making plays. Ricky Stanzi has been playing way above anything that Skyhawk fans could have anticipated and that has saved the Birds from slipping when Freeman went down.
THE SOLID
8—MICHIGAN PANTHERS (9-3) DOWN 6
Why have we dropped the Panthers 6 spots? Well, going 2-2 in this past quarter and dipping below St. Louis in the divisional race is a start, but perhaps more troubling is that the defense has started to show some flaws, and that could prove their undoing. Either that or we just like to shake things up.
9—CHARLOTTE MONARCHS (7-5) DOWN 3
It feels very much like we should have put the top 8 teams all in one category and then had a gap, because we are just not seeing Charlotte or the others in this category as being on a par with the 8 teams above them. Charlotte has gone 1-3 over the past month, and that has to be troubling for them, especially with Orlando right there.
10—PORTLAND STAGS (7-5) UP 1
Should we reward the Stags more than a 1 spot bump after they broke out of their home/away rut and got that first road victory? Well, no. We cannot put them ahead of any of the teams above them on the list, even Charlotte, because they always seem to be on the edge of defeat, even when they win.
11—TEXAS OUTLAWS (7-5) DOWN 2
Yes, the Outlaws have gone 3-1 in the past quarter, and getting a win this week after what happened in San Antonio last weekend is impressive, but this feels like a very flawed team, even with the addition of Marshawn Lynch. Of course, a strong 4th quarter could make us eat those words.
12—ORLANDO RENEGADES (6-6) UP 4
Sure, they were 4-4 after 8 weeks and are now 6-6, which means that they have not changed much, so why the bump up the list? Placement is a big piece of it. Charlotte’s slide means Orlando is in range for a late division title run, and we think they can do it if they can get more consistent play from the offense.
13—SEATTLE DRAGONS (6-6) NO CHANGE
Here is a case where we think we had them just about right (middle of the pack) and we don’t see anything in the past 4 games (2-2 record) to move them one way or the other. Honestly, with the talent on this team we are still wondering why they are not looking at 8-4 right now.
14—DALLAS ROUGHNECKS (5-6-1) UP 3
Maybe we are looking at Dallas with rose-colored glasses. After all, they have gone 1-2-1 in the past quarter, but there is something about this team that makes us feel like they are very much on the upswing as a franchise. It may not always be paying off with wins, but this is a team that is putting some pieces in place.
THE INCOMPLETE
15—LAS VEGAS VIPERS (6-6) UP 6
The Vipers continue to be two-faced, but they went 3-1 in the past quarter, with all 3 wins at home. If they could just break through on the road, they could actually finish with a winning record this year, which would be a major accomplishment for a club we predicted would be the worst in the league. Still not sure how Greg Roman is getting this done, but he is.
16—BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (5-7) DOWN 4
The Stallions have the most exciting player in the league in Cam Newton, but they just don’t seem to be able to parlay that into regular wins. They went 1-3 this past quarter, and they have just not shown us that they can put points on the board in a game where Cam is not wearing a cape and doing his Superman impersonation.
17—DENVER GOLD (5-7) UP 1
After a 2-2- quarter, we think Denver is just about right at 17. They are not a bad team, and they can win some games with better clubs, but they always seem to play to the level of their opposition, which is not enough to get wins in this league. You have to win the games you are expected to win, and a few that you are not. Denver is not proving they can do that.
18—ATLANTA FIRE (5-7) UP 1
The Fire are another team that should be better than their record indicates. We picked them to win the division, but right now they are looking up at .500. Ask us why and we would have to say that the offense is just not consistent enough and the defense is getting worn down over the course of games. Not a good combo.
19--WASHINGTON FEDERALS (5-7) UP 5
The Federals are not quite dead yet. After a 3-1 third quarter, the Feds may still be fighting for a Wild Card, which is great news if you are Sean Payton, because at the midway point his seat was getting awfully toasty. If they can boast a winning record over the final half of the year, we think Payton could be back for 2016.
20—NEW JERSEY GENERALS (5-7) DOWN 5
The 1-3 run this quarter has helped sink our estimation of the Generals. They have moments where they look very solid, but those moments are getting fewer and further apart. What we saw this quarter was a team that just does not intimidate anyone on either side of the ball.
21—PHILADELPHIA STARS (4-8) UP 6
Have the real Stars finally arrived? After a 1-7 first half, they went 3-1 with some major upsets in the third quarter. It may be too late to save their season but this is going to be a team that no playoff contenders want to face down the stretch. Spoiling other teams’ playoff chances may be the closest to a playoff run that the Stars will have.
THE SHAKY
22—MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (4-8) DOWN 8
Yup, an 0-4 quarter will drop you pretty fast down the rankings. We had seen glimmers of hope in Memphis at midseason but they seem to be fading fast. The fact that fans are hyping up U. of Memphis QB Paxton Lynch and questioning Eli Manning as the team’s future pretty much tell you how bad it has gotten in the past month.
23—OHIO GLORY (3-9) DOWN 3
We probably should have dropped Ohio further after they went winless over the past 4 weeks, but when we look at the teams remaining, we think Ohio is the best of the final 6. They at least have some playmakers, and besides, if we drop them too low we are sure that Steve Smith will call us mean names on national TV and we don’t want that grief.
24—LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (3-9) UP 2
We are giving LA points for effort, at least on defense. This is a pretty horrible offensive football team, but every week that defense does its job and makes life difficult for the opposition. If they could just score 20 points a game, this Express club would be right in the heart of a playoff push.
25—JACKSONVILLE BULLS (3-9) NO CHANGE
The Bulls went 1-3 this quarter, which is not great but is improvement over last year, so we keep them where they are. They will still be picking early in the draft, but not first, so a sign that they are beginning to fix the issues that had them winless in 2014.
26—SAN DIEGO THUNDER (3-9) DOWN 3
We ares still somewhat surprised that this club is as bad as they are. Scratching our heads at the Lynch trade, they are now really struggling on offense to find anything that works. Coach LeBeau is not known for offensive innovation, so the odds of a fourth quarter improvement seem faint.
27—TAMPA BAY BANDITS (3-9) DOWN 5
Will turning to Pat White really be the answer for the Bandits? Maybe not this year, but at this point in the year they are just trying to see how desperate their QB situation is after the Mark Sanchez experiment flamed out. Do they need a QB as their top priority or is White going to show us some potential over the season’s final weeks?
28—CHICAGO MACHINE (1-10-1) NO CHANGE
We wanted to recognize that the Machine went 1-2-1 this quarter, which is their best quarter by far after two 0-4 chunks, but how could we move them ahead of anyone? This is a club that feels very much iike a tidal wave of change is coming. We would not be shocked to see Schiano, Brady Quinn, and even Brian Urlacher gone by next March.
Seattle Makes Major Change for 2016 Uniforms
A major change for the Seattle dragons as they switch from a green helmet shell for the first time in team history. The 2016 Dragons will sport a white helmet with their wrap around dragon logo, leaving behind the dragon green helmet for the first time since the club was born in 1995. It is part of a trend we are seeing in all the Adidas designs this year, a minimalist style, simplifying the look for Ohio, Denver, and Charlotte, with Seattle now in on the trend.
In addition to the white helmet shell, the Dragons significantly reduced their use of striping in the uniforms overall. The two jerseys feature no sleeve stripes, only the secondary “S” logo on each sleeve. The numbers are single color, either white or green, and the only use of red on the jerseys is a thin triangular tapered stripe that runs from the beltline up the side panel towards the armpit area. This shirt stripe lines up with a similar tapered stripe on both the white and green pant sets. Just a single red tapered stripe on both sets. The team’s socks will also be quite minimalist, a single-color block in either red or green. The design, according to Adidas, is sleek and modern, while also retaining a traditional aspect. The design is such that the team could opt for 4 different color combinations: White over green, Green over white, a full green look or a whiteout look.
A big week for divisional games, as you would expect in Week 13. We have 9 of them on tap, and with playoff position still a huge issue right now, you know these will be intense games. We start with San Diego at Portland on Friday night. Another win and the Stags will be 3 games over .500 and looking very good for a Wild Card at the least. On Saturday we have Philly at New Jeresy, a favorite rivalry game and one where the Stars could once again play spoiler by ruining New Jersey’s playoff hopes. We also have Dallas at Arizona and Alanta at Orlando. The winner of the Fire-Renegades game could be ready to make a run at Charlotte for the SE Division, the loser, well, maybe not.
On Sunday, we love the Las Vegas-Denver game as a real measure of both teams. Can the surprising Vipers get that elusive first road win or will Denver get back in the hunt with a win at Invesco? Seattle is at LA, Charlotte is at Jacksonville, St. Louis is at Ohio, and one more divisional matchup has New Orleans at Memphis on Sunday Night. These are not all well-matched games, but we know they will still be hard fought and intense, and we love that. Oh, and if that was not enough, we have a huge game between Pittsburgh and Michigan on Saturday afternoon. That is a possible Summer Bowl preview right there. I am definitely tuning in for that one.
Friday @ 8pm ET San Diego (3-9) @ Portland (7-5) NBC
Saturday @ 12pm ET Tampa Bay (3-9) @ Baltimore (9-3) ABC
Saturday @ 12pm ET Philadelphia (4-8) @ New Jersey (5-7) FOX
Saturday @ 4pm ET Pittsburgh (10-2) @ Michigan (9-3) ABC
Saturday @ 4pm ET Dallas (5-6-1) @ Arizona (9-3) FOX
Saturday @ 7pm ET Atlanta (5-7) @ Orlando (6-6) NBC
Saturday @ 9pm ET Oakland (9-3) @ Texas (7-5) ESPN/EFN
Sunday @ 12pm ET Charlotte (7-5) @ Jacksonville (3-9) ABC Regional
Sunday @ 12pm ET Chicago (1-10-1) @ Washington (5-7) ABC Regional
Sunday @ 12pm ET Houston (10-2) @ Birmingham (5-7) FOX
Sunday @ 4pm ET St. Louis (9-3) @ Ohio (3-9) ABC
Sunday @ 4pm ET Las Vegas (6-6) @ Denver (5-7) FOX Regional
Sunday @ 4pm ET Seattle (6-6) @ Los Angeles (3-9) FOX Regional
Sunday @ 8pm ET New Orleans (9-3) @ Memphis (4-8) ESPN/EFN
Комментарии