What can we say about this Denzel vehicle that has not already been said? A classic story of race, understanding, and football, An American story. This is one of those movies that gets many men misty, the male version of a rom-com, but without the cheesy ending. OK, kind of cheesy.
Welcome to the midseason. For some of you the excitement of a playoff hunt is in full effect. Maybe you are a fan of the Breakers or Panthers and you are feeling on top of the world. Or maybe you follow the Generals, Showboats, or Roughnecks and you are feeling like your team has turned a corner and is ready to take on the big boys. Sadly, some of you are fans of the 0-8 Chicago Machine, or are suffering through the total collapse of the Philadelphia Stars, now 1-7. Those are the breaks. Football is a cruel mistress. As we review all the games of Week 8, we will do so with an eye on just where each team sits at midseason. We will reveal our third Power Ranking list of the year, and we will discuss the big news out of the NFL this week, news that certainly impacts the USFL in some ways positively, in others negatively. All that is coming up, but first, it is our Midseason Report, so we start with our Standouts of the year so far, our Midseason Stories and Stars.
The Standouts of 2015: Midseason
Only eight weeks in but already enough storylines to make this a special season. Whether it is individual achievements like a new single game passing record, or team accomplishments, this year has provided us with a lot to talk about. In this midseason recap we are going to focus only on the positives, ignoring the teams struggling, the players not living up to our expectations, or the coaches feeling a lot of heat. We asked our bullpen to identify the standouts of the year, the players, squads, and teams that have been better than anticipated, that have gotten us excited to watch them each week. It was not easy, but we came up with our Top 10, and here they are, this year’s midseason standouts:
10) The Oakland Invaders’ Defense
We may not have been hyping this group enough all season. Oakland is 6-2 in large part because of this squad, the league’s best when it comes to keeping teams off the scoreboard. Oakland’s number one scoring D is allowing only 14.9 points per game and has held 6 of 8 opponents under 20 points, with Seattle and Michigan barely topping it with 21 points in the past 2 games. They are doing this with something of a bend-but-don’t-break formula that forces teams to take the long way down the field, avoiding the big play and forcing a lot of third downs. Despite only ranking 11th in the league in yards allowed and only 18th in passing yards allowed, the Invaders are forcing turnovers, holding teams down on 3rd down, and turning red zone trips into field goals instead of touchdowns.
Among the standouts on this squad are MLB Bobby Wagner, who is strong in both run coverage and pass defense. The duo of Cliff Avril and Justin Smith has 18 sacks between them, and they are getting help from others like DT Sedrick Ellis (5 Sacks) and free agent acquisition, former General LB Donterrious Thomas (3 Sacks), and in the secondary SS Jaiquawn Jarrett is rounding into an excellent leader, working often in a 2-deep formation that forces teams to throw the ball underneath. It is a team effort, but one that is helping the Invaders reassert themselves as the best team in the Pacific.
9) LB Ramik Wilson (Houston)
We don’t know what black magics the Houston personnel teams is using, but once again they seem to have aced the draft. Last year it was HB Carlos Hyde and WR Mike Evans, this year it is LB Ramik Wilson, a 2nd round pick out of Georgia. Wilson is leading the team with 50 tackles, has 2 picks and is helping fans forget that James Farrior retired this year. Houston does not have a flashy LB group, with Kevin Burnett and Pat Angerer rounding out the starting 3, but in Wilson they have found themselves a disruptor, someone who can blow through the line to produce negative runs, can get after mobile QBs and can stay with slot receivers and tight ends in the middle. In other words, they have themselves another rookie star.
8) Stallions’ Run Defense
The Stallions may only be 4-4 at the break, and they give up far too much in the passing game to make Coach Givens happy, but the run defense this year has been stellar, tops in the league, allowing only 61.4 yards per game. How are they doing it? Well, starting up front, they are asking their edge rushers, Derrick Harvey and Greg Hardy not to go full throttle towards the QB, but to assess the play and take good angles to contain the backs before they can burst outside. That has hindered the pass rush a bit (Birmingham relies largely on blitzes to get to the QB) but it has proven very effective on outside and counter runs. The arrival of big space-eater Sione Pouha from Denver has also provided a solid interior, freeing up linebackers Ernie Sims and DeMeco Ryans to crash the line and fill gaps. It also helps that both corners, Antonio Cromartie and Adolph Petrie are not afraid to come up and make tackles. The result is that Birmingham is able to make most offenses one-dimensional. Now, if they could just do a hair better against that passing attack, they could truly be tough to beat.
7) WR Amari Cooper (BIR)
Let’s stay with the Stallions to talk about the breakout offensive rookie of the year, wideout Amari Cooper. We figured that with Birmingham drafting both Cooper and HB T. J. Yeldon out of Alabama, and naming both as starters before camp was even completed, that the odds were good that the 2015 ROTY might be coming out of the Stallions, and after 8 weeks it looks very much like Cooper as the frontrunner. HB Todd Gurley in Memphis and LB Ramik Wilson in Houston are looking like contenders, but the clear leader of the pack is Cooper. After 8 weeks he is on pace for over 1,200 yards receiving, 14 touchdowns, and is already the established number one target for Cam Newton. Cooper’s combination of speed, quickness, and hops give him a huge catch radius, as he is able to bring in the jump ball as well as low throws, while also proving he can get away from the coverage when asked to go deep. Looks like the Stallions have found a new Ernest Givens to play under Coach Ernest Givens.
6) LB Rolando McClain (Charlotte)
While we would never call McClain a breakout star, his consistent quality is finally being noticed this season. McClain has racked up 110 tackles or more each of the past 4 seasons, with his 2014 total of 128 being a personal best. He is already on pace this year to top 130 and is right there with currently leading standouts like Tampa’s Brian Orakpo and Chicago’s Brian Urlacher with 67 tackles over 8 weeks, averaging more than 8 per game. He has Charlotte in the Top 5 in scoring defense despite the fact that they are one of the worst teams in the league at getting to the QB (only 17 team sacks so far). Against the run, McClain is devastating, In the passing game he may not be the quickest LB in the league, but he is excellent at occupying the middle of a zone and keeping a 4-yard catch from turning to a 12-yard gain.
5) WR Steve Smith (Ohio)
It is one thing to be a star receiver on a team with a dynamite offense, because no one can tilt their defense towards you, singling you out as the player who will not touch the ball. That is certainly not the case in Ohio, where Smith is the top threat, and in many eyes the only threat on the Glory roster. HB Isaiah Pead is not going to burst out for 20-yard gains, and with the largely unimpressive QB battle between Troy Smith and Brock Osweiler in place, we are not seeing a stretch-the-field attitude at all from the Glory.
And yet, despite this, and despite the constant double, sometimes triple, coverage on Smith, he is still tied for the league lead (M. Jenkins, ORL) with 61 receptions and leading the league with 99 targets in only 8 weeks. He is on pace for 120 catches and possibly 200 targets, a truly ridiculous number. He is in the Top 5 among all receivers with 759 yards despite averaging only 12.4 yards per catch, about half of the average of most of the Top 5 in yardage. Let’s face it, he is just uncoverable. Now, if someone in Ohio could just get the ball deep, he could actually get some respect.
4) HB Joseph Addai (SEA)
Be honest with yourself. After 4 years in Birmingham you had written off Addai as a bust. Just another NFL transfer past his prime who could not get the job done. It is understandable if you did. In his 4-year Stallion career he never topped 1,000 yards or 5 TDs. His numbers dropped every single year, from 909 in 2011 to only 421 yards in an injury-marred 2014. So, when Seattle jumped on him in free agency, you did not think much of it. But, with former tailback Stump Mitchell the head coach in Seattle, we have gotten a very different Addai this year.
Mitchell is setting up Mitchell for success with an athletic line willing to pull and to hold their blocks for Addai to find the crease. In return, Addai has produced big numbers for the Dragons, on pace for over 1,400 yards with over 700 in 8 games. He is averaging over 88 yards per game, with four 100-yard outings in his first 8 starts for the Dragons and is currently 2nd in the league in rushing, with a real shot at taking the lead for the year. How about that for a third act in his career?
3) HB LeVeon Bell (MGN)
Another player who we cannot say is “breaking out” this year, Bell has been solid since he got to the league, with back-to-back 1,200 yard seasons in his first two pro seasons. He has become a major factor for Michigan’s rise back to the top of the Central Division, and is currently leading the league with 833 yards rushing in only 8 games, making him the only back to average 100 yards per game. That has included games with 136, 146, and 147 yards already this year. He is averaging 4.3 yards per attempt and has even started to show some signs of skill in the passing game. Bell is the frontrunner for the rushing title, could make a run at OPOTY, and has helped Michigan to a stellar first half record of 7-1, their best start in over a decade. Things are looking up in Detroit, and LeVeon Bell is a big reason why.
2) The Entire Pittsburgh Mauler Team
Look, we don’t want to pat ourselves on the back too much, but we are usually so wrong about so much in our preseason picks that our dark horse pick of Pittsburgh as a 2014 non-playoff team that was ready to make a run is just one time we need to toot our own horn. Sitting at 6-2 after 8 weeks, the Maulers are one of the feel-good stories of the year. And it is not just 1 or 2 guys making it happen. Yes, we have focused a lot on QB Andy Dalton, but that is natural when you set a new league record with a 583-yard game. We need to also recognize the strong group of receivers in Pittsburgh, including Adam Thielen, Victor Cruz, Mike Williams, and league receiving TD leader Jimmie Graham at TE. We should also note that the “Thunder and Lightning” run game of Marcus Lattimore and Toby Gerhardt, while not producing huge numbers, is providing balance, and Gerhardt’s 6 rushing TDs have made short yardage situations almost guaranteed for the Maulers.
Add to the team’s offensive success a defense that is 3rd in the league in yards allowed and which boasts one of the best 1-2 edge rush combos in the league in Jared Allen (11 sacks in 8 games) and Dwight Freeney (7 sacks) and you have a team that can beat you in any number of ways. Yes, they still have yet to face Baltimore in their division this year, and we do recognize that they recently lost in Memphis, but that does not diminish all they have accomplished this year. Now, can they keep up the pace, and the pressure, by staying strong over the second half. If so, they will be a force come playoff time.
1) QB Matt Hasselbeck (Houston)
We return to Houston for our top standout of the season. The 37-year-old QB of the Gamblers may not be tops in the league in yardage (5th) or QB Rating (2nd), but with a league leading 25 touchdowns and a league best 7-1 record for the Gamblers, Hasselbeck is having a season very reminiscent of Houston’s 2010 Championship season. In that year, Hasselbeck finished with 4,103 yards, 35 TDs and a QB Rating of 92.8. Compare that to his numbers this year if we double his first half production: 4,932 yards, 50 touchdowns, and a QB Rating of 138.9. It is easy to see why fans are saying this is Hasselbeck’s best season ever, and could legitimately help Houston win a 5th title, 2 more than any other franchise. And he is doing it with a very young roster. We have already highlighted Ramik Wilson on defense, a rookie, but his lead receivier, Mike Evans, is a 2nd year player, as is the team’s lead back, Carlos Hyde. As much praise as we give the team’s front office, we should also praise their captain and unquestioned leader, a QB who was rumored to be retiring in both of the past two offseasons and is now showing us he is at the top of his game.
We could not choose. So, sue us. With two huge games between teams with a combined 3 losses between them, we knew it would be a tough week to pick a single game of the week, so we decided not to. We will give the full GOTW Treatment to both the Breaker-Gamber game and the Invader-Panther showdown, because they were both great games and both highly relevant to the playoff picture in the league. We start in Michigan with the earlier of the two Sunday showdowns.
OAKLAND INVADERS 18 MICHIGAN PANTHERS 21
In what could very well be a preview of the Western Conference Final, the Oakland Invaders and their top scoring defense went into Michigan to face LeVeon Bell and the Michigan Panthers. Both teams came into the game with only a single blemish on their records and both came in fully knowing that this game could be a factor in determining who would have that much-coveted top seed in the conference in 8 weeks.
Both teams would try to establish the run early, and both would find some success, with Oakland’s combo of Ryan Williams and Donald Brown combining for 120 yards on 27 carries, while Michigan’s bell cow back, LeVeon Bell, would rush for 112 on 22 carries over the course of the game. Both QBs would prove efficient, with Harrington completing 22 of 32 (68%) and Kirk Cousins going 24 of 31 (77%) on the day. It would also be a game that saw two big swings of momentum as Michigan owned the first quarter, Oakland would then come on strong, but in the end the Panthers had what it took to retake the lead late and score the W.
The Panthers opened the game with a good defensive series, holding Oakland to a 3-and-out, and they looked even better on offense with an 11-play, 77-yard drive that concluded with a LeVeon Bell TD run to open the scoring. They would be back in the endzone again only 4 minutes later when Kirk Cousins hit Hines Ward with a 10-yard scoring toss. Oakland’s vaunted defense would need to make some adjustments or this game could get out of hand.
The Invaders did just that, holding Michigan scoreless over the 2nd and 3rd quarters as Oakland’s offense finally started to show signs of life. They would get the only points of the 2nd quarter on a David Buehler field goal, and then would finally get in the endzone with a Donald Brown run early in the 3rd. Going for 2 points, they trailed only by 3, 14-11 after three. Their defense had largely contained Michigan, allowing some first downs and one foray across the 50, but the Panthers had not been able to hit on the big play and had not been able to even get in range for kicker Matt Prater in two quarters.
Oakland would take the lead early in the 4th, their first of the day, as they again had a nice, sustained drive, including a 29-yard catch and run from WR Keenan Allen, their longest play of the game. That play helped lead to Donald Brown’s 2nd short TD run and an Oakland 18-14 lead with 8:33 left to play. When Michigan failed on a 3rd and 11 play on the next drive, fans started to get nervous that they would never recover their swagger from the 1st quarter. Oakland got the ball back with 5:33 left to play and the fear was that they would never relinquish the ball. But the Michigan defense stood up, shutting down the Invaders in only 3 plays, including a nice pass defense that probably should have been an interception, but which forced Oakland to punt away the ball.
Michigan got the ball back with 3:03 left on the clock. Down 4 they would need to get a TD on this, their final drive. They started at their own 23 and quickly started to push the ball downfield. A nice 15-yard completion to Ted Ginn got them to midfield, then LeVeon Bell hit on a draw play for 11. Bell would also catch a key 3rd down pass to convert for a first, but as they moved the ball the clock kept ticking. By the time they got to the Red Zone, there was less than a minute to play. They tried an endzone shot but Hines Ward was well covered. On 2nd down they got a solid run from Bell, and on 3rd he helped them convert the third down for a 1st and goal on the 8.
From the 8, with a time out at 37 seconds, the team huddled around coach McDermott. The call came in from the OC up in the booth and McDermott just patted Cousins on the shoulder and said “You’ve got this.” Cousins did have it. On 1st and goal he looked off the safety by staring down Hines Ward, then turned his attention to Cody Lattimer, crossing along the endline, tossed up a perfect touch pass that Latimer brought down in stride. Michigan was back on top 21-18 and with too little time for Oakland’s ball control offense to get into range for David Buehler. The Panthers had once again proven their mettle, and the team built by Jim Johnson and now coached by Sean McDermott was sitting atop the West at 7-1 at midseason.
NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 27 HOUSTON GAMBLERS 20
While Houston and Oakland clashed in a key interdivisional game, the story in the Eastern Conference was a clash of two powers within the Southern Division. The Breakers, sitting at 6-1 were in Houston to take on the 7-0 Gamblers. This would be a battle of two Top 10 offenses and two top 10 defenses. In other words, these were two very solid teams, heavyweights that would slug it out for 60 minutes. And that is exactly what they did.
Each half would tell a different story. The first half belonged to both defenses, with only 9 points scored between the two teams, while the second half would be about the offenses, with both teams adjusting and both QBs making big plays down the stretch. While the first half would see all 6 sacks in the game and both turnovers, the second half saw the two teams score on 6 of 8 combined possessions.
Down 6-3 at the half, thanks to two Dan Carpenter field goals to only 1 from Caleb Sturgis, New Orleans came out of the half hoping to get into the endzone and break the defensive stranglehold on the game. Their opening drive took just over 4 minutes and seemed to produce the coveted 7-point play as Eli Manning hit Kenny Britt, the game’s leading receiver, with a nice corner route throw, but just as the Breakers began to celebrate the yellow flag came out. Illegal hands to the face by guard Evan Mathis called the play back and New Orleans settled for a tie with a 2nd Sturgis field goal.
Houston would take the next kickoff and it would be their offense which would break up the field goal festival, and it would not take long. After a couple of nice runs from Carlos Hyde, a play action fake that froze the safeties gave Matt Hasselbeck the chance to find slot receiver Johnny Knox on the outside, and he hit the speedy receiver for a 61-yard strike that had the Houston faithful on their feet. The first blow was struck. New Orleans would need to respond with more than a field goal.
Drew Brees obliged the pretty decent contingent of Breaker fans who had made the trip over to Houston, completing 3 of 4 passes on the next New Orleans possession and finding Kenny Britt for a 16-yard TD on a 1st and 10. That is how the 3rd quarter ended, with the two teams knotted up at 13 apiece, but with Houston driving a 2nd time. That Houston drive would also produce a score, though not quite as dramatic, as a nice rub route saw Roy Williams escape the cluster for a 7-yard scoring toss from Hasselbeck and Houston would go up 20-13.
Once again the Breakers were playing from behind, but once again Drew Brees and the offense would respond. This time it took nearly 6 minutes, but a slow and steady drive, one that saw Jeremy Hill struggle to find yardage (He would average only 1.6 yards per carry on the day), did finally make its way deep into Houston territory. From there it was backup David Wilson who equalized the score once again, cashing in on a nice counter play from the 7 to equalize the score at 20-20.
Houston would respond with a drive of their own, but one that ended very unexpectedly. With the ball at the Breaker 12-yardline, Houston went to the endzone twice and failed both times, forcing them to send out Dan Carpenter for a relatively easy 29-yarder. When Carpenter’s ball doinked off the right upright, there was an audible groan from the Houston fans. The game remained 20-20, and now New Orleans would get the ball back with just over 4 minutes to play.
Houston expected a 4-minute drill, using up the clock as best as New Orleans could, but the Breakers threw them a curve, moving quickly between plays, not allowing substitutions, and throwing the ball on all 3 first downs in the drive. It would be on a 1st and 10 from the 38 of Houston that the Breakers would strike, rather than trying to delay scoring. Coach Lathon showed trust in his defense to defend a 2-minute drill and went for the jugular on a 3rd and 3. Rather than go for a short completion, he sent Kenny Britt deep against the Houston coverage. Brees looked off the safety and tossed the deep ball towards the endzone. Britt snatched the ball out of the air, dragging his right foot before stepping out of the endzone. It would take a replay review to confirm, but the feet were in and the touchdown was good, right at the 2-minute warning. Houston would now be challenged to get the equalizer against the Breakers defense.
Houston would move the ball initially, but upon arriving at midfield, Coach Lathon turned up the pressure, sending safety Brandon Taylor on a 1st down blitz and then LB Rocky McIntosh on 2nd down. Hasselbeck was unable to complete either pass, and when a 3rd down screen produced only 6 yards, the Gamblers were forced to go for the 4th down conversion. Safety Mike Doss was there on 4th down, knocking the ball out of the hands of Mike Sims-Walker on 4th down and the Breakers celebrated a win that not only equalized their record with that of the Gamblers, and not only knocked the last unbeaten team from that status, but also gave New Orleans the tiebreaker and 1st place in what should be a fun division to watch in the season’s second half.
OHIO 26 CHICAGO 20
It was not a clean game for the Glory by any stretch of the imagination, but it was still a win, and when you are 2-5, you will take any win you can get. Brock Osweiler got a lot of help from Steve Smith, who caught 7 for 134 and a TD, and despite 3 picks from the Chicago defense, Ohio managed to win the day, thanks in large part to a strong 4th quarter from their QB. The Glory put 13 points on the board in the 4th to overcome a 20-13 deficit and win by 6. Trevor Siemian played well for 3 quarters, but a late pick heled Ohio complete the comeback.
POTG: Ohio WR Steve Smith: 7 rec, 134 Yds, 1 Td
BIRMINGHAM 21 ATLANTA 24
With Cam Newton out of the lineup it fell on former Crimson Tide QB A. J. McCarron to lead the Stallions. He did quite well, completing 32 of 44 throwing, and tossing 3 TDs without a pick, and had Birmingham in the lead with 1:44 left to play, hitting Amari Cooper with the go ahead TD. But, McCarron cannot play defense, and neither could the Stallions in the final 2 minutes. Kyle Orton found Albert Wilson for the game winner with only 26 seconds left on the clock to help the Fire improve to 3-5 at the midway point, still alive in a closely fought SE Division.
POTG: Fire WR Demaryius Williams: 9 Rec, 132 Yds, 1 TD
NEW JERSEY 20 BALTIMORE 38
The Generals were right there with Baltimore at the half, down only 14-10, but the Blitz outpaced them 24-10 in the 2nd half to pull away. Roethlisberger threw for 2 scores and 303 yards, while a 3-headed team of rushers garnered 124 yards on the ground for Baltimore. MJD had 96 in another good game for New Jersey, but even with 7 sacks of Big Ben, the Generals could not stop the Blitz from scoring on 4 of 6 drives in the second half.
POTG: Blitz HB Anthony Dixon: 10 Att, 79 Yds, 1 TD
DENVER 10 DALLAS 7
A sloppy game that saw 5 turnovers between the two teams, and very few converted third downs as well. Denver got an early Golden Tate TD catch as the only score of the first half. In the third, Dallas got their points on defense, as Star Lotuleilei stripped Matt Leinart of the ball in the endzone and Elvis Dumervil fell on it for 7. Denver got a Zeurlein field goal in the fourth, and that turned out to be the game winner as Dallas could not mount a comeback. Denver finished the day with 3 fumbles, Dallas with two picks of Johnny Manziel in a game both teams likely want to forget.
POTG: Gold WR Golden Tate: 6 Rec, 86 Yds, 1 TD
TEXAS 30 PORTLAND 44
Should Coach Landry be worried about his defense? We think so after the Stags rolled to 44 points, including 124 yards from Jonathan Stewart and a 3 TD day from Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Stags were certainly happy to be back home again and showed it by scoring on 8 of 9 drives in the game. They needed to because Texas was also putting up points regularly, with both Marshall and Colston going over 100 yards as Flacco again puts up huge numbers (20 of 33 for 385 yards.)
POTG: Stag HB Jonathan Stewart: 20 Att, 125 Yds, 1 Rec, 25 Yds, 1 TD
CHARLOTTE 28 TAMPA BAY 24
The Monarchs win a fourth in a row to reach above .500 at the midway point. D. J. Hackett was the star for Charlotte, leading all receivers with 112 yards and catching two touchdowns. Mark Sanchez threw two picks and could now be looking over his shoulder. Tampa actually led at one point 24-7, but the Monarchs scored the final 21 points of the game to pull it out.
POTG: Monarch WR D. J. Hackett: 10 Rec, 112 Yds, 2 TD
LAS VEGAS 7 ARIZONA 27
Arizona was too much for the visiting Vipers, with 3 rushing touchdowns from the combo of Gore and Carey. Vegas actually outgained the Nick-Foles-led Wranglers, but they just could not get the red zone scores they needed, with Brett Maher missing both FG attempts and the Vipers failing on their only 4th down attempt.
POTG: Wrangler safety Troy Polamalu: 7 Tck, 1 Sck
PITTSBURGH 38 WASHINGTON 20
Two teams headed in opposite directions as Pittsburgh moves to 6-2 and Washington to 2-6. Andy Dalton finishes the first half of the season with a strong 346-yard, 3 TD outing, while Deuce McCallister struggles to 55 yards on 24 carries (only 2.3 per attempt). Victor Cruz returned to action for the Maulers and had a great game, with 122 yards, including a 75-yard TD catch and run. Jimmie Graham also added to his league best TD total with 2 more to give him nine on the year.
POTG: Mauler QB Andy Dalton: 13/21, 346 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int
JACKSONVILLE 20 ORLANDO 17
The Bulls get win number two at rival Orlando’s expense. With Robert Griffin hurt it was Adrian McPherson leading Jacksonville to victory. Down 17-10 in the 4th, the Bulls got a Cadillac Williams TD run to tie the score, then converted a 45-yard David Akers kick to get the lead. The defense did the rest, picking off Russell Wilson late to preserve the win.
POTG: Bulls LB Sean Lee: 6 Tck, 1 P Def, 1 Int.
LOS ANGELES 10 PHILADELPHIA 20
The Stars shake the 0-7 monkey off their back and get their first win in front of a lot of Star fans with bags over their heads in protest. Led by their defense, Philadelphia held LA to only 198 yards of total offense, including only 36 yards rushing without Reggie Bush available. A defensive TD was the only 7-pointer the Express could garner, and gave them the halftime lead, but the Stars plugged away in the 2nd half and earned their first win this year.
POTG: Express SS Rahim Moore: 7 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
MEMPHIS 24 SEATTLE 30
A really good game between two up-and-coming teams in the league. This one went to overtime because the Showboats were able to wipe out a 24-10 halftime deficit with two second half touchdowns. In the extra period, Byron Leftwich connected with Mike Wallace on a 90-yard catch and run that electrified the Dragon faithful at Lumen Field. Wallace finished the day with 152 yards, most of it on that one catch, and both teams finish the first half of the season at 4-4.
POTG: Seattle CB Richard Sherman: 6 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
ST. LOUIS 20 SAN DIEGO 10
A very costly win for the Skyhawks, as Josh Freeman hops off the field with what would later be revealed as a broken bone in his left foot. Ricky Stanzi played the final 35 minutes of action, and could be starting for a while. He went 10 of 15 for 112 yards and a TD as St. Louis held off the Thunder, but now we are looking at a month or longer before Freeman returns to action.
POTG: Skyhawk HB Eddie Lacy: 22 Att, 75 Yds, 2 Rec, 65 Yds, 1 TD
Freeman to Miss 6-8 Weeks with Broken Foot
As we just mentioned above, Josh Freeman is expected to miss at least 6 weeks due to the fracture in his left foot, an injury incurred when a lineman stepped back onto the foot just as Freeman pivoted. Freeman, who just signed a new contract extension, will be in a soft air-cast for the next month, then can start to work on rehabbing. According to the Skyhawk medical team, the club is looking at a window of 6-8 weeks if all goes well. That means a possible return for the final 2 weeks and for a playoff run if backups Ricky Stanzi and Tajh Boyd can keep the 6-2 squad in contention. With few options, St. Louis sent WR Jermaine Pitts to the practice squad and signed 35-year-old Chris Simms to a 1-year deal to act as the emergency QB.
Lynch Wants a New Start
Color Marshawn Lynch one very unhappy camper in his new digs in San Diego. Lynch, who has only appeared in 5 of the team’s 8 games this year is not having a great year, averaging only 2.8 yards per carry, and yet to score a TD. He is not loving his role in the offense, and apparently not loving his life in San Diego. Despite being in a contract year, Lynch has started to make noise about wanting a trade. It appears that with the club sitting at 2-6 and likely out of any realistic playoff contention, and with his role diminished in the offense after a 2-week absence, Lynch is not loving what he sees around him and what he is being asked to do. San Diego could opt to trade Lynch, to get something for the player before he would likely depart in Free Agency, but anyone who lands him would likely need to start work on a contract ASAP, so that they too don’t lose the big back to free agency. After his first 1,000 yard season since 2009 last year, things were looking up for the 31-year old back, but now the question is whether there is enough in the tank for someone to take a chance on him.
Rookies Looking For a Strong 2nd Half
It is easy to look at the stats mid-way through a season and determine who is living up to their abilities and who is falling short. With veterans this is based on track record in past year, so we can see how strong Joseph Addai's season is and how shaky Mark Sanchez has been. With rookies this is a bit tougher, because in some cases they have just not been given the snaps they need. In others they just have not made the pro adjustment yet. So, rather than criticize these new pros, we should look ahead at the final 8 weeks of the year for them to give us signs of good things to come. So, in that spirit, here is our list of 8 rookies who we expect to start to flourish in the 2nd half of the season. Some are doing well already, but could explode, others are hoping to see more action to show their stuff.
NOTE: We are not going to include the obvious choice of Marcus Mariota here, because we don't want to stoke the QB switch fires in Portland. Ryan Fitzpatrick has been very good this year, and if Portland can stay in playoff contention we see no reason for him to be pulled to give Mariota snaps.
8--WR Breshard Perriman (ORL): 15 Targets, 11 Catches, 132 Yards, 2 Td
Perriman has not seen a lot of action but with 11 catches and 2 TDs in only 15 targets we have to say that he is doing the most with what he has been given. Maybe someone should tell Russell Wilson to look his way a bit more often.
7--DE Vic Beasley (NJ): 25 Tackles, 8 Sacks
No complaints from New Jersey about Beasley's 8 sacks. Paired with Aaron Kampman, Beasley is seeing a lot of single blockers and he is doing well against them. We would not be shocked if he finishes the year with 15 or more sacks. That is a pretty good rookie campaign.
6--WR Tyler Lockett (NOR): 65 Targets, 28 Catches, 277 Yards, 2 TDs
Lockett cannot complain about his target rate. The slot receiver just has to turn more of those looks into catches. We think he could end the year with 60+ receptions, which is a very strong first campaign, but only if he gets on the same page with Byron Leftwich and turns looks into receptions.
5--HB Matt Jones (JAX): 51 Att, 172 Yds, 2 TD
Jones had to know when the Bulls signed Cadillac Williams late in free agency that his first year would not be a breakout season like Carlos Hyde had in 2014, but the Bulls' back is getting chances and may well get even more touches in the second half. Right now he has about 1/3 the carries as Williams (157-51), but we expect that by season's end he should be up closer to 1/2 the carries. What will he do with them?
4--DE Shaquille Riddick (PIT): 3 Tck, 3 Sacks
Many expected Riddick to spend most of the year lined up opposite Jared Allen, but the strong performance of Dwight Freeney has largely left Riddick on the bench, subbing later in games, or appearing on run downs. We are not sure he will get more on-field time the rest of this year as the Allen-Freeney combo has been too good to change up for the Maulers.
3--HB Todd Gurley (MEM): 149 Att, 531 Yds, 1 TD
Gurley is clearly the lead back in Memphis, with more than 3 times the carries of backup Anthony Allen, but with only a 3.6 YPC average, we see the Showboats go away from the run early in many games. Gurley has to start breaking more big plays to get more late game touches. He has only 2 rushes over 20 yards all season.
2--WR DaVante Parker (LV): 44 Targets, 23 Receptions, 312 Yards, 1 TD
Over the past 3 weeks we have seen more of Parker on the field, and he has done pretty well, with a solid YPC of 13.6. What he has not done much is break away for the big TD catch and YAC yardage. Las Vegas will be without Denarius Moore for the next couple of weeks, so we may get a real good look at Parker in the next couple of games.
1--DE Mario Edwards JR (ATL): 12 Tck, 3 Sacks
Edwards must have been showing Atlanta something in practice because they traded away C. J. Moseley to Seattle and promoted Edwards to the RE spot opposite Chris Kelsay. With Kelsay garnering a lot of double teams, Edwards will have the one-on-one situations that a young athletic edge rusher should be able to feast on. Keep an eye on him over the 2nd half to see if he can make an impact.
I guess we have to call this a good week, but don't say that around any Skyhawk fans. The Josh Freeman injury has the potential to extend through the entire regular season, putting a major damper on what had been growing enthusiasm in St. Louis.
OUT
WR Michael Floyd CHI Hamstring IR
QB Josh Freeman STL Foot 6-8 Weeks
CB Marcus Truffant LA Abdomen 1-2 Weeks
OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson BAL Neck 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
DE Anthony Hargrove PHI Eye
TE Ryan Taylor SD Finger
WR Dwayne Jarrett ATL Concussion
WR Denarius Moore LV Concussion
WR Brian Quick POR Neck
QUESTIONABLE
CB Josh Norman CHI Concussion
TE Kellen Winslow II JAX Shoulder
C Wesley Johnson LV Illness
DE Jarius Wynn BIR Concussion
CB Shaun Springs HOU Hand
Midseason Power Rankings
We gave you an initial ranking in our Preseason Preview, and we revisited our list in our Week 4 Recap, so, after another 4 weeks, how has our ranking changed? Who is up? Who is down? Who are we overrating? Underrating? Hitting right in the Goldilocks spot? You tell us. We just rank them, you debate them.
THE STRONG
1--NEW ORLEANS (7-1) EVEN
The Breakers stay at the top spot largely due to their victory in Houston this week. They now own the tiebreaker in the South and are in a 3-way tie for the best record in the league.
2--HOUSTON (7-1) EVEN
Houston stays put, despite this week’s loss, because they have looked so good all season long. The premise is that they were due for a loss, and there is no shame in losing to the only team rated above you.
3--MICHIGAN (7-1) UP 3
The Panthers would like to object to the two Southern teams being above them, but they moved up 3 spots to get here and could have a much easier path to a top seed than either Houston or New Orleans.
4--BALTIMORE (6-2) UP 6
We should have a fun race between the Maulers and the Blitz this year, just as we did last year with this same Blitz club, then the upstarts, and the Stars. The shoe is on the other foot now, with Baltimore the defending champ and Pittsburgh the underdogs.
5--PITTSBURGH (6-2) DOWN 2
We did not want to move the Maulers down, but you had to make room for the 4 clubs above them. This is a team that is doing it on both sides of the ball. A dangerous team indeed.
6--OAKLAND (6-2) DOWN 2
The Invaders may be slipping under the radar a bit, something they are just fine with if it means that they don’t get the hype that can sometimes derail a good team. They still have to worry about Portland and Seattle, but they are in a good position right now.
7--ARIZONA (6-2) UP 4
The Wranglers seem to have rediscovered their run game, and the defense is rounding into shape as well. This is feeling a lot like last year when Arizona started a bit slow but then found their momentum down the stretch, except this year they are not 4-4 at the break.
THE SOLID
8--ST. LOUIS (6-2) EVEN
The Skyhawks were solid early and remain solid after 8 weeks. The big issue now is the injury to Josh Freeman and whether or not the club’s backups can keep the ball rolling until their starter is able to return.
9--TEXAS (4-4) UP 5
Texas could be this year’s Wranglers, a team with far too many losses in the first half of the season for the talent they put on the field. If they can repeat Arizona’s strong finish from last year they should be right in the thick of the hunt by playoff time.
10--CHARLOTTE (5-3) UP 12
The Monarchs have put together a 4-game winning streak, which has taken them from the SE Division basement to the penthouse. It feels a bit like smoke and mirrors, but in a division without a clear favorite, why not these Monarchs?
11--PORTLAND (5-3) DOWN 4
Portland went 4-0 at home, then 0-3 on the road, and then 1-0 back at home to reach 5-3. That has to scare the team, as they only have 8 home games (only 3 left), so could the 2nd half be a problem, or can they break the trend and win a road game?
12--BIRMINGHAM (4-4) UP 3
The Stallions are only as good as Cam Newton makes them. His lack of consistency makes this club a hard one to track. One week they dominate, the next they look completely out of synch. We have seen this for years and it appears that bringing in former Stallion great Henry Ellard as the new HC has not changed that.
13--SEATTLE (4-4) UP 4
Seattle may only be at .500 but a lot of pundits are jumping on the bandwagon. They have finally found their running game with Joseph Addai, and they are looking solid if not strong in several areas, including an improving front 7 on defense.
14--MEMPHIS (4-4) UP 5
A bit of a surprise at 4-4, but Memphis has been playing well of late, especially on defense, where Coach Rex Ryan’s influence is pretty apparent in a new aggressive style. If they can continue to hold teams under 20 points, they can get more wins than anyone anticipated.
THE INCOMPLETE
15--NEW JERSEY (4-4) DOWN 3
We see that the Generals are putting up decent numbers, but they also seem to be winning in ugly ways, just grinding out wins. That will be tough to sustain over another 8 weeks, especially with gib games against quality teams like St. Louis, Birmingham, and Pittsburgh (twice) on the horizon.
16--ORLANDO (4-4) DOWN 11
Every year we hear about how this is the year the Renegades will put it all together. Yet, here they sit at .500 again. Yes, the defense is one of the league’s best, but they are still struggling to find an identity on offense and the defense is getting worn out late in too many games.
17--DALLAS (4-4) DOWN 8
After a strong 3-0 start, things got real for the Renegades, losers of 4 of their last 5. They have some winnable games coming up (@ Las Vegas, @ Chicago, @ LA, and home to Philly), so they are not out of the picture in any sense, but they also need to show us they can knock off an Arizona or a Texas to prove they are legit.
18--DENVER (3-5) DOWN 5
The usual formula of stingy defense and a boring, but effective ball control offense is not working for the Gold this year. It feels a little bit like they are being left behind by more dynamic teams in their division. The Gold simply need to find more ways to score points when they have the ball.
19--ATLANTA (3-5) UP 1
The Fire have won 2 of 3 after a rough 4-game run of losses. They may not be able to return to the preseason pick as a division winner, but a solid win streak could put them in Wild Card contention. Of course, they have not won 2 in a row yet this year, so that may be too much to ask.
20--OHIO (3-5) DOWN 2
A five-game losing streak, and a pretty messy QB situation do not provide much hope to Glory fans, who may have gotten prematurely excited by the club’s 2-0 start to the year. If they want to go on a 2nd half run, they need to produce more on offense and stop giving up the big play on defense. That or expect 8-8 to be the ceiling.
21--LAS VEGAS (3-5) UP 3
We love the story of them winning all their home games so far, it is the losing of all their road games that is the issue. Much like Portland, you cannot make a good season out of an 0-8 road mark no matter how good you are at home. Still, 8-8 for this Vipers club would be a solid 3-5 games more than anyone expected.
THE SHAKY
22--TAMPA BAY (2-6) UP 1
The rebuild in Tampa Bay is going pretty badly. They have not found a receiver to replace Vincent Jackson, and we think it is safe to say that Mark Sanchez is not Daunte Culpepper. This looks like the beginning of a full reset to us.
23--SAN DIEGO (2-6) DOWN 2
The Thunder were expected to compete with Oakland this season, but apparently the loss of Jake Plummer was bigger than anyone thought. And now, to add more issues to this Thunder season, star HB Marshawn Lynch is making noise that he wants out.
24--WASHINGTON (2-6) DOWN 8
2-6 is the worst start we have seen from a Federals team in a long time. You have to go all the way back to a 4-10 season back in 2007 to find the Feds this far out in the NE Division at the halfway point. Quite honestly, 4-12 looks very much possible for this year. Not good news for Sean Payton.
25--JACKSONVILLE (2-6) UP 3
The Bulls snapped their losing streak in Week 5 and have picked up a 2nd win. Those are both positives for Coach Del Rio. Now, can they do even better in the 2nd half? With an injury to Robert Griffin III likely costing him at least 2-3 weeks, it may not start off strong, but this club is visibly better than last year’s nightmare.
26--LOS ANGELES (2-6) UP 1
Andy Reid is finding that NFL success does not always translate to USFL success. He won’t be the first coach to realize that, and he likely won’t be the last. The question is just how long the Express ownership will be willing to tolerate 10-loss seasons. 2014 is looking like the 2nd in a row for the Express.
27--PHILADELPHIA (1-7) DOWN 2
Sometimes teams slowly fade from glory or success. Sometimes they fall off a cliff. At 1-7 this season, a year after winning the NE Division at 12-4, this is very much feeling like a cliff. Attrition from the roster and an aging core seems to have all hit Philadelphia at once.
28--CHICAGO (0-8) DOWN 2
It is not so much “if” as “when” in regard to Greg Schiano’s seemingly inevitable departure from the Machine. This season has been a nightmare, and the switch from Brady Quinn to Northwestern grad Trevor Siemian is not producing the bump Schiano needed. The Machine are looking very much like a team that will be drafting very early next year. Could they be looking for a QB once again?
Huge NFL News Impacts USFL Teams
We had figured it was just a matter of time, and we knew that both the San Diego Chargers and Los Angeles Raiders were seriously looking at offers from the City of Las Vegas and the leadership of the Wynn Arena, but the result of the wooing that was announced this week by the NFL was a bigger surprise than we anticipated. In a Wednesday news conference, the NFL announced that there would not be one relocation in 2015, but two.
With both San Diego and Los Angeles making serious inquiries about a move to Las Vegas and the shiny new stadium that is home now to the USFL Vipers, the league felt pressure to step in. They could not lose both franchises from one of the most populous areas in the country, Southern California. And while they were well aware of the Spanos family’s struggles to get a new facility in San Diego, struggles compounded by the USFL working with San Diego State University to get a new facility built at a scale that worked for both but not for the NFL, the question was whether or not the NFL would once again try to thwart the Raiders and the Davis family in an attempt to relocate so that it would be the Chargers relocating, thus protecting the Los Angeles market for the NFL.
But, with the Davis’s very much open to repeating the legal machinations that eventually allowed them to leave Oakland in the early 80’s, the NFL went a different route. The announcement this week was not that the Raiders would be barred from moving to Las Vegas, but that a tentative agreement with the Wynn Arena and the City of Las Vegas would be approved, with a condition. That condition was that the Raiders’ current lease at Farmers Insurance Field in Carson, could be assumed by the San Diego Chargers. The stadium agreed to allow the transfer of the lease, with the same conditions as the deal with the Raiders, the Spanos family agreed to move up the coast to the larger LA market, and just like that Las Vegas had gained a 2nd pro football franchise in a year and San Diego had lost one.
The Raiders will relocate to Las Vegas for the 2015 season. The Chargers will return to Los Angeles as their home for the first time since the early years of the American Football League in the 1960’s, and by 2016, when the newly named Snapdragon Stadium would open near the SDSU campus, Qualcomm Stadium would be empty. So, what does this mean for the USFL?
To answer that question, we have to say that it depends on who you ask. For the San Diego Thunder this could be considered a win. They already have their new stadium nearly completed and will now largely own the San Diego market as the lone pro football franchise in town. Fans disgruntled with the NFL for allowing the Chargers to move after 50+ years in San Diego could be expected to embrace the Thunder, increasing demand for tickets and improving what was already a very robust merchandise market.
For the newly relocated Las Vegas Vipers, what may seem like unwanted competition from one of the most recognizable brands in the NFL, Raider Nation, could actually be a boon for the USFL team. To understand the Vipers’ unique position, we have to remember that, unlike most dual-team stadiums, the Wynn Arena was largely funded by the USFL, not the NFL, and that the USFL franchise there is clearly defined as the primary tenant. That is a rare situation across the league, where many USFL teams have had to play second fiddle to the NFL team that has primary tenancy of their shared stadiums.
The Raiders will get a very good deal from both the city and the stadium to relocate their club to Las Vegas, but the Vipers will also benefit from the added stadium revenue. It is estimated that for every Raider game at the Arena, the Vipers are likely to reap no less than $500k in revenue. That means an extra $4M per year to the coffers of the club. Yes, they will likely need to spend some of that on additional marketing to make the Vipers competitive in the market, but with so much of the hype over Las Vegas as a pro sports market, the truth is that the stands are often dominated not by season ticket holders from the city itself, but by the tourists that are the life blood of the city, with fans from visiting teams often purchasing 20k or more of the 65k seats available.
So, who has the most negative view of the “franchise musical chairs” of the NFL? Well, that would be the LA Express. Already struggling to sustain a fanbase with a franchise that has never truly competed for a title, the Express had hopes that a Raiders move would give them sole possession of the LA market, but now they are not only sharing a stadium with an NFL team, but one that will bring in a new fanbase from the south (well, some at least, we expect many to swap the Chargers for the Thunder out of anger at the NFL). The Express won’t have any immediate issues with Farmers Insurance Field, since the Chargers will essentially be taking over the Raiders’ lease, but that still makes the Express the 2nd franchise in their facility. In 2 years, when the Express lease expires, the question will be whether or not the club can make any gains in their deal, or if the presence of the Chargers could produce issues that might push LA even further from their goals for stadium revenue.
And one last potential loser in this situation, one quite far from the triad of Western cities. The potential loser for the USFL in this deal is the St. Louis Skyhawks. Why? Well, because the St. Louis Rams had been making a lot of noise about possibly replacing the Raiders if a deal for the Raiders to leave LA for Las Vegas had been approved. The Kroenke family, who own the Rams, has had eyes on a return to LA for a while. That would have made the Skyhawks the primary club in St. Louis and would have certainly increased their role and their share of stadium revenue in the Dome at America’s Center. Now, with the Rams likely to stay put, the Skyhawks again find themselves fighting for recognition and for revenue. In the long run, this could be a positive for the Skyhawks, as having the Rams on board for a new stadium would certainly help them make the case to the city, but in the short run, having that NFL rival in town does limit the Skyhawks’ revenue ceiling.
So, a lot of shifting of franchises, not only in the USFL, but in the NFL as well, all of it proving once again that money talks and commitment to a community is only as good as that community’s ability to produce a strong revenue stream.
Week 9 opens up the season’s second half with a very light divisional lineup but several really interesting inter-divisional and inter-conference games. We start on Friday with the Breakers, freshly atop the Southern Division, heading to face the 4-4 Orlando Renegades, who need to make a move soon if they hope to contend in the Southeast. On Saturday we have St. Louis and Pittsburgh, two surprising 6-2 clubs facing off at Heinz Field in a nice early game matchup. In the afternoon we are watching as Michigan heads to Texas, with the Outlaws dangerously on the edge of dropping below .500. Saturday Night has Arizona at Tampa Bay and in the late game a very competitive Cascade Classic as the Stags head up to Seattle to face the Dragons, with both very much in playoff contention.
Sunday starts off with New Jersey at Birmingham, a battle of 4-4 clubs each hoping to string together some wins in the season’s second half. Later on we have the Battle of SoCal with the Thunder heading up the road to LA to face the Express. The weekend caps off with perhaps its best game as ESPN and the ESPN Football Network will simulcast the Gamblers at the Invaders. Both teams are coming off of tough losses and both are hoping this week reignites their winning ways. It should be a good one from Oakland-Alameda Stadium.
Friday @ 8pm ET New Orleans (7-1) @ Orlando (4-4) NBC
Saturday @ 12pm ET St. Louis (6-2) @ Pittsburgh (6-2) ABC
Saturday @ 12pm ET Chicago (0-8) @ Baltimore (6-2) FOX
Saturday @ 4pm ET Atlanta (3-5) @ Denver (3-5) ABC
Saturday @ 4pm ET Michigan (7-1) @ Texas (4-4) FOX
Saturday @ 7pm ET Arizona (6-2) @ Tampa Bay (2-6) NBC
Saturday @ 9pm ET Portland (5-3) @ Seattle (4-4) ESPN/EFN
Sunday @ 12pm ET Jacksonville (2-6) @ Charlotte (5-3) ABC Regional
Sunday @ 12pm ET New Jersey (4-4) @ Birmingham (4-4) ABC Regional
Sunday @ 12pm ET Memphis (4-4) @ Philadelphia (1-7) FOX
Sunday @ 4pm ET Washington (2-6) @ Ohio (3-5) ABC
Sunday @ 4pm ET Dallas (4-4) @ Las Vegas (3-5) FOX Regional
Sunday @ 4pm ET San Diego (2-6) @ Los Angeles (2-6) FOX Regional
Sunday @ 8pm ET Houston (7-1) @ Oakland (6-2) ESPN/EFN
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