We have our Summer Bowl 2016 lineup set. The Arizona Wranglers will be making their third appearance in the past 4 seasons, bordering on dynasty status. Their opponent will be the upstart Memphis Showboats, a team with one of the most unique quarterback situations we can recall. We could very well have the Summer Bowl champion QB headed to free agency, something that is unprecedented in the league’s 30+ years. How did these two clubs get here? We will recap the two Conference Championship games, both closer and more exciting than most fans expected. We will then, of course, preview the Summer Bowl with our breakdown of each club’s difference makers and our fearless prediction. All that, plus we have coaching news as two clubs find their men, and we have the league’s 2016 Award Winners and All-USFL Team, both inspiring some debate and controversy. All this plus Two big retirements, which, while not surprises, will be impactful for two playoff clubs. Let’s get right to it with the biggest news of the week, the Conference Championships.
MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS 26 NEW JERSEY GENERALS 24
A good preamble to the Summer Bowl at MetLife Stadium as the Showboats edge the Generals and return to the USFL Championship for the first time since 2008, when Brett Favre was leading the Showboat offense. The 2016 Showboats would build a 16-point lead before New Jersey roared back and nearly sent the game to overtime thanks to the efforts of Odell Beckham Jr., the game’s offensive POTG despite playing on the losing side.
The big individual performances were on the Generals’ side, with OBJ catching 7 balls for 135 yards and 2 late touchdowns, Miles Austin also going over 100 yards, and Maurice Jones-Drew rushing for 106, but the steady hand was Memphis’s, putting together 6 scoring drives and taking the ball away from the Generals twice. When you look at the usual indicators, New Jersey had the yardage advantage, but Memphis won both the time of possession (35-25 minutes) and the turnover battle (2-0), and that helped them win by a slim margin, that and one essential defensive play.
The game started, as so many do, with more cautious, exploratory drives. Both Memphis and New Jersey finished their first drives with field goals, both testing to see if the run game would be effective (it would, for both teams) and what kind of defense they might see (primarily man with pressure from New Jersey, and single safety deep zone coverage from Memphis). Once the two teams got a sense of the primary schemes used by the opposition, the two offenses started to find more success.
That success began with Memphis, who put together a 77-yard drive lasting just over 6 minutes. Todd Gurley would convert a 3rd and 7 run, Eli Manning would complete 3 of 5 and would end the drive by hitting his new favorite target, former LA wideout Robert Woods, with an 8-yard TD strike. When they added a field goal on their next drive, Memphis had bumped their lead to 13-3 early in the second.
New Jersey would respond in the 2nd quarter, putting together their first touchdown drive, one sparked by a beautiful catch by Miles Austin for a 38-yard gain. Five plays later Maurice Jones-Drew would take the ball on a counter play and find a gap in the Memphis defense, slashing 5 yards for the score. With just over 6 minutes left in the half we were down to a 3-point Memphis advantage. It would not last.
After a 3-and-out, New Jersey got the ball right back, but only for 1 play as Brett Hundley made the first of two truly poor throws on the day. It was just a bad choice that saw Hundley throw the ball into double coverage, trying to hit OBJ but finding FS Lonnie Ballentine instead. The Memphis safety stepped in front of Beckham and took the ball cleanly, racing 12 yards before stepping out of bounds. With the ball at the New Jersey 31, it would take Memphis only 3 plays to make the Generals pay for the turnover. From the 12, Manning pump faked, then handed the ball to Anthony Allen on the delay draw. Allen found a huge hole on the right side of the Generals’ line and the linebackers occupied with “receivers”. Fooled by the design of the play, no one made contact with Allen until he was at top speed, and arm tackles proved worthless as he raced 12 yards to pay dirt. Memphis 20-10 with 2:02 left in the half.
New Jersey still had time to push the ball down the field and make it a one score game once again, but for the second time in two drives, Brett Hundley felt the pressure of the moment and made the wrong read. He had his TE open for a 7- or 8-yard hook, but instead chose to go deep to Austin. This time it would be cornerback Keiwan Ratliff who got the takeaway, and once again Memphis was in a position to cash in on a Hundley misread. They would get the ball to the Generals’ 32 before the clock forced them to take their final timeout and send in Lewis Ward for another kick. Ward’s 49-yard attempt was true, and Memphis went into the half with a 23-10 lead.
With nearly all of the 57,201 on hand rooting for New Jersey, there was a noticeable negative vibe in the stadium at halftime, a mixture of disappointment, worry, and classic NY neurosis. The third quarter did nothing to dissipate the concern New Jersey fanbase felt. Neither team scored in the half, with the lone big play, a beautiful 41-yard pass to OBJ called back for offensive holding. Memphis did not gain on their advantage either, seemingly content to use the run game to shorten the game and play the field position game of pinning New Jersey back.
When the fourth quarter began with another long Lewis Ward field goal, putting New Jersey down 16, the feeling of dread became palpable in the stands. It would take 9 minutes for the Generals to respond, but when they did, they shifted the mood considerably. Hundley went deep again, this time a 33-yard toss to the endzone that Beckham tipped in the air to himself, falling to the ground with his shin hitting in bounds before he fell out of the back of the endzone. No flags, just a back judge with his hands in the air to signal the touchdown. When Hundley bootlegged, faked the throw, and dove in to convert the 2-point conversion, the stadium erupted and New Jersey was back in business, down 8 with 6:38 to go.
The Generals would need to stop Memphis, get the ball back, and repeat the 8-point score once again. It took 6 plays, but they completed the first part of the task, forcing Memphis to punt after one first down was gained. The Generals got the ball back with nearly 2:30 left in the game, plenty of time for a game-tying drive. This time they moved the ball more slowly, Memphis keeping in shell defenses to force the Generals to earn their yardage. They did, one play after another until they found themselves on the 20-yard line with just over 30 seconds to play. On a first and 10, Hundley would fake the handoff to MJD and instead look for Beckham again. The ball was thrown high, but the Generals’ receiver would go up and get it, practically climbing up the back of the corner. When Beckham came down with the ball in the end zone, the stadium again erupted. New Jersey was within 2 points and could send the game to overtime with one more converted PAT.
Memphis had been here before, just the week prior it was an end-of-game defense of a 2-point play that won them the game in Houston. They lined up to do it one more time and punch their ticket to the Summer Bowl. Again, Hundley started in the pistol formation, with MJD beside him and his receivers to the wide side of the field. Would he roll right again and use the run-pass option? No, he would bootleg to the left and try to find his receivers meshing across the middle. But this time, Coach Ryan had called for pressure and when Jarvis Jones blitzed, left tackle Donald Stephenson hesitated between taking on the linebacker of DE Mario Williams. That hesitation was all it took for Williams to outpace him to the edge, and find Hundley headed right for him. Hundley was caught dead in his tracks, tried to release the ball, but it popped almost straight up, swatted down to the ground and incomplete. Memphis had done it again, survived a late comeback, defended the 2-point play that would have sent the game to overtime and emerged victorious. The Generals fought back but came up short. The Memphis Showboats would represent the East in the Summer Bowl.
CHICAGO MACHINE 19 ARIZONA WRANGLERS 24
Very few expected to see the type of drama in the Eastern final repeated when Chicago headed to Arizona to face the Wranglers. While there was great respect for the improvement Chicago had shown this season, and respect for Lovie Smith’s remolding of the team, this was supposed to be a cakewalk for the Wranglers, a coronation of sorts after a dominant season. It was neither.
It would be a 1-point game at the half, an 8-point lead after 3, and only a 5-point difference when the final whistle blew. Arizona would win, but in no way was it the dominant performance that most inside the air-conditioned University of Phoenix Stadium expected. Chicago actually outgained Arizona by a notable 417-306, had 20 first downs to Arizona’s 9, and controlled the clock, with nearly 37 minutes of possession. The Wranglers did not look like the dominant team that had been blowing their opposition out of the water earlier in the season. They were a good team, but one that was not firing on all cylinders. The run game in particular seemed to fail Coach Tomsula. Frank Gore would have 19 carries on the day but average only 1.6 yards per carry on his way to 30 total yards on the ground. Ka’Deem Carey gained 1.2 per touch and finished with only 6 yards on 5 carries. That was a huge shock, especially with Brian Urlacher not on the field for Chicago. Meanwhile, the Machine saw Ryan Fitzpatrick open it up against a Wrangler defense that was crowding the line to limit Doug Martin and Matt Forte, even though the pair would finish with 103 combined yards.
So, how did Arizona end up winning this game? Efficiency and a lack of panic by the coach, the quarterback, or the team in general. They simply made more of the opportunities the Chicago defense gave them. They used a defensive holding call on their first drive to keep possession, a drive that would finish with David Carr connecting with Antonio Bryant from 8 yards out to put the Wranglers on the board. They would also stand up on defense when needed. On Chicago’s first scoring drive the Machine had 5 plays from inside the Arizona 5-yard line but would fail to get the ball in the endzone, settling for a field goal. Their second field goal came on another stalled drive, this time at the 10. Chicago had drawn to within 1 point at 7-6 but could have had a 14-7 lead had they been able to finish drives.
Following Chicago’s second field goal, Arizona took over and spent nearly 6 minutes slowly moving the ball down the field, taking what the defense would give and making 2 key third downs as they marched into Chicago territory. Unlike the Machine, Arizona would finish this drive, Carr hitting on his second TD toss, this one to Ka’Deem Carey out of the backfield. The score boosted the Arizona lead to 8 points with barely 2 minutes left.
Chicago would not go into the half down 8. They got the ball at the 2:12 mark and struck quickly. On only the 4th play of the drive, a seam route by TE Scott Chandler proved to be the perfect route against the Arizona defense. When the line picked up the blitzing linemen, Ryan Fitzpatrick had time to find Chandler down the seam and the big TE caught the ball in stride, racing to the endzone untouched. In one play, Chicago had undone all the good work of the Arizona defense during the first half. The first Machine TD would make the game a 14-13 affair at the half.
Chicago would take the lead, the only one they would have in the game, on their 1st drive of the second half. After a blitz by Bob Sanders produced the sack that took Arizona out of field goal range, Chicago responded with a nice drive, sparked by a 23-yard run by Matt Forte, and would go on top when William Hopper hit from 44 yards out. Arizona would need to respond or risk losing the crowd and their home field advantage to the upstart Machine.
Arizona replied with a deep seam to the tight end as well, borrowing from Chicago’s playbook by having David Carr hit Jimmie Graham in stride for a gain of 39 yards early in their drive. They too would have to settle for a field goal, but the 46-yard kick by Elliott Parson put them back on top at 17-16.
The defense would produce the next big play, when, on third and 4, Adam Carriker escaped the block and found Hundley, clipping his arm as he threw and forcing an incompletion that produced a quick 3-and-out and a punt that gave Arizona the ball at their own 44. The Wranglers would take that short field and expand their advantage in short order. A quick toss to Frank Gore netted 6 yards. A nice catch by Tyree made it first and 10 on the Chicago side of the 50. 4 plays later the Wranglers were at the Chicago 27. From there Carr used a pump fake, and Antonio Bryant a double move, to create some space deep. Carr’s throw caught Bryant on the sideline, extending to bring in the ball, the Wrangler wideout fell into the endzone with the ball in his hands. Lovie Smith threw the red flag, hoping that video would prove that Bryant had bobbled the ball, but the video review showed the ball under the receiver’s control. Arizona once again was up by 8, with the third quarter ending with the Wranglers clinging to a 24-16 advantage.
Arizona’s defense would be the story of the 4th quarter. Coach Tomsula turned up the pressure on Fitzpatrick. It gave Martin and Forte more room to run, but on 2 different third downs it forced quick and inaccurate throws from Fitzpatrick. Chicago would go for it on 4th down on both occasions, but only succeeding once. That drive, midway through the 4th, ended 4 plays later with a 4th and 11 proving too risky for Coach Smith, who settled for a 36-yard field goal. New Jersey would never cross midfield again. On their final drive, Arizona again forced the Machine to attempt a 4th down conversion. Fourth and 7 was a lot to ask and the play was quickly doomed when LB Travis Goethel broke through the line. Fitzpatrick got the ball away, but it was at the feet of Aaron Dobson, uncatchable.
Arizona had dodged a bullet. They escaped with a 5-point victory over Chicago. Coach Tomsula and Coach Smith hugged and spoke at midfield, and Arizona began preparations for their trip to New Jersey, the Summer Bowl, and their meeting with another upstart team, the Memphis Showboats.
Will Eli Manning Really Go from the Summer Bowl to the Free Agent Market?
It has never been seen before and will certainly be a story that can only grow as we prepare for the Summer Bowl. It seems all but inevitable that Eli Manning will be testing the free agent waters just 4 days after he leads the Memphis Showboats in the Summer Bowl. Manning seems resigned to it. The Showboats seem to be resigned to it. They have their next franchise QB in waiting with Paxton Lynch ready to roll in 2017, but we have never seen a Summer Bowl QB, especially not one with the kind of season that Eli Manning has put together, immediately hit the market.
The feeding frenzy could be unlike anything we have seen as well. When we do the math, we perhaps can come up with 12-14 teams whose QB situations are so secure as to remove the thought of pursuing Manning from the equation. But for every Joe Flacco, Ben Roethlisberger, or David Carr, there is a team that has doubts, that could and should at least consider making a run at Manning. At the front of the list, we have to consider teams who seem to not have an answer at QB right now, teams like Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Ohio, Seattle, or Las Vegas. Then we have teams who have chosen a guy but may not be fully sold that he is the future. Certainly, Charlotte has doubts about Wheedon, though they may be looking at the T-Draft and UNC’s Mitch Trubisky for answers. What about San Diego? Is St. Louis happy with the past few years with Josh Freeman? Is Robert Griffin the answer in Jacksonville? Could we even see a team like Portland give up on Marcus Mariota after one rough season?
Let’s face it, if Manning plays well, he could make a very appealing option for many teams. Even if we are talking about a 1-2 year commitment, that could be just the fit for a team with a younger QB who has not yet blossomed. Expect the demand to drive up the cost, and with a free agent pool that does not have a clear 2nd option, this could be one heck of a race to the top, with every team questioning how high they are willing to go for a shot at immediate payout. Fascinating, and furious is what we expect it to be, but will it be a long slow seduction or a lightning strike signing? We only have to wait another week to find out.
Odell Beckham Does it All but not Enough
You could not ask more from a receiver than what we saw from Odell Beckham Jr in New Jersey’s bid to come back against Memphis. He caught deep balls, made dynamic grabs that defied physics, and brought in two touchdowns in the final minutes of the game, but, sadly for OBJ and the Generals, it was just not enough.
OBJ finished the game with 7 receptions, 135 yards, and 2 scores, but his success in the final period forces the question of why he was not the primary target all game long? After 3 quarters, Beckham had only 6 targets, 2 catches and 27 yards. It was in the 4th quarter when he exploded, catching 5 of 8 targets, racking up big play after big play to add 108 yards in one period and bringing New Jersey to to the point of tying the game. His final catch of the day, a self-tip in the endzone that brought New Jersey to within a 2-point PAT of tying the game was a thing of beauty, demonstrating superior body control and amazing focus. If there were any USFL fans out there who had really not noticed Beckham before, they knew him now. OBJ has 2 more seasons on his contract, but we would not be shocked if he walked into the GM’s office this offseason with a tape of Sunday’s game and asked for a new deal. He was just that good.
Dansby Held Out of Wrangler Victory
It was a gametime decision, but the choice was to let Karlos Dansby once again spend the playoff game on the sideline. He had been listed as questionable to play, but most had expected he would find himself on the field in key moments, playing on a “pitch count”, but there if the game was close. But in pregame warmups, Dansby struggled with his hamstring, visibly tight and uncomfortable. The decision was made to take on Chicago without him. He spent the game on the sideline, again in training gear, trying to rile up his teammates, keep the energy up and drive them forward. His reward? A chance to play in a third Summer Bowl. Arizona has taken Dansby off the injured list this week. He is practicing in full, and he looks a good sight more comfortable doing it. He may not truly be at 100% but he will be there in New Jersey, helmet on, ready to play a part in the league’s title game. Would you have wanted to be the one to tell him he couldn’t?
Ryan Feels Jilted in COTY Voting
Rex Ryan has never been considered a wallflower, a shy, quiet voice on the sideline. In that he takes after his father, once fired for getting into a scuffle with one of his own assistant coaches. Ryan has opinions and you are going to hear them. So, when the Memphis coach finished 3rd in voting for the Coach of the Year, trailing both Chicago’s Lovie Smith and eventual winner, New Jersey’s Norv Turner, he was not shy about his response.
Ryan called the vote a sham, particularly since his Showboats defeated Turner’s Generals this week, and because his club finished with a 12-4 regular season, a game better than New Jersey’s 11-5 mark. Ryan was critical of the process, the timing (with voting closing before the playoffs began), and the electors (we believe the term “pencil-necked geeks” was used more than a few times.). Of course, Ryan can have the last laugh, with his Showboats still alive and prepping for a Summer Bowl appearance. While a Coach of the Year award is nice, a championship ring and a Bassett Trophy in the trophy case is better.
Urlacher to Call it a Career
Two anticipated but still impactful retirements this week. The first came on Tuesday, when Brian Urlacher, fresh off a tough loss in Arizona, announced to gathered press in Chicago that he had donned the burgundy, grey and sky uniform of the Machine for the last time. Urlacher had patrolled the middle of the field in Chicago for 16 seasons, taking up the mantle of Chicago legends like Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary and Sam Norris. He retires with the team record for career tackles (1,904), tackles for loss (182) and forced fumbles (51). His 140 tackle season in 2008 remains one of the league’s best, and he retires with 22 more tackles than Jacksonville great Mike Vrabel, making him the all time USFL tackle leader, ahead of greats like Vrabel, Broderick Thomas, DeMetrius DuBose and Lamar Lathon.
Urlacher missed the final playoff game of his career, sidelined by an injury, a factor which certainly played into his decision. Rarely missing a game in his long career, Urlacher prided himself on his toughness and physical training. This season saw him again among the league leaders in tackles, but injury has long been a reality in his playing career. He will certainly be hard to replace. Chicago likes 5-year vet Akeem Ayers, and they brought in Courtney Upshaw this year to take over the Strong Side, but as a true MLB they really don’t have a candidate. And so, the Machine will enter the offseason with MLB as a priority for the first time in nearly 2 decades.
Hasselbeck Steps Away, McCoy to Take Reins
Was it father time, or a fatherly instinct that convinced veteran Houston QB Matt Hasselbeck to announce his retirement after 18 seasons in the game? Yes, the game has taken a toll on the 38-year old starter, but perhaps more than the physical pain of the game it was seeing that Houston was in good hands if he left that helped make the decision possible. Hasselbeck missed 4 games this year, his first missed starts since 2013. But while he was recovering he watched as Colt McCoy stepped up and played like a savvy veteran. McCoy in 4 starts threw for over 1,400 yards and had 10 touchdowns to 2 picks. If Matt Hasselbeck was concerned that his retirement would leave his beloved Gamblers in a lurch, McCoy’s performances this year showed that they were ready, that they could succeed if he decided the time was right. And so he announced that it was.
Like Urlacher, Hasselbeck leaves Houston with a long shadow behind him. He will forever be remembered for the 2010 season that brought the Gamblers’s their 4th league title, the only team to reach that number to date. In that season he earned his 2nd All-USFL recognition, won both league MVP and playoff MVP, and, of course, helped them win it all with a strong performance against the Philadelphia Stars in a battle royale of 3-time league champions. Hasselbeck retires holding the Gambler career records for attempts, completions, completion percentage, and passing yards, throwing for over 55,000 yards in his career and surpassing legendary Gambler Jim Kelly. On a league-wide level, he stands third in both pass attempts and completions (behind Doug Flutie and Jake Plummer in both), 3rd in passing yards behind only Plummer and Brett Favre, 5th in passing touchdowns, and, yes, 2nd in interceptions, topping Brett Favre and Jake Plummer just this season. His 2004 completion rate of 73.0 rates 4th all time for a season, and he will certainly be considered a first ballot Hall of Fame candidate. Quite a career, quite a quarterback.
Little to report on the injury front. The removal of Karlos Dansby’s name being the most notable change to the report. Memphis has the biggest negative with TE Luke Stocker’s participation very much in question, but overall these are two pretty healthy teams preparing to face off.
MEM: TE L. Stocker (D), CB D. Martinez (P)
ARZ: FB L. McClain (OUT), G D. Robinson (OUT), TE D. Graham (Q)
USFL Awards & All-USFL Team not without Controversy
The League Awards Dinner last night did not disappoint. In one of the most debated years in memory we had close races in nearly all categories of major awards, with the lone exception of Rookie of the Year. We also saw an All-USFL roster reveal that produced some surprises and a significant number of players who could legitimately feel snubbed. But, with only so many slots on the roster, that seems almost inevitable. Let’s begin with the major awards and then finish up with this year’s All-USFL first team.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
We had a feeling this one would be close, with a real risk that the votes for Arizona QB David Carr and WR Larry Fitzgerald could split the Wrangler vote, creating a path for Michigan HB LeVeon Bell or even Baltimore QB Ben Roethlisberger to sneak into the number one position. Well, that did not exactly play out as Wrangler fans feared. Of the 85 first place votes, David Carr won 34, with LeVeon Bell garnering 30, and Fitzgerald coming in third with only 15. Carr takes home the award and now has a shot at becoming both the season MVP and the Playoff MVP if he can get the W in New Jersey this week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
It was in the OPOTY where we saw Fitzgerald make some waves. He and LeVeon Bell practically split the first-place votes between them, with only 2 votes going to others (Roethlisberger and Marshawn Lynch each getting one vote, likely from local media in Baltimore and San Antonio). Bell would edge Fitzgerald, 43-40, perhaps providing some solace for falling short in the MVP vote.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
This one was closer than we ever thought possible. Once again we believe that Campbell-fatigue was the culprit as Calais Campbell’s third 30+ sack season certainly merited the award. And yet, despite another stunning season from the Orlando DE, one that saw him fall only 2 tackles short of his 2nd 100-tackle season, Campbell only garnered 39 first place votes. There was apparently a major upswing for Charlotte MLB Hunter Hillenmeyer, perhaps bolstered by the (then) rumors of his impending retirement. While Hillenmeyer’s league leading 132 tackles were an impressive swan song, as a total they don’t compare to Campbell’s sack dominance.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
The one race that did not provide any drama was the Rookie of the Year voting, where Philadelphia halfback Derrick Henry received 81 of 85 possible votes. Only some apparent “homer” votes got in the way of a perfect sweep (1 vote each for QB Dak Prescott, LB Scooby Wright, LB Myles Jack, and TE Hunter Henry). Henry finished the year as the league’s 3rd leading rusher, only 11 yards behind 2nd place Marshawn Lynch. He helped propel Philadelphia to a 9-7 record, and by all accounts, the Stars did not use him as much as they could, so expect even more of the big back in 2017.
COACH OF THE YEAR
We already mentioned the reaction to the award from 3rd place vote getter Rex Ryan. Admittedly, it was a very tough year to pick just one coach who exceeded expectations and did more with less. Norv Turner got credit for leading a team that had 2nd year QB Brett Hundley to the playoffs, a longer shot perhaps than Memphis with Eli Manning, or even 3-12-1 Chicago with new QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. We also saw votes for San Diego’s Dick LeBeau thanks to the strong season we saw from the Thunder. In the end, in a packed field, it was Norv Turner who would come away with the award, though we expect he would prefer to have the Eastern Conference Championship trophy to hoist instead of the COTY award.
As much controversy as the annual awards produced, the All-USFL team may have produced more. With so many players putting up strong seasons and good numbers, there were bound to be some snubs and meritorious players simply unable to fit into the limited spots provided by the honor. So, as we present the winners, we will also present those with the best case to be argued.
QB: David Carr (ARZ), Ben Roethlisberger (BAL), E. Manning (MEM)
Snub: Russell Wilson (ORL). You cannot go against the numbers that put the top 3 on the team but Wilson’s improvement in 2016 should not go unnoticed.
HB: LeVeon Bell (MGN), Carlos Hyde (HOU), Reggie Bush (LA)
Snub: Marshawn Lynch (TEX), Deuce McCallister (WSH). Lynch was only the 2nd leading rusher in the league, McCallister not far behind him and in his final season, but voters were more impressed by the dual threat option that Hyde and Bush provided.
FB: Quinn Johnson (BAL)
Snub: Hard to say, there are so few fullbacks that build up any statistics that it is just a matter of opinion on whose blocking skills help their HB the most.
TE: Tyler Eifert (LV), Coby Fleener (NOR)
Snub: Zach Miller (OHI): Fleener was the clear top choice, leading all TEs in yards and receptions, but Zach Miller was 2nd in each while Tyler Eifert was 4th in both.
WR: L. Fitzgerald (ARZ), A. Bryant (ARZ), M. Colston (TEX), B. Hartline (BAL),
A. Dobson (CHI)
Snub: Amari Cooper (BIR), Cody Latimer (MGN). Receiver is always a tough category because the USFL produces so many great receivers. Latimer just does not have the name recognition and Cooper’s team did not win a lot of games, so we understand why they have not made the small 5-man list.
OT: Tyson Clabo (MEM), Brandon Scherff (ARZ), Jeff Otah (PIT)
Snub: Brian Bulaga (STL). Bulaga had a great season and is a leader on his team, but St. Louis was a poor team this year and that tends to keep good players from being recognized.
OG: Chance Warmack (ARZ), Andy Alleman (BAL), Logan Mankins (OAK)
Snub: Jahri Evans (MEM). Evans finished behind only Alleman in pancake blocks and gave up only 1 sack all year.
C: Shaq Mason (HOU), Ryan Pontbriand (HOU)
Snub: Shaun O’Hara (STL). Just like Bulaga, O’Hara played well on a bad team and that cost him votes.
DE: Calais Campbell (ORL), Von Miller (DEN), Justin Tuck (MGN)
Snub: Chris Kelsay (ATL), Aaron Kampman (NJ). Kampman’s votes got split with teammate Vic Beasley and Kelsay went largely unnoticed on a bad Atlanta team, despite finishing 3rd in the league with 19 sacks.
DT: Aaron Donald (PIT), Luis Castillo (TEX), Eric Wyms (BAL)
Snub: Albert Haynesworth (ORL). This will likely rile up Haynesworth, who will be a free agent this year, but his numbers are just not there, and his attitude issues are putting a black mark on his resume.
LB: Bobby Wagner (OAK), Hunter Hillenmeyer (LV), Brian Urlacher (CHI),
Jarret Johnson (JAX), Chase Blackburn (NJ), Clay Matthews (LA)
Snub: Manti Te’o (CHI), Sean Lee (JAX), Odell Thurman (MGN). So hard to break through when you have legendary veterans like Urlacher and Hillenmeyer playing so well. But with both retiring, there will be 2 spots up for grabs even if all the others in this year’s pool continue to excel.
CB: Joe Haden (ARZ), Leodis McKelvin (HOU), Richard Sherman (SEA),
Randall Gay (NOR)
Snub: Antonio Cromartie (BIR). Philip Buchanon (TBY). Cromartie and Buchanon finished tied for 3rd with 6 picks,and Cromartie had 104 tackles as well, but those numbers are considered inflated by the inability of either defense to get off the field.
S: Darren Sharper (PHI), Kenny Vaccaro (HOU), Nate Allen (ARZ), David Young (LA)
Snub: Troy Polamalu (ARZ). Hard to believe but his own backfield mate may have bumped Polamalu from the list.
ST: K Mike Nugent (PHI), P Zoltan Mesko (LA)
Snub: Dan Bailey (LA), Elliott Parson (ARZ). Both are good kickers, but Nugent led the league in scoring and made 91.4% of all field goal attempts (32 of 35) a number neither could match.
Atlanta Makes it Official, Arians is Their Man
It seems the Atlanta Fire were just waiting to see if St. Louis would let Bruce Arians go. When they did, the Fire pounced and this week they signed the Summer Bowl winning coach to a 4-year deal to try to do the same in Atlanta. Arians took 2006 expansion club St. Louis to a title in 2012, and now Atlanta, the other 2006 expansion franchise, is hoping for a repeat. Arians is known as a great motivator, a player’s coach, and a solid game manager. He may not be the most innovative coach, but that can be left to his coordinators. In Atlanta he will have the challenge of figuring out a path forward at quarterback, solidifying a mediocre run game, and improving a defense that once was among the league’s best but struggled in 2016.
For Arians, Atlanta is both a challenge and an opportunity. Win a title here and you can almost guarantee a Hall of Fame bust, because only 1 coach in league history has done that feat (Jim Mora Sr. and his two teams were not as rough to start out as St. Louis and Atlanta have been. For the Fire faithful, they can count on a more disciplined and well-prepared team, so now the question will be who is on that roster in March.
Las Vegas Signs QB, but not to Replace Pickett
The Las Vegas Vipers have signed a veteran QB to the club, but not to play QB, to coach the team. The Vipers this week announced that they were bringing back a familiar face to the USFL. Their new head coach was announced as former Wrangler and Outlaw QB Rick Neuheisel. Neuheisel had a short tenure as the head coach of the expansion LA Express from 1995-1997, struggling to be competitive with an expansion franchise. Even Rick himself will admit he was not ready for the challenges of being a pro head coach. But after more than a decade working in the college game, leading both Washington and UCLA, Neuheisel believes he is ready to return to the USFL and to find success with the Vipers.
The former QB enters a situation where the franchise’s star QB surprised many by announcing his retirement this past month. Neuheisel will be working with the player personnel team to address that issue. Many expect Las Vegas to be among several teams in the Eli Manning sweepstakes, but to be competitive the finance team is going to have to get several high cost players to adjust or extend their contracts to create more cap room. It seems certain that if given the chance Neuheisel would certainly prefer to pursue Manning than to risk his first year or years on the job with either Jeff Tuel or a possible rookie QB at the helm.
Governor’s Plans for Canton Stadium Collapse
It was a bold scheme, to build a 55,000-60,000 seat stadium in what would be the smallest market in either pro football team, but that was Governor Rick Kasich’s plan for Canton, Ohio and a potential home for the Ohio Glory. The goal was to create a stadium close to the Pro Football Hall of Fame which could be a part-time home to both Kent State and the University of Akron and the full time home to the Columbus-based Ohio Glory. Initially it seemed he had the political clout and backing of the economically depressed cities of East Ohio to get the job done, but that quickly dissolved over the past year as Kasich’s attention turned to a failed bid for the Republican presidential nomination.
Much like Kasich’s sputtering campaign, his support in the Ohio state house fizzled away and when the final budgetary approval votes came to the floor, they failed miserably. Kasich insists that the new facility would help to revive the economies of the Akron-Youngstown corridor, but legislators never bought the projections, calling the development a pork-filled pitch for votes from the region in Kasich’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign.
With the project almost certainly scrapped, this means the Glory are back to square one, hoping to work out a deal with the Columbus Crew MLS club to develop a stadium that could suit both franchises. The Crew are hoping to get a new stadium, but have been hesitant to build anything of the scale that a USFL team would want. They hope to have 20k, maybe 25k, in their ideal stadium, while the Glory are looking in the 55k-60k range as the ideal USFL stadium. That has been a major sticking point all along. So for now, the Crew will likely extend their deal with Ohio State University to paly in the clearly oversized Ohio Stadium. They will try to find common ground with the Crew, and they will explore other options. Could they eventually find a new Ohio home in either NFL city, Cleveland or Cincinnati, or is an option in Columbus still on the table?
SUMMER BOWL PREVIEW
Three days from the culmination of another USFL season. Will it be Arizona claiming a 2nd title in 4 years, potentially to earn the moniker of dynasty? Or will it be Memphis winning a 3rd title to go along with their 1999 and 2007 championships? Will Eli Manning take home a trophy and then immediately hit the free agent market with more bargaining power than almost any USFL player in history? Or will league MVP David Carr make it a double dip and win Playoff MVP as the league champion? We will all find out on Sunday when the Showboats and Wranglers clash at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. But, of course, before that happens, we need to take a long look at both teams, how they got here, who to watch, and what we think the outcome could be. Here is our Summer Bowl preview, hoping to answer all three questions.
How they Got Here
Every champion’s journey is unique, and every season presents twists, turns, surprises and challenges. Memphis and Arizona took very different paths to get to Summer Bowl 2016, one perhaps more expected than the other, but both a very telling story of what each team brings to the title game.
Arizona was supposed to be here. They were a preseason favorite, having appeared in 2 Summer Bowls in the past 3 years. They began the season very much looking like a favorite as well. They won their first two games by a combined score of 84-33, putting up 40+ points in both games. They would go on to win their first six games, most by 20 points or more. A stunning loss at home to Denver was quickly followed by 3 more dominant wins. What was developing in Arizona was not that the team was winning, that was expected, but it was how they were winning. The dominant defense was still very good, but the offense was making headlines. David Carr was hitting deep routes to both Larry Fitzgerald and Antonio Bryant weekly. The Wranglers were more explosive and more aggressive than we have ever seen them. No one was surprised that they were able to finish the season with only 3 losses and sitting atop the Western Conference. In the playoffs they did not have the dominant 20-point victories, but they were in control in both games, beating San Diego by 7 and Chicago by 5 on their way to their 3rd Summer Bowl in 4 years. Still the favorite, still the expected victor, Arizona has shown this year that they can win with defense, or win with explosive offensive plays. Pick your poison.
Memphis was not supposed to be here. After finishing 2015 at 5-11, their 7th consecutive 10-loss season, they had needs. They opted to bring in a new head coach in Rex Ryan and they brought on a new quarterback, using the T-Draft to land University of Memphis QB Paxton Lynch. The plan was to rebuild, to develop Lynch behind Eli Manning, perhaps with a mid-year switchover, and to hopefully win a few more games than in 2015. Memphis was blown out in their first game, but then rebounded with four nice wins, 3 of them against 2015 playoff teams. What was more impressive was that veteran QB Eli Manning, in a contract year and expected to lose his position over the course of the season, was putting up great numbers, showing leadership, and looking very much like the player Memphis had hoped they would get several years back when they signed him away from Orlando.
As the season progressed, it was clear that Rex Ryan’s influence on the defense was immediate and impactful. It was also clear that an offense geared around the run game was making huge strides in the passing game as well. It was not all Manning, as the receiver group was taking shape as well. Robert Woods developed into one of the best medium route receivers in the game. Brandon Marshall provided the Showboats with a deep threat, and Cordarelle Patterson was owning the slot, but was also a big jet sweep option. Memphis would finish the year with one of the best offenses in the league, 4th in total yards, and top 5 in both rushing and passing. It was unexpected and it helped the Showboats turn their record completely upside down, from 5-11 to 12-4. They entered the playoffs as a Wild Card, losing the tiebreaker to Houston, who had beaten them twice in the regular season. After dispatching New Orleans, the league’s defending champion in the first round, they got a third matchup with Houston and this time they got the upper hand, winning thanks to a stifled 2-point PAT at the end of the game. Then, in the Eastern title game against New Jersey, they did it again, holding off the surging Generals with yet another defensive stand on a 2-point PAT. They enter the Summer Bowl as an underdog once again, a role they have gotten quite accustomed to playing.
Top Stars to Follow
Every Summer Bowl has its storylines and its superstars, and the 2016 game is no exception, a matchup of teams and players who have excelled all year long and who could be the difference maker at any moment to deliver victory for their club. We have highlighted 5 players for each team, 4 who you might expect to make a huge impact and one wild card, a darkhorse player who just may find themselves in a position to stun us all with a huge day. We start with the Wranglers, then wrap up with Memphis as we look at potential game-breaking players on both sides.
ARIZONA WRANGLERS
QB David Carr
The league MVP, having the season of his career, Carr is the decision-maker. He has the liberty to hand the ball off to Gore or Carey, or to hold onto it and take advantage of man coverage to blow the roof off the defense with a deep ball to either of his outside targets. Carr has been making the right call far more often than not. He has two All-USFL receivers and he has gotten more out of the Wrangler offense than we could have expected even from past Summer Bowl years.
WR Larry Fitzgerald
A strong candidate for OPOTY and the league’s leading receiver by yardage, Fitzgerald is part of a two man deep ball onslaught that has revolutionized how the Wranglers approach offensive football. It is all about the big play, the deep ball, and the momentum shifting score with Fitzie and the more aggressive Wrangler game plan.
LB Karlos Dansby
Unable to play in any of the playoff games, as well as the last few weeks of the season, Karlos Dansby will be back for the Summer Bowl. He is not ony the team captain and the playcaller on defense, he is the heart and soul of this defensive unit, riling up his teammates on the sideline, gaining their focus before the play, and getting into the mix on nearly every tackle. Expect Dansby to be vocal, active, and intensely focused as he returns to action in the biggest game of the year.
CB Joe Haden
Perhaps the best cornerback playing today. He may not have the INT numbers that some other corners get, but that is because quarterbacks are not dumb enough to throw the ball his way. He will be lined up against the best receiver Memphis has on the field, changing sides of the field and assignments depending on the ball’s location, down, and distance. Haden is also not afraid to get mixed up in the run game, coming to the line to hold the edge and push the back towards the interior. In other words, keep an eye on where he is on the field every play and you will see how offenses tend to go the other way.
LB Scooby Wright
The rookie linebacker for the Wranglers has been a revelation. Fans on the East Coast may not have seen much of him, but with 62 tackles, 2 picks, 3 sacks, and a nose for the ball, Wright has made a lot of fans in Phoenix and could well be a key player both on running downs and when Memphis tries to throw over the middle. He is all engine and all energy when he is on the field, and when he is alongside Dansby, that is a serious obstacle for a defense.
MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS
QB Eli Manning
Manning is having by far his best season in 4-5 years, perhaps his best ever. He was supposed to pass the baton to Paxton Lynch but instead has put up career numbers with over 4,000 yards passing and 27 touchdowns. Like Carr, he loves to use play action, but unlike his opposite, he tends to focus on mid-range routes, picking up first downs, moving the chains, and controlling the clock. His accuracy and ability to keep the team in makable third down situations will be key to a Memphis victory.
HB Anthony Allen
While Todd Gurley is the clear lead back, it is Allen who tends to come in when the team has to get those last 2 yards or get the ball into the endzone. Often, on fewer carries, Allen can outgain Gurley. He is not a classic ground and pound back, does not do well with 20+ carries, but at the right time, when the yards are needed, do not be surprised if Memphis swaps out Gurley for Allen and his battering ram style.
WR Robert Woods
Coming out of USC the LA Express had hoped Robert Woods would be the next great Trojan wideout. He was seen as a disappointment with the Express, but in his second year in Memphis he has built a rapport with Manning and has found his groove. This year he blossomed into one of the best route runners and mid-range receivers in the league. He led the team with 99 receptions and over 1,250 yards. He also added 8 touchdowns, mostly red-zone throws. Woods is not going to streak down the field, but what he will do is give you a shoulder fake, quick turn, and find himself open and ready to catch the ball.
LB NaVorro Bowman
Bowman slipped a bit in total tackles, sharing more plays with Ryan D’Imperio and Jarvis Jones. He also took on more of a role as a run blitzer and QB disruptor, but the change in role has not diminished the fire within NaVorro Bowman. He remains one of the most aggressive linebackers in the league, and he has proven that he can be dangerous both at the line of scrimmage and as a blitzer. He will make plays in the Summer Bowl, but he needs to avoid them being negative plays, penalties or unnecessary roughness calls that can turn a defensive stand into a first down for the offense.
SS Jordan Richards
Definitely an unsung player on the Showboat defense. Richards is not going to garner 10 tackles in a game, or make 3 picks (he has only 1 on the year), but what he can do is remove a receiver from the game. He will almost certainly be used to occupy Jimmie Graham’s headspace and to double up on Larry Fitzgerald, providing support for the corners so they can be more aggressive in how the approach their positioning. That means that while Richards may not finish the game with the biggest stat line, his presence has the potential to disrupt the gameplan of the Wranglers.
Our Best Guess
Here is the part where we once again go out on a limb, having largely missed on our preseason picks, having made several misreadings of the playoff game scenarios, we now try once again to pick a winner in the championship. Do we go with the favored Wranglers or take a shot at predicting an upset? Memphis has been outperforming expectations all season long, can they do it one more time.
We are going to be up front here. We don’t think so. Arizona matches up very well with the Showboats. They have enough weapons to force Memphis’s secondary to make tough choices and risk exposing themselves to big plays. They can run the ball if the Showboats opt to stay in nickel and dime formations. And they have a defense that can make a mid-range passing game tough to engage. Memphis will have to establish the run early and truly force Arizona to commit resources up front if they want to get their passing game going, but with Joe Haden there, likely on Robert Woods for much of the game, Arizona does not have to rely on 2-deep zones or shell defenses. They can be aggressive and still feel good about their back end coverage.
So, based largely on the matchup of strength to strength, we think Arizona just has too much, and will present too many issues, for the Showboats to get the upper hand. We are going to pick the Wranglers to win their 2nd title in 4 years, and to hold up not only the John Bassett Trophy, but the title of dynasty as well.
OUR PICK: Arizona Wranglers 27 Memphis Showboats 21
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