With the USFL only a week away it is time to review the offseason, look at the moves and signings that could define the season, take our best guesses at what the year ahead will hold, and explore the players and teams that could make news in 2016. The first half of our USFL season preview will focus on the offseason, the deals, acquisitions, and surprises that set up the season ahead. Then, in Part 2, we will look forward, previewing all 28 clubs, all 6 divisions, the playoffs and the league awards we think could be on tap this year. Let's get right to it with our 2-part Big Story, the late offseason frenzy of draft signings and the NFL-USFL Transfer Window.
Offseason- Part 1: NFL Runs Away with Top Players in Battle of Draft Signings
No two ways about it, the NFL got the better of the USFL this year. Not only did the fall league sign the top 6 players selected in the USFL Draft, and 7 of the Top 10, but when you look at the NFL Draft you find that the fall league also secured the rights to 14 of the top 23 picks. The strong outing by NFL franchises in the draft left several USFL teams scrambling with just over 1 month to go before the regular season was scheduled to begin.
Among the NFL’s haul were both of the top-rated QBs in the draft, with the St. Louis Rams outbidding the Tampa Bay Bandits for the services of Cal’s Jared Goff and the Philadelphia Eagles signing North Dakota’ State’s Carson Wentz away from the Ohio Glory. The USFL fared a bit better with QBs selected in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the draft, with Memphis landing Paxton Lynch, Seattle signing Jacoby Brissett, and Ohio getting some help in the form of Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg, but once again the NFL seems to have the upper hand when it comes to the top of the draft.
In addition to the QBs already mentioned, the NFL also signed DE Joey Bosa (OAK), DE DeForest Buckner, (SD), DE Shaq Lawson (MEM), WR Laquon Treadwell, and, in a huge blow to the Portland Stags, they were also able to sign away HB Ezekiel Elliott, making the trade of Ryan Fitzpatrick to the Chicago Machine an effort in futility.
Portland now scrambles to find a suitable running game with USFL journeyman Felix Jones and former Denver Gold back LeMichael James. Tampa Bay finds itself in a familiar position, having lost out to Jameis Winston in 2015, now they lose out on a bidding war with the NFL for QB Jared Goff. They were able to take advantage of their double-down strategy, landing Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott, but the loss of Goff almost certainly means that it will be Pat White again at the helm of the Bandit offense, which is not the offseason result that Bandit fans were hoping for.
Ohio did not fare much better, missing out on Wentz and having traded Troy Smith means the Glory are going to start the year with Brock Osweiler under center. As we mentioned, Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg will be an option, depending on how he develops over the spring. As for the two lost defensive ends, the inability to sign Buckner or Bosa means that both San Diego and Oakland are looking for answers. San Diego will likely turn to Adewale Ogunleye as their LE, pressuring the opposing QB’s blind spot, while Oakland still has Cliff Avril and will likely rotate Junior Galette and Laurence Jackson on the right side.
All in all the USFL was able to sign 15 of the first 28 picks in their open draft, with notable successes being the arrival of Alabama’s Derrick Henry in Philadelphia, DT Chris Jones in LA, CB Xavien Howard in Seattle, and TE Hunter Henry in Birmingham. Additionally, several of the T-Draft selections opted to stay close to home and play in the spring league. Chief among them was Paxton Lynch who trades the blue and silver of the U. of Memphis for the silver sky and crimson of the Showboats. Other notable T-Draft signings include LB Reggie Ragland (BIR), DT Vernon Butler (CHA), WR Will Fuller (CHI), LB Deion Jones (NOR), TE Austin Hooper (OAK), CB Eli Apple (OHI), LB Myles Jack (SD), CB Jalen Ramsey (TBY), and LB Scooby Wright (ARZ). But, overall, the results of the signing period were less than what the USFL would hope for, especially at the top of the talent pool where the NFL dominated.
Offseason-Part 2: NFL Imports Enhance Rosters
But the USFL had one more chance to recover from a rough draft outcome, one last pool of talent that could produce a key addition to a club’s roster. The NFL-USFL Transfer Window has become a last second tradition, kind of like shopping on Christmas Eve, for some USFL teams. And while this year’s free agent pool may not have been the biggest or the richest, there were some treasures selected by the teams across the league. We have picked out 10 players who could have an impact this year for the USFL, newly arrived after a full NFL season, do not expect to see them all on Week 1, and, as we have learned in past years, some may not fully blossom until season 2, after their bodies have had time to recover, but every year there are one or two who make immediate impact. With that in mind here is our list of the 7 teams (only 1 in 4 USFL clubs) that may have found gems via the Transfer Window.
Tampa Bay: The Bandits had only 1 NFL signing, and it was not a QB, which fans hoped for, with regular calls into local radio begging the team to go after Christian Ponder or Blaine Gabbert. The player the Bandits did sign will be an impactful one, LB Dont’a Hightower. A powerful tackler with good instincts in pursuit, Hightower will occupy the strong side slot, next to Brian Orakpo in the middle.
San Diego: Another one hit win, but this time it was the QB position. The Thunder have added former Viking signal caller Christian Ponder. We expect Ponder will need several weeks before he might challenge Joe Webb as the starter, but if Webb struggles, we think that Coach LeBeau will go with the former FSU star.
Denver: Despite their reputation as a frugal club, the Gold over the past few years have shown interest in the NFL transfers. Sure, neither signing this year is of the magnitude that the big Von Miller pickup was last year, but the two players they brought in this past month could help the Gold rebound after a down year. The Gold took a shot at HB Jamaal Charles, who struggled in 2015 with the Chiefs, but hopes to rebound in the USFL. Their other signing, back in September, was TE Jack Doyle, a solid receiver who can also play a role as a run blocker.
Memphis: With 4 NFL signings, Memphis was aggressive in the transfer window, and that attitude paid off with both depth and potential impact. FB Zach Line was signed in the fall’s September-October window, and as such is already slated to start the year blocking for Todd Gurley. In the February window the Showboats added HB Travaris Cadet and TE Chris Gragg. Neither are household names, but both could be important to the ball control offense that Coach Rex Ryan wants to create. The biggest addition however, and one that is likely to be a favorite of QB Eli Manning is WR/KR Cordarelle Patterson. The versatile slot receiver and return man is a dangerous weapon. The only question is whether the Showboats will be creative enough to put the ball in his hands with space to make defenders miss.
Dallas: Dallas solved one of their roster mysteries and may have picked up a solid defender as well. The mystery was at kicker, where the club only had an undrafted rookie in camp until they signed Chandler Catanzaro away from the Arizona Cardinals. Catanzaro is now expected to win the job. The other pickup, LB Jamie Collins, looks like a sure bet to take snaps at both MLB and SLB, currently behind Zak DeOssie and Johnathan Casillas, but we expect that by mid-season he will be pushing for snaps and potentially a starting gig.
Charlotte: Charlotte was one of the clubs with the most cap room and they acted like it, snapping up 3 NFL veterans to help build up their club. They started small, adding DT Sen’Derrick Marks (Ok, small in cost, not in size, he is huge.) They then opened up the safe and signed two of the more expensive players available, but both could be huge additions. On defense they landed the best DE in the pool, New England’s Chandler Jones. Pencil Jones in as the starting LE from day one, with Michael Johnson taking on the RE role. But for sheer splash factor, no pick was quite as big as the signing of Viking HB Adrian Peterson. As dual league fans will remember, Peterson suffered a season-ending ACL/MCL injury back in 2014. It was doubtful he would play again, but he returned less than one year later and had a very strong season with Minnesota.
So, how was AD (All Day) available? Well, it seems that the later season dip in production and lingering concerns about Peterson’s reconstructed knee gave the Vikings pause, and they let him enter the market. Charlotte is hoping that he will be successful in spot action most of this year, subbing for starter Darren McFadden, but, like many NFL transfers before him, that he will have a huge 2nd year, so Peterson joins the Monarchs, but the payoff may not be immediate.
Chicago: No team was more aggressive in the NFL Transfer Window than the 3-12-1 Machine. Following their worst season in years and after the draft week trade that brought Ryan Fitzpatrick in as the new starting QB, the Machine added 4 NFL veterans to their roster. Among the big haul was DE Connor Barwin, a September pickup who is now slated to rotate between RE and LE for several weeks but could eventually start over Victor Abiami on the right side, opposite JPP. Chicago added a second defender in the shape of LB Courtney Upshaw. The former Falcon will be another “swing” player, subbing for both MLB Brian Urlacher and ROLB Akeem Ayers as he gets his USFL legs under him.
But Chicago was not done after landing two defenders. They went for one more and in so doing may have landed a key player for their secondary. The Machine went for and landed Green Bay Packer safety Micah Hyde, inking the young player to a 3-year deal. Hyde fills an obvious need in the secondary, where he will be paired with Bob Sanders for a very intriguing safety duo.
The fourth and final signing from the Machine is to the offense as Coach Smith adds a weapon for his new QB. In addition to landing WR Will Fuller from Notre Dame in the T-Draft, the Machine provided Fitzpatrick with a true speed receiver, former Miami Dolphin Kenny Stills. Stills is very much a 3-4 route receiver, but his raw speed will produce problems for secondaries. Expect to see Stills lined up outside, with Aaron Dobson and Michael Floyd, while Austin Pettis takes on the slot role. Rookie Fuller could also see considerable snaps as Smith hopes to implement more 3-4 receiver sets.
Some other notable NFL players jumping to the league include QB Ryan Nassib (ARZ), FB Kyle Juszczyk (MGN), OT Cameron Fleming (ORL), G T. J. Lang (JAX), DE Jacquies Smith (BIR), LB Jelani Jenkins (HOU), CB Jalen Collins (OHI), and safety Jahleel Addae (OAK).
10 Biggest Moves of the Offseason
We have reviewed the draft, poured over the NFL signings, and wrapped up free agency, so what were the moves that will have impact? That have a chance of changing the fortunes of a club, or to push a team from good to great? We have selected 10 offseason moves which we believe can have a big impact and can actually help teams take a step in the right direction, whether that is from the basement to mid-table or from a Wild Card to a potential Summer Bowl contender. Here they are, our Moves that Matter.
New Jersey Trades 2 to Atlanta for CB Brandon Boykin
We are honestly not sure if this was a steal for the New Jersey Generals, landing a corner to line up with Devin McCourty in their secondary, or if Atlanta won this deal by landing both HB Chris Ivory and DE William Gholston. Honestly this could be the rare Win-Win, where both teams are improved by the deal. All three are expected to see a lot of action, and Chris Ivory could well be the starter at HB, though we expect he will end up sharing carries with rookie Kenyan Drake.
Chicago Sign Two NFL Starters
We are double dipping with the Chicago Machine, because they landed not one, but two legitimate starters from the NFL to join their defense. Safety Micah Hyde will join Bob Sanders in the secondary, where he will likely play center field, allowing Sanders to lay hits over the middle. In addition to Sanders, the signing of DE Connor Barwin could help Chicago rise up from being the worst pass rush team in the league last year. Barwin had a monster year with 14.5 sacks in 2014, and the Machine are counting on him to relive that high point in Lovie Smith’s newly remodeled 3-4 alignment.
Philadelphia Sign FA DE Malik Jackson
It surprised us that Houston opted to retain both Antwan Applewhite and Dante Fowler, allowing Jackson to test the free agency waters, but it was no surprise at all that Philadelphia jumped on the chance to sign the 26-year-old edge rusher. The Stars are looking at what could be Anthony Hargrove’s final year, and the idea of lining up Jackson opposite Muhammad Wilkerson (and his 16 sacks) is just too tempting for a team that wants to pressure the QB as the focal point of their defense.
Memphis Sign rookie QB Paxton Lynch
It was a pick that everyone saw from miles away, but it is still a potentially very important one for the Showboats franchise. Eli Manning has had his moments, but they have been too few and too far between. He is in the final year of his deal with Memphis and will have a chance to go out with a bang while Lynch sits and learns, ready to take the reins in 2017, unless of course, Manning proves ineffective, in which case the switch could come quite a bit earlier.
Charlotte Sign NFL DE Chandler Jones
With Jevon Kearse retiring, you knew the Monarchs would have to make a move to bring some edge to their edge rush. The Monarchs added DT Vernon Butler through the draft, but it was in the NFL pool that they found their edge rusher. Chandler Jones had had a rough 2014, with an injury costing him half the season, but rebounded well in 2015 with 11 sacks for the Patriots. He now joins the Monarchs, where he is expected to step right in at LE and start terrorizing SE Division QBs.
Ohio Sign FA DE Robert Quinn
It may seem like an odd move for the Ohio Glory to go after an edge rusher, but the club that racked up 71 sacks in 2015, second most in the league, did so at the detriment of pass coverage, using blitzes more than any other club and resorting to single coverage far too often. That was under Bart Andrus. Now, with Tom Coughlin in town, the Glory are hoping to pressure QBs with only 4 rushers, and former Blitz DE Robert Quinn is expected to be right there to make that happen. Quinn led the Blitz in sacks in 2015 and will now line up with 12-sack man Kamerion Wemberly across from him. It is an unquestionable upgrade, and one that could allow Ohio to have 6, maybe 7 in coverage on most plays.
Philadelphia Sign rookie HB Derrick Henry
The Stars appear on our list for a 2nd time, this time on offense, as they land one of the best college tailbacks in the nation. After a season that saw Philadelphia struggle with the combo of Leon Washington and Zac Stacy, and with Washington departing in Free Agency (off to the NFL), the Stars drafted Derrick Henry out of Alabama and then locked him up for 4 years. No doubt about it, Henry will be a workhorse for the Stars as they try to ascend once again in a very tough NE Division.
Arizona Sign FA TE Jimmie Graham
Graham was unstoppable last year, catching 59 balls for 1,236 yards, an amazing 20.9-yard average, for a tight end!!!! Add to that his league leading 19 touchdowns and you can see why he was an All-USFL star last year. Entering free agency was not what the Maulers wanted for him but cap space simply could not be made. Enter the Western Conference Champions with a 3-year offer for the 29-year-old. Graham will join Daniel Graham in an All-Graham rotation at TE. Expect him to see a lot of targets from David Carr, and while his yards per catch are likely to drop with Carr and the more controlled Wrangler offense, he will continue to be a huge red zone target.
San Diego Sign FA HB Ryan Williams
When they traded Marshawn Lynch in midseason last year, the Thunder all but gave up on the run game. Lamar Miller finished the year as the team’s leading rusher with only 335 yards and a 2.3 YPC average. So, no surprise that the Thunder spend big to bring in 1,000 yard rusher Ryan Williams. Williams wanted out after being asked to split carries with Donald Brown, and he stays in the division just down Highway 1 in San Diego.
Chicago Trades the 1st Overall pick to Portland for QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
It was a risky decision, especially with the first overall pick in the draft at stake, but when we see that the likely target of that pick for Chicago, NDSU QB Carson Wentz, ended up choosing the NFL, it makes sense why Chicago would go for the sure thing and bring in a QB who just had one heck of a season. They went out and added talent at WR in both the draft and the NFL transfer window (Rookie Will Fuller and NFL speedster Kenny Stills). Now, if Lovie Smith can take advantage of Fitzpatrick’s often unorthodox style, he could have found the steal of the offseason.
Five Biggest Misses of the Offseason
With every story of the hot rookie, big free agent signing, or game changing trade, there is a story of the one that got away. This offseason had plenty of those. We don’t want to rub salt in the wounds of these teams or their fanbases, but in all likelihood these are the 5 big fish that got away and which will haunt their clubs this season.
Seattle Cannot Woo Gilmore
The Seattle Dragons have always prided themselves on their cornerback play, and this offseason they tried to boost what is already a very solid group by bringing in the best NFL free agent at the position, Buffalo’s Stephon Gilmore. Gilmore was wooed pretty intensely by the Dragons, who flew him out to their facilities and had him meet with both Head Coach Stump Mitchell and their defensive coaching staff. They had him pal around with Richard Sherman, Khalil Mack, and Brodrick Buckley, but it was not enough. When it was all said and done, Seattle’s offer was not as lucrative as that offered by the NFL Patriots, so Gilmore opted to stay in the Fall. Don’t feel too bad for the Dragons, as they still have a solid combo with Norman in the lead position, rookie Xavien Howard, and veteran Desmond Truffant in the top 3 spots.
Oakland Went All in On Bosa but Rolled Snake Eyes
Is there any consolation when you don’t get what you want but neither does the other guy? The Oakland Invaders made one of the biggest trades of the USFL Draft, swapping their 1st T-Draft pick to Tampa Bay for the 2nd overall pick in the Open Draft. The target for the Invaders was clear, Ohio State DE Joey Bosa. The problem was, Bosa ended up with two California clubs to choose from. In a classic NorCal-SoCal battle, Bosa chose the newly relocated Los Angeles Chargers over the Invaders. Bosa signing with the NFL means that once again the Oakland pass rush will be Cliff Avril, almost exclusively. The only possible bright side is that Tampa Bay also whiffed with their pick, Cal QB Jared Goff.
Ohio Has to Settle for Plan B
The “double down” theory of the USFL and NFL drafts has been around since the early years of the signing wars between the two leagues. A club picks a high-profile player in the first round of the draft, then returns and picks the same position within 2 rounds of that pick. It is done year in and year out, and for good reason, no draft pick is a sure thing. Most players, especially first year talents, have options, with two leagues competing for them they can play one against the other. That is what happened to the Ohio Glory, losing out to the NFL on their 1st round pick, QB Carson Wentz, but using the double down, actually trading to get into the late 2nd round to select Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg. Not anything against Hackenberg, who was selected in almost the identical position in the NFL Draft by the NY Jets, but he will always now be compared with Wentz, which is not what Ohio wanted.
Portland Swings Big and Whiffs on Elliott
It was a bold move, trading away a starting QB who took you to the Western Conference Championship, but with a 5-interception performance in that game, and with All-American Marcus Mariota on the bench, Portland felt they had the perfect position to use Fitzpatrick as bait to get themselves a running back. Jonathan Stewart had retired unexpectedly, leaving Portland with a huge vacancy. Ezekiel Elliot was right there for the taking, and so the Stags swapped Fitzpatrick for the first overall pick in the Open Draft and called on Elliott with the pick. The problem was Elliott was also a very early selection of the Dallas Cowboys. Had Elliott been chosen by Cleveland, Green Bay, or Buffalo, the Stags might have had a chance, but when you are competing with Jerry Jones for an early draft pick, the lure of the Cowboys makes it a tough sell. Elliott went to the Boys and Portland is now staring at the same huge open spot in their roster, with no one happy about the options on the roster this year.
Tampa Cannot get a QB
It has been a rough couple of years in Banditland. Daunte Culpepper retires after 2014 and the Bandits go after a home state kid, FSU QB Jameis Winston. They whiff, with crosstown rivals, the NFL Buccaneers, outbidding them in an embarrassing moment. So they go to plan B and cut a deal with the LA Express to bring in Mark Sanchez. Sanchez spends the first half of the season demonstrating why LA was happy to deal him. So, they make another deal for Oakland backup Pat White. White is adequate, but hardly a sure-fire starter. So now we enter the 2015-2016 offseason and QB is again a top priority.
Tampa makes another huge deal to land a QB, giving Oakland the 2nd overall pick in the Open Draft for the rights to sign Cal’s Jared Goff, the top-rated QB in the draft. Tampa makes the pick, but so do the St. Louis Rams. The Rams outspend the Bandits yet again, and Goff is wearing blue and gold, not scarlet and silver. One last chance, can the Bandits land a viable QB candidate in the NFL Transfer Window? They settle on Mizzou’s Blaine Gabbert as their target. Not exactly Jim Kelly, but a decent option. They cannot get that done either. Gabbert resigns with the NFL, moving from San Francisco to Arizona (his third NFL stop). So now we enter the season and Tampa Bay is looking at Pat White again, with 3rd round rookie Dak Prescott as the likely backup and untested B. J. Daniels behind him. This is not the halcyon days of Reaves, Aikman, or Culpepper. This is a tough time to be a Bandits fan.
10 Newcomers to Keep an Eye On
So as we explore league rosters and take a look at the depth charts, the question becomes, who will have an impact on the league this year? Which newcomers are in a position to make a difference, upgrade their team and provide a spark. We have identified 6 rookies and 4 NFL imports who we think have the potential to make a difference right away. These are our 10 impactful finds.
Rookie LB Scooby Wright (ARZ); Wright has been impressive in camp and could garner a starting slot as the weak side linebacker. That is a big move for a rookie joining one of the league’s elite defenses. With Troy Polamalu and LB Karlos Dansby as role models, Wright could not have asked for a better set of mentors as he makes the transition from college ball to the pros.
Rookie TE Hunter Henry (BIR): The Stallions have a dynamic QB in Cam Newton, two outstanding young wideouts in Dontrelle Inman and 2015 ROTY Amari Cooper, and now add a playmaking TE to serve as an inside threat and a safety valve for Newton. We expect Henry to be in the range of 50-70 catches this year, and with Birmingham’s offense he could be in the running for ROTY himself.
NFL Import QB Christian Ponder (SD): He is not likely to be the Week 1 starter, but this NFL import could very well be under center by midseason. Now, we have certainly seen plenty of NFL quarterbacks struggle in their first spring season, but the pattern has typically been that older veterans are those that struggle physically with the back-to-back seasons, while younger players are more able to adjust on the fly. If Ponder can do that, he has a shot at being the starter the Thunder are hoping he can be.
Rookie DT Chris Jones (LA): Defensive Tackle can be a tough position to gauge. They don’t usually put up easily measurable stats, with their impact felt more in how the team as a whole succeeds on defense. With Jones, an aggressive, penetrating interior lineman, we may see some sacks and tackles for loss to help us assess his addition to the team, but what we should also look for is whether or not the Express improve their team sack total without requiring additional blitzers.
NFL Import S Micah Hyde (CHI): We like Hyde’s skill set, and we see a lot of potential growth with Chicago as the Machine add a lot of new pieces to a defense that was a letdown last year. Hyde will likely defer to Bob Sanders as the leader of the secondary, but his presence will make it possible for Sanders to be more aggressive closer to the line of scrimmage, much as Polamalu has done in Arizona.
NFL Import WR Cordarelle Patterson (MEM): This all depends on how Rex Ryan and his OC, Anthony Lynn, opt to use him. If they limit Patterson’s role to that of a traditional slot receiver, well, that would be a waste of his talents. They need to have him working kick and punt returns, yes, playing the slot, but also finding ways to get him involved in jet sweeps, screens, and maybe even Wildcat formations. If they are creative, he could be a very high impact signing.
Rookie LB Myles Jack (SD): We love Jack’s energy and motor. He slots in perfectly between A. J. Hawk and Shantee Orr as part of a variable defensive front 7 that will alternate between 4-3 and 3-4 depending on the situation. Jack will have the freedom to follow his instincts as a disruptor while Hawk, Orr, and Kyle Van Noy act as a safety net around him. Expect San Diego to use their new rookie as a blitzer against both the run and the pass.
NFL Import HB Adrian Peterson (CHA): Peterson’s recovery from ACL surgery was stunning, and while we expect him to be used sparingly at first, if his body holds up over the first half of the season, we can look forward to the Monarchs providing him with more and more touches as the season wears on. He can provide the kind of break away, big play potential that Darren McFadden just can’t. If they overuse him, he may break down, as we saw late in 2015 with the Vikings, but if they can limit him to 10-15 carries a game, he could be a real threat, especially later in the season.
Rookie CB Jalen Ramsey (TBY): The Bandits had a lot of misses in their offseason efforts, but signing FSU cornerback Jalen Ramsey was not one of them. The rookie has been impressing coaches in camp and could slot in as the number one corner from day one. He is an aggressive, ball hawking, shut down corner, which is always a prized commodity in the USFL with its pass-heavy offenses.
Rookie HB Derrick Henry (PHI); No rookie has a bigger opportunity to impact his team quite like Alabama HB Derrick Henry. The Stars, for all the talk of the pass-happy USFL, have always relied on a solid run game to drive their offense. It was true with Jim Mora Sr and Kelvin Bryant back in the 80’s, with Jim Mora Jr and Stephen Davis in the early 2000’s, and it could be the solution for Jim Harbaugh and the 2016 edition of the Stars. Henry will be the starter, no doubt about that, and his role will be to get 20-25 carries every single game as the Stars try to control the clock, shorten games, and keep Philly’s offense on the field for as much of the game as possible, an old formula, but one that has proven successful over the league’s entire history.
10 USFL Returnees Poised to Break Out in 2016
While rookies and NFL imports tend to be the focus of the offseason, every year we see players who either stayed put or who shifted teams within the USFL, jump another step up and break into the spotlight. Last year it was QB Andy Dalton, TE Jimmie Graham, and DE Cliff Avril who went from solid starters to superstars. Who do we see emerging this year? Hard to say, but here are 10 players we think are in a position where they could emerge as major players in 2016.
Portland QB Marcus Mariota: This one is a no brainer as Mariota takes the helm of a Portland club that was one game away from the Summer Bowl. If Mariota is able to replicate his success at Oregon, he could be the added spark Portland needs to take that next step.
Memphis HB Todd Gurley: Gurley started slow last year but came on strong towards the end of the year, a classic rookie trajectory. That gives us, and Showboat fans, hope that his 2nd year could be a true breakout season for the former Georgia HB.
Oakland HB Knile Davis: Coming over from Memphis to Oakland will almost certainly produce a big jump in touches for the elusive Davis. The departure of Ryan Williams means that the Invaders are looking to create a HB group rather than a single focus. Donald Brown will get the dirty carries, but Davis is poised to be the breakout threat, with great elusiveness, good receiving skills, and the speed to turn a short run into a downfield sprint.
Washington WR Brandon LaFell: Deion Branch leaves behind big shoes to fill, but the Federals are so confident in LaFell’s ability to step up that they did not even prioritize the WR position in the offseason, adding only mid-round rookie speedster Tyreek Hill to the roster. Expect LaFell to be a frequent target for David Garrard, and with his size, a clear red zone target as well.
Chicago WR Aaron Dobson: Dobson has been a very solid receiver for several years, racking up three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in his first three years in the pros. Now, with Ryan Fitzpatrick replacing Brady Quinn at QB, he could leap up to the 1,500-yard range and quite possibly become a 10-TD receiver as well. The talent is there, and now the opportunity as well.
Philadelphia DE Malik Jackson: After an impressive first season in the USFL, Jackson was surprisingly let loose by the Gamblers, and the Stars could not be happier. Jackson will start the year at RE, opposite veteran Anthony Hargrove, but the Stars may use frequent swaps to put him in a position to get to the QB. He had 9 sacks last year, and we think he could take another step up and find himself in the 15-sack range.
Ohio DE Robert Quinn: Another player who could take a big step towards stardom thanks to a move to a new team. Quinn was impressive in Baltimore, but their scheme did not put him in a position to be a true sack specialist. In Ohio we expect Quinn to have one mission and one mission only, to get to the QB.
Pittsburgh DT Aaron Donald: The Maulers have built themselves a star-studded squad, with a defensive line that is simply terrifying for opposing OC’s, and while DE’s Jared Allen and Dwight Freeney have been outstanding, film shows that it is Donald who makes the engine purr. Will he get 10-12 sacks this year? Possibly, but it is the ability to disrupt plays, mangle blocking schemes, and free up the ends to get to the QB that is so impressive.
Seattle LB Khalil Mack: The Dragons are hoping that they have the pieces they need to have an elite defense. Where they seem to be weakest is at DE, where we just don’t see Travis LaBoy or C. J. Mosley as elite pass rushers. Enter LB Khalil Mack, who will, in all likelihood, spend more time in the offensive backfield than in Seattle’s pass coverage. Mack had 7 sacks in his sophomore season, and we would not be surprised at all if his total doubled in 2015 as his role moves to one focused on the team’s blitz packages.
Oakland LB Bobby Wagner: Unlike Mack in Seattle, Wagner is going to have a diversified role in the Seattle defense. Yes, his main task will be to shut down opposing backs, forcing fumbles when possible, with big hits, but also breaking through the line to get to the runners before they even get to the line of scrimmage. He will also play coverage and should be involved in blitz packages as well. Wagner had his first career 100-tackle season in 2015, and we have him pegged as a possible league leader this year, a tackling machine who will serve as a team captain as well in his 6th season.
Orlando CB Dee Milliner: Our last break out candidate is poised to step into some elite company. Moving from the 2 slot to become the designated number one corner for the Renegades, we anticipate that Milliner will be facing off against the best receiver of the opposing team each and every week. This is likely to help him increase his interception rate, but perhaps more importantly we should watch his target-to-catch ratio, because that is where we expect Milliner to shine.
Join us for part two of our USFL Season Preview, where we make all the picks and give you the inside scoop on who we see emerging in 2016. Will it be the Wranglers and Breakers leading their conferences this year? Will Pittsburgh leap over the Blitz in the Northeast? Just who has the right stuff to take over a very balanced Southeast division? What do we think about Dallas as a contender in the Southwest? And just who is the best team on the West Coast? We will look at all the division races, evaluate the offseason moves of all 28 USFL clubs, and make our picks for the 2016 playoffs and award winners. It is coming in just 2 days, setting us up for Week 1 of the 2016 Season and preparing our expectations for the year ahead. Don’t go anywhere, USFL football is about to take the field again.
Is Galloway still with the Glory?