It was a week that saw Houston drop from the unbeatens, leaving only Arizona without a blemish. Philadelphia lost their second, as did Jacksonville, Memphis improved to 4-1, and San Diego took advantage of an Oakland loss to take over sole possession of first place in the Pacific. Overall, however the story of the week was greater balance across the league as more teams pulled within 1 game of .500, either 2-3 or 3-2. Yes, we still have some surprise successes at 4-1, including the Thunder, Showboats, and Monarchs. We also have Seattle sitting at 0-5, and Baltimore finally notching their first win, but with 13 of 28 teams at either 2-3 or 3-2, there is still a lot of football to be played before we know how this season will end up.
Matt Hasselbeck Sidelined with Torn Abdominal Muscle
It is one of the most painful injuries in the game, and a tough one to come back from because it is just so hard to isolate and rest, the abdominal tear. But, after something of a sandwich between his center and a New Orleans pass rusher, that is exactly what Matt Hasselbeck now faces. The veteran QB of the Gamblers is looking at 2 missed games at a minimum, but most doctors we surveyed believe that 4-6 weeks may be the actual recovery time.
In the meantime, with Hasselbeck sidelined, the hope is that Colt McCoy, who already subbed for Hasselbeck in Week 3, will be able to return next week and take the helm for the next few weeks. McCoy, a 6 year vet who has spent more time holding a clipboard in Houston than a football, looked pretty solid in Week 3 against the Charlotte Monarchs. He threw for 307 and 2 scores against a pretty solid defense. But after suffering an injury in practice this week, he was left off the active roster. Coach Phillips says it was precautionary and that McCoy could have played if needed, so the expectation is that the former Longhorn QB will be starting in Week 6 when Houston faces the New Jersey Generals.
As for Hasselbeck, a 2nd injury within a month is a bad omen for the 38-year old who has been fending off retirement rumors for several seasons. He had a resurgence last year, Houston’s first in the Southern Division, and the hope was that he could make another run at a title, but now he is out at least 2 more weeks and perhaps much longer.
HOUSTON GAMBLERS 30 NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 34
Ooh, we had a good one in the Southern Division this week. Last year it went down to the wire between these two and this week New Orleans ensured that Houston would not run away with the division, sending the Gamblers to first loss of the year and pulling themselves back into relevance in the division with their 2nd win. This one was a beauty and once again it was a late comeback that saw the winner decided in the final minute of action.
Houston had their moments, particularly as QB Matt Hasselbeck found his rhythm, completing 19 of 26 passing for 334 yards and 3 scores. But, on the other sideline Drew Brees was also feeling it, going 23 of 29 for 300 even and adding 3 scores of his own. Both defenses struggled against each team’s top receivers, with Houston’s Roy Williams catching 3 for 142, a blazing 47.3 YPC average, helped in great deal by a 77-yard reception that somehow did not produce a touchdown. For New Orleans it was Early Doucet doing the damage, catching 7 balls for 122 yards and adding 2 touchdowns as the Breakers came back on Houston to earn the win.
The game started well for the Gamblers. They marched down the field with their initial drive, finishing off a 14-play march with a Carlos Hyde 2-yard TD run to take the early lead. The only other score of the quarter would be a 32-yard field goal by Breakers’ replacement kicker Matt Allen. With Caleb Sturgis sidelined, the undrafted free agent kicker is getting a chance to prove himself and would go 6 for 6 on kicks in the game.
In the 2nd quarter Houston again found paydirt when Matt Hasselbeck connected with Johnny Knox on a 10-yard fade. It was the final paly of a quick 7-play drive that saw Hasselbeck connect with 4 different receivers. But, Houston, despite a 14-3 lead, was not out of the woods yet. New Orleans would storm back in a quarter that saw 30 points scored. It began with a nicely orchestrated 71-yard drive that produced a 1-yard dive over the left guard by Jeremy Hill. Hill would only touch the ball 11 times, but averaged 5.4 YPC on the day. Following a quick defensive stop, New Orleans was back in action again, and again it was Drew Brees finding receivers all over the field. He hit Coby Fleener for 11, then Kenny Britt for 21, Demetrius Byrd for 12 and then connected with Early Doucet for the score that would flip the lead, a 28-yard corner route that gave New Orleans their first lead at 17-14. But, there was still 5:28 left in the half, and the scoring was not done.
Houston replied to losing the lead with a quick drive of their own. Hasselbeck started the drive with the longest play of the game, that 77-yard toss to Williams. That play put the ball at the New Orleans 3-yard line, but two consecutive penalties drove the Gamblers back 15 yards, a holding on their first play from the 3, and then a false start before the next play could even get going. So, from a 1st and goal at the 3, the Gamblers would face 1st and goal from the 18. But, that setback did not faze Hasselbeck at all. On 1st and 18 for the score, Hasselbeck connected with Mike Evans, the big receiver going up to high point the ball just outside the endzone, and then powered his way in to put the Gamblers back up by 4, 21-7.
That should have been the end of the scoring in the half, but a brutal error on the kickoff gave Houston what they needed to add 2 more points. Kick returner Donnie Avery took the ball in the endzone, stepped out, then tried to kneel as if he were still in the endzone. That lack of awareness put the ball on the 1-yard line with 1:38 left to play in the quarter, and it set up Houston to score on the first play from scrimmage for the Breakers. Sure enough, Houston brought pressure on 1st and 10 from the New Orleans 1 yard line, and it worked, with DT John Jenkins forcing a holding call in the endzone that gave Houston a safety.
New Orleans would kick the ball away and went on defense, trying to keep Houston out of field goal range as the clock wound down. They did just that, holding Houston too far from their endzone to try a late kick and forcing a kneel down on the final play of the half.
The 3rd quarter would not see nearly as many fireworks as the defensive adjustments at half helped to calm things down. New Orleans added another field goal, but that was all either team could muster. Entering the final quarter it was Houston still on top, 23-20. Matt Hasselbeck and the Houston offense would again increase their lead thanks to a long touchdown drive. They used short passes to Williams, Evans, TE Vernon Davis, and HB Carlos Hyde to get the ball deep into Breakers’ territory before Hasselbeck connected again with Davis, a 5-yard strike that put 7 more on the board.
Down 30-20 with just over 9 minutes left, New Orleans needed a break. They got one but not how it was expected. After being forced to punt on their next possession, New Orleans set up to play some defense again. On 1st and 10 from their own 21, Houston hoped to put the game away, but what they got instead was a play that could cost QB Matt Hasselbeck several games. The Houston QB was caught between the rushing Cameron Jordan and his own center, going to the ground awkwardly. He got up, winced, tried to make a throwing motion between plays and called to be taken out. It was the last action he would see on the day. With Colt McCoy already a scratch due to an injury in practice, it would be up to Jeff Driskoll, the untested 3rd QB, to hold onto the lead.
New Orleans would get the ball back 2 plays later, and they would strike fast. In only 5 plays they took the ball from their own 47 all the way to the endzone on a 2nd TD for Early Doucet. Now down only 3, and with Hasselbeck out of the game, the Breakers would concentrate on penning in Carlos Hyde and forcing Jeff Driskol to beat them. The strategy worked, with Houston again going 3-and-out. New Orleans got the ball back with just over 1:22 left to play. They needed only 3 to tie, but they had their hearts set on more.
The drive started with a nice draw play to David Wilson, who burst through the line for 13 yards. They followed that with Brees hitting Kenny Britt for 37 on a busted coverage. Now, with plenty of time left and still 2 timeouts, New Orleans could play for the win. They ran the ball with Hill on first down, then found Coby Fleener for another 1st down. First and 10 at the 21. After another draw play produced only 3 yards and forced the Breakers to use their 2nd timeout, they stopped looking at the clock and decided to go for the win on the next play.
Offensive Coordinator Joe Lombardi called a zone buster with slot receiver Tyler Lockett as the primary target. He would send TE Coby Fleener on the seam and then trail Lockett behind him. The play worked just as it was drawn up, Lockett caught the bullet from Brees and had a clear path to the endzone with Fleener occupying the safety. With only 41 seconds left to play, New Orleans was back on top, 34-30 after the Matt Allen kick.
Houston needed a touchdown, down 4, and they just were not going to get it with Driskol at the helm. He completed one pass but then failed to convert the first down, all the while the clock ticking away. When the whistle sounded to end the game, New Orleans was back within a game of .500 and the Gamblers had suffered their first defeat.
PHILADELPHIA 13 BALTIMORE 45
Baltimore needed to rediscover their 2015 and they did so in a big way, demolishing the upstart Philadelphia Stars. Philly gained only 177 total yards on the day while Baltimore went for 473 in an entirely dominant game. Big Ben went 21 of 31 for 337 yards and 4 TDs against the Stars’ D. The Blitz also outgained the Stars on the ground, something no one expected, as Wiliams, Dixon, and Jacquizz Rogers combined for 126 yards to the Stars’ miserable 38 rushing yards.
POTG: Blitz WR Harry Douglas: 7 Rec, 139 Yds, 1 TD
PITTSBURGH 20 WASHINGTON 26
The Maulers are still looking for their 2015 successes, dropping to 1-4 after giving up 2 late field goals to Washington, who escape with a win. Deuce McCallister topped 100 yards and also led the Federals with 44 yards receiving as the veteran back did it all in this one. Pittsburgh’s Victor Cruz had a huge day, catching 5 for 199 yards and 2 scores, but it was not enough as the defense again fails at a key moment.
POTG: Federals’ HB Deuce McCallister: 21 Att, 119 Yds, 6 Rec, 44 Yds
LOS ANGELES 26 NEW JERSEY 13
A surprise outing for the Express in New Jersey as Reggie Bush runs for 116 and Sam Bradford survives 5 General sacks to throw for 2 scores. The LA defense did their part, with Tracy Porter scoring on a pick-six as the Express picked off young Brett Hundley 4 times in his worst outing as a pro.
POTG: Express CB Tracy Porter: 3 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
OAKLAND 13 ARIZONA 45
The Wranglers take apart one of the supposed challengers in the West as they absolutely dominate the Invaders. David Carr threw for 303 and 2 scores as Gore and Carey added 3 rushing touchdowns. The Wrangler D also picked off Joey Harrington twice and held the Invader run game to only 38 total yards, proving once again that this club is one of the toughest to plan for in the league on both sides of the ball.
POTG: Wrangler DE Adam Carricker: 2 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF
ST. LOUIS 6 PORTLAND 24
Portland put together their best game of the year, shutting down St. Louis’s potent offense and getting a surprisingly strong day from HB Felix Jones (127 yards on 22 carries). Marcus Mariota reaped the benefits of a strong run game, using play action to go 13 of 17. The Stags’ defense forced 4 fumbles, recovering 1, and picked off Josh Freeman as well to keep St. Louis from mounting a comeback, helping Portland improve to 2-3.
POTG: Stags’ DE Cullen Jenkins: 5 Tck, 1 Sack, 3 FF
BIRMINGHAM 24 MEMPHIS 30 OVERTIME
An overtime thriller in this rivalry game as Birmingham scored 17 unanswered points to come back from a 24-7 deficit in the 2nd half, only to have Eli Manning take over in the extra period, hitting on 3 of 4 passes in the opening drive of overtime to put away the game. Manning, who threw for 336 on the day, found Robert Woods, his new favorite target, for the overtime game winner. In a game that saw Todd Gurley return to action with a 100-yard game and 2 scores, the Showboats knock off their arch rival to move to 4-1 in front of a very jubilant 51,000 at the Liberty Bowl.
POTG: Showboat HB Todd Gurley, 21 Att, 115 Yds, 2 TD.
DENVER 23 TEXAS 26
Texas just keeps finding ways to win close games. Denver finds ways to lose them. The Gold hada 23-16 lead going into the 4th, but a fumble by HB Jamaal Charles gave Texas a short field and Joe Flacco hit Justin Hunter 1 play later for the tying TD. Later in the quarter they would put up the game winning kick and shut down Denver’ s last minute drive before they could get a tying kick. It was a bad game for Joe Flacco (only 8 of 19 for 129 yards), but he still got the win thanks to the defense and that turnover.
POTG: Outlaw HB Marshawn Lynch: 24 Att, 78 Yds, 1 TD
CHARLOTTE 34 ATLANTA 0
Just plain ugly in Atlanta where the Fire could only muster 152 yards of total offense. Kyle Orton completed only 13 of 25 passes and the run game got nowhere. Charlotte got 2 scores from Brandon Wheedon and fans got to see Adrian Peterson on the field for the first time in Charlotte teal as the NFL import got 9 carries and scored his first USFL touchdown.
POTG: Charlotte LB Rolando McClain: 8 Tck, FF
ORLANDO 41 JACKSONVILLE 6
This battle of 3-1 clubs got very one sided very quickly as Orlando rolls to a 41-6 crushing of the Bulls. The Jacksonville defense, so good for 4 weeks, crumbled as Russell Wilson went 22 of 28 for 227 and 2 scores. Three Bulls’ turnovers did not help the Jacksonville cause as Orlando’s defense stifled the Bull run game and forced 2 fumbles. A convincing win as Orlando keeps pace with Charlotte atop the SE Division.
POTG: Orlando DE Calais Campbell: 9 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF
CHICAGO 36 OHIO 13
Chicago rebounds from their heartbreaking loss in Week 4 by taking out their frustrations on the Ohio Glory. Ryan Fitzpatrick got a huge game from Matt Forte and threw for 246 as the Machine outgained Ohio 432-220 in a rare offensive showcase for the Machine. Forte rushed for 2 scores and 106 yards on only 15 carries, while Doug Martin rushed for another 60 and a score of his own in an impressive outing for the Machine.
POTG: Machhine HB Matt Forte: 15 Att, 106 Yds, 2 TD
SAN DIEGO 16 SEATTLE 13
Seattle’s offense continues as a no-show in 2016, and while the defense made life tough for Joe Webb and the Thunder, San Diego had enough to edge the Dragons for their 4th win of the season, putting them into sole possession of first place in the Pacific. Ryan Williams was the engine for the Thunder, rushing for 153 yards in a light drizzle at Lumen Field.
POTG: Thunder HB Ryan Williams: 17 Att, 153 Yds
TAMPA BAY 10 LAS VEGAS 20
Las Vegas improves to 2-3 by frustrating Tampa rookie Dak Prescott all game. Four sacks and a pick were the result for Prescott as Las Vegas used a lot of pressure from blitzing safeties and linebackers to disrupt the Tampa Bay offense. With 126 yards rushing from the combo of Brandon Oliver and Montario Hardesty, Las Vegas was able to build a 20-3 lead before a late Bandit TD brought the score closer.
POTG: Las Vegas tailback Brandon Oliver: 16 Att, 73 Yds, 1 TD
MICHIGAN 35 DALLAS 13
Dallas’s defense continues to be a huge liability as Kirk Cousins throws for 3 scores and LeVeon Bell’s 110 yards lead a rushing attack that garnered 221 total on the ground. Landry Jones did not help the Dallas cause, completing only 8 of 26 passes and throwing a pick-six in relief of an injured Johnny Manziel. With Michigan controlling the clock (38 minutes to 22), there just was not enough in the arsenal for the Roughnecks to stay in this one.
POTG: Michigan CB Dre Kirkpatrick: 2 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
Maulers Reeling with 3rd Straight Loss
The Maulers dropped another game this week, their third in a row, as they could not get the W in Washington. That loss leaves them at 1-4 and already falling several games behind the division leaders. So, what is causing the sudden struggles? Well, the 27th rated run game is clearly an issue. Some were saying that Pittsburgh needed to do more for their running back room this offseason, and those folks seem to have been proven right as Pittsburgh is barely averaging 65 yards per game on the ground. Charles Sims, now injured, is leading the team with only 172 yards, but he is the only back with more than 3.5 YPC average. Marcus Lattimore, considered the probable starter for the year, is at 3.4 and has only 141 yards. Needless to say, the Maulers are struggling on offense as they are asking Andy Dalton to do it all.
Perhaps more surprising than the issues with the run game is Pittsburgh’s sudden decline as a defensive club. Pittsburgh is giving up nearly 29 points per game and is rated in the bottom 10 clubs in both rush and passing defense. None of that is what we expected. When you consider that the combo of Dwight Freeney and Jared Allen have a combined 8 sacks, well off their pace from last year, and that the secondary has produced only 2 picks so far this year, it is clear that the Maulers need to be more aggressive. The front three of Freeney, Allen and Aaron Donald need to be creating pressure, allowing them to drop 6, 7 or 8 into coverage, but so far they have only really had success when Coach Fangio brings in extra pass rushers, and that is a major issue.
There is still time for Pittsburgh to turn it around, but that window is closing fast. They need to find an answer at halfback and they have to rediscover the defensive pressure that helped take them to a conference title game last year.
Fire Embarrassed by Shutout Loss
Things are getting dark in Atlanta as the Fire drop to 1-4 and we are hearing more and more rumbles from players. After dropping from 10-6 down to 6-10 last year, there was concern that Coach Ramsey was not getting the most out of the squad and that the front office was struggling to bring in quality players to reinforce the roster. With Kyle Orton struggling and already missing a game this year, and with Chris Ivory already on IR, putting the entire run game on rookie Kenyan Drake, there is a lot of concern that the Fire offense has no spark.
The offense currently ranks 26th in scoring and dead last out of the 28 team league in yards per game. What makes this even worse is that the team is also 24th in points allowed and 22nd in yards allowed. Every bit of those troubling numbers was on display as Atlanta completely floundered on both sides of the ball this past week in a brutal 34-0 loss to division and regional rival Charlotte. It was a brutal game for Fire fans, many of whom left before the game even reached the 4th quarter. Coach Ramsey was not viewed as a coach on the hot seat when the season began, but at this point in the year, and with some rumbling in the locker room, he very much is feeling the heat.
Big Ben Puts Blitz on his Back
Apparently he had seen enough. Ben Roethlisberger was vocal all week about the Blitz’s need to turn things around and the need for every player to step up and do their part. He talked the talk all week and on Friday night he walked the walk, dominating the Philadelphia defense on his way to a 32 point win over their division rival. Big Ben threw for 337 yards and 4 TDs in the blowout win, but perhaps more importantly, he pushed others around him to do their best as well. The defense finally showed some backbone, and some aggression, sacking Matt Gutierrez 5 times and picking off the Stars’ QB twice. Even the much criticized Baltimore run game got it going, with 3 different backs combining for 126 yards rushing.
Is this a turning point for the Blitz? They were picked by many to win the division, but an 0-4 start had landed them near the bottom of the league power rankings. Could a win against the Stars be enough to reawaken the team we have seen over the past two years? We will see this week when the two clubs meet once again, this time at the Linc in Philly.
Von Miller Makes a Statement
After a month in which he amassed only 2 sacks, Von Miller was beginning to hear critiques of his slow start. He put those voices to rest this week, racking up 3 sacks, one a safety, against Joe Flacco and the Outlaws. Now, while we recognize that Joe Flacco is not exactly a fleet of foot quarterback, any time a player can earn 3 sacks in a game is a pretty good sign that the rusher is doing a lot right.
Maybe the target of outdueling Calais Campbell was a bit too ambitious for Miller, but that does not mean he cannot still be a major force for the Denver Gold, a club that went all in on Miller by signing him away from the NFL last season. In his first full year in the USFL, after missing out on the offseason last year, Miller is hoping to show that he is among the elite edge rushers in the USFL or in the country, and if he can keep up the pace from this week he likely could do just that.
Felix Jones Runs Wild
Perhaps we were too quick to write Felix Jones off as Portland’s lead back and the replacement for retired Stag superstar Jonathan Stewart. After 4 largely unimpressive showings, including a brutal 5 carry, 13-yard outing against Seattle in week 3, Jones seems to have found his groove. He rushed the ball 17 times for 71 yards last week against San Diego, but this week he did even more, earning his first 100-yard game for Portland. His 22 carry, 127 yard, 2 TD outing helped Portland knock off St. Louis and improved the team to 2-3 on the season.
Jones largely did it the hard way. Other than a nice 22-yard scamper, it was just tough run after tough run. 3 yards here, 5 there, until he finished with 127 on the day. That included 3 different runs that produced first downs on 3rd and short, proving Jones could be reliable as a short yardage runner. He did split time with LeMichael James, with James gaining 43 yards on 13 carries, but this game seems to have solidified his status as the number one back for Coach Pep Hamilton and the Stag offense.
New Jersey loses a defensive leader for the year as a torn quad will require surgery to reattach, costing Rey Maualaga the season. A similar situation for LA cornerback Kevin Seymour, with a biceps muscle that detached from the bone. Finally, Atlanta sees two of its big men out for at least a week as DT Nick Fairley and OT Zack Strief both go down this week.
OUT
LB Rey Maualaga NJ Torn Quad IR
CB Kevin Seymour LA Torn Biceps IR
HB Charles Sims PIT Broken Wrist 6-8 Weeks
WR Danny Amendola SD Neck 4-6 Weeks
CB Xavien Howard SEA Shoulder 4-6 Weeks
QB Matt Hasselbeck HOU Abdomen 2-6 Weeks
DT Nick Fairley ATL Concussion 1-2 Weeks
OT Zack Strief ATL Hamstring 1-2 Weeks
DT Kevin Vickerson MGN Migraines 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
WR Mike Wallace SEA Knee
QB Christian Hackenberg OHI Finger
CB Devin McCourtey NJ Pinched Nerve
SS Troy Polamalu ARZ Ribs
DT Henry Melton JAX Foot
QUESTIONABLE
WR Dwayne Jarrett BAL Tendinitis
LB NaVorro Bowman MEM Foot
Early Season Star for Each USFL Club
While not every team has a clear All-USFL standout, they all have someone who has provided leadership, sizzle, or just moments of superior play. Here is a quick breakdown of the player we see on each squad who has either surprised us or confirmed our estimation of their talent through their play over the season’s first five weeks.
ARIZONA: QB David Carr
No surprise here as Carr’s numbers have been nothing short of MVP material. Five games in and he is on pace for over 4,200 yards and 55 touchdowns. Just ridiculous production.
ATLANTA: DE Chris Kelsay
Not a lot has gone right for the 1-4 Fire, but no one is complaining about Chris Kelsay’s production. He has 7 sacks and 25 tackles after 5 games, a nice pace to possibly hit 20 sacks on the season.
BALTIMORE: WR Brian Hartline
While Darrius Heyward-Bey has been quieter than usual, Hartline, long considered a possession guy, is averaging nearly 32 yards per catch and has over 500 yards with 4 touchdowns in the first third of the season.
BIRMINGHAM: CB Antonio Cromartie
We thought we might give this to T. J. Yeldon, who has been steady this year, but Cromartie is proving his worth each week with 13 passes defended and 33 tackles so far this season.
CHARLOTTE: WR D. J. Hackett
An underappreciated talent league-wide, Hackett just puts up numbers every single year. He is sitting at 33 receptions, 527 yards and 2 TDs after 5 weeks, which is a pace to reach 1,600 yards and possibly 100 receptions as well.
CHICAGO: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
Chicago fans are warming up to their new QB and his infectious enthusiasm. A 7:1 TD:INT ratio is also helping a lot.
DALLAS: DE Larry English
The 28th ranked Roughneck defense has few bright spots to boast about, but 7-year vet English is certainly one of them. His 6 sacks and 5 tackles for loss are one of the few good notes in a pretty sour defensive symphony of errors.
DENVER: WR/KR Kevin White
The fact that White is our standout player may be a bad sign for Denver. But, that said, White is getting it done on punt returns (11.7 average) and is 2nd on the team with 15 receptions.
HOUSTON: WR Roy Williams
While Mike Evans gets most of the hype, it is Williams who is leading the 4-1 Gamblers in receptions (18), yards (520) and average (28.9).
JACKSONVILLE: DE Barkevious Mingo
Mingo is beginning to find his groove in his 4th season, and his 7 sacks have helped Jacksonville start strong with a top 10 defense against the pass.
LAS VEGAS: QB Cody Pickett
Pickett is silencing the doubters in Las Vegas with a strong first quarter. He boasts a 10:3 TD:INT ratio, a QB rating of 93.3, and has been the key to the Viper offense all season.
LOS ANGELES: FS David Young
Young leads the Express with 3 picks, but is also solid against the run, with 12 tackles on backs this year.
MEMPHIS: HB Anthony Allen
We thought of giving the award collectively to the Memphis O-line, considering the success the Showboats have had with all their backs, but it was Allen’s strong performances that kept the team afloat when Gurley went down, so we give the nod to the career backup.
MICHIGAN: CB Dre Kirkpatrick
Yes, LeVeon Bell is having another monster season, but we wanted to recognize one of the best corners in the game, and Kirkpatrick’s 4 picks already this season make that easier to justify.
NEW JERSEY: DE Vic Beasley
The break out star of the Generals this year, Beasley is hanging close to Campbell, which is pretty lofty real estate.
NEW ORLEANS: LB Kevin Minter
Minter has become a true leader on the Breaker defense, not only with his 39 tackles, but as the defensive play caller and on-field motivator.
OAKLAND: LB Bobby Wagner
Another linebacker having a huge impact this year, Wagner not only leads the Invaders in tackles (41) but has 3 picks and 2 forced fumbles as well. Those are All-USFL numbers for a player who is getting more and more attention across the league.
OHIO: LB James Laurinaitis
Our third LB in a row, Laurinaitis is having his best year as a pro with 45 tackles so far. Ohio relies on his steady hand and good instincts as they have improved on defense and now boast a Top 10 squad in yards allowed.
ORLANDO: QB Russell Wilson
The Renegades are 4-1 in large part because of the more controlled, more precise play of Wilson. The 5th year pro is beginning to look like a more focused and dangerous QB than ever before.
PHILADELPHIA: HB Derrick Henry
No question here. Henry has been the story of the season so far for the Stars. He has 5 TDs already and has even started to stay on the field on passing downs. He is a serious candidate, the favorite, for Rookie of the Year.
PITTSBURGH: WR Victor Cruz
Cruz has stepped up with Thielen injured, and has put up big numbers all season, leading the club with over 580 yards receiving and 4 touchdowns. If Pittsburgh can pull themselves back into this season, Cruz will be a big reason why.
PORTLAND: LB Channing Crowder
Portland has not been able to count on much this season, but they can always rely on Crowder to be in the mix and in on the tackle.
SAN DIEGO: HB Ryan Williams
The biggest reason San Diego is a surprising 4-1 is the acquisition of the former Invader halfback. Williams sits at 401 yards after 5 weeks and when he is on, defenses struggle to keep him contained.
SEATTLE: LB Calvin Pace
We struggled to find a high achiever on the Dragons in their 0-5 start. We knew it would not be on offense, but on the D there is no shining star, so we give the award to the most reliable, if not the most dynamic player.
ST. LOUIS: WR Eric Weems
Weems has come on as a true number 2 receiver, helping take pressure off Jordy Nelson with his 23 catches, 326 yards and 3 scores so far this year.
TAMPA BAY: CB Philip Buchanon
Tied for the league lead with 4 interceptions, Buchanon also has 27 tackles and a defensive TD, one of the bright spots for a rough 1-4 Bandits’ start.
TEXAS: HB Marshawn Lynch
With 428 yards over 5 games, Lynch is well on his way to 1,000 and has largely broken out of the rotation with Chris Johnson. Lynch has 106 carries to Johnson’s 14 so far this year, and we are not seeing any reason that should change.
WASHINGTON: KR Wendell Smallwood
There have not been a lot of stellar individual performances this year in Washington, but one player who has caught a lot of people’s eyes is rookie return man Wendell Smallwood, who is averaging nearly 15 yards per punt return and is also sharing kick returns with fellow rookie Tyreek Hill.
League Signs Deal with Under Armour, Expands Uniform Plans
The USFL announced this week that it had come to an agreement with Under Armour to be the uniform partner for a 5-year span from 2018-2023, with the option to extend to 2028. The deal means that Adidas’s contract will not be renewed and will once again likely produce a wave of new looks across the league over the contract’s extension. Under Armour has been a growing presence in youth and college athletic uniform design, and now gets a major contract to produce football uniforms for the league. They are expected, as others have, to partner with Riddell, the official helmet purveyor for the league, on any new designs. And we should expect that there will be new designs as the league also announced some uniform guideline adjustments.
In addition to the league signing on with a new uniform designer, one expected to work with 5-6 teams per year to refresh their looks, the USFL announced two significant updates to the uniform code for its 28 member teams. The first is an allowance for teams to use up to 2 distinct helmets per year. There was a brief period in the 1990’s when this was permitted, but concerns regarding safety led to a one-helmet rule similar to that initiated by the NFL. The decision to allow alternate helmets is considered one of the major stepping stones to allow the USFL to develop more alternative looks with the new Under Armour contract.
Each team will be allowed to use two distinct shells, which means that a team could develop a home helmet and an away helmet, revert to an older helmet color for throwback looks, or develop a limited use alternative look. As an example, the Baltimore Blitz, who currently use a deep royal blue helmet with silver and white decals could offer a silver alternative or provide a retro look with a silver shell and earlier logos. The expansion of options from 1 shell to 2 opens up both retro looks for some teams and alternates for others.
The other alteration to uniform codes is specifically around the question or throwback looks. The league is actively encouraging teams to consider development of official throwback uniforms, but would limit their use to rivalry games in which both teams agree to don “old school” looks. What this means is that while the Stallions and Showboats could both wear designs and logos from the 1980’s they could only do this in games when both agree to do so, eliminating the option for Memphis to go retro while Birmingham does not. It would also preclude the option for Memphis to wear a retro look against a team like St. Louis, which did not exist in the same era. Essentially what the league seems to be pushing for is era-specific clashes. With each team allowed 2 helmets, but no limitation on decals, a team like Washington, which has had several different logos but always on a white or silver helmet, to be able to recreate looks from any period of their history.
Under Armour has not made any statements about the alternate or throwback options, other than to say that they are planning on working with all 28 teams to ensure that each club has a look that is both recognizable and timeless. Expect to hear more as we enter 2017 and the Adidas deal concludes, including an announcement next year as to how many and which teams will be the first to undergo major overhauls when UA takes over provision of team uniforms and fan apparel.
Renegades Reveal “Jawsome” New Branding
While we are on the topic of uniform design, we have to talk about the results of the Orlando Renegades’ brand reinvention and fan poll. As you will recall, after nearly 30 years in which the main image of the club has been a tomahawk, pressure from Native American groups, as well as the potential for the team to lose its unique trademark option on their tomahawk logo, led Orlando to seek a new branding focus. The club revealed 3 different animal designs back in January, with a boar, a mammoth, and a shark as the three options to be considered. All three new brands retained the club’s traditional blue, silver, and black look, while replacing the Native American imagery with an animal emphasis. Well, the vote has wrapped up and the winner was announced this week.
The concept of a “Renegade” will now be focused on the image of a rogue shark. The shark design, featuring a silver and white blacktip shark with black outlines and a Renegade Blue splash of water won the fan survey by nearly 40,000 votes, sending a clear message that despite Orlando being a landlocked city in the Florida peninsula, fans still identified the city and region with the state’s extensive coastline and coastal culture. The Renegades partnered with Adidas to remake their image and this week they revealed new uniforms that would take to the field in 2017 along with a new marketing campaign focused on the toothy aquatic predators.
The uniform features the white helmet with black facemask and wrap-around logo that was seen in the later weeks of the vote. This helmet returns Orlando to the ranks of the league teams wearing white helmets, joining Washington, New Orleans, San Diego, and the newly-converted Seattle Dragons.
The white helmet will be paired with white and Renegade blue jerseys. The sleeves feature a unique striping pattern that incorporates a shark fin into the design and blue sleeve caps. The white jersey will have white sleeves with the blue caps, while the blue jersey will have silver-grey sleeves with the same blue sleeve caps. The three pant sets (white, blue, and silver) all feature the team’s new secondary logo, based on the sleeve striping with a background monogram “O” carrying over from past designs, along with a wide horizontally slanted stripe and two thinner stripes.
According to team officials, the primary uniforms will be the white top with blue pants and the blue top with white pants, with silver reserved for limited use and an all-white combo available for particularly hot afternoon games in the later part of the season. It is a look that is very much new for the Renegades but incorporates the color palette and some traditional elements that help retain the identity of the Renegades over the past 30 seasons.
A heavily inter-divisional week with only 5 division games on the slate, though we do start the weekend off with one as we have Dallas visiting the Texas Outlaws, who play this game in Houston as part of their 2016 stadium rotation. ON Saturday we have some good inter-divisional games, such as Michigan @ Washington and a surprising battle of 4-1 squads when Memphis head out to San Diego. On Saturday night the double-header features two divisional battles. Baltimore will try to double up their wins in their back-to-back series with Philadelphia on NBC and then on ESPN/EFN the Oakland Invaders head up to Seattle to take on the winless Dragons.
Sunday is headlined by another 4-1battle, this one the national game on Fox as the co-leaders of the Southeastern Division, Orlando and Charlotte face off at BOA Stadium. A few other games to tune in for include New Orleans @ Portland with the winner returning to .500 after rough starts to the season, Las Vegas @ Denver, with a similar result for the winner, and Ohio @ Pittsburgh in what used to be a divisional rivalry but is now just a regional matchup.
Friday @ 8pm ET Dallas (1-4) @ Texas (4-1) NBC
Saturday @ 12pm ET Michigan (4-1) @ Washington (3-2) ABC
Saturday @ 12pm ET Arizona (5-0) @ Chicago (2-3) FOX
Saturday @ 4pm ET Memphis (4-1) @ San Diego (4-1) ABC
Saturday @ 4pm ET New Jersey (3-2) @ Houston (4-1) FOX
Saturday @ 7pm ET Baltimore (1-4) @ Philadelphia (3-2) NBC
Saturday @ 9pm ET Oakland (3-2) @ Seattle (0-5) ESPN/EFN
Sunday @ 12pm ET Tampa Bay (1-4) @ Birmingham (2-3) ABC Regional
Sunday @ 12pm ET Jacksonville (3-2) @ Atlanta (1-4) ABC Regional
Sunday @ 12pm ET Orlando (4-1) @ Charlotte (4-1) FOX
Sunday @ 4pm ET New Orleans (2-3) @ Portland (2-3) ABC
Sunday @ 4pm ET Las Vegas (2-3) @ Denver (2-3) FOX Regional
Sunday @ 4pm ET Los Angeles (2-3) @ St. Louis (1-4) FOX Regional
Sunday @ 8pm ET Ohio (2-3) @ Pittsburgh (1-4) ESPN/EFN
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