2017 USFL Week 11 Recap: Showboats Swamp the Stars!

Bomber gets the Oakland faithful ready to roll.

A shocking upset as Memphis takes down the Stars in Philadelphia, a happy Houston squad now the lone unbeaten as they take care of business in Charlotte. A beauty of a game between two title contenders as San Diego outlasts Michigan on Saturday night and the season’s first tie as the Maulers, with Kevin Hogan again impressing at QB, nearly get the big upset in Denver. Overall a great week to be a USFL fan, with a lot of tight games, high drama, and big performances. We are going to break it all down, including a close look at that nice Michigan-San Diego showdown, and all the scores from the week. We start it off with a story on something that we have always know, but which this season is proving to be absolutely true, that QB health and good QB play is the key to success in the USFL.

2017 Showing How Vital QB Health Is

If there were any doubters that the USFL is a QB-driven league, or that the ability to protect and keep your star QB on the field is vital to success, the 2017 USFL season is putting any doubts to rest. Whether it is looking at the success of teams who have prioritized quality QB play and QB protection, teams like Houston, Arizona, or Philadelphia, or if you look at the fate of teams who have proven unable to keep their star QB’s on the field, teams like Oakland, Orlando, or St. Louis, well the story is the same. Having a healthy leader on the field is huge. Losing your star QB is devastating.

Honestly, we don’ t even have to look at the current situations in places like Oakland and Orlando, where the losses of Joey Harrington and Russell Wilson have all but sunk the playoff hopes of each team. Just look at the ongoing saga of Joe Flacco in Oklahoma. Here is a QB that has won an MVP and 4 All-USFL honors, who has led his team to great success in the past, and who is widely regarded as one of the best pure passers in the league. The problem is that he is also a statue in the pocket, lacking even the minimal escapability that other larger QBs like Ben Roethlisberger, Sam Bradford or Andy Dalton possess. When you pair that with an offensive line that is rated as one of the 10 worst in the league, what you get is a QB who is getting sacked far more often than any sane man would want to. And while Flacco’s numbers are still solid (2,900 yards and a 17:8 TD:INT ratio), the results are not coming, with Oklahoma only averaging 21 points per game and sitting at 4-7.

But, of course, the cases of the Renegades and Invaders are even clearer. When Joey Harrington went down in Week 5 the Invaders simply did not have a response. Yes, Ryan Lindley is not exactly a wet behind the ears rookie, but the 6th year QB had not started a game since his last year in Tampa Bay back in 2014. He has struggled since coming in as the new starter, with a 69.3 QB rating and more picks than TDs. With a team whose WR group has been decimated by free agency and which depends on a rookie HB for much of their offensive spark, having a backup playing 11 of team’s 16 games has not been a scenario for success for Oakland, who currently sit outside of playoff position at 5-6.

Orlando was looking very solid until they lost Russel Wilson 3 weeks ago. They were sitting atop the SE Division at 5-3, but three consecutive losses, and a significant drop in offensive productivity now have the Renegades underwater at 5-6, and seeking a new path forward. The ‘Gades looked absolutely lost this week in a 23-0 shellacking by Baltimore. Connor Shaw, the 4th year backup who has barely seen the field in past seasons was overwhelmed by a somewhat shaky Baltimore defense, which does not bode well for the next 5 weeks. Sacked 5 times and indecisive even when he was not pressured, Shaw is not the answer, but with the league trade deadline come and gone, there are not a lot of options left. Some expect Orlando to bring in NFL free agent Geno Smith, but that could take weeks to develop and the Renegades just don’t have weeks to spare.

So, the story is not a new one, but it is a lesson for every head coach out there. Get the best QB you can get, protect the hell out of him, and make sure that you have a backup who is ready to go, just in case. Failure to do this could be the difference between a deep playoff run and a disappointing season watching the post-season from the couch. This is the USFL after all, the league that brought us Hebert, Kelly, Flutie, Favre, Aikman, and Collins. This is a Quarterback League.

MICHIGAN PANTHERS 30  SAN DIEGO THUNDER 34

Two division leaders, both with impressive 8-2 records, going head to head in what could be a preview of a Western Conference playoff clash. That sounds like a pretty good ticket, and that was what we had in San Diego when the Michigan Panthers, led by tailback LeVeon Bell came to southern California to face Joe Webb and the San Diego Thunder for the Saturday Night Special on ESPN and EFN.

Michigan came to San Diego winners of 4 straight, but it had been a while since the Panthers had faced a team with a winning record, not since Week 6 when they lost in Ohio. Since then they have had a relatively easy time of it with games against Tampa Bay, Chicago, Atlanta, and Portland. For the Thunder, who have won 8 of 9 since losing their season opener to the Express, the road has been a bit tougher, and after a huge Week 10 win at LA, the Thunder were feeling very much like the Pacific Division was theirs to claim, if they could avoid some intra-divisional losses. So the stage was set for a great matchup of two teams with very high aspirations.

The game would not disappoint. San Diego, knowing the key to Michigan’s offense was halfback LeVeon Bell, would design their defensive gameplan around run blitzes and outside containment. For Michigan the mission was to keep Joe Webb contained, forcing him to be a pocket passer, and to have eyes on Chad Johnson at all times. Both gameplans would have their moments, but both would also break down as this game slowly moved from the teens into the 20s and then into the 30s, with both clubs finding ways to put points on the board.

The game opened with Michigan in possession, and after a couple of initial first downs, San Diego’s run blitz worked as drawn up on a key third and short. Myles Jack crashed down on Bell before the back could clear the backfield, producing a 1-yard loss on 3rd and 3 and forcing a Michigan punt. But, Panther punter Chris Jones nailed the coffin corner kick and San Diego found itself backed up on their own 2. After a run for no gain by Lamar Miller, Michigan DE Michael Bennett came after Joe Webb on 2nd and 10, was held in the endzone and the safety was awarded to the Panthers. Not an auspicious start for the Thunder offense.

Michigan would add to their 2-point lead with the post-safety possession, starting just short of the 50. The Panthers used the short field to quickly strike at the Thunder defense. On a 1st and 10 from the Thunder 39, play action pulled in the safeties, concerned about Bell charging to the left, but it was TE Martellus Bennett, going from left to right who was the true focus of the play. With the safeties out of position, Cousins was able to hit Bennett in stride, and the big man found the path to the endzone with only marginal threat of being tackled by the cornerback. Michigan had played the Thunder’s concern over Bell perfectly and now held a 9-point advantage.

But, on the next Thunder possession, Michigan’s defensive scheme, to contain and control Joe Webb’s movement, would prove absolutely ineffective. Webb dropped back to pass on a 1st and 10, saw a crease in the pocket, took off through the hole, and proceeded to make Michigan defenders look both slow and foolish on his path downfield. He got some good blocks from his receivers, occupying cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick and FS Kenny Phillips, and allowing Webb’s run to reach paydirt. It was an 86-yard scamper that caused the partisan Thunder crowd to erupt and sent shivers down Coach McDermott’s spine. He would need to adjust his plans, put a spy on Webb at all times, and risk big plays from others because his containment plan failed miserably on the first true San Diego possession.

The Panther offense would respond to the quick strike from San Diego, mounting a 13-play drive that finished with Cousins connecting with B. J. Cunningham, in the game for injured WR Jerrel Jernigan, for a short TD toss to go up 9 once again, 16-7. But San Diego was still feeling the energy from the long Webb TD run, and the second quarter would largely be dominated by the Thunder offense. The Thunder would score 17 points in the period, to Michigan’s lone 2nd quarter field goal. The first strike came after the first of Michigan QB Kirk Cousin’s three picks on the day. A tipped ball, this first pick gave San Diego the ball on the Michigan 29 after Kyle Van Noy, blitzing on the run, instead clipped the ball coming off Cousin’s hand and FS Mark Barron snagged the tipped ball for the first of his 2 picks on the day. From the 29, San Diego needed only 4 plays to put the ball in the endzone, with HB Terrance West doing the honros from 8 yards out.

Michigan would score their lone points of the quarter on the ensuing drive, a Michael Beam field goal pushing their lead up to 19-14, but San Diego responded quickly, moving the ball from their own 27 to the Michigan 30 in only 5 plays before Joe Webb found Nick Toon on a deep ball, with a perfectly thrown strike to the endzone, brought in by the lanky wideout. The score gave San Diego their first lead of the game at 21-19, and with a field goal in the final seconds added to the total, San Diego went into the half with a 24-19 lead and a sense that momentum was theirs.

But the third quarter proved that both coaches knew how to make adjustments at the half. Neither offense found it easy to move the ball in the period. Kirk Cousins suffered his 2nd pick, this time just a poor throw that was easy pickings for CB Tye Smith. But, Joe Webb also found it hard to connect with his receivers, suffering 2 picks of his own in the period, in both cases balls intended for Chad Johnson, but both thrown under pressure and finding Michigan CB Jourdan Lewis instead. Michigan had put Lewis on Johnson after the Nick Toon TD, recognizing that while Johnson was a more frequent target, putting Kirkpatrick on Toon was needed to offset the wideout’s speed.

And so, the third quarter saw only one lone score, a long field goal from Michael Beam to pull Michigan within 2 points at 24-22. It would come down to the 4th quarter in what had to be a frustrating game for fans on the East Coast, now heading towards midnight without a clear leader in the game. The period began with Michigan in possession, moving the ball slowly into San Diego territory, but once again a forced ball would be the undoing of the drive. Cousins wanted to try play action again to hit Bennett as he had earlier in the game, but this time safety Mark Barron held back when the ball was faked to Bell, and when it headed towards Bennett, Barron was there to take it away.

San Diego used the momentum from that pick to add to their lead, moving the ball down to the Michigan 20 before the drive fizzled on a missed receiver on 3rd and 7. The Thunder added 3 on a Jeff Reed 37-yarder and now lead 27-22. Michigan would need to rebound and Kirk Cousins would need to shake off a 3rd pick in the game. With the run game not proving very effective, it would be up to Cousins to get the ball into scoring range. He did just that by first connecting with TE Rob Housler for 13 yards, then finding Cody Latimer on a huge 42-yard completion, with the Thunder defenders claiming that a rub route had been a pick, but no penalty was called. Michigan had the ball inside the San Diego 20 and was still only down 5 points, despite their earlier errors. It was now that San Diego had their defensive hiccup, much like Michigan had seen with their own glitch on the Webb TD run. Maybe it was a defensive miscall, or maybe LeVeon Bell is just too good to be contained for 4 quarters, but he let loose his best run of the game, breaking a tackle a yard into the play and then putting a smooth juke move on LB Kyle van Noy to find daylight. Once free from the linebacker group, it was over, and Bell raced to the endzone untouched, putting Michigan up 28-27. A 2-point play for the PAT found success when Cousins hit Housler in the endzone and Michigan had a 3-point advantage at 30-27 with 6:17 left to play. But, man, that is still a lot of time.

The Panther defense came up huge on the next drive, giving hope to Panther fans back East that they would hold on over the final 6 minutes. They forced a quick 3-and-out on the Thunder, aided by a holding call on 2nd down, but locked up with a nice defensive play by Kirkpatrick on Nick Toon on 3rd and 16. But, the Panther offense fizzled on the next possession, perhaps going a bit too conservative with 3 consecutive runs. Both Bell and Mike Hart were bottled up and after failing to convert with a run on 3rd and 5, the Panthers were forced to kick the ball right back to San Diego with 3:03 left to play.

San Diego would not be bottled up on this final drive. They knew that all they needed was a field goal, an Michigan knew the same, but the Thunder still used a sense of urgency, going to a no huddle and seeking to convert for new first downs on earlier downs. The strategy worked as the Thunder earned three first downs without facing a single third down, Webb finding receivers open in the 7-9 yard range consistently. A nicye draw play to Terrance West produced a 16 yard gain, and at the 2-minute warning, San Diego was on the edge of the red zone looking to take the game away from the visiting Panthers.

It would take San Diego only 4 plays and 22 seconds from there to score the go-ahead touchdown. ESPN color commentator Steve Young pointed out that the Thunder may well have scored too soon, with Nick Toon getting his second TD on a 9-yard fade route with 1:47 left to play. Young feared that the Thunder had given Michigan more than enough time to come back, but, that down by 4, they would need to go the full length of the field to score.

The Panthers would get the ball on their own 28 after a nice return by Ted Ginn Jr. but they would not find success on their last minute drive. A false start on the very first play made it 1st and 15 at the 23, and 2 plays later they would be called for a 2nd penalty, an illegal hands to the face. They ended up facing a daunting 3rd and 16, which became 4th and 16 after an incomplete pass to Latimer. On 4th down, San Diego rushed only 3, keeping everyone back. When Cousins found TE Bennie Cunningham 10 yards downfield, the Thunder defense swarmed the big receiver and he failed to gain the needed 6 additional yards, a turnover on downs and a victory formation was all that was left in the game.

San Diego is proving themselves a formidable foe, with a solid defense (7th against the run and in oversall scoring). Michigan played a good game, made a few too many mistakes and, outside of the one TD run, were never truly able to free up LeVeon Bell, who finished with only 57 yards rushing. San Diego now moves to 9-2, on the cusp of a playoff berth and only 1 game behind the Wranglers for that coveted 1-seed and home field advantage.

HOUSTON 19  CHARLOTTE 14

The Gamblers come back from a 14-3 deficit, scoring the game’s final 16 points to stay unbeaten at 11-0. Charlotte had them early, thanks to a big day from HB Adrian Peterson (107 yards, including 73 and a TD in the first half), but Houston roared back with Mike Evans producing 132 yards receiving and the defense coming up huge with the winning score, a 30-yard pick-six from Kenny Vaccaro. Mitch Trubisky heard boo birds as his pick led to the loss, picks remaining a huge issue for the rookie.

POTG: Houston SS Kenny Vaccaro: 2 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD

DALLAS 13  ARIZONA 26

Keeping his word to his starter, Coach Sherman put Manziel back in the game as the starter, but facing Arizona after a 6-week hiatus is no easy task and Dallas struggled to put offense together. It did not help that the run game was held to only 45 yards on 30 attempts. Arizona faired much better with Frank Gore and Ka’Deem Carey combining for 104 and 2 scores. Larry Fitzgerald added 97 yards and a score as Arizona moves to 10-1 on the year.

POTG: Wrangler DE Adam Carriker: 3 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF

BALTIMORE 23  ORLANDO 0

An ugly game for the Renegades as their offense only accounted for 199 total yards and QB Connor Shaw looked rattled all game long, sacked 3 times, but also fumbling without contact twice. Baltimore only had Big Ben for the first quarter before an injury knocked him out, but Jake Locker came in, threw for a score and helped Baltimore earn the win. The shutout was almost lost in the closing seconds, but a late Billy Cundiff field goal hooked left from 48 yards out.

POTG: Blitz WR Brian Hartline: 4 Rec, 119 Yds, 1 TD

MEMPHIS 20  PHILADELPHIA 10

An absolute shocker as one week after throwing 4 picks in a blowout loss to New Jersey, Paxton Lynch and the Showboats come into Philadelphia and knock the Stars from the ranks of the unbeaten. Lynch went 18 of 27 for 194, with 2 TDs and, more importantly, no picks. Anthony Allen was the key to the game for Memphis, rushing for 132 yards on 27 carries, he kept Philadelphia in a base defense and off balance all game long. The defense also played well, holding Derrick Henry to only 47 yards rushing and forcing Matt Gutierrez to throw a lot of passes away, producing only a 34.3% completion rate for the Philly QB.

POTG: Memphis HB Anthony Allen: 27 Att, 132 Yds

PITTSBURGH 27  DENVER 27  OVERTIME

With Andy Dalton again sidelined by injury, Kevin Hogan had another opportunity to impress, and he did, going 31 of 56 for 317 yards and nearly pulling off the road upset in Denver. Hogan hit Anthony Hill late in the 4th to tie the game, but neither team could get a score on the board in overtime, so the game ended in a tie. For Denver, the star of the game was HB Jamaal Charles, who rushed for 120 and 2 scores, while his backfield mate, DeMarco Murray also played well, adding 70 yards and a score on 19 carries as Denver used a ground & pound strategy, but could not get the W yet again.

POTG: Mauler QB Kevin Hogan: 31/56, 317 Yds, 1 TD, 2 Int

CHICAGO 27  OAKLAND 24

Oakland continues to backslide without Joey Harrington at the helm. Ryan Lindley threw 2 picks, including a costly pick-six to Micah Hyde in this one, while Matt Forte rushed for 73 and a score for Chicago. Chicago capitalized on 4 Invader turnovers to take the narrow win and provide Oakland with a third straight defeat, dropping them below .500.

POTG: Chicago FS Micah Hyde: 4 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD

WASHINGTON 7  LOS ANGELES 37

Sean Payton tried to shake things up by starting Tajh Boyd at QB and newly-signed Chris Johnson at HB. The plan failed, though Johnson’s 65 yards on 9 carries were solid. LA simply dominated, with Sam Bradford throwing for 4 TDs and the combo of Reggie Bush and Paul Perkins combining for 119 yards rushing. The result? Payton was let go on Monday, with 5 games still to play.

POTG: LA quarterback Sam Bradford: 25/32, 285 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int

TAMPA BAY 19  ATLANTA 10

The Bandits pull off the road upset in Atlanta thanks to a big day from HB Rex Burkhead (26 carries for 126 yards) and 2 Aaron Murray picks. Atlanta was only 1 of 9 on third down as Tampa’s defense played one of its better games this season. Burkhead and backup Davante Booker combined for 167 yards rushing, allowing the Bandits to control the clock and grind out the win.

POTG: Bandit HB Rex Burkhead: 26 Att, 123 Yds, 3 Rec, 14 Yds

ST. LOUIS 10  JACKSONVILLE 37

The Bulls roll past St. Louis, thanks to a defense that sacked Skyhawk QB Blaine Gabbert 4 times and picked him off on 3 more drop backs. Robert Griffin III largely stayed in the pocket, completing 28 of 40 passes, including TD tosses to Matt jones and Reuben Randle as the Bulls win at home in front of nearly 50,000 happy fans.

POTG: Bulls HB Matt Jones: 14 Att, 91 Yds, 1 TD, 5 Rec, 11 Yds, 1 TD

BIRMINGHAM 14  NEW ORLEANS 32

The Breakers welcomed back Drew Brees and their QB thanked them with a 1st quarter TD, all part of a 20-0 start that the Stallions never recovered from. Brees finished with 288 yards passing on 15 of 25. He got a lot of help from his backfield as Leonard Fournette (86) and Doug Wilson (85) combined for 171 yards and a score. Cam Newton could be seen yelling at his coaches for a good part of the 2nd half, and after the game was heard demanding a trade.

POTG: Breaker WR Jordy Nelson: 6 Rec, 138 Yds

OKLAHOMA 14  LAS VEGAS 38

Someone please buy Joe Flacco some protection! The Oklahoma QB was again battered and beaten as Las Vegas sacked Flacco 7 times and hit him many more. They also picked off Flacco twice and limited Marshawn Lynch to a measly 19 yards on the day. Meanwhile, Jeff Tuel had a solid game, throwing for 2 scores and rushing for a 3rd as Las Vegas gets above .500 at 6-5.

POTG: Viper DE Mario Addison: 6 Tck, 2 Sck

OHIO 16  SEATTLE 35

The Dragons look better and better each week, blowing past the Glory at home thanks to 309 yards from QB Jacoby Brissett, 94 on the ground from C. J. Anderson, and a huge game for Emmanuel Sanders, with 146 yards receiving and a TD. The Seattle defense also played extremely well, sacking Ohio QB Christian Hackenberg 6 times, including a safety from LB Khalil Mack.

POTG: Dragon WR Emmanuel Sanders: 6 Rec, 146 Yds, 1 TD

NEW JERSEY 17  PORTLAND 10

Portland continues to stay in games, but drops to 1-10, becoming the first club officially out of the playoff hunt. In an odd game, all 27 points scored happened in the first half, with both clubs unable to mount any offense in the 2nd half. Nick Foles completed 19 of 25 passing and MJD rushed for 100 yards as New Jersey built up the 7-point lead and then held Portland at bay in the second half.

POTG: New Jersey DE Aaron Kampman: 4 Tck, 1 Sck

Payton and Ireland Relieved of Duties as Washington Destroyed by Express

To say the 2017 season has not been what the Washington Federals expected would be an understatement. The Federals are sitting at 2-9, on the cusp of elimination from playoff contention with 5 weeks left, and both the offense and the defense are bottom 3 in the league. While injuries have certainly played a part in this year’s failures, there was a lot going wrong even before the IR list started to grow, and something had to be done.

That was essentially the message provided to fans and the press as the Federals announced that both Head Coach Sean Payton and GM Jeff Ireland had been let go with 5 weeks left in the 2017 season. The Federals have been simply atrocious this year, and it is no surprise that both leadership positions would be let go this year, but Week 11 feels just a bit early, even for a team struggling to only 2 wins in 11 attempts. So, Sean Payton leaves Washington with a 94-75 record over 11 seasons. He had taken Washington to the playoffs 6 consecutive years, from 2008-2013, but had a 3-6 record in the postseason, never advancing past the Divisional Round. And since 2013, the Federals have been on the decline, with back-to-back 7-9 seasons, followed by an 8-8 campaign last year, spurring hope that perhaps they had turned the corner, but now, at 2-9 it seems clear that the bottom has dropped out.

For Jeff Ireland, who helped bring many of Washington’s star players to the team, including QB David Garrard, WR Keenan Allen, and LB Shawn Merriman, a 5-year tenure with the Feds is also over. Fans have been on Ireland for his inability to find an adequate replacement for legendary back Deuce McCallister, saddling the team with the worst run game in the league this season. Cap issues are also a factor in the decision to let Ireland go, as the Federals currently sit with less than $2M in available room and some big names to resign this offseason, including WR Brandon LaFell, LB Alec Ogletree, DE Mathias Kiawanuka, and DT Atiyyah Ellison.

For now, interim staff will fill both positions, with OC Mike Neu taking over as the interim Head Coach. Neu, who did not have play-calling duties under Payton, now takes over not only the offensive play calls, but the entire team as they play out the season. Head Scout John Finisterre will take over as GM until a hire can be made. Neu and Finisterre are not likely to be offered the permanent positions, not without a miraculous turnaround over the next 5 weeks, so the search for both a new coach and a GM to manage the offseason likely begin in earnest.

Do Allen & Burkhead Deserve Lead Back Status?

With 100-yard efforts this week, both Memphis HB Anthony Allen and Tampa Bay HB Rex Burkhead have once again shown that they have what it takes to be successful, and the question now becomes whether their best option is to stay where they are, essentially taking 2nd seat to their team’s designated lead back, or to move on and seek an opportunity to take on the lead back role. Both backs seem capable of performing at a high level, so why do they sit in the 2nd position in Memphis and Tampa?

Anthony Allen has over 600 yards rushing this year, and now, with Todd Gurley hurt, he is the de facto lead back for the Showboats. This is not the first time he has taken on that role, and he has had success in the past, so the question has to be why he gets supplanted by Gurley when the Georgia product is healthy? Couldn’t, perhaps, shouldn’t Allen be seeking a chance to be the primary back for a club. His 132-yard game this week certainly looked like the work of a true lead back, not a fill in. Since taking over for Gurley in Week 6, Allen has averaged over 80 yards per game, good enough to finish a full year at over 1,200 yards. That is not only lead back material, that is All-USFL material.

In Tampa Bay, Rex Burkhead’s position has never been clearly defined. He is used in short yardage, but also as a receiver on 3rd down. Injuries have often allowed him to take on more of a role, as he did last year when in 10 starts he had over 570 yards rushing, and this year, when in 5 starts he is looking at over 500 yards, including back-to-back 100-yard games the past two weeks. Burkhead may not be the prototypical bell cow back, but he certainly has shown he can be effective. As much as Tampa Bay wants to lean on rookie Dalvin Cook, it is Burkhead who appears the better option more often than not. So, will the Bandits give their veteran back a true shot at taking on the lead role, or should Burkhead, like Allen, consider other options, other locations where they may be able to earn that full-time starting gig.

Is Mike Riley Locking Up Coach of the Year?

A month into the season and many were wondering if Mike Riley would survive the year as Seattle’s coach. Now there is a lot of talk that he could walk away with the Coach of the Year award. Amazing what a 6-game win streak can do for you. But it is not just the wins, though certainly they are very big in the picture, it is the shift in how Seattle sees itself as a team and how others see them as well. The Dragons went into the season as a very obvious rebuild project. They had an untested 2nd year QB at the helm of the offense, big questions in the receiving corps and all across the defense. And yet, after 11 weeks, Seattle boasts a Top 5 offense, averaging 24.3 points per game, and a defense that has not given up 20 points in over a month, including holding New Jersey to 6 points and both Baltimore and Oakland to only 10.

That is an impressive run, and Mike Riley is being noticed as someone who looked at the talent around his team and figured out how best to use them. On offense, he implemented a short passing game, allowing QB Jacoby Brissett to have 1 or 2 reads and then get rid of the ball. He is mixing up the targets as well, making sure that both Emmanuel Sanders and Mike Wallace are getting plenty of looks, but also allowing the TE position to be a factor, with both Tyler Kroft and Dennis Pitta seeing plenty of targets. On defense, Riley is using a high pressure system to bring 5 or 6 defenders at the QB, trusting his 5-man secondary of safeties Goldson and Schillinger and the 3-corner setup of Richard Sherman, Xavien Howard and nickel Richard Crawford, take on receivers, challenging quick routes and making it tough to get deep.

With 5 weeks of action left to go, and certainly other feel-good stories across the league, including nice coaching jobs by Dick LeBeau in San Diego, Rick Neuheisel in Las Vegas, Jim Harbaugh in Philadelphia, and Tom Coughlin in Ohio, the Coach of the Year is not a lock, but Riley is certainly making the case that the competition starts and ends with him. If the Dragons keep winning, and keep rising up the power rankings, he may well get his recognition come this year’s Awards Dinner.

Was Newton Venting or Truly Demanding a Trade?

That is the question all Stallion fans want answered. Cam Newton’s post-game rant, caught on tape by reporters in the locker room included some pretty harsh words directed at his teammates, and the team in general. A lot of raving about how his talents are being wasted, about the lack of effort from others, or the lack of focus by the team as a whole, but the moment that has erupted online and in the local media is when Newton went right up to Head Coach Henry Ellard and demanded a trade. “

“You don’t respect me, what I can do. So trade me! Get me out of here! Because I can play this game but not the way you are using me. I should be dominating this league! I should be winning titles, but I am not getting a chance! If you don’t want me to be me, then I don’t want to be here! Trade me or I am quitting this whole thing! I can go to the NFL! I can go to Canada! I don’t need you or this team!” Newton could be heard yelling on the recording from a local reporter. That tape is now one of the most downloaded and debated stories of the week.

For Stallion fans, the words their star QB belted out are exactly what they dreaded, that their best player, tired of playing on teams that are just not competitive, would demand to leave. Now, neither Coach Ellard or the Stallions’ organization is in any way obligated to trade Newton. Their star QB is under contract with the Stallions through the 2019 season, but Newton does have options. What many fans fear is that he will either become a pariah on the team, refusing to put the effort in to help the team and his teammates, or, even worse, that he will do what Stallion fans saw another star QB do just a decade ago, declare his retirement from the league, a tactic which could still allow Newton to later sign on with the NFL outside of the two league’s strict transfer policy.

It is a loophole neither league likes, but one which the two leagues and their lawyers have yet to find a path to shutting. Newton, if not traded, could well opt out of his contract with Birmingham by signing a retirement filing with the league. That would allow him to become eligible to NFL or CFL teams in as little as 4 months, meaning that he could begin play in the NFL by late fall. It is a risky move, as both league’s have proven very resistant to the strategy ever since the Brett Favre situation back in the early 2000’s. But it is a move Newton could make, or could use as leverage if his true goal is to get out of Birmingham.

If Birmingham decides that it is better to trade Newton and get compensation for him, as opposed to losing him with nothing in hand, there would likely be no shortage of takers, though Newton’s particular skillset and style of play is one that does require a particular offensive mindset, one willing to put pocket passing and a pro-style offense on the back burner and allow for greater freedom for the QB to make run-pass decisions on the fly, something many OC’s and Head Coaches hate to do.

Could we see Newton in a different uniform in 2018? Quite possibly. Could that be an NFL uniform? Also possible. Because Birmingham’s ownership has a lot to lose if they try to play hardball with the QB, and potentially could justify a deal that sends their biggest star elsewhere with the hope of rebuilding around a new star, and with an offense that will better allow others on the team to flourish. It is a tough situation for the Warners (principal owners of the Stallions) and Coach Ellard, but it is one that seems to be unavoidable as long as Newton continues to express the kind of frustration and displeasure with his situation that we saw come out after yet another Stallion loss this week.

Dallas Fans Split on QB Decision

This week’s Roughneck loss in Arizona has produced a new debate in Dallas. Did Coach Sherman make the right call at quarterback? Coach Sherman stuck to his guns, and to a statement he made back in the opening weeks of the season when 2016 starter Johnny Manziel was first issued a 6-game suspension. At the time of the league announcement, Coach Sherman stated unequivocally that Manziel was the starter and that if he was suspended (at the time it was under appeal) he would not lose his position and would be the starter upon his return. In that moment it was a no-brainer position, one fans were glad to hear. After all, Manziel is something of a legendary figure in Texas, from his years and his successes at Texas A&M.

But, with the suspension upheld and beginning in Week 4, Dallas had to move to Plan B, and that Plan was former Charlotte starter Brandon Wheedon, signed by the Roughnecks during camp after a trade with Charlotte that cost Dallas 2 draft picks. Wheedon was the security blanket after Manziel’s DUI arrest this past winter. When the suspension came down, the former Monarch stepped in, fully aware of the promise Coach Sherman had made to Manziel. But, what has happened since has raised doubts about that promise.

Wheedon has played better than expected, looking like his best self, the version we saw take Charlotte to the playoffs in each of the past 4 years, and without the huge issue of turnovers that plagued his final 2 seasons in Charlotte. In his 6-game stint as the Roughneck starter, Wheedon has thrown for over 1,300 yards, garnered a 92.5 QB rating and has limited mistakes, throwing 3 picks vs. 6 touchdowns over that period. He has also helpd produce 3 wins, including last week’s upset of New Orleans.

And that might be the biggest issue fans are having with Coach Sherman’s decision to put Manziel into the game against Arizona as the starter. While Manziel had less than a full week of practice after 6 weeks away from the club, Wheedon was coming off one of the biggest wins of the season for the Roughnecks, a game in which he completed 15 of 20 passes and threw no picks. Yes, he was dinged up in that game, but he was cleared to play this week. Instead of going with the hot hand, Coach Sherman went to an understandably rusty Manziel. And while Manziel did not play horribly, he spent much of the game running from the Wrangler pass rush, completing 16 of 27 passes, but for only 111 yards, often dumping the ball off to his backs and tight ends. His longest pass of the day was for 14 yards, with 7 of those being YAC.

For many, Wheedon should have gotten the start, giving Manziel time to work himself back for Week 12’s much less demanding game at home against a flailing Oakland squad. While many on local sports radio in the DFW area gave Sherman credit for sticking with Manziel as the team’s starter, the question of just how to reintroduce the former Aggie as the starter were abundant. Too fast, too unprepared, too shellshocked by Arizona, those were the claims against the decision and Manziel’s play. So, what does Sherman do now? He has to stick with Manziel, right? But what if “Johnny Football” continues to struggle to find his rhythm? Is there a point where you go back to Wheedon? Dallas may not have a full-blown QB Controversy, but they certainly are not feeling like they have the position locked down and ready to roll.

Five weeks left to play and we have our first playoff berths locked up. And, to no one’s surprise, it is unbeaten Houston and the 10-1 Philadelphia Stars who get their golden tickets. Philadelphia had to have mixed feelings this week, upset by Memphis, their perfect record now showing its first L, but at the same time, due to the events in other games, they lock in a playoff spot. With a 3-game lead over New Jersey, locking up the NE Division is not in play yet, but could be soon. Meanwhile in Houston, the unbeaten Gamblers are flying high, having not only locked down a playoff spot, but winning the Southern Division with 5 weeks left to play. Their attention can now be refocused on locking up the 1 seed and home field advantage, while, always in the background, and growing in power, is the reality that they still have not suffered a single loss this season.

On the downside of the same playoff ranking we find Coach Hamilton and the Portland Stags. After locking up their first division title in 2015, things have gotten a lot darker for the Stags. They went 4-12 last season in a major collapse, and this year sit at 1-10, now officially the first team eliminated from playoff position. With more than a month to go, the Stags could well be playing a lot of games without any team motivations, a long time to be running out the season. 

We are going to call this a light injury week, but don’t tell Orlando we said that. They are not at all happy to lose yet another offensive weapon for the remainder of the year. HB Latavious Murray, part of their 1-2 punch with Knowshon Moreno, suffered an injury in training on Tuesday, a non-game injury but a big one as his quad muscle separated from the femur, a painful injury and one that will require surgery to repair. Memphis also put a key player on IR in safety Calvin Pryor. Pryor had a partial Achilles tear during the game this week at Philly. Memphis will promote Lonnie Ballentine into the starting lineup, with Sean Webb now moved from the practice squad to fill the backup role. In Orlando, Moreno is now likely to take on more carries, but will be relieved by scatback Joique Bell and free agent Javon Ringer, signed on Tuesday. Ringer last played for Michigan, carrying the ball only 20 times in 2016.

OUT

HB         Latavious Murray        ORL       Torn Quad       IR

FS         Calvin Pryor               MEM     Achilles            IR

TE          Kellen Davis                    WSH     Neck             2-4 Weeks

DOUBTFUL

SS          Jabril Peppers                 MGN     Concussion      

OT          Winston Justice              OHI       Foot

 

QUESTIONABLE

DT          Kendall Reyes                PIT         Wrist

FS          Jalen Mills                       LA          Knee

DE          Cameron Jordan             NOR      Concussion

WR         Antonio Bryant              ARZ       Concussion

HB         Ryan Williams               SD          Concussion

Ten Players Who Should Be Looking to Be Traded

With Cam Newton’s outburst, demanding a trade, as well as with the issues surrounding QB play on several teams, the topic of players who should be looking to move has been a popular one around the water cooler this week (wait, who still hangs around water coolers in 2017? Maybe we should say the Keurig?).  So, we thought we would put together our bullpen’s list of 10 players who really ought to be looking for a new home.

QB Kevin Hogan (PIT)

It seems obvious that Hogan is a very capable player, one who should get a shot at starting. While Andy Dalton is in the last year of his contract, no one expects him to be going anywhere, so Hogan, who has one year left on his deal with the Maulers should be speaking to management about letting him get a shot to play elsewhere, while allowing Pitt alum and 2017 Mauler draft pick Nate Peterman step into the backup role.

QB Christian Ponder (SD)

Ponder signed with San Diego in the 2016 NFL transfer window with every expectation that he would get a good shot at the starting job. That first camp Joe Webb held onto the position and has not let go since. Ponder has had some mop up duty and some injury starts, but that is it. He has only 4 pass attempts this season. We know this is not why he came to the Thunder, so perhaps the time is right for him to look for another option. He has 3 more years on his contract, so a trade would be the best option for him right now.

HB Rashad Jennings (OHI)

After a strong 2016, we really expected Jennings to take more carries away from Isaiah Pead, and perhaps even become the primary back, but Coach Coughlin likes Pead’s power and his ball security, and that has kept Jennings largely to a 3rd down role. That feels like a waste for a player who showed us some real ability when Pead was out injured. Jennings is averaging over 4 yards per carry this year, and certainly would garner interest from teams looking to improve their run game, so why not make a deal and get something in return? If not, Jennings is likely gone in 2018 as this is a contract renewal year.

HB Kerwynn Williams (BAL)

Williams signed an extension last year, so he is locked in with the Blitz through 2019, but Anthony Dixon remains the starter and the lead back in Baltimore. Dixon is in a contract year, so perhaps some promises have been made to Williams, which would allow him to get more touches starting next year. If that is the case, then it is Dixon who is likely to be relocated, but what we are seeing this year is that Williams is outperforming Dixon when he gets the chance. Averaging 4.7 yards per touch, Williams has 55 more yards rushing than Dixon despite significantly fewer touches. That seems unsustainable beyond this year if you ask us.

WR Marques Colston (OKL)

We debated on this one. Should we say Joe Flacco instead? Why is Colston, a top receiver closing in on yet another 1,000-yard season a trade candidate? Well, again, it is a contract year for him, and he is likely to shop around, particularly with Oklahoma’s declining offensive production due to poor line play. Rather than have him leave with nothing for Oklahoma in return, the best option for the Outlaws may well be a sign & trade deal with a club before the season is out. The Outlaws could seek a high price for Colston and there are plenty of teams with cap space to sign a long-term deal. They cannot trade him this season, but they could sign him to a short-term deal and then trade him in the offseason.

LB Brian Orakpo (TBY)

Orakpo is a superstar talent on what has to be called a bad defense. He is fighting for the league title in tackles, but nowhere near a league title as a team. He has only 1 more year on his deal with Tampa Bay, and he has to be frustrated with the lack of clear improvement on the Bandit team. If we were his agent, we would be pushing hard for a deal that would send Orakpo to a contender and maybe land Tampa Bay some draft capital to start rebuilding.

LB Kyle Van Noy (SD)

We are picking on a lot of players in the final year of their contracts, but only because they tend to be ideal trade bait for those sign & deal arrangements. Van Noy is having a very strong season for the Thunder, and he certainly seems happy playing in sunny San Diego with a team that could contend for a title. So, why deal him? Well, while San Diego has solid cap space going into the offseason, Van Noy is likely to be looking for a big raise after his performance this year. San Diego already has big money invested in Myles Jack and A. J. Hawk, and while Van Noy is certainly a quality player, it seems unlikely that the Thunder want to invest so much cap space on the LB group when they have other needs as well.

DT Aaron Donald (PIT)

He is generally considered one of the best defenders in the league, and while he is under contract with the Maulers for 2 more seasons, he has to see that the quick rise of the Maulers in 2015 was something of a fluke. Things looked rosey for Pittsburgh 2 seasons ago, when they finished 13-3 and were the Cinderella story of the league. But the Maulers have simply not been able to maintain that momentum, dropping to 6-10 last year and looking very much like another 10-loss club this year. If I were Donald, I would want more. It is not about the money here, it is about being on a club that has made the commitment to winning and has the roster to get it done. It will be a tough sell for Pittsburgh to agree to trade Donald, but it should at least be on the table.

DE Cliff Avril (OAK)

Avril has been one of the best defenders on the Invaders, and in the league, since coming over from the NFL in 2013. With four 10-sack seasons in 5 years, including 13 this season, he is a huge force for the Invader defense, but is his dynamic play being wasted on a club that has been 1-and-done in the playoffs the past 3 seasons and could easily be out of the playoff picture this year. Look, there are much worse places to be than the Bay Area, and Coach Green is beloved by his players, so maybe Avril is happy where he is, but maybe he would like a ring, and Oakland may not be the place to get one.

DE Arthur Moats (ORL)

Whether or not you put Arthur Moats on this list depends entirely on how you view the Orlando right end. There are many who look at his 11 sacks this year, and his string of 10-sack seasons and say he is a talent in his own right who will be in the shadow of Calais Campbell for as long as the two play together in Orlando. And there are others who look at the same numbers and say that Moats is being overvalued because Campbell is drawing all the attention, that on his own, as the clear top guy on the edge, Moats would not be able to produce what we have seen in Orlando. We are on the fence on it, so maybe it depends on what Moats values. If he wants bigger money, more attention, and a chance to show that he can be a Top 10 sack guy without Campbell, then he should move on. But if he believes, as many do, that being on the line with Campbell is a big part of what gives him success, then he should milk his remaining years on Orlando for as much as he can.

New Orleans Reveals Navy Helmet & Jersey Alternate

The Breakers unveiled their throwback and alternate uniforms this week, and man, were we not disappointed. The throwback is a true classic, returning to the look that started it all for Breaker Nation, with the classic color combo of navy, the original Breaker Blue, and grey, this epic look from the 1980’s is as fresh today as it was back then. The fact that they unveiled jerseys with the number and name Dupree on it certainly did not take away from the nostalgia with this look.

But for our younger fans, the look that likely raised the pulse and got folks jazzed was the “Deep Dive” alternate, an all navy look from helmet to socks, featuring the first ever Breakers’ helmet without a wrap around design. The new navy helmet, with matching navy facemask, features the new logo on each side, including the flying gull, and a short tapered striping that goes from the facemask only to the crown of the helmet. The jerseys feature the same logo striping combination as the new primaries, but with a focus on the use of Breaker Blue as the primary stripe color. The numbers are white with navy and Breaker Blue piping. The pants feature the same wavy striping as the primaries, but with the entire look done in deep navy blue, this look is miles away from the primary’s bright colors and emphasis on white and silvery grey. A bold look for the Breakers, as is the entire package.

Maulers Unveil 2018 Redesign

New Orleans was not the only team to reveal their 2018 look this week, as Pittsburgh also rolled out their new primary gear in a ceremony that featured former Mauler legend Mike Rozier as well as current Maulers Victor Cruz and Aaron Donald. The Maulers new primaries feature shoulder yokes that extend down to the sleeve cuffs, an offsetting color swatch across the color and chest, and a collar cut out in a 3rd color to form a dynamic look. They also feature a new blockier block lettering. The team’s primary logo is on each sleeve, with the now-familiar secondary logo, the hardhat & cross Bones featured above the nameplate on the back. Many expected a return to more traditional sleeve striping, but that was not on hand, perhaps with the team’s anticipated throwback look.

The new uniform debuted with two pant sets, one in steel grey and the other in the team’s signature purple. Both pant sets featured a thick stripe, interrupted right above the knee with a small “flare” of orange. The team also announced that their throwback and alternate uniforms would be on display next week, with many hoping to see a steely grey helmet debut with the new look.

There are only 4 divisional games on the docket for Week 11, but we open the weekend with a big one, as New Orleans and Memphis are separated by only 1 game. With Houston already having clinched the division title with their 11-0 record, it comes down to earning a Wild Card for both of these clubs, and a loss in division will not help either one.

On Saturday, games with major playoff impact dot the schedule. We have Atlanta hoping to return to .500 but facing a juggernaut Philadelphia squad, that game at 12pm ET on FOX, then at 4pm New Jersey takes their shot at knocking Houston from the ranks of the unbeaten, when they host the 11-0 Gamblers at MetLife Stadium. The nightcap on Saturday has a 3-win Chicago team hoping they can get the upset against a very tough San Diego Thunder squad.

Sunday opens with a nice SE Division clash as Charlotte takes on Orlando at Camping World Stadium. The Renegades have lost 3 in a row and cannot afford to slip any further below .500, while Charlotte is hoping to finish the weekend back on top of the division. Coach Neu will get his first live fire when the Federals head to Tampa Bay to take on another struggling team, the Bandits. We have interesting matchups as well between Las Vegas & Birmingham and Oklahoma visiting Seattle. We end the weekend with one of the best games of the week as Denver, sitting at 6-4-1, head into Ohio to take on the 6-5 Ohio Glory. It is a game both teams desperately want to win to help propel them into position for a Western Division playoff spot.

FRI 7PM ET       New Orleans (6-5) @ Memphis (5-6)         ABC

FRI 9PM ET          Jacksonville (4-7) @ Michigan (8-3)         ESPN/EFN

SAT 12PM ET         Pittsburgh (3-7-1) @ Baltimore (5-6)         ABC

SAT 12PM ET        Philadelphia (10-1) @ Atlanta (5-6)           FOX

SAT 4PM ET           Oakland (5-6) @ Dallas (4-7)                      ABC

SAT 4PM ET           Arizona (10-1) @ St. Louis (3-8)                 FOX

SAT 7PM ET           Houston (11-0) @ New Jersey (7-4)          NBC

SAT 9PM ET           San Diego (9-2) @ Chicago (3-8)             ESPN/EFN

SUN 12PM ET       Charlotte (7-5) @ Orlando (5-7)               ABC

SUN 12PM ET        Washington (2-9) @ Tampa Bay (3-8)       FOX Regional

SUN 12PM ET       Las Vegas (6-5) @ Birmingham (4-7)         FOX Regional

SUN 4PM ET          Los Angeles (6-5) @ Portland (1-10)         ABC

SUN 4PM ET          Oklahoma (4-7) @ Seattle (6-5)                 FOX

SUN 8PM ET           Denver (6-4-1) @ Ohio (6-5)                      ESPN/EFN