The first month of the season wraps up with 3 teams still unbeaten and 4 still looking for their first win. It is all rose-tinted victory for the Gamblers, Wranglers, and somewhat surprisingly for the 4-0 Philadelphia Stars. Things are looking quite a bit less peachy for the winless Dragons, Bandits, Stags, and especially for the Washington Federals, who did not expect to struggle quite as much as the other three winless clubs might have foreseen. Week 4 also saw a couple of surprises, the most impressive being winless Atlanta’s total domination of unbeaten Orlando in a result that likely cost some Vegas bookmakers quite a bit of cash. In a week that brought some key injuries to teams that can ill afford to lose key playmakers, St. Louis lost Eric Weems for the year, Jacksonville could be without C. J. Spiller for up to 2 months, and Memphis sees Robert Woods out at least 1-2 weeks. So, we have unbeatens, we have teams struggling to find their first W, we have upsets, and we have some injuries impacting teams across the league. Sounds like football season to us.
Way Too Early Award Favorites
Yes, it is a long way from Week 16, and even further from the announcement of the annual award winners the week before Summer Bowl 2017, but we are a month into the season and it seems fitting to recognize some of the players who have started the year strong. So, with no guarantee that these frontrunners will last atop the podium all year long, here are our top 3 picks for each of the major USFL awards after 4 games.
MVP
We are going to stick with the QB position, just because that tends to be where this award lands. Looking at the first month of the season, three names pop out. In New Orleans, Drew Brees is putting up strong numbers. He is currently 2nd in yards passing (1,166), 2nd in passing TDs (8), and first in QB Rating at 130.4. He is getting a lot of competition from 2016 MVP and Arizona QB David Carr, who is 2nd in QBR, and first in both yards and touchdowns. A possible darkhorse who has his club unbeaten after 4 weeks, Colt McCoy is a story fans love to see, a guy who waited patiently behind a legendary QB only to get his shot. He is taking that shot for sure, third in TDs and 10th in yardage, McCoy is the underdog story that may just capture some votes.
OPOTY
If the MVP is a 3-QB race, then we are going to focus on the other offensive skill positions for the OPOTY. Our top three in this category are the league’s current rushing leader, Matt Forte, its current leader in receiving yards, Brian Hartline, and the very vocal and often justified LeVeon Bell. Bell currently trails both Matt Forte and Maurice Jones-Drew as defenses key on him, but he is within 30 yards of 1st place and we know he is motivated to rack up yardage this year after setting 2,000 as his target.
Forte is a bit of a surprise at the top of the rushing leaderboard, but he has clearly taken advantage of the trade of Doug Martin (himself 4th on the list) to get more carries and make more plays. He was held to only 56 yards this week, so he needs to get back on the 100+ track again if he wants to stay in this field. As for Brian Hartline, the Blitz wideout may only have 15 catches on the year, but at 32.3 yards per catch, he is making the most of his opportunities. It will be a tight field among the wideouts, with Jordy Nelson and Chad Johnson right there with him, but if he can continue to score TDs at the pace he has (7 in 4 games) he could be a runaway OPOTY candidate.
DPOTY
Yes, once again it is the Calais Campbell vote vs. the anyone-but-Campbell vote. So, we know Campbell will be in the mix ,and why not? He is after all atop the sack leaderboard once again. But, let’s say he slows down, or decides to quit and sell insurance instead. Who else is in the running? Our first potential contender is Oklahoma’s Pacman Jones, who not only has 3 picks so far this year, but has returned 2 for scores in the season’s opening month. That is an impressive display, especially for a 1-3 team. The other dark horse candidate is Arizona CB Joe Haden. Haden may only have 2 picks so far, but that is because he gets fewer balls tossed to the man he covers. What is more impressive is that he has 33 tackles in 4 weeks, a very high total for a corner and a sure sign that Haden is not afraid to come up and play the run. He trails only Tampa LB Brian Orakpo for the tackle lead, almost always won by a linebacker.
ROTY
While there are several rookie running backs who are starters for their clubs, and even more receivers who are getting targets, the running for the Rookie of the Year may come down to three very different players. On the one hand we have Mitch Trubisky, who is the only full time starter among the rookie QBs and who has Charlotte sitting at 3-1 after the first month of action. He may be hurt by his role as a “game manager” in his first season, as well as a stat line that does not scream “MVP”, with only 735 yards in 4 games (under 200 per game) and a 3:5 TD:INT ratio.
Our second contender seems more like the frontrunner, Oakland HB Christian McCaffrey. In addition to racking up 256 yards in his first 4 games, good enough to be in the top 10, McCaffrey also leads all tailbacks with 14 receptions. He is becoming a focal point for the Invader attack, and he seems happy to have that role.
Finally, let’s pick the best looking defensive rookie as our third option. Little doubt on that one. Houston safety Budda Baker has been all over the highlight reels week in and week out. The young safety has 14 tackles, a pick, 3 sacks, a forced fumble, and 4 pass defenses in 4 games. He is blowing up plays, taking down backs, and making big time moves on receivers. He is also just fun to watch, a Tasmanian Devil of a player who is not afraid to get some trash talking in, but who also seems able to back it up.
COTY
When we look at the Coach of the Year, what we usually look for is the team that is far outperforming expectations. That is hard to gauge so early in the season, but if we look across the league, three names do emerge pretty easily. Jim Harbaugh has his Stars sitting pretty at 4-0, something few anticipated. In Denver, John Hufnagel has impressed many with his no nonsense style and the grit his Denver Gold have shown in slogging to a 3-1 record despite scoring 17, 13, and 10 points in their 3 wins. Finally, we should mention that Birmingham sitting at 3-1 is very much a surprise. Back-to-back wins over Oklahoma and Charlotte have impressed and Coach Henry Ellard could well be moving from the hotseat to a very comfortable seat among the coaches considered for this award.
LAS VEGAS VIPERS 26 OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS 23 OVERTIME
Another sellout crowd at OGE Energy Stadium greeted the Oklahoma Outlaws as they returned for their 2nd home game. Their opponent, the Las Vegas Vipers, came into the game with the same record as the Outlaws, both sitting at 1-2 and hoping for a win to send them to .500 instead of a tough 1-3 start to the year. Oklahoma would hold the lead for most of the game, but never put Las Vegas away, and that left enough room for Eli Manning to bring the club back at the end of regulation and send the game into extra time.
Manning would finish the game with 381 yards passing, a season high, as he completed 33 of 46 passes, surviving 2 picks with 2 TD tosses. On the other side of the field, Joe Flacco struggled, completing only 8 of 19 attempts against the Viper defense. Marshawn Lynch faired a bit better, averaging4 yards per carry as he contributed 76 yards to the Outlaw attack. The two big receivers, one for each club, did as many expected, crossing the 100-yard mark, with Denarius Moore going for 12 receptions and 127 yards while Marques Colston caught 4 for 103, including a 57-yard TD catch and run.
The first quarter was largely uneventful, with both teams testing the opposition defense and neither one finding much luck. Oklahoma got the first points on the board and the only points of the quarter when Kai Forbath connected from 36 yards out. He would add a 42-yarder early in the 2nd quarter to double the Oklahoma lead before Las Vegas started finding offensive success. The Vipers had two solid drives to end the first half. The first took the ball all the way to the 4-yard line, but when 3 attempts to punch the ball in did not produce a TD, Coach Neuheisel settled for a 21-yard chip shot from Brett Maher. Neuheisel’s patience paid off 5 minutes later when the next Las Vegas drive put the first 7-pointer on the board. Unlike their prior drive, this one was not a slow, methodical move down the field, it was a quick strike score, as play action set up Brandon Marshall in one-man coverage and Eli Manning found enough time in the pocket to get the ball deep. The result was a 62-yard scoring play that gave Las Vegas their first lead of the game, and sent both teams into the locker room with Vegas leading 10-6.
Oklahoma would receive the second half kickoff, and they were eager to retake the lead after the late miscue in the first half. The Outlaws quickly proved that they too could hit on the big play as the 4th play of the drive provided Oklahoma with a long TD toss of their own. Joe Flacco found his favorite target, Marques Colston deep and the Outlaw receiver shrugged off the corner with a nice spin to the inside before high-stepping into the endzone to once again put Oklahoma back on top. Down 13-10, Las Vegas took over and after what appeared to be another deep TD pass was called back on a holding call were forced to settle for 3 again, tying the score at 13.
Oklahoma could not move the ball on their next drive, but got a big play on defense when Manning, trying to hit Denarius Moore, underthrew on an out route, feeding the ball right to Oklahoma corner Pacman Jones. Jones weaved his way across the field to return the pick 17 yards to for a TD as Texas went back on top 20-13.
With an Oklahoma field goal to start the 4th, the Outlaw lead was now 10 points, but Las Vegas had moved the ball well throughout the game, sprinkling Jeremy Hill and Montario Hardesty runs in between Manning passing plays. They found success in the 4th quarter as well, first with a short 34-yard drive that produced a field goal to drop the Outlaw lead to 7 points, and then with a 13-play drive that began with 3:33 on the clock and finished with a game-tying score with only 5 ticks left on the clock.
The drive was classic Manning at his best. He avoided the rush, extended plays, and found his receivers over the middle of the field, connecting twice with Tyler Eifert on key third downs and dumping the ball off to Hardesty twice for nice gains. The drive took most of the game’s remaining time, but with 13 seconds left, Manning had a first and 10 on the 13, and time for 2-3 shots into the endzone to tie the score and send the game to overtime. After missing on a throw to Doug Baldwin on first down, he was now at 7 seconds. The second down throw went to the slot receiver, Devante Parker, lined up in a 3-receiver cluster on the left side. Parker got a natural pick from Baldwin’s route, cut inside and found the ball waiting for him. He fell into the endzone and Las Vegas had set the game up for overtime.
Oklahoma won the toss and chose to get the ball in extra time, receiving the ball on their own 3 and getting a runback to the 17. Joe Flacco would rely on Marshawn Lynch to get the initial two first downs on the drive, the big back converting on 3rd and 3 and then on a 2nd and 4 run. On their third set of downs, a false start pushed them back, producing a 3rd and 11, but Flacco found Colston on a nicely run deep out, and Oklahoma was in Las Vegas territory. Having seen their defense give up 2 conversions on third down already, Las Vegas got more aggressive now that the ball was on their side of the field. A blitz on 2nd down forced Marshawn Lynch to take a 3 -yard loss, rare for the big back, and with 3rd and 9 on the Vegas 38-yard line, Flacco dumped the ball short to Chris Cooley, setting up a 49-yard attempt that could not immediately win the game, but would put a lot of pressure on Las Vegas. That pressure would come only if Forbath made the 48-yard kick, but when his kick sailed just too far to the left, Las Vegas took over on their own 37 with every chance to win the game with a kick of their own.
Manning led Las Vegas quickly into Oklahoma territory, hitting Moore on his 12th catch of the day for 9 yards, then Hardesty out of the backfield and Baldwin on the sideline. Before long, Las Vegas had the ball in range for Brett Maher, 1st and 10 on the Oklahoma 24. The Vipers tried to get even closer, but on 2nd and 8, Manning took a bad sack, dropped back at the 33 by DE Mllicah Goodman. After a miss on 3rd down, Coach Neuheisel put his trust in kicker Brett Maher to connect from 50 yards out. Maher was only 5 of 10 on the year, having gone 0-2 from beyond 45 yards, but on this day he made the most of his opportunity and proved worthy of Coach Neuheisel’s trust, sending the ball straight down the middle on a kick that easily would have been good from 55 out.
Oklahoma would drop to 1-3 with their first home loss and Las Vegas would move to 2-2 at the end of the first quarter of the season. Eli Manning had a game saving drive once again, and Coach Neuheisel had a positive first month at the helm leading Las Vegas to a solid .500 start.
HOUSTON 20 MEMPHIS 16
Houston’s offense may have cooled off a bit the past 2 weeks, but their defense remains solid as they limit Memphis to only 245 total yards, picking off Paxton Lynch twice and allowing only 1 touchdown all game. Carlos Hyde outrushed Memphis’s duo of backs, gaining 114 and adding a TD as Colt McCoy was limited to 15 of 30 passing for only 168 yards. But, down 16-13 late, it was McCoy to rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster for the game winner with just 34 ticks left on the clock.
POTG: Gambler HB Carlos Hyde: 23 Att, 114 Yds, 1 Td
MICHIGAN 17 LOS ANGELES 20
The Express get the statement win on Friday Night, knocking off the unbeaten Panthers thanks to a 13-0 run to finish the game, coming back from 10 points down to win by 3. The Express D picked off Kirk Cousins twice in the 2nd half to spark the comeback, with Reggie Bush running in the 2nd half’s only TD as LA takes this one and moves to 3-1.
POTG: LA defensive tackle Chris Jones: 5 Tck, 1 Sck, 2 FF, 1 FR
JACKSONVILLE 30 OHIO 13
Ohio’s D is not living up to the hype, while Jacksonville’s is looking very solid. Seven sacks of Christian Hackenberg, paired with 3 picks of the Ohio QB were enough to help Jacksonville to a big win and put the Bulls at .500 after ¼ season. Rookie C. J. Beathard got the start, rushing for his only TD of the day on a QB sneak at the goalline, The Defense added a pick-six from David Bruton and that was all she wrote for the Glory.
POTG: Bulls’ CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie: 12 Tck, 2 Int
ORLANDO 3 ATLANTA 28
A stunner at the Georgia Dome as 0-3 Atlanta absolutely took it to the 3-0 Orlando Renegades. The ‘Gades rush for only 21 total yards as Atlanta hits them early and often. Aaron Murray threw for 265 and 2 scores, Chris Ivory combined with Kenyan Drake for 115 rushing yards and 2 scores, and the Fire defense played like their season depended on it, which it may have.
POTG: Fire WR Roy Williams: 6 Rec, 122 Yds
CHICAGO 6 DENVER 10
Snow made this one a slippery and sloppy affair. The only TD came on a shovel pass from Leinart to TE Delanie Walker as players slipped all over the snowy field. Denver managed only 120 total yards of offense, but 2 turnovers by Chicago and very few advances into Denver territory allowed the Gold to hold on for the win in whiteout conditions.
POTG: Denver DE Von Miller: 3 Tck, 2 Sck
PHILADELPHIA 30 SEATTLE 24
The Dragons almost pulled off a major upset and did better than anyone else so far this season against the Stars’ defense. Jacoby Brissett threw for 284 yards and 2 scores while Joseph Addai added 76 yards on the ground as Seattle put a scare into the Stars. But, a Gutierrez to Zac Stacy TD pass and a late Mike Nugent field goal helped the Stars pull this one out in the 4th.
POTG: Stars’ HB Derrick Henry: 21 Att, 115 Yds
PITTSBURGH 20 NEW JERSEY 22
Another close battle involving the NE Division as Pittsburgh held a 20-16 lead after 3 quarters, but a late Nick Foles to Maurice Jones-Drew swing pass gave the Generals the needed score to pull out the home win. Nick Foles played the entire game for the injured Hundley, completing 16 of 26 passes for 194 yards, outdueling fellow backup QB Kevin Hogan on the day.
POTG: Generals’ HB Maurice Jones-Drew: 20 Att, 98 Yds, 3 Rec, 15 Yds, 1 TD
ARIZONA 38 DALLAS 14
It was shock and awe for Dallas’s Brandon Wheedon in his first start for the Roughnecks. Arizona threw everything but the kitchen sink at him limiting the former Monarch to 145 yards passing. Meanwhile, Derrick Carr went off for 316 yards and 4 touchdowns, connecting with 4 different receivers, including Larry Fitzgerald, who finished with 120 yards to lead all receivers.
POTG: Wrangler QB David Carr: 21/30, 316 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int
TAMPA BAY 7 BALTIMORE 19
With Jake Locker knocked out of the game and 3rd stringer Trevone Boykin thrown into action, Baltimore’s offense struggled, but the D was very tough against E. J. Manuel (in for another injured starter). Baltimore would get TDs from both Darrius Heyward-Bey and Brian Hartline, add a safety on defense, and have more than enough for the Bandits’ anemic attack.
POTG: Blitz WR Brian Hartline: 3 Rec, 125 Yds, 1 TD
NEW ORLEANS 31 WASHINGTON 24
Drew Brees averaged 18 yards per completion as he completed 16 of 23 throws for 413 yards and 3 scores against Washington’s overmatched defense. Both Jordy Nelson and Kenny britt went over 140 yards on the day and Leonard Fournette added a solid 69 yards on 13 carries for the Breakers. Washington hung close, thanks to 137 yards from Keenan Allen, but it was not enough as the Feds fall to 0-4 at the ¼ mark of the season.
POTG: Breaker QB Drew Brees: 16/23, 413 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int
CHARLOTTE 16 BIRMINGHAM 36
The Stallions make a statement, moving to 3-1 and knocking off the previously unbeaten Monarchs in a dominant 36-16 performance. Cam Newton threw for 2 scores, including a 72-yard beauty to Dontrelle Inman, and the defense pressured Mitch Trubisky all game long, producing 2 picks and 3 sacks while holding Charlotte to only 1 TD all game. Add in 5 Garrett Hartley field goals, and by game’s end, Birmingham scored on 8 of 9 possessions in a truly impressive game for the Stallions.
POTG: Stallion LB DeMeco Ryans: 7 Tck, 3 Sck, 1 FF
OAKLAND 29 PORTLAND 13
Portland’s offense continues to struggle, amassing only 261 total yards as Marcus Mariota was sacked 4 times. The Stags’ only TD came on defense, a Donte Whitner pick-six, as the Invaders controlled the line of scrimmage all game. Christian McCaffrey rushed for 62 and added 21 more through the air, while Taylor Gabriel had a solid game with 7 catches, 91 yards, and a score for the visitors.
POTG: Oakland DE Cliff Avril: 4 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF
SAN DIEGO 23 ST. LOUIS 17 OVERTIME
The Sunday nighter was a nice finish to the week, with the Skyhawks kicking a late field goal to send the affair into overtime. In the extra period, San Diego pushed the ball down the field on the opening drive and a 1-yard Ryan Williams dive over the top clinched the game for the Thunder.
POTG: San Diego CB Justin Gilbert: 5 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
Coach Hamilton Stands with Mariota
Despite yet another bad loss, and another offensive no-show, Coach Pep Hamilton stands behind Marcus Mariota. “Look at the film, look at the stats and tell me we are not winning because of Marcus” said the Stags’ head man. He may be right. While Marcus Mariota’s 746 yards are not exactly setting the league on fire, his QB rating of 77.0 is better than most, including former league MVP Andy Dalton (76.6), Denver’s Matt Leinart (74.3), Chicago’s Ryan Fitzpatrick (72.6) and Oakland’s Joey Harrington (71.6). There are a lot of issues in Portland, but Coach Hamilton may well be right when he says the issues do not start with Mariota.
So, where do they start? How about a WR group that does not have a single receiver averaging more than 13 yards per catch, with two of the team’s supposed deep ball receivers, Alshon Jeffery and Brian Quick both averaging below 10 yards per catch? Or we could look at a line that has Mariota using his legs far more often to survive than to make plays? We are also looking at a Stag defense that was supposed to be a strength of the team but currently ranks dead last in scoring allowed at 28 points per game, and has allowed an average of 365 yards of offense each game, 2nd worst in the league behind the winless Federals.
Sure, Mariota is not making the big plays that can help produce points when long drives are not easy to come by, but that could well be on the receivers and his line as well. He is not making huge mistakes, with only 3 picks in 4 games, but there is just not enough happening around him to make his job easier. Coach Hamilton’s vote of confidence almost certainly means that Mariota will continue to get starts with Portland, but now the question is what can Coach Hamilton do to get more production around his young QB?
Murray Stuns Monarchs & His Own Coach
In a game that could well have been Aaron Murray’s last as the starter for the winless Atlanta Fire, Aaron Murray picked as good a time as any to show that he could be an effective leader and accurate passer. Murray completed 24 of 33 passes for 265 yards agsinst the unbeaten Renegades, but what was perhaps more impressive was his hold over his offensive teammates, calling them to the line quickly, making adjustments, and generally reading the Orlando defense very effectively.
There is no doubt that Murray’s performance, as well as the team’s as a whole, won the former UGA signal caller more time under center. Even his new coach, Bruce Arians, had to admit that he was taken aback by Murray’s strong game against a very solid Orlando defense. “We know Aaron can play, but we were very impressed by how he took control today.” Was the statement Arians made to the press when asked about the sudden turnaround for Murray and the Fire offense. We agree. Murray showed us something this week, the potential to lead his team.
Federals’ Defensive Woes Mount
The Federals have been hanging around the .500 mark for the past 3 years, but an 0-4 start may make that a very difficult target in 2017. The reason for the sudden ineptitude? Look no further than the team’s defensive woes. The Feds are currently dead last in the league, allowing 300.5 passing yards per game and 408.5 total yards, a combination of bad play, bad communication, and bad tackling that has doomed them to 4 straight defeats to start the year.
Yes, there are major issues with a run game that is averaging only 37.5 yards per game. Yes, you read that right, under 40 yards per game as a team. But even with that as a reality they are dealing with, the defense is perhaps an even bigger problem. You simply cannot give up 300 yards passing and 100+ yards rushing every game and expect to win many contests. Newly arrived MLB Shawne Merriman looks lost on the field, which is such a change from what we saw from him in his years with the Denver Gold. The front line just cannot produce pressure, with Chris Long the only lineman with more than 1 sack, and the secondary, well, let’s just say they are not exactly stuck like glue to their receivers.
It is a bad look for a team that made its name on defense with players like Jerome Brown, Antonio Pierce, Charles Woodson, Michael Barrow, and Ed Reed. The once proud Federal defense now looks like a shadow of its glory years, and that has the entire team scrambling to figure out how they can compete in a very tough division where there could be 3 playoff teams among the 5 clubs along some of the league’s more potent offenses. It has already been a long season for the Federals, and unless they can figure out how to spark a run game and how to actually slow down opposing offenses, the forecast for the next 12 weeks does not look much better.
St. Louis Loses Weems for the Year
Coach Reich and the Skyhawks are trying to rebuild a winner in St. Louis, but that got just a bit tougher to accomplish as they lose one of their primary offensive weapons to injury. WR Eric Weems, who currently leads all Skyhawk receivers with 16 receptions and 220 yards, was placed on IR after both tearing and separating the bicep on his left arm in this week’s tight loss to San Diego. Weems went up for a contested ball, was wrestling with the DB and landed with the arm extended. An MRI conducted Monday proved the worst, a complete separation and a 12-16 week recovery timeframe. The decision was made immediately to place the receiver on IR.
Weems production will be missed. It appears that Coach Reich is going to promote Terrance Williams, the NFL speedster acquired in the offseason, to Weems’s spot, leaving David Nelson in the flanker spot and Allen Robinson at the slot. Some assumed that Eric Decker, who has more time with the team, might get the call, but Williams is apparently showing some flashes in practice and Coach Reich wanted to put a player with a skillset more akin to Weems’s in that spot.
Maualaga Goes Down Again
A talented player who just cannot stay on the field. That is becoming the verdict on Rey Maualaga. The former Monarch LB came to the New Jersey Generals in 2013 and has been somewhat snakebit ever since. He went down this week with an ACL injury that could cost him the season. There is a window where he could come back, so New Jersey has not placed him on IR so far, but this is another major injury for the linebacker.
It looks like even in a best-case scenario, we are looking at 8-10 weeks before Maualaga could return to action. This comes a year after the linebacker lost 12 games to a season-ending quad injury. Now, in the same leg, it is the ACl that causes him to miss at least 2 months and possibly the entire remaining season. Maualaga had success early in his career, winning the unofficial Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2009 and making an All-USFL team in 2012, but after coming to New Jersey a year later, he has seen nothing but injury compounded on injury. He missed 5 games in each of his first two seasons in New Jersey, came back to play in 13 in his third year, and then both last year and this year it looks like he will be out for the long haul.
The Generals are expected to move rookie Matt Milano into the weakside LB slot that Maualaga had occupied, though we also think MLB Brady Poppinga could also see some snaps on the edge as well. The Generals will first test this new LB group Saturday as they host the Baltimore Blitz.
A rough week all around as we have our longest list of new injuries this season. St. Louis has a big loss as their lead receiver is out for the season. Las Vegas and Tampa Bay have not placed their injured starters on IR yet, but both could well end up there within the week. Dallas is down to 2 rookie HBs on the roster with C. J. Spiller expected to miss at least 6 weeks, and in Portland the LB group could have some rough seas ahead of them with Channing Crowder out at least a month and Lance Briggs expected to miss this week’s game at a minimum.
OUT
WR Eric Weems STL Torn Bicep IR
OT Nat Dorsey LV Neck 8-12 Weeks
LB Devon Kennard TBY Torn Quad 8-12 Weeks
HB C. J. Spiller DAL Broken Leg 6-8 Weeks
LB Channing Crowder POR Shoulder 4-6 Weeks
OT David Tremblay ORL Abdomen 4-6 Weeks
WR Mike Williams PIT Abdomen 2-4 Weeks
OT Levi Brown TBY Torn Biceps 2-4 Weeks
LB Lance Briggs POR Ankle 1-2 Weeks
CB Dunta Robinson PIT Arm 1-2 Weeks
WR Robert Woods MEM Shoulder 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
QB Ryan Lindley OAK Personal
FB Andy Janovich ORL Wrist
DT Andrew Billings DAL Scratched Cornea
LB Calvin Pace SEA Hip
WR Percy Harvin OKL Knee
CB Alphonso Hodge OAK Turf Toe
C Mike Pouncey CHA Foot
QUESTIONABLE
DT Dan Williams MEM Finger
CB Aqib Talib DEN Pinched Nerve
HB Isaiah Pead OHI Knee
QB Jake Locker BAL Concussion
CB Xavien Howard SEA Knee
USFL First Quarter Power Rankings
Here we go, our 2nd power rankings poll of the season. While there is no change at the very top and the very bottom, there are some major movers as the early season has thrown us some surprises. The two biggest risers are both up 13 spots as unbeaten Philadelphia jumps from 16th to 3rd and the 3-1 Birmingham Stallions move from 23rd to 10th in our new poll. The biggest drops? Well, that would be a tie between Memphis and Washington, both dropping 13 spots from our preseason rankings. The Showboats at 1-3 sit in 24th, while the Washington Federals have plummeted from 14th all the way to 27th, saved from the absolute basement only by the equally winless Seattle Dragons.
1-Arizona (4-0) No Change
No need to move Arizona from the top spot. They have looked every bit the league champion.
2-Houston (4-0) No Change
Houston has clearly found their new QB in Colt McCoy as he has the Gamblers sitting pretty and undefeated (with a bit of help from that defense.)
3-Philadelphia (4-0) Up 13
The Stars seem to be doing it with smoke and mirrors, but they are doing it, reaching the ¼ mark without a blemish on their season.
4-Baltimore (3-1) Down 1
A tough loss to Houston is the only reason they dip below the Stars. The defense has been a surprising strongpoint for the Blitz so far this year.
5-Los Angeles (3-1) Down 1
The defense is still carrying the Express, but Reggie Bush and Sam Bradford are doing enough to finish 3 of 4 games with a lead in hand.
6-New Orleans (3-1) Down 1
Leonard Fournette is not having the immediate impact Coach Lathon wanted, but Jordy Nelson sure is.
7-Orlando (3-1) Down 1
Another club that is winning with defense, partially because Russell Wilson has missed some time to a nagging injury.
8-New Jersey (3-1) Down 1
The Generals have been in a lot of tight games so far, but that seems to be toughening them up, which is very good when you look at their division.
9-San Diego (3-1) Up 1
The Thunder started strong last year but faded down the stretch. Coach LeBeau wants to ensure that pattern is not repated.
10-Birmingham (3-1) Up 13
A much better opening month than we gave them credit for. The defense seems much improved and Coach Ellard is getting more out of Cam Newton and the passing game.
11-Denver (3-1) Up 4
The Gold are winning ugly, partially due to early season weather, and partially due to a defense that is tenacious and an offense that is not exactly building big leads.
12-Michigan (3-1) Up 1
The Panthers have looked good on offense, but the defense needs to tighten up a bit, especially in the secondary.
13-Charlotte (3-1) Up 7
The start to the Mitch Trubisky Era has been far more positive than negative, though the loss this week to Atlanta should be sounding some alarms.
14-Jacksonville (2-2) Up 7
The defense is there, the offense needs a lot more work if the Bulls are going to compete with Orlando and, apparently a revived Charlotte club, in the SE Division.
15-Oakland (2-2) Down 10
We are concerned by the lack of offensive consistency. While we like what rookie Christian McCaffrey is bringing, there needs to be more provided by others on the offense.
16-Las Vegas (2-2) Down 4
Manning has had up games and down games, which feels like his full biography more than a recap of just his first 4 games in Las Vegas.
17-Atlanta (1-3) Up 7
The Fire are playing games tighter than we expected. We still look at their offense and wonder where the playmakers are, but this week’s big win against Charlotte was an eye-opener.
18-Pittsburgh (1-3) Up 1
We just look at that D-line and wonder why they are not more dominant each week. The same could be said for the receiver group and QB Andy Dalton.
19-Dallas (1-3) Up 3
This may be only a temporary placement as Dallas has just played their first of 6 games without Johnny Manziel. Can Wheedon prove to be more reliable and protect the ball for Dallas in a way he did not in Charlotte?
20-Oklahoma (1-3) Down 8
The offense is not getting the production Outlaw fans are used to and the defense seems middle-of-the-pack at best. More is needed if Oklahoma wants to get back in the mix in what could be a very tough division.
21-Chicago (1-3) Down 10
While Matt Forte has started the year strong, the rest of the Machine have not been keeping pace. Ryan Fitzpatrick seems to have left his magic act at home so far this season.
22-Ohio (1-3) Down 5
We expected defense to carry this club, but the defense we have seen to date is not what is needed if the Glory want to compete in the Central.
23-St. Louis (1-3) Up 3
The Skyhawks are not exactly taking the world by storm, but they are losing games by small margins, which is a good sign that they are fighting for Coach Reich.
24-Memphis (1-3) Down 13
Showboat fans may be getting buyer’s remorse as they compare Paxton Lynch’s early season against last year’s Eli Manning performance, but you should never judge a new QB by his first 4 games. He will need time.
25-Tampa Bay (0-4) Up 2
How do you determine which winless club is the worst and which is the 4th worst? We at least see some signs of life when Dak Prescott is in the game and when they get Dalvin Cook involved.
26-Portland (0-4) Down 1
As our earlier article cited, the problem does not appear to be Mariota, though his numbers are not great, it is the surrounding roster which is there to help Mariota and is just not doing it.
27-Washington (0-4) Down 13
We did not see the Federal defense being this bad, not with Merriman signed in the offseason, but he is just not finding his role and the entire defense seems to be looking at others to get the job done.
28-Seattle (0-4) No Change
We had Seattle in position 28 in preseason and we are not seeing enough to move them out of it yet. Coach Riley needs a plan to see growth this year and then a very good offseason to build a roster he can truly work with. It will be a long year in the PNW with the Dragons and Stags likely among the worst clubs in the league this year.
Rookie Roundup
Four weeks in and already we are seeing some rookies beginning to take on major roles around the league. Some have started hot right out of the gate, while others are growing into their positions, and others still are waiting for their big break. We will take a look at the biggest names from the 2017 Draft and see just how things are starting off for each of the highly anticipated draftees.
Quarterback
While the main focus here is obviously the only Week One starter from among the USFL draft class, we should note that this week saw a second rookie get a start as Jacksonville’s C. J. Beathard got the W for the Bulls as he replaced Robert Griffin Jr. But, the only true starter from the class is, of course, Charlotte’s Mitch Trubisky. With Charlotte sitting at 3-1 we have to say that Trubisky is starting well, even if his numbers are not earth shaking. Trubisky currently sits in 19th place for yardage with 735 yards over 4 games, less than 200 per game. His 3:5 balance on touchdowns and picks is not ideal, though he is completing nearly 63% of his passes. But, the key overall is that win-loss record, and so far that is definitely in his favor.
Halfback
Four rookies were handed the starting job for their teams at the tailback position: Oakland’s Christian McCaffrey, LSU product Leonard Fournette in New Orleans, Tampa Bay’s Dalvin Cook, and Dallas’s Samaje Perine, having beaten out fellow rookie Donte Foreman in camp. So, where do they stand right now? Well, only one, McCaffrey is among the Top 10 rushers, with 256 yards (64 Yards per Game), while Cook and Fournette are close at 224 and 207 after 4 games. Perine has been splitting carries, so his 179 yards is pretty solid considering the lower play count. Perine actually leads all the rookies with 4 rushing touchdowns so far, so it seems fair to say that all four are contributing in their opening weeks in the pros.
Receivers
Between wideouts and tight ends, there are 6 players we have been monitoring. In terms of receptions, Atlanta TE O. J. Howard (20 for 164 yards and 2 scores) and JuJu Smith Schuster (11 receptions for 238 yards and 2 TDs) are leading the pack. Behind him we find Chicago’s Kenny Galloday (10-92-0), with Charlotte’s Mack Hollins (4-42-0) and Orlando TE David Njoku (4 receptions).
Defense
Among defenders, the names that pop out early in the season are St. Louis LB Trey Hendrickson (22 tackles with 3 sacks), Philly LB Hassan Reddick (18 tackles and 2 sacks), Atlanta CB Shaquile Griffin (18 Tck with 1 sack), Breakers’ corner Tre’Davious White (22 tackles) and perhaps the early frontrunner for the Defensive Rookie of the Year, Houston safety Budda Baker, who is already making a name for himself with 14 tackles, a pick, and 3 sacks in the SS position.
Special Teams
Finally, we cannot talk about the rookie class of 2017 without mentioning the kickers, because this group of rookies, both drafted and free agent signings, is making an immediate impact for their teams. At the front of the pack is Michigan’s Michael Beam, currently 4th in the league in scoring with 39 points. Not far behind we find Houston’s Younghoe Koo, with 30 points, and Seattle’s Jeffrey Harris with 28. While we do not expect a kicker to have a shot at the ROTY, these four players are certainly getting their chance to prove their worth as they make clutch kicks each week.
Week Five is Divisional Mayhem, with 10 of 14 games between divisional rivals. High passions, energized fanbases, and teams that know each other well. This should be fun!! We start it off on Friday Night with a classic rivalry game as Memphis heads to Birmingham for the worlds biggest barbecue! The late game is a Wild West showdown between Las Vegas and Oakland, both at 2-2 and hoping to get over the .500 hump.
Saturday has three non-divisional games early, then heats up in the afternoon and evening. One non-divisional game to catch is the Denver @ Michigan clash on ABC at 4pm ET, with both teams coming into the game at 3-1. We also have LA @ Seattle in that timeslot, while our evening double headers has Baltimore @ New Jersey with first place in the division at stake and Oklahoma heading into Arizona to face the unbeaten Wranglers.
On Sunday every singe game is a divisional matchup. We kick off at 12 with the Federals vs. the Stars, the Renegades at Jacksonville, and the Fire in Tampa Bay to face the Bandits. Then at 4pm it’s Portland in San Diego and Ohio @ St. Louis. The final game of the week is a huge one in the South as 3-1 New Orleans tries to knock 4-0 Houston from the ranks of the unbeatens. A huge weekend for rivalries and for football all over the schedule!
FRI 7PM ET Memphis (1-3) @ Birmingham (3-1) ABC
FRI 9PM ET Las Vegas (2-2) @ Oakland (2-2) ESPN/EFN
SAT 12PM ET Charlotte (3-1) @ Pittsburgh (1-3) ABC
SAT 12PM ET Dallas (1-3) @ Chicago (1-3) FOX
SAT 4PM ET Denver (3-1) @ Michigan (3-1) ABC
SAT 4PM ET Los Angeles (3-1) @ Seattle (0-4) FOX
SAT 7PM ET Baltimore (3-1) @ New Jersey (3-1) NBC
SAT 9PM ET Oklahoma (1-3) @ Arizona (4-0) ESPN/EFN
SUN 12PM ET Washington (0-4) @ Philadelphia (4-0) ABC
SUN 12PM ET Orlando (3-1) @ Jacksonville (2-2) FOX Regional
SUN 12PM ET Atlanta (1-3) @ Tampa Bay (0-4) FOX Regional
SUN 4PM ET Portland (0-4) @ San Diego (3-1) ABC
SUN 4PM ET Ohio (1-3) @ St. Louis (1-3) FOX
SUN 8PM ET New Orleans (3-1) @ Houston (4-0) ESPN/EFN
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