2018 USFL Week 11 Recap: Divisions Tighten Across the USFL
- USFL LIVES
- 18 hours ago
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While Week 11 did not lock up any playoff berths, we did see some shifting as clubs like Arizona, Houston, Memphis, Oakland, and New Orleans strengthened their positions with another check in the Win Column. Meanwhile, we do have our first two clubs eliminated, as both LA and Tampa Bay earned the dubious distinction with 5 weeks left to play. It was a week that saw fans in San Antonio embrace their new club, even as some groups protested the choice of Gunslingers as the team name. We also saw a huge performance from Jacksonville QB Robert Griffin III, perhaps an audition for a new opportunity as Jacksonville’s support for their QB seems shaky at best. And speaking of QBs auditioning, Ryan Nassib is our big story of the week, as he continues to build up stats and enthusiasm for a possible Free Agency situation that could make securing his services the hottest contest in the upcoming offseason. We start our report with Nassib in focus, then review all the big games of the week, look at the current playoff picture, and report on 2 more expansion bid groups. All right here, right now, on This Week in the USFL.
Ryan Nassib’s 2018 Success Could Create Free Agency Frenzy
He leads the league with a 112.6 QB Rating, is tied for 2nd with 20 touchdowns, and could finish in the top 5 in passing yards, and yet it is all but guaranteed that Ryan Nassib will be a free agent this offseason. Why? Well, he entered the season as the clear number two behind two-time defending league MVP David Carr. His rise to fame this season is a direct result of Carr’s season-ending injury, but Carr is locked in for another three seasons with Arizona, while Nassib is in a contract year. It is clear that Arizona cannot trade Nassib now, not with Carr out and Nassib the key to a potential Summer Bowl run. But at the same time they cannot re-sign the Syracuse product. There just is not the funding available to pay both David Carr and Ryan Nassib as All-USFL caliber starting QBs. No team has that.
And so, Nassib is almost guaranteed to hit the free agent market as soon as Arizona’s playoff run is over. He could well be the most fought-over free agent since Eli Manning two years ago, perhaps even more since most of Nassib’s career is ahead of him at only 28 years old. And are there takers for a 28-year old who is putting up potential MVP numbers for the Wranglers? Oh, man, are there potential takers. Where do we start? We know that there are QB situations in flux in at least ¼ of the league’s teams, from Jacksonville to Dallas, but also Chicago and Birmingham, and what about clubs that might see their starter retire this year, clubs like Washington (Garrard), Las Vegas (Manning), or New Orleans (Brees)? Of course there are also teams that could stand pat, but may well be looking to upgrade at the most important position on the field, teams like Los Angeles (Bradford), Portland (Mariota), Seattle (Brissett/McGloin), or Atlanta (Murray).
With the numbers Ryan Nassib is putting up this year, he is almost certain to be offered a straight up starting job, and there is no shortage of teams that would be willing to offer him that deal. But, and this may be a silly question, is there a chance that Nassib, who no one scouted as a top tier prospect out of Syracuse 3 years ago, is finding success largely due to the talent around him in Arizona and the system that turned David Carr into an MVP? Could Nassib be a bust if he heads to the wrong team? Of course he could. That is true of even the most talented players. But, despite the reality that no team is a 1-man franchise, having a QB capable of doing what Nassib is doing this year can certainly help a club turn the corner, or take a huge step in the right direction. And so, as Nassib focuses on the games ahead, on what appears to have potential to be a very deep playoff run, his agent will focus on talking him up, building interest, and “chumming the water” to attract the sharks, clubs ready to shell out MVP money for a player who is making the most of his opportunity this year.
BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS 23 ATLANTA FIRE 28
This was a tough choice. We had a shootout between the Bulls and Bandits, but both of those clubs are pretty much out of any postseason push, so while it was an entertaining game, it had little impact leaguewide. We also had a nice game between the Maulers and Monarchs, but Pittsburgh largely had that game won before Charlotte made it look close, so the drama really was not there. Then we had the Stallions and the Fire. Atlanta had just snapped a 4-game losing streak by beating up on the hapless Bandits, but needed to get another W to top .500. Birmingham, sitting at 4-6, was already 2 games under .500, but was still very much in the race for a Wild Card, where 8-8 could well sneak a team in if the tiebreakers are in their favor.
And so, these two teams, from two states where football is the undisputed king of sports, and with fanbases raised (for generations) on Georgia-Alabama animosity, faced off. It may seem odd, since the Fire and the Stallions are not even in the same division, but this game had the atmosphere of a big rivalry game, with plenty of crimson and gold in the stands along with the blue and orange of the Fire faithful. With two solid fanbases, and two clubs fighting for their playoff lives, how could this not be a great game?
It would be a back and forth game that saw 6 lead changes, including 3 in just the 4th quarter and which came down to 2 scores occurring in the final 30 seconds in what old timers will remember as an “ALCOA Fantastic Finish”. One of the best final minutes in the league this year, and one of the biggest plays to win it for the home team. And along the way, Atlanta QB Aaron Murray may well have made his best case to hold firm to the starting job all season, a 296-yard, 3 TD masterpiece that could finally earn him some respect from both the club and the fans.
The game started very much in Birmingham’s favor. After Atlanta’s opening drive fizzled outside of field goal range, the Stallions got the touchback on the Fire punt and started off on their 20. They would hold the ball for 7 minutes, threaten a touchdown, but, thanks to a nice defensive play on 3rd and goal, settle for a 24-yard field goal to start the day’s scoring. But, as disappointed as Birmingham was to settle for 3, CB Antonio Cromartie brought the Stallion faithful right back into the game on Atlanta’s 2nd play from scrimmage. Cromartie’s aggressive play would give Birmingham the ball back deep in Atlanta territory. After a short hook route got the ball into Dorial Green-Beckham’s hands, the receiver turned away from FS Will Allen, who had been covering the slot receiver, but Cromartie had already made a break on the inside play, and DGB spun right into him. With a swat of his arm, Cromartie dislodged the ball from the receiver, then fell on it to give Birmingham the ball on the Atlanta 25. Coach Arians threw out the red flag, arguing for an incompletion instead of a fumble, but video review showed that DGB had clear possession before being hit by Cromartie. The fumble stood and Birmingham took over deep in Atlanta territory.
It would take only 4 plays for the Stallions to cash in on the takeaway. HB Kerryon Johnson, who would lead all rushers in the game with 57 yards on 9 carries, busted free on an outside pitch and wove his way 18 yards for the score. Birmingham had 10 points on the board, Atlanta had 2 plays from scrimmage.
Getting the ball back after the post-touchdown kickoff, the Atlanta offense knew they risked losing the crowd if they could not respond. They put together a very nice 11-play drive that was capped off with Aaron Murray hitting 2nd year TE O. J. Howard with a quick incutting route for the score. Now down only 3, and having put together a very nice, controlled drive, Atlanta was in the game, and the fans were feeling better about their club. That good feeling would continue into the second quarter, where Atlanta’s D sacked Cam Newton on a 3rd and 7 to force a punt, and the Fire offense again found success with short passes and inside runs. Nick Chubb would take the brunt of the work in this third Fire drive, with play action from Murray also proving effective. The Atlanta QB found Roy Williams on a nice 19-yard pass to cross midfield, then connected with Kelvin Benjamin to get into the red zone. 5 plays later, on a 2nd and 3 from the 9, Chris Ivory took the handoff off the right guard, found a seam, and bounced off the tackle to reach paydirt. Atlanta would take its first lead of the game.
That lead would be short lived as Birmingham responded with a drive of their own, Cam Newton connecting with Amari Cooper on a huge 38-yard pass and catch on 1st down. They would retake the lead 5 plays later when Newton found slot receiver Julian Edelman for an 18-yard TD toss, Newton’s only TD of the game. When Atlanta failed to gain a first down on the ensuing drive, they gave Birmingham just enough time to get in position for kicker Chris Bosworth, and with Bosworth’s 53-yard field goal, the Stallions went into the half with a 20-14 lead.
The third quarter saw no scoring as both defenses made effective adjustments at the half. The period did see the 2nd Atlanta turnover, though the interception really should not be credited to Murray as his pass to TE Vance McDonald was tipped at the line and fell right into the hands of Will Allen, who was positioned close to the line to defend against Nick Chubb. With both clubs unable to alter the score in the 3rd, we would go to the 4th quarter with Birmingham clinging to a 6-point lead.
That lead would disappear after Atlanta’s first drive of the final period, a drive that saw Aaron Murray connect on 3 of 4 passing, including the drive capper, a short slant route to Dorial Green-Beckham, who made up for his earlier fumble by putting Atlanta back on top 21-20. But, with 9 minutes left to play, this game was far from over. Birmingham would go 3-and-out on their next possession, but so would Atlanta, giving the Stallions the ball with nearly 5 minutes left to play.
It would not be a perfect drive for the Stallions. They had two costly penalties that stunted their progress, including a call of offensive pass interference that took away an apparent touchdown. But, they managed to reach the Atlanta 4-yard line with a first and goal. First down saw Newton throw the ball out of the endzone. Second down saw the Atlanta defense ready for Rex Burkhead, stuffing him after only 1 yard, creating a 3rd and goal at the 3. The Stallions spread the offense out, with 4 receivers, but Atlanta was not fooled. They knew that Birmingham loved to run Newton from these spread formations. The Fire sent LB Patrick Willis on a blitz and the veteran LB caught Newton just as he began stepping forward. The result was a 6-yard loss, and another Birmingham field goal. But, with only 27 seconds left on the clock, that field goal from Boswell felt very much like a game winner for the Stallions.
Atlanta would need a miracle drive to get into field goal range, with 2 timeouts and only 27 seconds to go. They would get that miracle, and the W, on a play that fans in the Peach State will remember for a long time. The Birmingham kick went into the endzone, giving Atlanta the ball at the 20. They needed to gain about 45-50 yards to get into any type of range for kicker John Bounds. On first and 10, Murray was forced to dump the ball out to FB Marcel Reese, a 4 -yard gain and out of bounds. 2nd and 6 from the 24, with 24 seconds left. Time for an outside route and a quick first down? Apparently not, as the Fire changed things up, sending both Roy Williams and Kelvin Benjamin on deep in-breaking routes. Benjamin squared up about 18 yards downfield, catching the ball from Murray just as safety Baccari Rambo tracked him down. But before Rambo could get Williams to the turf, the wideout had done just as the play had demanded, he lateralled the ball back to the approaching O. J. Howard. The big tight end took the pitch and raced right past Rambo, with LB DeMeco Ryans trailing him but unable to catch up. Cornerback Ladarius Webb took a bad angle and missed with a poorly timed dive, freeing Howard’s path to the endzone. When the 2nd year receiver crossed the goalline, he was swamped by his fellow Fire players, and the Fire fans erupted in cheers of joy and disbelief at the play they just witnessed.
The hook and ladder, made famous by the NFL Dolphins back in that classic playoff game against San Diego, was again perfectly executed, this time for a 76-yard touchdown to win the game for the Atlanta Fire, keeping their playoff hopes alive at 6-5, and sending Birmingham to a troubling 4-7 record, one that could well spell the end of their postseason hopes. It was a brilliant call, early enough in the drive that Birmingham did not see it coming, but beautifully executed by all parties, Murray, Williams, and especially Howard. The Fire remain alive, and with only 1 game left on their schedule against a team with a winning record (Charlotte in what could be a huge Week 15 game for both clubs) is looking very much like a team with a lot to play for over the next 5 weeks.
DENVER 13 OKLAHOMA 27
The two clubs tied for 2nd in the SW Division faced off at OGE Energy Stadium on Friday night, with the winner taking over sole possession of 2nd place and getting the upper hand in the Wild Card race. Denver jumped out to a 10-0 first quarter lead, but were then shut down by Oklahoma the rest of the game. Two Julius Thomas TD receptions and 96 yards from Marshawn Lynch were enough to overcome the deficit and earn a 14-point win for the home team.
POTG: Outlaw HB Marshawn Lynch: 22 Att, 96 Yds, 1 TD, 1 Rec, 25 Yds
NEW JERSEY 10 NEW ORLEANS 23
With Nick Foles still sidelined, the Generals just could not muster enough offense to keep pace with the Breakers, not when Drew Brees had 3 receivers over 80 yards apiece. Kenny Britt got both of the Brees TDs, along with one on the ground from Leonard Fournette, as New Orleans sends the Generals down to .500 after 11 weeks.
POTG: Breaker QB Drew Brees: 21/27, 276 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int
PITTSBURGH 31 CHARLOTTE 28
A nice battle between the Maulers and Monarchs saw the Maulers, behind 3 TD passes from Andy Dalton, build up an 11-point lead and hold on despite a late Justin Blackmon TD. The Maulers rushed for 176 yards and Dalton completed 17 of 27 with 2 TDs to wideout Victor Cruz and another to slot man Ted Ginn Jr. Rookie Nyheim Hines and WR Justin Blackmon scored for the Monarchs, who also got a defensive score when D-lineman Chandler Jones picked up a loose ball and rumbled into the endzone, but it was not enough as the Maulers hung on for their 7th victory of the year.
POTG: Pittsburgh CB Rasul Douglas: 5 Tck, 3 PDef, 1 Int
CHICAGO 13 SAN DIEGO 20
The Thunder win their 4th in a row to rise above .500, while sending Chicago a game beneath the break-even line. Again Christian Ponder played well, completing 24 of 31 passes for 298 yards and 2 TDs, despite suffering 7 sacks in the game. Ryan Fitzpatrick’s 2 interceptions helped San Diego hold off the Machine, with both coming on San Diego’s side of the field. The Thunder D also held Chicago to 2 of 10 on third down, stymieing several drives with good nickel D.
POTG: Thunder QB Christian Ponder: 24/31, 298 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int
MEMPHIS 30 LAS VEGAS 27
Back-to-back TD receptions from Robert Woods were followed by a 22-yard pick-six by Memphis CB Marcus Williams as the Showboats turned a 10-0 early deficit into a 21-10 lead, and never looked back, winning their 9th game in 11 tries. Las Vegas would get some scores late to even the score at 27 with 5:40 to play, but Memphis avoided overtime with a final minute field goal to take the road win.
POTG: Memphis CB Marcus Williams: 6 Tck, 2 Int, 1 Def TD
ORLANDO 41 PHILADELPHIA 14
Matt Gutierrez returned to action, but was clearly not 100% as he was sacked 3 times and picked off twice by the Renegade defense. Russell Wilson had none of those issues, standing in clean pockets all day as he completed 24 of 29 passes for 387 yards and 3 scores in the Orlando route. Three different Orlando receivers had 100-yard games, a first in nearly a decade for a Renegade team, with Perriman, Bowe, and TE David Njoku going over the century mark.
POTG: Renegade QB Russell Wilson: 24/29, 387 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int
ARIZONA 14 DALLAS 10
Ryan Nassib throws for 337 yards but the Dallas defense keeps him out of the endzone for much of the game as the Roughnecks hung tough in this one. On a gameday decision, it was Brandon Wheedon for the start, much to the chagrin of the Roughneck fans hoping to see Josh Freeman in the game. Dallas played a very conservative game, and that was largely effective, but in the end, Arizona’s 2nd touchdown, a Carey run from 12-yards out, proved enough to bring the win to the visitors.
POTG: Wrangler CB Joe Haden: 5 Tck, 3 PDef, 1 Int
ST. LOUIS 13 OHIO 32
Lamar Jackson’s first true “rookie” game, saw the St. Louis signal caller sacked 4 times and picked off twice by a very tenacious Ohio defense. On Offense, Ohio split carries between Isaiah Pead (81 Yds) and Delone Carter (39 Yds), while Christian Hackenberg was an efficient 21 of 32 for 199 yards and a score as Ohio pulled away from the Skyhawks over the course of the 2nd half. Jackson did find Rob Gronkowski for a 4th quarter score, but it was much too little for St. Louis.
POTG: Ohio LB Stephen Daniels: 3 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
JACKSONVILLE 45 TAMPA BAY 42
An absolute shootout between these two 1-9 teams, one we nearly picked as our Game of the Week. The two clubs combined for 996 combined yards, with Tampa Bay racking up 354 in the air and 174 on the ground, while Jacksonville had 196 in the air, and, largely due to Robert Griffin’s insane 176 yards rushing, put up 272 on the ground. Griffin had 2 long TD runs, along with 3 more rushing TDs from the halfbacks, but it was a short Griffin to Mike Williams TD pass late in the 4th that proved to be the game winner, despite Dak Prescott’s 4-TD, 354-yard day.
POTG: Bulls’ QB Robert Griffin III: 18/23, 196 Yds, 1 TD, 1 Int, 10 Att, 176 Yds, 2 TD
PORTLAND 21 MICHIGAN 35
The Panthers came out of the gate on fire, scoring on their first 5 possessions to take a 23-0 lead that Portland would never challenge. The Panthers got TDs from Bell (2) and Calvin Ridley, added a safety late in the 1st half, and held off the Stags over the game’s final 30 minutes. Rookie Kyle Lauletta threw for all 3 Portland scores, but also threw 3 picks on the day.
POTG: Michigan HB LeVeon Bell: 23 Att, 96 Yds, 2 TD
LOS ANGELES 0 OAKLAND 6
We feel like we should apologize to anyone who sat through this game, live or on TV. This was just plain ugly. Oakland had only 11 first downs, went 2 for 13 on third down, and committed 2 touchdowns, and yet they still managed to not only win the game, but shut out the Express to boot. LA had only 10 total first downs, only 189 total offensive yards, and never even got in field goal range the entire game. The only players with any decent numbers were on defense, where Oakland’s Bobby Wagner had 10 tackles and DE Michael Bennett recorded 2 sacks.
POTG: Oakland DE Michael Bennett: 5 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF
WASHINGTON 20 HOUSTON 34
The Feds came out strong on the road, and looked good early, but Houston then found their groove, went on a 20-0 run, and built up a 27-10 lead that would hold through the 2nd half. Colt McCoy was in rare form, throwing for 298 yards and 4 TDs, though he did suffer 2 picks on the day. Washington TE Kellen Davis was a tough player to guard for the Gamblers, catching 7 balls for 104 yards and a score, but in the end, Houston just had more options on offense, with Hyde rushing for 114 and Mike Evans catching 6 for 119 and 2 scores.
POTG: Houston QB Colt McCoy: 22/31, 298 Yds, 4 TD, 2 Int
SEATTLE 28 BALTIMORE 17
Jacoby Brissett returned to action, but split series with Matt McGloin as the Dragons kept his “pitch count down”. The result was nearly parity between the two Seattle QBs, with Brissett going 11 of 16 for 105 yards and 2 TDs, while McGloin went 11 of 18 for 128, a TD and the Dragons’ lone pick of the day. Baltimore got a good game from Brian Hartline (131 Yds, 1 TD) in a season where he has simply not been making headlines, but it was far short of what they needed to stay in this game as Seattle again finds themselves 1 game from .500.
POTG: Seattle SS Terrell Edmunds: 2 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF
Griffin Embarrasses Bandits with Long TD Runs
While RG3 may not yet have proven to USFL fans that he can be a reliable pocket passer, there was not much doubt that he was a dangerous player when allowed to run free. As if that lesson had to be learned again, Griffin’s performance against Tampa Bay certainly showed it to be true. On 10 rushes, a combination of scrambles and designed read option plays, Griffin amassed 176 yards rushing, outpacing every back in the game, including Dalvin Cook, who had a career best 157 on the day.
The lesson in elusiveness started very early, on the 2nd drive of the game, when, following a Bandit touchdown on their opening drive, a poor choice on the kick return gave Jacksonville the ball on their own 10-yard line. After an incomplete pass on first down, Griffin lined up in the shotgun, but once the ball was in his hand, there was no attempt to look downfield, Griffin followed TE Gavin Escobar, lined up as the H-back, to the wide side and the race was on. Over 13.2 seconds, Griffin wove, juked, and sprinted his way 90 yards to a score for the Bulls, putting Tampa Bay on notice that the run would very much be a part of his game on the day.
Griffin’s elusiveness would strike again near the tail end of the 2nd quarter, when again, on a very similar play, he found a huge hole, exploited it, and was in the secondary before the linebackers even adjusted to the scramble. This time, on what was clearly an improvised run, Griffin did most of the work himself, shifting the angle of attack for the defenders with well-timed jukes and changes of pace. He would go for another 68 yards and his 2nd touchdown of the game. And while those two runs comprised 158 of his 176 yards on the ground, the threat of another big run forced Tampa Bay to leave in a spy, to shift to more zone and fewer man-up situations and generally handcuffed the defense.
The result was Jacksonville’s 2nd win of the season, and a very contented Griffin. It was a game that may well force the Bulls to reevaluate their strategy for 2019 and beyond. The thought had been that we are very likely to see a full “clean house” approach, with departures up and down the franchise, from scouting to coaching, and with a new focus on an offense that lacks consistency and playmakers. But, as this game showed, Griffin is perhaps the only serious threat that Jacksonville has on offense, so would it make sense for them to let their only weapon go, only to seek a new style of play? That is the question everyone within the Bulls’ organization must be pondering after this game.
Bell tops 1,100 yards, League’s Only 1,000-yard rusher after 11 weeks.
While not quite as boastful and outspoken as last year, LeVeon Bell has been quietly putting up some of his best numbers and this week became the first USFL back to hit 1,000 yards, now at 1,102 after 11 weeks, and on pace for 1,500 or more for the season. Last year’s push for 2,000 yards did not go well at all as Bell’s mouth was writing checks that he simply could not cash, largely because defenses keyed in on him so much that both his per game and per carry averages took a significant dip.
Things are very different this year, as Bell, complete with a 2017 Championship ring, is staying out of the press, and finding much more success on the field. He boasts a stellar 4.8 YPC average, has a nearly 200-yard lead on 2nd place (Maurice Jones-Drew) and is now tied with MJD with 12 rushing touchdowns. Bell is going out every game and getting the job done, no bravado, no ego, not even a statement on the MVP or OPOTY race, both of which he now has to be part of, just doing his part and doing it very well for the Panthers.
Colston-Ponder Connection Helping Thunder Get in Playoff Race
It has not gone unnoticed that with backup Christian Ponder at the helm, the Thunder have won 3 of his 4 starts. Including the past two weeks. It has also not gone unnoticed that in those 4 starts, former Outlaw wideout Marques Colston has had his best games of the season, racking up 461 yards, with far more frequent deep routes and big play impact. It seems that Ponder and Colston have found a rapport that had eluded Joe Webb.
So, the question now becomes, is there a QB controversy in San Diego? And, if so, will Colston push for the backup to become the starter? It is undeniable that the Thunder have been more potent of late, scoring 27 against Philadelphia in Ponder’s first start, then 34 at Los Angeles, 35 at Oakland and this week 20 against Chicago. There is an argument to make that Ponder’s pocket style works well with both HB Ryan Williams’s role and with the ability to use play action to connect deep with Colston, as well as groupmate, Nick Tune. When we look at the two QBs head-to-head, there are arguments for each, with Joe Webb putting together 12 touchdown drives with only 5 picks in his starts, while Ponder, with 6 TDs to 4 picks, is a bit less impressive, but with Ponder’s completion percentage a solid 6 points higher than Webb’s, and an overall QB Rating 5 points higher, some would say it is more about team results than individual TD:INT numbers.
With Webb still out of action, likely to be cleared to play either for Week 13 or 14, Ponder has 2 more weeks to show that he has the stuff to lead the team. And along with him, Marques Colston, is hoping to show that he remains among the league’s best deep threats.
Gore Hints at Retirement as His Role Shrinks
While it is clear that Frank Gore remains the most trusted back in the Wrangler corral, particularly when the club is near the endzone, it also seems clear that the shift towards Ka’Deem Carey is happening before our eyes. Gore still gets the majority of red zone carries and outpaces Carey with 7 TDs to the younger back’s 1, but when we look at overall workload, Carey has surpassed the veteran, taking on more carries each week, and now leading Gore by nearly 100 yards of production.
With Frank Gore turning 35 this season, that shift should not be a surprise. Neither should talk about retirement, something that has been in the win for at least the past 2 seasons and now is a whisper that is getting louder as Gore himself seems to be hinting that this may be his last run at a title. This week the veteran back all but admitted he is considering retirement after the 2018 season in an interview with NBC Sports, where he spoke about the physicality of the game, the toll it takes on the body, and his desire to “win one last big game”.
While it may not be a surprise that a 35-year-old halfback is considering the end of his career, for many in Arizona it will be a very sad day when Frank Gore does finally announce that he has played his last game for the Wranglers. In 14 USFL seasons, the last 6 with Arizona, Gore has been a model of consistency, class, and pure effort. If he were to retire this year, he would do so with nearly 17,000 rushing yards, a number that is sure to land him in Canton in the near future. But for now, he shows up every day, puts in the work, watches the film, takes his carries, and gains his yards, often with 6-points the result.
League Acts on Kareem Hunt Case, with 3 Game Suspension
After several weeks of speculation, along with ongoing league investigation, this week league HQ in New York came out with its decision on Kareem Hunt’s case. The verdict? A three game suspension to begin in Week 13. While some are saying that the penalty is too soft for a domestic abuse case, others are saying that it is premature, since Hunt’s legal case is still in the early stages and he has yet to be found responsible, with every chance that a plea or mediated resolution will be the result of the legal case. Regardless, Hunt and his agent are, of course, appealing the decision, and hoping to delay the implementation of the sanction, though certainly no party wants the suspension to move into the 2019 season, with Las Vegas still alive in the Wild Card hunt, a penalty that spans weeks 13, 14, and 15 really is no better than one delayed by a week, which could cause Hunt to miss the final week of the season. Should it be delayed any further, the penalty would almost certainly force Hunt to miss the season opener in 2019, as preseason games are specifically excluded from all league suspensions.
With the 3-game suspension already being questioned as being too lenient a penalty, it seems very unlikely that the league will reduce the suspension, so Hunt’s appeal could be a very short one, receiving an almost immediate response from the league office. In the meantime, the former NFL halfback will suit up in Week 12, when the 4-7 Vipers take on Arizona at Wynn Arena.
Cluster of Teams with 5 or 6 Wins as Playoff Picture Remains Cloudy
While it is certainly not certain, if we were to assume that any team that currently boasts a 7-4 record or better is likely going to retain a playoff spot, that means that there remain 3 spots to be claimed, the 5th and 6th seeds in the West and the 6th seed in the East. Right now, all 3 spots are held by 6-5 clubs, Atlanta in the East, Portland and Oklahoma in the West. But, with 3 other teams at 6-5 right behind them, 4 clubs at 5-6, and the Generals stuck in the middle at 5-5-1, we are talking about 11 teams vying for 3 spots. That, as anyone who follows pro football knows, can only mean a lot of jockeying for position over the final weeks of the season, and an almost certain reliance on tiebreakers to decide who gets their shot at the postseason. Let’s break down all 11 teams and see who may be in the best position to capture those 3 bids.
ATLANTA (6-5) Currently in 6th place
The Fire currently hold the tiebreakers over both Orlando and Washington, the other 6-5 clubs, and they have a distinct advantage in that 4 of their remaining 5 games are against clubs with 4 wins or fewer (2-9 Jacksonville, 4-7 St. Louis, 1-10 Tampa Bay, and 3-8 Baltimore). If they just win the games they are expected to win, they could finish they year 10-6, even if they fall to Charlotte in Week 15, and 10-6 should be solid enough to get a Wild Card.
ORLANDO (6-5) Currently in 7th place
The Renegades find themselves trailing Atlanta in two distinct tiebreakers, division record (2-4 vs. 3-2 for Atlanta) and Conference Record (4-5 vs. 5-3 for Atlanta). They also finish up with a distinctly tougher final month, playing 5-6 Chicago this week before facing 7-4 Ohio and 8-3 New Orleans in the season’s final 2 weeks. This puts them at a distinct disadvantage unless they can pull some upsets and/or Atlanta stumbles against weaker opposition.
NEW JERSEY (5-5-1) Currently in 8th place
That tie against Arizona is either a curse or a blessing. New Jersey is unlikely to be involved in any tie-breakers unless other clubs get forced into a tie game this season. So, they will either find themselves a half-game ahead of the competition or, as we see today, a half game behind the pack. Looking at their final 5 weeks, they have a very tough run ahead of them, with 4 straight games that will challenge them: @ Oakland, @ Washington, home to Pittsburgh and home to Philadelphia before a gift in the season finale, the 1-10 Bandits. That run, paired with Nick Foles injury, an injury that has led to 3 straight losses, could be the death of the once-promising Generals’ season.
Philadelphia (5-6) Currently in 9th place.
The Stars may be last in our group of Eastern Wild Card contenders, but since they are only really 1 game back of the pack, they are still very much in the mix. They have a couple of tough games left, with Houston in Week 13, Washington in Week 14, and the Generals in Week 15, but their biggest hurdle may well be their current 2-6 Conference record, a very likely tiebreaker if they end up even with Atlanta, Orlando, or both. They likely need to be a full game up on both to win those tiebreakers.
Portland (6-5) Currently in 5th Place
The Stags are 4-1 in their division, which is nice, but won’t help them if they are tied with teams from the Central or Southwestern Divisions. Their best chance to stay in playoff position is to gain a game on the competition and avoid tiebreakers. That may mean pulling an upset, and avoiding other 6-4 or 5-6 teams upsetting them. Their final five games include direct matchups with 3 of those clubs: 5-6 Seattle (This Week), 6-5 San Diego (Week 14) and 6-5 Oklahoma (Week 16). That season finale in OKC could very easily prove to be a Play in game for both clubs.
OKLAHOMA (6-5) Currently in 6th place.
Yes, that season finale vs. Portland could be huge, as could this week’s game against Ohio, then Week 13’s trip to Seattle. Oklahoma has one advantage over Portland if things do get clustered, a 6-2 conference record. If they can upend Seattle, that would move to 7-2, which puts them at a clear advantage, but again, the season finale vs. Portland could still be a game where the winner is in and the loser is out, which the league loves, even if both clubs don’t want that kind of stress.
San Diego (6-5) Currently in 7th place
The Thunder’s slow start has been wiped out by a 4-game win streak and now San Diego is in position to challenge but may need to have a game up on either the Stags or Outlaws to leapfrog them. They are clearly the hottest team of the three, with impressive wins over both Oakland and Denver in their run. They finish up with a lot of big games on the slate, including 7-4 Pittsburgh this week, then games against both Portland and Seattle before a very nice Week 16 “gimme” against the 1-10 LA Express in San Diego.
CHICAGO (5-6) Currently in 8th place
Chicago has the advantage that many of the other Western clubs are battling each other in the season ‘s final month and could knock each other out of contention. But, Chicago has to prove it can win more consistently in its final 5 games to have a shot. An 8-8 record is not likely to be good enough. With games still on the docket against Orlando, Michigan, and Denver, they need to show a bit more than we have seen so far or they could easily fall short of both the Wild Card and .500.
DENVER (5-6) Currently in 9th place
The Gold have been fading after a nice first month. They have lost 3 of 4 and 6 of their last 8, one more loss and Coach Hufnagel may be tempted to swap in Josh Allen for Matt Leinart, at least for some games, as he looks towards 2019. But, if they can win this week at home against Dallas, well, they may try to make a push. But, look at Weeks 13 and 14, when they have back-to-back games against 9-2 Memphis and 9-2 Houston. They cannot go 0-2 in that brutal 2-game stretch or it will be “maybe next year” for the Gold.
SEATTLE (5-6) Currently in 10th place
I cannot believe we are hear again. Seattle’s season is like Day of the Dead, a sequel to a pretty amazing 2017, when they went from 0-5 to 9-7 and actually won their first playoff game before falling in the Divisional Round. To duplicate that feat they will need a lot of help, as most of the tiebreakers do not go their way, but they also have plenty of chances to help their own cause, with Portland, Oklahoma, and San Diego still on the schedule. Sweep those 3 games and they have a shot, but with Ohio and Michigan in their other 2 games, they are going to have to show us some really consistent play to have a true shot at 9-7 once again.
As we mentioned in the intro, no clubs were able to lock up playoff bids in Week 11, but two clubs became the first eliminated. With a 1-10 record after 11 weeks it really is not a surprise that both Tampa Bay and Los Angeles are now officially playing out the string. With LA already seeing their Week 1 head coach hit the pavement, now it seems June Jones’s tenure with the Bandits is also likely about to be cut short. But, what about the teams still alive in the hunt for Week 17 action and beyond?
Arizona and Houston lead their respective divisions, each with 2 losses (Houston at 9-2, Arizona at 8-2-1). But neither can rest over the next month. Arizona has Oklahoma 2 games back, and if they want the 1 seed, they have to keep an eye on 8-3 Oakland as well. Houston’s lead in the South is based on a tiebreaker with Memphis (also 9-2) and both are only 1 game up on New Orleans. Other divisions are equally tight, with Michigan and Ohio tied at 7-4 in the Central, Charlotte up only 1 game on both Orlando and Atlanta in the Southeast, Pittsburgh leading Washington by 1 game and New Jersey by 1.5 games in the Northeast, and Oakland still concerned about San Diego, coming on strong with 4 straight wins and now trailing the Invaders by only 2 games with 5 to play.
The Wild Card races are also tight with the 6 seed in each conference very much up for grabs. Currently Portland, Oklahoma and Atlanta all sit in playoff position at 6-5, but they are challenged by San Diego, Orlando, and Washington (all also 6-5), with many others in close proximity, including New Jersey (5-5-1), Philadelphia (5-6), Chicago, Denver and Seattle (all 5-6). So, a lot of drama yet to unfold as we head into the 12th week of 16 this season.
Finally, a light week on the injury front after what has felt like a MASH hospital the past month. Were Baltimore in a playoff hunt, they likely would not have added Taylor to the IR, but with their season now looking very much like a lost cause, they decided to shutter his season and give some young players a shot to get some snaps. Other than that, we are looking at minor injuries that could see players back as soon as Week 13, and some still potentially playing this week.
OUT
LB Jason Taylor BAL Neck IR
FS Kyzir White MGN Arm 2-4 Weeks
LB Junior Galette OAK Thigh Bruise 1-2 Weeks
QB Joe Webb SD Hand 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
WR Dontrelle Inmana BIR Hamstring
DE Jordan Willis OKL Eye
QUESTIONABLE
DE Bradley Chubb WSH Hamstring
FS David Bruton LA Personal
WR Chris Givens SD Concussion
Two Hall of Famers Lobby for Their Coach to Join Them
While it may be too late to realistically lobby for any Hall of Fame votes, with the tally due this Friday and the announcement to come next week, there is one pair of Hall of Famers who are hoping not only to vote one of their own, but to give what they believe is long overdue recognition by lobbying other voters to vote their former head coach into the Legacy position this year. Both Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly and fellow Hall of Famer, WR Antonio Freeman are going public with their support for former Gambler head coach Ray Willsey to get his recognition as a Legacy candidate. Willsey, who passed away in 2013, would be the first coach nominated as a Legacy candidate.
While the Legacy addition to the HOF induction classes has yet to select a coach in its 8 years of existence, there certainly is an argument to be made for Willsey. After all, this is a coach who came to the USFL in 1990 after a distinguished CFL career and helped Houston garner two titles in 4 years (1992 and 1996) while helping to place Kelly, Freeman, Thurman Thomas, and LB Kiki Ayala into the Hall. His 11 seasons with the Gamblers produced a coaching record of 99 wins to 75 losses, but also a playoff record of 13-5, one of the best in league history. Yes, a 10-year career is a bit short for a coach in the Hall of Fame, and with the Hall not including Canadian years, that is a bit of a limitation, but there is no doubt that Coach Willsey certainly found success in the USFL with the Gamblers, and with names like Kelly and Freeman going around the sports radio and TV interview circuit pushing for their coach, they may just succeed in getting their guy into Canton.
Protests in San Antonio Falling on Deaf Ears
While Red McCombs and the San Antonio Gunslinger ownership may be wildly popular in the Alamo City right now, a week after announcing that the team’s first USFL identity would be revived as the city gains an expansion team in 2020, there are some folks who are less than enthused about the return of a two-gunned duelist as the mascot of the club. Among those lodging complaints and making a lot of noise in the media are Sandy Hook Promise, a group formed after the Sandy Hook school shootings, along with other gun violence action groups such as Everytown and Moms Demand Action. The voices criticizing the newly revealed team identity also include a recent survivor of school violence, David Hogg, from Parkland, Florida, site of a horrible school shooting this past February.
While McCombs has acknowledged the sensitive issue of gun violence and school shootings, he is quick to point out that the name predates the spate of school-related violence, that it calls back to a very specific time in American history, and a very specific character well-known to anyone who has ever enjoyed a Western or explored the history of the region. He believes that to ignore that history, or to avoid it due to current issues around gun violence, is not appropriate and does nothing to benefit the causes that the groups protesting his choice. He is adamant that the name is chosen and will not be changed, and with the surge in Gunslinger nostalgia that the announcement of the logo produced, and the production of merchandise already underway, it seems very likely that the club will withstand the initial backlash and move forward with the identity.
Thunder Appear Open to Portland Overtures
Speaking of club nicknames and identities, it seems that some within the San Diego Thunder organization are more open to selling the rights to the identity than most assumed. There appears to be a groundswell of support among the minority owners of the franchise, to let the Thunder name go back to Portland and allow the club to create its own identity. That is a surprise to many in the league, who thought that Portland’s desire to reacquire the name was a lost cause. But with San Diego looking to bring in new ownership, and a new owner potentially wanting to create a brand of their own, there is apparently real potential for this idea to catch some momentum within the organization, particularly if the Portland Stags franchise is willing to pay the price for the name and brand, which they seem willing to do, this could be something that happens. Surprising as that is.
Boston Could Have 2 Bidders Vying for the Same Opportunity
In our preparation for this Fall’s Expansion bidding process, we have looked so far at a dark horse bid from a group in Hartford, Connecticut, and two midwestern bids, one each from Kansas City and the Twin Cities of Minnesota. This week we will look at a city that is considered a front-runner, but one that appears to have two separate bidding groups, each stating a claim to the city, and a potential deal with the NFL Patriots to finally bring spring football to Gillette Stadium, the best-suited stadium in New England for a USFL franchise after failed attempts to use Nickerson Field (BU), Harvard Stadium, and Alumni Stadium (BC) in the past.
It is that issue, stadium viability, which has been a thorn in the side of a USFL presence in Boston ever since the Boston Breakers helped form the league back in 1983. Boston lasted 1 year at Nickerson Field, which at the time seated 18,000, with an awkward expansion to 22,000 if needed (it never was). In their second season, 1984, the Breakers cut a deal with Harvard to move their games to Harvard Stadium, but while the capacity was higher (approximately 30,000), the facility itself was sub-standard for a professional club. The Breakers would last only 2 seasons at Harvard Stadium before the original ownership gave up on the franchise, and a deal was cut head of the 1986 season to sell the team to a group based out of New Orleans, moving the Breakers to what has now been their home for over 30 years.
Boston went without USFL football for nearly two decades (1987-2002) before the struggling Atlanta Fire football club, a 1995 expansion team, was sold and moved up to New England. New ownership, headed by the owner of the Bruins, Jeremy Jacobs, had secured a deal to play at 45,000 seat Alumni Stadium. But even with the Boston club having solid attendance and eventually winning a league title in 2009, constant friction with Boston College over the use of the facility, needed upgrades and refurbishment, and the split of stadium revenue, produced a toxic stew that would eventually force the Boston Cannons franchise to move on, costing Boston their second franchise when the Cannons left for Dallas to become today’s Dallas Roughnecks.
The common theme among both the departure of the Breakers and the Cannons was a lack of access to first Foxboro Stadium, and later Gillette Stadum, both facilities the home to the New England Patriots. Ownership in New England had always been strongly in the camp of NFL owners who felt that any collaboration between the two leagues only weakened their investment and the fall league. While other owners gladly made arrangements with the USFL to share stadia, increase stadium use dates, and build a year-round football culture, that has always been a non-starter in New England, and current Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft, has been among the most vocal opponents to every NFL-USFL collaborative effort.
But, the tide may be changing in New England, and we now have two groups who believe they can cut a deal with Kraft and Gillette Stadium to give a team in New England a real shot at financial viability. The first of these groups is called Boston 2020. Led by former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick, along with the brother-sister team of Edward and Abigail Johnson. Edward, who is currently serving as CEO of Boston 2020, is also the president of Pembroke Real Estate, a major player in Boston area realty and a subsidiary of Fidelity Investments, where Abigail has served as CEO since her father stepped down 2 years ago. They are a well-heeled and well-financed group, and they have close relations with the Kraft family, which appears to be their inside avenue towards a stadium deal in Foxborough.
The second group, calling itself the NEFG (New England Football Group), also claims to be in discussions with the Kraft family, and anticipates a deal for Gillette Stadium should it be selected for 2020 expansion. This group has more figures in its leadership, including telecommunications executive Robert Hale Jr.; Bill Alfond, a minority owner of the Fenway Sports Group which owns the Red Sox, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Liverpool FC across the pond; and former Boston sports legend Kevin McHale, the former Celtic. Both teams have also lined up some football greats connected with the region as part of their pitch. Former USFL and BC quarterback Doug Flutie is aligned with Boston 2020, while former Patriot Steve Grogan along with former Cannon Tiki Barber have been seen at NEFG press events.
Both groups will be competing to represent Boston, making the case that their group is best-positioned to deal with the Krafts, secure a lease for Gillette Stadium, and make a long term commitment to have USFL Football in Boston for the third time. Whoever comes out ahead in that argument will still have to deal with arguments in favor of bringing the USFL to a new market, with Kansas City, the Twin Cities, Hartford, and Miami all expected to be in that conversation. So, it is not just a battle for Boston, it is a battle to represent Boston in a larger competition for one single USFL expansion club. After all, while there are certainly some arguments in favor of having the nation’s 11th largest metro area back in the league once again, two prior failures, and the lingering uncertainty about bids until a Gillette Stadium deal is in place means that there will be doubters within USFL circles, owners more likely to look for a new market like KC, Miami, or Minnesota over a twice-failed market. So, for both Boston 2020 and NEFG, the key, the true missing piece of the puzzle, has to be their ability to lock down Gillette Stadium now, ahead of the proposal reviews this fall.
Skyhawks, Amid Rough Season, Look to the Future with New UA Uniforms
The 2018 season has been one of disappointment and transition for the St. Louis Skyhawks, disappointment on the field, losing 6 of their first 8 games, and struggling on defense (currently 27th in points allowed and dead last in yards allowed and rushing yards allowed). Transition, because after a 1-5 start, the move was made from veteran QB Josh Freeman to promsing rookie Lamar Jackson. Jackson’s early success has lifted spirits and given the club hope for the future, and the season feels very much like a turning point towards a new chapter in Skyhawk football. So, it is also a good time for a new look, and that is just what Under Armour has prepared for the Skyhawks.
While much will remain from the look that St. Louis fans associate with their league title in 2012, quite a bit is changing. First off, while the colors remain the same, the balance definitely leans more towards the pale royal blue that serves as their primary. There will also be more silver in the new look, not only with a silver pant set, but with silver in the player numbers and the shoulder striping. Navy is clearly moved to a less dominant color in the new look, used in striping, numbers and sleeve caps but far less prevalent overall.
The new look features the same pale royal helmet with silver center stripe and the angular wings on either side. The jerseys now feature thinner shoulder stripes, designed to mimic the curvature of the city’s famous Gateway arch, with navy outlines over silver and white curved stripes, thinner at the top than at the base of each stripe. The numbers are a curved block font with thick inner numerals as well as thin piping. The collars feature a stylized Gateway Arch at the base, and are offset in color from each jersey. The team will have 2 pant sets in their standard uniforms, a silver set and a pale royal set, both still with swooping stripes, wider at the knee than the hip, and featuring the con trails and small triangular jet from the team’s secondary logo. Both jerseys feature the team’s primary logo on the sleeve, and the triangular secondar/tertiary logo above the nameplate.
The club also revealed two alternate looks. The first is a throwback to their 2006 look, complete with the primary logo on each helmet and the streaks of color across the chest. The second alternate look is a full silver over silver look. What the club is calling its “BattleHawks” look, named for the frequent chant heard at Skyhawk home games, is a silver helmet with light silver center stripe and the angular wings, with more silver in the design, on each side. The jerseys are also silver, with hints of navy and white in the striping and numerals, but no sign of the pale royal which is the dominant color of the team’s standard uniforms. This lack of pale royal extends throughout the look, with the white pant set having 2 tones of silver and navy blue in the striping, and with the socks featuring a darker grey block, with thin silver-grey stripe at the bottom.
The Skyhawks will debut these uniforms next March, when they open the 2019 season, though replica jerseys are likely to be available ahead of the 2019 USFL Draft in January.
Week 12, the 3/4 mark for the season, is upon us, and we have a lot of games with a lot of playoff implicatoins. Can Seattle go into Portland on Saturday night and pull themselves back up to .500 and right in the thick of a Wild Card hunt again? Or will the Stags distance themselves from the Dragons and close in on Oakland for the division?
Saturday has playoff implications up and down the schedule, with Chicago and Orlando facing off at noon, New Jersey in Oakland and Ohio taking on Oklahoma at 4pm, and two SW Division clashes in the night games, with Dallas hoping to play spoilers in Denver, while Arizona hosts the Las Vegas Vipers in the late game.
Sunday features a key Southern Division battle as the 9-2 Showboats head down the river to New Orleans to face the 8-3 Breakers. We also have division battles in the Southeast with Atlanta at Jacksonville and Tampa Bay in Charlotte, in the Central with Michigan heading to St. Louis, and, on Sunday night we head to the NE Division, where Washington goes to Baltimore hoping to come away with a win that would all but assure them a playoff bid while taking the Blitz out of the picture alltogether.
Friday @ 6pm ET San Diego (6-5) @ Pittsburgh (7-4) NBC
Friday @ 8pm ET Seattle (5-6) @ Portland (6-5) ABC
Saturday @ 12pm ET Chicago (5-6) @ Orlando (6-5) ABC
Saturday @ 12pm ET Houston (9-2) @ Birmingham (4-7) FOX
Saturday @ 4pm ET New Jersey (5-5-1) @ Oakland (8-3) ABC
Saturday @ 4pm ET Ohio (7-4) @ Oklahoma (6-5) FOX
Saturday @ 7pm ET Dallas (3-8) @ Denver (5-6) NBC
Saturday @ 9pm ET Las Vegas (4-7) @ Arizona (8-2-1) ESPN/EFN
Sunday @ 12pm ET Memphis (9-2) @ New Orleans (8-3) ABC
Sunday @ 12pm ET Atlanta (6-5) @ Jacksonville (2-9) FOX Regional
Sunday @ 12pm ET Tampa Bay (1-10) @ Charlotte (7-4) FOX Regional
Sunday @ 4pm ET Philadelphia (5-6) @ Los Angeles (1-10) ABC
Sunday @ 4pm ET Michigan (7-4) @ St. Louis (4-7) FOX
Sunday @ 8pm ET Washington (6-5) @ Baltimore (3-8) ESPN/EFN
Willsey not in the HOF is a huge snub!