2019 USFL Conference Championships Recap

Two title games decided by a combined 4 total points, and the end result is a first for the USFL, the first Summer Bowl rematch in the league’s 37-year history. After a pair of very close calls, the defending champion Houston Gamblers and the defending Western Conference Champion Arizona Wranglers will return to the USFL’s title game for a rematch of a thrilling 2018 final. We will review how both teams clinched their conference title and punched their ticket to Las Vegas and Summer Bowl 2019. We will also take a look at the news from around the league, including the 2019 league awards revealed at last night’s Gala and even take a look ahead to September, when the league will conduct its first expansion draft since 2008. All this, plus our pick for the 2019 USFL Champion, right here, and right now.

Summer Bowl Rematch, a USFL First

Regardless of the result of Summer Bowl 2019, it will be a historic game for the USFL. For the first time in league history the two teams who battled in the prior year return for a second round. Like a matchup of two prize heavyweights, like Ali and Frazier or Tyson and Holyfield, this one will almost certainly be a historic battle between two of the league’s elite franchises. And the winner will undoubtedly have something to brag about as well.

If Houston can defeat their former rivals from the Southwest Conference, they will become only the 2^nd team in league history to defend their championship, following the 2002-2023 Ohio Glory. The would also be the Gambler’s 6^th title. They are already the only USFL team with 5 league championships, so a 6^th would put them in very rarified air. For Arizona, a win would be their 3^rd title in a span of 7 years, solidifying their standing as one of the league’s all-time dynasties. Simply appearing in the Summer Bowl sets a precedent, with 5 trips to the title game in only 7 years. The Jim Kelly-led Gamblers appeared in 6 Summer Bowls between 1987 and 1996, and Arizona would have 3 more seasons to equal that feat, but, just as that Houston squad is considered an all-time dynasty, so too could Arizona claim to be the “Team of the 2010’s” with a 3^rd title this year.

Not since 2014 has the USFL had a Summer Bowl without either the Wranglers or Gamblers making an appearance, and with the shift of Houston from the same division as the Wranglers, a concession made when the Boston Cannons relocated to Dallas, we have come to expect these two to be at the top of each conference. As we see this year, that is clearly the case as the two go face-to-face for a second time. So, will it be a 6^th title as well as a back-to-back repeat for Wade Phillips and the Gamblers? Or will Arizona get a measure of revenge for last year’s ugly 48-17 defeat, claim a 3^rd title in the decade, and join New Jersey, Tampa Bay, and Philadelphia as 3-time champions? We will know soon enough, when the two clash on Saturday in Las Vegas with a full house anticipated and a rowdy “Sin City” atmosphere guaranteed.  But, how did these two clubs get here? Let’s look back at the two Conference Title Games to see just how both booked a return trip to the promised land.

TAMPA BAY BANDITS 21  HOUSTON GAMBLERS 22

It certainly was not a given that Houston would triumph in their matchup with the Tampa Bay Bandits, and for a good part of the game it appeared that Tampa’s triumphant rise from 3-13 to a SE Division title might go all the way to the Summer Bowl. Houston was down in the game for nearly 55 of the game’s 60 minutes, but prevailed on a late TD from one of their regular heroes to take the victory and lock up a 3^rd consecutive trip to the USFL’s title game.

In what was one of the stranger starts to any playoff game, we opened the Bandits-Gamblers game with a 2-2 score after 1 quarter, a total that surely threw off countless “number square” games. No one expects that 2-2 is going to win anything, but that was what we got. It began after a perfect coffin corner punt by Tampa’s Tress Way put the Gamblers back at their own 2 to start their opening drive. After an inside run by Carlos Hyde provided no relief, Colt McCoy dropped back, was immediately pressured by Dante Fowler, barely getting the ball away before being dragged down. The refs discussed the play, then called Illegal Grounding on McCoy, whose pass did not find a nearby receiver. Though not recorded as a sack for Fowler, the play produced 2 points and would give the Bandits the ball.

After a pair of failed drives, it was Houston’s turn to pin the Bandits back inside their own 2. Gambler punter Chad Lester drove the ball inside the 10, giving Tampa Bay a 1^st and 10 on their own 7. That would lead to a Houston safety just one play later as Dak Prescott’s pitch to Dalvin Cook was poorly timed. The ball careened off fullback Roger Gregory, who apparently had take the wrong angle for the play called. The ball bounced backwards towards the endzone before a diving Cook landed on it. As he tried to get up, he was touched by a Houston defender and the safety was called. Two to two and a strange start for two teams known for their offense.

The second quarter, while not producing any scoring oddities, was still not what most expected of this matchup. The defenses dominated in the half, with both teams recording 3 sacks apiece in the opening 30 minutes. Both clubs moved the ball to a point, but struggled with third downs. Tampa Bay converted only 1 of 5 in the half while Houston went 0 for 4, something that defied the odds when we look at how good both offenses were in the regular season. While both teams managed to put some points on the board, it was only thanks to the strong legs of both kickers. Harrison Butker added 6 points to the tally while Younghoe Koo would have only one chance, and that led to the Bandits taking a very surprising 8-5 lead into the half.

Both clubs spent the better part of the halftime break trying to make offensive adjustments, to strategize how best to put the ball in the hands of their playmakers. Both found success in adjusting to the defenses and the 3^rd quarter would prove to be the kind of play we all expected from these two high-flying offenses. The Bandits would get the opening kickoff, a result of Houston misstating their “deferred” interest and allowing Tampa Bay both the opening and 2^nd half kickoffs. That mistake, a rarity for teams this late in the year, helped Tampa Bay bolster their lead. The Bandits would use only 8 plays to move from their own 20 into the Houston endzone. They opened the drive with a big pitch and catch between Prescott and Ryan Grant, a 29-yard play that got them to midfield in one stroke. They would add two nice runs from Cook and a key 3^rd down conversion to Cameron before Prescott found Dez Bryant for the game’s first touchdown. With a botched holdon the kick, keeping the advantage to 14-5, Tampa Bay was still feeling very much in control.

But the Houston Gamblers are no strangers to tough matchups, and they responded as you would expect a defending champion would. The Gamblers were patient, took what Tampa’s defense was willing to give, and built up an 11-play, 5-minute drive that brought them back to within 2. On the drive, the player with the biggest impact was not one of the usuals, but 2^nd tight end Tony Moeaki, who had 3 of his 5 catches on the day in this one drive, including a 10-yard completion on 3^rd and 9 that kept Houston rolling along. With the ball at the 10, McCoy again looked to the unsung star of the drive, and Moeaki again came up with the catch, a high throw reminiscent of the famous Montana-Clark play from the 80’s. Moeaki went up for it and brought it down to give Houston their first touchdown and drop the lead from 14-5 to 14-12.

But the third quarter was not done yet. There were still nearly 7 minutes left, and we would still see two more scores before entering the 4^th. Tampa Bay responded to Houston’s 11-play drive with one of their own, sparked by a 34-yard throw and catch to rookie Deebo Samuel. The Tampa Bay drive got bogged down at the Houston 20, but Coach Trestman chose to go for it on a 4^th and 1 from the 20, and with former Ohio Glory back Marion Mack brought into the game, it was no surprise that the Bandits went for a straight power play right off the center. The refs called a first down, Coach Phillips challenged the play, but replay was unable to overturn the call. Tampa had a first down at the 19. Three plays later it was Prescott to his own tight end, Jordan Cameron, for his 2^nd TD of the game.

Down 21-12 with 2:39 left in the quarter, Houston opted to pick up the pace. Helped by a defensive holding call on the second play of the drive, the Gamblers pushed the ball into Bandit territory, but a nice play by CB Jalen Ramsey forced Houston to settle for a field goal. Koo’s kick was good from 48 yards out and at the end of 3 we had a 21-15 game, a marginal 6-point lead.

That lead would hold through most of the 4^th quarter, helped by two failed 3^rd down plays from the Bandits and an atypically poorly thrown ball by McCoy that missed Josh Reynolds and was scooped off the turf by CB Taurean Nixon for a pick. The Bandits tried to push the lead to 9 with a long Butker field goal attempt, but for the 2^nd time in 4 attempts, the Bandit kicker missed to the right, the ball hooking harmlessly outside of the goalposts and giving Houston the ball on their own 34 yard line. With 3:37 left to play, down by 6, the Gamblers knew this was likely their last chance to change their fate.

McCoy gathered the Gambler offense ahead of the drive, reminded them that they have been here before and that all they had to do was for each man to do their job and they would take the win. The Gamblers broke huddle and began what would be a 9-play, 66-yard drive to destiny. The drive opened with McCoy hitting Carlos Hyde with a swing pass, but SS Derwin James was there to disrupt it before much damage could be done, a gain of only 1. On their next play, they found a better connection, with McCoy hitting JuJu Smith-Shuster for 11 and a first down. McCoy would hit 4 different receivers on the drive, including a 27-yard catch and run by Hyde and an 11-yarder to Vernon Davis that put the ball on the Tampa Bay 9 yard line with 1:40 left to play. A Hyde run brought the ball down to the 2, and on a 2^nd and goal, McCoy called play action. His pass to Josh Reynolds was too high and sailed out of the endzone, leaving Houston with a 3^rd and goal on the 2. Houston brought out 3 receivers along with Hyde and Davis. But it was not a pass. They trusted the ability of their back to find a hole along the line, called an inside run and Hyde plowed his way across the plane and in with 1:27 to play.

Houston now led 22-21, but with 1:27 they would need some defense to keep the Bandits out of field goal range. They would get it, with the front 7 putting pressure on Prescott, leading to a sack from LB Pat Angerer on a 2^nd and 5 that created a 3^rd and 12. Prescott completed his next pass, but only for 4 yards as Houston safety Budda Baker made a textbook tackle on Jordan Cameron. That left 4^th and 8 and one shot left for the Bandits. With 4 receivers on the field and only Mack in to help block, Houston opted to bring pressure, and, as is so often the case with Wade Phillips defenses, it was the right call. Mack chipped the blitzing Pat Angerer, but that left Tim Crowder free to come around the end. Crowder got his first sack of the game, but the most important sack of the affair as it ended Tampa Bay’s drive and gave Houston the ability to take the victory formation and claim their third consecutive Eastern Conference title.

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DENVER GOLD 17  ARIZONA WRANGLERS 20

Much like the Eastern final, the battle between Arizona and their SW Division rival Denver Gold was a nip and tuck affair that was not decided until the final minutes. Denver would employ the same strategy that had helped them upend the 14-2 Michigan Panthers a week earlier, a slow, steady offensive possession game that combined short passes with timely runs to milk the clock and shorten the game. Denver would finish with nearly 35 minutes of possession, but Arizona found enough big plays to offset some of the slow-down tactics.

Two big turnovers also helped Arizona claim the title in the end, both picks of Denver QB Josh Allen, though, to be honest, at least one of those interceptions was far more on the receiver than the QB. In a game that saw a combined 31 points in the first half and only 6 scored in the second, the two late takeaways proved to be the difference in the contest.

The first quarter did not delay in providing some drama. Arizona received the opening kickoff after Denver won the toss and deferred to the second half. They would need only 2:40 off the clock to put up a touchdown, thanks largely to a 37-yard catch and run by former Mauler Victor Cruz. The play took advantage of play action, with Denver biting on the run by Isaiah Crowell. Carr retained the ball, saw Cruz in single coverage and hit him down the left sideline with a perfect pass. Only 3 plays later Crowell would get his turn, a dive over the pile from the 1 to put Arizona on top. But if the Wranglers thought this first drive would be indicative of the ease with which they would take this game, they were very mistaken.

Denver responded with a drive of their own, and with a play as big, if not bigger, than Cruz’s. The Gold began the game on the ground, with Murray and Lindsay both getting 2 carries in the drive’s first 4 plays. Both found good holes and produced a first down, setting up a 2^nd and 3 that Allen easily converted with a dump down pass to TE T. J. Hockenson. With the ball now in Arizona territory, it appeared the Gold were going back to the run, but instead they set up a slip screen to DeMarco Murray. Catching the Wranglers in a heavy run defense, Murray only had to clear the initial coverage from LB Travis Goethel and he would have clear space to run. With help from pulling guard Larry Warford, Murray got past Goethel and it was off to the races. Forty-two yards later Murray was diving across the goalline and equalizing the score at 7 apiece.

All this occurred before the game had even hit 5 minutes of time elapsed, but the flurry of points would not continue. For the remainder of the opening quarter both teams found the going a bit tougher, and we saw only 3 punts as the quarter wound to a close. Early in the 2^nd we did get another good drive, but it too fizzled, forcing Arizona to turn to Elliott Parson to retake the lead. Parson’s 48-yarder was good and Arizona took a 10-7 lead with 14:12 left in the 2^nd. After a pair of short drives, Denver again got the ball and this time they opted to use more passing on 1^st down to loosen up the Arizona defense. Josh Allen connected with Jack Doyle and Kendrick Bourne on consecutive first downs to create easy run situations on 2^nd and short. It was not the fastest attack option, but that was fine for the Gold. They took 14 plays and nearly 8 minutes off the clock, but when FB Robert Foster punched the ball in from the 1, Denver had the lead, 14-10.

Getting the ball back with 3:05 left to play in the half, Arizona did not have luxury to slow play the drive. They went into a 2-minute offense, though they did hand off to Carey and Crowell a combined 4 times in their hurry-up set. After a nice completion to Demarcus Robinson, the Wranglers were within field goal range at the 20, but they had both time and 2 time outs left, so the goal was certainly to add 7, not 3 to the scoreboard. A failed shot at the endzone on first down was followed by a false start call, making it 2^nd and 15 from the 25. But, David Carr got sneaky and used a nice hard count to turn the tables, forcing Von Miller offsides and gaining back the 5 yards from the false start. On the next play it was a clear case of a mismatch recognized. Arizona TE Jimmie Graham was covered in man by Denver MLB Patrick Onwuasor. Now, Onwuasor is a very solid linebacker, but he just cannot keep up with Graham and David Carr saw that. Carr’s route was changed from a crossing pattern to a seam route and Carr found him over the middle. The big TE was able to muscle his way past the safety and into the endzone, putting Arizona up 17-14 as the 2^nd quarter came to a close.

From what we saw in the first half, we might expect the game to easily enter a final score in the 30’s, but both Coach Tomsula and Coach Hufnagel know how to make adjustments at the half, and both did just that, producing a second half with only 6 total points scored. It could have been more, but the Arizona defense also managed to nab two Allen passes to shut down promising Denver drives. The first came on Denver’s opening drive of the game, a drive which had amassed 3 first downs and was closing in on field goal range for Greg Zeurlein. But, on a 2^nd and 8, Josh Allen was flushed to his right, tried to throw back over the middle to Golden Tate and found CB Jeremy Lane instead. The play cost Denver a shot at a field goal and got the Wrangler faithful on their feet.

Arizona could not make anything of the takeaway and 5 plays later punted back to Denver. The Gold again showed that they could muster enough offense to threaten the Wranglers, and this time there was not a costly turnover. With 5:36 left in the 3^rd, Greg Zeurlein put up the equalizer. Just as they had done in Michigan, the Denver Gold were keeping Arizona close, waiting for a mistake that would help them earn the win. Unfortunately, this time the mistake would be theirs.

Following the tying field goal, both teams struggled to push the ball into the opposition’s side of the field. While the run game for both clubs was proving somewhat effective, play action was not, and several drives simply faltered on third downs as the opposing defenses stepped up. Denver was not allowing Wrangler receivers to obtain needed yards-after-catch to turn short receptions into first downs, and Arizona was pressuring Josh Allen with their front 4, allowing 7 to stay back in coverage. From the 5-minute mark of the third quarter to the 4-minute mark of the game, neither team got closer to the endzone than the opposition’s 45 yard line. Both teams seem to be waiting for the other to crack, for a routine play to turn into an opportunity. That crack came with 3:53 left to play, and it came from a simple mistake.

Denver had the ball on their own 37 on a 2^nd and 7. The play called for a fake to Lindsay and a toss over the middle to either TE T. J. Hockenson or slot receiver Kevin White, whomever had shaken off their coverage. As the play developed, it was White who had gotten inside position on the nickel back, and had a step. Josh Allen put the ball in the air, a laser in front of White, but White, feeling the presence of the safety coming in, diverted his eyes from the ball. Rather than coming cleanly into his hands, the ball deflected off his fingertips and up into the air. It was a classic tip drill, and there, coming over from his coverage on Hockenson was Arizona LB Scooby Wright. Wright came down with the ball, falling to the ground before holding it up in celebration. Arizona had the ball on the Denver 41 with time to get into position for a game-winning kick.

The Arizona offense would do the rest, using a pair of outside runs from Ka’Deem Carey, they reached the Arizona 32. A 3^rd and inches produced a first down on a QB sneak. With 1^st and 10 on the 31, Arizona took a shot at the endzone on first down, thwarted by CB Chidobe Awuzie. On 2^nd down it was Isaiah Crowell up the middle for 4. Then on third, a throwaway as Carr could not find a receiver before DE Justice Cole got too close for comfort. Out came Elliott Parson to attempt the 44-yard kick. It was a clean kick and with 1:21 left to play, the Wranglers had the lead, they had taken advantage of the crack in Denver’s game, a simple hesitation that produced a turnover.

The Gold would not recover. Going to a no huddle, the Denver offense got a first down immediately on an Allen to Crabtree connection, but it would be the final completion of the day for the Denver QB. Two plays later, a holding call on 2^nd and 10 put the Gold in a brutal 2^nd and 20 position, and Allen was unable to make connections with his receivers to pull them out of the hole. On 4^th and 20 his final pass reached Golden Tate, but Joe Haden was there to break it up and Arizona took over. The win was theirs, and with it a trip to Summer Bowl 2019 and a rematch with the Houston Gamblers for the USFL title.

Houston Finds New Options in Attack

With Mike Evans on the IR, and with the Bandit defense doing all it could to neutralize HB Carlos Hyde (75 yards on 21 carries) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (2 receptions on 7 targets), the Houston Gamblers were forced to find alternatives. They proved just how dangerous their offense is by doing just that. WR Josh Reynolds stepped up with 4 receptions for 98 yards, proving that he could be a valuable weapon for McCoy on the outside, but the biggest revelation was tight end Tony Moeaki. Living in the shadow of Vernon Davis since coming to the Gamblers from St. Louis, Moeaki was viewed as primarily a run blocker or an extra defender for Colt McCoy’s blind side, but in their game against Tampa Bay, he became an option for McCoy, and one used often.

With only 20 receptions all year, Moeaki was hardly on Tampa Bay’s gameplan as a threat. But in the game this week, the 10-year veteran was targeted 8 times, coming away with 5 receptions for 41 yards and a key score in the 3^rd quarter. With the Bandits focusing their attention on Hyde and Smith-Schuster, McCoy had to find options, and in Moeaki he found a reliable one. Sure, the Samoan former Hawkeye was not going to pull away from defenders, but he was able to get open and bring the ball in on key plays, sustaining Houston drives and helping them do just enough to get the W against the Bandits.

In all likelihood, Arizona will also try to contain Hyde and Smith-Schuster, they may even target Vernon Davis as a potential offensive threat. So the ability of the Gamblers to turn to others, whether Moeaki, Reynolds, slot man Keke Coutee or even fullback Anthoy Sherman, may prove essential as they try to repeat as champions. A diverse offense is the key to defeating a quality defense, and Houston is showing that they understand the necessity to move beyond the favored targets and use everyone on their roster.

Butker Kicking Himself Over Misses

While we certainly would not single out Harrison Butker as the reason Houston, and not Tampa Bay, is going to be playing in Las Vegas this week, it is undeniable that the Bandits’ kicker did not have his best week. In addition to missing a PAT on their opening score of the 2^nd half, a 1-point differential which would have caused the Eastern Title Game to go to overtime, he also missed on two field goals, including a 38-yarder in the first half. Either of those kicks would have won the game for the Bandits.

Was it a case of the yips? Did the pressure of the title game get to the Bandits’ kicker? It seems something was off. Missing on the early field goal could perhaps be just a case of nerves, but by the 2^nd half you would expect that a kicker of Butker’s quality would have shaken off the early game jitters and be ready to help his team take the title. The missed PAT showed no signs of a botched snap or poor hold, it simply went sideways from the moment it came off Butker’s foot, sliding outside the right upright without so much as a doink. Later in the game, with the Bandits up 21-15, Butker lined up for a 48-yarder, not an easy kick, but certainly one he has made before (5 of 7 in the regular season from 45+). Again the ball hooked to the right, another missed opportunity, as it would have given the Bandits a 9-point, 2-score lead at the time.

Is it fair to single out these misses as the reason the Bandits are sitting at home this weekend? No, that hardly seems fair. After all, they had more than a quarter left in the game to put up more points. So, it is not appropriate for fans to be calling for a new kicker in 2020, as some on sports radio have asserted. The Bandits did have other opportunities; they just did not put the ball in the endzone or keep Houston from doing so. Winning is a team effort, as is losing. While Harrison Butker certainly will not look back fondly on this week’s game, he is hardly the sole reason that the Bandits are not moving on to Summer Bowl 2020, and Coach Trestman is certainly not going to put all the weight of the loss on the right foot of his kicker. Butker will be back in 2020 and he will have other chances to show his value to the team.

Hufnagel Loves His Team’s Fight

Losing to the Wranglers was a tough blow for the Denver Gold, but Coach Hufnagel is not bowing his head. Since the game, both in the post-game media time and in his own local show in Denver, he was adamant about how pleased he was with his team’s tenacity, grit, and effort. And there is no denying that in the way Denver played both in their surprising victory over Michigan and their narrow defeat in Arizona, the Gold outperformed expectations, did all they could to level the playing field with a more talented opponent, and frustrated their opposition. Both Panther Coach Sean McDermott and Arizona’s Jim Tomsula praised the Gold’s gameplan and their ability to stick to a plan with determination. Coach Hufnagel spoke of the same thing in his evaluation of the two games.

Rehashing the cliché of football as a game of inches, Hufnagel laid out just how close it was in Michigan, and that the Panthers could have easily gotten a break or two to win that game, and just how close it was in Arizona. Without the late game turnover, or if it had been Carr’s ball and not Allen’s that was tipped into the air, and the Gold could easily have taken the win and moved on. It will be a long offseason for Denver, and they do have some issues to address, not the least of which is Von Miller’s demand for a new deal, but the fans in Denver and the organization as a whole, has to be proud of the way the Gold committed themselves to the postseason, outperformed expectations and created something to build on for the future.

Wranglers Finding Balance When it is Most Needed

The book on Arizona is well-known. They are a big play team, often relying on their QB and WR group to hit on the 40, 50, or longer pass plays to break open a defense. Their run game is just to keep the safeties honest. Well, that was not the case this week. Arizona showed surprising balance in their attack, using the run effectively to move the ball, not just to set up single coverage for one of their talented receivers. In a game that saw David Carr attempt 27 passes, the combination of Ka’Deem Carey and Isaiah Crowell accounted for 29 plays, 15 carries for the speedster and 14 for the grinder. Those 29 carries produced 125 yards on the ground and a touchdown. With Carr completing only 12 of his 27 attempts, for only 188 yards, it was the balance of the Arizona offense that helped get the Wranglers the win and their Summer Bowl slot.

Will that balance work against Houston? Yes and no. Yes, balance certainly will help. If Arizona can establish the run as a viable weapon in their arsenal, it will pressure the Houston defense to keep linebackers, and even safeties, near the line, and it could disrupt Coach Phillips’ blitz schemes. But, at the same time, Arizona is going to have to find those huge 40 yard or longer chunk plays, the big backbreakers, against a Houston team that is unlikely to be held to 17 points, as Denver was. Arizona may not want to play in a shootout, but they need to formulate ways to win one if that is what the game turns out to be. Having a viable run game is a part of the solution there. It can provide them with opportunities for big gains in the passing game, or it can be used (to take a page out of Denver’s gameplan) to shorten the game and give Houston fewer opportunities to cause damage on offense as well.

Two very healthy teams are heading into the Summer Bowl, with neither team facing a serious concern coming out of the conference title games. Keke Coutee continues to nurse a hamstring issue, but it did not seem to impact him this week, so we expect he will be fully able to engage against the Wranglers. Arizona lists no one on their injury roster and we believe that to be accurate as they did not have anyone leave the Denver game due to injury, so two very good teams at full strength is what we can expect this week.

ARZ:      NONE

HOU:    WR Mike Evans (IR), CB Siran Neal (P), WR Keke Coutee (P)

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USFL Gala Presents Awards & All-USFL Team

The world-famous Wynn Las Vegas was the home for this year’s USFL Summer Bowl Gala, and it was a parade of big-name talent, celebrity appearances, and all the glitz you would expect from Sin City. From showgirls to Celene Dion, it was a night of surprises, and a night of celebration of excellence in the premier spring football league. At the center of it all were the awards and the award winners, along with the unveiling of the All-USFL Team for 2019. We will start there, with 44 players named to the honor roll. As always, there will be some players, and many fans, who feel that they did not get the recognition they deserve, but it is hard to deny that the 44 names on this year’s All-USFL Team don’t deserve to be honored. Here is the roster of this year’s honorees:

QB: Dak Prescott (TBY), Kirk Cousins (MGN), David Carr (ARZ)

HB: LeVeon Bell (MGN), Eddie Lacy (STL), Carlos Hyde (HOU)

FB: Kyle Juszczyk (MGN)

TE: Coby Fleener (NOR), Jordan Cameron (TBY)

WR: Odell Beckham Jr. (NJ), Dez Bryant (TBY), JuJu Smith-Schuster (HOU)

     Victor Cruz (ARZ), Cody Latimer (MGN)

OT: Levi Brown (TBY), Brandon Scherff (ARZ), Riley Reiff (BAL)

OG: Jason Asamoah (HOU), Barrett Brooks (TBY), Chase Warmack (DAL)

C: Mike Pouncey (CHA), Stefen Wisniewski

DE: Calais Campbell (ARZ), Shaquile Riddick (PIT), Cliff Avril (OAK)

DT: Ndamukong Suh (POR), Aaron Donald (PIT), Dan Williams (MEM)

LB: Channing Crowder (PHI), Rolando McClain (CHA), Trey Hendrickson (STL),

     Bobby Wagner (OAK), A. J. Klien (ARZ), DeMeco Ryans (BIR/TBY)

CB: Leodis McKelvin (HOU), Stephon Gilmore (LA), Antonio Cromartie (BIR)

    Dre Kirkpatrick (MGN)

SS: JaJuan Jarrett (OAK), Budda Baker (HOU)

FS: Earl Thomas (ATL), Nate Allen (ARZ)

ST: Elliott Parson (ARZ), Matt Bosher (BIR)

The Arizona Wranglers led all teams with 7 All-USFL players, followed closely by the resurgent Tampa Bay Bandits with 6 and both Michigan and Houston with 5 apiece. And after the All-USFL Team was announced, it was time to start handing out some individual awards, all five of the annual honors found their 2019 recipients, with few surprises across the evening.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

It was a competitive 2-man race between Michigan QB Kirk Cousins and Tampa Bay’s Dak Prescott, but in the end, the combination of individual achievement, including 4,245 yards and 30 TDs, and team improvement, jumping from 3 wins to 10 in one season, that gave the honor to first-time recipient Dak Prescott of the Bandits.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Kirk Cousins may have missed out on the MVP, but there was one Michigan Panther who was not denied as HB LeVeon Bell “ran away” with the OPOTY award, if you will forgive the pun. With1,552 yards rushing, 11 total touchdowns, and a career best 453 yards receiving on the year, the 2,000+ yards from scrimmage were more than enough to win Bell his 3^rd OPOTY in the past 4 years.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Who else could hold up this trophy but Calais Campbell. Moving to a new team, winning his 10^th consecutive sack title, and helping Arizona win the SW Division for a 5^th consecutive season was more than ample reason to once again recognize Campbell as the best defender in the game. The 2019 DPOTY is Campbell’s 5^th, and there are many who still say he should have at least another 2-3.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

It came down to two players, one on either side of the ball, but in the end, as it so often does, offense wins out over defense, at least when it comes to awards. This year’s ROTY is Baltimore HB Josh Jacobs, who finished 2019 with 1,132 yards rushing and 5 touchdowns for the Blitz. A competitive 2^nd place was held by Orlando DE Montez Sweat, who had the unenviable job of replacing a legend in Calais Campbell. Sweat more than held his own, with 17 sacks in his rookie campaign.

COACH OF THE YEAR

As always, this award goes to the coach who produced the biggest upturn for his team, and no one did more than Tampa Bay’s Mark Trestman, with the Bandits improving from a miserable 3-13 in 2018 to an impressive 10-6 record with a division title to boot. Trestman’s Bandits were explosive on offense and had marked improvement on defense. They went 6-2 in division and earned the 2-seed this year after finishing as one of the worst teams in the league just 12 months ago.

Congratulations to all the nominees, all the winners, and to the entire All-USFL squad for 2019. And now, with the Gala concluded, we have 2 more days of practice, pundits, and prognostication, and then it is game time as we gear up for Summer Bowl 2019 in Wynn Arena.

5 Stories to Follow this Offseason

While all eyes are in Las Vegas for Summer Bowl 2019, we here at “This Week in the USFL” are well aware that this is our last regular report until October, which means we might want to talk a bit about the offseason. So, we put our heads together, looked ahead at the upcoming Free Agency period, as well as September’s expansion draft, and decided to hit you with 5 stories you will want to track between now and October. These are the stories we think will impact the league and your favorite team, especially if you are a newly christened fan of the Steamrollers or Gunslingers.

1—Will any USFL Stars go Unprotected in the Expansion Draft?

The answer here is an unqualified “yes”. With each team only able to protect 10 roster spots, there will certainly be some very well known, and very solid players left unprotected. Is your favorite team going to lose their All-USFL QB or star halfback? No. But positions like safety, defensive tackle, linebacker, or tight end quite possibly could be seen as a lower priority. We also could see some players hitting the twilight of their careers, especially those with bloated cap-hammering contracts left available with the possible effect of having either New England or San Antonio pick up that expense and that late career player.

With a cap of 3 potential players taken from any team, the damage, even if some quality players are left unprotected, will not be severe, but for a team that has already had significant retirements from their roster, or a large free agent exodus, the expansion draft could definitely complicate a club’s offseason, adding new needs that were not part of the original plan. But, for others, cap relief may actually make for a more beneficial position from which to approach the draft and free agency. We all expect that there will be some surprises, for example teams with a QB battle leaving those QBs exposed to see if one of the expansion teams will solve their dilemma for them, or perhaps a team with a player who is good on the field and a nightmare off it leaving that locker room issue available and hoping he soon becomes someone else’s problem. These could all happen, but if you are a fan of one of the 28 current teams, you really should not fear that your roster will be gutted by the expansion draft.

2—Will both Flacco and Lynch be Returning to San Antonio?

Both are up in the air, though Marshawn Lynch certainly seems open to the idea of giving it one more season if that season brings him back to San Antonio and he can be the main man for a new team. We are not sure Lynch is ready to be the main man for an offense, but perhaps from a promotion and “face of the franchise” perspective, he would be a good addition. As for Joe Flacco, on the one hand he had his worst season in a long time this year. On the other, an expansion team getting a veteran QB with Flacco’s credentials is more than most can ever hope for. Flacco will almost certainly be a better, more secure, option than any other quarterback left unprotected in the expansion draft. Sure, he may not be a 35 TD, 4,000-yard QB anymore, but San Antonio will have a better shot at some early success with Flacco under center than with pretty much any other option that might be available to them this year.

3—Who Will Land the Biggest Free Agent Fish, Aaron Donald?

This will be “THE” story of free agency. Very much like the Calais Campbell story last year, Donald is in the enviable position of essentially picking and choosing the situation he will accept. And like Campbell, we believe Donald is not so much chasing dollars as championship rings. That limits the pool of potential teams quite a bit. For Campbell the move to Arizona was all about chasing a title, one he now has within sight. For Donald, a very similar goal is in mind. So, who could be on his short list? Certainly, Michigan would be an enticing option. Houston also would be in the mix. We think Arizona is out, simply because the cost of having both Campbell and Donald on the D-line would hurt their ability to put together anything else within the cap. If we go beyond the 3 obviously elite teams, there is a pretty nice pool of potential contenders, teams that would have a much better shot with Aaron Donald on their roster.

San Diego and Tampa Bay are obvious options in the “one missing piece” category. We think New Jersey or Orlando could also be an option. It would be interesting to see if Donald stepped into Campbell’s former club and, paired with sensational 2019 rookie Montez Sweat, did what Campbell could not do in Orlando. And, one last thought, if Von Miller is serious, and if Denver does not blink, either trading or releasing the unhappy DE, they would then have the funds to bring in Donald, and that would also be a very interesting move.

4—Will Oakland Stand Pat at QB or Go Shopping?

Coach Kubiak’s Wild Card Playoff QB switch tells us that the Invaders are getting frustrated with Jimmy Garoppolo’s lack of production and are open to a new option. Rather than go into camp next January with two middling options and no clear frontrunner, they could look at jettisoning one of their 2 current “starters” (expansion draft, anyone?) and then go for the big-name rookie. Portland is unlikely to draft Justin Herbert, but also unlikely to trade within division to send him to Oakland. But we could imagine Birmingham, having just given Cam Newton a new deal, being open to sending Tua Tagovoiloa’s rights to the Invaders. Another option might be to work out a deal with Jacksonville, who brought in Ryan Tannehill from the NFL last offseason only to have Teddy Bridgewater secure the starting job with a solid 2019. A lot is up in the air in Oakland, because having 2 quarterbacks you are unsure of is not the way any team wants to go into a new season, so keep an eye on how they handle free agency and the expansion draft. That will tell us what we need to know about the plans for 2020.

5—Is This the Year Chuck Long Gets His Shot at the Big Chair?

Well, there are only 2 positions left from the 5 we started out with only 3 weeks ago, but we still think the Arizona OC has to be a serious contender for a head coaching job. Chuck Long has shown that he can get results with a backup QB (Ryan Nassib in 2018), and with a whole new receiving corps (after Fitzgerald’s retirement and Bryant’s departure last offseason), by putting together a very strong campaign with free agent Victor Cruz and untested talent DeMarcus Robinson. With all the changes on Arizona’s roster over the past 3 seasons, they have maintained their status as an elite offense, and that has to be attractive to the teams out there looking for a new head coach. So, while New England (John Fox), Charlotte (Vance Joseph), and Pittsburgh (Skip Holtz) are out of the market, we think that both the expansion San Antonio Gunslingers and the Atlanta Fire could do a lot worse than to bring Chuck Long in to help build an offensive juggernaut.

Summer Bowl Preview

Here we go, Summer Bowl 2019. A rematch of the 2018 title game. Does Houston go back-to-back and make history? Does Arizona get a measure of revenge and cement themselves as a decade-dynasty by winning their 3^rd title in 7 years? We will break down the matchup statistically. Talk a bit about history between these two clubs, even bring in some of their 2019 opponents to get their analysis of each club, but in the end, we will have to pick a winner. Stop snickering. We know how mediocre our track record is with picks, but we doubt you have done much better. So, let’s break this game down and see what we see.

BY THE NUMBERS

We start by taking a look at these two returning conference champions statistically, because while we know the history between the two last year, these are not the exact same teams as the two that met in New Orleans for Summer Bowl 2018. Here are 15 different statistical markers that might tell us something about the matchup.

CATEGORY                            ARIZONA                       HOUSTON

Points Per Game                   27.6       (1^st)                25.2       (4^th)

Yards Per Game                  366.1    (2^nd)               353.6    (4^th)

Passing Per Game                    255.8    (4^th)                 262.8    (2^nd)

Rushing Per Game               110.2    (3^rd)                  89.8       (16^th)

Points Allowed                         16.8       (5^th)                 20.4       (16^th)

Yards Allowed                          344.1    (25^th)                328.4    (21^st)

Passing Allowed                    261.5    (26^th)               225.8    (16^th)

Rushing Allowed                    82.6       (11^th)               102.6    (21^st)

Turnover Differential              +9           (12^th)              +9           (12^th)

Sacks                                        60           (4^th)                  49           (8^th)

Interceptions                          17           (4^th)                 14           (8^th)

Field Goal %                           94.1%   (1^st)                   77.8%   (18^th)

Penalties                                63          (10^th)                 65           (13^th)

Record in 1-Score Games        4-2                                     5-5

When we look at the offenses, we see two very good squads. Perhaps surprising is that Houston is significantly more dependent on their passing game, despite having Carlos Hyde as their lead rusher. Hyde is outstanding as a receiver, which might explain why there is not as much of an emphasis on the straight run game. We also should note that while Hyde has the most rushing yards of any back in this matchup, Arizona’s use of a HB duo (Ka’Deem Carey and Isaiah Crowell) easily outpaces Houston’s one-back offense in total yardage, with Hyde accounting for 1,151 yards and the duo of Carey and Crowell accounting for 1,741. The ability for Arizona to balance their offense could be important, but as we have seen, there is no denying that Houston can lean on Hyde for a ground game when needed. Our thoughts on the offensive matchup is that both teams are very capable of putting up good games, so it is nearly impossible to say that one has a clear advantage.

The defensive stats are also largely balanced, with each club perhaps having issues with yardage, using a bend-but-don’t-break philosophy, or with both accustomed to playing with a lead, which tends to produce greater yardage for the opposition but without the real threat of a foe outlasting their club’s offense. That said, Arizona has been far more successful than Houston in keeping teams beneath 20 points per game, which means that they are putting less pressure on the offense to be on their game. Additionally, while both teams tend to give up a lot of passing yardage (something we tend to see in teams that have strong offenses because the opposition abandons the run to try to catch up) Arizona has a greater capacity to stuff the run and force teams to be one dimensional. That, of course, feeds right into Calais Campbell and the pass rush as well.  We are giving an advantage here to the Wranglers.

The two teams are pretty well balanced as far as some key intangibles go, with both equal at a +9 in turnover/takeaway balance, both strong in their pass rush and solid in forcing opposing QBs into uncomfortable throws and interceptions. It is interesting to note that Elliott Parson has been far more accurate this year than Younghoe Koo, which could be a factor to note should this game come down to a few key field goal opportunities. Somehow this does not feel like a matchup that ends with a game winning kick, but if it does, Arizona seems to have the advantage there. Finally, Houston has certainly had far more experience in tight games, but their 5-5 record seems to indicate that they have not always found the way to come out on top in that scenario. This could be tied to the issues with field goal accuracy, or just that they have not been able to retain leads or grow them to the same level that Arizona has.

The statistical matchups all seem to point to an advantage for the Wranglers, thanks in part to their ability to put pressure on offenses through the pass rush and their ability to pull away in games over time. Those two trends in the stats certainly seem to fall in Arizona’s favor, both being patterns which do not match the 2018 numbers or game outcome.

MATCHUP HISTORY

The Gamblers and Wranglers did not play each other this year, a result of Houston moving from the West to the East, but the two have certainly faced off many times in the past, including, but not limited to last year’s title game. That game, of course, is the most recent matchup of the two former division foes, with Houston taking a convincing 17-point win, 48-31. Prior to that game, the two faced off 36 times over the long history of both clubs, with Arizona holding a 20-16 advantage in all games. Of course, that is a span of nearly 40 years, so not all of those games have much relevance to this matchup.

But if we look only at the last 5 years, with both Coach Tomsula and Coach Phillips going head-to-head, and both rosters having many of the same parts (again, tenuously, since player turnover certainly has been heavy among both clubs even in only 5 seasons), what do we see? Well, prior to their Summer Bowl matchup in 2018, the last time the two faced off was Week 15 of the 2017 season, which was another shootout game, with Arizona taking the W by a score of 38-31 at home. Prior to that, the two had not faced off since the 2014 season, when Houston was still a member of the SW Division along with the Wranglers. In that year the two faced off twice, with Arizona taking a 13-10 defensive win in Week 9 and then pounding the Gamblers 41-21 in Week 13.  So, do we gain anything from this history? Perhaps only that there is a general propensity for high-scoring games, with Arizona having a better track record over time, but last year that did not mean anything as the Gamblers not only won the game but did so pulling away.

ASKING THOSE WHO KNOW

So, with only marginal help from looking at stats and history, we turn to those who might know best, players who faced off against the Gamblers, the Wranglers, or both this year. What do they see in these two teams and who do they pick to win it all. We start with two players who matched up against both clubs this year, followed by two who played one of the two twice as divisional foes.

Atlanta LB Luke Kuechley: Kuechley, who played against both the Wranglers and the Gamblers this year, helping Atlanta produce an upset win over Houston, while falling to the Wranglers, had nothing but praise for both teams, but clearly seemed to have a favorite in this one.  According to Kuechley, “Arizona has too many weapons. You shut down their top receiver, they run the ball, you focus on the run, they go over the top. They are a really hard team to defend.” He added about the Gamblers, that: “If Mike Evans were playing, they might also be a match up problem, but without their best receiver, they are definitely weakened.” We asked Kuechley for a final score and he was very bullish on Arizona, picking the Wranglers to win 31-21.

Tampa Bay CB Jalen Ramsey: Another player who faced both clubs, even before this past week’s defeat at the hands of the Gamblers, Ramsey also focused on the offensive firepower of both teams,saying: “Both of these teams can turn a short completion into a touchdown on any play. They both have big time receivers, and both know how to put them into winning schemes.” Despite his praise for both passing games, Ramsey pointed out that Houston has one distinct advantage over the Wranglers, commenting that “Carlos Hyde is the key. If he gets going, especially as a receiver, then you just cannot have enough men on defense to slow down the Gamblers. If you go nickel or dime too early, he will grind you down on the ground, but if you stick with your standard defense, he becomes a very dangerous receiver.”  His pick? He is going for the Gamblers, picking them to win a shootout, Houston 41-35.

Memphis HB Todd Gurley: We wanted to speak to someone who played the Gamblers twice this year, and Todd Gurley was there both times the Gamblers took a W from the Showboats in division play. So, what did the Showboat halfback have to say? “The thing with the Gamblers is that their defense may not look great on paper, but that is because they so often get to ease up later in a game, when their offense has already put the game away. When they want to tighten up, they can be one of the most aggressive defenses in the league, but they don’t have to hold that intensity all game because the offense is so good.” Gurley did not want to fuel the fire under the Gamblers by talking too much about Arizona, but admitted: “Do I think Houston will win? Yeah, I do. Do I want them to? Hell, no.”

Oklahoma QB Joe Flacco: We did the same for the Wranglers, finding a player who suffered two defeats at their hands. QB Joe Flacco of the Oklahoma Outlaws came close twice, but fell to Arizona in both Week 1 and Week 14. According to Joe, “Arizona can beat you 13-10 or 50-45. They have the offensive firepower to run with anyone, but they can also play shut down defense, especially this year, with Campbell there.” We asked Flacco about Campbell’s role in Arizona, and he stated “He is what he always has been, pure disruption. You may think it is all about the sacks, and he certainly loves them, but he is willing to chase down a halfback pitch, or get in the mix in the middle too. He is simply the best defender on the field, has been for as long as I can remember”. So, who wins? Of course the QB of a Southwest rival goes with the Wranglers. Flacco thinks the defenses will do just fine in the game, picking Arizona to win a game with lower-than-expected scoring, “It’s gonna be the Wranglers, but not a shootout, something like 24-20, not the crazy scoring festival most folks want to see.”

WE MAKE OUR PICK

 So, there you have it. Four expert opinions from players that lined up against the Gamblers, the Wranglers, or both. And they come in split 2-2. So who are we to get it right if they cannot even pick a winner? OK, we know we have to. And we have looked at every factor, from third down defense to punt return average. These two are so hard to lock down, so hard to define, and quite possibly we are looking at one of the best matchups in Summer Bowl history, and the fact that it is a rematch. So, who do we pick?

We are going to go for history, for Houston getting a 6^th title, and joining the 2002-2003 Ohio Glory as only the 2^nd team to defend their title with a repeat Championship. Would we be shocked if Arizona pulls it out? No, of course not. They are too good a team to be discounted, but when push comes to shove, we have to pick a winner, and we think Houston is both motivated and focused. So we are going to pick the Gamblers to win, and with all deference to Joe Flacco’s thoughts, we think it will be a shootout.

Our pick is Houston to win 35-33. That sure sounds like a great game to us.