2019 USFL Midseason Report
- USFL LIVES
- 14 hours ago
- 38 min read
The midway point of the 2019 USFL season sees a lot of parity, a few surprises, and no shortage of teams that need to figure out how to improve over the next 8 weeks. We enter our Midseason Report with a survey of the top stories of the league, a rundown of all the Week 8 action, and, of course, our midseason power rankings, where we will see how teams have fared over the past month. All this, plus our picks for the 2019 USFL awards with half the season down. But, we kick it all off with the 5 biggest stories of 2019 to date.
The Top 5 Stories of 2019 at Midseason
Two months in and 120 games completed, so what is making news, getting our attention, or being discussed around the league. We picked 5 stories that we believe are the biggest discussion points across the league’s fandom and among our bullpen of analysists, former players, and league experts. Here they are, five stories of 2019:
The Dominance of the Tampa Bay Bandits Offense
The Bandits enter the 2nd half of the season at .500, and while there are all sorts of complaints about their sieve-like defense, you cannot knock the offensive production of this club under first year head coach Mark Trestman. The Bandits currently lead the league in 3 of the 4 major offensive categories. They are first in scoring, averaging 31.5 points per game, largely because they are also first in the league in yards per game at 393, led by Dak Prescott and the passing game, also first in the league at 305 yards per game.
Look at the individual stats and it is just as impressive. Prescott leads the league with 2,354 yards at the midway point, well on his way to a 4,000-yard season, while also leading the league with 18 passing touchdowns in 8 games. His two primary targets, Dez Bryant and Ryan Grant, are both over 500 yards at the midway point, with Bryant sitting at a very impressive 701 after 8 games. Add to that team TD reception leader Jordan Cameron (6), who is within 50 yards of the 500 mark, and a few flashes from rookie WR Deebo Samuel, who has begun to get more snaps in the slot, and you have a powerful attack. And, just in case you think this team is one dimensional, we should remind you that HB Dalvin Cook, while not featured in the offense as many backs are, is still on pace for over 1,100 yards rushing, with 7 rushing touchdowns already this year. The Bandits, for all their issues, are certainly an offensive show, with Bandit Ball, as fans love to call it, looking very much alive on the Gulf Coast.
QB Josh Allen Strikes Gold
To say that Denver Gold fans were nervous about the torch passing from Matt Leinart to Wyoming Cowboy Josh Allen would be an understatement, but the first 8 games of 2019 have turned the 6’4” former JuCo QB into a fan favorite in the Mile High City. His personality is bubbly and fun-loving, his on-field play, exciting and effective. Allen clearly benefitted from his year of watching Matt Leinart orchestrate the office, and a year under the tutelage of QB Guru Jordan Palmer. The fears that his college accuracy issues would be a major problem in the pros have not materialized, with Allen throwing at a very respectable 61.7%. He has 16 TDs to 6 picks in what is essentially a delayed rookie year, and he has made some plays with his feet that have thrilled fans, even leapfrogging an incoming A. J. Klien in Denver’s big win over the Wranglers.
Allen still has some kinks to work out in his game, but everyone from teammates to fans are learning about the young QB’s heart, arm, and spirit. Perhaps happiest of all is veteran WR Golden Tate, who quickly developed a rapport with the new signal caller, resulting in 40 receptions, 607 yards and 8 touchdowns in the season’s first 8 games. With the recent acquisition of slot receiver Terrance Williams, the Denver attack may prove even more dynamic in the second half, and it all starts with Allen’s development as a starter.
The LA Express Defense Returns to Prominence
When former Seattle Dragons’ coach Marvin Lewis returned to USFL duty with the Express, we expected the LA defense to improve, but a lot of attention was being paid to an offense reimagined with the aggressive moves to add rookies Kyler Murray and Hollywood Brown. Well, after 8 weeks, the offense is still very much a work in progress, putting up only 14.9 points per game (25th of 28 teams), but the defense caught on to Coach Lewis’s schemes almost from day one. The Express currently rank 3rd in points allowed (15.6), and in yards allowed (283 per game) while also sitting in the top 10 against both the rush and the pass.
In all 5 of the Express victories to date, LA has held their opponents to 17 or fewer points. And while a 2-game losing streak in Weeks 7-8 has some fans nervous, the expectation is still that LA will win or loss games in the teens, not the 30’s. So, who is shining for this revitalized squad? We have to start with the LB trio of Keith Rivers, Cameron Smith, and Uchena Nwosu. This is not a big-name trio, with Rivers likely the only player you have heard anyone speak of prior to this year. But between the three, they have 123 tackles in 8 games, and have also been a factor in the blitz game, with 7 sacks between them. We have also seen CB Stephon Gilmore playing at his best, and rookie Nick Bosa, after a slow start that saw him earn only 1 sack in the season’s first 5 games, has found his groove, adding 5 more sacks in just the past 3 weeks. If he can continue to grow into his role on the edge, and if LA can possibly find a solid RE option (perhaps through a mid-season trade), this Express team could be a surprise contender right away.
Ben Roethlisberger’s Back Reminds Us How Tough this Game is.
We all know that players get hurt all the time in pro football. It is just a part of the game. But when a player of Roethlisberger’s size, strength, and reputation for toughness faces a possible career-ending injury, it strikes a chord with fans, it reminds us that these athletes are true gladiators, willing to put their health and their careers on the line each and every week. Not since Troy Aikman was forced out of the game by a series of concussions have we seen such a clear and indisputable example of just how tough USFL players are and just how tenuous their careers can be, where any one play can be the difference between being on the field and being permanently sidelined. The good news, of course, is that physicians are confident that Ben will not face any mobility or potential paralysis concerns, with the swelling diminished and mobility returning to his legs, but any injury to the vertebrae immediately makes future participation in the sport a serious health concern. We have not heard from Ben yet, at least not about any future decisions, but all indicators are that the 15-year veteran may be appearing only to wave to fans from the sideline in the future.
Parity is the Name of the Game
For years the NFL has tauted team parity as a benefit of their salary cap and player compensation plan. The USFL, which helped usher in the age of free agency and gave more power to players has been equally devoted to building a league where any team could rise from the basement to the penthouse with shrewd drafting, free agency signing, and coaching hires. That commitment seems to be paying off this year, when, at the season’s midpoint, we are looking at a league where only 8 of 28 teams, barely ¼ of the franchises are not within 1 game of a 4-4 record.
As we look at the league standings, we see 6 teams perched at 5-3, three of them leading their divisions with that moderately positive record. We also see 9 teams with 4 wins (all but 1 at .500, Charlotte a half game up at 4-3-1), which includes two teams who sit at the bottom of their division (Birmingham & New Orleans) despite not holding a losing record). And finally, we have 5 teams with 3 wins, including 3/5 of the NE Division. That is a lot of parity, and a lot of teams who are going to be battling for a playoff spot well into the league’s 3rd and 4th quarters.
By all accounts, this is good for the league, for viewership, for fanbases, and for sponsors. TV ratings often favor the big matchups, the battle of 7-1 teams or the fights atop the division, but what few notice is that when there are more teams sitting in the middle of the pack, ratings across all games is better, meaning that a league with more parity tends to average higher viewership (and certainly higher attendance). Of course we have, as most fans love to see, a few standouts. This year it is the 7-1 Panthers and Gamblers, and we have a few teams struggling to earn wins, with Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta, Jacksonville, and, most surprisingly, Ohio all sitting at only 2 wins. What we don’t have is a runaway title favorite with an unbeaten record, and we also don’t have any teams winless (or even with only 1 win on the year) at the midway point. Even the 2-6 teams still have a fighting chance to come back and move up the standings.
Parity means more teams fighting the good fight for longer, and that just makes the USFL season more engaging, tougher to predict, and more fun to watch. So, good for the league, and good for us as fans.
SAN DIEGO THUNDER 19 DENVER GOLD 16 OVERTIME
The San Diego Thunder seem to be the Rodney Dangerfield of USFL clubs (those of you born after 1990 may need to look that reference up). They “Get no respect, no respect at all”. This is a club that has made the playoffs 3 years running, has won 30 games in those 3 years, is sitting at 6-2 atop their division, and yet, despite that, we find ourselves talking about the surprising LA Express, or the Oakland defense, or even the QB issues in Seattle or Portland. Heck, even the Thunder’s own leadership is seriously considering selling the team’s identity back to Portland and starting from scratch.
Despite all of this, the Thunder just keep winning games. True, they have not won a title (not only in San Diego the past seasons, but in Las Vegas and Portland as well), but they have been about as solid a club as we have seen in the past 3 years. A lot of credit for that goes to Head Coach Dick LeBeau, who had great success with the Michigan Panthers from 2004-2013, bringing the Panthers a title in 2008. But without a lot of “big name” stars, the Thunder just seem to play as a team and generate wins.
That is exactly what happened in Denver this week. San Diego came into the game at Mile High (we struggled to call it Invesco Field and the new name “Empower Field” is also not sticking with us) as a 5-point underdog to a Denver club who had won 3 in a row (all at home) and had yet another home game to control. But San Diego was not intimidated. The Thunder went toe-to-toe with the Gold, staying lose throughout, sending the game to overtime with only seconds left on the clock, and then earning the win in the final minute of the extra period. It was a classic Thunder win, with one exception, this one included a singular performance the likes of which we just don’t expect from San Diego.
That performance, an astounding 458-yard passing game from Christian Ponder, simply stunned us all as we watched the Thunder QB escape Denver pursuit time and again (despite 2 Von Miller sacks) and find open receivers down the field. Ponder finished the game 24 of 38 for 458, and while he did not throw a TD in the game (rare for a 400-yard performance), he got the W by leading his team into position for a last second kick not once, but twice.
For Denver it had to be frustrating. Their run game was working to perfection, with Phillip Lindsay and DeMarco Murray combining for 168 yards on 33 carries. Josh Allen played within himself, not throwing a pick and finding Golden Tate for yet another TD this season, but the Thunder just would not go down. Ponder threw to 9 different receivers, including 106 to former Outlaw Marques Colston and 5 other receivers who finished with more than 50-yards receiving. Denver’s defense held more often than not, but even in holding San Diego out of the endzone, they could not keep them from putting points on the board.
This was especially true in the 4th quarter, where both teams traded field goal tries. San Diego started off the 4th by putting 3 on the board on the first play of the period, a 50-yard kick that gave them a 13-10 lead. Denver responded late in the quarter with Greg Zeurlein connecting from 40 yards out with only 1:33 left to play, giving them a game-tying score. When the ensuing kickoff ended with a fumble by returner David Clowney, Denver was able to add a go-ahead kick with only 55 seconds left to play. Surely that would secure the win for the Gold, right?
Not in this game. Ponder took the field with the Thunder offense and in only 6 plays, using both team timeouts and 3 separate throws to the sideline, he moved the Thunder into field goal range, setting up a 3rd and 7 field goal attempt with only 7 seconds left on the clock. Jeff Reed put the ball through and we were tied up at 16 and headed to overtime.
In the extra period both teams struggled to even cross midfield. Ponder made his first mistake of the game, throwing a pick on a deep throw to Colston, resulting in a change of possession on the first drive of ovetime. But Denver could not capitalize. On a 3rd and 7, Josh Allen scrambled to his right, but could not connect on a late throw towards Tate. It was his 15th target of the Gold’s leading receiver and for the 12th time he failed to connect, a stunning testament to the coverage provided by CB Justin Gilbert and safety Duke Williams, who blanketed Tate all game.
San Diego would get 3 possessions in the overtime period, with the final one coming again with less than 1 minute on the clock. This time it would take the Thunder only 3 plays to get in range for Jeff Reed, thanks primarily to a huge 1st and 10 throw to Nick Toon that covered 31 yards. That play, followed by a nice inside throw to TE Luke Wilson for 26 more, put the Thunder in position, and with 23 seconds left, Jeff Reed was again called on and again put the ball between the uprights.
The overtime win gave San Diego sole possession of first place in the Pacific, while Denver, who played well but just could not shut down the Thunder passing game, fell to 4-4 and slipped below fellow 4-4 club, Oklahoma, in the SW Division standings, both a game behind the division leading Wranglers. Would this be a win that finally has us talking about the Thunder? Maybe, but perhaps San Diego likes being somewhat disrespected. Maybe flying under the radar is what works for them. That could be tougher as we get deeper into the season, especially if they keep putting up wins like this.
CHICAGO 20 ST. LOUIS 28
A big win for the Skyhawks, in front of a crowd that showed their support but also repeatedly chanted “Kaw is Law” while pointing to the owner’s box, a protest against talks between team ownership and the Minnesota expansion team investors. On the field, it was Eddie Lacy giving the Hawks something to cheer for, rushing for 156 yards and 2 TDs, including a 40-yard TD run to open scoring in the first. Lacy got help from TE Rob Gronkowski, who caught 4 for 76 yards, including a 56-yard catch and run that gave St. Louis a 14-0 lead they would never relinquish.
POTG: Skyhawk HB Eddie Lacy: 27 Att, 156 Yds, 2 TD
DALLAS 25 OKLAHOMA 34
The Roughnecks came out fired up, taking a 16-7 lead early in the 2nd, but Oklahoma just kept grinding away, coming back with TDs from Marquise Goodwin, Marshawn Lynch, and Mark Clayton to take a 27-25 lead before, in the game’s final seconds, LB Chad Greenway forced a fumble on the Dallas 2-yard line, that was recovered by CB Duke Shelley for a game clinching defensive TD.
POTG: Oklahoma LB Chad Greenway: 9 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF
TAMPA BAY 27 NEW JERSEY 35
That porous Bandit defense once again proved a major issue as Nick Foles shredded Tampa Bay for 311 yards and 4 touchdowns, including 117 yards and 3 scores from OBJ and 118 yards and the 4th score from Muhamed Sanu. Tampa fell behind 21-0 on three consecutive drives that saw Foles hit Beckham for a score as the Generals just fired on all cylinders in the first half. It was too much for the Bandit offense to come back from, despite some big plays in the 2nd half.
POTG: Generals’ WR Odell Beckham Jr: 5 Rec, 117 Yds, 3 TD
ATLANTA 20 BALTIMORE 17
Aaron Murray returned, Big Ben did not, and that proved the difference as Atlanta earned their second win of the year over a clearly deflated Blitz squad. Jake Locker played well (24 of 39 for 211) but Murray had more in the tank, throwing for 214 and 2 scores, including the game-winner to Roy Williams. Baltimore’s offense accounted for only 10 points as 7 of their final 17 came from a pick six off a tipped ball.
POTG: Atlanta QB Aaron Murray: 22/37, 214 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int
OAKLAND 17 LOS ANGELES 14
We said it last week, Oakland needed this one to have any hope for the division, and they got it, but it was not easy, requiring a late Garoppolo TD toss to rookie HB Bryce Love to make it happen. Both defenses dominated, leading to a combined 5 of 24 on third down between the two clubs. Kyler Murray threw for 2 scores, but could not get a game winner late as LA falls to 5-3, and Oakland now sits only 1 game back at 4-4.
POTG: Oakland DE Michael Bennett: 1 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR
ORLANDO 10 CHARLOTTE 21
Charlotte also had their backs to the wall and reacted with a win. The Monarch defense came up big, holding Orlando to only 16 yards rushing (due in part to an early injury to Rashad Jennings) and allowed only 4 converted third down attempts. Mitch Trubisky also came out of the game early, dealing with a nagging injury, and it was Tyler Thigpen who would go on to throw for 3 scores (and no picks, as many Monarch fans noted in post-game analysis).
POTG: Charlotte QB Tyler Thigpen: 26/34, 254 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int
LAS VEGAS 20 ARIZONA 17
The Vipers do it again, this time on the road, completing a shocking sweep of Arizona thanks to a late Matt Gay field goal that put them over the top. With only 3 wins on the year and 2 of them against Arizona, the Vipers are an anomaly that defies explanation. In this week’s upset, they got a strong game from former Machine WR Aaron Dobson, catching 12 of 16 targets for 115 yards and a TD. They also benefitted from 5 sacks of Derrick Carr as the Arizona line struggled to protect his right side.
POTG: Viper WR Aaron Dobson: 12 Rec, 115 Yds, 1 TD
JACKSONVILLE 9 MEMPHIS 10
A very sloppy outing for both offenses, despite the fact that there were no turnovers in the game (there were 5 fumbles between the 2 teams, but all recovered by the offense). Penalties, dropped passes, and missed blocks were a huge story for both teams. Paxton Lynch would throw for only 105 yards and still get the win as the Showboat offense, without Todd Gurley, did not look like they had a Plan B. But, Jacksonville could not establish a Plan A, limited to only 3 field goals, so Memphis escapes and moves to 5-3.
POTG: Memphis DT Dan Williams: 4 Tck, 1 Sck, 2 FF
PHILADELPHIA 28 PITTSBURGH 16
Philly goes back-to-back in sweeping the Maulers, thanks in large part to a defense that stifled the Mauler run game and the contributions of backup HB Zach Stacy. Derrick Henry rushed for only 29 yards, apparently hampered by a hamstring injury, but Stacy got 78 and a TD in relief. Matt Gutierrez also looked a touch better, completing 16 of 22 for 144 yards and 2 scores, but this felt very much like a game controlled by the Stars’ defense, with LB Kirk Morrison’s pick-six the exclamation point on the Philadelphia sweep of Keyston rival Pittsburgh.
POTG: Philadelphia LB Kirk Morrison: 5 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
NEW ORLEANS 17 WASHINGTON 20
This was definitely a week for teams facing do or die situations, and Washington certainly fit that bill. The Feds saw Ryan Nassib get nabbed for a safety twice in the second half, and yet they were able to hold off New Orleans, thanks in part to 2 picks of Geno Smith to get the W. Statistically that should not have happened. The Feds were outgained a whopping 502 to 248 and gave up 23 first downs while earning only 9 of their own. But, with all those yards, the Breakers only found the endzone one time and just could not get the points they needed to escape with a win.
POTG: Washington CB Brandon Boykin: 10 Tck, 1 PDef, 1 Int
HOUSTON 24 SEATTLE 16
The Gamblers improve to 6-2 despite Seattle’s D doing a pretty solid job against most of their big playmakers. Carlos Hyde averaged only 3 yards per carry for a total of 66 on the day. Mike Evans had 5 receptions, but for only 33 yards, and Colt McCoy, while efficient, did not find the big play against a solid Seattle secondary. Brett Hundley got the start for the Dragons after a good game last week, but could not get the Dragons to paydirt often enough to avoid their 6th loss of the season.
POTG: Houston WR JuJu Smith-Schuster: 5 Rec, 95 Yds
PORTLAND 17 BIRMINGHAM 14
The Stags used both Kyle Lauletta and Tony Pike at QB, but they got done what they needed to against a Stallion Team that loses their 3rd in a row. The Stallion offense was all Cam Newton, as their halfbacks again failed to provide much support. Meanwhile, Martin and Tate combined for nearly 100 yards (94 total) and the game winning score (a Tate TD reception) as the Stallions drop to 4-4 and Portland improves to 3-5.
POTG: Stags’ CB Taron Johnson: 4 Tck, 1 PDef, 1 Int
MICHIGAN 31 OHIO 24
This one was over early as Michigan got 3 first-half touchdowns from Kirk Cousins to take a 21-0 lead. The Glory tried to rally but the Panthers kept them at arm’s length all game. The one bright spot for Ohio was rookie WR Terry McLaurin, who scored all 3 Ohio touchdowns in their 6th loss of the season. Michigan HB LeVeon Bell added to his league leading yardage total with another 130 yards on the ground, and rookie LB Devin Bush got POTG for his standout game.
POTG: Michigan LB Devin Bush: 8 Tck, 1 Int, 1 FF
Eddie Lacy Powers St. Louis to a Big Division Win
The Skyhawks improved to 4-4 and have to be considered a factor in the Central Division race after knocking off rival Chicago this week. The engine behind that victory was tailback Eddie Lacy. Lacy was a true workhorse, carrying the ball 27 times (with rookie David Montgomery only getting 5 touches), and with those 27 touches, Lacy produced 156 yards and 2 scores against a Machine defense that was clearly torn between Lacy and the threat of Lamar Jackson on the option play.
Lacy had his best game of the season in a game the Skyhawks absolutely needed. He ripped off a 40-yard TD run to start the game, a stunning run just 10 minutes into the game, and then ground out a 2nd later in the half, all the while shedding tacklers and frustrating Chicago coach Lovie Smith, who feared pulling his safeties too far forward out of respect for Lamar Jackson’s arm.
Jackson had a solid game (13 of 24 for 162 and a TD), largely thanks to play action and run-pass options after the run game had been established. The defense also played well, but this was a game where Lacy showed us how important he could be to the Skyhawks’ offense. He reaches the midpoint of the season as the league’s 2nd leading rusher, admittedly over 200 yards behind MVP candidate LeVeon Bell, but 2nd overall, and on pace for 1,300 yards on the year, is certainly more than most expected and exactly what Coach Reich needed in order not to overburden 2nd year QB Jackson and a Skyhawk passing game that still lacks for big plays.
Foles & Ponder Defy Odds with Huge Week 8
We highlighted the huge game Christian Ponder had for the Thunder in our coverage of the Game of the Week, but we should acknowledge that the former FSU star was not the only QB to have a surprising outing this weekend. In addition to Ponder’s 458-yard explosion, we need to highlight an outstanding game from New Jersey QB Nick Foles. Foles, who has been criticized of late for indecisive play and a somewhat single-minded focus on Odell Beckham Jr, responded to critics this week by throwing for 4 touchdowns in this week’s win over the Bandits. Yes, Foles continues to rely too heavily on OBJ, who finished the game with 118 yards and 3 of Foles’s 4 TDs, but we should note that in addition to Beckham’s production, Foles also hit Mohamed Sanu for 118 yards and a score and even got Maurice Jones-Drew into the passing game.
Foles and Ponder are not the names you think of when you talk about the elite QBs in the USFL, and statistically they are not there yet (Ponder sits 10th in this week’s QB Ratings, Foles is 11th), but the two are focused more on team success than individual stats. Ponder, in his first full year as the starter after an excellent 2018 campaign in relief of Joe Webb, is establishing himself first as a leader, and then as a solid passer. Foles, who is in his 3rd season as the starter in New Jersey, is just trying to get his team out of a hole. They started the year1-5, but have won their last 2 and are still in range in a division where no team has more than 5 wins. He has led New Jersey to the playoffs each of the past two years, so the leadership is there, and after this week, perhaps we will lay off him and let him play his game. He is not going to be Colt McCoy or even Joe Flacco when it comes to stats, but if he can get the Generals up and over the .500 hump, he will have succeeded in doing the most important thing a QB can do, generate wins.
Expect Some Deals as Teams Define Themselves as Sellers or Buyers
The midway point of the season means we have only 2 weeks left for teams to make deals. The Trade Deadline will hit on Friday, May 24, just before Week 10 begins, so time is fleeting for teams that need help. And here is the thing, with so many teams sitting close to the .500 mark, there may well be few deals this year. Normally you need some teams that have given up on the season to be “sellers”, willing to trade away current talent to bolster future drafts and options within their cap. Of course, the other philosophy would say that with so many teams in the mix, but not clearly ahead of the pack, we have an excess of “buyers”, teams looking to add a piece or two to get them over the hump. So, what we may have is a seller’s market, where few teams are willing to give up talent, but many are looking to get it. That could bode well for the clubs that are sitting at 2 wins and looking to improve for 2020, while those at 5-3 or 4-4, even 3-5, who need a boost, may just have to overpay to get one.
Looking across the league, here are the teams we see in the best position to make a deal (sellers) and a few who would certainly benefit from adding talent, even if the cost is high (buyers)
JACKSONVILLE (Seller)
While it is not a comfortable situation for Coach Flores to be in after a 4-win 2018 campaign, the Bulls may well be looking to sell off some players to try to build for the future (a future that may not include Flores). So, who does Jacksonville have to offer? How about NFL import QB Ryan Tannehill? With the emergence of Teddy Bridgewater as a solid QB option, Tannehill would be a very expensive backup in 2020, so perhaps the Bulls opt to trade the former A&M quarterback to get some help in other areas. Others to consider, largely because they are in a contract year and could be good end-of-year additions for a team, include: DT Kedric Gholston (36 years old), LB Jarret Johnson (33), CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie (32) and C Erik Cook (30)
OKLAHOMA (Buyer)
The Outlaws are 4-4, and with Arizona taking some hits at 5-3, this could be a chance for the Outlaws to make a move and try to sneak into a possible division title picture. So, what are their immediate needs? The obvious need is their 23rd ranked pass defense. Their deficiencies in that area are twofold, the pass rush, while solidly “middle of the pack” with 21 sacks in 8 games, is too dependent on blitzes. Edge rushers Jordan Willis, Chris Harrington, and Dorance Armstrong are just not getting pressure without Coach Stoops bringing safeties and backers into the mix. If they could find a solid DE to lock down one side, then rotate their current 3 best players on the other side, they could see much better results. Secondly, they need to find a 2nd option after Pacman Jones in the secondary. Jones is solid, no doubt about it, but Bradley Fletcher, while good in zone, is getting killed in man coverage. Adding a true man-coverage specialist would allow Coach Stoops to be more flexible in his calls and make Oklahoma a tougher team to throw against.
SEATTLE (Seller)
After back-to-back seasons with 0-5 starts, Riley is not faring much better with a 2-6 record at the midway point. What is worse is that it seems like he has two fairly evenly matched QBs, but evenly matched in that neither can get the club a win. Is he likely to be able to get a true franchise guy in a midseason trade? No. But what he can try to do is make some deals to free up cap space now, sell off some expensive players who are underperforming, and then have the bank needed to look for a true number one option at QB in the offseason, whether that is a veteran like possible free agents Joe Webb (SD), Cam Newton, or Matt Gutierrez, or taking a shot at a rookie like Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa or Oregon’s Justin Herbert. Players possibly on the block due to the salary v. performance balance: DT Malik McDowell, G Laken Tomlinson, SS Terrell Edmunds, CB Xavien Howard, or LB Clavin Pace.
OAKLAND (Buyer)
The Invaders were expected to be a serious contender this season, and while their 2nd rated scoring defense is looking very solid, the offense is just not getting the job done, averaging only 16.8 points per game and currently ranked 27th in rushing. Now, Oakland loves Christian McCaffrey, but even with a 4.2 YPC average, there seems to be a lack of big plays, and we point to the line as the issue. McCaffrey is being asked to break tackles in the backfield far too often. While we love the guards for the Invaders (Logan Mankins & 2nd year stud Quenton Nelson), the team’s two tackles, D. J. Fluker and LaAdrian Waddle, are just not getting the job done. This is true in the run game and for QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who is under pressure on nearly 42% of his throws. So, a mid-season trade to bring in some help at tackle could be a move with immediate impact. If Oakland can just eke out 20 points per game, they could be a threat to San Diego and LA in the division.
OHIO (Seller)
This is an Ohio team that won the Central last year, and was expected to battle Michigan for it this year, but Coach Coughlin’s team is struggling at 2-6, sitting 24th in scoring and averaging only 78.6 yards per game in the run game. As much as Isaiah Pead gets our respect as a plugger, those 3-yard dives into the line are not enough to help Ohio get the chunks of yardage they need to sustain drives. We should also point out that it does not help that no receiver on the Glory roster is averaging more than 12.8 yards per catch, meaning that the deep ball is just not happening. So, what do you do if you are Coach Coughlin. You deal away some depth to get either a young receiver with speed or a back who can make outside runs. Potential rotational players who could be used as trade fodder: DT Akiem Hicks, DE Bruce Irvin, LB Steven Daniels, CB Eli Apple, or HBs Marion Mack or Delone Carter.
NEW ORLEANS (Buyer)
The Breakers are sitting in the basement of the Southern Division, but, at 4-4, they are still very much in the mix if they can fix two major issues, the run game’s lack of big plays, and the run defense’s propensity to give up those big plays. What can be done to fix those two issues? Well, first, for as good as Coby Fleener and Dawson Knox are as receiving TE’s, neither one is even a mediocre blocker. Honestly, look at the film, they seem allergic to getting leverage on a LB, much less a good DE. So, you need to find a blocking TE, especially for short-yardage plays, a move that would help bust a 2-yard run into a 20 yarder. Then, on defense, you need to add an “in the box” safety. Both Terrance Brooks and Keanu Neal are far more comfortable in coverage than in the run game, and while that helps the Breakers on 3rd and long (3rd best rate of denial in the league), it is not helping them on 1st and 2nd down.
ATLANTA (Seller)
We are putting Atlanta here, instead of Dallas, because even with the return of Aaron Murray hopefully providing a spark, as it did this week. We think that the Fire would be better off building for 2020 than trying to come back from a 2-5-1 record in a more competitive SE Division this year. Why? Because Aaron Murray’s absence does not explain why the Fire have the 27th best run defense in the league, a weakness that will make a playoff run this year near impossible because teams can just dominate time of possession. So, what do you do? You trade maybe 1 high-priced player in his 30’s so that you have cap room to sign 1-2 defenders in the offseason. How does this sound? Trade WR Pharoh Cooper, who is making a ludicrous $3.5M this year and free up that cash to go after some D-line help in the offseason.
PITTSBURGH (Buyer) & BIRMINGHAM (Buyer)
We went for a two-fer on this one, because both Pittsburgh and Birmingham could both really benefit by bringing in a true bell cow back. The Maulers are 24th in the league at 77.6 YPG from the combination of Sony Michel and Marcus Lattimore, neither of whom should be getting 25 carries a game. Birmingham would have no run game at all without Cam Newton’s contributions, as Newton is easily outgaining Rex Burkhead and Kerryon Johnson combined. Both need a back who can wear down defenses, gain key 3rd & short conversions, and help them protect a lead late by milking the clock. Just who would give up such a back is a bit of a question, but if you look at some of the teams using a 2-back system, there may be a few out there who have a clear preference among their 2 backs and would be willing to part with the other back. It is at least worth asking if either the Stallions or Maulers want to improve on their current .500 standing.
Roster Updates
A few quick roster updates as we wrap up our league news.
First, the Blitz have made a move to back up Jake Locker as the new starter for the club. Baltimore signed former NFL, Monarch, and Generals’ QB Charlie Whitehurst to the practice squad as their emergency QB behind Locker and Trevone Boykin.
In Denver, the Gold have added OT David Tremblay after losing Ronnie Stanley to the IR this week. Tremblay has played in Orlando the past 6 seasons, starting 17 games in that 6-year span. He will back up Ryan Clady at LT and David Bakhtiari on the right side.
Philadelphia has broken off talks with former NFL star Carson Palmer, a combination of Palmer’s reluctance to sign after retiring from the NFL and the 3-game win streak that has Coach Jim Harbaugh feeling better about Matt Gutierrez’s role.
Two starters at QB will be missing games over the next month as Portland will be without recent starter Kyle Lauletta for at least a month after the QB suffered an abdominal strain in this week’s return to action, which means more Tony Pike at QB for the Stags. In Charlotte, Mitch Trubisky had to leave this week’s game after taking a finger to the eye. The accidental blow produced a scratched cornea, which could keep Trubisky out 2-3 weeks, meaning that Tyler Thigpen will continue as the Monarch QB for the next few appearances. Here is our full breakdown of the updates to the Injury Report for the league.
OUT
OT Ronnie Stanley DEN Torn Quad IR
QB Kyle Lauletta POR Abdomen 4-6 Weeks
LB Alec Ogletree WSH Fractured Collarbone 2-4 Weeks
CB Tye Smith SD Broken Arm 2-4 Weeks
C Owen Phillips NJ Fractured Arm 1-2 Weeks
QB Mitch Trubisky CHA Scratched Cornea 1-2 Weeks
WR Dontrelle Inman BIR Neck 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
SS DaJuan Morgan DEN Hand
TE John Carlson NJ Turf Toe
FB Anthony Sherman HOU Concussion
FS Mark Barron SD Tendinitis (Knee)
OT Nat Dorsey LV Ribs
QUESTIONABLE
C Corey Linsley PHI Finger
CB Gustavo Carr LA Thigh Bruise
DT Josh Boyd SEA Groin
CB Jaire Alexander PHI Concussion
San Diego Fans Thunderstruck and Team Listens
The San Diego Thunder took it to their fans, and the fans gave them a clear directive, the Thunder are here to stay. Both in polling within the season ticket base and a broader survey of the 5 counties closest to the San Diego market the message to team ownership was that there was no interest in selling the Thunder identity back to Portland. The team moved to San Diego in 2015, just as the NFL Chargers abandoned the city for a sweet heart deal at Farmers Insurance Field in LA. The result? Well it seems that the Thunder have quickly become a core part of the identity of San Diego football fans.
Moving from the lightning-themed Chargers to an equally storm-related USFL club in the Thunder, has allowed San Diegans to thumb their nose at the NFL, and a big part of that is wrapped up in the Thunder identity, a team look that includes both athletic gold and a very light sky blue (the club is not allowed to call it "powder blue") along with navy and the team's signature "electric green". That transition from powder blue and yellow to the similar, but clearly unique Thunder colors helped San Diegans' deal with the NFL club's nonchalant departure. The use of lightning in both designs (NFL and USFL) also made the transition easier.
And so, Thunder ownership heard loud and clear, the fans want their team to remain the Thunder and to continue to serve as a surrogate for the "lost love" of their former NFL and AFL club. In releasing the poll results, which skewed nearly 2-1 in favor of keeping the Thunder as San Diego's team, ownership agreed with the fans, promised to cut off talks with Portland, and strengthen the bonds between the Thunder and the city of San Diego. Seems a shrewd move, one that may not provide the immediate surge of sales that a rebranding could, but one that allows for continual support from the community.
Midseason Power Rankings
Halfway through the season and time to look at how we rank all 28 teams. Some have gotten hot over the past few weeks, others have struggled, and other still are trying to regroup after injuries have significantly impacted their season. Here are all 28 clubs and where we see them right now, along with a look ahead at their remaining schedules.
1— Houston (7-1) Up 2
The Gamblers get the top spot because more often than not they win going away, but they do have some tough games left: @ San Diego, 2 games against Memphis, and a season finale against a tough Oakland squad.
2— Michigan (7-1) No Change
The Panthers rebounded well from their loss in Arizona by thoroughly dismantling their division rival, Ohio. Interestingly, at the 8-week mark, every single foe Michigan will face moving forward is at 4-4 or better. That could be a tough gauntlet.
3— San Diego (6-2) Up 1
The Thunder have won 4 of 5, and while they are in good position in the Pacific, many think their true test will be in 2 weeks, when they head to Houston to face the Gamblers.
4— Orlando (5-3) Up 11
This week’s loss in Charlotte ended a 5-game winning streak. Can Orlando rebound? Well they have 2-win Jacksonville this week, and face only 1 more team that currently sits above .500 the rest of the way, a Week 11 game in Arizona.
5— Arizona (5-3) Down 4
The Wranglers have struggled on offense in 2 of their last 3 games. Could teams be figuring out how to defend against them? Michigan certainly did not get the memo. Arizona has two important games against Oklahoma to come, but most of the rest of their schedule is looking favorable.
6— Chicago (5-3) No Change
The loss to St. Louis this week hurts, but we all know that all eyes are on weeks 11 and 12, when the Machine face a rare home & away double dip against the 7-1 Michigan Panthers. They need at least a split there to have any shot at the division.
7— Los Angeles (5-3) Up 2
After a 5-game win streak, the Express have dropped back-to-back division games (Seattle & Oakland). That pulls them back to the pack. The two key games looking ahead are @ Michigan (Week 10) and @ San Diego. Other than those two, they should be favored in every other game.
8— Memphis (5-3) Up 3
The Showboats are averaging only 14.8 points per game (26th in the league). If it were not for that Rex Ryan defense, there is no way they would be 5-3 at this point. They are also about to hit the roughest part of their schedule, with a road game in San Diego next, then the Breakers and Monarchs before the first of two huge games with Houston in the final 5 weeks.
9— Oakland (4-4) Up 1
Beating the Express this week helped Oakland in the standings and with confidence. They will need some bravado as they head to Arizona this week. They still have 2 games left against San Diego, which will be huge, and finish the season with a tough matchup in Houston.
10— New Orleans (4-4) Up 2
The defense is keeping the Breakers afloat, and they will need that defense for a 3-game stretch in weeks 12-14, a period that includes two division games (Memphis and @ Houston) and a tough game against the Thunder as well.
11— New Jersey (3-5) Up 8
Back-to-Back wins over the Skyhawks and Bandits have helped boost the Generals. It also helps that they face only 1 team with a current winning record in their final 8 games, a Week 15 home game against Chicago. Other than that, they have quite a few winnable games. New Jersey could make a run.
12— Charlotte (4-3-1) Down 4
Yes, we put a 3-win New Jersey team ahead of a Monarchs squad that is over .500, but having watched the Monarchs closely over the past month, this feels right. The interceptions from Trubisky are a huge issue, but there are more problems than just that. The Monarchs have a pretty favorable schedule, with only Memphis and LA on their schedule and above .500 right now.
13— Baltimore (5-3) Down 8
The loss of Ben Roethlisberger just cratered all confidence in the Blitz. Yes, Jake Locker is a capable backup, but without Big Ben, the big play could be very tough to find. It could all come down to how much rookie Josh Jacobs can take on. The Blitz have a tough game against Houston this week, and another in Michigan as well, They end the season with a very tough game in Chicago, so this could be a tough run for a team in need of a pick-me-up.
14— Denver (4-4) Up 6
The Gold feel very much like a team that is a year away. They can win some good games, like their home victory over Arizona, but they also struggle with consistency. This week, hosting Chicago will be a good test for them.
15— Oklahoma (4-4) Up 7
The Outlaws have won 4 of 5 and have a nice stretch of winnable games ahead of them (@ Las Vegas, Home to Atlanta, then @ Denver). Not easy wins, but winnable games. They finish with Arizona and Michigan within 2 weeks of each other, which is not an easy way to end the year.
16— St. Louis (4-4) Up 11
The Skyhawks got a very nice win at home against Chicago this week and now face an even tougher test as they host the Michigan Panthers in Week 9. After that, they have 4 straight games against teams with losing record. Those are games they have to win to have a shot at a post-season berth.
17— Tampa Bay (4-4) Down 1
If the Bandit defense were not giving up nearly 30 points per game, this team could be a very tough out, but far too often teams have been able to score at will, and only need a couple of stops against the Bandit offense to get the win. The Bandits’ best shot is to win out in their remaining division games (Charlotte Wk 10, @ Jacksonville Wk 11, @ Atlanta Wk 14, and home to Orlando in Wk 15).
18— Philadelphia (3-5) Up 10
A 3-game win streak and the relative parity of the NE Division means the Stars still have a shot. They have 3 straight division games coming up, with Washington first, then a trip to New Jersey before facing off against the Blitz in Week 11. A 3-game sweep would be a huge boost, but even 2-1 would help their cause.
19— Pittsburgh (4-4) Down 5
The Maulers cannot be feeling good about their lack of consistency, not when they have some very tough games left on the schedule, starting this week with a trip to New Orleans. They also face Michigan in Week 13, andhavesometough divisional games ahead as well.
20— Washington (3-5) Up 3
The Ryan Nassib arrival has not been all that was advertised, but back-to-back wins have Federal fans hoping the team has turned a corner. They have a huge game at Philly this week, and still face the Generals, Blitz, and Stars again before the season is out.
21— Birmingham (4-4) Down 14
They dropped from 4-1 to 4-4 and now seem to be reeling. They have 1 game left against each of their divisional foes, but they need to also win those tough inter-divisional games, like this week's at Tampa Bay.
22— Las Vegas (3-5) Down 1
How does a team beat Arizona twice but also lose to St. Louis, Tampa Bay, and Denver? The Vipers better figure that out quickly, because they need to beat some other teams over the next 8 weeks, including 2 games against Oklahoma, a rematch with Denver and two Dallas games.
23— Ohio (2-6) Down 10
This was an Ohio team that won the Central last year, but does not look even competitive in too many games. Averaging fewer than 16 points per game, but giving up nearly 21 is a sign that they may have been punching above their weight with last year’s division crown.
24— Seattle (2-6) Up 2
Well, at least they did not start out 0-5 again, winning their opener, but then going 1-6 in the next 7 games. They are headed into Week 9 without a clear starter at QB, with Coach Riley frustrated with Brissett but not getting great results from Hundley either.
25— Portland (3-5) No Change
With Mariota on IR and Lauletta now facing 4-6 weeks off the field, the QB position in Portland is looking quite dire, a fact that is reflected by the team’s miserable 14.5 points per game and 177.8 passing yards on average. They still have both Seattle games on the schedule, and perhaps can find some happiness if they can sweep the Dragons.
26— Atlanta (2-5-1) Down 2
Is this a team that can go on a late streak? Aaron Murray came back from an injury and led the Fire to a win against the Blitz, but they have some very tough matchups ahead, including a Week 11 game against Houston and a Week 15 visit from the Wranglers. It may be a case of Murray coming back too late to pull out of the spiral they were in.
27—Jacksonville (2-6) Down 10
If you want to complain about the Bulls, there is plenty to point out, but don’t point the finger at Teddy Bridgewater, who is averaging nearly 240 passing yards per game, has 15 TDs to only 3 picks, and a QB Rating solidly over 90. The Bulls have another NFL import in the wings with Ryan Tannehill, but they may consider trading him to a Qb-needy team to get more support in other areas.
28—Dallas (2-6) Down 10
I think we have hit the phase where we have to admit that Josh Freeman has dropped off the ledge. After dipping from an 83.9 QBR in 2017 to 69.0 last year, the hope was that a change of scenery would produce a bounceback season, but Freeman is sporting a miserable 61.8 QBR this year and has only 4 touchdowns in 8 full games. That in itself tells us why Dallas is sitting in dead last in our midseason ranking.
Midseason Award Leaders
Five major awards, plenty of contenders, and 8 weeks left for each to make their case to the voters. And while every player knows enough to say that team victories far outweigh any personal numbers or accolades, we all know that these players love to compete with each other, and that includes the races for recognition at the end of the year. Here are the 5 major awards that will be presented at the Summer Bowl Gala the Tuesday prior to the big game, along with our top 3 contenders for each at the midway point of the season.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
We have a real shot for the MVP award to go to someone other than a QB this yar. LeVeon Bell of the 7-1 Michigan Panthers has to be considered the frontrunner. While several QBs are splitting the various passing stats, Bell has all but run away with the rushing title (bad pun and all). With a 204 yard lead over second place in the race, Bell is well on pace to potentially eclipse 1,600 yards. His 5.1 YPC average is amazing for a back with 175 carries already this year, a pace that could see him hit 400 by year’s end, a rare feat in the USFL.
So, who is chasing Bell? Well, two QBs are pretty much taking up all the air in the conversation when it comes to passing stats. Tampa Bay’s Dak Prescott has been impressive this year, leading David Carr by nearly 200 yards for the yardage title with 2,354 after 8 weeks, and yes, that is a pace that could put him in range of a 5,000-yard season. He is also leading the league with 18 touchdown passes, 2 ahead of Denver’s Josh Allen. The only major passing category he is not leading is QB Rating. That title is currently held by Colt McCoy at 111.9 for the season. McCoy is our third choice, in part because Houston has a very good chance at being the 1-seed in the East, and he will get points for team success.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
If one of the QBs surges and snatches away the MVP trophy, then this has to belong to Bell, but if they do not, then this gets interesting. We could see Prescott or McCoy here, or we could see a bit of a dark horse, like Las Vegas’s Aaron Dobson, who leads the league with 51 receptions, on pace for yet another 100-reception season. Another name to keep watching is Houston WR Mike Evans. If Houston has second half success, there will be some momentum towards rewarding one of the best receivers in the game with the trophy.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
We love Calais Campbell for this. After all, he made the move to a new team, had to learn a new system, connect with new teammates, and yet, there he is, sitting comfortably atop the sack rankings again. He is not on pace for a league record, but with 13 sacks in 8 games he is once again looking to easily clear the 20-sack mark, something he seems to do without even trying, while others go an entire career without reaching that lofty total. If something holds Campbell back, then last year’s MVP, Oakland’s Bobby Wagner could be right there again. Or, if you want a new name, how about Houston’s Leodis McKelvin. He has 6 picks already this year, with 4 of them turning into pick-sixes. If he can reach the magic total of 10, the current league record, he could be rewarded with the DPOTY.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Recently we said this is a 2-player race, and we think it still largely is. Josh Jacobs, on pace to top 1,100 yards, seems like a safe bet, but with the loss of Big Ben, teams are now likely to devote a lot more attention to the Baltimore run game, and that could lead to a tougher second half for the former Crimson Tide back. Our second candidate was Orlando DE Montez Sweat, who was among the league leaders in sacks 2 weeks ago, but has not kept pace. He could have a surge in the second half of the year, and that would put him in the conversation. The third potential candidate has to be LA quarterback Kyler Murray. Murray has the Express at 5-3, and if he can get those same results in the second half of the season, even if his stats are middling within the QB rankings, he will get some votes for the ROTY.
COACH OF THE YEAR
We have three coaches whose teams are clearly overperforming expectations, and with two of them new to their teams, they will get a lot of credit for quickly building a winning culture with their new teams. None of the three are new coaches to the league or to winning. Marvin Lewis in LA, Ron Rivera in Orlando, and Lovie Smith in Chicago are all veteran coaches and each has had success in the past. So, we are not really surprised that they are finding it this year with their clubs. Our current pick would be Lewis, just because of the fresh faces on his roster and the need to rebuild both talent and attitude in LA, but we could see either of the other two getting that late season buzz that puts them over the top.
We kick off Week 9 with a battle of NE Division teams that still have hopes for the postseason but who both need a solid run of wins. Philadelphia, who have won 3 in a row, including back-to-back divisional wins over the Maulers, host the Feds, who got a huge win this week over New Orleans. The late Friday game is from Arizona, where the Wranglers face a tough challenge against a solid Oakland defense.
On Saturday, we have a lot of teams in the middle of the pack facing off, starting with a battle of 4-4 clubs as Pittsburgh heads to New Orleans to face the Breakers. We also have 5-3 Chicago at 4-4 Denver and a battle of 3-5 teams with New Jersey in Atlanta. The day caps off with a Cascade Clash as both Portland and Seattle enter this game with issues at QB.
Sunday kicks off with a good one as St. Louis will try to upset the 7-1 Michigan Panthers. We also have a divisional and in-state rivalry game on FOX regional coverage as the Bulls head down to Orlando to face the Renegades. In the 4pm slot we have Charlotte at Dallas and Ohio in Los Angeles, before we wrap up Week 9 with an interconference matchup as the Memphis Showboats hit SoCal to face the 6-2 San Diego Thunder.
Friday @ 7pm ET Washington (3-5) @ Philadelphia (3-5) NBC
Friday @ 9:30pm ET Oakland (4-4) @ Arizona (5-3) FOX
Saturday @ 12pm ET Pittsburgh (4-4) @ New Orleans (4-4) ABC
Saturday @ 12pm ET New Jersey (3-5) @ Atlanta (2-5-1) FOX
Saturday @ 4pm ET Chicago (5-3) @ Denver (4-4) ABC
Saturday @ 4pm ET Oklahoma (4-4) @ Las Vegas (3-5) FOX
Saturday @ 7pm ET New Jersey (3-5) @ Atlanta (3-5) NBC
Saturday @ 9pm ET Portland (3-5) @ Seattle (2-6) ESPN/EFN
Sunday @ 12pm ET Michigan (7-1) @ St. Louis (4-4) ABC
Sunday @ 12pm ET Birmingham (4-4) @ Tampa Bay (4-4) FOX Regional
Sunday @ 12pm ET Jacksonville (2-6) @ Orlando (5-3) FOX Regional
Sunday @ 4pm ET Charlotte (4-3-1) @ Dallas (2-6) ABC
Sunday @ 4pm ET Ohio (2-6) @ Los Angeles (5-3) FOX
Sunday @ 8pm ET Memphis (5-3) @ San Diego (6-2) ESPN/EFN
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