2020 USFL Week 11 Recap: Wranglers & Bandits Secure Playoff Spots
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We did not get a huge wave of upsets in Week 11, nor did we get a ton of nailbiters. But, what we did get was our first two teams clinching playoff spots. To no one’s surprise it was the two unbeatens in the league, Tampa Bay and Arizona, both now 11-0, who locked up a playoff spot with 5 weeks left to play. They will now focus on securing the 1-seed and home field throughout the playoffs while the other 28 teams (26 actually, since 2 teams are now also eliminated) fight to land a playoff spot. This week’s recap will run through all the scores and stories of the week, take a look at some players we think would benefit from a change of scenery this offseason, and reveal a pretty significant change coming for the Charlotte Monarchs next year, and we are not talking about their QB position, but we kick it off with a look at 4 teams right on the cusp after 11 weeks, all 4 sitting at 6-5 and hoping they can get hot and make a run at a playoff spot.
The 6-5 Teams with a Lot to Play For
As we head into the home stretch across the league and the playoff picture begins to take shape, the pressure is always greatest on the fringe, and right now that fringe sits with a 6-5 record. In the current Playoff Picture (see below), only 2 of the 5 teams now sitting one game over .500 would qualify for the postseason, with the tiebreakers currently leaning in favor of the Baltimore Blitz and New Jersey Generals. Houston, Dallas, and Portland would be on the outside looking in. And, of course, with 5 more teams (Oklahoma, Seattle, Jacksonville, Washington, and Orlando) sitting at 5-6 and nipping at the quartet’s heels, there is no room for error. With 5 games left, these teams need to look at a possible 4-1 run, because even 3-2 may not be enough to guarantee them a playoff spot. Ten wins tends to be a good indicator of playoff eligibility, 9-7, well that is a risk that most teams don’t want to take. So, what are the prospects for each of our four 6-win clubs? We break it down here, looking at each of their chances moving forward.
Baltimore Blitz
Key Upcoming Games (Week): Orlando (12), Jacksonville (14), Washington (15), Atlanta (16)
Strengths & Weaknesses: Schedule-wise, Baltimore needs to look at each of their games prior to the Atlanta finale as ‘must wins”. They face 3 of the teams sitting at 5-6, and they cannot afford to stumble against any of them. Having lost to New Jersey this week gives them no room for error if they want to stay in 1st atop the NE Division. As for roster strengths, offensive balance is key. They need Josh Jacobs to come on strong in the final 5 games so that the pressure is not on Jake Locker to do it all. Brian Hartline should be back from injury soon, so that could be a big help. The defense has been solid, 2nd in the league against the pass and allowing a reasonable 18.6 PPG, so it is all about the offense being able to put 20 on the board each week.
Our Assessment: Back-to-back losses to Charlotte and New Jersey have us concerned that the Blitz are going to fade down the stretch. They need to prove in this week’s game against Orlando that they are still the frontrunner atop the division. Their schedule is tougher than New Jersey’s, so they just cannot afford another loss against teams below them in the standings.
New Jersey Generals
Key Upcoming Games (Week): Tampa Bay (12), Washington (13), Orlando (14)
Strengths & Weaknesses: The good news for New Jersey is that if they can hold their position over their tough 3-game stretch the next 3 weeks, they have a nice wrap up with New England and Philly in the final 2 games. And while this week’s game against Tampa Bay is a big ask, the two more important games are against current 5-6 teams in the Feds and ‘Gades. On the strength side, you have to point to Maurice Jones-Drew, who is well on pace to reach 1,200 yards rushing. The run defense is also very solid. Weaknesses? Well, other than OBJ we are not too keen on the receiver group and their defense is 28th against the pass, which may be a bad sign or could just be due to teams having no luck against the run.
Our Assessment: If the Generals can get wins against Washington and Orlando, then coast to a 10-6 record by knocking off the Steamrollers and Stars, they should be in, and they could even have a shot at the division title, because Baltimore is only 6-5 as well.
Houston Gamblers
Key Upcoming Games (Week): New Orleans (14), Pittsburgh (15)
Strengths & Weaknesses: The good news for Houston is that their final 5 weeks include some pretty weak sisters, with games against San Antonio, Ohio, and Birmingham on the schedule. The bad news is that they are already 2 games behind both New Orleans and Memphis in the division, so the Gamblers may be in the unfamiliar space of battling for a Wild Card spot. The offense has looked good between the 20’s, still Top 5 in yards, but only 10th in scoring, which tells us that they are either not hitting on the big plays or not finding success in the red zone. They need to be able to do both.
Our Assessment: Houston could be at real risk of dropping out of the playoff race. Even if they win all 3 games against weaker foes, they still would only be 9-7. They need to upset either the Breakers or the Maulers to have a real shot at locking in a playoff spot.
Dallas Roughnecks
Key Upcoming Games (Week): Oklahoma (12), Portland (13), Denver (14)
Strengths & Weaknesses: Justin Herbert has electrified the fanbase of the Roughnecks, and they have a real opportunity to put any doubts to bed over the next 3 weeks. If they can sweep the Outlaws, Stags, and Gold, they are almost guaranteed a spot. They finish the year with 2-9 Las Vegas and 2-9 San Diego, so we could imagine a 5-0 run, but this week vs. Oklahoma may well be the test of concept on that. As for the roster, we love what Herbert brings to the passing game, but they need more out of Samaje Perine and the run game. The defense also needs to find ways to create more takeaways. They currently rank 22nd in points allowed, which does not bode well, but they are 4th in pass defense, so if they could just turn more of those passes defended into interceptions, they could get very hot very fast.
Our Assessment: We love the energy of the Roughnecks, and they have the easiest schedule of any 6-5 club, but they have also been inconsistent and need to look at the next 3 weeks as a crucible. If they can go 3-0 in this stretch, we see them possibly locking in a Wild Card and maybe even hosting a game at 11-5 (well, hosting in Arizona, which is not really home field.)
Portland Stags
Key Upcoming Games (Weeks): Dallas (13), Oakland (14), Seattle (15), Arizona (16)
Strengths & Weaknesses: Losers of their last two, and both to teams below .500, scares us a bit about this Stags team. Portland needs to reestablish their surprisingly good early season form if they want to hold up over what looks like a tough run of games to end the season. After Denver this week, they could be facing nothing but teams with winning records down the road (depending on Orlando’s status), and while they may luck out and face nothing but Arizona backups in Week 16, they cannot count on that, so they need to get W’s now.
Our Assessment: We think the Stags may end up being the odd man out (there will be several) just because they have that brutal run against Dallas, Oakland, Seattle, and Arizona. They need to win at least 3 of the next 4 games and then hope that the Wranglers are resting starters in the finale because we don’t see this Stags team upending a fully-stocked Arizona team.
ATLANTA FIRE 27 CHARLOTTE MONARCHS 24 OVERTIME
Charlotte’s experiment with veteran journeyman Kyle Boller produced an upset win over Baltimore in Week 10 and this week gave the Monarchs a solid chance in their matchup against 8-2 Atlanta as Charlotte held a lead until the final seconds of regulation and then fought until the final seconds of overtime before the Fire could finally edge them out for their 9th victory of the season. In a game that saw both teams led by a 100-yard rusher and in which neither QB gave up a pick, it was the thinnest of margins that gave Atlanta the final victory and sent Charlotte to 3-8 on the year.
While Atlanta came into the game with one of the league’s highest scoring offenses, Charlotte had struggled all year to maintain drives and turn yardage into points. In this game neither team had difficulty finding success on offense, with Charlotte racking up an impressive 473 yards, including 185 on the ground, while Atlanta held their own with 116 on the ground and a total production of 433 yards. We had only 1 turnover in the game, a fumble by WR Austin Proehl, producing a field goal from the Fire, but what it came down to was the ability to hit the long field goal, with Atlanta’s John Bounds hitting a 58-yarder to send the game to overtime while Charlotte’s Stephen Earl missed from 47 in overtime, a kick that would have given the underdogs the win.
The game began with both teams moving the ball well, with Atlanta settling for 2 field goals in the first quarter while Charlotte turned one possession into a 13-play drive that ended with fullback Khari Blasingame scoring from the 6 on a nicely-run option play. Charlotte held their own throughout the first half and when Kyle Boller connected with wideout Justin Blackmon early in the 2nd quarter for a 12-yard touchdown, it was the Monarchs, a 9-point underdog in the game, who took a solid 14-6 lead, a lead they would hold through the half.
Atlanta finally found the endzone on the opening drive of the second half, a drive that took only 6 plays to move from the Fire 20 into the endzone. The Fire finally broke through on a 2nd and 2, when play action left A. J. Green in single coverage. Aaron Murray found him for a 51-yard TD against the man coverage of the Monarchs. After adding a 2-point conversion, the game was knotted up at 14. Charlotte would retake the lead on the ensuing possession, with Stephen Earl connecting on a 22-yard field goal after Atlanta CB Shaquile Griffin batted down a 3rd and goal attempt. But, Charlotte’s lead would be short-lived. Atlanta showed good balance on their next possession, with Nick Chubb rushing the ball 3 times for 22 yards and Aaron Murray again finding A. J. Green for a score, this time a sideline fade from the 18. The quarter ended with the Fire holding a 21-17 advantage.
The fourth quarter started slowly, with both teams struggling to get into field goal range. Penalties were the big issue for Atlanta, as a holding call doomed one drive and offensive pass interference on Kelvin Benjamin ended a second. For Charlotte, the issue was QB protection, with their first drive of the quarter stymied by a sack of Boller on 2nd down, creating a very tough 3rd and 17. The Monarchs would get a second shot midway through the quarter and, using the combined legs of Latavius Murray and Nyheim Hines, they largely kept the ball on the ground on a 14-play drive that finished with Boller finding slot receiver Austin Proehl on a crossing route. Proehl made up for his earlier fumble by going low to scoop up a low pass from Boller, giving Charlotte a 24-21 lead with only 1:11 left to play.
But, as so often happens, the Monarchs left too much time on the clock. With all 3 time outs left, Atlanta needed only to get into field goal range to equalize the score and send the game to overtime. They quickly moved down the field and into the outer edge of John Bounds’s range. But, after failing to move the ball past the Charlotte 41 on three straight pass attempts, the Fire were forced to send Bounds out with just a few ticks left on the clock to attempt a 58-yard kick.
Boller’s kick was low, barely missing the raised hands of the Monarch defenders, but it continued to rise along its route, and it cleared the crossbar to tie the game and send the divisional rivalry into overtime. In the extra period, Atlanta had the ball first but went 3-and-out after a nice defensive play on 3rd and 5 kept the ball a yard shy of a first down. Atlanta punted and Charlotte had a chance to win the game with a kick. They moved the ball well, again using the ground game with only 1 pass on the drive. The drive stalled out on the Atlanta 30, leaving Stephen Earl with a 47-yard kick. Earl lined up, the snap and hold appeared to be good, but Earl hooked the ball to the left, and it sailed outside the uprights. That was all Atlanta needed. They took the ball back on the 37 and in only 6 plays they got the ball well inside John Bounds’ range. Their kicker came in on 3rd and 5 from the Charlotte 17 and put the 34-yard kick right down the center.
Atlanta had hung on and found a way to win, but Charlotte showed they were up for this game, a game that easily could have turned the other way. It was another sign that the shift to Kyle Boller had made a difference and that Charlotte was not as far from being a solid team as fans had feared.
BALTIMORE 17 NEW JERSEY 20
The Generals knew they needed this one, and they got it, a 3-point victory that evens their record with the Baltimore Blitz atop a pretty dicey NE Division. They send Baltimore to a 2nd straight defeat and in doing so pull themselves back into the playoff picture. They did it behind a great effort from, who else, Maurice Jones-Drew. Pocket Hercules rushed for 141 and added another 15 as a receiver, powering the General offense despite never finding the endzone himself.
POTG: New Jersey HB Maurice Jones-Drew: 19 Att, 141 Yds, 4 Rec, 15 Yds
ARIZONA 18 SAN DIEGO 12 OVERTIME
The Wranglers struggle on offense but still manage to eke out a W over the Thunder thanks to their D and a big day from Calais Campbell, who has worked himself back to within 1 sack of the league lead. Campbell had 4 TFL along with 2 sacks in this game, while both Joe Haden and Jeremy Lane added picks of Christian Ponder as Arizona moves to 11-0 and locks up a playoff spot.
POTG: Arizona DE Calais Campbell: 7 Tck, 4 TFL, 2 Sck
HOUSTON 16 MEMPHIS 24
Houston is another preseason favorite whose offense seems to be struggling of late. Memphis took advantage, picking off Colt McCoy twice and sacking the Houston QB 4 times. Houston’s D did one better, knocking Paxton Lynch out of the game early in the 2nd, but the problem with that is they then had to face Fitz-Magic. Ryan Fitzpatrick came in, went 15 of 22 and threw for 2 scores as Atlanta moves into a tie atop the South, knocking the Gamblers 2 games back.
POTG: Memphis LB Sam Acho: 5 Tck, 2 TFL, 1 Sck
MICHIGAN 27 OHIO 20
Despite losing Christian Hackenberg to injury the Glory hung in and made this a game. Michigan got 119 yards and 2 scores from LeVeon Bell and Kirk Cousins connected with TE Ladarius Green for a third score as the Panthers held the lead for most of the game but just could not put the Glory away.
POTG: Michigan DE Justin Tuck: 2 Tck, 1 Sck, 2 FF, 1 FR
DALLAS 35 SEATTLE 28
This battle of 5-5 teams was perhaps the most entertaining game this week, with both clubs finding ways to generate big plays and plenty of points. Justin Herbert threw for 322 and 3 scores, while Brett Hundley threw for all 4 Seattle TDs, though only on 193 yards. Dallas used balance to win the game, with Herbert’s big numbers paired with a combined 139 yards rushing from Perine (83) and Charles Sims (56).
POTG: Dallas rookie QB Justin Herbert: 16/31, 322 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int
LAS VEGAS 17 OAKLAND 20 OVERTIME
The Invaders blow a 17-0 lead as Las Vegas equalized the score with 17 unanswered, including a late TD from Jeff Tuel to Aaron Dobson to send the game to overtime. We almost ended with a tie, but on the last play of the game Oakland kicker Roberto Aguayo converted on a 54-yard field goal attempt to give the Invaders the win and a share of first place in the Pacific.
POTG: Viper DE Matthew Judon: 10 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 Sfty
JACKSONVILLE 27 ORLANDO 20
Another bad outing for Orlando and another solid win for an improving Bulls team that now moves into 3rd place in the South at 5-6. Teddy Bridgewater was again looking good, completing 14 of 28 for 288 yards and 3 TDs, but he got some help this week as HB Devin Singletary rushed for 111 yards on 17 carries, a total that included a 41-yard scamper in the third quarter. Russell Wilson threw 2 TDs to tight end David Njoku, but it was not enough to keep Orlando from falling to 5-6 and dropping to 4th in the division.
POTG: Bulls’ QB Teddy Bridgewater: 14/28, 288 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int
WASHINGTON 25 TAMPA BAY 27
Washington keeps playing teams tough but keeps coming up short. They gave the Bandits a run this week, but failed on a key 2-point conversion to tie the game, allowing Tampa Bay to run down the clock and claim victory. The Federals’ defense put a lot of pressure on Dak Prescott, sacking the Bandit QB 8 times, but did not force any turnovers and also allowed Dalvin Cook to rush for 95 yards and a TD in the game.
POTG: Bandit LB Don’t’a Hightower: 5 Tck, 2 Sck
BIRMINGHAM 19 SAN ANTONIO 24
The Gunslingers were surprisingly effective against Cam Newton, holding him to only 10 yards rushing while also recording 5 sacks and limiting the Stallion QB to only 1 TD despite 356 yards passing. On offense, Easton Stick was efficient, completing 23 of 34 for 289 yards and finding both Marquise Goodwin and Julius Thomas for scores as both teams end the game sitting at 2-9, but one feeling much better about it than the other.
POTG: Gunslinger LB Gabe Miller: 4 Tck, 2 Sck
CHICAGO 27 ST. LOUIS 23
Lamar Jackson cut loose, rushing for 110 yards, including a 65-yard TD in an effort to get a win, but in the end, Chicago just had a bit more in the tank, scoring the game’s final 14 points to turn a 13-23 deficit into a 27-23 victory. Sam Bradford threw for 334 and found both Chase Claypool and Kenny Golloday for 4th quarter scores as the Machine improve to 8-3.
POTG: Machine rookie WR Chase Claypool: 7 Rec, 104 Yds, 1 TD
DENVER 14 LOS ANGELES 19
The Express did not wow anyone with offensive prowess, but with 9 sacks of Denver QB Josh Allen, their defense certainly opened some eyes. Allen had a rough game, throwing for only 167 yards and completing 45.2% of his throws under intense pressure from the LA front 7. The Express only mustered 1 offensive TD, but added a pick-six and a safety to help them claim victory and move to 7-4 on the year.
POTG: Express LB Uchena Nwosu: 4 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 Sfty, 1 FF, 1 FR
OKLAHOMA 18 PORTLAND 14
The Stags lose their 3rd game in 4 weeks as Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts gets his first W as a starter. Hurts went 20 of 33 for 308 yards for the Outlaws while the defense sacked Marcus Mariota 5 times and forced 2 turnovers. It was 14-11 Portland after 3, but the Outlaws got the lone score of the 4th quarter and it was enough to boost them to 5-6 on the year.
POTG: Outlaw QB Jalen Hurts: 20/33, 308 Yds, 1 TD, 1 Int
NEW ENGLAND 26 PHILADELPHIA 11
Someone break up the New England Steamrollers! The expansion club wins their 2nd in a row and now sits at 4-7 after scoring the first 16 points of the game and holding Philadelphia to only 1 TD in the game. It was the 3-headed run game for New England that got the job done, with Forte (47), Williams (66) and Yeldon (39) combining for 152 yards.
POTG: Steamroller kicker Brett Maher: 4/4 on field goals.
NEW ORLEANS 34 PITTSBURGH 14
The Breakers move to 8-3 with a big win over the Maulers. Geno Smith throws for 323 and 3 scores while HB Myles Gaskin, still getting more carries than Denver import DeMarco Murray, takes the ball 22 times for 108 yards and a score. The Maulers were hurt by two costly Andy Dalton picks, but Dalton was under pressure all game, sacked 6 times and forced to scramble far too often for a pocket passer.
POTG: Breaker QB Geno Smith: 19/26, 323 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int
Wrangler Offense Struggles as Cruz is Lost for 2020
We understand that few tears are going to be shed for the Arizona Wranglers. They have appeared in 5 Summer Bowls since 2013, won 3 titles, and are the defending league champions. They are also unbeaten this year. But that does not mean that everything is smiles and balloons in the Valley of the Sun. Look at the scores for the Wranglers the past 4 weeks and you see what we mean. Yes, all 4 games were Wrangler wins, but they put up 24, 26, 16, and 18 points. The offense is not what many expected and not what we are used to seeing. And now, with Victor Cruz lost for the year, it may get even worse.
The defense, and once again we have to highlight Calais Campbell, who seems hell bent on getting into the sack race once again, has been carrying the club for the better part of the season. The Wrangler offense which was so dynamic in 2019 has scored 30 or more points only once since Week 2, a 38-13 demolition of Oklahoma. And the honest truth is that we are not sure exactly why. This is still an offense with great balance and good yardage numbers, 2nd in the league in rushing at 114.1 yards per game and 5th in total yards, but they are just not putting up the big numbers we got so used to seeing. Thank goodness the D is limiting teams to only 217 yards passing per game and 15.2 points. If the Gamblers are going to repeat, they will need that defense to be the focus.
Portland Drops 2nd in a Row as Hurts Gets First Win
Another team that seems to be struggling of late are the Portland Stags. After a 5-2 start, the Stags have gone 1-3 in their last 4 games, including a bad loss to the then 1-9 San Diego Thunder and now this week’s lackluster performance against Oklahoma. The high-scoring offense that put up 44 against Oakland in Week 7 and 38 against Denver the week before has put up only 14 points twice in their 3 losses, the other being a defensive collapse against San Diego, producing a 42-27 loss.
Is it that teams have figured out Portland’s formula? That with more film there are more obvious ways to limit the Stag attack? Or is it just the natural ebbing and waning of success for a team not used to winning? The Stags face the Denver Gold again this week, having beaten them 38-27 six weeks ago. This will be a good test to see if Stag Nation needs to be worried or if the club can right the ship against a struggling Denver Gold club.
Herbert Leads Dallas to Big Win in Battle of 5-5 Teams
This weeks battle of 5-5 clubs Dallas and Seattle was the tale of two QBs making hay. Seattle may have found an unexpected diamond in the rough with New Jersey castoff Brett Hundley, who threw for 4 scores in this shootout game, but Dallas is thinking they may have their guy for the next decade as rookie Justin Herbert is improving each week and looking very much like a possible Rookie of the Year. Herbert had his best game statistically against Seattle, completing 16 of 31 for 322 yards and 3 touchdowns. He is mixing it up among his receivers as well, with Sammy Watkins starring last week while this game saw Herbert find Courtland Sutton for 127 yards. He is also not afraid to get the backs into the passing game, evident with a pair of beautiful swing passes to Samaje Perine, one for a 32-yard gain and the other for a TD.
As we outlined above, Dallas has a shot to get locked in, go on a tear, and lock up their first playoff berth since the move from Boston (the first since Boston’s 2009 league title, actually), and at the helm of that run would be a rookie QB who is making the most of his first season.
Jackson unleashed in St. Louis Run Game
There are not a lot of good moments coming out of a 1-10 season for the St. Louis Skyhawks this year. They got their coach fired midseason. Their star halfback was lost to injury for most of the year, and their defense continues to be as ineffective as those off-brand towels in the Bounty ads. But, one bright spot was seen this week, when interim head coach Dave Borgonzi gave the fans a taste of something they have been craving for a long time, a running Lamar Jackson. Jackson was not only given free reign on some run-pass options, but had several scheduled QB runs added to the playbook. The result? How about 110 yards rushing, including a scintillating 65-yarder, and a much closer game against Chicago than many expected. Jackson still has work to do in the passing game, where he threw for only 162, but the addition of planned runs as well as some RPO plays is very welcome to Skyhawk fans who constantly questioned why Borgonzi’s predecessor, Frank Reich, did not make use of Lamar Jackson’s talents as a runner. Will adding this wrinkle be enough to allow Borgonzi to keep the job at the top of the Skyhawk staff? That seems unlikely, but what it may do is alter what ownership is looking for in their next coach. Bringing in a coach with a penchant for RPO and a love of mobile QBs may be on the agenda if Jackson proves that he can thrive in that kind of system.
Two teams in, two teams out, and 26 left to fight on. The Wranglers and Bandits, both 11-0 are now mathematically locked into no worse than a Wild Card, but you know they are shooting for much more. On the flipside of the table we have the 1-10 Philadelphia Stars and St. Louis Skyhawks, two teams that have already jettisoned their head coaches, officially out of contention and forced to play out the string for the next 5 weeks. In between these two poles we have 26 teams, each with varying control of their own destiny. Looking good we have 9-2 Michigan and Atlanta along with 8-3 New Orleans, Memphis, Chicago, and Pittsburgh. A bit more desperate we have 3-8 Ohio and Charlotte as well as 4-7 New England and Denver.
Only 1 returning player on the COVID-list, a season low, and a pretty small group overall. As far as on-field injuries, the story this week is the loss of Victor Cruz for the rest of the season after the speedy wideout tore his hamstring in a non-contact injury. Arizona will certainly miss their speed receiver, as was evident this week as their offense struggled.
OUT
WR Victor Cruz ARZ Torn Hamstring IR
DE Kony Ealy NJ PCL Tear IR
LB Junior Galette NEN MCL Tear IR
OG Mike Iupati ORL Wrist 1-2 Weeks
DT Albert Haynesworth ATL Thigh Bruise 1-2 Weeks
CB Ronald Darby CHA Hamstring 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
DE Kereem Martin ORL Groin
OT Levi Brown TBY Thigh
DT Jason Hargrave ARZ Knee
QUESTIONABLE
QB Paxton Lynch MEM Pinched Nerve
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster HOU Finger
CB John Reid PHI Hand
QB Matt McGloin LV Neck
COVID-19 INACTIVES
BAL LB Jarvis Jones 2nd Week
DAL SS Dezmen Southward
OKL OT Austin Corbett
PHI OT Dion Dawkins
SAN CB Jordan Pugh
SEA SS Terrell Edmunds
WSH LB Tremaine Edwards
Eight Players Who May Benefit from a Change of Scenery
By this stage of the season, we have a pretty good idea of the main storylines of the year. Sure, there may be a late season surge, or a collapse down the stretch, but what we generally know is which teams have the pieces in place to be successful, which do not, and where there might be a mismatch between a coach’s system and the players he has to run that system. We asked our bullpen of USFL experts to take a look at all 30 teams and to identify those places where a team’s system or the coach’s vision of how to build a team just does not mesh well with certain players, to identify players who might well find much more success in a different system. We asked who would benefit from a new system, a change of coaching style, or just a new start with a new team. We found 8 players that most agreed could be successful if they just found a new home and a system that suited their talents.
QB Kyler Murray (LA)
Yes, we understand that the 2020 season is only Murray’s 2nd in the pros, and maybe it is too early to judge what we have seen from the sophomore QB, but what we see is a QB who is just not aligned well with Coach Lewis’s somewhat conservative offensive approach. Much like Lamar Jackson in St. Louis, Murray is a more instinctive, out of the pocket, passer, a player who can use his feet to keep plays alive and even scramble to make plays. That is not what Coach Lewis is looking for and it shows in Murray’s early career stats. After a rookie year that saw him throw for only 2,650 yards and earn a 73.4 QB Rating, his numbers look even worse this year. He likely will finish with more yards, but with 14 picks already this year and a current QBR hovering around 65, he is simply not showing us the kind of inventive playmaking that was highlighted at his time in Norman as OU’s signal caller.
QB Christian Hackenberg (OHI)
There was a time when we saw a lot of potential in Hackenberg. In 2017 he threw for 3,440 yards, and did so again in 2019, but he has always struggled with interceptions, an average of 13 per year his first 3 years. We are only 11 games into 2020, and he already has 17 picks in Ohio’s offense. And here is where we think the issue lies. Coach Coughlin is asking Hackenberg to be a QB that he just does not have the skills to be.
Coughlin wants him to play a vertical game, taking advantage of the Glory run game to catch defenses in man coverage and take the ball deep, but Hack is best when he is throwing underneath, finding players in holes in zone and not trying to connect on deep balls. His touch is just not that good on the long ball and far too often he underthrows the ball, which is ideal for deep safeties to have time to come in and snatch the ball away. Put Hackenberg in a West Coast system based on zone beaters and he could find more success. In Coughlin’s system he just is being asked to play a game that is not aligned with his skills.
HB Kenyan Drake (ATL)
Atlanta’s change of pace back started his career as the starter for the Fire but has been displaced by Nick Chubb. Chubb is a clear power back, at his best when he is running between the tackles and shedding off tacklers. Drake is best suited to counters, outside runs, and misdirection plays, where his one-cut skills can be maximized. Averaging fewer than 10 touches per game and often asked to mimic Chubbs inside game, we just are not seeing the production that Drake could have if he were in a system that used him to misdirect defenders. Put Drake in a spread offense, or even a 3-receiver base set and he could be a very dangerous weapon, but we don’t see that happening in Atlanta.
WR Chris Givens (SD)
There are a lot of issues in San Diego this year, including real concerns that QB Christian Ponder has regressed when compared to past years. One of the obvious issues has been that WR Chris Givens is just not the receiver that San Diego needs in the slot. He has already seen snaps taken away by rookie Laviska Shenault, and he just does not have the quicks to make the kind of routes on the inside effective ones. In our view, Givens has the potential to be a very solid outside receiver, but San Diego is not putting him in that position, not wanting to displace either Marques Colston or Ronald Johnson to give their 3rd receiver that shot.
WR Stevie Johnson (STL)
There is only one thing you need to know about the 2020 version of Stevie Johnson to understand why he is on this list. He currently trails Allen Robinson in targets, catches, and yards. That seems absurd on the surface and is a clear sign that the Skyhawk coaching staff just does not know what to do with Johnson. They are trying to turn a burner into a possession guy, and that is just not his game. Put Stevie Johnson in a position to use double moves, or just to scream down the field, and he can make big plays. Ask him to go over the middle and turn an 8-yard route into a 20-yard gain and you are setting him up to take a lot of hits that his frame cannot handle. It just does not make sense to use him that way.
DT Sheldon Richardson (STL)
We stick with the Skyhawks for one more underutilized or misused player. Sheldon Richardson should be a space eater, the perfect nose tackle for a 3-4 system, but instead he is being asked to work stunts and line shifts in the 4-3. Yes, he is a big man, and he is powerful, but agility is not his best feature and asking him to penetrate the line when he is best suited to hold multiple blockers at bay seems like a complete mismatch between his talents and the system the Skyhawks want to run.
DE Arthur Moats (ORL)
With 7 seasons of 10 or more sacks, and with a 20-sack 2017, many felt that Moats should be the highlighted edge rusher for a club, taking over the Left End position that puts him on the blind side of most QBs. Many thought this would happen when Calais Campbell left for Arizona ahead of the 2019 season, but rather than respect Moats’ success as a pass rusher, the Renegades brought in Montez Sweat and offered the rookie the coveted LDE slot, keeping Moats on the right side. His numbers are still fine, with 11 sacks already this year, but he could be doing more and earning more on the left side with a team that allows him to be the main man on that D-line.
LB A. J. Johnson (CHA)
Charlotte has a situation at linebacker that most teams would love to have. They have 2 very strong middle linebackers in Rolando McClain and A. J. Johnson. The problem is that Coach Vance Joseph is a fully devoted 4-3 guy, which means that one of the two has to move outside. That man has been Johnson, who is often found in pursuit on the strong side of the formation. Johnson is a natural MLB, and we have seen more than a few times where his size and relative lack of mobility is a hinderance rather than a benefit to the Monarch defense. Put him on either a 3-4 lineup where he can focus on charging the gap against the run or even a 4-3 where he is positioned as the middleman of a linebacker trio and he could be far more effective.
Charlotte to Go Deep Purple in 2021
The Charlotte Monarchs very much feel like a team looking to reboot in 2021, so it is not surprising that their new Under Armour look is very much a departure from their past identity. Gone is the teal-dominant look they have worn since coming into the league as an expansion club in 2008. The team colors remain the same, but a clear shift has occurred as the 2021 uniform design goes purple dominant.
The shift starts with their new helmet, featuring a purple shell and purple facemask. Other than the team name on the rear bumper and a use of teal in the new diamond-pattern found above the rear numbers, there is no teal at all in the helmet. The modified crown logo, now more vertical with an “M” carved in the empty space between the lower white bar and the gold upper crown, features no teal at all, and with no helmet striping, it is a very purple-dominant look.
The jerseys repeat many of the motifs we see in the helmet, the dominance of purple in both road and home uniforms, the use of a diamond motif throughout, particularly in the sleeve cuffs and the collar, and the use of teal in very limited ways throughout, even less prevalent than the use of gold, which we at least see in the outlines around the player numbers. It is a very clean look, including as well a new secondary logo based on the image of a playing card with a stylized king holding a football instead of a sword or scepter. The pants are also very basic, with no prominent striping, only a small crown logo and 3 diamonds on the hip. Under Armour is using a different material, creating a slightly glossy stripe down the center of both pants, but it is a stripe in the same color as the pant set so it only appears to be a bit of shimmer in an otherwise monochrome pant.
The alternates are where we see the tradition of Charlotte as a teal-wearing team return. Of course the retro look retains the teal helmet that the Monarchs have worn since their inception, with the full uniform reflecting their 2008 inaugural look, complete with a tapered helmet stripe and the unique chest stripe that formed a crown at the base of the collar. The alternate, appropriately named the “Teal Deal” combines the teal color scheme with the new diamond pattern and minimalist jerseys. Using the same teal helmet shell, but now with a teal facemask, the uniform, in both white and teal versions, simply swaps purple for teal across all elements, creating a look that reflects the new aesthetic while bringing back the color balance from past years of the Monarch franchise.
We enter Week 12 hoping for some tight games and some drama, which is pretty much the norm in the USFL. Friday night could be a good one as we start off at 8pm with New Jersey, now tied for 1st in the Northeast, looking for some respect as they take on the unbeaten Tampa Bay Bandits. Can Coach Turner find a way to slow down Dak Prescott and also to put a fire under the Generals’ offense? Friday also offers us two rivalry games, with the San Diego Thunder hoping to knock off their “big brothers” to the north, the LA Express, followed by a classic Southern Division clash as New Orleans takes on Birmingham.
Saturday features 4 divisional games. Two look a bit like mismatches, with expansion San Antonio facing the Houston Gamblers and 2-9 Las Vegas facing 11-0 Arizona, but we also have a nice battle in the Southwest with 5-6 Oklahoma hoping to hit .500 by knocking off 6-5 Dallas and Rookie QB Justin Herbert. Then, in the nightcap, a must-see game in the Central as the Chicago Machine and Pittsburgh Maulers, both 8-3 and a game behind Michigan in the division, face off with 2nd place, and maybe even a share of 1st on the line.
Sunday brings us those 9-2 Michigan Panthers, who face off against St. Louis, who are only 1-10 but seem ready to unleash Lamar Jackson as a dual threat, which could be a challenge for the Panther linebackers. We also have a Pacific showdown with 7-4 Oakland taking on 5-6 Seattle in a game that could raise or crush Seattle’s playoff hopes. The rest of the action is inter-divisional, but some games to check out include 6-5 Portland hoping to snap their losing streak as they take on a disappointing 4-7 Denver squad, and a battle hovering around .500 as the 6-5 Baltimore Blitz battle the 5-6 Orlando Renegades. Both teams have struggled over the past month. Which one can use this game as a springboard to a strong finish?
FRIDAY
8pm ET New Jersey (6-5) @ Tampa Bay (11-0) Orlando NBC
8pm ET San Diego (2-9) @ Los Angeles (7-4) Las Vegas FOX
9pm ET New Orleans (8-3) @ Birmingham (2-9) TDECU ESPN/EFN
SATURDAY
1pm ET San Antonio (2-9) @ Houston (6-5) NRG ABC
4pm ET Las Vegas (2-9) @ Arizona (11-0) Glendale FOX
4pm ET Oklahoma (5-6) @ Dallas (6-5) Las Vegas ABC
8pm ET New England (4-7) @ Atlanta (9-2) Gainesville NBC
8pm ET Washington (5-6) @ Jacksonville (5-6) Tampa FOX
9pm ET Pittsburgh (8-3) @ Chicago (8-3) Rice ESPN/EFN
SUNDAY
1pm ET St. Louis (1-10) @ Michigan (9-2) NRG ABC
4pm ET Seattle (5-6) @ Oakland (7-4) Glendale ABC
4pm ET Portland (6-5) @ Denver (4-7) Las Vegas FOX
8pm ET Philadelphia (1-10) @ Charlotte (3-8) Orlando ABC
8pm ET Baltimore (6-5) @ Orlando (5-6) Tampa FOX
9pm ET Ohio (3-8) @ Memphis (8-3) TDECU ESPN/EFN
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