2020 USFL Week 3 Recap: Panthers Top Gamblers in Battle Royale
- USFL LIVES
- Sep 25
- 27 min read
Week three has come and gone and while the league is still working out all the kinks to their bubble system and night-game schedule, the teams are beginning to take shape, with better cohesion and better play in this season without a preseason. We got a thriller this week in our GOTW between the Gamblers and Panthers, we also got some exciting finishes as Washington edged Philadelphia, Chicago nipped Ohio by a single point, and Arizona held off Oakland. We also saw our share of mismatches, with the two expansion clubs getting beaten handily, but also with Atlanta putting up 41 on Jacksonville and Charlotte surprising New Jersey with a 20-point margin of victory. We will run down all the scores, talk about how the USFL is hoping to adjust their plans on the fly, and take a look ahead at Week 4, but we start with an interesting story surrounding this year’s two big rookie QB signings and the prospect for more of the same in the future.
The High Priced Rookie QB Conundrum
What to do when you sign a high-priced, high-pick QB in the draft but you still have a pretty solid veteran on the roster? Both economic and fan pressure pushes teams towards wanting to put their new “investment” on the field, but prudence also calls for you to use the vet as long as you can because we all know that rookies tend to struggle and, as always, every game and every win is important. That is the conundrum that the Dallas Roughnecks and Oklahoma Outlaws are facing this season. Dallas made a deal with Portland to get a shot at Oregon QB Justin Herbert, but opted to start the year with 11-year veteran Josh Freeman under center in Week 1. Oklahoma wanted to give Mason Rudolph a shot to earn the starting job after several seasons backing up Joe Flacco, but could not pass on the talented Jalen Hurts in the territorial draft, signing the OU product to a 4-year deal for approximately $700K more per season than their intended starter.
For the Roughnecks, the strategy has always been to gauge how Josh Freeman was doing, having had a couple of down seasons since coming over from St. Louis, but most expected Justin Herbert to start seeing action pretty early. Well, now at 2-1, and with Freeman looking solid, the question is whether or not this would delay the transition to Herbert. If Freeman can keep winning, do you swap him out, or do you wait and see?
For Oklahoma, a 1-2 start is not ideal, but when you look at the stats, Rudolph is not the main issue. He is putting up solid numbers, completing 65.8% of his passes, with 3 touchdowns. The Outlaws are only averaging 11 points per game, but that may largely be due to their last-ranked run game, averaging only 45 yards per outing. So, do you throw Jalen Hurts to the wolves without a run game to rely on, or do you delay his starting debut?
For both clubs, the answers they seek will likely come directly from their win-loss record. If Dallas stays above .500 well into midseason, we may see Herbert with a ball cap and a clip-board for most of the season, much like we saw with Josh Allen his first year in Denver. If, however, 2-1 turns to 2-4, for example, well, that could hasten the switchover. The same is true for the Outlaws as a 1-2 start could turn into a 1-4 hole, and that could be enough for Coach Stoops to try to inspire some change by swapping out a young QB for a rookie QB.
This is hardly the first season where we have seen these conversations. It is pretty much a given for most teams who spent big on a rookie QB prospect. There are times when there simply is not another option at the position, but more often than not, as in the cases of Josh Freeman when Lamar Jackson arrived in St. Louis, Matt Leinart when Josh Allen arrived in Denver, or Ryan Fitzpatrick when Portland drafted Marcus Mariota. And the reality is that we may well see the same occurring next year, where there is a deep pool of potential QB prospects. Teams are already looking ahead to 2021 and a draft that is expected to include Clemson’s dynamic QB Trevor Lawrence, BYU’s Zach Wilson, NDSU’s Trey Lance, Ohio State’s Justin Fields, Florida’s Kyle Trask, and Alabama’s Mac Jones. We could well be seeing a 2-year span that defines a generation of QB play in the USFL, but each signing will come with the same conundrum. When to switch from the veteran to the rookie? How to best develop a rookie’s talent without shattering their confidence? And what works best to turn rookie energy into early career wins?
HOUSTON GAMBLERS 16 MICHIGAN PANTHERS 21
When you saw this game on the schedule, you knew it was “must see TV”. The Eastern Conference champions from last year against the team that led the league with a 14-2 record in 2019. Offensive talent across the board, from LeVeon Bell and Cody Latimer to Colt McCoy, Evans and Smith-Schuster. But also, two very good defensive teams, capable of disrupting even the best offensive schemes. In other words, a clash of titans in the USFL.
There were a few pieces missing for this game, with Michigan having both WR Cody Latimer and CB Dre Kirkpatrick on Covid protocols, and Houston with Carlos Hyde still nursing an injury and LB Ramik Wilson also held out due to positive Covid tests. But even with these absences, this was a game with more than enough stars in the lineup to provide great entertainment.
Neither a shootout nor a purely defensive battle, the Gamblers and Panthers provided a little of everything. LeVeon Bell was held under 100 yards but still put up 86 and a touchdown. Houston’s combo of Evans and Smith-Schuster combined for 201 yards receiving, but both were held out of the endzone as Michigan denied QB Colt McCoy a passing TD on the day. Houston also struggled to run the ball without Carlos Hyde. Rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire took over the rushing duty but averaged only 2.5 yards on the day, carrying 16 times for 40 yards. Houston’s lone touchdown would not come from the offense at all as the Panthers held the Gamblers out all day.
The game began with both teams feeling each other out, trying to establish their run games and protect their quarterbacks. The Panthers would put together the best drive of the quarter on their second possession, moving 65 yards in 11 plays before LeVeon Bell dove over the pile on 2nd and goal from the 1. It was Bell’s 2nd TD of the season and gave the Panthers an early 7-0 lead.
The second quarter belonged to Houston, thanks largely to a single misunderstanding between QB Kirk Cousins and rookie receiver Donavan Peoples-Jones. DPJ was in the game for Cody Latimer, and generally played well, but with Michigan leading 7-3 after a Houston field goal, he had a clear miscommunication with QB Kirk Cousins, cutting short a route that Cousins expected him to take deeper. The result was a pick from Houston safety Budda Baker. The safety caught the ball in open space and got a convoy of Gamblers to escort him 48 yards to the endzone for a lead-changing defensive touchdown.
Houston would find success one more time in the quarter, driving into field goal range in the final minutes to increase their lead at the break to 13-7. But it was a sign of things to come that on both scoring drives the Gamblers could not punch the ball into the endzone. When the game resumed in the 3rd quarter, they again struggled to get the ball into scoring range, and when Colt McCoy suffered a rare sack on a 3rd and 9, Michigan avoided falling behind by more than 1 score. The Panthers rallied around that stop, putting together a 13-play drive that included key 3rd down completions to both Calvin Ridley and Martellus Bennett before Cousins found K. J. Hill for the go-ahead score. The quarter ended with Michigan up 14-13.
In the 4th, Houston continued to struggle to move the ball deep into Michigan territory. Whether it was runs stuffed at the line or passing opportunities missed, the Gamblers simply could not get too deep into Michigan’s side of the field before bogging down. With 4:48 left in the game they got close enough to take the lead once again thanks to a 51-yard kick from Younghoe Koo. With a slim 16-14 lead, they would now rely on their defense to squelch any late game heroics from the Panthers.
Michigan got the ball at the 20 to start what would be their final drive. Knowing that they wanted to both score (at least getting into field goal range for Chase McLaughlin) and eat as much time as possible, the Panthers relied on LeVeon Bell and some underneath routes to Bennett and Ladarius Green, their 2 tight ends. It helped that Houston’s defense continued to play the pass, expecting a bit more urgency, which freed up Bell for a pair of nice runs of 7 and 9 yards on the drive. The key play, however, was a penalty on Houston DE Dante Fowler, who got a bit too aggressive trying to get to Kirk Cousins and landed a blow to his head to draw a Roughing the Passer call that gave Michigan 15 yards. That penalty put Michigan at the Houston 28 yard-line, easily within McLaughlin’s range, but with 1:37 still on the clock, the Panthers did not kick right away, they kept plugging the ball down the field.
On a 1st and 10 from the 11, Bell broke a tackle and got as far as the 3 before being stopped. On 2nd and 2, Cousins faked the ball to Bell, drawing in the linebackers and freeing up Calvin Ridley on a crossing route. A short toss and Michigan had the lead back at 21-16 with only 23 seconds left. Houston would be unable to mount a miracle comeback in that short span of time, and the Panthers would leave the game at 3-0, giving Houston its 2nd loss of the season and giving all of us a fun Sunday night game that thankfully was over by midnight on the East Coast.
ORLANDO 27 TAMPA BAY 37
The Bandits move to 3-0 thanks to a 3-TD game from Dalvin Cook and a solid run defense. The Bandits gave up 333 yards to QB Russell Wilson, but it was a one-sided attack as Week 2 revelation Ty Montgomery was held to only 39 yards in his second game starting for Latavius Murray. Meanwhile, the Bandits’ lead back, Dalvin Cook rattled off 98 yards rushing, another 29 through the air, and 3 total touchdowns to help the Bandits take care of their in-state rival.
POTG: Bandits’ HB Dalvin Cook: 13 Att, 98 Yds, 2 TD, 3 Rec, 29 Yds, 1 TD
BIRMINGHAM 21 MEMPHIS 40
The Showboats offense found its groove as Paxton Lynch threw for 3 scores and the run game cranked out 101 yards against rival Birmingham. The star for the Stallions was rookie WR Henry Ruggs, who hauled in 6 passes for 129 yards and TD, but it was not enough as Memphis never trailed, taking a 14-7 lead after 1 quarter, 23-7 at the half, 33-7 after 3, and a final 40-21 score at the final whistle.
POTG: Showboat QB Paxton Lynch: 29/35, 260 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int
SAN DIEGO 20 DENVER 37
The Thunder continue to struggle on both sides of the ball as Denver outgains them 392-263, on their way to a comfortable 17-point win. Josh Allen rebounded from a pair of weak outings, going 18 of 23 for 192 and a TD, but it was the Gold’s 1-2 punch at HB that did the real damage. DeMarco Murray rushed for 122 on 19 carries and Phillip Lindsay became the goal line specialist with 4 rushing touchdowns, none longer than 9 yards.
POTG: DeMarco Murray: 19 Att, 122 Yds
NEW JERSEY 14 CHARLOTTE 34
With Nick Foles held out after an injury in Friday’s practice, Charlotte was able to lock down the New Jersey offense led by Ricky Stanzi, and cruise to a 31-0 lead after 3 quarters. Touchdowns from Latavius Murray, Nyheim Hines, and Brandon Pettigrew were more than enough to win Charlotte the game, but they also added a Ronald Darby pick-six along the way to earn their first win of the season.
POTG: Monarch CB Ronald Darby: 5 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
PHILADELPHIA 17 WASHINGTON 20
The Federals send rival Philadelphia to 0-3 as Stars’ backup QB P. J. Walker struggled to sustain drives despite 294 yards passing. Washington opened scoring with a 45-yard strike from Nassib to Tyreek Hill, then added a TD from rookie Darrynton Evans and two Vinatieri field goalsto take a 20-10 lead. Philadelphia rallied with a late Derrick Henry TD, but it was not enough as Washington held the ball for the final 3:37 to secure the win.
POTG: Washington WR Keenan Allen: 8 Rec, 107 Yds
NEW ORLEANS 31 SAN ANTONIO 7
The Breakers did not break a sweat in downing the expansion Gunslingers. New Orleans put up the first 31 points of the game before a garbage time TD finally got San Antonio on the board. Geno Smith topped 340 yards for the 3rd game in a row to start the year, with Coby Fleener (138) and Jordy Nelson (126) both topping 100 yards and each scoring a TD. Rookie Justin Jeffferson failed to hit 100 yards for a third straight game but did score his first pro touchdown.
POTG: Breaker QB Geno Smith: 12/21, 344 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int
CHICAGO 28 OHIO 27
A fun-to-watch back-and-forth game between these two Central rivals ended with Chicago getting a late Michael Floyd TD to secure the win. Both QBs threw for 3 scores, but with 1 extra pick (2:1), Hackenberg came out on the losing end of the score. Floyd finished with 2 scores, with Marion Mack adding another for the Machine, while Ohio got scores from Eric Weems, Isaiah Pead and Curtis Samuel in this classic Central Division duel.
POTG: Chicago LB Kevin Minter: 7 Tck, 1 Int
OAKLAND 24 ARIZONA 27
Arizona could not break Oakland’s spirit, but pulled out a 4th quarter win thanks to a Carr TD to rookie Brandon Aiyuk. Both Brady and Carr threw for 2 scores apiece, with Oakland getting a good outing from Christian McCaffrey (11 for 75 yards and a TD). Arizona again played without Calais Campbell and their pass rush only got to 43-year-old Tom Brady once. Meanwhile Derick Carr was running for his life, with Oakland recording 9 sacks on the day, including 2 each for Michael Bennett and LB Tavares Gooden. If not for 2 Jeremy Lane picks of Brady, this game could have easily gone to the Invaders.
POTG: Arizona CB Jeremy Lane: 3 Tck, 4 PDef, 2 Int
PORTLAND 31 DALLAS 38
An unexpected shootout as Portland backup A. J. McCarron survived 6 sacks to throw for 372 yards and HB Doug Martin put up 2 scores and 90 yards rushing. Dallas countered with Samaje Perine’s best games as a pro (25 Att, 123 Yds, 2 TD) and a game-clinching 59-yard pick six from veteran LB Clay Matthews, who looked like he needed about a month on the oxygen tank after running the ball back for the Roughneck’s 2nd defensive score on the day.
POTG: Dallas FS Jamal Adams: 6 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
BALTIMORE 24 NEW ENGLAND 7
Baltimore fell behind 7-0 to the expansion Steamrollers before rattling off 24 unanswered points to take this NE Division matchup. Jake Locker was picked twice, but the Steamrollers were unable to convert turnovers into points, while Baltimore slowly built up their lead, thanks to a Troymaine Pope 96-yard kickoff return to open the 3rd, and then a second score from Pope on an 11-yard run in the 4th, his 3rd TD of the day.
POTG: Blitz HB Troymaine Pope: 5 Att, 36 Yds, 2 TD, 2 KR, 109 Yds, 1 TD
ATLANTA 41 JACKSONVILLE 23
That Fire offense remains as hot as their name implies. Aaron Murray threw for 295 and 3 scores, Nick Chubb added 2 on the ground, and the Fire easily dispatched the Bulls, who drop to 0-3. The Fire now sit at 3-0 and are beginning to feel like this season’s upstart contender. Rookie Gabe Davis had himself a great 3rd game, catching 3 passes for 96 yards, with 2 going for scores. The defense gave up 368 yards to the Bulls, but the Bulls just could not keep pace with Atlanta’s scoring.
POTG: Fire QB Aaron Murray: 19/30, 295 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int
PITTSBURGH 16 ST. LOUIS 10
The Maulers improve to 2-1 and send St. Louis down to 0-3 thanks to a solid defensive effort that included holding the Skyhawks to 75 yards rushing and only 3 of 15 on third down. Pittsburgh’s Tre Herndon did not get a pick in his 3rd straight game, but did produce 4 pass defenses, while Shaquile Riddick added 2 sacks for the Maulers. The Skyhawks did not cross midfield until midway through the 3rd period as Lamar Jackson seemed handcuffed within the pocket.
POTG: Pittsburgh DE Shaquile Riddick: 4 Tck, 2 Sck
SEATTLE 24 LAS VEGAS 23
The Dragons secured their win over the now 0-3 Vipers, thanks to 127 yards from WR Amari Cooper and a defense that held Las Vegas to only 59 yards rushing. Seattle QB Brent Hundley likely locked up his starting job for at least the next week with a 21 of 28, 262 yard performance, connecting early and often with Cooper.
POTG: Dragon WR Amari Cooper: 7 Rec, 127 Yds
LOS ANGELES 9 OKLAHOMA 3
A defensive slugfest paired with some sloppy offense produced this sleepy score. LA actually put up a TD and a safety to get to 9 points, but Oklahoma was simply unable to get anything going, held to only one Kai Forbath kick on the day. Reggie Bush’s 85 yards rushing and a lone TD pass to backup HB Paul Perkins were all LA needed as they shut down Oklahoma, limiting Jeremy Hill to only 18 yards rushing (DeeJay Dallas did 1 better at 19 yards) and holding WR DeDe Westbrook ton only 39 yards receiving.
POTG: Express LB Uchena Nwosu: 8 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Sfty, 1 FF, 1 FR
Atlanta and LA Surprise Many at 3-0
The Fire and the Express enter Week 4 with unblemished records, but they are certainly not using the same formula to get there. The Fire are leading the league by scoring 37.7 points per game despite not being in the Top 10 in passing, rushing, or overall yards. Los Angeles is doing it with defense, the league’s best scoring defense to be precise, allowing only 9.7 points per game. Two very different formulas and some new names to learn as we start to look more seriously at these two unbeaten teams.
For Atlanta, the players to watch include QB Aaron Murray and HB Nick Chubb, of course, but it is NFL import A. J. Green who seems to have sparked a more open offense, leading the team with 3 receiving TDs despite having 7 fewer receptions than team leader Kelvin Benjamin. For the Express, get used to hearing more about 3rd year linebacker Uchena Nwosu. Nwosu leads the club with 24 tackls, but also has 2 sacks and a forced fumble in this season’s first three games. Lining up next to Keith Rivers, Nwosu is proving to be a dynamic sideline-to-sideline pursuer of the ball. Another player to keep an eye on is DT Chris Jones. With more teams working to slow down edge rusher Nick Bosa, Jones is finding himself in more single-blocker setups and he is making teams pay for their lack of respect, tied with Bosa with 3 sacks in 3 games.
LA and Atlanta are not the only unbeatens after 3 weeks, but there is really no surprise in seeing Arizona and Michigan here, and even New Orleans and Tampa Bay are not huge surprises. But for the Fire and Express, the goal now has to be to build on their good starts, to maintain momentum and to try to shore up the side of the ball that has not yet proven itself, Atlanta’s defense and the Express offense.
Breaking Down the Issues for the 0-3 Teams
In addition to 6 unbeatens, week three brings us 5 teams that have yet to crack the win columns. Jacksonville, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, and St. Louis join expansion San Antonio in that dubious honor, but, as with our unbeatens, each team is getting to this low point in their own way. So, just what are the issues with these 5 teams and how can they overcome them? Here is our breakdown as we prepare for Week 4.
Jacksonville
While not really a surprise to see last year’s weakest club sitting at 0-3, but certainly not the start that new head coach Winston Moss wanted for his team. So what is Jacksonville’s issue? Pretty much the same as last year, a complete lack of big plays. The Bulls are 30th in the league, scoring only 10.7 points per game, a total that actually looks better after their 41-23 thrashing by Atlanta, because up until then they had yet to score a touchdown. The Bulls have the fewest 20+ yard plays of any team in the league, don’t have a rusher over 4.0 per carry (Devin Singletary is close at 3.9), and don’t have a receiver over 15 yards per catch. If not for a 53-yard catch and run by TE Gavin Escobar, they would not have a single reception over 25 yards in their first 3 games. Rookie Tee Higgins is the club’s leading receiver, and while he is talented, the Bulls clearly need more out of him, the rest of the receiver group, the backs, and the offense in general.
San Antonio
Another club that does not surprise us with an 0-3 start. Being an expansion team is just not easy. The players are still getting to know each other, learn a new system, and they have a first-time head coach in Chuck Long who is also learning the ropes. The Gunslingers are currently 27th in the league in scoring and also 26th in points allowed. But, they are a first-year club, so their real goal is to see progress as the season progresses. We should not be so harsh on them as “newborns” in the league.
St. Louis
Now we are getting to the teams that need to be concerned. The Lamar Jackson era was supposed to be one defined by the dual threat nature of the young QB, but it seems that Coach Reich is trying to force Jackson to be something he is not, a pocket passer. Jackson, in three games, has exactly 0 scripted runs. That seems like a huge missed opportunity, and for a team that is averaging only 168 yards per game passing and 13 points per game, maybe the time is now for Reich to let Jackson be Jackson. It, of course, does not help that the Skyhawks are also 29th in pass defense, meaning that they are so often playng from behind. They have yet to score more than 19 points and we think that while it makes sense to keep Eddie Lacy in the game, they need to be much more open to using all of Jackson’s skills.
Philadelphia
Before you get all excited that we are going to pile on Matt Gutierrez (who has only played in 2 of their 3 losses), we should point out that the Stars have the 4th best passing game at 271 yards per game. Shockingly it is the run game that has failed them. Even with Derrick “King” Henry in the backfield they are averaging only 86 yards per game. That seems absolutely criminal considering his talent. Now, before we get too despondent, we should also note that all 3 of Philly’s games have been razor thin: a 21-19 loss to the Bandits, 20-17 to the Generals, and the same 20-17 score against Washington. If they can get just a bit more out of the run game, and get Gutierrez back after his weird toe injury, they could turn this around, as they did last year, going from 0-5 to 9-7 and the division title.
Las Vegas
This, even more than the Skyhawks and Stars, is the team we did not see starting off this slowly. The Vipers were so close in so many games last year that we had them pegged as a possible Wild Card, but so much seems to not be working for them. How about a run game producing only 50 yards per game? Or an inability to pull out single score games. They lost to Denver by 3, to Oakland by 2, and to Seattle by 1, in that order. That seems to indicate that this week they should tie their opponent. But Las Vegas just needs to find a way to do more with less. They are not going to be a high-flying offense, so they need to not miss on opportunities when they get them.
Murray & Lindsay Spark Gold Rush
The San Diego Thunder came into their Friday night clash with Denver hoping to keep QB Josh Allen in the pocket and force him to make a few bad throws. But for that strategy to work, you also need to contain Denver’s run game, and by the looks of the game this week, that is easier said than done. The Denver Gold, perhaps anticipating San Diego’s containment strategy, did not ask Josh Allen to do much. He had some good throws, and overall his numbers were strong (18 of 23 for 192, 1 TD, 1 Int) but the focus of the Denver offense was clearly on the run game. While Allen had 23 pass attempts, the combination of DeMarco Murray, Phillip Lindsay, and Jonathan Ward produced 39 rushing attempts, and with that an even 200 yards rushing.
Murray did most of the damage between the 20’s, rushing for 122 yards on 19 carries, a 6.4 YPC average that just shredded the Thunder defense and kept drives going. Lindsay was most effective within the 20, where 11 of his 19 carries occurred, including touchdowns of 5, 5, 9, and 3 yards to give him 4 on the day. Denver’s ability to run the ball at will disrupted any attempt by San Diego to hold down the Gold offense, allowing Denver to build up a 20-6 lead at the half, and when San Diego got close at 20-23 in the 4th, to add on 2 late Lindsay TDs to take the game by a comfortable 17 points. The game not only knocked the Thunder to 1-2, already 2 games behind division leader LA, but also demonstrated that the Gold are a team that could cause some problems, especially for teams that want them to be one-dimensional.
Sweat Secures 4 Sacks to Take League Lead
While fans in Orlando certainly revere their former 10-Time USFL Sack Leader and future Hall of Famer, Calais Campbell, they are not lingering in nostalgia for the former Renegade, now Wrangler. Second year DE Montez Sweat is helping them move on. He certainly made his case this week against the arch-rival Bandits, securing 4 sacks of Dak Prescott, a bright spot in a tough 37-27 loss for the Renegades. Sweat now leads all USFL pass rushers with 6 sacks on the year, 2 ahead of a pack of players that includes Michael Bennett (OAK), Mario Edwards (ATL), Chandler Jones (CHA), and Shaquile Riddick (PIT). Just like Campbell before him, and Chris Doleman before that, Sweat is looking like another standout in a long line of Orlando pass rushers. He finished his rookie year with 17 sacks, good enough for 4th place in the league and only 6 behind you know who out in Arizona. This year he seems ready to take on the mantle of Orlando’s long history of outstanding edge rushing defensive ends, and that is sure to make the Renegade faithful happy rather than feeling nostalgic.
We are beginning to recognize a COVID infection pattern as it seems that many teams that have a player with a more severe symptomatic case of the virus (those lasting 2 weeks on the COVID list) are also frequently seeing a 2nd player added. This is the case this week in Houston, LA, and Michigan. Fortunately, what we have not yet seen is a situation where a team has a massive outbreak or even an outbreak within one position group. From the surface it would appear that the team precautions and rooming assignments have been effective in avoiding a situation where all 3 QBs, TE’s or HBs are all at risk together.
As for on-field injuries, the game of football continues to produce significant injury concerns, with Dalas suffering a big blow this week, losing their starting strong safety for at least two months. The Roughnecks are not placing Dezmen Southward on IR, at least not until they get a better sense of his recovery time. Another safety, Baltimore’s James Sample, will miss at least 6 weeks with an abdominal tear, while New England will be without their veteran TE Dennis Pitta for at least 2 weeks. Here is the full report, including our weekly Covid testing results.
OUT
SS Dezmen Southward DAL Neck/Skull 8-12 Weeks
FS James Sample BAL Abdomen 6-8 Weeks
TE Dennis Pitta NEN Hamstring 2-4 Weeks
LB Josh Allen SEA Ankle 2-4 Weeks
C Joey Hunt NEN Ankle 2-4 Weeks
FB Andy Janovich ARZ Wrist 1-2 Weeks
WR Randall Cobb PHI Knee 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
QB Nick Foles NJ Jammed Toe
G Patrick Omaneh JAX Ankle
QUESTIONABLE
DT Rashard Lawrence MGN Hip
C J. D. Walton ORL Patella Tendinitis
OT Jawan Taylor JAX Hamstring
DE Jordan Willis OKL Knee
TE Tyler Eifert CHI Turf Toe
COVID-19 INACTIVE
HOU LB Ramik Wilson 2nd Week
HOU DE Tim Crowder
LA CB Isaiah Oliver 2nd Week
LA FS Jalen Mills
MGN WR Cody Latimer 2nd Week
MGN LB Devin Bush
NJ LB Akeem Ayers
PIT DT Gabe Wright 2nd Week
POR CB A. J. Bouye
Texas & Arizona Governors Open to Day Games in Domes
The USFL came a step closer to adjusting their schedule to include afternoons as the governors of both Texas and Arizona seem to be helping pave the way for a reconsideration of using closed (and air conditioned) domed stadiums in both Houston and Phoenix to host afternoon USFL games this season. Both Governor Greg Abbott of Texas and Doug Ducey of Arizona have stated that they are in favor of exploring the use of indoor stadiums for USFL games. Currently both NRG Stadium in Houston and State Farm Stadium in Glendale are being used for USFL games, but only with their retractable roofs opened.
The USFL is in talks with the Public Health offices in both states, hoping to diversify their schedule and reduce the number of late night games for fans on the East Coast. In addition to the potential for use of closed domes for day games, there are also ongoing talks in each state about the possibility of re-examining capacity limits, with the hope of allowing some fan support by the USFL playoffs, scheduled for September and October. With hospitalization and death numbers continuing to rise across the U.S. it seems unlikely that we will see any USFL games with filled stadiums this year, but the hope is to have some capacity approved, allowing for smaller crowds in the playoff games. In the meantime, if the USFL can get approval in both Arizona and Texas, it could allow for up to 4 games per week to be held in the afternoon rather than at night, which almost certainly would help league ratings.
League & Network Meetings Produce Temporary Truce
As expected, the USFL talks with ABC/ESPN, FOX, and NBC produced some changes, with schedule adjustments expected to kick in for Week 5 of the season. The talks were initiated by NBC, who had seen significantly reduced numbers for their 11pm kickoff games. With both NBC and ESPN/EFN broadcasting only 2 games per week, the question of assigning games had become a major issue, with each insisting that it should be exempted from the Arizona games which kick off at 11pm ET.
The goal for all 4 networks was to produce a schedule that would allow for regular scheduling, not variation from 8pm, 9pm, and 11pm games, while also ensuring that no network was taking a large hit on viewership by absorbing a lot of the later Arizona-based games. The proposal, which likely would require a 2nd round of adjustments should the USFL begin to schedule afternoon games, has NBC locked into a 9pm Houston-based game each Friday and an 8pm Florida-based game on Saturday. ESPN/EFN has a similar schedule, but with their guaranteed 8pm start on Friday, with a 9pm game on Sunday. That leaves only the 11pm slot on Friday to be split between ABC and FOX, with each network also splitting the remaining 8 Saturday and Sunday games. There will be one 8pm start available on Saturday and two on Sunday, two 9pm starts on Saturday with 1 on Sunday, and all four 11pm starts between the two nights.
So, as fans, what should we expect. Well, it gets just a bit simpler each week. Friday will be ESPN/EFN Friday Night Football at 8pm, NBC Friday Night Lights at 9pm, and either Fox USFL Friday or ABC Friday Football at 11pm in alternating weeks. Saturday will be NBC Saturday Night Lights at 8pm, along with either FOX or ABC also at 8pm. Both Fox and ABC will also host an 11pm game. Then, on Sunday, we will see 8pm games, one each, on ABC and FOX, then at 9pm it will be ESPN Sunday Night Football along with either ABC or FOX (whoever did not have a Friday game) and again both FOX and ABC will host 11pm games. This schedule will be in place starting in Week 5, with news on afternoon games still pending.
2020 USFL Hall of Fame Semifinalists Announced
The 2020 roster of Hall of Fame semifinalists has been chosen and it is one sure to cause some heated debates. With 4 wide receivers among the 10 nominees, the list immediately will cause fans to argue for their favorite choice. Throw in a pair of linebackers, both of whom spent time together on the same squad, and a 2019 snub in safety Ed Reed, and you have a pretty deep pool. Knowing that only 5 of these 10 nominees will be chosen produces a lot of tension and a lot of room for fans and voters to go back and forth on their top choices. Let’s list the nominees and then we will give you our thoughts, more as a conversation starter than a prediction.
QB Duante Culpepper (TBY 2004-14)
The former Bandit QB who led Tampa Bay to the 2011 league title returns in his 2nd year of eligibility. Culpepper, a 4-time All-USFL selection and the 2011 Playoff MVP has no other QBs in the pool this year, unlike last year when Jake Plummer garnered near unanimous support for the Hall.
WR Steve Smith (PHI 2001-10, OHIO 2011-15)
The first of four wideouts on this year’s list, Smith was a stalwart for the Stars for a decade before being traded to Ohio. He retired with over 1,100 receptions, 15,000 yards and 94 touchdowns, but the diminutive receiver who played with a chip on his shoulder will have a lot of competition in his first year of eligibility
WR Hines Ward (ARZ 1998-2001, MGN 2002-15)
Perhaps the frontrunner from the WR group, Hines Ward played 18 seasons, amassing nearly 1,300 receptions for 18,972 yards and added 121 touchdowns. The 8-time All-USFL wideout for the Wranglers and Panthers seems a pretty sure bet to make the Class of 2020.
WR Deion Branch (WSH 2002-15)
Underappreciated in his time, Branch was only nominated to an All-USFL team twice in his 13-season career despite amassing over 1,000 receptions, 13,500 yards, and 79 touchdowns. He may again suffer from underappreciation in this strong group of wide receiver candidates for the Hall.
WR Peerless Price (DEN 1999-2013)
In his 3rd year of eligibility, things don’t get any easier for Peerless Price’s HOF prospects. The lifelong member of the Gold did help Denver win a title in 2000 and was nominated to the All-USFL team. His 1,246 receptions, 14,495 yards and 80 TDs are all competitive numbers, but does he have the swagger that others bring with them?
DE Justin Smith (LA 2001-04, TEX 2005, OAK 2006-15)
The only edge rusher in this year’s pool, Smith played for 3 different teams, making his name mostly in his time with Oakland. A 3-time All-USFL nominee, Smith retired with 200 sacks to his name, good enough for 6th All-Time in the USFL. He also had 128 tackles for loss among his 6-9 career tackles and forced 34 fumbles, all impressive totals.
LB Joey Porter (POR/LV 1999-2015)
The Thunder’s all-time greatest linebacker, and current LB Coach of the NFL Steelers, Porter played 17 seasons in both Portland and Las Vegas. When he retired he had amassed 1,443 tackles (277 for a loss), 57 sacks, 20 forced fumbles, 15 recoveries, and 13 picks. A fierce hitter and one of the best run stuffers at the position, Porter was awarded with All-USFL honors 5 times in his illustrious career.
LB Mark Simoneau (POR/LV 2000-06, WSH 2007-10, POR 2011-14, ORL 2015)
Another former Thunder LB, Mark Simoneau moved on to Washington, returned to Portland with the Stags, and retired after 1 season in Orlando. Over his 16 seasons, Simoneau was nominated to the All-USFL team twice, retiring with 1,261 tackles (134 for loss). He also had 37 forced fumbles, recovering 17, and added 36 sacks and 16 career interceptions.
CB Quentin Jammer (TEX 2002-03, PHI 2004-13, BIR 2014)
In his 2nd year of eligibility, Jammer played most of his career in Philadelphia, where he was named All-USFL five times. He retired with over 1,000 tackles, with 343 pass defenses and 32 career picks to his name.
FS Ed Reed (WSH 2002-14)
Another 2nd year nominee, many felt his being passed over last year was a true crime. Reed was an intimidating presence for the Federals over his 13-season career, but without a league title to his name, he missed out on last year’s strong group. Reed retired with 562 tackles, 27 sacks, 35 interceptions, and 4 All-USFL nominations.
From these 10 candidates, who do we see as the most likely choices to join the prestigious Pro Football Hall of Fame? Well, we are going to start off with the player most were upset was left off the 2019 list, former Federals’ safety Ed Reed. He is not a numbers guy, which may have hurt him last year, but if you ask anyone who went up against him during his time with the Federals, they will tell you he was a nightmare to face and certainly one of the league’s best at the position. So, after Ed Reed, who do we see making the hall. We like Hines Ward from among the 4 wideout choices, though we are also somewhat sympathetic to Peerless Price in his 3rd year of eligibility. We just see Ward as the most impactful of the four, but we could see votes also going to Price and to Steve Smith. We like Joey Porter as a first-year nominee, with stronger numbers than former teammate Matt Simoneau. And don’t be surprised if Justin Smith gets in as well. In an era dominated by Calais Campbell, Smith’s numbers, reaching 200 sacks, is certainly nothing to sneeze at. The hottest debate among our pool was on QB Daunte Culpepper. Yes, he led a prolific offense, especially in that 2011 title year, but his Bandits were very much an up and down team during his 11 years in the league, which might hold him back among voters.
Feel free to debate your choices. The HOF voters will convene in August and we should get our list of finalists for what we hope is an in-person induction ceremony in October.
Week 4, the one-quarter mark of the year, kicks off with a Beltway Brawl as Washington and Baltimore, both sitting at 2-1, battle at Raymond James Stadium. We then head to Houston where the Chicago Machine take on the Memphis Showboats in another battle of 2-1 clubs. The nightcap could be a nasty one as the Thunder face the Invaders in a California Clash (live from Arizona).
Saturday gives us two East Coast rivalry games as the NY-Boston rivalry kicks off with the first matchup of the Steamrollers and Generals. Later on, in Orlando’s Camping World Stadium it is a SE Division clash, and a battle of unbeatens as Tampa Bay and Atlanta meet, both sitting at 3-0. Later that night it is desperation time for the Las Vegas Vipers as they face the 2-1 Roughnecks at ASU’s Sun Devil Stadium while, across the state in Tucson we have Oklahoma facing Denver in another SW Division clash.
Sunday brings us 0-3 Philadelphia hoping to catch a break against Orlando. Another 0-3 club, the Jacksonville Bulls, will be in Tampa Bay to face the Charlotte Monarchs. At 9pm it is another great battle of unbeatens as the Michigan Panther defense will try to cool off the red-hot New Orleans Breaker passing game. We end the weekend with two late-night games for our East Coast fans as we get a Cascade Clash between Seattle and Portland from a very different climate as the two face off in the desert climate of Tucson. LA and Arizona give us our final battle of 3-0 clubs when the two battle in Glendale, a comfortable home for the Wranglers even if fans won’t be present inside State Farm Stadium.
FRIDAY
8pm ET Washington (2-1) @ Baltimore (2-1) Tampa NBC
9pm ET Chicago (2-1) @ Memphis (2-1) NRG ABC
11pm ET San Diego (1-2) @ Oakland (1-2) Glendale ESPN/EFN
SATURDAY
8pm ET New England (1-2) @ New Jersey (2-1) Gainesville ABC
8pm ET Tampa Bay (3-0) @ Atlanta (3-0) Orlando FOX
9pm ET St. Louis (0-3) @ Houston (1-2) TDECU ABC
9pm ET Pittsburgh (2-1) @ Birmingham (1-2) Rice FOX
11pm ET Las Vegas (0-3) @ Dallas (2-1) Tempe NBC
11pm ET Oklahoma (1-2) @ Denver (2-1) Tucson FOX
SUNDAY
8pm ET Orlando (1-2) @ Philadelphia (0-3) Orlando ESPN/EFN
8pm ET Jacksonville (0-3) @ Charlotte (1-2) Tampa FOX
9pm ET Michigan (3-0) @ New Orleans (3-0) NRG ABC
9pm ET Ohio (1-2) @ San Antonio (0-3) Rice FOX
11pm ET Seattle (1-2) @ Portland (1-2) Tucson ABC
11pm ET Los Angeles (3-0) @ Arizona (3-0) Glendale FOX
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