2020 USFL Week 9 Recap: Herbert Turning Heads

We kick off the 2^nd half of the season with some huge games to recap and some big performances, not the least of which was Justin Herbert’s 4-TD game against Oakland. Herbert is now 3-0 in his first three starts and has Roughneck Nation ready to roll. We also saw big wins from the Panthers, Breakers, Stags, Fire, and Machine as they took control early in their games and cruised to victory. Things were not so easy for Arizona or for Washington as the two avoided a big upset. We also had some overtime results, which are always fun to catch. We will break down all the action and take a look at Jalen Hurts’ first action in Oklahoma as well as Herbert’s big day. It’s all happening right here on “This Week in the USFL”.

Herbert Improves to 3-0 with Best Game Yet

Put Justin Herbert on stage, because this man knows how to make an entrance. In his three starts for the Dallas Roughnecks, the former Oregon signal caller has not only gone 3-0, but has emerged as the breakout star of the season and possibly a late-blooming ROTY favorite. What is more, he seems to get better with each game, something that has to worry Southwest Division rivals as they watch him grow into the pro game.

Herbert’s first outing was somewhat pedestrian, though he did get the Renegades a win over division foe Denver: 21 of 30 for only 192 yards and no TDs. In his 2^nd start, this time against San Diego, he improved to 249 yards and got his first TD. This week, against the favored Oakland Invaders, he had his best outing yet, completing 19 of 29 passes for 317 yards and 4 touchdowns. It was a thing of beauty, watching Herbert move within the pocket, sprint out of danger, and still find receivers downfield. He seems to have built a real rapport, particularly with NFL castoff Sammy Watkins, who 20 receptions in only 3 games with Herbert at QB, including two 100-yard games. 

It is all smiles for the Roughneck's rookie QB.

Coach Kingsbury is not shy about praising his young QB, stating that Herbert “sees like a veteran, reacts like a pro, and makes plays like a future first team All-USFL player, and he has only been in three games so far.”  Herbert’s success is certainly good news for Kingsbury, who struggled to 3-13 in his first season in Dallas, improved to 6-10 last year, and now is eyeing a possible playoff spot after a 2-4 start. His young QB is helping the Roughnecks reimagine who they are and what they are capable of. We are seeing this in other aspects of the game as well, with the Dallas defense now less concerned about holding leads and shortening games, they are playing more aggressively, and that has helped them keep both San Diego and Oakland below 14 points the past two weeks. The run game is still hit or miss, but Dallas is feeling like they can win games that otherwise would have gotten away from them in the past, and that confidence in themselves is about the most valuable thing a QB can bring to a team.

We will see how big the Herbert Effect is over the next 4 weeks as the Roughnecks have a huge test this week, facing off against the unbeaten Arizona Wranglers. They follow that up with a very feisty Seattle team, then rival Oklahoma, and finally a tough outing against another upstart team, the Portland Stags. While we cannot expect Dallas to go 4-0 in that run of games, folks in Big D are feeling like a 3-1 run could be more than enough to put them into playoff contention with 3 winable games left to round out the schedule. They are buying into Herbert’s early career success, and buying up jerseys with his number 10 on them as well. Looks like the Roughnecks have themselves a star, and one who is producing both wins and excitement in a city long dominated by the NFL Cowboys.

NEW ENGLAND STEAMROLLERS 20  BALTIMORE BLITZ 22

The New England Steamrollers may have only 2 wins in their inaugural season, but Coach Fox’s team has proven to be a tough out each and every week, something the Blitz discovered this week as they were nearly sent to overtime to get the win. New England got 2 TDs from HB Kerwynn Williams, the former Blitz player taken by New England in the expansion draft, and the defense picked off Jake Locker twice to keep it close. In the end it came down to a 2-point conversion and a skin of their teeth escape for the NE Division leaders.

The Steamrollers came out of the gate with a scripted first drive that took advantage of Baltimore’s defensive aggressiveness, using misdirection to force Baltimore to slow down their pursuit. They dinked and dunked their way down the field before Williams got his first big play of the game, taking a pitch to the strong side, spinning out of the initial tackle, and scrambling 26 yards to paydirt to give the expansion Steamrollers a 7-0 lead. That lead would hold into the 2^nd quarter as Jake Locker struggled to get started for Baltimore, completing only 2 passes in 8 attempts in the opening period.

In the 2^nd quarter, on their third drive, Baltimore finally found some continuity, first thanks to a 13-yard run by Josh Jacobs, followed by a nice pass from Locker to Eli Rogers for 16 that got them a key 3^rd down conversion, one of only 2 the Blitz would make on the day as New England stuffed them on 10 of 12 attempts. But, with this one in hand, the Blitz drive continued and Locker paid Rogers back with a red zone strike, a 14-yard fade route that evened the score at 7.

But, tenacious as always, New England responded with a 2^nd scoring drive. Again it was Williams putting the ball in the endzone, this time from 5 yards out, as the tailback reveled in playing the team that left him unprotected in the expansion draft. Baltimore would add two field goals to finish out the half, but went into the break trailing 14-13 to the expansion Steamrollers. They would come out n the 2^nd half hoping to establish themselves as the better team, but their opening drive ended with a pick of Jake Locker as SS Jaiquawn Jarrett stepped in front of a ball intended for rookie Michael Pittman Jr.

New England could not capitalize on the takeaway, with Ryan Tannehill turning the ball right back to Baltimore 4 plays later, one of 3 picks the former NFL quarterback would throw in a rough 2^nd half. Baltimore would also fail to score after the takeaway, but on their next possession, after a 3-and-out produced by the defense, they would take a slow and steady approach, moving the ball down the field without once facing a 3^rd down, and, after a pass interference call in the endzone on a play that took away a TD from TE C. J. Uzomah, they had the ball at the 1. The Blitz faked the dive play and with Jake Locker rolling to his right, he found Michael Pittman Jr. for a 1-yard TD toss to take their first lead of the day. They went for 2 to produce a 7-point lead, but failed in the effort, producing a 19-14 advantage.

The 3^rd quarter ended with that same score, but just as the 4^th quarter began, Baltimore was again in scoring range. A nice play by New England LB Junior Galette prevented Baltimore from converting on 3^rd and 5, and they were forced to settle for a 25-yard chip shot from kicker Josh Lambo to take a 22-14 lead. That still left New England within 1 score, and the Steamrollers proceeded to push towards an equalizer throughout the quarter.

On their first drive after Baltimore’s field goal, they got into range for kicker Brett Maher, but, with Maher having already missed on 2 attempts (a 51 yarder and a 48-yarder) they opted to go for a 4^th and 2 from the Baltimore 33 rather than attempt another long kick. Ryan Tannehill wanted to hit Dennis Pitta with a short out route, but LB Brandon Jenkins was there, crashing into Pitta just as the ball arrived. Coach Fox pushed for a DPI call, but the refs saw nothing wrong with the contact. Replay showed that Jenkins’ timing was perfect, hitting Pitta just as the ball arrived. The ball went back to the Blitz.

New England would get the ball back with 3:37 left on the clock, following a missed 48-yard kick by Josh Lambo. Still down 8, a single drive could equalize the score and send the game to overtime. Starting with the ball on their own 38, the Steamrollers mixed a draw to Matt Forte with several short passes to get into Baltimore territory. On a 1^st and 10 from the Baltimore 36, Tannehill hit his longest pass of the day, and the only reception for former Machine wideout Will Fuller. Fuller got lost in the zone coverage and was wide open along the sideline for 29 yards, putting the ball at the 7 before getting knocked out of bounds. With 1:46 left on the clock, the Steamrollers had time to put the ball in the endzone without worrying about the clock. They would need only 1 play to do so. Ryan Tannehill found Zay Jones along the back of the endzone, floated the ball perfectly over the linebacker and pulled New England to within a conversion at 22-20. It would all come down to a 2-point try from the 2 yard line.

The play call was for Tannehill to fake the ball to Williams, who had already scored twice on the day, to roll to his right and find either TE Dennis Pitta at the front of the endzone or WR Zay Jones behind him. But the call was an instant disaster as Baltimore DE Da’Quan Bowers eluded the block of the right tackle and was in Tannehill’s face before either receiver had broken out of the cluster of defenders in the middle of the field. Tannehill desperately launched the ball towards the back corner of the endzone, but Jones could not reach it and the 2-point try failed, retaining Baltimore’s lead at 2 points.

New England attempted the onside kick, but it was comfortably recovered by Baltimore’s Troymaine Pope. The Blitz only needed to secure on first down to burn New England’s last time out and kneel down for the win. They ran Josh Jacobs on both first and second down, and with a nice second effort, Jacobs’s second carry went for 6 and gave the Blitz the 1^st down they needed. Two kneels later the Blitz let out a collective sigh of relief, moving to 5-4 and escaping a very tough match with a very tenacious expansion club.

WASHINGTON 20  PHILADELPHIA 19

Philadelphia was putting the Federals to the test on Friday, playing well on defense and building up a 9-point lead through three quarters, but the Federals put the pieces together in the final period, scoring 10 unanswered to capture a 1-point win. The game was not decided until the final minute, as the Feds, down 6, marched down field, with Nassib hitting Keenan Allen to tie the game and Adam Vinatieri’s extra point giving Washington the W with only 22 seconds left to play.

POTG: Washington QB Ryan Nassib: 33/43, 330 Yds, 2 TD, 2 Int

DENVER 20  ARIZONA 26

Denver also proved they were not going to roll over for a higher-ranked team, battling with the Wranglers every step of the way. With Lindsay and Ward combining for 122 yards and Josh Allen completing 19 of 24 throws, Denver made it tough on the Wranglers, but in the end Arizona did just enough to break a 20-20 deadlock, putting up 2 late field goals to claim victory. Denver’s D held David Carr to only 187 yards passing, but the combo of Carey and Crowell picked up the slack with 121 yards on the ground to help Arizona stay unbeaten.

POTG: Wrangler HB Ka’Deem Carey: 15 Att, 94 Yds, 1 TD

MICHIGAN 35  HOUSTON 10

The Houston offense struggled to break down that tough Panther D while the Gambler D simply had no answers for LeVeon Bell, who added 59 yards receiving to his 101-yard, 2-TD performance on the ground. Michigan scored the first 21 points of the game and never felt threatened by the Panthers as they cruise to a 7^th victory on the season. Bell was the driving force, but Kirk Cousins also came up big, throwing for 3 scores while completing 19 of 20 passing, a stunning 95% of his throws.

POTG: LeVeon Bell: 18 Att, 101 Yds, 2 TD, 4 Rec, 59 Yds

SAN ANTONIO 10  NEW ORLEANS 34

With San Antonio locking down the combo of Nelson and Jefferson, QB Geno Smith had to look elsewhere, and he did just that, with Tyler Lockett racking up 125 yards and a TD, Reuben Randle, returning from injury for 63 yards on 4 catches and Coby Fleener again proving to be a tough target to hold down. It was not the passing game we are used to from the Breakers, but it was equally as effective, proving just how deep their receiver room is.

POTG: Breaker WR Tyler Lockett: 4 Rec, 125 Yds, 1 TD

OKLAHOMA 17  LAS VEGAS 7

Mason Rudolph got the start, but injured his ankle, leading to the first regular season snaps for rookie Jalen Hurts. Hurts would go 4 of 11 for 97 yards, but was sacked 3 times. Rudolph had the lone passing TD in the game, connecting with DeDe Westbrook in the first, but Hurts led the Outlaws to their 2^nd score, a DeeJay Dallas TD run to build up a 14-0 lead. Las Vegas got back 7 on a Kareem Hunt run, but were largely ineffective on offense all game as Oklahoma improves to 4-5.

POTG: Oklahoma HB Justice Hill: 12 Att, 89 Yds

SEATTLE 27  SAN DIEGO 21  OVERTIME

San Diego finally showed they could run the ball, with Ryan Williams going for 148 yards and 2 TDs, but it was not enough as Brett Hundley made his case to remain the starter in Seattle by throwing for 286 yards and 4 touchdowns to pull the Dragons within 1 game of .500. TE Kyle Rudolph caught two of those TD tosses, including the game winner in overtime as Seattle sent the Thunder to 1-8 on the year.

POTG: Seattle QB Brett Hundley: 25/49, 286 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int

CHARLOTTE 17  NEW JERSEY 23  OVERTIME

The Monarchs put up quite a fight as well, using a Nyheim Hines TD in the 4^th to send the game to overtime, but in the extra period Maurice Jones-Drew scored his second TD of the day, a walk-off game winner. Nick Foles did start but struggled to 28 of 43, relying on MJD to help keep the offense moving. In a game where both teams seemed to want to shorten the action with their run games, we ended up in overtime before a winner was decided.

POTG: Generals’ LB Rey Maualaga: 10 Tck, 2 TFL

TAMPA BAY 23  ORLANDO 10

Orlando put up the first points of the game, but that was followed by a 20-0 run by the Bandits and, down 20-3 at the half, the Renegades never recovered. The Orlando D did a great job on Dak Prescott, holding the Bandit QB to only 182 yards passing with one lone TD, but the Bandit D was equally as stingy, picking off Russell Wilson 4 different times, including twice in the red zone as the Bandits stay unbeaten and knock Orlando back to 5-4 in the Southeast.

POTG: Bandit CB Xavier Woods: 3 Tck, 2 PDef, 2 Int

MEMPHIS 37  BIRMINGHAM 20

Birmingham scored on all 3 first quarter possessions to take a 17-7 lead, but Memphis put up 20 unanswered to reclaim the lead and never relinquished it after that. A pick-six from Memphis CB Rashaan Gaulden sealed the win late as Memphis outscored Birmingham 37-3 in the final 3 quarters, picking off Cam Newton 3 times and holding him without a rushing TD despite 61 yards rushing.

POTG: Memphis QB Paxton Lynch: 26/34, 294 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int

ST. LOUIS 17  PITTSBURGH 24

Interim HC Dave Borgonzi did what St. Louis fans have clamored for all season, he let Lamar play with his feet, and it paid off, with Lamar Jackson rushing for 90 yards on only 10 attempts. The strategy worked, helping St. Louis stay in a game when their passing game was just not working (136 yards in the air) and David Montgomery was churning out only 3.2 yards per carry. But, in the end it was not enough as Pittsburgh started spying Jackson with safety Tyvon Branch in the 2^nd half, and got a late Dalton to Thielen TD to take the win and retain a share of 1^st place in the Central Division.

POTG: Mauler WR Adam Thielen: 5 Rec, 112 Yds, 2 TD

OAKLAND 13  DALLAS 33

As we reported in our Big Story, it was a Coming Out party for Justin Herbert as he shredded the vaunted Oakland defense for 317 yards and 4 touchdowns, helping Dallas move over .500 and winning his 3^rd game in 3 attempts. Herebert got help from WRs Sammy Watkins and Tim Wright who did a great job of coming back to their QB when he was flushed from the pocket, giving him targets when he needed them most. The Dallas defense also looked very focused, holding Christian McCaffrey to only 52 yards rushing and blanketing receivers, forcing Tom Brady into an uncharacteristic 14 of 31 passing.

POTG: Roughneck QB Justin Herbert: 19/29, 317 Yds, 4 TD, 1 Int

PORTLAND 30  LOS ANGELES 12

The Stags get the sweep of LA, helping them step into a 1^st place tie in the Pacific. They did it with defense this time as LA did a much better job of containing Marcus Mariota and the Stag passing game. Kyler Murray completed only 45.5% of his throws (15 of 33) against the Stag zones, while Reggie Bush was held to only 66 yards rushing. The Stag offense was well balanced, with scores from WR Brandin Cooks, and both Doug Martin and Taravares Cadet on the ground as Portland moves to 6-3. Marcus Mariota survived 8 sacks, avoided turnovers and got our POTG for his tenacity and his 94.4% completion rate against intense pressure.

POTG: Stag QB Marcus Mariota: 17/18, 210 Yds, 1 Td, 0 Int.

JACKSONVILLE 16  ATLANTA 36

The Atlanta Fire offense just keeps making believers out of us all, with Aaron Murray going 31 of 43 for 267 yards and 4 TDs against the Bulls. Nick Chubb and Kenyan Drake combined for 125 on the ground, with Chubb also nabbing one of Murray’s 4 TD tosses. The Bulls struggled to get any ground game going, with Devin Singletary managing just 16 yards on 9 carries. That put all the pressure on Teddy Bridgewater, who threw for 242 and both Bull touchdowns, but it was far too little against the Fire’s offensive output.

POTG: Fire QB Aaron Murray: 31/43, 267 Yds, 4 TD, 1 Int

OHIO 10  CHICAGO 41

Chicago continues to impress on both sides of the ball. Ohio put up the first 3 points of the game, but that was followed by 21 unanswered from the Machine, who simply just cranking out scores. Both teams were similar in total yardage, 323 for Ohio, 332 for Chicago, but while Ohio struggled to turn drives into scores, Chicago had no such difficulty, scoring on 7 of 9 possessions to blow out their division rival.

POTG: Chicago HB Jeremy Hill: 9 Att, 94 Yds, 2 TD

Three Way Trade Moves 3 Players, 4 Picks

Another week, another big trade as teams try to address issues, improve key aspects of their teams, and make a push towards the playoffs. This week it is a 3-way trade that has our attention as the Generals and Stallions both try to address some defensive woes while San Diego gets some help for their failing run game. All in all we see three starters now with new addresses (across 3 different hubs) and 4 picks shuffled among the three teams. Here is how the deal breaks down:

New Jersey

The Generals move CB Devin McCourty to Birmingham to help the undermanned secondary of the Stallions, while they also provide two sixth-round picks to the San Diego Thunder, one this year and one next year. In return, they acquire a 4^th round pick from the Stallions and a much needed boost to their pass rush in the form of Thunder DE Kony Ealy. The 6-year vet will slot in on the right side, opposite Vic Beasley, and allowing rookie Yetur Gross-Matos to recover from injury and take on the swing DE position.

Birmingham

As cited above, the Stallions pick up much needed DB help by landing Devin McCourty from New Jersey. They also add a 5^th round pick from the Thunder to help replace the 4 they sent to New Jersey. Their contribution to the player swap is RT Jonah Williams, who was splitting time with Greg Robinson and now will slot into the starting lineup for San Diego. McCourty will immediately be paired with starter Dwayne Gratz, and could well be lined up against each opposing team’s best receiver, having proven himself in several seasons with New Jersey.

San Diego

The Thunder needed help on the O-line and they think they have found it in Stallion RT Jonah Williams. The big bulldozer of a tackle will line up next to Spencer Long, producing what the Thunder hope is a great caravan behind which their backs can find room to run. They give up a lot in DE Kony Ealy, which means that they will now be rotating both Takkarist McKinley and Sen’Drick Marks into the RE position opposite Jonathan Newsome. But, with one of the league’s worst run games, and scoring only 11.9 points per game, the Thunder felt they simply had to make a deal to improve the line and give their offense a chance at balance.

Jalen Hurts Sees First Action in Outlaw Win over Vipers

Outlaw fans have been wondering when they might see Jalen Hurts, and while they were hoping he would get a start, they got their wish thanks to injury this week. When Rudolph turned an ankle, leading to what has now been diagnosed as a stress fracture (1-2 weeks of recovery), it brought Hurts to the field. In his 2^nd possession, Hurts demonstrated what he can bring to the Outlaws, escaping pressure from Las Vegas DE Matthew Judon, scrambling to the sideline and connecting with TE Mark Andrewsfor an 11-yard gain. He would help Oklahoma take a 14-0 lead by driving the Outlaws into the red zone and setting up a DeeJay Dallas TD run. The rest of the game, Coach Stoops asked little of Hurts, who finished the game with only 11 pass attempts, completing 5.

But, now, with Rudolph sidelined for at least the next 2 weeks, fans of the Outlaws will get their chance to see if Hurts can provide the same kind of offensive production that they saw in his one year at OU. The young QB will be getting plenty of reps with the starters this week as Oklahoma prepares to take on Seattle in a battle of 4-5 clubs hoping to reach .500. Expect Coach Stoops to pull some bootlegs and misdirection plays out for Hurts, who is a more mobile option than Rudolph, but also expect Stoops to test out Hurts’s ability to read defenses and deliver balls from the pocket. Consider this a 2-3 week try-out for Hurts as the Outlaws look at their 2 young QBs and decide if either is a clear franchise option for the next half decade or longer.

Hundley Says Seattle Job is His, Puts up 400 on San Diego

When Brett Hundley was signed as a free agent, having been let go by the New Jersey Generals, he was signed by Seattle on a flier, a potential backup for Jacoby Brissett and a player who could run a similar offense to their established starter. But in the two years since then, Brissett has had trouble staying healthy, missing 2 games in 2019 and now out for the season this year. With a chance to start, Hundley has taken it upon himself to use this time to prove that he should be the man in Seattle. In 8 starts this season, he has thrown for over 2,200 yards, has a 3:1 TD:INT ratio (12 scores to 3 picks) and has helped Seattle stay in the hunt with a 4-5 record. It has not always been pretty, but Hundley has produced some good results, particularly the past three weeks, when the former General has thrown for 329, 433, and 286 yards with 8 TDs, including 4 this week against the Thunder.

Coach Riley has been non-committal about his QB situation after this year, but Hundley is clearly taking that to mean that the job is open for competition, and he is using the games this year to make his case. Hundley and recent Chicago acquisition Trevor Siemian both have 2 years left on their deal, while Brissett has 3 remaining. That could favor Hundley as Brissett’s contract is favorable for a possible trade, and with his season-ending injury, the Dragons could decide that the time for change is now, but, of course, that all depends on Hundley’s ability to prove his worth. So far he is making a good case, and if he can deliver enough wins for another playoff run, well, he could well be sitting pretty atop the depth chart by next March.

Monarchs to Start Boller in Week 9

One QB not getting glowing reviews has been Mitch Trubisky of Charlotte. His stats have not been horrible, with an 89.1 QB Rating, and he has gotten his propensity to throw the ball to the wrong team largely under wraps, throwing 6 picks in 9 games this year, but he is also not producing wins or strong offensive output either. The Monarchs currently rank 16^th in the league at 21 points per game, but they also have the 29^th ranked passing attack, one of only 3 teams averaging fewer than 200 yards per game. Add to this a 4-game losing streak that has Charlotte sitting at 2-7 and in which the club has not scored above 21 points once and you can see what the issue is.

This offseason the Monarchs acquired longtime backup and 15-year veteran Kyle Boller from the St. Louis Skyhawks, and this week Coach Joseph has decided to see if they may have gotten a steal in the deal. He announced this Tuesday that Boller will get the start as the Monarchs try to avoid a 5^th consecutive loss as they face the Baltimore Blitz this week. Boller will be given the keys to the car and Coach Joseph wants to see if the veteran can drive it with more efficiency than Trubisky has.

This is a move the fans likely will celebrate, having turned on their starter over the past few interception-plagued seasons. For every eye-opening play that Trubisky has made, there have been equal or perhaps more head scratching decisions, not only leading to the Charlotte QB being the league leader in picks over the past 3 seasons, but also contributing to a slide from 10 wins in 2017 to 9 in 2018 and a 7-8-1 result last year. For many, the QB position has been the primary culprit for the Monarch decline, and while Kyle Boller is hardly making anyone excited about the position, the switch alone indicates that Coach Joseph is open to other alternatives. Some are already saying the move is part of a larger strategy to secure a true franchise option in the draft, with many Monarch fans salivating over the possibility of Charlotte obtaining the rights to Clemson star Trevor Lawrence, who plays just across the state line. For now, however, it is the veteran backup Boller who will get a chance to show us something.

Ruggs to miss 4-6 Weeks with Groin Injury

A tough way to potentially end a very promising rookie season, that is what Birmingham WR Henry Ruggs now faces. Ruggs went down awkwardly in the Stallions’ loss to Memphis, grabbing at his posterior. What was first thought to be a hamstring injury was quickly re-diagnosed as a partial tear of the abductor in his groin. That is both a painful injury and a tough one to rehab, which now puts Ruggs on a 4-6 week recovery timeline, but one that could easily cost him the rest of the regular season.

Ruggs, who was 10^th in the league in receiving yards with 759 yards in 9 games, was well on his way towards a 1,000-yard rookie year. He was also among a short list of players already under consideration for the Rookie of the Year Award, joining Justin Jefferson (more than 100 yards behind him) and QB Justin Herbert. He now could miss the remainder of his first season, not only hurting his ability to grow as an option in the Birmingham offense, but to further develop his rapport with Cam Newton, who had already expressed his respect for the young receiver. It is a tough break for the Stallion offense as well, which had already turned Ruggs into the primary target for Newton. With Ruggs out of the lineup, it will be Dontrelle Inman stepping into the lead receiver role, with NFL import Robbie Anderson likely taking over the 2^nd position. That is not bad depth, but Anderson is not going to scare corners the way Ruggs has this year, so it is certainly going to require a change of strategy for a Stallion club that is still struggling to win games. Ruggs is not on the IR at present, but we expect that the Stallions will make a call within the next month as they look at his recovery and their own record down the stretch. If they do not see enough improvement in either, his year could be over as a protective action to help him be at his best in 2021. A tough way to end the year for a very promising young talent in the USFL.

We knew the run of light injury weeks would have to come to an end, and while there were no players added to IR this week, we have 10 who are likely to miss at least 1-2 weeks, with some potentially out for the year, including Henry Ruggs, who we discussed earlier, and Oakland CB Brandon Boykin. Pittsburgh will be without Rob Gronkowski, who lasted all of 1 game as a Mauler before getting injured, and several USFL defenses will be without their big hitters as we have several major contributors listed as doubtful this week. Add to this a Covid list that includes standout rookie WR Justin Jefferson and a heck of a lot of interior linemen, and we could have some very odd results in Week 9.

OUT

CB          Brandon Boykin        OAK      Broken Leg           6-8 Weeks

WR         Henry Ruggs                 BIR         Groin Tear              4-6 Weeks

FS           D. J. Swearinger              ORL       Ribs                          4-6 Weeks

LB           Shaquille Leonard          CHI        Ankle                       4-6 Weeks

FS           Nate Allen                     ARZ       Biceps                     2-4 Weeks

LB           Daniel Ellerbe                  OHI       Broken Jaw             1-2 Weeks

OT          Levi Brown                       TBY        Thigh Bruise            1-2 Weeks

TE           Rob Gronkowski             PIT         Miniscus                   1-2 Weeks

WR         Stevie Johnson               STL         Hamstring                1-2 Weeks

FS           Jalen Mills                        LA          Hip                           1-2 Weeks

DOUBTFUL

LB           Manti Te’o                CHI        Thigh Bruise                     

DT          Damon Harrison             SD          Stress Fracture

LB           DeMeco Ryans                TBY        Arm

DE          Bud DuPree                    ARZ       Turf Toe

QUESTIONABLE

DT          Cortez Broughton           DEN      Quad

DE          Neal Beasley                    HOU     Turf Toe

C             Matt Tenant                      BAL        Finger

TE           Travis Kelce                     PHI        Hamstring

LB           Travis Goethel                 NEN      Hamstring

DE          Nick Bosa                         LA          Hand

COVID-19 INACTIVES

BAL        TE           C. J. Uzomah    

CHA      G            Jonathan Cooper            2^nd Week

HOU     G            Jon Asomoah              2^nd Week

JAX         G            Chadwick Hodges

JAX         G            Dakota Dozier

NEN      HB         T. J. Yeldon                       2^nd Week

NOR      FS           Clyde Adams

NOR      WR         Justin Jefferson

OHI       C             Cameron Erving

PIT         CB          Sean Smith                       2^nd Week

SEA        OT          Terron Armstead

Florida & Texas to Allow 25% Capacity. Will Arizona & Nevada Follow?

Prospects are looking up for a USFL playoff run with actual fans in the seats as the state legislatures in both Florida and Texas have approved plans to allow fans in the stands, in both cases at 25% of capacity. The move was largely a nod to the importance of college football in each state, with significant lobbying by schools such as Florida State, Miami, Texas, Texas A&M, and the University of Florida, but the vote to allow low-capacity attendance also benefits pro sports, including NFL clubs like Dallas, Miami, and Houston, but also the USFL bubbles in both Houston and various Florida cities.

The Decision means that the USFL could set up playoff matchups in both states with fans able to attend. While the capacity of each stadium will be limited to no more than 25% of available seats, that is enough to change the dynamic of the games in each location. This is great news for fans in the two states, though it seems unlikely that many fans of distant teams like the Michigan Panthers, Baltimore Blitz, or Chicago Machine would be able to make the trip to either Texas or Florid to attend their team’s games. The league is also hoping that the decisions in two of their 4 hub locations will influence the other two states in question, Arizona and Nevada, to allow similar capacity in their facilities, allowing for all USFL playoff games to be played in front of at least 10,000 fans in each stadium. Arizona may be the better option, as they would have open-air stadia as well as State Farm Stadium’s domed option, which may mean we see playoff games at 11pm if domes are a concern. But for now, we can expect that there will be tickets sold for the USFL playoffs, at least in two of the three hub locations.

Day Games Provide Huge Boost to Ratings

The USFL’s move to offering day games at NRG Stadium, State Farm Stadium, and Wynn Arena has already paid off for the league. The domed facilities have now been in use for 2 weeks and over those 2 weeks we have seen TV ratings rise nearly 25%, with the afternoon games coming in just under the 8pm kickoffs for total viewership, easily surpassing the results when games from Arizona were held at 11pm eastern time. Comparing, for example, this week’s matchup between Portland and Los Angeles, held at 4pm ET from Las Vegas with the same matchup held at 11pm ET in Week 5, the viewership rose by nearly 850,000 viewers, earning a 2.2 Neilson score, well ahead of the 1.1 score in Week 5. Similar results are being seen across the league, making both the USFL and their broadcast partners much happier campers as we enter the 2^nd half of the season.

LeBeau Going Nowhere Say Thunder Owners

Despite a collapse from 12-4 record and division title in 2019 to 1-8 this year, Coach Dick LeBeau is in no danger of being outsted at the end of 2020. That is the word from the ownership of the San Diego Thunder. Citing LeBeau’s record of success both in Michigan and with the Thunder, leading the relocated club to 4 consecutive playoff appearances, team representatives informed local media that LeBeau’s position with the club was secure. The former Panther coach has 2 more years left on his contract with San Diego, and it seems apparent that ownership is not putting the failures of the 2020 campaign solely on their head coach. Expect some changes, including possible adjustments to the scouting and personnel team as well as some position coaches, but for now it seems that the team is willing to offer 2020 as a Mulligan to their very successful head coach.

Hufnagel Cuts OC Dickenson, Promotes Dorsey.

In Denver, a 5-game losing streak has had an impact on the team and a change has been made. Coach Hufnagel announced this week that his OC Dave Dickenson, who came with him from the CFL, has been relieved of duties. Citing concerns about the team’s red zone performance, lack of big play capacity, and struggles with the passing game in general, Coach Hufnagel let long time friend Dickenson go, promoting QB Coach Ken Dorsey to the OC position. Dorsey, who played 6 seasons in the USFL, splitting time with Tampa Bay, Memphis, and Portland after a distinguished career at the University of Miami, becomes the OC after 11 years serving as a QB Coach for 2 USFL clubs.

Dorsey’s task is to both improve offensive efficiency, but also to develop Josh Allen into an effective passer. Allen, who has had some accuracy issues in his first 2 seasons, and who tends to rely heavily on his ability to escape the pocket and run for yards, has tended to force some throws and make some poor choices when pressured, and it will be on Dorsey to turn that risky play into more effective and strategic decisions. Dorsey will also look to revive a run game that now is without former starter DeMarco Murray, traded recently to the Breakers. He will rely on Philip Lindsay as a 3-down back, and will look to establish the threat of the QB run as an alternative, providing more tough decisions by defenders. Will the change be enough to stall a losing streak that has dropped Denver below .500 and into 4^th place in the SW Division? Only time will tell, but for Dorsey, the move from position coach to OC is a big one, and a chance to show that his USFL background has him well-positioned to design an offensive scheme that aligns with the talent on his roster.

Week 9 is another heavily inter-divisional week, with only 4 divisional matchups on the slate, but that does not mean we don’t have some really interesting matchups. Friday gives us a battle of serious playoff contenders when the Memphis Showboats take on the Chicago Machine on ESPN and the ESPN Football Network. We also have a matchup with major playoff implications from Las Vegas, where the LA Express take on the Oakland Invaders.

On Saturday we kick things off with a biggie at 1pm as New Orleans and Michigan, both 7-2, battle at NRG Stadium in Houston, a premier matchup in the early slot. With a lot of teams under .500 in action on Saturday, that early game is the clear “must see” game of the day. Though, to be fair, an upset is always possible, so don’t sleep on some of the other games.

Then on Sunday we have a few more even matchups, with 4-5 Oklahoma, led now by rookie Jalen Hurts, face off against the Seattle Dragons. Both clubs are at 4-5 and a win is vital as they seek to push towards a playoff spot. We also have Justin Herbert, who is 3-0 as a starter for Dallas, heading into the toughest game of the season so far, as the Roughnecks must take on the 9-0 Arizona Wranglers. The other game we have circled is between the Washington Federals and the Atlanta Fire. Both are outperforming expectations, but it will be a tough test for Washington as they face one of the hottest offenses in the game.

FRIDAY

8pm ET         Philadelphia (1-8) @ Tampa Bay (9-0)        Tampa            NBC

8pm ET           Los Angeles (6-3) @ Oakland (5-4)             Las Vegas       FOX

9pm ET           Memphis (6-3) @ Chicago (7-2)                    TDECU           ESPN/EFN

SATURDAY

1pm ET         New Orleans (7-2) @ Michigan (7-2)              NRG                ABC

4pm ET          Denver (3-6) @ Las Vegas (2-7)                       Glendale         FOX

4pm ET         Portland (6-3) @ San Diego (1-8)                    Las Vegas       ABC

8pm ET           New Jersey (5-4) @ Jacksonville (3-6)             Gainesville     NBC

8pm ET          Baltimore (6-3) @ Charlotte (2-7)                   Tampa             ABC

9pm ET          Birmingham (2-7) @ Pittsburgh (7-2)               Rice                 ESPN/EFN

SUNDAY

1pm ET       Houston (5-4) @ St. Louis (1-8)                       NRG             FOX

4pm ET          Oklahoma (4-5) @ Seattle (4-5)                        Glendale         ABC

4pm ET          Arizona (9-0) @ Dallas (5-4)                              Las Vegas      FOX

8pm ET            Washington (5-4) @ Atlanta (7-2)                    Orlando         ABC

8pm ET           New England (2-7) @ Orlando (5-4)              Tampa            FOX

9pm ET           San Antonio (1-8) @ Ohio (2-7)                         TDECU           ESPN/EFN