2021 USFL Season Preview: Part 2

USFL LIVES
7 hours ago
38 min read

Are you ready to kick this thing off? We sure are. After a year of empty stadiums and bubble hubs, we are ready to see the USFL back at home, with fans in the stands, and every team back in their communities, including, a year delayed, the return of football to both San Antonio and Boston. In this final preview before we kick off the 2021 season, we will take a look at 10 moves likely to provide immediate impact, preview all 30 teams, all 6 divisions, and provide you with our picks for both the 2021 playoffs and the major award winners. We know you are anxious to get to it, so let’s start with the biggest impact signings of the offseason.

Ten Players Who Could Have a Huge Impact in 2021

From blue chip rookies to veteran NFL acquisitions, there are new faces all across the league, and we are feeling like this year could include some big impact roster additions that will begin paying dividends right away. We have selected 10 of the most likely quick-start roster additions that could help their USFL clubs get on the right track from Week 1.

J. J. Watt (NFL to Memphis)

After a major injury in 2019, the former Houston Oiler bounced back well in 2020 and now looks to make an immediate splash as he joins the spring league and a very solid Memphis Showboat squad. Coach Ryan has to be chomping at the bit to have a player of Watt’s caliber anchoring his D-line, a player who will force offenses to shift their blocking and allow the Boats to pressure with only their front 4.

Micah Parsons (Rookie to Philadelphia)

The top defensive prospect in this year’s draft, Parsons should being a much-needed infusion of energy and aggression to the Stars’ defense. Expect Coach Quinn to utilize Parsons as a pass rusher and a run stuffer, keeping him on the strong side of the line, able to force plays inside or put pressure on the tackle.

Teddy Bridgewater (Trade to New Jersey)

While we expect the Generals to go with Nick Foles in Week 1, we saw enough of what Bridgewater can do when he was with the Bulls to believe that he will quickly adapt to his new team and their playbook. Don’t be shocked if Bridgewater gets the starting job by or before midseason. Either that or he motivates Foles to take his game up a notch. Either way, the Generals will be in better shape to compete in the Northeast.

Najee Harris (Rookie to Birmingham)

Despite the trusted output of quality backs from Alabama year after year, the Stallions have struggled to find a back that could finally provide them with a dependable run game. In Harris they finally sign a back who seems primed to act as a legitimate bell cow, earning 300+ carries and, in the hopes of Coach Haley, 1,000 yards or more. Adding a back of Harris’s quality can only help Cam Newton as he will face a more cautious defensive front with a real run threat keeping defenders from keying on Newton.

Carson Wentz (NFL to Philadelphia)

The Stars went into the offseason knowing that their QB situation needed to be a focal point. They went the draft route, but when Zach Wilson signed with the NFL they had to have a plan B. Fortunately the NFL Eagles all but handed them their solution, letting Carson Wentz go at the conclusion of his rookie contract despite several good seasons in the NFL. The Stars jumped on the chance and now bring a strong armed QB who has proven to be a playmaker to a team that has struggled to make the big play for several years.

Melvin Gordon (NFL to San Antonio)

The Gunslingers struggled to sustain a run game last year and Coach Long certainly wants to take pressure off veteran Joe Flacco by having offensive balance. Gordon has had some injury issues, but when he is healthy, he has 1,200 potential. If he can provide San Antonio with a consistent run threat, Flacco can use play action to pick apart defenses. Expect the Gunslingers to give Gordon a heavy load from the start, and if his body holds up, expect him to provide them with some strong outings.

Jacoby Brissett (Trade to Washington)

Very much like what we see with the Foles-Bridgewater situation in New Jersey, Washington brought in the former Seattle starter as a means of ensuring better QB play. Whether Brissett unseats Ryan Nassib or simply motivates their returning starter to be the kind of player he can be, in either case, the Feds should be better in the passing game, and with a new rookie HB also in the mix in Travis Etienne, and a new head coach hoping to provide a more diverse and more dangerous offensive gameplan, the Feds are going to look very different from the team that we saw in 2020.

Eddie Lacy (Free Agent to New England)

Both expansion clubs had a focus on the run game this offseason. Coach Fox had great success with Kerwynn Williams in the team’s first season, and now, after winning the free agency free-for-all to land Lacy, the Steamroller run game could be even better. Lacy is an outstanding inside runner, with the ability to break away when he gets past the initial line of defense. He is closing in on the dreaded age 30, but there are certainly plenty of miles (or yards) left in the former Skyhawk before we expect his production to dip.

Trevor Lawrence (Rookie to Jacksonville)

Yes, this is a list for immediate impact, and we know that rookie QBs often struggle, but while Lawrence may need some time on the field before we truly see what he is capable of delivering, his arrival has already had an impact on the Bulls. Hope that the Bulls are finally taking winning seriously and investing in their own future has helped the club add nearly 10,000 more season ticket holders to their fanbase after a series of rough seasons had seen their numbers dip. Lawrence may need time to turn around the Bulls’ fortunes, but he has already provided Bulls fans with a reason to believe in their team once again.

Calais Campbell (Free Agent to Baltimore)

It is not often a team has a chance to snap up the “Best Player of his Generation” or even the “Best Defensive End in USFL History”, but that is exactly what Baltimore saw when Arizona let Calais Campbell’s deal expire. The former Orlando Renegade still has all the moves, all the fury, and all the QB-terrorizing capacity as he ever had, even as he reaches the end of his career. With 12 consecutive pass rushing titles and more 20-sack seasons than any player in USFL or NFL history, Campbell’s presence immediately makes Baltimore’s defense one to watch. The Blitz made several moves designed to improve from division title contender to Summer Bowl contender, but this is certainly the one that has every other team in the East worried.

TEAM PREVIEWS

Here we go. 30 teams, 30 dreams for a league title. Can the Bandits defend their title? Will Baltimore’s big offseason moves pay off? Can Michigan and Arizona maintain their divisional dominance or will upstarts like Chicago, Pittsburgh, Dallas, and Oklahoma rise up and dethrone the champions? How will their sophomore seasons build on the expansion years for New England and San Antonio? Can teams like St. Louis, Philadelphia, or Ohio get back on the right track? We break down all the roster moves, the departures, arrivals, and draftees that could impact 2021. Going division by division with the teams in alphabetical order, we break it all down, and then we will follow it up with our division and playoff predictions. We kick it all off in the Northeast, where Baltimore is making a move to get another shot at the Summer Bowl.

Last season saw the Blitz catch fire late in the season to break out from a cluster of teams that simply could not get beyond .500. As the only team in the division with a winning record by season’s end, Baltimore got a taste of playoff football and now want more. They made some big moves, and in a division where 3 teams (New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Washington) changed their coaching staffs, the Blitz seem poised to increase their advantage over the other 4 clubs. Behind them is a huge question mark as any one of the other 4 teams could see quick improvement or could flounder. Is 2^nd year New England in the best position to finish 2^nd in the division or will one of the new head coaches make an immediate impact and get their team back into contention? The Northeast feels very much like a frontrunner and 4 teams trying to impress.

2020 RECORD: 9-7, 1^st in Northeast

HEAD COACH: Jim Caldwell (8^th Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: DE Olivier Vernon (NFL)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: DE Calais Campbell (FA), S Micah Hyde (FA), DT Michael Brockers (NFL)

IMPACT ROOKIES: WR Tutu Atwell (Louisville)

OUTLOOK: The NE Division Champions were not happy with their Wild Card round exit last year and went about to address the roster gaps, especially on defense, where they pulled off a coup by offering future first-ballot Hall of Famer Calais Campbell a 1-year deal which he could not refuse. In addition to adding the best pass rusher in USFL history, Baltimore also added a solid interior lineman, bringing Michael Brockers over from the NFL, and shored up the secondary by landing Chicago’s Micah Hyde in free agency. This Blitz team is ready to make a run at the Big Boys in the East, though a lot will still ride on QB Jake Locker. Expect the Blitz to center the offense around HB Josh Jacobs, but when games are tight it will be up to Locker to pull out the wins needed to avoid playing in the Wild Card round and to get some home playoff games for the team that is likely a prohibitive favorite to win the Northeast again.

2020 RECORD: 6-10, 4^th in Northeast

HEAD COACH: John Fox (2^nd Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES:HB Kerwynn Williams (NFL), DT Kedric Gholston (Ret), HB Matt Forte (Ret), CB Sam Shields (FA), WR DeVante Parker (FA)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: HB Eddie Lacy (FA), P Kevin Huber (NFL)

IMPACT ROOKIES: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (NDame), CB Benjamin St. Juste (Minn)

OUTLOOK: A lot of change to the roster after a very solid 6-win opening season for expansion New England. Coach Fox got good performances across the board, but loses some major contributors, particularly HB Kerwynn Williams (off to the NFL) and DT Kedric Gholston. They feel they have more than accounted for Williams’s departure by outbidding 4 other teams to land Eddie Lacy in free agency. The defense could still be an issue, though Coach Fox likes both of his rookies (see above). In a very shaky division, we could see New England possibly hit .500 or even battle for a Wild Card at 9-7, as long as they can stay healthy as depth remains a concern.

2020 RECORD: 7-8-1, 2^nd in Northeast

HEAD COACH: Robert Saleh (1^st Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: DE Vic Beasley (FA), FS Quinton Carter (FA), HB Maurice Jones-Drew (Ret),

LB Rey Maualaga (Ret)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: QB Teddy Bridgewater (Trade), HB Delone Carter (FA)

IMPACT ROOKIES: LB Jamin Davis (Kentucky), S Andre Cisco (Syracuse)

OUTLOOK: A major shakeup after disappointing season in 2020. Out goes Norv Turner, despite many fans feeling he should have been given another year. In comes defensive-minded Robert Saleh, shifting leagues and coasts after several strong seasons as the NFL 49ers’ DC. His main task is to rebuild a run game that loses All-USFL and future HOF halfback Maurice Jones-Drew. It looks like it will be Halfback-by-committee as the Generals did not bring in a clear lead back this offseason. It could also be a battle to define who the starter at QB is after a February trade brings in former Bulls’ QB Teddy Bridgewater to compete with Nick Foles. We think Foles gets the early season starts, but long term it seems Bridgewater could be the more dynamic option. We are looking at 2021 as a transition season in many ways for the Generals, so 6 wins could be the ceiling as Coach Saleh restructures the team around his vision.

2020 RECORD: 2-14, 5^th in Northeast

HEAD COACH: Dan Quinn (1^st Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: QB Matt Gutierrez (Trade), FB Ira Johnson (FA), QB P. J. Walker (FA), LB Channing Crowder (Ret), DE Anthony Hargrove (Ret),

OT Donvan Smith (Trade)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: S Jalen Mills (Trade), CB Dwayne Gratz (FA), LB Jonathan Bostic (FA), QB Carson Wentz (NFL)

IMPACT ROOKIES: LB Micah Parsons (Penn St), TE Pat Freiermuth (Penn St), WR Elijah Moore (Ole Miss)

OUTLOOK: A complete collapse in 2020 left the Stars with the worst record in the league. They did, as so many teams in that state do, engaging in a full cleaning of the house. Out are HC Jim Harbaugh and QB Matt Gutierrez, in is Dan Quinn and, thanks to the NFL Eagles, QB Carson Wentz. Wentz had some issues with his NFL club, but is popular among Philly fans, so he should get a nice welcome as the newest Star QB. He will spend a lot of time handing the ball to Derrick Henry, as he should. He also will have a very different defense behind him as Coach Quinn brought in new talent in the secondary and the LB group, including perhaps the best Penn State LB to come out of Happy Valley in several years. Micah Parsons should be a ROTY candidate as Coach Quinn hopes he can bring energy to what had been a pretty shaky Stars defense in 2020. The Stars could bounce back quickly in a pretty shallow NE Division. They are not ready to challenge Baltimore, but they may not be the basement dweller either.

2020 RECORD: 6-9-1, 3^rd in Northeast

HEAD COACH: Kevin Gilbride (1^st Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: LB Alec Ogletree (FA), HB Jahvid Best (FA), C Luke Bowanko (Trade), OT Ereck Flowers (FA), DE Michael Johnson (NFL)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: S Kenny Vaccaro (Trade), QB Jacoby Brissett (Trade)

IMPACT ROOKIES: HB Travis Etienne (Clemson), LB Divine Deablo (Va Tech)

OUTLOOK: The third of three teams to switch up their coaching staff in the division. Kevin Gilbride comes in with a reputation for offensive innovation, and will be starting with a very different squad than the offense we saw last year in Washington. QB Jacoby Brissett could well unseat Ryan Nassib as the starter under center. Rookie Travis Etienne is on a path to be the lead back in Week 1, and we expect Gilbride to open up the Federal offense quite a bit in 2021. Now, can the defense hold up their end of the deal? We like the addition of safety Kenny Vaccaro from Houston (a nice trade late in the offseason), but we worry that there was not enough done to improve the D-Line and bolster the pass rush. In any other division, Washington might be headed to 4^th or 5^th place, but we could honestly see them finishing 2^nd in the Northeast.

The two most recent Coaches of the Year both came out of the Southeast, and both from the same coaching tree as Marc Trestman’s 2019 COTY turned into the Bandits’ 4^th title in 2020 while Atlanta made a huge leap in 2020, from basement to playoff contender. In 2021 these two will battle for the division, but don’t forget about Orlando, who are also hoping to get into the mix. Jacksonville is excited to start a new era with Trevor Lawrence at the helm while Charlotte is also starting the year with a new QB, or perhaps two, as they try to find themselves a formula to return to the top of the division. The Southeast has a bit of everything, from a dominant Bandit squad to some up and comers and some teams in reinvention mode. Will it be a division that also surprises us?

2020 RECORD: 13-3, 2^nd in Southeast

HEAD COACH: Jaime Elizondo (2^nd Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: LB Patrick Willis (FA), OT Marcus Cannon (FA), DT Albert Haynesworth (Ret),

IMPACT ARRIVALS: LB Alec Ogletree (FA), SS Chuck Clark (FA), WR Robbie Anderson (FA),

QB Pat White (FA)

IMPACT ROOKIES: DT Christian Barmore (Alabama), DE Monty Rice (UGA)

OUTLOOK: The Fire are hoping to continue the momentum they showed in Coach Elizondo’s first season. They will almost certainly battle Tampa Bay once again for the division, though Orlando also looks like a potential contender. We like the additions on defense, especially the addition of LB Alec Ogletree. The defensive line could need time to gel, but we think the Fire still have enough on defense, and are certainly still a strong offensive team able to balance Nick Chubb’s run game with a solid passing attack.

2020 RECORD: 6-10, 5^th in Southeast

HEAD COACH: Vance Joseph (2^nd Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: OT Russell Okung (FA), DT Vernon Butler (FA), QB Mitch Trubisky (Trade)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: QB Jimmy Garoppolo (Trade), WR Marques Colston (FA), OG Robert Myers (FA), OT Marcus Cannon (FA), DT Poona Ford (NFL), CB Levi Wallace (NFL)

IMPACT ROOKIES: OT Penei Sewell (Oregon), DE Joseph Ossai (Texas)

OUTLOOK: Coach Joseph swapped out one troubled QB for another, but in other areas he made some good moves. We like the stronger O-line quite a bit, with rookie Penei Sewell likely to step right in at left tackle, with Cannon and Myers also adding to the line. The WR group still feels a bit too thin, even with the addition of Marques Colston, and the run game could use a breakaway threat. All in all, a team that will play tough but may struggle to string together wins on a consistent basis.

2020 RECORD: 7-9, 4^th in Southeast

HEAD COACH: Winston Moss (2^nd Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: DE Robert Ayers (FA), QB Teddy Bridgewater (Trade)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: None

IMPACT ROOKIES: QB Trevor Lawrence (Clemson), HB Chuba Hubbard (OK State)

OUTLOOK: Coach Moss surprised us with the lack of offseason moves. Clearly hoping to build through the draft, Moss made the draft move of the season in pulling Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence away from the NFL. He traded away a solid starter in Bridgewater (adding some 2022 draft capital), but did not bring in much help at other positions. The Bulls will have some growing pains, particularly with Lawrence in his first year, but they proved last year that they could hang with most foes. If Moss can get improvement on defense and if Lawrence is all that his career at Clemson promised, the Bulls could be at or above .500, but they still feel a year away from truly being a threat in a very top-heavy division.

2020 RECORD: 8-8, 3^rd in Southeast

HEAD COACH: Ron Rivera (3^rd Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: OG Mike Iupati (FA), HB Ty Montgomery (FA), LB Jonathan Bostic (FA), HB Knile Davis (NFL)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: OG Amini Siltulo (FA), K Mason Crosby (FA), HB Chris Carson (NFL)

IMPACT ROOKIES: S Richie Grant (UCF), OT Jalen Mayfield (Michigan)

OUTLOOK: Coach Rivera went into the offseason hoping to improve the run game and provide balance to an offense that far too often rose and fell with Russell Wilson’s protection. We think he found his back in NFL import Chris Carson, and adding linemen through both free agency and the draft will also be a boon to the offense. Is it enough? That is hard to say until we see how Moss’s offense takes shape. The D should be solid, but solid may not be enough with Atlanta and Tampa Bay both looking like Summer Bowl contenders.

2020 RECORD: 15-1, 1^st in Southeast, League Champion

HEAD COACH: Mark Trestman (3^rd Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: S Xavier Woods (FA), LB Dont’a Hightower (FA), CB Ken Webster (FA), TE Ryan Izzo (FA), WR Darnell Mooney (Trade)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: OT David Bakhtiari (Trade), HB Bobby Rainey (FA), OG Xavier Su’a-Filo

IMPACT ROOKIES: CB Asante Samuel Jr. (FSU), C Trey Hill (UGA)

OUTLOOK: The Bandits were head and shoulders above the rest of the league last year, with an offense capable of putting up a 40- or 50-burger at any time. They took some offseason hits, particularly on defense, but they still have a very deep and very dangerous offensive squad, and that will be the driving force for their season. Rookie Asante Samuel is looking like a Week 1 starter and a very solid draft pick. The trade for Bakhtiari was also a good move from a team that had few holes last year. The Bandits could be a very serious contender to repeat as champion if they can replicate the combination of solid pass defense and explosive pass offense that we saw last year.

With Memphis joining Houston and New Orleans as top tier franchises in the league, the Southern division becomes perhaps the most competitive and most impressive division in the league. Any one of those three could find themselves in Summer Bowl 2021, but they will have to get past the other two to have a shot at home field advantage. The three battling each other could be one of the best ongoing stories of the year. Throw in a Birmingham squad that is making moves to support Cam Newton with a run game and a better defensive unit, and a scrappy San Antonio squad and the South should be worth watching each and every week.

2020 RECORD: 3-13. 4^th in South

HEAD COACH: Todd Haley (3^rd Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: CB Dwayne Gratz (FA), OG Robert Myers (FA), WR Robbie Anderson (FA)

OT Jake Long (Ret), S Kendrick Lewis (NFL)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: OT Donavan Smith (Trade), DE Dante Fowler (FA), DE Carlos Dunlap (NFL), QB Jameis Winston (NFL), S Malik Hooker (NFL)

IMPACT ROOKIES: HB Najee Harris (Alabama), WR DeVonta Smith (Alabama), DE Boogie Basham (Wake F)

OUTLOOK: The Stallions are trying once again to fix a run game that seems a perennial issue. In rookie Najee Harris they may have finally found the back to help them balance their offense and relieve Cam Newton of the full weight of every drive. They missed out on Jaylen Waddle, but did add yet another quality receiver from Alabama. They will pair rookie DeVonta Smith with Henry Ruggs in what could be a very fast, very dangerous combination. The defense still has questions, though the two additions at DE (Fowler from the Gamblers and Carlos Dunlap from the NFL) should be an upgrade. Is that enough to compete in a division that seems to have moved on without the Stallions? Perhaps, at the very least they should be closer to matching the Breakers, Gamblers and Showboats in potential.

2020 RECORD: 10-6, 3^rd in South

HEAD COACH: Wade Phillips (21^st Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: DE Dante Fowler (FA), LB Pat Angerer (FA), OT Cedric Ogbuehi (FA), CB Janoris Jenkins (NFL), OT Nat Dorsey (Ret), S Kenny Vaccaro (Trade)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: OT Ereck Flowers (Trade), CB Eric Wright (FA), OT Russell Okung (FA)

IMPACT ROOKIES: DE Payton Turner (Houston), LB Buddy Johnson (A&M)

OUTLOOK: The Gamblers watched as Memphis overtook them last year, and yet they very much had the same roster that was so dominant in past years. That has to be a concern, and yet, when we look at the Houston roster, there is a lot that looks just like 2017, 2018, or 2019, starting with an offense centered on the passing game of McCoy, Evans, and Smith-Schuster, paired with Carlos Hyde at HB. The focus of the offseason was the O-line, with two new tackles brought in. The draft was used to help the defense, which had some letdowns last year. We don’t expect Houston to continue to slide down the standings. Coach Phillips certainly knows what it takes to win in this league, so we think Houston is still very much in the mix this year.

2020 RECORD: 13-3, 1^st in South

HEAD COACH: Rex Ryan (7^th Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: LB Nathan Triplett (FA), DT Dan Williams (FA), OG Jahri Evans (FA), QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (Ret), C. T. J. Johnson (Trade)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: DT Kendall Reyes (Trade), DE J. J. Watt (NFL), LB Nate Orchard (NFL),

QB Blake Bortles (NFL)

IMPACT ROOKIES: DT Osa Odighizuwa (UCLA), LB Ernest Jones (So Car), WR Josh Palmer (Memphis)

OUTLOOK: 2020 was a statement season for the Showboats. They jumped from 3^rd place and a perception that they were clearly a step behind Houston and New Orleans, moving to the top of the division and proving they could win with defense or offense. Yes, they have lost a few key contributors, but when you add a talent like J. J. Watt, it is hard not to see the 2021 version of the Showboats as a true contender. We like the addition of Blake Bortles as a backup for Paxton Lynch, but the biggest move is clearly the Watt addition. After an injury in 2019, he bounced back well last year and now could be poised to take on the USFL as a new challenger to Calais Campbell.

2020 RECORD: 11-5, 2^nd in South

HEAD COACH: Lamar Lathon (10^th Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: K Caleb Sturgis (FA), CB Donte Jackson (FA), QB Pat White (FA), OT Willie Colon (Ret), DT Ricky Jean-Francois (Ret)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: QB Tajh Boyd (FA), WR John Ross (NFL), K Randy Bullock (NFL), DE Romeo Okwara (NFL)

IMPACT ROOKIES: OT Christian Darrisaw (Va Tech), OT Larry Borom (Mizzou)

OUTLOOK: Losing Willie Colon could be a blow to the Breaker offense, but they are hopeful that one of their two draft choices will step up and keep the Breaker attack as potent as ever. The main players on that offense have not changed, the addition of John Ross, whose NFL career never panned out as planned, provides nice depth. The defense could need to reboot after losing two quality starters. The Breakers may well need to lean on their offense until Coach Lathon can recalibrate the D.

2020 RECORD: 3-13. 4^th in South

HEAD COACH: Chuck Long (2^nd Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: S David Bruton (FA), K Mason Crosby (FA), HB Marshawn Lynch (Ret), TE Joel Dreesen (Ret), LB Casey Matthews (Trade)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: HB Melvin Gordon (NFL)

IMPACT ROOKIES: S Michael Carter II (Duke), HB Rhamondre Stevenson (OU), DE Gregory Rousseau (Miami), K Evan McPherson (Florida)

OUTLOOK: Coach Long had definite goals for the offseason, with the primary one to find a replacement for retired HB Marshawn Lynch. To that end he not only landed a pretty solid option in rookie Rhamondre Stevenson of Oklahoma, but also perhaps the NFL import with the most upside in former Charger back Melvin Gordon. If Gordon can stay healthy, he could be a Top 5 back in the USFL, with a nice mix of inside & outside running skills and a decent record as a receiver. Long also beefed up the defense with two good-looking rookies, safety Michael Carter and DE Greg Rousseau. The Gunslingers should be a good bit more competitive in their 2^nd season, but in this division, that may not net them many more wins.

Long dominated by the Michigan Panthers, the Central is now looking like a far more competitive division. Both Chicago and Pittsburgh challenged the Panthers last season and both hope to be right there again this year. And while Ohio and St. Louis look to be in a rebuilding phase, the three top teams in the Central should provide us with an exciting chase to the division title. We could see all three make the playoffs, but the key will be which one can step up in those key intra-divisional games to garner the division title.

2020 RECORD: 11-5, 2^nd in Central

HEAD COACH: Lovie Smith (6^th Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: S Micah Hyde (FA), WR Kenny Golloday (FA), LB Courtney Upshaw (NFL)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: S Xavier Woods (FA), WR Willie Snead (FA)

IMPACT ROOKIES: C Kendrick Green (Illinois), OT Spencer Brown (N. Iowa)

OUTLOOK: Chicago came on last year and gave Michigan a pretty solid run. They hope to do so again in 2021 with a roster that looks very similar to the 2020 edition. After losing Micah Hyde to free agency, the Machine snatched up the best option available in Xavier Woods, who should fill in nicely. The rookie class was very much focused on improving protection for QB Sam Bradford and for the Machine run game. Chicago is not a team that can play a variety of styles to beat various opponents. They play their game, and when they are on, it is a very effective one. That said, we still think Michigan will be the team to beat in the division, but don’t be surprised if Chicago is right there with them.

2020 RECORD: 14-2, 1^st in Central, Conference Champion

HEAD COACH: Sean McDermott (7^th Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: LB Odell Thurman (Ret), DE Justin Tuck (NFL)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: TE Ryan Izzo (FA) CB Ronald Darby (NFL)

IMPACT ROOKIES: DE Kwity Paye (Michigan), CB Ambry Thomas (Michigan)

OUTLOOK: The Panthers essentially stood pat on offense, with only Bandit TE Ryan Izzo as a noteworthy addition to an attack that still remains 100% focused on LeVeon Bell as its centerpiece. The defense lost two team leaders in Thurman and Tuck,and while others will fill their spots on the field, it may be hard to fill their roles as team captains and motivators. Rookie Kwity Paye is likely to step right in at RE, while NFL Import Rondald Darby and rookie Ambry Thomas will try to back up Dre Kirkpatrick in the secondary. With most of the major players still in their spots on the roster, we think Michigan once again focuses on that 1-seed and home field, but with Chicago and Pittsburgh very much contenders, they have to avoid getting cocky and assuming the title is theirs.

2020 RECORD: 3-13, 4^th in Central

HEAD COACH: Jay Gruden (1^st Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: CB Syd’Quan Thompson (FA), DT Geno Atkins (FA), HB Delone Carter (FA), WR Cordarelle Patterson (FA), LB Daniel Ellerbe (Ret), HB DeVontae Booker (NFL), QB Nick Mullens (Ret)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: DT Sheldon Richardson (FA)

IMPACT ROOKIE: QB Justin Fields (Ohio St), HB Trey Sermon (Ohio St), HB Elijah Mitchell (Louisiana)

OUTLOOK: A complete overhaul, in both personnel and style. From dour disciplinarian Tom Coughlin to innovative and effusive Jay Gruden, this will be a very different team on the field and a very different attitude with the press. The question is how quicky Gruden can make this his team. It will be a team in transition, with a rookie QB in Justin Fields, a new offensive philosophy, and a very different roster. Expect Gruden to lean on veteran Isaiah Pead early in the season as he sees if either Trey Sermon or Elijah Mitchell has what it takes to join a HB rotation. The defense may struggle at first after losing several key contributors, though we love the addition of Richardson as the anchor inside. We are still not sure where the pass rush will come from, though the answer may be some exotic blitz packages. Ohio could improve this year beyond their 3-win total of 2020, but if they escape the 10-loss club, we will be very pleasantly surprised.

2020 RECORD: 10-6, 3^rd in Central

HEAD COACH: Skip Holtz (2^nd Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: OT Oniel Cousins (FA), WR Jakobi Meyers (FA), WR Kamar Aiken (FA), DE Aaron Kampman (Ret), S Tyvon Branch (Ret), DE Dwight Freeney (Ret), WR/KR Josh Cribbs (Ret), DT Kendall Reyes (Trade)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: C T. J. Johnson (Trade), DE Vic Beasley (FA), WR Corey Coleman (FA)

IMPACT ROOKIES: OT Rashawn Slater (Nwestern), WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (USC), S Damar Hamlin (Pitt)

OUTLOOK: The Maulers were on a run last year before a late season losing streak cost them a playoff spot. They have the talent, even with a significant number of departures, to make a playoff run once again. They wanted to improve protection for Andy Dalton, not as mobile as he once was, so they traded for T. J. Johnson in the pivot and drafted a quality RT in Rashawn Slater. But the biggest gift to Dalton would be if the Maulers’ unsettled HB situation could find a rotation or a single player who can get the job done consistently. Sony Michel is likely to retain his starting role, but we just don’t see a back in their HB room who is likely to be a 300-carry, 1,200 yard guy, so it is likely to be a rotation once again.

2020 RECORD: 2-14, 5^th in Central

HEAD COACH: Brian Schottenheimer (1^st Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: HB Eddie Lacy (FA), WR Stevie Johnson (FA), DT Sheldon Richardson (FA), S Chuck Clark (FA), DE Adrian Clayborne (Trade)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: DT Geno Atkins (FA), WR Jakobi Meyers (FA), HB James Conner (NFL)

IMPACT ROOKIE: TE Kyle Pitts (Florida), S Tyree Gillespie (Mizzou), HB Larry Rountree III (Mizzou)

OUTLOOK: The mass exodus of talent, including perhaps the Skyhawks’ top two offensive weapons (Lacy and Johnson), as well as two solid defenders, is a bad sign for 2021. Coach Schottenheimer was brought in to try and maximize the talents of QB Lamar Jackson, but we are just not sure he will have enough weapons around him to showcase what he can do. We like the Pitts signing, and adding James Conner from the NFL Steelers could pay off for the run game, but we just don’t see a lot of game-breaking potential in the Skyhawk receiver group and their line still worries us. Add to that a defense that was pretty miserable last year and did not add much this offseason and we just don’t see how St. Louis escapes the basement of the division.

No division has been as predictable in the past decade as the Southwest, where Arizona has simply dominated the division. The Wranglers have been the undisputed champions of the division with a run of titles and Summer Bowl appearances, but is the window closing? Dallas and Oklahoma are hoping that the sun is about to set on Arizona as both believe they are poised to take the mantle and lead the division. Las Vegas and Denver don’t seem to be there right now, but the biggest question is if Arizona truly has dropped down a notch or will they once again prove to everyone that they are the Best in the West?

2020 RECORD: 12-4, 1^st in Southwest

HEAD COACH: Jim Tomsula (13^th Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: DE Calais Campbell (FA), FB Andy Janovich (FA), C Blake Schlueter (FA),DT Ryan Carruthers (Trade)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: CB A. J. Bouye (Trade), DE Jerry Hughes (FA), QB Brock Osweiler (FA), FB Alex Armah (NFL)

IMPACT ROOKIES: LB Zaven Collins (Tulsa), S Talanoa Hufanga (USC)

OUTLOOK: The Wranglers have to still be in shock that their gambit to delay extending Calais Campbell’s contract turned into his departure, with Baltimore offering him a 1-year deal well outside of Arizona’s capacity to match. That departure will certainly hurt a defense that depended on Campbell and DuPree forcing the ball out of the QB’s hands early. DuPree is still there, and Free Agent Jerry Hughes can help put pressure, but it won’t be the same level of threat as when Campbell was there. Arizona also hoped to land a protégé QB to put behind David Carr. After all, Carr has basically missed 1.5 seasons in the past 3 due to injury and has to be considering retirement as he comes back from a major injury in 2020. They went after Alabama’s Mac Jones, who plays a similar style to Carr, but lost out to the NFL Patriots. They tried to get a deal with Jacksonville for Teddy Bridgewater, but the Generals outbid them, so they added Brock Osweiler as an insurance policy but still have no secession plan should Carr step down after this year. For now, however, it is Carr, Cruz, Carey and Crowell at the core of a pretty good offense, with a defense that still has some playmakers. Expect the division to be a lot tighter this year, but Arizona will be there in the mix.

2020 RECORD: 10-6, 2^nd in Southwest

HEAD COACH: Kliff Kingsbury (4^th Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: CB Brandon Carr (FA), HB Charles Sims (FA), QB Brandon Wheedon (FA),

IMPACT ARRIVALS: S Jashad Jones (FA), LB Samson Ebukam (FA), HB Duke Johnson (NFL)

IMPACT ROOKIE: OG Aaron Banks (NDame), DE Ta’Quon Graham (Texas)

OUTLOOK: Rarely have we seen a team change their fortunes as quickly as the Roughnecks did once they put Justin Herbert under center. The offense clicked under Herbert, the defense improved when not asked to be on the field 40 minutes per game, and the team gelled. Roughneck nation now firmly believes they are ready to challenge the Wrangler dynasty, and we tend to agree with them. Coach Kingsbury has solid talent across his entire offense, especially with the strong year that Sammy Watkins had last year. We like the addition of Duke Johnson as a rotational back and we even think the defense could be better after adding Jones and Ebukam. If Ta’Quon Graham proves to be a solid option at right end, they could be ready to challenge anyone in the conference.

2020 RECORD: 6-10, 4^th in Southwest

HEAD COACH: John Hufnagel (6^th Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: QB Kyle Orton (FA), P James Sykes (FA), WR Michael Crabtree (FA), DE D’Aundre Reed (NFL), OT David Bakhtiari (Trade)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: WR Darnell Mooney (Trade), OT Jack Mewhort (Trade), S Andrew Wingard (FA), QB Mitch Trubisky (trade)

IMPACT ROOKIES: DE Odafe Oweh (Penn St), S Camryn Bynum (Cal)

OUTLOOK: It is rare that we see a trade in the USFL that leaves us scratching our head as much as the Bakhtiari trade that brought Darnel Mooney and Jack Mewhort to Denver. They lose a very promising young tackle and bring in a 3^rd or 4^th receiver and a depth player at the position. Why? Honestly, the entire Gold strategy this offseason feels like a muddled confusion. Almost nothing was done to help provide more options for Josh Allen, while the defense might improve with Wingard and rookies Oweh and Bynum, we just don’t see the long-term strategy here. Denver feels like a team that has lost its way, and its identity, not knowing what to do with their young QB and not sure if they want to make the moves needed to actually compete in a division where every other team seems ready to step up. This could be a tough year in Denver, and that could produce a change at the top.

2020 RECORD: 3-13, 5^th in Southwest

HEAD COACH: Greg Landry (1^st Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: WR Arrelious Benn (FA), TE Dustin Keller (Ret), DE Malik Jackson (NFL),

LB DeAndre Levy (Ret)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: WR Kenny Galloday (FA), QB Gardner Minshew (NFL)

IMPACT ROOKIES: WR Rashod Bateman (Minn), TE Tommy Tremble (NDame), OT Brady Christenson (BYU)

OUTLOOK: Former Outlaw coach Greg Landry arrives in Las Vegas and hones in on the offense right away. He adds weapons in WRs Kenny Galloday and Rashod Bateman, an intriguing TE upgrade in Notre Dame’s Tommy Tremble, and even a possible QB competition by signing fan favorite Gardner Minshew from the NFL Jaguars. Will Minshew’s presence push Matt McGloin or cut into his confidence? Will the weapons be enough? And what about that sadsack run game? Where is the help there? It was a glaring weakness in 2020 and we don’t see any upgrade in the offseason, so how does that help them get better? The defense also could have used an infusion of new blood, but the Vipers seem laser focused on offense, so that is what got attention. Is that enough? Perhaps to improve beyond a 3-13 record, but it does not seem likely they can top .500 without another offseason to add needed pieces.

2020 RECORD: 8-8, 3^rd in Southwest

HEAD COACH: Bob Stoops (3^rd Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: OT Roger Saffold (FA), C Jimmy Hook (FA), DT Luis Castillo (Ret), CB Brady Fletcher (Ret), LB Greg Lloyd Jr. (NFL)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: LB Don’t’a Hightower (FA), FB Andy Janovich (FA), HB Jahvid Best (FA), QB P. J. Walker (FA), TE James Casey (FA)

IMPACT ROOKIES: DT Teven Jenkins (OK State), DE Ronnie Perkins (OU)

OUTLOOK: Coach Stoops loves what he has seen in Jalen Hurts as his new QB, enough so that he named him the starter from Day 1 in camp (sorry Mason Rudolph, those are the breaks). In the offseason, he also improved depth in the RB room by bringing in former Federal Jahvid Best and signing one of the best fullbacks in the league in Janovich. But the biggest moves were on defense, where Coach Stoops wanted more athleticism and more raw strength on the D-line. He signed two local studs out of OK State and OU, and then backed them up with LB Dont’a Hightower, a thumper in the middle, in hopes of building a front 7 that teams simply won’t run through. Oklahoma had a nice run to finish 8-8 last year and we think their ceiling this year could well be in the 10-11 win range, good enough for them to make a playoff run in a very competitive Western Conference.

The exact opposite of what we see in the Southwest, the Pacific has been a topsy turvy division where no one team has been dominant in a long time. In 2020 Los Angeles rode their defense to a division title, but they certainly have not established a hold on the position as it seems every year brings a new champion. Aside from San Diego, who seem to be in need of a rebuild after a rough 3-win season, the Pacific could be wide open. Did LA do enough to improve their sluggish offense and defend their title or will we see Seattle finally get over the hump and start the season quickly to take the title away? Can Marcus Mariota stay healthy and help Portland stake a claim to the title, or will Oakland, with Tom Brady perhaps in his final season, find their way to the top once again? Lots of questions, but lots of optimism as well in the division that so often provides us with surges, slumps, and surprises.

2020 RECORD: 11-5, 1^st in Pacific

HEAD COACH: Marvin Lewis (3^rd Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: CB Isaiah Oliver (FA), QB Brock Osweiler (FA), TE Jason Whitten (Ret), HB Reggie Bush (Ret), DE Laurence Jackson (Ret), S Jalen Mills (Trade)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: QB Matt Gutierrez (Trade), HB Ty Montgomery (FA), P James Sykes (FA)

IMPACT ROOKIES: OG Alijah Vera-Tucker (USC), DT Jay Tufele (USC)

OUTLOOK: The Express rode their shut-down defense to a division title last year, but Coach Lewis has to do more with this offense if they want a chance to represent the West in the Summer Bowl. That will be tough after losing several key figures on offense, including their lead back, Reggie Bush and starting TE Jason Whitten, both retiring this offseason. They are going to promote Paul Perkins to the starting HB job, but brought in a nice 3^rd down option in Ty Montgomery to help him out. They also signed a good pulling guard in USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker, which will help Perkins find holes in the run game. Our concern remains the development of Kyler Murray at QB. He needs to get better at running through his progressions and taking what the defense gives him. He now has a “coach on the field” in veteran Matt Gutierrez, brought over from Philadelphia as much for his ability to coach up Murray as his potential as the 2^nd string option. LA will not walk through the division this year, and we could even see them drop down to 2^nd place, but we do think they can once again be a playoff team, and if Murray has a bump this year, they could do a lot more than that.

2020 RECORD: 8-8

HEAD COACH: Gary Kubiak (4^th Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: CB Eric Wright (FA), FB Trey Millard (FA), LB Tavares Gooden (Ret), QB Jimmy Garoppolo (Trade)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: OT Trent Williams (NFL)

IMPACT ROOKIES: QB Davis Mills (Stanford), S Jevon Holland (Oregon), C Josh Meyers (Ohio St)

OUTLOOK: This offseason felt very much like we have an Oakland team planning for the future. Tom Brady returns at age 45, but in drafting Davis Mills out of Stanford, the Invaders seem to be ready to pass the torch as soon as Brady calls it quits. Oakland also added some protection for their AARP-eligible QB, bringing over a top tier LT in former 49er Trent Williams and drafting a young pile-mover in Ohio State’s Josh Meyers. If Brady can get protection, and if Christian McCaffrey can find holes behind an upgraded line, then the offense can be very competitive. The defense may take a step back with the departure of Wright and Gooden, but they still have some good pieces to build around. Oakland very much feels to us like an 8-8 team that is trying to reload rather than rebuild for a more serious run in 2022 or 2023.

2020 RECORD: 9-7, 4^th in Pacific

HEAD COACH: Matt LaFleur (4^th Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: OG Dan Feeney (FA), WR James Hardy (FA), DT Ndamukong Suh (NFL), OT Ed Wang (Ret)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: OG Mike Iupati (FA), LB Hassan Reddick (FA)

IMPACT ROOKIES: DT Milton Williams (La Tech), HB Javonte Williams (UNC)

OUTLOOK: The Stags surprised us all with a quick start last year, but by midseason teams started to figure out how to play them and the inability of Marcus Mariota to stay healthy once again played a part in their late season swoon. Portland is still reliant on Mariota at QB, but they did find another weapon in HB Javonte Williams, to balance the offense. Williams likely starts the year behind Doug Martin, but we think that he will earn more and more touches each week until he eventually takes over as the primary back. Where there is concern is on the D-line where the loss of Suh leaves a pretty big gap to fill. Rookie Milton Williams is unlikely to be able to take up that mantle so we expect Portland to rotate their D-line quite a bit. They still need to find a true edge rusher, and that lack of outside pressure will make it tougher for them to get teams off the field on 3^rd down. The Stags are hard to gauge, as we think they have the potential to earn 11 wins, or the capacity to earn only 5.

2020 RECORD: 3-13, 5^th in Pacific

HEAD COACH: Dick LeBeau (8^th Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: WR Marques Colston (FA), DT Rekeem Nunes-Roches (FA), HB Ryan Williams (NFL), S Jonathan Armaya (NFL), LB A. J. Hawk (Ret)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: K Caleb Sturgis (FA), HB Charles Sims (FA)

IMPACT ROOKIES: DE Chris Rumph II (Duke), WR Kadarius Toney (Florida)

OUTLOOK: Last year’s collapse from playoff contender to a 3-13 cupcake was shocking and may indicate that a much bigger change is needed for this organization. They retained Dick LeBeau for an 8^th season, despite their fanbase’s frustrations with the veteran defensive coach. They lost their top rusher and their top receiver in a free agency exodus, and what they brought in to replace them cannot be helping the Thunder Mafia feel any better. Charles Sims and rookie Kadarius Toney will get plenty of opportunities to see the field, but can they step up for a team that has a noticeable lack of star power? Coach LeBeau also lost his defensive captain to retirement as A. J. Hawk called it a career, and cap issues kept them from truly upgrading at any position on a defense that was pretty shaky last year. So, all this to say that the Thunder look very much like a team ready for another long and tough year and that Coach LeBeau may not have another 10-loss season available to him. He needs to show that he can put the Thunder on the right path or his seat will get very hot by July. And when we look at the Thunder squad he has to work with, we think he might want to start boxing up his house sooner rather than later.

2020 RECORD: 10-6, 2^nd in Pacific

HEAD COACH: Mike Riley (5^th Season)

IMPACT DEPARTURES: OG Amini Silatulo (FA), DE Jerry Hughes (FA), P Pat O’Donnell (FA), QB Jacoby Brissett (Trade)

IMPACT ARRIVALS: FB Greg Jones (FA), OG Colby Gossett (FA), WR Kendrick Bourne (FA), C Luke Bowanko (Trade)

IMPACT ROOKIE: C Landon Dickerson (Alabama), DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (Wash)

OUTLOOK: Coach Riley finally avoided the 1-5 or 0-6 start and look what that did for him, a 10-win season and a real shot in 2021 to take the division. After several years of Jacoby Brissett playing well, but getting injured for long stints, the Dragons have moved on, sending Brissett to Washington and giving Brett Hundley, who had a stellar 2020, the reins of the offense. Hundley has a nice roster of talent around him, starting with HB Knowshon Moreno, and has to like the addition of Kendrick Bourne as another nice outside target. He also will see an upgrade at center with both veteran Luke Bowanko and rookie Landon Dickerson shoring up the pivot position. The biggest questions for the Dragons will be on defense, where the loss of Jerry Hughes could be an issue, as could the lack of a true thumper in the LB group. Khalil Mack is expected to play an even larger role in the pass rush this year, but that means more zone coverage or more 1-on-1 coverage, which could be a weakness in this Seattle D. That all said, we see Seattle as the prime rival to LA, with Portland or Oakland possibly challenging as well. As usual, the Pacific is a bit of an enigma, but we think Seattle is primed for another playoff run and possibly a division title.

DIVISION PREVIEWS

PREDICTING THE 2021 SEASON: Final Standings

As you might have noticed, we were very careful not to put any win totals or predicted order of finish in our team previews. Not only did we not want to spoil the fun here, but we honestly had a lot of trouble coming to a consensus on nearly every division. There are few teams we expect to challenge Tampa Bay this year, and a few we feel are out of it already, but there is a huge middle of the pack and settling on final standings was no easy task. But we made the effort, hashed out our disagreements, had a few votes within the bullpen, and we have come up with our predicted division races, which we share with you now. As always, a caveat that the USFL is a very volatile league, and that you should not be betting the deed to the ranch on anything we predict. One injury, one breakout player, one superstar hitting the performance cliff, and this can all change. But, that said, here is what we see as the look of the 2021 USFL season:

NORTHEAST SOUTHEAST SOUTHERN

Baltimore* 12-4 Tampa Bay* 13-3 New Orleans* 11-5

Washington 8-8 Atlanta* 11-5 Memphis* 11-5

New Jersey 7-9 Orlando* 9-7 Houston 8-8

New England 7-9 Jacksonville 8-8 Birmingham 7-9

Philadelphia 5-11 Charlotte 5-11 San Antonio 5-11

CENTRAL SOUTHWEST PACIFIC

Michigan* 12-4 Arizona* 11-5 Los Angeles* 10-6

Pittsburgh* 10-6 Dallas* 11-5 Seattle* 10-6

Chicago 10-6 Oklahoma 8-8 Portland 8-8

Ohio 6-10 Las Vegas 6-10 Oakland 7-9

St. Louis 3-13 Denver 4-12 San Diego 4-12

PREDICTING THE 2021 SEASON: 2021 Playoffs

You see the standings above, so, here is where that takes us for the playoffs. The Bandits, Blitz, Panthers, and Wranglers have byes. In the Wild Card round we have Atlanta topping Orlando and New Orleans holding off Memphis in a pair of divisional battles. In the West, it is Seattle upending LA in the Pacific, while the Maulers fall to Dallas in the only interdivisional matchup.

The divisionals would have Atlanta battling Tampa Bay while New Orleans heads to Baltimore. We like both home teams in this one, setting up a Baltimore-Tampa Bay conference final. In the West we have 1-seed Michigan dispatching with 5-seed Seattle, while Dallas gets the upset over Arizona in a wild one in the Southwest. That means it is the upstart Roughnecks heading to Detroit to face the Panthers.

We want to pick at least one upset, so is it Dallas over Michigan or Baltimore over Tampa Bay. While we could see either underdog getting the win, we think Kirk Cousins propensity to struggle in big games remains a storyline, so we pick Dallas to upset the Panthers and head to their first Summer Bowl since relocating. There they will face a juggernaut of a Bandit team, and that is where Justin Herbert’s inexperience will show. The Bandits are our pick to take the title and to become the 2^nd team in league history to repeat as champion.

PREDICTING THE 2021 SEASON: USFL Awards

With the season playing out as we predict, the awards for the year will be pretty self-explanatory. Most of them, at least, should be easy to see coming. Here is who we pick as the top 3 favorites for each of the league’s five major awards:

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Plenty of quarterbacks will shine in 2021 but we think three will be at the pinnacle of their games. Those 3 are two-time defending MVP Dak Prescott of Tampa Bay, Two-time MVP David Carr of Arizona, and young contender Justin Herbert of Dallas. With the Bandits winning the title once again, we have to go for Prescott winning a third consecutive MVP, which puts him into some very rare air.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Two names have to be here, Michigan HB and defending OPOTY LeVeon Bell, and perennial WR standout Jordy Nelson of New Orleans. And while we think both will have outstanding years, we are going to throw a curveball and pick a third, more “break out” star for 2021 as our OPOTY. That player is Memphis HB Todd Gurley, who we are picking to edge out Bell for the rushing title and snag with it the OPOTY for a very good Memphis offense.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Will it be Calais Campbell winning once again, now for a 3^rd team? It could be, but we think that he will face some very tough competition. Orlando’s Montez Sweat came close to upending him last year before a late run by Campbell caught and passed the Renegade DE. We also think that Arizona’s Bud DuPree, who learned from the master the past 2 years, is ready to step up and could well challenge Campbell. But we are not choosing either of those players, instead we are going to go with the best defender on the best defense, which means we are going to pick DT Chris Jones of the Express. Yes, it is very tough for a DT to earn the stats that pop with reporters, but Jones could legitimately be a 15-18 sack guy on the inside, and with his run-stuffing numbers, he deserves to be recognized.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

The easy money is on Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence, but those who pay attention know that it is often tough for a QB to excel in his first year, especially on a team that has issues elsewhere and is unlikely to rack up a lot of wins. Far easier is the path for a HB or even a WR to put up the big numbers. This year we have 2 backs who could do just that, Najee Harris in Birmingham and Travis Etienne for the Federals. It feels like a coin flip between the two, but with Cam Newton getting his share of carries and his share of attention, we think Etienne is more likely to be seen as a team-leading back who centers the offense. If either hits 1,200 yards, they may well take it. If neither can, well then it likely is Lawrence (or Justin Fields if Ohio can use him well.)

COACH OF THE YEAR

Here we look at the standings and ask “who is doing the most with the least?” Based on our standing prediction, the answer is not really a slam dunk. We are not exactly predicting a “come from nowhere” playoff contender. We do have the Maulers as a 2020 non-playoff team now making a run, but with the same 10-win record as last year. Based on our picks for wins and losses, we think the top contenders are Mauler HC Skip Holtz, Dallas’s Kliff Kingsbury, and perhaps Washington rookie HC Jay Gruden, especially if Etienne is a ROTY contender.

Here we go. Week 1 brings us 15 games to enjoy, each with its own storyline.

FRI @ 8pm ET Jacksonville Bulls @ Tampa Bay Bandits NBC

The defending champs are back in action, facing a familiar foe in rival Jacksonville. Trevor Lawrence gets his first USFL start in a prime time matchup as the Bulls hope for an upset to get the season rolling right.

FRI @ 8pm ET Los Angeles Express @ Portland Stags ESPN/EFN

It will be Marcus Mariota and the Stags hosting division rival Los Angeles, and their shut-down defense in this Friday Night Special.

SAT @ 12pm ET Chicago Machine @ Pittsburgh Maulers ABC

Another divisional matchup to kick the season off as Sam Bradford and the Machine head to Pittsburgh to face Andy Dalton and the Maulers.

SAT @ 12pm ET Houston Gamblers @ Birmingham Stallions FOX

Rookies Najee Harris and DeVontae Smith hope to get the Stallions off to a fast start, but the Houston Gamblers bring Carlos Hyde and their high powered offense in hoping to get a road win.

SAT @ 4pm ET Oklahoma Outlaws @ Arizona Wranglers ABC

Jalen Hurts leads the Outlaws into the desert to face a Wrangler team that has no plans to give up their dominance over the Southwest Division.

SAT @ 4pm ET Memphis Showboats @ Las Vegas Vipers FOX

In an opening week stuffed with divisional matchups, the Showboats head out West to face a rare opponent, the Las Vegas Vipers. Will J. J. Watt play, and if so, how does Matt McGloin handle the pressure?

SAT @ 8pm ET New Jersey Generals @ Baltimore Blitz NBC

Back to divisional games as Generals' QB Nick Foles tries to fend off not only challenger Teddy Bridgewater, but Calais Campbell and the Blitz defense.

SAT @ 8pm ET Atlanta Fire @ Charlotte Monarchs ESPN/EFN

Saturday finishes up with a rivalry game from the Southeast as Aaron Murray takes the Fire into Charlotte to face a Monarch team with a lot of new faces and a new look as well.

SUN @ 12pm ET St. Louis Skyhawks @ Ohio Glory ABC

Two Central Division teams trying to turn their fortunes around face off in a Sunday showdown as rookie Justin Fields faces the Skyhawks and QB Lamar Jackson.

SUN @ 12pm ET New England Steamrollers @ Philadelphia Stars ABC

Eddie Lacy gets his first start as a Steamroller as New England take on the Stars in Philly, with Carson Wentz now at the helm.

SUN @ 12pm ET Washington Federals @ Michigan Panthers FOX

Rookie HB Travis Etienne and the Feds head to Ford Field to face LeVeon Bell and the Panthers in a Week 1 clash of tailbacks.

SUN @ 4pm ET Orlando Renegades @ Oakland Invaders ABC

It's Russell Wilson taking on Tom Brady as the Renegades cross coasts to face the Oakland Invaders in a Week 1 inter-conference battle.

SUN @ 4pm ET San Diego Thunder @ Denver Gold FOX

A new look Thunder team heads to Mile High to face Josh Allen and the Denver Gold. This one could be a defensive battle as both teams try to find their offensive form.

SUN @ 4pm ET New Orleans Breakers @ San Antonio Gunslingers FOX

San Antonio faces a tough divisional opponent as the high-flying aerial assault of the Breakers heads to the Alamo City.

SUN @ 8pm ET Seattle Dragons @ Dallas Roughnecks ESPN/EFN

Two of 2020's breakout teams clash in the Sunday nightcap as Brett Hundley and Knowshon Moreno face off against Justin Herbert and the Dallas Roughnecks in a battle of up-and-comers in the West.