2021 USFL Week 2 Recap: Dual Threats on Display

If you don’t like what the USFL offered this past week, you just don’t like football. The second week of the season brought us 10 of 15 games decided by 1 score or less, including several that came down to the last minute of action. It brought us high scoring shootouts and defensive grinders. It gave us several more 300 yard passing days, 3 and 4 passing TD performances, a 3-TD rushing performance, and multiple 100-yard rushing days…from quarterbacks. It has surprises, upsets, some huge crowds, and some real nailbiters. It was everything you want from football, and we will run it all down for you, right here on This Week in the USFL. 

Run, QB, Run!

In last week’s recap we brought up the fact that almost every year the first week of action provides us with very few strong rushing attacks and even fewer 100-yard games. And that was certainly true in Week 1, with only perennial rushing champion LeVeon Bell gaining 100 yards in opening week action. Week 2 however is a very different story. In this week’s action we had 8 different rushers eclipsing the century mark. Some were not surprising, like Knowshon Moreno’s 119-yard day, or Carlos Hyde’s 110. Some were predictable, but certainly larger than we normally see, such as Doug Martin’s 144 huge yards in the Portland Stag victory over Jacksonville. Some came from backs who don’t have a track record of big days, like LA’s Paul Perkins, who rushed for 116 yards in his second game as the anointed heir to Reggie Bush for the Express, or career backup Charles Sims, who rushed for 116 yards and 3 touchdowns for San Diego in their huge victory over Ohio. But what was most exciting about the strong 2^nd week for the run game this season was the presence of the running quarterback as a weapon across the league.

Rushing QBs is not exactly a new phenomenon in the league. We have seen USFL quarterbacks making big plays with their feet since the days of Alan Rischer and Doug Flutie. And certainly, we have seen huge games from Hall of Fame USFL quarterbacks before, including perhaps the prototype of the USFL dual-threat QB, Jake Plummer, but rarely have we seen the QB run incorporated into the offense quite like we saw this week. These were not just fortunate scrambles that yielded big gains, this was a case of teams game planning to use the quarterback’s legs as a weapon, and where it worked, it worked in a big way.

Three different QBs not only scrambled, but took on planned draws, bootlegs, and Run-Pass Options to gain over 100 yards in Week 2. It starts where you might expect it would start, with Birmingham’s Cam Newton, who for several years seems to put on the red cape and blue Superman suit at least a few times a season to put up huge numbers as both a passer and a rusher. Well, we had a Superman sighting this week. With rookie HB Najee Harris largely sidelined due to a nagging ankle injury suffered in the 1^st quarter, the run game quickly became Newton’s responsibility once again. So, in addition to a very solid 15 of 29 passing day, producing 344 yards in the air with 2 passing touchdowns, Newton was also called on to move the ball with his legs, rushing 14 times (only 4 could be called unplanned scrambles). Those 14 carries produced 131 yards and 2 scores, including, in typical Newtonian style, an 85-yard rumble through the secondary to produce the game’s first points.

We have seen these kinds of games from Newton in the past, particularly in the Todd Haley years when the coach seems more than comfortable clearing out the backfield in spread formations and giving his QB the ability to drop back, find the clear line of attack and take off running. But what we saw this week was that the same strategy has been picked up in other camps, with more teams now spreading the field, putting more pressure on defenses to cover 4, even 5 receivers, and then letting their QB take advantage of a very thin front 7, or in many cases as little as a front 5. Two other USFL quarterbacks went over the century mark due to this very strategy, one we have been waiting on for 2 years and one just brought into the league.

Fans in St. Louis openly questioned why former coach Frank Reich did not look at what Haley did in Birmingham with Cam Newton and apply that strategy with their own dual-threat QB, Lamar Jackson. Well, 2 games into his tenure as the Skyhawks’ head coach, Brian Schottenheimer did just that. He pulled several plays almost directly from the Stallion RPO playbook, spread out the defense, and let Lamar choose to throw or to dash through the line. Jackson, more often than not, chose to take advantage of huge gaps in the defense as pass rushers created lanes for the QB to exploit. Jackson finished the day with only 175 yards passing (on 16 of 27) but added 126 yards on 10 runs. The run threat eventually forced Philadelphia to adjust their defense, which did help Jackson produce two TDs to Deionte Johnson, but even with the defense spying him, Jackson still produced a pair of big runs in the final 20 minutes of action, helping St. Louis close in on the Stars, down only 1 at 24-25 with 1:55 left to play before Philadelphia got a last minute game winning TD.

The other RPO strategy was employed by the Ohio Glory and their new head coach, Jay Gruden. With the game out of hand pretty early, as San Diego exploded to a 27-0 lead, Coach Gruden opened things up, and with the Thunder defense expecting, as most would, that the use of more spread formations was a sign that Ohio would try to pass their way back into the game, rookie QB Justin Fields took advantage to rush for123 yards on only 11 carries, including the only score of the game, a 75-yard dodging, juking, and sprinting touchdown run by Fields. The Ohio State product struggled a bit in the passing game, throwing 2 early picks and completing only 18 of 38 passes, but once Coach Gruden spread out the Glory offense, his ability to make plays with his feet was more than evident.

It is clear that not every team is going to establish a Run-Pass Option format within a spread offense. It certainly is not something we want to see Joe Flacco, David Carr, Kirk Cousins, or USFL newcomer Carson Wentz trying to run, but there is a generation of dual threat quarterbacks coming out of the college game, and a good number of coaches playing that style from their college years as well. So, as the USFL season moves forward, we should expect to see more big games from more athletic QBs, led by Cam Newton, but now including a range of potential playmakers that includes Jackson, Fields, Orlando’s Russell Wilson, Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts, or Denver’s Josh Allen could make the spread RPO a very dangerous weapon and a very exciting option for USFL offenses. Injuries will always be a concern, as can ball security as some QBs tend to carry the ball a bit too far from their bodies, but the potential for more huge runs, 100-yard games, and frustrated defenses is certainly there, an extension of a USFL tradition that goes back to the beginning of the league.

PITTSBURGH MAULERS 26  WASHINGTON FEDERALS 23

Maulers-Federals has been an on-again-off-again rivalry ever since Pittsburgh got an expansion team in the second year of the league, back in 1984. It has never been as intense as some of the two clubs’ other rivalries, named games like the Beltway Brawl between the Feds and Blitz, the Keystone Clash between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, or the Border Brawl between the Maulers and the Ohio Glory, but over nearly 40 years, games between the Maulers and Federals, sometimes division clashes, sometimes interdivisional showdowns, have often been heated affairs and close contests. That was certainly the case this week, when the two battled for 60 minutes to produce a 3-point Mauler victory on the road and more than a few post-play skirmishes between players.

Both clubs came into the game having dropped their openers, Pittsburgh in a nasty weather game at home to the Chicago Machine, while Washington traveled to Michigan, showed well, but could not overcome a late Panther score. In what would be the home opener for the Federals, weather would not be a major issue (yes, it was only 51 degrees, and a damp, cloudy day, but that is pretty good football weather) and the two teams would have their chances to make plays. And while there was plenty of good action throughout, it would be the last minute of gameplay that would determine the outcome, as a win slipped away from the Feds with two Mauler scores in the span of only 20 seconds.

The game started well for the Federals, with Pittsburgh deferring to the second half, Washington started with the ball and found early success with their rebuilt run game. Rookie Travis Etienne had a nice 10-yard run on the opening play of the game, and he combined with Darrynton Evans to account for 41 of the opening drive’s 65 yards before putting the first points of the game on the board with Etienne’s 6-yard end run for 6.

The Washington defense, much maligned the past two years, also started strong, producing a 3-and-out on the Mauler’s first possession and holding them to a field goal on their second after Chris Long sacked Mauler QB Nate Peterson (in for Dalton due to concussion protocols). But with their 3^rd drive of the quarter, Pittsburgh finally got some rhythm, with Peterman connecting for a nice 23-yard toss to Brian Quick before HB Sony Michel ran the ball 16 yards for the first Mauler TD.

Washington responded with a field goal early in the 2^nd quarter and the back-and-forth battle commenced. From 10-10, it became 13-10 on a second Andrew Franks field goal for Pittsburgh, and then 17-13 when Etienne scored his second rushing TD of the game, a 12-yard snowplow over the safety to get into the endzone. That would be the score at the half, with both teams proving they could put together drives, but both defenses also having their moments.

The Third quarter was more of the same, with Washington increasing their lead to 20-13 only to have Pittsburgh equalize the score when Peterman, who finished 24 of 36 for 259 yards, found Allen Lazard for a 12-yard score late in the period. Knotted up at 20 apiece with 22 minutes of gametime left, the more than 42,000 on hand on a cloudy day at Audi Stadium got ready for what they expected would be a tense 4^th quarter. They were not wrong about that.

Most of the quarter showcased the Mauler and Federal defenses. Pittsburgh produced their first takeaway as CB Rasul Douglas forced the ball out of the hands of Tyreek Hill and then recovered the ball. Hill protested that his knee was down before the ball came out, but video review upheld the fumble call. The Federals’ defense stepped up and prevented the turnover from producing any points for the Maulers, and one drive later, they would garner their own takeaway, with Chris Long knocking the ball from Nate Peterman’s hand, recovered by LB Tremaine Edwards. That turnover put Washington in Pittsburgh territory, but the Mauler defense was able to prevent Washington from moving the ball more than a few yards and Washington had to settle for an Adam Vinatieri field goal with 1:54 left to play. The Maulers needed a field goal drive to tie the score and send the game to overtime.

Pittsburgh’s offense came alive in the 2-minute drill, with Peterman connecting with rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 14-yard strike, then finding TE Rob Gronkowski for 12 more as the Maulers moved the ball into range for their kicker. The drive would stall inside the Washington 30, but that was more than close enough for Franks to connect for 3 and equalize the score at 23. Time to settle in for overtime.

That was the mindset of the Federals, take the kickoff and take a knee to head to overtime, but it was not the mindset of Pittsburgh head coach Skip Holtz. Taking full advantage of the USFL’s liberal onside kick rules, allowing for a far greater sense of surprise than their NFL colleagues could use, Holtz had the Maulers line up for the deep kick, but instructed Franks to dribble kick the ball to the right, where TE Anthony Hill and HB Cam Akers were placed on the kick coverage team. The plan worked to perfection, with Akers recovering the short kick as a stunned Federals team watched helplessly. The Maulers had the ball back, with 26 seconds to play and needed only about 15 yards to get into range for their kicker.

Pittsburgh would spread out their offense, with Thielen, Quick, St. Brown, and Lazard forcing Washington to play zone. An inside strike to Adam Thielen produced 9 yards, and after a timeout Peterman found Brian Quick to put the Maulers in the outside range for Franks. An incompletion on an out route sealed the deal for Coach Holtz, who sent out Franks with 8 seconds left on the clock. The Mauler kicker connected on a 48-yarder, straight down the middle and Holtz’s gambit paid off. His surprisingly aggressive onside kick call avoided overtime and gave the Maulers their first win of the season.

SEATTLE 13  ATLANTA 14

A failed 48-yard attempt at the buzzer helped Atlanta hold on against a very game Seattle squad. The Fire held a 14-13 lead thanks to a huge game from O.J. Howard, who had both Fire TDs in addition to a whopping 134 yards on 8 receptions, but Seattle had one last shot. Brett Hundley got them in position, but kicker Jeffrey Harris could not connect on the 49-yard attempt, preserving the win and a 2-0 record for the Fire.

POTG: Fire TE O. J. Howard: 8 Rec, 134 Yds, 2 TD

MICHIGAN 20  LOS ANGELES 17

The LA Defense held LeVeon Bell in check (19 Att for 62 Yds) and limited the Panthers to only 2 field goals over 3 quarters, but, down 8, the Panthers came alive in the 4^th quarter, putting 2 Chase McLaughlin kicks on the board and adding a momentum-shifting Cody Latimer TD (with 2 point conversion) to take the 20-17 lead. LA could not answer with only 33 seconds to work with and the Panthers steal a win on the road.

POTG: Michigan DE Dee Ford: 3 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR

PORTLAND 27  JACKSONVILLE 24

The Bulls thought they had their first win, thanks largely to another strong day from Trevor Lawrence (15 of 25 for 282 and 3 TDs) but the defense could not hold in the 4^th quarter, giving up a Mariota to Burton TD early in the quarter and then the game winner, a Mariota to Josh Gordon knife to the belly with 16 seconds left on the clock as Portland lands a huge road win in Week 2.

POTW: Portland WR Brandin Cooks: 7 Rec, 160 Yds, 1 TD

NEW ENGLAND 0  BALTIMORE 27

In a game that was not one of the week’s nailbiters, New England lost Ryan Tannehill early, and then lost backup C. J. Beathardin the 3^rd, forcing them to go with practice squad emergency backup Jeff Driskell. The result was a shutout as Baltimore only let them cross the 50 one time all game and held them without a 3^rd down conversion in the entire game. Safety Nasir Adderly put 6 on the board with a pick of Driskell, and Calais Campbell got another sack as the Blitz rolled.

POTG: Blitz QB Jake Locker: 25/38, 225 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int

SAN ANTONIO 17  HOUSTON 19

Houston had a 19-0 lead at the half, but something changed in the break as the entire 2^nd half was a furious comeback effort by the Gunslingers. Easton Stick, in for the injured Joe Flacco, connected with Brandon LaFell on a 29-yarder and then found Marquise Goodwin with 2 minutes to play in the 4^th to pull within 2, but the Gunslingers could not contain Carlos Hyde, and the Houston back, who had 110 yards on the day, converted for 2 first downs as the Gamblers ate up the clock and held on for the 2-point win.

POTG: Houston CB Leodis McKelvin: 9 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD

LAS VEGAS 10  CHICAGO 15

A tighter than expected game in a very windy Soldier Field as Las Vegas got 116 yards on the ground from Hunt (47) and Matt Jones (69). Chicago also relied on the run, getting 82 combined yards from Hill and Mack, but it was a late Sam Bradford TD that got them the win. Down 10-9, Bradford connected with Chase Claypool on a tight slant route and that proved to be the winning score in a tough defensive game affected once again by the weather.

POTG: Chicago safety Jordan Poyer: 9 Tck, 1 Sck

TAMPA BAY 10  MEMPHIS 9

Memphis DE J. J. Watt introduced himself to Tampa Bay QB Dak Prescott, sacking the 2-time MVP twice and knocking him out of the game with a tackle on an ill-timed scramble. The Memphis D was relentless all game, but their offense simply could not take advantage. Up 9-7 in the 4^th, Memphis lost the lead with 25 seconds on the clock as backup B. J. Daniels got the Bandits in range for kicker Harrison Butker and escaped with a 1-point win.

POTG: Bandit HB Dalvin Cook: 18 Att, 72 Yds, 1 TD

ARIZONA 35  DENVER 38

A true shootout as Arizona Brock Osweiler and Denver’s Josh Allen both found plenty of open targets in this one. Osweiler threw for 322 and 4 touchdowns, but Allen added 3 and with 2 Phillip Lindsay TD runs the Gold held on to win and move to 2-0 on the season despite 4 turnovers in the game (including 3 Josh Allen picks).

POTG: Denver HB Phillip Lindsay: 21 Att, 87 Yds, 2 TD, 3 Rec, 78 Yds

NEW ORLEANS 21  NEW JERSEY 19

In a game that saw both offensive lines struggle (9 combined sacks), the Breakers got two TDs from Geno Smith before he was knocked out of the game. Up 14-12 in the 4^th, they got the clincher on defense when a blitzing Clyde Adams stripped Nick Foles of the ball and recovered it in the endzone for a fumble recovery TD that gave the Breakers a 9-point lead. Foles would hit Jonnu Smith for a late TD, but had no luck with the onside kick, allowing the Breakers to return to New Orleans at 2-0.

POTG: Breaker FS Clyde Adams: 4 Tck, 1 Skc, 1 Def TD, 1 FF, 1 FR

BIRMINGHAM 38  ORLANDO 26

We have had another Cam Newton Superman sighting as the Birmingham QB threw for 344 and 2 scores while also adding 131 and 2 more scores on the ground. Newton was everywhere, and the Stallions needed him as Najee Harris left the game early with a tweaked ankle. Orlando fought on with 84 yards and 2 TDs from NFL import Chris Carson, but they simply had no answer for a determined Cam Newton.

POTG: Stallion QB Cam Newton: 15/29, 34 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int, 14 Att, 131 Yds, 2 TD

OAKLAND 29  CHARLOTTE 7

The Charlotte Monarchs limited Davante Adams to only 54 yards, but forgot to cover TE Zach Ertz, who burned them for 153 yards on 6 catches as Oakland rolled. Former Oakland QB Jimmy Garoppolo had a very unpleasant reunion with his former club, throwing 3 picks as Oakland doubled up Charlotte 400 yards to 200 for the game. Kicker Roberto Aguayo added 5 field goals and that was all the Invaders needed to upend the Monarchs.

POTG: Invader TE Zach Ertz: 6 Rec, 153 Yds

OHIO 7  SAN DIEGO 44

This was a wild one as San Diego had everything working early, building up a 27-0 lead thanks to 3 Charles Sims TD runs, but a 75-yard Justin Fields run gave Ohio hope. That hope dwindled as 2 4^th quarter picks from the Ohio QB doomed the Glory comeback. San Diego added a David Wilson TD run and a Case Keenum mop up TD toss to create the blowout final score.

POTG: San Diego HB Charles Sims: 18 Att, 116 Yds, 2 TD, 2 Rec, 16 Yds, 1 TD

PHILADELPHIA 32  ST. LOUIS 25

The Stars go on the road and get their 2^nd win in 2 weeks despite giving up 126 yards rushing to Skyhawk QB Lamar Jackson. Philly gave up an even 200 yards total on the ground but got 373 yards and 3 TDs from NFL import Carson Wentz. Derrick Henry added 95 yards on 19 carries, but it was Wentz to K. J. Hamler with 56 seconds to play that turned a 1-point lead into a 9-point victory for the 2-0 Stars.

POTG: Stars QB Carson Wentz: 25/36, 373 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int

DALLAS 40  OKLAHOMA 31

Another Wild West shootout as Dallas outlasted Oklahoma, thanks to a running attack that racked up 189 yards (93 for Samaje Perine and another 95 from Duke Johnson). Dallas took a 21-14 lead midway through the 2^nd on a Johnson TD and never relinquished the lead. Jalen Hurts threw for 336 but suffered 6 sacks as Oklahoma struggled to handle Dallas DE Connor Barwin. FS Jamal Adams also added 2 sacks as a frequent blitzer on early downs. The Roughnecks improve to 2-0 despite playing without Justin Herbert, while Oklahoma drops to 1-1.

POTG: Dallas DE Connor Barwin: 3 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 Sfty

Close Calls From Coast to Coast

If there was one defining feature of Week 2 it was the tight margin of victory all over the league. We saw 10 games settled by a single score, and 8 settled by 3 or fewer points, a single field goal. It started on Friday, when the Atlanta Fire defeated Seattle by a single point thanks to a last second hooking kick that sailed wide to the left. It ended on Sunday night, with our Game of the Week, when the Federals fell to the Maulers thanks to an onside kick and a pair of field goals both kicked within the final minute of action. In between we saw Michigan beat LA by a field goal, Portland win by the same margin over Jacksonville, Houston struggle to edge San Antonio by a mere 2 points, Memphis fall to Tampa Bay in a surprisingly low-scoring 10-9 affair, Arizona drop their 2^nd game of the young season by 3 points in Denver, and New Orleans knock off New Jersey by 2, 21-19. It was a week for last second heroics and high tensions all across the league. Just the kind of thing that gets the league the fan excitement that a year of isolation and hub games deflated. No lack of energy this season, even with some Covid protocols still in place, and with games like this, we may see the league return stronger than ever.

Wentz Winning Over Stars’ Fans

If there were Star fans still upset that their club could not sign rookie Zach Wilson, or upset that they took a shot on a player who wore out his welcome with the Eagles, and, yes, there were plenty of both before the season started, we expect they are eating some crow right now. Unlike many NFL stars who come immediately over to the Spring league and suffer a dual-season hangover, Carson Wentz has started his USFL career with about as hot a start as any QB we an remember. In his first two games he has not only averaged 307 yards per game, thrown 5 TDs and earned a 109.8 QB Rating, but he has the Stars, who won only 2 games in all of 2020, sitting pretty at 2-0 after knocking off the New England Steamrollers at the Linc and getting a win this week in St. Louis.

Now, we recognize that neither New England or St. Louis have yet to win a game, and neither were exactly world-beaters last year, but that does not diminish the fact that the 3-13 Stars of 2020 are not the same team in 2021, and the presence of Carson Wentz seems to be a huge reason why. Wentz had a solid game in the opener, throwing for 241 and 2 TDs, but this week’s game was a further step up, going 25 of 36 for 373 yards, 3 scores, and still only 2 total interceptions this season. The former Eagle is certainly gaining fans in the clubhouse, with his receivers praising his deep ball and his touch, while his line loves his tenacity. He is even good for the run game as teams have to keep safeties back to protect against his rocket arm. Just ask “King” Henry, who improved from a 73-yard outing in the opener to 95 carries this week. The offensive balance, paired with greater time of possession, has also helped the defense, which is looking significantly improved thanks to the arrivals of free agent CB Dwayne Gratz, MLB Jonathan Bostic, and rookie linebacker Micah Parsons. The defense under Coach Quinn has been more aggressive, more varied, and more effective, but it certainly helps when your offense is putting points on the board and keeping the ball away from the opposition.

Doug Martin Shows He Still Has It

When the Portland Stags made a pick-for-pick trade with Charlotte to be able to select UNC halfback Javontae Williams, it felt very much like a phase-out for 9-year vet Doug Martin. Martin, who last rushed for 1,000 yards back in 2017 has seen his numbers decrease, both in carries and in yards, each of the past 3 seasons, but if the first two games of this season are any indication, the Stag halfback may be getting a second wind at age 32. Martin has been featured the first two weeks of the season, getting 30 carries to only 5 for Williams. Now, part of that may be Martin’s excellent blocking skills, helping protect Marcus Mariota while Williams learns how to pick up blitzes, but after this week, we don’t expect Coach LaFleur to be pushing Martin out of the way any time soon.

Martin finished this week’s win over Jacksonville with 18 carries for 144 yards, an average of 8 yards per carry. His day included a 55-yard run that showcased his elusiveness and his willingness to take on tacklers. We are sure that Williams will get his touches, and will grow into the game, but the Stags are now looking at Martin not as a mentor but as a model, showing on the field exactly how to manipulate angles, see holes in the defense, and exploit them. This week he will be a featured player once again as the Stags head to Chicago to face a very tough Machine defense.

Machine DB Shift Looking Smart After 2 Weeks

Speaking of the Machine and their defense, a defense that has allowed only 17 points in their first two games, we need to recognize that a gambit taken by Coach Lovie Smith. In preseason he tested out cornerback Jordan Poyer at safety, and he liked what he saw. Rather than bring him on slowly, Smith cut a deal with New Jersey, sending 2020 starting strong safety Lano Hill to New Jersey for CB Isaac Yiadom and OT J’Marcus Webb. The move signaled confidence in Poyer, who played the past 8 seasons as a corner for Chicago and now inherits a dual role as pass defender and frequent blitzer.

Poyer has already repaid that trust, sitting 2^nd on the team with 12 tackles after 2 weeks and already producing 2 sacks as a blitzing strong safety. That, combined with the overall success of the Machine defense in their opening games against Pittsburgh and Las Vegas seem to indicate that Lovie Smith’s intuition about Poyer’s ability to adapt to a new position were well-tuned. Poyer will be in centerfield for the Machine when they visit Portland this week.

After 5 Picks & 2 Losses, Saleh Makes a Switch

On the other side of the coaching spectrum, first time head coach Robert Saleh may be showing a bit of impatience, and showing it with the most important position on the field. After an 0-2 start for New Jersey, and two outings in which his QB racked up 5 picks and only 2 TDs, Saleh is already in a mood for a change, naming Teddy Bridgewater the Week 3 starter when the Generals visit San Antonio in Week 3. Bridgewater, who started 36 games for Jacksonville before being traded to New Jersey right as camps were closing up this February will get the nod against the Gunslingers, while Nick Foles, who has been the starter in New Jersey since 2017 now finds himself demoted after only 2 games this season. Admitedly, with a 55.7 rating in those two games, it may not be a complete surprise, but this is a QB who had a 104 rating as recently as 2019.

With Foles taking a back seat to Bridgewater, we also looked to Washington, who also entered the season with a wide open QB competition, and who have also started the season 0-2, to see if Ryan Nassib still has the confidence of his new head coach, Kevin Gilbride. With former Seattle Dragon Jacoby Brissett the other option, is Gilbride looking to make a change?

Not this week at least, as the Washington coach affirmed that Nassib will once again be the starter when the Feds head down to New Orleans to take on the unbeaten Breakers. And while the Federals’ situation is not the same as that of New Jersey, the QB competition is still very real. But, with only 1 pick in his first two games, Nassib has not had the negatives that Foles showed for New Jersey. Washington’s offense was surprisingly effective against Michigan in Week 1, and while they lost in the final minute to Pittsburgh this week, you could hardly blame the offense for the team’s inability to anticipate an onside kick. So, for now at least, Nassib remains the starter as Washington hopes to get one in the win column soon.

Smith, Tannehill & Prescott Latest QBs to Hit Injury List

2021 has been a tough season for quarterbacks, and we are only 2 games in. After 1 week we had several QBs sidelined for Week 2 action, with Brock Osweiler in for David Carr, Easton Stick getting the start for Joe Flacco, and Nathan Peterman thrust into action for Pittsburgh when Andy Dalton could not go. Dallas also turned to a backup in Week 2, with Justin Herbert nursing a concussion it was Josh Freeman who powered the Roughnecks to a 40-31 victory over Oklahoma.

But the QB pain was not limited to Week 1 action. Three more USFL starters were forced out of games in Week 3, and at least one will be out this week. New England’s Ryan Tannehill is already ruled out for Week 3 with a shoulder injury that could cost him 2-3 weeks. He is joined on the injury report by

New Orleans signal caller Geno Smith, who is in the concussion protocol and listed as Doubtful, and Tampa Bay’s Dak Prescott, who suffered an injury to the big toe on his plant foot and is listed as Questionable.

If all three are out, we will see more backups trying to keep their teams on the right track. New England will start C. J. Beathard this week, who was also knocked out of the Week 2 game, but is cleared to play the upcoming game. Tampa Bay will trust in B. J. Daniels if Prescott is not good to go, and New Orleans will turn to Tajh Boyd, the former backup to Josh Freeman in St. Louis and Ryan Nassib in Washington.

Another tough week to start the season. Three more starting QBs likely to miss at least a week (Tannehill, Prescott, and Smith, as commented above), but also a pretty long list of injuries all across the USFL rosters. None are expected to result in IR placements, but it is awfully early in the year to see this many players needing a week away or longer.

OUT

TE     James Casey                OKL    Biceps Tear            6-8 Weeks

CB          Ka’Dar Hollman              OHI       Arm                         2-4 Weeks

DT          Stephen Paea                   STL         Hip                           1-2 Weeks

FS           Jamal Adams                  DAL       Toe                            1-2 Weeks

FS           Hamsah Nasirildeen    TBY        Neck                         1-2 Weeks

QB         Ryan Tannehill                 NE          Shoulder                 1-2 Weeks

DOUBTFUL

CB          Germaine Kelly                DAL       Hernia

CB          Darqueze Dennard         DEN      Concussion

LB           Preston Brown                 TBY        Neck

SS           Malik Hooker                  BIR         Concussion

G            David Griggs                HOU     Hand

WR         Doug Baldwin               NE          Hip

QB         Geno Smith                  NOR      Concussion

FS           Robert Sands                PIT         Concussion

QUESTIONABLE

CB          Levi Wallace                 CHA      Knee

DE          Porter Gustin                    LV           Wrist

TE           Travis Kelce                     PHI        Concussion

C             Wesley Johnson              LV           Hand

WR         Curtis Samuel                 OHI       Concussion

QB         Dak Prescott                   TBY        Toe

DT          Sylvester Williams         LV           Toe

Six Rookies Already Making an Impression

Two weeks into the year and we are already seeing the impact of the Draft Class of 2021. While most rookies are still learning the ropes and riding the bench, there are several who have already started impressing coaches and fans alike with their early season performances. We have picked six players who are off to a strong start, making plays and getting their diehard fans excited about the future. Here are our Six Instant Impact Rookies for 2021 after 2 weeks.

QB Trevor Lawrence (JAX)

Hard to miss this one. Lawrence may not have earned his first USFL win yet, but with 371 yards and 3 TDs in the opener, he certainly made a strong first impression. His follow up this week was a bit less flashy, but a very solid 282 yards and yet another 3 touchdowns. That is a total of 6 TDs to only 1 pick in his first two weeks as a USFL starter. In case you were wondering, that is one of the best starts for any rookie QB we have seen in the nearly 40 seasons of USFL ball.

QB Justin Fields (OHI)

Ohio’s Fields did Lawrence one better, earning a win in the season and home opener. But unlike Lawrence, Fields has not had the big passing numbers so far this season. No one in Columbus is complaining about 404 yards in 2 games, and while a 1:2 TD:INT Ratio is not what Glory fans want to see long term, they have to be excited about Fields as a true dual threat QB, especially after his 75-yard TD run this week against San Diego, and the game total of 123 on the ground. Yes, more is needed, especially in the passing game, but defenses are now on notice that they are going to need to spy Fields or he will burn them.

HB Travis Etienne (WSH)

Since the retirement of Deuce McCallister 5 years ago, the Federals have struggled to mount a consistent rushing attack, but the first two games with Travis Etienneas their lead back may be an indication that they finally have found the man who can get them back to 1,200 yard nirvana. The Clemson rookie has 4 touchdowns in 2 games (2 in each) and while his opening week total of 31 yards on 10 carries is not going to ignite anyone’s overreaction switch, his 13 carry, 70 yards second game has him heading in the right direction. Washington fans hope that his growth from one game to the next continues in Week 3, when the Feds will want to use their run game to keep New Orleans’s potent passing offense on the sideline. Expect Etienne to potentially reach 20 carries, and we wonder if that could mean 100 yards for the rookie back. 

DE Odafe Oweh (DEN)

We turn to defense with our next three selections, and we start with the unbeaten Denver Gold and their rookie edge rusher, Odafe Oweh. The Penn State product earned the RE starting gig in camp, outperforming veteran Stephon Tuitt. He now lines up opposite LE Justice Cole, and the bull rush we saw from him in Happy Valley has already made an appearance. Oweh opened the season with 5 tackles but no sacks against San Diego, but this week he earned not one, but two sacks as Denver upended the Arizona Wranglers. He will have a chance to increase that total next week as the Gold host the Vipers in their third straight home game to open the 2021 season.

DT Christian Barmore (ATL)

Coming into the league is tough, coming in to replace a likely Hall of Famer is even tougher, but that is Barmore’s lot. After Albert Haynesworth retired last year (for the 2^nd time), Barmore was drafted out of Alabama to take on a vital role on the inside of the Fire’s D-Line. Two games in and he is more than holding his own with 3 tackles and 2 sacks, both coming in the Fire’s Week 2 victory over Seattle. Barmore has been solid against the run, filling up space and allowing the solid Atlanta LB group penetrate the D, but on pass plays he has shown an ability to get into the backfield himself, something the Fire love to see. 

CB Benjamin St. Juste (NE)

A 3rd round T-Draft pick out of Minnesota, St. Juste was not expected to have much of a role in his first year, but he excelled in camp, impressed Coach Fox, and 2^nd on the depth chart behind only Jalen Mills in the New England secondary when the opening game rosters were revealed. St Juste has been targeted by both Steamroller opponents, but he is showing that he is not one to try to pick on. With 6 tackles and a pick in the opener against Philly, and a 6 tackle showing this week, St. Juste is showing that he is more than capable of holding his own.

League Vaccination Policy a Messy Affair

With several new Covid vaccines now available to the general public, the question of how pro sports will handle vaccination mandates and/or personal freedom has been a huge issue across all the major winter and spring sports. The USFL is certainly not exempt from the controversy. The league announced back in February that they would not mandate vaccinations for players, coaches, or gameday staff, and that they would prohibit any individual clubs from setting stricter requirements than those provided by the league offices in New York. That did not sit well with several owners, who felt that the clubs, and not the league, should be empowered to set policy based on state and city requirements as well as the intensity of the pandemic in their regions. Others praised the “no mandate” focus of the League Office. But even those supporters were not fully satisfied, particularly with the ongoing requirement for testing and the disparity in how vaccinated vs. unvaccinated players would be viewed by the league and their testing protocols.

The primary issue, one already brought to the USFL Players Association, is the disparate rules in place for vaccinated players vs. their unvaccinated teammates. Whereas unvaccinated players would be required to maintain the same protocols as in 2020, which means twice-weekly testing and the potential to be removed from action on short notice and without symptoms, vaccinated players would be limited to one test per week and even with a positive result players would be permitted to participate in team activities and game action as long as they remained symptom free. Several players balked at the disparity in both testing and gameday availability and the Union will be bringing those concerns to the league within the next week.

In the meantime, we have so far seen 2 weeks of USFL action without a player held out of action. There have been 3 positive tests, but in both cases the players have been within the vaccinated pool and both were non-symptomatic, and so were permitted to practice and play. Most expect that at some point we will encounter players who are within the smaller unvaccinated pool (estimated at 17-19% of current players) and with the player withheld from team activities, including games, that will be a key pressure point on the league’s seemingly flexible, but perhaps inequitable, Covid strategy.

New England Expects 50,000+ at Home Opener

It may be a year delayed for the Boston area, but USFL football is back for a third time and fans seem ready for the grand return. After struggling to find a home in Boston itself, and after decades of battles with the NFL’s New England Patriots, the third time may just be the charm as the New England Steamrollers prepare for their first home game in Foxboro’s Gillette Stadium. After the short tenure of the Breakers in Boston, bouncing between BU’s Nickerson Field and Harvard Stadium, the USFL lost their foothold in New England in the late 80’s. They brought back a team in the early 2000’s when the first Atlanta Fire franchise relocated to Boston College’s Alumni Stadium in 2003. But, they too struggled to become profitable with the lease available from BC, and constant squabbles over potential renovation and expansion of the stadium eventually led the club to find a buyer, and that buyer was in Dallas, where the team became the Roughnecks.

For nearly 20 years the USFL had tried to court NFL Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft, who also was the primary owner of Foxboro’s Gillette Stadium, hoping to put a team in the modern facility and lock in the Boston market. But Kraft had always been one of the most antagonistic owners in the NFL towards any cooperation with the spring league and while he was in power within the Patriots organization, the chances for a return to New England for the USFL were always slim. It would be a scandal, a story of massage parlors and inappropriate acts by the Patriot owner that eventually sank Kraft, forcing the sale of both the stadium and the team, and allowing the USFL a new opportunity to work out a deal. The ownership group known as the New England Football Group got the inside track on a stadium deal, and with it the inside track to represent Boston as a 2020 expansion team.

And now, a year late thanks to the Covid pandemic, the Steamrollers are finally ready to play in front of the fans of New England, stepping out on the field in Foxboro for the first time this upcoming Friday night. With more than 48,000 tickets sold for the game (including season tickets and advanced individual game sales) the Steamrollers hope to eclipse 50,000 in Foxboro for their first home game. They will face the Pittsburgh Maulers in their first home game, but will go into the game with a backup QB under center as Ryan Tannehill has been ruled out with a shoulder injury. It does not seem that his absence will lessen the excitement and enthusiasm for New England’s newest pro franchise, as a rambunctious and heavily pro-Steamroller crowd is expected on Friday.

Another strong lineup of divisional games in Week 3, with 8 of 15 games played between divisional rivals. We kick off the week, however, with two interdivisional matchups, with NBC highlighting the first game in Foxboro for the 2^nd year New England Steamrollers as they take on Pittsburgh. Over on ESPN and the ESPN Football Network, it is Chicago heading west to take on the Portland Stags.

On Saturday, the divisional games kick off, with Atlanta at Jacksonville in the noon slot and Las Vegas heading up to Denver to face the 2-0 Gold. Then in the nightcap we have a California Derby as the Oakland Invaders and LA Express, both sitting at 1-1, face off at Farmers Insurance Field. We also have 2-0 Baltimore, 2-0 New Orleans, and 2-0 Dallas in action on Saturday.

Sunday brings us 5 divisional games, starting at noon, where Charlotte will take on 2-0 Tampa Bay in ABC regional coverage while Michigan is in St. Louis over on Fox. In the 4pm slot we will have Arizona facing Oklahoma for the 2^nd time in 3 weeks while Seattle heads down to San Diego, hoping to get their first win against a Thunder team that surprised us this week. Finally, in the 8pm slot, Memphis, off to a slow start at 0-2, take their game on the road to Houston, where the Gamblers have rocketed out to a 2-0 record and Colt McCoy is looking like a possible MVP candidate.

FRI @ 8pm ET          Pittsburgh (1-1) @ New England (0-2)               NBC

FRI @ 8pm ET        Chicago (2-0) @ Portland (1-1)                          ESPN/EFN        

SAT @ 12pm ET      Baltimore (2-0) @ Ohio (1-1)                             ABC

SAT @ 12pm ET      Atlanta (2-0) @ Jacksonville (0-2)                  FOX

SAT @ 4pm ET       Las Vegas (1-1) @ Denver (2-0)                    ABC

SAT @ 4pm ET         Washington (0-2) @ New Orleans (2-0)          FOX

SAT @ 8pm ET        Dallas (2-0) @ Birmingham (1-1)                       NBC     

SAT @ 8pm ET       Oakland (1-1) @ Los Angeles (1-1)                ESPN/EFN

SUN @ 12pm ET      Orlando (1-1) @ Philadelphia (2-0)                  ABC Regional

SUN @ 12pm ET     Charlotte (0-2) @ Tampa Bay (2-0)                ABC Regional

SUN @ 12pm ET      Michigan (2-0) @ St. Louis (0-2)                       FOX

SUN @ 4pm ET      Arizona (0-2) @ Oklahoma (1-1)                       ABC

SUN @ 4pm ET     New Jersey (0-2) @ San Antonio (0-2)            FOX Regional

SUN @ 4pm ET      Seattle (0-2) @ San Diego (1-1)                      FOX Regional

SUN @ 8pm ET       Memphis (0-2) @ Houston (2-0)                        ESPN/EFN