2022 USFL Week 6 Recap: Panther Woes, McCoy Questions & Trade Rumors

What did we see in Week 6? We saw a surprisingly defensive matchup between two of the league’s best offenses. We saw the Panther faithful openly turning on their team. We saw a frustrated Marvin Lewis questioning his QB. And we saw two teams not worried at all about their chemistry as Arizona and Chicago improve to 6-0 on the season. We also saw the trading block pick up some action, with 3 significant deals made this week and rumors of some potentially huge moves on the way. That is our big story this week, and we will kick off with that before running through all the week’s game action and its fallout. And with many teams in a bit of QB Limbo, we will take a peek at the 2023 draft to see if help may be on the way. All that is coming up, plus a look at our first week of byes coming this weekend. Stick with us, there is a lot to say This Week in the USFL.

The Trading Block Heats Up With Deals & Rumors

We had our first “major” trade last week, with Denver acquiring C. J. Prosise from the Generals, and the crack in the dam has started to split wider. Denver was again on the move this week, while Charlotte made two moves and Orlando sought to improve their secondary play. It is all a sign that teams have figured out where they need help and are not going to wait another season to get it. We will break down this week’s deals and give you the rumors we are hearing that could turn into moves in the next 3 weeks. It is “wheeling & dealing” in the USFL, and just how big the crop of moves will be this year is anyone’s guess.

Denver Ditches Linday in 2^nd HB Move in 2 Weeks

Coach Hufnagel’s dissatisfaction with his run game produced not one, but two trades to bring in fresh legs over the past week, leaving only Jonathan Ward left from the team’s Week 1 HB room. Last week it was a deal with New Jersey that sent David Wilson and a 3^rd rounder to New Jersey for HB C. J. Prosise. This week it was 2021 starter Phillip Lindsay, who is averaging just under 2 yards per carry, who was dealt. Denver made a 2-for-1 deal with Charlotte to bring scatback and return man Nyheim Hines to the Mile High City. Charlotte, in return, landed Lindsay as well as WR Calvin Ridley, giving up only Hines and a 3^rd rounder of their own.

Expect Prosise to take on the bulk of the running duty in Denver, as he did this week in his debut. Hines will almost certainly take on a 3^rd down role and is expected to take over punt return duties, with Kevin White, who scored on a 100-yard return this week, retaining his primary kickoff return position. For Charlotte, a rotation of Linday and Latavius Murray is the likely product of the deal, though they too will likely mix up their return teams with Ridley taking some returns formerly held by Hines as well as mixing into the WR group led by rookie Drake London.

Charlotte Also Shakes Up Defense with Deal for Hassan Reddick

The Monarchs, sitting at 2-4 and impressing folks with their grit, added some more grit to the defense with a second deal this week. The Monarchs, unsatisfied with DT Poona Ford’s production sent him out to Oakland, who need more size in their D-line, in return for LB Hassan Reddick, a thumper who is known for his run-stuffing prowess. The Monarchs also threw in a 5^th rounder to sweeten the pot in the deal, one which could help both defenses be a bit more stout against the run.

Ford will line up in the Nose Tackle position for the Invades, splitting time with Christian Wilkins. It is a move that aims to take advantage of the big man’s size, while still retaining the 3-4 alignment that Coach Kubiak prefers. Replacing Reddick on the strong side will be Ukeme Eligwe, who has been seeing more and more snaps in his 6^th year. For the Monarchs, expect Coach Daboll and his DC Shane Bowen, to move Germaine Pratt to the weak side, slotting Hassan Reddick in as the strong side backer to take on tight ends, fullbacks, and slow down runs. Leki Fotu will take over as the center-smashing DT, while 2^nd year player Alim McNeill pressures the guard and tackle to free up Chandler Jones for even more disruption. That is the plan, at least on paper for Bowen.

Orlando Adds Richardson in Preparation for SE Division Passers

After an embarrassing showing by the Renegade secondary against Dak Prescott and the Bandits in Week 5, Orlando has made a secondary-for-secondary swap with Las Vegas to try to add more coverage capability to their defensive backfield, hoping to counteract not only Prescott (who they face again this week) but also Trevor Lawrence, Paxton Lynch, and Josh Rosen in a tough Southern Division for pass defenders. Orlando sent backup safety Justin Simmons and a 4^th rounder to the Vipers to acquire corner Shaquille Richardson.

Richardson will now pair with Michael Jackson, allowing Kevin Johnson to return to his more comfortable nickel position. Richardson is a very solid bump & run corner, one likely to be set up in man coverage with a team’s taller or bigger receiver while Jackson takes on the speedier target. Simmons, the newest Viper defender, started all 16 games at Stong Safety for Orlando in 2020, but was demoted to the backup for rookie Richie Grant last year. Now, in a new situation in Las Vegas, Simmons is expected to compete with Zayne Anderson for snaps at Strong Safety while Rodney Thomas may make the move to Free Safety to back up Julian Blackmon.

Three big moves, each with a very specific targeted improvement in mind, whether it is finding some balance for Josh Allen in Denver, some aggressiveness in the Charlotte front 7, size in Oakland’s 3-4, or more pass-prevention capability for the Renegades. But there are still plenty of teams with plenty of needs, so what are we hearing around the league, the whispers, the talk, the water-cooler hubbub that could lead to deals over the next few weeks. Here are 5 rumors we are hearing from inside organizations, rumors that could lead to something if a deal can be cut.

Bell or Mattison Could be Available

It seems impossible to believe that Michigan would ever trade away their 4-time rushing champion, but LeVeon is clearly not happy with the 2022 offensive plan. The 7-time All-USFL back, who also has 4 OPOTY awards to his name, is disgruntled that despite a stellar 4.9 YPC average this year, he has only seen 104 touches, 13^th in the league and a solid 28 carries, essentially more than a full game’s workload, behind current league rushing leader Josh Jacobs. At 30, it is expected that Bell would not be a 25-30 carry back any longer, but the Panther’s biggest offensive weapon feels like the club may be putting him out to pasture too soon. If Michigan is unwilling to deal Bell, which you would imagine they would be, then perhaps backup Alexander Mattison is the player to target. The 4^th-year back had over 100 attempts last year but only 18 in 6 games in 2022. If Michigan thinks that Bell is too valuable, but wants to find help in other areas, there are teams that would be interested in Mattison.

Portland Seeking Edge Help

No surprise here. With rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux still upwards of 2 months away from any possible return to the field, the Stags are beating the bushes trying to find a trade partner who can bring them some DE help. But, as you might expect, not many teams are willing to part with an effective edge rusher. Rumors have Portland in talks with the Stallions about RE Boogie Basham; with Dallas about either Taylor Hart or Boye Mafe, who have been sharing snaps opposite Connor Barwin; and with Denver about veteran Justice Cole, but the problem is what teams want from the Stags, with reports that counter offers tend to focus on wideout Brandin Cooks or FS Tre Flowers, two players the Stags are not eager to give up. Keep an eye on this one as it seems possible that someone will blink, quite possibly Portland, and a deal could be made to bring some edge help to the Rose City.

Is Ryan Grant Up for Consideration?

It may seem unthinkable for the Bandits to break up their receiver group, but with expanded roles for Deebo Samuel and Sammie Coates in the Bandit passing game and with Grant in the final year of his deal and likely looking for a payday as he turns 29, now may be the time for Tampa Bay to make a deal and get value for their explosive wideout before he tests the free agent waters. No doubt there would be no shortage of teams who would like to get a shot at Grant, a player who has averaged over 800 yards per season as a number two target for the Bandits. Of course, teams want to avoid the “Alvin Harper Effect”, wherein a clear number two thinks himself a number one and demands to be treated as such, despite no evidence he can live up to the role. The other risk, of course, is that Grant could be gone by August, so you are looking at what could be a very short term advantage to bringing in the wideout.

Aldon Smith Seems Ready to Move On

A deal that could well happen in the next few weeks involved New Jersey LB Aldon Smith, another player in the last year of his current deal. Smith has made some noise that at age 32 and with the Generals strapped for cap room, he is open to a trade & sign deal that would allow him to finish his career elsewhere. The Generals seem open, and have taken some calls, with the most likely trade partner being Western Conference contender Oklahoma, who have not been impressed yet with rookie Nik Bonitto and have concerns about Vontez Burfict filling the strongside role at age 34. Burfict, always outspoken, but not the player he was a few years ago, has moments, but also has shown signs that he simply cannot cover the range he once did. Smith, only 2 years younger, still seems agile and quick enough to be very effective. We hear the two clubs may be close on this one, so we could see Smith in black, crimson, and burnt orange well before Week 10’s trade deadline.

A Starting QB Swap, Really?

This one still feels like the kind of thing that only happens in fantasy leagues, not the pros, but the rumor just won’t die and neither organization will shut down the whispers on it. What are we talking about? How about Marvin Lewis, who has been visibly frustrated with QB play from Kyler Murray, sending the diminutive scrambling QB to Pittsburgh in a straight up swap for veteran pocket passer Andy Dalton. It seems insane, we know, and yet, there is a logic to it. With Nick Foles already in LA, having a more traditional pocket passer could make a lot of sense for Lewis and the Express. And with Kenny Pickett playing well in Pittsburgh, even if wins have been hard to come by, there would be no immediate pressure to put Murray into action. But, does Coach Holtz want a scrambling QB who has had vision issues and whose style is a far cry from what the Maulers have been about.

It is the kind of deal that could dramatically alter the perception of both clubs, but does it make sense for both clubs? In a way that could keep fans from bailing on the season? That seems harder to answer as fans are unlikely to jump on the bandwagon just because one struggling QB has been replaced by another. Dalton has a better overall history, but it is just that, a history, not a present proof of quality. Murray does not even have that, with everyone focusing on missed potential. And while we think Dalton could potentially help LA put a few more points on the board, we are just not sure what the win would be for Pittsburgh, so we are curious, but not convinced that this deal ever happens, or that it should.              

DALLAS ROUGHNECKS 28  WASHINGTON FEDERALS 33

While it is pretty obvious that Dallas-Washington games in the USFL bring on none of the passion or high-energy vitriol of a Cowboys-Redskins/Commanders game in the NFL, they can still produce some sparks, as this week’s matchup at Audi Field gave us. In this rare matchup between the Northeast Division Federals and the Southwest Division Roughnecks, there were more than a few burgundy and gold jerseys smattered among the green and white Federals fans, a sign that team loyalty still plays a part even in a different league with different teams. But what made this game our GOTW was a 4^th quarter that saw 3 lead changes and 4 scores, including a pick-six and a late-game bomb that produced the game winner.

The Roughnecks and Federals don’t know each other well, a pretty typical reality when teams are in opposite conferences and only play each other ever 2-3 years. That lack of familiarity tends to breed timidity in the opening drives of the game, with both teams trying to test out if what they have gleaned from film study turns out to be accurate. That is what we got in the 1^st 25 minutes and first 7 drives of the game, with both teams doing the standard dance of “establishing the run” and taking few chances. Both Washington and Dallas earned some first downs, tried out some basic plays, and, in Washington’s case, got in range to put a couple of field goals up. Neither team showed much in their opening drives, but, once they fell down by 6 in the middle of the 2^nd quarter, Dallas started to open things up and that triggered a much more enjoyable style of play from both teams and a much more exciting game in the 2^nd half.

Dallas got their offense in gear on their 4^th drive, down 6 after a 2^nd Adam Vinatieri field goal for the Federals. On that 4^th drive, the Roughnecks started mixing in the pass on 1^st down, lengthened some of their routes, and finally drove deep into Federals territory. After a nice 17-yard completion to Chad Williams, Dallas was inside the 20, and 4 plays later, Justin Herbert found Williams again, this time for a 9-yard TD strike. It would be a lead change that would hold until the 4^th quarter.

After a quick 3-and-out from the Feds, Dallas again moved the ball well, now in 2-minute mode, calling plays from the line. On a 3^rd and 7, Herbert escaped the pocket and found Sammy Watkins for a key first down. A combination of short passes and runs from Perine and Johnson moved the Roughnecks into the red zone, and a bad read by Washington’s LB group helped Perine break off a 19-yard TD scamper to the left pylon that increased Dallas’s advantage to 14-6, a score that would hold until the break.

Coming out of the half, Washington finally started to make a few more plays, with Jacoby Brissett connecting on two big pass plays, a 29-yarder to Rob Housler, and a key 3^rd down throw to Tyreek Hill that got them deep into Dallas territory. But with 1^st and goal on the 7, Washington failed on 3 attempts to punch the ball in, with Travis Etienne denied twice and a Brissett to Housler pass failing to connect on 3^rd and goal from the 6. Coach Gilbride opted to pull within 1 score by sending Vinatieri out to make the tally 14-9.

Dallas responded with a 14-play drive that occupied over 5 minutes of the 3^rd quarter, covered 77 yards, and concluded with Herbert’s 2^nd TD toss to Chad Williams as the Roughnecks extended to a 12-point lead. Washington would not be able to get back in this game with more field goals, and they knew it. On their next drive, the Federals were determined to reach the endzone, and, thanks to some solid runs from Etienne, including a 24-yard gainer on a nicely-blocked sweep left, they would meet their goal. After Etienne’s big run, the Feds had another 1^st and goal, this time from the 9. They lined up in the shotgun, executed a delayed draw to Darrynton Evans, and with some help from G Simon Stepaniak, who just leveled LB Melvin Ingram, Evans darted into the endzone for the first TD of the game for the Feds. Dallas’s lead was again reduced to 5 as the Feds’ score made it 21-16 after three.

Dallas had been in control, though somewhat tenuously, for the better part of the past two quarters, but that, and momentum in general, was about to change. After gaining an initial first down on their next drive, Dallas dialed up a deep ball, but did not get the result they had hoped for. Justin Herbert took a shot across the middle, trying to hit Courtland Sutton, but FS Rafael Bush timed his approach perfectly, colliding with Sutton just as the ball arrived, popping it up in the air. The ball dropped to Bush and he took off running. With the crowd on its feet, Bush juked past an initial tackle attempt from Dallas TE Pharaoh Brown, outpaced the Dallas linemen, and easily shook off a half-hearted shove from QB Justin Herbert on his way to a 51-yard pick-six return.

That play got the crowd to full voice, gave Washington the lead, something they had not held since midway through the 2^nd quarter and clearly turned up the intensity of the game. Dallas needed to respond, but could not as on a 3^rd and 5 a completed pass to Sutton was called back for holding, creating a 3^rd and 15. The ensuing draw to Perine gained only 7 and the Roughnecks were forced to punt. Washington, feeling the momentum shift, drove deep into Dallas territory again, but after a 3^rd down endzone throw to Keenan Allen proved to be too high for the Federals’ receiver, it was Adam Vinatieri once again, with his 4^th field goal giving Washington a 27-21 lead with 7:10 on the clock.

Dallas calmed themselves down, fighting through the crowd noise in Audi Field as 39,404 fans tried to make life difficult for the Roughneck offense. They moved the ball crisply, not exactly in a hurry up but certainly playing with tempo. A screen to Perine went for 28, giving Dallas a sense of confidence. Herbert hit Tim Wright for another first down, and soon Dallas was inside the 10. It took all 3 downs to get the score, but a short run from Duke Johnson was ruled a TD, withstood Washington’s red flag challenge, and gave Dallas a 1-point lead with 4:35 left on the clock.

The Dallas score seemed to suck the air out of the stadium, a situation made even worse by a failed 3^rd down attempt from Brissett to Rob Housler. Washington reluctantly punted the ball back to Dallas with 3:14 left to play. Dallas would have to kill the clock and the Federals’ defense would need to get a 3-and-out to give their offense one more chance. In the battle of goals, the Federals won out, stuffing Samaje Perine on two consecutive plays, setting up a 3^rd and 7. Using two of their timeouts, Washington was able to save time on the clock. Dallas failed on the 3^rd down attempt, and with 2:12 on the clock, they had to punt the ball.

The timing was ideal for the Federals. They got the ball with 2:08 left to play, meaning that they could do whatever they wanted on first down, knowing the 2-minute warning would stop the clock. They again faked a shotgun pass, handed the ball to Darrynton Evans and were rewarded with a 19-yard gain on 1^st and 10. The ball now on their own 38, they would stay in the shotgun, with 4 wideouts on the field after the 2-minute warning break. On 1^st and 10 from the 38, Brissett connected with Jarvis Landry to take the ball to the 48, but Landry was unable to get out of bounds. Brissett and the offense raced the 10 yards to the line and spiked the ball, creating 2^nd and 10 with 1:54 left to play.

The next play is one the Federals fans in attendance will not soon forget. Again from the shotgun, with Keenan Allen alone on the short side of the field, while Landry, Tyreek Hill, and Kavontae Turpin formed a 3-man cluster on the wide side, the Federals started to shift Turpin inwards, towards the hashmark, when the ball was snapped. Brissett dropped back, got pressure from Dallas DE Connor Barwin, forcing him to roll to his left. Barwin fell to the turf, lunging at Brissett, a dive that would give the QB time to set his feet before throwing a deep ball down the sideline. There, with a clear 2-yard advantage over the corner, was perhaps the fastest player in the USFL, wideout Tyreek Hill. Brissett’s pass drifted inward, forcing Hill to adjust his route towards the hashmark. He stretched out for the ball, brought it in but rolled to the ground at the 21. But, in a move he will not soon live down, Dallas’s rookie corner Ja’Sir Taylor, apparently forgetting that the ground does not “tackle” the player in the pros, strided past Hill without downing him with a touch. The speedy receiver rolled back to his feet, and sprinted the remaining 21 yards to the endzone, a stunned Taylor looking on before realizing his mistake and holding his head into his hands.

Washington would go for 2 to create a 7-point lead, but failed on the attempt, leaving them with only a 5-point lead and asking the defense to hold Dallas for the final 1:51 left on the clock. The offense had made a huge play, a 52-yard TD toss aided by a rookie mistake on defense. Now it was time for the Federals’ D to avoid a similar fate. At first it did not look good. Justin Herbert operated the no huddle with precision, hitting on 4 consecutive passes to move the ball from their own 25 to the Washington 44, with just over 41 seconds left to play. But, after an incomplete throw to Watkins, Dallas faced a 2^nd and 10 from the 44 and Justin Herbert tried to push a ball to his slot receiver, Tim Wright. Had Wright sat in the zone, he may well have given Herbert a good target, but he continued across the field and right into the path of two other Dallas receivers. When Herbert threw the ball ahead of Wright, he gave Washington CB Dee Milliner a chance to drop his man and undercut Wright’s route. Milliner is a savvy veteran with an uncanny sense of angles, and the Federals’ corner made the play that clinched the game, all but scooping the ball out of Wrights hands before falling to the ground to be celebrated by his teammates.

Washington had made the big offensive play and the big defensive stop within 60 seconds of each other, and with those two plays had improved their standing to 3-3 on the year, only 1 game behind the division-leading Steamrollers. They had provided their fans with a reason to believe, and maybe to invite a few more to the stadium for their next game. Dallas dropped to 2-4 and has to feel that they let one slip away. A classic Dallas-Washington game even if it was in the USFL and not the NFC East.

MEMPHIS 20  NEW ORLEANS 17

Don’t look now, but the Memphis Showboats have won 4 in a row and now sit atop the Southern Division. They pull off the win this week by doing what no one has been able to do before, shutting down Geno Smith and the Breaker passing game. Smith completed only 12 of 26 passes, assuming you don’t count the 2 he completed to Memphis defenders. Yes, the Showboats gave up 121 yards and a TD to DeMarco Murray, but by focusing on Smith they were able to keep the Breakers from racking up points, and with 13 unanswered points to close out the game, including a Bortles to Goedert TD, the Showboats came back from a 17-6 deficit to snatch away a win.

POTG: Showboat DE Sam Acho: 3 Tck, 1 TFL, 1 Sck, 1 FF

PITTSBURGH 15  OHIO 10

Kenny Pickett has his first USFL win as the Maulers upset Ohio in Columbus to notch their first W of the season. The Mauler D spied Justin Fields all game, forcing him to stay in the pocket. The offense finally found some semblance of a run game, with Sony Michel hitting on a 40-yard TD run, but carries split between him, Cam Akers, and Rico Dowdle for 103 yards. The Mauler D held Ohio to only 10 first downs and only 230 total yards in a game that defied the oddsmakers and left 41,207 Glory fans with a sour feeling about their suddenly 3-3 club.

POTG: Mauler DE Vic Beasley: 5 Tck, 3 TFL, 1 Sck

DENVER 27  BALTIMORE 29

The Gold continue to overhaul their RB room (see below) and could have used it today as they could not close out the game in the final minutes, giving Baltimore the final drive they needed for Andrew Franks to hit his 5^th field goal and give the Blitz the win. Despite a 100-yard kickoff return from WR Kevin White and a late Allen to Tate TD, the Gold could not hold off the Blitz. Jake Locker (26 of 42 for the game) hit rookie Christian Watson and TE C. J. Uzomah in the final seconds to get Franks into position for the game winner.

POTG: Baltimore kicker Andrew Franks: 5 for 5 on field goals.

LAS VEGAS 27  NEW JERSEY 31

Coach Landry had his QB decision taken away from him as Matt McGloin suffered a fracture in his eye socket and a concussion midway through their game in New Jersey, making Gardner Minshew the starter for at least the next few weeks. Minshew hit on a 3^rd quarter TD to give Las Vegas a 24-21 lead, but New Jersey rallied, with rookie HB Kyren Williams scoring early in the 4^th to give them the lead for good. The combo of Williams and Tony Pollard combined for 130 yards rushing, while Teddy Bridgewater went 16 of 23 for 217 and 2 scores as the Generals return to .500.

POTG: New Jersey CB Aqib Talib: 5 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 Int

ST. LOUIS 14  CHICAGO 20

Chicago remains unblemished, but the Skyhawks acquitted themselves well in this slugfest. James Conner caught a TD pass from backup QB Tyrod Taylor and ran one in as well, but it was not enough as Chicago came back from a 14-3 deficit with 3 field goals and a 25-yard run from their rookie HB, Rachaad White to pull ahead and secure their 6^th win in 6 games. Both defenses were solid throughout, but Chicago was able to keep the Skyhawks from converting a single 3^rd down (0 for 8) on the day, and that proved enough.

POTG: Chicago CB Josh Norman: 7 Tck, 4 PDef, 1 Int

SAN ANTONIO 17  PORTLAND 16

A missed 48-yarder in the final seconds is the difference as San Antonio hangs on and avoids the upset in Portland. The Stags led 16-10 until Flacco hit Jalen Reager for a score with 1:38 left on the clock. Marcus Mariota moved the Stags into range in the final seconds, but rookie kicker Cameron Dicker, who had hit from 56 earlier in the day, hooked the final second kick just a bit too far to the right, preserving the win and an impressive 5-1 record for the Gunslingers.

POTG: Gunslinger CB Jordan Pugh: 10 Tck, 1 PDef ,1 Int

LOS ANGELES 13  SEATTLE 17

Trevor Siemian stepped in once again, this time going 22 of 33 for 220 and a TD against a pretty nasty LA defense. That, paired with a Taylor Rapp 44-yard pick-six proved to be enough for the homestanding Dragons to escape the divisional matchup with a win. Murray threw two picks in the game and had head coach Marvin Lewis noticeably frustrated on the sideline as LA went 1 for 9 on third down, with the team losing despite Paul Perkins’ success on the ground (17 carries for 132 yards).

POTG: Seattle SS Taylor Rapp: 8 Tck, 1 Pdef, 1 Int, 1 Def TD

ARIZONA 27  PHILADELPHIA 17

The Wranglers join Chicago at 6-0 by building up a 27-3 lead over the first 3 quarters and gliding in for a comfortable 10-point victory in Philly. Allgeier and Carey combine for 110 yards rushing, Ryan Nassib goes 13 of 20 with a TD to Brandon Aiyuk, and the the defense holds Philadelphia on 2 fourth-down attempts to get the win.

POTG: Wrangler LB A. J. Klien: 4 Tck, 1 TFL, 1 Sck, 2 PDef

ATLANTA 29  JACKSONVILLE 17

Josh Rosen has another solid outing (24 of 32 for 285 and 2 TDs) as he uses Nick Chubb’s 113 yards to set up play action against a Bulls’ defense that just kept biting at the fakes. Trevor Lawrence was sackd 4 times, picked once, and finished only 10 of 20 on the day as the Bulls still cannot find an offensive groove. For Atlanta, A. J. Green had 8 catches for 97 yards and a TD with Kelvin Benjamin not far behind with 5 for 92 yards.

POTG: Atlanta HB Nick Chubb: 22 Att, 113 Yds, 2 TD, 3 Rec, 36 Yds

BIRMINGHAM 24  CHARLOTTE 21  OVERTIME

Charlotte continues to prove to be a tough out as they take the Stallions to overtime. The Monarchs put up 10 points in the final 7 minutes to send the game to overtime, the key play being a Lynch to Tandon Doss TD throw on 3^rd and goal with 13 seconds to play. But, in overtime, the Monarch offense faltered, giving Birmingham a short field, and Chris Boswell connected on a 49-yarder for the win to bring the Stallions to 4-2 on the year.

POTG: Stallion WR Henry Ruggs: 4 Rec, 116 Yds, 1 TD

NEW ENGLAND 27  OKLAHOMA 20

This battle of surprising squads in 2022 goes to the visiting Steamrollers, with T. J. Yeldon shocking the Outlaws and their fans with 142 yards rushing and 2 TDs despite getting 1 fewer carries than rookie Breece Hall (17 for 73 and TD) as New England exploited the Outlaw front 7 for 219 combined yards rushing. Oklahoma also had success on the ground, with Eddie Lacy rushing for 100 and QB Jalen Hurts scrambling for another 64, including a 16-yard TD run in the 4^th, but it was not enough as the Steamroller defense held Oklahoma to 4 of 10 on third down.

POTG: New England HB T. J. Yeldon: 16 Att, 142 Yds, 2 TD

OAKLAND 17  SAN DIEGO 10

San Diego never led as Oakland kept new starter Mason Rudolph in check. Rudolph finished 23 of 37, but for only 213 yards as the Invaders kept all Thunder receivers in front of them. Scoring 2 touchdowns in the final 1:30, thanks to a Rudolph pick, the Invaders took a 17-3 lead into the half and held San Diego in check in the second half to reclaim .500 after 6 weeks.

POTG: Oakland CB Brandon Boykin: 6 Tck, 3 PDef, 1 Int

ORLANDO 26  MICHIGAN 3

Things are getting ugly in Michigan as the offense was booed off the field several times by angry Panther fans and LeVeon Bell picked up a penalty after throwing his helmet to the turf after one of the club’s missed 3^rd down attempts. It was 16-0 Orlando at the half, 23-0 after 3, and the Panthers just seemed to have nothing in the tank as questions arise about the team, QB Kirk Cousins, and Head Coach Sean McDermott, something absolutely unexpected before the season began.

POTG: Orlando QB Russell Wilson: 20/27, 186 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int

HOUSTON 19  TAMPA BAY 13

We expected a shootout, we got a slugfest as both defenses came to play. The Gamblers sacked Dak Prescott 5 times, forcing a pick and a fumble, and held him to 9 of 23 passing. Tampa Bay held Colt McCoy to only 185 yards passing, but Carlos Hyde came through with a 16-yard TD run and enough tough yards to get kicker Younghoe Koo in range for 4 field goals as Houston ekes out a hard fought win over the defending champs.

POTG: Houston DE Payton Turner: 3 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR

Panthers With More Questions than Answers

They were picked by many, including us, to retake the Central Division title, but the Michigan Panthers are sitting at 1-5 and looking like a team that has completely lost their way. How and why is this happening? Well, the short answer is that nothing is working right. The longer answer is that the Panthers’ formula of a run-heavy play action offense and a stingy zone-based defense is simply not getting the results they or anyone expected. The Panthers currently rank dead last in points allowed, giving up nearly 29 points per game, along with 380 yards per game (28^th out of 30 teams). The offense is ranked 29^th in scoring, averaging 13.8 PPG, which means that there is a 15 point margin of defeat on average, a truly horrible stat. So, where do we start.

On offense, the Panther need to give LeVeon Bell more carries, it is just that simple. Their star back is averaging an impressive 4.9 yards per carry, but with only 104 carries, he is averaging only 17 touches per game. We get that he is now over 30 and maybe you want to meter out his workload, but for this offense to work, they need Bell to be closer to 25 carries, not 15. Secondly, the passing game needs to find a way to stretch the field. Neither Cody Latimor nor Justin Blackmon is getting deep enough to stretch the defense vertically, both averaging 13 yards per catch. Without more vertical threat it is too easy for teams to keep Michigan to short gains, produce more 3^rd downs and then blitz Kirk Cousins in obvious passing downs, and for all of Cousins’s good qualities, dealing with quick pressure is not one of them.

On defense, Michigan needs to refocus their secondary schemes. They are dead last in the league in passes defended, in large part because their zones are too loose and their defenders too far from the receivers to get to them before a catch is made. Combine that with poor tackling, which has apparently hit Michigan like a flu virus, and you have a very bad combination. The Panthers are getting decent pressure on obvious passing downs (15 total sacks has them just below the league average), but on 1^st and 2^nd down, they are not pressing enough to keep teams from gaining enough to create very makable 3^rd downs.

The fact that the Panthers are also dead last in turnover margin (-6) is an indictment on both sides, as the Panther D is not creating enough takeaways (only 7) and the offense is giving the ball up far too often (13 times in 6 games), including 9 picks between Cousins (3) and Heinecke (6). In other words, Michigan is basically doing everything possible to get blown out, and teams are more than happy to oblige, as Orlando did this week (26-3). Michigan’s 5 losses have been by 26 (Chicago), 16 (Seattle), 15 (St. Louis), 10 (Atlanta) and 23 (Orlando). There may be no quick fixes to this season’s woes, but Coach McDermott had better start trying something, perhaps more man-to-man from his secondary, more run blitzes on early downs, more LeVeon Bell on 2^nd and even 3^rd down, and more ball security and tip drills to get back in the turnover game. If not, well, Chicago already has a 5-game lead over Michigan in the division, and the Panthers are looking like the clear basement dweller, a position their fans are not prepared to accept.

Colt McCoy’s Health a Concern in Houston

What the heck is wrong with Colt McCoy? Nothing statistically, where he has a league best 121.7 QB rating. He has yet to throw a pick, an dis completing 65.9% of his passes, all outstanding. But you know what we mean. We are 6 games into the season and Colt McCoy has left every single one early, forcing Landry Jones into 4^th quarter action in each game. This is not the result of a known injury, or McCoy getting hit and forced out. He is coming out apparently due to exhaustion. And that is strange to say about a professional athlete, but even moreso for a pocket passer like McCoy, who is not scrambling all over the field.

So far Coach Cottrell has been mum on the issue, and more and more reporters are asking the question. His pat answer of “we felt it was best for Colt to pull him out” is falling flat of providing answers and there is concern around league circles that the Gamblers are failing to report a significant health issue. It is just a matter of time before the league office, as well as reporters, demand an answer as to why Colt McCoy is spending the end of every game on the sideline with a towel over his head. How soon we get answers may not be known, but it seems pretty clear that something will have to be explained before too long.

Lewis Visibly Frustrated with Kyler Murray

Earlier in our report, we highlighted Kyler Murray as a potential trade candidate, well ,if wild speculation can be trusted. The reason why that may well be possible is clear, he has lost the faith of his coach. Throughout the game this week, a game in which Murray failed to connect with open receivers on key 3^rd downs and threw two pretty bad picks, you could see Coach Lewis fuming on the sideline, hurling his clipboard to the turf at one point, and visibly chewing out his QB Coach, who then would try to speak with Murray. It was clear that Lewis was displeased, but the fact that all interaction was filtered through the QB Coach, Ashton Grant, may indicate a deeper rift and a greater lack of confidence between coach and quarterback.

Kyler Murray has been with LA since being drafted out of Oklahoma in 2019, Lewis’s first year with the club. But, while Lewis was hired prior to the USFL Draft that January, it was clear that it was the GM and front office, not Lewis who made the selection. Now, that in and of itself would not usually be an issue, but when that key draft pick fails to deliver over 3, now 4 seasons, then the issue can get heightened. In his 4 years with LA, Murray has topped 3,000 yards only once (2021), has yet to throw for more than 20 touchdowns in a season, and has yet to surpass an 85 QBR. That last number is one that pretty much every other 4-year starter has been able to surpass at least once. With his 2022 numbers perhaps the worst of his USFL career (49.2% completion rate, 66.4 QBR, and a 4:4 TD:INT rating), Lewis seems to be losing patience.

It was Lewis who pushed for the Express to sign Nick Foles as a backup who could push Murray. It may also be Lewis, a defensive-minded coach who has built a very stout defense, who demands that a change be made, and not just a change in starter, but a deal to find another alternative at the QB position. Murray managed to get an extension on his deal after his 2020 season, so his contract runs through 2024, but that is no guarantee that he will be suiting up for the Express for that long, and the way Coach Lewis looked and acted on the sideline every time Murray came off the field, we are not sure he makes it through 2022 with the club.

Dragons Playing “Clean” in Title Pursuit

If you want to know how Seattle has won 4 of their last 5 and has taken a 1-game lead in the Pacific Division, there is one stat that speaks volumes. The Dragons are the “cleanest” team in the league. What does that mean? How about a +12 turnover margin, fueled by the club only suffering 2 turnovers in 6 games while racking up 14 takeaways. Those are about as solid as these numbers ever get. Seattle is also one of the 3 least penalized teams in the league, along with Orlando and Arizona. That combination of low turnovers and low penalties means that Seattle does not beat themselves. Their opponents have to find a way to beat them without counting on the Dragons making mistakes. Seattle may not be the highest-scoring team in the league (actually they are 14^th), but those two factors, paired with a very stingy scoring defense, is more than enough to help a team win a lot more games than they lose.

Vegas Loses a Primary Weapon with Bateman Injury

Las Vegas is having some issues. Not only were they mired in a potential QB controversy, one temporarily solved by an injury to Matt McGloin, but this week they lose one of their primary weapons to a season-ending injury. Speed receiver Rashod Bateman will miss the rest of the 2022 campaign after a diagnosis of a full PCL tear, requiring several months to heal and rehab. Bateman is the “deep” receiver, whose speed complements Aaron Dobson’s underneath game. His absence will require Las Vegas to restructure their offensive scheme.

We expect 5^th year receiver Darius Slayton to take over Bateman’s spot outside, allowing John Ross to remain in the slot, but Slayton is just not going to have the same impact on secondaries as Bateman demanded. That means safeties staying shallow and teams keying on early moves and short routes. That will make life tougher for whoever is at QB, but also for the HB duo of Kareem Hunt and Matt Jones, who will see safeties join into run coverage a lot sooner. Expect Las Vegas to try to find an answer either in free agency or via the trade, because without speed, an offense is significantly easier to defend, which is not good for a team struggling already at 1-5.

Michigan’s struggling offense loses a weapon as a hamstring partial tear for Donovan Peoples-Jones means the backup receiver will be out for the remainder of the year. Better news for Ohio as guard Daniel Kilgore is expected to return before season’s end. Houston halfback Carlos Hyde did not show signs of injury in the game this weekend, but by Tuesday was listed as OUT with a hairline fracture in his upper arm (humerus), an injury he apparently suffered on a rough tackle midway through the 4^th quarter against Tampa Bay. Matt McGloin could be out 2 weeks or longer with a fracture in the lacrimal bone along his nose as well as a concussion. The injury causes McGloin’s eye to tear excessively, which will slow his return and require that he wear a visor for the remainder of the season.

OUT

WR    Rashod Bateman              LV           PCL Tear         IR

WR         Donovan Peoples-Jones MGN     Hamstring    IR

OG         Daniel Kilgore          OHI       ACL Tear       4-6 Weeks

LB           Blake Martinez       LV           Back                2-4 Weeks

HB         Carlos Hyde          HOU     Arm            1-2 Weeks

OG         Nick Easton        NE          Ankle             1-2 Weeks

WR         Michael Pittman Jr.  BAL        Shoulder         1-2 Weeks

K             Randy Bullock     NOR      Shoulder        1-2 Weeks

SS           Lano Hill       NJ           Jaw                  1-2 Weeks

QB         Matt McGloin    LV           Eye Socket       1-2 Weeks

DOUBTFUL

LB           Shaq Thompson           DEN      Finger

CB          Robert Anderson          CHI        Groin

QUESTIONABLE

G            Vlad Ducasse                CHI        Knee

USFL and NFL in Talks Around Transfer Rules

With the USFL having already made a major adjustment to their draft format for 2023, removing the Territorial Draft, expanding the Open Draft to 9 rounds and requiring that teams include 2 territorial picks among their 9 selections, the attention of the USFL turned to the flawed transfer window system with the NFL. This week, members of the USFL and NFL competition committees met in New York to begin talks on how to reform the twice-annual interleague transfer process. Both leagues had a common interest in adjusting the dates for both the fall and spring windows, however, both had the same issues. The NFL wants the fall window to open in August, not September, so that USFL transfers can be on their new NFL squads in time for the final preseason games. The USFL wants the exact same option, moving the spring window from February to mid-January, allowing NFL imports the same ability to join USFL clubs prior to Week 1 of the regular season. But, as you might expect, neither league wants the transfer window to open prior to their league’s championship game. With the Super Bowl now occurring in early February and the Summer Bowl in early August, there is not a lot of wiggle room to be had.

The solution, one being discussed at the meetings this week, is a two-tier system, one in which free agents from non-playoff teams might become available sooner, while free agents from each league’s playoff contenders would retain the later transfer window dates. That would mean 14 teams of the NFL’s 32 and 12 teams from the USFL’s 30 would see their players made available on the standard September or February windows, while the remaining 18 teams in both the USFL and NFL would see their players with a 3-week window which starts during their respective league’s playoffs.

It is a more complex, and certainly flawed compromise, but one that may well pass muster with both leagues. Both are also expected to agree on a 3-week limit for both groups of free agents, as well as a defined timeframe for coaching hires across leagues, with active coaches impacted. Coaches released by their teams become true free agents and can sign with either league at any time, but when it comes to one league “poaching” a coordinator or position coach from the other, a transfer window similar to the one for players would remain in effect.

While we do not expect a final resolution and agreement between the two leagues this week, we anticipate that within the next month or two we will see a new deal and a modification that could begin as soon as August of this year. More to come as this important topic to USFL teams, players, and agents, is worked out.

40 Greatest Players in USFL’s First 40 Years: 25-23

Back again with 3 players whose careers overlapped between 1997-2004, each a multiple-time All-USFL selection and among the best of their generation. All three remain connected with the league, with one a current Head Coach, one a broadcaster, and one a key figure in the league’s youth mentorship program. Here are your Top 40 players numbers twenty-five to twenty-three as the countdown continues.

25) OT Richmond Webb (1990-2004)

What can we say about the 9-time All-USFL tackle for the Stallions that is not already common knowledge? Webb was a 17-year stalwart, a brick wall against edge rushers, a mild-mannered monster of a man who was the personal bodyguard to every Stallion QB of the 90’s and into the 2000’s. This is a man who played 225 games at Left Tackle and gave up only 82 sacks, less than 1 every 2.7 games. And while 82 is not the smallest number you will see, you need to remember that tackles, not guards or centers, get the blame every time they do the right thing against the blitz and the back or tight end doesn’t pick up the extra man. They get the sack credited when the loop or stunt sends a player outside, when they are already occupied. In other words, they get the blame when someone else is not doing their part. So while we may point out a guard with fewer than 10 career sacks, it does not make Webb’s 82 any less impressive. And besides, are you going to tell this man-mountain that 82 seems like a lot? No, you are not.

24) LB Mike Vrabell (1997-2014)

The 3-time league tackle leader from Jacksonville was about as consistent a force on defense as any player in the league over his career. We are talking about 18 seasons in game, 15 with the same team, and in that time, how about 12 seasons with 100 or more tackles? His 1,882 averages out to a career average of 105 tackles a year, an average over 100? That is insane. Remove his early years as a backup with the Thunder and you are talking about an average of 114 tackles per year. That is monstrous.

Vrabel, who returned to the Bulls this year after quickly moving up the coaching ranks from LB coach to DC and now Head Coach, retired only 7 years ago, and did so with 11 All-USFL honors, ranging from 2000 through 2014, as well as the 2004 USFL DPOTY award. In other words, as USFL defenders go, Mike Vrabel was one of the best ever to don a helmet and pads.

23) HB Eddie George (1996-2010)

When the Ohio Glory joined the USFL in 1995, claiming Ohio State as one of its Territorial Draft protected schools, you just had a sense that they would be built with a backbone of Buckeyes. No one was a stronger example of the Glory’s strong “Buckeye Backbone” than George. Over 15 USFL seasons, all played in the same stadium where he had risen to national prominence as a Buckeye, Eddie George was a centerpiece of Ohio’s offense. With 16,265 career yards, 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, 9 All-USFL nods, two USFL titles, and a key role in the league’s only undefeated season, the 2-time USFL OPOTY was always a lock to make this list.

George ranks 4^th All-Time in yardage, 6^th in rushing touchdowns, and 4^th in carries, but don’t try telling folks in Ohio that he is not the best back ever to lace up cleats for the USFL. We placed him above Kelvin Bryant, which is sure to get some Philly fans upset, but the numbers hold up, and while George won’t be our highest ranked HB on the list, or the highest ranked member of those Glorious Ohio Glory seasons of the early 2000’s, he is certainly a player whose rank will be debated because his impact was palpable, his talent readily visible, and his legacy impeccable.

Week 7 will see 6 teams on bye weeks, split between the Central and Southern Divisions. That means a 12-game schedule, which removes the regional games on Sunday as well as the ESPN Friday night game. Even so, 12 games can still provide us with some great matchups and some good viewing. Among the games we think will highlight Week 7 are a repeat of the Orlando-Tampa Bay showdown from 2 weeks ago, a game easily won by the Bandits, a result Orlando cannot afford to repeat. We also have a Cascade Clash in Portland as the Dragons face the Stags on Sunday night. Dallas takes their shot at the unbeaten Arizona Wranglers with a Saturday afternoon tilt on FOX, and New England tries to retain their spot atop the NE Division as they face an improving Washington Federals squad. Not a bad lineup for a reduced slate of games.

Fri. 7pm ET         Los Angeles (3-3) @ Denver (2-4)*                 NBC

Sat. 12pm ET     Charlotte (2-4) @ New Jersey (3-3)                 ABC

Sat. 12pm ET   New England (4-2) @ Washington (3-3)         FOX

Sat. 4pm ET       Las Vegas (1-5) @ Philadelphia (2-4)               ABC

Sat. 4pm ET      Dallas (2-4) @ Arizona (6-0)                              FOX

Sat. 8pm ET       Oakland (3-3) @ Birmingham (4-2)*                  NBC

Sat. 8pm ET      Orlando (3-3) @ Tampa Bay (4-2)                    ESPN/EFN

Sun 12pm ET     Jacksonville (1-5) @ Memphis (4-2)*                 ABC

Sun 12pm ET     Atlanta (3-3) @ St. Louis (4-2)*                         FOX

Sun 4pm ET       San Diego (1-5) @ San Antonio (5-1)               ABC

Sun 4pm ET       Baltimore (3-3) @ Oklahoma (4-2)                    FOX

Sun 8pm ET      Seattle (4-2) @ Portland (1-5)*                          EFN

BYE: Chicago, Michigan, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Houston, New Orleans

(*) = Throwback Uniforms