2022 USFL Week 8 Recap: Andy Dalton & Kyler Murray Dealt in 3-Way Swap
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Week Eight was exciting even before the first kickoff, as a three-way trade shook up the league by sending two starting quarterbacks off to new homes. We will cover the deal that shook up three divisions and may well prove pivotal in at least two division races, our Big Story for the week. We will also review the press conference that gave us an answer to Colt McCoy’s mysterious late-game benchings, cover all the game action from a busy weekend, and offer you our second Power Ranking for the season. All that, plus three more USFL Greats are named This Week in the USFL.
Dalton & Murray Part of 3-Way Deal
We told you something was in the works last week, and not 2 days later, on Friday the deal was done. It ended up a 3-team deal between the Maulers, Express, and Fire that included 5 players and a draft pick changing hands. We’ll break it down first and then take a look at who we think may have come out on top in the deal.
The two biggest names in the deal are clearly the quarterbacks, with Andy Dalton moving from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles and Kyler Murray heading from the Express to the Fire. The deal also saw LA sending LB Anfernee Jennings to the Fire as well. Atlanta demanded on a LB as part of the deal since they were giving up two defenders to the Maulers. Atlanta sends LB Zavier Gooden as well as cornerback Desmond King to Pittsburgh, the only club not gaining a new option at QB. Finally, the Maulers provided LA with a 3rd rounder to sweeten the deal. In the end Pittsburgh gains two defenders while Atlanta gets a QB and a linebacker and LA picks up a QB and a draft pick. But, in the big picture, who actually comes out on top? That is the question, that and how soon we will see either Dalton or Murray on the field with their new teams.
The answer to that 2nd question will depend a lot on how each QB adapts to a new system with new nomenclature and new emphases. LA went with Nick Foles this week, which makes sense when you consider Dalton had barely just landed when the Express headed up to Portland. Dalton made the trip, but was not in uniform. With a bye in Week 9, even money says we will see Andy Dalton under center when the Express head to Oakland for a huge Week 10 showdown in the California Derby. As for Kyler Murray, we don’t think he will jump right in. Josh Rosen has had some decent outings, and certainly gives the Fire a better chance to win than to throw Murray to the wolves before he has had a chance to learn the system. Our best guess is that if Rosen struggles this week against Chicago and in Week 10 against Ohio, we may see Murray in Atlanta’ s next home game, a Week 11 matchup with the Memphis Showboats. If Atlanta is going to go with Murray, they will want to get him some action before they have their final divisional swing. The Fire play 5 divisional games in their final 6 for the year (v. ORL, @ CHA, v. TBY, v. JAX and @ TBY). That vital 6-game stretch could well be a mini-season for Kyler Murray.
As for the Maulers, we expect both Gooden and King to be suited up this week when Pittsburgh hosts Michigan in a battle of 1-6 clubs. Gooden could spend time both in the middle and on the strong side, while King is penciled in as a nickel option right now. Overall it may be a few weeks before we see the full impact of the deal, but already there is speculation on who won and who was grasping at straws. Looking at the 3 clubs involved, there are certainly enough question marks to go around.
Los Angeles: The Express get Coach Marvin Lewis a pure drop back passer, one who has been up and down over his career, but one who certainly has the capacity to make plays from the pocket. Will that shift in offensive focus help the Express? Certainly Dalton’s reputation as a team leader and his experience will help the Express feel a bit more in control of their own destiny. But, we should remember that Dalton has already missed several weeks this season due to injury and at age 33, those injuries will likely be more frequent as Dalton’s body has succumbed to the trevails of a pocket QB.
Atlanta: This is an intriguing situation for the Fire. Josh Rosen has played relatively well over the past month, with an 89.9 QB Rating and a 4:2 TD to Int ratio. He is not making a lot of big plays, but he is not producing a lot of gaffs either. Kyler Murray was clearly struggling this year in LA. He comes to the Fire with a 67.3 QBR, 7 picks to 7 touchdowns, and has completed barely 50% of his passes (50.3%). Now, that said, the theory in Atlanta is that the Express simply did not build their offense around Murray’s skills. It seems clear that Coach Elizondo is interested in using more of Murray’s legs, perhaps not as a pure runner, but as a mobile QB who can throw from outside of the pocket. Pairing him with Nick Chubb should create more RPO options than we saw with Aaron Murray or are seeing now with Rosen.
Pittsburgh: The big concern among Mauler Nation is that the trade leaves Pittsburgh almost entirely reliant on their rookie QB, Kenny Pickett. Pickett has been more good than bad over his first 7 games, but the Maulers now don’t really have a fallback plan if things start to go south. Pickett is backed up by Kevin Hogan and undrafted rookie Larry McMillen, moved up from the practice squad. We honestly would not be surprised if Pittsburgh brought in a more veteran backup for Pickett. Two names to consider would be Bryan Kohler and Tyler Thigpen, both awaiting a call after not making final cuts this preseason. On the positive side, the Maulers have just added 2 very solid players to a defense that had already proven to be the backbone of the team. The Maulers may have trouble putting points on the board (they still have the league’s worst rushing attack), but their defense could prove to be even more effective than their current 2nd ranking in yardage and 11th position ranking in points allowed. Both Desmond King and Zavier King should help the Maulers with depth and athleticism in pass coverage. Gooden is also a solid tackler who could help the Maulers improve their 9th rated rush defense. It may not be enough for this year, but if Pittsburgh can find the pieces they need to mount a solid run game in 2023, this could be a very good deal for them long term.
MICHIGAN PANTHERS 13 OHIO GLORY 17
We have had more than ample examples of the Michigan-Ohio Border War providing us with great games, and we are not just talking about “The Game” between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines. The Panthers and Glory have also played their part in the rivalry between the two midwestern states. This week’s clash in Columbus may not have been the highest-scoring affair between the two, but it was another beauty of a game, with both teams slugging it out in the trenches and only 1 able to come out on top.
For Ohio, this game was about staying relevant in a Central Division that seems to be well in Chicago’s control. Trailing both the unbeaten Machine and the upstart St. Louis Skyhawks, Ohio, at 3-3, needed a win to get back over .500 and stay in the hunt for a Wild Card, if not a shot at Chicago and the division title. For Michigan, the stakes were very different. Coming into the game at 1-5, the Panthers needed to prove to themselves that the season was not lost, and that the issues raised in their first 6 games could be addressed without a top to bottom overhaul. Both clubs had 2 weeks to prepare for each other, with both coming off their bye week for this big showdown. The added time, and the two teams’ familiarity with each other made for a close game, a war of attrition between two clubs that simply did not want to risk and that were ready for the expected from their foe.
The lack of risk taking was more than evident in the first quarter of this divisional matchup as both defenses dominated against somewhat vanilla playcalling from both offensive playcallers. Justin Fields attempted only 1 run in the opening quarter and was easily contained. Michigan basically dove Bell or Mattison at the line multiple times. It was uninspired, though each team did manage a field goal out of the quarter, it hardly seemed like two teams going all out to earn a win, more like two teams doing everything they could not to lose the game.
The 2nd quarter was much of the same, both teams still sticking to an almost comical run-run-pass three down sequence of plays. Were it not for a pair of missed tackles by Ohio we might have gone into the half tied at 3-3 and with fans in the stands opting to take a nap or stay on the concourse getting some food. The first break came for the Panthers on a short hitch route to Mac Hollins. The corner whiffed on the tackle and Hollins was able to add another 15 yards for a 28-yard gain that put Michigan at the Ohio 22. That was followed 4 plays later by a Justin Blackmon bubble screen. Safety Mark Barron, normally a surehanded tackler, had a bead on Blackmon, but the receiver managed to turn a solid tackle into an arm tackle with a slight juke, and that was enough for the lanky receiver to stretch across the plane and give Memphis a 9-0 lead, 10-0 after the PAT.
That would be the score at the half, with both teams hunkered into a very cautious and very unimaginative gameplan. Fans might have hoped for a change of strategy in the second half, but it would not come. Both teams punted on their first drives of the 2nd half, and Ohio punted again after gaining only 1 first down on their second drive. Michigan was shadowing Fields and without the threat of his scrambles the Ohio offense seemed lifeless. Michigan’s was not much better. LeVeon Bell would finish with only 47 yards against a stacked Ohio defense. No receiver in the game would clock more than 75 yards in the game, and both defenses would continue to make the plays needed to shut down offensive threats.
Ohio’s defense, late in the quarter did one better, they not only stuffed a Michigan drive, they put points on the board in perhaps the first truly exciting play of the game. It was a 3rd and 11 following a false start and Kirk Cousins wanted to find Blackmon again. Cody Latimer was double covered, but it seemed like Blackmon would be in single coverage with CB Donte Jackson. Cousins reared back to throw, but just as he released the ball Ohio DE Andy Studebaker clipped his hand. The ball fluttered as it flew out to the sideline. What had been intended as a fastball turned into a change up, and that extra time allowed Jackson to adjust to the throw, turn back towards Blackmon and undercut the pass. Jackson snatched the ball away and raced down the sideline for a 38-yard pick six. It was the first time the Ohio crowd had a real reason to cheer, and it lifted their spirits and energy for the remainder of the game.
With the game now tied, we returned to a slow, plodding pace, with both teams again unable to create any excitement. When Michigan went up 3 on a Chase McLaughlin field goal at 3:37 left to play, everyone from the FOX game announcers to the peanut vender in section 202 felt confident that Ohio would find a way to kick a field goal and we would get added time with little added action. But, much like Rocky II where the Italian Stallion took punches and led with his right hand until the final round, when he switched back to his natural southpaw to catch Apollo Creed off balance, the Ohio Glory shifted their pace, their style of attack, and their sleepy style for a hurry up no huddle that similarly caught Michigan unprepared.
Ohio came to the line at their own 22 after the kickoff, with what looked like a standard 21 formation (2 backs, 1 TE, 2 receivers), but the twist was that the second back was not fullback Mike Boone but TE Jace Sternberger. What followed was a no huddle that kept Michigan’s standard 3-4 lineup on the field, with no time to bring in a nickel. In consecutive plays, first Sternberger and then rookie Kenneth Walker, left the backfield to become a third receiver split wide. That spread the Michigan linebackers and forced adjustments in the secondary. The first down play produced an 8-yard completion to Sternberger, the second a 10-yarder to Inman. With a new first down, the Glory used the set up to run Walker on a delay for 6, then on 2nd down again it was inman for another first down. The strategy was working. In 6 plays, Ohio was on the Michigan 42, nearly in range for Robbie Gould, but with 2:27 still on the clock, there was no need to settle for 3.
Michigan would call a time out to rotate in a nickel package, but that too proved to be a problem as Ohio moved Sternberger into a lead blocker position in a traditional I formation and ran the ball 3 times to gain another first down on the Michigan 30. Those three plays took a full minute off the clock and used up the 2-minute warning. With the clock ticking, and Michigan stuck in a nickel, they kept pounding the ball with Walker, even giving TE Richard Rodgers a handoff as he went in motion, a quick hitting play that produced 5 yards and a first down at the Michigan 11. The Panthers were in trouble and they knew it. They called their final timeout with 55 seconds to play and Ohio with a 1st and 10 at the 11.
Michigan waited until Ohio had their offense on the field before sending out the final 2 defenders. They would not get caught in the wrong defense again. Ohio had switched to 1 back, 1 TE and 3 receivers, so it was a strong nickel for the Panthers. But with their backs to their own endzone, the Panthers were still in a rough spot. Ohio would switch to RPO to force defenders to make calls on the fly. On 1st and 10 Fields sprinted out left before flipping the ball to Walker for a gain of 4. On 2nd and 6 from the 7, Fields rolled right and found Curtis Samuel on a crossing pattern for 6 more. Stopped just short of the goalline, Ohio had picked up the 1st and was now looking at 4 downs and 27 seconds to get the ball 1 yard to paydirt. With 2 timeouts left, they certainly could call anything they wanted for at least the first two plays.
For the first time all game you could feel the Ohio crowd in the game. The drive had animated the Glory faithful and now, with what felt like eminent victory in front of them they were in full voice, quieting only when Fields stepped under center. Still in a 3-wide formation. Rodgers shifted from right to left, Fields took the snap, faked the handoff to Walker, who dove towards the right side of the line, drawing in MLB Devin Bush. Fields rolled to the left, finding Dontrelle Inman crossing the line of scrimmage. As Sean Porter crashed down on Fields, he floated the ball to Inman, who caught it and rolled to the ground for the game winner.
It had taken 57 minutes of slow, deliberate, and, quite frankly, boring football to get 3 minutes of pure genius. Coach Gruden had lulled Michigan to sleep, and in the final minutes had turned up the pace and the heat. Justin Fields played the drive perfectly, Michigan’s defense played it about as badly as a team could, always finding themselves in the wrong defense, with the wrong personnel, or forced into split-second decisions that were manipulated by Ohio’s 2nd year QB. It was a brilliant end to a pretty quiet game. The kind of ending that proves that strategy is alive and well in the USFL.
NEW JERSEY 13 BIRMINGHAM 27
Sometimes it takes only one play. Cam Newton rushed the ball 6 times (4 scrambles, 2 scripted) and 5 of those carries yielded -1 yards, so nicely done by the Generals’ D. But, oof, that 6th one: 57 yards and a score. That is the risk. Newton was also solid in the pocket, going 19 of 26 for 293 yards and 2 touchdowns. With Teddy B. dinged up and unable to go, Connor Shaw was charged with keeping up with the Stallions, and that was just too much to ask. By the half it was 24-3 Birmingham, and while they took their foot off the gas a bit in the 2nd half, they were never challenged, improving to 6-2 in front of nearly 48,000 very happy Alabamans in Protective Stadium.
POTG: Stallion QB Cam Newton: 19/26, 293 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int, 6 Att, 56 Yds, 1 TD
WASHINGTON 10 NEW ORLEANS 22
The Feds dropped their 2nd in a row, falling to 3-5 as they struggled to overcome 2 Jacoby Brissett picks and a safety from the improving Breaker D. They also struggled to contain Jordy Nelson, who brought in 6 of 7 targets for 144 yards, an average of 24 yards per catch. It was 10-7 Washington midway through the 2nd, but the Breakers rattled off 15 unanswered to close out the game and improve to 4-3.
POTG: Breaker WR Jordy Nelson: 6 Rec, 144 Yds
ST. LOUIS 10 OKLAHOMA 14
Lamar Jackson returned to action but was clearly not back to 100%, evident in his rushing total of -3 yards on 12 attempts. The lack of run game was contagious as Oklahoma kept 8, sometimes 9 players in the box, limiting both Jackson and James Conner. The strategy worked, holding St. Louis to 63 total yards rushing. The Outlaws had better luck, with Jalen Hurts busting loose on a 28-yard TD run from the shotgun and finding DeDe Westbrook for a 16-yard TD in a 14-point third quarter that proved enough to earn the W and improve to 5-3, dropping St. Louis to the same 5-3 mark.
POTG: Oklahoma LB Dont’a Hightower: 5 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF
PITTSBURGH 12 LAS VEGAS 13
Even before this week’s huge trade, Pittsburgh’s defense has been the key to their game, ranked 3rd in the league in yards allowed. They kept Las Vegas guessing with a range of coverages and line stunts, but the offense still struggled, with Kenny Pickett completing only 18 of 38 pasisng and the run game producing only 57 yards on the ground. Despite their offensive issues, the Maulers pulled ahead with 51 seconds to play, only to watch Gardner Minshew 922 of 30 on the day) work the Vipers into position for Matt Gay to hit a walk-off 57-yard field goal inside the climate controlled Wynn Arena to give Viper fans reason to celebrate, a 3rd win for the Minshew-led Viper squad.
POTG: Viper QB Gardner Minshew: 22/30, 231 Yds, 0 TD, 1 Int
BALTIMORE 31 PHILADELPHIA 17
The Stars continue to struggle with scoring, earning as many yards and more first downs as Baltimore ,but coming up 14 points short in the final tally. Derrick Henry looked solid with 20 carries for 84 yards and a score, but the defense had no answer for Jake Locker and the Blitz passing game. Locker went 20 for 28, with 4 TDs, including 2 to his new favorite target (with Michael Pittman Jr. hurt), slot man Quez Watkins. Rookie Christian Watson also hauled in a TD, his 4th in what is proving to be a very solid rookie campaign.
POTG: Blitz QB Jake Locker: 20/28, 275 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int
ARIZONA 14 SEATTLE 27
The Dragons return to 2021 form, using a stiff red zone defense to hold Arizona scoreless over 3 quarters despite the Wranglers racking up 416 yards. Four turnovers, including 3 picks of Ryan Nassib, all 3 on the Seattle side of the field, doomed the Wranglers despite their ability to pick up yards and first downs. On offense it was Brett Hundley going 19 of 25 and throwing TDs to Cooper, Rudolph and rookie Khalil Shakir to build up a 20-0 halftime lead and hold off the Wranglers to issue Arizona their first defeat of the 2022 campaign.
POTG: Seattle CB Richard Sherman: 11 Tck, 4 PDef, 2 Int
MEMPHIS 31 HOUSTON 10
For once, Gambler fans cannot complain about Colt McCoy taking a seat at the end of a game. Down 31-10 there was no reason to keep the Houston QB in the game. Memphis’s defense, led by FS Calvin Pryor’s huge day, was a thing of beauty, holding Houston to only 3 of 11 on third down and forcing 4 turnovers. Carlos Hyde was sorely missed, with stand-in Clyde Edwards-Helaire gaining only 30 yards on 17 touches, a brutal average of only 1.7 yards per carry. Meanwhile, with Todd Gurly hampered by a tweaked hamstring, David Williams stepped in and stepped up, rushing for 77 yards and 3 touchdowns (3, 5, and 1 yard) as the Showboats win their 5th game in 6 attempts and improve to 5-3.
POTG: Memphis FS Calvin Pryor: 3 Tck, 1 Sck, 2 PDef, 1 Int, 2 FF, 1 FR
SAN DIEGO 10 CHICAGO 13
Chicago almost fell into a trap game, clearly underestimating the visiting San Diego Thunder. After building a 10-0 first quarter lead thanks to a nice Bradford-Beckham 31-yard fly pattern, Chicago seemed to take the foot off the pedal way too soon, leading to San diego equalizing the score in the 4th when Mason Rudolph found Chris Givens for an 11-yard TD. Chicago managed to do just enough to put Daniel Carlson in range in the final minutes and escape with a win, but the 7-0 Machine need to use this as a lesson, showing up each and every week.
POTG: Machine rookie HB Rachaad White: 15 Att, 88 Yds
SAN ANTONIO 23 OAKLAND 26
The Invaders defended home turf, pulling out to a 26-10 lead and holding off a late run from Joe Flacco and the Gunslingers to return to .500 at 4-4. With Christian McCaffrey out, Bryce Love proved that the Invaders have a deep bench in the HB group, gauging the Gunslinger D for 131 yards on 29 carries. Davis Mills was effective as well, completing 18 of 27 for 218 yards and 2 TDs as Oakland held off the Gunslingers despite 2 Raheem Mostert TDs.
POTG: Oakland HB Bryce Love: 29 Att, 131 Yds.
LOS ANGELES 17 PORTLAND 10
Nick Foles got the start, but the Express relied on the run game to upend the Stags. Paul Perkins rushed for 102 yards and caught a 4th quarter TD from Foles as LA and Portland scored a combined 21 points after slogging through a 3-3 game for 3 quarters. It was Foles to Hollywood Brown that gave the Express the lead, followed by Perkins’s TD, providing a 14-point lead that would hold in the final minutes. Suffering 7 sacks and with his run game totally snuffed out by LA’s pressure defense, Mariota just could not rally the troops, sending Portland to their 6th defeat in 8 games.
POTG: LA edge rusher Nick Bosa: 5 Tck, 1 TFL, 2 Sck
DENVER 49 DALLAS 31
Josh Allen took over the QB Ratings lead in the USFL with a dynamic 20 of 29, 315-yard, 5-TD day against a beleaguered Dallas defense. What may be more troubling for Denver’s division foes is that the Gold put up 129 yards rushing, with recently acquired HB C. J. Prosise going for 113 and a TD on 20 touches. Three turnovers, all Justin Herbert picks, did not help the Roughnecks keep pace, with Denver pulling ahead in the 2nd quarter and continuously adding to their point total despite 11 penalties against Gold players. A solid win for a team hoping to get back in the playoff hunt at 4-4.
POTG: Gold QB Josh Allen: 20/29, 315 Yds, 5 TD, 0 Int
McCoy Reveals Medical Concern
In a Friday press conference ahead of Sunday’s game against Memphis, Colt McCoy, surrounded by his wife, his coach, and close friend and favorite target Mike Evans, revealed the story behind his mysterious lack of stamina in the 2022 season. McCoy, who has been pulled out of every single Houston game in the 4th quarter, finishing each game on the bench with a towel over his head, despite often leading Houston to victory, revealed that he was dealing with a medical condition which impacts his ability to finish out games.
McCoy revealed that for the past 5 months he has been working with doctors in Houston to address a developing medical condition known by experts as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, or more commonly as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). McCoy confessed that he has been regularly working with a team at Houston’s Texas Medical Center. At present there is no known cure for CFS and that the only effective treatments are to alter lifestyle to support the sufferer’s need for physical regeneration. McCoy stated that in addition to dietary adjustments, ongoing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with a psychologist, and use of league-approved pain medications and sleep aids, he has worked out an altered schedule for team practices to assist with the most impactful symptom, PEM (post-exertional malaise), a physical weakness that comes after sustained physical exertion.
Coach Cotrell then addressed the press, stating that he hopes that McCoy’s public announcement will quiet the rumors and whispers about everything from drugs to psychological concerns. He added that he fully backs his QB, and is more than happy to work with Colt to create a training, game prep, and in-game plan that allows Colt to get the physical and mental support needed for him to continue to play at a high level and be the leader he has been for his entire career with the Gamblers. ‘
In a statement sent to Houston press after the meeting, team founder and co-owner Jerry Argovitz praised McCoy’s tenacity, dedication and poise. He highlighted that despite dealing with this new diagnosis, the 2021 MVP has continued to play at the highest level, leading Houston to a 4-3 record while remaining a Top 10 QB in the league rankings (currently 6th). The concern, of course, is that if McCoy must be pulled from games there could come a time when the Gamblers have a game in jeopardy and it must be Landon Jones to either protect a lead or mount a comeback. That was the concern raised by fans this weekend on message boards and sports radio. The overwhelming sentiment was support for their QB but hope that the Gamblers were doing all they could to also provide Jones with the support he needed should he be called in for something more intense than mop-up duty. In this week’s game, with Houston down 21 points to Memphis at the time McCoy took a seat on the bench, there was no controversy, but there is concern that McCoy’s diagnosis and need for physical respite late in games could be a factor for the club. For now, with the mystery solved, and McCoy working with some of the finest physicians in the country, Houston will focus on the playing field and a plan for success moving forward.
Denver Finds Balance at Last
While the front page story for the Gold this week was Josh Allen’s 5-TD performance in a big divisional win at Dallas, a deeper read into the box score, and a rewatching of the film shows something perhaps even more promising for the Gold, the presence of a legitimate ground game. In his first 3 seasons as the starter in Denver, Josh Allen has had only sporadic support from the rushing attack. His biggest games, and there have been plenty of MVP-style performances, have often come when the run game was simply not effective and Allen had to carry the offense on his back.
This week, despite his gaudy numbers, that was not the case. In the past 3 weeks, Denver has traded away two of its three Week 1 halfbacks, sending veteran David Wilson to New Jersey in a deal that brought C. J. Prosise to the Mile High City. A week later, disgruntled, and largely ineffective starter Phillip Lindsay was sent to Charlotte, with scatback, 3rd down specialist, and return man Nyheim Hines coming to Denver as part of the deal. The Gold run game is now a very different creature than what we saw only 3 weeks ago, when Denver dropped 2 games to Oklahoma and Baltimore.
The new run game, evident in this week’s win over Dallas, is less a “ground and pound” and much more a “slash & burn”, with the offensive line creating cutback lanes for the nimbler Prosise. The result of the shift was obvious this week, with Prosise averaging 5.6 yards per carry, almost 4 yards per touch better than Lindsay had provided. While Hines did not see snaps in his first week with the team, his style is expected to parallel that of Prosise, focusing on one-cut, slashing, redirection runs. When short yardage calls for a more direct strategy, Jonathan Ward steps in to pound out the short gainers, as he did this week, helping Denver convert on a key 3rd and 2 and also running in a 3-yard TD.
The effect of the new Denver run game is that Josh Allen is not facing immediate pressure on 1st or 2nd down dropbacks. Teams have to respect the delayed run and draw game as well as the early down handoff. That protection could be the difference as Allen works to find receivers downfield and minimize his need to step up in the pocket seeking running lanes himself. Allen can run, and that is still a possible weapon, but with the pass rush having to at least respect the option to run, Allen has that extra second to survey the field, and this week that surveying led to 5 TDs with no picks. If that is the trend moving forward, Denver may have just made the moves necessary to make a run in the division.
5 Very Good Players Flying Under the Radar
We are 8 weeks into the USFL season and while the stars of the season are pretty clear, there are plenty of players who are doing great work and just not getting the accolades for it. These are the grinders, the key contributors, the players who are not household names, but should be seen as important pieces in their team’s success stories. We chose 5 players from 5 teams that are at or above .500, players we think are helping their teams win without getting the spotlight. These are our 5 unsung heroes through 8 weeks of the season:
Baltimore WR Quez Watkins: Slot receivers are often somewhat undervalued in a league where the outside guys are often the ones going 40, 50, or 60 yards for a score, but with the injury to Michael Pittman Jr. Baltimore has had to make some adjustments on offense, and one of the biggest bumps has been for their slot specialist, Quez Watkins. Watkins is now 3rd on the team, behind only Watson and TE Ozumah, with 31 receptions. More importantly, he has become a trusted red zone target, grabbing 6 touchdowns, 5 of which have come in the past month when Pittman was not available. With Pittman expected to return this week, Watkins may see a dip in targets, but he will almost certainly remain a real threat for Jake Locker and the Blitz attack.
San Antonio HB Raheem Mostert: Behind NFL import Melvin Gordon on the depth chart, and splitting carries with Rhamondre Stevenson, Raheem Mostert is never going to get 20 carries in a game, but those touches he does get have been explosive. This week was prime evidence of that. Mostert had 11 rushes and 3 receptions for a combined 62 yards, but in that mix were two receiving touchdowns, with the speedy back eluding defenders to turn short dump-off passes into a pair of scores. Mostert is proving to be an effective change-of-pace for Gordon and a very good receiver, something that makes him invaluable on 3rd down for the Gunslingers.
Bimingham LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: On defense we know that big hits and quarterback sacks tend to draw the most attention. Maybe that is why very few USFL fans can name Birmingham’s Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, ok, that plus the long name, we get it. But even if we start calling him JOK, we should be watching this 2nd year player. Why? For an undervalued contribution, the Tackle For Loss. As a rookie, JOK had 67 tackles, but 14 were behind the line, that’s over 20% or one in five. This year he is at 40 total tackles with 13 TFL already recorded, a game-altering 32.5%, one in three. It may not have the star-making power of the big sack, but those tackles behind the line throw teams off schedule, create long third downs, and help get defenses off the field. For that, Owusu-Koramoah is a valuable member of the Stallion D and a player we should be more familiar with.
New Orleans CB Tra’Davious White: In his 6th season with the Breakers, it is not that Tra’Davious White is not a known commodity among Breaker fans. He has been the number one corner for the Breakers for 4 years now, and yet, despite being widely recognized by other players as a very strong cover corner, he just does not have much name recognition. Why is that? Probably because he is much better at the pass defense, swatting the ball away, than the pick. With only 11 picks in 6 seasons to date, he is not exactly getting a lot of highlight films on SportsCenter, but with 123 PDef in that same time, he is clearly doing what New Orleans needs to keep offenses from converting first downs and moving the ball. It may not be flashy, but with White again among the league leaders in passes defended, he is doing what the Breakers need him to do to keep opposing offenses in check.
Denver KR Kevin White: We decided we needed to throw some love at the special teamers, and none deserves it more than Denver return man Kevin White. White may only have 3 receptions this year, buried deep in Denver’s WR group, but as a returner, he is making an impact for the Gold. White leads the league with his 30.8-yard average for returns. Think about that. It means that if he takes the ball at the goalline, he is getting you more than the 25 yards a touchback would produce, and if he takes the kick at the 10, you are likely to be starting the drive at the 40. Throw in his 100-yard TD return he had against Baltimore and you have one of the biggest playmakers on the team on special teams. There are certainly other return men who are not getting enough love, players like Memphis punt returner Kenneth Gainwell, Seattle’s dual use returner Jaire Alexander, and LA speedster Marquise Lee, but White, perhaps aided by the thin air in Denver, is our pick right now for the unsung special teams hero.
2022 Continues to be Shaped by Trades
We opened our report this week with one of the biggest midseason deals we have seen in years, but it is hardly the only deal worth mentioning. In what has been a hotter than usual trading block, the past 3 weeks have seen several season-impacting deals, including the two trades that seem to have provided Denver with a newfound run game. This week we had 3 major deals, the QB swap already outlined, but also a pair of deals which involve major defensive additions for two surprising playoff contenders.
Mingo to the Outlaws
Sitting at 2-5 and frustrated by an offense which has simply not produced, the Bulls have apparently already shifted into a restructuring mode, and this week they showed that to be the case by trading away one of their biggest names on defense. Barkevious Mingo came to the Bulls in the 2013 T-Draft, viewed as an edge-rushing talent who could help Jacksonville compete with the Orlando Renegades as Florida pass rush monsters. Despite 4 seasons with double digit sacks, Mingo’s full potential never materialized. He dropped to only 3 sacks in 2017 and has not crossed the 10-sack threshold since. This week the Bulls sent Mingo, and his sizable salary cap hit to Oklahoma in a 3 player, 2 pick deal.
Oklahoma sends CB Isaiah Oliver, a 2nd rounder in next year’s draft and a 3rd in 2024 to the Bulls to acquire both Mingo and CB A. J. Terrell. The goal for Oklahoma seems clear, to put someone across from their sack leader, Jordan Willis (6), who will force offenses to defend both edges. Mingo will take over the left end position, sliding Willis to right end and forcing offenses to scheme for both. In return, Jacksonville, which will now offer Adrian Clayborn and Duke Ejiofor as their edge combo, improves on the back end, hoping to address their 30th ranked defense (yardage) and a pass defense giving up over 272 yards per game.
Isaiah Oliver will line up opposite Keenan Lewis, allowing rookie Kaiir Elam to drop into the nickel role, having shown some issues with man coverage as an outside corner. Up front, it will be Clayborn on the left side, with Ejiofor moving into the starting lineup at right end. And, of course, the Bulls now look at having 2 second round picks in the 2023 USFL Draft, a draft that no longer includes a separate Territorial Draft, as a way to draw in more high-end talent.
Blitz & Skyhawks Swap Big Men
Another move, one designed to help two rising playoff contenders, was announced this week, with the Baltimore Blitz addressing a need at center while St. Louis added bulk to their D-line. The move was a straight 1-for-1 swap, with St. Louis sending 2nd year center Jordan Meredith to the Blitz in return for DT Angelo Blackson. Meredith who saw only limited action behind All-USFL center Rudy Niswanger, has a chance to start for the Blitz, who have been unhappy with the production of their interior run game with 35-year-old Matt Tenant struggling to shake off defenders.
For St. Louis, this is about improving their interior line on defense, with Blackson expected to form a 3-man rotation with Geno Atkins and D. J. Humphries. The Skyhawk D has been far more solid against the run this year than in past campaigns, but signs of wear are hitting the D-line, evident in this week’s loss in Oklahoma. Coach Schottenheimer is hoping that moving to a 3-man rotation at the DT position will allow him to keep all 3 fresh and produce better late-game impact as teams try to run the ball. The move should also help St. Louis’s A. J. Epenesa as more teams have tried to combination block the speedy edge rusher.
Two more deals designed to improve teams in the hunt, and with 2 more weeks left before the trade deadline, we may not yet be done with the deals and the movement of quality players across the USFL.
Another bad week with 4 players, including former All-USFL left tackle Matt Khalil added to the season-ending IR list. Birmingham in particular was hard hit, with 3 players expected to be out for at least for a week or two, though RT Greg Robinson’s neck injury could require surgery that might cost him the season. Washington also lost multiple players, including LB Anthony Walker Jr. who is now on IR with a torn ACL. Doubtful for this week are two of the league’s best rushers, with both Josh Jacobs and Todd Gurley only 25% to play.
OUT
CB Damon Arnette OHI Neck IR
DT Davion Nixon JAX Wrist IR
OT Matt Khalil PHI Achilles IR
LB Anthony Walker Jr. WSH Torn ACL IR
OT Greg Robinson BIR Neck 6-8 Weeks
DT Quinnen Williams WSH Back 6-8 Weeks
G Alex Cappa BIR Abdominal 6-8 Weeks
WR Muhamed Sanu NJ Back 1-2 Weeks
LB Reuben Foster BIR Neck 1-2 Weeks
LB Jarvis Jones BAL Foot 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
HB Josh Jacobs BAL Knee
HB Todd Gurley MEM Toe
QUESTIONABLE
SS Darrian Thompson POR Hand
WR Jameson Williams CHI Foot
WR Michael Floyd OAK Personal
LB Jonathan Bostic PHI Ribs
Midseason Power Rankings
We hit Week 8 and that means it is time for our 2nd assessment of where all 30 USFL clubs stand, our quarterly power rankings. While some teams have completed 8 games, others sit at 7, having completed an early bye. So, who is hot, who is ice cold, and what does the middle of the pack look like. Get ready to debate our choices, especially for those clubs clustered at 5, 4, 3, and even 2 wins. It’s a ranking, so it is all about the arguments of where we went wrong. Let’s get right to it.
1—Chicago (7-0)
The last remaining unbeaten team has a major road trip ahead of them, including games in Denver and Ohio to deal with.
2—Arizona (7-1)
After suffering their first loss in Seattle this week, Arizona drops to 2nd and now face back-to-back games against Denver, with a bye between them.
3—Birmingham (6-2)
Winners of 5 in a row, the Stallions look ready to come out of a Week 9 bye with a lot of momentum.
4—Baltimore (5-3)
The Blitz have won 4 in a row but face two tough games vs. San Antonio and New Jersey before their Week 11 bye.
5—Tampa Bay (5-2)
The Bandits should be 9-2 by the time they face New Orleans in Week 13, with their next 4 games against teams with either 1 or 2 wins each.
6—Memphis (5-3)
Memphis goes into the bye off a nice win in Houston, and are likely looking ahead to Week 12, when they face the Stallions for a possible shot at first place.
7—Seattle (5-3)
After losing to Portland, the Dragons rebounded with a huge home win over Arizona. They now get their bye before facing a 4-game division run between weeks 11-14.
8—New England (5-2)
Baltimore is hot on their heels, but New England can help themselves with back-to-back division games at New Jersey and home to Philadelphia.
9— Oklahoma (5-3)
After back-to-back losses, the win against St. Louis has them back in the game. After their Week 10 bye, they have 2 games in 3 weeks against Dallas, then finish the year with the Wranglers and Gold. They need to be ready to win all 4.
10— St. Louis (5-3)
A tough loss in OKC before their bye, they need to come out swinging against 2-5 Jacksonville and 2-5 Charlotte in weeks 10-11.
11—San Antonio (5-3)
Back-to-back losses have them limping into a tough game against Baltimore before their bye week. They do not want to have 2 weeks to contemplate a 3-game losing streak.
12—New Orleans (4-3)
The Breakers cannot afford too many more losses, not if they want any hope of catching the Stallions, who they don’t face again.
13—Ohio (4-3)
A 3-0 start was followed by 3 losses, but their rebound win over Michigan should help them get back in groove. Their next game against a team with a winning record is not until a Week 12 trip to St. Louis.
14—Denver (4-4)
The Gold have won 2 in a row since reshuffling their RB room. With 2 games against Arizona in the next 3 weeks (split by a bye) they need no worse than 1-1 to stay in the race for a playoff spot.
15—New Jersey (4-4)
With two games against Philly as well as matchups against the Blitz, Federals, and Steamrollers still to come, New Jersey is not out of it yet in the NE Division.
16—Oakland (4-4)
This week’s win against San Antonio is a huge lift before their bye. They have two more games against rival LA, who are also 4-4, and they likely need to sweep them to stay in the playoff hunt.
17—Los Angeles (4-4)
Expect to see Andy Dalton debut in Express Blue when LA comes out of this week’s bye. Will that be enough to jumpstart their offense and give them a run at the end of the year?
18—Houston (4-3)
The injury to Hyde and Colt McCoy’s medical situation put the entire season in question for the Gamblers, who need to win their next 2 against 2-win Philly and Portland.
19—Orlando (3-4)
The Renegades come off their bye with a winnable game at home against Charlotte, but after that, they will have a pair of tough ones at Birmingham and home to the Breakers.
20—Las Vegas (3-4)
Winning 3 in a row has helped make Gardner Minshew a popular guy on the strip, and in Wynn Arena. They have a chance to make it 4-in-a-row with Dallas on the schedule this week.
21—Atlanta (3-4)
Will Atlanta start Josh Rosen or Kyler Murray this week? Was the bye long enough to get Murray up to speed? That is the big mystery.
22—Washington (3-5)
Two straight losses, including a bad shutout at home against the Steamrollers, do not have Washington feeling very confident right now. They need a win this week against the Outlaws to turn this thing around.
23—San Diego (2-6)
The Thunder upset San Antonio and held close to Chicago, and that has them atop our list of 2-win teams.
24—Jacksonville (2-5)
A nice win over Memphis this week, but after their bye they face 3 consecutive 5-win teams (Tampa Bay, St. Louis, and San Antonio). That is a tough run.
25—Portland (2-6)
They got the win over rival Seattle but struggled with LA’s defense. They still have to get past New Orleans and Houston before they get their late week 11, bye. Could be a tough 2 weeks.
26—Charlotte (2-5)
Charlotte has a chance to make a statement coming off their bye. They have 3-4 Orlando this week and then 3-5 Washington. Two more wins are not out of the question here.
27—Dallas (2-6)
There was so much hope this offseason, but Dallas is riding a 3-game losing streak and now they face a pretty hot Las Vegas club, winners of 3 in a row.
28—Philadelphia (2-6)
Another 3-game losing streak and things are getting ugly in Philadelphia. If they are 2-8 at the bye in 2 weeks, expect some major changes in the front office.
29—Pittsburgh (1-6)
This week’s game against fellow 1-6 basement dweller Michigan is a chance for one of the two to salvage some pride. The two will face off again in Week 15.
30—Michigan (1-6)
After winning their opener, the Panthers have dropped 6 in a row, and the offense has yet to score over 20 points in any game this year. It looks like it is time to shake things up in Detroit.
Top 40 Greatest USFL Players: 19-17
We are into the final 20 names, so we don’t expect any surprise names, just debates over positioning the rest of the way. Before we get to our final 19 players, we thought a brief recap of the positions already seen and which are done would be helpful. So, here is the count so far, with positions in bold representing those roster spots that will not be seeing more names between now and number one.
Punter 1 Safety 2
Guard 2 Halfback 2
Cornerback 3 Wide Receiver 1
Linebacker 3 Tackle 1
Kicker 1 Def. Tackle 1
Tight End 2 Def. End 0
Center 1 Quarterback 1
Halfway through our list and five positions completed. No doubt we will have more tailbacks, receivers and quarterbacks in the Top 20, with D-line, linebacker and corner still to come as well. But how many of each? And who will be the best at each position? Some you certainly can guess, some maybe not, and we will certainly have some debate about the greatest USFL player of the league’s first 40 seasons. So, get ready for things to get a bit heady when we hit that Top 10. But for now, let’s get to our next 3 picks, and two new positions join our ranks as we add DE and WR to the list of the 40 Greatest Players in 40 USFL Seasons.
19) CB Donnell Woolford (1989-2003)
We start off with our 4th and final cornerback, and one that certainly will cause some debate, as Charles Woodson fans are going to have something to say. We had Woodson at 30th, and now, 11 slots higher, we are putting former Baltimore stalwart Donnell Woolford at 19. Why so high? Well, Woolford is tied with Antonio Cromartie atop the career interception list with 54, and while his defensive TD totals don’t compare with Woodson, where Woolford excelled was in his ability to play the run. Woolford retired with over 1,274 tackles, the kind of number we usually see from linebackers, not corners. And before you start claiming that this was because teams completed passes to his man, the numbers do not indicate that at all. Woolford is Top 3 all-time in Catch-to-Attempt ratio. Those tackles are largely from the run game, not from receivers getting open. Throw in his 318 career pass defenses and his perfect record of 225 starts in 225 games and what you have in Woolford is a corner who shuts down receivers, makes plays on the ball, and comes up against the run. What more could you want?
18) DE Chris Doleman (1989-2002)
You knew we could not get much further without recognizing some edge rushers, right? Doleman, the first in what has become a nearly continuous line of outstanding pass rushers in Orlando, becomes our first defensive end named. Doleman may be a surprise to many at number 18. After all, he currently ranks only 9th in league history with 198 sacks, but we are looking not just at totals, but at annual production and impact on the game, and in both Doleman far exceeds several of the names ahead of him on the career total list.
With 11 consecutive seasons in double-digit sacks, including a career best 29 in 1999, Doleman was consistently one of the league’s best at his position, and one of the most feared ends in the game as well. Doleman’s rush was not just about the sack, it was about intimidation, violence, and pure unhinged fury. Ask any USFL QB played between 1989 and 2002 and they will tell you of the impact Doleman had on their game. He is here not just for impressive numbers, but for the way he played the game and the way that affected his opponents. We have him at number 18, and while he won’t be the last DE on our list, he is certainly among the 40 best of the USFL’s first 40 years.
17) WR Randy Moss (1998-2013)
With 19,841 career yards, 144 career touchdowns, twelve 1,000-yard seasons, and 9 All-USFL seasons, was there any way you thought Randy Moss would be excluded from our list. Throw in what feels like 3,000 “poster” catches, where Moss made highlight reel plays that made defenders look cemented to the ground or just plain bad, and add in more than a dash of bravado, high EQ celebrations, and self-confidence and you have the model of the WR as Diva, but a Diva with boatloads of talent.
Moss spent 10 years with Tampa Bay, making defenders look bad, before short stints in Ohio, LA, and Birmingham to finish out his career. Moss makes our list, ahead of several receivers with more catches (Hines Ward, Peerless Price), and even more touchdowns (Lawrence Dawsey, Tory Holt) because Moss was more than just a receiver, he was a phenomenon, a game changing superstar who could shred defensive gameplans with a single play and deflate defensive egos in a single bound. His combination of speed, height, moves, and timing were a thing to behold, and he remains one of the most flamboyant fan favorite USFL stars a full decade after he hung up his helmet.
Week Nine, the new midpoint of the USFL season and that means time for teams to make that push, to turn it up to 11 and leave everything on the field. We have 12 games on tap, with bye weeks for three Pacific Division teams, two from the South, and St. Louis from the Central. So, who is in action, and which games are Must Watch TV? Here is our breakdown.
If Denver is going to make a move in the Southwest, it will have to start with their annual trek to Glendale and a tough matchup against the 7-1 Arizona Wranglers. Denver is sitting at 4-4, and a win in this one would not only be their way to top .500 but a huge shot across the bow of the division.
Saturday’s best games include a showdown in the Northeast, a traditional New York-Boston rivalry game as the Steamrollers roll into the Meadowlands with a 2-game lead on the Generals. New Jersey needs this one to have a shot at catching New England, but also because a drop to 4-5 could break their spirit. The other can’t miss game on Saturday is a battle of 5-3 teams as San Antonio and rejuvenated QB Joe Flacco head into Baltimore to face Jake Locker, Josh Jacobs, and a surging Blitz offense.
Sunday brings us a put up or shut up game for the Orlando Renegades. They sit at 3-4 and cannot fall to 2-5 Charlotte if they want to be taken seriously as a playoff contender. A win and they are back at .500, a loss and things look pretty dire for Russell Wilson and the Renegades. Later that day we have a game that may not be “must watch”, but could be intense, as the league’s two 1-6 teams, the Panthers and the Maulers battle at Heinz Field in a game that could determine if we have a coach on the hotseat this summer. Neither club is giving up yet, but losing this one could be a major blow, one neither wants to feel the sting of. Finally, we head to Atlanta where the Fire have slipped to 3-4 and may well be ready to make a change. Could we see newly acquired QB Kyler Murray only a few days into his tenure with the Fire, or will it be Josh Rosen trying to upend the unbeaten Chicago Machine. That is a tough test for either QB as Chicago’s defense ranks 1st in the league in both points and yards, allowing only 182 passing yards per game.
Fri. 7pm ET Denver (4-4) @ Arizona (7-1)* NBC
Sat. 12pm ET Tampa Bay (5-2) @ Jacksonville (2-5)* ABC
Sat. 12pm ET New England (5-2) @ New Jersey (4-4) FOX
Sat. 4pm ET San Antonio (5-3) @ Baltimore (5-3) ABC
Sat. 4pm ET New Orleans (4-3) @ Portland (2-6) FOX
Sat. 8pm ET Las Vegas (3-5) @ Dallas (2-6)* NBC
Sat. 8pm ET Philadelphia (2-6) @ Houston (4-3) ESPN/EFN
Sun 12pm ET Charlotte (2-5) @ Orlando (3-4) ABC
Sun 12pm ET Oklahoma (5-3) @ Washington (3-5) FOX
Sun 4pm ET Michigan (1-6) @ Pittsburgh (1-6)* ABC
Sun 4pm ET Ohio (4-3) @ San Diego (2-6) FOX
Sun 8pm ET Chicago (7-0) @ Atlanta (3-4) EFN
Byes: Birmingham, Los Angeles, Memphis, Oakland, Seattle, St. Louis
(*) = Throwback Uniforms (Alt Uniforms for LV-DAL)
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