Welcome back, USFL Fans as we offer our second offseason report for your favorite spring and summer obsession. With the NFL pausing for a week before Super Bowl XLIX between the Chiefs and the Dallas Cowboys, we turn our attention to the USFL, with camps about to open and players reporting. In this report, we will update you on all the signings, mid-winter trades, Draft Day deals, and the rookies that could impact the 2015 USFL season. We will also look ahead at the upcoming NFL-USFL Transfer Window to highlight possible NFL defections, and we will take a look at the can't miss games of the upcoming season. We start it all off with our Big Story, the hiring of a new coach to bring Jacksonville back from the brink.
Bulls Nab Del Rio as New Head Coach
We start off this report with the hiring of Jack Del Rio as the new head coach of the Jacksonville Bulls. The former head man for the NFL Jaguars returns to Jacksonville with a pretty bug job to fill. He will take over an 0-16 franchise that still has questions at QB and a defense that was among the worst in USFL history. How is that for a challenge.
Del Rio was named Head Coach in mid-December, giving him less than a month to get on board with Scott Pioli to plan for the USFL Draft. Jacksonville went heavily for defense after using their first pick on Wisconsin HB Melvin Gordon, selecting 4 defenders in their next five picks. Del Rio also had a hand in bringing former Outlaw DE Robert Ayers to the Bulls. But a lot of rebuilding still to be completed as the Bulls roster continues to be reformed. The Bulls are hoping to add their 1st round pick to the backfield to join CFL import Kory Sheets and scatback Kiero Small. They have added NFL wideout Reuben Randle, but lost longstanding number one option Rashaun Woods to the fall league.
The big question, of course, is what Del Rio’s plan will be at quarterback. Does he stick with Tim Tebow, or seek a trade? The Bulls did not pursue a QB in the draft, so their options may be limited to a trade or hoping to sign an NFL prospect when the Transfer Window opens. Many fans are hoping for the latter, pointing out that both Robert Griffin III and Jimmy Clausen, the former Golden Domer, are still unsigned by their NFL teams. To do either, the Bulls will need to move Tebow, whose contract all but prohibits signing another big-name player at the position.
All this is on the plate for the former Jaguars’ head man as he returns to Duvall County, to Alltel Stadium, and to a franchise that needs a facelift and a new culture to wipe away the sour memories of 2014.
We thought this offseason might be one that produced a lot of intriguing trades, and that has certainly been the case. Both in the buildup to the draft and on draft day itself, trades broke all across the league as teams tried to position themselves to get talent they coveted, either directly or through shifts in their draft position. Let’s start with some of the moves made ahead of the draft, and then we can explore the excitement on draft day itself.
Two prominent tailbacks found new homes in November as both Atlanta and Memphis opted to move back in favor of some help in other positions. The Showboats acted first, cutting a deal with the Charlotte Monarchs to bring some WR help to a Memphis squad that lost both Greg Jennings and Lee Evans to the NFL. Charlotte agreed to send veteran wideout Mark Clayton to Memphis in trade for lead back Darren McFadden. This will be McFadden’s third team since 2011, returning to the SE Division where he began his career in Atlanta. Clayton, now in his 10th season, joins his third team with the move to Memphis. The trade is an interesting one because no one expected scatback Knile Davis to take on the bell cow role for the Showboats. We all awaited another deal, and we got one in late December, but more on that later.
The other halfback sent to a new team was Atlanta’s Marcus Lattimore, who had split carries with Steven Jackson in the Fire backfield, rushing for 395 yards and 5 TDs in 2014. Lattimore became the newest member of the Pittsburgh Maulers, where he could very well be given every chance to become the primary back as Pittsburgh gave Ronnie Brown the release he had demanded. Brown remains unsigned, but Lattimore now joins Toby Gerhardt and Charles Sims in the Mauler backfield. In return for Lattimore, Atlanta shored up their line with a quality interior lineman in guard Trevor Canfield. Depth at the position allowed the Maulers to make the deal, as they expect competition between veteran Chester Adams and 3rd year swing guard Julian Vandervelde to line up across from RG Steve Sciulo.
Pittsburgh was not done dealing with the Lattimore acquisition. With a deep WR pool, the Maulers decided to part with slot receiver Tavon Austin, who did not live up to his draft hype with only 38 receptions in 2014, following a rookie year with only 24 receptions. Austin was shipped to the Jacksonville Bulls, another potential bolster to their receiving corps, as the Maulers added center Antonio Caldwell from the Bulls. Expect Austin’s spot in Pittsburgh to be filled by either Mike Williams or Josh Cribbs.
San Diego also hoped to add a new pivot and made a deal with Texas to acquire up and coming center Jason Spitz. The Outlaws sent Spitz to the newly relocated Thunder in trade for a solid receiving TE in Julius Thomas. Thomas, paired with Outlaw TE Chris Cooley could allow the Outlaws to use more 2-TE sets, which will certainly help out HB Chris Johnson as he targets 1,000 yards after a 735-yard 2014 season.
We also saw a couple of player-for-picks moves in the waning weeks before the draft as Dallas sent a 7th rounder to Memphis to acquire punter Harold Halstead. Not a huge move, but one the Roughnecks needed as they lost their punter to retirement. Finally, a bit higher on the impact meter, we saw Birmingham send LB Nico Johnson to LA for a 3rd rounder (one acquired from Chicago last year). The move helps LA deal with Lofa Tatupu’s retirement while providing the Stallions with a solid mid-round pick.
But perhaps the biggest pre-draft trades came in the week prior to the Territorial Draft, when two clubs elected to trade away top T-Draft picks to eager teams willing to give up picks in the Open Draft. As we said earlier, Memphis’s trade of Darren McFadden left them without a solid option for a lead tailback. Well, they addressed that right after Christmas with a deal they hope will bring them the gift they covet. The Showboats sent 3 picks to Atlanta, their 1st, 3rd and 5th rounders this year and in return received the rights to Atlanta’s first T-Draft pick. There was no doubt who the target would be, Georgia halfback Todd Gurley, and one week later, at the T-Draft announcement of selections, that is exactly who Memphis selected. Gurley was the consensus pick as the top halfback available in a draft that had 3 solid 1st round options (Gordon and Yeldon being the others). The move gave the Showboats a chance to pursue an elite back, and now all that is required is for them to outbid the NFL Rams.
The second big move in the T-Draft came when Arizona sent their 1st round pick in the Open Draft to St. Louis for the Skyhawks’ first T-Draft selection. Again, the target was quite obvious. Arizona has not been happy with the 12-year veteran Wade Smith at left tackle, particularly this past year, where the LT gave up 13 sacks of QB David Carr. Smith has not adapted well on a move from RT to LT and the Wranglers were seeking a better option. That option came via St. Louis’s T-Draft pick, which the Wranglers used to snap up the USFL rights to Iowa’s Brandon Scherff.
With two T-Draft deals made in the week prior to the opening of the USFL Collegiate Draft, the wheeling and dealing was not yet over. By the morning of the Open Draft, it was known that Jacksonville had not protected either of the top tier pass rushers available to them in the T-Draft, leaving both Florida’s Donte Fowler and Clemson’s Vic Beasley available in the Open Draft. For one team, the New Jersey Generals, the opportunity to find a linemate for Aaron Kampman was too good to pass up. New Jersey made a draft day deal to move up to St. Louis’s 3rd pick in the draft to land their choice of the two edge rushers. With Jacksonville having selected Melvin Gordon and Las Vegas jumping on WR DeVante Parker of Louisville, the slate was open with the 3rd pick. New Jersey opted to go for Clemson product Vic Beasley, leaving Fowler on the board for Houston at the 4th pick. St. Louis dropped down to pick 6, where they drafted Kentucky LB Bud Dupree, and still had the 22nd pick that they had acquired from Arizona in the trade of their T-Draft selection.
All in all, we saw 5 teams move their picks in the first round. New Jersey up to pick 3 (Beasley), Houston using a pick from Dallas they acquired last year at 4 (Fowler), St. Louis using New Jersey’s 6th pick (Dupree), Atlanta using the pick they acquired from Memphis for the rights to Todd Gurley (Atlanta chose DE Mario Edwards of FSU), and St. Louis with their pick from Arizona (Washington Huskie LB Hau’oli Kikaha). No moves down at the bottom of the draft, but pretty active trading throughout as we also saw 13 picks change hands between the 2nd and 4th rounds. A busy day for the stat trackers at the Draft, as well as for the various team war rooms.
Before we take a look back at the USFL Collegiate Drafts, we should highlight some of the more prominent USFL free agency signings between October and January as those moves certainly impacted the priorities of the teams involved as well as the draft boards. Here are 10 more free agent signings that could be impactful as teams prepare for 2015. These are not ranked, just 10 we feel have potential impact.
DALLAS added a veteran presence to their D-line in the form of Arizona DE Larry English. English, whose sack total has hovered between 11-13 over the past 5 years in Arizona, is expected to line up on the right side, a switch for him, but this allows Dallas to pair him with Elvis Dumervil, who finished 2014 with 15 sacks, to make a nice duo up front.
HOUSTON hopes to add yet another weapon for QB Matt Hasselbeck, landing former Bull Johnny Knox with a 2-year deal. Knox played in 13 games and had 58 receptions for 654 yards for the Bulls this year. Expect him to move into the slot, as Mike Evans, Roy Williams, and Mike Sims-Walker rotate outside.
MEMPHIS shored up the left side protection for Eli Manning by signing 29-year-old Tyson Clabo away from the Charlotte Monarchs. Clabo is a solid LT, allowing only 1 sack of Charlotte QBs in 2014.
OHIO added some potential pass rush help, landing another Monarch, DE Kamerion Wemberley to their D-line. Wemberley saw his production drop from 11 and 12 sacks in 2012-2013 (with Washington) to only 6 sacks in 2014 with Charlotte. The 30-year old is hoping to have more success with Ohio, his 7th team since coming to the league in 2006.
LAS VEGAS added WR help in the form of Ohio’s Arrelious Benn. Benn, still only 24, signed a 3-year deal with the new Vipers franchise, where he likely will compete with both Denarius and Lance Moore for a starting job after the release of WR Robert Meachem due to ongoing disputes between the wideout and Head Coach Greg Roman.
CHARLOTTE continues to tinker with their QB room. Having lost Jeff Tuel to free agency, they find a new backup through the same tool, inking former Michigan backup Tyler Thigpen to a 2-year deal. Thigpen, who had been with Atlanta before a 5-year stint in Michigan, now returns to the SE Division as a Monarch, where he will back up Brandon Wheedon.
TAMPA BAY adds a speedster in former Wrangler and Breaker Santana Moss. Moss had 52 catches for 476 yards in 2014 with the Breakers and now joins a Bandit WR group headed by Vincent Jackson and Santoni Holmes.
LOS ANGELES fills their gap at kicker by landing former Roughneck Stephen Haushka. Expect him to compete with rookie Hugh Banks, a Cal-Davis product.
ORLANDO brings in some veteran savvy at LB by signing 34-year old former Portland Stag Mark Simoneau. Simoneau missed 7 games due to injury after a very strong 2013 in which he finished the year with 105 tackles. The Renegades hope to line him up inside, allowing Anthony Barr to take over the strong side with Barrett Rudd on the weak side.
Finally, SAN DIEGO, apparently wanting to offer Marshawn Lynch more support and more opportunities to come out of the game, have added Lamar Miller to their RB room. Miller, who was the lead back for the Bulls the past 2 seasons, now clearly takes on a backup role to Lynch in the San Diego backfield. With only 4 TDs the past two seasons, Miller had simply not lived up to the promise of his 700-yard, 8 TD 2012 season in the USFL after coming over from the NFL.
The USFL Draft is a bit of an odd duck. While the Territorial Draft has proven over the years to be an effective way to get top talent to sign with the league, using the lure of lucrative local endorsements and home town fans as a draw, it does have its drawback. With so many top quality players off the board for the Open Draft, the excitement is just not the same as with the NFL Draft. To be honest, both drafts lose a bit of their luster as fans have learned that even with your team picking the player you most covet, the odds are still 50/50 that the player will end up with your club, because when you have 2 leagues competing for the same talent, there is no guarantee that a good draft turns into a good incoming class for your team or your preferred league. And so, with a bit of hesitation we review the draft class of 2015 for the USFL, both the T-Draft and the Open Draft, reminding everyone, that half of the names listed here will end up playing in the fall, not in the USFL.
JACKSONVILLE BULLS
T-Draft Players: HB Matt Jones, DT Grady Jarrett, DT DeShawn Williams.
1st Round Pick: HB Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin)
Most Interesting Move: While a lot of fans will question the double-down strategy of choosing both Matt Jones and Melvin Gordon, USFL insiders can tell you that doing so is always a good option as it protects against the NFL outbidding you for one of the two. What intrigues us is that with no interest by the Bulls in DE’s Vic Beasley (Clemson) or Dante Fowler (Florida) the Bulls accepted no offers to trade away a T-Draft pick to a team that sought edge rush help. Seems a missed opportunity.
LAS VEGAS VIPERS
T-Draft Players: DE Nate Orchard, OG Jeremiah Poutasi, DB Robertson Daniel
1st Round Pick: WR DeVante Parker (Louisville)
Most Interesting Move: Another case of “Why didn’t they?” with the Vipers. Surely someone offered them a chance to move down in the Open Draft, someone after an edge rusher, but Las Vegas stood pat with the 2nd pick and chose a receiver who they could have likely gotten at any point in the Top 10. But, if Parker can replace Robert Meachem (released in December and openly seeking a chance to join the NFL), it will prove a shrewd move in the end.
NEW JERSEY GENERALS (Trade to 3rd Pick)
T-Draft Players: FB Michael Burton, OG Ian Silberman, C Andy Galik
1st Round Pick: DE Vic Beasley (Clemson)
Most Interesting Move: The trade with St. Louis to land Beasley was clearly the big story, but we were also intrigued by the Generals picking QB Brett Hundley from UCLA in the 4th round. Are they challenging Sam Bradford or just getting some youth in the room in case of injury?
HOUSTON GAMBLERS (Trade to 4th pick)
T-Draft Players: OT Cedric Ogbuehi, DT Christian Covington, FS Deshazor Everett
1st Round Pick: DE Dante Fowler (Florida)
Most Interesting Move: A 2013 deal with Dallas gave Houston the 4th pick and they had to be overjoyed to see Fowler here. With Osi Umenyiura off to the NFL the timing of this could not be better. Now they just have to ensure he does not sign with the NFL Jaguars.
PITTSBURGH MAULERS
T-Draft Players: DE Shaquille Riddick, OT T. J. Cummings, CB Darryl Roberts
1st Round Pick: CB Trae Waynes (Michigan State)
Most Interesting Move: We like the Waynes pick, but their best move might have been to double down at DE by taking Riddick in the T-Draft then using a 3rd rounder in the Open Draft to pick Louisville’s B. J. Dubose. Good value at that pick and a nice insurance policy if they cannot land Riddick.
ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS (Traded down from 3rd in 1st round)
T-Draft Players: DE Shane Ray, DT Carl Davis, WR Dorial Green-Beckham
1st Round Pick: LB Bud Dupree (Kentucky)
Most Interesting Move: The trade down was not a surprise, and by doing so, the Skyhawks picked up 2 more picks in the Open Draft. They still got the LB they were hoping to add to the defense, and their 2nd round pick from New Jersey, Auburn TE C. J. Uzomah from Auburn, could give them a potent 1-2 at the position with All-USFL candidate Rob Gronkowski coming over in free agency.
CHICAGO MACHINE
T-Draft Players: QB Trevor Siemian, S Ibraheim Campbell, DE Ryan Russell
1st Round Pick: DT Eddie Goldman (FSU)
Most Interesting Move: While the pick of Goldman makes sense for a team trying to rebuild their defense, the move that has surprised many was the selection of Siemian from Northwestern. For those annoyed by Brady Quinn’s seeming regression, having a young, talented QB in the fold could be a sign that Quinn is on a short leash.
ATLANTA FIRE (Traded up with Memphis)
T-Draft Players: CB Damian Swann, WR Darren Waller, WR Chris Conley
1st Round Pick: DE Mario Edwards Jr. (FSU)
Most Interesting Move: The edge rush frenzy continued as Atlanta moved up to land the next best edge rusher on the board. If Edwards comes to Atlanta, it could be a crowded rotation with Chris Kelsay and C. J. Mosely, but that may well be exactly what the Fire want as they chase down those SE Division QBs.
MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (1ST round pick traded to ATL)
T-Draft Players: DE Trey Flowers, LB Martrell Spaight, CB Bobby McClain
1st Round Pick: No 1st round pick (traded to ATL)
Most Interesting Move: We placed Memphis more or less where they would have picked had they had their 1st rounder, traded to Atlanta in order to get a T-Draft bid in on Todd Gurley. Let’s be honest, this entire draft will depend on if the Showboats can land Gurley. If he goes to the St. Louis Rams instead, well, then fans will rightfully be upset.
LOS ANGELES EXPRESS
T-Draft Players: WR Nelson Agholor, DE Leonard Williams, HB Javorius Allen
1st Round Pick: CB Marcus Peters (Washington)
Most Interesting Move: The Express were the one team to actually jump on their edge rushing prospect (Williams) in the T-Draft. He could be tough to sign as he now has to choose between staying in LA with the USFL or heading to NYC with the Jets of the NFL. With Keneche Udeze not getting any younger, LA should do all they can to land the USC product.
PORTLAND STAGS
T-Draft Players: QB Marcus Mariota, DE Arik Armstead, LB D. J. Alexander
1st Round Pick: CB Byron Jones (UConn)
Most Interesting Move: Rumors have Mariota very close to signing with the Stags after being selected by the Tennessee Copperheads of the NFL. Mariota’s arrival will be a huge deal for Coach Pep Hamilton and a Stags team that needs to boost enthusiasm in the PNW for this club.
BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS
T-Draft Players: WR Amari Cooper, HB T. J. Yeldon, OG Arie Kouandijo
1st Round Pick: WR Phillip Dorsett (Miami)
Most Interesting Move: It is a common complaint that some teams just have an inherent advantage in the T-Draft, and when Birmingham can protect two Top 10 picks like Cooper and Yeldon, it is hard to argue that they have it easier than say New Jersey, Philadelphia, or Las Vegas. That said, the double down strategy by going for Dorsett after protecting Cooper proves just how precarious the draft process is. Protecting or selecting a player is no guarantee of signing that player.
SEATTLE DRAGONS
T-Draft Players: LB Shaq Thompson, HB Jay Ajayi, DT Xavier Cooper
1st Round Pick: OG Laken Tomlinson (Duke)
Most Interesting Move: We could say Tomlinson is a bit of a reach at 12, but he already signed, so that is a win for the Dragons. The pick that has fans intrigued is Jay Ajayi from Boise State, who will now join free agent Joseph Addai and power back C. J. Anderson in a very intriguing and very new-looking RB Room.
WASHINGTON FEDERALS
T-Draft Players: DE Eli Harold, S Kyshoen Jarrett, OT Laurence Gibson
1st Round Pick: OT Ereck Flowers (Miami)
Most Interesting Move: Washington is the good counter-argument this year for Birmingham. They had no one in their pool that measured as a 1st or even 2nd round pick, but they had enough bodies that the league would not grant them a supplemental school as they did a few other teams. When it came to the open draft, Flowers was their most noteworthy pick in a draft that left us a bit underwhelmed.
OHIO GLORY
T-Draft Players: TE Jeff Heuerman, LB Za’Darius Smith, WR Devin Smith
1st Round Pick: C Cameron Erving (FSU)
Most Interesting Move: It is clear that the Glory are going to try to protect whoever ends up being their QB (Weinke remains unsigned) as they went with Center Cameron Erving in the first round and then drafted two tackles in later rounds, including TCU’s Tayo Fabuluje, an intriguing 3rd round pick. Even protecting Heuerman in the T-Draft could be seen as a QB protection move.
ORLANDO RENEGADES
T-Draft Players: WR Breshad Perriman, S Clayton Geathers, OG Jon Feliciano
1st Round Pick: CB Kevin Johnson (Wake Forest)
Most Interesting Move: Other than protecting Feliciano, this draft was all about speed for the Renegades. Perriman in particular is a speed demon, but Geathers and Johnson are also fast for their positions. Guess the Renegades are going to try to outrun the division.
SAN DIEGO THUNDER
T-Draft Players: LB Eric Kendricks, OG Terry Poole, FB Joey Iosefa
1st Round Pick: LB Stephone Anthony (Clemson)
Most Interesting Move: The trade for Joe Webb was a clear indicator that beyond Mariota and Winston (both T-Draft protected), the Thunder did not like any of the rookie QB prospects. Understandable, there were no others targeted as immediate starter potential. Instead they focused on areas of need and adding depth on the line and in the LB group. If Webb works out, that could prove a shrewd move for a club that has been on the cusp of playoff relevance for a while now.
DENVER GOLD
T-Draft Players: LB Randy Gregory, HB Ameer Abdullah, OT Ty Sambrailo
1st Round Pick: WR Kevin White (West Virginia)
Most Interesting Move: The Gold are still not satisfied with the speed in their WR group, even with Michael Crabtree, so they add White, a quick and fast potential slot man to line up inside of Crabtree and Tate. After signing Delanie Walker this offseason, the receiver group could be more diverse for Matt Leinart than we have seen in some time.
CHARLOTTE MONARCHS
T-Draft Players: LB A. J. Johnson, WR Justin Hardy, C B. J. Finney
1st Round Pick: DT Danny Shelton (Washington)
Most Interesting Move: Charlotte may win the “all-name” team for the draft. Not only do they go with the amazingly named Aaron “The Ripper” Ripkowski at fullback (7th round), but they also selected DE Obum Gwacham (Oregon State) in the 4th round. We will see if the picks work out, but at least they created some fun when they were announced.
OAKLAND INVADERS
T-Draft Players: S Jordan Richards, CB Alex Carter, DT David Parry
1st Round Pick: DT Malcolm Brown (Texas)
Most Interesting Move: Case in point about the “double down” strategy. First round pick Malcolm Brown looks almost certainly headed to the New England Patriots, but Oakland has already inked 4th round pick Rakeem Nunez-Roches from Southern Miss, another big, space-filling DT, so they had insurance. We told you that drafting in the USFL was a tricky game.
NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS
T-Draft Players: LB Kwon Alexander, CB Jalen Collins, HB Kenny Hilliard
1st Round Pick: OT Rob Havenstein (Wisconsin)
Most Interesting Move: We are honestly a little shocked that Havenstein lasted all the way until pick 20 in the draft. He is a top graded run blocker (who needs to work on his hands a bit in pass protection) on a school that was not anyone’s T-Draft option, so we thought he would go earlier. If the Breakers can keep him from jumping to the Rams in the NFL, they will have themselves a steal.
DALLAS ROUGHNECKS (No 1st round pick due to 2013 Houston Deal)
T-Draft Players: DT Jordan Phillips, LB Paul Dawson, TE Blake Bell
1st Round Pick: None
Most Interesting Move: Houston picked here (their normal pick) after using Dallas’s earlier 4th pick. Dallas had to wait until round 2 to pick LB Lorenzo Mauldin from Louisville. They would go on to pick 2 more linebackers (between the T-Draft and Open Draft), so you know what part of the defense displeased Coach Greg Landry last year.
ARIZONA WRANGLERS (No 1st Round Pick after trade with St. Louis)
T-Draft Players: TE Maxx Williams, WR Jaelen Strong, LB Damien Wilson
1st Round Pick: No 1st round pick.
Most Interesting Move: The Wranglers gave up their Open Draft pick to snag St. Louis’s first T-Draft selection, where they followed the obvious direction and took LT Brandon Scherff. They are competing with the Washington Redskins to sign the big guy, but so far it seems the Wranglers are making the better case, a development that has to be making David Carr happy.
TAMPA BAY BANDITS
T-Draft Players: QB Jameis Winston, DE Preston Smith, LB Benardrick McKinney
1st Round Pick: WR Sammie Coates (Auburn)
Most Interesting Move: We now know that Jameis Winston will be playing in Tampa Bay, but will he go with the Bandits or the Buccaneers. Both Florida clubs picked the FSU quarterback. The Bandits used the T-Draft as expected, but the Buccaneers used the overall number one pick of the NFL Draft. That means that the sky is the limit on how much they can offer Winston. That could prove tough for the Bandits to match. Expect some drama here.
PHILADELPHIA STARS
T-Draft Players: OT Donovan Smith, LB Mike Hull, TE Jesse James
1st Round Pick: S Jaquiski Tartt (Samford)
Most Interesting Move: A bit of a reach for Tartt (Another All-Name Team MVP), as many had him as a 2nd rounder at best, but the Stars like the guy and with their track record over the Harbaugh years, who are we to say they were wrong?
MICHIGAN PANTHERS (Atlanta picked both 8th and 25th)
T-Draft Players: LB Jake Ryan, WR Devin Funchess, WR Tony Lippett
1st Round Pick: OT Andrus Peat (Stanford)
Most Interesting Move: The Panthers picked 3 wideouts to replace Mario Manningham, who has yet to sign with anyone, but for us the most interesting pick was the mid-round selection of ODU quarterback Taylor Heinecke. He is not so much a threat to starter Kirk Cousins as to backup Drew Stanton, but will he actually see the field?
TEXAS OUTLAWS
T-Draft Players: LB Jordan Hicks, S Quandre Diggs, HB Malcolm Brown
1st Round Pick: OT D. J. Humphries (Florida)
Most Interesting Move: Another team with an intriguing mid-round QB pick as the Outlaws look at Baylor QB Bryce Petty. Petty is more of a spread offense guy, so it will take him time to learn how to play under center, but who better to train him up than Joe Flacco?
BALTIMORE BLITZ
T-Draft Players: S James Sample, WR Eli Rogers, OG John Miller
1st Round Pick: CB Ronald Darby (FSU)
Most Interesting Move: The newly crowned league champions had a somewhat unspectacular draft, which is typical when you pick last, but at the very least they think they have their new kicker in Texas A&M product Josh Lambo. For a team with few needs, adding depth is really all you expect in a draft, so picking up a starter on special teams is a solid move.
NFL-USFL WINDOW PREVIEW
We have run down the trades, free agent signings and the results of the 2015 USFL Collegiate Drafts. But there is still one major aspect of the offseason yet to wrap up. The 2nd NFL-USFL Transfer Window of the offseason is set to open on March 1st, just as the USFL preseason’s 2-game schedule kicks off. That means one last chance to add players that could make an impact. Yes, we know that for many the physical toll of playing a full NFL season followed by a full USFL season drains these players, but as we have seen year after year, by midseason we often see these players getting more snaps, and improving just as teams reach the playoff drive in the season’s final weeks. So, even though for many their best USFL seasons will not come until their 2nd or 3rd years, we still see NFL players come to the spring and make a huge impact right away.
So, who has the potential to transform a roster, improve a key position group, or just add something new to a team? As we look at the 2015 NFL Free Agent pool, there are some names that not only could be impactful, but could be open to a jump from Fall to Spring as a way to refresh their careers or, as is often the case, cash in on early career success in the fall league. Here is our pick of 15 players who you might see on USFL rosters, making a difference.
15) HB Christian Michael (Seahawks)
The former A&M back has not done much in the NFL, rushing for only 175 yards this past season in Seattle, but the potential is still there for him, particularly on special teams and as a pass-catching 3rd down back.
14) S Rodney McCleod (Rams)
A player who slipped through both the NFL and USFL drafts in 2012, McLeod surprised many when he became a Ram starter as an undrafted free agent in the 2013 season. In two years with the Rams he has 4 picks and over 140 tackles. Not too bad for a guy neither league initially wanted.
13) DT Vinny Curry (Eagles)
The former Marshall DT has appeared in 30 games for the Eagles the past two seasons. He has not earned a full-time starting gig, something he might seek out in the USFL.
12) DE Greg Hardy (Cowboys)
The Carolina Panther DE emerged in 2012, his third season, with 11sacks. That number bumped up to 15 in 2013, but he appeared in only 1 game last year due to injury. He could be seeking a bounce-back season in 2015, and that could come in the Spring.
11) C Alex Mack (Browns)
After 5 seasons in Cleveland, is the big man ready to move to a new location? It seems that way, with several teams interested in him as a pivot.
10) S Reggie Nelson (Bengals)
The big question for the 8-year veteran is whether or not he can increase his numbers after some pretty ho-hum years in Cincinnati. But, haven’t most folks in Cincinnati pretty much had ho-hum years. We blame the chili.
9) QB Jimmy Clausen (Ravens)
After starting 10 games his rookie year for the Carolina Panthers, Clausen did not throw a pass until this past season, when he subbed in 1 game for the Chicago Bears. Not exactly a contract-year explosion. We project Clausen as a backup, but there are plenty of teams that might just want him to compete with a questionable starter.
8) HB Chris Ivory (Jets)
Ivory is not going to bust off too many 20+ yard runs, but if you need a 3rd and 1, you could do worse. We could see a lot of teams looking for a short-yardage back and giving Ivory a good lookover as an option.
7) G/T Alex Boone (49ers)
Another big man who could make a leap. Boone’s advantage is that he has played 3 different spots on the line in recent years, including both guard spots and some time at right tackle. That could be an attractive option for someone.
6) DT Nick Fairley (Lions)
A lot of hype for Fairley when he came out in 2011, with favorable comparisons to Denver Gold DT Ndamukong Suh, but it just has not panned out as planned for the Detroit Lion. So, could a change of scenery bring about a change in fortune?
5) CB Prince Amukamara (Giants)
Amukamara had his best year in 2014, a contract year, so now he is on the market and hoping to cash in. He had 3 picks and returned 2 for scores last year, which is a nice highlight to be able to tout. But, outside of 2014, he has never had more than 1 pick in any season since joining the NFL in 2011.
4) QB Robert Griffin III (Redskins)
Here is where it really starts to get interesting, these last 4 names. We all saw the hype fo RG3 when he came out of Baylor, and his first year with the Redskins was pretty eye-catching. But injuries and some pretty bad Redskin teams have left him in a rough spot. He played only 7 games last year, showing a few sparks, but also throwing 6 picks to 4 TDs. Is there a USFL team looking for a potential reclamation project? When isn’t there? It’s just a matter of who.
3) WR Marvin Jones (Bengals)
Another potential star who suffered a season-ending injury and is now looking to rebound. Jones was looking very promising in 2013, when he had 51 catches for 712 yards and 10 TDs. That is a solid resume starter, but he missed all of 2014 with injury and now is on the market with a chance to start fresh.
2) HB Alfred Morris (Redskins)
Morris exploded on the scene with the 2012 Redskins, rushing for over 1,600 yards in his debut season. But, that total dropped to 1,275, and then to 1,074, all without him missing serious time to injury. So what gives? Is he a solid back? Most certainly, but is he too predictable in his skillset and his move? Some are saying so. Still, a 1,000 yard back is always a valuable commodity.
And... 1) DE Von Miller (Broncos)
In a year where you saw teams in both leagues scrambling to draft edge rushers, the fact that one of the best in the game is now testing the free agent waters could create a shark frenzy across both leagues. There is no doubt that the Denver Broncos will do all they can to resign the All-Pro DE/LB, but they have a cap to work with, and another team, one willing to sacrifice other positions to pay out big money, could very well just outbid the Broncos’ ability to resign Miller.
Taking a Look at the 2015 USFL Schedule
We are going to finish up our 2nd Offseason Review by looking ahead. We won’t make picks, we always save that for our Preseason Special Edition (Hitting newsstands on March 8), but we will take a look at the USFL schedule and give you our thoughts on the “must watch’ games of the season.
WEEK ONE
There’s always a reason to be excited about opening week. Every game has the potential to surprise us, but when we look at the schedule, there are several games that are just too good to pass on. How is this for an opening week:
Charlotte & Atlanta face off in an opening week SE Division clash.
Orlando and Tampa Bay clash in what feels like a midseason matchup.
Denver heads to Arizona in a tough opener for both teams.
Philadelphia hosts Baltimore in as intense a game as we are likely to see in Week 1.
That is one heck of a Week 1 lineup.
WEEK THREE
We jump to the third week of the year, where we see a possible Summer Bowl preview with Texas visiting Atlanta in a battle of two teams that went very deep in the 2014 playoffs. Another good matchup has Tampa Bay at Charlotte, as New Jersey and Philadelphia renew their classic rivalry as well.
WEEK FOUR
A new (yet old) rivalry could begin as the San Diego Thunder head up the coast to Oakland to face the Invaders. We also have the 2nd and final matchup of the Stars and Blitz for the year (who planned that for the first month?) and a renewal of the Ohio-Pittsburgh rivalry, now with both clubs in different divisions.
WEEK FIVE
Texas @ Arizona, that will be a nasty one. Michigan @ Ohio, always a good show, and Orlando @ Charlotte in SE Battle, but don’t sleep on the Seattle-New Orleans game. Both clubs could be among the season’s early risers up the power rankings.
WEEK SEVEN
Arizona finishes it’s home-and-away series by visiting Denver. We also have Washington @ Baltimore in the Beltway Brawl, St. Louis v. Chicago in the I-55 Rivalry, and another California Derby with LA visiting San Diego. A new rivalry, but based on years of clashes between the Express and the Thunder.
WEEK EIGHT
They are dubbing the new Arizona-Las Vegas game in the SW Division, the “Desert Classic”. We will see if it builds into a true rivalry or not. We also have an interdivisional rivalry between Birmingham and Atlanta, and a new divisional rivalry between two teams likely to compete for the Southern title, Houston, just added to the South after years of separation from the Breakers, heads into New Orleans to renew an old spark.
WEEK ELEVEN
We skip a few weeks before things get heated again. Texas will head to Denver, and we expect both to be contenders in the SW Division at this point. We also have Atlanta & Charlotte matched up again, Birmingham at New Orleans, and a new, possibly heated game, as the San Diego Thunder must return to Las Vegas to take on the Vipers. A bit of bad blood there, at least with the Las Vegas fans now split between two teams.
WEEK THIRTEEN
With the playoff races in their final month we expect the Atlanta-Orlando game to be a hot one, as could Houston @ Birmingham, Oakland @ Texas, and once again Philadelphia will be in New Jersey for a big rivalry game.
WEEK FIFTEEN
Pittsburgh is a trendy pick to be this year’s fast riser, and if that is the case, then this week’s game at home against Baltimore could be huge for them. We also see Tampa Bay @ Orlando, Washington @ Philadelphia, and New Orleans in a 2014 playoff rematch against Charlotte.
WEEK SIXTEEN
The final week of the season can be a mixed bag, with some teams resting starters and others throwing everything into a last gasp attempt at locking up a playoff berth. We don’t know if we are right or not with our picks, but when we look at the schedule, we see these games as being likely battles:
Arizona @ Texas: How could it not be?
Houston @ New Orleans: Could the Southern Title be on the line here?
Michigan @ Baltimore: Will both be clinched or will both be fighting to get in?
Seattle @ San Diego: It would not surprise us if this is a Win-&-In scenario for both.
Atlanta @ Tampa Bay: We are not sure what Tampa will be without Culpepper, but Atlanta v. Tampa Bay could very well be a battle for a playoff spot as well.
We return on March 8, with a full Season Preview Double Edition. We will run down the camp signing from the USFL as well as via the NFL Transfer Window. We will review the rosters, decide who gained and who slipped this offseason, look at the rookies who could have a big impact, and reveal a new power ranking system as we preview all 28 teams, the playoff picture, and who we think can snap up the major league awards in Season 33 of the USFL.
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