Player of the Week: A bit of a no-brainer this week, despite Big Ben's big numbers we have to go with LeVeon Bell for the Panthers. Bell was both the leading rusher and the top receiver for the Panthers as they knock off St. Louis to move to 4-1 on the young season. Bell's contribution? How about 28 touches, including 5 receptions for 72 yards and then 23 carries for another 157 on the ground, with two of those carries going to the house for 12 Michigan points.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: This week it came down to two very successful QBs in Kirk Cousins and Joe Flacco, but we have to go with Oklahoma's main man, after all a 300-yard, 4-TD game is not just a strong performance, but a sign that the Outlaws' new smashmouth + vertical game is working just fine for the 3-1 Outlaws.

If the season were a single football game, we would now be wrapping up the first quarter and flipping sides of the field. Four games down in a 16-game season tells us that teams should be in form by now, and while we may still get some late bloomers, we are getting a sense of who is looking solid, who may be rising, and who is not meeting expectations. There are certainly some surprises across the league, some positive (Memphis, Portland, and Atlanta at 3-1) and some disappointing (Seattle at 0-4, San Diego and Baltimore at 1-3), and we have seen some players step into new roles, particularly with the rash of QB injuries the first quarter has produced. Whether it is Ryan Nassib in Arizona or Marcus Mariota in Portland, there have been some players impressing us with quick starts. We will break down the first quarter of the league, looking at this past week’s games, ranking all 28 teams, and looking at players making a name for themselves in the early part of the season, but we start with a player who once again finds himself in hot water with the league as Johnny Manziel faces a stiff suspension for the 2nd year in a row.   The USFL suspends QB Johnny Manziel for the rest of the 2018 Season It was not a surprise, well, not for anyone outside of the DFW region. This Wednesday the league offices in NYC announced the penalty for a 2nd alcohol related legal issue for Roughneck QB Johnny Manziel. The former A&M star would again be suspended, this time for the remainder of the season, potentially totaling 12 games. Manziel and his representation will, of course, appeal, but the league is expected to rule as early as Monday on the appeal, and that means that even with a 1-week reprieve, we could see Manziel miss 11 games this season.   For the Roughnecks, this is about as bad a turn of events as their season could get. Despite missing Manziel for 6 games last year, Dallas had not done anything to alter its 3-man depth chart at the QB position, meaning that if the suspension is upheld, it will likely be former Charlotte Monarch Brandon Wheedon who will be thrust into action for the lion’s share of the season. Wheedon started 7 games last year for the Roughnecks, and while his performance was better than expected (a 72.2% completion rate, a 6:3 TD:Int ratio and a QBR of 92.5) it was also clear that Dallas simplified the offense for Wheedon, focusing on the run and trying to make Wheedon’s reads as basic as possible. Why? Well, when you consider that in his last 2 seasons in Charlotte, Wheedon had twice led the league in picks, with 42 over the 2-year span, it seems obvious that Coach Landry did not trust his backup to have complex reads.   But, with a new coaching staff led by former Texas Tech HC Kliff Kingsbury, this was supposed to be a year when the Dallas offense would be opened up. They had signed former NFL and Clemson star Sammy Watkins, had brought in Austin Pettis from Chicago, and had signed SMU speed burner Courtland Sutton to provide Manziel with a more wide-open offensive scheme. Will Kingsbury give Wheedon a chance to play that style of offense, or will we see Dallas again confined to a more traditional pro style. We may not learn that this week, as Manziel is likely going to get the start when Dallas takes on Las Vegas in front of their home fans, but if the suspension holds, which many expect it will, then Week 6 in Arizona we will get our answer and Roughneck fans can decide if the 2018 season will be another disappointment or a possible revelation.   PITTSBURGH MAULERS 20   MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS 24 It certainly was not a high-profile game. The Maulers and the Showboats on regional FOX coverage, seen by only about 10 of the top 30 markets in the country on Sunday, but that does not mean it was not a great game to watch. Both clubs came into the game at 2-1 and the winner would be a surprising 3-1 at the ¼ mark of the season. Fans in Memphis came out on a lovely April Sunday to root on their Showboats, with nearly 48,000 in attendance. A small contingent of Mauler fans were found in the far East corner of the stadium, but otherwise it was a sea of scarlet and silver sky blue.   The two teams came in with very different plans, Pittsburgh hoping to spread the defense with a lot of 3- and 4-receiver sets, creating gaps for rookie Sony Michel and Marcus Lattimore to exploit. Memphis lining up in a lot of I-formation, hoping to spring Todd Gurley loose. Both defenses saw this coming and both were ready, with Michel only able to average 1.9 yards per carry on the day, while Gurley did only slightly better at 2.3. The game would come down to the two quarterbacks, Andy Dalton and Paxton Lynch.   This was not the most finely tuned game, with the two clubs combining for 13 penalties for over 100 yards, but it was a very entertaining matchup of two teams both hoping that early season success was a sign of more to come. The game started slowly, as so many do, but on their second possession, Pittsburgh found some success, mostly thanks to Andy Dalton connecting with his outside receivers Adam Thielen and Victor Cruz. The early drive success forced Memphis to spread their safeties out wider, so when Dalton got into the red zone, it was TE Anthony Hill and slot receiver Ted Ginn Jr who began to find space within the hashmarks. The drive ended on a quick inside route to Ginn, who took the quick pass to the house to give Pittsburgh the early lead.   But Memphis also found some answers in their second drive, a drive that started with a holding call to create a 1st and 20 but quickly turned around as Paxton Lynch found Mark Clayton after a double move, a play that racked up 36 yards, wiping out the penalty and getting a huge roar from the crowd. Only 4 plays later, Todd Gurley found room on the right side of the line and plunged into the end zone with the equalizer.   Memphis would take their first lead only 3 minutes later, when, after a 3-and-out by the defense, Lynch hit Dallas Goedert over the middle with a pass that took the ball into Pittsburgh territory. Aided by an unnecessary roughness call on the next play, Memphis found themselves in striking range, but a well-timed blitz brought confusion to the Memphis line and allowed Pittsburgh DE Dwight Freeney to find Lynch 8 yards deep in the pocket. The Showboats settled for a field goal, but had the lead at 10-7.   The two teams traded quick possessions before the Maulers again found a rhythm on offense. This time it was sparked by a 3rd and 3 run by Jay Ajayi out of the shotgun. The draw play worked to perfection and Ajayi gained 11 yards and a first down. Two plays later, Andy Dalton found Adam Thielen along the sideline for 30 yards, and the Maulers were in business. Marcus Lattimore got the ball down to the 2 on a nice toss sweep, and from there Dalton used a good run fake to Michel to freeze the linebackers and find TE Jerrell Adams wide open in the endzone. Pittsburgh was again on top, and that 14-10 score would carry over to the half.   The third quarter saw little success for either offense, with the only points coming on an Andrew Franks field goal for the visitors. The kick made it a 17-10 advantage as the game entered the final period. Memphis would have their best drive of the game to open the quarter, putting together 13 plays and using nearly 6 minutes before Gurley added a 2nd TD run to equalize the score at 17. When they held Pittsburgh on 3rd and 8, they were in perfect position to take the lead, starting off on their own 41-yard line after a mediocre punt by the Maulers. But, while the Memphis fans felt like they thought the game was turning their way, Strong safety Tyvon Branch of Pittsburgh had other ideas. After a dump-down pass to Gurley gained 6 yards, the back tried to fight for another yard only to have Branch swat the ball out of his hands and onto the turf. LB Tahir Whitehead recovered the ball and Pittsburgh took over with newfound momentum.   The Maulers would drive the ball down to the Memphis 15, all the while eating clock and grinding out first downs. The drive fizzled when a pass from Dalton to Cruz on 3rd and 4 was broken up in the endzone by Patrick Peterson, but the Maulers were well within Andrew Franks’s range, and the Pittsburgh kicker gave them a 3-point lead with only 1:38 left to play.  Of course, the problem is that 1:38 can be an eternity when the opposing team has all their time outs, as Memphis had.   The expectation from everyone in the Liberty Bowl was that Memphis would drive methodically towards field goal range, and the first few plays of the drive seemed to support that perception. Paxton Lynch scrambled for 6 yards, then found Goedert over the middle for 6 more. After a time out, the Showboats again found some room over the middle, with Robert Woods having his only catch of the game, a 15-yarder that started out as a 5-yard slant. But, with the ball at the 40 and the Showboats using their 2nd time out. Coach Ryan pulled out something a little different. Once again, he had Lynch in the shotgun with Woods and Marshall to one side, Clayton and Goedert spread wide on the other. When the play started, it seemed clear that Marshall was headed inside, while Woods set up an out route, but when the safety bit on the inside move, Marshall turned and made a bee line for the corner, a move that put the safety out of position and gave Marshall a clear line to the endzone. Paxton Lynch, sitting in a very nice pocket despite a blitzing Shaquille Riddick, found Marshall along the right sideline and the big receiver cruised into the endzone without being touched.   Memphis had scored the game winner with 38 seconds still on the clock, and while Pittsburgh tried valiantly to move the ball in the little time they had left, they needed a TD but simply could not find a way to get that done. The final play was a bit of a half-hearted Hail Mary that saw the ball swatted to the ground at the 5. Memphis would be 3-1, a very surprising start for a club picked by most to bring up the rear in the South, while Pittsburgh would drop to 2-2, but well in range in a very slow-starting NE Division.   Michigan 28  Charlotte 13 With Mitch Trubisky knocked out of the game early, a 14-10 halftime advantage for the Panthers turned into a pretty comfortable win. LeVeon Bell rushed for exactly 100 yards on 18 carries (a nice 5.6 YPC average) and Kirk Cousins threw for 309 and 3 TDs as the Panthers move to 3-1 with the road win over Charlotte. The one big positive for the Monarchs was the ageless Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 106 on only 14 touches, a 7.6 YPC average that topped even Bell’s numbers. POTG:  Panther QB Kirk Cousins: 27/41, 309 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int   Portland 23   Seattle 20 The Stags are a surprising 3-1 after knocking off the equally surprising 0-4 Dragons. Marcus Mariota continued with his much-improved play, putting up a very nice game against Seattle’s secondary. Mariota completed 19 of 24 passing for 293 yards and a beautiful 75-yard TD toss to former Dragon Emmanuel Sanders. Both Sanders and Brandin Cooks went over 100 yards in the game. Seattle’s offense also found some inroads, with Knowshon Moreno racking up his first 100-yard game as a Dragon and with backup Matt McGloin going 25 of 35 for 236 and a TD as well. But, in the end, and we mean the very end, a short field goal by Portland’s Dan Carpenter with 14 seconds left was the game winner for the visiting Stags. POTG : Portland QB Marcus Mariota: 19/24, 293 Yds, 1 TD, 0 int   Orlando 17   Jacksonville 21 Our first upset of the week as Jacksonville edged Orlando thanks in part to Tim Tebow being knocked around by the Bulls. Tebow threw two picks and was knocked out of the game on an ill-conceived QB run. Meanwhile, Robert Griffin III mostly stayed in the pocket, completing 20 of 38 throws for 198 yards and 2 TDs. Mike Williams had a good game as well , catching 8 balls for 102 yards and a score for the underdog Bulls. POTG:  Bulls’ CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie: 5 Tck, 1 Sck, 3 PDef, 1 Int   Chicago 18   Atlanta 21 The Fire got a very strong performance from Aaron Murray, completing 17 of 22 against Chicago and throwing 3 touchdowns along the way. Roy Williams caught 6 for 111 and a TD, while Nick Chubb averaged 4.8 yards per carry on his way to 87 yards for the Fire. Chicago hung close, thanks in large part to Ryan Fitzpatrick’s elusiveness, though the former Harvard QB did get sacked 5 times by the aggressive Fire defense. A TD and 2-point conversion got Chicago within 3 points, but they could not stop Atlanta from running out the clock late and took another tough loss. POTG:  Atlanta WR Roy Williams: 6 Rec, 111 Yds, 1 TD   Los Angeles 20   Las Vegas 23 Another tight game in the Wynn Arena as Las Vegas needed a 33-yard kick with 22 seconds left in the game to avoid overtime. With both teams struggling to run the ball, it came down to Manning vs. Bradford, with Eli throwing for 314 yards but also tossing 3 picks, while Bradford threw for 274 and 2 scores. But, despite the Manning miscues, Las Vegas put 13 points up in the 4th quarter, including a really nice 14-yard Kareem Hunt TD run to take the W and move to 2-2 after 4 games. POTG : Las Vegas WR Denarius Moore: 12 Rec, 113 Yds   Ohio 35  St. Louis 21 It was Ohio’s turn to take advantage of St. Louis’s absolutely horrid defense, and so they did, putting up 28 points in the first half and finishing the game with 177 yards rushing, led by former General Delone Carter’s 93 yards on only 8 carries. Carter had TD runs of 26 and 2 yards as well, with Isaiah Pead adding 85 yards as Ohio just ran over the Skyhawks. The Ohio D also played a part, sacking Josh Freeman 5 times and holding Eddie Lacy to only 2.5 yards per carry as Ohio took this one on the road. POTG: Ohio HB Delone Carter: 8 Att, 93 Yds, 2 TD   Oklahoma 35  Denver 30 A huge road win for the Outlaws as they got into a shooting match with Denver at Invesco Field. With TD passes to Julius Thomas (2) and Percy Harvin, it was 21-0 Oklahoma before the last of the Gold fans had even entered the stadium. Denver fought back, with Matt Leinart throwing 3 TDs and DeMarco Murray adding a late TD, but it was not enough as Flacco finished with 4 TDs, split evenly between Julius Thomas and Percy Harvin. POTG:  Outlaw QB Joe Flacco: 18/28, 252 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int   Arizona 23  Oakland 3 A rough outing for new Invader QB Jimmy Garoppolo as Arizona held him to 183 yards passing while also keeping the run game to only 68 total yards. In a very good game on both sides of the ball for Arizona, Ryan Nassib went 14 of 23 for 218 yards and 2 scores, but the run game also came up big, with Gore and Carey combining for 163 yards rushing. It was Oakland’s first loss of the season and a win that puts Arizona at 2-1-1 and right in the thick of an exciting SW Division race. POTG: Arizona DT Grady Jarrett: 7 Tck, 1 FF, 1 FR   New Jersey 28  Baltimore 24 The Generals got 2 TDs each from Maurice Jones-Drew and QB Nick Foles as they slip past the Blitz, sending Baltimore to a 1-3 start. Nick Foles threw for 274 on the day, completing 19 of 23 passes and finding both OBJ and Zay Jones for scores. Jones-Drew added 87 yards rushing, which included two 1-yard TD plunges. Baltimore had a chance for a late score, but on 3rd and 3 from the New Jersey 22, LB Matt Milano got to Big Ben, stripping the ball away and ending the Blitz threat. POTG:  New Jersey LB Matt Milano: 6 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF   Tampa Bay 16   Birmingham 36 Turnovers and penalties doomed the Bandits as they outgained Birmingham 435-223 but just kept shooting themselves in the foot. The errors included a Will Allen pick-six and 2 additional drive-ending picks from Dak Prescott. Meanwhile, Birmingham just kept plugging, adding TDs from TE Hunter Henry and HB T. J. Yeldon to pull away from the sloppy Bandits. POTG:  Birmingham FS Will Allen: 4 Tck, 4 PDef, 1 Int, 1 DefTD   Dallas 15   Houston 22 With a possible suspension looming, Johnny Manziel struggled, sacked 5 times in the game, but so too did the Dallas run game, with Samaje Perine leading all Roughneck rushers with only 28 yards. For Houston it was a combo of Carlos Hyde (91 Yds rushing) and Mike Evans (102 Yards) as the Gamblers scored only 1 TD but added 5 Koo field goals to take the W. POTG: Houston DE Dante Fowler: 3 Tck, 2 Sck   Washington 10   San Diego 27 The Thunder finally earn their first win, thanks to 149 yards from HB Ryan Williams, and a 39-yard TD run from QB Joe Webb. Webb also threw for 161 yards and a score, finding TE Luke Wilson early in the 4th to take a commanding 27-3 lead over the struggling Federals. POTG:  San Diego HB Ryan Williams: 21 Att, 149 Yds   Philadelphia 10   New Orleans 27 Another big game win for the Breakers as the defense sacked Matt Gutierrez 7 times and inflicted a lot of hurt on the Star offense. Drew Brees was also on target, completing 17 of 29 passing and throwing TDs to TE Coby Fleener, quickly becoming his favorite target, and to speedster Kenny Britt. Throw in a C. J. Spiller TD run, and two costly Star turnovers and you have New Orleans sitting pretty as the league’s only 4-0 team. POTG:  Breaker DE C. J. Ah You: 1 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR   USFL First Quarter Award Winners A quarter of the way through the schedule and a good time to assess who is making an impression early on in the 2018 campaign. So, we look at the league’s five big awards and give some hints of who may have the early edge in each.   MVP: The MVP race looks like it will start off in New Orleans, where the Breakers are unbeaten, and their former 2-time MVP is looking like a possible 3-time winner. Drew Brees leads the league with a 125.1 QB Rating, and is playing some very efficient ball, with 4 TDs and not one pick in the opening month. Hot on his heels are two other QBs, one anticipated, one a bit of a surprise. Kirk Cousins of Michigan currently leads the league with 9 TD passes (tied with Matt Leinart and Aaron Murray, both surprised to be there), while another unexpected contender is emerging in Portland.   Yes, you heard that right, Portland. The 3-1 Stags have seen some of the best of Marcus Mariota this year, with the former Oregon Duck throwing for over 1,100 yards in the season’s first 4 weeks. He is completing nearly 70% of his throws (69.4) and seems to have really developed a rapport with speed receiver Brandin Cooks.  He is still a decided underdog to both Brees and Cousins, but fans in Portland are just happy he is in the conversation, because they have been waiting for his game to mature since he took over 2 years ago.   OPOTY: If the MVP is going to be a QB, then we are going to focus on HB and WR for our early season OPOTY candidates, and there is no shortage of candidates after the season’s first month. Among the backs we have league yardage leader and perennial OPOTY candidate LeVeon Bell of Michigan (415 yards and 3 TDs), but don’t count out New Jersey’s Maurice Jones-Drew, a bit behind at 388 yards but with 5 rushing TDs already. We also think that Carlos Hyde, sitting at 298 rushing yards, but also a solid receiver with 6 combined TDs this year, is going to be in the mix.   Among receivers, there are several surprising candidates, including Orlando’s Brashard Perriman (24 catches for 385 yards and 3 scores) and Las Vegas’s Denarius Moore (a league best 32 receptions, with 382 yards and a single TD), but our favorite of the bunch is league yardage leader Mike Evans, sitting pretty with 429 yards in only 4 games, the only receiver averaging over 100 per game.   DPOTY: Is there really any doubt who we are going to push for. Calais Campbell already has a 5-sack lead on his closest competition, and after 4 weeks is both the league’s leading sack artist and the leading tackler in the USFL, an incredible double dip if we have ever seen one. Honestly, barring injury, which we would never wish on Orlando’s main man, we think this one is all but wrapped up already. We like the season being had by Philadelphia LB Kirk Morrison, but this feels like another Campbell coronation.   ROTY: Rookie of the year is always very tough to gauge this early, simply because players are just getting used to the game. History tells us that a few of the players who stand out early will fade down the stretch, while others, who may be getting limited chances in the early weeks of the season, will come on strong down the stretch. With that said, we still think that we need to give some kudos to at least one early success story, and that is Tampa Bay safety Derwin James. James has provided some early highlights, including a Week 2 pick six that is still one of the plays of the season. The rookie has 2 picks and has also proven to be a nasty hitter when given a shot at the ballcarrier. If James is not your cup of tea, then it likely will come down to one of the backs, with Nick Chubb (Atlanta) and Sony Michel (Pittsburgh) the two top contenders form among the rookie class of offensive “skill” players.   COTY: Finally, we come to Coach of the Year, and right now all we can say is that there are three 3-1 teams that no one thought would be here. Whichever can hold momentum and surprise us with a playoff, or even division run, could walk away with this award. Right now, based mostly on how unlikely their early success has been, we would put Portland’s Matt LaFleur in first position, followed by Memphis’s Rex Ryan, and rounded out with former St. Louis coach Bruce Arians, putting together some good results with Atlanta. Vintage Flacco Helps Outlaws Outshine Gold While we have enjoyed Oklahoma’s dedication to a smashmouth approach, mostly because we love watching Marshawn Lynch go “Beast Mode” over tacklers, this week gave us a bit of a flashback to a time when the Outlaws were all about the deep ball and QB Joe Flacco was full on gunslinging across the USFL. Yes, his 252-yard total is more in line with the more recent power game of the Oklahoma Outlaws, his 4 touchdowns felt very much like the good ole’ days in San Antonio. Flacco was feeling secure in the pocket, something we have not said much in the past couple of years, and it showed, with the Outlaw QB connecting on several deep shots, including 2 TDs to slot receiver Percy Harvin.   What is clear is that this new Oklahoma offense is not a one man show. Flacco threw to 8 different receivers, with TE Julius Thomas leading all players with 5 receptions. But, with DeDe Westbrook getting 9 targets and Marquise Goodwin another 8, there were plenty of deep shots to go around. Marshawn Lynch still got 23 carries, but with the Gold bringing their safeties up to the line, it was a great chance for Joe Flacco to remind us of his former “mad bomber” days in the Alamodome.   Pick Sixes Set the Tone in Week 4 Whether it was Pacman Jones for the Outlaws, Will Allen for the Stallions, or Ohio’s LaRon Landry, some of the best moments of this week came via the pick-six. This has already been a good year for defensive scores, particularly off of the passing game, with 11 different players returning turnovers for scores (9 of them pick-sixes). This week we saw three that influenced the momentum of their games, but none more so than LaRon Landry’s late game spirit-killer in St. Louis.   Down only 7, St. Louis was in position to tie the score and possibly send the game to overtime, a big plus for a club that has been blown out in most of their games. Down 28-21 with just over 5 minutes left to play, the Skyhawks were looking to score on a 3rd consecutive drive, having been down 21 at the half. The momentum seemed to be on their side, but an overly ambitious throw by Josh Freeman did not find the intended receiver, instead finding the waiting arms of Landry, who grabbed the ball away and raced towards the St. Louis endzone. With a nice block from NFL import Tyran Matthieu, Landry high-stepped into the endzone, putting Ohio up 14 and breaking the late game spirit of the 1-3 Skyhawks. It was a moment the Ohio fans who made the trip to the Gateway City celebrated late into the night, and one that once again sunk the hopes of a very dazed and disappointed Skyhawk crowd.   Five Break Out Players of the First Quarter The first four games of the year have produced surprises on many fronts, from unexpected early season success to rising stars making a name for themselves. We picked five players this week who we see as first quarter break out stars, players who were little known or from whom little was expected, but who have showed us what they can do with a strong 4-game showcase.   WR Brandin Cooks-POR The first of two Stags we want to highlight from Portland’s surprising 3-1 start. Cooks is in his 5th year with Portland, and he has had some good numbers in the past, with 1,000 yard seasons the past 2 years, but he could be ready to break out in a big way if Marcus Mariota’s production continues to outpace expectations. Cooks already has 27 receptions and 389 yards, which project out to a 100-reception, 1,200 yard season. The missing piece? Scoring plays. Cooks is still waiting for his first TD of the year.   HB Ben Tate-POR Even before the season-ending injury to 2017 league rushing leader Doug Martin, Tate was impressing us with some big plays and consistency when called on. He had 83 yards in a backup role in Week 1, and then, with Martin going down, he exploded in Week 2 with a stunning 181-yard, 3 TD outing against the Federals. With defenses now keying on the bruising back, his numbers have dipped the past two weeks, but he is still among the league leaders, currently trailing only All-USFL backs LeVeon Bell and Maurice Jones-Drew with 372 yards rushing. His very solid 4.3 YPC average gives Portland hope that they can weather the loss of Martin and still have one of the league’s best run games.   WR Dwayne Bowe-ORL You generally don’t expect a player in his 12th season to become a break out player, but that is what we are seeing with Dwayne Bowe in Orlando. Bowe is on pace for a 1,000 season, which would be his first in a career filled with 300-yard seasons. He already has 17 catches and 310 yards, well ahead of his usual pace. He has moved from his usual backup role to a starting position opposite Brashard Perriman, and his success in the season’s first 4 weeks are helping Orlando fans forget the retirement of Michael Jenkins.   DE Matthew Judon-LV Long projected to be a major factor in the Viper defense, Judon seems to be coming into his own in his 3rd season. In both 2016 and 2017 Judon finished the year with 6 sacks, promising but not game-changing numbers. He already has 5 this year, and his speed has really begun to show as he has adjusted his pre-snap stance and his first move. The result is a much more dynamic first step and a quicker flash past the tackle on his way to the QB. His 5 sacks still put him 4 behind the pace of Calais Campbell, but it has been nearly a decade now where every other DE in the league just wants to reach that 2nd position.   QB Ryan Nassib-ARZ In two starts for the Wranglers, Nassib has gone from relative unknown to a major factor in the Wrangler game plan. With only 62 pass attempts this season, the 3rd year backup does not yet qualify for the QB Rankings, but were he to qualify, he would trail only Drew Brees and his former teammate David Carr at the top of the rankings. He has a 5:1 TD to INT ratio after 2 starts, with nearly 600 yards in those games. This is a best-case scenario for any team, for their back up to step in and play at almost the same level as the starter, something a lot of teams wish they could say but few can.                    After several pretty brutal weeks across the injury report, a relatively light one for Week 5’s action. Memphis places TE Luke Stocker on IR, bumping rookie Dallas Goedert into the top spot and bringing Alan Cross up from the practice squad. Other than that, mostly short-term concerns, with several players potentially making limited appearances this week.   OUT TE          Luke Stocker                  MEM     PCL       IR CB          Prince Amukamara       WSH     Foot      1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL G              Herman Johnson            OKL       Back CB          Isaac Yiadom                   NJ           Wrist DE           Dee Ford                   MGN     Hernia G            Max Jean-Gilles              ORL       Wrist DT          Damon Harrison             LV           Ankle CB        Joe Haden                      ARZ       Groin   QUESTIONABLE WR          Randall Cobb             PHI        Concussion LB         Nico Johnson            POR      Hamstring DE           Brooks  Reid            ARZ       Thigh OT           Jah Reid                        LA          Hip First Quarter Power Rankings Four games in and what do we think? Well, we are down to one unbeaten, and we have no winless teams. So, perhaps this is a season to be defined by parity or is it just that there are too many teams both in the realm of the very good and in the realm of the pretty troubled. We, of course, kick off our list with the last of the unbeatens, the impressive Breaker squad that has beaten Houston and Philadelphia on their way to 4-0, and we wrap up trying to guess which 1-3 club is truly the bottom of the barrel right now.   1—New Orleans (4-0) When you are the lone unbeaten after a month of play, and that record includes wins over Houston and Philly, you absolutely need to be in first position.   2—Mi chigan (3-1) A surprising loss to the 1-3 Machine in Chicago is the only blemish on the Panthers’ title defense run so far.   3—Houston (3-1) One could argue that the Gamblers should be in 2nd place, since their only loss so far was a 3-point squeaker to the unbeaten Breakers.   4—Oklahoma (3-1) The Outlaws have been impressive, winning all 3 of their division games to date, including a tough road game in Denver this week.   5—Atlanta (3-1) The Fire are doing it with defense and with a much-improved Aaron Murray. That said, they have yet to win a game against a team with a winning record, so there is some skepticism here.   6—Denver (3-1) A great start for the Gold, with wins over Arizona, Las Vegas and Dallas. They actually play 6 division games in the first 5 weeks, with Arizona and Las Vegas back on the schedule before they finally play an out-of-division game in Week 7.   7— New Jersey (2-1-1) The Week 1 loss to Memphis feels like early season jitters as the Generals have looked very complete in their wins over Baltimore and Birmigham. A huge game this week against the Stars could tell us a lot.   8— Oakland (3-1) The Invaders jumped out to a 3-0 record but struggled this week. With 3-1 Portland and 3-1 Michigan next up, we will get a quick sign of just how ready Jimmy Garoppolo is to jump in this year.   9— Arizona (2-1-1) The loss of David Carr is huge, but Ryan Nassib has been playing well, giving Arizona hope that this season will still be one with a lot of prospects for the club.   10—Memphis (3-1) Their season opening win against New Jersey was an eye-opener. Wins over Oklahoma and Pittsburgh have helped build some belief in Memphis. They will face Birmingham twice in 3 weeks coming up soon (Weeks 6 and 8) and that rivalry could prove whether these Showboats are for real.   11—Portland (3-1) Before you get too excited, Stag Nation, just look at the records of the 3 teams you have beaten. LA is 1-3, Washington, also 1-3, and Seattle is now 0-4. You have Oakland this week, let’s see if you can prove yourself to be a truly deserving team at this point in the year.   12—Philadelphia (2-2) Two tough losses (Baltimore and New Orleans) and two big wins over bad teams (Seattle and, we still insist, Portland). The Stars need to rise up to the level of their opposition, and with New Jersey and Pittsburgh up next, the time is now.   13—Las Vegas (2-2) After starting 0-2, the Vipers have had good back-to-back games and look like they have found their groove. They (and we) are still expecting the other shoe to drop in Kareem Hunt’s situation, but for now he is proving he can contribute to this team.   14—Charlotte (2-2) The Monarchs’ 2-0 start feels a long time back after two bad losses (44-13 to Tampa Bay and 28-13 to Michigan). They cannot afford to fall back into the mix in the division, so the next two weeks, at Ohio and home to Jacksonville, will be huge.   15—Ohio (2-2) A .500 record after 4 games is fine, but when you have beaten two 1-3 clubs and lost to two 3-1 clubs, it is hard to know if you are for real as a playoff contender.   16—Orlando (2-2) Another season, another Russell Wilson injury, though the Renegades are hoping he can be back this week. With a three-game stretch of Atlanta, Houston, and Atlanta again, the Renegades need all the help they can get.   17—Birmingham (2-2) The Stallions, like Las Vegas, have forgotten their 0-2 start and have added two nice wins the past two weeks. They too will be looking at the 3-week, 2-game series with Memphis as a key to their season.   18—Pittsburgh (2-2) The spread offense has really not produced the way Mauler fans had hoped, but the defense is playing better than many expected. They Maulers need to grind out wins, which means getting more from the offense, but also giving the D time to breathe.   19—San Diego (1-3) It took 4 weeks for the Thunder to look competent. So why are we putting them atop all the other 1-3 teams? Because we look up and down the roster and think they should not be here at all.   20—Baltimore (1-3) After knocking off Philly in Philly for their opening game, spirits were high in Baltimore, but they have not held up and have now dropped 3 in a row. Looking ahead, a series of LA, Washington, and Pittsburgh could help heal that pain.   21—Chicago (1-3) This has been a rough month, with Chicago losing to 3 different 1-loss teams. How they pulled off the win over Michigan is still a head scratcher, but this week the Machine finally face a team with a losing record. In fact, in their next 10 games they do not face any team that is better than 2-2 right now. Could Chicago climb up this list?   22—Los Angeles (1-3) Other than one big game against the sad sack Skyhawk D, the Express have not impressed on offense. 14, 7, and 20 points is not what makes for a winning record, even if the defense is solid (which this year is still not certain.)   23—Dallas (1-3) They have lost Tim Wright to injury, Sammy Watkins is also banged up, and at any moment the league office could decide that Johnny Manziel’s season is done. Not a great time to be a Roughneck fan, to be sure.   24—Tampa Bay (1-3) A huge blowout win over Charlotte, but three losses by 14, 18, and 20 points. That sounds like a team that has potential but has not put the pieces together yet. With Memphis ,New Jersey, and New Orleans on deck, things don’t get easier for the Bandits.   25—Jacksonville (1-3) After an 0-3 start, the Bulls got into the Win column this week over Orlando. They have more work to do, of course, but facing a 1-3 Chicago team on the road this week could tell us a lot about the desire in this team to do better.   26—Washington (1-3) The Feds got a nice win in a shootout with Seattle, but they have struggled in all 3 other games to generate offense. Facing the 4-0 Breakers and that solid Breaker defense this week does not feel like a moment when the Federal offense can turn it around.   27—St. Louis (1-3) When your defense averages 34 points given up each game, you are not going to win very often. The St. Louis defense is also giving up a ludicrous 175.5 rushing yards per game. That is historically bad after 4 games. So, who is coming up on the schedule? How about LeVeon Bell this week, then Matt Forte, then possibly Kareem Hunt. Yikes!!   28—Seattle (0-4) Haven’t we seen this movie before? Last year Seattle started 0-5 and then went 9-2 the rest of the season to join the playoff field. That is a once in a lifetime recovery. Not something we think the Dragons can or will do again, especially with Jacoby Brissett still expected to miss 4-6 weeks more.   New Jersey Generals Petition the USFL & Hall of Fame on Behalf of Phil Hansen We had a feeling this would happen after the league’s all-time sack leader was once again left off the Hall of Fame ballot. The New Jersey Generals have officially petitioned the league to force Hansen’s name onto the ballot in 2019. A 13-time All-USFL player, the 1991 ROTY and the 2001 DPOTY, Hansen not only holds the league record with 289 career sacks, but was the unquestioned best player at his position for much of his career. He retired in 2004, which would have made him eligible for the Hall back in 2009, but his controversial biography, one in which he not only admitted to steroid and HGH use, but insisted that use was widespread in the league in the 1990’s produced a huge backlash, and essentially blacklisted the former General.   But, after over a decade, New Jersey is making the case that nearly all of the claims made by Hansen have been proven accurate in the time since his 2006 book came out. With other players having made the Hall in that time, they argue that the league is trying to silence the messenger rather than deal with the situation. Hansen is certainly deserving based on his body of work, and the argument that his admitted use of steroids and hormones disqualifies him is absurd when we understand that others who were perhaps less vocal or even less honest about their use of the now-banned substances were not penalized, while one of the league’s all-time greats is paying a disproportionate price for blowing the whistle and being honest about his own career.   Dallas Reveals New Uniforms for 2019 This week, perhaps trying to take some attention off the looming suspension of QB Johnny Manziel, the Dallas Roughnecks, and league partner Under Armour, revealed a new look for the club, one they hope to debut on the field in the 2018 playoffs, but which will be the look for all of 2019. While the team is retaining their 2015 logos and wordmark, there are still quite a few changes afoot in Big D.   We start at the helmet, where the “oil slick” ombre effect is gone, leaving behind a sky-blue helmet with two thick black stripes surrounding a thin red pinstripe. The parallel with the club’s DR monogram, itself with a red pinstripe, is quite clear, and yet, that logo is no longer going to appear on the helmet. In its place is “Roddy Roughneck”, the gruff lineman shown in profile. The DR monogram is still a big part of the uniform, appearing on each sleeve, but no longer the helmet design. The rest of the uniform also gives up the oil slick look in favor of crisp lines and use of red as a contrast color. This can be seen on the shoulder and sleeve yoke, divided at the seam with an angled swath of bright red. The thin red line motif also returns to several places, including the collar, the pant stripes, and, particularly with the home blue jerseys, in the center of both the primary and shoulder numbers. On the white road jerseys’, the black primary numbers have a sky-blue insert, but the shoulder numbers, back on a black background, retain the red pinstripe.   The club also revealed one alternate look, not opting to remember their time in Atlanta or Boston with a throwback to another nickname, city, or color scheme. The new alternate, dubbed the “Black Gold” alt, is an all-black look, head to toe. It includes a black helmet divided only by a thin red pinstripe, and featuring the original helmet logo, the DR monogram, depicted in sky blue and white. The jersey is all black, with no offset yoke. It features white numbers with a thin blue pinstripe, red shoulder stripes, and the secondary monogram logo again on the sleeves. The pants are also all black, with the lone red pinstripe topped by a Lone Star. The 4th revealed look is not truly an alternate, it is simply another combination of the primary designs, with the white jersey paired with the white pant set instead of the sky-blue pair shown in the primary design. This is a look you can expect to see when the Roughnecks get stuck with a day game late in the summer and temperatures in the Cotton Bowl soar.   You know we at This Week in the USFL love a good rivalry game, and it does not get much better than when the Stars and Generals face off. With Both clubs sitting at 2 wins, this NBC Friday Night Lights game will be for first place in the NE as the 2nd quarter of the season starts. Later that same night we have two teams that hoped for much better starts as the two Pacific playoff teams from a year ago try to shake off a combined 1-7 start. One-win San Diego hopes they can keep Seattle winless as they head up to Lumen Field to take on the Dragons.   On Saturday, we have two great Southwestern clashes, both at night, as our 7pm NBC kickoff features the 3-1 Gamblers facing off against the 3-1 Outlaws in front of what we expect to be yet another very rowdy sellout crowd at OGE Energy Field in Oklahoma City. Then, at 9pm Eastern, we head out to the desert as the Arizona Wranglers, playing without David Carr, face a very tough, and very determined rival in the Denver Gold. Denver comes into this one at 3-1 and would love nothing more than to give Arizona their 2nd loss.   We wrap it all up on Sunday, with a pair of really interesting divisional games and a Sunday Night Special that has two 2-2 teams each hoping to get their mojo headed in the right direction. We start off at noon with the FOX national game, featuring a Southeastern clash between the 3-1 Atlanta Fire and the 2-2 Orlando Renegades. At 4pm we turn our attention to the Pacific Northwest, where we have a clash of 3-1 clubs in the Pacific. Oakland suffered a tough loss this past weekend, but they are still hoping they can prove that Portland’s strong start is more mirage than muscle. Finally, when Charlotte and Ohio clash, someone is going to top .500 and someone is going to drop below the line. Neither is eager to have to catch up in their own divisions, so this one could be a slobberknocker.   Friday @ 6pm ET             New Jersey (2-1-1) @ Philadelphia (2-2)       NBC Friday @ 8pm ET             San Diego (1-3) @ Seattle (0-4)                      FOX   Saturday @ 12pm ET       New Orleans (4-0) @ Washington (1-3)            ABC Saturday @ 12pm ET       Memphis (3-1) @ Tampa Bay (1-3)                  FOX Saturday @ 4pm ET       St. Louis (1-3) @ Michigan (3-1)                     ABC Saturday @ 4pm ET         Jacksonville (1-3) @ Chicago (1-3)                FOX Saturday @ 7pm ET       Houston (3-1) @ Oklahoma (3-1)                       NBC      Saturday @ 9pm ET       Denver (3-1) @ Arizona (2-1-1)                   ESPN/EFN   Sunday @ 12pm ET          Birmingham (2-2) @ Pittsburgh (2-2)             ABC Regional Sunday @ 12pm ET          Los Angeles (1-3) @ Baltimore (1-3)               ABC Regional Sunday @ 12pm ET        Atlanta (3-1) @ Orlando (2-2)                      FOX Sunday @ 4pm ET           Las Vegas (2-2) @ Dallas (1-3)                         ABC Sunday @ 4pm ET           Oakland (3-1) @ Portland (3-1)                     FOX Sunday @ 8pm ET            Charlotte (2-2) @ Ohio (2-2)                            ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: A lot of outstanding performances this week, but when the best defender in the game today has a monster game, you recognize it with a POTW award. Calais Campbell not only had 5 sacks in an absolutely devastating performance against the Skyhawks, but also added 9 tackles. That dual feat puts him atop the sack rankings, 5 sacks ahead of 2nd place, and also makes him the 2nd most prolific tackler in the league, an astounding double feat from an astounding talent.

Week three saw yet another major injury story develop as defending 2-time MVP David Carr is lost for the season, our lead story for the week. It was also a week that saw several 0-2 teams secure their first win and avoid the dreaded 0-3 start. Birmingham got their first win by upsetting the Baltimore Blitz at Protective Stadium. The Vipers went into San Diego and knocked off the Thunder, who now surprisingly sit at 0-3 themselves. Washington surprised us all with an offensive explosion that got them past Seattle in a battle of winless teams, again shocking Dragon fans who expected a much better start to the year. And Chicago pulled off a major upset on a cold and windy night at Soldier Field, shutting down LeVeon Bell and the Panthers to snag the first Machine win of the season. We will recap all the games, all the stories, but we begin with the moment that could change the entire season for the Arizona Wranglers, one moment that has huge lasting impact.   Carr Lost for the Year as QB Carnage Continues They say football is a game of inches, but it is also a game of moments, and one moment can alter a drive, a game, and an entire season. The Arizona Wranglers may have just become the latest team to discover just what a moment can mean for a football team, as it was one moment, one play gone awry, one painful instant that may have cost them the 2-time MVP for the year.   The play in particular was nothing astounding, a 3rd and 4 from the New Jersey 33. Convert it and the Wranglers could take advantage of the blocked punt that put them on the Generals’ side of the field. Miss it and they likely trot out the field goal team. The call was a simple one, an attempt to flood the zone with outside-breaking routes on 3 levels, with either Larry Fitzgerald or TE Jimmie Graham as the most likely targets. But, on this play, RT Shaun Lauvao expected a chip block from Frank Gore, but Gore had chosen to take on a blitzing Chase Blackburn, and that left Lauvao on his own with DE Aaron Kampman.  Kampman used a swim move to get past Lauvao, caught David Carr around the waste, and spun him to the ground. The problem was that in that spin, his right foot was atop Carr’s, which meant that Carr’s leg could not spin fully as his body was brought to the turf.   You could hear the pop of the hip joint on the replay. While it did not look like a particularly hard hit, the odd torque created by the spin combined with Carr’s foot being pinned, forced the hip joint to pop out of its hold, and caused tearing to the tendons that keep the ball in the socket. The end result, which would not be known until imaging that evening, was that Carr’s hip had not only dislocated, but a chip had come off of the femur in the process, along with significant tendon and ligament damage to the hip. Carr would not be able to return in the game, and for the remainder of the season.   The 2-time MVP was placed on IR on Monday. He released a brief statement to the press, thanking fans for their concern and wishing his team the best in his absence. Surgery to remove the bone chip, clean up some cartilage damage, and reconstruct the hip was conducted on Wednesday. It will be at least a month before Carr can even attend games and sit in a seat, and no less than 4 months before he can even consider throwing a ball, or doing any workouts beyond the prescribed and highly monitored PT that will accompany his recovery.  All this the result of one moment.   For Coach Tomsula and the Wranglers, the 2018 season will continue without pause. The Wranglers were buoyed by the strong performance of 3rd year backup Ryan Nassib, who entered the game in New Jersey and mounted a comeback that put up 21 points, all on long pass plays very reminiscent of Carr. In the end, neither the Wranglers nor the Generals could score in overtime and the game ended in a tie, but that has to be considered a win for Arizona, playing without their starter and with a backup who has only appeared in mop-up duty and one Week 16 “rest the starters” game in his 2 years with the team.   Nassib went 22 of 39 for 367 in the comeback attempt in New Jersey, and that has given the Wranglers confidence that he can handle the job moving forward. After all, he has been with the team since coming to Arizona in the 2015 draft out of Syracuse, and he is as familiar as any QB in the country outside of David Carr with the system. The Wranglers did make a move to add some depth, signing veteran backup Brooks Bollinger as the QB3 behind Nassib and 24-year-old Tom Savage. But, for the foreseeable future, the Wranglers, already considered to be suffering from a depleted defense after an offseason of departures, will now be led by Ryan Nassib, casting even more doubt on their ability to dominate the SW Division as they have over the past 4 years. Amazing what a single moment can do.   HOUSTON GAMBLERS 31  NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 34  It is about as big a game as you can expect in the season’s first month. Two unbeaten division opponents facing off in an early season showdown for first place. Ever since the Houston Gamblers were transferred to the Southern Division in 2015 it has been the Gamblers and the Breakers battling for surpremacy. The Gamblers have won the division the past two years, but New Orleans has been right there, battling them every step of the way. So you know that when the schedule came out these two both had this Week 3 showdown circled on their calendars.   Just as we had hoped, this one proved to be an action-packed, momentum shifting game that kept us all riveted for 3 hours. The two teams did it in different ways, but despite the stylistic differences, this was a nip and tuck battle throughout. Statistically the two ended up looking somewhat similar, with Houston putting up 346 yards to New Orleans’s 356, with less than 1 minute separating the time of possession, and with an even count of one turnover apiece. But those statistics don’t tell the whole story, because this was a game that swung back and forth all day.   It did not always look like it would be a close game. The first half was dominated by the homestanding Breakers, putting up a 24-7 lead by the break. It began with New Orleans’s first drive, a 12-play steady march down the field that concluded with 3rd down back C. J. Spiller getting a pitch to the wide side and finding a crease to score from 5 yards out. Houston struggled to keep their first quarter possessions moving, and soon New Orleans had the ball a 2nd time, and again a nice, slow and steady drive yielded 7 points. This time, on the first play of the second quarter, Drew Brees hit his favorite redzone target, Coby Fleener with a short TD and the Breaker lead was extended to 14-0.   That lead would expand again only 6 minutes later when a bad punt from Houston gave New Orleans the ball on their own 47. Drew Brees moved the Breakers down the field efficiently, which was what we saw all day in what would be a 20 of 28, 243-yard outing for the veteran QB. In only 7 plays and in less than 2 minutes Brees boosted the Breaker advantage to 21-0 with a nice over-the-middle pass to Tyler Lockett for the third New Orleans score of the half.   But, Houston being a quality team, the Gamblers did not give up, down 3 scores. They responded by putting together their first scoring drive, a quick strike drive that saw Colt McCoy hit Mike Evans for a 40-yard gain, then find HB Carlos Hyde, who would finish as the game’s leading receiver, for the score, a screen play from 10 yards out that found its blocking and enabled the multi-talented Hyde to find the endzone. New Orleans would add 3 points to make the score 24-7 at the half, but Houston would take momentum from their drive and would turn the tables on New Orleans in the second half.   Houston’s momentum did not show up initially in the 2nd half, as the Breakers took the opening kickoff and in only 4 plays built their lead up to a seemingly insurmountable 31-7. The key play was a seam route that saw Fleener get open along the left hashmarks and rumble 56 yards for a score, helped by a nice block by WR Jordy Nelson on backup safety Shalom Luani, in for the injured Budda Baker. The half-opening quick strike drive should have dashed any hopes Houston had of a second half comeback, but the Gamblers apparently did not take the hint.   Houston came right back with a touchdown drive of their own, an 11-play march that was capped off by a Carlos Hyde TD run for his second score of the day. Still down 17 points, Houston needed a big play and a quick strike to get back in the game, and they got both from CB Leodis McKelvin. McKelvin read the route to Kenny Britt perfectly, timed his break and snatched Drew Brees’s throw in full stride. From there it was 55 yards down the sideline for an untouched pick-six. Houston was back in action, now down only 10 at 31-21 with 20 minutes of game time still to play.   The Breakers appeared to be buckling, and Houston felt they had all the steam now and would be able to make up the difference as the game transitioned to the 4th quarter. On their next offensive possession, Houston drove the ball effectively, McCoy hitting Vernon Davis and rookie Austin Sefarin-Jenkins on consecutive plays to get the ball inside the 25. But, SS Brandon Taylor’s second sack of the day, a beautifully-timed blitz between the RG and RT send McCoy to the ground on 3rd down, and the Gamblers had to settle for a field goal. Still, that score put them within 1 drive of tying the game, possibly even going ahead. For New Orleans, the once confident Breakers were now looking decidedly nervous.   The Breakers opted to slow things down on their next possession, and they found success with both Leonard Fournette and C. J. Spiller finding holes in the Houston defense. Fournette had his longest run of the game, an 11-yard rumble, on the first play of the drive, then Spiller bettered it with a 13-yard scamper only 3 plays later. The Breakers continued to move the ball, and the drive continued to eat time. By the time Houston put a stop to the drive, the ball was on the 6 yard line, with New Orleans having failed on a 3rd and goal throw to Fleener. New Orleans would bring out Caleb Sturgis for 3 pointss, but, more importantly, they had eaten up over 8 minutes on the clock. When Sturgis put the Breakers back up by 10, Houston was back to needing 2 scores but now had only 1:43 to achieve it.   The Gamblers did not waste any time on the ensuing possession. McCoy hit Carlos Hyde on another effective screen pass, this time gaining 13 yards on the first play from scrimmage of the drive. The second play was even better, with New Orleans blitzing, JuJu Smith Schuster was left in single coverage and McCoy found him on a hook & go, with the 2nd year receiver racing 51 yards before finally being knocked out of bounds. Only 2 plays later McCoy found Hyde for the back’s third score of the game, a 19-yard strike that once again brought Houston back to within 1 score, down 31-34.   With 1:05 left on the clock and only 1 timeout left, Houston would have to go for the onside kick. They lined up and the kick looked like it could cause New Orleans some trouble, but with both Tyler Lockett and C. J. Spiller on the side of the field where the kick was bouncing, the Breakers had some good hands available, and it would be Lockett who would snatch the ball out of the air and immediately fall to the ground. With only 1 timeout available, Houston simply could not stop the Breakers from running out the clock. A sigh of relief emerged from a very tense Breaker crowd in the Super Dome as the final seconds rolled off the clock and the two teams congratulated each other. The Breakers, who had looked so dominant early, had survived a major shift in momentum and a very potent comeback from the Gamblers. New Orleans would remain unbeaten, but Houston would know that they almost had the comeback against their new division rival, and that they would have a chance to avenge the loss in Week 9, when the Breakers would make the trip to NRG Stadium for the rematch. Arizona 21  New Jersey 21  Overtime Our first overtime game of the season and our first tie as the Generals and Wranglers fail to score in overtime and end the game locked up at 21 apiece. New Jersey came out strong, putting up the first two scores to take a 14-0 lead on TDs from MJD and Nick Foles to John Carlson, but they simply could not shut down the Arizona deep ball, even after what could be a season ending injury to David Carr. Backup Ryan Nassib cme in and hit on 3 long pass plays, all for scores, as he found Larry Fitzgerald for a 57-yard TD, then Antonio Bryant from 33 yards out, and finally Jimmie Graham with a 27-yarder. But New Jersey got a late TD when Nick Foles found Jones-Drew on a circle route and MJD took it in for 7 to tie the game with 1:03 left. Neither team could get into scoring range in overtime, so this one ends all knotted up. POTG:  Arizona WR Larry Fitzgerald: 7 Rec, 171 Yds, 1 TD   Jacksonville 20   Atlanta 27 The Fire built up a 24-6 lead, but two late Jacksonville scores made it close in the end. Aaron Murray threw TDs to both Roy Williams and Dorial Green-Beckham, and rookie Nick Chubb had his best game to date, rushing for 75 yards and a score as Atlanta held a 24-6 lead early in the 3rd, but a Robert Griffin TD toss to TE Taysom Hill brought them closer, and a late score to Reuben Randle had them within 7, but the Fire recovered the onside kick and successfully bled the clock to hold on for a 7-point win. POTG:  Fire QB Aaron Murray: 20/30, 178 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int   Seattle 34  Washington 41 A pure and simple shootout in D.C. as neither defense had any answers. Washington put up 390 yards, including 130 on the ground, while Seattle had 312 yards passing and 401 total yards in a wild game. David Garrard went 26 of 38, with 2 scores, but also threw 3 picks, which helped Seattle stay in this one. Matt McGloin went 25 for 35 for 312 yards as he took over for Jacoby Brissett, connecting for 3 TDs and 1 pick. For the Feds, Anthony Allen and Joique Bell combined for 124 yards rushing, with Allen scoring on the ground and through the air in his best game as a Federal. POTG:  Feds’ HB Joique Bell: 4 Att, 63 Yds, 2 TD.   Oklahoma 19   Memphis 21 In a game that came down to a failed 2-point play, Memphis raced out to a 21-3 lead with TDs from Cordarelle Patterson, Toddy Gurley, and Robert Woods, but Oklahoma scored 16 points in a furious 4th quarter comeback. A late TD to DeDe Westbrook put the Outlaws down 2 with 1:11 to play. But on the conversion attempt, Memphis CB Patrick Robinson swatted the ball out of the hands of Marquise Goodwin, preserving the win for the Showboats. POTG: Memphis QB Paxton Lynch: 27/33, 224 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int   Oakland 32  Ohio 13 In a battle of new QB’s Brock Osweiler failed the test, throwing 4 picks, while Oakland let the run game dominate, with Jimmy Garoppolo going only 7 of 18 on the day for a measley 38 yards. But with Christian McCaffrey (102) and Knile Davis (51) combining for over 150 yards, Oakland still had more than enough to defeat the mistake-riddled Glory. FS Jahleel Addae had 2 picks and Cliff Avril had two sacks as Oakland’s defense made life tough for Osweiler all game long. POTG: Oakland DE Cliff Avril: 2 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 Sfty   Baltimore 6   Birmingham 16 Amari Cooper caught 7 for 111 and A. J. McCarron scored the only TD of the game on a 15-yard toss to Julian Edelman in the 4th quarter to give Birmingham their first win. Baltimore moved the ball but simply could not get into the endzone. In a game that saw 5 field goals and only 1 TD, it was the Birmingham defense that earned the win for the home team. POTG: Stallion CB Ladarius Webb: 6 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 Int   Las Vegas 38  San Diego 27 The Thunder fall to 0-3 despite an impressive 11 reception, 146 yard game from Marques Colston. The Thunder D struggled all game, with Las Vegas putting up 408 total yards, and Eli Manning tossing 3 touchdowns for the Vipers. Denarius Moore led the Vipers with 101 yards receiving on 7 catches and HB Montario Hardesty ran for 84, but it was NFL import Kareem Hunt that stole the show for the Vipers with two hip shaking scores. POTG:  Viper DE Mario Addison; 4 Tck, 2 Sck, 2 FF, 1 FR   Charlotte 13   Tampa Bay 44 Bandit fans got themselves a dream game from the Tampa Bay offense as the Bandits could do no wrong against a shorthanded Charlotte defense. With Chandler Jones and Rolando McClain both out, Charlotte struggled to slow down the Bandit attack. Dez Bryant caught 5 for 114 and 2 scores and HB Dalvin Cook rushed for 152 yards and a score as the Bandits rolled in this one. Dak Prescott finished with 3 TDs on only 9 completions as the Bandit run game racked up 231 yards against the defending division champs. POTG:  Bandit HB Dalvin Cook: 14 Att, 152 Yds, 1 TD   Orlando 38   St. Louis 10 Calais Campbell and the Orlando defense dominated for 4 quarters, but was still only up 14-10 after 3 quarters, but an explosion of offense in the final period gave the Renegades a comfortable win when it was done. Tim Tebow had a TD run and hit Jeremy Maclin for another score in the final 15 minutes, with Latavius Murray scoring his second TD on the day, on his way to a 132-yard performance as Orlando took over in the final period and turned a close game into a blowout. POTG: Orlando DE Calais Campbell: 9 Tck, 5 Sck   Portland 19   Philadelphia 34 Philadelphia put up 21 points in the first quarter thanks to 2 long TD tosses from Matt Gutierrez to Randall Cobb and James Hardy, and a Malik Jackson fumble return, and from there it was just a steady dose of Derrick Henry as the Stars kept Portland at arm’s length for the remaining 3 quarters. Marcus Mariota threw for 369 in the comeback attempt, but just could not muster enough points, and the Stars added more points on a Gutierrez to Kelce TD as they move to 2-1 on the year. POTG:  Philadelphia DE Malik Jackson: 7 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Def TD, 1 FF, 1 FR   Denver 20  Dallas 7 Johnny Manziel was picked twice, sacked 4 times, and Denver dominated on the ground as the Gold move to 3-0. Rookie Phillip Lindsay is becoming a real weapon for the Gold, rushing for 95 yards on only 14 carries. Denver, despite going 0 for 9 on third down, slowly built a 20-0 lead before a late touchdown finally put Dallas on the board in garbage time in a game totally dominated by the visitors. POTG:  Denver HB Phillip Lindsay: 14 Att, 95 Yds.   Pittsburgh 16  Los Angeles 7 It is exactly this kind of inconsistency that drives Express fans crazy. They score 44 against St. Louis last week, looking like an offensive juggernaut, then come home and lay an egg against the Maulers. After a 200-yard game last week, Reggie Bush could only muster 34 yards on 18 carries this week, a 1.9 YPC average. Meanwhile, Sony Michel has his first 100-yard game as a pro, rushing for 118 on only 13 touches. Andy Dalton ran in a TD, and the Maulers added 3 field goals and that would be all they needed against a Los Angeles offense that simply could not get out of its own way. POTG:  Mauler HB Sony Michel: 13 Att, 118 Yds   Michigan 7   Chicago 13 A shocker on a frigid evening in Chicago as the Machine upset the Panthers, thanks in part to gametime temperatures in the high 20’s and a wind that chilled to the bone. LeVeon Bell was held in check by a surprisingly sturdy Chicago front seven, gaining only 21 yards on 13 attempts. Chicago fared quite a bit better with Matt Forte and Jeremy Hill combining for 97 yards rushing and the only Chicago TD of the game. Aaron Dobson added 98 yards receiving as Chicago held off the Panthers and got their first win of the season. POTG:  Chicago CB Josh Norman: 7 Tck, 2 PDef Manziel Greeted After Game with Summons & Suspension To say that Sunday did not go the way that Johnny Manziel would have liked is a bit of an understatement. Denver dominated the game at Cotton Bowl Stadium, building a 20-0 lead and only allowing a Dallas score in the last 30 seconds of action. While Manziel’s numbers looked solid (32 of 48 for 272 yards), an early interception from Denver’s DaJuan Morgan set up the first Gold score, and later in the game, a tipped ball at the line turned into a pick from MLB Patrick Onwuasor, setting up another 3-points for the Gold. Manziel was also sacked 4 times, including one bad sack that left the QB on the turf for a few beats before being helped up. So, the game itself was not good.   What awaited Manziel after the game was worse. As he left the stadium, Manziel was met by two members of Dallas’s finest as well as two sheriffs from Oklahoma County, home to OK City. The four presented Manziel with a summons to appear before a judge in Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Charges had been filed against the Dallas Roughneck quarterback for his actions both within and outside of the OK City hotel where the team had stayed ahead of their Week 2 clash with the Outlaws. Manziel appeared in court on Wednesday, making his initial plea and setting a court date for early September. Of course, this will cost him a day of practice, but it will also inevitably bring with it a league investigation, one already underway after the initial incident, and, quite possibly a second suspension in as many years.   Manziel did not speak to the press after the summons were issued, and his agent declined to comment.  His attorney did state that Mr. Manziel was going to seek a deal that would allow for probationary status, and that he anticipated that the QB would not be headed to trial, with plenty of time between now and September for a deal to be brokered with the DA in Oklahoma City. The charges are all misdemeanors, so such a deal would not be out of the ordinary. However, just how the league reacts to a second significant alcohol-related incident is another issue. After a DUI arrest last offseason, Manziel faced a 6-game suspension from weeks 4-10 in 2017. A second violation, even if the charges are reduced or a plea allows for only financial restitution, could lead to a season-long suspension as well as potential requirements for reinstatement. So, the bad Sunday for Manziel could very soon be a much longer bad spell.     Murray, Cook, Nassib, and Mariota Surprise with Big Numbers Week Three was a good week for players who we don’t usually see atop the weekly leaderboard, as several surprise performances highlighted the weekend. We have already outlined the strong performance put up by Arizona backup QB Ryan Nassib, throwing for over 300 yards and 3 scores to help Arizona salvage a tie against the Generals. But Nassib was not the only unheralded player to have a good day this weekend.   Orlando back Latavius Murray, who has had a few good outings, but who also was pretty well-adjusted to sharing duties with Knowshon Moreno over the past few years, made a case this week that he is a legitimate starter, rushing for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns against St. Louis. With Russell Wilson out and Tim Tebow at QB, the Renegades focused on the run game, and gave Murray every chance to show his stuff. He did just that, averaging a whopping 13.2 yards per carry, helped by a pair of long runs, including TD runs of 16 and 22 yards and a 40-yarder that set up a Jeremy Maclin TD catch. Murray still split carries in the game, with Rashad Jennings also getting touches, but it was clear that on first and second down, the Renegades were happy to have Murray lined up behind Tebow.   In Tampa Bay it was less a surprise player than a surprise outing for 2nd year back Dalvin Cook. Cook, who missed 7 games last year to injury, is trying to show that he was worth the draft capital used to land him with the Bandits. More performances like this week’s 14 carry, 152-yard outing will certainly send that message loud and clear. While we acknowledge that St. Louis’s defense is notably one of the league’s worst, especially against the run, what Cook did, including a 50-ard run to daylight and an elusive, spin & juke-filled 22-yard TD, was impressive.   Finally, while the final score in Philadelphia is not what Coach LaFleur wanted from his Portland Stags, he had to be pleased with the day put in by QB Marcus Mariota. The 3rd year starter had one of the most prolific games of his career against a very stout Star defense. Mariota finished the game 30 of 43 passing, amassing 369 yards, with 2 touchdowns and one pick. It may not have been enough to get Portland the win on the road, but Mariota showed poise in the pocket and threw some very nice balls to receivers who were not always particularly open. One pass in particular, an inside-breaking corner route to Brandin Cooks, saw Mariota loop the ball over the linebacker and catch Cooks in stride before he reached the safety. The play went for 31 yards, the longest of the day, but was just one of several nice throws by the Stag QB.   Others stepping up in Week 3 include Mauler rookie HB Sony Michel, with his first 100-yard game of the season; Oklahoma TE Julius Thomas with a 5-catch, 71-yard day; and Washington 3rd down back Joique Bell, whose 2 touchdown, 63-yard rushing effort helped the Feds get their first win of the season.   A Look at the Rookies Starting Strong Speaking of players who are stepping up, we are three weeks into the season and it is time to see which rookies are impressing us in the early season. Some players need time to adjust to the speed of the pro game, to learn a new system, and to find a place in the gameplan, but these seven rookies seem to be fast learners and have already started to pay dividends for their new teams.   HB Phillip Lindsay (DEN) Expected to mostly spell DeMarco Murray in Denver’s 1-back system, Lindsay is proving he has lead back potential. He currently leads the Gold with 210 yards rushing to Murray’s 155, and his 4.4 YPC average is a nice plus for the Gold. Lindsay has yet to score his first rushing TD, but is proving to be an asset for a run game that depends on consistent positive yardage.   HB Sony Michel (PIT) With his first 100-yard game this week, Sony Michel is quickly stepping into the roll as the bell cow back for the Maulers. He leads fellow backfield mates Marcus Lattimore and Jay Ajayi with 36 touches to their combined 30, and his 5.8 YPC average, bolstered by a strong Week 3, is among the league’s best.   HB Nick Chubb (ATL) Michel’s running back mate at Georgia, Nick Chubb, is also finding success in the early part of the USFL season. Chubb’s 3.6 yards per carry is not quite as formidable of that of Michel, but he is leading all rookie backs with 53 touches and has helped Atlanta start off strong, with a 2-1 record, despite sharing carries with Kenyan Drake and Chris Ivory in the run-heavy Fire attack.   WR Courtland Sutton (DAL) Sutton has made a nice start for himself, and has built a good rapport with QB Johnny Manziel in Dallas. With 26 targets, he has been the top target for Manziel, helped in part by this week’s injury to NFL Import Sammy Watkins. He sits at 12 catches, tied for second with TE Ben Watson, and his 90 yards and 1 touchdown are all signs that he is definitely part of the offensive plan for the Roughnecks.   TE Dallas Goedert (MEM) Despite splitting snaps with veteran Luke Stocker, Goedert is showing signs that he can be a productive player for the Showboats. He is currently 4th on the team in targets, but third in catches with 10. Still awaiting his first touchdown, we are seeing Goedert not only in 2-TE formations, but as a lone TE in some formations. The true key will be to watch and see if the rookie starts being added to the team’s 3rd down packages. For now, Luke Stocker still occupies that role.   SS Derwin James (TBY) We move to defense, and no rookie defender has had a better start than Tampa Bay safety Derwin James. The hard-hitting safety already has 10 tackles and 2 picks to his name. One of those was a pick-six against Orlando in Week 2, a beautiful 66-yard return that showed off his elusiveness as a ballcarrier, a skill we don’t often see from a safety.   LB Harold Landry (DEN) Denver gets a second rookie on our list, as Landry, a 2nd round pick out of Boston College, has not just broken into the starting 11 on defense, serving as the weakside LB in Denver’s 4-3 alignment, but is also making plays. Landry is second to MLB Patrick Onwuasor with 18 tackles, has his first NFL sack, and 3 tackles for loss already this season. The former BC Eagle is showing off his range in pursuit of backs and is also included in blitz packages.   A bad week for the Wranglers, certainly, but they were not alone in dealing with some significant injuries and some key players being ruled out of action for the upcoming week or longer. Here is the full breakdown of the week's new injury report additions. OUT QB David Carr ARZ Hip IR WR Tim Wright DAL PCL Tear IR C Robert Vega PHI Arm 6-8 Weeks FB Jason Cabinda STL Foot 1-2 Weeks LB Johnathan Casillas DAL Nose 1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL HB Matt Forte CHI Toe DE Adrian Clayborn STL Back DT Haloti Ngata SD Concussion G Sean Locklear CHA Knee LB Nate Irving LV Concussion LB Myles Jack SD Ankle WR Sammy Watkins DAL Concussion OT David Tremblay ORL Arm QUESTIONABLE WR Robert Woods MEM Hamstring TE Crockett Gilmore STL Eye LB Anthony Walker JR WSH Neck DE Brooks Reed ARZ Thigh USFL & Hall of Fame Announce Class of 2018 Semi-Finalists We have the 2020 USFL Class for the Hall of Fame and it is a very diverse bunch. While some may be upset that no movement has been made on former New Jersey DE Phil Hanson’s eligibility, there are certainly many worthy players in this year’s list, including some we think will be easy first ballot choices. Let’s start with the two returning candidates before breaking down a very deep 8-man first year class for 2018’s 5-spot final roster of enshrinees.   QB Brian Griese (2nd Year) The former quarterback of both the Dragons and Panthers, Griese makes his return for a second year. With over 38,000 career passing yards and 262 touchdowns, the statistics for Griese are solid, as should be his leadership of the Panthers in their 2008 Championship run. Add to this the fact that Griese was named OPOTY twice in his career and we are still somewhat surprised he did not get nominated in his first year. We think he is a sure fire entrant in his second year of eligibility.   HB Antowain Smith (2nd Year) Smith is a tougher case. Yes, he had a brilliant final season in St. Louis, helping to spur the Skyhawks to a title in 2012. He also has strong overall career numbers, with over 15,000 rushing yards and 136 career touchdowns. But here is the thing. Other than that magical 2012 season, Smith was not considered an elite back for most of his career. A good back, certainly, but not someone you would immediately name when listing off the best players in the game. Is that impression enough to keep him out in his 2nd attempt? With such a strong 1st year group, it well could be.   WR Randy Moss (1st Year) If Randy Moss is not a first-ballot Hall of Famer, then we do not know what one is or who would qualify. Moss’s numbers are staggering: 1,033 receptions, nearly 20,000 yards (19,841) and 144 career touchdowns. Those are HOF numbers, but even those numbers do not fully explain what Moss brought to the game. It was the athleticism, the ability to win contested balls, and to just pull away from defenders in the open field. The very fact that we still call a player being outjumped for a ball being “Mossed” should tell us that this player is among the very best the game has ever seen. An easy vote.   HB Willis McGahee (1st Year) Moss’s teammate for several years in Tampa Bay, McGahee also has a strong case for the Hall. He played 10 years in Tampa Bay, including a title-winning 2011 season. He racked up over 12,000 yards rushing, 97 TDs, and was the 2012 Offensive Player of the year. The potential issue is that while these are very strong numbers, they don’t blow Antowain Smith out of the water, so how do you put McGahee in now, with Smith still waiting?   FS Tebucky Jones (1st Year) Safety is a hard position to measure with statistics. The numbers just don’t pop the way they might for a WR, CB, or DE. But, when you ask players who were in the USFL from 1998-2013, they will certainly tell you that Jones was an elite player and one of the toughest players to scheme against. The former Memphis Showboat was named to 4 All-USFL teams, won two titles in Memphis, and racked up 36 picks, 4 defensive TDs, and nearly 700 tackles essentially playing center field. We think Jones should be a first-ballot entrant, but again, safety is a tough position to gauge.   HB Ron Dayne (1st Year) If Smith and McGahee want to see the Hall this year, they may have to get through Ron Dayne to do it. A lifelong Baltimore Blitz star, Dayne retired in 2013 after 14 seasons bowling over defenders and turning simple run calls into dynamic runaway train footage. The former Wisconsin Badger retired after the 2013 season with 15,791 yards rushing, another 3,500 receiving, and 125 combined touchdowns. His 4.2 YPC average does not describe the kind of impact he had on defenders, both physically and psychologically, when he would simply run them over. We love Dayne’s game and we love his chances to be a first year nominee.   QB Jake Delhomme (1st Year) What to do with a QB who had several solid years, including 2 All-USFL years, but who was never able to bring a title to his teams. Delhomme played with Philadelphia, (97-00), Jacksonville (01-09), Memphis (2010) and Charlotte (2011-13), and put up over 37,000 yards passing, but may not have the team accolades or record of consistent winning to make the hall, at least not in his first year and not with Brian Griese still among the nominees.   WR Peerless Price (1st Year) How can a 3-time All-USFL performer, a player with over 1,200 catches and nearly 15,000 yards be boring? We are not sure, but somehow Price has simply never been a hyped-up player. Part of that comes from playing in Denver, where offensive highlights have never been the bread and butter of the Gold, but even within a drive-sustaining, low-risk offense, Price made some plays that deserved our attention. His numbers are certainly Hall-worthy, but we are not sure that in this class there is space for a player who just never made fans ooh and ah.   CB Chris Canty (1st Year) Canty could be a tough sell to voters this year. He was an outstanding player for Michigan (along with a few years in New Orleans and Houston), but even with 1,143 tackles and 42 picks, it may be tough for Canty to be seen as a truly elite cornerback. He was voted All-USFL only once, and, much like Peerless Price, was never a media hound. He just came to work every day, did his job, and helped Michigan win a title (2008). We hope that is enough for Canty to make the Hall, but perhaps not in his first year.   HC Jim Johnson (1st year) Our final nominee for 2018 never played a down on the field, but his coaching prowess makes him a strong candidate for first year nomination. Jim Johnson came to the USFL as a defensive guru, a designer of exotic blitzes and brutal run-stuffing schemes. He brought those talents to the expansion St. Louis Knights in 1995 as the club’s first head coach. He would go on to coach the Knights, both in St. Louis and in Nashville, for 19 seasons. In that time he amassed a record of 157-119-2 and helped the franchise make 12 playoff appearances, including a trip to the Summer Bowl in the club’s 3rd year of existence. So, what is the downside? You guessed it. Johnson never won a title. His teams were always tough, had defenses that could shut down the best player on any team, but he often lacked offensive imagination and the Knights simply could not get over the hump in most playoff years. That led to Johnson’s playoff coaching record being a troubling 5-12. That record, paired with his lack of a ring, could tarnish what otherwise was a very meritorious career with the Knights.   So, if we had to pick 5 names from this group of 10, who would we go with? We think Moss and Jones are shoe-ins. After that, we think there is a good argument for Brian Griese, Ron Dayne, and Antowain Smith, but we also think that there are voters who will reward Jim Johnson for his contributions to the game and for his character as one of the league’s most respected and respectful head coaches. So, two likely locks and 4 others fighting for 3 spots this year. Add to this group a Legacy selection, and we will have our Class of 2018.   ESPN to Add USFL Legends to Broadcast Teams This Week ESPN announced two changes to their broadcast teams for both ESPN and EFN games starting in Week 8 of this season. The Network announced that they will be adding former USFL wideout and Class of 2017 Hall of Famer Joey Galloway to the Saturday Night ESPN broadcast and will have former USFL Head Coach Baltimore safety Adam Archuleta joining the EFN crew for their Sunday night games. These two will join former Denver Gold head coach Dick Jauron, who joined the studio team for the pre-game both nights. The booths will be a bit crowded starting in Week 8, with the mid-season additions joining, not replacing the current crews. So, as of midseason, here is your ESPN broadcast team:                   USFL Tonight Studio Show: Louis Riddick (Host) with Steve Young, Todd McShay, Brian Griese, Randy Moss and Dick Jauron                   USFL on ESPN Saturday Night Crew: Jim Nantz, Troy Aikman, Joey Galloway                   USFL on EFN Saturday Night Crew: Ian Eagle, Ronde Barber, Doug Flutie                   USFL on ESPN Sunday Night Crew: Chris Myers, Craig James, Lee Corso                   USFL on EFN Sunday Night Crew: Mike Tirico, Chris Collinsworth, Adam Archuleta,   Week Four lines up with some great early season clashes, starting with NBC’s Friday Night Lights, where the Panthers and Monarchs face off in Charlotte. Both teams come off surprising road losses and both want to finish the week 3-1. The nightcap is a must-win for Seattle as they face Cascade Clash rivals Portland at home. Dropping to 0-4, while not absolutely unresolvable (as Seattle showed us last year) is not what anyone in the Dragon organization wants.   Saturday kicks off with a divisional game between Orlando and Jacksonville, with the Bulls also looking to avoid a nasty 0-4 start. We also have a great non-divisional Western clash between LA and Las Vegas, with both hoping to reach .500 with a win. Saturday Night gives us a great early season SW Division clash with the 2-1 Outlaws traveling to Denver to play the 3-0 Gold, one of the league’s most impressive teams early in the season. Then on Sunday it is New Jersey at Baltimore in a nice Northeastern showdown. At 4pm, it is a battle for Texas with Dallas headed to Houston to play the Gamblers. We expect Johnny Manziel to start, but will that be enough against the defending Conference Champs? We wrap it all up with two of the best teams in the league going head to head as Philadelphia heads down to the Big Easy to face the undefeated Breakers. A good week to get your friends together and settle in for some USFL football.   Friday @ 6pm ET             Michigan (2-1) @ Charlotte (2-1)             NBC Friday @ 8pm ET           Portland (2-1) @ Seattle (0-3)                    ABC   Saturday @ 12pm ET   Orlando (2-1) @ Jacksonville (0-3)          ABC Saturday @ 12pm ET     Chicago (1-2) @ Atlanta (2-1)                    FOX Saturday @ 4pm ET       Los Angeles (1-2) @ Las Vegas (1-2)         ABC Saturday @ 4pm ET     Ohio (1-2) @ St. Louis (1-2)                      FOX Saturday @ 7pm ET     Oklahoma (2-1) @ Denver (3-0)              NBC      Saturday @ 9pm ET       Arizona (1-1-1) @ Oakland (3-0)               ESPN/EFN   Sunday @ 12pm ET      New Jersey (1-1-1) @ Baltimore (1-2)       ABC Sunday @ 12pm ET        Pittsburgh (2-1) @ Memphis (2-1)             FOX Regional Sunday @ 12pm ET        Tampa Bay (1-2) @ Birmingham (1-2)      FOX Regional Sunday @ 4pm ET         Dallas (1-2) @ Houston (2-1)                      ABC Sunday @ 4pm ET          Washington (1-2) @ San Diego (0-3)        FOX Sunday @ 8pm ET          Philadelphia (2-1) @ New Orleans (3-0)  ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: A tough call this week as we saw two backs far exceed expectations. Reggie Bush went over 200 yards rushing in a huge offensive explosion in LA's home opener, but Portland's Ben Tate came out of nowhere to rush for 181 yards as Portland put up 42 against the Washington Federals. Tate came in for Doug Martin early in the game and stunned everyone with his power run game. Both backs also rushed for 3 touchdowns in their team's blowout wins. So, who do we give the award to? Let's not split hairs, they can and should share the honor this week.

If Week 1 of the USFL season was defined by foul weather, Week 2 was defined by something much worse, injuries. A rash of injuries across the league have made this past week one of the costliest in recent memory, and have thrown the season into disarray as several teams are now looking for answers. And yet, in the middle of what could be viewed as a very tough week for the year, there are stories of surprising success, of players either coming out of nowhere or returning from the junk heap to help their teams this week. We will cover both sides of this week’s stories, the crushing blow of major injuries and the opportunities created for players to step in and step up. We will review all the big games this week and also look at how Week 2 was a triumph for the run game across the league. We will also look at another possible suspension on the way for a troubled superstar and question our own hype of an offseason move that, so far, has just not worked out.  It’s all right here on This Week in the USFL.   An Injury-Marred Second Week of USFL Action To say that the games this week may have a lingering effect on the entire season seems about right. With a rash of significant injuries, the likes of which we have not seen in a single week in a long time, this past week of action could well result in major impacts for teams from coast to coast. As we review the biggest blows and how teams will try to overcome them, we take into account not only the duration of these major injuries, but the question of roster depth. As much as teams like to talk about a “Next Man Up” approach, fans know that some players are special and that what can be asked of the next man is not close to matching what was lost with the injury, a reality that many teams are now facing.   Houston Loses Safety Budda Baker to ACL Tear Houston’s young safety, Budda Baker, was a star on the rise. A candidate for Rookie of the Year last season, starting since the opener and finishing the year with 68 tackles, 5 sacks and 3 picks. But now, after suffering a full ACL tear in his right leg, Baker is lost for the season, placed on IR as he is schedule to undergo surgery and a lengthy recovery process. It is one of the most dreaded injuries in the league, and while we have good recent examples of players who have rebounded well from the injury, including Charlotte HB Adrian Peterson, Baker’s brilliant first season is now profoundly offset by a lost sophomore campaign.   For the Gamblers, the options are limited. The most likely scenario is that they will move Kenny Vaccaro back to Strong Safety, having shifted him to the Free Safety position last year. That then moves the position of need to the free safety slot, where rookie Jessie Bates and 2nd year player Shalom Luani are going to be given a shot to step up. There are a couple of potential options in the free agent pool, including former Denver SS Daimion Stafford and former Express and Vipers FS Darnell Bing, who was not signed at age 34 this past off-season, but we expect Coach Phillips will give his two young safeties a shot first.   Portland Loses 2017 Rushing Leader for 8-12 Weeks For the Stags, their solution may have already appeared. When 2017 league rushing leader Doug Martin went down early in the Stags’ game against Washington, backup Ben Tate stepped in and surprised us all with 181 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Feds. Tate, a journeyman who has played for Birmingham (2010-11), Michigan (2012), Chicago (2013), Houston (2014-16) and who had only 1 carry for the Stags last year, was a shockingly effective runner behind the Stag line, and will almost certainly be given the chance to start this week when Portland has their first road game, a cross-country trek to Philadelphia. As for Martin, the 6-year veteran is not likely to be placed on IR, as there is a chance he could be back as soon as Week 11. If his hip injury does not proceed in recovery as hoped, the Stags could put him on IR at any time, but they seem content to have him on the roster for now, having already released 32-year old receiver Roberto Wallace and added HB Travares Cadet from the free agent pool to provide depth behind Ben Tate. How Tate fares in Philadelphia will likely tell us if more moves are eminent.   Three Teams, Three Starting QBs, Three Very Different Situations In one week we saw three USFL starting QBs go down, each diagnosed with a 6-8 week recovery time, and each team left with a very different scenario moving forward. Oakland saw QB Ryan Lindley suffer a torn meniscus in his knee the day before their home opener against San Diego. They started Bob Volek in his place, and Volek played well, but while the loss of Lindley certainly lessens depth at the QB position, the Invaders had already penciled in Week 3 as the day when NFL import Jimmy Garappolo would take the helm of the offense. The injury to Lindley, while unfortunate, should not derail the Invader plans for the season. They have already shifted Garoppolo into practice with the first team, moved Volek to the 2-slot, and have activated former Stags backup Kellen Moore as the emergency QB.   The situation is not quite so clear in Seattle, where a tear to the groin muscle for Jacoby Brissett will keep him sidelined at least 6 weeks. The painful injury was suffered on a scramble, when Brissett’s right foot was caught under a tackler, leading to an awkward stretch of the leg and a painful departure from the game. Matt McGloin finished the game, and has already been named the starter for the Dragons’ Week 3 matchup against in DC against the Federals. He will be backed up by former Bandit and Fire QB Brad Gradkowski, signed this offseason. That gives Seattle two veteran backups, and we expect that the next few weeks we may see both as Coach Riley tries to find the best option. At present, Seattle does not have a 4th QB on the active roster, but we expect them to sign someone in the coming week.   Finally, in Ohio, Christian Hackenberg is also expected to miss at least 6 weeks after suffering a fracture to his non-throwing arm that will require the use of a soft cast for at least the next 3 weeks. Hackenberg took a rough hit to the turf in Michigan’s Ford Field, when he was driven to the ground by Panther DE Kamerion Wemberley, a play which produced a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty, but which now costs Hackenberg possibly half the season. Brock Osweiler stepped in against Michigan, and will likely be the starter for the foreseeable future, with former Buckeye Troy Smith now the 2nd option. Ohio has already signed a third quarterback, sending WR Lavelle Hawkins to the practice squad and adding former Breakers backup Keith Null on a 1-year deal.   Add in the injury to Russell Wilson of Orlando, a concussion that is likely to keep him out of Week 3 action, and this was an absolutely brutal week for injuries across the league. We will outline all the other players likely out for Week 3 in our weekly injury report, but the story of the week is certainly these major blows to the Gamblers, Glory, Dragons, Stags, and Invaders.   ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS 27   LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 48 This week, in which injuries and halfback performances were the two biggest headlines, we take a different tack with our game of the week. Rather than looking for the game with the wildest ending, we decided to go with perhaps the biggest surprise performance, and while there were many this past week, including the stunning games but forward by backups Ben Tate (POR) and Tim Tebow (ORL), it was the offensive explosion put forth by the LA Express, and particularly halfback Reggie Bush that caught our attention.   In their home opener against the Skyhawks, the Express, who struggled to only 14 points in Portland’s rain the week before, exploded for 48 points and over 460 yards of offense. The Express scored on 8 of 10 possessions, with one of those 10 being the kneel downs at the end of the game, and while we all knew St. Louis had issues on defense, what the Express did to them was absolutely unexpected. The run game alone produced 258 yards of offense and 5 touchdowns, and while St. Louis QB Josh Freeman tried to keep the Skyhawks in the game with 3 TDs and 342 yards passing, the inability of his team’s defense to do anything against the oft-criticized Express attack, meant that LA was able to pull away and take over the game for their first victory of the season.   The issues for the St. Louis defense started early, as it took LA only 3 minutes and 6 plays to turn their first possession into 7 points. From the start it was the run game, and particularly Reggie Bush, who proved an unstoppable force against the Skyhawks. Bush would finish the game with 205 yards rushing, averaging 8.5 yards every time he touched the ball. On the opening drive alone he had runs of 11, 9, and 13 yards, with the 13-yarder resulting in 6 points for the Express. He would add a second TD in the quarter, a 17-yard sprint to the pylon, just one drive later.   Early on St. Louis was able to keep pace with Bush and the Express, scoring on their first two possessions, with TD tosses to Rob Gronkowski and David Nelson producing a 28-point first quarter, as the Skyhawks matched the two Bush TD runs. But this pace could not be upheld by the Skyhawks. In the 2nd quarter, they would add only 2 field goals, while LA would score on all three of their possessions, adding a field goal and 2 more touchdown runs, Reggie Bush’s third and the first by backup Paul Perkins.   By the half Bush was already at 115 yards rushing and the Express had built up a 31-20 lead. St. Louis was now in catchup mode, but LA was content to continue to use run game that had proven so effective not only to add 10 more points in the 3rd quarter, but to eat up nearly 11 of the 15 minutes of the quarter. When Paul Perkins added his 2nd TD of the day in the waning moments of the 3rd, it gave LA a 21 point lead and a team record 7 scores in 7 drives. They would have their first punt in the 4th quarter as they finally were forced to give up the ball after seven successful drives, but on their 2nd possession of the final quarter they once again scored, this time with Sam Bradford finding rookie Marquez Valdes-Scantling for his 2nd TD on the young season. That boosted the LA advantage to 28 points. St. Louis would add a deep TD toss to Stevie Johnson in the game’s final minute, but the outcome had long since been decided.   For LA, and particularly for Coach Andy Reid, the production of the run game was a very welcome sign. The hope, of course, is that this is the start of a more consistent, more productive offensive season for an Express team that has lacked firepower in the past. But, of course, the ability to recreate the 258 rushing yards or 461 total yards against teams with more effective defenses remains to be tested. They will get that test against Pittsburgh this week, as the Mauler front line is certainly a more formidable obstacle. As for St. Louis, the defensive woes which led them to a 3-13 season a year ago simply do not seem to have been remedied in the offseason, leading Coach Reich to face the prospect of a very rough year, one in which teams will try to replicate what we saw LA do to St. Louis, run the ball right, left, and up the middle, to great success.   Birmingham 17   New Jersey 28 Cam Newton started the game with a rousing 51-yard TD run to inspire the few Stallions fans who made their way to the Meadowlands, but on his very next play he took an elbow to the eye and was lost for the game. Before you think it was deliberate, it was his own left guard who nailed him. As for New Jersey, they rattled off 28 unanswered points to take a commanding lead, with Maurice Jones-Drew finding plenty of space, averaging over 6 yards per carry on his way to a big day. POTG:  New Jersey HB Maurice Jones-Drew: 26 Att, 163 Yds, 2 TD   San Diego 10   Oakland 23 Oakland’s Ryan Lindley was hurt even before taking the field, tearing the meniscus in his knee in a non-contact injury in Thursday’s practice, so it was Bob Volek to the rescue, and what a rescue it was! Volek led the Invaders on a 16-0 run and the defense shut San Diego out in the 2nd half to help Oakland move to 2-0 on the young season. Touchdowns by Tyler Ervin and Davante Adams, along with 5 sacks from the Invader defense, led by former Panther Michael Bennett, kept San Diego winless in 2018. POTG:  Invader DE Michael Bennett: 8 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Blk FG, 1 FF   Charlotte 20  Baltimore 14 After their big win over Philly, Baltimore came out a little flat in their home opener, though a big part of that was a Monarchs’ D that picked off Ben Roethlisberger 3 times. Add in a combined 144 yards rushing from Adrian Peterson and Taiwan Jones and you have a 2-0 Monarchs club looking like a possible contender. Charlotte never trailed in this one, opening scoring with a John Stupar TD plunge, and keeping the lead throughout, thanks in part to Gabe Miller’s 18-yard pick six return. POTG:  Monarch LB Gabe Miller: 2 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   New Orleans 27  Jacksonville 17 The Breakers came into Jacksonville intent on moving to 2-0 and did just that with a solid game plan. Drew Brees went 17 of 26 for 229 and threw TDs to Jordy Nelson and Tyler Lockett, while Leonard Fournette added one on the ground. The Bulls had some moments, including 2 Robert Griffin TD runs, but it was too little, too late as the Breakers sent them to an 0-2 start. POTG:  Breaker TE Coby Fleener: 5 Rec, 97 Yds   Ohio 10   Michigan 34 It was all Panthers in this divisional border war as Michigan ran out to a 21-0 halftime lead and coasted the rest of the way. LeVeon Bell had 179 yards rushing and Kirk Cousins went 17 of 23 on the day as Michigan cruised. Worse yet for the Glory, Christian Hackenberg suffered a broken arm on a nasty tackle and could be missed for up to 2 months. Brock Osweiler came in but could not muster a comeback as the Panthers dominated. POTG:  Panther HB LeVeon Bell: 25 Att, 179 Yds, 1 TD   Tampa Bay 20   Orlando 38 Orlando’s front 7 recorded four sacks and two picks against Dak Prescott, but the biggest surprise was that the offense racked up 479 total yards, including 277 and 3 TDs from Tim Tebow after Russell Wilson left the game with a possible concussion. Tebow looked like he was back with the Gators, completing 15 of 20 and leading Orlando on 3 second half TD drives. POTG:  Orlando QB Tim Tebow: 15/20, 277 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int   Philadelphia 31  Seattle 24 Seattle gave the Stars a run, but in the end, Philadelphia just had more in the tank, led by Derrick Henry’s 3 total touchdowns, including a stunning 41-yard TD catch and run that left Dragon players in the dust. Seattle’s Dennis Pitta also had a good game, catching 5 for 30 yards and 2 scores, but it was not enough against King Henry and the Stars. POTG:  Philadelphia HB Derrick Henry: 16 Att, 63 Yds, 2 TD, 4 Rec, 117 Yds, 1 TD   Washington 14   Portland 42 Are the 2-0 Stags a surprise contender or are the 0-2 Federals just a mess? That is the question after Portland improved to 2-0 with an absolute demolition of visiting Washington. With Doug Martin lost to a possible season-ending hip injury, it was unheralded Ben Tate who proved that the Stags’ run game is not a one man show. Tate ripped Washington for 181 yards on 28 carries, an impressive 6.5 YPC, with 3 touchdowns to boot. A career game for Tate, an impressive win for Coach LaFleur’s unbeaten Stags. POTG:  Stag HB Ben Tate: 28 Att, 181 Yds, 3 TD   Atlanta 20  Pittsburgh 10 Pittsburgh’s spread offense sputtered while Atlanta’s ground game saw rookie Nick Chubb join Kenyan Drake and Chris Ivory to combine for 129 yards rushing. Aaron Murray also played well, going 26 of 35 with 2 scores as Atlanta doubled up the Maulers in Pittsburgh. POTG:  Atlanta DE William Gholston: 5 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR   Memphis 20   Houston 27 After knocking off New Jersey last week, the upstart Showboats gave Houston all they could handle, but in the end, Houston found some second half scores to take the W. Carlos Hyde rushed for 120 and a score and veteran WR Mike Evans added two touchdowns as well as the Gamblers fought back and fought off a very plucky Showboat squad. POTG:  Houston LB Ramik Wilson: 7 Tck, 1 Sck   Chicago 24  Arizona 38 David Carr was back in MVP form, throwing for 270 yards and 4 touchdowns as the Arizona offense found its groove, putting up 2 points in the 2nd quarter alone and blowing open a 7-7 game to take a 31-7 lead into the half. The D is still a concern, however, as Chicago ran for 186 yards against the Wranglers. Ryan Fitzpatrick also completed 38 of 47 passes, but Arizona did snag two picks as the Machine QB pressed in an attempt to make up the huge deficit. POTG:  Wrangler QB David Carr: 14/20, 270 Yds, 4 Td, 0 Int   Denver 26  Las Vegas 13 Denver continues to impress, taking their show on the road by doubling up the Vipers in Wynn Arena. The Gold defense forced 4 turnovers, including 3 picks of Eli Manning, and the run game saw rookie Phillip Lindsay rush for 70 yards, aided by veteran DeMarco Murray. Golden Tate was also sharp, catching 5 balls for 97 yards and a score as Denver moves to 2-0. POTG:  Denver DE Von Miller: 7 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR   Dallas 13   Oklahoma 37 The Roughnecks were intent on containing Marshawn Lynch, and largely did, holding him to only 1.9 yards per carry, but that allowed Joe Flacco to slowly pick apart the secondary, which he did, going 21 of 31 for 203 yards and 2 scores. Down 13-10 after 3 quarters, Oklahoma exploded in the 4th, scoring on 5 possessions, including a Lynch TD run, a Marquise Goodwin 30-yard TD catch and a Benjamin Richards pick-six that sealed Dallas’s fate. POTG:  Oklahoma safety Leon McQuay: 5 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 Int   A Huge Week for the Tailbacks To say that this was a good week for fans of the run game might be underselling what we saw. Despite pretty solid weather all across the league’s schedule, the passing games were not on full display quite yet, but the rushing attack of many clubs certainly was. After a season opening week that saw only one back, league leader LeVeon Bell of Michigan, top 100 yards, this week, across the USFL, we saw six backs top the 100-yard threshold, with 3 more topping 90 yards, and several teams use a dual or even triple back rotation to put up impressive numbers. We already highlighted the standout game from LA’s Reggie Bush, leading all rushers with 205 yards and 3 touchdowns, but this week there were plenty of huge performances to celebrate. Backup tailback Ben Tate stepped in when Doug Martin went down to injury for Portland, and man, does he know how to step in and step up, putting up 181 yards and 3 scores of his own in Portland’s big win. Derrick Henry had only 63 yards rushing, but turned 4 catches into nearly 120 yards and a 3rd TD to finish the day with over 180 yards from scrimmage. We also saw Maurice Jones-Drew rack up 163 yards and 2 scores against Birmingham, LeVeon Bell put up more big numbers with 179 yards and a score at home against Ohio, Carlos Hyde rush for 120 and a score, and, in something of a rarity, Balitmore’s Kerwynn Williams topped 100 yards, rushing for 102 despite splitting carries with Anthony Dixon.   Add to these individual totals the team efforts that saw Adrian Peterson (90 yards) and Taiwan Jones (54) combine for 144 yards for Charlotte, Matt Forte (96) and Jeremy Hill (85) put up 186 rushing yards for Chicago, or a three-headed monster for Atlanta (Chubb, Drake, Ivory) combine for 129, and you have some serious ground advances in the USFL this week. It is rare in the spring league known for its wide open passing games to see so many teams rely on the run, and have such success with it, and while it is far too soon to say this could be a trend, it does seem that the run game is alive and well in the USFL, so defenses had better get ready to adjust. Tim Tebow Shows Up Big for Orlando Talk about a blast from the past, what we saw in Orlando’s big win against the rival Bandits this week took all of us back. When Russell Wilson leave the game with a nasty concussion that clearly had him woozy and unbalanced, in came former Bull and Express QB Tim Tebow. But the Tim Tebow we saw on Saturday was not the inaccurate gunslinger with a fullback’s running ability that we had seen in his stints with Jacksonville or LA, and certainly not the ineffective gimmick that he had become in his one year with the NFL Jets. We saw a Tim Tebow that harkened back to his time in Gainesville as the Heisman winning QB of the Florida Gators.   Other than one time he was flushed out of the pocket by Tampa’s rush, Tebow stood tall in the backfield, looking at multiple receivers and throwing a pretty accurate ball. The former Gator looked poised, especially for someone who had appeared in only 1 USFL game since 2015. He finished the game with 15 completions in 20 attempts, throwing for 277 yards against the Bandits and accounting for 3 touchdowns as he connected with Terrance Williams, Jeremy Maclin, and his favorite receiver on the day, Dwayne Bowe for scores. Tebow kept going back to Bowe, himself something of a reclamation project in Orlando, and the receiver came up big, catching 5 of 6 targets for an average of 24.2 yards per reception, all leading to a 121-yard day for the oft-forgotten former Breaker.   For fans of Tebow, and there remain many in the state of Florida who still harken back to his days as a Gator, this was a redemption game, a chance to once again proudly trot out the number 15 jersey and talk about the former Heisman winner as one of the legends of football in the Sunshine State. Tebow will get another chance to prove that his career’s demise was highly exaggerated when the Renegades travel to St. Louis to face the very suspect defense of the Skyhawks this week. Wilson will be kept out of the game as a precaution, giving number 15 a chance to shine again, and quite possibly revive both his professional career and his reputation. Johnson Flying High with Skyhawks To say that this week’s 48-27 drubbing by the LA Express was not a good time for the Skyhawks might be an understatement, but it was not a disaster for all 53 players on the roster. For newly-arrived WR Stevie Johnson, this week’s game was a breakout for him with his new team. After a pretty pedestrian season opener with his new team, the former Philadelphia Star showed why St. Louis had brought him in with one of the largest contracts ever offered to a wideout, catching 5 balls for 179 yards in St. Louis’s attempt to keep pace with LA’s scoring frenzy. Johnson had only had 3 catches and 34 yards when the Skyhawks shocked San Diego in their home opener, but this week, with the Skyhawks trying desperately to keep pace with an LA team that did not punt until the 4th quarter, Johnson’s skills were on full display. He had sideline toe-tapping catches, over the middle catches, and, the coup-de-grace, a 63-yard over-the-top catch reminiscent of Willie Mays in the final minute of the game that produced both a highlight reel visual and 7 points for the ‘Hawks. The game may have been very disturbing for Skyhawk fans, but what they saw out of their new acquisition had to be a sign of hope for the future. Arizona Secondary Being Asked to Do a Lot We all knew going into the season that the Arizona Wranglers were going to need time to find their defensive legs. We all also expected that the leadership of veterans in the secondary would be vital as the club tried to integrate a lot of new faces into the starting 11. What we did not anticipate was that the secondary would need to become the focal point of the entire defense, but when your top two tacklers are both DBs, it shows that you are relying very much on the third line of defense to take a very active role in every aspect of the team’s gameplan.   With SS Troy Polamalu leading the team with 20 tackles to date, followed closely by veteran CB Joe Haden with 19, it seems clear that Arizona is very much beholden to their secondary. We probably should not be shocked. With only 3 sacks in the opening 2 games, and with a LB group that is still trying to figure out their assignments, the only really consistent feature of the Wrangler D is in the secondary, where Polamalu and Haden lead a pretty veteran group that also includes free safety Nate Allen, veteran CB Mike Mickens and NFL import Ross Cockrell. With 2 of 3 starting linebackers new to the team (including rookie Malik Jefferson) and with 3 of 4 defensive line starter also new, there is just not a lot of continuity to be had, much less cohesion between teammates. The secondary has helped Arizona stay in games, with the pass defense ranked 13th in the league largely due to their efforts. The run defense has been harder to shift to the secondary, and that clearly impacts their ability to stop the run, with Chicago gaining over 180 yards on the ground this week after Arizona gave up 127 yards to Denver in a bad weather game at Invesco Field. The Wranglers have good leadership in the secondary to be sure, but what they need now is for the other 7 players on the field to figure out their roles and responsibilities each week and to play as a unit, something we are not yet seeing.   QB Situation Going into Week Three Just to be sure we all know what to expect this week, with injuries affecting 5 of the league’s starting QB situation, here is a quick rundown of what you should expect from the Week 3 games.   Oakland will start NFL Import Jimmy Garoppolo as they visit Ohio, with Bob Volek in the 2 slot should he be needed. Ohio will also be changing their QB for that game after the injury to Christian Hackenberg , with Brock Osweiler getting the start. So if you had Osweiler vs. Garoppolo penciled in for this game, congratulations, you may be clairvoyant.   Seattle heads to DC for the 2nd of two clashes between the Federals and PNW teams, after Washington was destroyed by the Stags last week. The Dragons will be going with former Stag Matt McGloin as their starter, but have also given former Fire QB Brad Gradkowski significant work this week in practice, so don’t be shocked if Gradkowski gets the call if McGloin struggles. Though the player to watch for certain is really HB Knowshon Moreno, considering what Ben Tate was able to do against the Federals’ run defense this past week.   To no one’s surprise after this past week’s performance, Tim Tebow has been given the start as Orlando travels to St. Louis. The Skyhawks also showed real issues with the run game, so expect Orlando to try to lighten Tebow’s load by focusing on a dual back run game with former Glory HB Rashad Jennings and veteran Latavius Murray carrying the ball early and often.   Finally, Cam Newton is listed as doubtful this week and all indications are that A. J. McCarron will get the start when the 0-2 Stallions host the Baltimore Blitz. Newton’s absence means we are likely to see Birmingham try to focus on the short passing game and hope that they can get some production from T. J. Yeldon. After 2 weeks, Yeldon has only 44 rushing yards, fewer than Cam Newton gained in one TD run this past week. If Yeldon struggles, it could be rookie Kerryon Johnson getting a shot as Birmingham will almost certainly try to run the ball against Baltimore.                 INJURIES We highlighted several key injuries in our Big Story this week, but the list is actually far longer than the list initially given, with 2 other IR additions and a long list of players ruled out for Week 5. New Jersey placed HB Kiero Small on IR and signed Toby Gerhardt to replace him. Between their active roster and practice squad, Jacksonville had 6 guards on the club, so they will not be looking to find a free agent, at least not in that position, as they place starting LG Dakota Doizer on IR with a broken leg. For the others, it looks like some temporary moves to bring a player up from the practice squad will be the answer. OUT HB         Kiero Small                     NJ           Torn Bicep            IR SS           Budda Baker                     HOU     Torn ACL                  IR G            Dakota Dozier                 JAX         Broken leg              IR HB         Doug Martin                 POR      Broken Hip              8-12 Weeks QB         Jacoby Brissett              SEA        Groin Tear                6-8 Weeks QB         Christian Hackenberg  OHI       Broken Arm             6-8 Weeks QB         Ryan Lindley                   OAK      Torn Miniscus           6-8 Weeks C             Jimmy Hook                   OKL       Broken Arm              4-6 Weeks CB          Prince Amukamara       WSH     Stress Fracture         2-4 Weeks DT          Akeem Hicks                  OHI       Fractured Jaw          1-2 Weeks LB           Rolando McClain           CHA      Concussion              1-2 Weeks OT          David Tremblay               ORL       Arm                          1-2 Weeks G            Herman Johnson            OKL       Back                          1-2 Weeks OT          Jah Reid                           LA          Hip                           1-2 Weeks LB           Brandon Spikes               DAL       Hand                         1-2 Weeks G            Joshua Garnett               NJ           Hip                           1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL TE           Rob Housler                 MGN     Hand DE          Chandler Jones               CHA      Illness QB         Cam Newton                 BIR         Eye   QUESTIONABLE SS           Kyshoen Jarrett               WSH     Concussion CB          Chimdi Chekwa              OHI       Hamstring SS           Jabril Peppers              MGN     Concussion WR         Justin Blackmon             CHA      Patella Tendinitis   Manziel Possibly in Hot Water Again As if having 5 USFL starting QBs out of Week 3 action due to injuries, we are potentially looking at another self-inflicted wound for the Dallas Roughnecks, as the league is currently investigating more allegations of misbehavior surrounding alcohol and QB Johnny Manziel. Reports out of Oklahoma City seem to indicate that the Dallas QB had some alcohol-fueled altercations with staff at the team’s hotel as they visited the city to face the Outlaws. No charges have been filed against Manziel, but it appears that police were involved when Manziel apparently clashed with hotel staff both inside the hotel and on the sidewalk outside the facility.   Reports are a bit fuzzy, but it appears that when the team arrived in Oklahoma City on Saturday, prepping for their Sunday night game against the Outlaws, Manziel wasted no time taking advantage of the minibar in his room, and soon was calling down to the hotel restaurant to order more alcohol. When some of his requests were denied, Manziel apparently made his way to the lobby and began berating the front desk staff. This developed further over the course of the night, with Manziel returning to the lobby multiple times and even clashing with building security outside the hotel. Police were called to the scene and Manziel was eventually returned to his room, with no further incidents reported, but the league is investigating the incident and local police are still potentially looking at several charges related to public drunkenness, disorderly conduct, and potentially assaulting an officer for a swing that the QB apparently took towards one of the OKC police.   With a prior suspension already on his USFL record for a DUI in the 2016-2017 offseason, Manziel is already on thin ice with the league. A second alcohol-related suspension would almost certainly be lengthier than the 6-game suspension last season, and could very well come with requirements for treatment or counselling before reinstatement. We will continue to monitor this story, but as of right now it does appear that Manziel will both be active and expected to start when Dallas hosts Denver in a key early season divisional clash.   Did We Oversell Anthony Allen? As you may recall, this offseason we touted the potential of former Memphis HB Anthony Allen to take on a lead back role with whichever team signed the back in free agency. Allen had shown some real potential in his time with the Showboats, and we were confident that he could take his game to the next level and deserved a shot at being the number one back with a new team. The Washington Federals either believed us or agreed with us, signing Allen to a 3-year deal and putting him into the starting lineup as early as winter mini-camp.   But, with 2 weeks down in the 2018 season, the verdict is still very much out on Allen’s new placement. After rushing for only 15 yards on 16 carries in a dismal opener in Pittsburgh, there was some leeway given because the Mauler D-line is among the league’s most disruptive, and it clearly had given Washington’s blockers fits all game long. But, against Portland, who are not regarded by anyone as a top tier defense, Allen returned with only 55 yards. Now, that did include a touchdown run that required the back to shrug off an unencumbered defender, but even with that, his total production has just not been what Washington had hoped for. The season is early, and we do not anticipate that the Feds will drop Allen for NFL import Orleans Darkwa or scatback Joique Bell, but they will absolutely need to see more from Allen if they hope to earn their first win, and certainly if they hope to improve on a pretty dismal 3-13 season in 2017. For now we will wait and see, but so far the impression Federal fans are getting is that Allen may have been more hype than help.   League Reveals Expansion Timeline for 2020 The USFL League Office in New York announced this week the timeline for 2020 expansion. While for one expansion group, the San Antonio USFL Club headed by former Outlaws owner Red McComb, is already pre-selected for one of the two slots, for several other expansion hopeful cities the timeline provides a clear calendar for proposals, review, and selection. The announced plan calls for proposals to be submitted for review by the ad hoc 2020 Expansion Committee by September 1st of this year. The committee will conduct the financial and contractual review to ensure that the bidding investors have the resources promised as well as a stadium deal which meets USFL standards. The league will announce 3 finalists after their late fall meeting in November and those groups will present their bids to the league ownership at the league’s March meeting, with the expectation that the expansion franchise will be announced in January of 2019, providing a full year for both the San Antonio franchise and the ownership of the league’s 30th franchise to set up ticketing and marketing offices, develop sponsorship and local partnership deals, and for the league to prepare an expansion draft in the fall of 2019 and set draft parameters for the January 2020 draft.   While the SAUC (cited above) is not required to participate in the review and selection process, once the league has selected their 30th franchise, the two will follow many of the same guidelines and processes for integration into the league. As of right now, the expectation is that the expansion process will include no fewer than 6 bidding groups, representing a range of cities that currently do not possess a USFL franchise, but it is possible that more will emerge as the process begins. As of today there are known investment groups waiting to develop their bids on behalf of franchise locations in Miami, the Twin Cities, Boston, Salt Lake City and Hartford, with rumors adding potential interest in Indianapolis, Kansas City, and Virginia Beach to the mix.   While certainly not the primary focus of a bidding process, there are many within the USFL who are looking at divisional alignment as a factor in their decision making. After relocation pushed Las Vegas into the SW Division, Houston was moved out of the division and into the South, creating separation from the other Texas franchises (at the time there were two, now down to one with San Antonio’s relocation to Oklahoma City). There are some who are hoping that an expansion to 30 teams would allow for a cluster of the 3 Texas teams once again. However, there is also interest in finding franchises who could bring the two 4-team divisions up to an even 5 teams along with the league’s other 4 divisions. That could be done in a myriad of ways, so it does not necessarily rule out any particular location. For example, with the Central and Southern Divisions sitting at 4 teams, there is some talk about adding another midwestern club, like an Indianapolis or Twin City franchise, with San Antonio joining Houston in the South and leaving Dallas and Oklahoma in the Southwest. Others favor moving Dallas to the South, and yet others believe that Pittsburgh could be returned to the Central Division, which would create space in the Northeast for a Boston or Hartford franchise. Of course, if Miami is the chosen 30th franchise, there will be pressure to relocate Charlotte, which could push them somewhat uncomfortably into the NE Division, again sending Pittsburgh to the Central. And if Salt Lake City or Kansas City are chosen, well, that all but blows up the SW Division, with Dallas, Oklahoma or the expansion San Antonio team having to find a new home in either the South or the Central Division.   This is all speculation at this point. But, within the next year we should know exactly who the finalists are and, from there, which city is being added to the USFL family. That will almost certainly force some reallocation of teams, but it is certainly far too early to know just how and where teams will show up at this point. So, we wait and wonder.   Week three is a big week for many teams around the USFL, but none more than the clubs sitting at 0-2 and trying their best to avoid an 0-3 start. We have 8 teams in that situation, so let’s focus on them as we look ahead at the week’s schedule. No games with winless teams on Friday, but we do have a huge divisional game with Houston visiting New Orleans in what has quickly become a pretty solid rivalry of two “Bayou” teams.   Saturday starts us off with 3 winless teams in action at noon. We have Jacksonville playing in division against the 1-1 Atlanta Fire and we have a battle of winless clubs as the Dragons travel to DC to face the Federals. Washington was walloped by the league’s other Pacific Northwest club this past week; can they avoid an 0-2 home record against the region by knocking off the Dragons? We have 3 more 0-2 clubs in action in the later slots as well, with Baltimore traveling to Birmingham to take on a Cam-Newtonless Stallions squad in a 7pm ET start. Then, in the nightcap, it is Las Vegas at San Diego, with both preseason playoff hopefuls trying to avoid a nasty 0-3 start to their seasons.   On Sunday we have two more winless clubs, both with pretty tough assignments as they are both home but hosting a 2-0 club that has looked very good this year. At noon it is the Bandits hosting Charlotte, though it is a weakened Monarchs club with injuries that could keep three key players out: WR Justin Blackmon, LB Rolando McClain and DE Chandler Jones. Is that enough to turn the tide towards the homestanding Tampa Bay Bandits? Then, in the final game of the week, we have Chicago hosting their rivals from Michigan. The Panthers come to Chi-Town at 2-0 and looking very much like the club that drove their way to a title last year. Can the Machine find a way to throw a wrench in the gears of Michigan’s season or will the Panthers roll on to 3-0 and send Chicago into a deep hole at 0-3? Looks like a week of reckoning for many teams, so tune in and get ready for some intense early season football.   Friday @ 6pm ET         Arizona (1-1) @ New Jersey (1-1)             NBC Friday @ 8pm ET           Houston (2-0) @ New Orleans (2-0)          ABC   Saturday @ 12pm ET   Jacksonville (0-2) @ Atlanta (1-1)             ABC Saturday @ 12pm ET     Seattle (0-2) @ Washinton (0-2)               FOX Saturday @ 4pm ET       Oklahoma (2-0) @ Memphis (1-1)            ABC Saturday @ 4pm ET       Oakland (2-0) @ Ohio (1-1)                       FOX Saturday @ 7pm ET       Baltimore (1-1) @ Birmingham (0-2)         NBC      Saturday @ 9pm ET       Las Vegas (0-2) @ San Diego (0-2)            ESPN/EFN   Sunday @ 12pm ET      Charlotte (2-0) @ Tampa Bay (0-2)           ABC Sunday @ 12pm ET        Orlando (1-1) @ St. Louis (1-1)                 FOX Regional Sunday @ 12pm ET        Portland (2-0) @ Philadelphia (1-1)          FOX Regional Sunday @ 4pm ET         Denver (2-0) @ Dallas (1-1)                        ABC Sunday @ 4pm ET          Pittsburgh (1-1) @ Los Angeles (1-1)        FOX Sunday @ 8pm ET         Michigan (2-0) @ Chicago (0-2)                 ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: You come out of the gate in Week 1 with a 400-yard passing day and, yes, you are going to win POTW. Colt McCoy looked 100% recovered from the injury that cost him half of the Summer Bowl, throwing for 403 on only 15 of 25, as it was big play after big play for the Gambler QB against the Bandits.

Welcome to the 36th season of USFL football. Week one kicked us off with a soggy, windy, and sloppy set of games, with a lot of weather-related football follies making up the story of the week. But, despite the elements, football is back and that is something to celebrate. We will review all the games this week, including a nice Game of the Week that saw Baltimore go into Philly and pull off a soggy, but well-earned upset. We will also take a look at how our two Summer Bowl 2017 participants seem to be keeping the ball rolling as they enter 2018, and a quick look at two potential breakout performances from players given a shot to shine in the new season. We wrap it all up with a slightly belated report on the USFL Preseason Power Rankings and a look ahead to Week 2. It’s all right here. Football is back with the USFL in action, and we are here for it.   Rain, Rain, Go Away!! We have all gotten used to the first week or two of USFL action providing a cavalcade of weather issues. That is the nature of March in much of the country. But even with an expectation of potential foul weather, what we got this weekend in the USFL was a soggy, messy, ugly set of games that not only impacted play for teams that simply have not had much time to get their timing right even in perfect conditions, but also conditions that produced one of the lowest leaguewide attendance numbers in nearly 2 decades.   Significant storms, including cold late winter winds in Chicago, Ohio, and Pittsburgh, also produced lightning delays in both Oklahoma and Memphis, while rain-soaked fields were also a problem in both Birmingham and Philadelphia. Oddly enough, of the 8 games that were clearly affected by the cold, wet weather, Portland, often the site of early season soakers, was perhaps the least affected, though a drizzle fell for much of the Stag’s home opener as well.   Conditions were at their worst for the games in Oklahoma and Chicago. The Outlaws’ opener against Las Vegas saw three separate lighting stoppages, turning the game into a marathon that took over 5 hours to complete. In Chicago the rain was mixed with sleet and brutal winds, dropping the ambient temperature form the mid-40’s easily into the high 20’s at points during the game. Conditions were not much better in most of the other impacted games, making fans in St. Louis, Houston, and Michigan feel mighty lucky that their teams opened the season in climate-controlled domes. But even with the comfort of a domed stadium, flash flooding, lightning, and gusting winds still depressed the opening week numbers.   Overall, the league’s opening week produced an average attendance of just 37,203, well below that of recent years in which, even with some foul weather games, the opening week of the USFL typically drew an average of 45,000 or more to the 14 home games. There were some bright spots, of course, with Denver getting over 47,000 to sit through a pretty chilly game at Invesco Field. Dallas also saw solid attendance for their opener, with over 44,000 on hand, and Charlotte, which was largely unaffected by the line of storms that raged from the Rockies to New England over the course of the weekend, was more than happy to welcome football back, with nearly 51,000 on hand at Bank of America stadium. Compare that to the 29,423 that came out to watch Memphis upset the New Jersey Generals in a day long soaker, and you can see just how much the weather impacted the season’s opening week. But never fear. The meteorologists are looking at next weekend and seeing very few possibilities of nasty weather. Why it may even be sunny in Seattle when the Dragons host the Stars. Well, not sunny, since it is a 6pm kickoff in Seattle, but the forecast calls for a warm day preceding the game. The league certainly hopes that the weather clears for Week 2, perhaps ready to call a do-over after a pretty miserable opening week both for the players trying to maneuver through puddles and slick turf and for the fans, sitting in the rain and suffering the wind in far too many stadiums this week.   BALTIMORE BLITZ 15  PHILADELPHIA STARS 10 Wind gusting up to 40mph and a steady drizzle welcomed the Philadelphia Stars and the Baltimore Blitz at Lincoln Financial Field on Friday night. Not exactly what we would call true football weather, but not out of the norm of possibility with a March start to the season. But, despite the pretty miserable conditions, more than 35,000 fans made their way to the stadium to watch their team open play for the 2018 season. There was a healthy Baltimore contingent in the house, maybe as many as 10,000 of the announced crowd. And what both sets of fans watch was a pretty decent game, despite the elements, with both defenses clearly having the edge in the dreary conditions.   In a game that saw 9 combined sacks and one in which neither team could muster 100 yards of combined rushing, it was a game that did not set itself up for big numbers across the two offenses. But what we saw was one of the better defensive game plans against Philadelphia’s run game, as the Blitz used run blitzes and tight safeties to devastate the Star running attack, limiting Derrick Henry to a miserable 0.8 yards per carry, and not allowing Zac Stacy to fare much better. In a combined 19 carries, the two backs combined for only 23 yards. Meanwhile, Baltimore, still a bit pass happy, which is tough in the conditions the two clubs faced, managed to see Anthony Dixon and Kerwynn Williams combine for 76 yards rushing, though neither could top 3.5 yards per carry either.   The Blitz scored first in the rain, putting together a 58-yard drive after a poor punt from Philadelphia. The drive saw Dixon and Williams slogging through the wet turf, but also saw Big Ben connect on two key passes, the first a 3rd and 10 throw to Eli Rogers that went for 13 and a first down. The second was the scoring throw to Brian Hartline, a comeback route that caused the corner to slide out of the play while Hartline hooked back, made the catch and then fell forward into the endzone. That score would put Baltimore up 7-0, a lead they would hold until the 3rd quarter.   With both teams soaked to the bones and both offenses struggling throughout the half, the two clubs happily headed to their locker rooms at the half, hoping to warm up if not dry off a bit. When they came out for the third quarter, the rain had let up a bit, but the wind was still a factor. We saw this on Baltimore’s first drive, when the Blitz got optimistic and sent out Josh Lambo to attempt a 43-yarder. That proved quite a bit too optimistic as the ball got caught in the swirling wind and was drawn far off to the right. Philadelphia would have more luck on their next possession, using nearly 6 minutes to go 61 yards before sending out Mike Nugent to try his own kick, this one from 39 yards out. The ball hooked, to be sure, but instead of hooking out of play, it hooked from outside the goalposts on the left nearly to the right upright but went through to put the homestanding Stars on the board.   With a 7-3 lead after 3 quarters, there was not much expectation that scoring would open up in the final period, but we saw 4 different scoring plays in the quarter, with Baltimore getting 3 of them. The first was a defensive score when, with Philadelphia backed up to their own 2, Matt Gutierrez bobbled the ball as he tried to put it in the belly of Derrick Henry. Henry fell on the ball to avoid the defensive TD, but it still gave Baltimore 2 more points, boosting their lead to 9-3.   After the Philadelphia defense forced Baltimore to punt the ball, the Stars took over on their own 20 and had their best drive of the game. The wind seemed to calm down just enough that Coach Harbaugh was willing to let Matt Gutierrez throw the ball against the stacked Baltimore front. He had completed only 5 of 17 passes on the day, but on this drive, he would complete 3 of 5 to move the Stars into Baltimore territory. Admitedly, the longest pass of the day, a 52-yarder to Zac Stacy was only a 4-yard throw, but Stacy made the first defender miss, then benefitted from the slick ground as he made the safety whiff on an attempted arm tackle. He would be pushed out of bounds at the Baltimore 18 with the biggest gain of the day.   A sack of Matt Gutierrez sent the Stars back to the 22, but on the next play, the Philadelphia QB found Travis Kelce over the middle, and the big tight end rumbled his way between the safety and a corner, splashing his way into the endzone for 6 points. Mike Nugent’s kick gave Philadelphia their first lead of the game with only 4:12 left to play. The Stars were up 10-9, but there was still time for Baltimore to find an answer.   The Blitz did just that, using one-cut routes to give the receivers a chance to gain a step on the rain-soaked defense. Short passes to both Darrius Heyward-Bey and Eli Rogers turned into longer completions thanks to the YAC yards both receivers were able to add to the plays. It took Baltimore 7 plays, but they were on the Philadelphia 2 and it looked like they would go in for the score, but on 1st and goal, the rain finally got to Baltimore. The snap went wonky, fluttering between the legs of Big Ben. He spun to find the ball but inadvertently kicked it. Fortunately for Baltimore, HB Kerwynn Williams was alert to the botched snap and fell on the ball. It cost the Blitz 5 yards, but they held onto possession. After 2 passes into the endzone produced no points, Josh Lambo came out for a chip shot 24-yarder. This time, Lambo found the line and the ball went straight through the uprights to once again give the Blitz the lead, 12-10 with 1:14 left to play.   Philadelphia allowed the ball to slide into the endzone on the kickoff and started from the 20 with 1:14 to get into field goal range. The rain and wind, however, would not allow them to use the passing game to speed up that drive. After the wind blew the ball out of bounds on a sideline throw to Ron Johnson, Philadelphia tried to get Zac Stacy to break open a play on a draw, but instead of busting through the hole, he too struggled with the handoff and had to fall on the ball without any gain. On 3rd and 11 Matt Gutierrez had to dump the ball down to Randall Cobb underneath, a play that gained only 5 yards. But, with 4th and 6 on their own 24, the Stars had no choice but to go for it on 4th down. But, once again the slippery ball proved a huge issue. Matt Gutierrez, back in the shotgun position, watched as the ball flew to his left. He would race the defenders to get to the ball, but even with him gaining possession, the play meant that it would be Baltimore’s ball on the Philly 17. After two dive plays, Baltimore put the game out of reach with another short field goal, with only 4 seconds left to play.   While some in Philadelphia questioned the decision for Baltimore to add more points with only 1 snap left in the game, Coach Caldwell made it pretty clear that he believed a 5-point lead was a better safeguard against any final shenanigans than their previous 2-point advantage. As both teams left the field, the fans slogged to their cars, a bit stunned by the result, and certainly hoping that the next Stars home game (Week 3 vs. Portland) would be a dryer and warmer affair.   Arizona 10  Denver 17 No rain in the Mile High City, but a cold, blustery March day welcomed both teams. Denver used the run game to their advantage, racking up 127 yards on the ground and helping Matt Leinart use play action to throw for 2 scores. Arizona’s pasing attack struggled, with FB Leron McClain finishing as the Wrangler’s top receiver with 4 catches. POTG: Gold HB DeMarco Murray: 16 Att, 84 Yds   New Jersey 13   Memphis 26 The Showboats and Generals played through the rain in Memphis, where the homestanding ‘Boats forced 2 turnovers and held New Jersey to only 50 yards rushing. Todd Gurley outpaced that total, rushing for 54 yards and a TD in the mud. Nick Foles quickly gave up on the run game, throwing the ball 55 times, but was only able to complete 21 of those throws. POTG: Memphis HB Todd Gurley: 18 Att, 55 Yds, 1 TD   Orlando 14   Charlotte 26 One of the better weather games welcomed the Renegades and Monarchs. Mitch Trubisky struggled with Orlando’s pass rush, sacked 3 times and picked off 3 more, but he got the W thanks in large part to 163 yards rushing, shared by Adrian Peterson (65), Taiwan Jones (58) and rookie Nyheim Hines (45) as the Monarchs ground out the divisional win. POTG: Monarch CB Derech Cox: 6 Tck, 1 PD, 1 Int   Los Angeles 14  Portland 19 Of all the rainy games, this one was the most expected, after all it was Portland in March. The Express and Stags played a pretty entertaining game, all things considered. A TD from Bradford to rookie Marquez Valdes-Scantling gave them a 1-point lead early in the 4th, but Portland added 2 field goals in the quarter to take the W. Mariota went 15 of 22 for 165, and with Doug Martin dinged up early in the game, it was big Ben Tate who got the most carries. POTG: Stag HB Ben Tate: 28 Att, 83 Yds   Seattle 9   Dallas 22 Seattle might have liked to see some rain in Dallas, but no luck there. Instead, they saw Dallas bring out a spread offense that allowed WR Tim Wright to rack up 102 yards on 6 catches before suffering an injury that could cost him the season. Manziel went 24 of 35 in Kliff Kingsbury’s new offense. Seattle struggled, with Knowshon Moreno gaining only 27 yards in his first game as a Dragon. Jacoby Brissett threw 2 picks, and the Roughnecks got 6 points off those turnovers. POTG: Dallas WR Tim Wright: 6 Rec, 102 Yds   New Orleans 16  Birmingham 6 An all-day soaker made conditions at Protective Stadium in Birmingham look like playing the game on a slip & slide. Neither team could run the ball effectively, with Leonard Fournette gaining only 10 yards on the day while T. J. Yeldon was held to 18. Cam Newton had the most official carries for Birmingham, but most were scrambles, not planned runs. The Breakers got the W on one key play, a 21-yard Brees to Nelson TD toss that was the game’s only TD. POTG: Breaker WR Jordy Nelson: 7 Rec, 138 Yds, 1 TD   Las Vegas 14   Oklahoma 17 Officially the game in Oklahoma City was a sell-out, but there were plenty of empty seats as the game was delayed twice by lightning and rain pelted the field for the full 3 hours. Apparently, Marshawn Lynch is a mudder, because he had no issues, rushing for 71 yards on 16 carries. Las Vegas had some good runs too, but they also blew a 14-3 lead as Oklahoma ground out 3 second half scores to take the W. POTG: Oklahoma WR DeDe Westbrook: 7 Rec, 130 Yds   San Diego 15   St. Louis 26 No rain inside The Dome at America’s Center, except of course the passes raining down on the San Diego defense. Josh Freeman threw for 270 yards and 2 scores despite being sacked 5 times by the Thunder. His game included a nice 32-yard TD to TE Rob Gronkowski and a 38-yarder to Erik Decker. San Diego moved the ball well but struggled in the red zone. Kicker Jeff Reed also had a rough opener for the Thunder, missing on 2 long field goals. POTG: St. Louis LT Brian Bulaga: 15 Pancakes   Jacksonville 12   Ohio 20 The rain in Columbus was not as bad as some other venues, but it came with swirling wind which affected both passing games. With a stronger run game and some short passing, Ohio pulled out to a 17-6 lead in the 3rd and salted away the win with a late field goal by Robbie Gould. Former NFL QB Teddy Bridgewater actually came into the game for one series, completing his first USFL pass, but it was Robert Griffin III at the helm for most of the game. POTG: Ohio QB Christian Hackenberg: 18/25, 127 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int   Washington 9   Pittsburgh 22 The Mauler game had only an occasional sprinkle, so Washington cannot blame their issue on the weather. Rookie Sony Michel had a much better debut than Washington FA back Anthony Allen, rushing for 77 yards on 15 carries while Allen could only muster 15 yards against the Mauler front 4. The Feds also cost themselves with 7 penalties, including 2 that wiped out first downs by the offense. POTG: Pittsburgh CB Dunta Robinson: 9 Tck, 1 FF, 1 FR   Tampa Bay 16   Houston 30 Colt McCoy started strong with 403 yards passing, including 159 to Mike Evans and another 101 to Juju Smith-Schuster as the Gamblers rolled. It was 30-9 until a garbage time TD from the Bandits. Tampa did not have Dez Bryant suited up, but with 6 sacks suffered, Dak Prescott likely could not have gotten the ball to him too often had he played. POTG: Gambler QB Colt McCoy: 15/25, 403 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int   Oakland 12  Chicago 7 Soldier Field was a swimming pool as the Invaders and Machine slipped, slid, and splashed their way through a game that saw at least 20,000 fans stay home due to the weather. They missed a messy game that did not showcase either team very well. QB Ryan Lindley stayed within himself, completing 20 of 29 passes, mostly short underneath throws, and Oakland kicker Roberto Aguayo managed to keep his footing pretty well, connecting on all 4 attempts, including a 52-yarder. POTG: Oakland LB Bobby Wagner: 9 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF   Atlanta 14   Michigan 28 The Panthers began their title defense with a nice home win under the roof at Ford Field. There were a few no-shows due to the rain, but those who made it out to the stadium got to see classic Panther football, with LeVeon Bell rushing for 115 (the only 100-yard day of the weekend) and with Kirk Cousins connecting with Cody Latimer for 119 and a score. Atlanta rookie Nick Chubb had some good runs, including a nice 17-yarder on a scoring drive in the 3rd, but it was not enough as Michigan held the Fire at arm’s length all game. POTG: Michigan CB Dre Kirkpatrick: 6 Tck, 1 Int, 1 FF, 1 FR   Panthers & Gamblers Still Look Like Champs Maybe it was the fact that they were fortunate to open the season in their comfortably domed home stadiums, or maybe it was just that the two competitors in the 2017 Summer Bowl were still very much in postseason form, but when you look at the results from this weekend, it seemed clear that Michigan and Houston were again at the top of the class.   Houston’s Colt McCoy put up 403 yards passing and the Gamblers rolled over an overmatched Tampa Bay defense, winning 30-16 in a game that was not as close as that score would make it seem. Michigan built up a 21-7 lead at the half and held off the Atlanta Fire in their opener, with LeVeon Bell becoming the only 100-yard back of the opening week. Yes, the conditions were certainly more amendable to the offenses in these two dome games, but it was also clear that both teams retained the rhythm and momentum that had taken them to the league title game last July.   Fans had hoped that the two would meet this season in a redux of the title games, but the divisions did not align for that to be possible. Houston plays its 4 inter-conference games against teams from the SW (all but Arizona), while Michigan’s inter-conference games have the Panthers facing the Fire, Monarchs, Bulls, and Renegades from the Southeastern Division. So, if fans want to see a rematch of the Summer Bowl, they will have to hope that our “This Week in the USFL” preseason prognosticators were correct, and we will have the first rematch in Summer Bowl history.   Westbrook Not Missing His Shot With the Oklahoma Outlaws trading away Marques Colston (to San Diego), the big question is what Coach Landry and the Outlaws would do to fill those pretty huge shoes. There was talk that Oklahoma would go after one of the big NFL free agent receivers, either Cowboy Dez Bryant or former Dolphin Jarvis Landry. Some speculated that a trade had to be in the works, with names like Darrius Heyward-Bey, Amari Cooper, and Kenny Britt thrown around, but those proved to be more armchair quarterbacking than legitimate conversations. When camp closed and the Outlaws prepped for their preseason matchup against Pittsburgh, it was DeDe Westbrook on the depth chart opposite Marquise Goodwin.   The former Sooner was certainly a known name among fans in Oklahoma City, having caught 80 balls for over 1,500 yards in his senior season in Norman, but in his first season with the USFL Outlaws, Westbrook had been very much a forgotten man. He had caught only 13 passes in his rookie career, stuffed deep in the receiver depth chart behind not only Colston, Goodwin and slot man Percy Harvin, but also beneath little-used Roger Lewis. Coach Landry was asked about this last year and he simply said that Westbrook had some adjustments to make, some development needed, and that he would have his moment.   That moment came this week, when Westbrook was on the field for 47 of Oklahoma’s 56 offensive plays. Conditions were certainly not favorable for a big day from any receiver, and yet Westbrook showed up, looking every bit the weapon that we saw in Norman with the Sooners. He had 15 targets (a league high for the opening week), bringing in 7 of those throws even in the rough conditions. And with those 7 catches, he amassed 130 yards, putting him third in the league. His longest play was a 37-yarder, which was about 12 yards in the air and 25 breaking a tackle and racking up some additional yards. He also had a beauty of a catch in which he tipped the ball to himself and held onto it despite a big hit from Las Vegas safety Eric Berry. For fans of the Outlaws, the performance calmed the concerns about Coach Landry’s lack of effort to bring in a big name. It seems that Landry had seen the work put in by Westbrook not only last season, but in the offseason, to be the kind of receiver who the Outlaws could count on, and in Week 1, Westbrook put his name out there as a potential breakout performer in 2018.   Who is Anthony Hitchens? Speaking of breakout performances, this week’s Blitz-Stars game had a lot of viewers, including Blitz fans themselves, wondering, who is Anthony Hitchens and where have the Blitz been hiding him? Hitchens, a 5th year USFL veteran got his first career start this week, having moved over from the Outlaws to the Blitz in free agency. The former Iowa Hawkeye had been a 2nd round draft pick of the then Texas Outlaws in 2014 but had seen action primarily on special teams in his 4 seasons in the Southwest. He did not appear in a game in his rookie season, and while he had snaps in all 16 games the next two years, he did not earn a single start and amassed only a handful of tackles. In 2017, a combination of injuries and depth in the Oklahoma LB group kept Hitchens to appearances on defense in only 2 games. Baltimore signed Hitchens to a league minimum 1-year deal this offseason, almost certainly thinking of the former Hawkeye as a body for camp. But when Hitchens arrived in Baltimore, he started to impress folks right away. Fully recovered from an ankle injury that had cost him the latter half of the 2017 season, Hitchens had added nearly 20 lbs of upper body mass thanks to a rigorous strength program while his leg healed. He came into camp hungry, and he made plays. By the time of Baltimore’s lone preseason game, he had earned a spot as the backup to Clint Sintim at strongside linebacker. When Coach Caldwell decided to move Sintim inside to bolster the Baltimore 3-4 against interior runs, it gave Hitchens his first start in his 5-year pro career. How did Hitchens respond? How about 9 tackles, leading all Blitz defenders, oh, and 2 sacks as well. Now, admittedly, one of those was Matt Gutierrez slipping during a scramble and Hitchens patting him down, but the unknown and unheralded free agent signing was everywhere on the wet field in Philadelphia. He earned Defensive Player of the Game and was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Week. Not bad for a player with fewer tackles in 4 seasons than in this one game. Looks like we should be adding Mr. Hitchens to our list of potential players to watch this year.   Several NFL Signees Held Out of Week 1 While the USFL had a better-than-average transfer window for signing big name NFL talent, many of those players are still learning new systems or simply recovering from a long fall season and were held out of this week’s action. While we did see many NFL additions on the field this weekend, some of the bigger names were confined to the sidelines and wearing track suits instead of shoulder pads.   Players like WR Dez Bryant, HB Kareem Hunt, and QB Jimmy Garoppolo have only been in USFL camps for 2 weeks or less, while others, like TE Eric Ebron or LB Junior Galette are still nursing late NFL season injuries. The expectation is that we will see several more NFL players make their USFL debuts in Week 2, with Bryant, Ebron, Hunt, and Dallas WR Sammy Watkins among them. As for Oakland’s new QB, Jimmy Garoppolo, there is speculation that Coach Kubiak is not yet ready to turn the reins over to the NFL import just yet. We may see Ryan Lindley again in Week 2’s big matchup against San Diego if only because his knowledge of the offense is considerably deeper than that of the new NFL import. Among the NFL players who did make their USFL debuts this week, we should highlight Atlanta WR Leonard Hankerson, who left the USFL after the 2016 season, played one year in the NFL, and is now back. The new Fire wideout had 5 catches for 47 yards and a TD against the Panthers. Another solid debut came from Arizona’s new cornerback, Ross Cockrell, who played 37 snaps against Denver, coming up with 3 tackles. Other than that, the main contributors from the more than 30 NFL players signed to USFL teams this offseason were the kickers, with former Steeler Chris Boswell connecting on 2 of 4 field goals in rain-soaked Birmingham, and former Brown Zane Gonzalez doing even better in the comfort of the Dome in St. Louis, hitting on 4 of 4 kicks and both PATs as the Skyhawks upset San Diego to win their home opener.   Wright Has Big Day with Bad Ending It started about as well as a player could hope and ended about as badly as they would fear. Dallas wideout Tim Wright had high hopes for the season, and with 6 catches and 102 yards in the opener, it looked like he was starting the year off right, with a goal of topping his career high 1,130 yards from 2017 this season. But midway through the fourth quarter of Dallas win over the visiting Seattle Dragons, Wright, and his high hopes for the season came crashing down.   It was a high throw from Manziel, but one that it looked like Wright was going to bring down, but when his left leg landed, it did so awkwardly, with his foot glancing off the leg of the defender. The result was a twisted leg that clearly meant something had gone very wrong. Wright pounded his fist into the turf at the Cotton Bowl, needed help getting to the sideline, and was carted off to the locker room for evaluation. After such a strong opening game, Wright, and the entire Roughneck squad, would later learn that it would be his last game of the year. It was a full tear of the PCL ligament, with damage as well to the ACL and a dislocation of the patella. In other words, a knee injury that would cost the speedy receiver the year. Wright would be placed on IR on Tuesday, a season of hope and potential wiped out by something as simple as an unfortunate landing.   Wright and Atlanta center Marcus Martin would be the worst of the Week 1 injuries, with both starters now relegated to the IR for the year. Michigan learned that they would be without newly-acquired DE Dee Ford for up to 4 weeks with a hernia suffered late in their win against the Fire, and several other players are now listed as out for Week 2, including Panther TE Rob Housler and Philadelphia’s top corner, Courtland Finnegan. Concerns for Oakland HB Christian McCaffrey’s knee were alleviated when an MRI revealed only minor muscle bruising and inflammation, not the feared ligament damage that had so concerned Panther fans. McCaffrey may be held out of this week’s game out of caution, but that will likely be a game-time decision from Coach Kubiak.   OUT C          Marcus Martin            ATL         Torn Quad           IR WR         Tim Wright                     DAL       Torn PCL             IR DE          Dee Ford                       MGN     Hernia                     2-4 Weeks CB          Cortland Finnegan         PHI        Wrist                        1-2 Weeks TE           Rob Housler                    MGN     Finger                      1-2 Weeks LB           Brandon Spikes               DAL       Hand                        1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL FB          Jalston Fowler                BIR         Turf Toe                  QUESTIONABLE OT          Andre Smith                  JAX         Turf Toe                LB           James Laurinaitis           OHI       Ribs C             Mason Cole                   BIR         Neck HB         Christian McCaffrey     OAK      Knee WR         Marques Colston            SD          Shoulder DE          Olivier Vernon                BAL        Hip C             Sean Harlow                   POR      Back   First Look at Off-Season Additions It was a very mixed week for some of the big-name players that found new teams this offseason. We had a few strong opening performances, but we also saw several players struggle to live up to expectations with their new team. Of course, one game is not an indication of how these players will fare over the course of the year, but you only get one first impression, so who impressed and who has some work to do to win over fans in their new home?   Among the top performers of the season’s first week we have to recognize CB Patrick Peterson in Dallas, finishing the day with 7 tackles, a sack and 2 pass defenses. Another corner who had a big first game was New Jersey’s Aqib Talib who had 6 tackles but also broke up 6 passes, a league best after 1 week. DE Michael Bennett had a good first game in Oakland, though he did not record a sack on the day. He finished with 3 tackles, and a tackle-for-loss. In Denver, former General Amobi Okoye racked up his first sack of the season. Among the relocated offensive players, the best day was that of Charlotte’s new wideout, Justin Blackmon, who finished the game with 6 catches for 51 yards. His replacement in Ohio, former Skyhawk Eric Weems, also looked comfortable, bringing in 4 receptions for 56 yards. It did not go quite so well for former Outlaw Marques Colston, who had only 3 catches for 34 yards in his San Diego debut, while Stevie Johnson only saw 4 targets, but brought in 3 of them for 34 yards for the Skyhawks.   It was the tailbacks that had the biggest hill to climb, as both Knowshon Moreno (ORL to SEA) and Anthony Allen (MEM to WSH) had rough days in their first appearance with their new clubs. Moreno had 15 carries but gained only 27 yards, while Allen had 16 carries, but averaged less than 1 yard per attempt, finishing with only 15 yards. Tough starts for two players who were expected to be major factors in their new offenses. There is certainly still time for any of the Week 1 performers to improve and show their worth to their new teams, while some impressed right away. Week 2 will offer another shot to impress, so keep your eyes on these players to see if more familiarity will produce positive results.   League Power Rankings Yes, we do have power rankings, perhaps a week late, but still a good starting point as we enter into the new year. As expected, the two Summer Bowl participants are at the top of the ratings, but after that the offseason has produced some big movement up and down the list. Here is our preseason look at who we think is elite, solid, shaky, and possibly sinking.   WHO IS ELITE?   1—MICHIGAN No doubt that we would put the defending champs at number one. They earned it.   2—HOUSTON Houston won the West in 2017, and who knows what would have happened had McCoy been healthy for the Championship. A deserving 2-slot for the Gamblers.   3—PHILADELPHIA The Stars look solid top to bottom and may again have a division title if not more ahead in 2018.   4—SAN DIEGO San Diego replaced Chad Johnson with Marques Colston, which means that while the entertainment value of their WR group might be a bit lessened, the quality of play is as good as ever.   5—CHARLOTTE The Monarchs are building around 2nd year QB Mitch Trubisky and hoping they can move from a division champ to something much bigger.   6—ARIZONA Arizona was 15-1 last year, but they have a completely rebuilt defense and there are a lot of questions about whether they can keep the rest of the Soutwest down.   7—NEW ORLEANS The Breakers round out our elite squad top quartile, but are they ready to do more? They need Leonard Fournette and the defense to show us they are ready to challenge the big boys.   WHO IS LOOKING SOLID?   8—DENVER Denver is going to win with defense and ball control. Nothing new there. But, if Matt Leinart cannot get more out of the offense, would Coach Hufnagel put in the rookie out of Wyoming?   9—NEW JERSEY The Generals are looking like the primary contender in the NE, but do they have enough firepower with Nick Foles at the helm to take on the Stars?   10—LAS VEGAS We like a lot of what we see happening in Vegas, and, if they can avoid losing Kareem Hunt to a lengthy suspension, they could be a surprise challenger in the West.   11—BALTIMORE The Blitz have a somewhat unknown quantity on defense, but we know what to expect from this offense, big plays, deep throws, and a lot of opportunities to pull away from their opponents.   12—OHIO Ohio seems to be modeling themselves as Denver East, focusing on a solid defense, a ho-hum but effective offense, and a strategy of controlling the pace of the game each week.   13—ATLANTA We like Atlanta’s defense, and we think the addition of rookie Nick Chubb could give the O a boost, we are just not sure who will finish the season under center.   14—SEATTLE We probably should have ranked Seattle higher after the second half of a season they put together last year. I guess we are still not 100% convinced that it was not all smoke and mirrors.   WHO MIGHT BE A BIT SHAKY?   15—OKLAHOMA The biggest question mark is the passing game, but if Oklahoma can stick to their smashmouth success from last year, they could make a run at the division.   16—BIRMINGHAM Every year we seem to think that the Stallions are due for a breakout year, and every year they seem to muddle around .500. Can they finally get more consistency out of this squad?   17—DALLAS A new coaching staff, a lot of new faces on defense, is that enough for Dallas to get ahead in a very tight and pretty solid division?   18—OAKLAND The defense has some clout to it, the run game could be solid, so it all comes down to how quickly and effectively Jimmy Garoppolo can be brought along.   19—CHICAGO The move for Sam Darnold shows that this club is not happy where they are, at least not at QB, so what does that mean now that they lost out on their star QB to the NFL?   20—PITTSBURGH That amazing 2015 season is feeling more and more distant. How can the Maulers recapture that magic? Is moving to a spread attack the key?   21—MEMPHIS There is a lot we like about Rex Ryan’s Showboats, but there are still huge question marks too, especially as they pertain to the development of Paxton Lynch.   WHO COULD BE IN IN FOR A LONG YEAR?   22—LOS ANGELES Of all the teams in our list, the Express were the ones with the widest gap between their possible ceiling and their possible basement. Most seem to think they may need to find a new path, because Coach Reid has just not found the answer with what he has tried to date.   23—ORLANDO Losing Knowshon is a huge hit, but with Wilson back the Renegades are still hoping they can ride his arm and the best front 3 in football to a playoff spot.   24—TAMPA BAY Is Dez Bryant the answer? Bandit fans hope so, but since Bryant cannot play defense, the odds his presence turns things around seems pretty slim.   25—JACKSONVILLE Can either Griffith or Bridgewater finally provide some offense so that the Bulls’ D does not have to go it alone? We are not seeing the surrounding cast needed for either QB to really make a huge impact.   26—WASHINGTON The Feds were pretty awful last year, and while not all their attempts to improve the roster panned out (See Baker Mayfield in the NFL), they did make some good moves.   27—ST. LOUIS With a truly horrible defense in 2017, the place to spend huge effort and money did not seem to be the QB position, but the Skyhawks seem very excited about Lamar Jackson.   28—PORTLAND The Stags are stagnating. We are not seeing this team making the kind of moves needed to add some energy and some quality at so many places on the roster. This just feels like a very tough job for Coach LaFleur unless he can get some help from the GM.   Week two offers us some interesting matchups, starting on Friday night, when we have the Stallions at New Jersey and the Thunder visiting Oakland for the Invaders’ home opener. Fans had hoped that they would get to see Jimmy G under center for the Invaders, but all indications are that Coach Kubiak will start Ryan Lindley. On Saturday we have a nice battle of 1-0 clubs as Charlotte is in Baltimore for the Blitz’s home opener. After upsetting Philadelphia in the rain this week, the Blitz are hoping to make it 2-0 against 2017 division winners with a win over the visiting Monarchs.   Saturday also brings us a Central Division clash as Ohio heads up to Michigan with both teams sitting at 1-0. We also have a Florida Derby on Saturday night as the Bandits take the short trip to Orlando to take on the Renegades. With both teams at 0-1, it is a chance to get that first W against an in-state rival.   When we move to Sunday we get three more early season divisional matchups, starting with Memphis at Houston in the noon timeslot. Both are 1-0 after Memphis’s surprising opening week win against New Jersey, while Houston wil be at home for a second week. Later in the day, the 4pm slot has Denver again in division after knocking off Arizona. This week they hit the road as they take on Las Vegas at the Wynn Arena. Then, in the final game of the weekend, we have Dallas visiting Oklahoma in what the league hopes is a budding “Red River Rivalry” much like Texas v. Oklahoma in the Big 12. Both sit at 1-0 and both are hoping they can challenge in the SW Division. Friday @ 6pm ET          Birmingham (0-1) @ New Jersey (0-1)           NBC Friday @ 8pm ET             San Diego (0-1) @ Oakland (1-0)                      FOX   Saturday @ 12pm ET     Charlotte (1-0) @ Baltimore (1-0)                      ABC Saturday @ 12pm ET     New Orleans (1-0) @ Jacksonville (0-1)         FOX Saturday @ 4pm ET       St. Louis (1-0) @ Los Angeles (0-1)                 ABC Saturday @ 4pm ET       Ohio (1-0) @ Michigan (1-0)                           FOX Saturday @ 7pm ET       Tampa Bay (0-1) @ Orlando (0-1)                      NBC       Saturday @ 9pm ET       Philadelphia (0-1) @ Seattle (0-1)                   ESPN/EFN   Sunday @ 12pm ET        Washington (0-1) @ Portland (1-0)        ABC Regional Sunday @ 12pm ET        Atlanta (0-1) @ Pittsburgh (1-0)          ABC Regional Sunday @ 12pm ET        Memphis (1-0) @ Houston (1-0)                        FOX Sunday @ 4pm ET          Chicago (0-1) @ Arizona (0-1)                          ABC Sunday @ 4pm ET          Denver (1-0) @ Las Vegas (0-1)                       FOX Sunday @ 8pm ET          Dallas (1-0) @ Oklahoma (1-0)                        ESPN/EFN

Are you ready for some more preseason prep? We have the Wild West on hand for you, and while the Eastern Conference won the title last year, we think the West may have won the offseason. All 4 of the top 7 QBs taken in the draft and signed by USFL teams are in the West, an infusion of talent and excitement from St. Louis (Jackson) to Portland (Lauletta) with stopovers in Denver (Allen) and OKC (Rudolph). It is a conference with a lot of teams in flux. Arizona could be weakened by a massive defensive exodus. San Diego and Michigan look very strong. Seattle, Ohio, Las Vegas and Denver look like they are ready for a fight. This could truly be a very wild season out West. Let’s get right to that with our 3 big stories from the offseason, and then get to the previews and the predictions. TheThree Biggest Stories in the West   3--Oakland’s Frustrating QB Search Comes Home It was a long and difficult winter for Oakland Invader fans. With the July announcement from QB Joey Harrington that he had played his last game as a pro, Oakland had a clear need to find a new starter, hopefully a new franchise QB who could lead the team for years to come. It was a good year to do so, with seven rookie QBs considered potential 1st or 2nd round picks. But it was a frustrating situation for the Invaders, because 2 of the top 5 quarterbacks in the draft had their rights held by division rivals. Oakland was in early negotiations with both the Philadelphia Stars and Oklahoma Outlaws to try to get the rights to select either Louisville’s Lamar Jackson or Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield, but on both counts they were out-hustled by another team, St. Louis and Washington respectively.   With no topflight QBs in the USFL free agent pool, the Invaders continued to look for options. They reached out to Chicago about Ryan Fitzpatrick, with Tampa Bay about Dak Prescott, and with Pittsburgh about Kevin Hogan, but none of their efforts found success. When Denver jumped up to the second spot in the draft, it was clear that Wyoming QB Josh Allen would not last until their 6th pick. But, there was hope. San Diego never traded away the rights to select UCLA QB Josh Rosen in the league’s territorial draft, so Oakland fans started lobbying hard for the Invaders to select the Bruin QB. When the first round of the open draft came, everyone and their uncle had Rosen going to the Invaders with pick number 6. When the card went up and the commissioner announced that the Invaders had selected Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, social media blew up. Fans were irate, pundits were dumbfounded. They all agreed that Nelson was a great player, ready to be an NFL starter on day one, but Oakland needed a QB and time was running out. Fans lashed out at ownership, at the GM, even at newly signed head coach Gary Kubiak, who had not even unpacked his bags yet, much less made key personnel decisions.   Without changing home stadiums, Jimmy G moves from fall in red to spring in sky blue. All that was left was the NFL-USFL transfer window. Within the recently released NFL free agent list were several QBs who had served as starters at some point in their careers. Fans immediately started to pick their favorites, some pushing for former Viking Teddy Bridgewater, others for former NY Jets draft pick Geno Smith, but the loudest group was not looking far from home at all, calling for the Invaders to sign former New England Patriot and San Francisco 49er Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo, who had played well for the 49ers in the same stadium where the Invaders played, was a known commodity, and a player who many believed had been unfairly saddled with the losses that a pretty shoddy 49er team had put up. When Oakland announced that Garoppolo would be staying in the Bay Area but changing leagues by becoming an Invader, once again social media blew up.   While for many, Garoppolo signing with Oakland was a desperate effort that would likely produce a stagnant franchise for the next few years, with many calling Garoppolo overrated and underwhelming. For others, however, it was the best possible result for the Invaders, getting a veteran presence with good physical skills at a price far below what any of the rookie QBs would have demanded. The fans in favor of the Garoppolo signing cited other team needs and the ability to work within the cap for the tenure of their new QB’s 3-year deal. Whether or not the naysayers or the optimists are correct about Oakland’s offseason strategy and their eventual choice at QB, the proof will be on the field as to whether Oakland played a tough hand well or went all in with a bad set of cards.   2—Oklahoma Deals Marques Colston to the Thunder From the very onset of the offseason there were rumors that Oklahoma would be willing to trade some of their star talent, with theories abounding that they wanted to offload some of their biggest stars from the Texas years before the 2020 expansion, when a new team in San Antonio could claim former Texas Outlaws in a special expansion roster raid of Oklahoma. Mentions of HB Marshawn Lynch, LB Chad Greenway, QB Joe Flacco and WR Marques Colston being on the trading block were everywhere. And teams did inquire. There was certainly interest in all 4 players, with several teams asking about Flacco’s availability. But, while most of the rumors were just that, the team was open to discussions, and when the right deal came to them, they took it. Marques Colston, a 4-time league leader in receiving yards (2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015) and 7-time All-USFL selection, would be traded away, sent to San Diego for a pair of draft picks. The move gave Texas some cap room and some draft capital, and it gave the Thunder an immediate high-end replacement for retired superstar Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson. But is it the beginning of a litany of departures for the next 3 seasons? Is Oklahoma trying to outwit the league and the upcoming San Antonio franchise by selling off their best players from those who were with the team in 2016? One trade does not make a pattern, but as we look ahead, if we start to see more former Texas players headed off, traded piece by piece so that they cannot be part of a new Texas franchise’s expansion plans, well, then we will know if Oklahoma is playing chess when the league set up a checker board.   1—St. Louis & Denver Surprise With Bold QB Moves We all thought we knew who the players would be in the 2018 QB Draft Class Derby. It would be teams without a clear franchise QB, or with an uncertain future, teams like Oakland, Chicago, Tampa Bay, and Washington. We might see Portland make a run after struggling to develop Marcus Mariota, or LA move on from Sam Bradford to pick the prime candidate in their own back yard (USC’s Sam Darnold). And while there were some pundits out there who noted that the pool of QB-hungry teams was likely much larger, few directly named either the Skyhawks or the Denver Gold as serious contenders, and yet, for very much the same reason, both proved to be very much in the mix.   In both cases, the Gold and ‘Hawks are looking at a QB situation that could be very different in a year’s time. Josh Freeman has not been the same over the past few years, certainly not the MVP caliber QB we saw back in 2012, and not has not completed a full season since that 2012 campaign, missing half of the 2014 and 2015 seasons to injury and missing 7 games last year. In Denver, the issue has not been injury, but a combination of Matt Leinart’s age (he will turn 35 midseason this year) and a growing sense that while he is certainly a solid option at QB, he is not the option to take Denver above their usual status of a 9 or 10-win team that is eliminated early in the playoffs. After missing the playoffs in both 2015 and 2016, the Gold returned with a 9-6-1 record last year, but once again were one-and-done after losing to the Vipers 29-13. It marked the 4th consecutive playoff appearance (going back to 2012) in which Denver appeared as a Wild Card and lost their initial playoff game. And so, we had two teams who were both unsure of the future for their current QB and growing in doubts about that QB’s ability to get them to a title.   This double concern, duration and production, led both the Gold and the Skyhawks to make bold moves. They got to the trading block and made offers for T-Draft picks that would ensure them a chance to select their top choice of the rookie QBs on hand. They then did the work to turn that selection into a signed contract. While Washington was unable to outbid the NFL Browns for OU QB Baker Mayfield, Chicago could not seal the deal on USC QB Sam Darnold, and Jacksonville could not outbid the NFL Cardinals on Open Draft selection Josh Rosen, both the Gold and the Skyhawks got their QB prospects to sign on the dotted line. The plan in Denver seems pretty straightforward. Matt Leinart will start the season as the coaching staff works with former Wyoming QB Josh Allen on his accuracy and route recognitions, two areas the tall, athletic QB needs to improve. Then, with Leinart likely to retire at the end of 2018, Allen is prepared to step in next year. In St. Louis the situation could run that same way, or we could see Lamar Jackson take the field this year, particularly if once again injuries impact Josh Freeman’s year. St. Louis allowed backup Ricky Stanzi to depart for New Jersey in free agency, so Jackson is already penciled in as the backup to Freeman. It is also expected that with Jackson’s running ability, we may see some “Wildcat” style packages with him, as well as some possible short yardage option plays written into the script even in the early part of the season, something we do not anticipate Coach Hufnagel doing with Allen in Denver.   The story of the 2018 offseason was very much about the QB position, but it was also about who could make the big move to not only select a top quality rookie QB, but who could get them to sign on. When all was said and done, it was St. Louis and Denver (and to a lesser degree Portland and Oklahoma with Lauletta and Rudolph) who came out the victors in one of the wildest rookie QB free-for-alls since the early 1980’s.   10 PLAYERS TO WATCH IN THE WEST We have given you our 10 Eastern Conference players to keep an eye on. Only fair we do the same with the West. Whether they are NFL imports, free agents moving between USFL franchises, or fresh-faced rookies joining the pro ranks, the Western Conference has had its share of big moves, and potential game-changing players added to its 14 clubs. Our original list had over 15 players who we thought could make an immediate impact, but we only gave the East 10, so we trimmed and came up with this list. Here are the 10 new faces we think will be worth keeping an eye on this year.   WR Eric Weems, Ohio , Free Agent An undervalued talent in St. Louis, Weems had put up 1,000-yard seasons in both 2014 and 2016 before a season-ending injury limited his 2017 to only 3 games. Last season was a contract year for Weems, and St. Louis, concerned about the long-term impact of his injury as well as their own cap issues (and QB pursuit) opted to let him walk. Ohio, having lost Justin Blackmon to free agency themselves, and very much interested in adding a deep threat, added Weems and now hopes he can step in as a player who can add more vertical aspects to the Glory passing game.   QB Lamar Jackson, St. Louis , Trade in T-Draft We don’t know how and when we will see the 2016 Heisman winner enter games. It could be in specific packages presented in games, or in mop up duty, or it could be that he gets the chance to start at some point this season, but when he does get on the field, keep your eyes on him. Many believe he can be the most effective ballcarrier in the QB position since Jake Plummer (or Michael Vick for those who also follow the NFL).   WR Sammy Watkins, Dallas , NFL Import The former Buffalo Bill entered the NFL with a lot of expectations after a stellar career at Clemson. He had some moments early on, but not often enough for the Bills to hold onto him. He left for the Rams, who gave him a shot, but they too let him go. Dallas is hoping tha the third time is the charm. Their receiver group lacked explosiveness and Watkins has potential to bring that, but consistency and separation are two areas Dallas will need to emphasize if they want Watkins to reach his potential.   HB Kareem Hunt, Las Vegas , NFL Import There is no doubt that Kareem Hunt has the talent to be a star in the USFL. His performance in the NFL was more than enough to prove that. But, the reason he was let go by the NFL Browns is the same reason why he may be a concern in the spring. Video footage of what authorities are calling partner violence, a form of domestic violence, produced a backlash in Cleveland and led to the talented halfback being let go. Few teams pursued Hunt, anticipating both backlash from their own fanbase and potential suspension. And while the USFL has not ruled on any potential sanctions on Hunt, and fans in Las Vegas have given him something of a mixed welcome, the expectation is that as Hunt’s legal issues proceed, he may well face suspension by the league. Until then, he is expected to be a significant factor in the Viper offense.   WR Stevie Johnson, St. Louis , Free Agent “Brash, outspoken, and very happy with himself”, that description, provided by Stars’ head coach Jim Harbaugh, could describe about half of the starting wideouts in the league, and yet it seems particularly apropos for Stevie Johnson. Johnson moves on after some very strong years in Philadelphia, years in which he put up 1,400 yards once and over 1,200 last year. But a series of injuries and some clashes with his coach and his quarterback made him available, and St. Louis, having let Eric Weems go, opted to spend some of their newfound cap money on Johnson, hoping to get the best of what he provided in Philly.   QB Jimmy Garoppolo, Oakland , NFL Import We have already reported on the twists and turns of Oakland’s offseason, and while Garoppolo is not expected to start until at least Week 3 as he takes time to recover from the NFL season and to learn the new Gary Kubiak offense, we do anticipate that the new NFL import will be established as the starter before too long. He has some nice weapons in Oakland, particularly wideout Davante Adams and HB Christian McCaffrey, so it will be interesting to see what he can do with them as he transitions to the spring season.   S Tyrann Mathieu, Ohio , NFL Import We love the Honey Badger’s style of play. It is aggressive without being out of control, it is both ball hawking and hard hitting, and we think the folks in Columbus are going to fall in love with this NFL import. The Glory have lacked personality since the end of their amazing run in the early 2000’s, and personality is something that Mathieu brings to the team in abundance.   HB Knowshon Moreno, Seattle , Free Agent Despite the fact that C. J. Anderson had some very good games in Seattle’s unlikely run from 0-5 to a Wild Card spot last year, the club still wanted more, and they think they have found it in Moreno. Though the former Renegade has not had a 1,000-yard season since 2015, his per carry average in both 2016 (4.9) and 2017 (5.0) have led the league, a fact which tells us that when he is given the ball he produces with it.   CB Patrick Peterson, Dallas , Free Agent Perhaps the best defender available in this season’s Free Agent pool, Peterson is a true shutdown corner who will make life much easier for new Dallas head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Peterson can take away the opposition’s best receiver, and, if the offense does not respect that, he can then take the ball away. Dallas has had significant defensive issues ever since they relocated from Boston, but in Peterson they are putting someone on the field who can turn the tide and help the Roughnecks become a team no OC wants to face.   WR Marques Colston, San Diego , Trade from Oklahoma Look, there is not much more we can say about Marques Colston that you don’t already know. He is perhaps the best receiver in the league and has been for years. Having won the receiving title 4 times in the past decade, having been a 7-time All-USFL selection and having been in the running for OPOTY on multiple occasions, there is no denying Colston is the real deal. Now, he is 33 years old, and he may not be the 1,700-yard receiver he was in the past, but we have no doubt that he makes the San Diego attack better, and, as much as Chad Johnson may have felt he was an irreplaceable part of the Thunder attack, in signing Colston, the Thunder may have done the best replacement we have seen in a long time from one future Hall of Famer to another.   We kick off our divisional previews with the same format as with the East, taking a look at potential break out players this season, rookies who could start fast, and then our best guess at what each division will look like as we take out the crystal ball and imagine the season ahead. Let’s kick it off with the division that gave us the 2017 league champion, the Central.   The Michigan Panthers rolled through the Central last season, winning the division by 4 games. Ohio managed to reach .500 with a solid final quarter at the end of the year, but missed out on the playoffs at 8-8. Chicago fell well short of expectations at 6-10 and St. Louis went into freefall, dropping to 3-13, but it has been a very active offseason and each club is hoping their combination of moves has set them up for success in 2018. Will it be enough success to catch up to the Panthers? That is the question for the three other squads all chasing the 2018 Champs.   Four Potential Breakout Players                Chicago TE Tyler Eifert The Machine did not get the QB they wanted, failing to outbid the NY Jets on USC’s Sam Darnold, but they feel that they still have a solid offense, and they added an important piece in a TE who could be a safety valve and a threat over the middle. Eifert comes over from Las Vegas, stepping into Anthony Fasano’s spot with the long-time Chicago TE retiring this past offseason.   Chicago FS Micah Hyde A second Machine player on our list but not a new one for the Machine. Hyde was a 2016 draft pick of the Machine, starting all 32 games since then. Last year he got his first pick and finished the year with 4 to go with 55 tackles. This year he was named a team captain and there is a lot of expectation that with that honor will come even greater on-field results.   Michigan DE Dee Ford Another former Viper shipped off due to cap issues, Ford will take over in the spot held by Michael Bennett last year. This will be Ford’s 5th season. After an 8-sack rookie campaign , Ford’s numbers have slipped the past 3 years. Michigan is hoping that he can not only rebound in a new system, but get over the 10-sack hump and become a major factor in their defensive front.   Ohio WR Curtis Samuel With Eric Weems stepping into the starting lineup opposite Mario Manningham, Ohio is hoping that the slot can be more of a weapon as well. Samuel had a pretty uneventful rookie campaign, catching only 17 balls for 161 yards and 1 score. His coaches say he has had a strong offseason, is ready to take a step up, and is going to be targeted more by QB Christian Hackenberg.                 Four Rookies in a Good Position for Early Success Michigan FS Kyzir White We already mentioned WR Calvin Ridley as a potential first year standout for the Panthers, but we should not skip over White, who has won the starting job at the free safety position. There will certainly be a learning curve for the former Mountaineer, but Coach McDermott likes the physical skills he brings to the position.   Ohio FB Mike Boone Why focus on a fullback? Well, in the case of Boone, a former Cincinnati Bearcat, the reason is twofold. Firstly, he will be a key element of the type of power run game that Ohio wants to run, focused on inside one-cut runs from Isaiah Pead and Marion Mack, but also because Boone can be an effective receiver, as he showed at Cincinnati, a safety valve for Hackenberg to use when his pocket breaks down.   St. Louis LB Roquan Smith When you are the overall first pick in the draft, you are expected to have an immediate impact, and in the case of Roquan Smith and the Skyhawks, that impact is sorely needed. St. Louis had one of the worst defenses in the league last year, so adding a big-hit linebacker like Smith is considered a key to them returning to relevance in the division.   St. Louis HB Gus Edwards Our second Skyhawk on this list, Edwards will be an important part of the St. Louis offense for the simple reason that Eddie Lacy simply cannot be counted on for 300 carries a season. Lacy will remain the lead back, but Edwards will get his chances to contribute early in the year, and likely will pick up even more carries in the season’s second half.                   Our Predicted CEN Division Standing s   Michigan Panthers         11-5 When we look across the division, we just don’t see a team that seems like obvious competition for the defending champs. The Panthers added some good young pieces through the draft, and their core remained largely intact in the offseason. We think that still makes them the class of the division and the likely division winner.   Ohio Glory                     9-7 Ohio fought to reach .500 last year, and we think they may do the same this year. The Glory very much feel like a team that is taking baby steps towards building a solid roster and a solid season. We like the addition Weems to the receiver group, but when we look at the entire offense, there is just not a fear factor here. We think 8-9 wins is still just about the ceiling here.    Chicago Machine           7-9 The Machine had a huge swing and a miss looking for a QB. Now Ryan Fitzpatrick is back and with a chip on his shoulder. Will that be enough for the Machine to become a contender? It will take more than even a strong Fitz-magic season to get over the hump. The defense still needs to prove itself and leaders need to step up to hold them accountable when they don’t live up to their own expectations.   St. Louis Skyhawks        5-11 Coach Frank Reich had a rough first season. The hope, of course, is that the future is going to be brighter. This year could very much be a transitional season as Reich tries to form the team he wants as part of his 3-year plan. We fully expect that transition to occur at QB at some point this year, with Lamar Jackson clearly the future for the franchise. While Arizona raced out to a 15-1 regular season last year, there was a heated competition behind them for playoff spots, with Denver, Las Vegas, and Oklahoma all in the mix. This year Dallas could also be part of the story. There is a lot of anticipation that with their defense largely gutted in the offseason, Arizona will fall back to the pack, and it is a pretty ravenous pack that awaits them.   Four Potential Breakout Players Arizona LB Scooby Wright The player who seems perfectly poised to become a leader on this defense is 3rd year backer Scooby Wright. He is a motor guy, an example of what hard work and a spirit of competition will do. With less pure talent on the defense, that attitude is going to be key if Arizona wants to remain king of the hill in the division.   Dallas DE Connor Barwin Barwin had 12 sacks in his first year with Dallas, but was largely unseen as the Roughnecks struggled on defense overall. Now, with Mathias Kiawanuka now added at the RE spot, Barwin could have even more success, and more sacks. Offenses are going to have to scheme for him and Kiawanuka, and that should mean fewer double teams.   Denver LB Patrick Onwuasor What a leap the Denver linebacker had in his 2nd season. From 15 tackles as a rookie Omwuasor jumped up to 75 last season. He got his first USFL pick and sack last year, and now he is shifting from the strong side to the MLB spot. With Shaquile Barrett and Harold Landry on the outside, the goal will be to funnel backs towards Omwuasor, and that could be the sign that the 3rd year linebacker is ready to reach for 100 tackles.   Oklahoma WR DeDe Westbrook It is absolutely unfair to try to expect Westbrook to replace Marques Colston. It is a lot to ask for a 2nd year receiver who had only 26 targets and 13 receptions last year. Coach Landry loves his physical qualities, but there will be a big learning curve and a lot of attention on Westbrook’s growth this year. If he is up to the challenge, he could become a favorite for Joe Flacco.   Four Rookies in a Good Position for Early Success Arizona LB Malik Jefferson If Scooby Wright is going to be the heart of a new Arizona defense, then Jefferson has to be its fist. The goal is to be a hard-hitting defense, a takeaway-producing defense, and Jefferson is going to have a shot to make a huge impact, already earning the starting spot.   Denver HB Phillip Lindsay Yes, all we are hearing out of Denver is that fans are excited about QB Josh Allen, but at least for this year we are expecting to see a lot more of HB Phillip Lindsay. Starter DeMarco Murray is not a 300-carry back, and Lindsay can supply some burst that can turn short gains into long gains.   Las Vegas LB Fred Warner The Vipers had to purge a lot of talent due to their bad cap situation, so they are trying to rebuild or reload without dropping out of a playoff hunt. Warner is a player they are going to count on to step in right away. He will rotate with DeAndre Levy at MLB to begin the year, but we expect that as the season moves along, it will be Warner who becomes the central pivot person for the Vegas 4-3.   Oklahoma TE Mark Andrews Andrews came into camp as a possible 3rd TE but has been challenging Julius Thomas for the starting job since he arrived. He has good routes, great hands, and can block as well. While Coach Landry gave the advantage and the starting gig to Thomas in the end, it was close all the way through camp and we could see a lot of Andrews to see if his gameday production matches what the Outlaws saw in the preseason.   Our Predicted SW Division Standings   Arizona Wranglers          11-5 As much as we still love the explosiveness of the Arizona offense, you cannot deny that this defense will take time to gel, and may never be as good as the one the Wranglers had the past few years. We think that means that the Wranglers fall back to the pack in what could be a very competitive and balanced division.   Denver Gold                  10-6 We see the efforts to land Josh Allen as a clear shot across the bow for Matt Leinart. Now, it may be that Leinart already told Denver that he sees 2018 as his swan song season, or maybe he didn’t and they are just planning for the inevitable, but in either case, Leinart should be motivated to make this year special, and we think that, along with a pretty solid team up and down the roster, gives Denver the best shot to challenge Arizona’s division dominance.   Las Vegas Vipers            9-7 We could be underselling the Vipers, or we could be overvaluing their stars. They lost a lot of talent due to cap purges this offseason, and while there is a lot of potential, especially if HB Kareem Hunt can avoid a league suspension for the issues that arose out of his time in the NFL, perhaps they can go further than this. We think that keeping them about where they were last year is the best compromise between our Viper optimists and the skeptics.   Oklahoma Outlaws       8-8 We like how the Outlaws finished 2017, but losing Marques Colston is a big hit. They still have Flacco and Lynch, and their newfound emphasis of a smashmouth style of offense could help them avoid a major letdown with Colston gone, but this is a team that does not feel like they made strides forward so much as avoided sliding backwards in the offseason.   Dallas Roughnecks        7-9 We said this division was balanced, so having 3 teams within 1 game of .500 seems about right to us. The Roughnecks could finish almost anywhere in the division because they have the talent to do more than they have, but are also in the process of adjusting to a new coaching staff under Kliff Kingsbury. They got some nice additions in CB Patrick Peterson, WR Sammy Watkins and rookie Courtland Sutton, but learning a new system takes time and we think Dallas will have some growing pains under Kingsbury in the coach’s first pro gig. San Diego was the clear favorite coming out of last year, in large part because the division feels very much like one in transition. Seattle surprised us with a huge run late to snag a playoff spot, while LA let the same Wild Card berth slip right out of their hands. Oakland struggled without Joey Harrington and now moves into a new era with an NFL import likely to be their new starter at the position. Portland? Well, let’s just say they have not really found themselves yet. While we think there could be some shuffling in the middle of the division standings, we still expect to see the Thunder on top and the Stags at the bottom.   Four Potential Breakout Players Los Angeles SS David Bruton This one feels a bit like we are cheating, after all, David Bruton finished 2017 with 6 picks and was voted to the All-USFL roster, so while he may not be a household name across the nation, he is well-recognized within the league as one of the best in the game. Last year was a break out season for him, but we expect that in LA he will get a lot of notice for the level of play he presents each week.   Oakland TE Zach Ertz Ertz has been underutilized in Oakland, averaging only 38 catches per year while splitting time in a TE rotation with Austin Hooper. Oakland’s new head coach Gary Kubiak seems to want a much more prominent role for the talented receiving end, so we expect a big jump in production in 2018, especially as Jimmy Garoppolo adjusts to the spring game.   Portland CB A. J. Bouye Another undervalued player, Bouye was better known for his return skills in Pittsburgh than for his coverage. And while Portland will certainly want him involved in the return game, they have penciled in Bouye as a starter at corner. We expect to see Bouye’s role provide him with far more opportunities to show what he can do in coverage, and Coach LaFleur has already praised his style of play and his ability to turn pass defenses into picks. Seattle WR John Brown An NFL import with a pretty hum-drum name but a pretty flashy game. Brown played 4 seasons with the Cardinals, his best being 2015, when he racked up 1,003 yards and 7 touchdowns. Seattle wants to use him in the slot, which makes for his 5’10”, 179 lb frame. We think he could be a dynamic playmaker in underneath routes. He is quick off the ball and has great cutting skills.   Four Rookies in a Good Position for Early Success   Los Angeles WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling At 6’4” and 206 lbs, Valdes-Scantling could be a red zone favorite for Sam Bradford and the Express. He also has good speed and can go up and catch high throws, both skills the Express could make good use of. We expect the rookie to be a swing receiver, particularly behind Demaryius Thomas, but he should get some looks early on as Coach Reid tries to find way to make use of his physical frame.   Oakland G Quenton Nelson Considered the most pro-ready player in the draft this year, Nelson is already set to start at left guard, and with All-USFL guard Logan Mankins at RG as a mentor, we think Nelson is in a great position to be immediately effective, which will be great news for both HB Christian McCaffrey and the Oakland QBs.   Portland CB Taron Johnson Johnson has impressed the coaches early on and will start the season as the nickel corner for the Stags. In camp and in last week’s preseason win over Birmingham, Johnson has looked very good in coverage and also made some big plays against the run, proving he can be effective if teams run against the nickel formation.   Seattle SS Terrell Edmunds Seattle had a big hole to fill when Shaun Schillinger left in free agency, but they feel good about what they have seen from the Virginia Tech safety and have already penciled him in over veteran Keanu Neal as the starter in Schillinger’s old position. Edmunds is expected to play more of a center-fielder role, with Donte Whitner more likely to come up to the line more often, but in that role, Edmunds will have a vital role in preventing big chunk plays in the passing game.   Our Predicted PAC Division Standings   San Diego           11-5 We are going to pick the Thunder to repeat as champions and to potentially knock Arizona out of the top two seeds, claiming a bye for themselves. The acquisition of Marques Colston is a huge plus for the offense, but it was not the only good move for the Thunder this offseason. Adding Henry Melton to back up Ngata at the nose is a nice addition, and adding some solid O-line depth with rookies Quessenberry and Miller is a great help to the offense. San Diego feels like a team that had marked improvement over the Winter, which could separate them from many Pacific Division rivals.   Seattle                10-6 We are still high on the Dragons after their amazing run last season. And while the loss of Schillinger was a tough one, if rookie Terrell Edmunds has a strong rookie campaign, then the Dragon secondary could be one of the best in the league. They already have the best 1-2 cornerback combo with Richard Sherman and Xavien Howard. On offense, the addition of Knowshon Moreno provides them with a great 1-2 punch as he teams up with C. J. Anderson to allow Seattle to play ball-control football. If San Diego stumbles, we think Seattle will be right at their heels.   Oakland              8-8 It may take a while to get all the pieces working together but we think Oakland made a good choice in bringing in NFL QB Jimmy Garoppolo to provide some stability. We love what Christian McCaffrey offers the offense, and the receiver group led by Davante Adams could prove to be quite solid if Coach Kubiak can establish a solid run-pass balance. On defense, the arrival of Michael Bennett from Michigan should make Cliff Avril even better at LE. Bobby Wagner also got help with Junior Galette coming in from the NFL. Oakland could rebound quickly as last year was a bit of a fluke with Harrington out to injury.   Los Angeles       6-10 We keep waiting for Andy Reid to repeat the magic we saw in the NFL and so far it just has not happened. They have solid talent on offense but it just has not produced the kind of scoring threat we expected. LA needs a lot more out of their receivers if they want to improve their production. On defense, the pass rush is not impressive, and that means more is asked of the LB group. LA got caught for a lot of big plays last year because they could not get to the QB fast enough, and we are not seeing enough potential for that to be different this year. A 10-loss 2018 campaign and LA could offer Reid the chance to return to the NFL in 2019.   Portland              5-11 We think Portland will be improved on defense with the arrival of A. J. Bouye and rookie Taron Johnson in the secondary, but we are still not sold on whether or not their passing game will improve. You ask our bullpen of USFL gurus and half think that rookie Kyle Lauletta could be the starter by season’s end, which means they think Mariota is going to continue to struggle. Losing Brian Quick in trade for Bouye does not help that situation, but the arrival of Emmanuel Sanders from Seattle does bring the potential for more deep balls. All in all, we are picking Portland for slight improvement, but until their QB situation is significantly better, we cannot move them out of the Pacific Division basement.   CAN THE ROAR REPEAT? Offseason Assessment: The Panthers lost a couple of important pieces from their D, namely DE Michael Bennett (FA) and Kenny Phillips (Ret), but feel like they have made some good additions as well, particularly with their drafting of two good safety prospects in Kyzir White and Tarvarius Moore. They also are liking what they see from WR Calvin Ridley, who they have put in the slot. They traded for Dee Ford to fill the hole at RE, opposite Justin Tuck, so a pretty good job of fixing the issues the offseason brought on.   Team Philosophy: The defending champs are not going to change a formula that works. Run the ball with LeVeon Bell, setting up play action for Kirk Cousins, and keep the game in front of them on defense. The Panther 4-3 ideally can get pressure from their DE combo of Justin Tuck and Dee Ford, and that will free up Sean Porter and the LB group to support pass coverage and create few options for quarterbacks.   2018 Outlook: The defending champs look very much like a team that can still compete for the title, which means a repeat is not out of the question. Of course, every one will be gunning for the Panthers, so the road to a 5th title will not be an easy one, but the Panthers still seem like a team that is a couple of steps ahead of their division mates, and that could help them propel themselves to a high seed in the playoffs.   GLORIOUS PURPOSE Offseason Assessment: The Glory did not offer us much in the offseason until the final month, when they surprised everyone by opening up the safe and stealing away the Honey Badger from the NFL free agent pool. That one addition will likely be the most talked-about change in the Ohio roster, though we also think that adding Eric Weems to the offense was another shrewd addition.   Team Philosophy: The joke is that Ohio’s strategy is to bore the opposition into submission, and it is true that the offense lacks true explosiveness, but the goal for Ohio is to sustain drives, eat clock, shorten games, and allow their defense to stay fresh. The defense, for their part, relies on Robert Quinn and Kamerion Wemberley to pressure QBs into throwing into heavy zones, much as Michigan does. Slow and steady seems to be the motto of the Glory on both sides of the ball.   2018 Outlook: Ohio is not a flashy team, but they have good depth, and they can win a lot of games when their game plan works out. What is perhaps troubling is that this is clearly a team built to grind out wins, so if they fall behind, we are not sure they have the firepower to overcome deficits. In a league where points often come in runs, we are not sure where Ohio’s quick strike ability would come from.   GEARING UP FOR 2018 Offseason Assessment: The Machine made a bold move early, trading with LA to try to land Sam Darnold. It did not work, and the 2018 Machine looks very much like the 2017 squad. That cannot be considered a win for ownership. Getting Mike Kafka back in Chicago and adding Tyler Eifert are not moves that will bring a lot of new hope to the fans in what was a pretty lackluster offseason in Chicago.   Team Philosophy: With the addition of Jeremy Hill, it appears Chicago wants to return to a 2-back rotation, but what is more important is that they want to focus on more of a vertical game. That means asking Aaron Dobson and Kenny Galloday to extend their routes and asking the line to protect Ryan Fitzpatrick for longer. On defense, the shift to a 3-4 system is in its second year and the hope is that the LB group can be more aggressive and more productive in producing takeaways.   2018 Outlook: The Machine are a team that looks better on paper than they played last year. If they can align performance to potential, they could make some strides, but if not, then we may be looking at an offseason overhaul in 2018. LOOKING TO SOAR Offseason Assessment: St. Louis surprised many by dealing with Philly and signing Louisville QB Lamar Jackson. With Josh Freeman’s injury issues, we could see Jackson on the field this year, and that could change the style of play we expect out of St. Louis. But, the bigger question is if a pair of rookie corners and a veteran DT was enough work to improve one of the league’s worst defenses.   Team Philosophy: A lot of questions here, particularly around the eventual transition from Josh Freeman to Lamar Jackson. Will Jackson’s presence push the offense to do more with run-pass options? Will Coach Reich move away from a more traditional run game and spread defenses out more? We may not truly see a shift in philosophy until we see a transfer at QB. On defense, St. Louis is hoping newly arrived LBs Christian Sam and Roquon Smith can make the 4-3 a more effective system, particularly against the run. The goal for St. Louis is to force teams into clear passing downs on 3rd and then turn pressure into turnovers. They were pretty lousy at that last year, but that is the goal.   2018 Outlook: We are just not seeing it. Even if we loved the Lamar Jackson deal, which we might, we just don’t see this team giving their defense enough attention. They just don’t have big playmakers on defense and they are too inconsistent, making life tough for an offense that needs to try to keep pace. That is not a winning formula in our book.  A NEW HERD TO DRIVE Offseason Assessment: It’s a new era in Arizona. That’s the only way to say it. When your team loses as many players in one offseason as the Wranglers did, it is just a whole new ballgame. The Wrangler defense alone lost Dansby, Dorsey, Carriker, Williams, Flowers and Grove, that is more than half the squad. So, yes, it will be a very different defense. To rebuild the D Arizona brought in LB Blake Costanzo (FA), DT Grady Jarrett (Trade), CB Ross Cockrell (NFL) and drafted LB Malik Jefferson and DE Da’Shawn Hand. This will take time, and as we look at the depth chart, they are going to need some bit players to step up in a big way.   Team Philosophy: We all know what Arizona’s bread and butter is on offense, the deep ball. Yes, they can run the ball with Carey and the ageless Frank Gore, but they make their mark with those brutal big play throws from Carr to Fitzgerald and Bryant.  The defense is completely rebuilt after a brutal loss of talent in the offseason. Arizona will continue to run Tomsula’s 4-3 defense, but the names both on the line and in the LB group are different, and it will be a while before we can tell if they are up to the task.   2018 Outlook: The Wranglers are a tale of two teams. The offense has incredible consistency, with all the major players returning and very likely still set up as one of the league’s best. The defense on the other hand is an entirely new roster, and Coach Tomsula is going to have his work cut out for him to get them all on the same page. Thankfully he still has a couple of veteran leaders on the squad in safety Troy Polamalu, CB Joe Haden and LB A. J. Klien. But will that be enough to keep Arizona from struggling on D and having to simply outscore all their opponents?   GOLD RUSH Offseason Assessment: Denver shocked many by making a move for rookie QB Josh Allen. Allen needs time and coaching to get pro-ready, but his physicality is off the charts. Will he play this year? Barring injury, probably not, so who is new to Denver that will see action? How about rookie HB Phillip Linday, and three big additions to the D from free agency, NFL safety Morgan Burnett, and USFL signees DT Amobi Okoye, LB K. J. Wright, and SS DaJuan Morgan? Okoye will line up between Suh and Miller on the D-line, Wright is likely a sub for Onwuasor at MLB, and Burnett will back up Morgan as a 1-2 option at strong safety.   Team Philosophy: With the Gold, let’s start with defense. Denver has an outstanding front 4 (Suh and Okoye inside, Cole and Miller outside) and that predicates everything they do. They will not blitz often, leaving 7 players in coverage, but now, without Aqib Talib, they may opt to use more zone defense than in recent years. On offense, it is a pretty vanilla pro-style offense. Use the run, try to set up play action, get the ball to Golden Tate or Kelvin Benjamin outside. Will that change if we see rookie Josh Allen get some starts? We would think it would need to.   2018 Outlook: Denver looks like a team that could take over for the Wranglers as one of the elite defenses in the league. You have a line made up of Ndamukong Suh, Amobi Okoye, Justice Cole and Von Miller, perhaps the best front 4 of any team. Then you have Onwuasor, Barrett, Landry, and Wright at LB and a pretty solid secondary even after trading away Aqib Talib (and his hefty salary). Adding Morgan from LA was a brilliant move. Now, if the offense can be even middle-of-the-pack, this Denver team could be a contender, a real challenger to the Wranglers, Panthers and Thunder. Coach Hufnagel and former Denver star player and current GM Bruce Pickens are doing some good work up at altitude.   READY TO STRIKE Offseason Assessment: The Vipers began the offseason underwater on the cap, or rather, nearly $12M over the cap for 2018, so they had a bit of a fire sale, sending HB Jeremy Hill to Chicago and WR Devante Parker to San Diego, also allowing Tyler Eifert and guard Ron Leary to walk in free agency. Along with safety Darnell Bing’s retirement, and some contract restructuring, they were able to get in the black, and that allowed them to make some moves late, signing TE Richard Quinn and CB Mac Anthony in December and then adding 3 low-cost NFL players in DT Daquan Jones, S Lamarcus Joyner and punter Jordan Berry. The draft produced their best addition, BYU linebacker Fred Warner, already penciled in as a swing backer between MLB and the strong side (behind Ahmad Brooks).  But the biggest deal was completed only 2 weeks ago, with NFL halfback Kareem Hunt coming on a league minimum contract for 2 years, of course, that all depends on how his domestic violence charge and the damning video evidence play out.   Team Philosophy: The Vipers are hoping to essentially emulate what they see in Houston, with a diverse offensive scheme that uses the backs out of the backfield, mixes pass and run with a low level of predictability, but do they have the personnel to make that work? On defense, they will mix 4-3 and 3-4 alignments throughout the game, much like other teams mix zone and man coverage. They want to keep you guessing as to where the pressure will be. They blitz often, use a lot of line stunts, and even drop their DE’s into coverage when the LBs are coming in hot. The goal is to create uncertainty, confusion and panic in the QB and the OC.   2018 Outlook: Despite the fire sale early in the offseason, Las Vegas retained their core, building around Eli Manning. They are taking a risk in signing Hunt. The upside could be huge, but the backlash, and the potential for a lengthy suspension if his legal woes go the way many think, could be a major downside. The defense is adding youth, with the secondary looking like the strength right now, but watch out for the duo of Mario Addison and Matthew Judon at DE, they could be a nice combo for the Vipers. Are they an elite team? No, but they are pretty solid, and sometimes that can be enough. Now, they have to start also thinking about the post-Eli years, because Manning is not the long term answer.   BETTER THAN OK Offseason Assessment: In line with their newfound focus on smashmouth power run football, the Outlaws got value by trading away Marques Colston, one of the stars of their recent years in Texas. They added one of the league’s best fullbacks in Greg Jones, and used their draft capital from the T-Draft rights to Baker Mayfield to add more blocking help in OT Austin Corbett and TE Mark Andrews. They also landed a player they hope can grow to be Joe Flacco’s protégé in OK State’s Mason Rudolph. Overall a pretty good offseason for a team that did not have a huge capacity to wheel and deal.   Team Philosophy: We saw a tectonic shift in style last season when Oklahoma moved away from a high-flying passing attack and opted to go smashmouth. It worked very well, and so we expect to see a lot of Marshawn Lynch this year and far fewer drop backs for the “human statue” Joe Flacco. The key to Flacco being effective will be keeping pressure off of him, which a truly effective power run game can do. On defense, Oklahoma will deploy a 4-3 but also tends to use nickel defense more on 1st and 2nd down than most teams in the league. We expect to see a mix of both, but always with that 4-man line at the base.   2018 Outlook: Coach Greg Landry is doing what so few coaches seem capable of, he is tailoring his system to his players. With a good run-blocking line and one of the best power backs in the game in Lynch, Landry is converting the wide open style of the Texas Outlaws into a new power run game Oklahoma squad. Joe Flacco can still chuck the ball, and will have some deep threats in Marquise Goodwin and Percy Harvin. They have promoted DeDe Westbrook to the starting lineup in a move that many see as an effort to add more height to the receiving group. With the 2-TE combo of Julius Thomas and rookie Mark Andrews, we could also see a lot of passing out of larger fronts. The defense is still a concern, with no clear stud on the edge and a good-tackling but relatively slow LB group. They still have Pacman Jones at corner, but the rest of the D looks like it could use some more speed and some more youth. We think the D might hold Oklahoma back, but if they can stay in games with the power run game, they can win some low scoring affairs.   DRILL, BABY, DRILL  Offseason Assessment: Coach Kliff Kingsbury comes over from Lubbock (Texas Tech) with a reputation for wide open spread offense, after all he developed NFL star Patrick Mahomes in that system. But is that what Dallas is set up for? Well, they added some pieces this offseason, primarily NFL castoffs Sammy Watkins and Austin Pettis, while using the T-Draft to land WR Courtland Sutton of SMU. Kingsbury is less adept at defense (typical Big 12 teams are pretty defensively inept), but will need to improve on Dallas’s erratic showing last year. Even before he arrived, Dallas tried to help with that by landing the best DB in the free agent pool in several years, signing Breaker CB Patrick Peterson. They then added DE Mathias Kiawanuka and LB Brandon Spikes. Is that enough to keep Dallas out of the defensive doghouse?   Team Philosophy: With a lot of depth at DT, Dallas wants to stick with a 4-3 defense, even slipping into some of Buddy Ryan’s old 46 defensive scheme at times. That requires a solid secondary, which has been an issue for the Roughnecks in the past, but now, with Patrick Peterson taking away each team’s top receiver, the plan could prove quite effective. On offense, Dallas will try to set up the run with a short passing game. They are still not sure what they have in the combo of Samaje Perine and D’onte Freeman, so we expect to see both backs splitting carries, but the key is for Johnny Manziel to be accurate on those shorter routes and to get the ball out quickly.   2018 Outlook: We expect to see a lot of spread and a lot of passing from this Dallas team, but if they cannot turn that into a lot of first downs, long drives, and scoring, then they will be putting a strain on their defense, and even with Patrick Peterson, that could be a big issue. The key there is if the combination of Kiawanuka and Connor Barwin can become a factor on third downs. It may only take a few stops per game to give Dallas a shot.   THUNDER ROLLING IN Offseason Assessment: While some fans were hoping the Thunder would use the T-Draft to sign UCLA QB Josh Rosen, management did not see that as a priority and let Rosen slide into the Open Draft (he would sign with the NFL Cardinals). Instead they drafted and signed line help: C Scott Quessenberry and OT Kolton Miller, along with a good looking local defender in LB Kenny Young. In free agency they added TE Scott Chandler and DT Henry Melton, while re-signing CB Tye Smith. They also brought in depth at LB with NFL signing Demario Davis. Of course, the biggest move was the trade used to replace recently retired WR Chad Johnson. Nothing like replacing one future Hall of Famer with another, which is what San Diego did by making a deal with the Outlaws to bring in 4-time USFL yardage leader Marques Colston. We call it an upgrade, but don’t tell Ochocinco, because he will not agree.   Team Philosophy: San Diego wants to be a vertical passing team, but they have not had the run threat to be effective there. Ryan Williams is just not going to ground out 4-5 yards each play, so teams will continue to play the pass. That means that it is up to Joe Webb to find receivers at each level, with Colston now taking the deeper routes and Toon & Parker underneath. When the D is on the field, they will focus on stuffing the run with their D-line, which is not a great pass rush line, and then use blitzes, primarily from LBs Myles Jack and Shantee Orr to get to the QB.   2018 Outlook: We like where San Diego is heading. They dealt with Johnson’s retirement in winning fashion, added depth on both sides of the ball, youth and athleticism on the O-line, and they have consistent leadership with team captains on both sides who are in the prime of their careers. Our only real concern is with the run game, where Ryan Williams appears to have lost a step. He dropped from 4.3 YPC in 2016 to only 3.7 in 2017. That is not a good sign, especially for a back who is only 28. But, compared to the rest of the Pacific, San Diego is in a much better position, with more depth and talent at key spots, so we still think they are going to walk away with the division simply on their understanding of who they are.   FLAME ON Offseason Assessment: There were some departures this offseason, FS Dashon Goldson to the NFL, HB Joseph Addai’s retirement, Emmanuel Sanders to Portland, and the biggie, Shaun Schillinger signing with Charlotte. But overall, Seattle looks like a stronger team after adding 5 USFL free agents including HBs Knowshon Moreno and Wendell Smallwood, LB Aaron Curry, FS Donte Whitner, and backup QB Brad Gradkowski. They also added an X-factor in NFL wideout John Brown, a dynamic playmaker with great YAC skills. They then drafted and signed perhaps the best safety in the crop, Va Tech’s Terrell Edmunds, and two potential offensive contributors in WR/KR Dante Pettis and TE Will Dissly. A very solid offseason for the folks up in the Emerald City.   Team Philosophy: The addition of Knowshon Moreno gives Seattle a very good combo in the backfield and we expect Coach Riley to use their HB duo to pound teams into submission. The ground game also helps set up Jacoby Brissett with easy play action reads, which he will use to complete mid-range routes more often than not. The Seattle D has had issues getting QB pressure, so they will rely heavily on zones and pre-snap shifting to try to confuse the QB and keep all passing plays in front of their safeties.   2018 Outlook: What a job Mike Riley did with Seattle last year. Viewed in preseason as one of the league’s sad sacks, they dropped their first 5 games, but Riley got them to believe in miracles and they pulled one off, winning 9 of their final 11 and not only knocking off LA in the season finale to make the playoffs as a Wild Card, but then going into San Diego and knocking off the division champs. Can they do similarly this year while not having the ability to sneak up on anyone? Could be tough, and we think they still have some growing pains to get through, but this Seattle team is being built the right way, and we like where they are headed.  STRIKE LIKE LIGHTNING Offseason Assessment: Oakland’s offseason started early when their head coach opted to retire and their starter at QB for the past 12 years announced his retirement. We have already walked through the long story of how they found a replacement for Joey Harrington, but what about the rest of the team? The Invaders lost 2 players to the NFL back in September, LB Donterrious Thomas and G Chris Keoeatu, but suffered almost no free agency departures within the USFL. They added DE Michael Bennett from the Panthers, a nice plus for their D-line, and they added a former 1st round NFL pick in guard Luke Joeckel to protect their new QB. In the draft Oakland landed a potential 10-12 year starter for the line as well, signing Notre Dame guard Quento Nelson. They also got some developmental talent at safety, linebacker, and DT, so overall a pretty good final result after a shaky start.   Team Philosophy: We don’t know a lot about Gary Kubiak’s offensive plan in Oakland yet. In their preseason game against Ohio they were pretty vanilla, though it seems clear that they want to focus the offense around McCaffrey. On defense Oakland showed us predominantly a 4-3 alignment, with Gallette and Gooden outside Wagner in the LB group. The hope is that the front 4 will provide pressure, reducing the need to blitz. Zone may be the predominant coverage used, at least it was in the one preseason game.   2018 Outlook: No disrespect to Ryan Lindley, but this year is all about how quickly Oakland can get Jimmy G on the field and how quickly the former Patriot and Niner can adapt to the spring game. Also adapting to the Spring game will be HC Gary Kubiak, after a long NFL-exclusive career. Kubiak left a front office position with the Broncos to get back to coaching, thanks in part to one of his mentors, former Invader coach Dennis Green. The new regime wants to build an offense around 2nd year HB Christian McCaffrey and wideout DaVante Adams. They also want a defense that can pressure the QB, and the combo of Bennett and Avril may just give them that. We see Oakland as a slow starter as the pieces come together, but they could have a late run that might make them very dangerous as a Wild Card.   NO STOPPING Offseason Assessment: No NFL imports, only 2 signed free agents, and only 4 rookies signed. Someone might want to check to see what the heck the LA front office is spending their year doing, because it does not seem to be player personnel research and scouting. The Express were about as quiet as a team can be in the offseason. Now, the good news is that they basically only lost one player of note, safety DaJuan Morgan (FA-DEN). But, when you finish 8-8, the idea should be to add pieces to get better. Has anyone told the Express that?   Team Philosophy: The Express like to stay in 3-WR, 1-back formation as much as possible. They like having Bush run primarily outside but have to mix in some inside running as well. We don’t expect much to change except for the Express to try to stretch more plays a bit deeper this year, but that will depend on protection for Bradford. The Express defense runs a 4-3, which should be aided by the arrival of John Jenkins next to Chris Jones inside. The hope, of course, is that Jones can act as a 3rd pass rusher, since the combo of Scruggs and Jackson outside is not wowing anyone.   2018 Outlook: Look, we get that Andy Reid loves to build continuity and a team culture, but you have to add talent too. We are just not sure the Express have the talent to be a contender. Sam Bradford has had decent numbers, but is not burning up the league. Reggie Bush has had back-to-back 1,100 yard seasons, but is now 31 and could be due for a big dip in production, and the Express defense, while still solid, particularly up the middle (DTs Chris Jones & John Jenkins, MLB Clay Matthews, and FS David Bruton), they lack speed and lack any true pass rushers. This is not a formula to move from 8-8 to 12-4, this is a formula to possibly stumble to 4-12, and we think that is more likely than a sudden improvement unless Coach Reid is right and it is all about continuity. Time to prove it.     ANTLERS UP Offseason Assessment: With the HC and GM both let go, you knew Portland would go in a new direction this offseason. They did that with their roster moves. They lost some talent when DT Jason Fisk retired, guard Mike McGlynn left for the NFL, and free agents Felix Jones, Donte Whitner, and Stephen Paea were allowed to walk away (Jones remains unsigned and could be back.) And while their only noteworthy free agent signing was WR Emmanuel Sanders, Portland did make some shrewd moves, swapping WR Brian Quick for a talented corner in A. J. Bouye, and getting several draft picks in trades that gave Denver the 2nd overall pick in the Open Draft (QB Josh Allen) and sent TE Cameron Jordan to Tampa Bay. With those picks, Portland signed 8 players, a nice haul when one considers how the NFL peels off players. In that haul we have starting nickel corner Taron Johnson, LB Ezekiel Turner of Washington, safety Trey Flowers from OK State, and a potential QB option in Richmond’s Kyle Lauletta.   Team Philosophy: Coach LaFleur wants to try to open things up, use more 3-WR formations, and set up fewer 8-man fronts against Doug Martin, but that will require better protection for, and production from Marcus Mariota. LaFleur’s defense will be a 3-4 alignment, with Ron Edwards and Tyrunn Walker rotating at the nose while Dion Jordan and DeMarcus Lawrence hold down the outside. Expect OLB Lance Briggs to also have a big role in the pass rush, while his opposite, Kiko Alonso, is primarily there to chase down the outside run.   2018 Outlook: Coach LaFleur came to Portland because he had such success developing Colt McCoy to take over in Houston. The goal is clearly to either pump up Marcus Mariota or to develop Kyle Lauletta to take over. For fans who are still upset that the Stags let Ryan Fitzpatrick go, LaFleur has to do something at the QB position. He has the league’s 2017 rushing champion, but without a viable threat in the passing game, Martin cannot win them games all alone. The defense too needs to be more assertive. This is largely a no-name defense, but if used correctly, LBs Lance Briggs, Kiko Alonso, and Nico Johnson can be one of the league’s better groups.  So, what do we see for these Stags? Growing pains, some tough decisions, the need for at least one more solid offseason, but for now, they need to show they can compete week in and week out, even if the scoreboard does not go in their favor most weeks.     POST SEASON & AWARD PREDICTIONS OK, back to our postseason prognostication, with our usual caveat that USFL football is wildly unpredictable. We saw that last year with the collapse of teams when their QBs got hurt (Orlando and Oakland come to mind) and the amazing rally put on by the Seattle Dragons after their 0-5 start had us writing them off as one of the league’s worst teams. So, what do we have for the post-season, well, not a lot of change from 2017. We do have Arizona slipping due to their defensive turnover, so it will be San Diego and Michigan with the two byes. Joining the Wranglers in the Wild Card round will be 4th seed Seattle, 5th seed Denver, and 6th seed Ohio.   We see Arizona easily getting past Ohio and Seattle edging Denver, thanks largely to home field up at Lumen Field. So that should send Seattle to face the 1 seed, Michigan, which we think has to go to the defending champs. Arizona heads to San Diego, and here we think the experience of the Wranglers and the leadership of David Carr are enough to pull off the road win, setting up a Wrangler-Panther title game. A Michigan win means a rematch in the Summer Bowl, something that has never happened in 35 seasons of USFL football. That is just too tempting, so we are going to predict that for the first time in league history it is a rematch, with Michigan facing off against Houston for the 2nd year in a row.   The 2017 Summer Bowl was impacted significantly by Colt McCoy’s lingering injury and his removal from the game helped tip the tide towards the Gamblers. This year we say McCoy is healthy and the Gamblers offense is in full form. That is a huge challenge for the Panthers and one we think Houston will win. We are going to pick Houston to become the first 5-time USFL champion by avenging their 2017 loss and holding off Michigan for a 28-27 victory in Summer Bowl 2018.   So, what about the award nominees we see coming out of the West. Well, a lot of obvious choices, but they are obvious because these are players at the top of their games. Here are our picks for players (and coaches) likely to be in the conversation for the league’s 5 major awards come July.   MVP: Let’s start it off with 2-time defending MVP David Carr. Seems an easy enough pick. But Carr wil not be alone. We could see Colt McCoy joining the conversation, and as a dark horse we really like Michigan’s Kirk Cousins, who keeps getting better each year.   OPOTY: Some big names in the conference seem to always be in the mix: Michigan HB LeVeon Bell, newly relocated WR Marques Colston, now with San Diego, Houston’s Carlos Hyde, and we may even see some votes headed to Portland’s Doug Martin if he can repeat as rushing champion.   DPOTY: So, who will challenge the Eastern Conference’s big sack masters for a shot at this defensive award? Well, their best shots from the pass rush are Denver’s Von Miller and Oakland’s Cliff Avril. But if the sack numbers are not astonishing this year, we could also see someone like Oakland LB Bobby Wagner, Michigan CB Dre Kirkpatrick, or even Arizona safety Troy Polamalu sneak into the conversation.   ROTY: Assuming neither of the big-name rookie QBs get enough of a season under their belt to compete for the title, we think the biggest potential emerging stars out of the Western Conference’s draft class would be Michigan WR Calvin Ridley and two defenders, St. Louis LB Roquan Smith (the first overall pick in the Open Draft) and Seattle SS Terrell Edmunds. But, with defenders rarely chosen, we think this one likely goes to one of the halfbacks out of the East.   COTY: As far as coaching goes, since we are not predicting a huge surprise team to rise up, this is kind of tough. Mike Riley could repeat if the Dragons jump up ahead of San Diego, but the more likely possibility is that one of the new head coaches produces a better-than-anticipated season for his club, and we think the most likely candidate there is Oakland and new head coach Gary Kubiak.                 Opening week and we are here for it. Fourteen games over three days, seven home openers, and thousands of football craving fans ready to return to America’s game. Here is our breakdown of each game, with our pick for the player to watch for each team as the USFL 2018 season kicks off.   FRI @ 6pm ET       Baltimore @ Philadelphia             NBC The season kicks off with a NE Divisional Clash as the defending division champion Stars face off against the rival Blitz. Our two players to watch are Philadelphia’s Derrick Henry and Baltimore WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, both potential All-USFL candidates in 2018.   FRI @ 8pm ET        Arizona @ Denver                          ABC The Friday night doubleheader continues with a SW Division clash and one of the best rivalries in the West, with Denver hosting the Arizona Wranglers at Invesco Field. Keep an eye on Denver’s new nose tackle, former general Amobi Okoye. For Arizona, the player to watch is rookie LB Malik Jefferson, who could see a lot of action at MLB.   SAT @ 12pm ET       New Jersey @ Memphis           ABC The Generals hope to kick off the season with a road win in Memphis, but the Showboats are preparing more than a good tailgate party for the visitors. Keep an eye on CB Aqib Talib when New Jersey is on defense, and for Memphis, rookie TE Dallas Goedert could be a key target for Paxton Lynch.   SAT @ 12pm ET      Orlando @ Charlotte                FOX Back to divisional play as we have a clash of teams from the Southeast. Russell Wilson is back for the Renegades, but we are keeping an eye on rookie HB Nick Chubb. For Charlotte it is all about getting newly acquired WR Justin Blackmon in synch with 2nd year QB Mitch Trubisky.   SAT @ 4pm ET    Los Angeles @ Portland                ABC The Express head up to Portland in this Pacific Division clash. The Stags are hoping that former Dragon WR Emmanuel Sanders can help add some spark to their offense, while LA is counting on former Bull FS David Bruton can shut him down.   SAT @ 4pm ET      Seattle @ Dallas                           FOX Some big debuts in this clash at the Cotton Bowl. HB Knowshon Moreno puts on the green and gold of the Dragons for the first time while for Dallas the excitement is around the presence of CB Patrick Peterson in the Roughneck secondary.   SAT @ 7pm ET       New Orleans @ Birmingham        NBC Fire up the smokers and get the grills blazing for a perfect southern tailgate as the Breakers head to B’ham to face the Stallions. We are watching to see how former Skyhawk Kony Ealy comes out in Week 1, while for the Stallions a lot of attention will be on the arrival of former NFL Lion Eric Ebron.   SAT @ 9pm ET       Las Vegas @ Oklahoma                ESPN/EFN A Southwestern clash as the Outlaws host the Vipers at what we expect will be a 9th consecutive sellout at OGE Energy Stadium. Oklahoma is hoping that DeDe Westbrook can step into the very big shoes left by Marques Colston’s departure, while Las Vegas is excited to see what rookie LB Fred Warner can bring in his first pro action.   SUN @ 12pm ET     San Diego @ St. Louis                ABC We don’t expect to see Lamar Jackson in this game, but we do expect some fireworks as San Diego brings their new prize, former Outlaw Marques Colston up against St. Louis’s suspect defense. The Skyhawks will counter with their new offensive weapon, former Star standout Stevie Johnson.   SUN @ 12pm ET     Jacksonville @ Ohio                     FOX Regional The Bulls head north to take on the Glory in this inter-divisional clash. Jacksonville will start Robert Griffin III, who needs a good first week to solidify his position with Teddy Bridgewater in the wings. For Ohio, the buzz has been about the play of former NFL safety Tyrann Mathieu, the Honey Badger, a player to keep an eye on all game.   SUN @ 12pm ET   Washington @ Pittsburgh            FOX Regional Two teams hoping to climb out of the basement of the NE Division meet in the Steel City. For the homestanding Maulers, the new shiny addition is rookie tailback Sony Michel, while Washington is hoping to get immediate returns from their signing of rookie Bradley Chubb at DE.   SUN @ 4pm ET    Tampa Bay @ Houston                     ABC Can the Bandits take an early swing at defending Conference Champion Houston, or will the Gamblers open strong? Houston rookie Keke Coutee will start as the 3-receiver, taking over the slot, while for the Bandits it is all about former Cowboy Dez Bryant giving the offense a true number one.   SUN @ 4pm ET        Oakland @ Chicago                     FOX With the announcement that Ryan Lindley will get the start for the Invaders, over newly-arrived Jimmy Garoppolo, Oakland will focus their offense through 2nd year halfback Christian McCaffrey. For Chicago, Ryan Fitzpatrick gets the start but Chicago looks to return to a 2-back rotation with Matt Forte sharing time with former Breaker and Viper Jeremy Hill.   SUN @ 8pm ET      Atlanta @ Michigan                     ESPN/EFN The week finishes up with the league champion on display as the Michigan Panthers take on the visiting Atlanta Fire. Michigan is excited about the camp that rookie WR Calvin Ridley has had, while Atlanta is debuting their own big-time rookie in halfback Nick Chubb.

Welcome to the first of our two USFL Preseason Preview Editions. In this edition we focus on the Eastern Conference, looking at the 14 teams vying for a berth in Summer Bowl 2018, and fighting to overtake the 2017 Conference Champion, Houston. We start with the biggest stories of the offseason for Eastern Conference teams, including QB quests, Draft signings, and a franchise building around their Rookie of the Year. We will then highlight 10 players we think could break out in a big way this year, either because they are due or because they find themselves in a new home with new possibilities. Following that we will break down each of the conference’s three divisions, review every team’s offseason moves and prospects for the year ahead, and wrap it all up with a quick peak at the 2018 season schedule before moving on to the West with our 2nd preview. So, let’s get this started with the Eastern Conference stories of the offseason. The Three Biggest Stories in the East   3--Jacksonville’s Plan B at QB The Bulls went into the offseason with a plan, a goal to find a possible competitor for Robert Griffin III at the QB position. They had modest cap room, but with a draft class as rich as any in recent years, there were more than enough options to choose from. They bypassed the somewhat modest free agent QB market, finding no potential starters in a list led by Mike Kafka and Ricky Stanzi. They also avoided the drama of the territorial pick swaps, opting instead to hold fast to their 11th pick in the Open Draft, confident that a QB would be available.   They were not wrong. With the 11th pick they had both Josh Rosen and Kyle Lauletta available. Rosen had somehow not received the attention that others like Mayfield, Darnold, and Jackson all had, each chosen in the T-Draft by a team that had swapped their way into the pick. Josh Allen had gone 2nd overall to the Denver Gold, but Rosen had slid to them at pick 11, and the Bulls felt good about their selection of the UCLA quarterback. But, as fans of pro football well know, drafting a player is only half the battle. The other half is convincing that player to join one league over the other, and in this case that meant sweetening the pot, both in finances and opportunity, beyond what the NFL Arizona Cardinals could offer.   Jacksonville failed in that endeavor. Eight days after the conclusion of the NFL Draft, Rosen was on a plane to Phoenix to sign a deal with the Cardinals. Plan A had failed, and it looked like Jacksonville would again place its offensive hopes in the hands of the oft-spectacular, but also oft-injured Robert Griffin. But the front office was not done yet. They saw in the NFL-USFL Transfer window a second chance, and much better options available than the USFL free agent pool had provided. The choice was between former Viking QB Teddy Bridgewater and former Patriot and 49er Jimmy Garoppolo. Both were similar players, and both could operate a system that had been originally designed with Griffin in mind, but which the Bulls’ new head Coach Brian Flores and new OC David Diaz-Infante were looking to modify.   Jacksonville spoke with both QBs, talked up the opportunities the USFL and the Bulls could provide and found a very willing Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater had come to the NFL as a 1st round pick (albeit 32nd in the round) and had started 12 games in his rookie campaign. He started all 16 his second year with the Vikings, but an injury in preseason wiped out his third season, and the Vikings, concerned about his return from injury, and very happy with what they got from QB Shaun Hill, decided not to use the 4th year option in Bridgewater’s career. Jacksonville signed the former Louisville Cardinal just 10 days ago, just before their preseason matchup against Portland. Looking to push Robert Griffin or replace him, the Bulls would quickly move to ensure that the NFL import was healthy and could begin to practice with the team.   So now Bridgewater is set to join the Bulls as they prepare for their opener. He will likely not be made active until Week 2 or 3, so Robert Griffin has a couple of weeks to show that he is still the QB1 in Duval County, but Jacksonville found the Plan B they had sought all season.   2--Charlotte Builds Around Trubisky The Charlotte Monarchs, defending SE Division Champions, had their QB already, 2016 Rookie of the Year, Mitch Trubisky, so now the task was to build a team around their young signal caller, a team that could advance out of the first round of the playoffs, something Charlotte had not done since 2013. With plenty of cap room and a pretty long list of wants, the Monarchs became one of the most active teams in the offseason.   In Free Agency Charlotte would land two of the Top 10 available players, nabbing both WR Justin Blackmon and SS Shaun Schillinger. They would also add OT Kelvin Beachem, who appears to have landed the starting RT job, and LB Randy Gregory, who will likely spell starters at either MLB or on the Strong Side. Blackmon has already impressed Monarch fans in camp, stepping into the 1-spot, which allows Hakeem Nicks to stay in his familiar position as the number 2 receiver. Schillinger was basically a lock to start at strong safety and is already becoming a leader in the secondary.   Charlotte also had one of the stronger signing records among USFL clubs, landing 7 of their 10 picks between the Territorial and Open Drafts. That haul did not include 1st round pick, DE Daron Payne of Alabama, who signed with the NFL Redskins, but did include their top 2 territorial picks, NC State DT B. J. Hill and HB Nyheim Hines, already penciled in as one of the return men in the Monarch kicking game and likely to see a lot of carries spelling Adrian Peterson as well. Charlotte also signed App State guard Colby Gossett, CMU tight end Tyler Conklin, UNC wideout Austin Proehl (taken in the Open Draft), and a kicker to replace Brandon Coutu (now in the NFL), with the signing of Miami (FL) kicker Michael Badgely.   The Monarchs depth chart shows a lot of new names this year, but by most accounts we are looking at upgrades. With the addition’s Charlotte’s defense should be a step quicker and perhaps more structured as they work under former LB Coach, now DC, Jim Hermann. The offense has more options, and we could see a lot of formation variation, with a strong 2-TE formation now with Conklin joining Brandon Pettigrew, all the way to a nice 4-receiver grouping with Blackmon, Nicks, Mckenzie, and rookie Austin Proehl. All in all a well-managed, and very productive offseason for a defending division champion looking to do even more in 2018.   1--NFL Devastates NE Division Draft During the draft it looked like the teams of the Northeast Division could do no wrong. Philadelphia, the defending champion, had swapped out a T-Draft pick and gained more draft capital. They used that to move up and earn two first round picks. Washington felt they got the best non-QB in the draft when they picked DE Bradley Chubb in the 3-slot. Pittsburgh had stayed patiently at the 5-spot in the first round of the Open Draft and lo’ and behold, Saquon Barkley was there for the taking. Baltimore had felt even luckier when the unquestioned best safety in the draft, Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick had stayed on the board all the way down to their 17th pick. New Jersey, picking 22nd had also found one of their top prospects, TE Hayden Hurst, still available when it was their turn to pick. It was looking like a very good first round for the NE Division.   But the draft is only half of the story. The signing period is as big if not bigger, and when it came time to sign on the dotted line, the teams of the USFL NE Division got smoked by the NFL. Barkley was the first to go. After being chosen by the New York Giants only a week after Pittsburgh’s selection, Barkley very quickly got on board with the Mara family and their NY franchise. He had one meeting with the Maulers and then was off to NYC never to return to the Steel City. New Jersey did no better with Hayden Hurst. Less than a week after being selected by the Baltimore Ravens, the tight end was another NFL signing. It took longer for Baltimore to lose out on Fitzpatrick, but after several back-and-forth discussions with the player’s agent, Fitzpatrick signed a 4-year deal to join the Miami Dolphins.   Only Washington’s pick, DE Bradley Chubb, found his way to a USFL camp. Chubb signed a 4-year deal with the Feds, becoming the lone 1st round selection from the division to join the league. And while the Feds are probably most happy with that scenario, the Philadelphia Stars certainly are not. They took their T-draft swap, combined some second rounders and gave themselves 2 first-round picks, only to watch as both, Boise State LB Leighton Vander Esch and C James Daniels, agreed to terms with NFL clubs (Dallas and Chicago respectively).  Other than the Chubb signing, the NE Division’s 1-5 record in signing first round picks was the worst in the league. It also meant that teams needed to make late signings to fill spots with somewhat less-impactful options.   New Jersey added veteran journeyman Matt Spaeth for another body at TE, leaving John Carlson as the unquestioned starter. Pittsburgh was smart to have used the “double down” move in the draft as they lost out on Barkley but were able to sign 2nd round pick Sony Michel to a 3-year deal. Michel will now likely split carries with Marcus Lattimore as the Maulers try to upgrade their run game. Baltimore missed out on Fitzpatrick but acquired St. Louis Skyhawk safety Kendrick Lewis in a trade that cost them draft picks this year and next. As for Philadelphia, they have not found replacements and are likely looking to insert Erik Kendricks, acquired in free agency back in October, or Tanner Vallejo into the role left by the free agency departure of Blake Costanzo.   A rough outcome from the draft’s first round means 4 of 5 clubs in the division did not get the topflight talent they had hoped to acquire. It is not an unfamiliar position for any USFL club, as we typically see USFL first round signings at roughly 50% of all picks. This year the USFL signed only 12 of the 28 Open Draft first rounders, but did land 7 of 10 in the top 10 picks. Washington was one of those fortunate 7, Pittsburgh (along with LA and Dallas) were among the unfortunate 3 outbid by the NFL.   10 PLAYERS TO WATCH IN THE EAST As we look over the 14 Eastern Division teams, there are very few that have no shiny new weapons on the roster, but not every free agent signing, trade acquisition, or signed rookie will become a major player this season. Some will play a specific role, some may disappoint with their output, but there are always some new arrivals who step right in and make an immediate impact. Here is our list of the 10 players we think could do just that in 2018, making a splash in a new home, listed alphabetically by team.   HB Nick Chubb, Atlanta , T-Draft Rookie A 1,000-yard rusher in both his junior and senior years at Georgia, Chubb is a big, bruising back, but one with enough breakaway speed to muscle through the first line of defense and then race past the second. He will share carries with Chris Ivory and Kenyan Drake at first, but we expect to see him start to take over more and more of the load as his rookie season progresses.   TE Eric Ebron, Birmingham , NFL Import The Stallions may now have one of the best 1-2 punches at the TE position after signing Ebron away from the Detroit Lions. Paired with Hunter Henry in 2-TE formations, the defenses are not going to be able to key on the run, because they have to respect the ability of these two big receivers to get open over the middle.   WR Justin Blackmon, Charlotte , Free Agent After gaining over 2,000 combined receiving yards in the past 2 seasons in Ohio, Blackmon will quickly become Mitch Trubisky’s favorite target. Certainly not a speed burner, what Blackmon brings is a combination of crisp route running and the ability to win on contested throws.   QB Teddy Bridgewater, Jacksonville , NFL Import Robert Griffin III will start the season as Bridgewater clears to play and picks up the system, but we expect that there will be a short leash on the often-erratic Bulls’ QB now that they have a viable alternative in Bridgewater. Would it surprise us if Bridgewater was the starter by midseason? No. It would surprise us more if he spent the entire season on the bench.   OT Willie Colon, New Orleans , Free Agent It’s a one-year deal, and it is likely the veteran left tackle’s final season at age 34, but for a team that seems to be inches away from true title contention, bringing in an All-USFL left tackle to protect Drew Brees and plow holes for Leonard Fournette seems like a very good short-term strategy to us.   CB Aqib Talib, New Jersey , Trade from Denver Denver’s cap crisis was New Jersey’s gain. The Gold dealt Talib for pennies on the dollar, unable to square away his large contract bubble, but New Jersey had room aplenty and were more than happy to make the deal. It brings to them perhaps the best pure shut-down corner in the league. Paired with Devin McCourty on the other side, this duo is going to be very tough to crack by all but the best WR groups the league has to offer.   CB Jaire Alexander, Philadelphia , T-Draft Rookie Alexander was a very nice find in the Philadelphia T-Draft. He is already slated to start as the nickel back but will likely challenge Sam Shields and Courtland Finnegan for a starting spot soon enough. With the two starters for Philly a combined 67 years old, Alexander could be on a 1-year gig in the slot before taking over in 2019.   HB Sony Michel, Pittsburgh , Rookie Is Michel as good as Barkley could be? No, not likely, but he is a solid option at halfback and could push Marcus Lattimore for carries if he has a good early season. Michel rushed for over 1,200 yards on a Georgia team that also had Nick Chubb over 1,000 last year. Now, admittedly, Michell won’t be seeking Vanderbilt, Kentucky or Louisiana-Lafayette on the schedule this year, but we still think Michel was a very nice add for the Maulers, and a good bit of “double down” drafting.   WR Dez Bryant, Tampa Bay , NFL Import We did not have the Bandits on the short list to sign the former Cowboy wideout, but it does make sense. After all this is the team of Eric Truvillion and Randy Moss. Bandit Ball has always been about the huge vertical throw, and Bryant is one of the best deep ball receivers in the game. Now, if the Bandit line can only protect QB Dak Prescott long enough to have him hit Bryant often enough.   HB Anthony Allen, Washington , Free Agent We thought about putting rookie Bradley Chubb here, but while we expect Chubb to be a big factor for the Feds, Allen’s presence is of more immediate need. Coach Bradley wants Washington to return to its roots as a run-first team with a solid defense and an opportunistic passing game. To do that they need a back who can handle 25-30 carries a game and who can actually get results. Allen has proven in Memphis that he can carry a heavy load, produce good yardage, and even make the occasional big play. He is not LeVeon Bell or Doug Martin, but he could very well be a 1,200-yard back in Washington with a little help from his line.   DIVISION PREVIEWS Ready to get deep into the weeds? We are going to take a look at each of the Eastern Conference divisions, who is on the rise, who may stumble, what players are going to make an impact, what rookies could start fast right out of the gate. Then, of course, we will make our picks for each division’s final standings and who we see making the Eastern Conference playoffs. The NE Division has been among the league’s best for several years now, often placing 3 teams in the postseason. Last year saw something of a mixed bag in the division with Philadelphia dominant, New Jersey looking very strong, Baltimore up, then down, then up again, Pittsburgh still unable to duplicate their 2015 success and Washington bottoming out. Will it look different this year or will the Stars hold off all others once again?   Four Potential Breakout Players   Baltimore LB Anthony Hitchens Hitchens comes over to Baltimore from the Outlaws and will almost certainly start on the strong side, next to MLB Brandon Jenkins. It is quite a step up after not starting a single game for the Outlaws last year. Coach Caldwell says he sees great things for “Hitch” and we have learned to trust his judgement on undervalued players.   New Jersey CB Aqib Talib Yes, Talib was already a standout player in Denver, but this is the Big Apple, OK, it is Big Apple adjacent. Talib will be a star in New Jersey, with every big-time play amplified by the local media. Seeing how Talib has played for the Gold, there will be plenty of those big plays.   Pittsburgh WR Brian Quick The Maulers have a very crowded WR group, having also added Tedd Ginn Jr to a group led by Thielen and Cruz. That said, Quick showed in Portland that he can be a reliable deep threat as well as a solid mid-range receiver. Expect him to be in a lot of the 3-receiver sets, with Ginn used mostly for return duties and the odd 4-receiver formation.   Washington HB Anthony Allen We love what we see from Allen. In Memphis he not only subbed for Todd Gurley, he often outperformed him. He is exactly the type of inside/outside runner that Coach Bradley needs if he wants to return to a more smashmouth power run game. We think 1,000, maybe 1,200 yards is in Allen’s future this year.   Four Rookies in a Good Position for Early Success   New Jersey DT Deadrin Senat Senat is currently the swing tackle in Baltimore’s defense but could earn a starting job with a good start. It will be a bit of an adjustment coming from USF to the USFL, but hey, he is already ¾ of the way there.   Philadelphia CB Jaire Alexander The first of two rookies we highlight on the very talented Stars team. Alexander will start the year at the nickel position but could also see some action in early downs as well. He is going to have to pick up the more complex route trees of the USFL, but his raw talent is impressive.   Philadelphia WR Braxton Berrios Berrios came in expecting to have a role in special teams, but he had a great camp and will share slot duties with James Hardy. He has the skillset to be an outstanding 3rd receiver, running slants, hooks, and crossing routes.   Pittsburgh HB Sony Michel Yes, the Maulers had their hearts set on Saquon, but Sony is a pretty good fallback plan, and with a heavier build than Marcus Lattimore, we expect to see a lot of him on first and second down. He has to work on his blocking if he wants to be a 3-down back.   Our Predicted NE Division Standings Here we go, prognosticating again. Guess we never learn.   Philadelphia 12-4     We think New Jersey and Baltimore will challenge, but this roster is just too deep and too good. We think they win the division again and could end up as the 1 seed as well.   New Jersey 10-6       The Generals are building a very good team. We love the Talib trade, the run game, and the development of OBJ, but the D-line could have issues without Okoye, and we are just not sure about any receiver outside of Beckham.   Baltimore  9-7          Despite all their issues, we have the Blitz chasing New Jersey for one reason, Big Ben. We just trust him a lot more than we do Nick Foles. The defense is a bit of a question, so we could be overshooting their ceiling, but we just think they have the weapons to be a real tough out each week.   Pittsburgh 7-9         Andy Dalton cannot complain about having no targets, that is for sure. The line, well… that may be a different story. While we think the Maulers could have a Top 5 D-Line, what is behind it is a big question mark.   Washington 5-11       Coach Bradley will build some quality and much needed discipline into the defense, but that will take time. Drafting Bradley Chubb certainly helps there. On offense, while we think Allen is a perfect fit, we are not sure that David Garrard has gas left in the tank after missing much of 2017 with an injury, and the line still needs to prove itself. Perhaps the weakest division in the league, with only 1 team reaching .500 last year and a lot of questions all over. Even Charlotte, which looks like the best of the division again, has issues. They have struggled to win even home playoff games, and they need to prove they can beat the conference's elite teams, not just beat up on their division.   Four Potential Breakout Players   Charlotte SS Shaun Schillinger After 8 years in Seattle, Shaun Schillinger has had a solid career, but his recognition has been lacking. He now joins a Charlotte team that has been a steady playoff team but rarely has found post-season success. Schillinger could be a factor in changing that history.   Jacksonville QB Teddy Bridgewater After missing out on the 2016 NFL season with the Vikings, Bridgewater was a victim of circumstance, let go by the Vikings despite two strong years as their QB. Jacksonville is happy they jumped the gun on letting Bridgewater go. They believe they have found the rarest of commodities, a free agent QB who could turn into a regular starter. It will take time, and a lot depends on how Robert Griffin III reacts to the challenge, but we have liked Teddy B ever since his days at Louisville.   Orlando WR Terrance Williams Williams made a name for himself in Dallas, where his NFL career showed great promise. St. Louis snatched him up when he pushed the Cowboys for more money, but last year was not a great start to his USFL career. With cap issues, the Skyhawks had to let him walk, and Orlando is hoping that what they get in Williams’s 2nd spring season is a lot like what we saw in the Fall.   Tampa Bay WR Dez Bryant The Bandits have always loved deep ball receivers, and by snapping up Dez Bryant in the NFL transfer window, they have nabbed one of the best. Yes, he can be a diva, but the talent he possesses certainly seems worth it. After finding success with veteran wideouts in the past, including winning a title with Joey Galloway after Ohio felt his career was over, the Bandits are hoping that Bryant can be the next in a long line of outstanding deep threats.   Four Rookies in a Good Position for Early Success   Atlanta HB Nick Chubb Chubb shared his UGA backfield with Sony Michel, and he will start his USFL career sharing with Kenyan Drake, but from what we have seen of the former Bulldog, he may well deserve a shot, and an early one, at being a true lead back.   Charlotte DT B. J. Hill If Charlotte sticks to a strict 3-4 alignment, we may not see a lot of Hill in his first year, but if they experiment a bit with some 4-3, especially on early downs, then Hill may get a shot to show what he can do. Paired with Vernon Butler, who is only a year older, Hill could help form the basis for a pretty dynamic interior line.   Tampa Bay C Frank Ragnow Our first of two Bandit rookies who have impressed in camp. Ragnow has already won the starting job at center and will be charged with helping this line become a source of strength for the Bandits. They have outstanding talent along the line with Levi Brown at LT, Carl Nicks and Brandon Brooks inside, and now with Jake Long at RT. We could see a very good shift in both protection and in run blocking.   Tampa Bay SS Derwin James James has lit up camp in St. Pete., to such a degree that Coach Jones has strategically held him out of some drills so that the offense can gain a bit more confidence. With James and Xavier Woods deep, we expect Jones to call a lot more man coverage this year, which could make the Bandit pass rush that much more effective.   Our Predicted SE Division Standings   Charlotte 11-5      We see the Monarchs as clearly a step or two ahead of the rest of the division. Atlanta could be a challenge, but unless we are gauging the improvement of other teams far to cautiously, we think the Monarchs hold the division. Their real test will be in those opening playoff games, where they have had issues in the past.   Atlanta  9-7         The Fire had some moments last year, but uncertainty at QB is still an issue. We like the addition of Nick Chubb to the run game, and we are loving a LB group made up of Kuechley, Willis, Justin Houston and Dannell Ellerbe. If they can keep getting pressure on QBs from Chris Kelsay, this could be a very tough defense.   Orlando 8-8         Russel Wilson’s injury last year revealed that the offense did not have a plan B. With the departure of Knowshon Moreno, they may now need a Plan C. That is a major concern, and once again we look at the Renegades and wonder if they are simply wasting the best defensive player in the league with a team that does not have enough other playmakers.   Tampa Bay 6-10        We see gradual growth for this club. They like what they have seen from QB Dak Prescott, have a solid back (if he can stay healthy) in Cook, and now add a Bonafide deep threat in Dez Bryant. The defense still has some holes, but the secondary is looking solid with Jalen Ramsey, Xavier Woods and rookie Derwin James giving them some real quality on the back end. Is it enough? Perhaps too soon to say, but this could be a team that is substantially better than last season.   Jacksonville 5-11        Sorry Bulls fans, we just don’t see this working out. Adding Teddy Bridgewater is in some senses a nice move but could also produce a lot of indecision unless either he or Robert Griffin suddenly plays lights out. And we are just not seeing enough talent around them to expect Jacksonville’s offense to be more than middle-of-the-pack. The defense has talent, particularly in DE Barkevious Mingo and MLB Sean Lee, but there are also major questions at all 3 levels. This just feels like a team that will win some games and look good, but far too often will not have answers.   What had been New Orleans’s division now looks a lot more competitive. The arrival of Houston threw out the old order, and now the Gamblers look like a team that is ready to make a run again. The Breakers are following on their heels, and Birmingham, who were edged out of the playoffs despite a 9-7 record, are looking to make a mark as well. And then there is Memphis, which had a surprising run to the Summer Bowl in 2016, but last year looked like a team in a rebuild. This year feels like that too.   Four Potential Breakout Players   Birmingham TE Eric Ebron A very nice signing from the NFL, as Cam Newton gains a safety valve so that scrambling is not his only option when things don’t look good downfield. Ebron showed a lot of potential in Detroit but now could benefit from teams having to focus on Newton’s legs.   Birmingham CB E. J. Biggers Biggers will start the year as the nickel, which might be the best possible spot for him. He struggled in straight up man coverage with Memphis, but now, playing for his former rivals, he could find a nice fit inside.   Houston TE Tony Moeaki Is Moeaki going to displace starting TE Vernon Davis? No, not at all, but what Moeaki can do is help Houston use more 1-back, 2-TE formations, and serve as a viable outlet for Colt McCoy if Davis is swarmed by defenders. We expect him to be a factor in the run game as well.   New Orleans DE Ezekial Ansah The Breakers added two solid pass rushers in free agency, Kony Ealy from the Skyhawks, and Ansah from the NFL Lions. Both will rotate in as the Breaker try to account for the lost presence of Ty Warren, who retired this offseason. While both are solid speed rushers, we like Ansah for his ability to also use some muscle to bull rush when needed.   Four Rookies in a Good Position for Early Success   Houston CB Siran Neal Once again it looks like Houston’s front office did their homework. Neal looked good in camp and has locked up the nickel position for the Gamblers. We expect him to be laser locked on those slot receivers as teams try to play catchup against the explosive Gambler offense.   Houston WR Keke Coutee Coutee was seen at first as just another camp body, a player who could see some action on special teams, but a strong camp and good instincts have let him overtake Josh Reynolds as the Gambler slot receiver. With Evans, Smith-Schuster, and Davis already occupying a lot of attention, Coutee could benefit from some very favorable matchups each week.   Memphis TE Dallas Goedert Goedert has been a pleasant surprise in camp and has lept over Chris Gragg to take the 2nd TE spot, meaning he will be on the field a lot more, especially on early downs. He has good hands and can be an effective run blocker as well.   New Orleans CB Donte Jackson The Breakers have penciled in Jackson as the 2nd corner, meaning he is starting his career as a starter. He will be learning from Tra’Davious White, which is not a bad option, though, of course, the loss of Patrick Peterson will still be felt in New Orleans. Big shoes to fill for sure.   Our Predicted SOU Division Standings The Southern Division feels like it is a 2-team race that might get some flack from that 3rd team. Birmingham played very well at the end of last year, but they still feel like they are a step behind New Orleans (despite some big losses on the Breakers) and a few steps behind Houston, who again look like a potential Summer Bowl contender.   Houston 13-3      We think Houston stands a very good chance to repeat as the Eastern Conference’s representative in the Summer Bowl. They draft so well, and they develop those picks into solid performers. Kudos to Coach Phillips, because we think Houston is again at the top of the division, if not the conference.   New Orleans 10-6      As long as Drew Brees is guiding the offense, this is a dangerous team. We wish we saw more from Leonard Fournette last year, but very often we see backs come of age in their 2nd spring season. The defense could be a bit weaker than last year, with both Ty Warren and Patrick Peterson now gone, so the Breakers may need to rely on Brees even more than in the past.   Birmingham 8-8          The Stallions got hot late, and could make us look bad if they can recapture that mojo, but we think they failed to address their two big issues, a lack of consistency in the run game, and a defense that gives up too many big plays. We like the addition of Biggers and free Safety Will Allen, but is that enough?   Memphis 5-11        Still unsure about Paxton Lynch? So are we. Wishing the ‘Boats had retained Anthony Allen? So do we. Wondering just where the pass rush will come from? Yup, us too. So, basically a lot of questions for Coach Ryan and we are not sure we seen the answers forthcoming, which is how you end up at 5 wins in our book. PHILADELPHIA: SHOOTING FOR THE STARS Offseason Assessment:  The Stars had only 1 major loss in the offseason, with WR Stevie Johnson leaving in free agency. They feel good about moving Randall Cobb into Johnson’s position and will move rookie Braxton Berrios into the slot. They feel they got a steal in CB Jaire Alexander and feel good about adding LB Eric Kendricks from the Thunder. All in all, this Philly squad will look a lot like the 2017 team that went 13-3, which is not a bad thing.   Team Philosophy:  The goal in 2018 is to use Henry to free up the play action pass, where Gutierrez excels, and to use their solid team defense to keep foes under 21 points. Slow the game, shorten it, and grind out wins. That is what this club does better than anyone.   2018 Outlook:  If Cobb, Ronald Johnson and Berrios can step up in the absence of Stevie Johnson, this Philadelphia squad should be as good if not better than last year. They have a solid power run game, one of the game’s best tight ends, and a defense that plays as a team. In other words, they are a Summer Bowl favorite to be sure. NEW JERSEY: PREPARING FOR BATTLE Offseason Assessment:  The Generals’ D took some hits this offseason, with CB Danieal Manning leaving for the NFL, DT Amobi Okoye now in Denver, and CB Brandon Boykin down the road in Washington. But, man, oh, man, did they recover strong. Getting Aqib Talib from Denver was a stroke of genius, and the Generals, understanding that Okoye will be hard to replace, are feeling good about their depth at the position after adding USF’s Deadrin Senat through the draft.   Team Philosophy:  The goal for 2018 has to be to add a level of big-play danger to an offense that is more of a slow, methodical, matriculate the ball kind of team. That will depend on Nick Foles showing us he can find Beckham, Sanu or Zay Jones deep, and not always settle for the drop down. On defense, it is all about getting pressure with just the front 3, and maybe one blitzer. If Kampmann and Beasley can both get to 15 sacks this year, the Generals could be golden.   2018 Outlook:  New Jersey is clearly leaning into Nick Foles as their QB, signing Ricky Stanzi (a very similar player) as a backup. So now it is up to Foles to prove he can lead this team and challenge Philadelphia. MJD will still be the key to the offense, and the defense will still revolve around edge pressure from Aaron Kampman and Vic Beasley, but now, with Talib taking on each opponent’s top receiver, it will be harder than ever for teams to go over the top on the Generals. We think they can give Philadelphia a very good run in the division.   BALTIMORE: CAN LIGHTNING STRIKE Offseason Assessment:  Any team that has 4 starters retire in the same year (Adam Archuleta, Ellis Wyms, Austin King and punter Stephon Gibson) is going to have to do a lot of work in the offseason. Losing LB Brandon Spikes in free agency just adds to the “to do” list. The Blitz think they filled the gap at center with Birmingham’s Matt Tenant (FA), and they brought in LB Anthony Hitchens from Oklahoma for their LB hole, also adding LB Jermaine Carter through the draft. The big question mark is at safety, where Archuleta will be replaced by former Stallion Kendrick Lewis. All in all, it feels like the Blitz are treading water rather than advancing.   Team Philosophy:  Protect Big Ben, let him extend plays, and go deep. That is the strategy on offense. If they could get more out of Kerwynn Williams and Anthony Dixon, that mission would be a lot easier. If not, then they will need to rely on a defense that has a lot of new parts, and not all of them are top-of-the-line.   2018 Outlook:  While the passing game remains very dangerous in Baltimore, we are still not loving their ability to run the ball. On defense they are relying a lot on their secondary, and we are not sure they are as good as they were last year. The D-line’s biggest edge threat is Olivier Vernon, who does not have the burst he used to. The linebacker group is average at best, which makes us wonder if this Blitz team is ready to join New Jersey as a challenger or ready to slip beneath Pittsburgh in the division.   PITTSBURGH: FORGING AHEAD Offseason Assessment:  The Maulers missed out on Saquon Barkley, but added Sony Michel, which his a pretty good consolation prize, but the most impressive part of the roster is that WR group, which added Tedd Ginn Jr and Brian Quick to a group that already had Thielen, Cruz, and undervalued Josh Cribbs. On Defense they added DE Quentin Groves from Arizona to go alongside Dwight Freeney and Aaron Dobson, retaining a very nasty front line.   Team Philosophy:  The Maulers would be well-served to borrow some ideas from the Run & Shoot. They have such good receivers that spreading out the defense is their best bet. They can use that to free up rookie Sony Michel inside, or just keep tossing the ball to Cruz, Thielen, Ginn and Brian Quick.  On defense, the Maulers want to stick to a 4-3 and allow Dwight Freeney to rush the passer. If Gabe Wright can handle that assignment, then that will allow Aaron Donald to use his rare talent to disrupt the offenses Pittsburgh faces.   2018 Outlook:  There are still some gaps in the secondary, and the LB group could be deeper, but overall we look at the Maulers and think this is a team ready to make a move, especially if Coach Fangio is willing to open up the offense with more 3-4 receiver sets. That will certainly allow Sony Michel easier running lanes but also take advantage of the depth at WR with this club. We think Pittsburgh is a potential playoff dark horse.    WASHINGTON: A NEW ADMINISTRATION Offseason Assessment:  The Federals started the offseason looking for a new coach, GM, and quarterback, the sign of a total do-over. They found their coach in Gus Bradley, and have their GM, but they did not nab the QB they coveted, losing out on OU’s Baker Mayfield to the NFL Browns. That means that it is David Garrard, still recovering from a season-ending injury last year, at the helm once again. The other big need was at HB, and Washington thinks they found their big bruising back in former Showboat Anthony Allen. Losing DE Mathias Kiawanuka and LB Aaron Curry will be a blow to the defense Coach Bradley wants to build, but Washington is very excited about two rookies penciled into those spots, DE Bradley Chubb of Georgia and LB Tremaine Edmunds of Va Tech.   Team Philosophy:  Coach Bradley wants to return to power football. Run the ball with Allen, let Garrard use play action to find Allen and LaFell outside. Then, slow the game down when you have a lead and force teams to pass, which, they hope, means that rookie Bradley Chubb can focus on getting to the QB.   2018 Outlook:  The Feds still feel very much like a team in transition. They have an older QB who may be only 1 year away from retirement and who is not the player he once was, a free agent halfback who has to prove himself, and a defense being built around 2 rookies and shaky safety play. That is very much a team that feels like it is in Year 1 of a 3-year rebuild.   CHARLOTTE: KINGS OF THE CASTLE Offseason Assessment:  The Monarchs lost some veteran leadership with the retirements of D. J. Hackett and Shane Welton, and needed a new kicker after Brandon Coutu left for the NFL, but they are clearly building around Mitch Trubisky, adding a nice receiving back in Nyheim Hines as well as TE Tyler Conklin in the draft. They found their kicker in Miami (FL) rookie Michael Badgley, and they used free agency to fill the gap at receiver, landing former Glory wideout Justin Blackmon. They also upgraded at safety with Shaun Schillinger coming over from Seattle.   Team Philosophy:  The goal here is to keep the game simple for Mitch Trubisky. Force teams to play the run, hope Adrian Peterson has some game breakers left in him, and then give Trubisky good mid-range routes to Nicks and his new target, Justin Blackmon. On defense, it is all about the front 3 occupying blockers so McClain and Mayo can make plays from the LB position. The secondary got a boost from Shaun Schillinger’s arrival, but Charlotte does not want to let team challenge a shaky CB group, so expect a lot of blitz packages.   2018 Outlook:  It seems pretty obvious that if Mitch Trubisky grows further in his 2nd year in the league that this Charlotte team is the best of the SE Division. But, is that good enough against the powerhouses from the NE and South? We don’t see Charlotte up to Houston or Philadelphia’s level yet, but they are doing a nice job of replacing departed players and adding depth and talent year to year. They are our favorite to win the division, and maybe this year they escape the 1st round of the playoffs.   ATLANTA: BURNING HOT Offseason Assessment:  No retirements, no NFL losses, and only 1 starter lost in free agency (guard Brandon Brooks) means Atlanta should easily have a net gain in the offseason calculus. So what did they add? Well, they traded for Blaine Gabbert, which further complicates a very uncertain QB situation, so not a great start. No Free Agent additions, but a nice NFL addition in WR Leonard Hankerson (who lasted only 1 year in the fall before returning to the USFL). But, the best day this offseason for the Fire was draft day. They selected, and, more importantly, signed a potential starting halfback in Georgia’s Nick Chubb, a nice change of pace back in Boston Scott, and some good depth at other positions.   Team Philosophy:  Coach Arians wants to have a high-flying offense, but the pieces are just not there. Atlanta’s best shot is to be tough to predict. Use rookie Nick Chubb, Kenyan Drake, and Chris Ivory to keep the run game at the center, then mix it up with the pass. If Murray struggles, they now have Blaine Gabbert as well as 2nd year QB Deshone Kizer. On defense, it is all about LB play. In Kuechley, Willis, Houston and Ellerbe they have one of the best quartets in the league. They just need Nick Fairley, Gholston and Kelsay to produce enough pressure to allow their backers to expand coverage beyond the secondary.   2018 Outlook:  The old saying says that if you have 2 quarterbacks, you really don’ t have one at all. What does it mean if you have 3? The Fire are starting the year with Aaron Murray again, but still have 2017 rookie DeShone Kizer in the wings and added former NFL starter Blaine Gabbert. They need one of these three to wow us. Without that, we are not sure that even an improved run game and a defense that features perhaps the league’s best LB groups can win them enough games to keep pace with Charlotte. But, if Murray, or anyone else, can get this offense just to to the upper half of the league stats, then Atlanta could surprise us.    JACKSONVILLE: READY TO SEE RED Offseason Assessment:  Before the late signing of Teddy Bridgewater, many were writing off the Bulls’ offseason as a failure. Now, with a potential replacement for oft-injured Robert Griffin III gearing up, the perspective has shifted. Yes, losing FS David Bruton, LB K. J. Wright and DT Henry Melton, all to free agency, hurts. But with the addition of NFL CB Keenan Lewis and rookies DE Duke Ejiofor, DT Taven Bryan and safety Tracy Walker, Jacksonville is bringing both speed and youth to their defense. The continued development of LBs Alex Anzelone and Jarret Johnson could produce a very good group there.   Team Philosophy:  The Bulls offense was designed with a mobile QB in mind. They now have two of them, but need one to step up. Matt Jones has been overproducing, exceeding expectations since being made the starter, but can Jacksonville count on that? They may have to because the rest of their “hands” team has underwhelming speed and separation. If the Bulls are going to make any movement in the division, it will be the defense that leads that. They are going to mix 3-4 and 4-3 so that both Beau Allen (DT) and Alex Anzelone (LB) can be used strategically. A lot will depend on DE Barkevious Mingo to make plays on the outside and for Dominique Rogers-Cromartie to turn passes defended into takeaways.   2018 Outlook:  Our biggest questions for the Bulls are all on offense. We know we will see a solid defense, perhaps even a faster, more attacking one this year. But on offense, we are not sure what to expect. And this is not all about the Griffin v. Bridgewater QB battle we all expect. Are we really sure Matt Jones is a true lead back in this league? And if not, who else on the roster could help out? And, with no changes on the horizon we are still not impressed with the receiver group of Mike Williams, Reuben Randle, Tavon Austin and TE Gavin Escobar. It is not exactly the 1998 Bandits or the Run & Shoot Gamblers, is it?  We think Jacksonville will win some tight games, but we also think they will struggle to keep pace with the better offenses in the league, so an 8-8 finish feels like the right call here, and that is being optimistic.  ORLANDO: ROWDY & READY FOR ACTION Offseason Assessment:  Many would say that Russell Wilson’s offseason recovery is the best move Orlando can tout, though we would say that resigning Arthur Moats was also huge. As for the rest of the moves, there is not much excitement out of the Renegade draft, where OT was the main position addressed, and we are not at all certain that adding NFL castoff Terrance Williams makes up for the retirement of Michael Jenkins, but the biggest story of Orlando’s offseason has to be the free agency departure of Knowshon Moreno (now in Seattle). Orlando will try to use 2 backs in rotation, Latavius Murray and former Glory 3rd down back Rashaad Jennings to replace Moreno’s production, but that is a dicey proposition.   Team Philosophy:  If we learned anything last year, it is that the key to Orlando’s offense is to keep Russell Wilson healthy. They were a disaster without him. Losing Knowshon Moreno will make that task even tougher, though both Murray and free agent signing Rashaad Jennings are both good outlet pass targets. The defense is all about pass rush, with two of the best in the league in Campbell and Moats. What is needed to make this work is for Dee Milliner and Kevin Johnson to hold up just long enough to allow pressure to get to opposing QBs. Without that, the pass rush does not reach home, and the Renegades give up the big play.   2018 Outlook:  Orlando has talent at some key positions, but lacks depth. That is an issue. An uncertain run game, and an unimpressive receiver group adds more question marks. We like Russell Wilson’s pluck, but that is not enough to sustain an offense. Once again we are looking at this team as Calais Campbell and an underwhelming supporting cast. That does not seem fair to the consensus GOAT of USFL pass rushers. It also does not seem like a formula that will keep Orlando in the playoff hunt all season.   TAMPA BAY: RIDING FOR RESPECT Offseason Assessment:  Despite a frenzy of QB action this offseason, Tampa Bay decided to stand pat with Dak Prescott as their presumptive starter. But, what they did do was get him a truly dynamic target, signing Dez Bryant away from the NFL Cowboys in a very expensive, but very bold move. That said, the loss of TE Greg Olsen (NFL) and CB Philip Buchanon (Retirement) will be tough gaps to fill. We love the addition of FSU safety Derwin James and Arkansas center Frank Ragnow, but the TE and CB positions could still use some work.   Team Philosophy:  We all know what the fans want in Tampa Bay. They want Bandit Ball. That means getting the run game with Cook going, so that Dak Prescott has time to go over the top to NFL import Dez Bryant and slot speedster Ryan Grant. On defense, assuming the Bandits decide to play some this year, It will be a 4-3, with Brian Orakpo again playing the pivotal role. They need more from their other backers, but Orakpo is still the focal point. We like how the secondary is forming, with the addition of Derwin James in the draft, but we are still not seeing how this club gets enough pressure on the QB to keep that secondary from being stretched thin.   2018 Outlook:  The Bandits are building a young, fast offense around Prescott, Dalvin Cook, and now Dez Bryant. That is a nice development for a team that got old very fast between 2014-2016. The Defense still lacks playmakers outside of Orakpo, though Bandit fans hope Derwin James can add another big play defender to the mix. We wish Tampa had been more active in free agency, particularly to beef up their D-line, but they look very good (and young) at safety, solid at LB, and could surprise us this year. Keep an eye on the Bandits and how they start the season. A good start could be a sign that the youth movement is working. HOUSTON: GREATNESS DOESN’T NEED LUCK Offseason Assessment:  Houston lost two very solid leaders on the team in LT Willie Colon and DT John Jenkins but that is about the extent of the losses from this very talented team. What did they add? Well, depth at TE for sure with the addition of both Tony Moeaki and NFL import Austin Sefarin-Jenkins. They also addressed the DT position with rookie R. J. McIntosh from Miami, and added some real speed with WR Keke Coutee and CB Siran Neal. Left Tackle remains the one big gap, and that seems like one that needs a solution.   Team Philosophy:  Shock and awe. That is the Houston offense. They can run the ball inside or out with Hyde, but they can also go deep on you at any time with Evans and Smith-Schuster. Oh, and if you forget he is there, Vernon Davis will just keep collecting that ball and those first downs. It is a deadly attack. The defense is equally devastating. They led the league in sacks last year and could do even better this year. Their safeties (Baker and Vaccaro) are a nasty combo, and they added a solid nickel option with rookie Siran Neal. The strategy on defense is contain and control, and they have the players to do it.   2018 Outlook:  We mentioned concern about the departure of Willie Colon. Houston’s response was to slide Cedric Oghuehi over from right tackle and promote Marcus Cannon to the RT spot. They are fine players, but not in ideal positions, so we are wondering if Houston will have protection issues this year. If they don’t, then expect Colt McCoy and that Gambler offense to once again be a devastating combination of speed, power, deception, and variable options. Vernon Davis had an All-USFL season last year, Carlos Hyde, Mike Evans and 2017 rookie Juju Smith-Schuster are just a deadly talent group. We think Houston finds a way to address the O-line issues and we think they have a very good shot at being a Top 2 seed and once again fighting for a title.  NEW ORLEANS: THE TIDE IS RISING Offseason Assessment:  The Breakers’ offseason began with some pretty significant retirements, notably DE’s Ty Warren and C. J. Mosley. Then Patrick Peterson became one of the first players to change teams in free agency, heading off to Dallas. The Breakers recovered from these three big losses by adding Ezekiel Ansah from the NFL and Kony Ealy via trade for their DE needs, then drafted two corners in January, led by LSU’s Donte Jackson. Along the way they also added HB C. J. Spiller, LT Willie Colon and used draft movement, falling out of the first round, to get extra picks, including 2 linebacker selections, Ohio State’s Jerome Baker and Purdue LB Ja’Whuan Bentley. Is that overall a gain or a loss, right now very hard to tell.   Team Philosophy:  Drew Brees would love to have a game where the Breakers throw the ball 20 times but run for 200 yards. Not gonna happen, Drew. Expect a lot of 50-attempt games, which will certainly make TE Coby Fleener and 2017 receiving yards leader Jordy Nelson happy. The defense will need time to gel, especially on passing downs. With new DE’s and a new secondary, the Breaker’s goal will be to keep the scheme simple and let players play on instinct.   2018 Outlook:  The Breaker offense will remain largely the same as in 2017, so the focus right now is on the defense, which could see as many as 4 new starters on opening day. New Orleans needs that newly-configured defense to gel quickly, especially with a huge game against Houston in Week 3. They also, ideally, want to see much more out of 2017 draft pick Leonard Fournette. The former LSU back gained only 710 yards last year, averaging only 3.4 per carry. That is not going to be good enough for him or for the Breakers. As far as the passing game goes, no worries there. Jordy Nelson was a superstar last year, and despite not getting as many targets both Kyle Britt and TE Coby Fleener were outstanding options for Drew Brees. In 2018 we think this team will be in the playoffs, but how far they go and what seed they get will likely come down to where their defense can be by Week 16.   BIRMINGHAM: STAMPEDE TO SUCCESS Offseason Assessment:  Birmingham lost some key contributors in all 3 phases of the early offseason, with TE Bo Scaife and LB Brian Kehl retiring, DE Derrick Harvey signing on with the NFL, and free agents Matt Tenant, Corey White, and Stoney Woodson all taking offers from other teams. But Birmingham did not stand pat. They made a deal with Tampa Bay to bring FS Will Allen over to the Stallions, added a corner in former Showboat E. J. Biggers, and then raided the NFL just a few weeks ago to add TE Eric Ebron, a major bonus for Cam Newton, fullback Zach Line, and kicker Chris Boswell. A very busy offseason indeed.   Team Philosophy:  Does a scheme mean much to Cam Newton? Call what you want, the odds are he is going to improvise the minute things go even slightly sideways. Coach Ellard wants to rein in that tendency, but unless rookie Kerryon Johnson or former Tide HB T. J. Yeldon can provide a meaningful run game, the pressure will stay on Newton and he will continue to run. There are concerns on defense, especially with a lackluster pass rush, so the need for blitzes continues to force Birmingham to rely on their secondary a bit too much.   2018 Outlook:  the Stallions did not land the big “can’t miss” halfback that many fans wanted. They drafted two local backs, Auburn’s Kerryon Johnson and Bama’s Bo Scarbrough, but both are likely to play backup roles to T. J. Yeldon, who the Stallions just don’t seem ready to give up on. The addition of Eric Ebron from the NFL Lions will certainly help the passing game, and the defense does get an upgrade with the addition of Will Allen, a consummate pro at the safety position. Is it enough to menace Houston? Not likely. But could Birmingham battle it out with New Orleans for the Wild Card? Absolutely.    MEMPHIS: READY TO ROLL ON THE RIVER Offseason Assessment: We are still not happy Memphis let Anthony Allen go. He so often looked like a better option than Todd Gurley, and the two in the same backfield could have been very effective. In addition to Allen’s departure, Memphis also lost CB E. J. Biggers and TE Jermichael Finley in free agency and saw DT Marcus Tubbs and DE Antonio Smith retire. Truth be told, only the Allen departure is a major blow. On the flipside, the Showboats brought in a couple of nice pieces in fullback Roosevelt Nix and DT John Hughes. But what may make Memphis’s offseason is their draft. Four potential starters came out of that draft: guard Will Hernandez, TE Dallas Goedert, CB Rashaan Gaulden, and LB Zaire Franklin. They won’t all start Week 1, but keep an eye on the Memphis roster as the season progresses.   Team Philosophy: The Showboats are not going to win many shootouts; they just don’t have the big play capacity to throw it all over the yard. They need to play controlled offense, with short to mid-range passing and an effective run game led by Todd Gurley. If they get behind, they are in some trouble. On defense, they are also not well suited to play catch-up, as this is not a team that will produce many takeaways. Their goal is to keep the plays in front of them and then swarm to the ball.   2018 Outlook: The concerns about Memphis which led them to a 6-10 record last year feel very much like they are still in place: Erratic QB play from Paxton Lynch, injury concerns for Todd Gurley, good route running receivers but little true speed, and a defense that just does not have dynamic game-impacting playmakers. So, what we see in the Showboats is a team that will not be painful to watch, but may simply just not have enough to get over the hump each week. EASTERN CONFERENCE PREDICTIONS OK, time to fire up the Predictomaic 3000 and make some picks from out of the Eastern Conference. We already gave you our divisional breakdown, so that means now we look at the playoffs and try to see who could be coming out of the East and into the Summer Bowl.   We are predicting that all three 2017 division winners retain their grasps on their respective divisions, and once again that Houston and Philadelphia will be the top 2 seeds getting byes. As for the Wild Cards, our picks are New Jersey in the 4-spot, followed by New Orleans. That leaves one spot and two two teams sitting at 9-7, the Fire and the Blitz. We are going to go with Baltimore to grab that last spot. So, in the Divisionals, we have the Monarchs holding off the Blitz and the Breakers topping the Generals thanks to Drew Brees’s experience advantage over Nick Foles. That sets up Charlotte v. Philadelphia and New Orleans v. Houston. Sorry upstarts, but once again we think there is a pretty big gap between the top two teams and everyone else, so it is the 1 and 2 seeds in the Eastern Finals and we are going to go with Houston to repeat and go back to the Summer Bowl in 2018.   And what about Award contenders out of the East? Some pretty easy options in most categories.   MVP: We think Colt McCoy will be in the mix, along with Drew Brees, but if Birmingham does better than expected, it will be because Cam Newton puts up big numbers, so don’t count him out either.   OPOTY: Assuming the QBs all get sucked into the MVP discussion, what are we looking at with receivers and backs? Well, last year’s OPOTY, Jordy Nelson could be competing for a 2nd award, but he will have competition. Pittsburgh’s Adam Thielen could be a contender, as could Mike Evans in Houston. Among the backs, the West has the frontrunners, but Maurice Jones-Drew could have a big year as well.   DPOTY: You already know who the favorite is, Orlando’s Calais Campbell, but if Orlando struggles, as we are predicting they might, then that cuts down on his chances. In his stead, how about New Jersey’s Vic Beasley, Pittsburgh’s Dwight Freeney, or possibly the newest import from the West, General CB Aqib Talib. ROTY: A couple of obvious choices are halfbacks Nick Chubb (ATL) and Sony Michel (PIT), both former Georgia Bulldogs. Another name to watch would be DE Bradley Chubb in Washington, who could be a major difference maker for the Feds.   COTY: Here we are looking for the team that comes out of nowhere and exceeds all expectations, much as Seattle did last year. Our favorites to do that would be Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, so that means June Jones or, for a 2nd time, Vic Fangio.   2018 SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS We are going to finish up this first of two preview editions with a quick look at the schedule. We went week by week and found one game each week which intrigues us. It may not always be a huge divisional game. It may not always be a clear battle of Summer Bowl contenders, but there is something in each of these games that should draw our attention to it.   Week 1: New Orleans @ Birmingham A pretty easy place to start, a divisional game between two teams that both finished at 9-7 last year. If Birmingham is going to make a move in the South, this game could be a great place to start.   Week 2: Denver @ Las Vegas A similar situation out west in Week 2, with two teams that most expect to be chasing the Arizona Wranglers. I doubt we will see Denver draft pick QB Josh Allen in this one, but we should see two very balanced and hard-hitting teams playing intense football early on in the season.   Week 3: Michigan @ Chicago Our third consecutive focus on divisional rivals takes us to Michigan and Chicago in Week 3. The Machine have a chip on their shoulder after a very disappointing 2017, but Michigan still looks like the class of the division after winning their 4th league title last season.   Week 4: Philadelphia @ New Orleans A really nice Eastern Conference battle here. It will be the passing game of the Breakers against the rushing attack of Philadelphia, with two pretty good defenses also in the mix.   Week 5: San Diego @ Seattle In this Week 5 matchup we have a lot of new faces, including former Outlaw Marques Colston, now with the Thunder, and former Renegade Knowshon Moreno, now with the Dragons. In addition to being a key divisional matchup, this game features two mobile QBs who could produce issues for the defenses.   Week 6: Dallas @ Arizona One of the big mysteries this year will be just how Arizona deals with a huge overhaul of personnel on defense. If their defense is only a shadow of recent years, which many expect, then Dallas could be in a position to topple the Wranglers, much to the delight of the entire SW Division.   Week 7: Orlando @ Atlanta This one could be a huge mid-season divisional matchup in the Southeast. We think Atlanta may be headed upwards and Orlando could struggle this year, but the two may very well meet in the middle and this game could prove decisive come tiebreaker season.   Week 8: Baltimore @ New Jersey So many good rivalries in the East. This is not a huge one, but it should be, because these two teams always seem to be battling each other for a Wild Card spot. That is very much what we expect this year, so Week 8’s clash could be a very big one for both clubs.   Week 9: New Orleans @ Houston You know this is a big game. The Breakers are the closest competition the Gamblers have in the South, perhaps in the conference. They will put everything they have into this game to try to knock Houston down a notch.   Week 10: Oakland @ San Diego A California Derby with some major questions. Oakland, in particular, is looking like a team that is trying to rebuild their airplane while in flight. Will we be seeing Jimmy Garoppolo in this game? Will it matter? San Diego won the division last year and could be in a position to be even stronger this year with Marques Colston on board.   Week 11: St. Louis @ Ohio The Central Division is back on center stage with this matchup. Ohio had a solid year in 2017 and are hoping to keep building a team that can compete. St. Louis bottomed out, but they added a real Wild Card in QB Lamar Jackson this offseason. If Josh Freeman struggles this year, we could be seeing the Louisville QB in action by Week 11.   Week 12: Las Vegas @ Arizona The Vipers have this one circled on their calendars already. They want to step in and step over Arizona if the Wranglers slip this year. It may also be Eli Manning’s last season, so there will be motivation for the Vipers to be sure. As for Arizona, they may have lost a lot on defense, but they still have the reining MVP and a very dangerous WR group.   Week 13: Houston @ Philadelphia This is our prediction for the Eastern Conference Championship matchup, so it is this game in Week 13 that very well could decide if that game is played at the Linc or at NRG Stadium. Expect a real slugfest here, a battle of styles and of personalities between Jim Harbaugh and Wade Phillips.   Week 14: Arizona @ Michigan We are back on the Wranglers again, but this time we are looking at a possible Conference Title Game preview once again. Could the past 2 league champions be ready to face off with playoffs on the line, or at least playoff seeding?   Week 15: Philadelphia @ New Jersey Do we really need to hype this matchup? It is one of the best rivalries in the league, a divisional match between the two teams we think will be in the hunt, and, quite frankly, two teams and fanbases that love to hate each other. This one will be fun.   Week 16: Dallas @ Las Vegas We looked at the final week of the season and tried to imagine which games might have 2 teams facing off with only 1 playoff spot on the line, like we saw last year with LA and Seattle battling for the final Wild Card spot. Dallas and Las Vegas could very well be in that same situation this year. The SW Division is about as balanced and competitive as any we can think of, so it was easy to imagine that this matchup could be a Win & In for both teams.

-February 5, 2018 Welcome back, USFL Fans, or I guess we should say that we are back, as we suspect you never really left. It has been a whirlwind in the USFL offseason since our last report in October, but we are here to run through all the big stories, major moves, and all the surprises of the USFL offseason. With camps opening up and the season only 6 weeks away, it is an exciting time around the league. We are still waiting for many of this year’s draft picks to make their final decision between the spring and fall leagues, and we still have the second offseason USFL-NFL Transfer Window coming up (opening in only 9 days), but teams are coming together, training camp is kicking off, and soon we will be back to regular season USFL action. We will start this 2nd Offseason Report with a look back at the action leading up to the 2018 College Draft, a flurry of trades that impacted both the territorial and open drafts. We will review the Open Draft’s first round as well as some selections in later rounds that could be impactful, review all the mid-winter free agent signings, the latest coaching news, and then preview the upcoming transfer window to see what final pieces the 28 USFL clubs may be adding as they break camp and prepare for Week 1. It is going to be a jam-packed edition of This Week in the USFL.   Quarterback Prospects Fuel Wild Draft Weekend It was no surprise that there was a lot of activity surrounding the USFL Draft and the prospect of teams chasing after no fewer than 7 potential first-day quality quarterbacks. We started to see the impact of the 2018 QB Class even before the 2017 playoffs concluded, when Chicago made a deal with LA to acquire the opportunity to select USC’s Sam Darnold. Then, just weeks later, a second deal was made, granting the Washington Federals the same opportunity with OU quarterback Baker Mayfield, acquiring the territorial pick held by the Outlaws. We had a feeling the trades would not end there, and they did not. What was a surprise is just who made deals and for which picks.  There were a lot of deals, and even some draft day chutes and ladders as teams moved up and down the draft board, but we will start with the situation surrounding 4 of the remaining quarterbacks in this year’s class.   Lamar Jackson (Louisville) Jackson accepting the 2016 Heisman. The third of the 2018 QB Class to have their draft day future locked in was Louisville QB and 2016 Heisman winner Lamar Jackson. His T-Draft rights were held by Philadelphia, which was already sitting pretty at quarterback with Matt Gutierrez having an outstanding 2017 campaign. The Stars were clearly and openly shopping their top 2 T-Draft positions, hoping to garner significant value for the opportunity for teams to select either HB Saquon Barkley (Penn State) or Jackson. But as we got closer and closer to the opening of the Territorial Draft, it was clear that their asking price was too high. Jacksonville, considered a clear favorite to go after Jackson as a QB option, bowed out of the hunt only 3 days before the T-Draft was to begin, specifically citing the high cost asked by Philadelphia. Rumors also had both Tampa Bay and Oakland inquiring about the pick, but choosing not to provide Philadelphia with the high picks or the players they were asking for.   Something clearly changed in those final days before the draft began, because suddenly a new team emerged in the hunt, one we had not anticipated being a QB-hungry team, the St. Louis Skyhawks. Despite having former league MVP Josh Freeman under contract through the 2019 season, and having just re-signed late 2017 addition Kyle Boller to a new deal, the Skyhawks seemed very much interested in Jackson. Philadelphia initially replied to their interest by asking if a swap that would bring the Stars the 1st overall pick in the draft was a possibliity. That was a deal-breaker for the Skyhawks, however, they did offer their 2nd round pick (29th overall) to the Stars, and with a bit of hemming and hawing, the Stars would end up taking that deal. It would be the only deal they would get, with no teams coming forward to make a second swap for exclusive access to Saquon Barkley’s draft rights. That was a bit of a shock to the Stars, and to us as well, and would eventually lead to Barkley being chosen by a team within Philadelphia’s division, something we are sure they would have liked to avoid.   So, the end result was that on the day of the T-Draft, it was St. Louis that had the Stars’ first pick and, as expected, they quickly submitted the name of Lamar Jackson as their choice. Barkley would be picked 5th overall in the Open Draft just 5 days later, by Stars’ rival, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia would use the 1st pick of the Open Draft’s second round to select DT Justin Jones of NC State.   Josh Rosen (UCLA) UCLA's Rosen As with Jackson and the Stars, Josh Rosen’s rights were held by a team that was not considered a QB contender. San Diego has UCLA as one of its protected schools (something that still irks the LA Express, who had the LA-based school as one of their own until the Thunder relocated from Las Vegas). The Thunder seemed somewhat non-commital on what to do with the pick, with some speculating that they would hold onto it, select Rosen and then make a deal with a QB-hungry team for backup Christian Ponder, signed away from the NFL just last year. That did not materialize, but neither did a swap. Rosen, it seemed, was not getting the attention that many expected. When the T-Draft came, San Diego still held all 3 picks, and with them chose three UCLA teammates of Rosen: OT Kolton Miller, C Scott Quessenberry and LB Kenny Young. All three were positions of need for the Thunder, so there was no surprise that they made these picks, but that no last-minute swap was made for Rosen, and that a QB valued as a possible top 10 pick in the Open Draft would not get more interest was certainly surprising. So, Rosen did slip into the Open Draft, which, it seems, most GM’s were not prepared for. His presence, along with the two QBs not at a territorial draft protected school (Allen and Lauletta), meant that teams who had balked on a high-cost trade to acquire T-Draft rights now had 3 options to choose from, two of whom were considered sure-fire first rounders. Jacksonville played a patient game, realizing that with 3 quarterbacks, they could get a quality option with their 11th pick in the draft. Many suspected that pick would be Kyle Lauletta from FCS Richmond, but with Rosen still on the board at 11, the Bulls selected their QB and may have gotten a steal, without having to depart with any trade capital at all.   Josh Allen (Wyoming) Wyoming's Josh Allen The highest rated QB not to be available in the Territorial Draft, due to Wyoming’s status as an unprotected program, Josh Allen was an enticing target for many teams. Yes, there were major questions about his accuracy, about the level of competition in the Mountain West, and about his short tenure at Wyoming (having first played at junior college before receiving a scholarship in Laramie), but there was also a physicality to Allen’s play that intrigued many teams. The expectation was that someone was going to move up in the draft to try to land the Cowboy QB. With St. Louis making a deal to draft Lamar Jackson in the T-Draft, that meant that the 1st overall pick was not going to be Allen. Portland started getting a lot of attention, sitting at pick 2, and having Marcus Mariota almost certainly locked in for a 2nd season as the Stag starter.   While Portland got inquiries from Jacksonville, Oakland, and others, it was an unexpected party that got the deal signed. Denver, who were not at all considered a player in the QB derby, but who had front row access to Allen’s college output, made a proposal to Portland that was more lucrative than anything offered by Jacksonville, and certainly more attractive than offering the pick to a division rival like Oakland. The Gold offered Portland two second rounders, both Open Draft picks, one this year and then next year’s as well. The move would drop Portland out of the first round, which is always risky, but would give the Stags two picks in the 2nd for two years in a row.   The Stags jumped on the deal, and suddenly Denver was sitting pretty with the draft’s 2nd and 18th picks. They would select Josh Allen at 2 and still get a defender later in the round. For Gold fans, there was a mixed reaction. What did this mean for Matt Leinart, who has helmed the Gold offense for the past 13 years? Did Denver’s front office have a plan to transition away from Leinart, or did the QB notify the team that 2018 would be his final season? There were questions about whether or not Allen was the right choice if QB was a priority, and questions about whether a 2-pick trade made sense. But at the end of the day, Allen was going to be in negotiations with the Gold, along with whichever NFL team would draft him 10 days later.   Kyle Lauletta (Richmond) Richmond's Lauletta Before we discuss Kyle Lauletta’s draft journey, a quick word about Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph. As expected, with the Outlaws having traded away the draft rights to Baker Mayfield, they did use a T-Draft pick to select Rudoph, who many consider to be a player poised to learn behind Joe Flacco for the next 2-3 years before possibly getting a shot to take over when Flacco moves on, much as we saw Colt McCoy do with Houston. Rudolph was also selected by the Steelers this week, so there will be some battle there to sign the OSU QB, but it was very much an expected pick by the Outlaws.   As for Lauletta, considered by some to be a low-first round option, and by others to be no better than a 3rd round pick, the pre-draft process was far less complex. At Richmond, he was not protected by any team’s territorial rights. He would be available in the Open Draft, but just where he would go was anyone’s guess. By the first day of the Open Draft Lauletta had been interviewed by more than 10 USFL teams, including some of the teams viewed as being in immediate need at the position (Oakland, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, and Chicago). He could end up as a “double down” pick from a team that already had the rights to a higher-ranked QB, he could be chosen early by a team that saw him as a potential 2019 or even 2018 starter, or he could drop into the mid-rounds as a potential backup.   Lauletta waited anxiously as team after team made their picks on Day One. He was not taken in the first round, which he seemed to expect. But by the end of the 2nd round, his name was still on the board. There had been some hope that Jackonville would use their 2nd pick to lock in a QB option, but that did not materialize. Oakland also passed him up in the round. It was becoming clear that the consensus in the USFL was that Lauletta was a developmental prospect, a possible backup who could grow into a starting job, and not a Year One starter. That meant watching and waiting as teams made picks on Day 2.   Lauletta would clear the 3rd round without being chosen, but then, early in the 4th, his name was finally chosen, and again it was a surprise. The Portland Stags, having used their two 2nd round picks on areas of immediate need (CB and G), chose to sign Lauletta as a backup to Mariota, and a potential replacement should the young Oregon QB continue to struggle as the starter. Lauletta’s style of play was somewhat similar to that of Mariota, with less mobility but good football IQ and pocket presence. The last of the 7 “possible 1st round QBs” had slid into the 4th round, but he now had a team interested and talking with him and his agent. The QB Class of 2018 was done, well, at least the higher profile QBs, several more would be selected in later rounds, but the frenzy was over. In the public’s and very much the media’s discussion of the 2018 USFL and NFL drafts, 2018 was all about the quarterbacks, and yet, for the teams, it was about much more. After all only 7 teams would snag a “high profile” QB, meaning that the other 21 teams had other priorities. As we review the 2018 USFL Drafts (T- and Open) there are a lot of names in this year’s pool who could very well go on to become stars in the spring. Of course, we also know that the NFL will have more than a small say in who plays in the spring league and who stays in the fall. We are going to run through the draft in the order of the Open Draft’s first round, highlighting the first pick of each club, the deals, and the NFL competition, but we will also speak to each club’s T-Draft pick as well as some potential gems found later in the Open Draft. Where teams had two picks in the first round, we will discuss both in the slot reserved for their first pick. For teams who traded out of the round, we will include them at the end of our rundown. So, as with the Draft itself, we kick this off with St. Louis holding the top spot.   ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS First Round Pick: LB Roquan Smith (Georgia)—NFL Pick 8: Chicago Bears Having made the deal with Philadelphia to gain the rights to Lamar Jackson in the T-Draft, it was well-known that this pick would be on defense, but would it be NC State DE Bradley Chubb or Georgia LB Roquan Smith? Both had escaped the T-Draft somehow, and both were considered Top 5 talents. The Skyhawks opted for the mobile and hard-hitting linebacker and chose Smith with the first overall pick, a move they likely expect will give them a slight negotiating advantage over the NFL Bears, who chose him with the NFL’s 8th overall pick.   Later Round Gem: Rutgers HB Gus Edwards (3rd Rnd) The Skyhawks love to run inside, and that puts a lot of wear and tear on lead back Eddie Lacy. They needed a big bruising runner to back Lacy up and they think they found one in Edwards.   Territorial Picks: Lamar Jackson is, of course the big name here, available thorugh the deal with Philadelphia. The Skyhawks will need to compete with the NFL Ravens, who made Jackson the final pick in the first round of their draft. The Skyhawks’ picks in their own Territorial pool were Iowa CB Josh Jackson, another Hawkeye in LB Josey Jewell, and Missouri guard Ike Boettger.   Outlook: The Skyhawks have two major fights on their hands, for both Smith and Jackson. In both cases there is a slight advantage based on how and when each player was picked by St. Louis vs. where they went in the NFL’s Open Draft format, but signing both would be a major accomplishment for the Skyhawk GM.   DENVER GOLD (Traded from POR) First Round Pick(s): (2) QB Josh Allen (Wyoming)—NFL Pick 7: Buffalo Bills (18) LB Harold Landry (BC)—NFL Pick 41: Tennessee Copperheads The big move by Denver to get into Portland’s 2nd pick gave them a shot at Wyoming QB Josh Allen. Now they need to convince Allen that staying local is better than shuffling off to Buffalo. With their 2nd pick they went for something of a reach, BC linebacker Harold Landry, but sometimes a reach can benefit a USFL team as the financials for being the 18th player taken in the USFL are going to be more attractive than for being the 41st pick by the NFL Copperheads.   Later Round Gem: Oklahoma OT Orlando Brown Jr. (4th Rnd) A fourth round pick by Denver, Brown could be a nice addition to the Gold line, likely starting off as a swing lineman but hopefully moving into the RT position in a year or so. However, the Gold could be hard pressed to sign him since he was taken in the NFL 3rd round by the Baltimore Ravens.   Territorial Picks: As we have come to expect, Denver used a depth-first approach to the T-Draft, opting to bypass their highest profile option, CB Isaiah Oliver, and instead selecting some mid-round talent, including CSU wideout Michael Gallup, HB Phillip Lindsay from CU, and long snapper Trent Sieg from the CSU Rams.   Outlook: It was a bold move to make the deal with Portland and select Josh Allen, especially for a team that did not have an immediate vacancy at the position, but if Denver can sign Allen, and if Allen can work on some of his fundamentals as he learns from Matt Leinart, he could be ready to step in if Leinart retires in 2019 as many are now speculating.   WASHINGTON FEDERALS First Round Pick: NC State DE Bradley Chubb---NFL Pick 5: Denver Broncos The Gold moving into Portland’s spot was music to the ears of the Feds, who were very much afraid that either the Hawks or Stags would snap up NC State’s dynamic edge rusher before their 3rd pick. They will have to win a tough recruiting battle with the NFL Broncos, but new Feds’ coach Gus Bradley has to be licking his chops at the prospect of bringing in the draft’s most physical edge rusher to his defensive rebuild project.   Later Round Gem: Illinois State CB Davontae Harris (5th Rnd) While not a household name by any stretch, and with competition at Illinois State not being exactly the SEC, Harris tested well, has strong instincts, and his film shows good coverage skills. He may find the USFL game a bit fast at first, but if he signs with the Feds, he could find himself as the nickel in his rookie season.   Territorial Picks: The Federals have a good track record of signing their T-Draft picks, and they are certainly hoping that is the case this year, especially in the case of LB Tremaine Edwards of Va Tech. They also picked another Hokie in DT Tim Settle and, as expected, are taking a flier on Vanderbilt CB Tre Herndon as well.   Outlook: We love Chubb to the Feds, in part because he would play the role in Gus Bradley’s defense that Anthony Hargrove has had in Philly, but Chubb is a quicker, more explosive rusher than Hargrove, which could prove very effective. If they can also sign Edmunds, they could have two very solid rookie starters on their defense this year.   TAMPA BAY BANDITS First Round Pick: Arkansas center Frank Ragnow—NFL Pick 20: Detroit Lions A clear need pick for the Bandits, who seem to have abandoned any thoughts on landing a QB and will likely go into the year with Dak Prescott back under center. Ragnow is a potential Week 1 starter at center, and should help Tampa Bay’s run game in particular. Good news for 2nd year back Dalvin Cook.   Later Round Gem: Mississippi State FS J. T. Gray (7th Rnd) It is not often you find a potential need position in the final round of the draft, but Tampa Bay believes that Gray could be a strong candidate to back up Xavier Woods at free safety. He has played against top competition in the SEC, and while he needs to improve on some fundamentals, he has the physicality that the Bandits like in their safeties.   Territorial Picks: The safety position was a focus for the Bandits well before the 7th round. They went after one of the best in the draft with their first T-Draft pick, selecting FSU safety Derwin James, a hard hitting, ball-tracking safety who would likely be a Week 1 starter in Tampa Bay, if, that is, they can keep him from going to the NFL Chargers. Their other picks were FSU tight end Ryan Izzo and HB Ito Smith from Southern Miss. Outlook: Between the T-Draft and Open Draft, the Bandits have two early first round NFL picks to try to sign. Ragnow and James are both in “lower profile” positions, so that may help, but the Bandits will likely have to overpay a bit if they want to land both. That is the one advantage the USFL has over the NFL, no locked-in rookie contract caps.   PITTSBURGH MAULERS First Round Pick: Penn State HB Saquon Barkley—NFL Pick 2—New York Giants As happy as the Maulers were to see Barkley slip out of the T-Draft and down to them at pick 5 in the Open Draft, they had to be devastated when Barkley went 2nd overall to the NY Giants. Now they are up against both the relative draft position of the two picks, but the glitz of playing in NY vs the lunchpail culture of Pittsburgh. The Maulers are hoping that staying in Pennsylvania has appeal for Barkley, because NYC certainly offers more options for marketing deals and celebrity endorsement contracts.   Later Round Gem: Georgia HB Sony Michel (2nd Rnd) The Maulers, perhaps knowing that the competition for Barkley would be tough, doubled down, going with another solid HB option in round 2. Michel does not have the explosiveness of Barkley, but we could see him getting plenty of carries in Pittsburgh. Now the question is if they will delay negotiations with Michel until they have a good sense of Barkley’s position. A delay could cost them both backs.   Territorial Picks: Getting Northwestern as a 4th school (due to low output from their 3 assigned schools) gave Pittsburgh the option to select OT Brian O’Neill from the Wildcats. They did just that, adding him to Pitt Panther safety Jordan Whitehead and a bit of a wild card, Iowa State WR Allen Lazard, who was not even named in the NFL Draft.   Outlook: It is such a weird feeling to see your team pick the same position back-to-back, but with the dynamics between the USFL and NFL, it is a proven strategy that can help avoid a total draft disaster. Now Pittsburgh is in the weird position of having to woo two players in the same position without either feeling like they are second best. Easier to make that case to Barkley than Michel, but the Maulers cannot afford to go 0-for-2 on signing.   OAKLAND INVADERS First Round Pick: Notre Dame OG Quenton Nelson—NFL Pick 6: Indianapolis Colts When Chicago let Nelson go unclaimed in the T-Draft it rearranged Oakland’s entire draft board. Yes, they need a QB, but without trading up it was going to be a question of priorities, and they opted to go with a clear need and a pro-ready prospect in Nelson. They may regret that later, as they never did find a QB in the draft, but perhaps that was their plan all along. In the meantime, they have a pretty even battle with Indy, since both clubs chose Nelson 6th overall. That said, if I were choosing to play in either Indianapolis or the Bay Area, I think I would be wearing sky blue and athletic gold by March.   Later Round Gem: UCLA DT Jacob Tuioti-Mariner (5th Rnd) While we all expected Josh Rosen to perhaps be the San Diego protectable player that Oakland went for, they bypassed Rosen, but late in the draft returned to UCLA to select Tuioti-Mariner. He will almost certainly make the roster in a depth position as part of Oakland’s rotation, having already signed after turning down an offer from the Atlanta Falcons.   Territorial Picks: The Invaders went for need, picking players in positions that needed added depth. They went with Stanford safety Justin Reid, another Cardinal player in TE Dalton Schultz, and then finished up with LB DeVante Downs of Cal.   Outlook: With no QB taken in the draft and no clear options in the USFL free agent pool, everyone is expecting Oakland to try to land either a trade (Freeman? Fitzpatrick?) or an NFL free agent (there are a few who could be good fits), but landing Nelson away from the NFL Colts has to be job one right now. The Invaders have plenty of needs, but better protection for whoever their QB ends up being is one of the most pressing.   LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (Traded from CHI) First Round Pick: Notre Dame OT Mike McGlinchey—NFL Pick 9: San Francisco 49ers Looks like it will be a mini-version of a California Derby as the Express battle with the NFL 49ers to try to land the Notre Dame tackle. McGlinchey would help shore up the Express front five, which would make both Sam Bradford and Reggie Bush happy. It is a need pick, to be sure, but it will be a tough battle with the Niners to land the big man.   Later Round Gem: USF WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (3rd Rnd) Fans want to see more deep balls in the LA arsenal, and this pick can certainly help that happen. MVS is a speedster with enough height to go up for those 50/50 balls and by all accounts, he is leaning towards SoCal over chilly Green Bay as a destination.   Territorial Picks: We are always shocked when the 3 LA picks are not all USC Trojans, but this year they did take a flyer thanks to a 4th team being added to their pool. Toledo QB Logan Woodside was an interesting pick with their final T-Draft selection. Earlier they had taken their usual Trojan contingent with DE Rasheem Green and LB Uchenne Nwosu, two pieces that could find plenty of snaps in LA’s highly-rotational defensive scheme.   Outlook: The Express had a solid draft up and down the week, going with need repeatedly. Whether 1st rounder McGlinchey or 2nd rounder Ole Miss DE Breeland Speaks are going to excite the somewhat cynical LA fanbase is yet to be seen, but from a football perspective, these picks made a lot of sense.   MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS First Round Pick: UTEP guard Will Hernandez—NFL Pick 34: New York Giants Hernandez is considered something of a stretch, going in the Top 10 in the USFL draft but only early 2nd round in the NFL. That said, with Nelson off the board, and a clear need at the guard position, this pick makes a lot of sense for Memphis. What is more, by going with a bit of a stretch this early, the odds are in Memphis’s favor that Hernandez will take their first round money over New York’s 2nd round cash.   Later Round Gem: South Dakota State TE Dallas Goedert (2nd Rnd) While we have questions about their first round pick, we are all in on Goedert being a Showboat. He would be an ideal safety valve for Paxton Lynch, who needed more help than he got from the position last year. He was also a 2nd round pick of the NFL Eagles, but we think Memphis is a better fit for him, with more potential to earn a starting gig early on.   Territorial Picks: We are still scratching our head over why Memphis did not protect Arkansas center Frank Ragnow, who could also play guard or tackle in a pinch. But, they opted instead to use their first pick on Tennessee CB Rashaan Gaulden and then follow that up with HB John Kelly (also Tennessee) and double down with HB David Williams of Arkansas as well.   Outlook: When you combine both the T-Draft and Open Draft, Memphis has a lot of picks we like, from Hernandez and Goedert to later selections like Syracuse LB Zaire Franklin and K-State CB D. J. Reed. Now, can they sign most of them? That is always the challenge.   ORLANDO RENEGADES First Round Pick: Georgia OT Isaiah Wynn—NFL Pick 23: New England Patriots With Josh Rosen still on the board, Orlando apparently fielded plenty of calls about the pick but they stood fast and took the player they wanted, a potential blindside protector for their own QB, Russell Wilson. They may well have lucked out as a trade in the NFL ended up with New England, one of the league’s worst managed teams, dropping from 5 to 23 and picking Wynn. Again, better position in the draft order, a better situation for a rookie lineman, and certainly better weather will all play in Orlando’s favor.   Later Round Gem: Florida safety Marcell Harris (3rd Rnd) The Renegades stayed in the state with this pick and filled a definite need. Harris could play either position but likely slots in as a possible candidate for the starting CB position, if not this year (Orlando signed Corey White to a 1-year deal) then perhaps in 2019.   Territorial Picks: While it wasn’t the usual treasure chest of Miami prospects this year, Orlando still found some doubloons from their 3 protected schools, selecting OT Martinas Rankin from Mississippi State, along with two Hurricanes, HB Mark Walton and TE Chris Herndon.   Outlook: A very utilitarian draft from the Renegades. No real splashy selections, light on “skills” positions, and heavy on need. It is not the kind of draft that will build a lot of excitement, but it could help build a roster that can return to competing for a division title.   DALLAS ROUGHNECKS First Round Pick: Ohio State CB Denzel Ward—NFL Pick 4: Cleveland Browns While there was some speculation among the ESPN Football Network analyst table that Dallas could be worried about Johnny Manziel, and that they might take UCLA QB Josh Rosen at 10, they opted instead to go for the best cover corner in the draft pool. But now they face a problem. Denzel Ward was also chosen by the in-state Cleveland Browns, giving him a very nice Columbus to Cleveland transition as an option. The Roughnecks could not have known this at the time they picked Ward, but now it is looking more and more like a lost pick.   Later Round Gem: Stanford DT Harrison Phillips (3rd Rnd) A big but agile interior presence, Phillips could be a nice addition to the Roughneck roster. He is at his best when he is shedding blockers and penetrating into the backfield, but he can also hold up against run blocking. He comes out of a 4-3 system at Stanford, which aligns well with his role in Dallas’s similar system, likely rotating with Star Lotuleilei and Domato Peko to form a very nice trio of big men. All this assumes, of course, that the Buffalo Bills don’t provide a better offer.   Territorial Picks: Dallas must love that the Outlaws moved to Oklahoma and gave up UT as one of their schools. The Longhorns often provide a nice T-Draft pool, and this year Dallas snapped up a very solid player from Austin, OG Connor Williams. They also protected TCU center Austin Schlotmann and SMU wideout Courtland Sutton. Of the three, Sutton should be the priority. Dallas’s WR group is a bit thin and a bit slow, and Sutton would be an immediate impact player.   Outlook: While prospects to land their 1st pick, Ward, don’t look great, this was a pretty deep draft for the Roughnecks. We think Courtland Sutton, Connor Williams, and Harrison Phillips would be a very good haul, and they have already landed one player, with 4th round pick, SJSU corner Jermaine Kelly already inking a 3-year deal.   JACKSONVILLE BULLS First Round Pick: UCLA QB Josh Rosen—NFL Pick 10: Arizona Cardinals Jacksonville’s patient, wait-and-see approach to the QB derby results in them getting the chance to select Josh Rosen from UCLA, with Kyle Lauletta also available at this time. What will be interesting to see is if that same patient approach in any way impacts Rosen’s interest in the Bulls. Will it be seen as a lack of commitment or interest, which could send him to Arizona in the NFL instead. Of course all parties will be saying the right things until a deal is agreed upon, but we wonder if Jacksonville could have done more to show that Rosen was their man.   Later Round Gem: Wake Forest DE Duke Ejiofor (3rd Rnd) After selecting Notre Dame wideout Equanimeous St. Brown, the Bulls doubled down on winning the “best names in the draft” competition by using their pick from Arizona later in the same round to select Ejofor. Ejiofor’s performances at Wake Forest were up and down, but when he was on, which often was against the ACC’s best teams, he was dynamic. He could be a steal for the Bulls, assuming he does not take the deal from the NFL Oilers instead.   Territorial Picks: The Bulls split their 3 picks between the two strongest programs in their pool, taking Clemson LB Dorian O’Daniel, along with UF DT Taven Bryan and CB Duke Dawson. All three were defenders, but when you add in the Open Draft picks, Jacksonville went 6-6, balanced between offense and defense (and with 2 extra picks this year.)   Outlook: The Bulls have quantity, hoping to sign as many of their 12 picks as possible, but also quality. In addition to the players already mentioned, Jacksonville also chose Louisiana-Lafayette safety Tracy Walker, Nebraska CB Chris Payton-Jones, and Richmond LT Alex Light, all of whom would add nice depth at key positions.   ATLANTA FIRE First Round Pick: Washington DT Vita Vea—NFL Pick 12: Tampa Bay Buccaneers A true space-eater who can play the 3-4 as well as the 4-3, Vea would likely rotate with Nick Fairley at the nose, or allow Fairley to go outside as a pseudo DE, especially on early downs. He was the 12th pick in the NFL draft and the 12th in the USFL open draft, so there is no financial advantage in Atlanta’s favor. The key for Atlanta may be Bruce Arians’s ability to convince Vea of his role in the defense. The Buccaneers have a clear need, so that could be a hard pitch to make if he will share time with Nick Fairley on the Fire line.   Later Round Gem: Louisiana Tech HB Boston Scott (6th Rnd) The Fire need some pop in their run game. Neither Chris Ivory or Kenyan Drake has proven to be able to provide big plays in the run game very consistently. Scott is a classic double-down pick, with Atlanta having selected Georgia back Nick Chubb in the first round. We like that option, and if by some chance the Fire are able to sign both, the two can both be part of a 3- or even 4-back rotation until someone proves they are a step ahead of the rest.   Territorial Picks: In addition to Nick Chubb, the big inside rusher for the Bulldogs, Atlanta also chose DT John Atkins and LB Lorenzo Carter, a UGA trifecta. Sorry Georgia Tech & State. Of the three, we think Chubb is the player they truly need to focus attention on, though, signing Atkins would be a nice security blanket if Vita Vea heads to the NFL.   Outlook: Atlanta’s draft was very strategic, using the double-down on key positions (DT and HB) while also going for value, often choosing the Best Player Available, especially in the mid and late rounds. One last name to keep in mind is Ohio State DE Tyquan Lewis, Atlanta’s 2nd rounder and a player who could easily see plenty of snaps with the Fire if he signs on.   OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS First Round Pick: Nevada OT Austin Corbett—NFL Pick 33: Cleveland Browns No surprise that the person most happy with this pick is Outlaw QB Joe Flacco. The most sacked QB in the game over the past 3 seasons (partially due to his tendency to hold the ball a long time), Flacco needs as many bodyguards as he can get and the former Wolfpack LT could be an immediate upgrade on the right side, with Rodger Saffold at LT, or the two could even swap positions. If he signs, he could quickly become Flacco’s best friend.   Later Round Gem: Florida kicker Eddie Piñeiro—(7th Rnd) Oklahoma’s last pick in the draft is the one player likely guaranteed a starting gig. Piñeiro may have to adapt to the swirling winds of the prairie, but he was about as good a kicker in college as we have seen in recent years. He is almost certain to replace Kai Forbath, who got the yips last year and who has struggled on kicks inside of 40 yards.   Territorial Picks: After trading their first Territorial pick to Washington, so the Feds could pick Baker Mayfield, the Outlaws used their two remaining picks to select QB Mason Rudolph from OSU and TE Mark Andrews from OU. We love both picks. Andrews will be a great drop down or safety valve target for Flacco and Rudolph can step in as protégé under the former MVP starter. Give Rudolph a year or two to learn under Flacco and he could be a 10-year starter for the Outlaws, at 1/5th the price that Mayfield would have garnered.   Outlook: “Shrewd”, that is the word we would use for Oklahoma’s strategy. They got a potential QB of the Future, added weapons and protection for Joe Flacco, and reinvented their kicking game by drafting a kicker and a punter in late rounds. They even doubled down at QB by drafting Houston Cougar QB Kyle Allen with the hopes of having him on the practice squad this year.   CHICAGO MACHINE (Traded from LA) First Round Pick: So. Carolina State LB Shaquille Leonard—NFL Draft Pick 36: Indianapolis Colts The Machine moved from the 7 pick to the 14 thanks to the trade that allowed them to choose Sam Darnold in LA’s Territorial Draft. So, moving down 7 spots took them out of the running for several top defenders, but landing Leonard was still a pretty solid pick. Yes, he played at an HBCU and that means he has not faced consistently strong opposition, but the natural skills are there and his 1st round status in the USFL gives Chicago an advantage over the NFL Colts, who picked Leonard early in the 2nd round.   Later Round Gem: Alabama C Bradley Bozeman (5th Rnd) As tempting as it would be to highlight another kicker (Auburn’s Daniel Carlson, also picked by Chicago), choosing Bozeman in the 5th was the better pick. He is going to need a bit of time to work on his footwork, but the Bama pivot is used to high pressure, big stakes, and very good DTs lined up across from him. He could see some snaps this year in Chicago.   Territorial Picks: Trading for Sam Darnold’s rights was the highlight of the draft for Chicago, a clear swing for the fences moment. They will be competing with the New York Jets to see if they can land the USC product, which means it is Chicago v. New York, just like a pizza war. With their own picks the Machine passed on guard Quenton Nelson and OT Mike McGlinchey, the two sure-fire first round talents out of Notre Dame, instead landing on TE Durham Smythe, HB Josh Adams, and then picking Northern Illinois WR Chad Beebe, only to send his rights to New Jersey as part of a late round swap in the Open Draft. An odd strategy all around, but with limited cap space, maybe Chicago was simply not wanting to lock up too much money before Darnold signed, if he signs.   Outlook: This is one of those drafts where if the Machine lose out on one player, Darnold, it won’t matter how good the rest of the draft is. That worries us, as USFL fans first and foremost, because losing out to a pretty dysfunctional Jets franchise is a black eye in such a high profile battle of the two leagues. What is funny, of course, is that both the Machine and the Jets have reputations as places talented college QBs go to become bad pro quarterbacks. With both Trevor Siemian and Ryan Fitzpatrick still under contract, Chicago won’t impode without Darnold, but missing out on this pick could certainly put a sour taste in the mouths of many Windy City fans.   OHIO GLORY First Round Pick: UTSA DE Marcus Davenport—NFL Pick 14: New Orleans Saints This was honestly a bit of a surprise pick. Not that Ohio does not need help on the edge, or that Davenport is not a solid pick, but all the talk around the league was that the Glory were going for a wideout, possibly D. J. Moore, but they zigged when we thought they would zag. This is likely the influence of Coach Tom Coughlin, who would rather win games 13-10 than 35-33.   Later Round Gem: Western Kentucky LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe (2nd Rnd) Ohio went for quite a few “small school” players, including Iyiegbuniwe, Prairie View WR KhaDarel Hodge, and Southern Illinois safety Ryan Neal. We are not sure all of these were good value where they were picked, but Iyiegbuniwe certainly seems like he has the stuff to be a solid 2nd rounder. Impossible to say his name 3 times fast, but a solid ballplayer.   Territorial Picks: The parade of Buckeyes continued with the Glory’s selection of center Billy Price and DE Jalyn Holmes. Shockingly, they did not go after the top Buckeye in the draft, DE Tyquan Lewis, instead selecting Cincinnati FB Mike Boone with their final pick. We know they met with Lewis, maybe there was something said to them that sent them looking for another option. Hard to say.   Outlook: The Glory were thought of as a team that wanted to upgrade their skill positions, adding weapons for QB Christian Hackenberg, but between both drafts they added only 1 wideout (Hodge) and a fullback (Boone). Every other pick was either defense or O-line. That strikes us as a bit counter-productive, though, the Glory did add WR Eric Weems and TE Jared Cooki in free agency.   BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS First Round Pick: Maryland WR D. J. Moore—NFL Pick 24: Carolina Panthers When Ohio passed on D. J. Moore, Birmingham quickly ran their card up to the podium to nab Moore, a shifty receiver with good break-away speed. He could work on his route efficiency a bit, but that is something that can be coached. Birmingham would love to pair Moore with Amari Cooper and really let Cam Newton go wild in the vertical game. They will need to outbid the Carolina Panthers to make that happen.   Later Round Gem: Alabama HB Bo Scarbrough (7th Rnd) It was a bit of an odd double-down, but the Stallions added two more in-state halfbacks between the two drafts, selecting Auburn’s Kerryon Johnson in the T-Draft and then adding Alabama’s Bo Scarbrough in the final round of the Open Draft. We see Scarbrough carving out a niche in special teams and maybe even as a short-yardage back, certainly more fitting for him than for either T. J. Yeldon or for Johnson.   Territorial Picks: In addition to Kerryon Johnson, the Auburn back, Birmingham also added WR Robert Foster and LB Rashaan Evans, both from Alabama. These were good picks, but still a bit surprising in that the obvious number one talent coming out of the state’s two big schools this year was Bama safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. But with Will Allen (brought in trade from Tampa Bay) and Baccari Rambo already forming a solid 1-2 safety punch, we think we understand why they let Fitzpatrick slip into the Open Draft.   Outlook: We like Moore as an option for Birmingham’s offense. We are less sold that the backs they drafted are going to truly challenge T. J. Yeldon. And, if Fitzpatrick turns out to be the pro many think he can be, Birmingham’s decision to pass on the Alabama safety could look like a foolish one in a few years.   BALTIMORE BLITZ First Round Pick: Alabama safety Minkah Fitzpatrick—NFL Pick 11: Miami Dolphins We keep doing this, talking about a player with the team that did not pick him, only to have the next team be the one to pick him. Fitzpatrick falls to the Blitz in what could be considered an odd, unplanned swap. Moore was Birmingham’s pick because Baltimore passed on the Maryland receiver in the T-Draft, and Fitzpatrick becomes Baltimore’s pick because Birmingham passed on him in the same way.   Later Round Gem: Clemson WR/KR Ray-Ray McCloud (6th Round) Not that Baltimore needs any more speedy receivers, but the addition of McCloud could be an immediate upgrade to the return game. He is an explosive return man and that should land him a spot on the Blitz’s active roster, unless Buffalo can offer him more of a role as a receiver in addition to a returner, something McCloud seems to value.   Territorial Picks: The Blitz passed on D. J. Moore, as we stated earlier, and instead opted to go for defense with all three selections: Maryland LBs Jermaine Carter and Josh Woods, followed by safety Raven Greene from James Madison, the 4th team added to their pool due to the limited players available from the Terrapins, Blue Devils, and ECU Pirates.   Outlook: Fitzpatrick is the key to this draft. We are honestly not all that inspired by any other pick this year. If the hard-hitting safety goes to Miami over Baltimore, which feels very possible, this could be a lost draft for the Blitz, which is tough to take when you are in such a competitive division.   DENVER GOLD 2ND PICK (See above)   CHARLOTTE MONARCHS First Round Pick: Alabama LB Daron Payne—NFL Pick 13: Washington Redskins We have our first “lost pick” of the draft, at least officially. Charlotte picked Payne, hoping to see him on the Strong Side, next to Rolando McClain in their 4-3 alignment, but when the NFL Redskins picked him 6 picks higher in the NFL Draft, it immediately meant that Washington could potentially outbid the Monarchs, and that is what they did. Payne signed with Washington only 3 days after their draft, scuttling the hopes Charlotte fans had of Payne joining their club.   Later Round Gem: Army OG Brett Toth (6th Rnd) We love when teams don’t shy away from taking players from the service academies. Yes, it can be tricky to work out a deal where their required military service does not impact their ability to play pro ball, but more and more it is possible for these players and servicemen to do both. Toth is unlikely to start for the Monarchs, but adding a bit of discipline and commitment to the O-line could be a benefit to the team even if Toth’s on-field time is limited.   Territorial Picks: The Monarchs telegraphed that they were not going to invest big time money in trying to draft NC State DE Bradley Chubb in the T-Draft. Instead, they let Chubb go to the Open Draft and focused on signability with their T-Draft picks: DT B. J. Hill, HB Nyheim Hines, and WR Austin Proehl, all players who could make the 53 and all players that combined will ask less than Chubb’s sticker price.   Outlook: Our bullpen was split on the Monarch draft. Some were still shocked they did not take a stab at the Wolfpack DE Chubb, Others felt they found good value in picks like Hines, Proehl, and TE Tyler Conklin out of Central Michigan. But, once Payne signed on with the Redskins, it certainly dampened any enthusiasm that Charlotte could muster with the rest of their picks.   SAN DIEGO THUNDER First Round Pick: Penn State TE Mike Gesicki—NFL Draft Pick 42: Miami Dolphins This one was the first true and absolute head scratcher. Not only was South Carolina’s Hayden Hurst a higher rated prospect at the same position, but tight end was on no one’s need board for the Thunder, since they already have very good 1-2 depth with Owen Daniels and Luke Wilson on the squad. With other more obvious roster needs, someone must have seen something in Gesicki that they think is special. It is the only way this pick makes sense.   Later Round Gem: Florida State DE Josh Sweat (5th Rnd) We may have big questions about San Diego’s first round pick, but we think they got an absolute steal by choosing Josh Sweat in the 5th round. Projected as a 3rd round pick, somehow Sweat fell all the way to the later 5th round before San Diego reminded us he was here. Now, the big question is can they land him when he was also taken in the 4th round by the NFL Eagles?   Territorial Picks: The Thunder made some odd choices all across the draft, one of which was not taking the late bids for their first T-Draft pick so another team could nab Josh Rosen. They held onto all three picks, perhaps because they saw three other prospects they truly wanted exclusive rights to select. Those three were all UCLA Bruins, linemen Kolton Miller and Scott Quesenberry, and LB Kenny Young. Passing up on even Aztec HB Rashaad Penny to try to land the three Bruin targets.   Outlook: While San Diego’s overall draft was solid, that first rounder, paired with their odd hesitancy to trade away Territorial picks, means they have a small margin for error. They need to sign as many of their 9 picks as possible, and hope that some work out as true contributors, especially Gesecki.   SEATTLE DRAGONS First Round Pick: Virginia Tech safety Terrell Edmunds—NFL Pick 28: Pittsburgh Steelers We are honestly a bit surprised that Edmunds fell this low (21st) in the USFL Draft, and even more shocked that he was available to the Steelers at the 28 pick in the NFL Draft. Whichever team signs the Va Tech safety is likely to be very happy with their newest defender. Edmunds is not afraid to play the run, is fast enough to stay with most receivers, and will absolutely be a player worth watching the next few years.   Later Round Gem: Kansas State CB D. J. Reed (5th Round) A bit of a raw talent, but we think Reed can develop with the right coaching and could be a real steal in this draft. Add to that the fact that if he comes to Seattle instead of the 49ers (who drafted him in the NFL’s 5th round) he will be mentored by two of the game’s best corners right now, Seattle’s Richard Sherman and Xavien Howard.   Territorial Picks: Like so many teams in the T-Draft, Seattle avoided the one player who was the clear Top 10 draft pick, DT Vita Vea. It is a strategy teams have adopted over the years as a way to avoid the huge pricetag of those picks, since they almost always end up in tough negotiations with the NFL club raising the pricetag. Instead, Seattle went with some pretty solid talent in positions of need, including UW wideout Dante Pettis, fellow Husky receiver, TE Will Disley, and finally added possible depth in the QB room with Washington State’s Luke Falk.   Outlook: A pretty solid draft from the Dragons, especially if Dissly and Pettis work out as Seattle hopes they can. If they can land Edmunds, they could have the best young defensive backfield in the league. That could prove to be a very good adjustment in a league that throws the ball the way we see it in the USFL.   NEW JERSEY GENERALS First Round Pick: South Carolina TE Hayden Hurst—NFL Pick 25: Baltimore Ravens John Carlson is not getting any younger, and Matt Spaeth is a fine blocker but not the kind of receiver the Generals need. Hurst would provide a great option for Nick Foles as he takes on the full time position as the starter in East Rutherford. Hurst could be a solid blocker if he gets a bit more help with his hand positioning, but as a receiver he is already pro ready.   Later Round Gem: USF DT Deadrin Senat (2nd Rnd) We honestly struggled to find a player lower than Round 2 to pick, as we are not seeing much value in the Generals’ later rounds. So, despite being only a few picks out of the first round, we are going to have to pick Senat as their best non-1st round pick. He is a solid space-eater, and can get penetration, especially if lined up over the center instead of the guard.   Territorial Picks: With three Northeastern schools in their pool (Rutgers, Syracuse, BC) it is rare that New Jersey has more than 3 solid picks to make. That was the situation this year, where there was again not a single anticipated 1st rounder to choose. The Generals ended up opting for two CBs from BC (that was fund to say), choosing both Isaac Yiadom and Kamrin Moore. They added Rutgers DT Sebastian Joseph-Day, but in the future they may want to petition for a 4th school, as they certainly miss the days when they had either Oklahoma or Wisconsin protected. Outlook: In a word, “meh”. No clear groaners among the picks, but nothing that will sell tickets or put fans in the seats. That may be OK if the Generals can continue to play good complementary football, but there is some value to adding a bit of sizzle to your roster each draft day.   PHILADELPHIA STARS First Round Pick: Boise State LB Leighton Vander Esch—NFL Pick 19: Dallas Cowboys Thanks to a pair of trades made in the days before the draft, Philadelphia ended up with both the 23rd and 26th picks in the first round. They used their fist on Vander Esch and then came back just a few minutes later to pick Iowa center James Daniels. Both are quality value picks this late in the first round, and both could be good additions to a pretty solid Stars roster.   Later Round Gem: Miami WR Braxton Berrios (4th Rnd) In a very meat & potatoes draft by the Stars, Berrios is a splash of Tabasco. We don’t see him busting in to the starting lineup, at least not this year, but don’t be surprised if the Stars don’t create some packages where Berrios’s quick cut ability and good hands come into play. Could be some bubble screens, quick slants, or reverses. Add to that the return options in the punt and kickoff games and we are loving this fit for the Stars.   Territorial Picks: Philadelphia was open to trading away both of their top 2 territorial picks. They ended up sending their first pick to St. Louis (Lamar Jackson) but could not get a buyer (at a price they liked) for the 2nd pick targeting HB Saquon Barkley. So, Barkley went into the Open Draft and Philadelphia ended up with 2 T-Draft picks. With those picks they chose another high-value Louisville product, cornerback Jaire Alexander, who could see a lot of snaps for Jim Harbaugh’s defense, and another wideout, Penn State’s DeeSean Hamilton.   Outlook: Alexander could be a huge addition to the Stars’ secondary if they can keep him from going to Green Bay, while both Berrios and Hamilton add nice skill sets to the receiving corps. The Stars would have liked to get something in trade for the rights to Saquon Barkley, but they have to be happy with this draft, and what may really be 3 first round talents with Alexander, Vander Esch and Daniels.   ARIZONA WRANGLERS First Round Pick: UCF cornerback Mike Hughes---NFL Pick 30: Minnesota Vikings Hughes is a strong zone coverage guy who needs to work a bit on his bump & run skills and deep ball coverage, but when you pick 24th in the draft, you expect the players selected to need a bit of coaching to get pro ready. Arizona had so many defensive needs that we expected more moving and swapping picks to try to add more selections, but the Wranglers largely stood pat and made the picks that came to them.   Later Round Gem: Washington center Coleman Shelton (6th Rnd) Shelton is definitely a project, even after playing 2 seasons of Pac 12 ball, but he is a project with a lot of upside. If he can get his footwork right, and add just a bit more bulk, he could be a very good find in the 6th round.   Territorial Picks: With no early round talent coming out of ASU, Arizona, or New Mexico this year, but enough talent that the Wranglers did not qualify for a 4th school as some others did, the Wranglers had to resign themselves to using the T-Draft to build depth. They did that with their 3 picks, selecting Wildcat corner Dane Cruikshank with their first pick, then following up with Sun Devil HB Kalen Ballange and, filling a need for sure, New Mexico punter Corey Bojorquez.   Outlook: The Wranglers stayed focused on the defense for the most part, selecting Hughes in the first round, then following that up with Texas LB Malik Jefferson and Alabama DE Da’Shawn Hand in the third. If they can sign all three, they will at least have some warm bodies in camp, and bodies that could turn out to be good contributors for what is going to look like a very new defense in Glendale.   LAS VEGAS VIPERS First Round Pick: San Diego State HB Rashaad Penny—NFL Pick 27: Seattle Seahawks Penny is an interesting choice. We thought he might go higher, but based on the NFL selection at 27, Vegas’ pick at 25 seems about right. Penny is not going to be a bruising inside presence, but could be a solid inside-outside back with some potential in the passing game as well. Paired with Montario Hardesty, Las Vegas has two very similar backs, so they can swap them without major limitations to the offense. The Vipers just need to convince Penny to skip the damp, cold falls of Seattle for the dry and very hot deserts of Nevada in the summer.   Later Round Gem: Ohio State tackle Jamarco Jones (3rd Rnd) A human bulldozer, Jones is very effective in the run game, something he excelled at while in Columbus, and something the Vipers could definitely exploit. He needs to work on his balance and footwork as a pass blocker, so he is likely not going to start consistently in his first year, but few 3rd rounders do.   Territorial Picks: Vegas gets uneven production from their 3 standard schools, BYU, UTAH, and UNLV, but every once in a while, they get some real talent there. This year, the clear 1st choice was BYU linebacker Fred Warner. Las Vegas could certainly use the sure-tackling Warner as part of their LB rotation. They used the 4th school added to their pool due to low numbers to select Western Kentucky, apparently to draft QB Mike White, which is just what they did. Their third and final pick was a Utah talent, DE Kylie Fitts, who could play a role in special teams until he is ready to rotate into the D-line.   Outlook: Penny is an intriguing prospect, as is Fred Warner. Beyond that we are not seeing a lot of immediate impact in this draft by Las Vegas. They may find that they need to look at the free agent list and the NFL pool before settling on their 53-man roster for 2018.   PHILADELPHIA STARS 2ND Pick (Traded from NOR, see above)   HOUSTON GAMBLERS First Round Pick: Auburn guard Braden Smith—NFL Pick 37: Indianapolis Colts Smith is a solid guard, better in pass protection than run game motion, but he has some nice physical traits. Houston is still a pass-first club, so it makes sense that they would gravitate to an interior lineman who has shown he can hold up against SEC pass rushers.   Later Round Gem: Wake Forest safety Jessie Bates (2nd Rnd) We had Houston going for a skill player here, but the choice of Bates is a clear BPA selection. Not a vital need for a team that has both Budda Baker and Kenny Vaccaro ensconced into the starting positions, but a good addition nonetheless. Bates could swing between Free and Strong safety, though the former is his best true fit.   Territorial Picks: Another team gifted a 4th school, Houston made a unique choice, selecting Jacksonville State over another Texas school. That choice seems to have been made so that they could draft CB Siran Neal, and that may have been their best move of the week. Their other two picks were a bit more traditional, grabbing another safety in A&M’s Armani Watts, but also going for a possible return man and slot receiver in Texas Tech’s Keke Coutee.   Outlook: As you would expect of the Eastern Conference Champion, Houston did not have a lot of pressing needs. This draft was largely about adding some depth, especially in the secondary, and trying to find some diamonds in the rough.   MICHIGAN PANTHERS First Round Pick: Alabama WR Calvin Ridley—NFL Pick 26: Atlanta Falcons This is going to be a tough choice for Ridley. Both Michigan and Atlanta have strong QB play (Cousins in Detroit and “Matty Ice” in Atlanta) and pretty decent run games (Bell is better than pretty decent, but Atlanta’s Tevin Coleman is solid too.) The difference between NFL pick 26 and USFL pick 28 is not enough to make this likely a financial decision, so for Ridley it may come down to how Sean McDermott and Atlanta’s Dan Quinn showcase the receivers potential role. Could be a down-to-the-wire decision, honestly.   Later Round Gem: Southern Miss safety Tarvarius Moore (2nd Rnd) This one was tough, because Michigan pulled a classic double dip, following the pick of Moore with West Virginia safety Kyzir White in the 3rd round. Honestly, we think the two both have potential to get a lot of snaps and see a lot of action, but the odds that Michigan can sign both are not great. They would love to, since they have needs at both safety positions, but the sheer mathematics of NFL-USFL drafts shows that a 50% signing rate is about the best you can hope for.   Territorial Picks: Not the strongest pool ever out of the Wolverine State, with neither Big Blue or Big Green producing any 1st round talents this year. Michigan quickly picked (and subsequently signed) their first pick, not from either flagship school, but Western’s Chukwuma Okorafor, a swing tackle who could see action on either side of the line. They then went for more line help, picking MSU center Brian Allen as well as Wolverine DT Maurice Hurst.   Outlook: When you draft 28th in a 28-team league, you are not going to get players that excite the fans, but you can get players who fill gaps left by offseason departures or who offer depth in key positions. Michigan’s draft is not high energy, but it is the kind of backfilling that a league champion needs to avoid a drop off.   NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (1st pick in 2nd round in trade from STL via PHI) First Round Pick: None—Ohio State LB Jerome Baker (Pick 1 of Rnd 2)—NFL Pick 73: Miami Dolphins The Breakers traded out of the first round, giving Philadelphia a 2nd pick in the round. Doing so gave them 2 picks in each of the next 2 rounds, but with their first pick in the 2nd round they went for a player many had projected as a 3rd rounder, someone they likely could have gotten at the end of the round. So, we are not sure what the mindset in N’awlins was here.   Later Round Gem: LSU CB Donte Jackson (3rd Rnd) The Breakers’ final pick of their 4 picks in rounds 2-3 may have been their best. Yes, they could have drafted Jackson in the T-Draft, but chose to fill other needs. When they saw he was still there at pick 82, they rectified that situation and added Jackson as an Open Draft pick.   Territorial Picks: So who did New Orleans take ahead of the LSU corner in the T-Draft? Some pretty good choices, honestly. First was Ole Miss guard Rod Taylor, who is very solid against tough SEC defensemen. Then they added Tulane corner Parry Nickerson, who we think they saw coming off the board before Donte Jackson. And finally, adding another target for Drew Brees, they added LSU wideout Russell Gage. All solid picks that should make the final 53.   Outlook: The one player we have not mentioned is New Orleans’s 2nd pick in the 2nd round. That was Purdue LB Ja’Whuan Bentley, a thumper of a linebacker, perhaps not the fastest, but a very good run stuffer. That is a good fit for what the Breakers want to do on defense, shut down the run early and force teams to be one-dimensional.   PORTLAND STAGS (2nd pick in 2nd round) First Round Pick: Weber State CB Taron Johnson—NFL Pick 121: Buffalo Bills (2nd pick in Rnd 2) Portland fans were not happy at all to see their Stags trade out of the 2nd overall pick, even if it did mean they would have 3 second round picks (cheaper and easier to sign, but not exciting picks for fans). They were even less enthused when the Stags announced Johnson as their first pick, a player from little-seen Weber State and who would not be chosen until the 4th round by the NFL Bills. Yes, they had 2 more picks in the round, but this was a stretch for a team that simply cannot afford to whiff on the draft.   Later Round Gem: Richmond QB Kyle Lauletta (3rd) The last of the Big 7 QBs comes off the board in the 3rd round. Lauletta is not expected to challenge Mariota for the starting job, but may well be motivation for Mariota to work on improvement, because Lauletta’s game is similar enough that Coach LaFleur could pull the Oregon star if the Stags continue to stag-nate.   Territorial Picks: The disappointment for Stag fans started even before they swapped their Open Draft 2nd overall pick to Denver. Many expected Portland to lock in Boise State LB Leighton Vander Esch, but instead they picked two players from Northwestern, a school added to their pool for this year only. They took HB Justin Jackson and NT Tyler Lancaster, neither of whom were seen as anything but late round camp bodies. They also picked Boise State wideout Cedrick Wilson Jr, another late round talent. Now, it is not as if they had a ton of options ,but Vander Esch would have made sense, so we get why fans are shaking their heads at the direction taken by their 3-13 club.   Outlook: Confusion and disappointment in Portland as the Stags just don’t seem to be maximizing the value the draft can give them. Now, they did get 3 2nd round picks, but the choice of Taron Johnson was not a big win for them. Their other two picks, Washington State guard Cole Madison and Fort Hays State DT Nathan Shepherd may be fine players, but when everyone who is not in the war room has to google them to see who they are (and google Fort Hays State to see where the heck it is [central Nebraska]), you can understand why fans think the Stags are not playing with a full deck.   Before we continue with the player moves that impacted both the 2018 Draft and the season to come, we should highlight that both Oakland and Dallas, the two teams without a head coach in October, have found their new coaches and in time for each to have an influence in the draft and the final roster moves to come. For Oakland, the hire came midway through the NFL season in mid-November, while for Dallas, the club had to wait until late December to make their move official.   Oakland Pulls Kubiak Away from Denver He was named on Dennis Green’s short list of candidates, chosen for his ability to develop quarterbacks (as a former NFL QB himself) and his willingness to take on something of a rebuild for an Oakland team that missed the playoffs for the first time in over a decade in 2017. Gary Kubiak, who had transitioned from a backup QB in Denver to the Head Coach of the Broncos, agreed to a 3-year deal to take the lead in Oakland, following in the footsteps of legendary Invader coach Dennis Green.   Kubiak, who had spent 2017 on hiatus after being released by Denver after a rough 2016 campaign, signed on in November after a back and forth with Oakland about GM responsibilities. Officially Kubiak will be the Head Coach and the Head of Player Personnel, a position that still allows GM Tom Gamble to retain his role with the club. The deal gives Kubiak considerable input into the roster building process, a process that is almost guaranteed to be focused on acquiring a new quarterback over the next month, either through trade or perhaps the NFL-USFL Transfer Window.   Dallas Finds Their Man in Lubbock It was well known that the Roughnecks were looking for their coach primarily from the two NFL clubs in the state as well as the college ranks. That meant that they were forced to hold off a decision until December, during the “down time” between college football’s regular season and the bowls, or even until January, after the conclusion of the NFL season. When an announcement was made in late December that the Roughnecks would announce their new head coach, it became clear that they had gone for one of their two primary targets out of Texas universities. The choice was between Kevin Sumlin at Texas A&M and Kliff Kingsbury from Texas Tech. The decision was for Kingsbury, an offensive guru who had turned the Red Raiders into a spread-based team and sent QB Patrick Mahomes to the NFL.   Kingsbury would be charged with developing (and to a degree “maturing”) QB Johnny Manziel as well as developing a more aggressive offensive scheme. The defense would be handled by new DC Emmit Thomas, as Kingsbury worked with the offense. Kingsbury arrived from Lubbock with an emphasis on the passing game, particularly spread formation, short-route passing, which worked well for undermanned Texas Tech and may help a Dallas squad short on big name talent at the wideout position. In no surprise, Kingsbury was instrumental in the team’s decision to pursue Courtland Sutton, the speedy wideout from SMU, in the territorial draft, but also worked with the GM to bring in free agent DE Mathias Kiawanuka. This USFL offseason has been one of the most active on the trading block in recent memory, largely due to the deals that saw teams either claiming territorial picks or moving within the Open Draft to locate quarterbacks. These deals shifted the destinations of 3 of the top 5 quarterback picks, with LA providing Chicago with the opportunity to draft Sam Darnold, Oklahoma sending access to Baker Mayfield to Washington, and St. Louis obtaining the same access to Lamar Jackson from Philadelphia. We also saw Denver, a surprise player in the QB chase, move to the 2nd overall pick in the Open Draft, a position which allowed them to select and draft Wyoming QB Josh Allen. But even beyond the media and public focus on the QB chase, this was an offseason that saw more trades, and particularly trades of high profile players, than most.   As you will recall from our October edition, the offseason included several big “cap purge” trades, with teams looking to free up salary space by dumping off high-salary players, including some of their best players. We saw this early on, with Portland trading away both TE Jordan Cameron and WR A. J. Bouye in two separate deals. It was also the obvious motivation for Denver to part with All-USFL cornerback Aqib Talib, sent to New Jersey in a deal that freed up nearly $4M for the Gold to use in their pursuit of Josh Allen. We saw Las Vegas send WR DeVante Parker to San Diego. Jacksonville sent DT Grady Jarrett to Arizona, and St. Louis swapped DE Kony Ealy to the Breakers for TE Crockett Gilmore.   But the trades did not end there. The November-January block, often a bit of a down time in the league’s transactions, did not show the same slow-down this year. Teams continued to make major deals, some tied to the cap, others to deal with disgruntled players, and others still to try to fill roster needs that the draft might not address. Looking at the pre-draft period, these trades stood out to us as significant talent transfers. The six deals we highlight represent about half of the deals that impacted rosters in a meaningful way (skipping any mid-draft position swaps and focusing on deals involving regular contributors to each team). Here are six deals that will certainly have an influence on the 2018 season.   HB Jeremy Hill: LV to CHI The Vipers continued to clear cap space by sending former Breaker HB Jeremy Hill to Chicago. Hill gained nearly 500 yards with the Vipers, backing up Montario Hardesty, but his backloaded contract would increase his cap hit by nearly $1M next year. Las Vegas opted to send the back to Chicago, where he will likely sub in for Matt Forte, and in return received help for their line in the form of Chicago guard Michael Dunn. That move both added needed depth at guard and helped increase Portland’s capacity to sign free agents by freeing them from the bubble payment in Hill’s contract.   C Phillip Blake: OKL to SEA The Oklahoma Outlaws were one of the teams struggling to find even the minimum cap space needed to successfully sign a rookie class, much less make a splash in free agency. They had been seeking deals on several fronts but found their first taker in the Seattle Dragons. Seattle, looking to add greater versatility to their offensive line play, more pulling and more consistency, made an offer for Oklahoma’s starting center, Phillip Blake. It took a bit of back and forth, but eventually a deal was cut, and Blake was traded to the Dragons for nickel back Richard Crawford. The deal helps Oklahoma save cap space while bolstering a secondary that had some issues last year.   SS Kendrick Lewis: STL to BAL The Skyhawks needed more cap room, the Blitz needed to try to address the gap left when Adam Archuleta announced his retirement. In mid-November both teams agreed to a deal that helped each with their concerns. Baltimore would obtain Kendricks, who had started every game for St. Louis at strong safety since 2012, racking up an average of over 70 tackles per season, while St. Louis would free up nearly $1.5M in cap space and obtain Baltimore’s 4th round picks both this year and next, draft capital much needed by a 3-13 squad that has many needs across the roster. Lewis, 29, has only 2018 left on his contract, so expect Baltimore to start working on an extension right away.   WR Steve Breaston (WR) and OT Kyle Murphy (OAK) swapped. The Federals and Invaders both got help in key positions with the swap of Breaston and Murphy. Washington, trying to return to a run-heavy, ball control offense, brought in an athletic OT who excels at zone blocking, while Oakland continued to rebuild a WR group that was decimated last year and clearly lacked playmakers outside of Davante Adams. Breaston will likely play in the slot, though at this point we are very much unsure who will be throwing him the ball.   HB Rashard Jennings: OHI to ORL Six frustrating seasons in Ohio end for Rashard Jennings as the Glory agree to a deal that sends the back to Orlando for CB Syd’Quan Thompson and a 5th rounder. Jennings, unhappy that despite solid production he remained mired behind Isaiah Pead in Columbus had made it pretty well-known that he wanted a shot at a true lead back position. His production this year, particularly when Pead was out with injury, certainly showed he could handle a heavy workload. Used mostly as a 3rd down back, Jennings still rushed for nearly 800 yards in 2017, but wanted a shot to do more. Enter the Orlando Renegades, having lost Knowshon Moreno to free agency and looking to shift to a 2-back rotation with Latavius Murray. It took some work, with Orlando hesitant to let Thompson go, but eventually a deal was cut. Jennings now gets the chance to prove he is a true lead back, while Ohio adds a strong cover corner who could find himself starting opposite Chimdi Chekwa in the Glory secondary.   WR Marques Colston: OKL to SD In our mind this was the biggest move of the past three months, and one of the biggest for both teams involved. We had reported earlier that Oklahoma was fishing for takers for either Joe Flacco or Colston, their two offensive stars, but many thought the move was nothing more than a leverage issue with these players’ agents. Well, the Thunder called Oklahoma’s bluff, and it turned out not to be a bluff. For only a 6th rounder this year and a 2nd in 2019, San Diego was able to fill the huge WR gap left when Chad Johnson retired and immediately bring in another future Hall of Famer to be the primary target for Joe Webb. This has to be considered a huge loss for the Outlaws and for QB Joe Flacco, but for San Diego, this could be the piece that helps them get over the hump and make a deep playoff run. While trades often make the headlines, and certainly in the case of the Colston deal, can radically alter the prospects of a team, the free agent market is the true meat and potatoes of each team’s offseason, providing each team with the chance to reimagine their rosters. The cap certainly plays a role in a team’s success and failures over the offseason, but so too does making the case to key free agents, and evaluating just who the best fits are for a team’s needs and their scheme. Every year we see player find better fits, where they can see their success skyrocket, the best example being Jordy Nelson’s move to New Orleans last year, but we also find players who take the big deal to join a new team but never quite find their groove in the new system. It is something of a crapshoot, but the teams that work free agency well can see rapid improvement. So, who are those teams? Here is our pick of the teams that have had the best free agency haul so far this offseason.   CHARLOTTE: WR Justin Blackmon, SS Shaun Schillinger, OT Kelvin Beachem, LB Randy Gregory The Monarchs came out of their corner swinging in August, filling two immediate needs with a quality receiver and one of the better safeties available in the market. The additions of Beachem and Gregory are not going to make headlines, but both will be solid contributors.   DALLAS: CB Patrick Peterson, DE Mathias Kiawanuka, LB Brandon Spikes Defense has been a huge issue for the Roughnecks for several years, but it seems that management is finally taking major steps. The signing of Peterson is a slam dunk for Dallas and adding Kiawanuka could be a boost to their pass defense as well. Spikes is not a big play guy, but is a consistent presence in the LB group. Coach Kingsbury and his DC are likely going to mix up the scheme as well, so don’t expect the same results that we have seen last few years.   OHIO: WR Eric Weems, G Brandon Brooks, TE Jared Cook The Weems signing is major for the Glory. After losing Justin Blackmon, the Glory needed a player who could step in and make an impact right away. Weems proved in St. Louis that he could be the go-to target, and his speed makes him a better deep ball option than Blackmon.   SEATTLE: HB Knowshon Moreno, FS Donte Whitner, HB Wendell Smallwood The Dragons surprised us in 2017, making a run from 0-5 all the way to the Divisional Playoffs. In 2018 they are not going to sneak up on anyone, but by adding Moreno as their lead back, they will have more firepower. Smallwood also gives them a good 3rd down option, and adding Whitner will be a nice plus for the secondary.   WASHINGTON: G Kyle Long, HB Anthony Allen, CB Brandon Boykin, TE Kellen Winslow Jr The Feds had to restructure several contracts, and did lose some talent in free agency, but they also addressed the type of team they want to be, bringing in both a grind-it-out halfback in Allen and the best pulling guard in the pool with Long.   Not all teams did as well as these five, losing more than they gained. Here are the clubs we think have come out on the losing end of Free Agency so far.   ARIZONA: Lost CB Brandon Flowers, DE Quentin Groves Losing 2 players from one of the league’s best defenses may not seem like a big hit, but we have to remember that the Wranglers also lost LB Karlos Dansby, DT Glenn Dorsey, LB Demorrio Williams, and DE Adam Carriker to the NFL, technically more free agent losses. That is a huge hit. Basically the vultures are picking over the carcass of Arizona’s defense and Coach Tomsula is going to have to basically build his defense all over, from scratch.   HOUSTON: Lost OT Willie Colon, WR Johnny Knox, DT John Jenkins, HB Kiero Small, TE Donte Rosario The Gamblers knew this would be a tough year for departures, and while most of these players had bit roles, supporting the stars on the Gambler roster, losing LT Willie Colon will be a big hit for the Gambler offense. Their only signing so far being TE Tony Moeaki, which means they still have gaps in the depth chart to deal with.   JACKSONVILLE: Lost FS David Bruton, DT Henry Melton, TE Kellen Winslow, LBK. J. Wright Coach Flores wants to build on a pretty solid defense, but losing three key players from their starting 11 is not going to help. Bruton in particular is a big lost, but combining that with Wright and Melton also leaving will be an issue.   NEW JERSEY: Lost DT Amobi Okoye, CB Brandon Boykin, HB Delone Carter, QB Charlie Whitehurst, C Jon Cooper So far only Boykin has found a home, and New Jersey remains interested in re-signing Amobi Okoye. They have already brought in Kiero Small to be a backup for Maurice Jones-Drew, but they still have some gaps to fill, including at center and that CB slot that Boykin left vacant.   ST. LOUIS: Lost WR Eric Weems, QB Ricky Stanzi, TE Tony Moeaki, WR Terrance Williams, HB Jay Finley, CB William Gay Technically, only 3 of these 6 players have signed on with another team, but it does not seem that St. Louis is close to resigning Gay, Finley, or Williams, so they could lose all six. While the signing of Stevie Johnson certainly takes the sting away from losing Weems, the Skyhawks still have a lot of gaps to fill.   After a pretty nasty September transfer window that saw the NFL sign a ton of quality USFL players, with a strong emphasis on the D-line. But, as always, with the NFL season ending in January, the February-March window will be the USFL’s opportunity to flip the story and raid NFL rosters for last-minute talent infusions. Looking over the current status of USFL rosters, there are certainly some obvious needs still to be addressed across the league, and this year’s pool of NFL free agents may well provide answers. Here is our list of the 15 top NFL talents available for the Transfer Window, and where we think the best fit would be in the USFL.   15  K Chris Boswell (Steelers) Several teams still don’t have their kicker position set, and Boswell, along with Cleveland’s Zane Gonzalez and Carolina’s Graham Gano could get solid offers from several of them. We like St. Louis for Boswell, but Birmingham or Charlotte could also be possible destinations.   14  TE Eric Ebron (Lions) Ebron is the best receiving tight end available from the NFL Pool. While Houston is a possible contender, Ebron wants to be the number one guy wherever he goes, which won’t be the case with Vernon Davis a Gambler, so we are going to send Ebron to either Birmingham or Memphis.   13  LB Zaire Anderson (Broncos) An aggressive tackler and solid in pass coverage, we think the former Bronco could be a good fit in Oakland, San Diego, or Las Vegas, all teams looking for an outside backer who can cover tight ends.   12 HB Jerrick McKinnon (Vikings) A bit of a workhorse type, McKinnon is not likely going to be a lead back, but could be a very good contributor to a dual-back system or a strong short yardage player. So, who is in that market? Charlotte, Arizona, Denver, or Memphis could all be in the market for a player like McKinnon or Cleveland’s Isaiah Crowell.   11  S Eric Reid (49ers) Reid could be a popular pick since so many USFL clubs had safety as a priority need. We could see Reid signing on with any number of teams, but for us the best fit might be in Ohio, where the Glory need his mix of speed and aggressiveness.   10  G Luke Joeckel (Seahawks) Joeckel was a high draft pick for Seattle but never panned out the way the Seahawks had hoped. Can a USFL team get from him the type of dominance we saw in college? And who would like to take a shot at finding that player? Of the clubs looking at the interior line, the natural fit would be the Dragons, allowing Joeckel to stay in the Emerald City but work in a very different offensive scheme.   9  WR Sammy Watkins (Rams) A lot was expected of Watkins when the Buffalo Bills picked him in the 2014 draft, but only 4 years later he is leaving his 2nd team and looking to reawaken the player the Bills saw at Clemson. He has good hands and can escape coverage, but his consistency has been an issue. No shortage of teams needing another target for their QB, but at the top of the Watkins list we see Seattle, Tampa Bay, and Dallas as the teams most in need of adding some quality in the receiving corps.   8  DE/OLB Trent Murphy (Redskins) Where Murphy goes depends a lot on who wants to have him line up with a hand on the ground in the 4-3 or standing up as an OLB in a 3-4. We think Murphy prefers the more straightforward role of a DE over that of a linebacker. If that is true, then the best fits may be in either New Orleans or Oklahoma, both of whom are hoping to find more edge pressure.   7 QB Teddy Bridgewater (Vikings) Our first of two back-to-back potential starters at QB who are in the market. The two are very similar, Bridgewater and Garappolo. Both have good mobility but are not running QBs. Both throw a nice ball, with Bridgewater having a bit more arm strength, and both have struggled a bit with consistency. No surprise who the teams are in this market, Oakland, Jacksonville, St. Louis, Washington, and pretty much any other team that chose a 1st round rookie QB if that rookie signs with the NFL.   6  QB Jimmy Garappolo (49ers) There really is a mixed rating for both Bridgewater and Garappolo. Some teams have one much higher in their rankings than others. We even saw one team that had Geno Smith above both of them. We think Teddy and Jimmy are the top two prospects, though we understand the interest in Geno as well. When we look at systems, we think both can be successful in any number of teams, but perhaps the best option would be Oakland for either, just because he would have a solid run/pass option in HB Christian McCaffrey and a QB-friendly coach in Gary Kubiak.   5   HB Kareem Hunt (Chiefs) This one is going to be tricky. Yes, Hunt has undeniable talent and can turn a short screen, sweep, or swing pass into an 80-yard score, but the reason he is in the market in the first place is because Kansas City did not want to deal with the possibility of both league sanctions and public outrage after a video showing domestic abuse by Hunt came to light. Signing Hunt could be a major upgrade or a major headache. Who might take that chance? Honestly we don’t know, but we somehow expect that at least 1 USFL team will play the odds and take a chance on the talented back.   4  WR Jarvis Landry (Dolphins) Our 2nd rated wideout, but a good option if speed is what you are looking for. Landry has had some run-ins with his coaches in Miami, so he likely is not going to go to a team with a disciplinarian at the helm (sorry, Ohio and Coach Coughlin), but in the right place, he could be an instant contributor. What if the right place is a team like Michigan, who won a title this year without a deep receiver group? Scary, right?   3   HB Isaiah Crowell (Browns) While some backs, like McKinnon, would have a particular role in an offense, or others, like Kareem Hunt, bring a lot of baggage, in Crowell, you might just be getting a player who, with time to rest early in the USFL season, could emerge in the season’s second half as a legitimate lead back. Our best guess here is that he could be very attractive to the Maulers, if they miss out on Saquon, or with Atlanta if Chubb goes to the Browns (an interesting swap of talent in that last case.)   2  WR Dez Bryant (Cowboys) Bryant’s talent is undeniable, his ego is also bigger than life. If you sign him, you either have to be ready for a lot of drama or you have to dedicate a lot of effort to keeping him happy, but you will get a true number one and a possible All-USFL talent if you can get him to maximize his talent. Our best guess is that Bryant will be happiest in a big market and with a solid QB in place. How about LA with Sam Bradford? Philadelphia with Matt Gutierrez, or Michigan with Kirk Cousins?   1   S Tyrann Mathieu (Cardinals) That’s right, we are putting the Honey Badger at the top spot. He is everything you want in a safety, fast, strong, aggressive, but smart at the same time. We see Matthieu having the kind of role that we saw with Archuleta in Baltimore and that we see with Polamalu in Arizona. Who wants him? How about half of the league, maybe more? Who can realistically get him? We think there are 3 teams in the running, just due to cap space, scheme, and coaching. Those three, who likely will enter into a bidding war with a good number of NFL teams as well, are the Dragons, Maulers, and Renegades, but we could see an outlier make a winning case as well. The desire is certainly there across most of the league.   So, what is next for the league and for our report? Well, camps are opening up, and that means we are only about a month away from our double issue USFL Season Preview. In our annual guide to the season ahead we will review all the big camp moves, the rookie signing battle between the NFL and the USFL, the NFL imports and USFL defections, all the last-minute Free Agent signings, and take a look at each teams’ depth chart, prospects, and potential impact. We will make our usual mixed bag of picks, looking to assess who has a shot to take the title away from the Michigan Panthers, and who has a chance to take home an award at the USFL Gala next July. It will be a jam-packed report, which is why we are going to divide it into two sections, so we don’t miss a thing. So, just a few weeks away, let’s get ready for some Spring Football, USFL-style!