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If you don’t like what the USFL offered this past week, you just don’t like football. The second week of the season brought us 10 of 15 games decided by 1 score or less, including several that came down to the last minute of action. It brought us high scoring shootouts and defensive grinders. It gave us several more 300 yard passing days, 3 and 4 passing TD performances, a 3-TD rushing performance, and multiple 100-yard rushing days…from quarterbacks. It has surprises, upsets, some huge crowds, and some real nailbiters. It was everything you want from football, and we will run it all down for you, right here on This Week in the USFL.  Run, QB, Run! In last week’s recap we brought up the fact that almost every year the first week of action provides us with very few strong rushing attacks and even fewer 100-yard games. And that was certainly true in Week 1, with only perennial rushing champion LeVeon Bell gaining 100 yards in opening week action. Week 2 however is a very different story. In this week’s action we had 8 different rushers eclipsing the century mark. Some were not surprising, like Knowshon Moreno’s 119-yard day, or Carlos Hyde’s 110. Some were predictable, but certainly larger than we normally see, such as Doug Martin’s 144 huge yards in the Portland Stag victory over Jacksonville. Some came from backs who don’t have a track record of big days, like LA’s Paul Perkins, who rushed for 116 yards in his second game as the anointed heir to Reggie Bush for the Express, or career backup Charles Sims, who rushed for 116 yards and 3 touchdowns for San Diego in their huge victory over Ohio. But what was most exciting about the strong 2 nd  week for the run game this season was the presence of the running quarterback as a weapon across the league.   Rushing QBs is not exactly a new phenomenon in the league. We have seen USFL quarterbacks making big plays with their feet since the days of Alan Rischer and Doug Flutie. And certainly, we have seen huge games from Hall of Fame USFL quarterbacks before, including perhaps the prototype of the USFL dual-threat QB, Jake Plummer, but rarely have we seen the QB run incorporated into the offense quite like we saw this week. These were not just fortunate scrambles that yielded big gains, this was a case of teams game planning to use the quarterback’s legs as a weapon, and where it worked, it worked in a big way.   Three different QBs not only scrambled, but took on planned draws, bootlegs, and Run-Pass Options to gain over 100 yards in Week 2. It starts where you might expect it would start, with Birmingham’s Cam Newton, who for several years seems to put on the red cape and blue Superman suit at least a few times a season to put up huge numbers as both a passer and a rusher. Well, we had a Superman sighting this week. With rookie HB Najee Harris largely sidelined due to a nagging ankle injury suffered in the 1 st  quarter, the run game quickly became Newton’s responsibility once again. So, in addition to a very solid 15 of 29 passing day, producing 344 yards in the air with 2 passing touchdowns, Newton was also called on to move the ball with his legs, rushing 14 times (only 4 could be called unplanned scrambles). Those 14 carries produced 131 yards and 2 scores, including, in typical Newtonian style, an 85-yard rumble through the secondary to produce the game’s first points.   We have seen these kinds of games from Newton in the past, particularly in the Todd Haley years when the coach seems more than comfortable clearing out the backfield in spread formations and giving his QB the ability to drop back, find the clear line of attack and take off running. But what we saw this week was that the same strategy has been picked up in other camps, with more teams now spreading the field, putting more pressure on defenses to cover 4, even 5 receivers, and then letting their QB take advantage of a very thin front 7, or in many cases as little as a front 5. Two other USFL quarterbacks went over the century mark due to this very strategy, one we have been waiting on for 2 years and one just brought into the league.   Fans in St. Louis openly questioned why former coach Frank Reich did not look at what Haley did in Birmingham with Cam Newton and apply that strategy with their own dual-threat QB, Lamar Jackson. Well, 2 games into his tenure as the Skyhawks’ head coach, Brian Schottenheimer did just that. He pulled several plays almost directly from the Stallion RPO playbook, spread out the defense, and let Lamar choose to throw or to dash through the line. Jackson, more often than not, chose to take advantage of huge gaps in the defense as pass rushers created lanes for the QB to exploit. Jackson finished the day with only 175 yards passing (on 16 of 27) but added 126 yards on 10 runs. The run threat eventually forced Philadelphia to adjust their defense, which did help Jackson produce two TDs to Deionte Johnson, but even with the defense spying him, Jackson still produced a pair of big runs in the final 20 minutes of action, helping St. Louis close in on the Stars, down only 1 at 24-25 with 1:55 left to play before Philadelphia got a last minute game winning TD.   The other RPO strategy was employed by the Ohio Glory and their new head coach, Jay Gruden. With the game out of hand pretty early, as San Diego exploded to a 27-0 lead, Coach Gruden opened things up, and with the Thunder defense expecting, as most would, that the use of more spread formations was a sign that Ohio would try to pass their way back into the game, rookie QB Justin Fields took advantage to rush for123 yards on only 11 carries, including the only score of the game, a 75-yard dodging, juking, and sprinting touchdown run by Fields. The Ohio State product struggled a bit in the passing game, throwing 2 early picks and completing only 18 of 38 passes, but once Coach Gruden spread out the Glory offense, his ability to make plays with his feet was more than evident.   It is clear that not every team is going to establish a Run-Pass Option format within a spread offense. It certainly is not something we want to see Joe Flacco, David Carr, Kirk Cousins, or USFL newcomer Carson Wentz trying to run, but there is a generation of dual threat quarterbacks coming out of the college game, and a good number of coaches playing that style from their college years as well. So, as the USFL season moves forward, we should expect to see more big games from more athletic QBs, led by Cam Newton, but now including a range of potential playmakers that includes Jackson, Fields, Orlando’s Russell Wilson, Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts, or Denver’s Josh Allen could make the spread RPO a very dangerous weapon and a very exciting option for USFL offenses. Injuries will always be a concern, as can ball security as some QBs tend to carry the ball a bit too far from their bodies, but the potential for more huge runs, 100-yard games, and frustrated defenses is certainly there, an extension of a USFL tradition that goes back to the beginning of the league.   PITTSBURGH MAULERS 26  WASHINGTON FEDERALS 23 Maulers-Federals has been an on-again-off-again rivalry ever since Pittsburgh got an expansion team in the second year of the league, back in 1984. It has never been as intense as some of the two clubs’ other rivalries, named games like the Beltway Brawl between the Feds and Blitz, the Keystone Clash between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, or the Border Brawl between the Maulers and the Ohio Glory, but over nearly 40 years, games between the Maulers and Federals, sometimes division clashes, sometimes interdivisional showdowns, have often been heated affairs and close contests. That was certainly the case this week, when the two battled for 60 minutes to produce a 3-point Mauler victory on the road and more than a few post-play skirmishes between players.   Both clubs came into the game having dropped their openers, Pittsburgh in a nasty weather game at home to the Chicago Machine, while Washington traveled to Michigan, showed well, but could not overcome a late Panther score. In what would be the home opener for the Federals, weather would not be a major issue (yes, it was only 51 degrees, and a damp, cloudy day, but that is pretty good football weather) and the two teams would have their chances to make plays. And while there was plenty of good action throughout, it would be the last minute of gameplay that would determine the outcome, as a win slipped away from the Feds with two Mauler scores in the span of only 20 seconds.   The game started well for the Federals, with Pittsburgh deferring to the second half, Washington started with the ball and found early success with their rebuilt run game. Rookie Travis Etienne had a nice 10-yard run on the opening play of the game, and he combined with Darrynton Evans to account for 41 of the opening drive’s 65 yards before putting the first points of the game on the board with Etienne’s 6-yard end run for 6.   The Washington defense, much maligned the past two years, also started strong, producing a 3-and-out on the Mauler’s first possession and holding them to a field goal on their second after Chris Long sacked Mauler QB Nate Peterson (in for Dalton due to concussion protocols). But with their 3 rd  drive of the quarter, Pittsburgh finally got some rhythm, with Peterman connecting for a nice 23-yard toss to Brian Quick before HB Sony Michel ran the ball 16 yards for the first Mauler TD.   Washington responded with a field goal early in the 2 nd  quarter and the back-and-forth battle commenced. From 10-10, it became 13-10 on a second Andrew Franks field goal for Pittsburgh, and then 17-13 when Etienne scored his second rushing TD of the game, a 12-yard snowplow over the safety to get into the endzone. That would be the score at the half, with both teams proving they could put together drives, but both defenses also having their moments.   The Third quarter was more of the same, with Washington increasing their lead to 20-13 only to have Pittsburgh equalize the score when Peterman, who finished 24 of 36 for 259 yards, found Allen Lazard for a 12-yard score late in the period. Knotted up at 20 apiece with 22 minutes of gametime left, the more than 42,000 on hand on a cloudy day at Audi Stadium got ready for what they expected would be a tense 4 th  quarter. They were not wrong about that.   Most of the quarter showcased the Mauler and Federal defenses. Pittsburgh produced their first takeaway as CB Rasul Douglas forced the ball out of the hands of Tyreek Hill and then recovered the ball. Hill protested that his knee was down before the ball came out, but video review upheld the fumble call. The Federals’ defense stepped up and prevented the turnover from producing any points for the Maulers, and one drive later, they would garner their own takeaway, with Chris Long knocking the ball from Nate Peterman’s hand, recovered by LB Tremaine Edwards. That turnover put Washington in Pittsburgh territory, but the Mauler defense was able to prevent Washington from moving the ball more than a few yards and Washington had to settle for an Adam Vinatieri field goal with 1:54 left to play. The Maulers needed a field goal drive to tie the score and send the game to overtime.   Pittsburgh’s offense came alive in the 2-minute drill, with Peterman connecting with rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 14-yard strike, then finding TE Rob Gronkowski for 12 more as the Maulers moved the ball into range for their kicker. The drive would stall inside the Washington 30, but that was more than close enough for Franks to connect for 3 and equalize the score at 23. Time to settle in for overtime.   That was the mindset of the Federals, take the kickoff and take a knee to head to overtime, but it was not the mindset of Pittsburgh head coach Skip Holtz. Taking full advantage of the USFL’s liberal onside kick rules, allowing for a far greater sense of surprise than their NFL colleagues could use, Holtz had the Maulers line up for the deep kick, but instructed Franks to dribble kick the ball to the right, where TE Anthony Hill and HB Cam Akers were placed on the kick coverage team. The plan worked to perfection, with Akers recovering the short kick as a stunned Federals team watched helplessly. The Maulers had the ball back, with 26 seconds to play and needed only about 15 yards to get into range for their kicker.   Pittsburgh would spread out their offense, with Thielen, Quick, St. Brown, and Lazard forcing Washington to play zone. An inside strike to Adam Thielen produced 9 yards, and after a timeout Peterman found Brian Quick to put the Maulers in the outside range for Franks. An incompletion on an out route sealed the deal for Coach Holtz, who sent out Franks with 8 seconds left on the clock. The Mauler kicker connected on a 48-yarder, straight down the middle and Holtz’s gambit paid off. His surprisingly aggressive onside kick call avoided overtime and gave the Maulers their first win of the season.   SEATTLE 13   ATLANTA 14 A failed 48-yard attempt at the buzzer helped Atlanta hold on against a very game Seattle squad. The Fire held a 14-13 lead thanks to a huge game from O.J. Howard, who had both Fire TDs in addition to a whopping 134 yards on 8 receptions, but Seattle had one last shot. Brett Hundley got them in position, but kicker Jeffrey Harris could not connect on the 49-yard attempt, preserving the win and a 2-0 record for the Fire. POTG : Fire TE O. J. Howard: 8 Rec, 134 Yds, 2 TD   MICHIGAN 20  LOS ANGELES 17 The LA Defense held LeVeon Bell in check (19 Att for 62 Yds) and limited the Panthers to only 2 field goals over 3 quarters, but, down 8, the Panthers came alive in the 4 th  quarter, putting 2 Chase McLaughlin kicks on the board and adding a momentum-shifting Cody Latimer TD (with 2 point conversion) to take the 20-17 lead. LA could not answer with only 33 seconds to work with and the Panthers steal a win on the road. POTG:  Michigan DE Dee Ford: 3 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR   PORTLAND 27  JACKSONVILLE 24 The Bulls thought they had their first win, thanks largely to another strong day from Trevor Lawrence (15 of 25 for 282 and 3 TDs) but the defense could not hold in the 4 th  quarter, giving up a Mariota to Burton TD early in the quarter and then the game winner, a Mariota to Josh Gordon knife to the belly with 16 seconds left on the clock as Portland lands a huge road win in Week 2. POTW:  Portland WR Brandin Cooks: 7 Rec, 160 Yds, 1 TD   NEW ENGLAND 0   BALTIMORE 27 In a game that was not one of the week’s nailbiters, New England lost Ryan Tannehill early, and then lost backup C. J. Beathardin the 3 rd , forcing them to go with practice squad emergency backup Jeff Driskell. The result was a shutout as Baltimore only let them cross the 50 one time all game and held them without a 3 rd  down conversion in the entire game. Safety Nasir Adderly put 6 on the board with a pick of Driskell, and Calais Campbell got another sack as the Blitz rolled. POTG:  Blitz QB Jake Locker: 25/38, 225 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int   SAN ANTONIO 17   HOUSTON 19 Houston had a 19-0 lead at the half, but something changed in the break as the entire 2 nd  half was a furious comeback effort by the Gunslingers. Easton Stick, in for the injured Joe Flacco, connected with Brandon LaFell on a 29-yarder and then found Marquise Goodwin with 2 minutes to play in the 4 th  to pull within 2, but the Gunslingers could not contain Carlos Hyde, and the Houston back, who had 110 yards on the day, converted for 2 first downs as the Gamblers ate up the clock and held on for the 2-point win. POTG:  Houston CB Leodis McKelvin: 9 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   LAS VEGAS 10   CHICAGO 15 A tighter than expected game in a very windy Soldier Field as Las Vegas got 116 yards on the ground from Hunt (47) and Matt Jones (69). Chicago also relied on the run, getting 82 combined yards from Hill and Mack, but it was a late Sam Bradford TD that got them the win. Down 10-9, Bradford connected with Chase Claypool on a tight slant route and that proved to be the winning score in a tough defensive game affected once again by the weather. POTG:  Chicago safety Jordan Poyer: 9 Tck, 1 Sck   TAMPA BAY 10  MEMPHIS 9 Memphis DE J. J. Watt introduced himself to Tampa Bay QB Dak Prescott, sacking the 2-time MVP twice and knocking him out of the game with a tackle on an ill-timed scramble. The Memphis D was relentless all game, but their offense simply could not take advantage. Up 9-7 in the 4 th , Memphis lost the lead with 25 seconds on the clock as backup B. J. Daniels got the Bandits in range for kicker Harrison Butker and escaped with a 1-point win. POTG:  Bandit HB Dalvin Cook: 18 Att, 72 Yds, 1 TD   ARIZONA 35   DENVER 38 A true shootout as Arizona Brock Osweiler and Denver’s Josh Allen both found plenty of open targets in this one. Osweiler threw for 322 and 4 touchdowns, but Allen added 3 and with 2 Phillip Lindsay TD runs the Gold held on to win and move to 2-0 on the season despite 4 turnovers in the game (including 3 Josh Allen picks). POTG:  Denver HB Phillip Lindsay: 21 Att, 87 Yds, 2 TD, 3 Rec, 78 Yds   NEW ORLEANS 21  NEW JERSEY 19 In a game that saw both offensive lines struggle (9 combined sacks), the Breakers got two TDs from Geno Smith before he was knocked out of the game. Up 14-12 in the 4 th , they got the clincher on defense when a blitzing Clyde Adams stripped Nick Foles of the ball and recovered it in the endzone for a fumble recovery TD that gave the Breakers a 9-point lead. Foles would hit Jonnu Smith for a late TD, but had no luck with the onside kick, allowing the Breakers to return to New Orleans at 2-0. POTG: Breaker FS Clyde Adams: 4 Tck, 1 Skc, 1 Def TD, 1 FF, 1 FR   BIRMINGHAM 38  ORLANDO 26 We have had another Cam Newton Superman sighting as the Birmingham QB threw for 344 and 2 scores while also adding 131 and 2 more scores on the ground. Newton was everywhere, and the Stallions needed him as Najee Harris left the game early with a tweaked ankle. Orlando fought on with 84 yards and 2 TDs from NFL import Chris Carson, but they simply had no answer for a determined Cam Newton. POTG:  Stallion QB Cam Newton: 15/29, 34 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int, 14 Att, 131 Yds, 2 TD   OAKLAND 29  CHARLOTTE 7 The Charlotte Monarchs limited Davante Adams to only 54 yards, but forgot to cover TE Zach Ertz, who burned them for 153 yards on 6 catches as Oakland rolled. Former Oakland QB Jimmy Garoppolo had a very unpleasant reunion with his former club, throwing 3 picks as Oakland doubled up Charlotte 400 yards to 200 for the game. Kicker Roberto Aguayo added 5 field goals and that was all the Invaders needed to upend the Monarchs. POTG:  Invader TE Zach Ertz: 6 Rec, 153 Yds   OHIO 7   SAN DIEGO 44 This was a wild one as San Diego had everything working early, building up a 27-0 lead thanks to 3 Charles Sims TD runs, but a 75-yard Justin Fields run gave Ohio hope. That hope dwindled as 2 4 th  quarter picks from the Ohio QB doomed the Glory comeback. San Diego added a David Wilson TD run and a Case Keenum mop up TD toss to create the blowout final score. POTG:  San Diego HB Charles Sims: 18 Att, 116 Yds, 2 TD, 2 Rec, 16 Yds, 1 TD   PHILADELPHIA 32  ST. LOUIS 25 The Stars go on the road and get their 2 nd  win in 2 weeks despite giving up 126 yards rushing to Skyhawk QB Lamar Jackson. Philly gave up an even 200 yards total on the ground but got 373 yards and 3 TDs from NFL import Carson Wentz. Derrick Henry added 95 yards on 19 carries, but it was Wentz to K. J. Hamler with 56 seconds to play that turned a 1-point lead into a 9-point victory for the 2-0 Stars. POTG:  Stars QB Carson Wentz: 25/36, 373 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int   DALLAS 40  OKLAHOMA 31 Another Wild West shootout as Dallas outlasted Oklahoma, thanks to a running attack that racked up 189 yards (93 for Samaje Perine and another 95 from Duke Johnson). Dallas took a 21-14 lead midway through the 2 nd  on a Johnson TD and never relinquished the lead. Jalen Hurts threw for 336 but suffered 6 sacks as Oklahoma struggled to handle Dallas DE Connor Barwin. FS Jamal Adams also added 2 sacks as a frequent blitzer on early downs. The Roughnecks improve to 2-0 despite playing without Justin Herbert, while Oklahoma drops to 1-1. POTG:  Dallas DE Connor Barwin: 3 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 Sfty   Close Calls From Coast to Coast If there was one defining feature of Week 2 it was the tight margin of victory all over the league. We saw 10 games settled by a single score, and 8 settled by 3 or fewer points, a single field goal. It started on Friday, when the Atlanta Fire defeated Seattle by a single point thanks to a last second hooking kick that sailed wide to the left. It ended on Sunday night, with our Game of the Week, when the Federals fell to the Maulers thanks to an onside kick and a pair of field goals both kicked within the final minute of action. In between we saw Michigan beat LA by a field goal, Portland win by the same margin over Jacksonville, Houston struggle to edge San Antonio by a mere 2 points, Memphis fall to Tampa Bay in a surprisingly low-scoring 10-9 affair, Arizona drop their 2 nd  game of the young season by 3 points in Denver, and New Orleans knock off New Jersey by 2, 21-19. It was a week for last second heroics and high tensions all across the league. Just the kind of thing that gets the league the fan excitement that a year of isolation and hub games deflated. No lack of energy this season, even with some Covid protocols still in place, and with games like this, we may see the league return stronger than ever.   Wentz Winning Over Stars’ Fans If there were Star fans still upset that their club could not sign rookie Zach Wilson, or upset that they took a shot on a player who wore out his welcome with the Eagles, and, yes, there were plenty of both before the season started, we expect they are eating some crow right now. Unlike many NFL stars who come immediately over to the Spring league and suffer a dual-season hangover, Carson Wentz has started his USFL career with about as hot a start as any QB we an remember. In his first two games he has not only averaged 307 yards per game, thrown 5 TDs and earned a 109.8 QB Rating, but he has the Stars, who won only 2 games in all of 2020, sitting pretty at 2-0 after knocking off the New England Steamrollers at the Linc and getting a win this week in St. Louis.   Now, we recognize that neither New England or St. Louis have yet to win a game, and neither were exactly world-beaters last year, but that does not diminish the fact that the 3-13 Stars of 2020 are not the same team in 2021, and the presence of Carson Wentz seems to be a huge reason why. Wentz had a solid game in the opener, throwing for 241 and 2 TDs, but this week’s game was a further step up, going 25 of 36 for 373 yards, 3 scores, and still only 2 total interceptions this season. The former Eagle is certainly gaining fans in the clubhouse, with his receivers praising his deep ball and his touch, while his line loves his tenacity. He is even good for the run game as teams have to keep safeties back to protect against his rocket arm. Just ask “King” Henry, who improved from a 73-yard outing in the opener to 95 carries this week. The offensive balance, paired with greater time of possession, has also helped the defense, which is looking significantly improved thanks to the arrivals of free agent CB Dwayne Gratz, MLB Jonathan Bostic, and rookie linebacker Micah Parsons. The defense under Coach Quinn has been more aggressive, more varied, and more effective, but it certainly helps when your offense is putting points on the board and keeping the ball away from the opposition.   Doug Martin Shows He Still Has It When the Portland Stags made a pick-for-pick trade with Charlotte to be able to select UNC halfback Javontae Williams, it felt very much like a phase-out for 9-year vet Doug Martin. Martin, who last rushed for 1,000 yards back in 2017 has seen his numbers decrease, both in carries and in yards, each of the past 3 seasons, but if the first two games of this season are any indication, the Stag halfback may be getting a second wind at age 32. Martin has been featured the first two weeks of the season, getting 30 carries to only 5 for Williams. Now, part of that may be Martin’s excellent blocking skills, helping protect Marcus Mariota while Williams learns how to pick up blitzes, but after this week, we don’t expect Coach LaFleur to be pushing Martin out of the way any time soon.   Martin finished this week’s win over Jacksonville with 18 carries for 144 yards, an average of 8 yards per carry. His day included a 55-yard run that showcased his elusiveness and his willingness to take on tacklers. We are sure that Williams will get his touches, and will grow into the game, but the Stags are now looking at Martin not as a mentor but as a model, showing on the field exactly how to manipulate angles, see holes in the defense, and exploit them. This week he will be a featured player once again as the Stags head to Chicago to face a very tough Machine defense.   Machine DB Shift Looking Smart After 2 Weeks Speaking of the Machine and their defense, a defense that has allowed only 17 points in their first two games, we need to recognize that a gambit taken by Coach Lovie Smith. In preseason he tested out cornerback Jordan Poyer at safety, and he liked what he saw. Rather than bring him on slowly, Smith cut a deal with New Jersey, sending 2020 starting strong safety Lano Hill to New Jersey for CB Isaac Yiadom and OT J’Marcus Webb. The move signaled confidence in Poyer, who played the past 8 seasons as a corner for Chicago and now inherits a dual role as pass defender and frequent blitzer.   Poyer has already repaid that trust, sitting 2 nd  on the team with 12 tackles after 2 weeks and already producing 2 sacks as a blitzing strong safety. That, combined with the overall success of the Machine defense in their opening games against Pittsburgh and Las Vegas seem to indicate that Lovie Smith’s intuition about Poyer’s ability to adapt to a new position were well-tuned. Poyer will be in centerfield for the Machine when they visit Portland this week.   After 5 Picks & 2 Losses, Saleh Makes a Switch On the other side of the coaching spectrum, first time head coach Robert Saleh may be showing a bit of impatience, and showing it with the most important position on the field. After an 0-2 start for New Jersey, and two outings in which his QB racked up 5 picks and only 2 TDs, Saleh is already in a mood for a change, naming Teddy Bridgewater the Week 3 starter when the Generals visit San Antonio in Week 3. Bridgewater, who started 36 games for Jacksonville before being traded to New Jersey right as camps were closing up this February will get the nod against the Gunslingers, while Nick Foles, who has been the starter in New Jersey since 2017 now finds himself demoted after only 2 games this season. Admitedly, with a 55.7 rating in those two games, it may not be a complete surprise, but this is a QB who had a 104 rating as recently as 2019.   With Foles taking a back seat to Bridgewater, we also looked to Washington, who also entered the season with a wide open QB competition, and who have also started the season 0-2, to see if Ryan Nassib still has the confidence of his new head coach, Kevin Gilbride. With former Seattle Dragon Jacoby Brissett the other option, is Gilbride looking to make a change?   Not this week at least, as the Washington coach affirmed that Nassib will once again be the starter when the Feds head down to New Orleans to take on the unbeaten Breakers. And while the Federals’ situation is not the same as that of New Jersey, the QB competition is still very real. But, with only 1 pick in his first two games, Nassib has not had the negatives that Foles showed for New Jersey. Washington’s offense was surprisingly effective against Michigan in Week 1, and while they lost in the final minute to Pittsburgh this week, you could hardly blame the offense for the team’s inability to anticipate an onside kick. So, for now at least, Nassib remains the starter as Washington hopes to get one in the win column soon.   Smith, Tannehill & Prescott Latest QBs to Hit Injury List 2021 has been a tough season for quarterbacks, and we are only 2 games in. After 1 week we had several QBs sidelined for Week 2 action, with Brock Osweiler in for David Carr, Easton Stick getting the start for Joe Flacco, and Nathan Peterman thrust into action for Pittsburgh when Andy Dalton could not go. Dallas also turned to a backup in Week 2, with Justin Herbert nursing a concussion it was Josh Freeman who powered the Roughnecks to a 40-31 victory over Oklahoma.   But the QB pain was not limited to Week 1 action. Three more USFL starters were forced out of games in Week 3, and at least one will be out this week. New England’s Ryan Tannehill is already ruled out for Week 3 with a shoulder injury that could cost him 2-3 weeks. He is joined on the injury report by New Orleans signal caller Geno Smith, who is in the concussion protocol and listed as Doubtful, and Tampa Bay’s Dak Prescott, who suffered an injury to the big toe on his plant foot and is listed as Questionable.   If all three are out, we will see more backups trying to keep their teams on the right track. New England will start C. J. Beathard this week, who was also knocked out of the Week 2 game, but is cleared to play the upcoming game. Tampa Bay will trust in B. J. Daniels if Prescott is not good to go, and New Orleans will turn to Tajh Boyd, the former backup to Josh Freeman in St. Louis and Ryan Nassib in Washington.   Another tough week to start the season. Three more starting QBs likely to miss at least a week (Tannehill, Prescott, and Smith, as commented above), but also a pretty long list of injuries all across the USFL rosters. None are expected to result in IR placements, but it is awfully early in the year to see this many players needing a week away or longer.   OUT TE     James Casey                OKL    Biceps Tear            6-8 Weeks CB          Ka’Dar Hollman              OHI       Arm                         2-4 Weeks DT          Stephen Paea                   STL         Hip                           1-2 Weeks FS           Jamal Adams                  DAL       Toe                            1-2 Weeks FS           Hamsah Nasirildeen    TBY        Neck                         1-2 Weeks QB         Ryan Tannehill                 NE          Shoulder                 1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL CB          Germaine Kelly                DAL       Hernia CB          Darqueze Dennard         DEN      Concussion LB           Preston Brown                 TBY        Neck SS           Malik Hooker                  BIR         Concussion G            David Griggs                HOU     Hand WR         Doug Baldwin               NE          Hip QB         Geno Smith                  NOR      Concussion FS           Robert Sands                PIT         Concussion   QUESTIONABLE CB          Levi Wallace                 CHA      Knee DE          Porter Gustin                    LV           Wrist TE           Travis Kelce                     PHI        Concussion C             Wesley Johnson              LV           Hand WR         Curtis Samuel                 OHI       Concussion QB         Dak Prescott                   TBY        Toe DT          Sylvester Williams         LV           Toe   Six Rookies Already Making an Impression Two weeks into the year and we are already seeing the impact of the Draft Class of 2021. While most rookies are still learning the ropes and riding the bench, there are several who have already started impressing coaches and fans alike with their early season performances. We have picked six players who are off to a strong start, making plays and getting their diehard fans excited about the future. Here are our Six Instant Impact Rookies for 2021 after 2 weeks.   QB Trevor Lawrence (JAX) Hard to miss this one. Lawrence may not have earned his first USFL win yet, but with 371 yards and 3 TDs in the opener, he certainly made a strong first impression. His follow up this week was a bit less flashy, but a very solid 282 yards and yet another 3 touchdowns. That is a total of 6 TDs to only 1 pick in his first two weeks as a USFL starter. In case you were wondering, that is one of the best starts for any rookie QB we have seen in the nearly 40 seasons of USFL ball.   QB Justin Fields (OHI) Ohio’s Fields did Lawrence one better, earning a win in the season and home opener. But unlike Lawrence, Fields has not had the big passing numbers so far this season. No one in Columbus is complaining about 404 yards in 2 games, and while a 1:2 TD:INT Ratio is not what Glory fans want to see long term, they have to be excited about Fields as a true dual threat QB, especially after his 75-yard TD run this week against San Diego, and the game total of 123 on the ground. Yes, more is needed, especially in the passing game, but defenses are now on notice that they are going to need to spy Fields or he will burn them.   HB Travis Etienne (WSH) Since the retirement of Deuce McCallister 5 years ago, the Federals have struggled to mount a consistent rushing attack, but the first two games with Travis Etienneas their lead back may be an indication that they finally have found the man who can get them back to 1,200 yard nirvana. The Clemson rookie has 4 touchdowns in 2 games (2 in each) and while his opening week total of 31 yards on 10 carries is not going to ignite anyone’s overreaction switch, his 13 carry, 70 yards second game has him heading in the right direction. Washington fans hope that his growth from one game to the next continues in Week 3, when the Feds will want to use their run game to keep New Orleans’s potent passing offense on the sideline. Expect Etienne to potentially reach 20 carries, and we wonder if that could mean 100 yards for the rookie back.  DE Odafe Oweh (DEN) We turn to defense with our next three selections, and we start with the unbeaten Denver Gold and their rookie edge rusher, Odafe Oweh. The Penn State product earned the RE starting gig in camp, outperforming veteran Stephon Tuitt. He now lines up opposite LE Justice Cole, and the bull rush we saw from him in Happy Valley has already made an appearance. Oweh opened the season with 5 tackles but no sacks against San Diego, but this week he earned not one, but two sacks as Denver upended the Arizona Wranglers. He will have a chance to increase that total next week as the Gold host the Vipers in their third straight home game to open the 2021 season.   DT Christian Barmore (ATL) Coming into the league is tough, coming in to replace a likely Hall of Famer is even tougher, but that is Barmore’s lot. After Albert Haynesworth retired last year (for the 2 nd  time), Barmore was drafted out of Alabama to take on a vital role on the inside of the Fire’s D-Line. Two games in and he is more than holding his own with 3 tackles and 2 sacks, both coming in the Fire’s Week 2 victory over Seattle. Barmore has been solid against the run, filling up space and allowing the solid Atlanta LB group penetrate the D, but on pass plays he has shown an ability to get into the backfield himself, something the Fire love to see.  CB Benjamin St. Juste (NE) A 3rd round T-Draft pick out of Minnesota, St. Juste was not expected to have much of a role in his first year, but he excelled in camp, impressed Coach Fox, and 2 nd  on the depth chart behind only Jalen Mills in the New England secondary when the opening game rosters were revealed. St Juste has been targeted by both Steamroller opponents, but he is showing that he is not one to try to pick on. With 6 tackles and a pick in the opener against Philly, and a 6 tackle showing this week, St. Juste is showing that he is more than capable of holding his own.   League Vaccination Policy a Messy Affair With several new Covid vaccines now available to the general public, the question of how pro sports will handle vaccination mandates and/or personal freedom has been a huge issue across all the major winter and spring sports. The USFL is certainly not exempt from the controversy. The league announced back in February that they would not mandate vaccinations for players, coaches, or gameday staff, and that they would prohibit any individual clubs from setting stricter requirements than those provided by the league offices in New York. That did not sit well with several owners, who felt that the clubs, and not the league, should be empowered to set policy based on state and city requirements as well as the intensity of the pandemic in their regions. Others praised the “no mandate” focus of the League Office. But even those supporters were not fully satisfied, particularly with the ongoing requirement for testing and the disparity in how vaccinated vs. unvaccinated players would be viewed by the league and their testing protocols.   The primary issue, one already brought to the USFL Players Association, is the disparate rules in place for vaccinated players vs. their unvaccinated teammates. Whereas unvaccinated players would be required to maintain the same protocols as in 2020, which means twice-weekly testing and the potential to be removed from action on short notice and without symptoms, vaccinated players would be limited to one test per week and even with a positive result players would be permitted to participate in team activities and game action as long as they remained symptom free. Several players balked at the disparity in both testing and gameday availability and the Union will be bringing those concerns to the league within the next week. In the meantime, we have so far seen 2 weeks of USFL action without a player held out of action. There have been 3 positive tests, but in both cases the players have been within the vaccinated pool and both were non-symptomatic, and so were permitted to practice and play. Most expect that at some point we will encounter players who are within the smaller unvaccinated pool (estimated at 17-19% of current players) and with the player withheld from team activities, including games, that will be a key pressure point on the league’s seemingly flexible, but perhaps inequitable, Covid strategy.   New England Expects 50,000+ at Home Opener It may be a year delayed for the Boston area, but USFL football is back for a third time and fans seem ready for the grand return. After struggling to find a home in Boston itself, and after decades of battles with the NFL’s New England Patriots, the third time may just be the charm as the New England Steamrollers prepare for their first home game in Foxboro’s Gillette Stadium. After the short tenure of the Breakers in Boston, bouncing between BU’s Nickerson Field and Harvard Stadium, the USFL lost their foothold in New England in the late 80’s. They brought back a team in the early 2000’s when the first Atlanta Fire franchise relocated to Boston College’s Alumni Stadium in 2003. But, they too struggled to become profitable with the lease available from BC, and constant squabbles over potential renovation and expansion of the stadium eventually led the club to find a buyer, and that buyer was in Dallas, where the team became the Roughnecks.   For nearly 20 years the USFL had tried to court NFL Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft, who also was the primary owner of Foxboro’s Gillette Stadium, hoping to put a team in the modern facility and lock in the Boston market. But Kraft had always been one of the most antagonistic owners in the NFL towards any cooperation with the spring league and while he was in power within the Patriots organization, the chances for a return to New England for the USFL were always slim. It would be a scandal, a story of massage parlors and inappropriate acts by the Patriot owner that eventually sank Kraft, forcing the sale of both the stadium and the team, and allowing the USFL a new opportunity to work out a deal. The ownership group known as the New England Football Group got the inside track on a stadium deal, and with it the inside track to represent Boston as a 2020 expansion team.   And now, a year late thanks to the Covid pandemic, the Steamrollers are finally ready to play in front of the fans of New England, stepping out on the field in Foxboro for the first time this upcoming Friday night. With more than 48,000 tickets sold for the game (including season tickets and advanced individual game sales) the Steamrollers hope to eclipse 50,000 in Foxboro for their first home game. They will face the Pittsburgh Maulers in their first home game, but will go into the game with a backup QB under center as Ryan Tannehill has been ruled out with a shoulder injury. It does not seem that his absence will lessen the excitement and enthusiasm for New England’s newest pro franchise, as a rambunctious and heavily pro-Steamroller crowd is expected on Friday.   Another strong lineup of divisional games in Week 3, with 8 of 15 games played between divisional rivals. We kick off the week, however, with two interdivisional matchups, with NBC highlighting the first game in Foxboro for the 2 nd year New England Steamrollers as they take on Pittsburgh. Over on ESPN and the ESPN Football Network, it is Chicago heading west to take on the Portland Stags. On Saturday, the divisional games kick off, with Atlanta at Jacksonville in the noon slot and Las Vegas heading up to Denver to face the 2-0 Gold. Then in the nightcap we have a California Derby as the Oakland Invaders and LA Express, both sitting at 1-1, face off at Farmers Insurance Field. We also have 2-0 Baltimore, 2-0 New Orleans, and 2-0 Dallas in action on Saturday.   Sunday brings us 5 divisional games, starting at noon, where Charlotte will take on 2-0 Tampa Bay in ABC regional coverage while Michigan is in St. Louis over on Fox. In the 4pm slot we will have Arizona facing Oklahoma for the 2 nd time in 3 weeks while Seattle heads down to San Diego, hoping to get their first win against a Thunder team that surprised us this week. Finally, in the 8pm slot, Memphis, off to a slow start at 0-2, take their game on the road to Houston, where the Gamblers have rocketed out to a 2-0 record and Colt McCoy is looking like a possible MVP candidate.   FRI @ 8pm ET          Pittsburgh (1-1) @ New England (0-2)               NBC FRI @ 8pm ET        Chicago (2-0) @ Portland (1-1)                          ESPN/EFN           SAT @ 12pm ET      Baltimore (2-0) @ Ohio (1-1)                             ABC SAT @ 12pm ET      Atlanta (2-0) @ Jacksonville (0-2)                  FOX SAT @ 4pm ET       Las Vegas (1-1) @ Denver (2-0)                    ABC SAT @ 4pm ET         Washington (0-2) @ New Orleans (2-0)          FOX SAT @ 8pm ET        Dallas (2-0) @ Birmingham (1-1)                       NBC      SAT @ 8pm ET       Oakland (1-1) @ Los Angeles (1-1)                ESPN/EFN   SUN @ 12pm ET      Orlando (1-1) @ Philadelphia (2-0)                  ABC Regional SUN @ 12pm ET     Charlotte (0-2) @ Tampa Bay (2-0)                ABC Regional SUN @ 12pm ET      Michigan (2-0) @ St. Louis (0-2)                       FOX SUN @ 4pm ET      Arizona (0-2) @ Oklahoma (1-1)                       ABC SUN @ 4pm ET     New Jersey (0-2) @ San Antonio (0-2)            FOX Regional SUN @ 4pm ET      Seattle (0-2) @ San Diego (1-1)                      FOX Regional SUN @ 8pm ET       Memphis (0-2) @ Houston (2-0)                        ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: In a week dominated by dual threat QBs, no one did it better than Cam Newton. Newton not only rushed for 131 yards and 2 scores, but was aggressive in the passing game as well, going deep often as he threw for 344 yards on only 15 completions. Add in two more TDs and you have a huge fantasy output and a Birmingham win.

A wet, windy, and weather-impacted opening week across the USFL, but despite the odd weather, fans came out to welcome back their spring football fix after a year of empty stadiums and Covid-impacted hub games. From a sell-out in San Antonio to boisterous crowds all across the league, it was a celebratory atmosphere, even if Mother Nature did not always lend a hand. We will break down all the games of the first week of the USFL’s 39 th  season, talk a bit about the weather, and give you our first impressions of all 30 clubs. All this, plus an update on the quarterbacks who were forced out of their openers as we kick off Season 39 of the USFL.   Weather Impacts Openers Coast to Coast It is the eternal question at the start of every USFL season: Will the weather cooperate? Since the very first season of spring football back in 1983 the USFL has been dealing with rough March weather impacting the opening weeks of the season. And, even with the season pushed back, first from the 2 nd week in March to the 3 rd , and this year one more week until the final days of the Month, the answer has typically been “No, the weather will not cooperate.” March is notoriously fickle when it comes to weather patterns, and while delaying the season openers until March 26-28 did produce a weekend without a major snowstorm impacting games, it did not stop the “in like a lion, out like a lamb” from throwing a bit of lion, a bit of lamb, and what might have been a hyena fighting with a warthog at some of the USFL’s opening games.   We had a mix of late winter and early spring weather all over the map this weekend as teams played through rain, wind, sleet, and even a fog game to rival the 1988 NFL “Fog Bowl” between Chicago and Philadelphia in 1988. From a somewhat predictable slog fest in rainy Portland to biting winds and freezing rain in both Pittsburgh and Baltimore, and with a ridiculously fogged in game in Santa Clara, home to this year’s Summer Bowl, it was a week where the weather was often as big a story as the play on the field.   It began with the ESPN Friday night game pitting the LA Express against the Portland Stags. An all day soaker had already turned the field at Columbia Sportswear Stadium into a muddy mess, and the rain continued throughout the night. While it was a great marketing opportunity for Columbia Sportswear, whose gear was certainly visible in the stands (along with a lot of Patagonia, REI, and North Face), on the field, the muddy conditions, wet footballs, and soggy footing made the game a messy affair that limited offensive output and kept both teams from showing little more than short passes and inside runs. LA prevailed, largely due to their ability to clog the line on defense and connect on short passes to the tight ends and backs, but neither team can feel good about the product they were able to put on display for the 30,202 who braved the weather to watch the game in the stands.   Move on to Saturday, when games in both Pittsburgh and Baltimore were facing the same nasty conditions, biting winds with gusts between 30 and 40 mph and freezing rain that coated the turf, the ball, and the players with thin layers of ice and slush. Once again footing was treacherous, the ball was slick, and the players pretty miserable on the sidelines and on the field. Surprisingly, between the two games we saw only 3 turnovers (all Nick Foles interceptions by Baltimore offseason acquisition Micah Hyde), though there were 4 fumbles in the 2 games, all recovered by the offensive teams. What we did see quite a bit was conservative playcalling, backs holding the ball with two hands, and a lot of sour faces among the players, coaches, and smaller-than-anticipated crowds on hand as the Maulers and Blitz played their first home games in nearly 18 months.   Sunday brought a different kind of weather-related “fun”. Yes, there was a rainy and muddy situation in Dallas, where the Cotton Bowl drainage system was not able to keep up with a 2 nd  day of rain in the area, but the big story was in Oakland, or more accurately, Santa Clara. A thick fog rolled into the south bay on Sunday, unusual for the region, though not for the season. In the kind of pea soup conditions we usually see only further north in San Francisco, Santa Clara and Levi’s Stadium was engulfed in mist and fog for the entire afternoon. Not quite as thick as the famous “Fog Bowl” in the 1988 NFL playoffs in Chicago, but certainly problematic, the fog in the Orlando-Oakland matchup limited camera visibility, but also on-field visibility. The two teams found themselves unable to run their full game plans, limiting their passing to inside routes and a 10-12 yard range. While the field was in better condition than in some of the rainier locations, the visibility issues hampered both teams, producing a game in which the only touchdown came on a pick-six and the 3 field goals that accompanied that lone 7-pointer all required video review to ensure the on-field call was correct.   While the USFL’s delayed start avoided the snowy conditions which had often hampered early season games, particularly in places like Denver, Chicago, Columbus, or the Northeast, Mother Nature reminded the league that there is plenty of March weather, even on the cusp of April, that can deter fan turnout, complicate broadcasts, and profoundly impact on field gameplay. However, even with the rough conditions of some games, the USFL still has to be happy to be back in play in all 30 cities, and certainly they can look forward to some beautiful, sunny days to come as the season moves into spring and summer, with Summer Bowl 2021 scheduled for mid-August rather than the delayed 2020 title game which was not played until October.   OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS 23  ARIZONA WRANGLERS 17 In a game that confirmed our preseason intuition that this could be the year for a changing of the guard in the Southwest, the Oklahoma Outlaws fired a shot across the bow of 6-time defending division champion Arizona. Second year QB Jalen Hurts led the Outlaws against David Carr and the Wranglers, and when Carr was sent to the sideline with a concussion, it was all that Oklahoma needed to turn a 17-14 deficit into a 23-17 victory.   Oklahoma relied heavily on the short passing game, with TE Mark Andrews and possession receiver Nick Toon getting 10 of Jalen Hurts’s 14 pass attempts. The Outlaws had little success running, gaining only 49 yards on the ground, but they kept feeding the ball to Justice Hill and DeeJay Dallas, a strategy that wore down the Arizona front seven. The Wranglers, who outgained Oklahoma 414-261, struggled to move the ball into the redzone, and were unable to mount a 4 th quarter comeback after Oklahoma took a 20-17 lead, with Elliott Parson’s 52-yard kick attempt going wide and keeping Oklahoma in control in the final minutes.   The Outlaws came out of the gate with a balanced attack, and were not afraid to use QB Jalen Hurts as a rusher. Their opening drive benefited from a defensive holding call on a 3 rd  and 11, but when they got into range Hurts found Nick Toon for a 16-yard strike to put the first points on the board. Arizona responded well, putting 7 on the board early in the 2 nd  quarter on a Ka’Deem Carey goalline plunge. They would add another 3 later in the quarter, but the defense made a huge error and Oklahoma got the biggest play of the game late in the half.   It was a routine 2 nd  and 6, but for some reason Arizona overcommitted to Hurts’s fake to HB DeeJay Dallas. The middle of the field was left wide open and the bootlegging Hurts had no trouble hitting Mark Andrews in stride. The big tight end rumbled down the field, picking up a nice block from wideout DeDe Westbrook on his way to a 77-yard touchdown. The play demoralized the Wranglers and the 47,202 in the stands at State Farm Stadium, giving Oklahoma a 14-10 lead going into the locker rooms for the half.   The Wrangler faithful got even more upset early in the 3 rd  when QB David Carr was knocked to the ground by Oklahoma LB Dont’a Hightower, causing his head to hit the ground hard. Carr was sidelined the rest of the game as Brock Osweiler took over. Osweiler had some success, throwing for 215 in a half of football, and hitting Brandon Aiyuk on a lead-changing score, but he was unable to secure more points in the 4 th  as Oklahoma retook the lead and then held Arizona without another point. The Outlaws retook the lead, 20-17, within the first minute of the 4 th quarter when Hurts found Westbrook on a nice fade route for a 9-yard TD. Arizona responded with a drive that got them in range for a 52-yard field goal to tie, but Parson’s kick sailed far off course. That would be the Wranglers’ last scoring attempt. Oklahoma added a Kai Forbath field goal with 2:27 left to give them a tenuous 6-point lead, but Brock Osweiler took 2 sacks on back-to-back plays, forcing Arizona to attempt a 4 th  and 22 from their own 37. Failing there, Oklahoma was able to salt away the game with a Justice Hill run giving them a first down and using up the last of Arizona’s timeouts.   The Outlaws now share first place in the Southwest with 3 other clubs as everyone but Arizona earned a win this week. The Wranglers find themselves in the basement after 1 week and with their 2-time MVP possibly forced to miss next week’s game as he enters the USFL’s concussion protocol.   JACKSONVILLE 27   TAMPA BAY 47 We got an offensive showcase in Raymond James Stadium as QBs Dak Prescott and Trevor Lawrence combined for 7 touchdown passes as the Bandits jumped out to a 26-0 lead in the first half only for the Bulls to battle back in the second half. Dak Prescott threw for 486 yards and 4 TDs with Dez Bryant, Ryan Grant, and HB Dalvin Cook all going over 100 yards on the day. Trevor Lawrence, despite suffering 7 sacks, including a safety on his first possession, rebounded to complete 25 of 40 for 371 yards and 3 scores in the losing cause. POTG: Bandit QB Dak Prescott: 17/24, 486 Yds, 4 TD, 1 Int   LOS ANGELES 19  PORTLAND 11 A steady rain in Portland helped both defenses, with LA getting the win thanks to two Kyler Murray TD passes. Marcus Mariota was picked twice and sacked 7 times as he tried to navigate the sloppy field and wet footballs. He pulled the game to within 1 score with a late TD to tight end Trey Burton, but LA was able to hold onto the ball and kill the clock in the final 2 minutes. POTG: LA linebacker Keith Rivers: 6 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Sfty, 1 FF CHICAGO 16  PITTSBURGH 7 A cold, freezing rain and windy conditions in Pittsburgh also kept both the Mauler and Machine offenses from getting much done. Pittsburgh had a 7-0 lead at the half, but when Andy Dalton was knocked out of the game (hamstring), Nathan Peterman could not get anything done in the 2 nd  half. Chicago tied the score and took the lead on two Sam Bradford TD passes. A late safety against Peterman helped Chicago take a 9-point lead and wrap up a sloppy win in the opener. POTG: Chicago DE Jason Pierre-Paul: 3 Tck, 1 TFL, 1 Sck, 1 Sfty   HOUSTON 42  BIRMINGHAM 25 No weather issues in Birmingham as the Gamblers and Stallions combined for over 900 yards of offense, including 494 through the air for Colt McCoy of Houston. McCoy threw TDs to 4 different receivers as the Gamblers kept the pressure on an overwhelmed Stallion secondary. Cam Newton threw for 327 as rookie Najee Harris struggled to find holes in the run game. Henry Ruggs returned to action after his season-ending 2020 injury, caught 4 balls for 143 and a TD, but it was not enough as Houston scored on 8 of 11 offensive possessions. POTG: Gambler QB Colt McCoy: 24/34, 494 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int   MEMPHIS 17   LAS VEGAS 18 Coach Landry scores a huge upset victory in his return to the sidelines with his new club. Las Vegas’s defense contained Todd Gurley and the Showboats, while QB Matt McGloin threw for 2 scores, including the game winner with 1:16 left to play, a TD toss to rookie TE Tommy Tremble at the goalline. Memphis DE J. J. Watt recorded his first USFL sack, but the offense struggled despite good protection for Paxton Lynch. Memphis held a 17-6 lead in the 3 rd  but the D tired late and Las Vegas came all the way back to take the W. POTG: Viper QB Matt McGloin: 21/37, 207 Yds, 2 TD, 2 Int   NEW JERSEY 7   BALTIMORE 24 The Blitz had more success in the cold, rainy, and windy conditions of their home opener, relying on the legs of Josh Jacobs and a solid game from Jake Locker to outpace the struggling General offense. Jacobs rushed for 93 yards on 22 carries while Locker threw for 3 scores, all to TE C. J. Uzomah, who finished the day with only 25 yards but 3 receiving touchdowns. Calais Campbell had 3 tackles and 2 sacks for his new club, while former Chicago Free Safety Micah Hyde had himself a DPOTW game by picking off Nick Foles 3 times in the windy & wet conditions. POTG: Blitz safety Micah Hyde: 6 Tck, 3 PDef, 3 Int   ATLANTA 28  CHARLOTTE 18 Jimmy Garoppolo was named the starter on Friday and played well for the Monarchs, completing 39 of 49 attempts for 334 yards and 2 TDs, but it was not enough as the Fire built up a 28-6 lead before giving up two late scores. Aaron Murray hit Kelvin Benjamin and O. J. Howard for scores, Nick Chubb had an impressive 36-yard TD run, and CB Darius Slay returned a kickoff 95 yards for a score as Atlanta starts off the year with a road win in their rivalry match against Charlotte. POTG: Fire CB Darius Slay: 10 Tck, 1 KR TD   ST. LOUIS 19   OHIO 24 Rookie QB Justin Fields felt right at home in Ohio Stadium, completing 22 of 33 passing and leading the Glory to a win in the home opener. His favorite target was speedy Terry McLaurin (6 catches for 85 yards) and his first career TD goes to TE Jace Sternberger. St.Louis kept it close, down only 21-19 late into the game, but could not get a drive into scoring range in the 4 th  as the Ohio defense played solidly in Jay Gruden’s first game at the helm of the club. POTG: Ohio LB Ryan Shazier: 8 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR   NEW ENGLAND 21   PHILADELPHIA 24 A fun one in Philly as the Stars hold off a late surge from the Steamrollers and win their opener to start the season a lot stronger than their 0-6 start in 2020. Carson Wentz got the start despite being with the team for only 2 weeks. He got a mix of cheers and jeers when he came on the field, but won the tough Philly crowd over with an early TD to K. J. Hamler, a 33-yard rope of a throw. Derrick Henry rushed for 73 yards and a score while new Steamroller Eddie Lacy had 58 yards on 13 carries. POTG: New England DT Aaron Donald: 13 Tck, 1 TFL, 1 Sck   WASHINGTON 26   MICHIGAN 31 The Feds put a scare into Michigan, with rookie Travis Etienne scoring twice despite only getting 10 carries in his first pro game. While LeVeon Bell rushed for 100 yards on 22 carries, it was QB Kirk Cousins who helped Michigan eke out the hard fought win, completing 30 of 40 and throwing 4 TDs, including 2 to POTG Cody Latimer. Up only 4, it was a Cousins to Peoples-Jones TD throw early in the 4 th  that helped the Panthers build up a lead and earn the W. POTG: Michigan WR Cody Latimer: 11 Rec, 119 Yds, 2 TD   ORLANDO 10  OAKLAND 6 A dense fog swept into Santa Clara on the afternoon of the Invaders’ opening game. The low visibility impaired both clubs as neither could even try to go deep in the difficult conditions. With both teams creeping up to the line, the run games also suffered. The only TD of the game came on defense when Orlando corner Malik Jackson picked off Tom Brady and ran through the fog for a 47-yard return. Beyond that it was 3 first half field goals as the fog thickened. Neither team was able to mount much of an attack in the second half, and, quite frankly, the fans in Santa Clara likely saw very little of what occurred on the field in a bizarre game to open the year. POTG: Orlando CB Michael Jackson: 7 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   SAN DIEGO 14   DENVER 28 Denver doubles up the Thunder, thanks to 4 TD passes from Josh Allen, as the Gold open their season with a home victory. Allen threw for 322 despite taking 7 sacks in the game. Newly acquired WR Darnell Mooney had 2 of Allen’s 4 scoring throws and the Gold defense held Christian Ponder to only 161 yards passing as the Gold erased an early San Diego lead and took over in the 4 th quarter, with Allen finding both Mooney and Tavon Austin for scores in the final 9 minutes of action. POTG: Denver QB Josh Allen: 17/25, 322 Yds, 4 TD, 1 Int   NEW ORLEANS 27  SAN ANTONIO 13 Over 64,000 packed the New Alamodome to welcome football back to San Antonio. The Gunslingers got swept up in the excitement, but could not contain the Breakers, falling behind 17-3 before scoring their first TD. With Joe Flacco knocked out early in the 3 rd , it was Easton Stick at the helm for the Gunslingers. For New Orleans it was former Gold HB DeMarco Murray getting off to a good start by rushing for 70 yards and 2 TDs to power New Orleans to the win. POTG: Breaker HB DeMarco Murray: 22 Att, 70 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Rec, 26 Yds   SEATTLE 11   DALLAS 16 Rain and Wind in Big D kept this game tight and a soggy field at the Cotton Bowl made the run games all but invisible in this one. When Justin Herbert went down with a possible concussion, it was Josh Freeman called into action. The former Skyhawk thew the game winner with 5:24 left to play, finding backup TE Dalton Keene with a 9-yard TD to turn an 11-10 deficit into the 16-11 final score for the Roughnecks. Brett Hundley had put Seattle on top by finding his tight end, Kyle Rudolph, 3 minutes earlier, but could not mount a final drive to get the win, getting picked off at midfield by Jamal Adams to preserve the Dallas victory in the opening week’s final game. POTG: Dallas Free Safety Jamal Adams: 2 Tck, 1 PDef, 1 Int   Bandits Keep Rolling on Offense If anyone was wondering if the Tampa Bay Bandits would suffer a post-championship hangover, this week’s opener against in-state rival Jacksonville wiped out any such thoughts. The Bandits put up 47 points, gaining 567 yards on offense, and QB Dak Prescott led the charge, throwing for 486 yards in the team’s home opener. Over 55,000 were on hand at Raymond James Stadium to welcome the 2020 USFL Champions, and they got a repeat performance of pure Bandit Ball. From a 75-yard catch and run from HB Dalvin Cook, to a 60-yard TD to tight end Jordan Cameron, the Bandits filled the game with 60 minutes of big plays.   Tampa Bay finished the game with three 100-yard receivers (Grant 132, Cook 125, and Bryant 106), facing only 9 third downs all day thanks to their ability to connect on big passing plays consistently. The score was 26-0 by the 13-minute mark of the 2 nd  quarter and while Jacksonville put up some fight in the 2 nd  half, the Bandits just kept moving along, with Bryant, Matt Breida, and Cameron all scoring to build their point total to an impressive 47 points. It is only one game, but by all accounts, the league champions are still hungry, still dangerous, and still thrilling to watch.   Lawrence Debuts with 3 TDs Bulls fans may have been a bit nervous after watching Trevor Lawrence go 10 of 15 for only 89 yards in the first half, a half that saw them fall behind 26-3, but what Bulls fans wanted to see from their rookie signal caller, they got in the 2 nd  half. Lawrence, admittedly playing against a defense with a big lead to cushion them, went 15 of 25 for 293 yards in the second half, throwing TD passes to Tee Higgins, Taysom Hill and Gavin Escobar. It was too little, too late, but the strong second half showed Bulls fans that they had a QB who would keep fighting and who could make some big throws. The Bulls might want to think about what they can do to help Lawrence out, on defense and with a run game, but at least they know they have a gamer at the most important position on the field.   McCoy Teases 500 Yard Game After a 2020 season that saw Colt McCoy’s numbers dip compared to recent years, there were some questioning whether the Gambler QB was headed for the production cliff. If Week One’s performance was any indication, that does not appear to be the case. McCoy exploded against an overwhelmed Stallion secondary, averaging nearly 15 yards per attempt as he went 24 of 34 for 494 yards. McCoy had a chance to go over 500, but with a 42-25 lead, Coach Phillips opted to run out the game on the final 5 plays, leading McCoy to fall just short of 500.   McCoy had no trouble finding his big receivers, with Mike Evans catching 5 of 8 targets for 106 yards, while JuJu Smith-Schuster had 4 receptions for 128. Throw in a 48-yard TD to TE Greg Everett, and a 38-yard swing pass to Carlos Hyde and you have the makings of a special stat line. Houston has their home opener next week, hosting the San Antonio Gunslingers, and that may be yet another opportunity for their QB to show the world that he is very much still the same Colt McCoy that took Houston to three consecutive Summer Bowls.   Bell Only 100-Yard Rusher in Week One There is something about the run game in the USFL. We very rarely see teams start the year with strong performances. Blame it on the often cold, wet, windy, or snowy weather, or on the need for the offensive lines to gel as squads, but we rarely see many 100-yard games during the opening week of the year, and that was certainly the case this year as well.   While several backs, including 93 yards from Josh Jacobs, 90 from Nick Chubb, and 83 from Chicago’s Jeremy Hill, the only 100-yard performance was from the 2-time defending rushing champion, Michigan Panther LeVeon Bell. It was no cakewalk for Bell, who had only 41 yards at the half, but he became the main offensive weapon late and that allowed him to hit the century mark and once again find himself atop the rushing leaderboard.   San Antonio Sells Out for Opener Let’s step off the field and into the stands for just a moment, a chance to celebrate the return of USFL football to the Alamo City. After a pair of Memorial Day weekend tornadoes partially destroyed the Alamodome, and evidence of substandard construction led to the demolition of the entire facility, the Texas Outlaws had few good options. They got an offer they could not refuse from a group of Oklahoma City investors and by the start of the 2017 season the Outlaws had left Texas and had returned to their original home as the Oklahoma Outlaws. At the time a deal was cut that guaranteed Texas owner Red McCombs an expansion club in 2020. McComb worked tirelessly with state and city officials to get the Alamodome rebuilt, better than ever. But just as the expansion San Antonio Gunslingers were primed to return football to their home city, the Covid-19 pandemic forced the USFL to move all games to a set of hub cities. The Gunslingers would play the entire 2020 season in the home of their rivals, Houston. So, what would happen when they opened the 2021 season in San Antonio, a year delayed?   How about a sellout of the New Alamodome, with 64,108 officially in attendance? The opener included pomp, circumstance, a halftime performance from favorite son of Texas George Strait, an appearance from Governor Abbott, and the debut of the Gunslinger Girls, the cheerleading team that last took the field in 1987, when the original Gunslingers played their lone season in San Antonio. It was a loud, celebratory, and grateful crowd that watched their Gunslingers in action, and while the team on the field could not pull out a win, the city itself and the football fans of San Antonio certainly were winners this weekend.   Several QBs Questionable After Rough Openers We finish our Week 1 news with the kind of news no one wants to see, injuries. In this case we are speaking specifically of injuries to several starting quarterbacks. Of the 30 starters who took the field on Opening Weekend, 4 saw their games end early: Dallas super sophomore Justin Herbert, Pittsburgh’s Andy Dalton, San Antonio’s Joe Flacco, and Arizona’s David Carr. Of the four, only Dalton’s injury is not designated a concussion. Dalton suffered a strained hamstring in Pittsburgh’s game against Chicago, while Herbert, Flacco, and Carr all received blows to the head. All 4 quarterbacks are listed as “Questionable” for Week 2 action, which means there is a 50-50 chance that we will enter week 2 with Easton Stick facing the Houston Gamblers, Nate Peterman under center for Pittsburgh at Washington, Josh Freeman taking on the Oklahoma Outlaws, and Brock Osweiler leading Arizona against the Denver Gold. Will all 4 starters be held out? That won’t be known until Friday at the earliest, but there is a chance that we will be entering the season’s 2 nd  week with 4 pretty solid (if not better) starters not in action. Not at all what anyone wants to see.   While we reported on the QB injuries, the biggest injury was actually a defender, San Diego linebacker Kyle Van Noy. The veteran inside backer suffered a back injury that forced him to be taken off the field on the cart, a scary moment. He never lost feeling in his legs but had difficulty moving them at first. Physicians at Denver’s UC-Denver Hospital diagnosed a ruptured disk in Van Noy’s mid-back. He will remain in Denver for several more days for stabilization but will then return to southern California for further care and rehab. The injury is listed initially as a 12-16 week injury, but we may soon see San Diego place Van Noy on season-ending IR. Two other players are expected to miss at least a month, with Donte Jackson suffering a broken wrist and WR Chad Beebe tearing the bicep in his left arm while blocking on a run for Dalvin Cook.   OUT LB       Kyle Van Noy            SD          Ruptured Disk          12-16 Weeks CB          Donte Jackson       OHI       Broken Wrist            4-6 Weeks WR         Chad Beebe            TBY        Torn Biceps              4-6 Weeks   DOUBTFUL WR         J. J. Arcega-Whiteside  OAK      Groin                                    CB          Jason Verritt                   CHI        Concussion DT          Taven Bryan                     JAX         Pinched Nerve WR         Jerrel Jernigan               OAK      Hip CB          Desmond King               ATL         Concussion   QUESTIONABLE QB         Justin Herbert        DAL       Concussion QB         Joe Flacco               SAN       Concussion QB         David Carr                ARZ       Concussion QB         Andy Dalton          PIT         Hamstring DE          Tim Crowder            HOU     Neck WR         Curtis Samuel          OHI       Shoulder CB          A. J. Bouye              ARZ       Ankle WR         Davante Adams      OAK      Toe   First Impressions of All 30 USFL Squads Football returned around the nation with 15 home openers, and while weather certainly impacted what we saw in several games, our first impressions of all 30 USFL clubs were set by the opening week performances put on the field. So, what do we think we saw in Week One? Here is our team-by-team breakdown of the good, the bad, and the muddy. ARIZONA The offense gained 414 yards, even with David Carr only in action for a half, but the Wranglers lacked the killer instinct and it cost them in the end. The D gave up only 2.2 YPC, which is a very good sign, as was Bud DuPree’s 2 sacks and 5 pressures. The key for Arizona may well be the health of David Carr, who already may miss Week 2 after suffering a concussion in the opener.   ATLANTA A very good first impression from both the offense and the defense in their opener. Nick Chubb averaged 7.2 YPC against Charlotte. If he can stay in rhythm this year, Atlanta once again could have a very difficult offense to defend. Luke Kuechley started the year with 11 tackles, 3 for a loss, another very good indicator that Atlanta is going to be a tough out.   BALTIMORE The Blitz got immediate benefit from their two big defensive signings, with Micah Hyde picking off New Jersey’s Nick Foles 3 times in the opener while Calais Campbell had himself a 2-sack opener. This Blitz D wants to be aggressive and win the takeaway battle, and they did that to a tee against the Generals.   BIRMINGHAM A rough opener for rookie Najee Harris (8 Att, 22 Yds) which once again put the onus on Cam Newton. He at least got one good sign in their loss, with Henry Ruggs returning from injury to catch 4 balls for 143 yards, including a 75-yard scoring strike from Newton. The defense has a lot of questions to answer after giving up 567 yards to the Gamblers, and that has to concern Stallion Nation.   CHARLOTTE The good news is that JimmY G played well, throwing for 334 yards and 2 scores. The bad news is that little else went well for the Monarchs in their home opener. While fans gobbled up the new purple team gear, the Fire gobbled up yards and points against a Monarch D that did not look ready for the regular season to commence.   CHICAGO So hard to get a bead on either team in the freezing rain at Heinz Field, but what we think we saw was a Chicago defense that will pressure the QB and contain the run. The Machine had 10 tackles for loss in the game, which is a good sign that this is a squad that can penetrate and disrupt plays. Throw in 4 sacks of the 2 Mauler QBs and Coach Smith has to be happy with their Week 1 form.   DALLAS A tough outing for the offense in the opener, and having Herbert go out with a concussion is not what Coach Kingsbury wants to see, but he found out that he has a very solid backup in Josh Freeman, and he has what appears to be an improved defense, particularly against the run, as Dallas held Knowshon Moreno to only 39 yards in the game.   DENVER A nice confidence-boosting game for QB Josh Allen, who finished with 322 yards and 4 TDs. Of course, San Diego is not the toughest foe Denver will face this year, and the Gold will need more from their tandem of tailbacks (Lindsay and Fournette), but getting an opening week win is nothing to sneeze at.   HOUSTON A fast start for the Houston offense as the Gamblers put up 567 yards (including 494 from McCoy and the aerial attack). The core looks strong with McCoy, Hyde, Evans, and Smith-Schuster clearly in form for a new season. The D was outstanding against the run but did allow Cam Newton 327 yards passing, so there is room to improve.   JACKSONVILLE Yes, the Bulls lost by 20, but they had some positives as well. After a rough first half, rookie Trevor Lawrence completed 15 of 25 passing in the 2 nd half and finished with 371 yards, making some big throws to Tee Higgins and Mike Williams. The D needs to get better, and Jacksonville will need to find a run game, but their superstar rookie QB showed some flashes of what the future might bring.   LAS VEGAS The Vipers pulled off the upset of the week and, perhaps more surprising, were led by a defense that really struggled in 2020. The Vipers gave up only 267 total yards, holding Paxton Lynch under 200 yards passing. The offense had some bright spots as well, with Kareem Hunt averaging 9.5 yards per carry and rookie WR Rashod Bateman catching 4 of 6 targets on the day.   LOS ANGELES The weather made offense tough, but LA still managed two TD drives and, as expected, their D was able to shut down the Stags when it mattered. Portland only managed 36 yards rushing, which for them is a nightmare. LA will be home next week, and we will want to see if their offense can show signs of improvement in a game unlikely to be played in a monsoon.   MEMPHIS A tough loss to open the year, especially because the much-hyped Rex Ryan defense gave up 307 yards to a team not viewed as an explosive group. The Showboats will need more out of the offense to help balance things out, and that starts with Paxton Lynch going deeper with his throws. A 5.3 yard per attempt average is not going to scare many defenses.   MICHIGAN The offense was impressive, providing the first 100-yard rushing game of the year for LeVeon Bell and a 4-TD day for Kirk Cousins, but this one was closer than expected because the defense showed some areas of weakness. Washington scored on 4 of 5 redzone trips (2 TD, 2 FG) and the Panther D missed a couple of takeaway opportunities, something Coach McDermott surely will want to improve.   NEW ENGLAND The Steamrollers came close in this one, and they have to be happy with Ryan Tannehill’s game, where he threw for 316 yards and 3 scores without a pick. They need to get more from the run game, and that means Eddie Lacy, but all in all they played a solid game but came up just short.   NEW JERSEY After throwing 3 picks in the opener, expect Nick Foles to hear some boos when the Generals open their home schedule. If he continues to struggle with his field vision, we think we will see Teddy Bridgewater stepping in soon. It would also not be a bad idea to lean on the run a bit more, especially Tony Pollard, who had only 7 carries but averaged 6.9 yards per touch.   NEW ORLEANS A bit sloppy (6 penalties for 49 yards), and a bit uneven on offense (3 of 13 on 3 rd  down), but the Breaker D helped cover up some of the offenses’ early season struggles. The Breakers have to love seeing DeMarco Murray’s 70 yards and 2 scores, but they want his YPC to be higher than the 3.2 he delivered against San Antonio.   OAKLAND We can all write the opener off as a weather-impacted non-showing for the Invaders, but even with that, they need to find some answers. Christian McCaffrey is too talented to be averaging 1.7 YPC, even in the fog, heck, especially in the fog. With neither team able to score an offensive TD, we are just not sure if Oakland has a solid D or they just benefitted from the fog-covered field.   OHIO Nothing like a career-starting win to build confidence, and that is almost certainly the greatest benefit of Ohio’s home opening win over St. Louis. Justin Fields looked confident, completing 67% of his throws and building a rapport with WR Terry McLaurin, another Buckeye-to-Buckeye connection for the Glory.   OKLAHOMA No team came out of Week 1 feeling better about themselves than the Outlaws. They played well, they got some breaks, and they came back to win against the 6-time division champ. All of that should help them feel good about the direction the team is heading, and the future with Jalen Hurts under center. ORLANDO As with Oakland, we are not sure if Orlando can take much away from the fogged-in victory they got against the Invaders. They failed to move the ball, gaining only 115 offensive yards, but benefited from a fluke play (pick-six) to earn the W. They will want to get the ball to Chris Carson with more regularity in Week 2, and hopefully a clear sky will let us learn more about this team.   PHILADELPHIA A win is a win is a win. And when you only got 3 of them in all of 2020, opening the year with one is a good feeling. Coach Dan Quinn had his squad ready to play and ready to fight for every advantage. Carson Wentz looked good for a QB who only had 2 weeks to learn the offense, and while Derrick Henry struggled to only 2.3 YPC, he was solid on 3 rd  and short, which is exactly what the Stars need from him.   PITTSBURGH A tough loss at home to open the year, and losing Andy Dalton possibly for Week 2 (hamstring) is not what the Maulers wanted out of this first week. They did show some moxie on defense, but need more out of their run game (47 yards on 31 attempts is not getting the job done) and need to get more pressure on the QB if they want to challenge the Machine and Panthers again.   PORTLAND Blame the rain if you want, or point out how good LA’s defense is, but for a team that wants to run the ball to set up the pass, Portland struggled to do just that. Gaining 36 yards on the day through the run, including only 1 yard from rookie Javontae Williams, has to be a troubling sign for the Stags.   SAN ANTONIO In a game where they lost Joe Flacco early and then limited Melvin Gordon’s snaps, it is hard to say what we learned about San Antonio this week. We might have learned that they will again struggle against the run and that they need to throw more at the opposing QB if they want to disrupt him.   SAN DIEGO No team has a roster that produces more “who is that?” responses than San Diego, and the result was a 14-point outing produced through 4 field goals and a safety. That has to be a troubling start for the Thunder, who had only 2 red zone trips and came away with 3 points.   SEATTLE Brett Hundley threw for 286 yards, but where was Knowshon Moreno (11 touches for 39 yards)? The Dragons live and die from play action and if they cannot get the run game going, we don’t think Hundley alone can carry them. That said, the defense was stout all game long and both Amari Cooper and Marshall Newhouse made some nice catches in traffic.   ST. LOUIS James Conner produced 65 yards on 15 carries, a healthy 4.3 YPC, which is a good sign that St. Louis has found a replacement for Eddie Lacy. Now they just need to work on making full use of Lamar Jackson, who rushed the ball only twice in the opener. That and they need to figure out how to get off the field on 3 rd down, allowing a 50% conversion rate is not good for anyone.   TAMPA BAY No notes on the offense, which was a terrifying as what we saw last October in the Summer Bowl. The Bandits looked as potent as ever. The defense got a bit lax after they had a 26-3 lead, but that can be forgiven. Racking up nearly 500 passing yards in the opener will cover up many possible issues, but we just don’t think the Bandits have many.   WASHINGTON A solid outing against a very tough Michigan team, but still a loss. Washington has to be happy to see the run game produce 2 scores, but they will want more from Etienne and Darrynton Evans as the season goes on. Ryan Nassib got the start, and protected the ball, but big plays remain elusive for the Feds, and that may be enough to see them turn to Jacoby Brissett at some point.   After an opening week that saw 10 of 15 games occurring between divisional rivals, Week 2 brings us only 4 divisional matchups, but that does not mean we won’t have intriguing games on the schedule. We have two good ones on Friday, both interdivisional games as Seattle heads across the country to face the Atlanta Fire and Michigan travels to Los Angeles for the Express’s home opener.   Saturday brings us three divisional games, with New England in Baltimore, San Antonio headed to Houston for a Texas Showdow, and Arizona taking on their archrival, Denver. The Gold start the year with back-to-back home games and can put a 2-game lead on the Wranglers if they can win this Wild West showdown. Also on Saturday we have the surprise of Week 1, the Las Vegas Vipers, taking on a very tough Chicago Machine at Soldier Field. In the South it is Memphis hosting the defending champs as Rex Ryan tries to find a way to slow down Dak Prescott and that Bandit Ball offense.   On Sunday, we start off the day with New Orleans headed up to New Jersey to face the Generals. We also have regional action with Birmingham in Orlando and Oakland visiting Charlotte, both on Fox. At 4pm we have more regional action from San Diego and St. Louis, but the big game is Fox’s national coverage of another Southwest showdown as Dallas and Oklahoma put on their version of the Red River Rivalry. You know the fans in OKC will be up for this one after upsetting Arizona on the road in Week 1. We finish off the week with a battle that used to be a divisional rivalry but now pits Central Division Pittsburgh against Northeast Division Washington, both hoping to earn their first W of the year. (Divisional Games listed below in BLUE )   FRI @ 8pm ET         Seattle (0-1) @ Atlanta (1-0)                              NBC FRI @ 8pm ET          Michigan (1-0) @ Los Angeles (1-0)                  ESPN/EFN   SAT @ 12pm ET       Portland (0-1) @ Jacksonville (0-1)                ABC SAT @ 12pm ET     New England (0-1) @ Baltimore (1-0)             FOX SAT @ 4pm ET        San Antonio (0-1) @ Houston (1-0)                  ABC SAT @ 4pm ET        Las Vegas (1-0) @ Chicago (1-0)                        FOX SAT @ 8pm ET         Tampa Bay (1-0) @ Memphis (0-1)                  NBC SAT @ 8pm ET         Arizona (0-1) @ Denver (1-0)                            ESPN/EFN   SUN @ 12pm ET      New Orleans (1-0) @ New Jersey (0-1)           ABC SUN @ 12pm ET      Birmingham (0-1) @ Orlando (1-0)                   FOX Regional SUN @ 12pm ET      Oakland (0-1) @ Charlotte (0-1)                        FOX Regional SUN @ 4pm ET       Ohio (1-0) @ San Diego (0-1)                           ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET        Philadelphia (1-0) @ St. Louis (0-1)                 ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET       Dallas (1-0) @ Oklahoma (1-0)                        FOX SUN @ 8pm ET       Pittsburgh (0-1) @ Washington (0-1)                ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: With so many outstanding offensive performances in the season openers, how could we go with a defender? Because opening the year with a 3-interception game is about as good as any defender can hope for. Micah Hyde, making the move from Chicago to Baltimore did just that and immediately proved why the Blitz went after him in free agency. A first impression that impresses.

Are you ready to kick this thing off? We sure are. After a year of empty stadiums and bubble hubs, we are ready to see the USFL back at home, with fans in the stands, and every team back in their communities, including, a year delayed, the return of football to both San Antonio and Boston. In this final preview before we kick off the 2021 season, we will take a look at 10 moves likely to provide immediate impact, preview all 30 teams, all 6 divisions, and provide you with our picks for both the 2021 playoffs and the major award winners. We know you are anxious to get to it, so let’s start with the biggest impact signings of the offseason.   Ten Players Who Could Have a Huge Impact in 2021 From blue chip rookies to veteran NFL acquisitions, there are new faces all across the league, and we are feeling like this year could include some big impact roster additions that will begin paying dividends right away. We have selected 10 of the most likely quick-start roster additions that could help their USFL clubs get on the right track from Week 1.   J. J. Watt (NFL to Memphis) After a major injury in 2019, the former Houston Oiler bounced back well in 2020 and now looks to make an immediate splash as he joins the spring league and a very solid Memphis Showboat squad. Coach Ryan has to be chomping at the bit to have a player of Watt’s caliber anchoring his D-line, a player who will force offenses to shift their blocking and allow the Boats to pressure with only their front 4.  Micah Parsons (Rookie to Philadelphia) The top defensive prospect in this year’s draft, Parsons should being a much-needed infusion of energy and aggression to the Stars’ defense. Expect Coach Quinn to utilize Parsons as a pass rusher and a run stuffer, keeping him on the strong side of the line, able to force plays inside or put pressure on the tackle.  Teddy Bridgewater (Trade to New Jersey) While we expect the Generals to go with Nick Foles in Week 1, we saw enough of what Bridgewater can do when he was with the Bulls to believe that he will quickly adapt to his new team and their playbook. Don’t be shocked if Bridgewater gets the starting job by or before midseason. Either that or he motivates Foles to take his game up a notch. Either way, the Generals will be in better shape to compete in the Northeast.   Najee Harris (Rookie to Birmingham) Despite the trusted output of quality backs from Alabama year after year, the Stallions have struggled to find a back that could finally provide them with a dependable run game. In Harris they finally sign a back who seems primed to act as a legitimate bell cow, earning 300+ carries and, in the hopes of Coach Haley, 1,000 yards or more. Adding a back of Harris’s quality can only help Cam Newton as he will face a more cautious defensive front with a real run threat keeping defenders from keying on Newton.  Carson Wentz (NFL to Philadelphia) The Stars went into the offseason knowing that their QB situation needed to be a focal point. They went the draft route, but when Zach Wilson signed with the NFL they had to have a plan B. Fortunately the NFL Eagles all but handed them their solution, letting Carson Wentz go at the conclusion of his rookie contract despite several good seasons in the NFL. The Stars jumped on the chance and now bring a strong armed QB who has proven to be a playmaker to a team that has struggled to make the big play for several years.   Melvin Gordon (NFL to San Antonio) The Gunslingers struggled to sustain a run game last year and Coach Long certainly wants to take pressure off veteran Joe Flacco by having offensive balance. Gordon has had some injury issues, but when he is healthy, he has 1,200 potential. If he can provide San Antonio with a consistent run threat, Flacco can use play action to pick apart defenses. Expect the Gunslingers to give Gordon a heavy load from the start, and if his body holds up, expect him to provide them with some strong outings.  Jacoby Brissett (Trade to Washington) Very much like what we see with the Foles-Bridgewater situation in New Jersey, Washington brought in the former Seattle starter as a means of ensuring better QB play. Whether Brissett unseats Ryan Nassib or simply motivates their returning starter to be the kind of player he can be, in either case, the Feds should be better in the passing game, and with a new rookie HB also in the mix in Travis Etienne, and a new head coach hoping to provide a more diverse and more dangerous offensive gameplan, the Feds are going to look very different from the team that we saw in 2020.  Eddie Lacy (Free Agent to New England) Both expansion clubs had a focus on the run game this offseason. Coach Fox had great success with Kerwynn Williams in the team’s first season, and now, after winning the free agency free-for-all to land Lacy, the Steamroller run game could be even better. Lacy is an outstanding inside runner, with the ability to break away when he gets past the initial line of defense. He is closing in on the dreaded age 30, but there are certainly plenty of miles (or yards) left in the former Skyhawk before we expect his production to dip.   Trevor Lawrence (Rookie to Jacksonville) Yes, this is a list for immediate impact, and we know that rookie QBs often struggle, but while Lawrence may need some time on the field before we truly see what he is capable of delivering, his arrival has already had an impact on the Bulls. Hope that the Bulls are finally taking winning seriously and investing in their own future has helped the club add nearly 10,000 more season ticket holders to their fanbase after a series of rough seasons had seen their numbers dip. Lawrence may need time to turn around the Bulls’ fortunes, but he has already provided Bulls fans with a reason to believe in their team once again.   Calais Campbell (Free Agent to Baltimore) It is not often a team has a chance to snap up the “Best Player of his Generation” or even the “Best Defensive End in USFL History”, but that is exactly what Baltimore saw when Arizona let Calais Campbell’s deal expire. The former Orlando Renegade still has all the moves, all the fury, and all the QB-terrorizing capacity as he ever had, even as he reaches the end of his career. With 12 consecutive pass rushing titles and more 20-sack seasons than any player in USFL or NFL history, Campbell’s presence immediately makes Baltimore’s defense one to watch. The Blitz made several moves designed to improve from division title contender to Summer Bowl contender, but this is certainly the one that has every other team in the East worried.   TEAM PREVIEWS Here we go. 30 teams, 30 dreams for a league title. Can the Bandits defend their title? Will Baltimore’s big offseason moves pay off? Can Michigan and Arizona maintain their divisional dominance or will upstarts like Chicago, Pittsburgh, Dallas, and Oklahoma rise up and dethrone the champions? How will their sophomore seasons build on the expansion years for New England and San Antonio? Can teams like St. Louis, Philadelphia, or Ohio get back on the right track? We break down all the roster moves, the departures, arrivals, and draftees that could impact 2021. Going division by division with the teams in alphabetical order, we break it all down, and then we will follow it up with our division and playoff predictions. We kick it all off in the Northeast, where Baltimore is making a move to get another shot at the Summer Bowl.   Last season saw the Blitz catch fire late in the season to break out from a cluster of teams that simply could not get beyond .500. As the only team in the division with a winning record by season’s end, Baltimore got a taste of playoff football and now want more. They made some big moves, and in a division where 3 teams (New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Washington) changed their coaching staffs, the Blitz seem poised to increase their advantage over the other 4 clubs. Behind them is a huge question mark as any one of the other 4 teams could see quick improvement or could flounder. Is 2 nd  year New England in the best position to finish 2 nd  in the division or will one of the new head coaches make an immediate impact and get their team back into contention? The Northeast feels very much like a frontrunner and 4 teams trying to impress.   2020 RECORD: 9-7, 1 st in Northeast HEAD COACH: Jim Caldwell (8 th  Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: DE Olivier Vernon (NFL) IMPACT ARRIVALS: DE Calais Campbell (FA), S Micah Hyde (FA), DT Michael Brockers (NFL) IMPACT ROOKIES: WR Tutu Atwell (Louisville) OUTLOOK: The NE Division Champions were not happy with their Wild Card round exit last year and went about to address the roster gaps, especially on defense, where they pulled off a coup by offering future first-ballot Hall of Famer Calais Campbell a 1-year deal which he could not refuse. In addition to adding the best pass rusher in USFL history, Baltimore also added a solid interior lineman, bringing Michael Brockers over from the NFL, and shored up the secondary by landing Chicago’s Micah Hyde in free agency. This Blitz team is ready to make a run at the Big Boys in the East, though a lot will still ride on QB Jake Locker. Expect the Blitz to center the offense around HB Josh Jacobs, but when games are tight it will be up to Locker to pull out the wins needed to avoid playing in the Wild Card round and to get some home playoff games for the team that is likely a prohibitive favorite to win the Northeast again.   2020 RECORD: 6-10, 4 th in Northeast HEAD COACH: John Fox (2 nd Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: HB Kerwynn Williams (NFL), DT Kedric Gholston (Ret), HB Matt Forte (Ret), CB Sam Shields (FA), WR DeVante Parker (FA) IMPACT ARRIVALS: HB Eddie Lacy (FA), P Kevin Huber (NFL) IMPACT ROOKIES: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (NDame), CB Benjamin St. Juste (Minn) OUTLOOK: A lot of change to the roster after a very solid 6-win opening season for expansion New England. Coach Fox got good performances across the board, but loses some major contributors, particularly HB Kerwynn Williams (off to the NFL) and DT Kedric Gholston. They feel they have more than accounted for Williams’s departure by outbidding 4 other teams to land Eddie Lacy in free agency. The defense could still be an issue, though Coach Fox likes both of his rookies (see above). In a very shaky division, we could see New England possibly hit .500 or even battle for a Wild Card at 9-7, as long as they can stay healthy as depth remains a concern.   2020 RECORD: 7-8-1, 2 nd in Northeast HEAD COACH: Robert Saleh (1 st  Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: DE Vic Beasley (FA), FS Quinton Carter (FA), HB Maurice Jones-Drew (Ret), LB Rey Maualaga (Ret) IMPACT ARRIVALS: QB Teddy Bridgewater (Trade), HB Delone Carter (FA) IMPACT ROOKIES: LB Jamin Davis (Kentucky), S Andre Cisco (Syracuse) OUTLOOK: A major shakeup after disappointing season in 2020. Out goes Norv Turner, despite many fans feeling he should have been given another year. In comes defensive-minded Robert Saleh, shifting leagues and coasts after several strong seasons as the NFL 49ers’ DC. His main task is to rebuild a run game that loses All-USFL and future HOF halfback Maurice Jones-Drew. It looks like it will be Halfback-by-committee as the Generals did not bring in a clear lead back this offseason. It could also be a battle to define who the starter at QB is after a February trade brings in former Bulls’ QB Teddy Bridgewater to compete with Nick Foles. We think Foles gets the early season starts, but long term it seems Bridgewater could be the more dynamic option. We are looking at 2021 as a transition season in many ways for the Generals, so 6 wins could be the ceiling as Coach Saleh restructures the team around his vision.   2020 RECORD: 2-14, 5 th in Northeast HEAD COACH: Dan Quinn (1 st Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: QB Matt Gutierrez (Trade), FB Ira Johnson (FA), QB P. J. Walker (FA), LB Channing Crowder (Ret), DE Anthony Hargrove (Ret),            OT Donvan Smith (Trade) IMPACT ARRIVALS: S Jalen Mills (Trade), CB Dwayne Gratz (FA), LB Jonathan Bostic (FA), QB Carson Wentz (NFL) IMPACT ROOKIES: LB Micah Parsons (Penn St), TE Pat Freiermuth (Penn St), WR Elijah Moore (Ole Miss) OUTLOOK: A complete collapse in 2020 left the Stars with the worst record in the league. They did, as so many teams in that state do, engaging in a full cleaning of the house. Out are HC Jim Harbaugh and QB Matt Gutierrez, in is Dan Quinn and, thanks to the NFL Eagles, QB Carson Wentz. Wentz had some issues with his NFL club, but is popular among Philly fans, so he should get a nice welcome as the newest Star QB. He will spend a lot of time handing the ball to Derrick Henry, as he should. He also will have a very different defense behind him as Coach Quinn brought in new talent in the secondary and the LB group, including perhaps the best Penn State LB to come out of Happy Valley in several years. Micah Parsons should be a ROTY candidate as Coach Quinn hopes he can bring energy to what had been a pretty shaky Stars defense in 2020. The Stars could bounce back quickly in a pretty shallow NE Division. They are not ready to challenge Baltimore, but they may not be the basement dweller either.   2020 RECORD: 6-9-1, 3 rd in Northeast HEAD COACH: Kevin Gilbride (1 st  Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: LB Alec Ogletree (FA), HB Jahvid Best (FA), C Luke Bowanko (Trade), OT Ereck Flowers (FA), DE Michael Johnson (NFL) IMPACT ARRIVALS: S Kenny Vaccaro (Trade), QB Jacoby Brissett (Trade) IMPACT ROOKIES: HB Travis Etienne (Clemson), LB Divine Deablo (Va Tech) OUTLOOK: The third of three teams to switch up their coaching staff in the division. Kevin Gilbride comes in with a reputation for offensive innovation, and will be starting with a very different squad than the offense we saw last year in Washington. QB Jacoby Brissett could well unseat Ryan Nassib as the starter under center. Rookie Travis Etienne is on a path to be the lead back in Week 1, and we expect Gilbride to open up the Federal offense quite a bit in 2021. Now, can the defense hold up their end of the deal? We like the addition of safety Kenny Vaccaro from Houston (a nice trade late in the offseason), but we worry that there was not enough done to improve the D-Line and bolster the pass rush. In any other division, Washington might be headed to 4 th  or 5 th place, but we could honestly see them finishing 2 nd  in the Northeast. The two most recent Coaches of the Year both came out of the Southeast, and both from the same coaching tree as Marc Trestman’s 2019 COTY turned into the Bandits’ 4 th  title in 2020 while Atlanta made a huge leap in 2020, from basement to playoff contender. In 2021 these two will battle for the division, but don’t forget about Orlando, who are also hoping to get into the mix. Jacksonville is excited to start a new era with Trevor Lawrence at the helm while Charlotte is also starting the year with a new QB, or perhaps two, as they try to find themselves a formula to return to the top of the division. The Southeast has a bit of everything, from a dominant Bandit squad to some up and comers and some teams in reinvention mode. Will it be a division that also surprises us?   2020 RECORD: 13-3, 2 nd in Southeast HEAD COACH: Jaime Elizondo (2 nd  Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: LB Patrick Willis (FA), OT Marcus Cannon (FA), DT Albert Haynesworth (Ret), IMPACT ARRIVALS: LB Alec Ogletree (FA), SS Chuck Clark (FA), WR Robbie Anderson (FA), QB Pat White (FA) IMPACT ROOKIES: DT Christian Barmore (Alabama), DE Monty Rice (UGA) OUTLOOK: The Fire are hoping to continue the momentum they showed in Coach Elizondo’s first season. They will almost certainly battle Tampa Bay once again for the division, though Orlando also looks like a potential contender. We like the additions on defense, especially the addition of LB Alec Ogletree. The defensive line could need time to gel, but we think the Fire still have enough on defense, and are certainly still a strong offensive team able to balance Nick Chubb’s run game with a solid passing attack.   2020 RECORD: 6-10, 5 th in Southeast HEAD COACH: Vance Joseph (2 nd  Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: OT Russell Okung (FA), DT Vernon Butler (FA), QB Mitch Trubisky (Trade) IMPACT ARRIVALS: QB Jimmy Garoppolo (Trade), WR Marques Colston (FA), OG Robert Myers (FA), OT Marcus Cannon (FA), DT Poona Ford (NFL), CB Levi Wallace (NFL) IMPACT ROOKIES: OT Penei Sewell (Oregon), DE Joseph Ossai (Texas) OUTLOOK: Coach Joseph swapped out one troubled QB for another, but in other areas he made some good moves. We like the stronger O-line quite a bit, with rookie Penei Sewell likely to step right in at left tackle, with Cannon and Myers also adding to the line. The WR group still feels a bit too thin, even with the addition of Marques Colston, and the run game could use a breakaway threat. All in all, a team that will play tough but may struggle to string together wins on a consistent basis.   2020 RECORD: 7-9, 4 th in Southeast HEAD COACH: Winston Moss (2 nd  Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: DE Robert Ayers (FA), QB Teddy Bridgewater (Trade) IMPACT ARRIVALS: None IMPACT ROOKIES: QB Trevor Lawrence (Clemson), HB Chuba Hubbard (OK State) OUTLOOK: Coach Moss surprised us with the lack of offseason moves. Clearly hoping to build through the draft, Moss made the draft move of the season in pulling Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence away from the NFL. He traded away a solid starter in Bridgewater (adding some 2022 draft capital), but did not bring in much help at other positions. The Bulls will have some growing pains, particularly with Lawrence in his first year, but they proved last year that they could hang with most foes. If Moss can get improvement on defense and if Lawrence is all that his career at Clemson promised, the Bulls could be at or above .500, but they still feel a year away from truly being a threat in a very top-heavy division.   2020 RECORD: 8-8, 3 rd in Southeast HEAD COACH: Ron Rivera (3 rd Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: OG Mike Iupati (FA), HB Ty Montgomery (FA), LB Jonathan Bostic (FA), HB Knile Davis (NFL) IMPACT ARRIVALS: OG Amini Siltulo (FA), K Mason Crosby (FA), HB Chris Carson (NFL) IMPACT ROOKIES: S Richie Grant (UCF), OT Jalen Mayfield (Michigan) OUTLOOK: Coach Rivera went into the offseason hoping to improve the run game and provide balance to an offense that far too often rose and fell with Russell Wilson’s protection. We think he found his back in NFL import Chris Carson, and adding linemen through both free agency and the draft will also be a boon to the offense. Is it enough? That is hard to say until we see how Moss’s offense takes shape. The D should be solid, but solid may not be enough with Atlanta and Tampa Bay both looking like Summer Bowl contenders.   2020 RECORD: 15-1, 1 st in Southeast, League Champion HEAD COACH: Mark Trestman (3 rd  Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: S Xavier Woods (FA), LB Dont’a Hightower (FA), CB Ken Webster (FA), TE Ryan Izzo (FA), WR Darnell Mooney (Trade) IMPACT ARRIVALS: OT David Bakhtiari (Trade), HB Bobby Rainey (FA), OG Xavier Su’a-Filo IMPACT ROOKIES: CB Asante Samuel Jr. (FSU), C Trey Hill (UGA) OUTLOOK: The Bandits were head and shoulders above the rest of the league last year, with an offense capable of putting up a 40- or 50-burger at any time. They took some offseason hits, particularly on defense, but they still have a very deep and very dangerous offensive squad, and that will be the driving force for their season. Rookie Asante Samuel is looking like a Week 1 starter and a very solid draft pick. The trade for Bakhtiari was also a good move from a team that had few holes last year. The Bandits could be a very serious contender to repeat as champion if they can replicate the combination of solid pass defense and explosive pass offense that we saw last year. With Memphis joining Houston and New Orleans as top tier franchises in the league, the Southern division becomes perhaps the most competitive and most impressive division in the league. Any one of those three could find themselves in Summer Bowl 2021, but they will have to get past the other two to have a shot at home field advantage. The three battling each other could be one of the best ongoing stories of the year. Throw in a Birmingham squad that is making moves to support Cam Newton with a run game and a better defensive unit, and a scrappy San Antonio squad and the South should be worth watching each and every week.   2020 RECORD: 3-13. 4 th in South HEAD COACH: Todd Haley (3 rd Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: CB Dwayne Gratz (FA), OG Robert Myers (FA), WR Robbie Anderson (FA) OT Jake Long (Ret), S Kendrick Lewis (NFL) IMPACT ARRIVALS: OT Donavan Smith (Trade), DE Dante Fowler (FA), DE Carlos Dunlap (NFL), QB Jameis Winston (NFL), S Malik Hooker (NFL) IMPACT ROOKIES: HB Najee Harris (Alabama), WR DeVonta Smith (Alabama), DE Boogie Basham (Wake F) OUTLOOK: The Stallions are trying once again to fix a run game that seems a perennial issue. In rookie Najee Harris they may have finally found the back to help them balance their offense and relieve Cam Newton of the full weight of every drive. They missed out on Jaylen Waddle, but did add yet another quality receiver from Alabama. They will pair rookie DeVonta Smith with Henry Ruggs in what could be a very fast, very dangerous combination. The defense still has questions, though the two additions at DE (Fowler from the Gamblers and Carlos Dunlap from the NFL) should be an upgrade. Is that enough to compete in a division that seems to have moved on without the Stallions? Perhaps, at the very least they should be closer to matching the Breakers, Gamblers and Showboats in potential.   2020 RECORD: 10-6, 3 rd in South HEAD COACH: Wade Phillips (21 st  Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: DE Dante Fowler (FA), LB Pat Angerer (FA), OT Cedric Ogbuehi (FA), CB Janoris Jenkins (NFL), OT Nat Dorsey (Ret), S Kenny Vaccaro (Trade) IMPACT ARRIVALS: OT Ereck Flowers (Trade), CB Eric Wright (FA), OT Russell Okung (FA) IMPACT ROOKIES: DE Payton Turner (Houston), LB Buddy Johnson (A&M) OUTLOOK: The Gamblers watched as Memphis overtook them last year, and yet they very much had the same roster that was so dominant in past years. That has to be a concern, and yet, when we look at the Houston roster, there is a lot that looks just like 2017, 2018, or 2019, starting with an offense centered on the passing game of McCoy, Evans, and Smith-Schuster, paired with Carlos Hyde at HB. The focus of the offseason was the O-line, with two new tackles brought in. The draft was used to help the defense, which had some letdowns last year. We don’t expect Houston to continue to slide down the standings. Coach Phillips certainly knows what it takes to win in this league, so we think Houston is still very much in the mix this year.  2020 RECORD: 13-3, 1 st in South HEAD COACH: Rex Ryan (7 th Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: LB Nathan Triplett (FA), DT Dan Williams (FA), OG Jahri Evans (FA), QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (Ret), C. T. J. Johnson (Trade) IMPACT ARRIVALS: DT Kendall Reyes (Trade), DE J. J. Watt (NFL), LB Nate Orchard (NFL), QB Blake Bortles (NFL) IMPACT ROOKIES: DT Osa Odighizuwa (UCLA), LB Ernest Jones (So Car), WR Josh Palmer (Memphis) OUTLOOK: 2020 was a statement season for the Showboats. They jumped from 3 rd place and a perception that they were clearly a step behind Houston and New Orleans, moving to the top of the division and proving they could win with defense or offense. Yes, they have lost a few key contributors, but when you add a talent like J. J. Watt, it is hard not to see the 2021 version of the Showboats as a true contender. We like the addition of Blake Bortles as a backup for Paxton Lynch, but the biggest move is clearly the Watt addition. After an injury in 2019, he bounced back well last year and now could be poised to take on the USFL as a new challenger to Calais Campbell.   2020 RECORD: 11-5, 2 nd in South HEAD COACH: Lamar Lathon (10 th Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: K Caleb Sturgis (FA), CB Donte Jackson (FA), QB Pat White (FA), OT Willie Colon (Ret), DT Ricky Jean-Francois (Ret) IMPACT ARRIVALS: QB Tajh Boyd (FA), WR John Ross (NFL), K Randy Bullock (NFL), DE Romeo Okwara (NFL) IMPACT ROOKIES: OT Christian Darrisaw (Va Tech), OT Larry Borom (Mizzou) OUTLOOK: Losing Willie Colon could be a blow to the Breaker offense, but they are hopeful that one of their two draft choices will step up and keep the Breaker attack as potent as ever. The main players on that offense have not changed, the addition of John Ross, whose NFL career never panned out as planned, provides nice depth. The defense could need to reboot after losing two quality starters. The Breakers may well need to lean on their offense until Coach Lathon can recalibrate the D.   2020 RECORD: 3-13. 4 th in South HEAD COACH: Chuck Long (2 nd Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: S David Bruton (FA), K Mason Crosby (FA), HB Marshawn Lynch (Ret), TE Joel Dreesen (Ret), LB Casey Matthews (Trade) IMPACT ARRIVALS: HB Melvin Gordon (NFL) IMPACT ROOKIES: S Michael Carter II (Duke), HB Rhamondre Stevenson (OU), DE Gregory Rousseau (Miami), K Evan McPherson (Florida) OUTLOOK: Coach Long had definite goals for the offseason, with the primary one to find a replacement for retired HB Marshawn Lynch. To that end he not only landed a pretty solid option in rookie Rhamondre Stevenson of Oklahoma, but also perhaps the NFL import with the most upside in former Charger back Melvin Gordon. If Gordon can stay healthy, he could be a Top 5 back in the USFL, with a nice mix of inside & outside running skills and a decent record as a receiver. Long also beefed up the defense with two good-looking rookies, safety Michael Carter and DE Greg Rousseau. The Gunslingers should be a good bit more competitive in their 2 nd  season, but in this division, that may not net them many more wins.   Long dominated by the Michigan Panthers, the Central is now looking like a far more competitive division. Both Chicago and Pittsburgh challenged the Panthers last season and both hope to be right there again this year. And while Ohio and St. Louis look to be in a rebuilding phase, the three top teams in the Central should provide us with an exciting chase to the division title. We could see all three make the playoffs, but the key will be which one can step up in those key intra-divisional games to garner the division title.   2020 RECORD: 11-5, 2 nd in Central HEAD COACH: Lovie Smith (6 th Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: S Micah Hyde (FA), WR Kenny Golloday (FA), LB Courtney Upshaw (NFL) IMPACT ARRIVALS: S Xavier Woods (FA), WR Willie Snead (FA) IMPACT ROOKIES: C Kendrick Green (Illinois), OT Spencer Brown (N. Iowa) OUTLOOK: Chicago came on last year and gave Michigan a pretty solid run. They hope to do so again in 2021 with a roster that looks very similar to the 2020 edition. After losing Micah Hyde to free agency, the Machine snatched up the best option available in Xavier Woods, who should fill in nicely. The rookie class was very much focused on improving protection for QB Sam Bradford and for the Machine run game. Chicago is not a team that can play a variety of styles to beat various opponents. They play their game, and when they are on, it is a very effective one. That said, we still think Michigan will be the team to beat in the division, but don’t be surprised if Chicago is right there with them.   2020 RECORD: 14-2, 1 st in Central, Conference Champion HEAD COACH: Sean McDermott (7 th  Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: LB Odell Thurman (Ret), DE Justin Tuck (NFL) IMPACT ARRIVALS: TE Ryan Izzo (FA) CB Ronald Darby (NFL) IMPACT ROOKIES: DE Kwity Paye (Michigan), CB Ambry Thomas (Michigan) OUTLOOK: The Panthers essentially stood pat on offense, with only Bandit TE Ryan Izzo as a noteworthy addition to an attack that still remains 100% focused on LeVeon Bell as its centerpiece. The defense lost two team leaders in Thurman and Tuck,and while others will fill their spots on the field, it may be hard to fill their roles as team captains and motivators. Rookie Kwity Paye is likely to step right in at RE, while NFL Import Rondald Darby and rookie Ambry Thomas will try to back up Dre Kirkpatrick in the secondary. With most of the major players still in their spots on the roster, we think Michigan once again focuses on that 1-seed and home field, but with Chicago and Pittsburgh very much contenders, they have to avoid getting cocky and assuming the title is theirs.   2020 RECORD: 3-13, 4 th in Central HEAD COACH: Jay Gruden (1 st Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: CB Syd’Quan Thompson (FA), DT Geno Atkins (FA), HB Delone Carter (FA), WR Cordarelle Patterson (FA), LB Daniel Ellerbe (Ret), HB DeVontae Booker (NFL), QB Nick Mullens (Ret) IMPACT ARRIVALS: DT Sheldon Richardson (FA) IMPACT ROOKIE: QB Justin Fields (Ohio St), HB Trey Sermon (Ohio St), HB Elijah Mitchell (Louisiana) OUTLOOK: A complete overhaul, in both personnel and style. From dour disciplinarian Tom Coughlin to innovative and effusive Jay Gruden, this will be a very different team on the field and a very different attitude with the press. The question is how quicky Gruden can make this his team. It will be a team in transition, with a rookie QB in Justin Fields, a new offensive philosophy, and a very different roster. Expect Gruden to lean on veteran Isaiah Pead early in the season as he sees if either Trey Sermon or Elijah Mitchell has what it takes to join a HB rotation. The defense may struggle at first after losing several key contributors, though we love the addition of Richardson as the anchor inside. We are still not sure where the pass rush will come from, though the answer may be some exotic blitz packages. Ohio could improve this year beyond their 3-win total of 2020, but if they escape the 10-loss club, we will be very pleasantly surprised.   2020 RECORD: 10-6, 3 rd in Central HEAD COACH: Skip Holtz (2 nd Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: OT Oniel Cousins (FA), WR Jakobi Meyers (FA), WR Kamar Aiken (FA), DE Aaron Kampman (Ret), S Tyvon Branch (Ret), DE Dwight Freeney (Ret), WR/KR Josh Cribbs (Ret), DT Kendall Reyes (Trade) IMPACT ARRIVALS: C T. J. Johnson (Trade), DE Vic Beasley (FA), WR Corey Coleman (FA) IMPACT ROOKIES: OT Rashawn Slater (Nwestern), WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (USC), S Damar Hamlin (Pitt) OUTLOOK: The Maulers were on a run last year before a late season losing streak cost them a playoff spot. They have the talent, even with a significant number of departures, to make a playoff run once again. They wanted to improve protection for Andy Dalton, not as mobile as he once was, so they traded for T. J. Johnson in the pivot and drafted a quality RT in Rashawn Slater. But the biggest gift to Dalton would be if the Maulers’ unsettled HB situation could find a rotation or a single player who can get the job done consistently. Sony Michel is likely to retain his starting role, but we just don’t see a back in their HB room who is likely to be a 300-carry, 1,200 yard guy, so it is likely to be a rotation once again.   2020 RECORD: 2-14, 5 th in Central HEAD COACH: Brian Schottenheimer (1 st  Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: HB Eddie Lacy (FA), WR Stevie Johnson (FA), DT Sheldon Richardson (FA), S Chuck Clark (FA), DE Adrian Clayborne (Trade) IMPACT ARRIVALS: DT Geno Atkins (FA), WR Jakobi Meyers (FA), HB James Conner (NFL) IMPACT ROOKIE: TE Kyle Pitts (Florida), S Tyree Gillespie (Mizzou), HB Larry Rountree III (Mizzou) OUTLOOK: The mass exodus of talent, including perhaps the Skyhawks’ top two offensive weapons (Lacy and Johnson), as well as two solid defenders, is a bad sign for 2021. Coach Schottenheimer was brought in to try and maximize the talents of QB Lamar Jackson, but we are just not sure he will have enough weapons around him to showcase what he can do. We like the Pitts signing, and adding James Conner from the NFL Steelers could pay off for the run game, but we just don’t see a lot of game-breaking potential in the Skyhawk receiver group and their line still worries us. Add to that a defense that was pretty miserable last year and did not add much this offseason and we just don’t see how St. Louis escapes the basement of the division.   No division has been as predictable in the past decade as the Southwest, where Arizona has simply dominated the division. The Wranglers have been the undisputed champions of the division with a run of titles and Summer Bowl appearances, but is the window closing? Dallas and Oklahoma are hoping that the sun is about to set on Arizona as both believe they are poised to take the mantle and lead the division. Las Vegas and Denver don’t seem to be there right now, but the biggest question is if Arizona truly has dropped down a notch or will they once again prove to everyone that they are the Best in the West?   2020 RECORD: 12-4, 1 st in Southwest HEAD COACH: Jim Tomsula (13 th  Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: DE Calais Campbell (FA), FB Andy Janovich (FA), C Blake Schlueter (FA),DT Ryan Carruthers (Trade) IMPACT ARRIVALS: CB A. J. Bouye (Trade), DE Jerry Hughes (FA), QB Brock Osweiler (FA), FB Alex Armah (NFL) IMPACT ROOKIES: LB Zaven Collins (Tulsa), S Talanoa Hufanga (USC) OUTLOOK: The Wranglers have to still be in shock that their gambit to delay extending Calais Campbell’s contract turned into his departure, with Baltimore offering him a 1-year deal well outside of Arizona’s capacity to match. That departure will certainly hurt a defense that depended on Campbell and DuPree forcing the ball out of the QB’s hands early. DuPree is still there, and Free Agent Jerry Hughes can help put pressure, but it won’t be the same level of threat as when Campbell was there. Arizona also hoped to land a protégé QB to put behind David Carr. After all, Carr has basically missed 1.5 seasons in the past 3 due to injury and has to be considering retirement as he comes back from a major injury in 2020. They went after Alabama’s Mac Jones, who plays a similar style to Carr, but lost out to the NFL Patriots. They tried to get a deal with Jacksonville for Teddy Bridgewater, but the Generals outbid them, so they added Brock Osweiler as an insurance policy but still have no secession plan should Carr step down after this year. For now, however, it is Carr, Cruz, Carey and Crowell at the core of a pretty good offense, with a defense that still has some playmakers. Expect the division to be a lot tighter this year, but Arizona will be there in the mix.   2020 RECORD: 10-6, 2 nd in Southwest HEAD COACH: Kliff Kingsbury (4 th  Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: CB Brandon Carr (FA), HB Charles Sims (FA), QB Brandon Wheedon (FA), IMPACT ARRIVALS: S Jashad Jones (FA), LB Samson Ebukam (FA), HB Duke Johnson (NFL) IMPACT ROOKIE: OG Aaron Banks (NDame), DE Ta’Quon Graham (Texas) OUTLOOK: Rarely have we seen a team change their fortunes as quickly as the Roughnecks did once they put Justin Herbert under center. The offense clicked under Herbert, the defense improved when not asked to be on the field 40 minutes per game, and the team gelled. Roughneck nation now firmly believes they are ready to challenge the Wrangler dynasty, and we tend to agree with them. Coach Kingsbury has solid talent across his entire offense, especially with the strong year that Sammy Watkins had last year. We like the addition of Duke Johnson as a rotational back and we even think the defense could be better after adding Jones and Ebukam. If Ta’Quon Graham proves to be a solid option at right end, they could be ready to challenge anyone in the conference.   2020 RECORD: 6-10, 4 th in Southwest HEAD COACH: John Hufnagel (6 th  Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: QB Kyle Orton (FA), P James Sykes (FA), WR Michael Crabtree (FA), DE D’Aundre Reed (NFL), OT David Bakhtiari (Trade) IMPACT ARRIVALS: WR Darnell Mooney (Trade), OT Jack Mewhort (Trade), S Andrew Wingard (FA), QB Mitch Trubisky (trade) IMPACT ROOKIES: DE Odafe Oweh (Penn St), S Camryn Bynum (Cal) OUTLOOK: It is rare that we see a trade in the USFL that leaves us scratching our head as much as the Bakhtiari trade that brought Darnel Mooney and Jack Mewhort to Denver. They lose a very promising young tackle and bring in a 3 rd or 4 th  receiver and a depth player at the position. Why? Honestly, the entire Gold strategy this offseason feels like a muddled confusion. Almost nothing was done to help provide more options for Josh Allen, while the defense might improve with Wingard and rookies Oweh and Bynum, we just don’t see the long-term strategy here. Denver feels like a team that has lost its way, and its identity, not knowing what to do with their young QB and not sure if they want to make the moves needed to actually compete in a division where every other team seems ready to step up. This could be a tough year in Denver, and that could produce a change at the top.   2020 RECORD: 3-13, 5 th in Southwest HEAD COACH: Greg Landry (1 st Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: WR Arrelious Benn (FA), TE Dustin Keller (Ret), DE Malik Jackson (NFL), LB DeAndre Levy (Ret) IMPACT ARRIVALS: WR Kenny Galloday (FA), QB Gardner Minshew (NFL) IMPACT ROOKIES: WR Rashod Bateman (Minn), TE Tommy Tremble (NDame), OT Brady Christenson (BYU) OUTLOOK: Former Outlaw coach Greg Landry arrives in Las Vegas and hones in on the offense right away. He adds weapons in WRs Kenny Galloday and Rashod Bateman, an intriguing TE upgrade in Notre Dame’s Tommy Tremble, and even a possible QB competition by signing fan favorite Gardner Minshew from the NFL Jaguars. Will Minshew’s presence push Matt McGloin or cut into his confidence? Will the weapons be enough? And what about that sadsack run game? Where is the help there? It was a glaring weakness in 2020 and we don’t see any upgrade in the offseason, so how does that help them get better? The defense also could have used an infusion of new blood, but the Vipers seem laser focused on offense, so that is what got attention. Is that enough? Perhaps to improve beyond a 3-13 record, but it does not seem likely they can top .500 without another offseason to add needed pieces.   2020 RECORD: 8-8, 3 rd in Southwest HEAD COACH: Bob Stoops (3 rd Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: OT Roger Saffold (FA), C Jimmy Hook (FA), DT Luis Castillo (Ret), CB Brady Fletcher (Ret), LB Greg Lloyd Jr. (NFL) IMPACT ARRIVALS: LB Don’t’a Hightower (FA), FB Andy Janovich (FA), HB Jahvid Best (FA), QB P. J. Walker (FA), TE James Casey (FA) IMPACT ROOKIES: DT Teven Jenkins (OK State), DE Ronnie Perkins (OU) OUTLOOK: Coach Stoops loves what he has seen in Jalen Hurts as his new QB, enough so that he named him the starter from Day 1 in camp (sorry Mason Rudolph, those are the breaks). In the offseason, he also improved depth in the RB room by bringing in former Federal Jahvid Best and signing one of the best fullbacks in the league in Janovich. But the biggest moves were on defense, where Coach Stoops wanted more athleticism and more raw strength on the D-line. He signed two local studs out of OK State and OU, and then backed them up with LB Dont’a Hightower, a thumper in the middle, in hopes of building a front 7 that teams simply won’t run through. Oklahoma had a nice run to finish 8-8 last year and we think their ceiling this year could well be in the 10-11 win range, good enough for them to make a playoff run in a very competitive Western Conference.    The exact opposite of what we see in the Southwest, the Pacific has been a topsy turvy division where no one team has been dominant in a long time. In 2020 Los Angeles rode their defense to a division title, but they certainly have not established a hold on the position as it seems every year brings a new champion. Aside from San Diego, who seem to be in need of a rebuild after a rough 3-win season, the Pacific could be wide open. Did LA do enough to improve their sluggish offense and defend their title or will we see Seattle finally get over the hump and start the season quickly to take the title away? Can Marcus Mariota stay healthy and help Portland stake a claim to the title, or will Oakland, with Tom Brady perhaps in his final season, find their way to the top once again? Lots of questions, but lots of optimism as well in the division that so often provides us with surges, slumps, and surprises.   2020 RECORD: 11-5, 1 st in Pacific HEAD COACH: Marvin Lewis (3 rd  Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: CB Isaiah Oliver (FA), QB Brock Osweiler (FA), TE Jason Whitten (Ret), HB Reggie Bush (Ret), DE Laurence Jackson (Ret), S Jalen Mills (Trade) IMPACT ARRIVALS: QB Matt Gutierrez (Trade), HB Ty Montgomery (FA), P James Sykes (FA) IMPACT ROOKIES: OG Alijah Vera-Tucker (USC), DT Jay Tufele (USC) OUTLOOK: The Express rode their shut-down defense to a division title last year, but Coach Lewis has to do more with this offense if they want a chance to represent the West in the Summer Bowl. That will be tough after losing several key figures on offense, including their lead back, Reggie Bush and starting TE Jason Whitten, both retiring this offseason. They are going to promote Paul Perkins to the starting HB job, but brought in a nice 3 rd  down option in Ty Montgomery to help him out. They also signed a good pulling guard in USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker, which will help Perkins find holes in the run game. Our concern remains the development of Kyler Murray at QB. He needs to get better at running through his progressions and taking what the defense gives him. He now has a “coach on the field” in veteran Matt Gutierrez, brought over from Philadelphia as much for his ability to coach up Murray as his potential as the 2 nd  string option. LA will not walk through the division this year, and we could even see them drop down to 2 nd place, but we do think they can once again be a playoff team, and if Murray has a bump this year, they could do a lot more than that.   2020 RECORD: 8-8 HEAD COACH: Gary Kubiak (4 th Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: CB Eric Wright (FA), FB Trey Millard (FA), LB Tavares Gooden (Ret), QB Jimmy Garoppolo (Trade) IMPACT ARRIVALS: OT Trent Williams (NFL) IMPACT ROOKIES: QB Davis Mills (Stanford), S Jevon Holland (Oregon), C Josh Meyers (Ohio St) OUTLOOK: This offseason felt very much like we have an Oakland team planning for the future. Tom Brady returns at age 45, but in drafting Davis Mills out of Stanford, the Invaders seem to be ready to pass the torch as soon as Brady calls it quits. Oakland also added some protection for their AARP-eligible QB, bringing over a top tier LT in former 49er Trent Williams and drafting a young pile-mover in Ohio State’s Josh Meyers. If Brady can get protection, and if Christian McCaffrey can find holes behind an upgraded line, then the offense can be very competitive. The defense may take a step back with the departure of Wright and Gooden, but they still have some good pieces to build around. Oakland very much feels to us like an 8-8 team that is trying to reload rather than rebuild for a more serious run in 2022 or 2023.   2020 RECORD: 9-7, 4 th in Pacific HEAD COACH: Matt LaFleur (4 th  Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: OG Dan Feeney (FA), WR James Hardy (FA), DT Ndamukong Suh (NFL), OT Ed Wang (Ret) IMPACT ARRIVALS: OG Mike Iupati (FA), LB Hassan Reddick (FA) IMPACT ROOKIES: DT Milton Williams (La Tech), HB Javonte Williams (UNC) OUTLOOK: The Stags surprised us all with a quick start last year, but by midseason teams started to figure out how to play them and the inability of Marcus Mariota to stay healthy once again played a part in their late season swoon. Portland is still reliant on Mariota at QB, but they did find another weapon in HB Javonte Williams, to balance the offense. Williams likely starts the year behind Doug Martin, but we think that he will earn more and more touches each week until he eventually takes over as the primary back. Where there is concern is on the D-line where the loss of Suh leaves a pretty big gap to fill. Rookie Milton Williams is unlikely to be able to take up that mantle so we expect Portland to rotate their D-line quite a bit. They still need to find a true edge rusher, and that lack of outside pressure will make it tougher for them to get teams off the field on 3 rd  down. The Stags are hard to gauge, as we think they have the potential to earn 11 wins, or the capacity to earn only 5.   2020 RECORD: 3-13, 5 th in Pacific HEAD COACH: Dick LeBeau (8 th Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: WR Marques Colston (FA), DT Rekeem Nunes-Roches (FA), HB Ryan Williams (NFL), S Jonathan Armaya (NFL), LB A. J. Hawk (Ret) IMPACT ARRIVALS: K Caleb Sturgis (FA), HB Charles Sims (FA) IMPACT ROOKIES: DE Chris Rumph II (Duke), WR Kadarius Toney (Florida) OUTLOOK: Last year’s collapse from playoff contender to a 3-13 cupcake was shocking and may indicate that a much bigger change is needed for this organization. They retained Dick LeBeau for an 8 th  season, despite their fanbase’s frustrations with the veteran defensive coach. They lost their top rusher and their top receiver in a free agency exodus, and what they brought in to replace them cannot be helping the Thunder Mafia feel any better. Charles Sims and rookie Kadarius Toney will get plenty of opportunities to see the field, but can they step up for a team that has a noticeable lack of star power? Coach LeBeau also lost his defensive captain to retirement as A. J. Hawk called it a career, and cap issues kept them from truly upgrading at any position on a defense that was pretty shaky last year. So, all this to say that the Thunder look very much like a team ready for another long and tough year and that Coach LeBeau may not have another 10-loss season available to him. He needs to show that he can put the Thunder on the right path or his seat will get very hot by July. And when we look at the Thunder squad he has to work with, we think he might want to start boxing up his house sooner rather than later.   2020 RECORD: 10-6, 2 nd in Pacific HEAD COACH: Mike Riley (5 th Season) IMPACT DEPARTURES: OG Amini Silatulo (FA), DE Jerry Hughes (FA), P Pat O’Donnell (FA), QB Jacoby Brissett (Trade) IMPACT ARRIVALS: FB Greg Jones (FA), OG Colby Gossett (FA), WR Kendrick Bourne (FA), C Luke Bowanko (Trade) IMPACT ROOKIE: C Landon Dickerson (Alabama), DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (Wash) OUTLOOK: Coach Riley finally avoided the 1-5 or 0-6 start and look what that did for him, a 10-win season and a real shot in 2021 to take the division. After several years of Jacoby Brissett playing well, but getting injured for long stints, the Dragons have moved on, sending Brissett to Washington and giving Brett Hundley, who had a stellar 2020, the reins of the offense. Hundley has a nice roster of talent around him, starting with HB Knowshon Moreno, and has to like the addition of Kendrick Bourne as another nice outside target. He also will see an upgrade at center with both veteran Luke Bowanko and rookie Landon Dickerson shoring up the pivot position. The biggest questions for the Dragons will be on defense, where the loss of Jerry Hughes could be an issue, as could the lack of a true thumper in the LB group. Khalil Mack is expected to play an even larger role in the pass rush this year, but that means more zone coverage or more 1-on-1 coverage, which could be a weakness in this Seattle D. That all said, we see Seattle as the prime rival to LA, with Portland or Oakland possibly challenging as well. As usual, the Pacific is a bit of an enigma, but we think Seattle is primed for another playoff run and possibly a division title. DIVISION PREVIEWS   PREDICTING THE 2021 SEASON: Final Standings As you might have noticed, we were very careful not to put any win totals or predicted order of finish in our team previews. Not only did we not want to spoil the fun here, but we honestly had a lot of trouble coming to a consensus on nearly every division. There are few teams we expect to challenge Tampa Bay this year, and a few we feel are out of it already, but there is a huge middle of the pack and settling on final standings was no easy task. But we made the effort, hashed out our disagreements, had a few votes within the bullpen, and we have come up with our predicted division races, which we share with you now. As always, a caveat that the USFL is a very volatile league, and that you should not be betting the deed to the ranch on anything we predict. One injury, one breakout player, one superstar hitting the performance cliff, and this can all change. But, that said, here is what we see as the look of the 2021 USFL season:   NORTHEAST                      SOUTHEAST                            SOUTHERN Baltimore*       12-4               Tampa Bay*    13-3              New Orleans*  11-5 Washington     8-8               Atlanta*          11-5                Memphis*        11-5 New Jersey     7-9                   Orlando*         9-7                   Houston           8-8 New England  7-9                   Jacksonville     8-8                    Birmingham   7-9 Philadelphia    5-11                 Charlotte          5-11                  San Antonio    5-11   CENTRAL                               SOUTHWEST                           PACIFIC Michigan*     12-4                Arizona*         11-5                Los Angeles*   10-6 Pittsburgh*     10-6               Dallas*           11-5                  Seattle*           10-6 Chicago          10-6                 Oklahoma       8-8                    Portland           8-8 Ohio                 6-10                  Las Vegas        6-10                  Oakland          7-9 St. Louis           3-13                 Denver            4-12                  San Diego       4-12   PREDICTING THE 2021 SEASON: 2021 Playoffs You see the standings above, so, here is where that takes us for the playoffs. The Bandits, Blitz, Panthers, and Wranglers have byes. In the Wild Card round we have Atlanta topping Orlando and New Orleans holding off Memphis in a pair of divisional battles. In the West, it is Seattle upending LA in the Pacific, while the Maulers fall to Dallas in the only interdivisional matchup.   The divisionals would have Atlanta battling Tampa Bay while New Orleans heads to Baltimore. We like both home teams in this one, setting up a Baltimore-Tampa Bay conference final. In the West we have 1-seed Michigan dispatching with 5-seed Seattle, while Dallas gets the upset over Arizona in a wild one in the Southwest. That means it is the upstart Roughnecks heading to Detroit to face the Panthers.   We want to pick at least one upset, so is it Dallas over Michigan or Baltimore over Tampa Bay. While we could see either underdog getting the win, we think Kirk Cousins propensity to struggle in big games remains a storyline, so we pick Dallas to upset the Panthers and head to their first Summer Bowl since relocating. There they will face a juggernaut of a Bandit team, and that is where Justin Herbert’s inexperience will show. The Bandits are our pick to take the title and to become the 2 nd  team in league history to repeat as champion.   PREDICTING THE 2021 SEASON: USFL Awards With the season playing out as we predict, the awards for the year will be pretty self-explanatory. Most of them, at least, should be easy to see coming. Here is who we pick as the top 3 favorites for each of the league’s five major awards:   MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Plenty of quarterbacks will shine in 2021 but we think three will be at the pinnacle of their games. Those 3 are two-time defending MVP Dak Prescott of Tampa Bay, Two-time MVP David Carr of Arizona, and young contender Justin Herbert of Dallas. With the Bandits winning the title once again, we have to go for Prescott winning a third consecutive MVP, which puts him into some very rare air.   OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Two names have to be here, Michigan HB and defending OPOTY LeVeon Bell, and perennial WR standout Jordy Nelson of New Orleans. And while we think both will have outstanding years, we are going to throw a curveball and pick a third, more “break out” star for 2021 as our OPOTY. That player is Memphis HB Todd Gurley, who we are picking to edge out Bell for the rushing title and snag with it the OPOTY for a very good Memphis offense.   DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Will it be Calais Campbell winning once again, now for a 3 rd  team? It could be, but we think that he will face some very tough competition. Orlando’s Montez Sweat came close to upending him last year before a late run by Campbell caught and passed the Renegade DE. We also think that Arizona’s Bud DuPree, who learned from the master the past 2 years, is ready to step up and could well challenge Campbell. But we are not choosing either of those players, instead we are going to go with the best defender on the best defense, which means we are going to pick DT Chris Jones of the Express. Yes, it is very tough for a DT to earn the stats that pop with reporters, but Jones could legitimately be a 15-18 sack guy on the inside, and with his run-stuffing numbers, he deserves to be recognized.   ROOKIE OF THE YEAR The easy money is on Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence, but those who pay attention know that it is often tough for a QB to excel in his first year, especially on a team that has issues elsewhere and is unlikely to rack up a lot of wins. Far easier is the path for a HB or even a WR to put up the big numbers. This year we have 2 backs who could do just that, Najee Harris in Birmingham and Travis Etienne for the Federals. It feels like a coin flip between the two, but with Cam Newton getting his share of carries and his share of attention, we think Etienne is more likely to be seen as a team-leading back who centers the offense. If either hits 1,200 yards, they may well take it. If neither can, well then it likely is Lawrence (or Justin Fields if Ohio can use him well.)   COACH OF THE YEAR Here we look at the standings and ask “who is doing the most with the least?” Based on our standing prediction, the answer is not really a slam dunk. We are not exactly predicting a “come from nowhere” playoff contender. We do have the Maulers as a 2020 non-playoff team now making a run, but with the same 10-win record as last year. Based on our picks for wins and losses, we think the top contenders are Mauler HC Skip Holtz, Dallas’s Kliff Kingsbury, and perhaps Washington rookie HC Jay Gruden, especially if Etienne is a ROTY contender.   Here we go. Week 1 brings us 15 games to enjoy, each with its own storyline. FRI @ 8pm ET   Jacksonville Bulls @ Tampa Bay Bandits                        NBC The defending champs are back in action, facing a familiar foe in rival Jacksonville. Trevor Lawrence gets his first USFL start in a prime time matchup as the Bulls hope for an upset to get the season rolling right. FRI @ 8pm ET   Los Angeles Express @ Portland Stags                      ESPN/EFN It will be Marcus Mariota and the Stags hosting division rival Los Angeles, and their shut-down defense in this Friday Night Special. SAT @ 12pm ET                Chicago Machine @ Pittsburgh Maulers                 ABC Another divisional matchup to kick the season off as Sam Bradford and the Machine head to Pittsburgh to face Andy Dalton and the Maulers. SAT @ 12pm ET                Houston Gamblers @ Birmingham Stallions            FOX Rookies Najee Harris and DeVontae Smith hope to get the Stallions off to a fast start, but the Houston Gamblers bring Carlos Hyde and their high powered offense in hoping to get a road win. SAT @ 4pm ET                  Oklahoma Outlaws @ Arizona Wranglers              ABC Jalen Hurts leads the Outlaws into the desert to face a Wrangler team that has no plans to give up their dominance over the Southwest Division. SAT @ 4pm ET                  Memphis Showboats @ Las Vegas Vipers              FOX In an opening week stuffed with divisional matchups, the Showboats head out West to face a rare opponent, the Las Vegas Vipers. Will J. J. Watt play, and if so, how does Matt McGloin handle the pressure? SAT @ 8pm ET                  New Jersey Generals @ Baltimore Blitz                   NBC Back to divisional games as Generals' QB Nick Foles tries to fend off not only challenger Teddy Bridgewater, but Calais Campbell and the Blitz defense. SAT @ 8pm ET                  Atlanta Fire @ Charlotte Monarchs             ESPN/EFN Saturday finishes up with a rivalry game from the Southeast as Aaron Murray takes the Fire into Charlotte to face a Monarch team with a lot of new faces and a new look as well.   SUN @ 12pm ET              St. Louis Skyhawks @ Ohio Glory                           ABC Two Central Division teams trying to turn their fortunes around face off in a Sunday showdown as rookie Justin Fields faces the Skyhawks and QB Lamar Jackson. SUN @ 12pm ET              New England Steamrollers @ Philadelphia Stars   ABC Eddie Lacy gets his first start as a Steamroller as New England take on the Stars in Philly, with Carson Wentz now at the helm. SUN @ 12pm ET              Washington Federals @ Michigan Panthers           FOX Rookie HB Travis Etienne and the Feds head to Ford Field to face LeVeon Bell and the Panthers in a Week 1 clash of tailbacks. SUN @ 4pm ET                 Orlando Renegades @ Oakland Invaders             ABC It's Russell Wilson taking on Tom Brady as the Renegades cross coasts to face the Oakland Invaders in a Week 1 inter-conference battle. SUN @ 4pm ET                 San Diego Thunder @ Denver Gold                  FOX A new look Thunder team heads to Mile High to face Josh Allen and the Denver Gold. This one could be a defensive battle as both teams try to find their offensive form. SUN @ 4pm ET                 New Orleans Breakers @ San Antonio Gunslingers  FOX San Antonio faces a tough divisional opponent as the high-flying aerial assault of the Breakers heads to the Alamo City. SUN @ 8pm ET                 Seattle Dragons @ Dallas Roughnecks               ESPN/EFN Two of 2020's breakout teams clash in the Sunday nightcap as Brett Hundley and Knowshon Moreno face off against Justin Herbert and the Dallas Roughnecks in a battle of up-and-comers in the West.

Quick schedule update: Part 2 of the season preview will post tomorrow, with Week 1 of the 2021 season released on Dec. 9 and every week after than on an every-3-days schedule (12th, 15th, 18th, etc.) Less than a week away from kickoff and we are all ready for the USFL to return, back to stadiums, back to fans in the stands, and back to football. It has been a wild offseason and all 30 USFL clubs are now geared up for the start of another season. In our two-part preseason preview we will first take a look back at the offseason, all the signings, player movement, and new faces on teams that will help shape the year to come. In the second half of the report, we look ahead to the 2021 season, make our bold predictions, and gear up for the first plays, first hits, and first scores of the new season, the USFL’s 39 th . We start it all off with the big story of the past month, the NFL-USFL Transfer window and its impact on the season ahead.   Transfer Window Produces Windfall for Both Leagues We knew going in that this year’s NFL-USFL Window would be a new experience. Ever since the two leagues agreed to a twice-yearly transfer period, we have had an exodus of USFL talent headed to the NFL in late September and early October, and a reverse flow of talent back from the NFL to the USFL in February and early March. It had a rhythm to it and a pretty clear back and forth dynamic. But, this year, with the USFL season postponed until mid-May and extending into October, the first of the two windows was scuttled. That left one window remaining, and while the USFL was open to shifting the timeframe from mid-February as early as mid-January, the NFL declined and so the spring Transfer Window opened as usual in February, but this year with players from both leagues now very much in play. Unlike past years when most USFL free agents would be signed either in October to NFL deals, or by mid-December to new USFL deals, this year saw many players hold off on a new deal, waiting for the NFL window to open and potentially for new offers to be made. So, what we saw when the two leagues opened negotiations with their free agents was a free-for-all between teams, players, and agents. The ensuing chaos produced almost daily stories on a new signing, or a competition between two teams in two leagues to land the same player. So, what was the end result? By all accounts, the USFL may have come out a bit ahead in the overall picture, but the NFL certainly nabbed some big-name players of their own. As we break down the deals made, we will start with the NFL signings of USFL talent.   Perhaps the biggest name to jump from spring to fall was Portland DT Ndamukong Suh, who signed a 2-year deal to move from the PNW to Detroit and the Lions. He was joined there by another USFL talent, 2020 breakout player from the expansion Steamrollers, HB Kerwynn Johnson. Two other backs made the jump, giving themselves a nearly 16-month rest period by doing so, Ryan Williams left the Invaders for the Philadelphia Eagles while Knile Davis returned to the NFL after a multi-year USFL stint, signing with the Arizona Cardinals.   The NFL, as we have seen in recent years, put a premium on defensive talent, pulling away several solid players from the spring league. In addition to Suh jumping to Detroit, we saw DE Oliver Vernon sign with Baltimore, LB Courtney Upshaw to Cleveland, SS Kendrick Lewis to the Kansas City Chiefs, CB Janoris Jenkins to the NY Giants, and DE Michael Johnson to the Las Vegas Raiders.   The USFL also seemed intent on landing defensive talent through the transfer window. Several quality defenders, especially along the D-line opted to jump right back onto the field, taking only a 3-month gap between the end of the NFL season and the start of the USFL season this March. The biggest name among them is 5-time Pro Bowler, former Houston Oiler DE J. J. Watt. Watt, coming off an injury that cost him most of the 2019 season, rebounded to have 16 sacks for Houston this past fall, not bad in a contract year. That rebound helped him secure a nice 3-year deal to jump to spring and join the Memphis Showboats. We may start seeing some 99 jerseys in Memphis to go with all those classic 92 Reggie White jerseys.   Watt was not the only big man to join the spring league this past month. Also signing on were Seahawk DE Carlos Dunlap, now headed to Birmingham; another Seahawk, DT Poona Ford, joining the Charlotte Monarchs; Rams’ DT Michael Brockers will now line up next to Calais Campbell in Baltimore, adding even more athleticism to an already imposing Blitz front 4. Other defenders headed to the spring include LB Nate Orchard (Redskins to Showboats), CB Ronadl Darby (Eagles to Panthers), CB Levi Wallace (Bills to Monarchs), and safety Malik Hooker (Colts to Stallions).   But while there was certainly quality on the defensive side, the players many fans are now squawking about are offensive playmakers. The USFL landed some big names and even bigger expectations, particularly at halfback and quarterback. Let’s break down the 7 players that everyone is talking about.  QB Jameis Winston (NFL Saints to USFL Stallions) Interceptions were the issue for Winston, who put up huge numbers as a Buccaneer before signing a one-year deal in New Orleans. With 30 TDs and a whopping 33 picks in 2019 with Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers let the 2015 draft choice go. He only saw limited action in 2020 with the Saints but now joins the USFL on what many think could be a redemption tour. The only thing is that with Cam Newton ahead of him on the depth chart, many are wondering if the Stallions are setting themselves up for a QB controversy if once again Newton’s strong individual stats don’t translate into team wins.   QB Carson Wentz (NFL Eagles to USFL Stars) The Stars failed to land their intended target in the draft, BYU’s Zach Wilson, but they did not need to look far to find their new starter. Wentz, who was the starter for the Eagles for the past 5 seasons, threw for over 4,000 yards and 27 TDs in 2019. He struggled a bit in 2020, and some injury concerns helped Philadelphia make the call to move on, but that helps the in-town USFL Stars find themselves a solid option at a position of definite need. Expect Wentz to be handed the starter’s role from day one and for those who thought he was unfairly treated by the Eagles to jump on board with the Stars as a result.   QB Gardner Minshew (NFL Jaguars to USFL Viper) This is an interesting one. We did not have Las Vegas as a very likely QB seeker this offseason. Matt McGloin has been solid even as the team struggled, but the Vipers felt differently and in Minshew they get themselves not only a capable backup, but a real personality, one that could be a draw in a fun-loving city like Las Vegas. And, if McGloin struggles, we don’t think that Coach Landry will hesitate to see what Minshew can offer. The former Jaguar signed a one-year “prove it” deal, so any chance to get on the field could be an extended try out for the former ECU and Washington State QB.   QB Blake Bortles (NFL Rams to USFL Showboats) We see the logic here. Bortles, after falling out of favor in Jacksonville, despite a 4,000-yard season in 2015 and another 3,900 yards the year after, spent 2020 with the Rams, starting 12 games, compiling a 3-9 record, and throwing for 13 TDs with 11 picks. Clearly Bortles needs something of a reboot, so jumping leagues makes perfect sense. And, with Ryan Fitzpatrick calling it a career, Memphis was certainly in the market for an experienced backup in the event that Paxton Lynch suffers an injury. The deal allows Bortles to build towards possibly a new starting gig in the future, while Memphis gets themselves a pretty athletic, strong-armed option to back up their starter.   HB Chris Carson (NFL Seahawks to USFL Renegades) The ‘Gades desperately needed to upgrade their run game. Carson will do that. An underappreciated back in Seattle, the former OK State Cowboy rushed for a career-best 1,230 yards in 2019, following up a solid 2 nd  year where he rushed for 1,141. Carson’s 2020 numbers were more modest, impacted by an injury that kept him out of 4 games and reduced his load for several more. With the Renegades, Carson could start the year splitting carries, but we think he will end up as the lead back by midseason.   HB James Conner (NFL Steelers to USFL Skyhawks) A very solid back who has averaged over 4 yards per carry his entire career with the Steelers, but has not been able to play a full season, missing at least 4 games every year since coming into the pro ranks. St. Louis, hoping to find a replacement for Eddie Lacy, is counting on Conner to stay healthy and turn those 4 yards per carry into 100 yards per game. The Skyhawks took a bit of a risk on this pick, because while Conner certainly has some talent, his injury woes have been equally notable over the past 4 seasons.  HB Melvin Gordon (NFL Broncos to USFL Gunslingers) Gordon is perhaps the steal of the transfer window. Yes, he too has had his share of injuries, but after 5 seasons with the Chargers, he showed his best on a 1-year deal with the Denver Broncos, rushing for 986 yards and 9 touchdowns this past fall. That strong season boosted his value and made him an attractive candidate for teams in both leagues. San Antonio, still sitting pretty with ample cap room, was able to outbid at least 3 other teams, including the NFL Broncos to bring in Gordon, who projects as the starter for the 2 nd  year franchise.   Other NFL imports of note include FB Alex Armah (ARZ), kicker Randy Bullock (NOR), G Xavier Su’a-Filo (TBY) and OT Trent Williams (OAK). Players still available with 5 days left in the window include DE Carl Lawson, DT Leonard Williams, HB LeSean McCoy, HB Aaron Jones, OT Matt Feiler, QB Philip Rivers, and WR T. Y. Hilton.   The 15 Best Draft Signings and 8 That Got Away With more than 80% of all the USFL/NFL draftees now signed, and none who rate above a 3 rd  round selection still holding out, we have a good picture of just how the two leagues fared against each other. The NFL can once again claim victory in the QB wars, with three of the highest graded five quarterbacks signing to play in the fall. They also fared well overall, with 6 of their top 10 picks heading to the NFL. The USFL can claim victory overall, with 20 of the NFL’s 32 first round picks headed to the spring league, largely due to a strong performance with players selected in the Territorial Draft. We’ll run through each team’s total performance in the draft when we hit the team previews, but right now, let’s look at the 20 players who signed with the USFL and could provide instant impact, along with 10 that USFL fans will lament losing out on.   WIN: QB Trevor Lawrence (Clemson): Chose the USFL Bulls over the NFL Jaguars In the battle for the top-rated QB in the draft, the city of Jacksonville was the battleground, with both its NFL and USFL teams battling to sign the Clemson QB. The Bulls won out, largely on the strength of the spring league’s reputation as a passing league and the solid interview from Coach Winston Moss. Expect Lawrence to be under center when the Bulls open the season with a tough matchup against the defending league champion Bandits.   WIN: TE Kyle Pitts (Florida): Chose the USFL Skyhawks over the NFL Falcons Battle of the Birds as the Hawks outfly the Falcons and land the former Gator tight end. Once again we think the USFL’s history of wide-open passing and vertical attacks was attractive to the talented receiving tight end. It probably did not hurt that St. Louis offered him a more lucrative deal, and one that ends after 3 seasons, not the NFL’s standard 4-year deal for rookies.   LOSS: QB Zach Wilson (BYU): Chose the NFL Jets over the USFL Stars This one is a head scratcher. We think the money was about even, and while Philadelphia, with a new head coach in Dan Quinn has some issues to solve, everyone in football knows that the NY Jets are a quarterback graveyard of blown potential. But maybe the lure of the bigger TV market and a chance to start for a team that has a better receiver group was the lure needed. WIN: OT Penei Sewell (Oregon): Chose USFL Monarchs over NFL Lions This one was all about the deal. Charlotte offered a little over $500k per season more than the Lions, and offered a shorter deal, giving Sewell the chance to test free agency a year sooner than the Lions’ offer. So now he joins the Monarchs, where he likely becomes the bodyguard for their starter, now if they could just decide between veteran backup Kyle Boller and former Invader Jimmy Garoppolo, because we are all waiting.   WIN: WR DeVonta Smith (Alabama): Chose USFL Stallions over NFL Eagles The Stallions doubled down, protecting both Smith and teammate Jaylen Waddle in the T-Draft. That strategy got them one of the two, and we are pretty sure that is all they expected. Smith is not quite as pro-ready as Waddle, but he has all the speed and quick moves that the Stallions would like to see opposite another former Crimson Tide receiver, Henry Ruggs.   LOSS: WR JaMarr Chase (LSU): Chose the NFL Bengals over the USFL Breakers. We think we know why Chase chose the NFL, even if it means playing in often-frigid Cincinnati. With former Tiger teammate Justin Jefferson already in New Orleans, Chase did not want to be in his shadow again. Going to the NFL lets him emerge as a star in his own right, and it probably does not hurt that the Bengals have Tua Tagovailoa at QB to get Chase the ball, though Geno Smith certainly had himself a season this year.   LOSS: WR Jaylen Waddle (Alabama): Chose NFL Dolphins over USFL Stallions The WR room was just a bit too crowded in Birmingham and Waddle was going to have a clear shot at the top receiver position in Miami, something the Stallions could not provide. Too bad, because having a 3-Alabama WR group in Birmingham would have been fun to look at each week, but maybe too much familiarity is a bad thing.   WIN: QB Justin Fields (Ohio State): Selects USFL Glory over NFL Bears This one was pretty self-evident, especially with all the marketing options that Fields will have in Ohio as he moves from the Buckeyes to the Glory. It helps, of course, that Chicago is another famous destination where talented QBs go to be forgotten. Fields will be tutored by Jay Gruden, who has to be excited about his dual-threat ability.   WIN: LB Micah Parsons (Penn State): Selects USFL Stars over NFL Cowboys Chalk one up for hometown pride. We are pretty sure Jerry Jones offered Parsons more money, but the lure of playing in Philadelphia, where he can cash in on his fame as a Nittany Lion helped bring Parsons to the Stars, that along with a defensive-minded coach.   LOSS: CB Patrick Surtain II (Alabama): Chose the NFL Broncos over the USFL Monarchs When Surtain fell in the USFL Draft, we had a feeling that he would end up in the NFL with a Bronco squad that picked him with a Top 10 selection. A tough blow for a Monarch team that certainly could have used Surtain’s skills in the secondary.   WIN: OT Rashawn Slater (Northwestern): Chose the USFL Maulers over the NFL Chargers. Pittsburgh needed this win, one that Andy Dalton has to be happy about. They outspent the Chargers and that was enough to help bring the Wildcat LT to the Steel City. Expect Slater to start his career on the right side, though we could see him move over to the left if James Hurst struggles this year.   WIN: OG Alijah Vera-Tucker (USC): Signs with USFL Express over NFL Jets This one is all about family, as staying in LA means that AVT’s parents can watch him play. He will almost certainly start for Coach Lewis, who appreciates a guard who has the agility to pull in the run game and the strength to hold up against pro tackles on the D-Line.   LOSS: QB Mac Jones (Alabama): Chose the NFL Patriots over the USFL Wranglers. As much as we wanted to see Jones get tutored by David Carr and take over in the desert, we can see why he would go to the team that not only offered more compensation but also has a true QB competition this year. We think Jones will get the chance to start in New England, something that would only be possible in Arizona if Carr were hurt again.   WIN: LB Jamin Davis (Kentucky): Chose the USFL Generals over the NFL Washington Team The Generals get their man, a first round pick they hope can add some speed to what had become an aging and significantly slower LB group. We see Davis shuffling through the linebacker positions, getting time behind Matt Milano, but also stepping in to replace Akeem Ayers on 3 rd  down.   WIN: WR Kadarius Toney (Florida): Chose the USFL Thunder over the NFL Giants Weather might have been a factor here, or a more certain QB situation, or just the chance to be an impact player on a team that needs more star power. Whatever the reason, the Thunder are glad to have him. Toney will start Toney in the slot, with their bigger receivers (Ronald Johnson and Arrelious Benn) outside.   LOSS: DE Jaelen Phillips (Miami): Chose the NFL Dolphins over the USFL Renegades We think that playing second fiddle to Montez Sweat and having to compete with Arthur Moats seemed like too much to ask for Phillips. With Miami he gets to stay in South Florida, build on his Hurricane resume and likely step right into the coveted left end role right away.   WIN: DE Kwity Paye (Michigan): Chose USFL Panthers over NFL Colts A nice T-Draft signing for the Panthers, and a nice option for the pass rush as Paye heads just the short drive from Ann Arbor to Detroit to play in the USFL. Paye could even start at the more prestigious left end slot because Dee Ford is a better pass rusher and a more complete player when he can attack from the RE position.   WIN: HB Najee Harris (Alabama): Chose the USFL Stallions over the NFL Steelers A Steel City battle that goes to the USFL as Harris will stay in Alabama (along with a lot of former Crimson Tide stars). Harris now gives Birmingham a true bell cow back, something they have needed for a very long time. Adding him to a pretty solid WR group also means that Cam Newton will not have to pull out the Superman cape quite so often.   LOSS: QB Trey Lance (North Dakota State): Signed with the NFL 49ers over the USFL Generals. New Jersey did all they could to woo Lance, but San Francisco simply had more capital thanks to their use of the number 3 overall pick, and they had the advantage of having an established coach in place. New Jersey’s Robert Saleh actually came from the 49ers, but as a defensive-minded guy he struggled to connect with Lance, causing the QB to head to the NFL and a better upside potential on the West Coast.   WIN: HB Travis Etienne (Clemson): Chose the USFL Federals over the NFL Jaguars The Feds absolutely had to come out of the offseason with an answer at tailback, and in Etienne they think they have a very good one. Chosen with Jacksonville’s 2 nd pick in the 1 st  round, but with Washington’s 3 rd  overall pick in the USFL Open Draft, the money was there to convince the Clemson HB to join a tradition of solid backs that dates all the way back to Craig James in 1983.   LOSS: OT Alex Leatherwood (Alabama): Chose the NFL Chargers over the USFL Gamblers Houston hoped they could land the powerful Bama tackle, but the Chargers simply had a better deal in hand and a more attractive location to offer. Houston would land Texas A&M tackle Dan Moore, a 3 rd  round pick, but they had hoped to have Leatherwood in camp to help protect Colt McCoy.   WIN: DE Gregory Rousseau (Miami): Chose the USFL Gunslingers over the NFL Bills The chance to play in a dome in Texas rather than an outdoor facility in frigid Buffalo seems to have played a part for the Miami product. It also probably helped that the Gunslingers had plenty of cap room to make Rousseau a 4-year deal that would make him quite a bit wealthier than the NFL rookie salary structure could allow. LOSS: CB Jaycee Horn (South Carolina): Chose the NFL Panthers over the USFL Renegades Another swing and a miss for the ‘Gades as they struggled to land their T-Draft picks, something most teams did quite successfully. Orlando would later add a corner in 5 th round pick Tre Norwood of Oklahoma, but the talent gap between Norwood and Horn is undeniable.   WIN: HB Javonte Williams (UNC): Chose the USFL Stags over the NFL Broncos Portland’s trade with Charlotte paid off, with the Stags getting the halfback they coveted, helped by his slide into the 2 nd  round of the NFL draft. Expect to see Williams split carries with veteran Doug Martin this year, but he could well be the full time starter in 2022.   The 10 Biggest Stories from the USFL Offseason 10—Bush, Lynch, and MJD Retirements Leave Major Gaps It is a right of July in the USFL, the wave of retirements, some anticipated, some surprising, that impact rosters and recalibrate offseason priorities. This year it is the HB position that sees three superstar players step away from the game and their teams try to reconfigure their plans. Los Angeles felt they had the successor to Reggie Bush already on the roster and will now promote UCLA product San Antonio went the NFL import route, bringing in Melvin Gordon, who has huge upside if he can stay healthy. New Jersey may be the odd man out. They failed to land a top HB prospect in free agency or the draft. Resigned a former General in Delone Carter, who spent 3 years in Ohio after leaving the Generals in 2018, and will rotate the 31-year-old with 3 rd  year back Tony Pollard. Fans in New Jersey are not happy at all about the HB-by-committee plan, and we may well see new head coach Robert Saleh try to make a move through trade before the season gets too deep, because right now the Generals look like a team that simply did not plan well for their star back to leave the game.   9—Philadelphia’s QB Quest The story all offseason in Philadelphia was the quest for a QB. The Stars, early in the fall traded away former starter Matt Gutierrez, now a backup to Kyler Murray in LA, and set their sights on the incoming rookie class. They were in talks with Jacksonville for a trade to bring them the rights to Trevor Lawrence, but Bulls’ management quickly opted to go after the Clemson QB on their own. They also spoke with Las Vegas about the rights to BYU’s Zach Wilson, but the Vipers’ asking price for their top T-Draft pick was too high. Possessing the 1 st overall pick in the Open Draft, Philadelphia knew they could claim Trey Lance of NDSU if all else failed, but when Las Vegas failed to find a buyer for their T-Draft pick, they did as many suspected they would and used all 3 territorial picks on players of need. That left Wilson free to be chosen 1 st overall, which Philadelphia did. Only problem was that the NY Jets picked Wilson with the 2 nd  overall pick in the NFL Draft and offered him a deal that sent him to NYC and not PA. So, when the Eagles let Carson Wentz test the free agent waters, the Stars jumped on the 2017 NFL All-Pro, signing Wentz to a 4-year deal. The Stars had their QB, one with a Philly connection already, which could be a blessing in disguise or a nightmare if Wentz struggles as he did last year with the NFL Eagles.   8—Lacey Joins Steamrollers Eddie Lacy was by far the most sought after USFL free agent, garnering interest from no fewer than 6 USFL teams this offseason. But while the free agent process took a while, the New England Steamrollers were patient, and generous, and that landed them the 28-year-old back, a back who had himself a 1,300 yard season in 2019, but suffered a major injury in 2020. According to both Lacy and the Steamrollers, the former Skyhawk is in great shape, ready to shine in Boston and excited to be on a team with a coaching staff that values the run game.   7—Suh Signs with NFL Lions This one hurt. The Stags thought they had a new 3-year deal with their All-USFL DT, but Suh kept stringing along the process, long enough that when the NFL window opened, he was able to hear offers from the fall league. He liked the one he got from the Detroit Lions, and instead of locking up their interior D-line for 3 more years, the Stags were left scrambling to try to find alternatives just as camp was opening up. Suh now has another 7 months of rest ahead of him before suiting up in Honolulu blue, while the Stags made a deal with Arizona to add 7-year veteran Ryan Carrethers and could also be starting rookie Milton Williams from La Tech. That is a big jump up for the former Conference USA player and a big step down overall for the Portland D-line.   6—QB & HB Dominate NFL Transfers to Spring The NFL-USFL transfer window (still open for several more days) has always been a place where we see older players get a chance to stretch out their careers, or players coming off injury find a new home with a team that sees their upside. It has been a place where the NFL fills their rosters with talented players whose rookie deals in the USFL have expired, and where USFL find NFL castoffs who simply did not match up well with their former team’s plans. This year the NFL again seemed focused on the D-line, adding several USFL starters like Suh, along with Blitz DE Olivier Vernon, Panther Justin Tuck, Stallion DE Jaquies Smith, Denver’s D’Aundre Reed, Federal DE Michael Johnson, and Las Vegas’s Malik Jackson. Meanwhile the USFL went after some big names at the QB and HB position, locking up deals with 1,000-yard rushers like James Conner, Melvin Gordon and Chris Carson while also bringing in 3 former NFL starting QBs and a young upstart in Gardner Minshew, whose style felt very USFL even as he played in the fall. Carson Wentz stays in Philadelphia, moving from the Eagles to the Stars. Jameis Winston, who had some big numbers (unfortunately one being his interception total) in Tampa Bay, now heads to Birmingham as an understudy for Cam Newton. And Blake Bortles, the UCF star who got a shot with the Jacksonville Jaguars, now heads to Memphis, where he could redeem himself or even jumpstart a comeback as the backup to Paxton Lynch.   5—Bulls Win Tug of Lawrence with Jaguars The fate of Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence was a huge story across both pro football leagues, with the All-American picked by the USFL Bulls in their Territorial Draft and picked first overall by the rival Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL with the first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. We ended up with two teams in the same city, heck, the same stadium, vying for the most anticipated ACC quarterback to come out in years, and with no geographical difference, very little to say about either coaching staff, and both clubs with monetary limits, the choice ended up being about the feel for the two teams. Neither the Bulls nor the Jags have a long history of success to point to, but something about the way Winston Moss presented his vision for the Bulls, about playing for the first team to call the city home, or just the potential to play in the more wide-open passing systems of the USFL was enough to get Lawrence to sign the deal and join the Bulls.   4—Edge Rush Roulette We did not go into the offseason thinking this would be a huge year for edge rusher news. The draft class did not offer a clearly dominant DE or OLB who drew everyone’s attention (though Micah Parsons could certainly develop into one for the Stars), and we just did not anticipate a lot of teams moving around their talent, but by the time the dust settled, we had quite a bit of DE news across the league. It started with a bang when Baltimore shocked everyone by offering Calais Campbell a deal he could not refuse. That forced Arizona into the free agent market, something they thought they could avoid with a late extension to Campbells’ deal. Without their future HOF end, they went searching, eventually signing free agent Jerry Hughes. Meanwhile, Birmingham got aggressive by signing a division rival, former Gambler Dante Fowler, Pittsburgh added former General Vic Beasley, and both Jacksonville and LA added younger DE prospects in former Glory DE Jalyn Holmes and former Bull Deatrich Wise. In the Draft, we saw several DE’s go in the early rounds, as well as the T-Draft, with Arizona adding Tulsa’s Zaven Collins, Atlanta staying close to home with Georgia’s Monty Rice, Charlotte adding Texas DE Joseph Ossai, Denver signing Penn State’s Odafe Oweh, Houston using a T-Draft pick on Payton Turner, Michigan doing the same for Wolverine Kwity Paye, and San Antonio landing former Miami DE Gregory Rousseau.   We thought the flurry was over after the draft, but the NFL-USFL transfer window also saw some signings that continued the focus on the position, most notably former NFL Oiler J. J. Watt cutting a deal with the Memphis Showboats to join Rex Ryan’s aggressive defensive schemes. Two other NFL signings, Carlos Dunlap by Birmingham and Romeo Okwara from the Lions to the Breakers, rounded out a very busy offseason for edge rushers and defensive coordinators trying to find ways to pressure USFL quarterbacks.   3— T-Draft Trades a Risky Move We thought we would see some interesting T-Draft deals this offseason, especially with several QBs in the mix, but when we finally got to Draft week, it was not the QBs leading the charge. It was St. Louis who kicked off the dealing, sending DE Adrian Clayborne (another edge rusher move) to Jacksonville to get their 2 nd T-Draft pick, a move that landed them TE Kyle Pitts of Florida while preserving Jacksonville’s position to draft Trevor Lawrence. We then saw Philadelphia trade away OT Donovan Smith to Birmingham for a chance at WR Jaylen Waddle (who signed with the NFL), and San Antonio made a deal with Orlando to get first dibs on DE Greg Rousseau. But perhaps the best deal made was a pick swap, 1 st T-Draft for 1 st  T-Draft that ended up netting both teams the player they coveted. It was Charlotte dealing away their pick to select Oregon OT Penei Sewell, and Portland giving up the rights to Sewell so that they could solve a need at halfback by drafting UNC back Javontae Williams. Both players ended up signing with their new USFL suitor, so it worked out as planned by both teams.   Not every deal did. The Breakers swapped 2 nd  round T-Draft picks with San Diego, but both picks, CB Darren Hall for New Orleans and WR Jamar Chase for the Thunder, opted to sign with the NFL, leaving both teams without their targeted selections. Similarly, Oklahoma and Orlando also swapped picks in the T-Draft, but Oklahoma’s selection of DE Jaelen Phillips went nowhere, with the Miami product joining the NFL Dolphins, while Orlando’s selection of C Creed Humphrey of OU ended up with the Kansas City Chiefs. But that is the nature of the game when you have 2 leagues both bidding for the same players, and while the T-Draft adds another complication for the USFL clubs, it still comes down to making your case to each player and hoping that you can outmaneuver the NFL for the best talent.   2—Baltimore’s Build Up There is no doubt which club was both the most aggressive and, very likely, the most successful this offseason. Baltimore went into the offseason buoyed by a strong 2020 year, but wanting more, and they were aggressive in pursing upgrades and impact players. The biggest splash was pretty obvious, luring Calais Campbell away from Arizona with the most lucrative contract ever given to a non-QB in league history. But they were not done after that. Baltimore also added two quality starters to their secondary in former Bandit CB Ken Webster and former Chicago FS Micah Hyde. They beefed up the D-line again by signing Quinton Jefferson away from New England, and added some beef to the O-line in the form of Portland guard Dan Feeney.   As if that were not enough, Baltimore added another guard in the draft, signing App State’s Ryan Neuzil, while the D-Line got another athletic player in Washington DT Levi Onwuzurike. Wideout Tutu Atwell is seen as a potential contributor in the slot for Coach Caldwell’s offense, and, to put the cherry on top of their offseason, they went fishing in the NFL transfer pool and came away with yet another DT, and a good one, in former Ram Michael Brockers. Sure, cap space will be an issue in 2022 and 2023, but for 2021, Baltimore has sent a resounding message to the league, “Our time is now and we are all in!”   1—QB Shuffle: Band-Aid or Upgrade? As it seems to be almost every season, the QB position was once again a huge story around the league this offseason. It seems that no one, with the exception of a few regular Summer Bowl contenders, was happy at the QB position, so we saw every kind of move imaginable. We saw early offseason trades, with Gutierrez leaving Philly for LA, Seattle moving Jacoby Brissett to clear the path for Brett Hundley, and Washington happy to bring in competition for an underachieving Ryan Nassib. Charlotte, Denver, and Oakland worked out a 3-way deal to move 2 QBs, with Mitch Trubisky now backing up Josh Allen in Denver, while, after a year behind Tom Brady in the Bay Area, Jimmy Garoppolo, the former Invader starter, now has a path to recover his starter status in Charlotte, where he will battle Kyle Boller. Oakland added a draft pick and was happy to have rookie Davis Mills as Tom Brady's new protege.   While USFL free agency did not have any big name QBs available, we did see movement among backups, with Atlanta signing former Breaker Pat White, Oklahoma outbidding New Orleans for P. J. Walker, Arizona signing Brock Osweiler to back up David Carr, and New Orleans settling on Tajh Boyd as the backup to Geno Smith. As we already highlighted, the NFL transfer pool also provided some options, with Carson Wentz, Jameis Winston, Blake Bortles and Gardner Minshew all signing on for some spring ball, but it was the Draft where we saw more fan hopes and dreams in play.   Jacksonville was successful in their T-Draft bid for Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence. The next two QBs in the rankings headed to the NFL, with Zach Wilson choosing the Jets over the Stars and Trey Lance choosing the 49ers over the Generals. Alabama’s Mac Jones could have been the understudy in Arizona but chose the NFL Patriots instead. Ohio got their man, selecting and quickly signing former Buckeye Justin Fields, while Oakland double dipped, selecting Stanford's Davis Mills in the T-Draft and Texas’s Sam Ehlinger in the Open Draft, signing both to 3-year deals. Notre Dame’s Ian Book also signed with Chicago, while Florida QB Kyle Trask and Texas A&M QB Kellen Mond both opted for the NFL route. Finally, a late trade sent 2020 Jacksonville starter Teddy Bridgewater to the New Jersey Generals, where he will compete with veteran Nick Foles.   All in all, we could see new starting QBs in 4-8 cities this USFL season, starting in Week 1. Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to get the nod in Charlotte, Lawrence given the reins in Jacksonville, another rookie, Justin Fields tabbed to start for Ohio, NFL import Carson Wentz in Philadelphia. And while not slated to start this week, we should keep an eye on Jameis Winston in Birmingham, Gardner Minshew in Las Vegas, Teddy Bridgewater in New Jersey, Jacoby Brissett in Washington, and, in a long season, perhaps Matt Gutierrez (LA) or Blake Bortles (MEM) in action this year.   Previewing the Season Schedule With the season only days away, what do we see on the horizon? A lot of good games, a lot of potential division races coming down to the wire, and a lot of matchups we don’t want to miss. As we look week-by-week across the USFL schedule, we already see some games we absolutely want to circle on our calendars. Here are 12 we think you need to mark down as well.   Week 1: Jacksonville @ Tampa Bay The defending champs kick off their title defense with a divisional and in-state rival. It should also be the debut of Trevor Lawrence as he lines up with the Bulls.   Week 2: Seattle @ Atlanta An interconference matchup that highlights two of the biggest surprises of 2020. Can Seattle’s secondary handle the Atlanta passing attack? Can Atlanta’s rebuild D-line take on Knowshon Moreno? This one could be an early test for both teams.   Week 4: Houston @ Arizona We expect both of these teams to once again be in the hunt for a league title in 2021. Both could also start the season strong, but only one can reach 3-0 after this matchup. Will it be Carr and the Wranglers or Colt McCoy and the Gamblers? Week 5: Pittsburgh @ Michigan The Maulers made a run last year but fell short of the postseason. They want to assert themselves as a contender and that means fighting for the division, a division that has gone through the Panthers more often than not in recent years.   Week 7: Tampa Bay @ Atlanta The Fire need to win this one to have a chance at usurping the SE Division crown away from the Bandits. Tampa Bay is not going to want to give any SE Team a foothold, but especially this very dangerous Fire squad.   Week 8: Memphis @ Oklahoma Midway through the season where will these two stand? We think Oklahoma could make a run at the Wranglers this year, especially if we see growth from 2020 rookie Jalen Hurts. Memphis is hoping that they will be sitting pretty atop the Southern Division by this point, but with an improved Stallion squad joining New Orleans and Houston in the league’s toughest division, Memphis may need this win to stay in the mix.   Week 10: Chicago @ Michigan Another tough Central Division showdown as the Machine would love nothing more than to knock the Panthers from their perch in the division. As the playoff push gets serious in Week 10, this game could have huge implications for both teams. Week 11: Dallas @ Los Angeles Another strong contender in the Southwest and the defending Pacific champion. Just how strong will both be this year? Tough to say, but what we do think we can guarantee is that Justin Herbert will not enjoy playing against that Marvin Lewis defense in LA.   Week 13: Washington @ Baltimore The Blitz look loaded for a deep playoff run in 2021. Washington will be a better team this year as well, though we don’t know if it will be Nassib or Brissett under center for the Federals. We do think this game will feature the halfbacks as Baltimore’s Josh Jacobs will face off against the Federals’ first round pick, Travis Etienne in this Beltway Brawl.   Week 14: Seattle @ Los Angeles This late in the season, this could be a battle for the division title. We think Seattle is likely the main competition for the Express this year, so keep this game in mind as they come down the stretch, because a chance at a division title and a possible bye week could be in the cards for this coastal clash.   Week 16: Houston @ New Orleans How could we highlight a season’s worth of games and not include a Breaker-Gambler game? With one more week in the season (thanks to the new bye-week schedule), this game should still be a defining game for the playoff seedings, and that means we are likely to see all the starters in this one, and quite possibly, a knockout game for either the division title or a playoff spot altogether. Week 17: Atlanta @ Tampa Bay The final week of the year looks like it will have a huge number of key divisional games, including Michigan @ Pittsburgh, Seattle @ Oakland, and Memphis @ New Orleans, but this rematch could well be the deciding factor for who gets the 1-seed and home field in a season where we actually will see teams playing in their real homes.   2020 Retirees Who Will Get Hall of Fame Consideration Every USFL offseason produces its share of retirement announcements, and five years later we look back on those who stepped away from the game as they become eligible for consideration to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. As we have seen over the years, there are almost always 2-4 players who are immediate inductees while others must wait for a 2 nd  or 3 rd  chance before getting the nod. This year there are several players who well could join the Hall quickly, others who may get there eventually, and some who are close but may never get the call. Here is our call on who is in which category.   POTENTIAL 1 ST  BALLOT HALL OF FAMERS   DT Albert Haynesworth No doubt here as Haynesworth’s body of work in Orlando, Houston, and his one year unretirement in Atlanta speaks for itself. One of the most dominant inside defenders in the game for over a decade, we think Haynesworth gets in immediately and with little need for discussion.   HB Maurice Jones-Drew While never the most dominant rusher for a single season, MJD’s career numbers are eye-popping, rushing for over 15,000 yards and 94 career touchdowns. His career YPC average of 3.6 is not exactly superstar caliber, but it is his ability to keep chugging, a persistence that netted the diminutive back seven 1,000-yard seasons, will be rewarded. And when you add in his contributions as a receiver (another 3,900 yards and 22 touchdowns), we don’t see how the 5-time All-USFL back misses out.   LB Channing Crowder The 3-time All-USFL middle linebacker who led the league in tackles in both 2014 and 2019, retired with over 1,200 in his career, with nearly 10% being behind the line of scrimmage. Add in 40 sacks and you have a defender that deserves first ballot consideration.   DT Luis Castillo A lifelong member of the Outlaws, Castillo became the starter in 2006 and played 15 seasons in one of the most grueling positions on the field, retiring this year with 759 career tackles, 18 forced fumbles, 120 TFL, and only 19 missed starts in a decade and a half. The 4-time All-USFL defensive tackle never won a title with the Texas/Oklahoma Outlaws, but his reputation as a never-quit, never-give-in machine in the middle will get him a lot of votes in 5 years’ time.   STRONG CONTENDERS FOR INDUCTION   HB Marshawn Lynch A two-time All-USFL selection, known for “angry” runs and the “Beast Mode” nickname, Lynch had six 1,000-yard seasons, and surprisingly they were spread out over 11 seasons, with his first being his rookie year in 2007 and his final one in 2017 with Oklahoma. He came very close to adding a 7 th  this year, racking up 986 yards after returning to San Antonio for his final season. He retired with over 13,618 yards and 84 touchdowns to his career, along with a lot of DBs and linebackers who still have marks on their bodies from where he ran through them.   LB Rey Maualaga The 2009 USFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Rey Maualaga played 12 seasons, split between Charlotte (2009-2012) and New Jersey (2013-2020). A thumper through and through, the Samoan LB was only nominated All-USFL in 2012, a year when he had one of his lowest tackle counts (only 71), but had 11 sacks. He went over 100 tackles in both 2013 and 2015 before injuries started to cost him games. He missed most of the 2016 and 2017 seasons, but rebounded with a great final campaign this past year, recording 73 tackles in his final year.   OT Willie Colon Colon played 10 seasons in the USFL after coming over from the Pittsburgh Steelers. He spent his first 7 in Houston before making a deal to move to New Orleans in free agency and finishes his career as a Breaker. Over the span of those 10 years, Colon allowed a grand total of only 31 sacks, which breaks down to only 3.1 per year. In that same time, the big man recorded over 876 pancakes, nearly 90 per season. Colon started 144 of the 146 games he played in the USFL and helped Houston get to Summer Bowl 2017, missing their title run in 2018 as he watched from New Orleans.   LB A. J. Hawk A 15-year warrior for the Thunder, from Las Vegas to San Diego, A. J. Hawk played in 228 games, starting 207. He recorded over 1,400 tackles, with 185 behind the line of scrimmage. A versatile player, Hawk was able to play coverage, cover the run, and still record 24 career sacks. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2006 and made the All-USFL team in both 2008 and 2009. He also served as team captain for an impressive 13 consecutive seasons.   POTENTIAL NOMINEES BUT UNLIKEE ENSHRINEES   HB Reggie Bush Known as one of the best running backs in college football history, the former USC Trojan came to the USFL in 2016 after 9 seasons in the NFL. That division of time could limit his chances to get into the hall as a member of either league, but when we combine his stats across both leagues, we could see a chance. His USFL years produced 5 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and a USFL career average of 4.1 yards per carry. Throw in his receiving stats and he certainly has a case, but we are just not sure that 5 years is enough for him to enter solely as a USFL standout.   DT Kedric Gholston A 12-year starter with 4 different USFL teams, Gholston will struggle to get votes when compared with Haynesworth and Castillo. His numbers are solid, but with no All-USFL honors, it is a tough road to get to the Hall.   DE Anthony Hargrove A 17-year veteran of the Stars, Hargrove is sure to be put in the Ring of Honor in Philadelphia and to be remember fondly for his contributions to Philadelphia’s two Conference Titles (2010 & 2013), and he may have just enough juice to get HOF recognition later in his eligibility cycle. He did retire with 166 sacks, reaching 10 sacks every season between 2009 and 2018, but with a career average of under 10 sacks per year, he may struggle against more prolific edge rushers come voting time.   DE Dwight Freeney One more DE who will struggle for recognition, Freeney’s case is also complicated by his split career between the NFL Colts and the USFL Maulers. He had his best seasons in Indianapolis, but also put up good numbers in the USFL, with a 19-sack season in 2017 for Pittsburgh and 5 consecutive 10-sack seasons. But, with only 7 full USFL seasons, his numbers in the league will not match up with some of the big names at his position.   Coming up in Part 2, we look at the year ahead, the division races, the newcomers who could impact their teams, and the challenges facing all 30 franchises. From league champion Tampa Bay down to the Philadelphia Stars, who finished 2020 with the worst record in the league. We look for teams on the rise, those potentially falling short of their 2020 success, and those that are trying to remake their culture and their roster. We will pick our choices for the 2021 playoff teams, the eventual champion, and the five major award winners. We will also, as always, get you ready for the week of action, previewing the opening weekend of USFL Action.

Hi all, a change of plans from my last message about timing. Things got crazy just before I was ready to travel, so I am going to have to delay publication of the 2021 Season Preview. We will take a short break after this article, with the 2021 Season Preview now coming out on Dec. 5 and Week 1 on the 9th. Sorry for the gap, but life sometimes gets in the way. I promise we will be back in December. Between now and then, Happy Thanksgiving and all the football happening these two weeks. February 7, 2021 Here we are, six days before the NFL’s big day, but we are not here to talk about the Chiefs and the Packers in a Super Bowl I rematch. We are here to talk about the USFL, because camps open up next week, and rosters will be set soon after that, and on March 28 the USFL will be back, with Jacksonville & Tampa Bay kicking us off on Friday Night Lights. Before that we need to see how the USFL Draft pans out, which players shift to the spring, which stay in the fall, and, of course, the NFL-USFL transfer window. We start with that as our big story as USFL players report to camp. Who might be joining them, and which USFL players are still without a deal as they await a new set of bidders.   NFL-USFL Transfer Window Could Be Pure Chaos Get those seatbelts buckled, folks, we could be in for a wild ride. With no fall transfer window and a shortened USFL offseason thanks to the Covid-19 delay to the 2020 season, we have had free agency period like none other, with players holding out on decisions until the NFL can counter-offer in February, which leaves huge holes all across USFL rosters and a lot of uncertainty as most teams don’t even bring 60 players into camp. So many key positions still unfilled on USFL rosters, so much potential for defections to the NFL and quite possibly a huge NFL influx into the USFL as well.   Let’s start with the unsigned USFL stars. As we look at the opening of camps this week, the number of unsigned free agents is truly staggering. Players, and agents, let’s be honest, have opted to play coy and see if the NFL might cause offers to spike and deals to exceed expectations. So, who is left unsigned? It’s a cornucopia of USFL talent, and it certainly has teams nervous. Here is our list of 20 players that the spring league would love to get signed, but simply has had no movement on in weeks.   1—CB Brandon Carr (DAL)                    11—LB Odell Thurman (MGN) 2—DE Justin Tuck (MGN)                    12— LB Nathan Triplett (MEM) 3— HB Ryan Williams (SD)                      13—HB Kerwynn Williams (NE) 4—OG Brandon Brooks (NE)                 14— DE Robert Ayers (JAX)   5—LB Patrick Willis (ATL)                    15— LB Courtney Upshaw (CHI) 6—WR Stevie Johnson (STL)              16— CB Syd’Quan Thompson(OHI)  7— DE Olivier Vernon (BAL)                     17— CB Sam Shields (NE) 8— DT Namukong Suh (POR)              18— LB Pat Angerer (HOU) 9—DT Dan Williams (MEM)                    19-- WR Arrelious Benn (LV) 10—FS David Bruton (SAN)                     20-- OT Roger Saffold (OKL)   But, as odd as it is to have this much USFL talent unsigned as February begins, we don’t think this will be a one-way street of the league’s talent headed to the NFL, because, as is far more common, the NFL free agent pool in February is also quite sizeable, and this year there is no shortage of talent looking to compare deals from both leagues and snag the best possible contract and playing situation. With only 2 teams left in action for the Fall league, we know already what the pool will look like, and, just like the USFL pool, there is plenty of top tier talent that will be available when the Transfer Window opens in just under 3 weeks. Here, in contrast to our USFL list, is our compilation of the Top 20 NFL players likely to be available as free agents.   1—HB James Conner (Steelers)             11— DT Michael Brockers (Rams) 2—QB Carson Wentz (Eagles)              12— S Jaquiski Tart (49ers) 3—DE J. J. Watt (Oilers)                     13— QB Gardner Minshew (Jaguars) 4—CB Jimmy Smith (Ravens)                   14— CB Ronald Darby (Eagles) 5—HB Melvin Gordon (Chargers)         15— DT Leonard Williams (Giants) 6—OT Trent Williams (49ers)                   16— WR T. Y. Hilton (Colts) 7—QB Jameis Winston (Saints)               17— QB Philip Rivers (Colts) 8—S Marcus Maye (Jets)                         18— OT Matt Feller (Steelers) 9—WR Marvin Jones (Lions)                19— LB Mychal Kendricks (Seahawks) 10—HB Chris Carson (Seahawks)        20—OG Xavier Su’a-Filo (Cowboys)   That is a pool that certainly will draw attention from USFL clubs, especially if their success in signing rookies from the recent draft is not aligned with team needs. Looking across the USFL, we certainly can see some good matches that make sense to us. And, since we are in speculation mode awaiting both the rash of USFL and NFL rookie signings and the opening of the transfer window, let’s play matchmaker, with 6 NFL signings we would love to see for the USFL.   QB Carson Wentz (Eagles) to the Philadelphia Stars Look, we know the Stars are really hopeful to land BYU’s Zach Wilson after he slipped into the Open Draft. It makes sense, but if Wilson heads to the NFL, the best option for the Stars to actually get a QB to start the season would be to land the former Eagle. Wentz would be a good fit, even if some Eagle fans might balk at backing their former starter with the cross-season rival Stars.   HB James Conner (Steelers) to the Orlando Renegades We just don’t see a player on Orlando’s roster who should be a starter, and while they did add 2 backs late in the draft, they need something a bit more secure. Conner is the best back available (with Gordon close behind), so why not make a move to bring in a proven commodity?   DE J.J. Watt (Oilers) to the Houston Gamblers We know, we tend to get excited by the idea of players staying in the same town from NFL to USFL, but Watt to the Gamblers just makes sense. Houston lost Dante Fowler to free agency (Stallions), and while they are hoping to sign local T-Draft choice Payton Turner of the U. of Houston, nabbing Watt, who is wildly popular in Houston, seems an easy layup to get fans excited.   OT Trent Williams (49ers) to the Pittsburgh Maulers The Maulers need veteran leadership on the line, and while Williams is likely only a 1-2 year solution, he could help mentor young linemen like Northwestern rookie Rashawn Taylor (still unsigned).   QB Gardner Minshew (Jaguars) to the Memphis Showboats It’s the mullet. We see the mullet and we just think that this guy needs to be in Memphis, where his personal style can truly be appreciated. Sure, Memphis has a secure starter in Paxton Lynch, but with Fitzpatrick retiring, adding a colorful character like Minshew to the QB room would be a marketing bonanza even if he does not see the field that often.   HB Chris Carson (Seahawks) to the Portland Stags While we are stunned the Seahawks did not lock up Carson’s services, it is such a perfect fit for him to stay in the PNW by jumping to the Stags. He could split carries with Doug Martin this year and then take over in his 2 nd  year. He knows how to play in the slop of Seattle rain, so Portland would be a perfect next step. Make it happen, Stags, we want to see Carson carving up defenses in the spring this year.   St. Louis and New Jersey Stay Patient & Get Their Men It was not a speedy process, and it certainly made both Skyhawk and General fans a bit anxious this holiday season, but it seemed clear that both USFL clubs had a specific target in mind as they scouted the 2020 NFL season. And while they had to wait through some playoff games as well, both eventually got their chance to interview their targeted NFL coach and both made their pitches convincing, bringing their top choice to town and getting them to sign on the dotted line. So, who are the last two coaches to join their teams this year? Glad you asked.   St. Louis wanted an offensive innovator, and they think they got one in Seattle Seahawk OC Brian Schottenheimer. After stints with the NFL Chargers and Jets, Schottenheimer won a national title at Georgia before returning to the pro game with Indianapolis and then Seattle. His time in Indy produced the best results of Andrew Luck’s career, and when he got to Seattle he helped boost the fortunes of their young QB, Austin Davis, not to mention helping Chris Carson become a 1,500-yard rusher. The son of former NFL legend, Blitz and Machine head coach Marty Schottenheimer, Brian is making a name for himself as a QB guru and a coach who adapts his offense to the talent on his team. That makes a lot of sense for a Skyhawks team that will be built around QB Lamar Jackson and his unique set of skills. New Jersey went a very different direction, but one most predicted, choosing a defensive-minded coach in San Francisco 49er DC Robert Saleh. The former linebacker coach and quality control specialist produced strong results in San Francisco, helping to turn the 49er defense into one of the league’s best. His forte is producing takeaways, sacks, and defensive pressure. His 2019 defense was one of the NFL’s best as he helped get the 49ers into the Super Bowl. This year they fell just short, but once again his defense was a huge reason for the team’s success. New Jersey is hoping he can bring an aggressive style and a big-play mentality to the Generals’ defense, while also helping the team move on from a disappointing 7-8-1 season in 2020.   With these two hires, the USFL coaching carousel comes to an end. Who will find immediate success in their new role, just as Mark Trestman did with Tampa Bay in 2019 and his protégé, Jaime Elizondo did with Atlanta this past season? Will it be the offensive innovators—Schottenheimer, Gilbride, or Gruden? The defensive stalwarts Saleh and Quinn? Or will Greg Landry find retribution after a solid run with the Outlaws as he returns to lead a second team in Las Vegas?   While the USFL is seeing an unprecedented number of free agents opting to wait out the offseason in hopes that competing bids between USFL and NFL teams during February’s transfer window will increase their leverage and produce better contracts for them, we did have some significant signings over the past two months. We may not have seen as many signings as fans would like, and there are still plenty of players left to fight over, but some teams have started filling roster holes and finding value in doing so. Here is our breakdown of some of the best signings of the offseason to date.   ARIZONA: QB Brock Osweiler, DE Jerry Hughes The Wranglers shook off the shock of losing Calais Campbell to the Blitz and brought in a quality veteran to line up along with Bud DuPree. Will Hughes nab 20+ sacks? Very unlikely, but will he and DuPree create a solid edge duo? That seems more than likely. As for Osweiler, we think he is purely insurance in the event that Arizona’s Draft Day choice heads to the fall.   ATLANTA: SS Chuck Clark, QB Pat White The signing of Clark is intriguing, because with Baccari Rambo and Earl Thomas Atlanta already has a very solid SS-FS combo. Our guess is that Clark, in addition to playing a swing position, will get a lot of snaps in nickel and dime coverages. He may even get some time in a quasi-LB role.   BALTIMORE: DT Michael Brockers The big moves from the Blitz came early (Campbell & Micah Hyde), but adding an athletic DT to force teams away from overloading Campbell is a very shrewd move.   CHARLOTTE: WR Marques Colston The veteran speedster may not be quite so fast anymore, but he still has good hands and will force defenses to respect the deep ball.   DENVER: WR Tavon Austin The Gold recognize that their offense was too reliant on slow, 3-down plods up and down the field. Austin has never reached the potential we saw for him out of college, but he will offer some quickness and elusiveness in the slot.   LOS ANGELES: HB Ty Montgomery With Paul Perkins expected to be the new starter at HB, we see Montgomery as a 3 rd down option and a change of pace. But will that be enough to help improve a pretty mundane LA attack?   MEMPHIS: TE Cameron Brate, DT Rakeem Nunes-Roches Two good signings for the Showboats, with RNR eating space inside for a defense that wants to use a 46, at least on early downs. Brate is an undervalued receiver who can be a nice safety valve. With Brate, Dallas Goedert, and Luke Stocker, Memphis may have the best 3-man grouping in the league at tight end.   NEW ENGLAND: WR David Clowney, HB Robert Foster, FS Justin Bethel The Steamrollers are clearly moving to improve overall team depth after 2020 proved they had solid front line talent. A deeper roster makes it easier to survive the 16-week grind of the USFL.   NEW JERSEY: HB Delone Carter, WR Pharoh Cooper, DE Grady Jarrett The Generals bring back Delone Carter, who left for Ohio 3 years ago. Is he really the answer to start or will they upgrade in the offseason’ s final month. Jarrett is not going to be All-USFL, but he is a solid rotational player on the inside.   OKLAHOMA: LB Odell Thurman The centerpiece of the Panthers’ LB group heads to Oklahoma on a 2-year deal that is likely his last. In Thurman, they have a QB for the defense and a player who will help develop some of their young talent.   PITTSBURGH: DE Vic Beasley Veteran DE Vic Beasley is a nice pairing to go with breakout star Shaquile Riddick, giving Pittsburgh a solid edge combo. With defenses having to shift towards Riddick, we could see Beasley’s production increase as a Mauler.   SAN DIEGO: K Caleb Sturgis, HB Charles Sims, HB David Wilson, WR Arrelious Benn The Thunder have been very active but are also apparently going for 2 nd  and 3 rd tier players, which means they will have a very different roster in 2021, but we are not sure that there are many upgrades, except maybe Sturgis as their kicker.   SEATTLE: HB Wendell Smallwood, WR Kendrick Bourne The Dragons land a 3 rd  down back to take some of the pressure off Knowshon Moreno, and a swing receiver who could see significant snaps this year in Bourne.    We cannot tell the story of the 2020 USFL Draft without first talking about the trades that helped shape it. As early as November we started seeing teams making moves towards Draft Day. As reported in our December report, we had a lot of QB movement, but we also had teams starting to swap T-Draft picks. St. Louis acquired Jacksonville’s 2 nd T-Draft pick, which we learned they would use on TE Kyle Pitts of Florida. Philadelphia acquired Birmingham’s 2 nd  pick, which they used to select WR Jaylen Waddle. Portland and Charlotte swapped picks, and just as we all thought, Charlotte went after OT Penei Sewell of Oregon while Portland selected UNC halfback Javonte Williams. But we were not done there.   In the 2 week before the T-Draft we also saw San Antonio trade away LB Casey Matthews to Orlando in order to land the Renegades’ 1 st  T-Draft pick along with a 4 th rounder in the Open Draft. That first pick, one of many Hurricanes taken, was DE Greg Rousseau. New Orleans and San Diego traded 2 nd  round T-Draft picks, Orlando and Oklahoma swapped their first round T-Draft picks as well Washington sent a 1 st  and a 5 th  in 2021 to trade up with San Antonio in the 1 st  round, moving from 11 th  to 3 rd  so they could select HB Travis Etienne, a deal that could only happen in the days between the T-Draft and the Open Draft.   Then, on the day of the Open Draft’s first 2 rounds, we got the usual rising and dropping as teams tried to position themselves to get the player they coveted but did not think would last. Birmingham opted to drop from the 6 th  pick to the 10 th pick, adding a 4 th  rounder from New England for the swap. The Steamrollers moved up to select Notre Dame LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, while Birmingham, picking in the 10-spot settled on CB Jaycee Horn (after passing on Patrick Surtain II in the T-Draft. Denver got themselves a second pick in the opening round by sending 2 second rounders to New Orleans. The Breakers added another 2 nd  rounder this year and one for next year with the move, while Denver jumped up to select Safety Camryn Bynum of Cal. And in another first round swap, Portland moved down 8 spots but picked up a 3 rd  rounder from Atlanta as the Fire went from pick 25 to pick 17 so they could select Alabama DT Christian Barmore, and good thing too, because between those two picks Baltimore also picked a DT (Christian Darrisaw of Va Tech) and very likely would have gone for Barmore. Dropping 8 gave Portland the 25 th  pick, and they too went DT, with La Tech’s Milton Williams, adding OT Will Sherman of Colorado with the extra 3 rd  rounder they acquired.   And while we saw very few player for player swaps during the draft itself, we did have two worth noting. As part of their first round swap, Washington and San Antonio also swapped defensive tackles with the Federals sweetening the pot by offering the Gunslingers A’Shawn Robinson, while Portland gave the Feds a swap at the position by sending them Carl Davis. But the most interesting trade may have been the one between the Denver Gold and the Tampa Bay Bandits. Tampa Bay sent Denver WR Darnell Mooney and reserve OT Jack Mewhort in exchange for Denver RT David Bakhtiari, a pretty solid contributor who could be ready to switch to the left side if that is Tampa’s intent. The Bandits also received a 4 th round pick in the deal, which ended up getting used to select WR Dax Milne out of BYU.   So, movement in the T-Draft, movement up and down the Open Draft list, and even some players changing hands. But what was the net effect? Sounds like it is time for us to review the draft.     The QB Run Down Ten quarterbacks came off the board between the USFL’s Territorial and Open Drafts, a sign that there was depth at the position but also need across the league. Not every draftee will become a starter, of course, and, based on the track record for signings, at least 4-5 will opt for the NFL instead. So, with that in mind, what is the picture across the USFL when it comes to rookie QBs? Here is our breakdown.   Week 1 Starter if He Signs Three of the signal callers selected in this year’s draft have real potential to be under center the weekend of March 26-28. Both Trevor Lawrence (Bulls) and Justin Fields (Glory) were chosen in the T-Draft and are clearly being wooed as an immediate starter and a potential franchise player for their USFL bidders. We like the chances for both to sign because Lawrence’s other option is the NFL Jaguars, who are a bit cash strapped, and Fields was chosen by the Chicago Bears, a franchise that has not had a true star at QB since Sid Luckman (Google him, kids).   As for the third, BYU’s Zach Wilson could be the Week 1 starter for the Philadelphia Stars after being selected with the first overall pick, but the New York Jets are wooing him pretty hard and they have the resources (and a more solid foundation for their roster) that could attract Wilson to the NFL. If that happens, Philadelphia will have to scramble to find a viable option at the position.   Potential to Start in Year 2 or Later Two other QBs were taken in the first round of the USFL Open Draft, North Dakota State’s Trey Lance and Alabama’s Mac Jones. We don’t think either is the starter this year, but both, along with Stanford’s Davis Mills, could step in next year. Lance, unprotected in the T-Draft as NDSU was an unallocated school, went to Chicago, where he will sit behind Sam Bradford. Mac Jones to Arizona, where the Wranglers are hopeful that David Carr can return in MVP form once again, and Davis Mills was a T-Draft pick for the Oakland Invaders, who have 44-year-old Tom Brady at QB. In each case, a year of watching, learning, and preparing may well be their ticket to sophomore year success.   Don’t Be Surprised if They Get a Shot We are putting 2 additional QB’s in this category, Florida’s Kyle Trask, and Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond. Both clearly start as backups behind established starters: Mond in Michigan behind Kirk Cousins, and Trask in Atlanta, behind Aaron Murray. Of course, that depends on if they sign with the USFL. Both could have a quicker path to a starting gig in the NFL, Mond with Minnesota and Trask in Florida with the Buccaneers.   Likely Career Backups Hey, nothing wrong with being the backup, if you can do it well. We just don’t see late round additions Ian Book of Notre Dame (Chicago) and Sam Ehlinger of Texas (Oakland) developing into franchise quarterbacks, but they both could provided needed depth. Oakland’s situation in particular, with Brady as the starter, Kellen Moore back, and Davis Mills the higher-rated pick, likely means that if Ellinger signs, he is headed to the practice squad. For Book, we see him as an insurance policy for the Machine if Trey Lance heads to the NFL. The Machine are not in immediate need, so Book (like Lance) would sit behind Bradford, and possibly behind veteran backup Mike Kafka as well.   Ten Players Primed to Start in Week 1 if They Sign It is not only about the quarterbacks, though we often focus on them as draft prospects. There is plenty of talent all across the draft board, and we see some good pairings of team need to player talent all over the draft. Looking not only at the Blue Chippers, but some mid-round picks as well, we see some real good fits across the league, players who could be starting in Week 1 if they take the deal and move their football careers to the spring. Here are 5 “first rounders” (NFL style) and 5 later picks who could be in the starting 22 from the start.   TE Kyle Pitts (Skyhawks or NFL Falcons) With Will Dissley a solid blocker, he will likely see a lot of action at TE in run formations, but if you want a threat at the position, Pitts is the starter in St. Louis.   OT Penei Sewell (Stags or NFL Lions) No doubt that Sewell will be defending Marcus Mariota’s blindside if he joins the Stags. An immediate impact player who is pro ready.   LB Micah Parsons (Stars or Cowboys) No matter where he goes, Parsons will have a star on the side of his helmet, and a Week 1 starting gig.   OG Alijah Vera-Tucker (Express or NY Jets) The Express feel good that they can land AVT simply based on his USC pedigree and closeness to family in LA. If they do, he slots in right away at RT to help the Express run game.   HB Najee Harris (Stallions or Steelers) The Stallions have passed on too many Bama halfbacks over the year. They need to do everything they can to land this one, and if they do, they know he is their guy for at least 1 st and 2 nd  down.   CB Asante Samuel Jr (Bandits or Chargers) Samuel did not go until the 2 nd round of the NFL Draft, but was Tampa’s 1 st  T-Draft pick, so the Bandits have a good chance of keeping the talented corner in Florida. If they do, slot him opposite Jalen Ramsey for a very nice 1-2 combo.   OT Sam Cosmi (Roughnecks or Washington FT) This could be a case, one of many we see, where the T-Draft really helps a team land a targeted player. Cosmi would benefit from staying in Texas, while Dallas would benefit from his athleticism at right tackle.   DE Boogie Basham (Federals or Bills) A 2 nd  round pick by Buffalo, a 3 rd  rounder by Washington, which may be problematic, but the advantage Washington has is that their RE slot is very much up for grabs, which means Basham could be a starter rather than a rotational contributor.   TE Tommy Tremble (Vipers or NFL Panthers) If he lands in Las Vegas, Tremble has only Dwayne Allen to beat out to be the starter. That and a more secure QB situation with the Vipers could lure him to the desert and the USFL.   HB Rhamondre Stevenson (Gunslingers or Patriots) Talk about a tough choice; join an expansion team in their 2 nd  year of existence or sign on with perhaps the most dysfunctional franchise in pro football, the perennial 10-12 loss Patriots. Advantage Gunslingers, especially if they can promise him 15 carries a week to start.     Our Favorite Pick for Each Club ARZ - QB Mac Jones, Alabama (1 st  Round Open Draft) With David Carr’s long term future very much a question mark, using a late 1 st  round selection on a proven winner with a similar style makes a lot of sense.   ATL - DT Christian Barmore, Alabama (1 st  Round Open Draft) The Fire had plenty of talent to pick from in the T-Draft, but they also hit on a solid replacement for Albert Haynesworth with their first Open Draft selection.   BAL - WR Tutu Atwell, Louisville (1 st  T-Draft Pick) A bit of a curveball for a team that already has a future star in Michael Pittman Jr, but we see Atwell as a 3-positoin player, a kick returner, a slot receiver, and a potential replacement for Brian Hartline when the venerable receiver retires.   BIR - HB Najee Harris, Alabama (1 st  T-Draft Pick) The Stallions could have thrown a dart at the roster of the Crimson Tide and found a winner, but in Harris they fill an obvious need and very likely take a lot of pressure off Cam Newton at the same time.   CHA - OT Penei Sewell. Oregon (1 st  T-Draft Pick of Portland via Trade) The swap of T-Draft picks between Charlotte and Portland produced exactly what each team needed, a shot at a player in an obvious position of need. If the Monarchs can sign Sewell, they likely have a 10-year solution at left tackle.   CHI - QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State (1 st Round Open Draft) Lance dropped well past where we thought he would go, and much to Chicago’s surprise, they had a shot at a future franchise QB who can sit behind Bradford and learn as he gets used to the speed of the pro game.   DAL - OT Sam Cosmi, Texas (2 nd  T-Draft Pick) A position of need, a player with a proven track record against top level opposition, and a Longhorn, what more could DFW fans want?   DEN - DE Odafe Oweh, Penn State (1 st  Round Open Draft) You could almost see the Gold’s licks smacking when they saw that Philadelphia did not protect Oweh. They love this Nittany Lion product and see him as a rotational starter from the get-go. Now, can they keep him from signing with the NFL Ravens?   HOU - OT Alex Leatherwood, Alabama (1 st  Round Open Draft) We all knew that Payton Turner would be their star T-Draft pic, but they got a bit lucky to see Leatherwood both skipped over by Birmingham in the T-Draft and slide all the way until the end of the 1 st round in the Open Draft.   JAX - QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (1 st  T-Draft Pick) Could it be anyone else? This entire draft, and very likely the future career of Coach Moss, depends on Lawrence being the player all the scouts say he is. And with the NFL Jaguars also picking the Clemson product, it is all about the deal as he is coming to Duvall County either way.   LA - CB Eric Stokes, Georgia (2 nd  Round Open Draft) We like LA”s T-Draft, but the biggest steal has to be finding Stokes still on the board with their 2 nd  Open Draft pick. A true value pick.   LV - TE Tommy Tremble, Notre Dame (2 nd  Round Open Draft) Two good back-to-back picks in the open draft for Coach Landry and the Vipers’ offense, as they pick Minnesota WR Rashod Bateman in the first, and then possibly land an immediate starter at TE in the 2 nd round with Notre Dame’s Tremble.   MEM - LB Jabril Cox, LSU (2 nd  Round Open Draft) Another good 2 nd  round pick as the Showboat defense picks another playmaker for Rex Ryan to scheme around. The Showboats love his motor and his range.   MGN - QB Kellen Mond, Texas A&M (3 rd  Round Open Draft) Sure, we could have said T-Draft choice Kwity Paye (and we do so love saying “Kwity”), but in picking Mond, we see real long-term planning for the Panthers. He won’t see much of the field this year if he signs with Michigan over the NFL Vikings, but he could very well be a great option if Cousins hits the cliff or hits free agency.   NE -CB Benjamin St-Juste (2 nd  T-Draft Pick) An underrated player out of Minnesota, St-Juste has already signed with the Steamrollers after getting passed over by the NFL until the 3 rd  round of their draft.   NJ - LB Jamin Davis, Kentucky (1 st  Round Open Draft) Coach Saleh wants aggressive players and this Wildcat linebacker could be just the fit for him. The Generals will need to outbid the now-nameless Washington Football Team for his rights, but if they can land him, he could be a great fit for Saleh’s style of play.   NOR - WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU (1 st  T-Draft Pick) We really did not think the Breakers would do it, not with Nelson and Jefferson already on the roster, but when they see talent, they don’t shy away from it. Could you imagine trying to defend that trio? All New Orleans needs to do is get Chase to say no to the Bengals and they could be absolutely murder in the passing game.   OAK - QB Davis Mills, Stanford (2 nd  T-Draft Pick) A solid, shrewd, and pretty straightforward pick. Davis is not ready to play right away, but he could do a lot worse than to study under Tom Brady for a year.   OHIO - HB Trey Sermon, Ohio State (2 nd  T-Draft Pick) You would think we would say Justin Fields, the already signed and sealed QB for the Glory, but we love the idea that they also selected his favorite back as a security blanket and as a viable option behind Isaiah Pead.   OKL - WR Nico Collins, Michigan (3 rd  Round Open Draft) We thought the Panthers would protect Collins, after all, this year’s Summer Bowl proved they could use a few more offensive weapons. But, after dropping into the Open Draft, Collins waited until Oklahoma came calling, and we suspect he will be on the phone with Jalen Hurts a lot before a decision is made on his pro team.   ORL - DE Jaelen Phillips, Miami (1 st  T-Draft Pick) Seriously, does Orlando just hate QBs? They just keep picking stud edge rushers. We imagine that Phillips will rotate with Arthur Moats on the right side, because they are not going to pull Montez Sweat out of the lineup.   PHI - LB Micah Parsons, Penn State (1 st  T-Draft Pick) There was a lot of talent coming out of Happy Valley this year, but only one player had “can’t miss” written all over him, and that was Parsons. He will be a tough sign, however, as Jerry Jones will do all he can to land the Boys’ first pick.   PIT - WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC (3 rd  Round Open Draft) Not just a fun name to say, and not just the brother of Jacksonville WR Equanimeous St. Brown, Amon-Ra is a better prospect and a solid option for Andy Dalton in a receiver group that could use a bit more excitement.   POR - HB Javonte Williams, UNC (1 st  T-Draft Pick of Charlotte—Trade) Like we said, Portland and Charlotte found a way to get what each needed. We think Williams could be the next big thing in Portland, a city used to quality halfback play.   SAN - HB Rhamondre Stevenson, Oklahoma (1 st Round Open Draft) The Gunslingers were not happy with their slapdash run game last year, so getting a true bell cow was a priority. Stevenson is not a great receiver, but he can pound the rock, something the Gunslingers sorely needed last year.   SD - WR Kadarius Toney, Florida (2 nd  Round Open Draft) The Thunder spent most of the draft focused on their defense, but they get kudos for seeing an opportunity when Toney fell into the early part of the 2 nd  round. A quick cutter and potential Week 1 starter in the slot, Toney has to decide between spring and summer in San Diego or winter in New York. Hmmm… seems a pretty easy choice to us. SEA - C Landon Dickerson, Alabama (2 nd  Round Open Draft) Nothing flashy, nothing that will sell newspapers, but any time you can land a potential 10-year starter on the line, you have done something right.   STL - TE Kyle Pitts, Florida (2nd T-Draft Pick of Jacksonville-Trade) When the Skyhawks traded with Jacksonville for their 2 nd  round T-Draft pick, we wondered if they would go for Travis Etienne or Kyle Pitts. They decide to go with a target for Lamar Jackson, which means HB is still an issue, but Jackson has to love what Pitts can bring.   TBY - CB Asante Samuel Jr., Florida State (1 st T-Draft Pick) Another “too easy” T-Draft choice. Samuel and Alabama’s Surtain were the two best corners in a draft that had a deep list. The Bandits want to be a team that can win both shootouts and smashmouth games, and adding a talented corner would certainly help them do just that.   WSH - HB Travis Etienne, Clemson (1 st  Round Open Draft) We love, love, love this pick!! Jacksonville chose not to select him with their 3 rd  and final T-Draft pick, so there he was at the top of the 1 st  round. Washington moved up by trading with the Gunslingers and got themselves a Week 1 starter. They have to compete with the Jaguars to land him, but the NFL club is also trying to sign Trevor Lawrence, so Washington may have a financial advantage. 2021 USFL Schedule Brings a Sense of Normalcy Back It may not be exactly as the USFL would have liked, but with all 32 franchises able to operate in their home stadiums, albeit some with capacity caps, the USFL has not only been able to return football to every franchise’s home but is also able to return to its standard weekly schedule. There will be some small alterations to what we have seen in the past, but 2021 will certainly feel more like 2019 than the Covid-restricted 2020 season.   The biggest change from the “standard” USFL schedule is a delay in opening week. Rather than the 3 rd week in March, which has been the traditional start date, the league will kick off in the month’s final week, with a Friday night double-header kicking us off on March 26. The weekly schedule will then proceed through 17 weeks, with each team getting a bye during one of the midseason weeks (more on that in a minute). Each week will have a very familiar setup of 2 Friday night games, afternoon games on both Saturday and Sunday, with evening games each night as well. However, with the addition of the New England and San Antonio franchises bringing the lead to 30 teams, we do have one additional game each week. That impacted the schedule, but we think the end result is a net positive. With 2 games on Friday, we have 13 more games most weeks (fewer during the midseason byes). So, what is the solution? We will see 7 games on Saturdays, with 3 games in the early window (including regional TV coverage by either FOX or ABC), 2 games in the late afternoon window, and two nationally broadcast games in the evening timeslot. On Sundays we will have only 5 games, again with 3 early window games, 2 later window games, and only the ESPN/EFN Sunday Night Football broadcast at 8pm ET each Sunday night.   With those details looking very familiar, what should we know about the differences in this year’s schedule? Well, two obvious ones are in play, stadium capacity caps and bye weeks. The hope, of course, is that at any time various cities or states could remove the capacity caps, but we do have caps in place in several locations at present, including a limit to 50% capacity in Illinois (Chicago Machine), New Jersey (Generals), Colorado (Denver Gold), Washington (Seattle Dragons), Oregon (Portland Stags) and California (Oakland, Los Angeles, and San Diego). Surprisingly, Massachusetts did not join their more progressive “blue” states in requiring capacity limits for outdoor events, which means that the New England Steamrollers can do their best to fill Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.   As for the byes, the USFL has opted to compress the bye schedule a bit more than the NFL. While the fall league spreads the byes out over 8-10 weeks of their 17-week schedule, the USFL will have teams on a bye week only between weeks 7-11, creating a 4-week period when each of the 30 teams will have their week of rest and recovery. We will outline the byes for each team when we preview the entire season schedule in our Preseason report, but the structure means that we will see all teams play at least 6 games before getting their bye week and that we will see no byes at all during weeks 12-17, a five game stretch when playoff races really heat up and when many of you Fantasy USFL players are getting into your playoffs. We cannot promise that your best players won’t be rested in Week 17, but we do know that from weeks 12-16 you should have all your stars ready to go.   All in all it is very good news, and if we can get some more states to lift their capacity limits, we could very well feel “normal” again with USFL action from coast to coast each week. We got by last year, and we certainly saw some great football played, but it will be so nice to get back to the stadium, feel the spring and summer sun, grab some tailgate barbecue or a cold frosty one in the stands, and root on our favorite USFL clubs with thousands of fellow fans.   We will be back in just over a month, days before the 2021 USFL season kicks off, with a full season preview looking at every team, every division, every scenario. We will offer you our assessment of each team’s offseason, their chances for the year ahead, strengths and weaknesses, and we will offer you our fearless, but often way off base, predictions of the season ahead.

Hello USFL fans, a quick housekeeping message: I will be both traveling a little and celebrating the holidays in November, and this will require that I delay the start of the 2021 season on this site. My goal is to have all the offseason reports and season preview posts completed on the usual every-3rd-day schedule, which would take us to November. 28. However, after that date, I will have to postpone the first 2021 article/post until Friday, December 5 to give me time to simulate Week 1 and produce the recap. So, a short 7-day gap, but I promise the 2021 season is coming and I should be back on schedule for each week after that brief delay for 2021 Week 1. December 7, 2020 Welcome back, USFL fans. The truncated offseason is at its halfway point, with the USFL Draft just barely over a month away and camps to open up in 2 months. We have so much news to catch you up on, as well as a draft to preview, and news about the season ahead. But we will kick it off with one of the stories of the offseason as a killer deal lures Calais Campbell away from the Arizona Wranglers for what might be his final season. We start there and then we’ll update you on the coaching news, free agency, all the USFL trades, including several QBs headed to new teams, and then prep for the 2021 Territorial & Open Drafts. It is going to be an action-packed episode, so let’s get right to it.   A Deal He Could Not Turn Down Jaw-dropping, wide-eyed, stunned faces, that is what you saw all around Phoenix as Wrangler Nation heard the news. Calais Campbell not only was not announcing his retirement, he was announcing that he had accepted a 1-year deal to play for the Baltimore Blitz. The immediate uproar was loud and angry. Arizona had screwed up, letting Campbell’s contract lapse. They had failed to secure the greatest defensive player of this generation (greatest USFL defender ever in many eyes) because they were overconfident that if he opted to play one more year, he would do so in the desert.   But Baltimore made him an offer he could not refuse, a one-year deal that makes him not only the highest paid defender in pro football history, but actually puts him in the range of the best QBs in the game, a deal that recognizes his immense contribution to the game as a 12-time sack leader, and his potential to do so a 13 th time. Campbell’s deal is a once-in-a-lifetime deal, certainly enough to put off retirement one more year, and with a chance to not only record 20 sacks for a 13 th  consecutive year, or to win the sack title a 13 th consecutive time, but to play for a team that seems to be ascending just as Arizona may be watching its title window close, Campbell has a chance to add another trophy to his collection of honors.   Campbell becomes the richest defender in pro football history. For Wrangler fans, the news has to be devastating. Campbell came to the desert after 10 amazing seasons in Orlando and the Wranglers hoped they could get 12-15 sacks per year from the 33-year old DE. He outperformed every expectation, racking up 23 sacks in 2019 and 26 (in only 14 games) in 2020. If he was going to go for a 13 th  record year, certainly he would do it with Coach Tomsula and the Wranglers? Well, nothing speaks louder than cold, hard cash, and Baltimore pulled the Jerry Maguire, it showed him the money. And so, Calais Campbell, the greatest sack artist in pro football history, heads back east, giving it one more year, and one more chance to add to his record sack total for a team that is pulling out all the stops to win a title. Just what this means for Arizona is yet to be see, after all, they have a pretty talented protégé in Bud DuPree, but there is no way that the loss of an iconic figure like Campbell does not hurt, just as his arrival in Baltimore is sure to not only sell more season tickets, but be prepared to see a sea of blue and silver number 93 jerseys all throughout the inner harbor, the city, and the state of Maryland this year. Landry Lands in Las Vegas The Las Vegas Vipers became the first to fill their vacancy at head coach, landing former Texas & Oklahoma Outlaw head coach Greg Landry to be the new leader for the silver and blue. Landry, who was let go by the Outlaws after the 2018 season despite a record of 84-61-1 record over 9 seasons, including a run of 5 straight playoff appearances (2011-2015) and a trip to the Summer Bowl in 2014, returns to coaching after spending two seasons in the studios of ESPN as part of their USFL coverage. Landry, a former USFL and NFL QB, comes to a Las Vegas club that has appeared in the playoffs only once since 2012 (a period spanning several years in Nashville before relocating). His task, get them back to winning ways they have not seen in a decade, and to take advantage of what many see as shifting sands in the SW Division, where Arizona has held the controls for the better part of the decade, but may now be fading.   Gruden Glory Bound The Ohio Glory solved their Head Coach vacancy issue only 4 days after Las Vegas, making official what many had suspected for weeks, that former Atlanta Fire and NFL Redskins coach Jay Gruden would be named the new leader in Columbus. Gruden, who survived only 3 seasons with the expansion Atlanta Fire in 2006, but who found success with the NFL Redskins, taking them to the playoffs three times in a 6-year span, is expected to bring a very different energy to the Glory after 5 seasons under the iron hand of disciplinarian Tom Coughlin. Gruden is known as a player’s coach, an offensive innovator, and a pretty solid motivator.   Like Greg Landry in Las Vegas, Gruden is also a former quarterback, though his pro career was limited to a short stint with the NFL Dolphins as a backup and a pair of seasons in Canada. He turned to coaching as a grad assistant at the U. of Louisville in 1989, had some stints in the NFL (Tampa Bay), CFL (Winnipeg Blue Bombers) and the short-lived Arena Football League. He made his name with the NFL Bucs’, moving to his first head coaching position with the Atlanta Fire due to his success as an OC in the NFL. In 3 years with the expansion Fire, he had a record of 21-26-0, pulling off a surprising 7-7 season in the franchise’s first season of existence, but slipped to 5-11 by year 3. Gruden called that period of his career humbling and a cause for growth. After 6 years with the Redskins he now gets a 2 nd  shot to lead a USFL club, and in Ohio he will certainly get a club in transition as the Glory are fully expected to go after Ohio State QB Justin Fields, which could mean a rookie QB for Gruden to mold.   Stars Choose Dan Quinn Philadelphia found their guy in early November, having interviewed several USFL coordinators and even former Federals’ coach Sean Payton. Their choice? Former Atlanta Falcons’ head coach Dan Quinn. Quinn came up as a defensive coach, entirely in the NFL, with stints in San Francisco, Miami, New York (Jets), and Seattle before a short stint at the University of Florida and eventually the job with the Falcons.   Quinn’s defenses have typically been solid, even helping Atlanta reach the playoffs in 2016 and 2017, but he never recovered from a total collapse against Dallas in the 2016 NFC Championship. Holding a 28-9 lead into the 4 th  quarter, the Cowboys, led by Tom Brady, scored 19 to tie the game in regulation and then won it 34-28 in overtime, sending Brady back to the Super Bowl for a 3 rd  NFL title while Atlanta took the record for perhaps the worst choke in NFL history. Quinn took responsibility for that collapse, brought Atlanta back to the playoffs in 2017, but was let go after two 7-9 seasons. He is expected to bring to Philadelphia a defensive-minded scheme and an offense that will focus on Derrick Henry as the centerpiece of the attack. With Matt Gutierrez recently traded (see below), the QB situation is very much up in the air for the Stars, but Quinn is expected to have a voice in the process, whether that means using the 1 st  overall Open Draft pick on a QB or signing a veteran during the NFL-USFL transfer window (several former NFL starters are looking good to be in the pool), getting a QB he can work with is likely his first order of business.   Gilbride Returns to USFL with Federals Taking on the head coaching position with the Washington Federals will not be Kevin Gilbride’s first stint in the USFL, but he does not want to talk about his first trip through the league. The OC for the New York Giants from 2007-2013 and Buffalo Bills (2014-2019), has not been back to the USFL since the 1996 season, when, as a young coordinator, in his first pro position, he was cold-cocked by legendary hothead Buddy Ryan. That famous punch on the sideline of the Memphis Showboats would cost Ryan his job, but it would also send Gilbride to the NFL, where he had a short head-coaching stint with San Diego before returning to the familiar role as an OC for several teams.   Gilbride found success in both New York and Buffalo, but lost his position when a pretty putrid defense for the Bills caused a head coaching change that also washed out both coordinators, despite Gilbride producing a Top 5 offense for Buffalo in 2019. Gilbride, known for a pass-heavy and quarterback-friendly system, found success with Derek Carr in Buffalo, brother of Arizona’s David Carr. The two helped Buffalo become one of the best passing offenses in the league, but the team still only won 6 games in 2019 due to their defense, and Gilbride became available.   Gilbride joins a Feds team that ranked 27 th  of the USFL’s 30 teams in yardage last season, averaging only 62.3 yards rushing and only 225.5 yards passing. He has issues on defense as well, particularly with the loss of LB Alec Ogletree to free agency, but the clear mission for Kilbride is two-part, to find a running back who can return Washington to a more balanced offense, and then turn what should be a training camp battle at QB (see trade info below) into a solid QB situation. The Feds have a talented WR group in Keenan Allen, Tyreek Hill, and Jarvis Landry, but the lack of run game and Nassib’s inconsistency have stunted their production. Expect Gilbride to get right on that offense as his cornerstone for improvement from a 6-9-1 record for the Feds in 2019.   Skyhawks & Generals Have Eyes on NFL We see this every year, with some teams scrambling to get a coach in the corner office as early in preseason as possible while others line up their GMs to handle the offseason, wait out the NFL season and go after a hot coaching candidate from the fall league. This year is no different, with 4 of 6 teams finding their coaches, but the New Jersey Generals and St. Louis Skyhawks playing the waiting game. But while both teams are holding their cards pretty close to the chest right now, we have a pretty good sense what each is hoping to find come January. New Jersey is pretty clearly going to focus on defense, hoping to improve on their bottom 3 rd numbers from 2020. They have talent on that side of the ball, particularly in the LB group with MLB Matt Milano, veteran Rey Maualaga and Aldon Smith, backed by Akeem Ayers and Doug Hogue. And while improvement on D has to be a priority, the other obvious need is for a new bell cow back after Maurice Jones-Drew retired. If they can also find competition for Nick Foles, there are certainly fans that would love that, but defense and the run game have to be a focal point for New Jersey, so expect them to keep an eye trained on some of the better DCs across the NFL.   For St. Louis, the situation is far more complex. On the one hand, they need a coach who is going to get the most out of QB Lamar Jackson, a QB with a unique skill set that simply does not fit well with a lot of offensive schemes. However, the Skyhawk defense has been a complete disaster for the better part of 5-6 years, consistently burnt by big plays and almost allergic to tackling. There will be a huge turnover of the roster, to be sure, as we have already seen an exodus of some of the Skyhawks’ top players, so ownership will need time to rebuild, and while they were quick to land former Arizona Wrangler GM Terry McDonough as their new General Manager and VP for Player Personnel, they are being patient in the coaching search. We think they will be going for someone with head coaching experience, which makes sense, but it may all depend on just who is let go this offseason (among head coaches) or which coordinators are ready to take on a very significant challenge with this St. Louis team.   Our Top 20 And Where They are Headed As expected the 2020-2021 offseason has been unpredictable and unique, much like the season that preceded it. While we have had some big signings so far this fall, there is definitely a wait-and-see attitude among a lot of players, some very possibly holding on to their free market status until the NFL-USFL transfer window opens in early February. Here is our list of the 20 top free agents, including those still out on the market, and those who have found their perfect match and signed on with a USFL club for next season and beyond.   20- DE Olivier Vernon (Unsigned) The first of 5 edge rushers on our list, Vernon spent the past 5 seasons in Balitimore, but with the Blitz’s huge signing of Calais Campbell, we think the odds that Vernon returns are slim. Still, even at 32, there will be no shortage of teams willing to add a DE who has over 30 sacks the past 3 seasons. The only question is if that suitor will be a USFL team or an NFL squad.   19- OT Russell Okong (CHA to HOU) Perhaps the best tackle in free agency, and looking specifically for a multi-year deal and a chance to stay at LT, Okong got exactly what he sought from Houston as the Gamblers give him not only a chance to play on an elite offense, but potentially to get a shot at a title.   18- LB Donte Hightower (TBY to OKL) We always see an exodus of talent after a team wins a title, as on-field success gives players a chance to cash in> Hightower takes his talents from the Bandits to the Outlaws, trading in a pseudo Wild West character for a real one in the heart of the plains. Expect him to play the strong side, or even possibly to shift to MLB with Oklahoma.   17- K Caleb Sturgis (NOR to SD) Sturgis has been a mainstay of the Breakers for 8 years, but it seems he priced his way out of town by demanding some pretty solid compensation for his right foot. The Breakers would not meet his demands, but San Diego opted to give him what he asked so they could have a consistent presence in their kicking game.   16- HB Kerwynn Williams (Unsigned) After a very strong season with the Steamrollers, Williams was expected to draw quite a market, but the demand simply has not materialized. Perhaps demanding to be a clear lead back, and not play in a halfback-by-committee has backfired for the 30-year-old back, or perhaps that despite solid YPC averages, he has never crossed 1,000 yards in a USFL season.   15- OG Brandon Brooks (Unsigned) A very solid guard, who can help with the run game as well as protect the QB, but in a year with several quality guards in free agency and a strong draft pool as well, perhaps his timing was not ideal. Expect him to hold out until the NFL enters the picture, because then demand certainly will outweigh supply.   14- FS Micah Hyde (CHI to BAL) Baltimore continues to add pieces to their defense, landing one of the best safeties in the game. Hyde will almost certainly be the starter on opening day, and we expect that having him in the same defensive backfield with Josh Norman will make quarterbacks very nervous about trying to go deep against Chicago.   13- DT Sheldon Richardson (STL to OHI) There is something fun about a player going to a new team in the same division. You know he will get 2 chances every year to remind his old team what they have lost. Expect the Glory to ask Richardson to demonstrate his value every week, not just when they go up against the Skyhawks.   12- CB Brandon Carr (Unsigned) The best of the remaining corners still out there, Carr is a good candidate for a 1-2 year deal at age 35. Last season he had 73 tackles, 13 passes defended, but his interceptions dropped to only 1 after averaging over 3 each of the past 3 years.   11- WR Stevie Johnson (Unsigned) Now 33 years old and coming off his lowest productivity in over a decade, it was a bad time for Johnson to hit the market. But with Ohio very much in transition and likely to start a rookie at QB, Johnson could end up with a better situation even if it takes him the entire offseason to find a taker.   10- LB Patrick Willis (Unsigned) Patrick being unsigned right now truly surprises us. Yes, he is 35, but he looked good last year with the Fire, racking up 94 tackles, including 22 TFL and 2 sacks. Maybe his agent is hoping for an NFL transfer, or maybe he is just asking for too much, but we are somewhat surprised to see him still here as December opens.   9- DT Ndamukong Suh (Unsigned) Another solid defender who might have been snapped up quickly in a regular offseason, but who is lingering in the pool because the pressure to sign players before the NFL enters the picture is much less this year than in a year with a September-October transfer window. Suh is 35, so it may only be a 1-year deal, but we expect someone to pull the trigger on a deal.   8- DE Vic Beasley (NJ to PIT) Beasley’s production has slid a bit over the past 2 years, but there are many who believe a change of venue could be just the thing to get him back in range for 15-20 sacks per season. Certainly Pittsburgh is hoping that.   7- HB Ryan Williams (Unsigned) Yes, with Williams turning 32 this offseason, there is a risk here, but we are talking about a back who has topped 1,000 yards 7 times in the past 8 years. He wants a 3-year deal, which feels unrealistic, but if someone could get him to look at a front-loaded 2-year deal, something likely could get done.   6- FS Xavier Woods (TBY to CHI) With Micah Hyde off to Baltimore, Chicago prioritized the free safety position and may have gotten as close to an equal in the position as possible. Woods is more physical than Hyde, but perhaps a bit less reliable in man coverage. He certainly fits in with Chicago’s desire to be a team that is not afraid to lay down the lumber on defense.  5- DE Dante Fowler (HOU to BIR) This is what we call a double whammy, not only does Fowler leave the Gamblers very shallow on the D-line, but the edge rusher goes to a division rival, bringing with him 5 consecutive years of double-digit sacks and a lot of knowledge of Coach Phillips’s defensive schemes to the Stallions.   4- CB Eric Wright (OAK to HOU) Houston finds a great complement to Leodis McKelvin in Wright, one of the savviest corners in the game. Wright does not have the speed to stick with a team’s deep threat, but can be incredibly effective in underneath coverage or against anyone’s possession receiver.   3- DE Justin Tuck (Unsigned) Rumors have the 34-year-old Tuck possibly considering retirement, which would be surprising after one of his best career years (19 sacks in 2020). He is certainly capable of playing at least another year, but if his heart is not into it, then it is the time to step away. Of course, all the talk of possible retirement means fewer teams come calling to try to sign him.   2- HB Eddie Lacy (STL to NE) The Steamrollers beat out New Jersey, Orlando, San Diego, and Washington to land the bruising back. Coming off an injury, Lacy is motivated to get back to being among the league’s elite rushers. The 5-time 1,000-yard rusher has set his goal on 1,500 yards, and no one would be happier to help him get there than Head Coach John Fox.   1—DE Calais Campbell (ARZ to BAL) We won’t belabor the point, since we already talked this out in our Big Story, but Wrangler fans, already uncertain about David Carr, concerned about Victor Cruz, and wondering if the team is falling out of its window as a dynasty, have to be completely verklempt about Campbell jumping ship.   Three Free Agency Winners & Two Losers While the league’s revenue sharing and salary cap systems, innovations that the fall league has since taken on, have certainly helped create a sense of parity among USFL franchiese, they do not remove the inequities entirely, though most of those inequities are due primarily to the decisions of each franchise’s player personnel offices. Cap space issues, paired with the scouting and signing philosophy of each team can greatly affect how a team enters free agency and how well they fare. And while being a free agency “loser” does not doom a team (perhaps they are very draft-savvy or have a solid core already), being a free agency “winner” can certainly help a team get over the hump, stay on top, or change their fortunes. We looked over the free agency signings of the past 2 months and picked 3 teams that seem dialed in, along with 2 others that have had more talent leaving than coming in. Here is who we see as the mid-offseason winners and losers in the free agent market.   WINNER: Houston Gamblers Departing: DE Dante Fowler Arriving: OT Russell Okong, CB Eric Wright, TE Tony Moeaki (Re-signed) TBD: LB Pat Angerer, OT Sebastian Vollmer, CB Janoris Jenkins   Losing Fowler is no small loss, and Houston will need to find some help on the edge to be sure, but they landed two All-USFL players in Okung and Wright. The secondary looks as deep as anyone’s with McKelvin, Wright and Siran Neal at corner, with the dynamic safety duo of Kenny Vaccaro and Budda Baker making it as formidable a group as anyone can boast. Adding Okung at LT allows Ereck Flowers to shift to the right, his natural position, and putting Okung next to All-USFL guard Jon Asamoah and All-USFL center Shaq Mason gives Houston the best left-side of any team in the league. Expect Carlos Hyde to love this line and Colt McCoy to rebound after a bit of a rough year.   LOSER: St. Louis Skyhawks Departing: HB Bobby Rainey, TE James Casey, SS Chuck Clark, DT Sheldon Richardson,            HB Eddie Lacy Arriving: DT Geno Atkins, WR Jakobi Meyers TBD: WR Stevie Johnson   A bad team with an uncertain future and no head coach on board is going to produce a bit of an exodus of talent, but the hits the Skyhawks took this year are almost certain to make life really difficult for whoever signs on as the new head coach. They lose a 1,000-yard rusher, two of their best defensive players, and could also lose their lead receiver. Atkins is a solid DT, but he is no Sheldon Richardson, and the Skyhawks now have even more holes to fill in the draft and late in free agency if they want to put together a competitive roster.   WINNER: Baltimore Blitz Departing: None Arriving: DT Quinton Jefferson, OG Dan Feeney, FS Micah Hyde, DE Calais Campbell, CB Ken Webster TBD: TE Andrew Quarless, FS James Sample, C Sam Mustipher, TE Dion Simms,      OG Andy Alleman, DT Grady Jarrett, DE Olivier Vernon   Hard to believe, but none of the 2020-21 free agents from the Blitz have actually signed with another team yet, so every one of them could come back. We don’t think they will, not all of them, and it certainly seems Baltimore has upgraded already, particularly on defense where Campbell replaces Vernon, Hyde replaces Sample, and Jefferson replaces Jarrett. Those are all significant upgrades on a defense that was not too shabby last year. Expect the Blitz to be better than before, in a division that may well be worse.   LOSER: Washington Federals Departing: QB Tajh Boyd, FB Greg Jones, LB Alec Ogletree, HB Jahvid Best Arriving: None TBD: LB Danny Trevathan   The Federals have lost a few solid contributors, including Ogletree and Best, but have signed no one as of yet. Yes, they may have improved at the key position of QB thanks to a trade (see below), and they have the draft ahead of them, but they will need to spend something in free agency and as of yet they have not been able to pull the trigger on a deal. Losing out on Eddie Lacy very likely means that they either settle for HB by committee or they need to catch a break in the draft to land a top prospect there.   WINNER: New England Steamrollers Departing: DT Quinton Jefferson Arriving: OG Jon Feliciano, HB Robert Foster, OG Long Howell, HB Eddie Lacy TBD: LB Travis Goethel, WR DeVante Parker, CB Sam Shields, OG Brandon Brooks, HB Kerwynn Williams It is normal to see a significant turnover in the roster of an expansion club as they head into season 2, and yet, to date, only Jefferson is gone. The Skyhawks are hoping to bring back Shields and Goethel, but not only planned for the departure of Kerwynn Williams, but have introduced a better inside run game option with both Eddie Lacy and Robert Foster, two backs who can pound the rock down a team’s throught. In other words, this club is beginning to take on the look of some of John Fox’s former playoff teams. Now, if Tannehill can play like Bledsoe did with the Boston Cannons, the Steamrollers will be on the right track.   Quarterbacks on the Move With several teams unhappy about either the present or the future of their QB situation, and with only so many potential franchise QBs available in the draft (each of them a crapshoot not only to sign after competing with the NFL, but to develop afterwards), it is no surprise that one of the stories of this offseason was the movement of quarterbacks across the league. In some cases it was about moving on, removing a pricy QB contract from the salary cap formula, for others it was about creating competition, thinking about the future, or landing a backup that will be able to help when called on, but not distract or diminish the starter. Three big trades involving QBs produced three very different situations, but will the “buyers” get what they hoped for? That is always the risk.   Brissett Joins Federals to Challenge Nassib We went into the offseason somewhat confident that the Federals were going to do something to either motivate Ryan Nassib towards improvement or to find another option if he could not step up. Meanwhile, Seattle had, for the 2 nd  time in 3 years, spent the entire season with a backup impressing fans and owners alike while their supposed starter recovered from an injury. In 2018, that backup was Matt McGloin, playing in a contract year, and he solved the QB issue for Seattle by moving on. This year it was Brett Hundley who impressed everyone in the Emerald City, but with him now asking for a new deal, and Week 1 starter Jacoby Brissett still under contract and sitting on a significant cash deal, something had to give.   Seattle opted this time to make the switch. Having seen Brissett miss the better part of two complete seasons due to injury, they opted to go with Hundley as their guy. That meant finding a trading partner for Jacoby Brissett, and in the Washington Federals, they found an eager one. Washington agreed to take on Brissett’s deal, which extends through 2023. They bring in the talented, but somewhat fragile, QB, as direct competition for Ryan Nassib. In return, they send to Seattle a 3 rd  round draft pick and backup center Luke Bowanko, a solid player who may get a chance to start for the Dragons. Seattle now has their starter settled with Hundley, while Washington sets itself up for a very interesting camp battle for new head coach Kevin Gilbride.   Invaders & Monarchs Swap QB Questions This was an interesting one. In both Oakland and Charlotte we had a former starter who had fallen out of favor, and a team hoping to find a ticket out of town for him so that they could move on. Oakland moved on after 2019 by signing 43-year-old Tom Brady for one last turn in the USFL. Brady is expected to return for the 2021 season after a somewhat shaky return to the league that made him a star. But they had no interest in retaining Jimmy Garoppolo as the protégé. That ship had sailed.   Meanwhile, in Charlotte, things had gotten so bad that the Monarchs had benched Mitch Trubisky mid-season, going with veteran backup Kyle Boller, himself acquired via trade, as the starter for the final 7 games. Boller played well enough to get a new deal with the Monarchs, but they are still hoping to have a QB competition this year, but not with Trubisky. So, what you had here were two teams hoping to move a player on and go a different direction. The two found each other and a deal was cut.   Jimmy Garoppolo, who started in Oakland for two seasons, but averaged only a 70.7 QB Rating over that time, heads to Charlotte, while Mitch Trubisky, who spent 3.5 seasons as the starter in Charlotte before being pulled this year, now heads out to the Bay Area. The deal makes sense. Both QBs had lost the faith of their coaches and their teams, both needed a change of location to start fresh, and both now have very interesting situations in front of them. Trubisky will almost certainly spend 2021 as the understudy to Tom Brady, learning from one of pro football’s best and perhaps preparing to step in for the 2022 season as a wiser, better, and more focused passer. Garoppolo gets what he wants, which is a chance to compete for the starting job. Boller, at 33, is not a long term solution for the Monarchs, but either he or Garoppolo could be in place until the Monarchs can land a franchise guy. We all know that Carolina had eyes on Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, but with his rights owned by Jacksonville, that was never going to happen, not within the division, to be sure. So, the Boller-Garoppolo swap helps both teams get what they want, a solid backup who could be mentored by Brady for Oakland and a QB competition in 2021 for Charlotte as they look at the rookie class of 2022 for an option.   Stars Find Taker for Matt Gutierrez Much like what we saw with the Invaders, Monarchs, and Dragons, Philadelphia had already made a decision that veteran Matt Gutierrez was not the future for their team. The former All-USFL QB (2012, 2017) was a shadow of his former self, apparently having fallen off the production cliff after the 2018 season. Ten games into the 2020 campaign the Stars switched to Ryan Lindley, and now they were looking for someone eager to get a veteran backup. They fished Gutierrez to several teams, including Seattle and Charlotte, but found a taker in the LA Express.   Philadelphia made a deal that sent Gutierrez and the next 2 years of his contract, to the Express, along with a 2 nd  round pick they had acquired from Dallas, to the Express. In return they get a solid option at safety, with LA parting with disgruntled FS Jalen Mills, and they get back a pick in the 5 th from the Express. So, we get why Philly did this. But why did LA take on Gutierrez?   The answer is in the issues they have seen with their starter, Kyler Murray. Murray has flashed some real talent, made some very exciting plays, but his consistency has been pretty poor, with more bad days than good days. The hope is that Murray will be the starter and that Gutierrez will step in as a veteran of more than 10 seasons, a player with less natural ability but a real eye for the game, to help Murray grow into the position. We honestly would not be shocked if the Express promoted Cole McDonald, the 2020 rookie, to the 2 spot, leaving Gutierrez as the emergency 3 rd  QB but as a primary mentor and pseudo-coach for Murray.   Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Stars remain in the hunt for their answer at QB. Ryan Lindley is not the answer, evident in his 4 starts for Philly in 2020. He is a solid backup, and we think Philadelphia will retain him in that role, but they are absolutely in the hunt for a starter. Since they have the 1 st  pick on the Open Draft, that starter could be unprotected rookie Trey Lance of NDSU, the only top tier QB prospect likely to escape the USFL’s Territorial Draft. Of course, if they truly like another prospect, they could use that 1 st overall Open Draft pick to woo another team for their T-Draft selection. We could see Las Vegas being willing to let Philly select BYU’s Zach Wilson, and even Trevor Lawrence could be on the table if Philadelphia is willing to sweeten the pot a bit. But, what we know for now is that Gutierrez’s tenure as the QB in the City of Brotherly Love is over.   Other Early Trades While certainly QB deals were the biggest stories of the early Free Agency tradewire, they were not the only deals cut as teams with depth use that to swing moves for positions of need, unhappy vets are given a new home, and picks start to move around ahead of the 2021 draft. Let’s start with the trades where current USFL players were at the center, and then we can look at the early draft maneuvers.   Memphis and Pittsburgh opted to strengthen areas of concern by trading away some depth. The Maulers sent DT Kendall Reyes off to Memphis as a tradeoff to acquire some quality at the lead position of the line, center. Memphis gave up starter T. J. Johnson to the Maulers because they simply needed help at DT behind Dan Williams. Coach Ryan loves a 46 defense, and you just need a strong 2 nd and 3 rd  DT to make that system work. For all the success of his defense this year, the lack of a solid 2 nd  option at DT was noticeable. So, we get a need-for-need swap from these two up & coming teams.   Another DT deal was cut by the Wranglers, as they sent a 6 th  round pick and DT Ryan Carrethers to Portland for cornerback A. J. Bouye . Arizona felt confident that they could lose Carrethers after seeing the development of NFL import Snacks Harrison over the 2020 season. Not only did Harrison bring a great name to the game, he also brought some solid play as a swing tackle and now will get the chance to see far more snaps in Coach Tomsula’s 3-4 scheme. For Portland, A. J. Bouye, who was pretty vocal about his role in the secondary, was expendable thanks to strong seasons from Taron Johnson and Dale Luong. With Ndamukong Suh a free agent and Raekwon Davis their only other proven commodity at DT, the trade for Carrethers, a 6-year veteran with a strong track splitting snaps with Jason Hargrave, was a pretty solid option.   Those two moves are the only ones we can point to which are more about moving veterans than changing draft position. While some veteran players were included in these next offseason deals, it seems pretty clear that the focus, at least for 1 of the 2 trading partners, was on the draft board and not the depth chart.   St. Louis, in the midst of a major overhaul and a mass exodus of players, opted to part ways with another starter as they sent DE Adrian Clayborne to the Jacksonville Bulls for two draft picks. Initial reports that the Bulls had traded away their 1 st T-Draft pick, widely recognized as the “Trevor Lawrence” pick, proved to be premature. The deal actually sent St. Louis the 2 nd  pick in Jacksonville’s T-Draft as well as a 5 th  rounder in the Open Draft that Jacksonville had acquired from the Vipers.   So, what is this about? St. Louis has been pretty mum about it, but most rumors circle around one of three players that are part of a deep T-Draft pool for the Bulls. The first is Clemson HB Travis Etienne, who would make sense after we saw Skyhawk HB Eddie Lacy fly the coop. The second is University of Florida WR Kadarius Toney, though many believe that if Jacksonville is sitting put with Teddy Bridgewater as their QB, it may be Toney who they target in the T-Draft, and the third is another gator, TE Kyle Pitts, a rare talent at TE who could be more of a wideout in TE clothing. St. Louis certainly could use an upgrade at any of these offensive positions, so it is just a matter of which player they like most. As for Jacksonville, they get themselves a DE who nabbed 12 sacks in 2020, his 3 rd  10+ sack season in the past 5 years. Expect him to shift to RE opposite Bull DE Barkevious Mingo on the left side. Jacksonville still owns that all-important 1 st  T-Draft pick, and that means they control the destiny of Trevor Lawrence. They can keep him for themselves, or they can rake a lucrative deal with one of several QB-hungry teams if they decide to let him go.   Philadelphia, only 4 days after landing Dan Quinn as their new head coach, made themselves a deal to acquire some talent in the T-Draft, sending OT Donavan Smith to Birmingham for the Stallions’ 3 rd  of 3 T-Draft choices. What makes this interesting is that we have often seen teams make a deal for the 1 st overall T-Draft pick, which always points to a specific target (often a QB or other skill player), but to trade for the 3 rd  pick means you have options, not one player who is the must-have. That is certainly true for a Stallion pool that includes anywhere between 8-11 potential “1 st Round” talents. Even with 2 picks ahead of them for the Stallions, there will be at least 5 more blue chip options.   But who does Philadelphia covet? Could it be QB Mac Jones? Seems unlikely as Jones almost certainly would survive until the Open Draft. More likely it is a wideout, either Jaylen Waddle or DeVonte Smith. Fully expecting that Birmingham will protect HB Najee Harris with one of their 2 earlier picks, at least 1 of the 2 wideouts would be left available no matter what the Stallions’ other pick would be. Receiver is a pretty obvious area of need for Philadelphia, and while OT Alex Leatherwood or CB Patrick Surtain could also be targets, we think the Stars are trying to find some weapons for their as-yet unknown QB.   Finally, the Stags and Monarchs made what we are calling a “need-for-need” swap. Neither team has a particularly deep pool of talent in this year’s T-Draft, so when the two swapped their 1 st  overall T-Draft picks in a one-for-one deal, the choices seemed pretty obvious. Charlotte needs help on the line, to protect either Kyle Boller or Jimmy Garoppolo, and to help their 2-headed run game prove even more dangerous. They absolutely have their eye on Oregon’s Outland Trophy winner at LT, Penei Sewell. As for Portland, they are looking at their lead back, Doug Martin, turning 32 in the offseason and, 3 seasons away from his last 1,000-yard effort, quite frankly not having the same push as before, and they need a back to take up the slack. Enter UNC halfback Javonte Williams, a slashing back who put up 933 yards on only 166 carries for the Tarheels last year and seems to be on pace to top 1,000 in 2020. Williams averaged 5.3 yards per carry behind a shaky UNC line last year and Portland sees him as a potential 1,400-yard back in the pros. So, a deal with absolutely no mystery to it.   That leaves one big mystery yet to solve. What will be the fate of Trevor Lawrence. Will the Bulls wave off all suitors for their pick and draft the highly touted Clemson QB? And if they do, what does that mean for 2020 starter Teddy Bridgewater? And what if they don’t go that route? The offers are certainly coming. We feel quite certain that they won’t make a deal with Charlotte (which explains the Garoppolo deal) as a division foe, but the list of potential teams is pretty long, including Oakland, Arizona, Ohio, Philadelphia, San Antonio, New England, and quite possibly Washington, Baltimore, New Jersey, Las Vegas, Chicago, Pittsburgh, San Diego, and maybe even a surprising option like Michigan or Portland.   The Bulls have choices to make. They need to decide if they believe they can compete with whoever holds the 1 st  pick in the NFL draft, right now looking like either the NY Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, or their fall stepbrothers, the Jacksonville Jaguars. If they think that Lawrence would prefer to be a Bull than a Jet, Eagle, or Jaguar, they may well hold the pick, select the QB and build for the future around him. But if they get a really strong offer, or if they hear the NFL rumors from the Lawrence camp, well, they could let the pick go, stick with a pretty solid option in Bridgewater, and reap the rewards of the haul that Lawrence certainly will garner from a QB hungry USFL team. We have had no indications yet of which way Coach Moss or the Bulls’ front office wants to go, and that mystery, along with the constant online chatter, is just killing us. We love the buildup, but we hate the suspense.     PHILADELPHIA STARS NEED POSITIONS: QB, LB, TE, DE T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: Three players really stand out, all Penn Staters, as players that the Stars should be targeting: LB Micah Parsons, DE Odafe Oweh, and TE Pat Freiermuth. All three are in positions of need and all three could Top 50 talents. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: The Stars have the 1 st  overall pick, so a lot of their strategy will be tied to how that pick sets them up to get a QB. Do they go for North Dakota State’s Trey Lance? Do they trade the pick to get a line on Trevor Lawrence or Zach Wilson? They have options, but for certain they need to choose a top tier QB in the draft because there is no guarantee that anyone available in the NFL-USFL Transfer Window will be a real option for them.   ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS NEED POSITIONS: HB, SS, LB, C T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: We think St. Louis will look at Mizzou safety Joshua Bledsoe, but he is not a 1 st selection guy. No one in St. Louis’s pool really is, so we could see them try to trade for another team’s 1 st  T-Draft pick, likely to find a HB. Beyond that, we could see them take a runner at either Mizzou HB Larry Rountree or Iowa LB Nick Niemann, both low risk pick sin positions of need. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: With the 2 nd  pick in the draft, St. Louis should be able to find either a halfback or a 5-star linebacker, both truly positions of immediate need. Their other option is to trade down some slots if there is a QB-hungry team trying to snag Trey Lance if Philly (or whoever holds Philly’s pick) does not go for him.   SAN ANTONIO GUNSLINGERS NEED POSITIONS: FS, HB, WR, K T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: The only potential Top 50 pick in San Antonio’s pool is TCU safety Trevon Moehrig, which does fit nicely with their need at free safety. We think they also take a look at Texas Tech CB Zach McPhearson and possibly double down at safety with Moehrig’s teammate, Ar’Darius Washington, a more raw prospect at the position. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Without a top HB prospect in the T-Draft, we think San Antonio, like St. Louis is in the Open Draft halfback market. If St. Louis takes a deal to move down, then San Antonio could have their choice, if not, they get the 2 nd  best option at the position. But, just which backs slip through the T-Draft unchosen?   OHIO GLORY NEED POSITIONS: QB, LB, HB, WR T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: No doubt at all who the Glory are picking first, it is Justin Fields for certain. Beyond that they have a lot of need areas and Ohio State can help in many of them. How about LB Jarmin Davis? CB Kelvin Joseph, heck, even HB Trey Sermon makes sense for a team trying to find a counter to Isaiah Pead. Lots of Buckeye options, as usual. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: With the 4 th  pick in the draft, we think Ohio will go for the one need position not available from the Buckeyes this year, wideout. Expect the Glory to try to land the best wide receiver on the Open Draft board.   SAN DIEGO THUNDER NEED POSITIONS: WR, DE, DT, HB T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: No help at wideout from UCLA, San Diego State, or Duke, the three teams the Thunder have rights to, but they could get some help at other positions. How about DT Osa Odighizuwa from the Bruins? Maybe SDSU corner Darren Hall, or double down at DE and pick Duke’s Chris Rumph II? BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Depending on what the WR group looks like in the Open Draft, we could see San Diego be the team to trade up with St. Louis to get the best option, or, if it is a deep group, maybe they stand pat or even trade down.   BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS NEED POSITIONS: HB, CB, DT, WR T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: No team benefits more from the USFL’s territorial draft than Birmingham, and this year is no exception. Need a back? How about Najee Harris? Want a corner? Here’s Patrick Surtain II. Wideout a concern? Take your pick from Jaylan Waddle and DeVonta Smith. Seriously, how is Birmingham not a perennial contender with the players they can access from Alabama and Auburn? BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: The Stallions will likely once again prioritize signing their T-Draft picks. The one position where they might need to focus in the Open Draft is at Defensive Tackle, so we think they go DT with their first round pick unless their initial contact with one of their territorial draftees goes very badly.   LAS VEGAS VIPERS NEED POSITIONS: WR, OT, TE, DE T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: If Birmingham loves the T-Draft, Las Vegas must hate it. BYU, Utah, and UNLV produce the occasional blue chipper, but nowhere near the level of annual talent that Birmingham enjoys. This year their only true Blue Chipper is QB Zach Wilson, so we think they trade their first pick to a team with no answer at QB. They can then get another Open Draft pick, maybe even another 1 st rounder. Later on in the T-Draft we think they look at BYU tackle Brady Christensen and maybe some secondary help from the Cougars’ defensive backfield. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Wideout is again a top area of need, though there are some good options in the free agency pool as well (Stevie Johnson?). But if they need a wideout in the Open Draft, they had best use an early pick on one. We think they won’t last long.   CHARLOTTE MONARCHS NEED POSITIONS: WR, OT, DT, LB T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: Is it me or does everyone need or want a quality wide receiver? None available in the T-Draft pool, so we like what Charlotte did in trading their top pick to Portland for Portland’s top pick. We know who that pick will be, OT Penei Sewell is clearly the player to select. Then with their 2 final picks, they can look at D-Line help in the form of Wake Forest’s Boogie Basham or NC State’s Alim McNeil. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Another likely WR pick, but if not, then we think they look at a big defensive lineman, someone who can eat up space and force runners outside. They might get lucky and find either Alabama’s Christian Barmore or Washington’s Levi Onwuzurike available.  DENVER GOLD NEED POSITIONS: DE, FS, WR, SS T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: Denver, like Las Vegas, suffers because the Mountain Time Zone is not exactly football central. The Buffs, Cornhuskers, and Rams just don’t give them the kind of skill player talent that they need. They can get linemen though, and that is likely where they go, with OT Brenden Jaimes and G Matt Farniok, both of Nebraska, as pretty good mid-round talent they can likely lock up in the T-Draft. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Denver is still trying to replace Von Miller, and while we don’t think they are likely to find a one-for-one swap for that kind of talent, we do think they will look at the pool of edge rushers that make it to the Open Draft to find one. If he is not picked by Orlando, Hurricane DE Jaelen Phillips seems the top choice, but there is a pretty good cluster of 1 st  round talent at the position. Someone should be available when Denver picks.   NEW ENGLAND STEAMROLLERS NEED POSITIONS: LB, CB, HB, G T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: While WR is not a position of immediate need for the expansion Steamrollers, they would be fools to pass up both Rashod Bateman and Purdue’s Rondale Moore. We know, neither school is in New England, but with BC and UConn as their two local schools, the Steamrollers got Purdue as their 3 rd  and, this year, petitioned for a 4 th  and were awarded the Golden Gophers. So two Big 10 schools. Not bad. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: The Steamrollers want more speed at linebacker, so we think they go for that position early in the draft. If Philadelphia trades away their top T-Draft pick, they could actually have a shot at Micah Parsons, but that feels like a stretch. More likely is a player like Kentucky’s Jamin Davis, or Missouri’s Nick Bolton.   WASHINGTON FEDERALS NEED POSITIONS: HB, LB, DE, SS T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: No halfbacks to choose from in the Federals’ pool (Virginia, Va Tech, and Northwestern), so we think Washington focuses their attention on the best linebacker in this pool, which his Va Tech’s Divine Deablo. They could also seek some depth at OT with Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater or Hokie Christian Darrisaw. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Has to be halfback. Just has to be. Washington may have to either trade to get a T-Draft pick or move up in the first round if they want a true blue chipper like Najee Harris, Travis Etienne, or Javonte Williams. Problem is all three are likely locked into selections by the teams that own their rights, so can they chip one away from their T-Draft squad?  JACKSONVILLE BULLS NEED POSITIONS: HB, DT, LB, QB T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: No surprise that we are all talking about Trevor Lawrence, and we all expect that he goes with the Bulls’ first pick, either to Jacksonville or to a team that offers them a king’s ransom for the pick. So, what do they do after that? Well, the pool is pretty darn good for the Bulls this year. We have HB Travis Etienne, TE Kyle Pitts, WR Kadarius Toney, OT Jackson Carmen, even QB Kyle Trask is an option (and a much cheaper one than Lawrence will be.) So many choices. Must be nice. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: With no clear T-Draft options at defensive tackle, this is where we think Jacksonville goes in the Open Draft. Depending on if they take a deal for the Lawrence pick, they either pick here at 12 th  or they are much higher up.   NEW JERSEY GENERALS NEED POSITIONS: LB, C, CB, SS T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: There was not enough talent coming out of Syracuse, Rutgers, and Wisconsin, the Generals’ 3 designated schools, so the league agreed on giving them a 4 th and they chose Vanderbilt. Why Vandy? Likely to get a shot at DE Dayo Odeyinbo. But, DE is not nearly as big a need as safety, where Syracuse does offer an option in Andre Cisco, or at CB, where the Orange’s Ifeatu Melifonwu may be hard to pronounce, but has some game. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: New Jersey could go center, and likely get a very good prosepect, or they could join the list of teams looking for linebacker help. We don’t see center being a protected position in most T-Drafts, so if the Generals really want a quality option here, they could well be able to pick between Albama’s Landon Dickerson or Ohio State’s Josh Myers.   OAKLAND INVADERS NEED POSITIONS: FS, LB, C, OT T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: Two solid choices emerge for the Invaders in a pretty shallow pool. The first is Stanford OT Walker Little, and the second, and more intriguing option, is QB Davis Mills. The Cardinal QB could be a nice mid-cost player to sign, and then you put him behind Brady and Trubisky this year, and hope that either Mills or Trubisky gets some Brady to rub off on them. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: The Invaders could fare pretty well if they prioritize safety with their first choice. If it is linebacker, that could be tougher, though there certainly is some talent in the draft pool. We think the best natural fit for Oakland, if he is available, would be Oregon’s Javon Holland. Portland may disagree.   OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS NEED POSITIONS: DT, CB, DE, LB T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: OU and OK State don’t offer any 1 st  round graded players, but a bevvy of 2 nd -4 th  round talent to choose from. Based on need, we think DE Ronnie Perkins (OU) makes sense, as does OT Teven Jenkins (OK State) and maybe one of the corners from the two schools. But don’t be surprised if they don’t get trade offers from a team hoping to nab HB Rhamondre Stevenson, not the 1 st  pick, but a number two, we could see that. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: We think that Oklahoma looks at their 4 positions of need and goes for Best Player Available from that pool. We don’t see them trading up because they cannot afford to give away too many later picks, and we don’t see them trading down, because they need at least 1 legitimate 1 st  round talent.   ORLANDO RENEGADES NEED POSITIONS: OT, SS, DT, G T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: Honestly, if we were the GM’s of Orlando and Oakland, we would try to pull a trade like Charlotte and Portland did. Orlando needs a bookend OT and Oklahoma has one. Oklahoma needs DE help and Orland has both Jaelen Phillips and Greg Roussea. Seems a natural swap to us. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: If the ‘Gades cannot get a tackle in the T-Draft, they have to prioritize the position here. Of course, a halfback is also needed, even though we did not list it above. We think tackle is easier to get.   PORTLAND STAGS NEED POSITIONS: G, DT, HB, OT T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: The trade with Charlotte all but assures that Portland will be wooing Javonte Williams, the UNC back. Beyond that, we think they stand pat with their pool of players, and likely target a corner, either OSU’s Nahshon Wright or Oregon’s Deommondore Lenoire. Woof, that name will be fun for USFL announcers. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Guard should be a good option this late in the first round, more so than DT or OT. If LA jumps on Alijah Vera-Tucker, as we think they will, look for either Notre Dame’s Aaron Banks or Ohio State’s Wyatt Davis with this pick.   PITTSBURGH MAULERS NEED POSITIONS: DE, OT, SS, FS T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: No Top 50 talent in the pool, but for depth the Maulers could go for a DE like Pitt’s Rashad Weaver or Patrick Jones II. Heck, pick both, you never know who will jump to the NFL instead. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: We think they go for safety here, since they need help at both positions, but if a top tier DE slips, they just have to go for that position of need. We think it is unlikely that they get a true Top 5 DE with pick 18, but stranger things have happened.   BALTIMORE BLITZ NEED POSITIONS: DT, WR, G, TE T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: Can the Blitz win free agency and also have a top notch draft? Well, they have WR as a priority and they are staring at 2 potential Louisville prospects in Tutu Atwell and Dez Fitzpatrick. We think they pick one or both in their T-Draft. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Defensive Tackle, Guard, and Tight End are all positions that should have some talent left at pick 19. Things really seem to be falling into place for the Blitz this offseason. Just lining up right as they need it.   DALLAS ROUGHNECKS NEED POSITIONS: DE, G, LB, HB T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: Longhorn DE Joseph Assai seems a no-brainer, but we know that Coach Kingsbury is prone to the offense, so do they try to find an offensive player in their pool? We really don’t see anyone we would take, so maybe the staff convinces Kingsbury to go for the D here and focus on the offense in the Open Draft. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: While Samaje Perine’s 843 yards in 2020 was a career best, Kingsbury and the Roughnecks are still very much in the market for a lead back, someone who is just harder to bring down on those short yardage plays and can still bust a 20-yarder. We think they may be prone to move up if there is a back on the board in picks 11-18.   LOS ANGELES EXPRESS NEED POSITIONS: TE, CB, DT, G T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: As much as Express fans complain about losing UCLA to the Thunder when they relocated, LA is still doing fine with USC in their pool. Just look at some of the options the Express have this year: G Alijah Vera-Tucker, DT Jay Tufele,DT Marion Tuipulotu, and that is just in positions of need. How about WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, or Safety Talanoa Hufanga. Not a bad pool from just 1 of their 3 schools. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: LA is in prime territory to get one of the better tight ends in the draft. That could be Penn State’s Pat Freiermuth, BC’s Hunter Long, or if things go really wonky, even Florida’s Kyle Pitts. It is a pretty deep pool at the position, so we could also see Coach Lewis focus on his beloved defense in the first round and then go TE later on.   NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS NEED POSITIONS: CB, OT, WR, K T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: After hitting on Justin Jefferson, does New Orleans jump their priority ranking and add Ja’Marr Chase as well? There is only 1 football to throw around, so that may not be what they need to do. Where they likely should go is either LB Jabril Cox or DT Tyler Shelvin, but the lure of Chase may be too much. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Cornerback is a high priority for Coach Lathon, and we think they can find one late in the 1 st  round. Our favorite, based on the Breaker’s style of play is Georgia’s Eric Stokes, but his teammate Tyson Campbell also makes for a good fit.   SEATTLE DRAGONS NEED POSITIONS: OT, C, TE, DE T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: The Dragons had a weak pool this year, but with 6 Top 150 prospects they were not eligible to add a 4 th  school. Too bad for them. The only true Top 50 candidate is Washington DE Joe Tyron-Shoyinka, and DE is a priority, so we think that is the easy choice. What happens with picks 2 or 3 is anyone’s guess. Could be TE John Bates of Boise State, CB Elijah Molden of Washington, or even DT Levi Onwuzurika from the Huskies, thought that is not a position of need right now. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: The Dragons could be a “move up” team or a “move down” team, it all depends on the offensive tackle position and who is left on the board by the time the draft heads into the 2020 playoff team pool. We think moving up is the better option, especially if you want a tackle who can start in year one.   CHICAGO MACHINE NEED POSITIONS: LB, C, OT, QB T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: The Machine’s love of linebackers and their affiliation with Notre Dame is usually a match mde in heaven. This year not quite as much, but we still like the option of picking Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah out of South Bend. Chicago could also help themselves at OT with another golden domer, Liam Eichenberg. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: We are going to throw a hail mary here and say that Chicago starts shopping for a protégé for Sam Bradford. We love either Zach Wilson (if Chicago is willing to trade with Las Vegas for their T-Draft pick) or, at a significantly lower cost, either Alabama’s Mac Jones or Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond, both of whom feel like good Sam Bradford stand ins.   ATLANTA FIRE NEED POSITIONS: DT, DE, TE, CB T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: Georgia has been a very good pipeline for the Fire, and this year there are no fewer than 10 legitimate Bulldog players to choose from. We think the Fire focus on the defense, so perhaps CB Erik Stokes, DE Azeez Ojulari, LB Monty Rice, or safety Richard LeCounte. They can only pick 3, so who will it be? BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: If the Fire go 3-for-3 on defense in the T-Draft, then tight end is the pick here. They need someone to be Aaron Murray’s safety valve. There are a few really good options who could slip this far, and a few 2 nd  rounders if Atlanta moves down.   MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS NEED POSITIONS: LB, DT, OT, DE T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: The two best prospects for the Showboats are not in positions of need, but Memphis could still be enamored of WR Josh Palmer and HB Kenneth Gainwell. Of course, knowing Rex Ryan, we think they look to the D first, and that means scouting out DT Jonathan Marshall of Arkansas, the only Top 100 player available. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: With few options in the T-Draft for defense, we think Memphis goes early and often on that side of the ball in the Open Draft. Linebacker, defensive tackle, and defensive end are all positions of need. Can the Showboats find all three with late picks in each round? That will be a challenge.   HOUSTON GAMBLERS NEED POSITIONS: LB, DE, G, OT T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: DE Peyton Turner is practically being served up on a plate for the Gamblers. The Houston product would not even need to change apartments, though he certainly will have the scratch to get a bigger place if he signs with the Gamblers. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: We think LB is a priority here, and we think Houston is particularly looking for a guy who can get across the line and stuff the run. In that vein we really like Missouri’s Nick Bolton or UNC’s Chazz Surratt, both of whom could fill that role and both could be available at pick 27.   ARIZONA WRANGLERS NEED POSITIONS: SS, FS, LB, QB T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: The only obvious choice here is Tulsa LB Zaven Collins, a nice addition from a school that the Wranglers rarely use in their T-Draft pool. Beyond Collins, they could lookto DT Roy Lopez of Arizona or maybe a WR like Frank Darby, also of the Wildcats, but both are more mid-round talent than immediate playmakers. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Is Arizona in the QB hunt? David Carr says he is going to return, but for how long? After seeing how rough things got without him, you would think they need to do something to bring in a viable 2 nd  option. It likely won’t be Lawrence, Wilson, or even Trey Lance, so how deep into the QB pool might they wait? We really like either Mond or Florida’s Kyle Trask as a backup to Carr for a year or two (hopefully for the Wranglers) and then maybe they get a shot to start.  MICHIGAN PANTHERS NEED POSITIONS: DT, DE, FB, G T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: Another shallow pool out of East Lansing and Ann Arbor, which makes life tougher for the Panthers, but one position of need that might have an answer is DE, where Wolverine Kwity Paye could be solid option for the Panthers. We also think Michigan goes for Wolverine FB Ben Mason later in the T-Draft because they have need at the position and Mason has a good skill set. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: With pick 29, Michigan is primed to move down and snag either a DT or a guard in the early 2 nd  round. If there is a wideout, halfback, or edge rusher here that someone really likes, we see a deal being cut.  NEED POSITIONS: FS, CB, C, LB T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: The Bandits don’t have a lot of needs, but corner is one and we love the idea of FSU’s Asante Samuel Jr. staying in the Sunshine State with the Bandits. And, for Samuel, what could be better than joining one of the most explosive high-octane teams in all of football? Should be a match that works for both team and player. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Safety is an area that Tampa Bay will prioritize after losing Xavier Woods to free agency (Chicago). Finding a free safety late in the first round could very well be possible, especially if Orlando passes on Richie Grant in the T-Draft or if Portland does the same with Javon Holland. So, there you go, two months of offseason news wrapped up in a nice tidy package. And thanks to the shortened offseason we will be back in early February to do it again, giving you all the free agent news, trade updates, our recap of the 2021 Territorial and Open Drafts, and preview the NFL-USFL Transfer Window, one that has all the makings of a two-directional whirlwind of interleague movement. We are only 4 months from kickoff, so things are getting intense. Enjoy the holidays, Happy New Year, and we will be back on February 1 st  with our second offseason update.

What started as a very strong outing for the Michigan Panther defense transformed into a 20-point win for the Tampa Bay Bandits and their high-octane Bandit Ball offense. Michigan built up a 10-0 advantage in the first quarter only to watch Tampa Bay go on a 33-3 run of scoring to catch and then race past the Panthers in the second half of Summer Bowl 2020. Both teams would finish the game with strong offensive numbers, Michigan gaining 435 yards, including 141 on the ground for the 2020 Offensive Player of the Year, LeVeon Bell, while Tampa Bay would again put up impressive numbers, with 571 total yards of offense, including 361 passing yards for Dak Prescott and an unanticipated 20-carry, 181-yard performance from Dalvin Cook. The balance of Tampa Bay’s attack, combined with big plays in the second half helped Tampa Bay turn a 10-9 halftime deficit into a 33-13 victory.   In a game that saw both lead backs average 9 yards per carry, it was the ability to turn yardage into scoring opportunities that gave Tampa Bay a huge advantage after a slow start. Despite a strong outing from Kirk Cousins (26 of 40 for 294) and the big numbers from LeVeon Bell, Michigan simply did not build on their early 10-0 lead, watching as the Bandits chipped away in the 2 nd  quarter and then burst out in front in the 2 nd  half thanks to Dak Prescott’s 15.7 yards per attempt and three separate Bandit receivers averaging over 30 yards per reception.  McDermott's D held the upper hand in the first half. The game began very much in Michigan’s favor. The Panthers won the toss and chose to take the ball first, hoping to limit Bandit possessions throughout. After a pair of first downs, the Panthers got bogged down outside of field goal range and kicked the ball back to Tampa Bay. But the Panther D held on their first encounter with the Bandits’ offense, forcing a 3-and-out after Dre Kirpatrick forced Dez Bryant to land out of bounds as he brought in the 3 rd  down pass. Kirkpatrick would, overall, have a strong day against Bryant, with the Bandit receiver only hauling in 4 of the 11 targets that went his way, but those 4 receptions went for 137 yards and would include a momentum-shifting 78-yard touchdown early in the 3 rd .   After getting the ball back from Tampa Bay, the Panthers had their first successful drive, with 3 solid rushes from Bell, followed by a beautiful seam route run by TE Martellus Bennett, producing the game’s first score, a 39-yard completion and score for the big man. The Panthers split the two outstanding Bandit safeties, Xavier Woods and Derwin James and Bennett hauled in a perfectly lofted pass to give the Panthers the game’s first points. Following another good series for the Panther D, this time with linebacker Odell Thurman sticking HB Matt Breida for no gain on a 3 rd  and 2 run, the Bandits again were forced to punt. As Michigan moved the ball into field goal range and took a 10-point lead with the Chase McLaughlin kick, Bandit coaches and QB Dak Prescott tried to motivate the offense. It would be a slow burn in the first half, but the Bandits slowly started to find success.   Butker's foot provided all of Tampa's 1st Half points. On their third drive, Tampa Bay changed their strategy, relying more on Dalvin Cook, and setting up play action. The plan worked, with Michigan moving their safeties in tighter, allowing Prescott, on a 1 st  and 10 to find TE Jordan Cameron on a deep throw, getting the ball all the way to the Michigan 11. The Offense tried to punch it in from there, but a 3 rd  and 5 throw from the 6 was broken up by Kirkpatrick and out came Harrison Butker for what would be the first of three consecutive field goals, this one only from 23 yards out.   The entire 2 nd  quarter was a series of frustrating drives for Michigan paired with field goals put up by Butker. The Panthers struggled on back-to-back third downs, failing on a 3 rd and 11 on their next possession, and then on a 3 rd  and 16 following a holding call. The result was that Michigan simply did not get in range to add to what had been a 10-0 advantage, and then fell to 10-3, 10-6, and, with one last Butker kick in the final minute, down to a 10-9 advantage as the two teams went to the half.   As the 18,502 fans in the stadium enjoyed a toned-down halftime show led by local-boy turned American Idol star, Daughtry, the Bandits were recalibrating their attack and focusing on defensive stops for the second half. Michigan likewise was hoping to find the right adjustments to keep Tampa Bay contained, after all, allowing only 3 field goals in the first half was a definite win for the Panthers, but also trying to establish a better plan of attack to build on their slim 1-point advantage.  Bandit QB Dak Prescott led Tampa Bay on a 24-3 2nd half surge. When the 2 nd  half started with Michigan receiving the kickoff, the Panthers came out with the intention to throw a bit of Tampa Bay’s own potency right back at them. They lined up on their first drive with 3 receivers and TE Martellus Bennett shifting to create triplet groups. The surprise tactic hit right away, with rookie Donavan Peoples-Jones getting open on a 2 nd  and 2 for a big 30-yard gainer against a botched coverage from the Bandits. But, despite their initial success, the Panthers could not deliver a touchdown. With the drive bogged down outside the red zone, Michigan settled for a 49-yard kick from McLaughlin to make the score 13-9.   There was no way that the Panthers could have known that those 13 points would be all they would tally on the day. They had seen Bell make some great runs, had success distributing the ball. Their thought was certainly to keep the Bandits contained and slowly trade touchdowns for field goals to maintain their advantage. That plan blew up in a New York minute, or perhaps a Tampa Bay minute. Dez Bryant was all smiles, celebrating his 78-yard TD. Only 44 seconds after the McLaughlin kick, the Bandits finally broke through. It was a 2 nd  and 3 after a nice 1 st down run from Cook. The Bandits showed a very similar look, Prescott faked the ball to Cook, drawing in the safeties, and Dez Bryant turned his slant into a corner route, with Kirkpatrick now out of position. One throw and 78 yards later the Bandits had announced to the Panthers, the fans in the stands, and all of America watching on TV, that they were done scoring field goals and slowly trying to creep back in the game. It was a watershed moment for both teams, with the Bandit players suddenly filled with bravado and the Panthers very much looking like they knew the real Bandits had entered the building.   Now down 16-13 after just one big play, the Panthers could not mount an offense on their next two drives, both ending short of the 50. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay took over and started to add to their advantage in a way the Panthers had failed to do earlier in the game. A 12-play drive, one that included a 36-yard pass to Dalvin Cook, finished with his backup, Matt Breida dashing into the endzone from 5 yards out to build the Bandit lead up to 10 points. The table had now officially turned, with Michigan’s early 10-point lead now turned against them.   As the 4 th  quarter began, you could sense the tension from the Panther fans in the stands in Charlotte, and from the players on the bench. The feeling was one of a game slipping away. When the Bandits again raced down field, this time in only 7 plays, and Dalvin Cook added yet another rushing touchdown to the Bandits’ advantage, the Panthers were now down 17 and that very much felt like a deficit that would not be easily closed. The Panthers would have 2 more drives, one ending with a failed attempt at a 48-yard field goal, and the final drive ending when Jalen Ramsey picked off Kirk Cousins on a desperation throw to Latimer. Tampa Bay would add another field goal late to give us the final score of 33-13, but the game truly ended when the Bandits took the lead and then built it up to 10 points in the 3 rd quarter.   Grey Cup winner Mark Trestman now has a Bassett Trophy as well. While Dak Prescott had been honored as the seasons’ MVP, he would gladly hand the Summer Bowl MVP award to his teammate Dalvin Cook. Cook finished the game with 266 yards from scrimmage, including 181 on the ground and 85 through the air. Prescott certainly showed well also, with his 361 yards on only 11 completions. And, of course, 2019 USFL Coach of the Year Mark Trestman was more than happy to hold high the John Bassett trophy, the symbol of excellence in the USFL, named for the founder of the Bandits and first held up by Tampa Bay in the league’s inaugural season, 38 years before. The title would belong to Tampa Bay once again, their 4 th  USFL title, evening their record with Michigan’s all time. Both clubs now sit at 4-1 in the league title game. For the Bandits it was their 2 nd  title in the decade, 9 years after their 2011 trophy. For Michigan their first ever loss in the league’s title game. And so ends perhaps the oddest USFL season ever, at least outside of the gridiron lines on the field, but a very successful one for the league, playing through the pandemic, and for the Bandits, proving once again that there is a special kind of magic in Bandit Ball. Somewhere John Bassett is smiling down on the team and the league he helped to create.

It will be a battle of one seeds once again as the Tampa Bay Bandits and the Michigan Panthers prove they are the class of each conference and snag their golden ticket to Summer Bowl 2020. It will be quite a clash of styles as Coach McDermott’s defensive-minded squad, and the LeVeon Bell run game of the Panthers matches up against the high-flying offense of Dak Prescott and the Bandits. We will give you the 411 on how each team cleared the last hurdle to the league title game and earned their way back to the big game. We will also finish our list of the biggest USFL offseason questions, update you on some coaching searches, and reveal the big winners from this year’s somewhat bizarre Virtual Gala. It was not the star-studded event we are all used to, at least not in Charlotte, but a series of pre-taped vignettes with live commentary from ESPN hosts, but at the end of the day we had all five major USFL awards presented as well as the 2020 All-USFL team. But we kick it all off with our run down of the 5 biggest questions facing the league this offseason.   The Ten Biggest USFL Offseason Questions (Part 2) We have run down questions 10-6, starting with Birmingham’s strategy for the T-Draft, talking through the best defenders available in free agency, the question of first-year coaches, and the quarterbacks most likely to find a new home. So, what are the 5 burning questions that topped those issues? Well, here they are, the five biggest offseason questions to be answered this winter.   5- Is Calais Campbell Ready to Ride into the Sunset? Campbell’s deal with Arizona is wrapping up, with him officially becoming a free agent as of Sunday’s loss to the Panthers. The Wranglers seem very nonchalant about his lack of a deal, so does that mean they know something we don’t? Do they feel confident that he will re-sign with them, or do they know he is about to announce his retirement? After leading the league in sacks both years in Arizona, it seems unlikely they are just cool with him going on the market, so either he has told them that his playing days are through, or they feel very good about a deal that just has not been inked yet.   4- Who Will Land Former Skyhawk HB Eddie Lacy in Free Agency? He is without a doubt the best back in free agency, all apologies to New England’s Kerwynn Williams, and he may be the top prospect overall. Lacy is only 27, and while an injury cost him nearly 10 starts this year, he still had over 500 yards, averaging nearly 100 per game. If his abdominal tear is fully healed, as it appeared to be late in the season, we cannot imagine that he won’t get a 3–4-year deal to become someone’s new lead back. So, just who is in the running for the big bruising back? Here are 5 teams we think will be in the market in a big way.   JACKSONVILLE The Bulls traded away Matt Jones, and we don’t see Devin Singletary as a 3-down back, so there is certainly interest in a back like Lacy who can move the chains and help Jacksonville grind out wins in all those close games they always seem to be caught up in.   DALLAS Yes, Samaje Perine had some good games this year, but he only crossed 100 yards once and 80 yards twice more. Imagine how much easier Justin Herbert’s life would be if he could get 1,200 yards out of his back. The addition of Lacy could move Dallas into a real battle for the SW Division title and could make them a very tough team to match up against.   ORLANDO Ty Montgomery and Knile Davis combined for 1,200 yards, and both averaged over 4.3 YPG, so why are we pitching them as an option? Well, because neither Montgomery nor Davis is a solid inside runner. Orlando turned to FB Jay Ballard and even Russell Wilson far too often on 3 rd and short. They need a pounder to get those key yards. Maybe they go that route in the draft, but if they want a proven option, Lacy makes sense.   NEW ENGLAND We know the Steamrollers are hoping to re-sign Kerwynn Williams, who had 934 yards for them this year, averaging 4.1 per carry. And, with Matt Forte apparently poised to announce a retirement, maybe they are happy if they can retain Williams, but we think that there is a good chance they cannot convince the back to return to Boston, in which case, adding Lacy would be a very positive step for a team that did quite well in their first year at 6-10.   NEW JERSEY The moment Maurice Jones-Drew, the league runner up in yardage the past 3 years, and the centerpiece of the Generals’ offense, announced his retirement, New Jersey shot to the top of the Eddie Lacy fan club. Expect New Jersey to go hard after Lacy. They need a back who can force teams to stack the box, otherwise their passing game is toast. Lacy is a great fit, not as good in the passing game as MJD, but few are. What he could provide is a run game that opposing defenses have to respect with 8- or 9-man boxes, and that will make Nick Foles and OBJ very happy.   3- What Will February’s NFL-USFL Transfer Window Look Like? There are rumors that both the NFL and USFL are interested in moving up the window to January, even before the Super Bowl is played, but that feels very unlikely. More probable is that there will be new rules put in place to allow teams to negotiate ahead of the window, with deals only becoming official once it opens. The NFL is worried that by February there will be almost no USFL free agents left to choose from, while the USFL is hoping to have rosters pretty solidly in place before camps open in February, something that could be a real issue if USFL free agents hold out to give the NFL time to counter offer what other USFL teams have proposed. What we could see is a wild scramble for talent in both directions, and neither league is happy about that prospect.   2- How Will Jacksonville Handle the Trevor Lawrence Derby? This was a huge subject of debate within our bullpen. Just what should the Bulls do at QB? They have Teddy Bridgewater under contract through 2024, and he did just put up a 3,000-yard season with a very solid 87.4 QB Rating. But on the other hand, many are calling Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence a generational QB and the best prospect since Andrew Luck. So, does Jacksonville make a deal, what could be a very lucrative deal, to sell the rights to their first T-Draft selection, possibly gaining multiple 1 st  round picks in the Open Draft, but also possibly alienating fans who want to see Lawrence in Garnet and Orange? Or, alternatively, do they select Lawrence for themselves and then find a new home for Bridgewater?   Going the rookie QB route means giving up on a player who has outperformed all expectations. It means giving up the sure thing for a potential superstar who could also be a potential bust. There would be no shortage of takers for Bridgewater, but even with his credentials, Jacksonville might get more in trade if they deal away the rights to Lawrence. There is certainly an upside either way. We know what most fans want, they want a shot to see Lawrence as a Bull, but what if that also requires another 2–3-year development curve. Will fans and ownership be patient with head coach Winston Moss, or would he be placed on the hot seat as soon as he drafts the Clemson QB. The conservative play would be to stick with Bridgewater and get as much value as they can for their T-Draft pick. But conservative may not be what the Bulls need, especially after being declared the most “futile” franchise in the league right here on This is the USFL.   1- Will We Be Back to Normal by March? You knew this had to be the big question. We have played an entire USFL season without fans in the stands, and while that is very unlikely for 2021, could we still see hub structures in place in March? What about capacity caps? There is hope that a vaccine is on the way, but will it arrive in time for the league to feel comfortable playing games and having full travel plans to 30 cities across the nation. Will all 30 locations allow full attendance? Would a vaccine require proof of vaccination? What if players refuse? What if fans refuse? How would the league even begin to regulate who is approved to enter the stadium and who is not?   So many questions, and so much of it is in the air until we know what the medical and social realities are in Spring 2021. The hope, of course, is that Covid-19 will be out of our lives, but that feels very unrealistic. More likely is a winter relapse of higher infection rates and potentially a second major wave of hospitalizations that even a new vaccine would not remove. We all have to wait and see. We know the league can play a season under tough circumstances, they have just done that, but we also know that fans want their teams in their home cities, and they want to be in the stadium, so, just how does that happen?   ARIZONA WRANGLERS 21   MICHIGAN PANTHERS 24 Both Arizona and Michigan came into this game with a mindset of shortening the game, minimizing their opponent’s possessions and controlling the tempo. So it is not surprising that we ended up with a game where neither team earned more than 31 minutes of possession and where the stats lined up pretty evenly. Both teams were able to rely on their run games, with Arizona’s combo of Ka’Deem Carey and Isaiah Crowell racking up 106 yards on 26 carries while LeVeon Bell had 83 on 24 carries, with a nice change of pace with Alexander Mattison gaining 65 yards on only 7 carries (40 on one play.). But, while Kirk Cousins was an efficient 14 of 23 for 141 yards and a touchdown, Arizona’s Tom Savage struggled, completing only 9 of 34 attempts, with 2 TDs and 2 picks. Savage connected with only 3 receivers on the day, DeMarcus Robinson (4 for 125 and 1 score), Brandon Aiyuk (3 for 123) and Carlos Rogers (2 for 13 with a TD). Not a single completion to a back or a tight end. Meanwhile the lead receiver for Michigan was not Cody Latimer, who was held without a catch on the day, but LeVeon Bell, with 4 receptions. Arizona blanketed Latimer all day, challenging Cousins to look elsewhere, and he did, with 6 other receivers catching passes, including a TD to little used TE Ladarius Green.   The slow-paced game took quite a bit of time to get going, with only a lone Michigan field goal on the board after 1 quarter and a modest 7-6 Arizona lead at the half. The Wranglers got on the board thanks to a 44-yard Savage to Robinson pass as the Wrangler QB escaped a pretty nasty pass rush, allowing Robinson to shed his coverage and make the play.   The scoring picked up in the 3 rd  quarter, spurred by a 12-play drive on Michigan’s opening possession, a drive ignited by a 19-yard completion to Kevin Kraft on a 3 rd  and 9 and finished with LeVeon Bell’s 6-yard TD scamper. The Panthers went for 2, got it, and led 14-7. But, Arizona proved resilient and evened the score on the next possession, with Isaiah Crowell carrying the ball 3 times for 18 yards and Ka’Deem Carey getting 22 yards on 4 carries, including the 5-yard TD run that knotted the game up at 14 apiece. Michigan would get back on the board in the final minute of the 3 rd quarter, with Cousins first hitting Martellus Bennett over the middle for what could have been a 9-yard gain, but turned into a 37-yard romp after the big tight end stiff armed FS Nate Allen. 3 plays later it was Cousins to Green for the score and Michigan took a 21-14 lead into the final quarter.   The Panthers got two back to back plays midway through the final period to build a 10-point lead. The first was a pick of Tom Savage, with DT Caruan Reed tipping the Arizona QB’s pass and MLB Odell Thurman coming away with the ball. On the very next play, backup HB Alexander Mattison broke through the Arizona defense and rumbled 40 yards to the Arizona 24 before finally getting tackled. Michigan could not punch the ball in, but a 36-yard kick from Chase McLaughlin gave them a 2-score lead with only 5:25 left to play.   Arizona would mount a good drive to get the score back down the 3 points, picking up 3 first downs thanks to a combination of the run game and an encroachment call on 3 rd  and 3. Savage added his second TD pass of the game, a short 2-yard slant to Rogers, and with 2:23 left to play, the Wranglers opted to kick the ball deep and depend on their defense. But, while the defense had played well against Kirk Cousins and the passing game, they had struggled to contain the running backs, and what we saw on the final possession was Michigan’s ability to grind out first downs (3 of them) to end the game with the ball in their hands. The Panthers held the ball, wound down the clock, and took the W and the pass to Charlotte to appear in the Summer Bowl, returning after a 2-year absence and hoping to nab a 5 th  title to tie Houston as the all-time USFL Championship leader. HOUSTON GAMBLERS 31   TAMPA BAY BANDITS 58 If the Western Final was about ball control and clock management, the Eastern Championship was all about quick strikes and offensive fireworks. Tampa Bay was so dominant in the first half that the national TV numbers took a nosedive at the half, with only about 40% of the viewers who started the game sticking around. They missed some good second half play from Houston, but far too little to overcome the hole they found themselves in after Tampa Bay put up 37 points before Houston finally got on the board with 9 seconds left in the first half.   The first half looked like a one-team show, with Tampa Bay scoring on 6 of their 7 possessions. Drive after drive the Bandits made big plays and simply ripped through the Houston defense. First it was a 25-yard TD toss from Prescott to Grant to open the scoring, then a 27-yarder to Bryant to produce a 13-0 lead after 1 quarter. The second quarter saw the passing game get the ball down field for back-to-back red zone touchdown runs, first a 4-yarder from Matt Breida and then another 4-yarder from Dalvin Cook. When Dez Bryant caught his second TD of the day, this time from 30 yards out, the game was well out of hand. A Butker field goal in the final minute of the half gave Tampa Bay a 37-0 lead, and even huge 75-yard McCoy to Reynolds bomb in the final minute could not help Michigan feel that they were in the game. In just the first half alone, Dak Prescott threw for 273 yards and 3 touchdowns. Dalvin Cook had 77 of his eventual 154 yards, and Dez Bryant had 3 catches for 102 yards. He would end the game with 4 for 122, Grant would have 3 for 112, and 8 different receivers would see the ball over the course of the game. The final stats were astounding, 623 total yards, including 422 through the air (even backup B. J. Daniels went 3 for 3 for 51 yards and a touchdown.) Michigan would battle back in the second half, with Colt McCoy connecting with Denzel Mims, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Josh Reynolds again, but it was just not enough.   The game went from 37-7 at the half to 44-21 after 3 quarters and 58-31 by the game’s conclusion. The Bandits never giving Michigan a chance to get within 20 until the final minute of play. Despite taking their foot off the pedal, Tampa Bay still added 21 points in the 2 nd  half, with Dalvin Cook, Matt Breida and Darnell Mooney each scoring. Houston never stopped trying, but while their offense found some success against a relaxed Bandit D, the defense never found answers to Tampa Bay’s assault.   The Bandits claimed victory, celebrating their first trip back to the Summer Bowl since their 2011 league title. Houston, who entered the playoffs as a 6 seed, left wondering if they were witnessing the end of an era, an era that saw them appear in the last 3 Summer Bowls, winning a title in 2018. They still have a solid core, but it does feel that this game was an indicator that they are no longer a dominant force in the East.   Bandit Offensive Stars Shine Bright in Title Game There is no way to deny it, the Bandits’ offense was absolutely dominant in the Eastern Finals. And it was the big stars who came up big. That included Dak Prescott, who finished the game with 371 yards passing and 3 touchdowns. It also included Dalvin Cook’s 2-touchdown, 154-yard outing, as well as 100-yard games from both Bryant and Grant out wide. Even TE Ryan Izzo had himself a game, catching 5 balls for 93 yards, including a nice 38-yard catch and run that included just a bit of bowling-ball action as he ran through defenders.   The way Tampa Bay carved up a pretty solid Houston defense has to make Michigan worry about their matchup in Summer Bowl 2020. The Bandits have just so many weapons that it is hard to see how even the Panthers’ D can contain them for 60 minutes. If Cook can get rolling, then the defenders cant overload against the pass, which means Bryant or Cook can find coverages to beat and get deep balls to flip the field. It will be a huge challenge, and if the Bandits can also rely on others to play a part, whether it is HB Matt Breida, slot receiver Deebo Samuel, or tight ends Jordan Cameron and Ryan Izzo, well we may end up seeing another blowout victory for the 15-1 Champions of the East.   Savage Struggles but Campbell & Klien Keep Arizona Close When your QB goes 9 of 34 and throws 2 picks, you are going to need some help on defense to keep the game close, and that is what Arizona got from its best defensive players. Calais Campbell, the 2020 DPOTY and league sack champion for the 12 th straight season, had a typical Campbell game, disrupting the Michigan line and recording 6 tackles and 2 sacks. Linebacker A. J. Klien also played well, with 2 sacks of his own, along with 7 tackles and a forced fumble. But perhaps the biggest game of all was from unheralded linebacker Mykal Walker, who finished the game with 11 tackles, 4 for loss, and a sack. It was a solid outing for the Wrangler defense, with all the pressure on, but with the offense unable to hold up its end, Arizona just could not hold off the Panthers forever, and despite their solid play, they left the stadium without a game left to play.   Latimer a Non-Factor in Title Game One of the more shocking stats from this weekend’s Arizona-Michigan conference title game was the stat line for Cody Latimer, the lead receiver for the Panthers. Latimer had one target, no catches, and was only on the field for 22 snaps. On Monday we learned why. Latimer suffered a calf strain on the very first play of the game, attempting to block for LeVeon Bell. He had his ankle retaped, played most of the game, with limited snaps, but was largely a decoy because he simply could not reach a top speed with his calf as it was.   It turned out that Michigan did not need him in order to get the W, but they certainly will this week. Latimer is listed as “probable” for the game, but there is concern that he may not be at full potential, or, even worse, that the calf injury could be worsened if he pushes himself in the Summer Bowl, leading to further injury and the loss of one of Kirk Cousins’ primary weapons in the most important matchup of the year. If Latimer is 100%, then he almost certainly will be a focal point in Michigan’s attack, but if he is unable to go at full speed, that could be a very tough blow to the Panthers’ chances against an explosive Bandit squad.   The Latimer injury is the one being watched closely, but we should also be looking at the injury to Tampa Bay CB Ken Webster. Without him in the game, the Panthers could have success getting secondary receivers like Donavan Peoples-Jones or Kevin Kraft mixed into their gameplan.   MGN:   WR C. Ridley (Out), OT D. Dotson (P), WR C. Latimer (P) TBY:    CB R. Cockrell (Out), LB P. Brown (D), CB K. Webster (P)     Ohio Closing in on Gruden It is looking a lot like a full 180 from the Ohio Glory as they seem more and more focused on former Atlanta Fire and Washington Redskin head coach Jay Gruden as their man for the open position. It would be hard to name a coach less like former Glory head man Tom Coughlin than Gruden. The affable, jovial, and light-hearted “players’ coach”, Gruden, is a very different take on the position than the often gruff, always dour, and usually tight-lipped Coughlin. And the differences don’t end at personality. Coughlin was a defensive-minded, grind the ball out, old school coach who would love to win games 13-10 and who believed that discipline was the key to victory. Gruden is an offensive innovator, a coach who believes in passing to open up the run, not the other way around, and who wants his players to feel relaxed and enjoy the game as a motivator to want to win games.  Former Fire & Redskin HC Jay Gruden Nothing is official yet, but Ohio seems very close to both signing and announcing Gruden as their guy. What does that mean for the Glory team we will see take the field in 2021? Well, for one thing, expect far fewer 2-TE or 2-back formations on offense. Instead we could see a lot of 3- and 4-receiver sets and an offense where both the halfback and quarterback are running with only 5 linemen in front of them. Why did we say the QB would be running? Well, pretty much everyone and their cousin knows that the Glory are pushing hard to ensure that Ohio State star QB Justin Fields is ready to sign on the dotted line as soon as the Glory pick him with their 1 st  territorial pick. The pocket presence of Christian Hackenberg is out (he is already being shipped around as trade fodder) and the Glory are ready to embrace Fields as the next big thing both coming out of and staying in Columbus. Hiring an offensive-minded coach like Gruden, especially one who has worked with mobile QBs in the past, seems a clear indicator that the Glory are ready to move on from smashmouth to spread and from conservative to experimental as they try to regain their status within the league and return to being a playoff team.   Vipers Visit with Greg Landry Another team that might be closing in on their next head coach is Las Vegas. Only 3 weeks after letting former USFL quarterback Rick Neuheisel go, it appears the Vipers are ready to try their luck with another former USFL quarterback in Greg Landry. Landry, the veteran NFL QB who started with the Chicago Blitz and finished his career with Arizona, has visited the Vipers’ facilities in Henderson, Nevada twice in the past 3 weeks and appears to be the frontrunner to take on the Vipers’ head coaching position.  Former Outlaw HC Greg Landry Of course, no one is hiring Landry based on his 4-year USFL career under center. He was head coach of the Texas Outlaws from 2010 through 2018, released from duties 1 year into their new life in Oklahoma. During that 9-season stint, Landry had the Outlaws in the USFL playoffs five times, including three division titles (2011, 2012, and 2014) and a trip to the Summer Bowl, the only one in Outlaw history, in 2014. Many believe that he was forced out by the new Oklahoma Outlaw ownership less because of his record with the team than because they saw an opportunity to bring in OU coaching legend Bob Stoops. Known for a balanced pro-style attack that featured Joe Flacco and Marshawn Lynch in Texas, paired with a 4-3 defense that depended on strong front line pressure, the Outlaws were a solid club for much of Landry’s tenure. In Las Vegas he would have some of the pieces he would need to replicate that style, including a pretty solid pocket passing QB in Matt McGloin and a defense led by DE Matthew Judon, LBs Nick Perry and Nate Irving, and SS Eric Berry. The biggest need for the Vipers continues to be at HB, where a trade for Matt Jones did not improve what was one of the league’s worst rushing attacks. A speed receiver to pair with Aaron Dobson, offensive line upgrades, and more bulk on the D-line are also priorities.   2020 USFL Award Winners & All-USFL Team Named No gala this year, thanks to Covid-19, but we did have a virtual “celebration” of the USFL 2020 season this week, with appearances by legendary players and coaches, as well as several celebrity fans, all via video and presented on the ESPN Football Network and streaming on ESPN.com . But, despite the odd feel of a fully virtual presentation ceremony, the awards for 2020’s best and brightest were announced, and the winners recognized. Here are your 2020 USFL Award Winners and the 2020 All-USFL team as we prepare for Summer Bowl 2020.   MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Tampa Bay Bandit QB Dak Prescott Prescott wins back to back MVP awards thanks to a stellar 15-1 season for the Bandits and some outstanding numbers. The Bandit QB finished the regular season with 4,237 yards, 37 touchdowns and only 7 picks. Of course, he is adding to those totals with a strong playoff performance, guiding the Bandits back to the Summer Bowl for the first time since 2011. He beat out New Orleans’s Geno Smith, garnering over 75% of the ballots for the award.  OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Michigan HB LeVeon Bell For the third year in a row, and the 4 th  in the past 5 years, the USFL has honored LeVeon Bell with the OPOTY. That is an amazing run, one which parallels his run of league rushing titles. His 1,529 yards this season marks his third consecutive year above the 1,500-yard threshold, and, like Prescott, he has continued to shine in the postseason, setting up a battle in Summer Bowl 2020 between the MVP and the OPOTY.  DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Arizona DE Calais Campbell It almost feels unnecessary to try to picture anyone else winning this award each year. Campbell is the dominant player of this generation, having won the league’s sack title now 12 years in a row. Hard to believe that he actually started the year slowly, missing 2 games and falling 5 sacks behind Orlando’s Montez Sweat. But that was the reality 5 weeks into the season, but in the end he not only caught, but surpassed Sweat, finishing 2020 with 26 sacks, 4 more than his replacement in Orlando.   ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Dallas QB Justin Herbert The former Oregon Duck watched and learned over the season’s first six weeks, but once he was called upon to start in Week 7, Herbert switched from student to master, putting up amazing numbers over the season’s final 10 weeks and helping the Roughnecks finally cross .500 as a team and make their first playoff appearance since the club moved from Boston. Herbert finished the year with 21 touchdowns (again, in only 10 games) and 2,716 games, and with him at QB the Roughnecks developed into one of the league’s best passing attacks. A lot of folks in Big D are eager to see what he can do in a full sophomore season.  COACH OF THE YEAR: Atlanta’s Jaime Elizondo Turn a team from 4-11-1 to to 13-3 in one season and you fully deserve this award. Elizondo, who spent only 1 year as the OC for the Bandits before being taken on by Atlanta, proved once again just what he is able to do with an offense. After helping turn Tampa Bay into an offensive Juggernaut by importing schemes from his days in the CFL, Elizondo was given the reins of an underperforming Atlanta Fire squad and immediately got results, producing an offense that averaged over 30 points per game and turning the combination of Aaron Murray, Nick Chubb, and A. J. Green into one of the best “triplet” groups in the league.   ALL-USFL TEAM The All-USFL Team features the 44 players who stood out in 2020 and were voted by a panel of writers, coaches, and team captains across the USFL to be honored. But, since there are always a few names that seem deserving and don’t get their spot, we are going to add five more names as our unofficial “Also damned good” members of the roster. QB:  Dak Prescott (TBY), Geno Smith (NOR), Cam Newton (BIR Two obvious choices and a player who was individually a rock star despite playing on a 3-13 Stallion Squad. Despite being somehow (amazingly) unable to turn his individual quality into team wins, Newton had a phenomenal year, passing for 4,250 yards and 31 touchdowns while also running for 562 yards and 6 more scores. Coach Haley had better figure out a way to build around him, because the Stallions are absolutely wasting his amazing talents.   HB:  LeVeon Bell (MGN), Maurice Jones-Drew (NJ), Knowshon Moreno (SEA) MJD gets his 5 th  All-USFL nod in his final season, putting up 1,349 to finish second behind Bell. Moreno helped guide the Dragons to a playoff berth and had his best season as a Dragon with 1,240 yards and 12 TDs in 2020.   FB:  Khari Blasingame (CHA) If you don’t know his name, we are not stunned, but ask Latavius Murray and Nyheim Hines what they think about their fullback and they will praise him all day long. He helped them combine for over 1,700 yards rushing. As a rusher he had only 6 carries all season (1TD) but as a receiver, with 42 receptions, he proved he could do more than clear a path for the Monarch tailbacks. Keep an eye on him as part of the passing game in 2021.   TE:  Jordan Cameron (TBY), Coby Fleener (NOR) No shocker that the two MVP candidate quarterbacks both had All-USFL tight ends. Both Cameron and Fleener are outstanding receivers, too big for a safety to cover, too fast for a linebacker. Between the two of them they had 1,900 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns.   WR:  Jordy Nelson (NOR), Sammy Watkins (DAL), Devin Funchess (MEM), Dez Bryant (DAL), Brandin Cooks (POR) Two new faces in the WR group recognize two breakout stars as Memphis’s Devin Funchess had a huge second season with 102 catches, 1,547 yards and 10 TDs as half of an absolutely devastating 1-2 punch with Robert Woods (Woods had 113 catches, 1,324 yards and 15 touchdowns, the league’s first two-100-catch-receiver combo ever). Meanwhile, with the immediate impact of Justin Herbert, former Buffalo Bill Sammy Watkins had a revival with 96 catches for 1,644 yards and 11 touchdowns. Expect more from him as Herbert continues to develop into an elite USFL QB.   OT:  Willie Colon (NOR), Brandon Scherff (ARZ), Tytus Howard (DAL) The ageless wonder, Willie Colon, gets his 3 rd All-USFL honor at 36, and seems ready for more. Scherff is a beast and certainly the best friend of David Carr and the Wrangler HBS, while Tytus Howard came on this year, with an amazing 117 pancakes and only 1 sack allowed in 992 snaps. Think about that, that is an 11.7 % pancake rate and only a 0.1% sack rate, just amazing numbers for the 2 nd  year LT.   OG:  Jon Asamoah (HOU), Dru Samia (ARZ), Cole Madison (POR) Asamoah earns All-USFL honors for the 4 th consecutive year (5 th  in 6 years) as the recognized paragon of the position. He is joined by two first timers, Arizona’s Dru Samia (2 nd year player) and 3 rd  year RG Cole Madison of Portland.   C:  Frank Ragnow (TBY), Shaq Mason (HOU) Two veteran pivots who know how to run their lines and protect their QBs. For Ragnow, this is his 2 nd  All-USFL honor, for Mason his 6 th .   DE:  Calais Campbell (ARZ), Montez Sweat (ORL), Shaquile Riddick (PIT) Can we just take a moment here to recognize the amazing tradition of edge rushers the Orlando Renegades have. First it was Chris Doleman, who terrorized offensive coordinators and quarterbacks for 14 years to the tune of 198 career sacks. Doleman retires and they get Campbell, recognized as the greatest sack artist in USFL history, still playing at 35, with a ludicrous 353 career sacks, and when he goes to Arizona they draft Montez Sweat, who in his first two years has 39 sacks and 2 All-USFL seasons. That is a crazy legacy of greatness for one team.   DT:  Aaron Donald (NE), Chris Jones (LA), Dan Williams (MEM) In one group we have the total package in Donald, a penetration and sack-securing DT in Jones, and a true space-eater in Williams, three very different styles, but three dominant D-linemen by any measure.   LB:  Sean Lee (JAX), Aldon Smith (NJ), Keith Rivers (LA), Uchena Nwosu (LA), Luke Kuechley (ATL), and Khalil Mack (SEA) If you want to know the secret to LA’s shut down defense, look no further than the cobo of Rivers and Nwosu. Now put those two behind Chris Jones and in front of Stephon Gilmore and there is no secret why the Express are so tough to score on. And lets give a special shout out to Sean Lee, who recorded his 6 th  consecutive 100-tackle seasons, with many of those outstanding years on some pretty horrible Jacksonville Bulls teams. Let’s hope he gets a chance to play some playoff football at some point in his stellar career.   CB:  Jalen Ramsey (TBY), Rasul Douglas (PIT), Josh Norman (CHI), Tye Smith (SD Tampa Bay has 6 th  All-USFL nominees, the best of any team in the league (New Orleans has 4, then Arizona, LA, Memphis and Portland with 3 each). Ramsey is the classic shut-down corner, and he is not shy about telling you how good he is. Douglas came on strong this year for a much-improved Mauler D, and Josh Norman continues to be a team leader on a very solid Machine D. And while a lot went wrong in San Diego this year, Tye Smith continued to be a shining star even in a dark night of a season.   S: Marqueston Huff (OAK), Derwin James (TBY), Earl Thomas (ATL), Rudy Ford (POR) Three very familiar names, including Tampa Bay’s centerfielder and Atlanta’s “Hammer” on defense, but Rudy Ford is a player too few around the country know, but trust us, offensive coordinators know about the 4 th  year safety who had 70 tackles and 6 picks for the Stags.   ST:  Kicker Lewis Ward (MEM) and Punter Jesse Slade Ward not only led the league with 147 points this year, but also kicked a league-best 62-yarder. Slade, who had more punt attempts than any other punter in the league (sorry San Diego), not only racked up yards, but also put 37 punts inside the 20, which is about the only thing that went right for the Thunder defense all year long.   OUR 5 “SHOULDA BEEN” All-USFL Nominees   WR Aaron Dobson (LV):  We get it, being a possession receiver is not glamorous, and being one on a team that won only 3 games makes it even harder to be recognized, but when you have 138 receptions, you deserve a nod. The undisputed master of the mid-range route, and one of the toughest players to cover, Dobson may not be reeling in 60-yard bombs, but he is exactly what every team craves on 3 rd  and 8.   TE Kyle Rudolph (SEA):  With the rise of the TE as a receiving option in the USFL, it seems a shame that there are only 2 All-USFL spots. And while we certainly see Cameron and Fleener as deserving of honors, Rudolph also deserves some kudos. He tied with two others to lead all TE’s with 75 receptions, and his 7 touchdowns were a big reason Brett Hundley had the kind of year he did.   OT Taylor Lewan (JAX):  Hard to get an All-USFL nod at Right Tackle on a team with a losing record, but if you want to road grate someone, just piledrive a defender into the ground, you cannot go much better than Lewan, who had a league-best 129 pancakes and dominated as a pulling tackle in the Bulls’ run game (despite their lack of a true bell cow back.)   LB Gabe Miller (SAN):  The Gunslinger D had 2 linebackers with more than 100 tackles this year, which is a sign of a D that needs a better D-line, but takes nothing away from the outstanding skills of Miller, who was consistently solid with Jacksonville and Charlotte before getting the chance to be “the man” for the expansion Gunslingers. He racked up his first 100 tackle season (25 behind the line of scrimmage) but also added 5 sacks.   K Younghoe Koo (HOU): We absolutely acknowledge that Lewis Ward should be the All-USFL kicker as the league leader in points, but we have to recognize what Koo did this year. He never missed. Not once. He went 32 of 32 on field goals, and 41 of 42 on PATs. But, you ask, doesn’t that mean he missed a PAT? No, he didn’t. The holder fumbled the snap, pulled the ball away and tried to run, but since Koo went through the motion, they are somehow calling that a missed PAT instead of a failed 2-point try. Blame the stats guy, but in our book, he went a perfect 73 for 73 when his foot contacted the ball. That is quite a season!   SUMMER BOWL PREVIEW   Ten Players Who Could Determine the USFL Title As much as any league title depends on a mix of preparation, talent, scheme, and motivation, it relies very much on the players themselves. Big name players making big plays in big moments. Lesser-known players stepping up to make a name for themselves. There is certainly no lack of talent on the two teams set to battle on Saturday, but who will come up big? Who will step up to the moment? We picked 5 players from each team who we think are the keys to their team coming out on top. Do you agree? Did we miss an obvious one? Did we gauge these two teams correctly or did something get by us.   Michigan HB LeVeon Bell Let’s start with the obvious. If Bell can find early success, if he can rack up yards and force Tampa Bay to commit to stopping the run, well, that just helps Michigan in so many ways. Success for Bell means fewer snaps for Dak Prescott, more time with the ball for Michigan, and possibly more big drives that lead to 7 points, something the Panthers certainly expect to need. If we see Bell over 100 yards before the 4 th quarter starts, that could tell us that the Panthers have Tampa Bay where they want and then expect a lot of touches in the 4 th  to end the game in short order.   Tampa Bay WR Dez Bryant Michigan has outstanding corners in Dre Kirkpatrick and KeiVarae Russell. We expect Kirkpatrick to be the primary in defending Dez Bryant, but if Bryant proves he can get free of Kirkpatrick, it could be a long and tough night for the Panther defense. Bryant excels at the big play, whether a deep ball brought down in stride or an inside route that turns upfield quickly. If you see Bryant getting the ball early, it could mean that the Bandits get the game to be a shootout, exactly what Michigan wants to avoid.   Michigan QB Kirk Cousins The rap on Cousins is that he folds in big games. Seems an odd thing to say for a QB who has taken his team to a league title, but that loss last year in the Divisionals, when Michigan was 14-2 and bowed out right away, still has Panther fans antsy about their QB when the pressure is on. What Michigan needs to see from Cousins is not just his usual high completion rate (often over 70%) but a more aggressive attack on the Bandit secondary. Settling for dump down passes may keep the completion rate high, but it won’t keep drives going.   Tampa Bay HB Davlin Cook We saw what happened when Cook got rolling in this year’s playoff run. The Bandit back had 154 yards and 2 scores against Houston this week and that balance, with Cook slashing through the Gambler defense, made Tampa Bay nearly impossible to defend. Michigan wants to remove as many weapons from Tampa Bay’s arsenal as they can, but while they focus on the receivers, can Cook make them pay on the ground?   MICHIGAN TE Martellus Bennett Our first “less obvious” pick, Bennett is absolutely essential to the Panther offense, in no small part because Tampa Bay will try to remove Cody Latimer from the equation. If Latimer is covered, the next best option is often Bennett, ahead of any of the other wideouts on the Panther roster. He is Kirk Cousins’ security blanket and a dangerous man with the ball in his hands.   TAMPA BAY RT Brennan Williams The Bandits will almost certainly shift their line coverage on pass plays to help Levi Brown deal with Justin Tuck on the left side, so that means Williams could be on an island against Dee Ford. And while Tuck is viewed as the better edge rusher, with 19 sacks this year, Ford is a very tough second option, recording 13 of his own this year. If Williams can handle the assignment, Prescott will have time and that is bad for Michigan. But if Williams struggles, then the Bandits have to keep receivers or backs in to help out, which reduces their ability to go deep.   MICHIGAN LB Devin Bush We know that Odell Thurman and Sean Porter will be in position and that their role will be containment, but Bush is the wild card, the fastest of the three and the linebacker most often asked to take on the tough assignment of covering either a slot receiver or a back out of the backfield. With Dalvin Cook, Deebo Samuel, Jordan Cameron, and the underrated Ryan Izzo all options for Prescott, that will put a lot of pressure on Bush to read plays quickly and make the right adjustments.   TAMPA BAY SS Derwin James When you are facing LeVeon Bell, the key is to not only contain the outside run, but to fill gaps in the line against the inside run. The player most likely to be hovering in the box, ready to do either, is James. He is a big hitter, and he is very good against the run, but he will be tested by a Panther team that has more run variations than anyone. If he gets caught inside at the wrong time Bell could take off. Go outside too quickly and a cutback puts him out of position. It will be James shadowing Bell all game, and if he can succeed, he can truly impact Michigan’s ability to keep the ball in their hands.   MICHIGAN WR Donavan Peoples-Jones We are adding DPJ to this list for two reasons. First, we expect to see a lot of him on punt and kick returns, and if he can help Michigan get short field possessions, that could go a long way to them keeping pace with the Bandits. But, perhaps more importantly, Cousins will need another option if the Bandits succeed in limiting Cody Latimer. Peoples-Jones is the next best option outside, and he could see a lot of man coverage. Even if only on a pair of plays, if he can get deep and force the Bandits to respect that, then the rest of the field could be in play in ways it is not when Latimer is the only option.   TAMPA BAY CB Jalen Ramsey We know Cousins is going to test Ramsey, despite the corner’s 7 picks this year. He has to, because he has to keep Cody Latimer in the game. If Ramsey can ballhawk, disrupt Latimer’s game, and maybe even snag a pick, that could be huge in a game where every possession comes with pressure to score. We don’t expect a defensive battle, but there will be moments where one defense or the other makes a play that turns the tide, and Ramsey has that potential on any ball thrown his way.   Picks From Across the League We all have our theories about this game, but we also have not played against either of these teams, so why not ask those who have. We spoke with 4 USFL stars who have faced off against one of the two Summer Bowl squads, and we got more or less what we expected, a heavy dose of “the guys we played were tough”.   Chicago Head Coach Lovie Smith Chicago played the Panthers three times this year, losing the final two meetings, including the Divisional playoff 2 weeks ago. So, what does Coach Smith think about the Panthers? “They can be a nightmare on both sides of the ball.” Said the Chicago coach. “You have to respect LeVeon Bell, but not so much that Cousins’s life is easy in the pocket.” Started Smith, adding “And when you are on offense, you have to take what they give you. Don’t force it because they will be there to make you pay.”.   For a final score, what did Lovie think we would see? “I know Tampa Bay is a good team, but I have to go with Michigan in a higher scoring game than they are used to, but less than Tampa expects. 27-24 Michigan.”   Atlanta QB Aaron Murray The Fire also faced their divisional opponent three times, losing for the 2 nd  time in the Divisional Round as well. So, we asked QB Aaron Murray to sum up what makes Tampa Bay so tough. His response: “Everyone thinks it is all about their offense, which, no doubt, is scary, but their defense does not get enough credit.” He added: “They have a 3-man rotation at DE where each of the three are as nasty as the other two, and they don’t get tired.” And about their offense, Murray said “This is not a team that needs 10 plays and a red zone trip to get points, they can burn you from anywhere on the field and on any down.” His pick for the game is pretty clear. He chose Tampa Bay to score 30 or more and win by 10 or more.   Arizona DE Calais Campbell The 12-time sack leader of the USFL faced off against Michigan this week, and while he had 6 tackles and 2 sacks, he still felt that Michigan did about as good a job against him as any team has in recent years. “It is frustrating” he said, “because you look at Cousins and he is not a mobile guy, but when you get to him the ball is usually not there anymore.” What does he think about the matchup? He said, “I have lots of friends on Orlando still and they all say that Tampa Bay is for real, and with 15 wins they have to be.” But finally decides “I know they can put points up, but Michigan can too, especially if Bell busts out. I am picking the Panthers to surprise everyone by holding the Bandits down and putting up more points than they did against us.”   Houston HB Carlos Hyde Hyde averaged 5 yards per carry against Tampa Bay but watched helplessly as the Bandits put up 58 points, scoring 37 before Houston ever got on the board. “They are scary good on offense” he said, adding “It’s the speed, from Cook, Breida, Grant, and Bryant.” He commented that he does not remember ever seeing a team with so much speed on offense, even his own team, which is no slouch. When asked about the final score, he did not hesitate, “They could score 50 again, no question. I respect Michigan, but this Bandit team is just so dangerous.”   Our Analysis & Prediction   Look, you already know we are horrible at this. We overthink things, tinker with minutiae on the stat board, undervalue emotion and overvalue past results. But, even with all that, we think we have the right answer this time. We are looking at a Michigan team that wants to shorten the game, allow fewer Tampa Bay possessions, and run right up the middle with Bell. We have a Bandits team that wants to look deep first, then drop down if needed. They too can run the ball, though they tend to spread the field more to give Cook room to slash into the secondary. So, where is the advantage?   This is the USFL. If it were the NFL we would say the advantage goes to the team that runs the ball and plays good defense. But we have learned over 38 years that in the USFL the team that can air it out, that has too many targets to cover, and that can use the run to force edge rushers to keep containment lanes instead of beelining to the QB is the team that likely wins.   That team, and also a 1-loss team, is the Tampa Bay Bandits. We think Dre Kirkpatrick will have his hands full with Dez Bryant, but that means TE Cameron Jordan, speedster Ryan Grant, rookie slot receiver Deebo Samuel, and HB Dalvin Cook, a very dangerous dual threat back, will likely have 1 man to beat. We love the Panther D, but this feels like a bridge too far. Their best chance is if Dee Ford and Justin Tuck can get to Prescott without any blitzing linebackers, but Tampa Bay has defended against some pretty good edge rushers and Prescott put up huge numbers. So, we don’t see it happening.   We also want to remind everyone that the Bandits allowed only 15 points per game, 2 nd  best in the entire league. This is not a team that can only win shootouts. They held 11 of their 16 regular season opponents under 20 points, with 5 teams held below 10. That is a solid defense, so this is a team that can win a 45-42 game, or a 15-13 game, but more often than not wins a 35-13 game.   So, yes, we are going with the Bandits. We think Michigan holds them in check (by their standards) but that Tampa Bay just keeps edging up the scoreboard until they get the win and the trophy. Our prediction on a final score: Bandits 31 Panthers 20

The Wild Card weekend gave us four 1-score games, slim margins and some back-and-forth scores. Could the Divisionals provide the same, or would the 4 top seeds in the league roll through their Wild Card opponents? Well, we got a bit of everything in this year’s Divisional Round. Michigan built up a 13-0 first half lead and went on to win by that same margin. Atlanta and Tampa Bay gave us a shootout that was not decided until the 4 th  quarter. Houston gave us an upset, knocking off Memphis by 5 points, and the Arizona Wranglers gave us a surprising result, scoring on both defense and special teams to help their limping offense get the win over a very game Seattle club. As we look back on the week that was, we will break down each game, look ahead to two very intriguing Conference Finals, and try to answer the biggest questions looming for the offseason, our Big Story for this week. All this, plus we highlight some coaches getting attention as 6 teams seek new leaders, NFL players who may be headed for an inter-league jump, and some of the breakout stars of 2020 who deserve to get paid ahead of 2021.   Ten Biggest USFL Offseason Questions (Part 1) We pulled together our bullpen once again and asked what are the biggest questions around the league as we look at a shortened USFL offseason. The team came up with 10 burning questions. Each deserves some exploration, so we are going to provide numbers 10-6 this week and finish with the top 5 next week in our Conference Title Game recap edition. Ten big questions that will define the offseason, and could very well be profoundly impactful on the 2021 season to come. Here we go, with number 10-6. Let’s get to it.   10) Which Alabama Stars Will Birmingham Pounce On? While the USFL’s Territorial Draft has helped each club bring in local talent, connect fans of college football with the league, and create a pipeline of talent from the NCAA to the USFL, the balance of benefit has never been particularly fair. While teams like the Denver Gold and New Jersey Generals only rarely find top tier prospects emerging from their protected schools, others, like the LA Express, Tampa Bay Bandits, and Ohio Glory regularly see Top 10 prospects within their sphere of protection. No team, however, has had a more regular pipeline of blue chip talent headed their way year in and year out than the Birmingham Stallions. Between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers, the pool of potential draft picks seems endless. And, once again in 2021 Birmingham has tough decisions to make, since they are only able to protect 3 players and the pool is once again a deep one.   The Stallions are looking at a crop of talent out of Alabama that would make any GM giddy. The problem is that they can only protect 3 of these prospects, and that is if they don’t accept any trade offers for those picks, offers that almost always emerge when other teams see the talent the Stallions have in front of them. Looking at the 2021 crop of Crimson Tide talent, the quality is obvious. Here are just our Top 6 players from that pool:   WR Jaylen Waddle: A speedburner who could be better than Ruggs or Jeudy from last year’s crop.   CB Patrick Surtain II: A “legacy” player who is viewed as the top corner in the draft.   WR DeVonta Smith: Wide Receiver U. just keeps producing studs at the position.   QB Mac Jones: Seen as a potential 1 st rounder, despite some limitations.   OT Alex Leatherwood: Can start at RT for most USFL teams right away.   HB Najee Harris: Strong, shifty, and with great breakaway speed.   DT Christian Barmore: An earthmover who can eat up blocks.   So, what does Birmingham do? Well, we know they are hoping to get a true bell cow back since their run game is just not working with a rotating backfield, so we think Najee Harris is their first pick. But do they add more receivers? Or do they go defense with Surtain? And if they are not going with a wideout, will they trade away their 3 rd  pick to a team that is in need? If they do, likely only to a Western Conference team. But they could also go for either Leatherwood or possibly center Landon Dickerson, another potential stud on the line.   9) Which Defenders Will Be Free Agent Targets? As we look at the players either currently out of contract, or about to be so as their playoff team is eliminated, we see plenty of talent, particularly on defense. So, who are the biggest targets for USFL clubs? Who likely gets multiple offers and a chance to enter a new tax bracket? We have picked out 10 defensive gems who are likely to be available in just over 2 weeks, when the USFL free agent period begins. Will your team nab one of these top talents?   CB Brandon Carr (DAL): At 34, Carr is likely looking for a 1-2 year deal. A quality defender in both zone and man, but coming off a somewhat disappointing year with only 1 pick.   CB Eric Wright (OAK): Another player in his mid-30’s who still has the wheels to play this game, Wright has had 13 picks in the past 3 years, the best 3-year stint of his career.   DE Justin Tuck (MGN): The Panthers hope to resign Tuck, who at 33 still seems more than game to keep playing. If he gets into the pool, he may be the top DE available.   LB Nathan Triplett (MEM): Our parade of players in their mid-30’s continues with 34-year old Triplett, who had 62 tackles this year, down from the mid-80s the past 2 seasons.   FS Xavier Woods (TBY): At 24 and already recognized as one of the best at his position, we think Woods will test the waters, hoping for a big payday. He should almost certainly get one, but it may mean giving up his spot on a Summer Bowl contender to go to a team with less talent around him.   DE Dante Fowner (HOU): A very solid pass rusher, who sometimes struggles to be a factor against the run. Fowler would be best suited to move to a team that uses a 4-3 alignment, where he can play the edge and get LB support behind him against outside runs.   DE Vic Beasley (NJ): After recording 16, 15, and 19 sacks his first three years, Beasley has not hit those heights the last 3 (8, 13, 12). That said, any player with 10 or more sacks the past 2 years is going to get some offers. His goal should be to find a team with a strong interior line, helping to free him up against single blocks.   LB Patrick Willis (ATL): Not the sideline-to-sideline force he used to be, the 34-year-old linebacker can still be a force on the strongside. He has the skills to get past initial blocks and disrupt the run game and he still holds his own in coverage as well.   CB Dwayne Gratz (BIR): An undervalued corner who can shut down pretty much anyone but the most elite receivers. Gratz had 4 picks this year, but also secured 90 tackles, an insane number for a corner, but one that shows that he will play the run.   DT Sheldon Richardson (STL): Mired on a pretty bad defense, Richardson still impresses with his ability to shed blockers and penetrate the line. He could be a monster on a solid 3-4 line that has at least one reputable pass rusher.   Honorable Mention: CB Syd’Quan Thompson (OHIO), DE Jerry Hughes (SEA), FS Micah Hyde (CHI), DT Dan Williams (MEM), and LB Dont’a Hightower (TBY).   8) Will Free Agents Delay Signing to Get NFL Offers? This is the question bothering all USFL GM’s. Will their targeted players hold out until February, when USFL camps are already in action and the NFL-USFL Transfer Window opens up. Some teams are already asking the League Office to negotiate an earlier window this year, and the NFL might go for that, since they did not get a September Window as they usually do. If the window stays where it is, that is a risky call for players, who would miss minicamps and even some of each team’s training camp, but the payoff could be huge as NFL teams line up to join the free agent market. Of course, NFL talent will also be there, so we end up with a very insecure situation and a very tricky one for all involved.   7) Which USFL Club Will Find a Difference Making Head Coach? We have six openings in the USFL and every team, every fan base, in that group is hoping for the same thing. They are hoping for what Tampa Bay got in 2019 and what we saw with Atlanta this year, a sudden rise from the bottom of the standings up and into the playoffs. It may seem unrealistic, but both recent history and the USFL past all the way back to the 80’s shows that adding the right coach can take a 10-loss team and flip the script to join the playoff picture in their first year. We have seen it time and again. And, sure, there are some teams that have talent and seem ready to rebound if they can get the right coach, while others seem to be longer term projects. But the big question is really who, not if. Who has the stuff to turn potential into output? Later on in this week’s report, we look at 5 coaches getting a lot of attention, but are any of them the right one for the job? After all, for every Mark Trestman or Jaime Elizondo, there is a June Jones, Doug Williams, or Romeo Crennel, a coach that comes in and actually seems to make things worse, leading to a 2-year or even 1-year tenure that ends with the team needing to start over from scratch.   6) Which 2020 Starting QBs Will Play Elsewhere in 2021? This is a fun one, because it is pure speculation. There are no 2020 USFL starters at the position in this year’s free agent pool, as is the norm, but there are some who started the season under center and ended on the bench (either from demotion or injury) and there are other teams who may well just be looking to go a new direction. So, do we have any 2020 starters that are potentially going to be suited up in different colors in 2021? We think the answer is yes, and here are the 5 players we are watching this offseason, possible offseason cuts, or potential trade fodder if a team can get the answer at QB they want.   Matt Gutierrez (PHI):  It seems clear that the Stars are not going to ride or die with Gutierrez, despite his early career success. The former All-USFL QB has just not been the same player since 2017. His QB Rating has dropped every year since, and he was benched this year for a journeyman backup in Ryan Lindley. That tells us that Philadelphia is going to look for a solution at QB this offseason, and once they think they have it (or maybe even before) they will try to find a new home for Gutierrez, who still has 2 more seasons on his contract.   Jacoby Brissett (SEA): The success of Brett Hundley this year, and the almost certain pay raise he will get with a new deal, means that Seattle has to consider moving Brissett. When healthy, Brissett is a very solid QB, One who looked very good in his last full season (2017) and had strong numbers in 2019 as well. The problem is he has lost 2 of the past 3 seasons to early season injuries. That makes him a risky prospect, but there almost certainly will be a team out there willing to take that risk if it means an upgrade at the position.   Mason Rudolph (OKL): We are not sure if the Outlaws want to move Rudolph, but we know there are teams interested. Both Rudolph and Jalen Hurts are on rookie deals, so neither needs to be moved for salary cap support, but Coach Stoops may want to avoid any perceived QB controversy and give Hurts the full confidence of the team as a starter. That, combined with the very likely calls coming in from teams looking for a quality option at QB might be enough to get Stoops to move Rudolph off the roster, especially if the deal is a good one.   Ryan Nassib (WSH): The Nassib experiment has not gone well in Washington. The former Wrangler has simply not been able to replicate his 2018 success with Arizona. His numbers this year (2909 Yds, 15 TDs, 11 Int, 77.5 QBR) are not going to draw a lot of interest, but one team that may be interested is Arizona, especially if David Carr’s rehab does not go as planned. We know Nassib and Coach Tomsula worked well together, so there is a chance for a homecoming if Arizona thinks one is needed.   Christian Hackenberg (OHIO): Is there anyone out there who does not think the Glory will woo Ohio State’s Justin Fields like he is Cinderella at the ball? The writing is on the wall, but the Glory cannot move Hackenberg until Field is signed, sealed and delivered. But if he does sign on, which all of Columbus seems to want, then we think a late offseason move, perhaps to another USFL club that failed to sign their rookie QB prospect, is more than a 50/50 prospect.   A few other names were mentioned in our bullpen, but seem less likely to go anywhere unless the perfect scenario plays out. They include Nick Foles in New Jersey, Josh Freeman in Dallas, and Teddy Bridgewater in Jacksonville. Teddy B only moves if the Bulls decide to go all in on Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, and even then, only if they feel good about having a veteran backup if they do land the likely Heisman winner. Freeman is willing to be a veteran backup and mentor for Justin Herbert, but if the right deal is there, we could see Dallas trade him. As for Foles, he only leaves New Jersey if the offer is perfect for them, and only if they have another option at QB, which right now they do not.   There you go, five of the top 10 burning questions of the USFL offseason. Next week we get to even hotter topics, including a 12-time All-USFL defender who is still unsigned, but does not seem ready to retire, and the big question for 2021, the state of the world and the reality of returning to “normal” as the Covid-19 virus continues unabated across the nation and the world.   CHICAGO MACHINE 14   MICHIGAN PANTHERS 27 The Panthers dominate their division rivals as the defense steps up and shuts down Chicago in a game that was not as close as the final score would have you believe. Michigan built up a 27-7 lead by dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and getting big stops on the Machine offense all game long. Chicago finished the game with only 11 first downs, limited to 3 of 11 on third and fourth downs, and held to only 54 yards rushing as the Panthers take the win and move on to the Conference Championship.   While Chicago did a good job against LeVeon Bell, holding him to only 3.3 yards per carry on the way to 73 yards on the game, Michigan’s balance helped them put points on the board, starting with a 14-play drive in the first quarter that included a big 3 rd  and 11 conversion as Kirk Cousins got good protection and found Kevin Kraft for a 16-yard completion. Later in the drive, LeVeon Bell would convert a 3 rd  and 3 with a good second effort. He would be rewarded with the call from the 2-yard line, punching the ball in for the game’s first score.   Chicago’s first drive ended with a turnover on downs after Coach Smith decided to go for it on 4 th  and 1 from his own 44. Michigan penetrated the line and shut down Marion Mack before he could get back to the line of scrimmage, giving the Panthers a short field which quicky turned into another 3 points as Chase McLaughlin made it a 2-score game midway through the first quarter. For the rest of the game, Smith would be a lot more cautious, and for the rest of the half, both offenses would struggle, with Michigan crossing the 50 only once, producing another field goal, while Chicago’s lone foray into Michigan territory ended outside of field goal range and produced a punt.   Leading 13-0 at the half, Michigan prepared to shorten the game with their rushing offense, avoiding risky plays and trying to avoid third and long as much as possible. Chicago, on the other hand, had to take more chances and seek a big play to get back in it. On their second possession of the 3 rd quarter, they finally hit on one as Sam Bradford found WR Michael Floyd for a 32-yard gain on a nice play action call. That finally put the ball deep in Michigan territory, and 4 plays later, Bradford found Chase Claypool for a 5-yard TD toss on a quick inside slant. Chicago was in business at 13-7.   Chicago’s momentum would be eaten away over the next 5 minutes as Michigan marched down field, requiring only 1 third down conversion to keep their drive alive. Helped by a pair of offsides calls against the aggressive Chicago line, Michigan marched into Machine territory, got a nice 10-yard run from Alexander Mattison to get inside the Chicago 10, and then put 7 more on the board with Cousins finding rookie Donavan Peoples-Jones to make the score 20-7 and rebuild the 13-point lead.   When Mattison had another strong run early in the 4 th , this time a touchdown run to give Michigan a 27-7 lead with only 6 minutes to play, Chicago was cooked. They needed 3 scores in less than 6 minutes, and it just was not going to happen against the Panther defense. The would get one of the three they needed, a late TD pass from Bradford to HB Jeremy Hill, but it was far too little and the Panthers comfortably took the 13-point victory and the ticket to next week’s Western Conference Championship. The Player of the Game was chosen, CB Dre Kirkpatrick, whose pick of Bradford was the lone turnover in the game, but the true POTG was the defensive scheme itself, one which reduced Chicago to a one-dimensional attack and came up big on multiple 3 rd  down attempts.   ATLANTA FIRE 28  TAMPA BAY BANDITS 35 We thought we might get more offensive fireworks this week than we saw in Week 15 when these two Southeastern rivals met, and we did, with the two teams combining for 9 touchdowns and over 800 combined yards. Atlanta was the more balanced team, with Aaron Murray throwing for 293 while the combination of Chubb and Drake added 145 on the ground, but while Tampa Bay only rushed for 88 yards, it was enough to keep Atlanta’s defense honest and allow Dak Prescott to complete 20 of 33 for 300 yards and 3 scores.   In a game that saw Atlanta take out a 14 point lead at the half, Tampa Bay turned on the afterburners in the second half to outpace the Fire 28-7 and take the 7-point victory. It was exactly the kind of offensive display that fans love, well, all but fans of the Fire, who came up short after holding a nice halftime lead. The Fire built that lead an some nice early playcalls against Tampa’s defense. The Fire got Nick Chubb started early, carrying the ball 7 times on the first 2 drives, and producing 54 of his 100 yards in the first quarter. His early success made it possible for Aaron Murray to get time to throw the ball, and to connect on two first quarter touchdowns, one to TE O. J. Howard, and the second a beautiful deep ball to Kelvin Benjamin to build up a 14-0 lead at the end of the first.   Tampa’s offense, largely held in check in the first quarter, finally found its stride in the 2 nd , putting together a quick-strike 6-play, 58-yard drive that included a 33-yard catch & run from TE Jordan Cameron. The drive concluded with 7 points as Dalvin Cook took the ball off tackle to the left to put the Bandits on the board. Back within 7, their hope was to get the ball back quickly and even things up on their next possession, but, while they did get the ball back with 7:02 left in the half, a missed throw from Prescott on a 3 rd  and 7 created a 3-and-out and possession went back to the Fire.   Atlanta drove the ball down the field as the clock ticked by, eating up nearly 5 minutes on their next possession, thanks again to the ground game, and it would be the ground game that would rebuild their 14-point advantage as Nick Chubb scored Atlanta’s third TD of the game, giving them a 21-7 with 43 seconds left in the 2 nd  quarter. Tampa Bay scrambled to get into field goal range to cut the lead down, but the ask of Harrison Butker, forced to attempt a 57-yarder, was too much and the Fire maintained their 14-point advantage as the two teams headed to the locker rooms.   We don’t know what the magic words from Coach Trestman were at the half, but they certainly inspired a sense of urgency among the Bandits coming out of the break. Tampa Bay took the opening kickoff, moved to a hurry-up, no huddle offense, and put 7 on the board in only 6 plays and 2:28 off the clock. In a drive that saw Prescott hit Dez Bryant for a 46-yarder, backup HB Matt Breida put points on the board with a 22-yard run around the right side and down the sideline. The score halved Atlanta’s advantage, but perhaps more importantly, it built up confidence among the Bandits.   That confidence would be on display on both sides of the ball, as Tampa Bay held Atlanta to only 42 yards in the 3 rd  quarter, causing them to fail on all 3 third downs they were forced to convert. Meanwhile the offense kept moving quickly. They moved a bit too quickly on their 2 nd  possession of the half, stymied by a 3 rd  down penalty, but on their 3 rd and final possession of the quarter, they again moved the ball crisply down the field before Prescott found his favorite target, Dez Bryant, for the equalizer, a 13-yard fade route that tied the game at 21.   The Bandit momentum carried into the final period. After yet another short drive by Atlanta producing only a punt, Tampa Bay moved the ball again, ready to take their first lead of the day. They got it on a short toss from Prescott to Ryan Grant at the end of a 10-play drive. Now up 28-21, the feeling of the game had shifted and it was the Bandits who seemed to hold all the cards.   But Atlanta was not ready to give up the ghost on this day. They knew a drive was needed and they finally found a way to put one together. Moving away from a run game that had failed them in the second half, they relied on Aaron Murray, and their QB delivered. Murray completed 4 of 6 passing, including a 29-yard completion to A. J. Green to get the ball into Tampa Bay territory. Murray then found O. J. Howard on a nicely-run seam route, hooking up for a 17-yard touchdown to tie the game at 28. But, with 9 minutes of action left to go, there was more than enough time for either team to get the advantage, and the team that found a way to do so is Tampa Bay.   The Bandits moved the ball quite a bit more tentatively, or perhaps more deliberately is the way to express it. Their next drive took over 6 minutes and 14 plays before Deebo Samuel would put them up 7 with a 6-yard reception. For the first time all game, Tampa Bay seemed confident in their ability to slow the game down and still move the chains. They got 4 of their 14 first downs in the game on this one drive, taking what Atlanta gave them, with no play longer than 11 yards. In the end, the result is what they needed, a fifth touchdown and a 35-28 lead with 2:34 left to play.   But, 2:34 is a lot of time in USFL football. Atlanta would have time, and with 2 timeouts left, they had 3 chances to stop the clock if they could keep the ball and move the chains. They did so on their first set of downs, getting the ball from the 25 to the 36 in only 2 plays. They did so again, moving the ball to the 46 in 3 plays, but time was ticking down and the Fire needed a touchdown. They continued to move the ball, but every first down they made took precious time off the clock. By the time they got to the Tampa Bay 24, needing a touchdown to tie the game, they had only 17 seconds left. An incompletion on 1 st  and 10 from the 22 left them with 12 seconds. But they still had 3 downs to either score or get the ball closer. Time, and not yardage, became the enemy, but there is one thing that cannot happen in this situation and it is exactly what happened. Atlanta came out in a 3-receiver set, with Murray in the shotgun. But when O. J. Howard went out into a pass route, it left the right tackle all alone against Bandit DE Brian Burns. Burns beat his man, pursued Murray, who turned back, trying to get Burns to overshoot him, but the Bandit DT did not, he instead caught the calf of Murray, sending him sprawling to the ground.   The Fire needed to get back to the line to spike the ball on 3 rd  down just to give themselves 1 more play. But it was too hectic on the field, too many receivers trying to get back onsides, and as the Fire scrambled, the clock ticked down to 2, then 1, then 0. The game ended just as the Fire tried to get the snap off. Coach Elizondo tried to plead that there was a second left, but the officials would not hear it. Tampa Bay was the winner, they would advance, and the Fire would go into the offseason thinking they had gotten close, but not close enough. SEATTLE DRAGONS 17   ARIZONA WRANGLERS 30 The question on everyone’s mind heading into Sunday’s game was which Arizona Wrangler squad would take the field against Seattle? Would it be the team that started the year 12-0 and seemingly unstoppable? Or would it be the team that finished 0-4 after losing QB David Carr? In the final month of the season it seemed more was wrong with Arizona than just a shaky QB situation. The defense was being asked to do too much, the offense was capable of too little, and when Coach Tomsula announced that it would be his 3 rd  stringer, Tom Savage, getting the playoff start as his first ever pro start, well, it is easy to see why confidence was not high for Wrangler Nation.   But Arizona did what all good teams do when the chips are down. They came out and played complementary football in all 3 phases, using every possible advantage against the 10-6 Dragons. They set a tone early and stayed consistent throughout, even as Seattle clawed back into contention on multiple occasions. QB Tom Savage struggled, as most thought he would, completing only 10 of 31 passes for 126 yards, but others stepped up, and when Seattle suffered their own QB injury, with Brett Hundley going down late in the first half with an injury to his throwing arm, the tone of the game changed.   Arizona came out in this game with every intention to battle from the opening kickoff, and that spirit became evident early when an errant pass from Hundley on the Dragons’ opening drive turned into a disaster, with CB Jeremy Lane taking the ball away from Amari Cooper and racing it to the endzone for a defensive touchdown. The situation became even worse for Seattle, when two possessions later they punted the ball away to N’Keal Harry and the elusive Arizona return man took it back 61 yards for a second Wrangler score.   Seattle, despite holding Arizona to two early 3-and-outs on offense, was down 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. It would get even more dire in the 2 nd , as Arizona finally found some success on offense, adding a field goal to the scoreboard to take a 17-0 advantage. Then, on their next possession, Seattle QB Brett Hundley was crushed by Arizona DE Bud DuPree, causing a fluttering ball that was picked off by Wrangler CB Joe Haden, but also producing a game-ending injury to Hundley. That meant that Bruce Gradkowski would have to go the rest of the way at QB for the Dragons, coming into the game down 17.   Gradkowski would start strong for Seattle, helping them put 14 points on the board in the 2 nd  quarter. Helped by a defensive pass interference call on their next possession, Seattle got the ball deep into Arizona territory and HB Gus Edwards put the Dragons’ first points on the board. Just 2 minutes later, after another Arizona 3-and-out, Seattle was back in possession of the ball again, and this time Gradkowski hit on a big play, faking the ball to Knowshon Moreno before releasing a rainbow down the sideline to Marshall Newhouse. The Dragon receiver brought the ball in, avoided stepping out along the sideline and pulled Seattle back to within 3 with a 43-yard touchdown.   That score would hold into the half, with Seattle now feeling like the game could still be theirs, even without Hundley under center. The third quarter proved that taking over the lead from Arizona would not be an easy task. Seattle struggled to get anywhere in the third quarter, amassing only 2 first downs and 27 yards in the period. Arizona, meanwhile, began to show signs of life on offense. They had one drive which ended with a missed field goal, but which showed they could move the ball against the Dragon D. On the next drive they proved it, going 71 yards in 12 plays before Tom Savage completed his first career touchdown pass, a modest 7-yard completion to DeMarcus Robinson, but a huge play for the Wrangler offense.   Seattle entered the final quarter down 10 and needing some big plays. Those plays just did not come as Arizona locked down the Dragon receivers, pressured Gradkowski, and forced 3 failed third down conversions. In the meantime, the Wrangler offense gained enough of a field position foothold to allow Elliott Parson to kick two more field goals. Even with a Seattle field goal added into the mix, it was not nearly enough for the Dragons. Arizona held them in check for the final 10 minutes of action and walked away with a playoff victory. Their offense had only mustered 209 total yards, and Savage had completed only 32.3% of his passes, but with the assistance of the defense and a brilliant special teams play from N’Keal Harry, it was enough for the 3-time USFL champion to reach the Conference Final.   HOUSTON GAMBLERS 24  MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS 19 The final game of the weekend was a classic divisional showdown between the Showboats, winners of the division for the first time in over a decade, and the Gamblers, frequent Southern champions and Summer Bowl participant. Houston, as the 6 seed, had upended NE Division Champion Baltimore to get here, but now faced a team that knew them about as well as any team could. Memphis, having rested players during the Wild Card weekend, came in confident and eager to prove they were a deserving division champion.   The game that ensued was one defined by missed opportunities. Memphis moved the ball into the red zone on 5 separate occasions but came away with only 1 touchdown as the Houston defense turned them away, producing 2 Showboat field goals of 30 yards or less and 2 turnovers. Houston, for their part, only reached the red zone twice, but both trips produced 7 points apiece. That, combined with a stunning, almost miraculous 90-yard TD pass in the waning seconds of the first half, allowed the 6 seed to come away with another upset victory and for Houston to once again make it back to a conference title game.   The opening quarter of this game saw Houston take an early lead as their scripted first drive produced their first red zone trip, an 8-play drive that concluded with Colt McCoy finding JuJu Smith-Schuster for a 13-yard touchdown. But the rest of the first half seemed a struggle for Houston. What started as a 7-0 lead on a solid first drive, turned into a series of frustrating drives that included a failed 4 th  down attempt in Memphis territory and an interception by McCoy. Memphis, in the meantime, had found their offense, using all three backs, Gurley, Hester, and David Williams, to force Houston’s safeties towards the line, and allowing Paxton Lynch to make some plays outside. Memphis opened their scoring with a short field goal after a failed 3 rd and goal throw, but responded on the next possession with a TD pass from Lynch to Robert Woods to take the lead. When a 2 nd  Lewis Ward field goal gave them a 13-7 lead with only 11 seconds left in the 2 nd  quarter, it seemed the Showboats were looking very good in this rivalry game.   But what happened next was simply a back-breaking, or rather a spirit-breaking play. After fielding the kick on the 20, only to get a holding call that forced Houston to take possession on the 10, everyone and their uncle thought the half was over and Houston would call a run to end the half. Fans in the stadium headed to the concessions stands, fans at home almost certainly made a bee-line to the kitchen or the bathroom. But Houston did not settle for a 13-7 deficit going into the half. Colt McCoy faked the ball to Clyde Edwards-Helaire, bootlegged to the right and let loose a deep shot down the sideline. At the end of that deep shot was Smith-Schuster, having gained at least a 2-step lead over the corner and with the safety nowhere in sight. The speedy Gambler receiver took the ball in stride, raced down the sideline, eventually curving back to the hashmark and crossing the goalline with only 4 ticks on the clock. Houston had scored on a 90-yard bomb in the final seconds of the half. They would take the lead with the PAT, and they would go into the half a jubilant bunch, while Memphis went to the locker rooms shellshocked.   That disparity in energy carried over into the second half. Houston would get the only points of the 3 rd  quarter, a 33-yard Koo field goal, but, just 48 seconds into the 4 th  quarter, Colt McCoy hit Denzel Mims for a 10-yard TD and Memphis, seemingly sleepwalking through the second half, found themselves down 11, with Houston up 24-13. Memphis would need to score twice in the next 14:12 of game time, and while they added a field goal on their next possession, that only brought them within 8.   With Houston now playing keep away with their run game, Memphis got only 2 more possessions in the game. On their first, they were forced to punt. On their 2 nd they oddly settled for a field goal with 3:40 left to play, pulling them within 5, but still requiring a TD to get the win. The hope, it seemed, was that the defense could get the ball back quickly and give Memphis a 2-minute drill to get the win. The problem was this, the Showboats had to stop Houston immediately to get that shot. Houston, for their part, needed only a couple of first downs and the game would be out of reach for their division rivals.   Houston got the first of their needed first downs when Carlos Hyde, initially stopped behind the line, slid off the tackle attempt and pushed forward to convert a 3 rd and 2. The second would come from an overly aggressive Memphis front line. Needing a stop on 3 rd  and 3, Memphis overreacted to a hard count from McCoy and DT Dan Williams crossed into the neutral zone. The Showboats protested that there was a false start, but the officials clearly saw defensive line encroachment, called it, and thus gave the Gamblers a first down and a chance to end the game on offense.   Houston did just that, combining one Hyde inside run with two kneel downs. They celebrated on the field as the final 27 seconds ran off the clock, no punt needed on 4 th  down. The Gamblers had pulled off a second upset victory and were now headed to face the 15-1 Bandits in a true test of experience vs. talent, tenacity vs. bravado in the Eastern Conference Finals. Seattle Now Turns Their Attention to Their QB Situation The Seattle Dragons had a solid season, especially when you consider that their Week 1 starting QB went down to a season-ending injury in the opener. For the second time in 3 years Jacoby Brissett was lost to injury and the Dragons had to scramble and scrap for nearly the entire season. But, while Seattle fans were not sure what the season would bring, Mike Riley proved once again that he has an eye for QB talent. After finding success with Matt McGloin in 2018, success that landed McGloin a multi-year deal to lead the Las Vegas Vipers, he found another gem in free agency, landing former New Jersey Generals’ castoff Brett Hundley.   Hundley got the call to be the Seattle starter after not taking a start since 2017 in New Jersey. He immediately proved that the Generals had made a mistake. In 15 games, Hundley threw for 3,818 yards and 27 touchdowns. He finished the year as the 6 th  rated QB in the league, ahead of such prominent QBs as Atlanta’s Aaron Murray, Chicago’s Sam Bradford, and even Houston’s Colt McCoy. It was a coming out party for the former General, and it now creates a real question for Riley.   After the 2018 season, Riley did not have a lot of options. Matt McGloin was a free agent, and after his own strong season in Seattle, his agent and he were all about testing the market. They got a great deal and a chance to be the unquestioned starter in Las Vegas. This time around Seattle has Hundley under contract through next year, and while he likely will want to negotiate a bigger and better deal as an extension, they also have Jacoby Brissett under contract for 2 more seasons. So, do they hold onto both? Does Riley allow for a true QB competition? Or does he trade one of the two to acquire more cap space and maybe some immediate help at other positions?   It is certainly not the worst situation for a coach, a GM, and a team to be in, to have two solid QBs. But it is a situation that will lead to second guessing no matter what decision is made. There are going to be Brissett fans upset if he is shipped off, Hundley fans who will not want him to return to the bench, and plenty of folks bringing up the well-worn platitude about having 2 quarterbacks as not really having one at all. We expect that Riley and the Dragons will get inquiries about both Brissett and Hundley. After all, there are plenty of teams in the USFL who could use an upgrade at the most important position on the field. But the decision will be the Dragons’ to make. Keep two quality QBs on the roster and let them fight it out for the starts, or make a deal and declare one of the two your franchise guy. This is a situation we all will be keeping our eye on this winter.   Lovie Smith Brushes Off 4th Down Call Criticism It is never easy to be a head football coach, especially when your team loses a playoff game to a fierce rival. There is always criticism, always questions about your decisions, and when your decisions include a very early attempt on 4 th down, one that failed and led to your opponent building up a 2-score lead, well, you have to expect some criticism. Lovie Smith is hearing that in spades this week after a failed attempt to go for a 4 th  and 2 on their opening drive of the game. Already down 7, the turnover on downs gave Michigan a short field, leading to a 33-yard Chase McLaughlin field goal and putting Chicago in a 10-0 hole that they never really recovered from. Michigan would go on to take a 13-0 lead into the half, and while Chicago played better in the 2 nd half, they never truly cut into that lead, losing by 13.   Many in the Chicago press, and certainly on sports radio call-in shows, are pointing to that early game decision as a key turning point in the game. Punt, they say, and the Panthers perhaps don’t add a 2 nd  score so early, and maybe Chicago gets good field position and can put some points on the board. It is a bit of an overstatement to say that a 1 st  quarter decision turned the game, but that is the critique. Smith, of course, has defended the decision, in the post-game press conference, and in interviews on Monday, taking responsibility for several key decisions in the game, but he is also quick to highlight that Chicago did come back on Michigan in the 2 nd  half, and that it was not the first half that defined the game. But, as is so often the case, the media and the fans want a scapegoat. They want to be able to blame the loss on one moment, one poor decision, but the reality is that Michigan simply outplayed the Machine, on that play to be sure, but at so many other points in the game, that one early turnover on downs hardly made the game break one way. The game as a whole was Michigan’s before and after that call.   Ryan Rages against Refs, Better Prepare to Pay some Fines Another coach who is under some heat, and perhaps not taking it very well, is Memphis’s Rex Ryan. The Showboats were favored over Wild Card Houston, and they had their moments in the game, but in the end, they fell 24-19. Our analysis was that the Showboats struggled in the red zone and failed to turn good opportunities into touchdowns, settling for far too many field goals in the game. Ryan’s analysis has been quite different, pointing to the officiating and insisting that his team was given a raw deal. Yes, there were some controversial calls or no-calls in the game, including one pass play that could have been defensive pass interference on Michigan’s Dre Kirkpatrick but was not called. There were other times when Ryan protested on the sideline but did not sway the referees, including a video challenge that did not go his way and cost him a time out late in the 4 th .   Yes, as with most games, there were calls that could have been made, calls that could have gone the other way, and decisions by the refs that could be called 50/50 shots. But, if you ask Ryan, the balance was not there. The calls slanted the game to the Panthers and he is not afraid to call that out. Of course, the game result is set, so calling the refs out is not going to get Memphis a shot at the Conference Title game. What it is going to do is produce some USFL fines against Ryan for his vocal outbursts and his public calling out of USFL officiating. Would we really expect anything else from the son of famous hothead Buddy Ryan? After all, it was Rex’s dad who got thrown out of a game (and subsequently fired) for punching one of his own coordinators on the sideline. While Rex has not gotten physical yet, his mouth has gotten him into trouble more than a few times and we expect this week’s outbursts about the officiating to get added to his reputation as a “composure-challenged” head coach.   One Seed Weak Spots This week we saw both one seeds find playoff success, with the Panthers winning by 13 and Tampa Bay surviving a challenge from the Atlanta Fire thanks to a 28-point second half. So, just how do you knock off the 1-seed? While this year does not provide the kind of home field advantage most one seeds enjoy in the postseason, the truth is that the Panthers and Bandits are the top seeded teams for a reason. They have combined for 31 wins and only 3 losses this season, and they are stacked up and down the roster. But do they have weaknesses? And are those weaknesses that the Gamblers and Wranglers can exploit? Well, let’s see what we see.  MICHIGAN The Panthers live and die with the run game. LeVeon Bell can ruin a defensive game plan, but even when he is held in check, it forces teams to commit to stop the run and that leaves them susceptible to play action vertical passing. So, how do you beat that.   The key is to take the lead early and force Michigan away from the run game in the 2 nd  half. That is not easy to do, not against the Panther defense, but if the Wranglers can play aggressively on offense, particularly early, and get a 10 or 14 point advantage, they can force Michigan to rely more on the passing game, removing at least some of their offensive balance and the threat of Bell carrying the ball 25-30 times. The problem, of course, is that the Arizona offense has hardly been a high-flying aerial assault since David Carr went down. They may simply not have it in them to rack up early points, which means they are likely going to see a lot of Bell and the Panther offense this week.   TAMPA BAY The Bandits are an even tougher nut to crack. They can beat you by balancing Dalvin Cook runs with the passing game, or they can go full spread and just keep the ball in the air. And if you do manage to keep the Bandit offense contained, you still have to deal with the league’s 2 nd best scoring defense. So, where is the weakness?   It’s the run defense. Tampa Bay is ranked 23 rd in the league against the run, but the problem there is that they often can get teams out of a patient run game by putting points on the board early (essentially they are the perfect foil for Michigan, as we outlined above). So, what does Houston need to do?   They need to feed the ball to Carlos Hyde, even if they are down more than 1 score. If they can get Hyde rolling early, they can then use their strong outside passing game to better effect. They want to get Xavier Woods and Derwin James in the box, trying to control Hyde, so that Evans and Smith-Schuster can get beyond the coverage. That is the best option the Gamblers have. They do match up well, particularly because Hyde is such a weapon, but the key is to keep Tampa Bay from doing the same to them. They need to keep the game in the 20’s, not try to get in a score-for-score battle. Houston has a lot of experience in elimination games, and Coach Phillips always comes up with some defensive wrinkles, but the pressure will be there. Keep pace with the Bandits early, avoid getting behind, avoid the big play, and force Tampa Bay to be methodical. If you can keep them from hitting on the quick scoring plays, and you can use Hyde to force the Tampa safeties up, well, the 6-seed Gamblers would then have their best chance to pull yet another upset.   No major adjustments this week, with each of the 4 teams dealing with a few bruises and late-season wear and tear, but we will not see any high-impact injuries beyond those the teams have already been dealing with this postseason.   ARZ:       WR V. Cruz (Out), QB D. Carr (Out), G C. Levin (Q), FS N. Allen (P) MGN:    WR C. Ridley (Out), OT D. Dotson (Q), WR C. Latimer (P), DT R. Lawrence (P)   HOU:     QB L. Jones (Out), DT N. Fairley (Out), G J. Asamoah (D), SS K. Vaccaro (Q) TBY:        LB T. Smith (P)   Five Coaches Being Given a Long Look this Offseason With six coaching positions sitting empty across the USFL there will be a lot of competition for top candidates and a lot of impetus on trying to find the right fit as quickly as possible. So, who is in the mix for a position? There will almost certainly be a mix of former USFL and NFL head coaches in the mix, some coordinators will absolutely be given a long look, and we may even see a team or two try to follow the path of the Bandits and bring in a CFL coach. When we look at who is available now, or will be in the next few weeks, some names popped up as early potential candidates. Here are five we think are going to get some calls, some interviews, and maybe a shot at a job this winter.   Greg Landry (EFN Commentator, Former Outlaws HC) The former USFL quarterback spent 9 years as the head coach for the Texas Outlaws (well, 8, and 1 in Oklahoma) and while Texas did not win a title in that span, they did spend 7 years at or above .500, make 5 consecutive playoff appearances, win their division twice and make a Summer Bowl appearance. Landry is not the guy you want if you are hoping to have a truly innovative offense. He is more of a traditional pro-style, vertical game guy, but that can be very effective and he has proven he can get wins in this league, which for some teams may well be enough to sign him on.   Jay Gruden (Former Fire & NFL Redskins HC) The brother of NFL stalwart Jon Gruden, Jay has bounced around a bit. He had a short 3-year stint with the expansion Atlanta Fire from 2006-2008, where, as you might guess, he struggled a bit. Since then he has been rediscovered, first as an OC and then as the head coach of the NFL Redskins, where he won two division titles. Gruden is another offensive-minded coach, though his style is more inventive than Landry’s, often focused on spread formations and quick passes, not unlike the old Run & Shoot, but with more use of a tight end. Seen as a player’s coach, he is unlikely to tighten up a team’s sloppy play, but he can get good growth from younger players.   Tom Coughlin (Former Ohio Glory HC) Now, if discipline is what you want, there is no one more focused on keeping a tight ship than Tom Coughlin. Both in Baltimore and Ohio he was known for a well-structured defense, a conservative offense that focused on ball control and play action, and a team where players knew what their roles were. If you have a club that has gotten sloppy and unfocused, but has talent, particularly on the two lines, well Coughlin may well be a good match.   Brian Schottenheimer (Memphis OC) The son of former USFL and NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer, Brian has made a name for himself as the king of the balanced attack. Memphis’s rise to prominence in the South over the past 2 years is as good a testament to that as anything. Schottenheimer believes in the run game, evident in Memphis’s ranking as the top rushing team in the league this year. We are not sure what kind of defense he would implement, but on offense it will be one that emphasizes run-pass balance. Sam Mills III (Michigan DC) Son of legendary USFL linebacker Sam Mills, the Michigan DC has risen quickly up the ranks as a coach after a short playing career in the NFL. He returned to the USFL with the Panthers and we have seen the result as Michigan has not only become one of the best defensive teams in the league, but also one of the hardest hitting. Mills will not reinvent defensive schemes, but what he does extremely well is create a simple scheme that is very effective because players know their roles and because they are motivated to make plays and play as a team. Swarming to the ball and using pressure effectively in key moments are Mills’s calling cards on defense. What he would look for in an OC and an offensive philosophy would likely rely on the same concepts, a simpler plan well-orchestrated and with players who know their roles well.   Five NFL Players Who May Be Hoping to Jump to Spring in 2021 Our second list for this week focuses on current NFL players who may be primed to switch leagues come February. These are all players who are either on one-year “prove yourself” deals, or who are primed for a move, either due to conflicts with current coaching, a break-out year that will demand a big pay raise, or simply an awkward fit with their current team. Now, of course, the odds are that many players who enter free agency with the NFL will stay in the fall, but with the USFL-NFL Transfer Window opening almost immediately after the NFL postseason, the USFL will be in position to snag a few talented players, as they often do in February. So, here are five players we know USFL GM’s are talking about.   QB Jameis Winston (Saints) Winston showed two things in his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, that he can sling the ball, putting up big yardage, but also that he has a bit of a tendency to be too careless with the ball, producing too many interceptions. If you are a coach who believes that with maturity and good coaching you can maximize the positive and minimize the bad decisions, then the arm talent is there and could be a big add for a team needing a QB. His 1-year deal with New Orleans is something of a wait-and-see situation, but by February we will know if Winston has found success and will be pushing for a multi-year deal.   QB Gardner Minshew (Jaguars) If ever there was an NFL quarterback who showed immediate USFL potential, it is Minshew. Not much was expected from the 6 th round pick of the NFL Jaguars, but when forced into action in 2019, what we got was a gunslinger who played with passion and showed he could make plays. His persona (complete with flowing mullet) and style of play feel much more at home in the USFL than in the more rigid and conservative NFL, and with the Jaguars still seeing him as a backup and not a regular starter, despite his success, we think he makes the jump if given a chance this February.   HB Chris Carson (Seahawks) The Oklahoma State product started slowly after joining the NFL Seahawks, but came on in his 2 nd  year, putting up 1,151 yards in 2018 and over 1,200 last season. He will be in a contract year after this season, and if he can again have a strong season, we think Carson will go into the market looking for a strong 2 nd  contract. With several USFL teams trying to upgrade their run game, we think Carson would be a target for a league swap and a nice setup in the spring.   OT Trent Williams (Redskins) Williams is an interesting case. He has spent his entire career with the NFL Redskins, but now seems ready to move on as the club shifts coaches again. A consensus All-American back in 2009 and a 3-time Pro-Bowler in the NFL, Williams is in a contract year and almost certainly is open to any deal that gives him a chance to finish his career on a potential contender, with a nice pay bump included, of course.   DE J. J. Watt (Texans) Injuries in recent years will likely diminish Watt’s negotiating power as his contract with the Texans expires this year. They will also be a concern for any USFL team hoping to make a move to land the once-dominant D-lineman. After racking up nearly 70 sacks in his first 5 seasons, Watt has missed a lot of games in the latter half of his current career, playing in only 3 games in 2015, 5 in 2017, and 8 last year, but, sandwiched in there was a 2018 season that saw him healthy for all 16 weeks and in which he racked up 14 sacks, so the talent is still very much still evident. And landing a talented edge rusher, even one who may miss a lot of games, is still a pretty tempting opportunity.   Five Breakout Stars from 2020 Who Deserve a Pay Day The 2020 USFL season saw more than its share of strong performances, including several players who stepped up their game and became stories this year. These breakout players are poised to move into a new tax bracket, demanding a new deal or an extension that recognizes their 2020 success and the potential for continued quality in the future.   QB Brett Hundley (SEA) Hundley signed with Seattle in 2019 after a pair of rough seasons in New Jersey that saw him dip from 15 starts to 8 in 2017 and being relegated to a backup role in 2018. What he showed this year is that he has the talent to start and to be a winner in the USFL, and that will demand a contract that befits a starter who took his team to the playoffs. A lot will depend on what Seattle decides to do with Jacoby Brissett. If they keep the oft-injured Brissett, then the money will be tighter, but if they find a taker for the QB, then Hundley likely gets himself a nice deal for 2021 and beyond.   HB Kerwyn Williams (NE) Williams had only 1 year left on his contract with Baltimore when the Steamrollers tabbed him in the expansion draft. He used his final year and his shift to New England about as well as a player could, jumping from 310 yards in 2018 to 934 with the expansion Steamrollers. While not a true bell-cow back (he does best when he is limited to 15-20 carries per game), Williams is still a very capable back, one who has never averaged fewer than 4 yards per carry. Expect him to seek a deal that recognizes his potential to be the primary back in a 2-back system, rather than a backup.   WR Devin Funchess (MEM) No player had a better 2020 than Devin Funchess. In Brian Schottenheimer’s offense, and with Paxton Lynch playing the best ball of his career, Funchess emerged from behind Robert Woods to become the preferred target for Lynch and a dangerous weapon for the Showboats. In his 2 nd  year he jumped from a solid 635-yard, 4-TD season as a rookie to a spectacular 1,547-yard, 10-TD season as a sophomore. He still has 2 more years on his rookie deal, but we think his agent will be making calls to the Showboat front office to make sure he gets his deal restructured well before the 2023 offseason.   DE Connor Barwin (DAL) After coming over from Chicago in a deal back in 2017, Barwin has been very solid for the Roughnecks, racking up 12, 8, and 10 sacks his first 3 years in Big D. This year, however, he bumped up his game, as did the Roughnecks as a team, landing 18 sacks to place himself among the league leaders. Now, part of that may be the newfound success of the Roughneck offense, forcing more teams to go to the pass early as they played catchup, but regardless of the reasons, any player who is closing in on 20 sacks per year is going to be looking for a deal that recognizes his game.   LB Uchena Nwosu (LA) The breakout star of LA’s dominant defense this year. Nwosu had himself a stellar 3 rd  year in the league. While he started 10 games last season, this year he became a true leader on the Express, racking up 85 tackles, 9 sacks, and a lot of big plays, the kind of plays that define a player as a “key” to a team’s success. With that status we expect him to get a payday, especially if the Express value defensive playmaking. Nwosu is likely to be voted a team captain in 2021, and with the Express still leaning so heavily on their defense, that will produce some pressure to pay him or risk losing him when his contract expires at the end of the 2021 season.   Conference Championship Weekend gives us two very different games. In the East we have a 6-seed that has perhaps more experience than any club in the conference winning big games going into a matchup with a 1-seed who have looked as dominant as anyone this season. The Bandits are an offensive juggernaut, but Houston has shown over several years that they can also put up points in a hurry, so this one could devolve into a shootout where the final possession is likely the key one.   In the West, it is a very different story. Michigan lives to play tough defense and run the ball. Arizona, once a high-flying offense with David Carr at the helm, is now forced to shorten games, use their own run game to grind out drives, and lean a lot more on their defense. Of course, the Wranglers have the game’s premier defensive player on their side in Calais Campbell, but he is going to be under a lot of pressure to shut down Michigan when they are in passing situations. Michigan hopes to use the run game to avoid those one-dimensional plays, and they have the player to do it in 4-time league rushing champion LeVeon Bell. Expect this one to be a lot lower scoring than in the East, and while it may also come down to the 4 th  quarter, we think it will be more about who can create takeaways and maximize opportunities to play on a short field.   2- Arizona Wranglers (12-4) @ 1- Michigan Panthers (14-2) Sunday, Sept. 27 @ 3pm ET NRG Stadium, Houston, TX Michigan -8   6- Houston Gamblers (10-6) @ 1- Tampa Bay Bandits (15-1) Sunday, Sept. 27 @ 8pm ET Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL Tampa Bay -7

What a week of football! We had fans in the stands, max capacity in all 4 games despite the USFL playoffs matching up with the NFL opening weekend. We also had 4 games each decided by 6 points or less, including two lower seeds getting the “road” win against the higher seeded club. We had 300-yard passers, 100-yard rushers, big defensive stops, and one final drive to victory. It was pretty much what every football fan wants, real playoff football. Sure, it would have been nice to see 60,000 at each game instead of 15,000-19,000, but it still was great to see fans in the stands and hear the cheers as teams made plays.   Of course, it was also the first week of the offseason for 18 of the league’s 30 clubs, and we have news there, with a wave of free agents now in that odd limbo when their prior contracts are completed but they are not yet allowed to negotiate with anyone but their “current” club. We also have the first offseason retirement announcements, including some big names. We will start there, with the players waving goodbye to the game, then on to the week’s playoff action, and we will look at the best of the free agent pool before we preview the 4 games that will make up the Divisional Round in just 4 days.   Two Bell Cow Backs and a Bevvy of Defenders Say Goodbye to Pro Football It has become almost a tradition of the game, just one we have not come up with a name for. The week between the final regular season games and the Wild Card playoffs is known for Black Monday, but perhaps we need a name for the whole week as a time when so many USFL stars announce their departure from the game, a week of retirements. Should we call it “Walk Away Week”? Gold Watch Week? (That’s a tradition many Millennials and younger do not know about) or just “The Big Goodbye”.   Regardless of what we call it, the wave of retirement announcements, some in front of the press, some simply announced by the club online or even just to league sources, is a bittersweet period where many fans see their favorite players step away from the game. In 2020, just this past week, that tough moment came for two of the league’s biggest personalities and two of its best tailbacks. New Jersey’s Maurice Jones-Drew, off yet another season over 1,200 yards but once again just shy of LeVeon Bell’s lead, announced that he would not return for the 2021 season. He was joined a day later by San Antonio Gunslinger back Marshawn Lynch, stepping away at the very ripe age of 36.  Maurice Jones-Drew , often called either MJD or, somewhat comically, “Pocket Hercules”, leaves the game very much at full strength. His 1,349 yards this season marks his second highest season total of a long and illustrious career, topped only by 1,408 in 2018. At age 34, MJD has demonstrated incredible longevity and consistency. An almost certain first ballot Hall of Famer, Jones-Drew retires after 15 years of tough inside runs. He amassed nearly 16,000 yards (15,490) on the ground, and another 3,949 in the air, with a career total of 116 touchdowns. A 5-time All-USFL nominee, it is clear that MJD could play longer, but his body has certainly earned a rest, and his place in both league and club history are certainly secured.  Marshawn Lynch , known as “Beast Mode” for his punishing style and the ability to rampage over and through defenders, leaves the game after 14 USFL seasons, split between the Thunder (2007-2014) and the Outlaws (2015-2019), with one final year returning to San Antonio as part of the Outlaw-Gunslinger roster agreement. He finished his career with only three 1,000-yard seasons, but with a career total of 13,618 yards, scoring 93 touchdowns along the way. Known as much for his unique personality and hilarious turns of phrase, Lynch was almost more well known for his commercials and endorsement deals as for his play on the field, but any defender who ever tried to tackle Beast Mode will tell you that when it came to the on-the-field credentials, no one was a tougher tackle than Marshawn Lynch.   The two backs, while perhaps the best known to casual fans, were not the only big names among USFL players to announce that 2020 was their last season stepping onto the gridiron for battle. Other notable departures include a serious lineup of defenders, including Ohio LB Daniel Ellerbe , New Jersey LB Rey Maualaga , Oklahoma’s venerable DT Luis Castillo , Philadelphia edge rusher Anthony Hargrove , Pittsburgh DE Dwight Freeney , and San Diego MLB A. J. Hawk . That is a pretty good group of defenders that will no longer be concerns for USFL offensive coordinators.   Fans of the Arizona Wranglers also got a huge announcement this week, but not one noting a retirement, quite the opposite. Wrangler QB David Carr appeared at practice this week, watching from the sideline, and then spoke with the press, saying exactly what all of Wrangler Nation wanted to hear, that he is working on rehab and that his goal is to be the starting QB of the Arizona Wranglers when the 2021 season kicks off in March. That possibility was very much in doubt after Carr suffered a season-ending injury in Week 13’s matchup with Oakland. His arm was still in a soft sling, but Carr made it clear that he had every intention of being ready for voluntary camp in January and the full training camp in February. The Wranglers may still be in the market for a young QB to become Carr’s protégé, but the news this week means that they are not looking for someone to come in and start the 2021 Season, at least not if David Carr has a say in it.   DALLAS ROUGHNECKS 20  CHICAGO MACHINE 24 If you love a good back-and-forth game between two evenly matched teams, well, we hope you caught this one, because it was a classic tug-of-war game from the opening kickoff until the final whistle. Chicago, led by QB Sam Bradford and one of the league’s stingiest defenses, faced off against the likely Rookie of the Year, QB Justin Herbert, and a dynamic Dallas passing game that saw former NFL “wash out” Sammy Watkins become the league’s 2 nd  leading receiver in 2020.   The game saw 7 lead changes, beginning with Chicago’s first quarter field goal and ending with the game winning touchdown with only 62 ticks of the clock left. In between the two, we saw both quarterbacks make big plays as the defenses made the run game a true slog inside the dome at NRG Stadium. Justin Herbert would survive 7 sacks to throw for 293 yards and 2 scores while Sam Bradford went 24 of 35 to throw for 259 and 3 scores. With scoring in every quarter and a constant back-and-forth on the scoreboard, this was an edge-of-your-seat game throughout.   Chicago had the only points of the first quarter as both clubs, having played in 2 different hubs all season, probed and tested each other’s defenses in a slow-paced opening period. The Machine got a 39-yard field goal from Daniel Carlson, but after 1 it was very much still a very tenuous and cautious attack for both teams. That would change in the 2 nd quarter, with Dallas taking the first big shot, a nicely executed flea-flicker that found Chicago overly committed to stopping the run, leaving Pharoh Brown open for a 43-yard completion down to the Machine 12-yard line. Two plays later, Herbert escaped immediate pressure, found Courtland Sutton coming across the formation and hit the young receiver for the first TD of the game, flipping the leaderboard to show Dallas up 7-3.   Chicago responded with a 4-minute, 9-play drive that saw HB Jeremy Hill touch the ball only 2 times, while Sam Bradford went 5 of 6 throwing, with his final pass of the drive a 3-yard TD toss to veteran Michael Floyd. Again the scoreboard flipped, Chicago up 10-7 with 6:33 left in the quarter. That was more than enough time for the Roughnecks to flip the leaders once again, this time with Herbert finding his favorite target on a beautiful deep ball. After suffering a sack on 2 nd  and 8, the Roughnecks faced a 3 rd  and 13. Chicago again brought pressure, but a nice chip block by HB DeVonte Freeman allowed Herbert the time he needed to find Sammy Watkins outside the hashmarks. Watkins caught the ball in stride and cornerback Jordan Poyer simply could not catch up. Micah Hyde took too shallow an angle, and Watkins coasted to the endzone for the 69-yard scoring play. Flip again, Dallas up 14-10, a score that would last into the half.   The third quarter continued the back-and-forth pacing. Chicago put together a long drive that ended with Bradford finding TE Troy Niklas on a nice play-fake toss for the 1-yard score. Chicago with the 17-14 lead. Dallas came back later in the quarter, nearly taking the lead again on a 24-yard TD pass, but the play was called back by a holding call, forcing Dallas to settle for a Catanzaro field goal to even the score at 17 apiece.   In the 4 th , Dallas added a second Catanzaro field goal, this time from 35-yards out, to retake the lead 20-17. They kicked the ball back to Chicago with just over 5 minutes of game clock left, knowing that it was more than enough time for the Machine to pose a threat to their slim lead. Chicago took over possession with two intentions, score on the drive, and use as much time as they could. They succeeded on both counts. Marion Mack was used to piledrive the ball on first down, and while his game average of 2.8 yards was not exactly record-breaking, on the final Machine drive he had 5 runs for 21 yards, a nice 4 yard average. That freed up 2 nd and 3 rd  downs, a mix of runs from Jeremy Hill and short passes from Bradford. With 1:44 left on the clock, the Machine had worked their way into the red zone and were knocking on the door. At the 1:02 mark, they hit paydirt with a quick screen to Jeremy Hill. With blockers in front, Hill wound his way the final 10 yards to the endzone and put Chicago up once again, 24-20 with only 62 seconds left to play.   The 4-point margin was huge, as it meant Dallas would need a touchdown, and with barely one minute of clock left and only 1 timeout left, it was a tall order against a Chicago defense very adept at avoiding big plays. Chicago used a shell zone, primarily in nickel coverage and rushing only 3. It was effective against Herbert, who simply could not find open receivers beyond the first 5 yards. He settled for a couple of drop downs, then took a bad sack on 3 rd  and 3, forcing a 4 th  down. Dallas converted, but in order to do so they had to throw to the middle of the field, and that cost them 12 seconds as they set up for a spike. The Roughnecks simply ran out of time trying to get into scoring range. A final play, an attempt at a hook & ladder, failed when the initial pitch from receiver Tim Wright did not find a Roughneck, but a Machine defender. Chicago claimed the ball and the win, ready to move on and face a familiar foe, the Michigan Panthers, in the Divisional Round.   HOUSTON GAMBLERS 30  BALTIMORE BLITZ 27 While technically an upset, since Houston was the 6 seed and Baltimore the 3, many saw Houston as the better team in this matchup, not just because their 10-6 record was a game better than Baltimore’s 9-7 mark, but also because Houston had a rich playoff pedigree from the past few years of deep runs and Summer Bowl appearances. Las Vegas had the game as even, but much of the money on this game still went to the Gamblers, and in the end they proved those bets to be good ones.   Unlike the Dallas-Chicago game, the showdown between the Gamblers and Blitz was not a back and forth affair. Baltimore put up the first 7 points on a locker to Pittman TD on their opening drive, but it was quickly equaled when Colt McCoy hit Mike Evans for a score on Houston’s first possession. When Baltimore punted on their next possession, Houston used a short field to take their first lead of the game, a lead they would never relinquish. McCoy hit HB Carlos Hyde on a nice swing route and Hyde did the rest, rambling for a 31-yard TD that gave Houston a 14-7 advantage as the first quarter wound down.   Baltimore kept the game close throughout, but with Houston always staying a step ahead. From 14-7 to 17-7, then a Josh Jacobs TD run to narrow the lead to 17-14, only for Houston to score again, with Hyde running over FS Antoine Brooks to score from 16 yards out to make it 24-14, the score we would have at the half. In the second half, Baltimore fought back, scoring the only points of the 3 rd  quarter, but both scoring drives ended up as field goals, which meant that the Blitz could only narrow the lead to 24-20. Houston responded in the 4 th  with two field goal drives of their own, pushing the lead back up to 10 at 30-20. With only 4:37 left to play, Baltimore would need two quick scores to tie or to take the win.   The Blitz were efficient in their final drive, but also too slow to make a 2 nd  scoring drive possible. They got the touchdown they needed, but Houston’s defense had managed to force them to use nearly all of the 4 minutes they had before Brian Hartline scored the final points of the game. A failed onside kick followed and Houston was able to end the game and the Blitz threat with a pair of kneel downs. Despite a solid 106 yards from Josh Jacobs, Baltimore’s plan to shorten the game and provide Houston with fewer possessions had failed. Colt McCoy had found holes in the Blitz secondary, completing 15 of 25 passes for 329 yards, including some deep connections to JuJu Smith-Schuster (43 yards), Mike Evans (also 43 yards) and Josh Reynolds (23 yards), while Carlos Hyde had 3 receptions for 92 yards and scored by land and through the air. The Gamblers were calm, committed, and confident the entire game, something that speaks to their history of playoff football and their experience in tough knockout games. When Saturday night’s game wrapped up, the Gamblers were moving on, set to face a Memphis in what would be the 2 nd intra-divisional matchup of the 2020 Playoffs’ second round.   SEATTLE DRAGONS 23  LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 20 We had a divisional matchup in the Wild Card round as well. The only matchup where neither team had to leave their familiar hub as the Express hosted the Dragons in Las Vegas’s Wynn Arena. The crowd, reduced as it was, still looked very much like an Express home game, with many Los Angelinos making the drive to Sin City to see their club in person. But it was the small but vocal Dragon Clan contingent that came away the big winners in Las Vegas as Seattle would pull off the upset and move on to face Arizona in next week’s Divisional Game.   The Dragons did it in dramatic fashion, coming back from a 20-13 fourth quarter deficit in the game’s final 5 minutes. All game they had used a balanced attack to keep the Express defense from overcommitting to the pass rush. Knowshon Moreno, the league’s 4 th leading rusher, with 1,240 yards on the season, did not find a lot of room against the Express’s top rated run defense, but the regular use of the run game kept LA from loading up on QB Brett Hundley. The elusive Hundley would go through the entire game without a sack recorded against him, though certainly there were some tough hits taken. And while the 27 run plays by Seattle only garnered 95 yards, Hundley’s 56 pass attempts produced 35 completions and 353 yards, including TD tosses to Marshall Newhouse and TE Kyle Rudolph.   For their part, the LA offense played well, particularly in the first half. Kyler Murray went 12 of 15 in the first half, completing TD tosses to Eric Weems (10 yards in the 1 st  quarter) and Jason Whitten (a nice 40-yard catch and run in the 2 nd ). At the half, those scores gave LA a 17-10 lead over the Dragons, despite the Hundley connection with Rudolph right before the half.   In the second half, LA struggled against the adjusted Seattle defense. Murray would only complete 5 more passes (5 of 15) as Seattle switched to more shallow zones and tight man coverages, rushing 4, and sometimes only 3 for most of the half. While this gave Reggie Bush a bit more room, with 68 of his 82 total yards coming in the 2 nd  half, it did not add much to the scoreboard, with LA managing only a lone field goal in the 2 nd  half. That field goal gave them a tight 7-point lead, 20-13, with 12:37 left to play. But it would prove not enough against a persistent Dragon squad.   Seattle pulled the game within 4 with a Jeffrey Harris field goal at the 3:58 mark, but that would still require a touchdown to win. Both the defense and the Dragon offense would need to succeed in the game’s final minutes if Seattle was going to pull this one out. The defense was up first, and they did what was asked of them, holding LA to a 3-and-out after CB Richard Sherman delivered a perfectly timed hit on “Hollywood” Brown just as the ball reached his hands. The failed 3 rd  down throw forced LA to punt. Seattle got the ball back on offense with 2:27 left to play, 72 yards to go, two time outs and the 2-minute warning.   The Dragons were focused and fully expecting pressure from the Express. Coach Riley left in either HB Gus Edwards or TE Kyle Rudolph on every pass play of the drive, effectively slowing the blitzing Express linebackers and giving Hundley time to find Amari Cooper, Marshall Newhouse, and Dante Pettis on consecutive 3 rd  down throws to bring the ball into LA territory. After a draw to Wendell Smallwood brought the ball to the LA 23, the Express set up to cover against a shallow throw to the outside, but that is not what they got. Instead, Marshall Newhouse used an out & up, with a nice shoulder fake by Hundley, to cause CB Jamar Taylor to fall 2 steps behind the speedy receiver. By the time safety Rahim Moore got over to Newhouse, he had the ball, the momentum, and the ability to lean into the tackle, staying in bounds as he dove over the goalline and in for 6.   Seattle had taken the lead with 46 seconds to spare, but that meant that LA had time to get into field goal range if they could. Receiving the ball on the 25 after a touchback, LA’s first play from scrimmage seemed promising. Kyler Murray found Eric Weems for 13 yards and a first down as the LA drive opened, but the next play would prove LA’s undoing. Murray was pressured in the pocket, tried to slip a pass to Jason Whitten, but DE Deshon Hall got his big lineman paws up in the air, tipped the ball almost straight up, and, alert to the play from his zone coverage, CB Chidobe Awuzie executed the tip drill perfectly, coming down with the ball and the Dragon win. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 28  ATLANTA FIRE 34 The final game of the weekend was perhaps the most anticipated, with 11-5 New Orleans and their league-leading passing game going up against Atlanta and their league-best 30.2 points per game. It was expected to be a shootout, with a lot of attention paid to the passing game of both teams, and pretty much that is what it turned out to be.   Geno Smith would win the duel of quarterbacks, accounting for all 4 New Orleans touchdowns and outgaining Aaron Murray 301-175 through the air, but while New Orleans won the air war, it was Atlanta that dominated on the ground, and taking advantage early to build a 14-0 lead that New Orleans would tie at 21, but would never surpass. The Fire ground out 215 yards on the ground, with Nick Chubb going for 109 on 22 carries (a 5.0 YPC average) while Kenyan Drake made big play after big play, racking up 90 yards on only 9 carries (yup, that is 10 yards per carry). That ground dominance allowed Atlanta to limit opportunities for New Orleans and stay ahead for nearly the entire game.   The Fire strategy became apparent on the opening drive of the second quarter. After an opening period that saw both clubs feeling each other out, Atlanta put together a drive that saw them call 8 run plays to only 2 passes, though one of those passes was the scoring play, with Murray finding TE Vance McDonald out of a goalline formation on the 1. After a quick drive by New Orleans ended after only 5 plays, Atlanta again took to the ground, this time with a more even mix of rushes and play action passes, and this drive also ended with a red zone score as Nick Chubb pounded the ball in from the 4 to give the Fire a 14-0 lead with only 8 minutes of gametime elapsed.   But, to their credit, New Orleans did not panic. On their 2 nd  possession of the quarter they took the ball 68 yards in 9 plays, halving the Atlanta advantage when Geno Smith found Curtis Nelson from the slot, the receiver slicing inside of his defender to score from 6 yards out. Now down only 1 score, the Breakers appeared ready to get right back into the game, but that would require they find a way to stop the Fire ground game.   For most of Atlanta’s next drive, the Breakers were able to hold Nick Chubb and Kenyan Drake in check, but on a 3 rd and 2, Drake found a gap, burst through the line and raced for 27 yards. That was a backbreaker. Two plays later, Atlanta caught New Orleans napping, with Murray handing the ball to fullback Reggie Gilliam. The rookie fullback had a clear path in front of him as the linebacker overreacted to the fake to Chubb and rumbled 12 yards to paydirt to put Atlanta back up by 14. With 28 points scored in the first half, we all knew this game was far from over.   The second half opened with New Orleans in possession, and they did what they so often do, start with a bang. The first play of the half was a fake to Myles Gaskin, a rollout to the right, and a beautiful throw from Smith to Justin Jefferson for 19 yards. It would be his only catch of the game in a surprising strategy that saw Smith throw 10 passes to his tight ends, 6 to his slot receivers, 5 to halfback DeMarco Murray, and only twice in Jefferson’s direction. But, after his lone catch, Jefferson played decoy as Smith looked off the safety and then found Jordy Nelson for a touchdown to bring New Orleans back to within 7 at 21-14. They would then get their chance to wipe out the deficit altogether.   In what was truly his only bad throw of the game, Aaron Murray misread the coverage on the next Atlanta possession, thinking the linebacker had followed TE O. J. Howard, he did not see him drifting towards WR Kelvin Benjamin. Murray’s throw to Benjamin found LB Deion Jones dropped into coverage instead. The OLB tipped the ball with one hand, followed it with his eyes, and snagged the pass before Benjamin could react, giving New Orleans the perfect opportunity to even the score as they took over on the Atlanta 48.   It would take New Orleans only 2 plays to make Atlanta pay for Murray’s mistake. After a short run by Murray, Smith returned to Murray on a screen, and Atlanta was simply out of position. With blockers out in front, including a devastating block by WR Jordy Nelson, Murray rumbled his way to paydirt with the equalizing score. 21-21 with 10:31 left in the quarter.   To their credit, Atlanta did not panic. After a pair of short drives by both teams led to nothing, the Fire felt back in control, put together a nice 10-play drive, and added a short field goal from John Bounds to put them back on top 24-21. It was clearly not enough, but it was again a lead, and the Fire could feel their legs back under themselves. That feeling grew into full-blown confidence after New Orleans got backed up by a holding call and failed on a 3 rd  and 17 play. With the ball back, they returned to their early strategy, mixing play action with slashing runs to move the ball down the field against the Breaker defense. Their drive carried into the 4 th  quarter, and with 11:50 left on the clock, they expanded their lead to 10 points when Murray found his tight end for a second time. It seems New Orleans was ready to deal with O. J. Howard, but had no plan to account for Vance McDonald, which is odd, considering McDonald had 45 receptions in the regular season, only 24 behind Howard.   Down 10 with just over 11 minutes to play, New Orleans had time and opportunity to come back. They would show a bit of urgency on their first drive, and again would be hurt by a penalty, an illegal motion call cancelling out a 30-yard pitch and catch to Nelson. Forced to punt, they would not get the ball back until the 4-minute mark of the game. Needing 2 scores, the Breakers moved fast, marching 71 yards in only 7 plays, thanks in large part to a 25-yard pitch and catch between Smith and Tyler Lockett. Two plays later, it was Smith to TE Coby Fleener and the Breakers were within 3 with only 1:56 left to play. Hold Atlanta, get the ball back, and they could tie or win this one.   But there is the rub, you have to get the ball back. Atlanta essentially played keep away. An outside run here, a dive over the guard there, a short toss to Howard for a first down. The Fire were killing clock, forcing New Orleans to use their time outs, and when LB Kwon Alexander got called for a late hit out of bounds on Kenyan Drake, it put Atlanta into field goal range. 4 plays later, they would put up 3 more on a John Bounds kick, creating a 6-point deficit with only 39 seconds left, forcing New Orleans to go for a touchdown.   The final 39 seconds were tense, but in the end, Atlanta held, forcing Smith to go for a Hail Mary from his own 45. The ball reached the Atlanta 15, but was swatted down, ending the game and sending the Fire on to the Divisional Round, ready to face the team they had battled for first place in the Southeast all season, the 15-1 Tampa Bay Bandits.   Divisional Rivals to Clash in Divisional Round What more could we ask for? Three of the four Divisional Round games will feature teams facing divisional rivals. We get Houston and Memphis from the Southern Division, where the two split the series in the regular season. We have Chicago battling Michigan for a 3 rd time after splitting their series. And we have Atlanta facing Tampa Bay, who swept the season series, including a decisive Week 15 victory that gave Tampa Bay the division title. The fourth game will feature upstart Seattle going up against a clearly weakened Arizona squad that backed into the playoffs, losing their final 4 games after David Carr was lost to injury.   The matchups also mean that all 4 games feature teams playing within their hubs, no cross-hub travel needed, so Seattle and Arizona can hunker down in Phoenix. Atlanta and Tampa Bay are back to their season-long hotels in Central Florida, and Michigan, Chicago, Houston, and Memphis are all back in Houston, Texas preparing for their games. Expect a lot of ticket scalping for that Houston/Memphis game with the Gamblers playing in their home city. Arizona and Seattle will take place in Las Vegas, so not quite the same advantage for the Wranglers, while Tampa Bay should get a good crowd, but with a good Atlanta contingent as well making the trip to Orlando.   Wranglers Feeling Disrespected by Vegas The Wranglers may be preparing to face the Seattle Dragons in Las Vegas this week, but they are not at all happy with the city and its famous sports books. It really is about the books, not the city itself. It appears that with a lot of fans, particularly fans with a gambling interest, the 0-4 finish to Arizona’s season has shattered all confidence in the Wranglers. Each of the 4 major sports books in Las Vegas have the matchup as either an even bet or with Seattle getting a slight advantage. Our official line, provided by Wynn Sports Book, has Seattle as a one point favorite, despite being the 6 seed facing the 2 nd  seeded Wranglers.   Maybe it is bulletin board inspiration, maybe a motivator for the Wranglers, but the reality is that it is also a sign that the Wranglers are just not the same team without David Carr. Prior to his injury, Arizona was 12-0, after it, 0-4. Not exactly tough tea leaves to read. The Wrangler offense managed only 44 points in the three games started by Brandon Allen, and the word out of Wrangler camp is that they are going to start Tom Savage, not Allen against Seattle. Not sure who Tom Savage is. We get that. He is a 6-year USFL veteran who has thrown a grand total of 65 passes in that 6 year span. He has never started a game in the league, with his last start being a Little Caesar’s Bowl win for Pitt over Bowling Green. Yup, Pitt v. Bowling Green, and the Wranglers wonder why the betting world does not feel the love.   Five Players to Watch in the Divisional Round Sure, there are plenty of stars on the 8 teams who will face off this week, but sometimes it is not the biggest names on the team that have the biggest impact. Of course we expect Dak Prescott, LeVeon Bell, Calais Campbell, and Devin Funchess to have some big plays and possible a big impact this weekend, but it is often the unheralded players who turn the tide of the game. We polled our USFL bullpen and came up with 5 lesser-known players who could have a big impact in the Divisionals. Here are our picks for players to watch.   TE Vance McDonald (ATL) We already saw the impact McDonald can have when a defense overloads against O. J. Howard. Two touchdowns for Atlanta in their win over the Breakers, and we think Tampa Bay could be vulnerable in the middle, so could McDonald be a major target for Aaron Murray again?   HB Marion Mack (CHI) We all know that LeVeon Bell is the back to watch in the Chicago-Michigan game, and even on the Machine it is Jeremy Hill who gets most of the carries and tends to be the chain-mover, but Mack is a big back with good power, just the kind of back you need to earn those tough 3 rd  and 2 conversions and keep the ball out of Bell’s hands. If Chicago wants to win this game, they will need to control the clock, keep the chains moving, and earn those third down conversions, so keep an eye on Mack as a bulldozer on short yardage.   WR Donavan Peoples-Jones (MGN) After the injury to Calvin Ridley, we kept waiting for someone to step up and become the clear number two option behind Cody Latimer. We saw a lot of passes headed to TE Martellus Bennett and to Bell at haldback, but between Kevin Kraft, K. J. Hill and Donavan Peoples-Jones, no one really stood out. Now is as good a time as any for one of them to become a star, and we think that if any one has the ability to jump into the limelight it is DPJ.   DE Bud DuPree (ARZ) Whoever is the RE opposite Calais Campbell is always going to be a bit undervalued, just ask Arthur Moats in Orlando. That guy in Arizona is Bud DuPree. And while Campbell racked up his 12 th  straight sack title this year, DuPree was no slouch, adding 16 sacks of his own, good enough for 12 th  in the league. If the Dragons overload Campbell, then DuPree may get a chance to shine, especially with Hundley’s tendency to roll to his right, directly into DuPree’s path.   SS Jordan Richards (MEM) Safeties rarely get the kudos they deserve, especially if they are not big hitters like Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu. Jordan Richards is a very talented safety, racking up 54 tackles this year, but few outside of Memphis likely know his name. Against Houston his job will be to ensure that neither Mike Evans nor JuJu Smith-Schuster get over the top or behind the coverage. If he is successful, you will almost certainly hear his name, and, sadly, if he is unsuccessful, you might hear it more.   A couple of injuries of note, particularly on defense as we prepare for this week’s games. Chicago will be a man short on the D-line with Eddie Goldman listed as doubtful. Not what you want when facing LeVeon Bell. In the Fire-Bandits game, we have our only Covid-based absence as CB Ken Webster of the Bandits is unable to suit up after testing positive. If A. J. Green is able to play (he is probable), then Tampa Bay may have a coverage concern. Safety Kenny Vaccaro is still not ready to return to action for Houston, which could be a boon for Robert Woods and Devin Funchess as Memphis will test his replacement to be sure. Finally, while there are no new injuries in the Seattle-Arizona game, the one injury on everyone’s mind is David Carr’s, because this game seems to entirely hinge on whether or not the Wranglers found a way to get production from 3 rd  stringer Tom Savage during their bye week.   CHI:       G V. Ducasse (Out), DT E. Goldman (D), CB J. Poyer (P) MGN:    WR C. Ridley (Out), OT D. Dotson (D), DT R. Lawrence (P)   ATL:        CB S. Griffin (P), WR A. J. Green (P) TBY:        CB K. Webster (Covid), DT B. Cowart (P)   HOU:     QB L. Jones (Out), DT N. Fairley (Out), G. J. Asamoah (D), SS K. Vaccaro (D) MEM:     C P. Blake (Covid), TE L. Ritter (Covid), CB M. Williams (D)   SEA:       CB D. Truffant (Out), OT E. Fisher (Out), QB J. Brissett (Out) ARZ:       WR V. Cruz (Out), QB D. Carr (Out), G. C. Levin (Out)     Eight Players to Pine For in the Early Free Agent Pool With 18 of 30 teams officially done for the season last week, more than 100 contracts are now completed and that means free agents aplenty enter the pool. Now, we all know that teams do have the next 3 weeks to attempt to resign their unsigned players, but very often the reason a player has reached the end of their deal without either an extension or a new deal is because one of the two parties is convinced that it is time for the player to move on. In some cases it is the team hoping to upgrade or just move in a different direction, in others it is the player (and their agent) trying to get a big payday or find a better situation. Whatever the cause, this time of year is when fans get a look at who may well be available and can start debating which free agents could have a positive impact on their team. We went through the initial list of players out of contract status, and we think we have found 8 players who should be the belles of the ball, very popular, very in demand, and very much wooed when the official free agent period begins after Summer Bowl 2020. Here is our list of 8 players you should hope your team is pining for.   HB Eddie Lacey (STL) At only 27 years old, Lacey already has five 1,000-yard seasons under his belt. Yes, he is coming off a season-ending injury, but his recovery is proceeding well and we think there are more than a handful of teams that will be chomping at the bit to get a reliable producer into their backfield.   OT Russell Okong (CHA) As rare as a 1,000-yard rusher is in free agency, a true starting left tackle may be even harder to find. Okong has been talking with the Monarchs for the better part of a year and they don’t seem any closer to a deal, so we may well have a legit bookend tackle available for teams to woo.   HB Kerwynn Williams (NE) After several 600-yard seasons in Baltimore, the Blitz let Williams go in the Expansion Draft and New England jumped at the chance. They gave Williams more touches and he produced for them, providing 934 yards and a 4.1 YPC average. For a back who has never averaged fewer than 4 yards per carry in any season, Williams came cheaply to New England, but is now looking for a payday after a career best season. He will turn 30 this offseason, which may deter some, but with more and more backs having success in their early 30’s, we think there will be a market.   DE Vic Beasley (NJ) Another rarity in free agency is the edge rusher who averages over 10 sacks per year. Beasley has dipped a bit since his 2017 high of 19 sacks, but 13 last year and 12 this season is still pretty solid. As long as he is not delusional, demanding Calais Campbell money, he should find a pretty good deal, something in the range of a 3-year deal for $10-12M.   WR Marques Colston (SD) The disappointing 2020 campaign for the Thunder was also individually disappointing for Colston, who recorded his first sub-1,000-yard season since 2010. That was a 9-season run of production that simply fell off a cliff this year. Not only that, but his yards per catch dipped from 19.2 in 2019 to only 11.7 this year. So, what scouts and GMs want to know is if this is just a failure of the system in San Diego, or has Colston lost enough speed at age 35 that he is no longer an effective target?   CB Eric Wright (OAK) With 13 picks over the past 3 seasons, Wright is still one of the most reliable corners in the game. He may not be a true shutdown corner at this point in his career, but he can still be effective in both man and zone coverages. We expect that teams will pitch a lot of 1 year deals to him, and we think he will stick it out hoping for a multi-year deal with some guaranteed money.   WR Stevie Johnson (STL) Another member of the Skyhawks ready to move on after yet another bad year. Unlike Lacey, Stevie Johnson was on the field most of the season, but with a per-catch average of only 10.1 yards and a season total of only 654 yards, the flamboyant receiver certainly wants to find himself in a more dynamic system, one that can get him back into the ranks of the 1,000-yard club.   LB Alec Ogletree (WSH) At only 31, and with only 7 years in the league, Ogletree should be in a good position to land a 3-4 year deal. He can play outside in a 4-3, or inside in a 3-4, so he has some flexibility as to where he looks and what kind of system he joins. He is not a big ego guy, and while he is not the fastest linebacker in the league, nor the biggest hitter, he has a solid track record of making plays and knowing his role, and that is what coaches like to see.   Without an NFL-USFL Transfer Window until January, Will Agents Hold Off on Making Deals? That is the question of the offseason. Players that want to max out their earning potential would be wise to wait as long as they can, get the NFL into the mix, and use the two leagues to raise their value. Of course, that is easier said than done and many players cannot live with several months of uncertainty. Surely there will be some who see a good deal early and sign before we reach the holidays, but with the only NFL-USFL window this year coming in January, those who can hold on and wait out the offers could benefit from their patience.   Of course, we should also expect the teams and their player personnel teams to try to counter that impulse. Will that mean some big offers will be made early to try to avoid the competition? Very possibly. We could also see some counter-messaging, reminding players that once NFL talent hits the pool of available free agents, the chance that a team fills a key position by poaching someone from the NFL rather than acquiescing to a high salary demand from a USFL player is pretty significant. So, it is essentially a game of chicken between USFL management and the players trying to find the best deal possible. But is it ever really anything different?   Three Trades We Want to See, Even if The GMs Don’t It may be a bit early to start talking about trades, but we could not help ourselves. Once the regular season ends, some of our team just switches fully to offseason mode and that means imagining possibilities. So hard to predict, but fun to imagine, trade scenarios are a big talking point in the offseason, so we thought we would get a head start on it by providing you with 3 trades we think would make a lot of sense, even if the teams involved don’t agree.   QB Jacoby Brissett (Seattle to Philadelphia) for C Corey Linsley The Dragons are clearly going to stick with Brett Hundley after the season he has had, and he very likely will be asking for a new deal, a much more expensive deal. We know that very few teams can afford to hold onto two QBs with starter salaries, and if Seattle wants to avoid anything looking like a QB competition, then the best option is to find a taker for Jacoby Brissett.   Even with his recent injury issues, Brissett is a solid starter and has put up some very good games. He should be in a position to start with a new team, and the team that makes sense is Philadelphia. They clearly want to move on after a couple of rough years with Matt Gutierrez, and we don’t think anyone in the Stars’ organization is going to be pushing hard for Ryan Lindley to get the starting gig. With no QB prospect in the T-Draft for the Stars, and with a trade to get a high-profile rookie likely an expensive proposition, we think the Stars are the ideal candidate to take on Brissett, even if only as a bridge until they can find a young talent. He would provide them solid performance at the position and the ability to spend money elsewhere to improve the D and the receiver group. In return, Philadelphia’s depth on the O-line provides a nice opportunity for Seattle to put more protection in front of Hundley and to give Knowshon Moreno another quality blocker. It’s a win-win.   HB Ryan Williams (San Diego to Jacksonville) for TE Taysom Hill & Some Picks The Thunder need a reboot, plain and simple, and while Ryan Williams scrapped together enough solid games this year to reach 1,000 yards (1,014 to be exact), he is not happy, the team is not feeling the love either, and the best option is to use Williams to get more draft capital and perhaps a playmaker at a lower cost position. Tight End is that position, and we think Taysom Hill is the logical choice. The Bulls want a bell cow back, they have good depth at TE, and they are going to retain Gavin Escobar as the starter, so for a few mid-round picks and their 2 nd  TE they can bring in a solid 1,000-yard rusher. Yes, that seems a shrewd deal and it helps quiet the locker room grumblings in San Diego.   Charlotte & Las Vegas Swapping T-Draft Picks We have only seen this happen a couple of times, but it just makes sense. You have one team (Charlotte) that needs a QB but does not have one coming out this year from one of their territorial schools. You have another team that has a QB they like (Las Vegas and Matt McGloin) but has lots of other needs, one of which is a tailback who can carry 300 times in a season. So, why not swap picks. Charlotte could use Las Vegas’s rights to BYU to select Zach Wilson, a QB in the mold of Trubisky and Boller, but perhaps without the turnover issues, and Las Vegas can nab UNC halfback Javonte Williams, helping them finally build a respectable run game. Another solid trade where both teams get what they want and need, without giving up a whole lot.   Divisional Weekend is only a few days away. Here are the games on tap Saturday and Sunday, and we can only hope that all 4 are as tight and as exciting as our 4 Wild Card games were.   4- Chicago Machine (11-5) @ 1- Michigan Panthers (14-2) Saturday, Sept. 19 @ 3pm ET NRG Stadium, Houston, TX Michigan -8   These two know each other about as well as any 2 clubs in the league, battling twice a year ever since 1987. Michigan has the advantage with LeVeon Bell, but Chicago’s defense has been coming on in the season’s 2 nd  half. The two met in the season finale, but neither team was giving it their all, since both were pretty well locked into their playoff positions. We think we will see a much more intense game this time around.   4- Atlanta Fire (13-3) @ 1- Tampa Bay Bandits (15-1) Saturday, Sept. 19 @ 8pm ET Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL Tampa Bay -4   The Week 15 matchup of these two was a classic, with both clubs trading huge blows back and forth. We expected a shootout but got a much closer and much lower-scoring battle with the defenses proving better than expected. Could that change this time around? These are two teams with a lot of weapons and we just cannot help but think that the dam could give and the flood water of points could come rolling down.   6- Seattle Dragons (10-6) @ 2- Arizona Wranglers (12-4) Sunday, Sept. 20 @ 3pm ET Wynn Arena, Las Vegas, NV Seattle -1   The first quarter of this game is going to give us the picture. Either Arizona has figured out a way to rebuild an offense around Carey and Crowell, or they are going to prove incapable of moving the ball. Either way, we know what we will get from Seattle. They will try to run the ball early, set up play action for Hundley and hope to catch Arizona creeping towards the line. We all know Arizona has a solid defense, but it cannot win this game alone. A lot will come down to just how effective Tom Savage can be in his first USFL start.   6- Houston Gamblers (10-6) @ 2- Memphis Showboats (13-3) Sunday, Sept. 20 @ 8pm ET Rice Stadium, Houston, TX Memphis -3   Another divisional rivalry game between teams that know each other well. Despite being the road team, Houston has a slight home field advantage as we expect a pretty solid home crowd at Rice Stadium. Memphis knows how dangerous Carlos Hyde, Mike Evans, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Colt McCoy can be. Their task is to slow down, frustrate, and bog down the Gamblers. Their other job is to get Todd Gurley rolling early, providing a balance that benefits Paxton Lynch as he tries to find Robert Woods and Devin Funchess outside. On paper, Memphis seems the better team, but Houston’s playoff experience was evident in the Wild Card round and could be a factor here as well.