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| Max Howard, RB, Chicago Blitz |
Just for fun, here is the commissioner's All-First Half Team for the 1983 season (totals are actually for nine games because I got really busy over the weekend). This is not a scientific statistical study; it is just for fun and conversation.
Offense
QB Dustin Nichols, Denver Gold: Highest QB rating in the league (102.07) and leads league in passing yardage (2,407)RB Max Howard, Chicago Blitz: Leads the league with more than 1,300 combined yards (778 rushing, 435 receiving).
RB/WR James Connelly, Houston Gamblers: 616 yards rushing (No. 3 USFL) and 523 receiving)
WR James Sheckler, New Orleans VooDoo: 900 yards receiving leads the league, 8 TDs is second in the league.
WR Jose Buford, Denver Gold: His 9 TDs lead all receivers.
TE Mario Burton, Birmingham Stallions: Last year's All-Pro TE leads all TE with 581 receiving yards and his 51 receptions is second to New York's Carmen Nelson (55).
OL Andre Adkins, Pittsburgh Maulers: 842 snaps, 0 sacks allowed
OL Richard Mosley, San Jose SaberCats: 767 snaps, 0 sacks allowed
OL Randy Squires, Portland Storm: 756 snaps, 1 sack allowed
OL Wesley Griffin, Washington Federals: 741 snaps, 0 sacks allowed
OL Antonio Shook, Oklahoma Outlaws: 737 snaps, 0 sacks allowed
Defense
DT Chad Brown, Detroit Wheels: Among the league DL leaders in tackles (25), sacks (6) and hurries (9).DT Joseph Gerald, Birmingham Stallions: 19 tackles, 6 sacks, 4 hurries
DE Morris Burbach, Florida Blazer: Leads all DL with 33 tackles.
DE John Broussard, Washington Federals: 25 hurries leads the league
MLB Douglas Oneal Honolulu Hawaiians: Leads the league with 83 tackles and is second with six INT
MLB Troy Irwin, Los Angeles Express: 63 tackles and 6 INT
SLB Jim Grisby, Tampa Bay Bandits: Tied for third in the league with 71 tackles.
WLB Abel Jackson, New York Stars: Leads all WLB with 68 tackles
CB Charles Bowles, Boston Breakers: Second in the league with 78 tackles
CB Larry Ackman, New Orleans VooDoo: Leads league with 7 INT
SS Philip Shurtz, Oakland Invaders: Tied for third in the league with 71 tackles
Offensive First Half MVP: Dustin Nichols, QB, Denver
Defensive First Half MVP: Douglas Oneal, MLB, Honolulu
Offensive Rookie of the First Half: Oliver Thomas, RB, Oakland Invaders (534 rushing, 232 receiving, 426 returns, 3 TDs)
Defensive Rookie of the First Half: Robert Swafford, WLB, Philadelphia Bell (61 tackles, 1 INT)
Coach of the First Half: Wolveraider, Birmingham Stallions. Check out the year-by-year for the last four seasons: 3-13 to 6-10 to 9-7 to 8-1. This guy could become the first coach ever to be named Coach of the Year with two different USFL/WFL teams). Honorable mention: AlexanDragon, Denver Gold; OffensiveTaco, Houston Gamblers; raidergreg69, New Jersey Generals.
