Bogger's Best Offensive Rookies Review

Projecting the best rookies at every offensive position

By Booger926

We made it, folks. The 1975 USFL season is upon us.

For rookies, this is their first test in the big leagues. While they have been through combine challenges and OTA's, preseason action is where things start to get real. A strong performance could mean an early chance to start, while a rough start could lead to less reps and fewer opportunities to bounce back.

Many of this year's first-year players are already planning to make their mark in training camp, which could be a precursor to a solid run in exhibition game action.

Here are my picks for this year's preseason All-Rookie Offense.

David Schmitt, QB, San Jose

Quarterback | David Schmitt (6’2” 218# - Oregon) | San Jose Sabercats 1-9
It wasn’t always pretty, but thanks to a good arm and athleticism, Schmitt was darn effective at Oregon. He can be frustratingly reckless when he gets out on the move and chucks the ball into multiple coverage. But funnily enough, it often worked for him. A player who will benefit from some refinement. Reports from our sister media site, The Bugbear Wire, have already stated that the gunslinger has made huge strides early. Built like a prototypical pocket passer and a strong arm, Schmitt should continue to impress this preseason under quarterback guru Edgar Calvin. Even if he's not the Week 1 starter, expect Schmitt's strong preseason to have fans clamoring for him to steal the job by midseason.


Running Back | James Connelly (5’11” 238lbs - Miami (FL) | Houston Gamblers 2-45
A first-round talent who fell to Day 2, Connelly is a home-run threat at every level of the field, and likely the most complete back in the roster. If he can remain healthy, Connelly's speed and vision should make him a preseason star and Houston's Week 1 starter as Robert Carroll's full-time replacement. For a player of his size, Connelly has good speed. He can accelerate out of a cut like a 190-pound runner. His technique will need a little work, but he should be effective as a blocker. The big knock on Connelly is that he’s not that creative of a runner.

Running Back | Michael Chumley (5’11” 235lbs - Arizona St.) | Shreveport 4-118
Chumley might not be the top back in the class, but his physical style and instincts between the tackles could earn him plenty of early carries. His work ethic and competitiveness should make him an early favorite in Ratchet City.

Wide Receiver | Michael Popa (6’1” 209lbs) | Tampa Bay Bandits 1-3
A big and physical receiver, Popa needs polish with his routes but has the size and strength to create late separation when the ball is in the air. He's got the potential to develop into a one-on-one matchup problem outside the hashes and in the red zone due to his size, strength and ball skills. He will have some drops but should make up for it with his wide catch radius and ability to haul in the tough catches in contested situations. His special teams ability should help his chances of carving out a big role early.

Michael Sonneberg, Denver

Wide Receiver | Michael Sonnenberg (5’10” 196lbs – Florida) | Denver Gold 1-4
Denver’s QB Dustin Nichols is smiling. The Gold just added to an already strong receiving corps featuring William Delatorre and Leland Dudley. Sonnenberg compliments those two perfectly. He's a big, strong kid who may not create a lot of separation but will dominate at the catch point. He is an explosive playmaker who can line up in the slot and outside the hashes. He possesses rare speed (4.22 40-yard dash at the combine) but also runs quality routes and is extremely dangerous with the ball in his hands both after the catch and as a returner on special teams. Lack of size and durability are concerns.

Wide Receiver | Steve Cody (5’11” 197lbs - Appalachian St.) | Ariz. Wranglers 1-15
Keith Greene has been great as a deep threat, while James Rawlins has lived up to his billing as a true No. 1 receiver. But Arizona needs another difference-maker on the outside, and Cody is the perfect fit. An excellent route-runner and a nightmare to bring down after the catch due to his physicality and explosiveness, Cody should be a force to reckoned with across the middle and down the field.

Tight End | James West (6’3” 266lbs - Brigham Young) | Washington Federals 2-38
The Feds may have gotten the grand slam of the draft by getting West at No. 38 overall. A do-it-all playmaker who shines both as a blocker and pass-catcher. West was rarely used to his full potential in Brigham Young's run-heavy attack. When flexed out, West might as well be considered a No. 1 receiver working across the middle the field. Even with plenty of other mouths to feed in Washinton's passing game, West could be an early favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Offensive Tackle | Damon Fisher (6’2” 321lbs – Penn St.) | New Orleans VooDoo 1-27
To the surprise of many, Jerome Johnson called it a career this past week after being traded to Michigan this offseason. That makes it even more imperative that Fisher come along quickly and take over as Vincent Goode’s blind-side protector. He's may not be the most polished pass-blocker in this year's rookie class, but Fishers's athleticism and power make up for a lot. Don't be shocked if he locks himself into the starting gig immediately.

Jerry Huang, Philadelphia

Guard | Jerry Huang (6’3” 320lbs – New Hampshire) | Philadelphia Bell 2-37
With James Morrison moving back outside to tackle, the left guard spot is up for grabs in Philadelphia. Known for his mean, physical playing style at New Hampshire, Huang was one of my favorite interior linemen from this class due to his quick release and ability to pile-drive defenders on a regular basis. No matter who lines up in the Bell backfield, Huang should be able to provide wide running lanes, land powerful strikes and show this coaches he's everything the team needs to recreate last year's success on the ground.

Center | Rodrigo Stephens (6’3” 280lbs – Virginia) | Jacksonville Bulls 2-54
The Bulls did a solid job adding depth to a depleted offensive line this offseason. Their best addition may have been Stephens, a versatile interior zone blocker from Virginia. Stephen's high football IQ and work ethic should allow him to compete for a starting job at multiple positions. A center by trade, expect a big showing this preseason that should make him a Week 1 starter.

Guard | Kenneth Kurtz (6’4” 313lbs – Ohio State) | Orlando Renagades 1-10
It's not often you hear of a rookie being talked about as a first time ballot shoo in for the Hall of Fame, but then again, Kurtz shouldn't have been available that late at #10. An excellent run blocker with great drive and footwork, Kurtz works his opponents into the ground while creating wide running lanes. He's a well-rounded blocker who can plow the road for running backs and protect the passer effectively. David Judkins was hit 32 times in 1974, but Kurtz should help bring that number down this year.

Willis Friesen, San Antonio

Offensive Tackle | Willis Friesen (6’4” 312lbs – San Jose State) | San Antonio Gunslingers 2-60
A massive but athletic monster who can play guard or tackle, Friesen has a rare blend of agility and power. His hard-hitting style and nonstop motor should allow Friesen to beat out DeAngelo Laing for the starting job at right tackle. Friesen dealt with some injuries and did not play as well as he did as a junior at San Jose State in 1974. But he has quick feet, good hands and is one of the most versatile offensive linemen in the class. He has the ability to line up at all five positions if need be.

The All-USFL Coaching Staff

Who Has the Highest Rated Coaches?

Since the coaching carousel has all but slowed to a stop, let's take a look at the best assistant coaches in the league, according to the MFN default ratings for each position.

Alan Bridges, New Orleans VooDoo

Head Coach: Alan Bridges, New OrleansVooDoo, and Dan Collier, Houston Gamblers, 89.

Offensive Coordinator: Andrew Waring, Tampa Bay Bandits, and John Villegas, Cleveland Thunderbolts, 90.

Defensive Coordinator: John Rogers, Georgia Force, and Robert Loomis, Houston Gamblers, 90.

Quarterbacks: David Farris, Baltimore Stars; John Carlton, Cleveland Thunderbolts; and Milton Brock, Houston Gamblers, 87.

Backfield: Jose Roberts, Boston Breakers, 85.

Offensive Line: Joseph Johnson, Portland Storm, 96.

Receivers: Gary Pritchett, Houston Gamblers, 90.

Tight Ends: Rick Wilson, Florida Blazers, 74.

Defensive Line: Jeffrey Cook, Pittsburgh Maulers, and George Sylva, Georgia Force, 87.

Linebackers: Paul Kipp, Portland Storm, 74.

Secondary: Hugh Gose, Houston Gamblers, 90.

Kickers: Ralph Haglund, Houston Gamblers, 82.

Showing Them the Money

Dan Collier, Houston Gamblers

For those of you keeping score at home, that's six top-ranked coaches for the Houston Gamblers, and no more than two for any other club.

The Houston coaching staff is certainly well-compensated: $61,711,000. By comparison, the Michigan Panthers (who I am guessing are somewhere around average) pay their staff a combined $10,132,990, less than what the Gamblers are paying head coach Dan Collier.

Here is Houston's payroll breakdown:

Dan Collier, $12 million; George Hightower and Robert Loomis, $9 million; Steve Sargent and Hugh Gose, $7 million; Milton Brock and Jonathan Rivera, $6 million; Ralph Haglund, $5 million; Mario McArthur, Craig Harris and Gary Pritchett, $195,000; Eric Conner, $126,000.

Interventions, Mount Rushmore, the Trading Frenzy

What is an Intervention?

If any of you have kids, or know someone with kids, you have probably witnessed this scenario. Little Junior sees a puppy at the pet store and wants to bring it home. He promises to take care of it. And, for the first week, he does.

During the second week, Junior occasionally forgets to feed the pup and asks you to take it for a walk because he has to leave early for soccer practice. A month later, you are doing all the feedings and all the walks. Junior has lost interest and his dog is now your dog.

This is what I often see in MFN.

Coaches get swept up in the enthusiasm of the user experience. They sign up for one league, then another, then another. After a while, they realize how much work each team requires to be competitive. They begin to ignore some of their less successful teams. After a while, that really fun puppy has become a mangy mutt, its fur falling out and its ribs showing as it sits lethargically on the back porch, waiting in vain for someone to pay it some attention.

If you have ever taken over a team in MFN that was treated this way, you know it's no fun. The previous coach's neglect leaves you with a salary cap nightmare or a roster devoid of talent at key positions.

This scenario is why I occasionally conduct an "intervention." That is, after a period of inactivity, I PM the coach to see if he is still with us. Sometimes there are perfectly logical explanations. Perhaps the coach has been on vacation or has no internet access or has already spent like a drunken sailor, limiting his payroll flexibility. Sometimes the coach has just lost interest in his puppy and never answers.

At that point, I remove the coach, take over the team with a dummy account, and try to get 53 warm bodies in place so the next owner does not have to take over a team with only two cornerbacks or with no kicker or punter. I can't counter all of the consequences of neglect, but I don't want the next coach to find himself in a hole too deep to dig out of.

Mount Rushmore and the USFL/WFL

Over the course of time, the USFL/WFL has developed a culture I like. It is a welcome place for new coaches, with several experienced coaches willing to lend a hand. The members of the mentoring committee can steer a new coach in the right direction until he is ready to take the wheel himself. And, no one has yet accumulated such a collection of talent that they can never lose. The new coaches can be competitive quickly.

Preserving that culture is why I recently turned down applications from two coaches. Both are brilliant. In fact, I would consider both to be among those who should be put on the Mount Rushmore of MFN coaches. The forums are full of their wisdom, a lot of which I have employed while building my own teams.

If you look at the leagues they are in, the Mount Rushmore coaches destroy everything in their path. I congratulate them because they have put the time into mastering the game and deserve those trophies. But, that's not what I want from this league. I want the new coach and the blue-collar coach to know they have a chance. I hope competitive balance will be one of the cornerstones of the USFL/WFL moving forward.

The Trading Frenzy

Here's a cool stat: Through Sunday, 18 trades have taken place in advance of the 1975 season. Only four trades took place during the entire 1974 season.

There are reasons for that. During the first season of any league, no one is really sure where they fit in. Are they a contender or a pretender? Should they be buyers or sellers? Even after eight weeks, few know for sure. Entering the second season, each coach has some context and can make decisions based on that context.

It was a busy week or so for the members of the trade committee, and I appreciate their speedy work. Every trade was approved on the same day or the next day.

Yes, every trade was approved. The trade committee was put in place to stop experienced owners from robbing new owners blind. While there were some deals that provoked discussion, nothing seemed to fit that description. The process was also skewed by a really, really poor draft class. Draft picks that would normally carry a much higher value were deemed not nearly as valuable this time around, meaning a trade involving high picks was much less likely to be rejected.

Get Involved

Booger926

Wolveraider

I am sending PMs to coaches asking them to participate in one round of coach profiles/predictions. Most of the coaches I am contacting are not already involved in one of the existing committees, so I am encouraging them/you to respond in the affirmative. Participation is one of the goals of our league and we want to encourage buy-in from all 32 coaches to help develop even greater affinity for our league, which will lead to an even greater retention rate, which will lead to an even greater experience.

1975: The Second Season

There are some changes, and a lot to be excited about, as the USFL/WFL enters its second season.

We go into the 1975 season with 32 owners. While that may not seem like something to celebrate on the surface, look around MFN. Some public leagues are barely half full. Some user-created leagues already have a dozen or more openings. One user-created league doesn't even know what has happened to its commissioner. So, I think that having a full league is a great thing. We want to take steps to promote retention, because retention leads to stability and also leads to rivalries built up over time that provoke user interest even further.

I am glad to have the mentoring committee in place, and am going to encourage even more interaction between them and less experienced coaches. I have already heard of a couple instances where this has proven very helpful to the new coach.

Loftusranger

 

Probably the biggest changes will be in the blog. The creation of the Players of the Week function in the current version mean that is a service we don't really need to duplicate. It is a lot of work for everyone involved, including your commissioner. Yes, that was me typing a blog post in my bed at 1:30 a.m. after having gotten home from my second job. Based on Roger Goodell's reported contract extension, I should really be better compensated.


 I had some ideas for what the blog might look like going forward, and Loftusranger sent me a few additional ideas that I really liked, so thanks to him. Some of these ideas are meant to encourage participation from as many coaches as possible, another goal we strive to reach around here. Here are some concepts:

• Game highlights, similar to last season
• Coach predictions
• Coach profiles
• Rookie report
• Statistical trends

If you are willing to participate in compiling any of these, please PM me. I will be sending out PMs to ask as well.

Welcome

Let's welcome the new coaches.

• Memphis Showboats, MGRIFFIN1
• Florida Blazers, Shiftywxm
• Orlando Renegades, taylorman88ca

 

Riches to Rags

Georgia Force cheerleaders celebrate tribewriter being named head coach

Yes, the commish no longer coaches the Florida Blazers. I have my ring, and now it's time to let other people fight it out for the next one while I attempt to lead the Georgia Force to greater glory. Since Georgia was 5-11 last season, I have great confidence in this team's ability to go 6-10 under my leadership.

The Draft

Linebacker Fernando Stone of Iowa was taken by the Charlotte Hornets with the first pick of the 1975 draft. Stone has 85 speed, 85 acceleration, 100 strength, 100 intelligence and 100 potentials for tackle ability, pass rush, run defense, and man-to-man coverage. We think the fans in Charlotte will love this guy.




 The topic of a really poor draft class was discussed on the league forums at length. I wasn't surprised at being ready to just go nuts and chase high-volatility players early in the third round. What really surprised me was how many coaches had already beaten me to it. Let's look at how high some high-vol players went:

1-5, Juan Bonnett, SS, Houston, 94
1-6, Matthew McGinley, RDE, Washington, 78
1-7, Patrick Hiebert, RB, Oklahoma, 66
1-10, Kenneth Kurtz, LG, Orlando, 84
1-12, Laverne Ashlock, DT, Philadelphia, 82
1-16, Jacob Dunson, SLB, Honolulu, 72
1-17, Anthony Kent, RDE, Shreveport, 94
1-21, Les Lynch, DT, Baltimore, 84
1-24, Marshall Yingling, LG, Detroit, 98
1-29, Norman Paulk, DE, Portland, 94

So, by my count, that is 10 players with VOL of 65 or more that went in the first round.

This brings us to the risk/reward proposition. Is it better to go for a guy who may actually achieve his potential and become an All-Pro? Or, is it better to avoid having wasted a first-round pick on a guy who went bust and now sits on the end of your bench? It's a conversation worth having.

The 1974 USFL/WFL All-Pro Team

Thanks to all who cast ballots for the first USFL/WFL All-Pro Team. The results are below. I also have gained some insight from some of you on how to improve the voting process next season. I am already looking forward to it, and I am encouraged by the fact 31 of our 32 coaches are still on board for next season and the chatter already taking place about the 1975 draft.

Offensive MVP

Agustin Crook, Denver Gold

Daniel McKee, Chicago Blitz

The votes have been counted, and the winner is ... a tie. Quarterbacks Agustin Crook of the Denver Gold and Daniel McKee of the Chicago Blitz both received the same number of votes for offensive MVP. So, I guess they are co-offensive MVPs. That odd part of this is, McKee received twice as many votes as Crook in the QB balloting. Chicago RB Bruce Fine was one vote away from making it a three-way tie. Others receiving votes: Kennth Boyd, TE, New Orleans VooDoo; Thomas Dayton, WR, Southern California Sun; Cliff Thomas, RB, Pittsburgh Maulers; Curtis Scott, RB, Arizona Wranglers.

Defensive MVP

Shreveport Steamer MLB John Cintron was the runaway winner, receiving seven votes to two for New Orleans VooDoo DT John Lawrence. Others receiving votes: Ryan Moore, DT, Georgia Force; Jesse Amos, MLB, Georgia Force; Ryan Willey, LDE, Denver Gold; Bernard Washington, WLB, Florida Blazers; Josh Daugherty, LDE, Detroit Wheels.

John Cintron, Shreveport Steamer (35)

All-Pro, Position by Position

Punter/Kicker

Because SurveyMonkey only allowed 10 questions, I am forced to name a punter and kicker. They are punter Dean Long of the Oklahoma Outlaws and kicker Timothy Riley of the Boston Breakers. Long led the league with a 48.1 average and a 45.5 net. Riley kicked 15 field goals from more than 50 yards, and made 87 percent of his FG attempts inside 50 yards. He also ranked third in the league in kickoff distance (73) and converted 47 of 50 extra points (94 percent).

Kick Returner

Thomas Dayton of the Southern California Sun was the runaway winner (no pun intended). Dayton returned four kickoffs for TDs, one from 106 yards, and averaged 35 yards per return. As a receiver, Dayton caught 76 passes for 1,151 yards and seven TDs.

Others receiving votes, in order of number of votes received: Bruno Fredericks, New York Stars; John Andrade, Houston Gamblers.

Quarterback

As noted above, an odd result as Daniel McKee of the Chicago Blitz received twice as many voes as Agustin Crook of the Denver Gold. Crook led the league with 5,910 passing yards and was second with 44 TDs. McKee had by far the highest QB rating (137.6), led the league in completion percentage (67.9) and had 41 TDs and 6 INTs vs. Crook's 44 and 20.

Others receiving votes, in order of number of votes received:  Tony Smith, San Antonio Gunslingers; Michael White, Pittsburgh Maulers; William Hill, Portland Storm.

Running Back

Bruce Fine of the Chicago Blitz and Cliff Thomas of the Pittsburgh Maulers were well ahead of the field. Fine led the USFL/WFL with 2,056 yards rushing and tied Pittsburgh's John Murray for the lead in touchdowns (15). Thomas ran for 1,822 yards and 11 TDs and his 6.5 yards per carry were tied for second among backs with 160 or more carries.

Others receiving votes, in order of number of votes received:  Robert Costello, Detroit Wheels; John Murray, Pittsburgh Maulers; Curtis Scott, Arizona Wranglers; Christopher Gray, San Jose SaberCats; Jose Medina, Philadelphia Bell; Jason Brooks, Oakland Invaders.

Wide Receiver

Thomas Canale of the New Orleans VooDoo received more than twice as many votes as runner-up Donnie Baker of the San Antonio Gunslingers. Canale won the receiving Triple Crown, leading the league in receptions (120), yards (2,113) and TDs (23). Baker was second in yards (1,970) and third in receptions (105) and TDs (15).

Others receiving votes, in order of number of votes received: William Delatorre, Denver Gold; Santiago Smith, Los Angeles Express; John Sanders, Michigan Panthers; Randy Christmas, Baltimore Stars.

Tight End

Kenneth Boyd of the New Orleans VooDoo was the clear winner. He caught 85 passes for 1,422 yards (leading all TEs) and six TDs, averaging 16.7 yards per catch. Boyd has ratings of 94 strength and 72 run blocking.

Others receiving votes, in order of number of votes received: Scott Maddux, Shreveport Steamer; Larry Perez, Houston Gamblers.

Offensive Line

Ben Arnold of the Birmingham Stallions received votes from 18 of the 19 voters. Arnold was joined on the first team by Birmingham teammate Earl Murtagh, Boston Breakers center Donald Lopez, Pittsburgh's Sidney Woosley, and Boston's Charles Bukowski. There were 16 linemen receiving votes. The five first-teamers allowed a combined four sacks between them all season. Woosley was penalized eight times during the season, but none of the others more than three times.


Others receiving votes, in order of number of votes received: Adam Bolding, Portland Storm; Jason Westbrooks, Los Angeles Express; Jimmy Rice, Georgia Force; Richard Robinson, Michigan Panthers; Larry Fazio, Pittsburgh Maulers; Chad Mannings, Washington Federals; Raymond Andres, San Antonio Gunslingers; Kennth Addison, Portland Storm; Samuel Hines, Orlando Renegades; Larry Bucker, Florida Blazers; Thomas Watson, Michigan Panthers.

Defensive Line

The top four were far ahead of the rest of the field, headlined by John Lawrence of the New Orleans VooDoo. Lawrence was joined on the first team by Ryan Moore of the Georgia Force, Chris McDuffie of the Orlando Renegades and Kenneth Back of the Portland Storm. Moore led the league with 31 sacks, followed by Lawrence (24), McDuffie (23) and Back (22). Lawrence was second in the USFL/WFL with 75 hurries.

Others receiving votes, in order of number of votes received: Robert Babineau, Houston Gamblers (led the league with 76 hurries); Ryan Willey, Denver Gold; Derek Mattison, Charlotte Hornets (led all DL with 76 tackles); Freddie Gilbert, New Jersey Generals; Mark Williams, Arizona Wranglers.

Linebackers

League defensive MVP John Cintron of the Shreveport Steamer highlights the linebacker corps. Also on the first team were Jesse Amos of the Georgia Force, Jim LeClair of the New Jersey Generals and Travis Curcio of the Washington Federals. Cintron led all USFL/WFL LBs with 121 tackles and intercepted three passes. If you look at Cintron's ratings, he is at or near 100 in every category ... the Shawn Arzola of linebackers. Amos led all LBs in sacks (16) and hurries (53) while making 118 tackles. LeClair was only one tackle and one hurry behind Cintron. Curcio made 110 tackles and allowed only 31 percent of the 39 passes thrown against him to be completed.

Others receiving votes, in order of number of votes received: Bernard Washington, Florida Blazers; Mike Harmon, Arizona Wranglers; Anthony Smith, San Jose SaberCats; Guillermo Cooper, Portland Storm; James Kelley, Southern California Sun; Bruce Schumann, Georgia Force; Roy Edelman, Tampa Bay Bandits; William Coffey, Washington Federals.

Defensive Backs

The voters cast ballots for 13 different DBs. The foursome with the most votes was Allen Herrera of the Oklahoma Outlaws, Leon Crisman of the San Antonio Gunslingers, Edward Alston of the Oakland Invaders and Donald Lopez of the Denver Gold. Herrera led the entire league with 138 tackles and allowed only 35.6 percent of 90 passes thrown his way to be completed. Crisman tied for the league lead with 10 interceptions and made 94 tackles. Alston also intercepted 10 passes and knocked down 23. Lopez intercepted six passes and allowed 34 percent completions of 176 attempts. Only two others DBs (Crisman and Portland's Ray Ruiz) were thrown at more times.

Others receiving votes, in order of number of votes received: Juan Bellino, Charlotte Hornets; Wayne Mashburn, Houston Gamblers; Shawn Arzola, Tampa Bay Bandits; Ronald Williams, Chicago Blitz; Chuck Johnson, Detroit Wheels; Jeffrey Bonner, Houston Gamblers; Robert Newton, New Orleans VooDoo; Mike Williams, New Jersey Generals; Bradley Martinez, Pittsburgh Maulers.

Summary Listing

1974 USFL/WFL All-Pro Team

Offense: Daniel McKee, QB, Chicago; Bruce Fine, RB, Chicago; Cliff Thomas, RB, Pittsburgh; Thomas Canale, WR, New Orleans; Donnie Baker, WR, San Antonio; Kenneth Boyd, TE, New Orleans; Ben Arnold, OL, Birmingham; Earl Murtagh, OL, Birmingham; Donald Lopez, OL, Boston; Sidney Woosley, OL, Pittsburgh; Charles Bukowski, OL, Boston.

Special Teams: Dean Long, P, Oklahoma; Timothy Riley, K, Boston; Thomas Dayton, KR, Southern California.

Defense: John Lawrence, DL, New Orleans; Ryan Moore, DL, Georgia; Chris McDuffie, DL, Orlando; Kenneth Back, DL, Portland; John Cintron, LB, Shreveport; Jesse Amos, LB, Georgia; Jim LeClair, LB, New Jersey; Travis Curcio, LB, Washington; Allen Herrera, DB, Oklahoma; Leon Crisman, DB, San Antonio; Edward Alston, DB, Oakland; Donald Lopez, DB, Denver.

Offensive MVP: Agustin Cook, QB, Denver, and Daniel McKee, QB, Chicago
Defensive MVP: John Cintron, MLB, Shreveport

Divisional Round: Breakers Break Out

The Boston Breakers earned a measure of vindication in the USFL/WFL playoffs divisional round.

The Pittsburgh Maulers had handed the Breakers a 24-22 setback in Week 14 by stuffing a 2-point conversation attempt with 40 seconds to go. This time around, the Breakers rolled to a 34-7 halftime lead and went on to defeat the Maulers, 44-14.

Boston QB Jonathan Keefe fired three TD passes, including one of 58 yards to WR Robert Jeffers, and RB Nicholas Wingfield returned a kickoff 101 yards for another score.

Nicholas Wingfield, RB, Boston Breakers

The Chicago defense shut down Denver Gold star QB Agustin Cook during a 31-6 Blitz victory on a 19-degree day at Soldier Field. Cook has certainly seen his share of cold weather in Denver, but apparently nothing like the Blitz secondary. Cook was 17-for-40, was sacked six times and was picked off three times, a 41.88 QB rating. He was also sacked in the end zone by Chicago MLB Bruce Flowers for the game's first score. Chicago RBs Bruce Fine (180) and Charles Alexander (144) both topped 100 yards rushing and Fine scored twice.

The Portland Storm fed off its momentum from a wild card victory over San Jose and beat San Antonio, 30-19. Portland led, 23-19, late in the third quarter when QB William Hill hit WR Chad Ouzts for a 62-yard score. Hill threw for 411 yards and three TDs.

Florida Blazers WR Carlos Harley caught three TD passes from QB William Trombly in a 39-10 win over the New Orleans VooDoo. The TDs covered 18, 20 and 68 yards. Vincent Goode, New Orleans' star QB, was sacked eight times and picked off three times.

The conference championship games are Tuesday. Chicago is a 7-point favorite over Portland and Florida is a 6-point favorite over Boston (according to MFN) (which is quite often wrong).

Wild Card Playoffs: Storm Damage

The Wild Card round of the USFL/WFL playoffs saw some teams assert their might.

One was the Portland Storm, which rolled to a 36-23 victory over the Detroit Wheels. After QB William Hill threw his fourth TD of the first half, the Storm led, 30-6, much to the delight of their rain-soaked fans. Portland has won six in a row after enduring a three-game losing streak. Detroit QB Henry Prieto had a tough night, completing 11 of 40 passes and being sacked nine times, seven of them by DT Eugene Pacheco.

Eugene Pacheco, DT, Portland

The Denver Gold advanced with a 40-27 win over the San Jose SaberCats. Denver QB Agustin Cook was absolutely on fire, completing 34 of 63 passes for 538 yards and five TDs without an interception. San Jose led, 20-16, at halftime, but Cook threw for three TDs in the second half, including to WR William Delatorre for 61, and later, for 62 yards. The SaberCats, who defeated Denver, 36-31, in Week 1, finished the season with three consecutive losses.

The Pittsburgh Maulers bounced back from a Week 16 loss to the Baltimore Stars to defeat the Stars, 36-21. Pittsburgh QB Michael White fired three TD passes in the second quarter to stake his team to a 24-7 halftime lead and finished the day with a nice 153.53 QB rating. Baltimore SS Earl Campbell made 16 tackles.

The New Orleans VooDoo advanced by holding off the Jacksonville Bulls, 23-20. Jacksonville led, 20-17, with 6:22 to play but New Orleans kicker Ramon Brownlee hit field goals of 42 and 43 yards, including the game-winner with 1:41 to play. The Bulls punted the ball away with 1:04 remaining and never got it back.

The divisional round will take place Thursday, with four games on the slate:

• Denver Gold at Chicago Blitz: Chicago is a 7-point favorite. The teams did not face each other during the regular season.
• Portland Storm at San Antonio Gunslingers: San Antonio is an 8-point favorite. The teams did not face each other during the regular season.
• New Orleans VooDoo at Florida Blazers: The Blazers, a 4-point favorite, outlasted New Orleans, 23-16, in Week 6.
• Pittsburgh Maulers at Boston Breakers: The Maulers, a 7-point underdog in this one, handed the Breakers a 24-22 setback in Week 14 by stuffing a 2-point conversation attempt with 40 seconds to go.

Notes From The Commissioner's Desk, Sept. 6

There are a number of topics I wanted to address to the entire league, and I thought a blog post might be a more efficient way to do that than filling up the league forum. Here are a few thoughts:

Thank You

Let me thank all the members of the Player of the Week Committee, the Mentoring Committee, and the Trade Committee. It is this type of participation that has set our league apart from other user-created leagues (and the public leagues, for sure). I never once had to remind a member of the POW Committee that I needed their picks, and all trades were approved/disapproved on the same day they were submitted.

Thank You, Part II

Let me also thank the league members for the positive interaction in the forums. We did have some back-and-forth, but it never crossed the line. I would not hesitate to remove an owner that will not wish to exhibit some degree of restraint. That's not the kind of league we want, and I am real happy with the kind of league we have.

What About the Blazers?

I know, my team is 15-1. I am sorry about that. This was the first time I have ever participated in an allocation draft and I had no idea what the result would be. I actually messed up by drafting the second-oldest team in the league. But I have paid close attention to my gameplanning, depth chart, injuries, playbooks, etc. I only have two teams in MFN, so I can pay close attention to them — certainly closer attention than a certain former coach who was running 33 teams at the same time (and ignoring this one).

My goal is not to build a dynasty. I would like to win one USFL/WFL championship before I die. So, if I can win one with the Blazers, great. But, if that happens, I will drop the Blazers and pick up another team in this league that needs some TLC, provided one is available. I formed this league so that it would be a fair and fun alternative to the rest of the MFN world, not so I could fill my personal trophy case.

Early Free Agency

League members voted 9-4-2 to shorten the early free agency period from five days to three. So, beginning next season, there should be some wild-eyed bidding on decent players, because you may not get a second chance at them.

 

 

Uniform Customization

I was in an all-fired hurry to get this league up and running and missed two teams when I was customizing uniforms (Michigan Panthers, Charlotte Hornets). I promise to tend to those when the next (1975) season begins. I will also modify the New York Stars nickname to differentiate from the Baltimore Stars when looking at the league schedule. I don't know why it didn't occur to me not to have two teams with the same nickname. Again, I wanted to get this league operational ASAP.

Interventions

I will elaborate more on this under another blog post, but there are times an intervention is necessary. If a coach is ignoring his team and letting it deteriorate, I don't want the next guy to inherit a mess. More on that later.

Competitive Balance

I will also address this in another blog post, but I believe we can build competitive balance from the bottom up, not the top down. More on that later also.

Week 16: Stars Shine When it Counts

Players of the Week

National Conference

Offense: Vincent Goode, QB, New Orleans VooDoo. Goode completed 25 of 50 passes for 645 yards and 9 TDs in a 75-12 rout of the Orlando Renegades.

Honorable Mention: Jose Medina, RB, Philadelphia Bell; Thomas Canale, WR, New Orleans VooDoo; Victor Gorman, QB, Baltimore Stars.

Defense: Nathan Sherrard, RDE, Jacksonville Bulls. Sherrard recorded seven tackles and three sacks and forced a fumble as the Bulls clinched a playoff spot with a 27-9 win over the Oklahoma Outlaws.

Nathan Sherrard, Jacksonville Bulls (50)

Honorable Mention: Christopher Bolden, MLB, New York Stars; James Wellman, CB, Birmingham Stallions; Jesses Amos, MLB, Georgia Force; Juan Bellino, SS, Charlotte Hornets.

American Conference

Offense: William Hill, QB, Portland Storm. Hill completed 33 of 57 passes for 622 yards and 8 TDs as the Storm routed the San Jose SaberCats, 56-27.

Honorable Mention: Tony Smith, QB, San Antonio Gunslingers; Donnie Baker, WR, San Antonio Gunslingers; Jordan Devers, RB, Los Angeles Express; Brendan Robertson, QB, Michigan Panthers.

Defense: Elton Engler, LDE, Chicago Blitz. Engler made eight tackles, sacked the quarterback six times and recovered two fumbles as the Blitz outscored the Arizona Wranglers, 29-17, to finish the regular season with a 14-2 record.

Honorable Mention: Ryan Willey, DE, Denver Gold; Edward Ryan, MLB, Oakland Invaders; Bobby Wells, MLB, Detroit Wheels; Stanley Thomas, CB, Michigan Panthers.

Notes

• The Baltimore Stars are in the playoffs, and not exactly how we expected it to happen. The Stars knocked off the division-leading Pittsburgh Maulers, 28-14, on Sunday Night Football. At the same time, New Jersey was falling to the Boston Breakers, 31-19. Then, on the final Monday Night Football telecast of the year, the Washington Federals snapped a seven-game losing streak by stunning the Shreveport Steamer, 21-16. So, when the dust cleared, Baltimore was 9-7, Shreveport and New Jersey 8-8.
• The Stars must face Pittsburgh again in the first round of the playoffs. The Maulers won, 27-24, earlier this season before their Week 16 defeat. The other National Conference first-round game has the New Orleans VooDoo as an 11-point favorite over the Jacksonville Bulls. That was the exact margin of VooDoo victory when the teams met in Week 3 (23-12).
• In the American Conference, the Detroit Wheels (14-2) are a 2-point favorite, but must go on the road to face the Portland Storm (12-4), which won the West Division when the Denver Gold was upset by the Oakland Invaders, 38-28. The Gold will try to recover from that defeat when they travel to San Jose to face the SaberCats in the other first-round game. The SaberCats have lost three of their last five, including a 56-27 spanking at the hands of Portland in Week 16.
• Baltimore scored its clinching TD against Pittsburgh on a "hot read" by QB Victor Gorman, who hit TE Scott Ayotte with a 4-yard TD pass with 6:47 to play.
• Portland QB William Hill threw four of his eight TD passes in the first quarter, including one to TE Ivory Villanueva for 50 yards. The Storm trailed, 14-7, early in the quarter, but led, 41-17, at halftime.
• The Los Angeles Express defeated the Honolulu Hawaiians, 38-15, without the benefit of a TD pass from QB Gene Nowlin. Nowlin finished the season with 23 TDs and six INTs. The Express was 5-1 under new head coach coltsfan75.
• San Antonio coach ToroTex is apparently pretty good at halftime adjustments. The Gunslingers led Memphis, 29-28, at halftime but outscored the Showboats, 20-0, in the second half and won, 49-28.
• Dustin Henry kicked four field goals, the last with 1:22 remaining, to lift the Cleveland Thunderbolts to a 19-17 victory over the Georgia Force. Georgia was able to get in position for a potential game-winning 45-yard field goal, but it sailed wide right.
• The Philadelphia Bell finished up on a two-game win streak, including a 45-13 whupping of the New York Stars in Week 16.
• Oakland's two games under new coach Wolveraider were both victories over playoff-bound teams (San Jose and Denver). Tampa Bay was 3-1 under new head coach Mcarovil.

Week 15: Steamer-Rolling Into the Playoffs

Players of the Week

 

American Conference

Offense: Albert Smith WR, Oakland Invaders. Smith caught 13 passes for 259 yards and three TDs as the Invaders surprised the San Antonio Gunslingers, 57-52, giving new coach Wolveraider a victory in his first game at the helm.

Albert Smith, WR, Oakland

Honorable Mention: Santiago Smith, WR, Los Angeles Express; Karl Moore, RB, Honolulu Hawaiians; Marshall Gibson, WR, San Antonio Gunslingers; Bruce Fine, WR Chicago Blitz.

Defense: Ronald Williams, CB, Chicago Blitz. Williams made three tackles, intercepted a pass and forced two fumbles during a 30-3 win over the Michigan Panthers.

Honorable Mention: Douglas Hill, CB, Portland Storm; Edward Ryan, MLB, Oakland Invaders; Leon Crisman, CB, San Antonio Gunslingers; Victor Lincoln. SLB, Oklahoma Outlaws.

National Conference

Offense: Jose Medina, RB, Philadelphia Bell. Medina carried 20 times for 303 yards and three TDs during a 36-14 win over the Charlotte Hornets.

Honorable Mention: Dale Odell, QB, Florida Blazers; Mark Collins, RB, Shreveport Steamer;  Michael White, QB, Pittsburgh Maulers; Herschel Walker, RB New Jersey Generals.

Defense: Gregory Hubbard, MLB, Baltimore Stars. Hubbard made 11 tackles and recorded a sack, two fumble recoveries and an interception as the Stars eclipsed the Southern California Sun, 38-10.

Honorable Mention: Travis Curcio, MLB, Washington Federals; Bradley Garcia, FS, Birmingham Stallions. Bill Ryan, LDE, Birmingham Stallions; Jesse Amos, MLB, Georgia Force.

Notes

• The Shreveport Steamer took a big step toward a potential National Conference wild-card berth with a 34-17 victory over Jacksonville that kept the Bulls from clinching a spot in the postseason. Shreveport (8-7) is tied with New Jersey and Baltimore for the last spot. However, the Generals finish up with a game at Boston (11-3-1) and Baltimore plays at division leader Pittsburgh (11-4). Shreveport's final game is at Washington (3-11-1), which has lost seven in a row.
• The Detroit Wheels scored twice in the final 9:53 to fend off the upset-minded Cleveland Thunderbolts, 13-7. Detroit WR Rigoberto Gonzales, one of our favorite names in the USFL/WFL, caught a 26-yard TD from Henry Prieto.
• The Tampa Bay Bandits are 3-0 under new coach Macrovil following a 17-10 win over the New Orleans VooDoo, holding QB Vincent Goode to a 52.42 QB rating.
• Speaking of new coaches, Wolveraider took over the Oakland Invaders on Friday night. On Saturday morning, his team stunned the playoff-bound San Antonio Gunslingers, 57-52. Oakland led, 34-7, in the second quarter but didn't clinch the victory until CB Edward Alston knocked down a Tony Smith pass with 20 seconds to play.
• Los Angeles QB Gene Nowlin hit WR Santiago Smith with a 75-yard TD pass with 33 seconds to play, lifting the Express to a surprising 35-32 win over the playoff-bound Pittsburgh Maulers.
• The Denver Gold went on a 10-play drive that killed out the final 3:28 of its 20-16 win over the Boston Breakers.
• Birmingham WR Thomas Moore caught a 72-yard scoring strike from QB Joseph Cantwell early in the fourth quarter to take a 26-21 lead over the Georgia Force. Georgia drove to the Birmingham 13 in the final 2 minutes, but turned the ball over on downs.
• The Shreveport Steamer will try to nail down a playoff berth with a Monday Night Football win over the Washington Federals this week. The Pittsburgh Maulers host the Baltimore Stars and the New Jersey Generals are at Boston in Sunday Night Football regional telecasts, also with postseason implications.