1979 Training Camp Report

James Sheckler, WR, New Orleans VooDoo

When looking at the 1979 USFL/WFL, the high volatility ratings among the top players immediately stood out. And, when the smoke cleared after training camp, that high volatility led to perhaps the biggest failure rate among first-round picks in league history.

Of the 32 first-rounders, 14 experienced drops in potential of 5 or more points. That meant nearly half the league's coaches bemoaned their losses after camp.

Chicago Blitz coach CrimsonWolfZ saw both of his first-rounders bust, a combined minus-17. And their volatility was "only" 62 and 66, which doesn't sound all that risky.

Now, 100 volatility does sound risky. The Houston Gamblers and Honolulu Hawaiians rolled the dice on 100-vol players and lost, as WLB Thomas Esparza and RB Shane Esquivel both took losses of 23 points during camp.

The Charlotte Hornets and Cleveland Thunderbolts joined Chicago atop the awards stand for the Most Miserable Camp award. Charlotte's QB at No. 3 overall and WLB at No. 2 in the second round both busted. The Thunderbolts also took a punch to the gut in both the first and second rounds.

Not all was gloom and doom in USFL-Land, however.

The Gamblers saw busts in the first and second rounds, but also had players boom in both rounds. The Detroit Wheels (of course) and Baltimore Stars both took players in the second round who climbed 6 points and could be in the starting lineup for a long time. The New York Stars and New Orleans VooDoo both took WRs in the first round who boomed and could become their QB's primary targets. James Sheckler, a WR from Texas, climbed 4 points after joining the VooDoo — the biggest gain of any first-rounder.

Notable First-Round Busts

1-3 Stanley Snyder, QB, Charlotte Hornets, -5
1-5, Ronnie Davila, CB, New York Stars, -5
1-6, Gregory Garrison, CB, Denver Gold, -8
1-7, Robert Tate, WLB, Chicago Blitz, -7
1-13, Thomas Esparza, WLB, Houston Gamblers, -23
1-14, Prince Buster, DT, San Antonio Gunslingers, -10
1-18, William Downing, RG, Michigan Panthers, -14
1-19, Shane Esquivel, RB, Honolulu Hawaiians, -23
1-21, Joey Walker, WR, Chicago Blitz, -10
1-22, Claude Rose, LG, San Jose SaberCats, -5
1-27, Edward Costa, RG, Cleveland Thunderbolts, -9
1-29, Arthur Powell, RDE, Orlando Renegades, -9
1-30, William Betancourt, CB, Oakland Invaders, -5
1-32, Edward Hill, WR, Los Angeles Express, -5

Notable Second-Round Busts

2-2, Rex Clark,WLB, Charlotte Hornets, -13
2-12, Quincy Turley, TE, Houston Gamblers, -11
2-22, Monte Rader, DT, Shreveport Steamer, -8
2-23, Charles Sledge, FS Oklahoma Outlaws, -8
2-26, Dan Fredericks, TE, Southern Calif. Sun, -15
2-27, Joel Lilly, C, Cleveland Thunderbolts, -9
2-28, Boss Hogg, LT, New Jersey Generals, -8

Notable First-Round Booms

1-16, Robert Freese, WR, New York Stars, +3
1-17, Oscar Willis, QB, Southern Calif. Sun, +3
1-20, James Sheckler, WR, New Orleans VooDoo, +4
1-25, Philip King, CB, Houston Gamblers, +3
1-28, Rudi Johnson, RB, New Jersey Generals, +3

Notable Second-Round Booms

2-4, Christopher Jarman, LG, Houston Gamblers, +3
2-8, Edgar Jones, QB, Baltimore Stars, +6
2-24, Eric Geiser, MLB, Detroit Wheels, +6
2-31, Virgil Tindell, LDE, Tampa Bay Bandits, +3