1985 Season Preview

Tony Dean, QB, Hosuton Gamblers (12)

In some divisions of the USFL/WFL, you should consider yourself lucky just to have survived the 16-game regular season. In some divisions, you can aspire to a little bit more in the future while beginning to rest your starters somewhere around Week 8 or Week 9.

The Houston Gamblers and New Jersey Generals, both defending division champions, have alternated league championships over the last four seasons. Houston won World Bowl XI by defeating the Generals, 27-23. There are no USFL/WFL franchises with three championships yet—Houston, New Jersey, the Detroit Wheels, and Memphis Showboats all have two.

Before the playoffs, of course,  come the division races. Some of them will be VERY interesting this season. Some of them, not so much. Let's go division-by-division, with the most interesting first and the least interesting last.

Atlantic Division

The four teams in this division seem to spend all season exchanging places. A four-way tie in the standings occurs pretty often during those 16 games. All that parity leaves these teams exhausted when the playoffs begin, however—no Atlantic Divison team has played for a league championship since the Pittsburgh Maulers lost to the Oakland Invaders in World Bowl II.

That almost changed last season. New head coach 4343 took over the Baltimore Stars (11-5) and led them to nine wins in the last 10 games and a spot opposite New Jersey in the National Conference championship game. No telling what will happen when 4343 has control of the team for an entire season. The Washington Federals (11-5) tied Baltimore for the division title before falling to the Stars in the wild-card game. Joe Richardson is back for his 12th season as Washington's starting QB. The Pittsburgh Maulers (9-7) would be right there if they had Richardson, or someone like him, at QB. Over the last three seasons, Ryan Tate and Scott Deal have combined for 63 TD passes and 78 interceptions. The Charlotte Hornets (7-9) are still looking for their first-ever playoff appearance, but seem to be getting closer all the time. Charlotte started the season 4-1, but finished up by losing seven of its last nine.

Midwest Division

The Detroit Wheels (14-2) ended last season on a 14-game win streak and earned the top seed in the American Conference playoffs, falling to Houston in the conference championship game. Then, things went all sideways. Veteran coach eyeballll, who had led the Wheels to 10 playoff appearances in 11 seasons, left to enjoy warmer weather while taking on a rebuilding project with the Florida Blazers. The AI took over the team for a day, leading to a bunch of bad contracts and cap issues. A new coach, fhunt3, volunteered to clean up the mess.

Until that cleanup is complete, Detroit is liable to return to being part of what has, in recent seasons, been a four-way dogfight in the Midwest Division. The Michigan Panthers (10-6) have made the playoffs twice in the last three seasons and the team's stars haven't yet reached retirement age. If the Panthers stop shooting themselves in the foot at critical moments, they could be the favorites to unseat the Wheels. The Cleveland Thunderbolts (9-7) have made four playoff appearances and always seem to be right in the thick of things at the end of the season. The Chicago Blitz (7-9) were 5-2 before dropping seven of their next eight and dropping out of the playoff race. If Chicago can find a way to score, it will win—the Blitz failed to reach double figures in all nine of their losses.

Southeast Division

The Jacksonville Bulls (12-4) have won the last four division titles, and they are likely to make it five in a row—but, suddenly, they need to keep an eye in the rear-view mirror. The Tampa Bay Bandits (5-11) were 5-3 during the second half of the 1984 season and former No. 1 pick QB Melvin Driggers is likely to be a year older and a year wiser. The Florida Blazers (3-13) haven't made the playoffs since winning the first World Bowl. However, the Blazers convinced veteran coach eyeballll to leave Ypsilanti and come to Orlando (some serious arm-twisting going on there). The Orlando Renegades (2-14) need to start making a move to keep up with the Joneses of their division.

South Division

Like the Southeast, things are likely to get REAL interesting in this division. The Birmingham Stallions (13-3) will be favored to win their third consecutive division title. But the New Orleans VooDoo (10-6) surprised everyone by earning a playoff spot in head coach shavar's first season in MFN. And in the offseason, New Orleans got an early Christmas present in the form of QB James Perry, who was let go by Memphis despite being the league's offensive MVP last season. The Georgia Force (5-11) are well down the road in their rebuilding process and the Shreveport Steamer (6-10) continue to make moves in an attempt to return to the playoffs after missing out the last three seasons. Shreveport had taken part in five consecutive postseasons before that string of frustration began.

Pacific Division

The Honolulu Hawaiians (13-3) have won four division titles in the last five seasons, but are still seeking playoff success (0-5 in postseason games). The Los Angeles Express (9-7) are always in the playoff hunt and are the only team to finish ahead of the Hawaiians over the last five seasons. A three-game losing streak to end the 1984 season cost LAX another playoff berth. The Southern California Sun (5-11) took a leap forward under new head coach OffensiveTaco. The Sun may soon be preparing for the first playoff game in franchise history thanks to RB Nicholas Witrock, the league's Offensive Rookie of the Year last season. The San Jose SaberCats (4-12) haven't had a winning record since the league's first season and will likely have to settle for being spoilers again this time around. Hey, the SaberCats did sweep SoCal last season.

West Division

The Denver Gold (12-4) have won the last four division crowns, but coming up fast are the Arizona Wranglers (9-7), who went on a five-game win streak late in the season and just missed the playoffs. Jerry Montalvo is back for a 14th and final season as the league's highest-paid QB ($18.43 million this season, which was not the current coach's decision). The Portland Storm (4-12) suffered through the first losing season in franchise history, but are hoping a youth movement will eventually pay dividends. The Oakland Invaders (2-14) will showcase the league's No. 1 overall draft pick, MLB Victory Thomas.

Southwest Division

The Houston Gamblers (13-3) earned their second championship in three seasons. The only significant offseason loss for Houston was CB Mike Williams, who retired. The Memphis Showboats (10-6) are undergoing a transformation under new head coach InfinityOnTrial. Memphis cut last year's league offensive MVP, QB James Perry, and traded away CBs Steven Minton and James Byler, FS John Zendejas, SLB Mark Meyer. The San Antonio Gunslingers (6-10) were the playoff hunt before losing five of their last six and might be preparing to move closer to the top of the division. The Oklahoma Outlaws (5-11) are preparing for their third season under CoachNorm, and that added degree of stability could go a long way.

East Division

The New Jersey Generals (12-4) have won seven consecutive division championships—including last season, when they played the entire second half of their regular-season schedule without a health RB. Over the last four seasons, New Jersey is 23-1 against East Division foes, the lone loss coming against Philadelphia in the 1982 season opener. The New York Stars (9-7) won six of their last seven in 1984 and fell only one game short of making the playoffs. The Philadlephia Bell (5-11) fell off the face of the earth after stringing together four consecutive winning seasons. The Boston Breakers (4-12) swept Philadelphia and knocked off playoff-bound Michigan. Boston keeps getting younger and better, but still has a ways to travel.

1985 Training Camp Roundup

The biggest gamble of the first round turned out to be the biggest bust of hte first round. A guy named  Bustamante busted (who would have guessed) and the second round provided an unprecidented degree of craziness when the training camp results from the 1985 draft were posted Wednesday.

Juan Bonnett, CB (ret.)

The Florida Blazers rolled the dice on 70-vol CB Michael Samson with the third pick of the draft and did not exactly roll a 7. Samson lost 9 points from his potential, dropping it to a default 72.

Samson brings to mind The Curse of Juan Bonnett. Houston took the CB with the fifth pick of the first round in 1975 and he immediately dropped 11 points, bottoming out at 52 overall at the time of his retirement. Bonnett still managed to stay in the league 10 seasons with four teams and The Curse of Juan Bonnett did not prevent the Denver Gold from making the playoffs twice during his stay there. Samson still has 89 speed and 60-plus coverage skills, so, like Bonnett, he could also have a long, if not distinguished, career.

The Pittsburgh Maulers made Nathan BUST-amente the second QB taken in the draft at pick 1-18. And, true to his name, BUST-amentre dropped six points.

Low volatility did not prevent first-round busts either, as the San Jose SaberCats and New York Stars both had busts with players 30 vol or lower. (For the purpose of this post, we are classifying "booms" and "busts" as swings of 4 or more points in overall potential).

Fullback Patrick Jackson was drafted by Denver, in the first round, then traded to the Portland Storm for picks in the second and fourth rounds next season. Jackson made Storm coach Pernbronze look like the genius we have always known he is when Jackson's potential climbed six points, the biggest boom of the first round.

The second round was insanity—19 of the 32 picks either boomed or busted. The first pick in the round, Orlando Renegades WLB Paul Smith, set the tone when he dropped 7 points. The Blazers felt a little better about things when, two picks later, WR Arthur Devore climbed five points.

The Birmingham Stallions had back-to-back busts at picks 26 and 30 in the second round. The Philadelphia Bell took 100-vol RB Ronnie Walts at 2-9 and saw him drop 17 points, But, four picks later, the Shreveport Steamer took another RB, 98-vol Orville Barker, and Barker boomed by 7 points.

The biggest boom of the first two rounds belonged to Honolulu Hawaiians CB Roger Skinner, who climbed 10 points at pick 2-28 and now has 81 potential.

First Round

Busts
1-3, Matthew Samson, CB, Florida, 70 vol, -9
1-5, Larry Nicols, RDE, San Jose, 30 vol, -7
1-18, Nathan Bustamante, QB, Pittsburgh, 58 vol, -6
1-21, Reginald Hatfield, LDE, New York, 24 vol, -5
Booms
1-19, Edward Tillis, CB, Los Angeles, 62 vol, +4
1-22, Jerry Green, SLB, Michigan, 62 vol, +4
1-26, Patrick Jackson, FB, Denver/Portland, 94 vol, +6
1-29, Courtney Wright, WLB, Baltimore, 70 vol, +4

Second Round

Busts
2-1, Paul Smith, WLB, Orlando, 80 vol, -7
2-4, Gary Williams, SS, Georgia, 58 vol, -6
2-6, Gus Powell, WR, Baltimore, 98 vol, -17
2-7, Irving Lee, DT, New Orleans, 52 vol, -7
2-9, Ronnie Waltz, RB, Philadelphia, 100 vol, -17
2-11, Jose Nunez, LG, Detroit, 84 vol, -8
2-24, Ronnie Perez, LG, Washington, 34 vol, -5
2-22. Kendrick Mobley, FS, Tampa Bay, 42 vol, -4
2-26, Roger White, MLB, Birmingham, 66 vol, -6
2-30, John Olivera, WR, Birmingham, 52 vol, -8
2-32, Albert Buckland, RB, Houston, 82 vol, -6
Booms
2-3, Arthur Devore, WR, Florida, 88 vol, +5
2-5, Nicholas Dorey, WR, Michigan, 82 vol, +7
2-8, Wilmer Kimble, QB, Southern California, 68 vol, +8
2-10, Anthony Heredia, CB, Denver, 78 vol, +6
2-13, Orville Barker, RB, Shreveport, 98 vol, +7
2-14, Jackie Becker, RDE, Charlotte, 94 vol, +8
2-21, Paul Bieber, LG, Oakland, 74 vol, +4
2-28, Roger Skinner, CB, Honolulu, 90 vol, +10

Hiebert, Curcio join USFL/WFL Hall of Fame

The USFL/WFL's all-time leading rusher and its leading tackler are now members of the league's Hall of Fame.

Patrick Hiebert

Oklahoma Outlaws RB Patrick Hiebert and Washington Federals MLB Travis Curcio were inducted by having received 75 percent or more of the votes cast by the league's coaches. Hiebert was named on 30 of 32 ballots, while Curcio received 24 votes—exactly the number needed for 75 percent.

Only one other player in Hall of Fame history has been named on all but two ballots—Birmingham Stallions QB Agustin Crook, who received 28 of 30 votes for the inaugural class in 1981.

Hiebert ran for more than 10,000 yards rushing in his 10 seasons, helping the Outlaws qualify for the playoffs five times int hat span. He was named All-Pro twice and also ranks among the league's best in rushing TDs (No. 3), total yards (No. 6) and total TDs (No. 6).

Travis Curcio

Curcio qualified in his second year of eligibility. He retired following the 1983 season, having accumulated a league-record 967 tackles. Curcio's 140 tackles in 1978 stood as a single-season record until 1983. He played on some bad teams but also helped lead the Federals to three playoff appearances during his final four seasons.

Seventeen other players received at least 25 percent of the vote and will remain on the 1986 ballot. Five players received less than 25 percent and will be removed from next season's voting.

For final vote totals, click on the image below to enlarge:

1985 Offseason Roundup

Victor Thomas, MLB, Oakland Invaders

There is rarely such a thing as a "can't-miss" draft pick, but the Oakland Invaders and Orlando Renegades found a couple of them atop the first round of the 1985 draft.

The Invaders only had to look a few miles down the road to find former California MLB Victor Thomas with the first overall pick in the draft. Thomas has potential of 80-plus at every defensive position except CB—and only 10 volatility. His 84 speed and 6-foot-1, 242-pound frame make him ideal for the pass coverage skills needed for LBs in the current version.

The Renegades weren't with a prospect who is not far behind in former Texas Longhorn MLB Luis Fellows, He also has only 10 volatility and has 80-plus potential at every LB position. His 74 speed and 100-potential coverage skills also make Fellows an ideal coverage LB.

The Invaders, New York Stars, and Portland Storm all made two first-round picks Tuesday.

The riverboat gamblers among us, who went with the highest-volatility picks, proved to be the Florida Blazers (1-3, CB Matthew Samson, 70 VOL), New Orleans VooDoo (1-23, DT Curtis Taylor, 86 VOL), Denver Gold (1-26, RB Patrick Jackson, 94), Baltimore Stars (1-29, WLB Courtney Wright, 70 VOL), and Houston Gamblers (1-32, TE Wesley Hull, 88 VOL).

The draft continues through Friday night.

Free Agency

Mario Valencia

Some of the biggest names who changed teams during 1985 free agency ended up in Oakland, Oklahoma, and Shreveport.

The Invaders signed former Houston Gamblers MLB Roderick Carver to a two-year, $37.2 million pact and also added former New Jersey Generals TE Leroy Selmon. The Outlaws were one of nine teams who bid on former Georgia Force LT Jimmy Rice and also won the bidding for former San Antonio Gunslingers QB Tony Smith, who has thrown 72 interceptions over the last four seasons. The Steamer walked away with former Tampa Bay WR Michael Popa and former Detroit and Houston CB David Peralta.

The biggest name in free agency was Mario Valencia, the QB who led Detroit to back-to-back championship earlier in his career. Valencia will spend his final pro season in Los Angeles, his third time around with the Express.

Two well-known former Generals signed with other teams, LDE Bobby Leopold (Southern California) and SLB Jim LeClair (Houston).

Retirements

Consult your Hall of Fame ballot for more details, but notable retirements included:

• RB Patrick Hiebert, OKL
• CB Bradley Martinez, PIT
• CB Mike Williams, NJG
• CB Carlos Turner, LAX
• WR Randy Christmas, BLT
• FS Brent Sylvain, HON