Studying the Cornerbacks

Barry Litchford, Florida Blazers (20)

I have always believed cornerback is the most important position in MFN. Teams throw the ball a lot ... not because they love to do so (I know I don't), but because it seems to be the most effective approach in the current iteration of the game.

I only searched players who were actually playing cornerback at the time I did the search (their position would be CB in parentheses when you do a player search). The weights are mine. CB1, CB2, CB3 were based on ratings only. Each team had at least three corners, with three exceptions: the Arizona Wranglers and Cleveland Thunderbolts only had one each and the Houston Gamblers only had two. I am not sure why. Most of the league's more successful teams have five or more CBs. on their rosters.

Here are the averages:

Average CB: 62.84
Average CB1: 75.00
Average CB2: 66.43
Average CB3: 59.00
Average CB4+: 55.02

Robert Newton, New Orleans VooDoo (22)

Top four CB1: John Borkowski, Orlando Renegades, 94; David Peralta, Detroit Wheels, 92; Barry Litchford, Florida Blazers, 91; Robert Newton, New Orleans VooDoo, 88.

Top four CB2: Bradley Mondragon, Detroit Wheels, and Larry Ackman, New Orleans VooDoo, 85; Maurice Matzke, Los Angeles Express, 79; Rick Edwards, Orlando Renegades, and Robert Gonzales, Chicago Blitz, 74.

Top four CB3: Chuck Johnson, Detroit Wheels, 79; Robert Gutierrez, Orlando Renegades, 73; James Olsen, Florida Blazers, 71; Al Schwartz, New Orleans VooDoo, Mike Williams, New Jersey Generals, and Ray Ruiz, Portland Storm, 69.

Here are the combined average ratings for the top three CBs for each team (Arizona and Cleveland excluded; I entered Houston's CB2 twice to get an average):

Team/Avg. Detroit Wheels 85.33 New Orleans VooDoo 80.67 Orlando Renegades 80.33 Florida Blazers 77.67 Los Angeles Express 73.33 New Jersey Generals 73.33 Pittsburgh Maulers 73.00 Michigan Panthers 72.00 Portland Storm 71.00 Baltimore Stars 70.33 Chicago Blitz 70.33 Georgia Force 70.33 Jacksonville Bulls 70.33 Shreveport Steamer 68.00 Birmingham Stallions 67.33 Southern California Sun 66.67 Philadelphia Bell 65.33 Houston Gamblers 64.33 New York (NY) Stars 64.33 Oakland Invaders 64.33 Washington Federals 64.00 Oklahoma Outlaws 62.67 San Antonio Gunslingers 59.33 Charlotte Hornets 59.00 Boston Breakers 57.67 San Jose SaberCats 57.67 Denver Gold 55.67 Honolulu Hawaiians 55.67 Memphis Showboats 55.33 Tampa Bay Bandits 49.00

Playoff Preview and All-Pro Ballot

Les Lacy, QB, Oakland

All-Pro Ballot is Up!

Please vote for our 1975 All-Pro Team. The ballot is ready to go. I have included just a brief stats summary for each player, so please take the time to peruse those and choose the most deserving candidates.

At the end of the survey, please write in your choices for Offensive MVP, Defensive MVP, and Coach of the Year. I sort of forgot to include Coach of the Year last season, but I am sure you guys would have voted for me just to jinx my Florida Blazers team in the playoffs (ha ha). I will pick the punter and kicker, since Survey Monkey limits us to 10 questions for the free version.

I will leave this ballot open until I see the responses dropping off, then I will give everyone one more day to finish up. You can find the survey here.

Mike Williams, CB, NJ

Last year's co-MVPs on offense, QBs Agustin Cook and Daniel McKee, are back on the ballot this time. The voting is liable to be much tighter this time. The leading candidates might include Oakland Invaders QB Les Lacy and San Antonio Gunslingers WR Donnie Baker.

Last year's defensive MVP, John Cintron of the Shreveport Steamer, is not on the ballot this time. Cintron suffered a knee injury in Week 8 and was not as dominant the rest of the way, finishing with fewer than half of the tackles he recorded in 1974 (54 to 121) and allowing 62 percent completions instead of 33. This year's leading candidates might include San Antonio MLB Jonathan Neal, Oakland CB Edward Alston and New Jersey CB Mike Williams.

Playoff Preview

The Chicago Blitz (15-1) and Oakland Invaders (14-2) will receive first-round byes in the American Conference. The only Chicago starter who appears questionable for the second round is center Ron Stanfill. Oakland should be 100 percent healthy for the second round.

The Blitz will meet the Portland-Honolulu winner. MFN picks the Storm by 3 points. The teams did not meet during the regular season. Portland won, 13-10, during the 1974 regular season. Six Honolulu starters are questionable for this game, while Portland enters the game with its starting lineup intact.

Jonathan Neal, MLB, San Antonio

The Detroit Wheels and San Antonio Gunslingers square off for the right to meet Oakland. The teams did not meet during the regular season, but San Antonio won, 22-17, in 1974. MFN calls this matchup even. San Antonio should have all of its starters ready, while Detroit will be missing SLB Edward Flores.

The Georgia Force (15-1) and Pittsburgh Maulers (13-3) received first-round byes in the National Conference. Georgia is likely to be without one starting OL and one backup OL for the next round. Pittsburgh might be missing LT Herman Winn and CB George Rice.

The Jacksonville Bulls host the Birmingham Stallions for the right to meet Georgia. The teams did not meet this season, but Jacksonville won, 17-3, in 1974. The Bulls are a 3-point favorite according to MFN. Birmingham will likely play without injured LG Earl Murtagh, a 1974 All-Pro. Jacksonville will be missing starting LT James McManus and SLB Andres Neal.

The New Jersey Generals are a 1-point favorite by MFN against the Shreveport Steamer in the other first-round game, with the winner to face Pittsburgh. Shreveport won, 35-23, during the regular season. CB Gregory Johnson is the only significant injury for New Jersey, and Shreveport will likely be without DT James Courtney.

Coach's Profile

User Name: Wolveraider
Team: Oakland Invaders
Playing MFN Since: 12/25/16 (Really? I had nothing better to do on Christmas?)
Hometown (town, state): Muskegon, MI

Wolveraider

Current residence (town, state): Same
Day job: Bus driver
Favorite teams (all sports): Michigan Wolverines and Oakland Raiders fan. I saw the Raiders on TV when I was 10 years old, the Silver and Black, Stabler, Casper, Tatum, Branch etc. I knew that was the team for me. Grew up a Michigan fan and will pretty much watch any sport that they are competing in, from women's softball to football. When I watch hockey, I pull for the Red Wings.
A real-life sports experience: High school football, we were playing a team that always competed for state championships and always kicked our butt. We played the game of our lives and I got a strip sack in the end zone, my teammate recovered the fumble for the winning TD (ah ... the glory days).
Coach's Corner: (tip for a new MFN coach): Watch the games (especially if your new). Maybe it's just me, but when I first started playing I thought, "I'm not going to watch these little circles run around" (having been spoiled by Madden graphics), but it will help you learn the game and how the plays really work in a way that you can't by just looking at the numbers. Not to mention that once you are invested in your team and players, these games can be downright grab the nachos and a beer exciting.
I'm going to beat this dead horse...scout your own playbook. Too often I scout a team's offense and they are using Run Play A and averaging 1.1 ypc and they've been doing it all season or longer. Switch it up. Also be a copycat. Study the plays the good teams are using and the personnel they use to do it. Good luck! (because just like in real football, you're going to need that sometimes too).

Week 15: Big Wheels Keep On Turnin'

Week 15 Roundup 

Henry Prieto, QB, Detroit Wheels

Fans tore down the goalposts in Ypsilanti on Saturday after Detroit QB Henry Prieto threw a 53-yard TD pass to WR Rigoberto Gonzales in overtime to give the Wheels a 23-17 victory over Chicago, the first loss of the season for the Blitz.

The Blitz hadn't lost a regular-season game since falling, 10-9, to Detroit in Week 13 of the 1974 season, a span of 17 games.

The Wheels led, 17-3, in the fourth quarter, but Chicago QB Daniel McKee threw a pair of TD passes to TE Michael Leonard, the second with 1:29 to play when McKee threaded a pass between three defenders. Detroit took the kickoff and Prieto threw to RB Robert Costello for 22 yards before finding Gonzales behind the Chicago secondary for the game-winner.

Wheels CB Chuck Johnson made 12 tackles and RDE Juan Frigo sacked McKee three times.

• The Wheels (10-5) pulled a game ahead of Oklahoma (9-6) for the final American Conference playoff spot when the Outlaws were upset, 30-13, by the Memphis Showboats. The Memphis defense intercepted three passes and Showboats QB Joseph Cantwell was 18-for-22 for 311 yards and two TDs, including an 85-yarder to WR Gerard Hall. Detroit ends the season with a game at Los Angeles, while the Outlaws host the Boston Breakers.
•  The Shreveport Steamer nailed down the final National Conference playoff spot by shutting out the Baltimore Stars, 23-0. Shreveport limited the Stars to six first downs and Baltimore QB Victor Gorman ended the game with a 12.36 QB rating as Gorman was picked off three times and sacked seven times, three times by RDE Oscar Rodriguez.
•  The Georgia Force clinched the South Division title with a wild 72-41 win over the Birmingham Stallions. The Force pulled away in the second half after leading, 35-28, at intermission. Georgia rolled up 706 yards total offense as QBs Phillip Anderson and Dominique Holmes combined to throw for 586 yards and seven TDs.
• The Portland Storm rallied from a 21-3 halftime deficit to edge the Cleveland Thunderbolts, 27-21. Portland TE Ivory Villaneuva and WR Michael Black combined for 226 yards receiving and Villanueva caught a 16-yard TD pass from QB William Hill.

Week 16 Preview

Only Detroit and Oklahoma will be playing with postseason berths in doubt. The Portland Storm (11-4) face the Oakland Invaders (14-1), a rematch of Oakland's 37-27 victory two weeks ago. Another rematch sees the New York Stars (1-14) facing the Philadelphia Bell (3-12) two weeks after the Stars snapped their 20-game losing streak by beating the Bell.

Coach's Profile

Coach: BabyHuey
Team: Birmingham Stallions

BabyHuey

Playing MFN Since: July 2017
Hometown (town, state): Holmes Mill, Ky.
Current residence (town, state): Evarts, Ky.
Day job: Coal miner (day job); BBQ pitmaster by weekend. I have competed in Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned cookoffs.
Favorite teams (all sports): Steelers, Bulls (Jordan era baby), Red Sox.
A real-life sports experience: Was an all-state football player in high school, coached grades 4-6 football a couple years.
A fantasy sports experience: I have had a team in some sort of league for about 7 years. Play DraftKings now. A lot of video games really got me on the management-type game. Loved the NCAA football game.
Coach's Corner: (tip for a new MFN coach): Don't pay too much attention to overall rating on players. Find players that fit your own style. Don't give up to soon if you keep losing. Make little changes at a time and you will get better.

Week 14: Invaders are Champions of the West

Week 14 Roundup

Jason Brooks, Oakland Invaders

Oakland was 4-10 when Wolveraider took over as head coach late in the 1974 season. The Invaders finished up with surprise victories over playoff-bound Portland and Denver, which should have given us all a small clue as to what would happen next.

The Invaders improved to 13-1 and clinched the West Division title Thursday with a 37-27 victory over the Portland Storm. The outcome was in doubt until Jason Brooks' clinching 9-yard TD run with 1:57 to go. It was a pretty good day for Brooks, who also bounced off the kicker on his way to a 105-yard return of the opening kickoff and scored another rushing TDs.

Brooks rushed for 139 yards and Christopher Curtis 136 as Oakland tore through Portland's vaunted defensive line and accumulated nearly 500 yards of total offense.The Invaders lead the USFL/WFL in rushing yardage (214 per game)

The teams meet again in Oakland in two weeks to conclude the regular season.

In other Week 14 games:

• The San Antonio Gunslingers earned their second victory over Oklahoma in three weeks, edging the Outlaws, 17-16, on Ronald Hensley's 38-yard field goal on the game's final play. The Gunslingers got the ball back on their own 5 with 1:39 to play and moved to the Outlaws' 19 on eight plays, including QB Tony Smith's 18-yard pass to WR Marshall Gibson that set up the decisive field goal. San Antonio clinched its second consecutive Southwest Division title.
• Oklahoma's loss allowed Detroit to slip into a tie with the Outlaws for the final American Conference playoff spot. The Wheels plundered the Denver Gold, 38-0, as MLB Bobby Wells returned a fumble 11 yards for a TD. Detroit (9-5) finishes it season at home against Chicago (14-0) and at Los Angeles (5-9). Oklahoma finishes its season at Memphis (4-10) and at home against Boston (6-8).
• The Cleveland Thunderbolts are only a game back of Detroit and Oklahoma after beating Florida, 10-3, snuffing out the Blazers' final drive on their 28. The 'Bolts are 8-3 after an 0-3 start, but end the season with road games at Portland (10-4) and Chicago (14-0).
• The unbeaten Blitz continue to toy with the rest of the league, holding out the carrot and then snatching it away. Chicago edged the Michigan Panthers, 16-14, an outcome that was in doubt until Chicago CB Robert Gonzales intercepted a pass with 22 seconds to go. Nine of the Blitz's 14 wins are by 6 points or fewer.
• Orlando appeared to be this Week's Upset Special, taking a 23-7 lead over Birmingham, but backup QB Karl Moore threw a 15-yard TD pass to backup RB Roy Weeks with 1:38 to play, giving the Stallions a 30-29 victory over the Renegades.
• New Jersey SLB John Joyce intercepted a Memphis pass with 13 seconds to go, preserving the Generals' 16-13 win over the Showboats.
• Paul Holder's 36-yard field goal as time expired gave the Jacksonville Bulls a 24-22 win over the Tampa Bay Bandits. The game-winner was preceded one play earlier by Ty Fleming's 49-yard pass completion to WR Johnny Aguilar.
• New York CB Robert Town intercepted a pass with 31 seconds remaining as the Stars snapped their 20-game losing streak with a 14-11 win over the Philadelphia Bell.

Week 15 Preview

The Shreveport Steamer (10-4) will try to put last season's nightmare finish behind them when they travel to Baltimore to face the Stars (8-6). Shreveport, you will recall, missed the 1974 playoffs when they were upset by the Washington Federals on the final day of the regular season. If the Stars win Saturday, and both teams end up 10-6, Baltimore would hold the tie-braker edge over the Steamer with both a head-to-head victory and a better conference record. The South Division crown will be on the line when the Birmingham Stallions (12-2) host the Georgia Force (13-1). The Chicago Blitz (14-0), still chasing an unbeaten season, will travel to Detroit (9-5), which is trying to keep its playoff hopes alive.

Coach's Profile

Hellbriner

User Name: Hellbriner
Team: Michigan Panthers
Playing MFN Since: Summer of 2017
Hometown (town, state): Menominee, MI
Current residence (town, state): Same
Day job: CNC machinist
Favorite teams (all sports): Washington Redskins, Blue Jays, and Michigan Wolverines
A real-life sports experience: Playing special teams my first year in football, 9th grade. I was on the kickoff team, and not really knowing what I was doing, I just ran down, and somehow plowed into the returner, laying him out hard. Everyone was excited and I had no idea how I did it!
Coach's Corner: (tip for a new MFN coach): Keep your playbooks fresh. Swap out plays that aren't working.

Week 13: Shreveport Corrals Stallions

Week 13 Roundup

Fred Murphy, QB, Shreveport (10)

If you were looking for a witty way to report the result, you might say the Steamer took their opponent to the cleaners.

Shreveport earned a huge win in Week 13, solidifying its hold on the final National Conference playoff spot and snapping Birmingham's 10-game win streak by beating the Stallions, 15-10, at State Fair Stadium.

Shreveport scored its only TD on Fred Murphy's 34-yard pass to WR Johnny Brennan. Nine catches for 155 yards was a good day for Brennan, but defense was the key. Stallions QB Agustin Cook was held to 205 yards passing, his fourth-lowest output of the season, and star RB Jordan Devers managed just 49 yards on 14 carries, his lowest output since being traded to the Stallions. CB Gerald Gerrish had eight tackles for Shreveport, which forced Birmingham to turn the ball over on downs on the Steamer 35 with 1:43 to go.

The Stallions (11-2) fell a game behind the Georgia Force (12-1) in the South Division standings. Shreveport (9-4) now leads the Tampa Bay Bandits (7-6) and Baltimore Stars (7-6) by two games for the second Wild Card spot in the National Conference.

In other Week 13 games:

• The Chicago Blitz remained unbeaten and snapped Tampa Bay's six-game win streak by steamrolling the Bandits, 58-21. Chicago WR John Ayala returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a TD and the Blitz led, 31-7, midway through the second quarter. Chicago CB Ronald Williams returned a pickoff 29 yards for a TD, one of six interceptions by the Blitz.
• Baltimore surprised the Atlantic Division-leading Pittsburgh Maulers, 48-33, keeping the Stars' faint playoff hopes alive. Baltimore led, 45-19, early in the third quarter. Stars QB Victor Gorman threw for 512 yards and five TDs and CB Earl Bueno was muy bueno, making nine tackles.
• The Detroit Wheels remained a game back of Oklahoma in the American Conference playoff chase, beating the Florida Blazers, 27-18. Wheels QB Henry Prieto fired three TD passes to help Detroit turn a 12-6 deficit into a 27-12 lead. 
• The Cleveland Thunderbolts are 7-3 since an 0-3 start, beating the Michigan Panthers, 30-9. Cleveland RDE George Ye concluded the scoring by returning an interception 2 yards for a TD.
• Memphis CB James Jones and SS David Asuncion both intercepted three passes during a 20-7 Showboats win over the San Jose SaberCats.
• San Antonio QB Tony Smith threw for 540 yards and six TDs in a 58-7 win over the Southern California Sun.

Week 14 Preview

The Oakland Invaders (12-1) will try to wrap up the West Division title when they travel to Portland to face the Storm (10-3). The Jacksonville Bulls (9-4) will try to wrap up the Southeast Division title with a win at Tampa Bay (7-6). The Oklahoma Outlaws (9-4) can force a tie atop the Southwest Division with a victory at San Antonio (10-3). Something has to give when the Philadelphia Bell (3-10), who have lost seven in a row, travel to New York to face the Stars (0-13), who have lost 20 in a row.

Week 12: San Antonio Keeps Slingin'

Week 12 Roundup

Jonthan Neal, LB. Gunslingers

The San Antonio Gunslingers took over first place in the Southwest Division by outlasting the Oklahoma Outlaws, 35-27. Gunslingers LB Jonathan Neal was credited with 13 tackles and QB Tony Smith threw four TD passes.

San Antonio and Oklahoma meet again in two weeks. The Gunslingers will be heavy favorites in their other three games. Oklahoma meets the Pacific Division-leading Honolulu Hawaiians and San Antonio the next two weeks as the Outlaws (8-4) try to hold off Detroit (7-5) for the final American Conference playoff spot.


In other Week 12 games:

• The Tampa Bay Bandits won their sixth in a row, edging the Michigan Panthers, 16-14. Bandits CB Jeffrey Hollingsworth set up the game-winning field goal with this interception and Michigan gave Tampa Bay a helping hand by punting the ball away with 1:40 to play. Tampa Bay (7-5) is one game back of Shreveport (8-4) for the final National Conference playoff spot.
• The Chicago Blitz won yet another close one, holding off a late comeback by Detroit to beat the Wheels, 29-27, and clinch the Midwest Division. Chicago is 12-0 with eight of those wins coming by 6 points or fewer, including the last four.
• The Florida Blazers scored with 55 seconds to play to take a 17-16 lead over Jacksonville, but the Bulls drove from their 25 to the Florida 25 before Paul Holder kicked a 43-yard field goal on the final play of the game to give Jacksonville a 19-17 win.
• New Jersey Generals QB Doug Fluty threw for 450 yards and six TDs in a 42-16 demolition of the Houston Gamblers. Fluty's big day was not a record, however. Oakland's Lee Lacy threw nine TD passes in a game this season and Vincent Goode of the New Orleans VooDoo threw nine in a game last season. Fluty's six TDs in a game is tied for eighth all-time. Goode holds the single-game passing yardage record with 645.
• The Birmingham Stallions scored six TDs on their first seven possessions (and missed a field goal on the other), scoring all of their points in the first half of a 42-24 victory over the Philadelphia Bell. Birmingham WR Bruno Fredericks caught seven passes for 180 yards and an 86-yard TD.
• The Denver Gold may have knocked Baltimore out of the playoff picture with their 37-19 victory over the Stars. Denver QB Dustin Nichols threw for 421 yards and four TDs.
• Cleveland WLB Wayne Holland returned an interception 36 yards for a TD in the fourth quarter as the Thunderbolts edged the Orlando Renegades, 13-10. Cleveland is 6-3 since an 0-3 start. Orlando has lost 10 in a row.
• The San Jose SaberCats snapped their 10-game losing streak by edging the Los Angeles Express, 29-28. Rookie QB Dave Schmitt threw a TD pass to WR William Kendrick with 1:01 remaining to pull San Jose within 28-26, but the 2-point conversion pass was incomplete. The SaberCats recovered an onside kick and Schmitt found WR Ronald Marshall for a 57-yard completion (on a defensive overuse penalty), setting up Tommie Prather's 18-yard game-winning field goal as time expired. The Express loss clinched the Pacific Division title for the Honolulu Hawaiians.

Week 13 Preview

The Birmingham Stallions (11-1) will try extend their 10-game win streak when they play at Shreveport (8-4), which is clinging to the final National Conference playoff spot. The Oklahoma Outlaws (8-4), also trying to hang on to a postseason berth, travel to the Big Island to face the Hawaiians (7-5). The Tampa Bay Bandits (7-5) will need to knock off the unbeaten Chicago Blitz (12-0) to keep their six-game win streak alive.

Week 11: New Jersey Clinches East Division

Week 11 Roundup

Herschel Walker, New Jersey

New Jersey became the first team to clinch a postseason berth when the Generals edged the Philadelphia Bell, 30-24. The Generals (8-3) are five games ahead of Philadelphia and the Boston Breakers, both 3-8, in the East Division.

Herschel Walker's 3-yard TD run with 6:03 to go gave New Jersey a 28-24 lead and James Lockette concluded the scoring by sacking Bell QB Leo Brixey in the end zone for a safety with 5 seconds to play. New Jersey WR Tom McConnaughey caught four passes for 117 yards, including a 75-yard TD from Doug Fluty.


In other Week 11 games:

• Cleveland (5-6) may not make the playoffs, but they may have a say in who does. The rapidly improving Thunderbolts surprised Southeast Division leader Jacksonville, 16-13, as QB Jerry Montalvo completed passes to eight different receivers.
• Tampa Bay (6-5) won its fifth in a row, edging Orlando, 20-14. The only catch of the day for Bandits RB Paul Joyce was a 79-yard TD from QB Luis Gero.
• The complete collapse of the Boston Breakers is one of the real head-scratchers of the USFL/WFL's second season. Pittsburgh mauled Boston, 61-21, rolling up 702 net yards as Cliff Thomas rushed for 209 yards and John Murray 110 yards and Michael White threw four TD passes.
• Los Angeles Express QB Gene Nowlin threw only six interceptions during the entire 1974 season. Nowlin was intercepted eight times Thursday during a 55-10 loss to the Georgia Force. After the game, coach wayne110 fired himself and was replaced by Jake-Attack03.
• The Chicago Blitz (11-0) won another close one, edging the San Antonio Gunslingers, 23-19, on John Alexander's 4-yard run with 1:36 to go. Chicago drove 91 yards in 10 plays to win. Seven of Chicago's 11 wins are by 6 points or fewer.
• The Birmingham Stallions won their ninth in a row, rallying to edge the Honolulu Hawaiians, 26-19, on Agustin Cook's 87-yard pass to Darius Mace with 1:47 remaining on a defensive overuse penalty.
• The Oklahoma Outlaws (8-3) won their fifth in a row to pull into a first-place tie with San Antonio in the Southwest Division, edging Houston, 23-20. DT Theodore Zeng racked up 11 tackles for Oklahoma.

Coach's Profile

Papa Smirt

User Name: Smirt211
Team: Arizona Wranglers
Playing MFN Since: 5/18/16
Hometown (town, state): New York City
Current residence (town, state): Parlin, NJ
Day job: Accounts receivable manager
Favorite teams (all sports): New York Mets, New York Knicks, New York Giants
A real-life sports experience: Hit a game-winning home run for my high school team.
A fantasy sports experience: Rode the Falcons' Michael Turner to Gordon Gekko-type money for a fantasy title back in the day. :)
Coach's Corner: (tip for a new MFN coach): Always scout both offensive and defensive plays while storing in your memory bank which plays work, don't work and/or are experiencing a sudden pop or conversely have been nerfed.