The first half of the regular season has been a mixed bag for the Birmingham Stallions.
They started with a tough loss to the D.C. Defenders.
Then, they went on a three-game winning streak, followed by a tough loss to the Memphis Showboats.
The story of the season has been injuries. Case Cookus, the third-string QB to start the season, started against Memphis.
The offensive line lineup has shifted so many times due to injury that it’s hard to keep track of who’s playing at any given time.
Missed games aren’t all due to injury. Four players have missed a game this year due to the birth of a baby.
The team hopes for more continuity as the season goes on. Despite the struggles, they are still tied for first place in the USFL Conference.
Before we get into the second half of the season, let’s take a little time to talk about the standout performers from the 1st half.
Offense
Coming into the season, everyone knew Deon Cain was one of the most talented WRs in the league. He hasn’t disappointed.
He’s the Stallions’ leading WR through five games, even though he missed one due to the birth of his son.
- 14 catches
- 212 yards
- 2 TDs
His impact can be felt beyond the stats he puts up. He’s a legitimate downfield threat, which also opens room for his teammates to work.
Honorable Mentions
Matt Corral
Matt Corral has gotten better with each start. His stats through 3 games are improving.
- 53.7% completions
- 648 yards passing
- 4 TD’s
- 91 yards rushing
The biggest reason I didn’t pick him as the mid-season MVP is that he’s only played three games. And, he hasn’t taken care of the ball (4 ints).
Ricky Person Jr.
This is a case of the numbers not telling the whole story.
- 36 rushes
- 136 yards
- 1 td
Ricky Person Jr. is averaging 3.8 yards per carry. That doesn’t look good on paper, but anyone who has watched the game knows that he’s running well. He consistently gains yards after contact.
If given more opportunities to carry the ball, he will put up even better numbers in the second half of the season.
Defense
Picking the defensive MVP is impossible.
There are at least four great options.
To be honest, if you disagree with me, I won’t argue with you at all.
For me, Steven Gilmore is the defensive MVP of the season so far.
He hasn’t been perfect. He’s given up plenty of yards and a couple of touchdowns.
But, he’s been targeted a lot and he’s stood up to the test more often than not.
- 21 tackles
- 1 tfl
- 8 pass breakups
He has the biggest trait you look for in a corner, a short memory. Even when things don’t go his way, he stays confident and aggressive, and that’s allowed him to make some big plays this season.
Honorable Mention(s)
Kyava Tazino
Tazino is a tackling machine. He leads the team with 31 tackles, including 2 TFLs.
A.J. Thomas
Thomas does a little bit of everything for the Stallions.
- 28 tackles
- 2 tfls
- 1 int
- 3 pass breakups
Bradlee Anae
Sometimes it feels like Anae lives in the offensive backfield. His 5 TFLs and 4 sacks both lead the team.
Special Teams
There is no question about this one.
Harrison “the Thiccer Kicker” Mevis has put together a strong season.
He’s currently 10/11 on field goals.
He’s not making a bunch of chip shots, either.
- His only miss (63 yards)
- Kicks from 40+ (6–7)
A kicker with his accuracy and range is a legitimate weapon any team would be happy to have. With the offense struggling with consistency, it’s nice to know they have a shot at points even if they don’t quite finish a drive.
Mevis has been so impressive this season that Coach Holtz didn’t even hesitate to give him a shot from 63 yards out. In hindsight, that didn’t end well. But most coaches wouldn’t even try from that distance.
If Harrison Mevis can keep up his level of play, he’s likely to get another shot at the NFL.
