Every time I start to worry about running out of things to write about, the Birmingham Stallions sign another QB.
Believe it or not, they’ve now had 6 QBs in 6 weeks. That includes 4 that have seen game action.
Andrew Peasley
Just last week, Stallions fans were introduced to Andrew Peasley.
Peasley was a two-year starter at the University of Wyoming. After college, he spent time with the NY Jets.
The UFL seemed like a good chance for him to work his way back to the NFL.
He played well in his first UFL action.
- 5–8 passing (62.5%)
- 79 yards
Unfortunately, he also got injured.
There’s no word yet on how serious it is, but it’s serious enough that the Stallions signed another QB to replace him for now.
Jalen Morton
QB #6 is a familiar face in Birmingham.
Jalen Morton spent time with the Stallions in 2023. Before that, he spent time with the Packers and Colts in the NFL and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Canada.
This season, he’s been playing in the AF1 for the Southwest Kansas Storm. Before leaving the Storm, there was quite a bit of MVP buzz surrounding his play.
The hope is that Case Cookus will play well enough that Morton doesn’t see the field. But if called on, he’ll be ready. He has some familiarity with the system, and he’s been playing all year (albeit at a lower level).
Help Coming
What about Corral and McGough?
At the post-game press conference, Coach Holtz offered an update on their status.
Corral just went on IR, which ends his regular season at the very least.
McGough is eligible to return next week. Whether or not he will be ready is yet to be seen, but his return would be a boost.
He struggled in his one start of the season, but he’s a former USFL MVP for a reason.
Last Man Standing
Through all the QB injury turmoil, there’s been one constant: Case Cookus.
Cookus is the only QB left from the start of the season.
By the looks of it, Cookus is just starting to heat up.
His first start was rough at times. But he looked much more comfortable last week:
- 16–23
- 166 yards
- 2 tds
- 0 ints
The biggest number from that stat line is 0 ints. It marked the first time all year that Birmingham didn’t throw an interception.
For now, it looks like Cookus will have to keep the Stallions’ offense afloat.
The good news is that both the defense and special teams units have been playing lights out. If they keep that up, all Cookus has to do is take care of the ball, and the team will have a chance.
Regardless of who is at QB, the offensive line needs to play better. After going 3 weeks without allowing a sack, they’ve allowed 7 in the last two games.
Coach Skip Holtz
Coach Holtz has done an incredible job getting the Stallions ready to play each week despite the revolving door at QB.
It’s not all good, though. The number of penalties has been high all season. That includes the 10 last week against San Antonio. That’s something the team will need to clean up as they make a run at the playoffs.
Coach Holtz has done a great job for years. It stands out in a league that’s seen quite a bit of coaching turnover recently.
Birmingham’s coaching consistency is the reason they can resign guys like J’Mar Smith and Morton, who played for the team previously. The head coach and the system are largely the same, allowing them to get up to speed quickly.
