The St. Louis Battlehawks Offensive Line, Kicker Matt McCrane of the DC Defenders, and Linebacker Anthony Hines of the DC Defenders were named United Football League Week One Players of the Week.
OFFENSE: St. Louis Battlehawks Offensive Line
The Battlehawks offensive line, dubbed the “Knights of Colombo”, are coached by Marc Colombo and is made up of LT Jaryd Jones-Smith, LG Steven Gonzales, C Mike Panasiuk, RG Abdul Beecham, and RT Juwann Bushell-Beatty. They helped lead St. Louis to their first win of the season, a 31-6 victory over the Houston Roughnecks. The team registered 31 first downs en route to setting new franchise records with 273 rushing yards and 460 total offensive yards.
SPECIAL TEAMS: K, Matt McCrane, DC Defenders
Kicker Matt McCrane tied a team record kicking four field goals in a game, to help the Defenders win at home against the defending UFL Champions, Birmingham Stallions, 18-11. McCrane sealed the win with a 53-yard field goal with 1:50 left in the game.
DEFENSE: LB, Anthony Hines, DC Defenders
Linebacker Anthony Hines recorded a total of six solo tackles, two sacks, and two tackles for a loss this past Sunday to help the Defenders take their first win of the season.
Recognized for defending homes against insects and keeping lawns and landscapes clear of weeds and pests, Ortho® is now taking its defensive game to the gridiron as the official sponsor of the UFL Defensive Player of the Week Award.
The Ortho® brand is under the umbrella of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, the world’s largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. Ortho® has a longtime reputation of aligning with key players within the sports and entertainment industry, which has included sponsorships with NASCAR and Biffle’s Roush Fenway.
1 Comment
by Ken Granito
10 Musings about the UFL this week:
1. My girlfriend, Vicki and I sat with Matt’s McCrew (That’s what I am going to call them). They were a great group of Defenders’ fans that were fans of McCrane and Paxton Brooks who practice kicks right into their nets right in front of where we sat (they sit). As the group were awesome people and they spoke of how nice McCrane and company were my top-spot goes to McCrane and I am happy he got this honor this week. I saw you kick last year and now Sunday too. You have the chops. Good luck & keep it up!
2. Happy to see Luis Perez & company get out of the gates in a good way. He had fantastic numbers last year, but this year has his first win six weeks earlier than last year and for the first time is in first place. All this an I am getting your book too. I already read the sample and although I am 56 and not really looking for a self-help book, I see lots of good in it. God bless your parents for seeing your worth from such an early age for you and an early age for them. Sometimes you see it too late. Getting back, I feel you take away that 77 yard run and Luis would have had closer to 200 yards passing, but why would you give up that thing of beauty. When he ran against the Jets, I never feared Ballage, but I have to admit I was so happy to see him bust that play. Maybe the Dolphins O-Line always found it easier to pass block and wasn’t as up for the run-blocking. Good luck Mr. Ballage.
3. I hated to see Skip Holtz mail it in. Calling for 14 designed runs against 37 drop back passes in a one score game makes me wonder what Holtz’ ulterior motive was. It wasn’t to take each game and try to be 1-0, because he certainly did not coach to win.
4. Better for the UFPA to hand the Rock the note instead of advertising they were going to hand the Rock the note. Don’t you think? This league is all about advertising and theatre, not doing, even the PA. Now you will NEVER really know if he disrespects you or if he really had plane trouble. Either way it was just another bush league play by the association. I understand you must be desperate to take an approach like this, but maybe like Pete Alonso had to distance himself from his agent to get a deal done with the Mets, you need to distance yourself from this players association or the players association needs to look in the mirror. This approach is just killing the league, yes the league your players play for. Players, please look in the mirror and if you will never do this again, play the best football you can so you can 1. get a chance with the NFL or CFL or 2. retire knowing you gave all you could to football and its fans. Yes, I make a mental note of all the players I see play. Play for your families and the fans that are like me that just love the game and your part in it. 3. There is a 3rd one. You and the league can put your best foot forward to play good football. IF the fans take notice maybe you will have a profitable stake and there will be more money and maybe benefits for you all.
5. Maybe we can get away from calling De’Veon Smith the pizza guy or the hate chicken salad guy. Hopeful we can just call him TD for Touchdown. I hated the fact he was not in the league for training camp. He said last year that his brother that past away was one of the biggest reasons he played football. I’d hoped he hadn’t lost the love for it with his brother’s passing. I was glad the Renegades (finally) realized they have to field players and De’Veon Smith is a player.
6. When I was in high school and played football the coach used to show us plays on the chalkboard. I used to make up plays in a notebook and every play there was this imaginary defense. The defense in my mind was there, but it also let us do whatever we wanted and every play was successful. This defense, in spirit, is more than X and O. I didn’t really know what to call it previously, but now I have it. That is the Roughnecks’ defense.
7. Looking forward to Panthers vs Stallions! This should be the first good game of the season. Unfortunately/Fortunately I will be out with friends so I ask Fox to see the UFL OnDemand gets back out there. Yes, everyone there are games on ESPN ondemand as well as FOX on demand. What a great way to catch up on your football and get a workout in at the same time.
8. I still like my $1,000 a year bonus for the UFL veterans capping at 3,500. This to help league veterans be noticed and rookies have something to look forward to while still only costing the UFL $400,000 or so.
9. A special shout out to the Showboats defense. I always felt that Jarren Horton deserved another chance to be a defensive coordinator for the good work the Maulers put in. I wasn’t sure if now was the time or if the defense was going to flourish so soon, but I think they came to play at full speed. As much as I love Jordan Ta’amu and I think he is excellent when the play is on schedule, he goes awry when it’s off schedule. The Showboats will put the Defenders off-schedule. I suggest you play the under unless the under is some like 10. I suggest the offenses just keep playing and something will eventually break on defense. For people who like to watch a tough game. This will be it.
10. As bad as the attendance numbers were they were worse. Please don’t make the mistake these were people in the seats. These numbers included ticket season holders and maybe even seats given away that were not used. It was certainly seats circulated. My hope is that the league EARNS putting fans back in the seats by playing good, solid and real football. That there is no “script”. I know people say there is no script and in many ways it’s pretty ridiculous, but how many years did the NFL have to pay for the tuck rule when the Patriots were knocked out of the playoffs and the Raiders moved on, until of course the NFL called and expressed how in this post 9-11 America, we need the Patriots and not the Raiders to move on. This was the first in many crazy calls or missed calls to allow the Patriots to move on year after year. I know you think I am crazy for saying this. One game the Jets won 3 challenges to the Patriots. Please do not allow this to become the UFL. Whether you go down or keep it going, the best punch this league had was with people best and fondly remembering the USFL. Please don’t allow this league to be tarnished. After everything I remember with regards to football. Please DO NOT allow for a Tuck Rule to happen and do not fall prey to getting into bed too much with gambling. Let football be football. Let us talk about how the o-line blocked their butts off or the move that Jontre Kirklin made to go to the house or the way
11. Here is one for good measure. In my readings I read where Wade Phillips was in the booth this week. As least in the UFL dealings I always remember him on the bench. I agree with the author of that, I hope Wade Phillips is on the bench next week and that he is healthy.