The Memphis Showboats came close to pulling out a last-minute victory over the Houston Roughnecks, only to fall short again in the closing seconds. After the 18-17 loss to Houston, the Showboats are now 0-3 at the bottom of the USFL division, and a full two games behind the 2-1 Birmingham Stallions.
With both teams entering the game at 0-2, the Showboats held a slight edge and were favored to win. The Memphis defense, one of the team’s weakest elements a year ago, has shown a noticeable improvement this season under defensive coordinator Jarren Horton. Coach Ken Whisenhunt’s return two weeks ago boosted the offense.
Memphis had an 11-3 lead at halftime. However, the team hasn’t been able to prevent their opponents from rallying late in the game. On Saturday, Houston quarterback Nolan Henderson came off the bench to execute a go-ahead drive, and the Roughnecks held on to win the game.
Here are five takeaways from Saturday’s game:
Improved Defense Starts Strong But Needs Stronger Finish
The Showboats’ defense looked strong in the first half. DeMarcus Mitchell and P.J. Hall kept the pressure on Roughnecks quarterback Anthony Brown in the first half, forcing punt after punt. It wasn’t until mid-way through the second quarter that the Houston offense showed signs of life. Unable to move the ball effectively through the air, Brown finally used his legs and gained 21 yards on two back-to-back carries.
Boogie Roberts, Kyree Woods, and Steele Chambers finished the game with four tackles each. Former Pittsburgh Mauler Mark Gilbert had three tackles, and safety Keaton Ellis led the team with six tackles.
However, with no sacks or interceptions, the defense needs to improve. More importantly, late in the game, the Showboats couldn’t stop Houston from scoring a late-game touchdown.
Inconsistent Quarterback Play:
Both starting quarterbacks, E.J. Perry and Troy Williams, need to become more consistent. Perry finished the game 13 of 20 passes for 131 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. The interceptions came on back-to-back series and opened the door for the Roughencks to take their first lead of the game. Safety Leon O’Neal hit Perry for a pick-six that altered the course of the game.
In the next series, Roughnecks cornerback Keenan Isaac grabbed a second interception off Perry. Although the Memphis defense forced a three-and-out and didn’t allow the Roughnecks to capitalize on the turnover, Perry’s two interceptions gave Houston the momentum they needed to secure the victory.
Williams came off the bench in relief of Perry for the remainder of the game. He sparked a fourth-quarter comeback with a late-game rushing touchdown. Williams completed four of eight passes for 63 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, and 35 rushing yards on four carries with one touchdown. But again, Williams’ comeback performance was marred by his inability to deliver a crucial completion and secure the win.
Both quarterbacks had great moments that made for an exciting game. However, they ultimately succumbed to inconsistent play and poor decision-making. Memphis needs a better performance from the quarterbacks to turn the season around.
Much Improved Showboats’ Offensive Line
One of the biggest challenges for the Showboats a year ago was the weak offensive line. Memphis quarterbacks Case Cookus and Troy Williams led the league in double-digit sacks. Cookus had 20 sacks in eight games. By comparison, while E.J. Perry was sacked twice in the season opener, EDGE Tashawn Bower’s sack on Saturday was the only other sack given up by Memphis this season. The O-line is looking much improved.
Kwamie Lassiter Stepping Up As WR1
By now, it’s no secret that Showboats’ wide receiver Jonathan Adams presents an offensive threat. Adams led the league in receiving yards in the first two games with 15 receptions for 221 yards. While Adams was held to five receptions for 42 yards on Saturday and is still scoreless on the season, Kwamie Lassiter stepped up as WR1 with six catches for 79 yards and one touchdown.
The Perry-Lassiter connection was at its best when Perry fired off an eight-yard touchdown to Lassiter and relied on him again to score the two-point conversion. Perry looked fantastic in that 66-yard series, launching an impressive 15-yard strike to Isaiah Washington that set up the touchdown.
Memphis Special Teams
Kicker Matthew Coghlin gave the Showboats an early lead with a 32-yard field goal. Although it was a quiet night for Coghlin after that, he remains one of the best kickers in the league and is 5/6 on field goals. His only missed kick was blocked by the D.C. Defenders a week ago.
Houston’s Chris Blewitt missed a 50-yard field goal, but later in the game, his 28-yard kick gave the Roughnecks the one-point lead they needed to hold onto the win.
The Roughnecks should be congratulated on a hard-fought game and their first win. Hopefully, Whisenhunt and the coaching staff can quickly overcome the mistakes and miscues that have plagued the team thus far and turn the season around. The team faces another crucial division matchup in Week 4.
Next Friday night, the Memphis Showboats travel to Detroit’s Ford Field to take on the Michigan Panthers. FOX Sport’s premiere game of the weekend will be televised on FOX UFL Friday, April 18th at 8:00 p.m. EDT. Tickets are still available.
