It’s back! My Three up, Three down column tracks the roller-coaster ride that is UFL action each week, with positives or things happening often labeled “up,” and negatives or downward trends categorized as “down.”
Up: Arlington punter highlights
Arlington punter Marquette King may have had the special teams play of the year this past weekend. With the Renegades facing a 4th-and-20 from their own 35-yard line, King took the snap. Before he could get the punt off, a rusher was bearing down on him. King took off and found nothing but green grass ahead. In total, he ran for 37 yards and a first down. Arlington ended up getting a field goal out of it. Though it was assumed the free rusher played a part in King's scamper, after the play King told the sideline reporter that something just felt off and he decided to run. He certainly didn't look like a punter in the open field.
Down: Memphis punter highlights
Conversely, it was a rough go of it for King's counterpart on the Memphis sideline, Matt Mengel. Mengel's first punt traveled just 27 yards in part due to him taking a shot from a rusher right to the chest. He was down on the field for a few minutes, eventually walking off under his own power. Mengel sat out the next punting opportunity on the following drive, but was able to return to the game. He confirmed during a sideline interview that he just got the wind knocked out of him.
Up: Success of double moves
All weekend, cornerbacks found themselves biting on double moves put on by receivers. So many teams have dedicated their throw game to short passes that defenses have come to jump those routes. In turn, offenses have adjusted and receivers are making defenders pay for trying to steal one. Birmingham used more than one in their game against Michigan for long gainers. Tyler Vaughns of the Renegades scored a 41-yard touchdown on one as well. For the final week, will defenses re-adjust, or will offenses around the league copy what worked so well in week nine?
Down: Value of fighting for extra yardage
For many players, it's instinct to fight for extra yardage: Unless you're a quarterback, you don't want to go down on your own. However, several players have learned a hard lesson about the value of taking what the defense gives you, getting the first down, and living to fight another play. In Houston, D.C. wide receiver Javon Antonio, with his mentor Terrell Owens in attendance, lost two fumbles trying to break tackles and get an extra yard or two for his team. In the same game, Roughnecks QB Jalan McClendon smelled the end zone, trying to break tackles while inside the five. At the one-yard line, he fumbled into the end zone. It could've been a disastrous play for McClendon and Houston, who with a score would've gone up two possessions with two minutes remaining. Instead, it gave D.C. new life, though Houston held on to win.
Up: Houston super challenge wins
Many criticisms have been levied against Houston head coach Curtis Johnson in the first two years of the UFL. One not often mentioned is Johnson's lack of success with the all-important super challenges. In fact, heading into week nine, Johnson had not won a super challenge all year, the only coach not to have at least one successful challenge to his name. That changed, but only barely: After officials called a facemask penalty against Houston, Johnson challenged that there was also a facemask on D.C., which would serve to negate the penalty on the Roughnecks. UFL VP of Officiating Mike Pereira acknowledged that it was very close, but it was indeed ruled a facemask.
Down: Panthers performances versus Stallions
In a down year by their standards, the Stallions seemed ripe for the picking by the Michigan Panthers, who had yet to defeat the Stallions. That trend continues as Michigan is now 0-6 in the regular season against Birmingham since the relaunch of the USFL in 2022. Michigan was without starting QB Bryce Perkins in this game, though Danny Etling played admirably in his stead. The hope for Panthers fans is that Perkins will be ready when these two teams square off for a third time, in the USFL Conference Championship game.