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.
2 Comments
by Ken Granito
Musings: Congratulations to the players of the many milestones that were reached this week. J’Mar Smith’s 2,365 yards moved into 10th place passing Kyle Sloter’s 2,297 yards with his 2,365 passing yards. Not sure what the plans are for the Stallions this week, but McLeod Bethel-Thompson is in 9th with 2,433 yards. Not bad for one season for MBT. If somehow Smith threw for 300 yards passing he would actually moved past the 8th place Alex McGough. Smith also double-dipped and moved past Adrian Martinez and PJ Walker into 9th place in TD passes with his 16 TD passes. Brandon Silvers moved passed Josh Love into a tie for 6th place with Ben DiNucci with his 20th TD pass. Also Jalan McClendon reached double digit touchdown passes with the 11th of his career. Jacob Saylors moved into 9th all-time passing Reggie Corbin in rushing. Chris Rowland and Deontay Burnett reach the 1,000 yard receiving plateau for their UFL careers. Deon Cain passed the retiring Darrius Sheppard into 8th place with his 1,109 yards receiving. Maybe Sheppard needs to come back to defend his place in all-time receiving standings. Jontre Kirklin is in 7th with 1,120 yards and Tyler Vaughns moved passed Jace Sternberger into 5th place with 1,256 yards. Hakeem Butler (1,513) and Justin Hall (1,592) hit the 1,500 yard milestones. Deontay Burnett and Deon Cain are now tied with 11 receiving touchdowns and Tyler Vaughns and Keke Chism have moved into a 9th place tie with the likes of Vinny Papale, Alonzo Moore, Cole Hikutini and Jonathan Adams with 8. It was a good season for offense this year as the league wanted offense and called it as such. I think the point is, is that the players can’t worry about how the game is being called except to take advantage of the breaks when you get them. To me the players on this list, played to the best of their abilities when given the chance and you cannot fault anyone for that. Congratulations to all the players for playing on not sitting in front of a TV set like myself.
2. My Battlehawks record remains intact and I am still undefeated since I have been betting on the Battlehawks or another team that would help them host a playoff game. Even with this being settled the record is still intact. Between a friend of mine and me we are 13-0, although the Battlehawks needed no help in their dismantling of the Brahmas.
3. I doubt it, but could imagine if the USFL Enterprises made the call to bring four teams trademarks in case the leagues UN-merge and go back to being the USFL and XFL. It likely doesn’t happen, but if the XFL brings back four trademarks next will be a things that make you go Hmmmm moment.
4. Personally, I have always liked teams in New Jersey and Oakland, but I always felt the Stars were also a good fit as Philadelphia is a football town. I remember when I went to the 2022 USFL championship game how many people were rooting for the Stars. I am not sure how many of them were rooting against the Stallions and not necessarily for the Stars, but I did see a good number of Stars jerseys.
5. I still like the Stallions in Birmingham. They have a determined fan-base even if it’s not a big city with only 196,000 in population. Take out the Mother’s Day game where they didn’t have 5,000 fans and they mirror the Panthers attendance pretty well. Both are good established franchises. You need to keep this team around. Please note also that the officiating has been anti-Stallions the whole year. Not only was it Mother’s Day, but I think additionally that was a message to the UFL.
6. If Oakland is a team what do you think of Jon Gruden, Antonio Pierce, Jack Del Rio or even Tom Cable who is actually in the league with the Houston Roughnecks
7. IF Tom Brady buys the Bandits (which I think will be the Showboats) let’s see how well I could dream here. Bruce Arians becomes the head coach. Gronk becomes the tight end and maybe part of the ownership team. Maybe Ryan Griffin the QB coach and AJ McCarron as QB.
8. If the Generals could play in SHI Stadium the surrounding 2.5 million in families will be a good population for attendance, while New York will look at this team as their home team. I am not sure if Ted Cottrell would ready to be the defensive co-ordinator, but if so I would want no one more and if we could get Mike Riley back he would be well liked in New Jersey. Parents that want a well coached team would enjoy what he brings to the table and young fans would love the way he isn’t afraid to throw a big play when he holds all the cards.
9. Guessing if the league added 3 teams, one would be Memphis becoming the Bandits. The Roughnecks would move to the XFL if they plan to keep the conference names. Two of the Oakland, New Jersey or Philadelphia would become the other USFL division teams, the other being the team that comes in with Seattle. Please note I think the Columbus and Carolina areas are ripe for expansion too.
10. I truly hope the UFL does what it can figure where things went wrong and where they went right. They need to put football first. I have always said……if you build it they will come. Right now we have to not worry about turning away good players, because they are 27 or 29. I understand you need to build younger players, but to just turn people away because of a number is poor planning, especially as you expand. That stated coaching is getting better. That stated you may not want to air ALL OF YOUR DIRTY LAUNDRY TO THE NATION. Some people don’t know what they are hearing or seeing, but I pay attention and I knew AJ McCarron was a problem long before he was released so you have to ask yourself, what is in the league’s best interest. Now you have a gunshy coach in your biggest market, because he is afraid to get a quarterback that is experienced and knows his craft. That is just an example. I have to say though you got better as the season went on. When EJ Perry told the reporter who asked the question what are you going to run here and he asked on the field while he was going into a huddle and Perry said he was going long on a 4th and 1, I laughed my ass off. I am just happy the league learned from their mistake and didn’t do it again. The most important thing with this league is learning from your mistakes. I would love for this league to become the best Spring product it could be, leaving no need to get another Spring League to compete against it.
by Ken Granito
In Musings, where I talk about Deon Cain and Deontay Burnett being tied with 11 touchdowns, I skipped the words for 2nd. Hakeem Butler is running away with the Touchdown totals with 17.
PS. I like the Carolina Team to be the Carolina Wildcats and play in UNC Charlotte and Columbus or Canton to be the Bulls with Jacksonville’s uniform design.
Please UFL, use your whole player 54 thought process. The NFL does not have 54 players on their roster in the fall. They have 66. The players on your team is really 67, but that doesn’t sound as cool and it makes it clear you are really getting lesser talent when you realize you are behind players that practice, but hardly play so don’t advertise things that aren’t real. People that know football know there are more than 53 players on a NFL roster, just like players that have been watching football their entire lives are not going to like to see so many 6 in their scoreboard. I actually like the idea of what you do with it. I have often weighed the strategy it brings to the game vs the comfort level of seeing a 7 on the board. I felt it was really good, but way more often than not I am seeing a 6 on the board, so it becomes anti-climatic, when they miss, plus when a kicker misses an extra point there is already so much drama knowing the team is going to have to go for 2 or 3 at sometime to offset the miss. It makes it more intense and important for kickers to make their kicks. This is more a suggestion than a knock. I still really think your strategy has merit. I just want to have more fans catch on. I have written before. Get the fans, then have them vote on whether or not the fans want to have a kick option. I think once they get onboard with the 7s, they might actually enjoy the strategy too, but I think we are losing too many NFL fans because of the scores.