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: Pass interference on pick plays
Defenders call them “pick plays,” offensive players call them “rub routes.” Whatever verbiage you use, these are popular calls among offensive coordinators in the UFL. Early on this season, receivers have struggled to get separation from defensive backs; a well-executed version of this play helps to free up those receivers. Problem is, they are high-risk because if they are not executed well, they can draw offensive pass interference penalties, as we saw at least three times across the four games in week three. Offensive players creating the “pick” are running into defenders, rather than forcing the defender to run around them, as intended. If this is going to be a staple of offenses around the league, a little bit more time needs to be spent perfecting the art of getting in the way without getting TOO in the way.
Down: Tight end ball security
Birmingham was able to overcome a big mistake made by TE Jace Sternberger in Friday’s night’s matchup against the Arlington Renegades. Sternberger caught a pass and was a yard away from scoring when he had the ball stripped from his grasp by Myles Dorn. Arlington was able to recover the fumble in the end zone for a touchback. Later in the game, his counterpart on the Renegades, Sal Cannella, fumbled away the ball with the team in field goal range and up 9-3. Both were key mistakes, but the Stallions were the ones able to overcome their mistake.
Up: Close games
The first two weeks of the season saw few close games and many blowouts. Several week three games came down to the wire, with the three closest games separating the winner and loser by a combined six points. All were one-score games except D.C and St. Louis, with only a field goal by D.C. in the last few seconds making it a two-score contest. Not only did the games become closer, but scoring and offense in general was up in week three, a much-needed positive trend for the UFL as it attempts to stir fan interest both on television and in stadiums across the league.
Down: ESPN’s Audio Blitz
With all the audio capabilities offered by ESPN during games, they had a good idea to do an “audio blitz,” allowing the announcers to lay out while the sounds of the game took over for a drive. It was a good idea – in theory. In execution, very little of interest was captured. Even when the mics were opened for the QB and head coach, the coach was oftentimes silent and the QB was simply calling the plays. Over time in these spring leagues, we’ve learned the real value of the audio component comes not live, but once the truck has been able to sift through the 90% of useless talk that happens and home in on the 10%, giving us that later on in the broadcast.
Up: Success of new coordinators
Two prominent UFL coordinators departed the league of their own volition last week in Brahmas offensive coordinator A.J. Smith and Defenders defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. It was a tough spot to be thrown into for Payton Pardee and Blake Williams, the new play callers respectively. Yet, they found a lot of success in week three. San Antonio broke out of its offensive rut to move the ball effectively and put up the most points so far in three weeks. Under Blake Williams, D.C. was able to stifle St. Louis’s heretofore unstoppable offense, limiting them to 15 points and crushing their ground attack (seven carries, one net yard for RB Jacob Saylors). Can they keep it up once the rest of the league has film and knows what to expect from them? That will be the challenge as the season unfolds.
Down: Houston woes
After going 1-9 last season, Curtis Johnson’s Houston Roughnecks looked like they may be headed for a similar fate following week one’s shellacking at the hands of the Battlehawks. Houton, though, has steadily gotten better the last few weeks, culminating in a one-point victory over the Memphis Showboats on Saturday. Granted, the victory came against a team that has struggled as much as the Roughnecks over the last year-plus, and the passing game still hasn’t gotten on track. But based on post-game comments, it appears as if the team will roll with Nolan Henderson as starting QB moving forward, and the ability he has to make plays with his feet should open up the pass game.
1 Comment
by Ken Granito
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One thing I would like to say is that the Birmingham and Arlington was kept a lot closer due to VERY inept officiating. I wonder what would have happened if the Brahmas were called for all their illegal hits. Intimidation and hard hits are with good, until you go to far. It was like the officials did not get the message.