The New USFL

[AngeloV]

Nothing against the other players but MBT is probably the biggest name in the league. Should be an early favourite for any kind of award - if those even exist in the USFL. League MVP/Offensive MVP

He’s such a name that the FS1 lead in from NASCAR (I tuned in early to see if there was a pre game show) said he was the Maulers QB. That’s pretty bad.

[gilthethrill]

MBT won his first USFL start, behind a shaky o-line at times. MBT knows how to win though and he willed his team to a last minute victory.

I didn’t see the game but I have a fairly reliable source that told me MBT got sacked hard a few times in the 1st half. Typical of US spring leagues with lesser O Line talent than the CFL, I just hope MBT can stay healthy. Bear in mind too that the Breakers beat a team with no QBs that is coming off a disastrous season. It could be different vs a Birmingham team or a strong Bart Andrus led Philadelphia squad.

[paulwoods13]

I didn’t see the game but I have a fairly reliable source that told me MBT got sacked hard a few times in the 1st half. Typical of US spring leagues with lesser O Line talent than the CFL, I just hope MBT can stay healthy.

I don't think the CFL is in a position to crow about its superior offensive line talent. Both o-lines got dominated at times yesterday; so did CFL o-lines at times last season. The Breakers' line looked no worse than the Argos' line did at times last year, especially when Allen was out of the lineup and MacKellar was struggling at LG. IMO there is a general shortage of capable o-linemen, and it is affecting all pro leagues.

[AngeloV]

The Breakers' line looked no worse than the Argos' line did at times last year, especially when Allen was out of the lineup and MacKellar was struggling at LG. IMO there is a general shortage of capable o-linemen, and it is affecting all pro leagues.

I have to disagree with this. I don't recall a half of football where MBT was sacked 4 times as easily as he was yesterday. That line also couldn't open up any holes for the running game. Things changed when they went to a 6 o-line, 1 TE look for the majority of the 2nd half. I have seen the same thing in the XFL. The O-lines can't handle pressure and rushing yards per carry are brutal. Third and long situations have been a disaster all season in that league.

[ArgoRavi]

I have to disagree with this. I don't recall a half of football where MBT was sacked 4 times as easily as he was yesterday. That line also couldn't open up any holes for the running game. Things changed when they went to a 6 o-line, 1 TE look for the majority of the 2nd half. I have seen the same thing in the XFL. The O-lines can't handle pressure and rushing yards per carry are brutal. Third and long situations have been a disaster all season in that league.

I tend to agree with AV here. Saskatchewan's o-line was terrible in 2022, but CFL o-lines, by and large, are better than what I have seen in either the XFL or USFL. MBT had decent protection with the Argos the past two years and the o-line improved further with Ryan Hunter's addition late in the season.

[paulwoods13]

I've been going through all the Argos' games in 2022. There was a fair bit of terrible o-line play in the first two-thirds of the season. Things improved a lot once Allen got healthy and Hunter got inserted at LG, but it was pretty rough a lot of the time before that. Winning the Grey Cup seems to have erased some bad memories, I guess.

[paulwoods13]

I have seen the same thing in the XFL. The O-lines can't handle pressure and rushing yards per carry are brutal. Third and long situations have been a disaster all season in that league.

Which would seem to (partially) support my suggestion that good o-linemen are in short supply generally.

[OV Argo]

Which would seem to (partially) support my suggestion that good o-linemen are in short supply generally.

That, maybe; but also lots of predictable dullards in charge of CFL offences now; so little diversity; so little applied ground game. Defences know what's coming and can tee-off in pass rush to sometimes make O-lines look bad.

Don't recall the KC Chiefs O-line getting lambasted when they got over-run most of the game by the Tampa Bay defence, back 3 Super Bowls ago; but maybe it was more a very good D scheme rather than weak O-line play.

[paulwoods13]

That, maybe; but also lots of predictable dullards in charge of CFL offences now; so little diversity; so little applied ground game. Defences know what's coming and can tee-off in pass rush to sometimes make O-lines look bad.

Most major colleges in the States run pass-oriented offences these days, and tons of high schools do as well. There aren't many road-grader-type o-linemen because they aren't being developed, IMO. A coach who wanted to build a ball-control offence might have trouble finding guys who could do it properly.

[OV Argo]

Most major colleges in the States run pass-oriented offences these days, and tons of high schools do as well. There aren't many road-grader-type o-linemen because they aren't being developed, IMO. A coach who wanted to build a ball-control offence might have trouble finding guys who could do it properly.

Yet Western remain a powerhouse Canadian football team with lots of diverse run game (they also have a good young now QB who can pass well). Their depleted D let them down last season in the big play-off game vs. Laval (who are more pass oriented, but like a bunch of U Sports football teams, still will bang a diverse ground game - , which helped carry them over Western.)

Offensive style, game plans, play-books & calling are choices of the coaches in charge. Football now is dominated by a lot of copy-cat, limited, same old thinkers. I happen to like some diversity in the game of football. When all teams run the same basic offence (as in the CFL now), it becomes less interesting IMO. Keep hiring guys from the same old clique of same thinkers to run teams, and that's what you will get.

[paulwoods13]

Offensive style, game plans, play-books & calling are choices of the coaches in charge. Football now is dominated by a lot of copy-cat, limited, same old thinkers. I happen to like some diversity in the game of football. When all teams run the same basic offence (as in the CFL now), it becomes less interesting IMO. Keep hiring guys from the same old clique of same thinkers to run teams, and that's what you will get.

I don't disagree with any of this, but I don't think a run-oriented approach would succeed in the pros because the primary feeder systems are not doing that. Western is a unicorn these days.

[OV Argo]

I don't disagree with any of this, but I don't think a run-oriented approach would succeed in the pros because the primary feeder systems are not doing that. Western is a unicorn these days.

I didn't say run-oriented was the way to go (though IMO it would be very interesting to see just one team try), but closer to balance could be tried. And almost every team in U Sports ball (that's Canadian football) now tries way more ground game than the CFL teams do now. So do all NFL teams pretty well, but that's 4 down football so a separate discussion on offensive style or thinking.

I get the jokes about leather helmets or living in the past or whatever, when it's suggested that a football team could try lots of run game still (does anybody mock Western now when they are still winning the OUA most years, mostly with a power, applied ground game?), but there are examples from fairly recent CFL history that show winning teams who had way more balance on offence and an effective, diverse running attack. There is no new CFL or football law that says we have to pass 70% + of the time, or we won't win. I guess a lot of OCs now though accept lots of QB sacks & strip fumbles, drive killing dropped passes, waggle off-sides galore and 4 yard hitch pass gains as the only way to go ?

[paulwoods13]

MBT's second game is in the books, a 38-31 win for the Breakers. MBT went 23/34 for 251 yards, 2 TDs and no INTs. Former Ticat Wes Hills scored three TDs for NO and rushed for 110 yards on 18 carries.

[gilthethrill]

MBT's second game is in the books, a 38-31 win for the Breakers. MBT went 23/34 for 251 yards, 2 TDs and no INTs. Former Ticat Wes Hills scored three TDs for NO and rushed for 110 yards on 18 carries.

With divisional rival and defending league champ Birmingham Stallions losing their starting QB J’Mar Smith for the season, MBT could find himself in another league title game for the 2nd time in 6 months.

[ArgoRavi]

With divisional rival and defending league champ Birmingham Stallions losing their starting QB J’Mar Smith for the season, MBT could find himself in another league title game for the 2nd time in 6 months.

Is there a better QB in the USFL than MBT?

[paulwoods13]

Is there a better QB in the USFL than MBT?

TBD. McGough had a hell of a game for the Stallions on the weekend.

[AngeloV]

I've enjoyed watching the Breakers with MBT, Wes Hills (who was way better than the week 1 starting RB) and Vonte Diggs, I have adopted them as my team in that league. Having said that, both games they have played in their "home" stadium in Birmingham have been in front of I would say less than 500 fans each. It's tough to be into it. From my understanding, TV ratings have also been pretty bad. Will they eventually have all their teams playing home games in the cities they represent? Maybe in year 3 if they make it that far. This league has to be losing tons of cash.

[ArgoRavi]

I've enjoyed watching the Breakers with MBT, Wes Hills (who was way better than the week 1 starting RB) and Vonte Diggs, I have adopted them as my team in that league. Having said that, both games they have played in their "home" stadium in Birmingham have been in front of I would say less than 500 fans each. It's tough to be into it. From my understanding, TV ratings have also been pretty bad. Will they eventually have all their teams playing home games in the cities they represent? Maybe in year 3 if they make it that far. This league has to be losing tons of cash.

Agreed. Likewise, how can the XFL not be losing a tonne of money also, with mostly poor crowds and less than impressive TV numbers?

[paulwoods13]

Another big day for MBT (20/28/283/1/3/124.6) and a huge day for former Ticat Wes Hills (34/191/3). Breakers alone in first place after defeating the defending champion Stallions.

[matthew]

Clearly no room for two US Spring leagues and probably debatable if there is appetite at all for just one with the XFL only doing moderately better. Can't see the USFL carrying on much longer.