Improvements at QB and OL help, but the Panthers secondary may struggle again in \u201823.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Michigan Panthers struggled to a record of 2-8 in 2022, posting 211 points for and 236 against, to finish 3rd in the USFL\u2019s North Division, missing the playoffs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n New Panthers Head Coach Mike Nolan, 63, was HC of the San Francisco 49ers<\/a> from 2005-2008, and has held numerous coaching positions for 11 NFL franchises, mostly on defense. He\u2019ll replace fellow NFL alumni, Jeff Fisher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n QB Josh Love returns for another kick at the can after posting 30\/58 for 2 TDs and 2 INTs in limited \u201822 action. He\u2019ll have to compete with #8 overall draft pick, QB Tanner Morgan of Minnesota for the QB1 job. Last year\u2019s team-leading rusher, RB Reggie Corbin returns in the backfield. He\u2019ll be joined by short yardage man, Stevie Scott III. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the receiving game, leading \u201822 WR Lance Lenoir Jr. has signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. 6\u20193\u201d Delaware product, Joe Walker, will return to try and claim the WR1 role. Seventh round selection, Eastern Michigan product, TE Gunnar Oakes<\/a>, will be an inline blocker and short area option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Panthers went heavy in two aspects during the 2023 USFL Draft: O-Line and LB. With the #1 overall pick, Michigan selected Jarrett Horst<\/a>, OT, Michigan State<\/a>, and followed that up with more O-Line picks in the fourth, ninth and tenth rounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On D, the Panthers went LB in round 3, taking versatile Santrell Latham<\/a>, LB, Southern Miss<\/a>, and again in rounds five and eight. Michigan also took a DL pass rush threat, Levi Russo Bell<\/a>, DT, Texas State<\/a>. Surprisingly, the Panthers did not select a single DB to help improve their \u201822 league-worst pass D.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On special teams, Cole Murphy returns at PK after a 42 point \u201822 season. P Kyle Kramer also returns after posting an impressive 46.3 average in 2022. WR Ishmael Hyman is the presumptive PR again in \u201823, while RB Reggie Corbin will likely also feature as a KR again this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 2023 Michigan Panthers are in a state of rebuilding. The franchise will look to control the ball with an improved running game this season but a lack of improvement in the defensive secondary may prove to be an off season fumble when it\u2019s all said and done. That\u2019s why the Panthers are a long shot at +650 to win it all in \u201823.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RYP has you covered with all the info you need on the 2023 USFL season<\/a>!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n An unsettled squad looks to a defensive-minded HC to turn things around in 2023.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Pittsburgh Maulers finished at the bottom of the standings in 2022, going 1-9 while posting just 147 points for, versus 247 against. The \u201823 version of the Maulers will try to make the leap by building around a few core players, including All-USFL safety Bryce Torneden<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New Panthers Head Coach, Ray Horton, was with the NFL\u2019ers Steelers from 2004 through 2010 and later served as DC for the Cardinals, Browns and Titans. Horton\u2019s son, Jarren, returns as Maulers DC after a better-than-it-looked \u201822 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Uber productive Lindsey Scott<\/a>, Jr., QB of the mighty Incarnate Word Cardinals<\/a> was selected by the Maulers #2 overall but he doesn\u2019t yet appear on the team\u2019s official roster, indicating Scott may first take his chance as an UDFA in the NFL. That leaves wandering journeyman Chase Fourcade<\/a>, formerly of Nicholls State, to compete with the trio of \u201821 NYJ fourth rounder James Morgan<\/a>, Connor Sampson, and former CFL\u2019er Troy Williams<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the receiving room, leading WR and KR man Tre Walker<\/a> returns, as does 2022 team TD leader, Bailey Gather<\/a>. They will be joined by #49 overall pick WR Taylor Grimes<\/a>, also from Incarnate Word, who, like teammate Lindsey Scott, may get a shot in the NFL after posting 1,255 receiving yards and 15 TDs in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The return of Torneden at safety along with running mate Tre Tarpley provides some comfort on the backend of the D. Fourth round pick Ferlando Jordan, CB, SE Louisiana hasn\u2019t played since \u201821 due to injury, but had five pick-6s in his college career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The defensive front 7 lost \u201822 sack leader Carlo Kemp, who left for the NFL\u2019s Chargers, and tackles leader Kyahva Tezino, who has since signed with the Carolina Panthers. To backfill, the Maulers drafted the productive Malik Hamm<\/a>, DE, Lafayette<\/a> in round two (#9 overall), followed by Edge threat Isaiah Land<\/a> of Florida A&M<\/a> in the fifth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Maulers will roll out on special teams with untested but strong-legged Nathan Hierlihy from the University of Redlands at PK. He\u2019ll be joined in the kicker\u2019s room by P Matt Mengel, who was with the Philadelphia Stars last season. Tre Walker will again feature at KR, while WR Isiah Hennie returns as PR after a solid 2022 season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Maulers will be challenged to compete for a playoff spot in \u201822, at least until they get the QB room settled. Ford Field will provide a great environment for the Maulers to test themselves to push beyond their projected last-place finish, facing odds of +750 to win the 2023 USFL Championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The USFL\u2019s best offense in \u201822 needs the Stars defense to step-up in 2023.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Philadelphia Stars finished 6-4 in the 2022 regular season, losing to New Jersey in the playoffs. The Stars’ league-leading offense put up 262 points, but allowed 243, tied with the Maulers for worst in the USFL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Head Coach Bart Andrus returns for his second season. Andrus, an offensive specialist, previously held head coaching stints in the CFL, NFL Europe, and elsewhere in the USFL. He\u2019s joined by fellow NFL alumni, Jeff Jagodzinski, who will focus on the running game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n QB Case Cookus<\/a> returns after posting 1,334 yards passing with 12 TDs and 5 INTs in \u201822. He\u2019ll be challenged for the QB1 role by Kevin Thomson, and professional journeyman, Vad Lee<\/a>. \u201822 leading rusher, RB Matt Colburn II<\/a>, returns after posting 457 yards and 8 TD\u2019s last season. Former Green Bay Packer Dexter Williams adds depth. Bug Howard<\/a> is back at TE, while consistent WR Jordan Suell<\/a> is scheduled to return, but may get a look in the NFL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Stars went big on big guys in the 2023 USFL Draft with eight linemen taken consecutively in the first eight rounds: 5 on O, 3 on D. Alfred Edwards III<\/a>, OT, Utah State<\/a> was first off the board at #6 overall. Two more OTs followed in rounds 2 and 3. In the defensive trench, the Stars added Truman Jones<\/a>, DE, Harvard<\/a> in the fourth, and Jose Ramirez<\/a>, DE, Eastern Michigan<\/a>, who had 12 sacks in \u201822, in the sixth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n INT leader Channing Stribbling is trying to find work in the NFL or CFL. \u201922 sacks leader, Adam Rodriguez, will also get a look elsewhere. Draftees Ramirez and Jones, along with fellow newcomers, Destin Mack<\/a>, CB, Citadel<\/a>, and Dre Terry<\/a>, LB, Alabama A&M<\/a> will be called upon to inject some new life into the Stars D.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Stars don\u2019t have a punter listed going into training camp but the club will return PK Luis Aguilar, who went 8 of 10 on field goal attempts in \u201822, with a long of 49 yards. Last year\u2019s top notch return man, WR Maurice Alexander<\/a>, has been bouncing on and off the Detroit Lions\u2019 practice squad for months and may not return in \u201823. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With a fresh squadron of big men in town to compete in the trenches and a competent offense in place, it will be up to the new look Stars defense to get the team to the next level in 2023 and cash in on the +500 odds Philadelphia faces to win it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Generals return the league\u2019s best running game and a strong D — is it enough to win the \u2018ship?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The 2022 New Jersey Generals fell just short of their goal, losing to the Birmingham Stallions in the 2022 USFL Championship. The Generals return a strong running game and overall defense in 2023 but there are questions at the pivot on O.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Head Coach Mike Riley is an icon, having been the head coach of teams in four different professional leagues and played QB for \u2018Bama in the 1970s — all hail, seriously. Riley will look to overcome the instability at QB and the subpar passing game that kept the franchise from cashing out in 2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately, Darius Victor and Trey Williams (2022\u2019s best RB duo by a margin) are both scheduled to return to the backfield in 2023. De’Andre Johnson<\/a> from Texas Southern, Kyle Lauletta<\/a> from Richmond, and Dakota Prukop<\/a> from Oregon will compete at QB. Adrian Martinez, QB, Kansas State, was drafted but he may select other options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2022 receiving yards leader, Devonte Turpin, is gone, leaving Alonzo Moore<\/a> from NEB as presumptive WR1. The O-line system is excellent, as witnessed by the rushing numbers and league-fewest sacks in 2022. Overall, the Generals look solid on O.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the USFL Draft, New Jersey took Martinez in round 2, J.J. Holloman, WR, Tennessee State in round 3, and Grant Dubose, WR, Charlotte to shore up the passing game. To add to an already strong defense and deal with some off-season attrition on defense, the Generals also selected a DE and 2 CBs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earning the Seabass award, the Generals selected a punter in round 8: Adam Korsak from Rutgers. Korsak was the 2022 Ray Guy Award winner, the award given to the nation’s best punter. Cam Echols-Luper from Western Kentucky is as good as you get at the KR. PR KaVontae Turpin signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys after the \u201822 season, so he will need to be replaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Generals return a dominant running game on O, a strong overall D, and an excellent ST in \u201823, but will that be enough to get over the hump and win the \u2018ship? At +300 they are a good bet to be in the mix. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Can the Breakers survive an off-season reshuffle to again field the league\u2019s best defense?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The 2022 version of the New Orleans Breakers finished second in the south division at 6-4. The league\u2019s leading defense allowed just 148 points all season, while also yielding the fewest passing yards per game. The Breakers offense finished the season ranked 4th, with a -1 turnover margin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New Head Coach John DeFilippo, a long-time NFL offensive coordinator, won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles as their QB Coach. DeFiillipo will need those positional coaching skills to develop a consistent starting quarterback in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Breakers passing game was pretty good last year, but 2022 USFL Draft first-rounder Kyle Sloter has departed for the XFL, and former Michigan Wolverines and Panthers QB Shea Patterson is new to town. Whoever gets the nod will inherit a capable O-line as the Breakers allowed the second-fewest sacks in the league last season. That said, run blocking must get more assertive to improve upon the Breakers\u2019 3.8 yards per rush average of \u201823.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the USFL Draft, New Orleans spread out their 10 picks, going WR, Edge, then DB 1-2-3, before snagging Keaton Mitchell, the productive RB from East Carolina in round 4. The Breakers picked up another offensive weapon in the eighth round in the form of Jake Bobo, TE\/WR, UCLA\u2019s leading \u201822 receiver. 9th-round pick Alex Palczewski, OT, Illinois, didn\u2019t give up a sack at Illinois in all of 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2022\u2019s lead sack artist, David Bellamy has left the building and much of the defensive front 7 will be re-tooled in \u201823. Newly drafted Noah Taylor, Edge, Virginia, will be expected to bring pressure from the outside, while Isaiah Moore, LB, NC State should collect tackles in the middle. INTs were tough to come by in \u201822 with no DB recording more than two picks. With 17 passes defended and six interceptions while playing for the Miami Hurricanes, the Breakers hope DJ Ivey, CB can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PK Taylor Bertolet left for the NFL after last season; Matt Coghlin from MSU is the new guy. Matt White returns as punter after posting a 38.7 net yards per punt average in 2022. Former NFL WR Taywan Taylor will face competition for the KR\/PR role after a pedestrian \u201822 season returning the ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a lot of new faces in town and it will take a while to build chemistry in the building, but the New Orleans Breakers have enough left from their \u201822 squad, and good talent acquired through the draft and free agency. If they can find a way to replace the talent lost, the Breakers have a decent chance to live up to their contender\u2019s +500 odds to win it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Showboat\u2019s hopes in 2023 rest on an offensive reload and a more productive D.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2023\u2019s reincarnation of last season\u2019s Tampa Bay Bandits will make its debut in Memphis to great anticipation. The Showboats need to replace the league\u2019s top QB, rebuild their O-line, and find a way to generate turnovers on defense in order to improve this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Todd Haley, who led the Bandits to a 4-6 record last spring as coach and GM, will coach Memphis this season. A former head coach and OC in the NFL, Haley is well-known for his fiery personal style and desire to attack with his offensive game plans. Job #1 in training camp is to find his new offensive pivot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2023 Pittsburgh Maulers Season Preview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2023 Philadelphia Stars Season Preview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
New Jersey Generals Season Preview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
New Orleans Breakers Season Preview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Memphis Showboats Season Preview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n