2023-04-14 07:00:00
The USFL will start its 2023 season on Saturday with the Philadelphia Stars versus the Memphis Showboats. But who are the favourites?
- New Jersey Generals look to bust out of Divisional Finals
- New Orleans Breakers kommen mit CFL-Star-Quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson
- Madre London continues to play for the Pittsburgh Maulers
On July 3, 2022, the Birmingham Stallions defeated the Philadelphia Stars 33-30 in a thrilling game to become the first champions of the new USFL. When the new season of the United States Football League starts this weekend, both teams will once more be among the favorites. In particular, last year’s finalist Philadelphia might make the big hit this season. In 2022, the Stars needed a bang in the Division Finals as the 6-4 team eliminated the favored New Jersey Generals, who went through the regular season 9-1.
However, in order for the stars to come close to the title once more, head coach Bart Andrus has to get his defense under control. In the preseason, Philadelphia shared the most points with the Pittsburgh Maulers. The fact that the season was still successful indicates a strong offense. A broad core of the offense has been retained for the 2023 season, with quarterback Case Cookus once once more leading the team following a detour to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL. The biggest competitor to unseat the Stallions lurks in their own division. The New Jersey Generals want to make up for the snag from last year’s semifinals and have held the offensive player of the year with running back Darius Victor. However, head coach Mike Riley has to cope with the loss of league MVP KaVontae Turpin, who ended up in the NFL following a strong season with the Dallas Cowboys. However, the top favorite is the defending champions, the Birmingham Stallions. Not only can head coach Skip Holtz continue to rely on quarterback J’Mar Smith and ex-NFL running back Bo Scarborough, the rest of the team has also largely stayed together. As with the Stars, the Stallions also need to improve the vulnerable defense from the previous season.
Who might surprise?
The New Orleans Breakers, who also made the playoffs last year, have high hopes for an upswing. The greatest beacon of hope is on the sideline. John DeFilippo has taken over as head coach and brings a wealth of experience as an offensive coordinator from the NFL. Plus, new quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson knows how to win titles. He comes to Louisiana as a CFL champion from the Toronto Argonauts. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Maulers are hoping for an upswing following disappointing in the previous season with just one win in the regular season. Former NFL first-round pick Reuben Foster leads the defense as linebacker, and quarterback James Morgan brings at least backup NFL experience as a former fourth-round pick for the New York Jets.
Who will be crowned champion at the end of the 2023 season?????
Take a screenshot and let us know which team is winning it all ???? pic.twitter.com/bZmf7430Wm
— USFL (@USFL) April 12, 2023
The biggest underdogs are the Michigan Panthers, Houston Gamblers and Memphis Showboats, who are replacing the Tampa Bay Bandits. For the Panthers, expectations for a better season rest on the shoulders of new head coach Mike Nolan, who brings head coaching experience from the NFL to the USFL. However, the quarterback position that Eric Barrier and Carson Strong are battling for might become a problem, as it is with the Memphis showboats. There is either Brady White the new signal caller, who was already on the roster as a backup in 2022, or Ryan Willis, who was only recently released from the XFL. At least Kenji Bahar should spread fun among the Gamblers. The quarterback is a do-or-die player who hardly shies away from risk and is predestined for big plays as well as turnovers.
Stars and Personalities
The Maulers’ Reuben Foster is certainly the biggest name in the coming season, with another former NFL first-round pick (2016/Cleveland Browns) in the USFL in Corey Coleman (wide receiver, Philadelphia Stars). Big quarterback play is expected from McLeod Bethel-Thompson at the Breakers, while another big name coach left the league: However, head coach Jeff Fisher did not bring the Panthers success last year. Madre London, the MVP of the 2021 European League of Football season, will play for the Maulers once more in 2023.
Week 1:
Saturday April 15th
Philadelphia Stars @ Memphis Showboats
New Jersey Generals @ Birmingham Stallions
Sunday April 16th
Michigan Panthers @ Houston Gamblers
Pittsburgh Maulers @ New Orleans Breakers
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#unseat #Birmingham #Stallions #TOUCHDOWN24
