(Photo Credit: Breakers/USFL)
Key Players Returning:
RB Anthony Jones, WR Jonathan Adams, WR/PR Johnnie Dixon, WR/KR Derrick Dillon, WR Vinny Papale, OC Jack Kramer, OG Marquis Lucas, OG Steven Rowzee, OT Paul Adams, OT Kai Absheer, DE Anree Saint-Amour, DE Jeremiah Valoaga, DT Connor Christian, DT Reggie Howard Jr., LB Nigel Chavis, LB Vontae Diggs, LB Jerod Fernandez, CB Adonis Alexander, CB Nevelle Clarke, CB Derrick Jones, DS Jarey Elder, DS Greg Eisworth and KR Ezra Gray.
Key Players Departing:
QB Kyle Slotter (UFA), RB Jordan Ellis (UFA), WR/KR Taywan Taylor (UFA), TE Sal Cannella (Renegades), DE Davin Bellamy (Defenders), DT Shakir Soto (Brahmas), DT Kamilo Tongamoa (Brahmas), DS Aashari Crosswell (UFA), PK Taylor Bertolet (UFA) and PT Austin MacGinnis (UFA).
Key Additions:
QB McCleod Bethel-Thompson (Argonauts), TE Sage Surratt (Stallions), PK Matt Coghlin (UFA) and PT Matt White (UFA).
Draft Picks:
Round 01: Pick 05 – WR Tyler Scott (Cincinnati)
Round 02: Pick 12 – LB Noah Taylor (North Carolina)
Round 03: Pick 20 – DB DJ Ivery (Miami, FL)
Round 04: Pick 28 – RB Eaton Mitchell (East Carolina)
Round 05: Pick 36 – LB Isaiah Moore (NC State)
Round 06: Pick 44 – DL Dante Stills (West Virginia)
Round 07: Pick 52 – RB Darius Hagans (Virginia State)
Round 08: Pick 60 – WR Jake Bobo (UCLA)
Round 09: Pick 68 – OT Alex Palczewski (Illinois)
Round 10: Pick 76 – DB Tyler Baker-Williams (NC State)
2022 Results
W01: PHILADELPHIA STARS W 23-17
W02: @ Tampa Bay Bandits W 34-3
W03: BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS L 13-22
W04: HOUSTON GAMBLERS W 23-16
W05: @ New Jersey Generals L 17-27
W06: PITTSBURGH MAULERS W 26-16
W07: @ Michigan Panthers L 27-31
W08: @ Birmingham Stallions L 9-10
W09: TAMPA BAY BANDITS W 17-6
W10: @ Houston Gamblers L 3-20
PLA @ Birmingham Stallions L 17-31
Misc. Info:
2022 Record: 6-4 (2nd in USFL South)
Home: 4-1
Away: 2-3
South: 3-3
North: 3-1
Head Coach: John DeFilippo
New Orleans: 0-0
Career: 0-0
Postseason: 0-0
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: None
Rushing: Anthony Jones (70 car., 268 yards, 3.8 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: Johnnie Dixon (38 rec., 362 yards, 9.5 avg., 4 TD)
TDs Scored: Johnnie Dixon (4)
Sacks: Reggie Howard Jr. (3)
Tackles: Jerod Fernandez (86)
Interceptions: Adonis Alexander (2)
Pass Deflections: Nevelle Clarke (7)
Tackles For Loss: Jerod Fernandez/Arnee Saint-Amour (9)
Forced Fumbles: Jerod Fernandez (3)
Kick Returners: Ezra Gray (3 ret., 71 yards, 23.7 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Johnnie Dixon (13 ret.,151yards, 11.6 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 1 McLeod Bethel-Thompson
RB: 6 Anthony Jones
TE: 44 Justin Alexander-Johnson
WR: 2 Johnnie Dixon
WR: 9 Jonathan Adams
TE: 13 Sage Surratt
LT: 77 Paul Adams
LG: 74 Marquis Lucas
OC: 65 Jack Kramer
RG: 67 Steven Rowzee
RT: 59 Kai Absheer
KR: 21 Ezra Gray
PK: 49 Matt Coughlin
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 97 Justin Reed
DT: 98 Connor Christian
DT: 55 Reggie Howard Jr.
DE: 94 Anree Saint-Amour
LB: 20 Vontae Diggs
LB: 4 Jerod Fernandez
LB: 8 Nigel Chavis
CB: 14 Nevelle Clarke
CB: 3 Adonis Alexander
DS: 33 Greg Eisworth
DS: 23 Jarey Elder
PR: 2 Johnnie Dixon
PT: 19 Matt White
Team Grades:
OffenseQuarterbacks: B
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
4/16 PITTSBURGH MAULERS | Last season’s 16-26 loss was the first meeting between teams since the relaunch.
4/22 HOUSTON GAMBLERS | The series is tied 1-1. Last season’s 23-16 win was their first series home win since the relaunch.
4/29 at Birmingham Stallions | New Orleans trails the series 0-3. Lasts season’s 9-10 loss was their first regular season series road loss since the relaunch.
5/07 at New Jersey Generals | Last season’s 17-27 loss was the first meeting between teams since the relaunch.
5/14 MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS | First meeting home meeting between teams since the relaunch.
5/21 at Philadelphia Stars | Last season’s 23-17 win was the first meeting between teams since the relaunch.
5/27 BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS | New Orleans lost (13-22) last season’s home meeting between teams.
6/04 MICHIGAN PANTHERS | Last season’s 31-27 win was the first meeting between teams since the relaunch.
6/10 at Memphis Showboats | First road meeting between teams since the relaunch.
6/18 at Houston Gamblers | New Orleans lost (3-20) last season’s road meeting between teams.
Predictions:
Home: 4-1
Road: 3-2
South: 5-1
North: 2-2
Overall: 7-3 (2nd in USFL South – Eliminated in playoffs by Stallions)
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