The Michigan Panthers have been on a downward spiral since entering their home defense stretch in week two of the 2023 USFL season. Falling in three straight games after winning the first two of the season was never what Panthers’ Head Coach Mike Nolan predicted or wanted, but injuries and a stagnant offense line have been too much to overcome for the team. Facing off against the incredibly strong Birmingham Stallions, the Panthers saw themselves as a home underdog, a position many teams in the USFL have used to rally behind and win from. With the entire USFL North in a deadlock at 2-3, the Panthers desperately needed a win to keep their post-season hopes alive.
Injuries Continue to Ravage Michigan Panthers: Receivers Dropping Like Flies
Throughout the entirety of their home campaign, the Panthers have faced the injury bug. Losing multiple receivers, defensive backs, linemen, and linebackers, the team was a shell of itself for the past few weeks. Frankly, they played like it too. Most notably missing offensive lineman, Sean Pollard, receivers, Ishmael Hyman and Whop Philyor, and linebacker, Noah Dawkins, key pieces left gaping holes throughout the roster. Killing their run game, pass protection, and middle third zone coverage, the team was in desperate need of some fresh legs.
Unfortunately, they were still missing some notable pieces today. With three starting receivers in Whop Philyor, Marcus Simms, and Ishmael Hyman all out, the team was significantly down in the passing game, despite already struggling the past four weeks on offense. Also missing James Walker and Corey Hoelck, the offensive front didn’t see much recovery. The Panthers need to heal quickly because their season has been slipping away without a healthy roster.
Ishmael Hyman (13) and Joe Walker (8) of the Michigan Panthers celebrate after scoring a touchdown last season. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images).
USFL Analysts Rejoice as Eric Barriere Finally Suits Up for Panthers
One thing missing from the Michigan Panthers’ offense all season has been a dynamic dual threat at quarterback. With the issues that the Panthers have had moving the football, it was something that the team desperately needed. Throughout the media, USFL analysts have been clamoring to get a glimpse of what former Eastern Washington University quarterback, Eric Barriere could do at the professional level.
The dual-threat quarterback that won the Walter Peyton Award, essential to the FCS version of the Heisman, is the definition of explosive. Throwing for 5,070 yards, 46 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions as a senior and tacking on 222 rushing yards and four touchdowns as well, Barriere is a player who many around the league feel could elevate the Panthers’ offense. The issue was his positioning on the depth chart. Sitting behind the proven Josh Love and the young talent of Carson Strong, Mike Nolan didn’t have a place for him on game days. With Strong injured in last week’s brutal matchup against the Pittsburgh Maulers, Barriere suited up for the Panthers.
Not a part of the game plan, we are yet to see what Eric Barriere can do behind center for the Panthers. With Love playing like a true starter today, it may be a while before Barriere sees the field, despite what the “experts” want.
Eastern Washington quarterback Eric Barriere (3) in action against Washington in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson).
Michigan Panthers in Final Game of Home Stretch
The Michigan Panthers got off to a rough start, especially at the line of scrimmage. Giving up easy pressures and allowing quarterback Josh Love to get nailed play after play, the team looked to be off to their usual ways. After allowing a brutal hit on Love that resulted in a fumble, the Panthers were bailed out on their first third down of the game. After that, Love got nailed on an inside linebacker blitz, but got the ball out just in time, floating it over the Stallions’ defense to Trey Quinn for a huge gain into Birmingham territory.
In usual Panther fashion, the drive stalled from there, but Cole Murphy nailed a 46-yard field goal to give the Panthers an early 3-0 lead. Now, it seemed to be a good start to the energy in Detroit as Ford Field turned on with the early lead. Don’t get me wrong, it was a sloppy drive and easily could’ve resulted in a turnover at two different points with two different fumbles, but Panthers fans were just happy to see their team in the lead.
Defensively, the team was in for a tough one against the high-powered Stallions offense led by Alex McGough. What they didn’t expect was a McGough option keeper that went 30 yards and into the Panthers’ territory on the first play of their drive. Still, the Michigan Panthers defense and now two-time USFL Defensive Player of the Week Breeland Speaks buried their feet in the trenches and held the Stallions to a game-tying field goal. After a solid drive, moving the ball into Stallions territory, the Panthers stalled and were forced to punt once more.
On the bright side, this meant Breeland Speaks back onto the field for Michigan. Not just the highest-graded player on the Michigan Panthers by PFF, but he is widely considered one of the best defensive players in the USFL. His consistently quick jump off the line was causing issues for the Stallions’ offensive front. Paired with rookie Levi Bell out of Texas State, the Panthers’ pass rush saw a significant increase in run-stopping ability on outside zone runs. Taking a lot of pressure off the linebackers, the Panthers’ defense looked to be returning to its early season form, even against the electric Stallions offense.
Still, the dominant threat that is Alex McGough proved to be a tough challenge for the Panthers. Destroying the team with his legs, he escaped collapsing pocket after collapsing pocket, McGough took the Stallions down the field to take a 6-3 lead early in the second.
This is normally the situation when Panthers fans get concerned as their lack of offensive production lets the opposition gain momentum and then run away with the game. Today, Josh Love had other plans. Once more he was looking extremely collected in the pocket. Most likely due to the protection stepping up and the run game is a little more active than in the last few weeks. Hitting Marcus Baugh over the middle, who then trucked his way into Stallion territory, the Panthers were moving the ball excellently, especially compared to their last few matchups.
Still, they struggled to move the ball after crossing into Stallions territory, attempting to settle for a Cole Murphy field goal, who barely missed from 48 yards out. After that, it was just McGough magic over and over again. Escaping, creating, and using his legs to extend plays. He is everything the Panthers need in a QB, yet on the wrong side. Scrambling before dumping the ball off to Zaquandre White, the Stallions scored to gain a 13-3 lead.
Stallions Head Coach Skip Holtz, impressed by McGough’s play said, “I trust him 100%. I got an awful lot of confidence in the way he is playing, the way he is seeing the field and the way he is communicating. He’s really in charge and it’s comforting for me.” McGough on the other hand, gave all his credit to his run game. He added, “The run game helps the pull read. With them having to respect CJ (Marable) it gives me more space to move and create.” McGough was on a tear all game long and gets better each week.
Birmingham Stallions Quarterback Alex McGough (2) throws a pass in a 2021 Birmingham Stallions home game. (Marvin Gentry/USA TODAY Sports).
Right before the half, the Panthers got a charge going as Josh Love threw a deep ball downfield to Trey Quinn to get into the scoring position. Failing to clock the ball on 3rd down and opting for a QB sneak instead, the Panthers couldn’t close the lead before halftime.
Out of the half, the Stallions tried to get McGough going again, but he was thrown down by Frank Ginda and, of course, Breeland Speaks on a 3rd and 15 to force the turnover. Then, for the first time in weeks, the Panthers started to get the run game going. Punching forward with both Stevie Scott III and Reggie Corbin, the Panthers were successfully moving the ball on the ground. Notably, this also allowed more breathing room for the passing game and an all-around more efficient offense.
The Panthers seemed to turn it on from there, opening up the offense. Putting together their best drive in weeks, the Michigan Panthers scored, well twice, with one touchdown getting called back for illegal use of hands to the face. After the setback, Josh Love found Cole Hikutini in the endzone to close the Stallions’ lead to 13-10.
Just like that, the Stallions answered though. McGough and CJ Marable ground and pounded their way into the endzone before completing a goal-line fade for a touchdown. Taking a 20-10 lead, the Panthers needed to execute on all three phases within the last 10 minutes to win their first home game of the year. Ironically, they went three and out on their next drive, allowing Josh Love to get speared on a crucial third down.
It didn’t matter though as the defense stepped up with Frank Ginda forcing a fumble and giving the Panthers offense the ball at the 27. After a pass to Trey Quinn over the middle, the Panthers got themselves into scoring position. This seemed to light a fire under the Detroit crowd and the Michigan Panthers, as “Let’s Go Panthers!” erupted from the crowd. Still, it wasn’t enough as the pass protection broke down, and the Panthers were forced to settle for three, cutting the Stallions’ lead down to 20-13.
Still, it was too little too late. The defense crumbled against the McGough and Marable rushing attack and allowed the Stallions to score again. At 27-13, the Panthers were in a hole too deep to climb out of.
Michigan Panthers Show Improvement, But Not Enough in Loss
Despite finding a way to run the ball and even limit the turnovers, the Panthers still couldn’t pull off the win before heading out on their road stretch. Falling to 2-4 and yet still in the mix for the North, the Panthers need to continue to improve on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the running game was revived with the Panthers rushing for over 100 yards, and in turn, this opened up the passing attack. Still, Michigan cannot score once they get into opposing territory. Sorting this out and finding a more consistent rushing defense could really turn the team around.
Head Coach Mike Nolan said, “We’re still in the hunt and still in the chase. As crazy as that sounds, you can still stay encouraged. What you strive for is still there for the taking.” He knows the team still has a long way to go and in a short amount of time. Still, with signs of life throughout the Panthers, maybe that change doesn’t seem so unachievable. Starting a series of road games next week, we will see if Michigan really just suffers from a home-field disadvantage in Detroit.
As Coach Nolan said, “There were things to be proud of, but still a long way to go. Just hoping we can come back the final week and give the fans something to be proud of.” getting out of Detroit could serve as an important reset for the Panthers, a chance for Michigan to reset and build on the positives from today’s game.
