Wow, what a difference a year makes from Week 6 last year to Week 6 this year. Last year, the Birmingham Stallions were running away with the South Division with a 6-0 overall record, while the New Jersey Generals were winning the North Division at 5-1.
This year, there is more parity in only the league’s second season, with the Philadelphia Stars in first place in the North at 3-3 with everybody else at 2-4. Meanwhile, the Houston Gamblers, who had no luck in winning close games last year, are winning those close contests this season.
They are now 4-2, along with the New Orleans Breakers and the Birmingham Stallions, in a three-way tie for first place in the South Division. The Memphis Showboats are in last place in the Division at 3-3.
Let’s take a look at the USFL Players of the Week for Week 6:
Birmingham Stallions QB Alex McGough (2) – Vasha Hunt/USA TODAY Sports
Offensive Player: Alex McGough (QB) – Birmingham Stallions
Since J’Mar Smith’s season-ending injury in Week 1, it has all been about the Alex McGough show. Number two for the Stallions has been looking like an NFL-ready quarterback since his recovery from a Week 1 injury last season.
It ironically put his campaign to a halt in 2022 (until Smith was injured in the USFL Championship game vs the Philadelphia Stars).
At 6’3″, 214 lbs., McGough did a great job throwing off the run off his back foot. It reminds me of what former Texas A&M and first-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns, Johnny Manziel, used to do at College Station, Texas, before drugs and immature behavior got him kicked out of professional Football.
College Career (FIU)
McGough had a decent four years starting at quarterback for Florida International University. By the end of his senior year, he would declare for the 2018 NFL draft.
At his pro-day, the Tampa, Florida native ran a respectable 4.70 forty-yard dash and had a 32.5″ vertical leap. For any team that needed a quarterback late, McGough should have been the guy for that team.
Seattle Seahawks (2018)
With the 220th pick in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL draft, McGough was selected by the Seattle Seahawks and was the first quarterback picked by the franchise since their incumbent started.
Drafted in 2012, Russell Wilson was the quarterback then. On May 15, he signed his rookie deal but was sadly waived on Sept. 1, 2018, and was resigned to the practice squad.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2019)
On Jan. 15, 2019, McGough signed a reserve/future contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was then waived on Aug 31, 2019.
Houston Texans (2019-2020)
On Sept. 1, 2019, the Houston Texans signed McGough to their practice squad. Nine days later, he was named to the 53-man roster. About a month later, the quarterback was waived and then re-added to the practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with Houston on Jan. 13, 2020.
McGough was waived on August 31, 2020. He was then re-signed to the practice squad on September 14, 2020. McGough was then released on October 12.
Seattle Seahawks (Second Stint)
On Dec. 9, 2020, McGough was signed to the practice squad. On Jan 11, 2021, he signed a reserve/futures contract with the Seahawks. McGough was waived on August 23, 2021.
Birmingham Stallions
The dual-threat quarterback was chosen with the six-selection in round one of the 2022 USFL draft by the Birmingham Stallions. On April 22, 2022, he was platformed to the inactive roster with a bad ankle injury. McGough was re-assigned to the active roster on May 6.
During the Championship game, Smith was hurt, and McGough was brought in. He was 7-10 for 77 yards and a touchdown. The talented signal caller brought the Stallions to their first USFL championship.
This Week
McGough ran for a total of 82 yards and 53 of them were in the first half. The offensive player of the week achieved 19 of 24 pass attempts for 133 yards and two touchdowns, with a 117.5 QB rating. He also secured the victory with a 10-yard rushing td with 3:27 remaining to clinch the game for the Stallions.
It was with no question that McGough was the star in this contest. The team was 3-for-4 inside the 20, converting chances into scores, again led by number 2 of Birmingham.
Defensive Players: Kyahva Tezino (LB) – Pittsburgh Maulers & Frank Ginda (LB) Michigan Panthers
Kyahva Tezino (LB) – Pittsburgh Maulers
At 6’0″, 235 lbs., Tezino is not too big and not too small to play linebacker in the USFL. He is very fast off the line of scrimmage and uses his natural quickness to help one of the league’s top-rated defenses make big-time plays in big-time games.
Tezino is also a natural when tackling ball carriers. Despite the 22-0 defeat at the Memphis Showboats, he had 16 tackles, 11 solo, and two for a loss. Many coming-on third-down calls assisted the Maulers’ offense in getting the ball back.
Frank Ginda (LB) – Michigan Panthers
At 6’1″, 225 lbs., Ginda is smaller but very quick as a linebacker who is also a great tackler. He made 18 combined tackles, seven solo, with a half-sack and a forced fumble. Similar to Tezino, Ginda had a few tackles to force a punt and get the Panthers’ defense onto the sidelines.
His half-sack happened on a crucial third-down stop on the first drive in the third quarter. It gave Michigan a glimmer of hope to come back in this matchup. Ginda’s forced fumble came in the fourth quarter, but all it could muster was a field goal to stay in the contest.
OMG!!! A 109-YARD TOUCHDOWN FOR @DerrickDillon4 ?
?: @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/O0TulvbYSW
— Memphis Showboats (@USFLShowboats) May 20, 2023
Special Teams Player: Derrick Dillion (KR) – Memphis Showboats
Unlike the NFL, the play of the weekend in the USFL actually came from a Kick Returner. Yes, a Kick Returner. On Saturday, the Maulers were going for a 59-yard field goal attempt as the first half came to a close. Sadly, as the rest of the Maulers’ day went, the kick was very bad.
Showboats (KR) Derrick Dillion caught the ball in the back of the end zone and ran 109 yards for a touchdown to put Memphis up 19-0 at the half. See, Mr. Goodell, the USFL actually encourages kick returns, not further pushes them away.
Showboats Start
The Showboats began 0-3 and 0-2 at home to start out the year. Head Coach Todd Haley’s squad has now won three in a row after making the switch to “Big Game” Cole Kelly at quarterback.
They are now one game behind a three-way tie for first place in the South Division at 3-3, while the Stallions, Breakers, and Gamblers are all 4-2.
Their 22-0 win over the Pittsburgh Maulers this past Saturday was their first shoutout since steamrolling the Jacksonville Bulls, 31-0 on Jun 15, 1985. It was their second shutout in franchise history.
Nevertheless, the win at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium vs. the Maulers was their first facing their home fans this year.
