Above Image Credit: PFF
Week 2 is almost here, but we gotta look back at how we got here.
Last week brought plenty of surprises from more than a few teams, including the three new ones. We witnessed a new star QB in the making, the wins and losses of three debuting teams, and one team who could be going back to being stuck in their woes instead of starting new.
So what did I learn from watching week 1 of the UFL? Here are three takeaways to help answer that question…
1. Austin Reed: Dallas’s New “Spring King?”
When Arlington announced that they were going to put in backup QB Austin Reed instead of Luis Perez, some fans wondered if that was a wise move. We learned our answer this past Saturday.
Reed recorded 26 completions out of 40 attempts for three touchdowns and 376 yards, the highest passing record in a single game of the UFL regular season. He would go on to lead the Renegades on a dominant run against the Houston Gamblers that ended with a 36-17 win.
It’s only been one game, and Reed is looking to take Perez’s starting QB position. While we don’t know if Reed or Perez will start against the Battlehawks on Tuesday night, the battle for the position is just heating up.
2. The New Clubs Have Work To Do
The Orlando Storm, Columbus Aviators, and Louisville Kings all made their UFL debuts. Orlando were the only ones of these new clubs to get a win in their debut.
Louisville debuted to a sold out crowd of 14,034 fans. While they did their best to rein in Birmingham, and believe me they did, it wasn’t enough. They lost 15-13 that night. However, they have shown to have some potential, and you can bet they’ll find a way to keep improving themselves in order to reach it.
Orlando won against the Columbus Aviators 23-16 after a tight first half followed by a dominant 3rd quarter. The win proves that Storm head coach Anthony Becht hasn’t lost his touch even after leaving St. Louis. Even with the loss, the Aviators had great potential too.
The way I see it, do not turn your backs on these new squads. They have more skill than you originally knew.
3. Houston Still Has a Problem
It seems that changing the team name and relocating to a new venue didn’t do any favors for Houston. Being dominated by the Dallas Renegades wasn’t helpful either.
Switching between QBs had to become the new plan after the Gamblers’ second drive ended with an interception for a touchdown by the Renegades. Nolan Henderson made one too many mistakes, so Hunter Dekkers took over the rest of the game. He might have put up more of an effort than Henderson did, but it wasn’t enough to pull off a miracle.
Flimsy QB work combined with a low attendance for a kickoff game equals a major problem to keep the Gamblers afloat. It might be early, but they could be heading towards being disenfranchised or relocated if they keep this up, especially with Mike Repole’s vision of expanding the UFL in the future.
