Cup O' Joe - Week 3-4 Rumblings & Grumblings

Author: Joe Simpson
Date: September 20, 1990

Here are some tidbits from around the league:

Nobody's quite sure what to make of the situation in Nashville right now. The team, predicted to be divisional champs by more than one reporter, has ended up 0-3, their offense stragging at 31st in the league. The blame seems to fall on QB Josh Stanley, who has a 5-4 TD ratio this year. A lot of blame should be put on the running backs, however; Drew Thompson has been absolutely horrible, at 27 rushes for just 100 yards. Cliff Howley is one game away from replacing him, which may mean the end of Thompson in Nashville. Thompson did not help matters by blasting the offensive line, which has heled up well despite Brandon Harris giving up three sacks. Thompson was quoted on WNSH as saying "Harris couldn't open a hole if the hole were his mouth and he were fitting one of those big hoagies into it". Harris reportedly confronted him, and a scuffle broke out at practice. Things are not going well in the Music City right now.

Meanwhile, in St. Louis, people are calling for the head of owner Vince Miceli over trading DT Charles Anderson and RB Jay Vanden Bosch, the first player taken by the organization, for a 3rd and a 4th-round pick. They got more for Anderson than they did for Vanden Bosch, which has a lot of fans saying they will boycott games. The team has placed faith in RB Julian Jordan, the new starter, but it doesn't explain trading Vanden Bosch in the fans' eyes. Vanden Bosch was said to have been thrilled to get out of that "revolving door hellhole" in St. Louis, saying anywhere "but Chicago" was heaven ("It's worse there", he was quoted as saying). However, one should watch this organization. While they really have no talent, they DO have $23 million in cap room, and a ton of draft picks. So, outrage now...serenity later.

Oakland officials are a little upset at QB Todd Irons for his second-straight poor game. He threw four interceptions against the no-defense Grays, one of which accounted for the game-deciding score on Jack McCoy's INT return for a TD. They've made no secrets about getting a new QB, and sitting Irons down for the next couple of weeks. One problem they face, however, is that they are slightly over the cap. They are unable to trade anyone without getting under the cap, making Irons their QB for now. Rumor has it that they would love to get their hands on veteran Jason Bromell of Cincinnati, then taking a QB with their first-round pick next year. This theory is already supported by certain officials going to Clemson to see Pat Banks play, then up to Oregon to see Donald Osgood. Banks was considered the more established of the two, but Osgood may have the bigger upside.

One city that has been ecstatic about its play is Cincinnati. The city's baseball team, the Monarchs, have been flat-out terrible in the American Baseball League, enduring six straight losing seasons before finishing four games over .500 this year. But the Royals have gone 3-0 so far, and are ranked third in this week's AFL Magazine Power Rankings. This team shares QB Leonard Smith's tough mentality. One example comes from this past week's game against San Diego. Smith was knocked down by ILB Ron Coffey on a questionable play. Coffey, in turn, was confronted immediately by the entire offensive line. Smith then proceeded to get up, and get into the confrontation. The refs broke it up, but the play set the stage for the play that broke the Express...a similar play, where Coffey came in, and was blindsided by running back Barry Robinson, who flatout flattened Coffey, while Smith threw a 43-yard touchdown strike to Hopalong Van Dyke. Coffey was not a factor again, and the Express were defeated for the first time this year. This is a very tough Royals squad.

Finally, in Philadelphia, the team has been very pleased with the play of their high-profile stars...namely Michael Armstead and SS Jack McCoy. Armstead has the top QB rating in the league, and leads the league in passing yardage, with 800 yards through the air. He is also a fearless leader, sacrificing his body for the offense. He took a beating against Oakland, but led them to a huge victory. McCoy, meanwhile, is an amazing player, and just a rookie. He has no real talent around him on defense, save for free safey Jim Behrman and corners Chuck Scuillo and Matt Adams. McCoy takes it upon himself to be a factor in the run game, and has been a punisher through the air. His 89-yard INT return for a TD against the Immortals also included two broken tackles and a complete fakeout of running back Johnny Plunkett. McCoy may be the real deal, and he has the team very revved up for Boston. The Shamrocks really feel that the Washington game was a fluke, and are looking to take it to the Minutemen. It should be a fantastic game.

Cup O' Joe - Week 3 Predictions

Author: Joe Simpson
Date: September 15, 1990

We hit the first bye week in the AFL, with four teams--Houston, Boston, Chicago, and Michigan--all taking the week off. For Houston and Boston, the bye doesn't come at a good time. They're 2-0, both with big wins, and now they'll have to play fourteen games in a row. For Michigan, the bye comes at a decent time. They're nicked up a bit, and need some rest. For Chicago, the bye comes as a chance for all of the players to actually get to know one another.

Fourteen games line up this week, and we have some real interesting games out there. Let's take a look at the lineup.

Game of the Week

Cincinnati (2-0) @ San Diego (2-0): The only undefeated showdown of the week pits the Royals against the Express, who must cope with losing QB (and Player of the Week last Sunday) Ladell Suggs. He was 26-of-30 for four touchdowns before falling to an injury. He'll be out for most of the season, so the Express went and made a move. Enter James Scott, fresh off a trade from St. Louis. He's a little nicked up himself, but he'll be ready to go. Cincinnati, meanwhile, has two wins within their division, and have looked good doing so. Their offense is eighth in the league, while the defense is seventh. I think the defense is what will win this game. San Diego is ranked 11th, but this game is Cincinnati's to lose. Expect Cedrick Broyles and Michael Anglin to disrupt the passing game, and force Scott into some bad reads with his new teammates. With a new QB at the helm, the Express could be derailed.

Prediction: CINCINNATI 24, San Diego 13

Other games (home team in CAPS):

NEW ORLEANS 17, Miami 14
Washington 28, NEW YORK 16
NASHVILLE 20, Pittsburgh 19
DALLAS 21, St. Louis 7
Denver 24, ATLANTA 20
TAMPA 34, Kansas City 27
CLEVELAND 19, Louisville 10
Philadelphia 37, OAKLAND 31
MINNESOTA 30, Iowa 24
SAN FRANCISCO 20, Seattle 17 (OT) - UPSET SPECIAL
PORTLAND 24, Indianapolis 17
Baltimore 20, CAROLINA 10
Los Angeles 30, ARIZONA 13

Last Week: 10-6
Season: 21-11

Matchups to watch:

San Diego QB James Scott vs. San Diego WRs - Scott will have had exactly two practices to get together with his receivers before the game. The receivers had gotten used to the scrambling of Ladell Suggs; Scott is a runner as well, but a different style altogether. This could screw up Bo Jackson and Patrick Connell throughout the game, and may lead to some deceptively easy interceptions for Royal cornerbacks.

Oakland defensive coordinator Marvin Thomas vs. Philadelphia offensive line - Thomas has promised a lot of blitzing this week against the Shamrocks and their talented-but-aging offensive line. They were beaten for three sacks, but did open up some big runs as well. The Shamrocks may use the draw and screen a lot. If so, it could be a LONG day for the Immortals.

San Francisco secondary against Seattle QB Monte Meier - For the second week in a row, Meier will be testing. It won't be by a lot of pressure from a defensive line this time, like what happened against Portland. This time, we could see a bunch of coverage sacks...and another Seattle loss. Watch CB Ted Chapman and Tavares Cook, and FS John White, and see how well they do in the first quarter. If Meier can't find anyone open...it will be very difficult for Seattle to move the ball.