'85 Chronology-Pacific Division Preview

Event Date: February 18th, 1985

Event Description: USFL Preview: Pacific Division

Source: Pro Football Weekly

Arizona Outlaws

1984 Record: 12-6

Stadium: Sun Devil Stadium   

Avg. Attendance:  25,568

Head Coach: Frank Kush

Owner: William Tatham

Key players: QB Doug Williams, RB Kevin Long, RB Reggie Brown, FB Mack Boatner, WR Alvin Williams, TE Ron Wheeler, OG Tom Thayer, OC Gerry Sullivan, OG Alvin Powell, DE Karl Lorch, DT Kit Lathrop, DB Bruce Laird, DB Selwyn Drain, PK Luis Zendejas

New Additions: P Case deBrujin (NFL-Kansas City ’82), RB Otis Brown (Invaders ’84), RB Reggie Brown (Allocation Draft-Los Angeles ’84), QB Rick Johnson (Blitz ’84), WR Lonnie Harris (Federals ’84), TE Ron Wetzel (NFL-Kansas City ’82), OT Chuck Page (Rookie Free Agent), DT Johnny Lewis (Free Agent), DE Junior Ah You (Allocation Draft-Breakers ’84), LB Dave Simmons (NFL-Chicago ’83), LB Darryl Goodlow (Free Agent),LB Jimmie Carter (Free Agent), OT Luis Garza (Territorial Draft pick ’85), WR Jay Dobyns (Territorial Draft pick), DB Anthony Allen (Allocation Draft-Gold ’84).

Outlook: Loaded with talent and potential, if Doug Williams stays healthy look out.

1985 Prediction: 10-6 1st place Division Champs

Los Angeles Express

1984 Record: 8-10

Stadium: Los Angeles Coliseum & Anaheim Stadium     

Avg. Attendance: 16,513

Head Coach: John Hadl

Owner: Jay Roulier

Key players: QB Steve Young, QB Frank Seurer, RB Mel Gray, RB Kevin Nelson, RB Tony Boddie, FB Kirby Warren, TE Mike Sherrod, WR Jo-Jo Townsell, WR Duane Gunn, TE David Hersey, OC Mike Ruether, G Wayne Jones, OT Jeff Hart, OT Gary Zimmerman, DL Eddie “Meat-Clever” Weaver, DL Ben Rudolph, DT George Achica, DL Ray Cattage, LB Howard Carson, DB Wymon Henderson, S Troy West, DB Darrell Pattillo, DB Wymon Henderson, K Tony Zendejas.

New Additions: QB Mike Rae (Panthers ’84), RB Robert Alexander (NFL-Los Angeles Rams ’83), RB Kirby Warren (Free Agent), WR Leroy Campbell (CFL-Saskatchewan ’83) LB Andy Melontree (Stallions ’84), DL Clay Ruyle (Outlaws ’84), OT Harold Norfleet (Allocation Draft-Denver ’84), DT Ben Rudolph (NFL-NY Jets ’84), LB Gary Moten (NFL-San Francisco ’83), DB John Higgins (Gold ’84), P Steve Gort (Allocation Draft-Gold ’84), DL Billy Don Jackson (Breakers ’84).

Outlook: Led by star quarterback Steve Young, the Express should challenge Arizona for the division crown.

1985 Prediction: 9-7 2nd place Wild Card

Denver Gold

1984 Record: 7-11

Stadium: Mile High Stadium    

Avg. Attendance: 33,953

Head Coach: “Mouse” Davis

Owner: Doug Spedding

Key players: QB Vince Evans, QB Bob Gagliano, RB Vincent White, RB Bill Johnson, FB Todd Gerhart, WR Leonard Harris, WR Marc Lewis, WR Gill Steagall, OC John Yarno, OG George Yarno, C-G Tom Davis, DE Calvin Turner, DE Bruce Thornton, LB stan Blinka, LB Mike McKibben, DB Nate Miller, DB Steve Trimble, DB Darryl Hemphill and DB Lance Shields.

New Additions: QB’s Vince Evans (Blitz ’84) and Mike Fisher (Free Agent), P-K Jim Asmus (Gold ’83), RB Todd Gerhart (Rookie Free Agent), RB Shawn Jones (Territorial Draft pick ’85), WR Marc Lewis (Allocation Draft-Oakland ’84), WR Lonnie Turner (Express ’84), WR Gill Stegall (College Draft pick ‘85), WR Troy Johnson (Rookie Free Agent), WR Kelley Johnson (Territorial Draft Pick ’85), RB Donnie Williams (Gamblers ’84), OG Walt Downing (NFL-San Francisco ’83), OG Mike Nease (Rookie Free Agent), OG Greg Loberg (Allocation Draft-Express ’84), OG Louis Wong (Territorial Draft ’85), DT Mike Taliferro (Rookie Free Agent), DT Doug Mikolas (Rookie Free Agent), DE Andy Poremba (Gold ’83), LB Stan Blinka (NFL-NYJets ’83), LB Neil Hope (Rookie Free Agent), LB John Nevens (Rookie Free Agent), DB Calvin Loveall (Rookie Draft pick).

Outlook: Mouse Davis was the brain behind the Gamblers’ run-and-shoot offense, and now he is expected to have similar success in Denver. Quarterback Vince Evans remains a question mark.

1985 Prediction: 6-10 3rd place   

Oakland Invaders

1984 Record: 4-14

Stadium: Oakland Coliseum

Avg. Attendance: 22,877

Head Coach: Charlie Sumner

Owner: Tad Taube

Key players: QB Fred Besana, RB Albert Bentley, RB Eric Jordan, FB Tom Newton, WR Gordon Banks, WR Malcolm Moore, OC Jim Leonard, OT Dale Markham, DE Dave Browning, DL Monte Bennett, LB Gary Plummer, DB Derrick Martin, DB Marcus Quinn, P Stan Talley.

New Additions: QB Steve Clarkson (CFL-Saskatchewan ’83), TE Paul Bergmann (Allocation Draft-Jacksonville ‘84), FB Shawn Faulkner (Allocation Draft-Michigan ‘84), OC Tom Turnure (Allocation Draft-Michigan ‘84), WR Mike Shumann (NFL-St. Louis ’83), WR Wes Howell (Free Agent), WR Malcolm Moore (Allocation Draft-Los Angeles ‘84), OC Dave Ohton (Allocation Draft-Arizona ’84), T-G Gus Coppens (Allocation Draft-Los Angeles ’84), DT Ruben Vaughn (NFL-Minnesota ’84), DT Bob Standifer (’85 College Draft), DT Fred Anderson (Allocation Draft-Birmingham ’84), DB M.L. Carter (Boston ’83), DT Dennis Puha (Allocation Draft-Chicago ’84), LB Rich Dixon (NFL-Atlanta ’83), LB-S Angelo Snipes (Rookie Free Agent), DB Mike O’Brien (Oakland ’83), 

Outlook: Charlie Sumner takes over as head coach after being a defensive coordinator for the last five years with the Raiders.

1985 Prediction:  4-12 4th Place