'85 Chronology-Atlantic Division Preview

Event Date; February 18th, 1985

Event Description: USFL Preview-Atlantic Division

Source: Pro Football Weekly

Atlantic Division Preview

Philadelphia Stars

1984 Record: 16-2

Stadium: Veterans Stadium   

Avg. Attendance:  28,667

Head Coach: Jim Mora

Owner: Myles Tanenbaum

Key players: QB Chuck Fusina, RB Kelvin Bryant, WR Scott Fitzkee, TE Ken Dunek, OC Bart Oates, OL Irv Eatman, OG Chuck Commiskey, T Brad Oates, DE William Fuller, NT Pete Kugler, LB Sam Mills, LB John Bunting, DB Antonio Gibson, DB Garcia Lane, DB Antonio Gibson, S Scott Woerner, S Mike Lush, P Sean Landeta.

New Additions: RB Anthony Anderson (Stars ’83), DT John Walker (College Draft ’85), WR-DB Jim Caver (NFL-Detroit ’83), TE Scott Niziolek (Stars Camp ’84), OL Dave Pacella (NFL-Philadelphia ’84), DE-OT Ron Kirkpatrick (Rookie Free Agent).

Outlook: Probably no team is hungrier for a title than Philadelphia.

1985 Prediction: 11-5 1st Place Division Champion

New Jersey Generals

1984 Record: 10-8

Stadium: Giants Stadium     

Avg. Attendance: 37,716

Head Coach: Walt Michaels

Owner: Donald J. Trump

Key players: QB Doug Flutie, RB Herschel Walker, FB Maurice Carthon, WR Clarence Collins, TE Sam Bowers, OC Kent Hull, G Dave Lapham, G-T Wayne Harris, OT Doug Mackie, OT Kari Yli-Renko, DE James Lockette, DL Jim Byrne, LB Jim LeClair, LB Bobby Leopold, LB Mike Weddington, DB Kerry Justin, S Gary Barbaro, K Roger Ruzek

New Additions: RB Weldon Ledbetter (Rookie Free Agent), WR Marcus Hackett (Generals Camp ’84), OC Russell Mitchell (Stallions ’84), OG Perry Hartnett (Blitz ’84), OL Dan Jiggetts (Blitz ’84), QB Fred Hessen (Stars ’84), DT Manny Weaver (NFL-Cincinnati ’82), LB Gary Moten (NFL-San Francisco ’83), LB Jim Dumont (NFL-Cleveland ’84),  P Rick Partridge (Allocation Draft-Memphis ’84), OL Russ Compton (Allocation Draft-Stallions ’84), DB Frank Duncan (Allocation Draft-Oakland ’84), DT Charles Cook (NFL-NY Giants ’83), WR Marcus Anderson (Allocation Draft-Blitz ’84), OL Greg Roberts (Allocation Draft-Showboats ’84).

Outlook: Doug Flutie should spark the offense, could win it all if the defense steps up.

1985 Prediction: 10-6 2nd Place Wild Card

Orlando Renegades

1984 Record: 4-14 (Washington Franchise)

Stadium:  The Citrus Bowl   

Avg. Attendance:  TBD

Head Coach: Lee Corso

Owner: Donald Dizney

Key players: QB Reggie Collier, QB Jerry Golsteyn, RB Curtis Bledsoe, WR Joey Walters, WR Jackie Flowers, TE Bob Niziolek, TE Don Echols, OC Brian Musselman, G-T Ron Mikolajczyk, OT Joel Patten, DT Joe Ehrmann, LB Jeff Gabrielson, LB Fred McAllister, DB Lee Wilson, DB Mike Guess, DB Victor Jackson, K Jeff Brockhaus, P Greg Cater.

New Additions: QB Jerry Golsteyn (NFL-Tampa Bay ’83), PK Jeff Brockhaus (Federals ’84), P Greg Cater (NFL-Buffalo ’83), RB Lonnie Johnson (Stallions ’84), WR Jeff Smith (CFL-Toronto ’84), WR Jerry Parrish (CFL-Montreal ’83), OT Ed Muransky (NFL-L.A. Raiders ’84), OT Dave Sullivan (Federals ’84), DE Scott Hutchinson (NFL-Buffalo ’83), DL Ed McAleney (Maulers ’84), LB Ed Jackson (CFL-Toronto ’82), LB Kelvin Atkins (NFL-Chicago ’83), DB Fred Nichols (Free Agent), WR Jackie Flowers (Allocation Draft-Maulers ’84), WR-TE Wilfred Morgan (Allocation Draft-Bandits ’84), OL Thom Dornbrook (Allocation Draft-Panthers ’84), OL Ron Mikolacyzk (Allocation Draft-Showboats ’84), OC Bruce Byron (Allocation Draft-Maulers ’84), C-T Jerry Doerger (Allocation Draft-Blitz ’84), TE Don Echols (Allocation Draft-Panthers ’84), RB Richard Crump (Allocation Draft-Breakers ’84), OL Don Corbin (Allocation Draft-Maulers ’84), DE Val Brown (Allocation Draft-Bulls ’84), DT Ken Times (Allocation Draft-Blitz ’84), DL Charles Riggins (Allocation Draft-Bandits ’84), DL Joe Ehrmmann (Allocation Draft-Outlaws ’84).

Outlook: Should be competitive and will pull off some upsets.

1985 Prediction: 6-10 3rd Place

Pittsburgh Maulers

1984 Record: 9-9

Stadium: Three Rivers Stadium    

Avg. Attendance: 22,858 

Head Coach: Hank Bullough

Owner: Edward J. DeBartolo

Key players: QB Glenn Carano, RB William Miller, RB Walter Holman, WR Greg Anderson, OC Chuck Correal, OG Donnie Hickman, G-T Don Maggs, DT Ira Albright, DL Ken Dombroski, LB Howard McAdoo, DB Jerry Holmes, P Larry Swider, PK Efren Herrera.

New Additions: OT Dave Pacella (NFL-Philadelphia ’84), PK Efren Herrera (Showboats Camp ’85), G-C Scott Burris (Territorial Draft ’85), OT Sam Slater (College Draft ’84), RB Marlon McIntyre (Territorial Draft ’85), QB’s Gene Bradley (Allocation Draft-Generals ’84) and Tim Koegel (Allocation Draft-Blitz ’84), WR Mike Harris (Allocation Draft-Federals ’84), DT Rich Dimler (Allocation Draft-Express ’84), LB Bob Knapton (Allocation Draft-Blitz ’84).

Outlook: The loss of Mike Rozier will be felt at the box office and on the gridiron.

1984 Prediction:  5-11 Fourth Place