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Passing Game Outlook
The hometown Birmingham Stallions named Skip Holtz as the team’s head coach and offensive coordinator. Holtz spent the last nine seasons as HC of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, where he compiled a 64-50 record. In his final six seasons at La Tech, Holtz trended slightly pass-heavy, dropping back at a 54.2% clip. During that span, his quarterbacks averaged a 60.7% completion rate and 5.1% touchdown rate on 7.4 yards per attempt. The Stallions selected QB Alex McGough with their first overall pick in February’s draft. McGough was a four-year starter at Florida International University, where he posted 807-1,335 (60.4%) for 9,091 yards, 65 TDs, and 37 INTs. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft and would spend the next three seasons on practice squads. In limited NFL preseason action, McGough went 62-114 (54.4%) for 621 yards, four TDs, and four INTs. He showed some willingness to use his legs at the collegiate level, averaging 4.9 rushing attempts per game. When projecting USFL offensive outlooks, it’s important to understand the context around each staff’s previous coaching stops and how we can apply it to this upstart league. Holtz’s 51.8% situation-neutral pass rate as the Bulldogs HC may not sound promising at face value but given median pass rates at the collegiate level trend around 47%, we can expect the Stallions to drop back at a healthy clip.
The Stallions used their first WR selection on Victor Bolden, who was originally signed as a 2017 UDFA where he spent the better part of four seasons on a handful of NFL practice squads. The 5’8”, 178-lb Bolden appeared in 15 preseason games, where he posted a 10/123/0 receiving line. Along with high draft capital, Bolden should fill an important role as the de-facto slot man in Holtz’s three- and four-wide heavy personnel. He also showed the ability earn targets at the collegiate level, posting three seasons with a 20% target share or greater while at Oregon State.
Emanuel Hall is making his return to football after suffering a torn Achilles in June of 2020. Prior to the injury, Hall signed as a 2019 UDFA and spent two seasons on NFL practice squads. An intriguing size and speed prospect, the 6’2”, 201-lb Hall ran a 4.39 40-yard dash and averaged 23.6 YPR at Missouri. Assuming he returns from injury near full strength, he could lead the team in target share.
A newer face in the football side streets, Osirus Mitchell was a receiver we played in NFL preseason contests after he signed with Dallas as a 2021 UDFA. A big-bodied 6’5”, 206-lb WR, Mitchell should contend with Hall for a team-leading target share.
Cary Angeline was the lone tight end drafted by Birmingham in February’s initial draft. Despite a 4.94 40-yard dash, Angeline was able to maneuver his 6’7”, 245-lb frame through a productive finish to his collegiate career. He should share pass-catching responsibilities with converted WR Sage Surratt, who the Stallions added via the supplemental draft. Surratt racked up a healthy 66/1,001/11 receiving line in his final season at Wake Forest before spending the 2021 preseason with the Detroit Lions.
Running Game Outlook
The Stallions used their first RB selection on Tony Brooks-James, who signed as a 2019 UDFA and spent the last three seasons on various NFL practice squads before getting waived ahead of the 2021 season. Brooks-James posted a 283/1,863/18 rushing line in 45 collegiate games at Oregon. Rarely called upon to catch passes out of the backfield, Brooks-James managed just 40 receptions in four seasons with the Ducks.
Selected with their second RB pick, C.J. Marable may be called upon to fill the pass-catching void after he posted an 84/703/12 receiving line in his collegiate career at Coastal Carolina, including a healthy 14.6% target share in his senior season.
6’1”, 231-lb Jordan Chunn was added in the supplemental draft. He profiles as an early-down grinder capable of siphoning some rushing work from Brooks-James. All said, this backfield profiles as a three-headed RBBC with Brooks-James and Chunn chewing up a majority of the work on the ground with Marable as the backfield’s go-to pass catcher.
