Recently acquired kicker Ramiz Ahmed of the Birmingham Stallions was 4-for-4 on field goals, including the game winner from 46 yards out against D.C. as time expired. (UFL Photo)
My “Three up, three down” column will appear weekly on UFL Board during the season, taking note of positives or things that are happening often (“up”) as well as negatives or rarities (“down”).
Up: Roughnecks momentum
It wasn’t just about Houston notching their first win of the season over the defending XFL champion Arlington Renegades on Sunday, a win that leaves them just one game out of a playoff spot in the USFL Conference despite a 1-3 record. It was about the players that helped them do so. Houston got 2023 USFL Offensive Player of the Year RB Mark Thompson back from a knee sprain suffered in training camp, and he breathed life into what had been a moribund run game. Returning from the suspended list, CB Kiondre Thomas intercepted a pass and knocked down two others. And at QB, Reid Sinnett continued his fine play in place of the injured Jarrett Guarantano. The Roughnecks have a tall task next weekend against 4-0 Birmingham, but they seem better equipped for that challenge than they did just a few weeks ago.
Down: Renegades momentum
Arlington was a whisker or two away from coming into Sunday’s cross-state battle with Houston at 2-1. Instead, they left Rice Stadium 0-4 and in search of answers. QB Luis Perez couldn’t get on the same page with his receivers; offensive coordinator Chuck Long appeared to struggle getting the plays in to Perez in a timely manner; key penalties obstructed opportunities on both sides of the ball; the defense failed to adjust to Houston’s liberal use of slant routes; and the tackling indicated a lack of urgency. This was an alarming performance all around and one quite unexpected of a Bob Stoops-coached team. It doesn’t get any easier next week when they host the 3-1 San Antonio Brahmas.
Up: St. Louis home field advantage
Over 31,000 people packed The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis for the week four game against the Memphis Showboats. The crowd has been the envy of spring football for its size, but their raucous nature has had an effect on opponents who are unlucky enough to draw a date inside the Battle Dome. That home field advantage was on display on Saturday. Memphis committed three false starts and was 1-for-8 on 3rd downs; the crowd noise undoubtedly played a part in those numbers. One false start came on 3rd-and-3 in the first quarter, and another on a 4th-and-1 at the St. Louis five-yard line late in the second quarter. Memphis, which had lined up to go for it, was forced to settle for a field goal. St. Louis is one of the few UFL teams whose fans have come out in the kind of numbers that can affect opposing teams.
Down: QB health
In week two, Houston QB Jarrett Guarantano went down with a chest injury and he has missed two games while recovering. After week three, San Antonio QB Chase Garbers was potentially lost for the season with a left wrist ailment. Three quarterbacks had to leave games this past weekend, though one of them, Matt Corral, returned. For the Michigan Panthers, Danny Etling had to relieve E.J. Perry, who exited the contest with a hamstring. And against St. Louis, Case Cookus could not finish the game as he suffered an undisclosed injury on a strip-sack. The health of those players will be updated this week in preparation for week five. The NFL often has trouble keeping its quarterbacks upright, even with rules that give them extreme protections. The UFL has shown that its quarterbacks are not immune from getting knocked around, either. For the on-field play to stay at a high level, the league needs its starting QBs to be in the game as often as possible.
Up: Replacement kickers
Two teams were forced into signing kickers this week due to injuries at the position. Birmingham brought in Ramiz Ahmed, who kicked for the Pittsburgh Maulers in the USFL in 2022 and connected on a 61-yard field goal that season. And Arlington added former Texas Tech Red Raider Jonathan Garibay late in the week. Garibay attended training camp with the Dallas Cowboys in 2022. Kickers throughout the UFL have been quite successful in 2024, and both Ahmed and Garibay followed in those footsteps. Ahmed was 4-for-4 on field goals, including the game winner from 46 yards out against D.C. as time expired. Garibay was good on his only attempt, a 31-yarder in the first quarter. Both are likely short-term signings, though their performances may have vaulted them to the top of others teams’ emergency lists should they be needed.
Down: Sticky hands
Overall, it was a week to forget for many receivers across the league. Cases of the dropsies infected the position throughout the games. San Antonio was perhaps the biggest culprit. WR Jontre Kirklin had a 3rd down drop, while TEs Alize Mack and Cody Latimer also allowed the ball to hit the turf. The team was able to overcome those mistakes in defeating Memphis. They also had more of an excuse, as this was the first game with Quinten Dormady at QB, and and adjustment period may have been necessary. Then, TE Sal Cannella dropped a wide-open pass over the middle for Arlington against Houston. There were others, too, but those seemed to be the most egregious. With games often coming down to the wire, teams can’t let these opportunities literally slip through their hands.
