We’re in Week two of then XFL, with the league persevering with to make new followers by the day. This week the XFL handled followers to a different come from behind victory, in addition to the remainder of the pack of groups starting to iron themselves out.
St. Louis Battlehawks 20, Seattle Sea Dragons 18
The Cardiac BattleHawks do it once more, staging one other comeback victory to get to 2-0, beating the Sea Dragons in Seattle. The Battlehawks appear to be constructed to win in any method attainable, with gamers that carry out at their finest at crucial occasions. QB AJ McCarron as soon as once more was the star, throwing for 184 yards but additionally operating for 41 yards and a landing within the victory. His reference to WR Austin Proehl is de facto cool to see.
#XFL recreation breakdowns? XFL GAME BREAKDOWNS BABY!! The connection that Austin Proehl and AJ McCarron have constructed may be very cool and was on show within the greatest play of the sport final evening pic.twitter.com/aSKb0z1rhP
— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) February 24, 2023
For Seattle, that is their second loss that has come all the way down to the ultimate moments. Final week they couldn’t shut out a victory over the DC Defenders, and this week the protection does them in. The offense ought to proceed to be nice, so long as QB Ben DiNucci doesn’t flip the ball over. The protection depends closely on blitzing, however when it doesn’t get there it leaves their DBs prone to large performs. Defensive coordinator Ron Zook has to discover a strategy to mood these calls higher.
DC Defenders 18, Vegas Vipers 6
The DC Defenders have confirmed to be as deep and proficient a workforce as anybody else within the league, dismantling the Vegas Vipers in a heavy downpour. The Defenders are very properly coached on each side of the ball, and in the event that they do attain a degree the place they’re struggling (the passing recreation has but to click on), they’ve the final word ace within the gap: QB D’Eriq King and the run recreation.
DC might need a QB downside on their fingers, as a result of with King within the recreation the offense strikes with rather more fluidity and explosiveness, basically changing into a school unfold workforce within the course of. DC ran for 229 yards on 43 carries, a tidy 5.5 yards an try. That’ll play. The protection, led by Gregg Williams, is also in play for the very best within the league, and so they shut down what needs to be a extra dynamic Vipers offense (we’ll come again to that).
As for Vegas, they shouldn’t be 0-2 based mostly on their workforce on paper however right here we’re. The offense has expertise, however they will by no means appear to get out of their very own method with playcalling, always placing themselves behind the sticks.
San Antonio Brahmas 30, Orlando Guardians 12
This recreation was tightly contested for perhaps like half-hour. The Brahmas continued to put on down the Guardians protection over time, and QB Jack Coan made a few spectacular throws off play motion to assist the Brahmas cruise to a straightforward victory.
San Antonio is a tricky workforce to gauge. They appear to wish to assault downfield off play motion and heavy run recreation, however their offensive line stays suspect. Jack Coan is sweet within the play motion recreation, however generally has moments of inefficiency. It’ll be fascinating to see how this workforce develops as they play opponents of upper caliber.
As for the Guardians, I believe this clip sums it up:
They’re the worst workforce within the league, and I’m unsure it’s shut.
Houston Roughnecks 23, Arlington Renegades 14
The Roughnecks proceed to impress, beating to the Renegades to remain undefeated. QB Brandon Silvers was as soon as once more environment friendly, throwing two TDs, whereas QB Cole McDonald offered some spark within the brief yardage run recreation. Nonetheless, it is a Wade Phillips workforce, and this workforce performs DEFENSE. The Roughnecks sacked Renegades QB Drew Plitt 5 occasions and picked him off twice, and the Renegades two scoring alternatives had been constructed on particular groups blunders. Houston goes to be an issue within the XFL.
The Renegades is perhaps on the subsequent tier beneath the highest groups, and it’s due to the turnovers. They’re 2nd within the league in interceptions thrown, and the premature turnovers might be what maintain them from being in that prime tier. Regardless of that, the offense nonetheless has its’ spurts of being enjoyable and the ability expertise has performed properly, in order that they’ll at all times be in a recreation.
Week 2 Energy Rankings
- DC Defenders
- Houston Roughnecks
- St. Louis Battlehawks
- Arlington Renegades
- Seattle Sea Dragons
- San Antonio Brahmas
- Vegas Vipers
- Orlando Guardians
