By Roy J. Akers- The Michigan Panthers are now 20-percent through with their ten-game season and UFL stats show why the team has a (1-1) record.
The truth is Jake Bates 64-yard field goal with three seconds left in the opener was the difference against the St. Louis Battlehawks. Without that great boot, the team would almost surely by (0-2). Bates has also kicked a 62-yard field goal and a 54-yard field goal through two games and is the one true offensive weapon that has fully emerged for the Panthers.
The Panthers defense is the second star of the team. They bottled up St. Louis for the most part in the opener with three sacks and constant pressure on QB A.J. McCarron. McCarron is the leader in the UFL in several passing categories and the Panthers made several negative yard plays. McCarron bought time in game one and opened up the scoring opportunities. Michigan’s defense is something that HC Mike Nolan prides himself in.
Michigan QB EJ Perry is a work in progress. He has been inconsistent throwing the football with balls thrown both ahead and behind the receivers. He has three picks on the season against one TD pass. His favorite pass pattern is the slant with a receiver sliding to a receiving slot to produce some short chunk plays. Perry was sacked seven times against two-time defending USFL Champion Birmingham. Perry bought time several times in game two against the Stallions.
Perry’s favorite target has been wideout Marcus Simms. Simms has hauled in five catches in 13 targets for 134 yards and a touchdown. His 26.8 YPC is easily the highest in the UFL after two weeks and is skewed by the 76-yard TD grab from Perry.
The Panthers run game was clicking in game one against St. Louis. Game two against Birmingham is another story. Wes Hills had seven rushes for ten yards with a long gain of three.
Circling back to the Michigan defense, the pass rush evaporated against Birmingham in game two. The team is still in the top half of the league in most defensive stats. Michigan needs to continue to improve and get some defensive stops. One promising stat for the Panthers is they have two of the top five players in total tackles seen below.
Frank Ginda leads the UFL with 19 total tackles and ranking 5th is Kai Nacua. The Panthers will look to build on the play of these two when playing the Houston Roughnecks (0-2) at Ford Field this Sunday. With an unhead of 3 game homestand to start the season, Michigan really needs this game.
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UFL POSTGAME NOTES
· Michigan kicker Jake Bates hit a second 60+ yard field goal in consecutive tries after kicking a 62-yard try as time expired in the first half against Birmingham.
· In the NFL, a kicker has hit back-to-back 60-yard field goals in back-to-back weeks only once (Brett Maher, Dallas Cowboys, Weeks 6-7 in 2019).
· Bates is now 3-for-3 on the season with fields coming from 64, 62 and 52 yards.
· E.J. Perry connected with Marcus Simms for a 76-yard touchdown for his first touchdown pass of the year and longest play from scrimmage this season for the Panthers.
· Keith Gibson Jr. recorded the first interception for the Panthers this season with an interception in the end zone in the fourth quarter.