On Sunday, two UFL teams will clash in what is an incredibly important matchup in the USFL Conference. The Memphis Showboats host the Michigan Panthers, as the franchises will face off for the first time this season.
A USFL Conference Battle 😤@USFLPanthers vs. @USFLShowboats Sunday at 3pm ET/2pm CT on @FOXSports 📺
🎟️: https://t.co/4x4TAf8D6f pic.twitter.com/zgSWz3vFSx
— United Football League (@TheUFL) April 25, 2024
When these two teams played each other last year, it was a much different scene. Todd Haley and Cole Kelley were the faces of the Showboats, and Memphis got the road win 29-10 over Michigan.
This year, the Showboats are led by John DeFilippo and Case Cookus. They’re stuck in a rut as a team right now, losing three straight games. Most recently, they had a disastrous second half in a 32-17 loss to St. Louis.
The Michigan Panthers have been one of the most inconsistent teams in the UFL. One week, they’ll look like a well oiled machine. Then the next, the product will be exactly the opposite. Let’s take a glance at what we can expect in this showdown on Sunday.
Quarterback Play
The Memphis Showboats have some questions at the quarterback position. Case Cookus hasn’t been playing exactly to the level that one would expect, but the pressure has been brutal up front. Cookus has been sacked 13 times this year, tied for the most sacks any quarterback has taken.
However, his status is uncertain heading into this affair. Cookus took a hit to the elbow/shoulder area in the second half, which caused him to exit the game.
Vinny Papale, are you kidding me?
Case Cookus drops an absolute dime, and @vinny_papale does the rest with some “toe drag swag”. The @USFLShowboats are cooking, no pun intended, to start this game. #UFL pic.twitter.com/p3IaGAxAr9
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) March 31, 2024
Troy Williams saw some action down the stretch, and did what he could to try and get Memphis back into it. There is…