Los Angeles – (2 February 2001) — Season openers call for more than the usual guesswork when game planning, and this is of course particularly true in a new league. Teams haven’t yet established their own identities, so determining a competitor’s can be a problem. Still, certain personnel decisions provide obvious clues.
Going into Sunday’s contest at Pac Bell Park, the Los Angeles Xtreme have three running backs and eight wide receivers, while the San Francisco Demons carry six backs and only four receivers (Frank Leatherwood, listed as a fullback for the Xtreme, is really more of a tight end). As a group, moreover, the Demon receivers are much shorter, lighter, and faster than their L.A. counterparts. What all this suggests is that the Xtreme anticipate moving the chains with a short and intermediate passing game, whereas San Francisco will complement a strong running attack with downfield, play-action throws.
A look at L.A.’s starters in the backfield supports the projection here. Quarterback Tommy Maddox is a rangy, elusive athlete who can slide in the pocket and release the ball effectively on designed rolls, but not someone who’ll rifle it between defenders or consistently deliver on deep outs. His game is one of touch and timing. Halfback Rashaan Shehee, meanwhile, has the speed to rip off long gains on screens and draws, but is too tentative and upright to play ball-control over the course of an entire game. Expect to see backup Ken Oxendine in short-yardage situations.
On the other side of the line of scrimmage, the Demons’ excess of linebackers (eight on a 45-man roster) points to the possibility of a 3-4 base. This would give them the option of an extra man in zone coverage on first down, as well as a more unpredictable blitzing scheme. Tactically speaking, a good fit for the Xtreme offense. You’ve got to have the talent, though, and San Francisco may be lacking in this department.
The strength of the Demon defense is at corner and nose tackle. Dwayne Harper was a late-blooming CB for the NFL’s San Diego Chargers in the ‘90s, playing near a Pro Bowl level before hamstring injuries slowed him down. In the XFL, his savvy and remaining talent should allow him to quickly achieve “shutdown” status. And if Emile Palmer (320+ lbs.) lines up directly over center Jonathan Himebauch (288), there should be a mismatch that L.A. will have to address with double- and triple-teaming.
Just how good the Xtreme can be against the run is unclear, but they shouldn’t have much trouble this week against what appears to be a very predictable offensive unit for San Francisco. Cornerbacks Clifton Abraham, Dell McGee, and Reggie Durden are just the sort of small, swift coverage specialists who can neutralize the Demon receivers man-to-man, allowing safety Ricky Parker a comfort zone to play the ground game first.
COPELAND’S CHALLENGE
Wide receiver Jeremaine Copeland has plenty of incentive to play with focus against the Demons and all subsequent opponents this year. Last summer, as a Barcelona Dragon in NFL Europe, he set the pro football record for catches in a single game with 19. His achievement was commemorated in Canton’s Hall of Fame. Terrell Owens of the San Francisco 49ers has since eclipsed this mark with 20. Can Copeland regain his title? He’s certainly playing on the right kind of team.
INJURED INACTIVES
Wide receiver Damon Dunn (hamstring) and cornerback Donnell Day (groin) won’t play in Week One. Both should figure prominently when they return. Without Dunn, the Xtreme’s only bonafide speedster at the position is Latario Rachal. Big targets like Copeland, Jason Shelley, Darnell McDonald, and Todd Doxzon will still allow them to create some jump-ball situations if they need a vertical passing game.
