By: Trey Colbeck (BHM) and Drew Wells (DC)
Our weekly breakdowns associated with UFL games will follow the format of both correspondents providing a brief write-up of who they think holds the advantage at each position group on the field. This will be followed up with a brief prediction of how the game will turn out, followed by a score prediction. Las Vegas betting odds will be provided, along with how the correspondents would play their money when evaluating the match-up.
The United Football League (UFL) is finally here and its Game Day! We at Alternative Football Network bring you a quick look inside at who may have the advantage at each position group in this weekend’s game. Get ready, because the Birmingham Stallions are bringing a fight to the D.C. Defenders!
Quarterbacks
Trey Colbeck (BHM)
With Adrian Martinez moving onto the New York Jets of the NFL, this team will look for a new captain to helm the ship. Matt Corral was the one who stepped up at times last year and eagerly looked to assume the position. He completed 36 of 62 and put up two passing touchdowns while throwing for 494 yards. However, the recently acquired Case Cookus is no slouch. He was under the center in Memphis last season, and he threw 989 yards and 7 touchdowns. He completed 62.4 % of his passes but did throw 4 interceptions. The Defender’s QB, Jordan Ta’amu is coming off a 15 TD & 1846 passing yard season. Both sides have the potential to air the ball out.
Advantage: Birmingham Stallions
Drew Wells (DC)
The advantage at QB is a no-brainer in any match-up involving the Stallions this season. Alex McGough is far and away the best quarterback in this league. He is backed up by Matt Corral, who can also be a good weapon with complimentary play calls. In D.C., meanwhile, Jordan Ta’Amu I has had a couple of rough seasons after lighting up his first XFL season. This offense is just begging for him to run the ball a bit more to open up lanes in the pass game. Will it happen? Who knows… There are new coaches in charge in the nation’s capital.
Advantage: Birmingham Stallions
Running Backs
Trey Colbeck (BHM)
I want to see what Ricky Person has this season. He was second in rushing yards last season only being beaten by Martinez (QB), the run game could be solely on him this season. The running back position is often a committee effort, and the Stallions’ depth is up for the challenge. Last year’s running totals from D.C. weren’t the greatest. They only mustered 852 rushing yards while Birmingham put up 1344.
Advantage: Birmingham Stallions
Drew Wells (DC)
I’m leaning toward a “push” here in terms of talent alone. Abram Smith and Ricky Pearson Jr. are both absolute studs, and they both have serviceable backups. Birmingham gets the edge because they have a clear offensive identity based on getting their RBs in a rhythm.
Advantage: Birmingham Stallions
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
Trey Colbeck (BHM)
The big difference in the game will be tight end Jason Sternberger, who is coming off a great season that earned him a spot on the All-UFL team. Sternberger finished 6th in the league in receiving yards with 454. He also caught 4 touchdowns. Whichever quarterback is under center, both will be looking for the 6’4’’ man out of Texas A&M. D.C. has a fairly new receiving room, but 2024 team receiving yards leader Ty Scott could be a game-changer.
Advantage: Birmingham Stallions
Drew Wells (DC)
At wide receiver, there are receivers that demand respect on both sides. Deon Cain and Davion Davis are great wide outs for Birmingham. D.C. boasts Cornell Powell and Chris Rowland out wide, no slouches in their own rights. The difference is the TE spot, and in my opinion Birmingham has three of them that could outright start for D.C.
Advantage: Birmingham Stallions
Offensive Line
Trey Colbeck (BHM)
Every football game is won or lost in the trenches. Based on last year, Birmingham’s o-line performed way better than D.C.’s. It’s a tough position to dissect as there are no direct stats for o-linemen but Birmingham outdid D.C. in rushing yards (1344) and rushing touchdowns (14). The big boys from Alabama will be the key to the Stallion’s victory on Sunday.
Advantage: Birmingham Stallions
Drew Wells (DC)
The Stallions offense has come into the UFL and shown exactly what they are: disciplined, efficient machines. That begins in the trenches. The Stallions offensive line has been consistent and dominant, and that isn’t likely to change. D.C., on the other hand, has been atrocious in the passing game. This doesn’t help the run game flourish, so the OL for the Defenders come out looking horrible. They will have to greatly improve in protecting Ta’Amu.
Advantage: Birmingham Stallions
Defensive Line
Trey Colbeck (BHM)
Birmingham’s 2024 sack leaders, Carlos Davis and Taco Charlton are back and will look to disrupt the line of scrimmage all day long. The two combined for 13 sacks last season and set the other team back almost 100 yards! On the flip side, Malik Fisher had a good 2024 with 7 sacks of his own. I’m not sure if he will have the same level of help around him.
Advantage: Birmingham Stallions
Drew Wells (DC)
The DT combination of Perrion Winfrey and Carlos Davis is going to be hard to look past in evaluating this position group. Those two are absolute monsters, in a group that otherwise doesn’t have a weak spot for Birmingham. DC has a solid front, but they don’t get after the quarterback a whole lot. The coaching in D.C. makes that defense work, but the Stallions are still better at this position hands-down.
Advantage: Birmingham Stallions
Linebackers
Trey Colbeck (BHM)
I like the linebacker depth Birmingham has over D.C. The Stallion’s defense on paper looks to be well ahead of D.C.’s and the linebacking core is no different. The defender’s offensive line will already have their hands full with the Birmingham defensive line so any linebacker blitz could cause major issues for D.C. all day.
Advantage: Birmingham Stallions
Drew Wells (DC)
This is a fairly easy choice in my mind. I actually think that D.C. has the better starting LB duo. Birmingham has outrageously good backups as well, though. Their depth is much better at this position, and that can show if rest or replacement become necessary for one of their starters.
Advantage: Birmingham Stallions
Defensive Backs
Trey Colbeck (BHM)
D.C. had only 5 interceptions last year and they were spread over only three players. However, two of those players are no longer on the roster. That’s 3 of the 5 interceptions missing from last season. Safety Montae Nicholson is the returning player who had a pair of picks last season. He will need to play big until other players rise. Birmingham took the ball away 8 times by interception in 2024. The team leader, A.J. Thomas, will look to add to the three he managed last year.
Advantage: Birmingham Stallions
Drew Wells (DC)
The secondary is the only real place that I see D.C. on a level playing field. That is for one reason alone: CB Kelvin Joseph. He has 33 NFL games with the Cowboys (and other stops), and showed elite flashes at times at the next level. He is a shutdown corner, and that makes things easier on his co-workers in the secondary. Birmingham has talent at each DB spot, including A.J. Thomas, but getting a stud athlete with two full seasons of NFL experience since 2021 under his belt is likely to pay big dividends.
Advantage: D.C. Defenders
Win and Score Predictions
Trey Colbeck (BHM)
Advantage Count: Birmingham Stallions (7), D.C. Defenders (0), Push (0)
Both teams will put up some points, but Birmingham will control the ball more. Birmingham, 27-17.
Drew Wells (DC)
Advantage Count: Birmingham Stallions (6), D.C. Defenders (3), Push (0)
I can’t help but feel like there is too much to figure out in D.C.’s organization at the moment. Losing a head coach and worrying about coordinators leaving isn’t really good for developing an identity on both sides of the ball. All the change going on in D.C. is a recipe for disaster. Worse, you have the league champs coming to town, and they are still a juggernaut. Birmingham, 34-9.
Betting Predictions
Line: Stallions (-7) O/U: 41.5
Trey Colbeck (BHM)
I think some points will be scored and I like the over. It should be a close game but there will be a moment in the game where Birmingham takes over. A double-digit win is incoming so take the -7!
Drew Wells (DC)
As I alluded to before, a blowout is likely today at Audi Field. The Beer Snake is going to be the only redeeming quality for fans at today’s game. Take the Stallions, the over, and a small amount of Vegas’ money… Can this even really be considered a “gamble”?