Tag: DC Defenders

WATCH: DC Defenders use trickeration for XFL touchdown against Seattle

DC Defenders coach Pep Hamilton pulled out a trick play and it worked for the DC Defenders in the XFL opener.

The defenses were ahead of the offenses in the first half of the XFL game between the Seattle Dragons and DC Defenders Saturday in the nation’s capital.

Then, Pep Hamilton went into his bag of tricks and came up with a double reverse for a score.

“We saw the look that we wanted and our players executed,” Hamilton told ABC’s Tom Luginbill after the play that led to DC taking a 19-13 lead in the third quarter. “It is good to see that we are showing some resilence.

The XFL’s sideline interviews make for great TV, except for when players drop F-bombs

It didn’t take long for the XFL’s sideline interviews to go sideways.

The XFL made a strong impression in its opening game on Saturday between the Seattle Dragons and DC Defenders, and fans are raving on social media over the league’s new kickoff system, and the in-game access to players and coaches. Conversations between the head coach and quarterback will be regularly broadcast on XFL games, and sideline reporters are free to roam the sidelines and interview players just moments after they make an impact play (or costly mistake) on the field.

In the first half alone on Saturday, the in game interviews delivered a few great moments. Seconds after missing a field goal, Defenders kicker Ty Rausa had to stand in front of a camera and explain what went wrong.

 

It didn’t take long, though, for profanity to make it past the censors, though. Immediately after being involved in an on-field dispute that produced an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, Seattle’s Dillon Day was asked what happened on the field and couldn’t stop himself from dropping an F-bomb.

(Warning: Video contains profanity)

Oops!

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Watch the Seattle Dragons score the XFL’s first touchdown

Brandon Silvers threw a strike up the middle for the league’s first touchdown in its season opener.

It’s official. After years of waiting for its return, the XFL is finally back in action.

The Seattle Dragons scored the first touchdown in season opener against the D.C. Defenders. After driving 67 yards up the field, Quarterback Brandon Silvers hit Austin Proehl on his way into the endzone for a 14-yard score.

It wasn’t an easy throw, either. Proehl was caught in between two defenders on his way into the endzone. Silvers had to put the ball on the money up the middle to score the league’s first touchdown. Take a look.

On the next play, Silvers wasn’t so good. He threw an interception on the team’s extra point attempt.

Still, great first touchdown. XFL football is BYKE, baby.

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WATCH: Seattle Dragons score first touchdown in XFL season

Former North Carolina WR Austin Proehl caught a pass from Brandon Silvers to put Seattle’s XFL team on the board.

The DC Defenders got on the board first with a field goal Saturday as the XFL kicked off its season. The Seattle Dragons came right back, however, driving down the field for a touchdown.

Brandon Silvers found former North Carolina wide receiver Austin Proehl for the score.

Proehl was a seventh-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2018, No. 255 overall. He is the son of former NFL receiver Ricky Proehl. Ricky played college football at Wake Forest and played in the NFL from 1990 to 2006 for the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers, and Indianapolis Colts.

Austin Proehl gave credit to his dad for the route, saying he had been running it since the “Greatest Show on Turf” days.

The TD was set up by a pass from Silvers to Dontez Byrd.

The PAT failed.

 

 

Football fans react to the XFL’s kickoff rules

Some fans are calling for the NFL to steal the XFL’s kickoff setup.

The 2020 XFL season kicked off on Saturday in Washington D.C., and the first play of the game looked a little strange for NFL fans. The XFL has made several rule changes in an attempt to make the game safer and more exciting, and the kickoff setup is radically different from what you’re used to seeing in the NFL and college football.

In the XFL, the kicker is the only player on the kicking team on his own half of the field, as the rest of his teammates are lined up at the opposing 35-yard line. The receiving team’s blockers are lined up just five yards away, and only the kicker and returner are allowed to move before the ball is caught (or is on the ground for more than three seconds). Once the returner has possession, every other player is allowed to move. The standard NFL practice of kicking for a touchbacks have also been discouraged, as any kickoffs that go through the endzone will move out to the 35-yard line.

The XFL kickoff scheme both reduces the number of violent collisions on the most dangerous play in football, while also ensuring that kickoff should have a return.

The kickoff looked strange at first glance, but fans already seem to prefer the XFL’s system to the NFL’s setup.

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XFL – D.C. Defenders odds, roster and projected starting lineup

Previewing the XFL’s D.C. Defenders sports betting odds, along with their initial roster and projected starting lineup

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The D.C. Defenders will host the Seattle Dragons in the 2020 XFL season opener Saturday at 2 p.m. ET on ABC. Below, we’ll preview the Defenders’ 2020 season, with a look at their roster and 2020 XFL Championship odds.

Head coach and general manager Pep Hamilton, formerly an assistant at the University of Michigan, also worked with XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck’s son Andrew in Indianapolis in the NFL. Tanner Engstrand will serve in the dual role as offensive coordinator and running backs coach with former NFL players Bob Saunders in the role of receivers coach and Kurt Gouveia coaching the linebackers in the team’s initial campaign.

D.C. Defenders 2020 XFL Championship odds

Odds via BetMGM, last updated February 6 at 6:35 a.m.

Outright Winner: +600

The Defenders have rather moderate odds to win the title in the 2020 season at +600. This means a $10 XFL futures bet on the Defenders would earn a profit of $60 if they were to win the championship game April 26.

The best odds belong to the Dallas Renegades at +300, with the Tampa Bay Vipers +400 as the second-best odds for the title, followed by the New York Guardians at +450. Next is D.C.

Also See:

D.C. Defenders 2020 roster

QB: Tyree Jackson, Cardale Jones

RB: Khalid Abdullah, Nick Brossette, Jhurrell Pressley, Donnel Pumphrey

WR: Simmie Cobbs Jr., Malachi Dupre, Tyler Palka, Eli Rogers, Rashad Ross, Jalen Rowell, DeAndre Thompkins

TE: Donnie Ernsberger, Derrick Hayward, Khari Lee

OL: T Cole Boozer, G Chris Brown, T Malcolm Bunche, G Rishard Cooke, G Dorian Johnson, C James O’Hagan, C Jon Toth, T Logan Tuley-Tillman, T De’Ondre Wesley

DL: DT Siupeli Anau, DE Tavaris Barnes, DT Kenny Bigelow, DT Jay Bromley, DE KeShun Freeman, DE/LS Brian Khoury, DE Sam Montgomery, DT Elijah Qualls, DT Tracy Sprinkle, DT Kalani Vakameilalo

LB: Jonathan Celestin, Jonathan Massaquoi, A.J. Tarpley, Jameer Thurman, Antwione Williams, Scooby Wright

CB: Elijah Campbell, Doran Grant, Desmond Lawrence, Bradley Sylve

S: Matt Elam, Tyree Kinnel, Carlos Merritt, Rahim Moore, Shamarko Thomas

P: Hunter Niswander

K: Tyler Rausa

Keep your football betting action going by placing a legal sports bet on XFL games at BetMGM. Bet now!

D.C. Defenders 2020 projected offensive starters

QB: Cardale Jones

RB: Jhurell Presley/Donnel Pumphrey

WR1: Eli Rogers

WR2: Rashas Ross

TE: Khari Lee

Want action on the 2020 XFL Championship? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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Trio of former Ohio State Buckeyes make XFL roster

Cardale Jones, Doran Grant, and Tracy Sprinkle, all former Ohio State Buckeyes, will be playing in the re-booted XFL for the same franchise.

The Ohio State Buckeyes have a plethora of players in the NFL. Across the board, they have some of the top talent ranging from Michael Thomas to Ezekiel Elliott to Marshon Lattimore.

However, not all Ohio State Buckeyes are instant stars at football’s highest level. That said, the creation of a new but old football league, the XFL, will provide a home to some players left off NFL rosters.

With the initial rosters crafted, three former Buckeyes all made the list.

The trio includes Cardale Jones, Doran Grant, and Tracy Sprinkle — all playing for the DC Defenders. Jones is easily the most notable household name, being drafted in the fourth round by the Buffalo Bills in 2016, but never really catching on during stops also in Los Angeles and Seattle on the practice squad. He was eventually released.

 

Also a fourth-round pick just a year earlier in 2015, Doran Grant, a cornerback, is also 27. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and spent time on mostly practice squads there and in several other cities before also being cut loose.

Lastly, 24-year-old defensive end Tracy Sprinkle went undrafted and only spent time on the Panthers and Browns’ practice squads.

Now all three will get a shot to play again together in this crazy second-take of the rebooted XFL.