Tag: Vegas Vipers

Giants’ Anthony Blevins named head coach of XFL’s Vipers

New York Giants assistant coach Anthony Blevins is the new head coach of the XFL Vegas Vipers.

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Anthony Blevins, who has served as an assistant under three head coaches for the New York Giants since 2018, has been named the head coach of the XFL’s Vegas Vipers.

From the New York Post:

XFL executive vice president of football operations Marc Ross — who oversaw the Giants’ drafts for 11 seasons but just missed crossing paths with Blevins — was involved in the hiring.

“Anthony’s talent and potential were evident throughout the interview process,” Ross said in a statement, “and in speaking with some coaches, staff and former players from the New York Giants, it was clear that he knows how to connect with players and staff.”

Blevins, 46, was hired by then Giants head coach Pat Shurmur to be the team’s assistant special teams coach in 2018, a position he held for two seasons.

In 2020, under head coach Joe Judge, Blevins was shifted over to the defensive side of the ball as the assistant defensive backs coach. The next year, he was given the added responsibility as the assistant special team coordinator.

When Brian Daboll took over the reins as head coach, he kept Blevins on as the special teams assistant but also made him an assistant linebackers coach.

Before coming to the Giants, Blevins, who is nicknamed “Doc Blev”, coached five seasons for the Arizona Cardinals as their assistant special teams coordinator.

Giants assistant Anthony Blevins named head coach of XFL’s Vegas Vipers

Dr. Anthony Blevins will coach the XFL’s Vegas Vipers

Anthony Blevins is headed to the XFL — again.

Blevins will leave his job as New York Giants assistant special teams coach to be the head coach of the Vegas Vipers in the fledgling league.

“I’m honored to be named head coach of the Vipers,” Blevins said in a statement through the league. “I watched the XFL last season, and I was incredibly impressed by the action on the field and the coaching on the sidelines. I’m looking forward to taking the next step in my career.”

Blevins replaces Pro Football Hall of Famer Rod Woodson, who coached the Vipers in 2023 as the league returned. The Vipers were 2-8 and last in the North Division.

“Following a nationwide search, we are proud to introduce Anthony Blevins as the head coach of the Vipers,” XFL President Russ Brandon said. “Our players will have an incredible opportunity to learn from a coach with NFL and NCAA experience, and we look forward to seeing his impact on the field and in the locker room.”

Blevins actually was part of an original USFL franchise in 2001 as he played with the Birmingham Thunderbolts. In 2015, he earned a Ph.D. in instructional systems and workforce development from Mississippi State.

Commanders invite former XFL tight end to town for a tryout

The Commanders, looking for depth at tight end, have invited a former NFL and XFL tight end to Washington for a tryout.

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It’s been a tough week for the Washington Commanders’ tight end room. On Tuesday — the first day of OTAs — promising second-year tight end Armani Rogers injured his Achilles in a non-contact drill and will undergo surgery soon. Rogers is already lost for the season.

Under new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, the tight end position is a critical part of the offense, and Rogers had the highest upside of anyone in the room. The Commanders also like fellow second-year tight end Cole Turner, but Rogers, a former college quarterback, is an elite athlete the team believed was on the verge of a breakout in 2023.

Washington is counting on veteran Logan Thomas to bounce back in 2023 after injuries have plagued him the last two seasons. While Thomas was healthy last season, he was still less than one year removed from ACL surgery. The Commanders also have John Bates, Turner and Curtis Hodges on the roster.

But with Rogers down, Washington may be looking to add another veteran into the mix this summer for training camp. Jake Russell of The Washington Post reported Friday that the team had invited Brandon Dillon, formerly of the XFL’s Vegas Vipers, to Ashburn for a tryout.

Dillon is a 6-foot-5, 250-pounder who played collegiately at Marian University in Indianapolis. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2019, where he spent three seasons. After being waived in Dec. 2021, the Jets signed Dillon to the practice squad, but he never played for them.

In 2022, Dillon signed with the New Orleans Saints in June but was waived in August. From there, he spent the spring in the XFL.

During his short NFL career, Dillon has appeared in five games with one reception for six yards.

Dillon would be a depth signing for Washington, and he’d likely be competing with Hodges for a roster spot this summer.

XFL Sunday Preview: Sea Dragons need a big win to clinch playoff spot

Seattle has the inside track, but there is work to be done!

The grand finale to the XFL regular season is upon us. After 10 weeks, the re-rebooted XFL is about ready to conclude and move to its first postseason. The Seattle Sea Dragons will end the regular season with a home rematch at Lumen Field against the Vegas Vipers, whom they defeated 30-26 in Week 3 this year.

The Sea Dragons have the inside track to the playoffs over the St. Louis Battlehawks, but they still have work to do. Had St. Louis lost to the Orlando Guardians, all Seattle would’ve needed was an outright win over Vegas to clinch. Unfortunately, the Battlehawks pasted the Guardians 53-28.

While a St. Louis defeat would make this a lot simpler, the good news is the Sea Dragons now have a barometer of what they need to do on Sunday afternoon. If both teams win, then it goes to an intricate tiebreaker based on points scored and points allowed. The XFL’s website has an excellent explanation on the full details, but here is what you need to know:

  • St. Louis has scored 249 points in the regular season, while allowing 202
  • Seattle, to date, has scored 215 and allowed 168 – the best in the north division.

Bottom line: Seattle needs to score more than 34 points on Sunday – while also not allowing 34 points themselves – to edge out the Battlehawks for a playoff spot. If the Sea Dragons can score 35 points and allow less than 34, they are in the postseason over St. Louis. If they score less, then it goes to further tiebreakers.

Of course, all of this is moot if Seattle can’t win on Sunday.

The Sea Dragons will kick off on Sunday at 4:00 pm Pacific on ESPN2 or ESPN+.

Battlehawks top Vipers, 21-17, in XFL overtime clash

The Battlehawks won by 4 in XFL overtime against Vegas

Here’s something you don’t see every day — any day? — in a pro football game.

St. Louis Battlehawks 21, Vegas Vipers 17 in overtime.

Yes, the Battlehawks, minus quarterback A.J. McCarron (shoulder) rallied and downed Vegas by 4 points in OT.

How do you get a 4-point difference in a game that went to OT?

The XFL overtime rules feature a three-round shootout, where each team goes for 2-point conversions until the game is decided.

St. Louis was successful Saturday on its first 2-point conversions in OT.

Vegas appeared to have converted on its first try to start the first OT session in XFL 2023 but the replay booth said the player had been stopped short of the goal line.

After St. Louis went up 19-17 on a Nick Triano pass to Hakeem Butler, Vegas was called for offensive pass interference on its apparently successful conversion.

The penalty negated the conversion and gave St. Louis a chance to win the game.

Brian Hill took a handoff and ran into the end zone.

And that’s how you wind up with a 4-point difference in a football game that went to overtime.

Only in the XFL.

The Battlehawks, who specialize in comebacks, got a touchdown on a fake punt.

 

XFL Week 8: weekend preview

A win is crucial for the Sea Dragons and their playoff hopes

Oh XFL, it feels like we hardly got to know thee this year. We are officially in Week 8 of the 10 week re-rebooted XFL season, and action kicks off Saturday morning.

It’s a crucial week for the Seattle Sea Dragons, as well as the other teams in a division with razor-thin margins. Seattle is coming off their 5th straight win last week, defeating the Arlington Renegades 24-15. Unfortunately, due to their narrow Week 2 loss to the St. Louis Battlehawks, they remain in third place since St. Louis – similarly 5-2 – hold the tiebreaker for now. As a result, the Sea Dragons are on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.

Seattle will host the DC Defenders in a Week 1 rematch, where the Sea Dragons narrowly fell 22-18 on the road. The Defenders are coming off their first loss of the season last week, losing 37-36 to the previously winless Orlando Guardians.

Meanwhile, the Battlehawks are taking on the Vegas Vipers, last place in their division. With only two teams from each division qualifying for the playoffs, a win and/or a St. Louis loss is important for Seattle, especially since the two teams rematch next week.

St. Louis takes on the Vipers at 10:00 am Pacific Saturday morning, whole the Sea Dragons will look to defend Lumen Field against the Defenders on Sunday evening, 4:00 pm Pacific.

Vegas Vipers’ Rod Smith hurdles way to paydirt

Rod Smith of the Vegas Vipers flew and then had six points

The short pass turned into a highlight-reel play as the Vegas Vipers faced the San Antonio Brahmas in XFL play.

Rod Smith catches the throw and takes off toward the end zone. A defender — not a D.C. Defender — got in his way.

No problem as Smith goes airborne and lands in the end zone.

Former Ohio State player making noise in XFL

Former Buckeye makes noise in XFL #GoBucks #XFL

We are through the first five weeks of the XFL 3.0. Though it has been a wild ride for the league, it has been fairly boring if you are an Ohio State football fan.

Typically spring and alternative football leagues are a great way to watch some Buckeyes you may have forgotten. But this version has only two former Buckeyes on active rosters.

Former defensive tackle, Antwuan Jackson, is having a decent season as a starter for one of the better teams in the league, the Seattle Sea Dragons (3-2). Former running back Rod Smith has been the starter in a time-share situation for the Vegas Vipers (1-4), who are not having the best season.

Despite being in a running back by-committee situation in Vegas, Smith seems to have separated himself from the pack this past week during a 35-32 victory over the Orlando Guardians (0-5). Smith ran the ball 18 times for 62 yards and two touchdowns. If those numbers don’t sound dominant to you, you have not watched this underwhelming Viper offensive line.

Smith is the sixth leading rusher in the XFL on the season with 166 rushing yards. With Vegas making some lineup changes, perhaps we could see Smith in the end zone even more.

Smith was at Ohio State from 2011 until 2014 when he was dismissed from the team in October of that season. Smith declared for the NFL draft and went undrafted, but he was in the NFL with the Seahawks and Cowboys from 2015 until 2021 before moving on to the XFL.

We’ll continue to keep an eye on Smith as he tries to make an impression in the XFL, along with other former Buckeyes in the league and the USFL that’s going to begin play this spring again soon.

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Vipers outlast Guardians for first XFL 2023 triumph

The Vegas Vipers outscored the Orlando Guardians in a battle of previously winless XFL teams

Rod Woodson and the Vegas Vipers have their first win in XFL play.

Terrell Buckley and the Orlando Guardians are winless through five games.

In a duel between previously winless teams Saturday, the Vipers outlasted the Guardians, 35-32.

The outcome was in doubt until 72 seconds were left. Cody Latimer caught a 45-yard TD pass from Quinten Dormady.

However, a 3-point conversion — from the 10-yard line — failed — and Woodson had his first XFL victory.

The loss spoiled a superb relief effort by Quinten Dormady. He replaced Paxton Lynch and went 22-of-25 for 256 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Luis Perez was 20-of-28 for 269 yards through the air and 3 touchdowns.

Jeff Badet had a pair of TD receptions and Rod Smith rushed for 62 yards and 2 scores.

 

D.C. Defenders douse Vegas Vipers in XFL 2023 play

The Defenders improved to 2-0 in XFL 2023 play

The D.C. Defenders upped their XFL 2023 record to 2-0 with an 18-6 victory over the Vipers in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The Defenders scored all the points in the second half to erase a 6-0 deficit at the break.

They cut the deficit in half with a field goal in the third quarter and scored 15 points in the final 15 minutes.

Deriq King had 4 rushes for 32 yards and a TD. Abram Smith carried 11 times for 71 yards and a score.

D.C. rushed for 229 yards on 42 carries, which was more than enough to offset Jordan Ta’amu’s lackluster evening at QB, throwing for 93 yards.

The winless Vipers saw Brett Hundley replace Luis Perez at QB. They were a combined 12 of 23 for 98 yards.

The Vipers had less than 100 yards rushing and didn’t hit the century mark passing.