The XFL has been going on for a month now that Week 4 is in the books, and there’s clearly still some stuff the league has to work on.
While players like P.J. Walker and Jordan Ta’amu have shined, other potential stars are struggling mightily. Speaking of struggles, one particular coach may be in well over his head.
These are the biggest disappointments from XFL Week 4.
Where’s the scoring offense?
Remember when the XFL was going to be this amazingly fun league in which scoring was a regular deal and extra points would be so much more fun for fans to watch? Seems like ages ago, and we’re only in Week 4, folks.
Looking at the four games this weekend, the eight XFL teams combined to score a grand total of 142 points. That’s an average of just 17.75 points per team, and 35.5 points per game. The NFL, if we’re being honest, is still a significantly more entertaining product.
Some of this boils down to poor quarterback play overall. But it’s also a product of traditional coaching. And that’s not going to help this league distinguish itself from the NFL. The XFL may be a short-lived venture once more if it doesn’t amend this as soon as possible.
What the heck happened to Cardale Jones?
Through two weeks of action, it sure looked like Cardale Jones was on his way to potentially parlaying the XFL MVP trophy into another shot at the NFL. Then last weekend, he hit the skids bad with a brutal outing against the Los Angeles Wildcats. Rather than bounce back Sunday against the worst team in the XFL, the Tampa Bay Vipers, Jones regressed further.
The former Ohio State star completed just 9-of-22 passes for 72 yards with zero touchdowns and one interception as the D.C. Defenders were shut out by Tampa Bay, 25-0.
If this were just one game, there wouldn’t be as much to worry about. But given that it’s the second straight poor outing for Jones, there is certainly cause for concern.
Jim Zorn needs math help
Coaches in every sport make baffling decisions all the darn time, so in no way was it surprising to see Jim Zorn mismanage his scoring on Saturday in a close game against the St. Louis BattleHawks. Still, the poor guy seems to need some serious help with basic math.
B.J. Daniels pulled the Seattle Dragons to within four points early in the fourth quarter. Zorn, for reasons that defy logic, went for three points from the 10-yard line afterward, and the play did not convert. Making matters worse, his explanation for the three-point try was arguably even worse than the decision itself.
One or two points would have set the Dragons up to tie or win with a field goal. Three points wouldn’t have helped them, whatsoever. That’s just brutal game management, coach.
Landry Jones continues to be a turnover machine
It’s not yet known if Landry Jones will be available in Week 5. He suffered what appeared to be an extremely painful left knee injury late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Houston Roughnecks and barely made it off the field. Just awful to see, and Jones was clearly upset about the injury on the sideline afterward.
Before he left the game, though, Jones had a brutal game throwing the ball. He threw three back-breaking interceptions in the first quarter alone, causing head coach Bob Stoops to lose it on the sideline (watch here). It’s a consistent theme for Jones. In the three games he’s played this season in the XFL, the former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback has thrown seven picks. That’s not going to get the job done at any level.