The XFL has already completed its second week, and many would call it pleasantly surprising.
The current iteration of the XFL is far flung from its predecessor, which tended to over-promise and under-deliver. Perhaps it is the bad taste in the mouth of football fans that actually led to the initial success of the exhumed football league.
Perhaps the XFL seems to be such a home run because of the rock-bottom expectations. The original XFL was a disaster, but the 2020 edition seems different. Between the rule changes, the field access, and the surprising quality of play on the field, this version of the league seems much more viable.
While the XFL will never replace the NFL as America’s favorite football league, it could still provide some entertainment for football fans during the football famine of spring.
There are some things the NFL can learn from the XFL as well. For one, the rule changes around kickoffs present a safer alternative for the most dangerous play in football.
Another thing the NFL should take note of is the value of the quarterback position.
This isn’t so much a lesson that the NFL can learn, but it is something that can reinforce what NFL teams already know.
Just take a look at the power rankings after Week 2 from ESPN analyst Greg McElroy:
You can take a look at other rankings on other sites, but here is what most of the rankings have in common:
- The Roughnecks and Defenders are a clear #1 and #2. Some differ on the order, but they are both in the top two of every list.
- The BattleHawks are #3.
- The Vipers are dead last.
The Roughnecks and the Defenders are far and away the best teams in the league, and their matchup on March 22 might be the best game in the entire season.
But until that game happens, the Week 2 game between the Roughnecks and the BattleHawks will hold that title. The BattleHawks are the consensus #3 team in the league, and will give the Defenders a run for their money in the East division.
Why is that these three teams in a tier of their own? Why are the Vipers’ and the Wildcats’ seasons already over?
It has to do with the quarterbacks these teams all have.
The two best quarterbacks in the league right now are P.J. Walker and Cardale Jones, with Jordan Ta’amu not far behind them.
The Defenders’ Cardale Jones leads the league in passing yards with 511. Ta’amu is second in the league, and Walker is third. Walker does lead the league in passing touchdowns, with seven, compared to Jones’ and Ta’amu’s four.
The next two passers on the list are Brandon Silvers of the Dragons, and Landry Jones of the Renegades. Jones made his season debut in Week 2, so he cracked the top five with only one game under his belt.
These are the five teams most likely to make the playoffs at this point. The Roughnecks and Defenders are near locks, while the BattleHawks are likely the second team to represent the East. The Dragons and Renegades will have to battle for second fiddle in the West, but it’s a five-horse race.
What about the other teams in the XFL?
The Guardians played so poorly in Week 2 that they benched starting quarterback Matt McGloin in the third quarter. McGloin was pedestrian after Week 1, but suffered a 10.1 passer rating in two quarters of action in Week 2.
The Vipers are struggling behind a rotation of Aaron Murray, Taylor Cornelius, and Quinton Flowers. Vipers quarterbacks have combined for no touchdown passes and four interceptions through two games. So far, the Vipers’ only touchdown of the season was on defense.
The Wildcats are the one outside team with a decent quarterback, but that the extent of it. He’s decent by XFL standards. Through two games, Chad Kanoff completed 53% of his passes for 214 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and a 66.0 passer rating.
But it’s not just about how well the quarterback play is, it’s also how the quarterback play is.
Ta’amu is third in the league in rushing yards, averaging 6.4 yards every time he carries the ball. Walker doesn’t have the numbers that Ta’amu has, but his elusiveness is reminiscent of Lamar Jackson. While Cardale Jones isn’t known as a mobile quarterback, he can escape the pocket and make plays when he needs to.
Even the winless Vipers seem to have the most success when their dual threat quarterback Flowers is under center.
Quarterbacks with mobility are doing the most damage, while pocket-style quarterbacks like McGloin, Murray, and Cornelius are failing.
With the recent success of NFL signal-callers, like Jackson, Russell Wilson, and Patrick Mahomes, the NFL should take note of this trend.
First and foremost, the XFL demonstrates why having a good quarterback is essential. The three best teams all have top ranked quarterbacks.
But it’s not enough to have a quarterback who can stand in the pocket. Quarterbacks need to have some degree of mobility.
Not every quarterback has to be Lamar Jackson, but every good quarterback needs to be able to navigate in the pocket.
The simplicity of the XFL helps highlight some things that should be obvious in the NFL. In the XFL, certain deficiencies aren’t covered up by brilliant coaching schemes or a future Hall of Famer that can carry the team. These don’t exist in the XFL.
The XFL illuminates what can happen when you strip the NFL down to the basics.
NFL owners and executives would be smart to continue to watch the XFL. Even though it’s not nearly as good or entertaining as the NFL, there is still plenty to learn from it.