Houston Roughnecks vs. St. Louis Battlehawks | Week 1 Preview
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Houston Roughnecks vs. St. Louis Battlehawks | Week 1 Preview

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Folks, it’s that time of the year again. It’s tough to contain the excitement as we head into week one of the UFL, and our first matchup is a Friday Night classic between the Houston Roughnecks and St. Louis Battlehawks.

To kick off the season with these two teams is certainly an intriguing move by the UFL. Both St. Louis and Houston head into the year with a bit of an identity crisis. On one side, the Battlehawks are with a new OC and starting quarterback. Meanwhile, the Roughnecks have cleaned house in an attempt to improve after last year’s poor outing.

There’s a lot of questions…that will all be answered by tonight. However, let’s take a look at what we do know, and what we can expect from the first matchup in the UFL this year.

Quarterback Play

Let’s start with Houston. The Roughnecks have brought in Anthony Brown, the former Oregon product who’s got plenty of NFL experience under his belt in the preseason/on practice squads. Anthony beat out Nolan Henderson for the starting gig. According to Coach C.J. Johnson, Brown moved the team a bit better in camp, and now will lead the way for the Roughnecks in week one.

Anthony is an incredibly exciting addition to this offense. He’s a physical quarterback, who can run the ball just as well as he can throw it. With his dual threat capabilities, it opens up a lot of avenues for Houston’s schemes that previously weren’t there. OC Eric Price has emphasized that Houston will be allowing their quarterbacks to run more efficiently this year – so expect Anthony to utilize his legs early and often in this one; especially considering the rain.

On St. Louis’ side, the team is rolling out Manny Wilkins as the starter. After seeing how he performed a year ago, this is a bit concerning. Wilkins is an athletic quarterback who can make plays with his legs – and did provide a spark at times with his mobility. He led St. Louis to a clutch win over the Defenders in week eight, even with some inconsistencies in the passing game.

With that in mind, as a pure passer, Manny struggled. This was evident in week nine, when he turned the ball over three times en route to a loss against the Renegades. Manny started in weeks 8-9 last year, with A.J. McCarron sidelined. Maybe, St. Louis will see more success with him at the helm in a system that’s catered more to his running abilities. However, it’s hard to see Wilkins truly leading this team to the championship after what we saw in 2024.

In addition, both backups are expected to see playing time at some point in these games. Nolan Henderson has a package or two that will be implemented by Houston. On the flip side, Max Duggan has been preparing as a starter as well. Expect him to see the field; especially if Manny is struggling.

Standout Playmakers

On Houston’s side of the football, they’ve brought back many of their key playmakers from a year ago. Kirk Merritt, Justin Hall, and Keke Chism lead the way. Hall was one of the UFL’s leading wide receivers in 2024, dominating down the stretch of the season.

Merritt and Lorenzo Lingard will split duties in the backfield. Kirk is an electric speedster who Houston is very fortunate to have back. He missed most of last season with an injury – but if he can remain healthy – he’s expected to have a big year. In the passing game, we’ll see Keke Chism and T.J. Vasher as two of the tall, physical receivers on the outside. The two should be go-to targets for Brown as he looks to get comfortable in Eric Price’s system.

On the Battlehawks side, two of the major faces to return are Hakeem Butler, and Jacob Saylors. Both earned All-UFL honors a season ago, with Butler being named the UFL’s Offensive POTY. He needs no introduction, being one of the toughest wide receivers to cover in this league. His frame, paired with excellent hands and route running abilities, make him nearly unguardable.

St. Louis also has brought in some new talent. Frank Darby and Denzel Mims are a couple of former NFL wide receivers who are bound to make an impact. Jahcour Pearson returns, and hopefully will see the field more consistently as opposed to a year ago. He’s currently slated to be a starter, which is excellent news.

It’s worth noting that the Roughnecks have signed TE Josh Pederson, formerly a standout with the USFL’s Gamblers. His presence in the passing game, and a blocking TE, will be pivotal. On St. Louis’ side, former Bears TE Chase Allen teams up with mainstay Jake Sutherland to provide the Battlehawks with quality tight end play.

Offensive Line Play

One of the key factors to any pro football team: can the offensive line play up to the level necessary to win games? The St. Louis Battlehawks are confident that they can, as they returned most of the same faces from 2024. St. Louis will feature a similar starting five, led by All-UFL center Mike Panasiuk. With a more mobile quarterback in the fold, this will help their O-Line play at an even higher level. We know what to expect from St. Louis, given the chemistry this unit already has.

Houston, on the other hand, has revised their front five. With a new run game coordinator in legendary coach Tom Cable, and the additions of Avery Jones, Zach Banner, and Samuel Jackson – expect this core to look stronger, and more physical this season. Banner may be limited due to injury, but should still be a contributor. If Houston can put these pieces together, it will tremendously help their efforts tonight.

Two Stout Defenses

On Houston’s side, they’ve reloaded defensively as they look to improve upon a relatively solid 2024 campaign. The Roughnecks kept themselves in games solely because their defense played decently well. At cornerback, Damon Arnette (former NFL 1st rounder), Keenan Isaac, and Corn Elder leading the way, Houston’s in solid shape in the secondary. They also return Markel Roby who impressed, and added Leon O’Neal Jr. to the safety room.

Up front, expect Christopher Allen and Eyabi Okie to take prominent snaps as starters. Allen emerged late last year as an impact player, and is expected to show serious growth in year two with the Roughnecks. Last year, Chris Odom wreaked havoc in St. Louis’ backfield. He’s not with Houston this time around – so the Roughnecks will need someone else to step up to the plate.

Now, Donnie Abraham’s defense will be no slouch. The Battlehawks have returned some of their top playmakers from the 2024 UFL season – while also re-signing a couple of key defensive backs from their 2023 campaign (Lukas Denis, Nate Meadors). Houston’s offensive line will have their work cut out for them as well, trying to slow down the likes of Pita Taumoepenu and Travis Feeney on the edge.

Depth Chart

Some quick notes that stand out:

  • Darrius Moragne is starting at DT for Houston, despite not playing ball for about 3 years. Interesting personnel move from the Roughnecks on that end.
  • Lawrence Keys impressed Houston so much that he’ll be starting at WR. Johnson & Co. looking to utilize the speed of Hall, Keys, and Merritt probably all at the same time.
  • With Darrius Shepherd no longer rostered, Blake Jackson & Jahcour Pearson will split specialist duties for St. Louis

Coaching Matchup

Houston Roughnecks | C.J. Johnson: Johnson is certainly on the hot seat this year, after a 1-9 campaign a year ago. He’s confident in what Houston has been doing, though, and the Roughnecks are poised to see more success. As long as C.J. can clean up his decision making, Houston will be in better shape this year. His decisions could make or break this Roughnecks season.

St. Louis Battlehawks | Anthony Becht: Becht is, without a doubt, one of the top coaches in the UFL. His charisma and confidence has helped develop an outstanding culture in St. Louis, with one of the best fanbases in all of football. That said, this is a “prove it” year for Becht. He’s currently 14-6 during the regular season as a Head Coach – but has zero postseason success to show for it. That has to change this year.

Last year, St. Louis got the best of Houston in week six. It wasn’t as lopsided of an affair as the final score portrayed, but the Roughnecks simply had zero offensive firepower which was their downfall. The Battlehawks eventually got their offense going, and by then it was too late for Houston to come back. Houston was out coached across the board in that game.

Final Thoughts

Generally speaking, this matchup should be pretty close. St. Louis is currently favored by six points according to the betting odds, but we’d bet on the fact that it will be a closer final outcome. In fact, Houston could absolutely come away with a win in this one. If the weather is ugly (and it looks like it will be), that could prove to be problematic for both squads. The messier it is, the more of a chance that Houston can win this game.

It all kicks off tonight, at 8pm ET on FOX. Trust us, this is one you won’t want to miss. If you’re in the Houston area – you should absolutely be grabbing tickets and making your way to TDECU Stadium in the evening.

Full Roster Breakdowns: Houston, St. Louis

What are your thoughts on this opening matchup between the Houston Roughnecks and St. Louis Battlehawks? Who will come away with the win? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!

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