While the UFL has had to tread some unfortunate waters early in their second season, due to Head Coaches leaving earlier than expected, it’s opened the door for others to step up and prove themselves.
This is exactly what we’ve seen so far in both San Antonio and DC. For the DC Defenders, Shannon Harris took over for Reggie Barlow, who departed to Tennessee State.
Shannon has been tremendous in DC, as his team is playing with heart, energy, and passion that we didn’t exactly see a season ago. The Defenders got off to a 3-0 start, which included an upset win over the defending champs in the Birmingham Stallions.
Down in San Antonio, Payton Pardee has been on an absolutely wild ride. He was the team’s WR’s Coach/Special Teams Coordinator just two weeks ago, but now finds himself as the interim Head Coach with Wade Phillips stepping away.
With this in mind, DC vs. San Antonio on Sunday turned out to be the perfect clash. On one side, Harris and the DC Defenders were surging, winning their first three games of the season. On the other, you had Payton Pardee making his head coaching debut – looking to get an 0-3 organization back on the right track following three tough losses.
The result? A down to the wire, intense affair that showcased just how special the UFL is. The passion that both Pardee and Harris have for the league, and their respective teams, was on full display. In this piece, we’ll be taking a bit of a closer look at some of the intriguing storylines surrounding this thrilling showdown, and the coaches involved.
Payton Pardee vs. Blake Williams
Throughout the contest’s entirety, one of the most entertaining aspects was watching Payton Pardee and Blake Williams battle it out. Blake Williams hasn’t received enough attention yet for what he’s done in DC, moving from D-Line coach to Defensive Coordinator. His dad, Gregg, stepped down from the position after week two, leaving a big hole to fill.
Williams’ defense was electric in week three vs. St. Louis, totaling three sacks and nine TFL’s as they shut down what was a potent Battlehawks offense.
On Sunday, both Pardee and Williams went head to head, and it did not disappoint. One of the pleasures of watching the UFL on both FOX and ESPN: they love to showcase their coaches mic’d up. Throughout the entire game, Payton and Blake were featured on the hot mics often – going back and forth as they played chess with one another each and every play.
Even though Blake’s defensive unit got off to a slower start than usual, they still played excellent football. They held the Brahmas to just six points in the second half, giving their offense multiple opportunities to tie the game, or take the lead. His adjustments paid off as well, slowing down a ground game that was very effective the first three quarters. With Shannon Harris likely heading to Tennessee State after the UFL season is over, one has to wonder if Blake will be in position to be promoted. So far, he’s off to a great start with this defense.
While some have questioned the ability of these younger coaches to put a solid product on the field, this Sunday proved that it’s more than possible. Watching these two go at it was one of the most entertaining presentations of the entire UFL season so far.
Payton Pardee: Head Coach Material
It’s pretty clear to anyone who’s known Payton during his spring football career with the Roughnecks and Brahmas: he’s a players coach. His coaching style is one that players have come to love and embrace, and it’s why we’re seeing the team showing improvements already with Payton at the helm.
With the inside access that FOX delivers, we saw this evidence first hand. For example, linebackers coach Derrick Berry says to Payton “You were born for this, you were born for this” as the team prepared to kickoff. Later on in the game, Pardee is speaking to WR Mathew Sexton following his punt return for a touchdown. Payton goes out of his way to thank Sexton for sticking with him despite the rough start to the year, to which Mathew replies “there’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now”.
These young coaches aren’t just good for the league internally – but they’re also great for TV. Whether it’s guys like A.J. Smith, Collin Bauer, Jarren Horton, or now Payton Pardee: these broadcasts capture the essence of who these guys really are. Pardee, in particular, is outstanding in front of the camera. He’s incredibly well put together, which was on full display during his halftime interview with Jake Butt:
He’s also just as good, and equally hilarious, off camera…or at least, when he thinks he’s off camera. During the broadcast, we got to see Pardee call out Mike Pereira for a strange decision to return the challenge flag to DC – which made for an entertaining segment in the fourth quarter.
“This win, it means everything to me. I can’t say enough thanks to God for this opportunity, for the league, to Marc Lillibridge our GM, this is a win I’ll never forget. I’m going to be 100% honest with you, this one is because of the players. They executed the game plan to perfection. I told them all along, our job as coaches is to try and put them in all three phases, to be successful. At the end of the day, they have to go execute. I’m so, so proud of this football team, and this is just the beginning.” – HC Payton Pardee
While we all want to see Wade Phillips get healthy and back on the sidelines, there’s no question about it: Payton Pardee was built for this moment. He’s changing the culture and attitude in San Antonio, and it’s evident with how the team’s body language has improved so drastically from week one to four.
Marvin Williams Stepping Up
One of the other names who isn’t talked about enough is Marvin Williams. He’s a 24 year old who was promoted to offensive line coach this year, following Andre Gurode’s departure to Colorado. After what was a rough start to the year, Williams’ unit is playing at a much higher level – and had their best game of the season.
This was no easy task for Marvin to accomplish. DC’s pass rush has been elite, and was coming off of a game where they manhandled St. Louis. However, San Antonio proved to be up for the task, not allowing a single sack. The Brahmas were able to protect Kellen Mond efficiently, which led to him having the best day of his young UFL career. Additionally, the Brahmas didn’t turn the ball over once, which was huge for this organization.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, Sunday’s outing sent a clear message to the UFL, and its decision makers: young coaches are good for the league. Guys like Payton Pardee, Blake Williams, and first-time HC Shannon Harris have their teams rolling in the right direction. The product on the field has been getting better and better, and the inside access we get on the broadcasts shows just how in touch these coaches are with their individual groups.
When asked about the emergence of these younger coaches in the UFL, Shannon Harris had this to say:
“There are so many really good coaches out there that don’t have an opportunity to show what they’re worth. To have this opportunity for myself, Payton, and even in Memphis – to have the chance to continue to work with the staff, and get these guys to be on the same page…that’s always an awesome opportunity when you get that moment to showcase your talents as a coach. I love his coaching staff. Payton is an energetic guy like myself. I’m happy for him.”
As the UFL heads towards the halfway point of the season, it’s encouraging to see that the league is in good hands. Despite the “coaching carousel”, it’s given the younger guys a chance to prove themselves – and the result has been very positive so far.
What are your thoughts on Payton Pardee, Shannon Harris, Blake Williams, and others getting these UFL opportunities? Who else deserves to be a head coach in this league? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
