What we learned about Roughnecks
The XFL is now in its second iteration, and the Houston Roughnecks still have yet to lose a game.
The Roughnecks were 5-0 in 2020 before the league disbanded during the pandemic, and they returned to the new XFL with a convincing 33-12 win over the Orlando Guardians at University of Houston’s TDECU Stadium on Saturday night.
Fans will have plenty more opportunity to jump on the Roughnecks bandwagon with the team hosting the Arlington Renegades on Sunday and the San Antonio Brahmas on March 5.
Here’s what we’ve learned about the Roughnecks after one week of XFL play:
League’s best team?
It sure seems like the Roughnecks are the team to beat. The other three games on opening weekend were decided by four points or less, while the Roughnecks rolled the Guardians by three touchdowns. Of course, judging an entire league based on one week of games is foolish. DraftKings’ sportsbook has the Roughnecks and the Arlington Renegades as the co-favorites to win the XFL title, both at +400 (meaning you’d quadruple your money if you won the bet).
Attendance so-so
Playing in TDECU Stadium, which seats about 40,000 people, the Roughnecks drew an announced attendance of 12,784. That’s in line with the rest of the league on opening weekend. The Arlington Renegades had an attendance of 12,047 and the D.C. Defenders drew 12,438. San Antonio was the outlier with 24,245 fans at the Alamodome. It’s likely no coincidence that on Sunday, San Antonio was announced as the host city for the XFL’s championship game.
Quarterback situation
Former Troy star Brandon Silvers won the Roughnecks’ quarterback competition in training camp and went 26-of-42 for 272 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in his Houston debut. The 28year-old Silvers is well traveled, having played in the AAF, the 2020 iteration of the XFL and in The Spring League. With the Roughnecks running an Air Raid offense — which Wade Phillips is calling the Leach Offense, in honor of the late Mike Leach — Silvers will continue throwing at a high rate. When Silvers isn’t throwing, former Hawaii quarterback Cole McDonald will showcase his legs as a running quarterback. McDonald recorded the fastest 40 time among quarterbacks at the 2020 NFL combine, running it in 4.58 seconds, which helped him get drafted by the Titans in the seventh round. He never made an NFL roster, but he rushed for 14 yards and a touchdown on five carries in the Roughnecks’ win.
That Phillips defense
Any team coached by Phillips figures to have a solid defense, and the Roughnecks appear to fit the bill. The Roughnecks picked off three passes, including one thrown by former NFL first-round pick Paxton Lynch, and forced a fumble. The defense also had seven sacks, including four by Trent Harris. The 27year-old defensive lineman, who played his college ball at Miami, spent three seasons in the NFL with the Giants and the Dolphins. Former Strake Jesuit and Rice star Emmanuel Ellerbee led the Roughnecks with 7½ tackles.
Nice surprise at WR
Former USC star Deontay Burnett is expected to be the Roughnecks’ best receiver, and he showed that by leading the team with eight catches for 90 yards in the opener. But Jontre Kirklin also had a big game, catching five passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. Kirklin may be a sneaky breakout player after spending five seasons at LSU, where he was buried on the depth chart behind future NFL receivers like Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, D.J. Chark, Russell Gage and Terrace Marshall. LSU fans know all about Kirklin’s versatility after he stepped in and took every snap when the Tigers were without a true quarterback for the 2022 Texas Bowl against Kansas State.