Michigan Panthers expect ‘explosive’ offense as new season in UFL begins

Football is back in Detroit.

The Michigan Panthers are making their 2024 United Football League debut Saturday at Ford Field against the St. Louis Battlehawks. It is the third Panthers’ season since the USFL was revived in 2022, though they will compete in a new-look league, the UFL, which merged the USFL and XFL to form one eight-team league.

The Panthers are looking to build on a 4-6 season and a first-round exit in the playoffs in the USFL last season. Head coach Mike Nolan is running the show for the second straight season with a pair of new coordinators and a new-look roster thanks to the combination of the leagues.

Here is a breakdown of what Panthers players and coaches said about the upcoming season and opening game, from fan support to what the team will look like on both sides of the ball.

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Panthers hope better play will attract fans

It is a different setup in the UFL compared to 2023 for the Panthers, who will be practicing in Arlington, Texas during the week, along with the other seven teams in the UFL, and will fly to Detroit the day before home games. The schedule makes it harder for the Panthers to connect with the community with off-the-field events, Nolan said, but believes the style of play will be enough to bring fans to games.

“We’re going to crawl before we walk and run,” Nolan said. “And I think that’s the reason why we are all down here (in Arlington). (The UFL) want to make sure they get this thing operating in the right way.

“I think there will be some people involved when we do finally move to the cities — all the teams move to the cities — it’ll be a little bit different structure at the top of the league than it is today. But connecting, I think every team is going to have the same issue, outside of the Arlington team which is right here where we are.”

The best way to put fans in the seats at Ford Field, especially during a busy time in the Detroit sports calendar, is to play well and appeal to the large swath of football enthusiasts in Michigan, Nolan said.

“When we go there, win as many games as we can and get in the playoffs,” Nolan said.

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His players agree and believe residents have an insatiable thirst for the gridiron.

“At the end of the day, Michigan is a blue-collar state,” defensive end Breeland Speaks said. “So therefore wanting to watch football, and having football in two seasons, being in the fall and the spring, is the best of both worlds. Anybody who's a football lover, which a lot of Michigan is, I'm pretty sure they're gonna go with the football game.”

Due to the league merger, the Panthers’ roster is split 50-50 between returners and new players. Carryovers include Defensive Player of the Year Frank Ginda and the USFL sack leader in Speaks. Local ties are on the roster with Michigan State alumni Jarrett Horst, Brian Lewerke and Kenny Willekes.

“It’s been really, really competitive,” new wide receiver Devin Gray said. ”With the merge, you pretty much got the best talent from both leagues piled on one team.”

Panthers expect ‘explosive’ offense

There is a promise of fireworks when the Panthers possess the ball thanks to new offensive coordinator Marcel Bellefeuille, who previously served in the same position with the Philadelphia Stars last season.

The Stars were fourth in scoring offense and third in passing offense last year under Bellefeuille and the hope is that his presence will be enough to turn the Panthers into a high-powered attack.

“I think we’re going to have a really explosive offense,” Nolan said. “I’m really excited about the way we utilize our players. We’ve got a well-rounded attack of personnel groupings and things like that, so I think (fans) can expect a good offense in that respect.”

The biggest question for the Panthers entering the season is who will be under center. Nolan declined to name a starter, but said it has been a competition between Danny Etling (LSU) and E.J. Perry (Brown) for the starting spot. He said whoever loses the competition will still have “a role in our offense week in and week out.”

“Those two guys are pro quarterbacks,” Gray said. “They’ve reached as high as it gets right there, so the timing is on point, the reads are on point. It’s been really cool building chemistry with both of those guys. Camp has been very competitive so we’ve been able to get chemistry with both quarterbacks.”

The new-look offense will be put to the test first by a Battlehawks defense that finished fifth in the XFL last season in yards allowed and fourth in points allowed led by players like XFL Defensive Player of the Year, defensive end Pita Taumoepenu, and defensive back Lavert Hill (Cass Tech/Michigan).

Defense looks to build on 2023 with 'shutdown' play

Nolan, a former longtime NFL defensive coordinator and Niners head coach, said he expects a playmaking group on defense to build on the Panthers' season last year, where they ranked fifth in the USFL in yards allowed and sixth in points allowed per game.

Speaks, who returned to Michigan after signing a training camp deal with the 49ers after his strong 2023 USFL season, said he’s excited to be back working with Nolan and Ginda, and is willing to be a leader on the defense or whatever else is asked of him.

“I would like to call myself a Swiss Army knife,” Speaks said. “I’m whatever the team needs at the time, especially on the D-line. But, I’m very excited, especially to be back with Frank. And he’s looking real good.”

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Players agree with their coach that the defense has improved over the offseason. The unit will be led by first-year defensive coordinator Collin Bauer, who served as the team’s defensive line coach last season.

“Our defense is one that’s going to get after you,” Speaks said. "One that, at the end of the day, we came here to shut you guys down. That’s our mission going in, that’s going to be always our mission throughout the season.”

St. Louis comes into the season opener with ex-Alabama and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback A.J. McCarron under center and an offense that ranked second in scoring and fourth in yards in the XFL last season. McCarron led the XFL in passing touchdowns and passer rating, finishing second in yards.

“A.J. is definitely somebody that you circle them at the beginning of a week, because at the end of the day, that's their guy, and they're gonna roll with their guy and he could definitely hurt you,” Speaks said.

Nolan expects strong quarterback play between McCarron and whoever is under center for the Panthers.

“He drives the offense and he’s very good,” Nolan said. “If for no other reason, come to the game to watch the quarterback play, I think it’ll be very good.”

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Up next: Battlehawks

Matchup: Michigan Panthers vs. St. Louis in United Football League opener.

Kickoff: 4 p.m. Saturday; Ford Field.

TV/radio: Fox; none.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Panthers 2024 season preview ahead of start of new UFL