Defenders (0-1) host Roughnecks (0-1) in 4/7 Home Opener
In 2023, Jordan Ta'amu takes the ball from the shotgun formation against the Renegades | Image by Jamie LeBlanc of The NSMT
On April 7th, the DC Defenders (0-1) look to join the win column with their official home opener against the Houston Roughnecks (0-1). They hope to continue their undefeated record at their home Audi Field, which dates back to 2020. Despite coming off such a strong season, this matchup could quickly get tricky for the Defenders.
Flashing back to last March, the Defenders stood tall against the Roughnecks at home, winning 37-26 led by star quarterback Jordan Ta'amu, who threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns. Ta’amu will have a new group of offensive options in 2024 after the team lost three of their top pass catchers from last season in the trio of Lucky Jackson, Josh Hammond, and Chris Blair. The Defenders used two dispersal draft selections on receivers Chris Rowland and C.J. Johnson before signing some others to join 2023 holdovers, Brandon Smith and Jazz Ferguson.
Defenders TE Briley Moore | Image by Jamie LeBlanc of The NSMT
The most noteworthy offseason addition in the pass-catching corps was former Houston Texans receiver Keke Coutee, who started in 10 NFL games over his six-year career. He’s capable of playing both slot and perimeter receiver in the UFL but can be penciled in as the team’s Week 1 starting slot receiver. With 12 receivers currently on the roster before the first wave of cuts, D.C.’s pass-catching hierarchy should become more clear as we approach the opening weekend.
In a very pass-heavy league, running back Abram Smith returns from a ferocious season with the Defenders when he was the league rushing leader by such a wide margin that he accumulated 412 more yards than the next-closest RB. Smith led the league in Forced Missed Tackles (43) and Explosive Rushing Attempts (23).
This team will be led by the coaching nucleus that got them to the championship game last season Head Coach Reggie Barlow and Offensive Coordinator Fred Kaiss. Kaiss boasted the league’s most run-heavy offense that helped set up one of the league’s most efficient passing attacks. While Kaiss was a relative unknown before the 2023 season, we did have a four-year sample to lean on dating back to his time as Alabama State’s signal-caller. Despite having a few positional holes to fill, it's safe to expect D.C.’s offense to be very similar in 2024.
DC Defenders fans welcome back fan favorite stadium traditions like the beer snake | Image by Jamie LeBlanc of The NSMT
Despite the Defenders returning with arguably the most complete team in the league on paper, this home debut represents a 2023 rematch for D.C. with a familiar name with an unfamiliar opponent. The announced starter for the Roughnecks is Jarrett Guarantano, a 26-year-old who’s getting his first taste of spring football following a brief NFL stint with the Cardinals and Broncos. He played collegiately for three seasons at Tennessee before transferring for his final college season with Washington State. Despite this, the Roughnecks could be the perfect spot for him. Between 40 starts in college and playing in multiple college and professional systems, it seems that Guarantano will need to lean on his diverse experience to start him on the right foot.
The Defenders will be sure to put up a fight against this semi-new Houston offense, especially in their home fortress that is Audi Field to start this season on the right note. This win would prove Barlow and Kaiss’s ability to quickly rebuild after crucial losses and QB1 Ta'amu to show that he can work with more than just a proven receiver trio. Sunday, April 7th. Audi Field. It's a rematch against the same jerseys with different players.