When it comes to season-opening games, there have been two constants about the modern-day Birmingham Stallions.
One, they’re going to win.
And two, one of their quarterbacks is going to get hurt.
When they debuted in the United States Football League in 2022, starter Alex McGough was injured against the New Jersey Generals and replaced by J’Mar Smith.
The next season, it was Smith who got the start but was knocked out of the contest against the Generals, leading to McGough taking over.
However, as Skip Holtz’s former USFL club moves forward in the United Football League, perhaps we’re seeing an important alteration to that script.
Sure, Birmingham still got a “W” – 27-14 over the Arlington Renegades – but the odds are good that both starter Matt Corral and backup Adrian Martinez will see time against the Michigan Panthers on Sunday at Ford Field.
Corral finished 12-21-1 through the air for 201 yards and a . Martinez was just 2-6-1, but was the team’s second-leading rusher behind C.J. Marable with 52 yards on three carries.
Unfortunately, he injured his foot on the third tote and left the game in the second quarter.
Holtz said today he hopes Martinez will be back in action this weekend.
“He looked good walking around out there today,” Holtz said. “I think the trainer’s very encouraged. So, he’s not ruled out right now. We’re gonna have to wait and see what he can do, but he felt really good this morning and we’re gonna take him out on the field here a little bit later this afternoon and see him run around a little bit and throw the ball.”
Holtz has been a proponent of using a two-quarterback system ever since he took the helm of the Stallions, and the approach was quite effective against the Renegades.
“People wondered what Matt Corral and Adrian Martinez were gonna look like, and I certainly don’t think they disappointed with their first game performance,” Holtz said. “I know Matt had an interception early on the opening drive that kind of went through a receiver’s hands, and then Adrian had an overthrow down there on the goal line, but I think some of the plays Matt made with his arm shows the excitement and energy and what he can be as a quarterback.
“But I also think what Adrian Martinez did with his feet, rushing three times for 52 yards, helped change the complexion of the game. And I’ve said it all along … we’re going to play both quarterbacks and I feel that way strongly, not just in the opening game, but going forward. I think they both earned the right to play. I think they both deserve to play, and I think they both bring a winning formula to our football team right now.”
The signal callers were aided by strong offense line play. The big men up front allowed just one sack and one tackle for loss the entire afternoon.
“You’ve got Alex Taylor-Prioleau, Zack Johnson, guys who weren’t here last year, and Cole Schneider and Derwin Gray.” Holtz said. “But then we have Deonte Brown, who unfortunately got injured in the first quarter and ended up coming out of the game, but I think when you look at it, I think it speaks to the level of depth.
“We had three guys that were on our offensive line a year ago that came to camp that were no longer here when we went into the opening game. It speaks volumes for those gentlemen we just mentioned and the job they did coming in, in learning the offense and showing their talent level.”
After a light practice today, Holtz and the Stallions will give the Panthers their full attention leading up to Sunday’s 11 a.m. CDT kickoff.
“I’m excited to watch our progress and see how much we can improve from week one to week two,” Holtz said.