Stallions’ holtz talks qb position ahead of 2024 opener

MARCH 28, 2024 - BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

By Steve Irvine

Skip Holtz knows what to expect in his third season as a professional football head coach. At the same time there is a lot of unknown for the Birmingham Stallions head coach with his team preparing to kick off the inaugural United Football League season.

Holtz has championship rings in each of his first two seasons as a head coach in the USFL. This year’s challenge is different, though.

“I think I feel very comfortable with the spring league, with professional football, how we need to do it, how much is too much, how much is not enough with what we’re trying to put in schematically,” Holtz said. “I feel really good about that side of it. But, certainly there are so many new faces on this football team, I would relate it more to year one than I would to year three as far as football is concerned.”

Eight UFL teams are set to kick off the 2024 season this weekend. The Stallions are part of the USFL Division, which also includes the Houston Roughnecks, Memphis Showboats and Michigan Panthers. The XFL Division consists of the Arlington Renegades, DC Defenders, St. Louis Battlehawks and San Antonio Brahmas. The defending champions of each former league – the Stallions in the USFL and Arlington Renegades in the XFL – get things started on Saturday at noon in Arlington with the game being telecast on FOX.

The Stallions roster certainly looks different than during the back-to-back USFL championship seasons. Holtz estimated that perhaps 50 to 60 percent are in their first season with the Stallions.

“I think there are a lot of unknowns with this team,” Holtz said. “But, I definitely think that there is an awful lot talent, as I’ve said before. We have an awful lot of talent, but, you know what, so does everybody else. I think the league is going to be much better. It’s going to be interesting and exciting to see how it’s all going to play out.”

It will also be interesting to see how the Stallions’ quarterback situation plays out. Holtz wasn’t ready earlier this week to announce which quarterback would take the first snap on Saturday. He did say that he plans on playing both quarterbacks who are on the active list for the game. His quarterback options consist of Birmingham veteran J’Mar Smith and Stallion newcomers Matt Corral and Adrian Martinez.

“I would think you’re definitely going to see both of those (active) quarterbacks play,” Holtz said. “Everybody is saying when do you name a starter? I think it’s that close, it’s that tight and I think that’s one of the reasons that I will play both quarterbacks. I don’t think this is going to be just a one quarterback team and the other guys are on the bench.”

It is similar to 2022 when Alex McGough was the first game starter. When McGough got hurt, Smith stepped in and led the Stallions to the best record in the USFL. McGough came back in when Smith got hurt in the USFL Championship game and led the Stallions to the win.

What we don’t know, at least right now, is which two quarterbacks will be active. Smith has the experience advantage but put all three together and it is one of the best quarterback rooms in the league.

“Matt I think has an incredibly quick release,” Holtz said of the former Ole Miss quarterback, who threw for 8,271 yards and 57 touchdowns in 37 college games. “I think he’s very accurate with the football. I think he’s got a lot of playmaking ability with his arm because I think his arm is really live and active. I say that because I think he can throw just about any throw on the field, from the out, to the fade, to the deep ball all the way across on the other side. He’s got a very strong arm and a very quick release.”

Martinez, who played at Nebraska and Kansas State, is more of a dual threat. He threw for 51 touchdowns and rushed for 45 during his college career.

“I think Adrian has got a very strong arm, throws a great ball, very smart, very disciplined, very diligent in what he does,” Holtz said. “I think both of them have great feet but I would say Matt probably uses his feet more to extend a play and Adrian has the ability to use his feet much like Alex did for us as a runner creating big plays.”

Obviously, Birmingham fans know very well what Smith can do on the field.

“Right now I think we have a very talented quarterback room,” Holtz said. “But, even better than that, I think we’ve got some great people that have really bought in, that have great attitudes, that are working together, that are helping each other. I feel really good right now that we’re all pulling the rope in the same direction.”