The Spring League Opens Season with Blues over Alphas
October 27, 2020
The Spring League, the developmental arm of professional football, opened its delayed 2020 season with play at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio Texas. The league is in its fifth season as a showcase for the NFL. Greater than 200 NFL hopefuls will vie for the attention of NFL scouts under the tutelage of former NFL coaches.
True to its name, The Spring League is usually played in the spring as a run-up to NFL training games. Originally slated to be played in March in Las Vegas, the league delayed the season and moved to the Alamo Dome in San Antonio. Six teams will participate in a four-week regular season, with a championship game to be held on Nov. 23. New this year is coverage of seven of the league’s games by Fox Sports 1.
The season opening game matched the Alphas, coached by Steve Fairchild, against the Blues, coached by Ted Cotrell. Fairchild, the former head coach at Colorado State and the running backs quarterback coach for the Buffalo Bills and LA Rams, is in his second season with The Spring League. Cotrell is in his first season in The Spring League, having spent a career coaching defenses for the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Phoenix Cardinals, New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings and San Diego Chargers.
Both teams appeared sluggish, coming off a shortened training camp. The Blues produced 240 yards of total offense compared to only 148 total yards by the Alphas. The Blues won by a score of 19-0.
The Blues were led by quarterback Shea Patterson, who is trying to earn a return to the show. Patterson threw for 154 yards, completing 12 of 21 attempts. Patterson, a product of the Michigan program, signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs but was later cut.
On the ground, the Blues were led Matthew Colburn II, who rushed for 44 yards in 12 attempts. Colburn is a Wake Forest product, who went undrafted in 2019 and later signed with the LA Rams. He was later released.
Quarterback J.T. Barrett produced all of the Alphas offense, passing for 104 yards (16 for 26) and scrambling for 48 yards (8 carriers). Barrett played for Ohio State University, later signing with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
The Alphas were hampered by an offensive line than were not in synch, affording Barrett and the other ball carriers insufficient blocking. The remainder of the Alphas rushing offense produced -4 yards on 15 carries.