The DC Defenders open their UFL home slate on Sunday at 4 p.m. at Audi Field, the middle game of a Nats-Defenders-Caps tripleheader that Grant Paulsen may or may not try to do in person.
Reggie Barlow can only be at one, but the Defenders’ head coach will be looking to rebound from a season-opening loss in San Antonio, and with a few former Commanders/Redskins on the roster (including DJ Swearinger), there’s definitely a District flair in the UFL.
There’s also an eight-game home winning streak on the line, as the Defenders were a perfect 5-0 at Audi Field last year in the XFL, and 3-0 in the 2020 version before COVID shut down the league.
“Those fans at Audi Field have set the standard of what a home game should look like, feel like, and our guys have fed off of that every game that we played there,” Barlow said. “They go out and get it done, so we're looking forward to having that same opportunity, seeing our great fans that have been supporting us, and we look forward to going out and keeping that undefeated record at home.”
Gregg Williams’ defense will be ready to go after yielding 27 to the Brahmas, and there will likely be ‘a lot of words you didn't even know existed before’ said in a football sense.
That notwithstanding, Barlow and the staff are putting the team through basically an NFL-type schedule every week, hopefully preparing a few to be in camp with NFL teams come season’s end.
“Hours-wise, we're all competitive and we all wanna win and put a good product out there, so we’re there from like 8 to 8 or 9 watching film and practice tape and that type of stuff, so it’s a real grind,” Barlow said. “I have such an appreciation for these guys, because they still have that grit and that mindset of wanting to play and just looking for an opportunity to get a shot in the league. We have some guys that have been in camp or on rosters, a few guys that played a few years, but I admire them and I appreciate the work ethic and mindset that they have.”
And just like with the Commanders, there are some grizzled vets here to set the tone and try to help those young, potentially NFL-bound players build for the future.
“There's some guys that love the game and still can say that they're playing a level of pro football and earning a little cash; they're at that age where it's like, you don't see it, but they're still elite players, still making plays, still have that passion,” Barlow said. “And what I appreciate about those type guys is they are leaning into the younger guys to encourage them, and help them to be able to hopefully one day make it over to the NFL.”
You also never know if you’ll see a wacky play like the fake punt San Antonio executed last weekend – ‘that was pretty wild, and I commend them for knowing you can’t call back-to-back timeouts and changing formations,’ Barlow said – but you will see former Commander Reuben Foster as part of a strong Houston defense.
And, you’ll see the kickoff rules the NFL just implemented up close and personal, a rule Barlow – an old returner himself – was surprised to see voted in so unanimously.
“I think initially it's gonna look weird and not feel so good for fans, because it's a little different, right?” Barlow said. “But I think once you see that there still is action once the returners catch the ball – you gotta see guys disengage and get off blocks, come to balance – you know, people pay a lot of money to go to these games and they wanna see action, so this gives them an opportunity to have action. I know kick returners haven’t gotten much work lately, and it'll be a little different for fans initially, but I think they'll come to enjoy it because there will be action, and I think there'll be some returns taken back for touchdown. I must admit I was real surprised with the voting numbers, but the NFL has amazing athletes, and it’ll take a little time getting used to, but I think fans will like it.”
Take a listen above to Coach Barlow’s full preview of this weekend, and check out the Defenders live or on FOX Sunday at 4!