XFL TEAMS

Las Vegas Outlaws

Where they play: Sam Boyd Stadium.

Head coach: Jim Criner.

What to look for on offense: With quarterback Chuck Clements out with a sprained right shoulder suffered in training camp, the position has become a concern for Criner. Taking over is Ryan Clement, with Mike Cawley serving as backup. While the passing game has struggled, the running back position looks good featuring Rod Smart. The Outlaws will use a one-back offense. Backup Chrys Chukwuma also had a strong preseason.Mike Furrey, Brett Bech, Todd Floyd and Nakia Jenkins will man the receiving positions.

What to look for on defense: The biggest name on defense is 14-year NFL veteran linebacker Kurt Gouveia, who won Super Bowl titles with the Washington Redskins in 1987 and 1991. The Outlaws look to be strong in the secondary with former NFL cornerbacks Kory Blackwell (New York Giants) and Kevin Scott (Chicago Bears).

Los Angeles Xtreme

Where they play: Los Angeles Coliseum.

Head coach: Al Luginbill.

What to look for on offense: The Xtreme will employ a pro-style offense that will feature one back and four or five receivers. They have an experienced running back tandem of Rashaan Shehee and Ken Oxendine, who both have played in the NFL. L.A. also has former UCLA star Tommy Maddox at QB, who may be the best in the league. He will be backed up by Scott Milanovich. At receiver is former University of Tennessee star Jeremaine Copeland. He should see plenty of action, along with the rest of the receivers, because Luginbill plans to air it out.

What to look for on defense: Defensive end Jamal Duff gives the Xtreme 41 games of NFL experience, mostly with the Redskins and Giants. He would like to show XFL fans why his nickname is Death Blow, after an underground comic strip character. Duff will be joined on the line by defensive end Ramondo Stallings, who played 38 games with the Cincinnati Bengals. Luginbill likes his secondary, which is anchored by one of his former players at San Diego State, safety Ricky Parker.

Memphis Maniax

Where they play: Liberty Bowl.

Head coach: Kippy Brown.

What to look for on offense: Kippy Brown has the reputation of having a great offensive mind and he's looking forward to showing off that squad, which will be led by versatile quarterback Marcus Crandell. Tailback Rashaan Salaam had an excellent training camp and is looking to show the same form that saw him win the Heisman Trophy in 1994. Receivers Kevin Prentiss and Charles Jordan have excellent playmaking ability, and Prentiss will also show those skills as a return man. Brown plans to have a balanced attack using all of his weapons.

What to look for on defense: The Maniax's defensive line is clearly the strength of the team. All seven members are blessed with size and speed, which should cause havoc against opposing offenses. The Maniax were dealt a blow when linebacker David Brandon suffered a bulging disc and will likely be lost for the season. Brown also likes his secondary, which features cornerbacks John Williams and Rico Clark, and safeties Anthony Marshall and Kevin Peoples.

San Francisco Demons

Where they play: Pacific Bell Park.

Head coach: Jim Skipper.

What to look for on offense: The Demons have plenty of local flavor at the quarterback position. Starter Mike Pawlawski and Pat Barnes both played collegiately up the road at the University of California. Running back Vaughn Dunbar looks to resurrect what was once a promising career. A first-round draft pick of the New Orleans Saints in 1992, Dunbar led the playoff-bound Saints in rushing that year with 565 yards. But an ACL injury the following preseason led to his downfall.

What to look for on defense: Former Mississippi State linebacker James Williams will man the middle for San Francisco. He still holds the MSU record for most tackles in a career. It remains to be seen how good the secondary will be.

Birmingham Thunderbolts

Where they play: Legion Field.

Head coach: Gerry DiNardo.

What to look for on offense: The Thunderbolts had a heated duel for the quarterback position during training camp, with former Florida State QB Casey Weldon edging out local star Jay Barker, who led Alabama to a national championship in 1992, while becoming the school's all-time winningest quarterback with a 34-2-1 record as a starter. Former Auburn running back James Bostic gets the nod as starter over Memphis-native Curtis Alexander, another Alabama player. Receiver Stepfret Williams played in 21 games with the Dallas Cowboys, catching 30 passes for 308 yards in 1997 as the team's third receiver.

What to look for on defense: Defensively, Auburn fans will enjoy watching the 'Bolts as four former Tigers will start - DE Quinton Reese, NT Jimmy Brumbaugh, LB James Willis and S Chris Shelling. There's plenty more SEC flair on the 'Bolts with tackle Johnny Mitchell (LSU) and FS David Knott (Ole Miss).

Chicago Enforcers

Where they play: Soldier Field.

Head coach: Ron Meyer.

What to look for on offense: Before the season started, the Enforcers found themselves having to replace Dick Butkus as coach when he decided to go to the XFL front office as director of football competition and rules enforcement. That left Chicago looking to former NFL coach Ron Meyer who seems to enjoy what the XFL plans to do. His offense will feature two backs, fullback Willie Tate and tailback John Avery of Ole Miss. Former Western Michigan quarterback Tim Lester won the starting job and will have receivers Junior Lord and Aaron Bailey to throw to.

What to look for on defense: The defensive front of Jason Chorak, Don Sasa and Larry Fitzpatrick will look to stuff the run and keep pressure on opposing quarterbacks, with a little help from linebacker Matt Finkes, Kevin McCullar and Jamie Baisley.

N.Y./N.J. Hitmen

Where they play: Giants Stadium.

Head coach: Rusty Tillman.

What to look for on offense: There aren't a lot of names on this unit that casual football fans have heard of. The closest is running back Dino Philyaw, a former University of Oregon star who had stints in the NFL with New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers. Memphis fans might remember quarterback Charles Puleri, who played with the Sacramento Goldminers in the Canadian Football League before bouncing around the Arena Football League. Now he hopes to be the next Kurt Warner.

What to look for on defense: The defense features some SEC flavor with a pair of former University of Florida stars, defensive end Tim Beauchamp and linebacker Ben Hanks, as well as former Auburn linebacker Haven Fields.

Orlando Rage

Where they play: Citrus Bowl.

Head coach: Galen Hall.

What to look for on offense: Like most teams in the XFL, the Rage plan to use a one-back set that features three receivers. The offense will be directed by quarterback Jeff Brohm, who was a former backup to Steve Young with the San Francisco 49ers. Brohm, a former Louisville standout, will be joined in the backfield by running back Derrick Clark, who spent the 1994 season with Denver before playing the last five seasons with the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe. Orlando's top receivers are Tony Gaiter, Dialleo Burks and Kevin Swayne.

What to look for on defense: Linebacker Joe Cummings has played in 28 NFL games, including 16 games and three starts with the Buffalo Bills in 1999. He will be flanked by Patrise Alexander and Joe Cummings. The secondary consists of former North Carolina State players Ricky Bel and Hassan Shamsid-Deen, along the pair of with Omar Brown and Kelly Malveaux.