2023 Fall Ball | Page 7 | Syracusefan.com

2023 Fall Ball

Powellfan said:
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While I think Mulé might be the most impactful addition (and to be clear, that takes into account his talent and the way his role/skillset can affect the rest of the offense), it seems to me that the new face Syracuse fans are most interested in isn’t really a new face at all. Defenseman Riley Figueiras, IL’s No. 6-ranked Class of 2022 recruit and top-ranked defenseman who missed last season due to an ACL injury, is wearing the No. 11, the defense’s equivalent to No. 22, which is a sign of how he’s regarded by whoever confers jersey numbers (and an assignment given to him last fall). I didn’t come away with a great sense of his game, but talking to Spallina about Figueiras after practice, he had an interesting comment. He describes his cover style as “weird,” describing how Figueiras keeps the head of his stick on Spallina’s hip when he trails the ball-carrier.

Hips don’t lie.
 
DMVCuseLax said:
While I think Mulé might be the most impactful addition (and to be clear, that takes into account his talent and the way his role/skillset can affect the rest of the offense), it seems to me that the new face Syracuse fans are most interested in isn’t really a new face at all. Defenseman Riley Figueiras, IL’s No. 6-ranked Class of 2022 recruit and top-ranked defenseman who missed last season due to an ACL injury, is wearing the No. 11, the defense’s equivalent to No. 22, which is a sign of how he’s regarded by whoever confers jersey numbers (and an assignment given to him last fall). I didn’t come away with a great sense of his game, but talking to Spallina about Figueiras after practice, he had an interesting comment. He describes his cover style as “weird,” describing how Figueiras keeps the head of his stick on Spallina’s hip when he trails the ball-carrier.

Hips don’t lie.
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The leave-it-there check. Offensive players can’t stand it.
 
DMVCuseLax said:
While I think Mulé might be the most impactful addition (and to be clear, that takes into account his talent and the way his role/skillset can affect the rest of the offense), it seems to me that the new face Syracuse fans are most interested in isn’t really a new face at all. Defenseman Riley Figueiras, IL’s No. 6-ranked Class of 2022 recruit and top-ranked defenseman who missed last season due to an ACL injury, is wearing the No. 11, the defense’s equivalent to No. 22, which is a sign of how he’s regarded by whoever confers jersey numbers (and an assignment given to him last fall). I didn’t come away with a great sense of his game, but talking to Spallina about Figueiras after practice, he had an interesting comment. He describes his cover style as “weird,” describing how Figueiras keeps the head of his stick on Spallina’s hip when he trails the ball-carrier.

Hips don’t lie.
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DMVCuseLax said:
Sounds like they have randomly divided the team into 2 separate teams for sat. One will play UMass and the other will play Providence.
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Interesting. Kind of sounds like a team that isn't quite settled on starting lineups? I'm perhaps reading too much into it. Good opportunity for guys further down the depth chart to make an impression. It's something that they can split the team in two and still have 30 guys a side.

Anyone able to go? Sounds like players were only given two passes for spectators. Still, even when scrimmages are totally closed we've been able to get some info out. Just curious if any player(s) stand out in these games. Would ask about starting lineups but doesn't sound like that will be a takeaway easily made. Also very curious about how the face-off units perform. Thanks.
 
Powellfan said:
Interesting. Kind of sounds like a team that isn't quite settled on starting lineups? I'm perhaps reading too much into it. Good opportunity for guys further down the depth chart to make an impression. It's something that they can split the team in two and still have 30 guys a side.

Anyone able to go? Sounds like players were only given two passes for spectators. Still, even when scrimmages are totally closed we've been able to get some info out. Just curious if any player(s) stand out in these games. Would ask about starting lineups but doesn't sound like that will be a takeaway easily made. Also very curious about how the face-off units perform. Thanks.
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Sounds like Gait wants everyone to have an opportunity to play. 60 players is a lot.
 
Powellfan said:
Interesting. Kind of sounds like a team that isn't quite settled on starting lineups? I'm perhaps reading too much into it. Good opportunity for guys further down the depth chart to make an impression. It's something that they can split the team in two and still have 30 guys a side.

Anyone able to go? Sounds like players were only given two passes for spectators. Still, even when scrimmages are totally closed we've been able to get some info out. Just curious if any player(s) stand out in these games. Would ask about starting lineups but doesn't sound like that will be a takeaway easily made. Also very curious about how the face-off units perform. Thanks.
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I think its more of getting everyone on the field and getting extended minutes to guys who probably wouldn't normally get it ie the young midfielders, last years Faceoff guys, the back up close guys etc. Also good opportunity to give an extended look to guys who will play major roles but haven't played against other competition yet like Deere and Figuerias and the OCC transfer and Johnny Mullen who haven't had a chance to play against another team yet due to injury or being new to the team.
 
JeremyCuse said:
I think its more of getting everyone on the field and getting extended minutes to guys who probably wouldn't normally get it ie the young midfielders, last years Faceoff guys, the back up close guys etc. Also good opportunity to give an extended look to guys who will play major roles but haven't played against other competition yet like Deere and Figuerias and the OCC transfer and Johnny Mullen who haven't had a chance to play against another team yet due to injury or being new to the team.
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Just curious about the OCC transfer Greg Elijah-Brown… has anyone heard anything about how he has looked? Gonna be tough to crack the top 6 but he put up laughable numbers last year at Onondaga
 
OttosDad said:
Just curious about the OCC transfer Greg Elijah-Brown… has anyone heard anything about how he has looked? Gonna be tough to crack the top 6 but he put up laughable numbers last year at Onondaga
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Someone on here, about a month ago, said he was impressing people and could be a dark horse candidate for the third attack spot.
 
OttosDad said:
Just curious about the OCC transfer Greg Elijah-Brown… has anyone heard anything about how he has looked? Gonna be tough to crack the top 6 but he put up laughable numbers last year at Onondaga
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I've heard good things but as you noted there is a lot of competition right now for a limited number of spots. I don't know how realistic it is but assuming he has 3 to play 2 I think SU should really consider red-shirting him, again assuming he would be up for it. With Mule only here for a season he could step right in with Deere to be that 3rd or 4th attackmen next year and play that QB type position to free up Joey. I don't see him as being a guy who screams midfielder but if he were to play this year that's probably where it would be barring an injury at attack. In theory he could see time in blowouts at attack but I'd hate to waste a year of eligibility for a handful of games at best as SU's schedule doesn't scream blowouts galore.
 
FWIW the games this weekend will be played Sunday. I was under the impression they were taking place on Saturday. Looks like weather will be no bueno either day.

 
Powellfan said:
FWIW the games this weekend will be played Sunday. I was under the impression they were taking place on Saturday. Looks like weather will be no bueno either day.

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That’s wrong. The games are tomorrow and may end up indoors which means no one will be able to watch.
 
JeremyCuse said:
I've heard good things but as you noted there is a lot of competition right now for a limited number of spots. I don't know how realistic it is but assuming he has 3 to play 2 I think SU should really consider red-shirting him, again assuming he would be up for it. With Mule only here for a season he could step right in with Deere to be that 3rd or 4th attackmen next year and play that QB type position to free up Joey. I don't see him as being a guy who screams midfielder but if he were to play this year that's probably where it would be barring an injury at attack. In theory he could see time in blowouts at attack but I'd hate to waste a year of eligibility for a handful of games at best as SU's schedule doesn't scream blowouts galore.
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We have had success putting Finn Thomson and Alex Simmons on the field as middies. I imagine Elijah-Brown's skillset is somewhat similar to theirs given his indoor game background. From what I have seen he is not an ankle breaking sort of dodger but could probably make things happen against a short stick in a similar way to Simmons, who was also not a speed demon. A lot of the two-man game type looks we like to generate work best above the cage. Would even be fine running Deere out of the box as well for those same reasons.

Think it comes down to if we want to seriously incorporate a third middie line this season. Last year it was clear the staff felt there was a reasonably large gap in talent from the top 6 mids and the guys on the third line (although we all really liked Cohen when he played). This year that gap may be a good deal less significant. A 4th attackmen does not usually see a whole lot of time unless someone gets injured. Would be shame for guys like Elijah Brown and Deere to get minimal time because we roll with 3 attack and 6 middies all season.
 
DMVCuseLax said:
That’s wrong. The games are tomorrow and may end up indoors which means no one will be able to watch.
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In the article they're grouped under the Saturday games, so either someone got it wrong on the tweet or they're in the process of fixing it.
 
if it's on inside lacrosse there's a 50% chance it is inaccurate...

and i would not hold your breath for substantial minutes for the OCC transfer. talented but the jump to the acc is a giant gulf. not just in level of competition but in everything. preparation weight room conditioning academics. requires a huge adjustment that takes time. the target should be 2025 assuming he is back
 
DoctahLexus said:
We have had success putting Finn Thomson and Alex Simmons on the field as middies. I imagine Elijah-Brown's skillset is somewhat similar to theirs given his indoor game background. From what I have seen he is not an ankle breaking sort of dodger but could probably make things happen against a short stick in a similar way to Simmons, who was also not a speed demon. A lot of the two-man game type looks we like to generate work best above the cage. Would even be fine running Deere out of the box as well for those same reasons.

Think it comes down to if we want to seriously incorporate a third middie line this season. Last year it was clear the staff felt there was a reasonably large gap in talent from the top 6 mids and the guys on the third line (although we all really liked Cohen when he played). This year that gap may be a good deal less significant. A 4th attackmen does not usually see a whole lot of time unless someone gets injured. Would be shame for guys like Elijah Brown and Deere to get minimal time because we roll with 3 attack and 6 middies all season.
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I would say the faceoff unit winning only 40% of their draws also was a big reason why they didn’t run a third midfield line. I feel like that third midfield line is most fan bases white whale. Not very many teams run them.

Do you want to run Deere and GEB at the expense of Rhoa or Birtwistle? I think the only way teams run a third line is if they are winning a ton of faceoffs, and they need to keep guys fresh. I hope that’s SU this year but I’d be perfectly happy with 50%.

More likely I think they rotate Deere, maybe GEB as a fourth attack man or man up specialist (though those spots will be hard to come by). A lot can change. Simmons was the starting attackman at the start of the year last year but Kirst replaced him a few games in.
 
Cool video from Lax Youtuber Mitchell Pehlke spending 2 days behind the scenes of Hopkins Fall Ball.

17:30-18:15 mark, Brandon Aviles talks about what it means to him to play for Hop & reveals what former ‘Cuse teammate he wants to lay a hit on.

It’s obviously all in good fun & I appreciate his time in Orange but game on, Brandon, because “it’s coming” March 9th down in Charlotte.

 
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nyclax said:
if it's on inside lacrosse there's a 50% chance it is inaccurate...

and i would not hold your breath for substantial minutes for the OCC transfer. talented but the jump to the acc is a giant gulf. not just in level of competition but in everything. preparation weight room conditioning academics. requires a huge adjustment that takes time. the target should be 2025 assuming he is
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They said the same thing about Jamieson Smith and Staats I’ll put their ring collection against any ACC player on the planet ever
 
SULAXAHOLIC said:
They said the same thing about Jamieson Smith and Staats I’ll put their ring collection against any ACC player on the planet ever
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On the one hand I think the talent level coming out of OCC currently does not compare to those insane levels of talent they had when the guys you mentioned played there. Had Jeremy Thompson and Tim Barber from OCC who also crushed it here. On the other hand he did put up some serious numbers and looks like a highly skilled player around the crease who has some of the indoor attributes we make the most out of in the current offense. Also had an encouraging performance in the U21 world games and at least visually appears to be a pretty big and strong guy already. We will see. Not expecting him to be Randy Staats for us but he could still contribute right away.
 
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