I understand the trepidation. There is certainly risk in bringing in this many guys and especially since they are for the most part one year rentals (I think Kohn and English might have an extra year but remains to be seen if they would use it). How well do they fit in with the locker room? Do jealousies start to brew, especially if starters from last year get benched? How to keep everyone happy is going to be difficult.
During the end of the Desko years I got real uncomfortable with how many players were on the team, to the point I didn't know how the coaches were able to asses what they had. This might be reaching that sort of level especially on defense.
That said I think the coaches are doing the right thing by bringing in new blood, especially on defense. I am certainly skeptical of Petro on the defensive side of the ball right now, but plenty of times last year guys were beaten on defense pretty easily and it would not have made a lick of difference who was standing on the sidelines. I think the worst thing they could have done is kept pat and rolled out the same group of guys as last year. Petro especially is known as being overly loyal to his guys. I'm glad that he realizes that what happened on defense can't happen again if they hope to take the next step as a team. I have to take this as a big indictment on what the staff thinks of what they currently have on roster. Hopefully it serves as a wakeup call.
I have no idea what the defense will look like next year. I am guessing that Riley Figuerias and Saam Olexo will be all but locks to start on close defense with Matt Wright starting at LSM. Those three should be very good defenders and could be All Americans. After that it seems like open season to me. Perhaps Schmitt plays backup LSM. I could also see him as a face-off wing specialist. I really like Billy Dwan and hopes he wins that third spot. Nick Caccamo seems like the big X factor. He was perhaps the teams best defender two years ago but struggled last year, especially 1v1. He was moved to LSM for the back half of the season, which probably tells you what the staff thought about the LSMs on the team.
I thought Caden Kol really struggled last year. But he was the one guy who started and played every game (and was a captain). Zack Puckhabor is real interesting. Love the size but it's a big leap to DI. Not all transfers end up playing meaningful minutes, so have to be careful about penciling in guys just because they are a transfer. Landon Clary looked great early in the season but the schedule was significantly easier that portion of the year. He struggled to end the year, getting moved off of Brennan O'Neil in the last game of the year. Dylan Sageder didn't stand out much as a reserve but also didn't have many bad moments either. That's a lot of names to consider.
SSDM is a real worry. I have to imagine the coaches will be throwing out a few curveballs there. Donny Scott perhaps, but maybe someone we haven't discussed here yet. To me that's the biggest question mark on the team.
I have to admit I am a bit surprised by the addition of Schmitt but a guy of this caliber was probably to good pass up. Seems to be a different formula offense vs defense, offensively the adds have been minimal and really strategic, defensively its been more of "your an All-American, great sign here".
As I mentioned previously I saw almost no scenario where Olexxo was moved back to LSM and this puts the final nail in the coffin. I suspect Puckhabor will be moved to SSDM, unless the staff has some trick up its sleeve where Wright or Schmitt will play close ( I don't see it) there is no obviously position for him. Either that or he was simply a depth pick up who will need to battle to see any PT as I don't see a path at pole right now.
Kol as you noted was a captain but I think his starting days are over and he's likely to find a role on man down or as a depth piece. Caccamo to me is also in big trouble from a starting standpoint. His play has been a bit mysterious and he seems to have struggled to grasp or play in the Petro system. He looked like an HM AA his frosh year at times but really hasn't been the same player since. He's going to be a Sr as well so there's no real concern about turning off a younger player who may have multiple years lef. Caccamo is a good player though and one I think most of us like but as noted his play has not been consistent. Clary has been pretty good but he can't stay on the field and has been hurt all but 1 year I believe. He has played SSDM previously and could move back there or jump into the portal in the fall. Wish he could have stayed healthy, has showed flashes of brilliance.
If had to guess I would place this defense as follows
Starting close - Olexxo, Riley, Dwan - 4th spot to Caccamo
LSM - Wright/Schmitt - 3rd spot to Sagedar (who hopefully redshirts)
SSDM -Titus, Rice, Rosa, Puckhabor, Donny Scott (maybe)
Biggest concern I have is that SU doesn't bring jn a massive class of defenders to begin with and they need to make sure Donny Scott is well aware of the plans as he's a guy whose likely starting somewhere in 2025 or at least playing a major role. Brett Spallina is a lock to red-shirt. I am not against bringing in multiple guys as SU's defense clearly had major issues at times last year and not all of it was the lack of faceoff wins and Petro's system but I do wish 1 or 2 of these guys had multiple years of eligibility. LSM will need to be completely re-done again next year, ditto SSDM.
