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Message: [QUOTE="JeremyCuse, post: 5304735, member: 43"] Think you pretty much hit on all of the spots. I remain concerned about SSDM but also cautiously optimistic. Rice is a stud there, wish he had another year beyond 25 but i'll take him remaining injury free this coming season. Levine had some good moments but got betrayed by his lack of foot speed at times. He is a guy who I think can matchup well with certain middies but SU needs to avoid him on shifty jitter bug types, he's going to struggle with that kind of matchup. . Spallina had to play before he was ready but I think he likely got some valuable minutes and should be improved from last year. I heard some rumblings Hottle moving back to midfield but I wouldn't be surprised if he played a two way role as he really played well at times at SSDM last year. However, much like Levine SU has to be careful with the matchups and for teams looking to force slides to get him stuck on attackmen or a big dodging middie ala Collision and Schutz. I believe Hunter, one of the frosh and Kempney will also be playing SSDM along with Ochoa who I suspect will end up seeing a lot of time, SU likes his size and he played a lot last year for a bad but slightly improved St. Johns team. I believe SU experimented with some bigger middies this fall playing SSDM which included Blake Borges before his transfer. LSM is interesting to say the least. I was under the impression that was going to be Grace. That said I know there has been some rumblings about him playing that 3rd close spot which was up in the air most of the year. My suspicion is that Grace and an unknown will be the LSM combo with Donny Scott as a potential wild card if SU does move Grace to close as I believe Scott has played LSM previously. Sageder is interesting, played a lot as a frosh but the staff didn't seem as keen on him with when they brought in two highly regarded LSM's last year. Keep an eye on Bolognino and Stephens, two frosh who could really push for PT early at the third close spot (Stephens) or LSM (Bolognino) and fill in if injuries creep in. Caccamo and Kol are still there but I wonder if after last years musical chairs between the two SU tries to go with a more permanent option. Caccamo can play LSM as well. Lots of question marks to be honest and lots of options for very few open spots with Riley and Dwan clearly entrenched. FOGO I think is in real good shape. Between Mullen and the frosh Angelo SU should have a nice 1-2 punch. Now Mullen doesn't have the same O background as Kohn did but he's no Danny Brennan, he can push it and score and that part of his game should evolve. The one aspect that could be an issue is if Mullen gets hurt. Asking Angelo to be the top guy as a frosh is a lot especially with what he will see against fellow ACC FOGO's even with Naso finally graduating. Now Fine and Richiusa are still on the roster but between them they took 1 faceoff each last year. Still they are at least a veteran presence who could hopefully fill in for a few games and not have the situation completely fall part. If I were Gait I'd probably talk with the one I liked more about a RS this year as SU currently has no FOGOs in the 25 class. Yes both Mullen and Angelo will be back but your one injury away from being in major trouble (ask Yale about last season). I do share your concern about the faceoff wing. Stevens was excellent their last year, and really didn't get the credit he should have. Watch that Cornell game again and he absolutely vacuums up the last like 3 gbs of the draw and put SU in every position to win. I assume SU will turn to Rice to be the short stick guy which is fine but as you noted isn't ideal for keeping him rested and out of harms way. I am not a big fan of English on the wing, as you noted he really seemed to tire in the 2nd half of games last year (Army is a perfect example) and he struggled with turnovers at times. I would prefer Rice and a younger guy out there. Who that is exactly I am not sure, maybe Hottle as you noted, maybe a guy like Hunter, maybe Ochoa maybe someone else. As or the long pole out there I assume whoever wins the LSM spot will be out there the most. I am guessing some combo of Grace and Donny Scott or maybe Bolognino or even Sageder. [/QUOTE]

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