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Message: [QUOTE="JDOrange, post: 4963306, member: 1807"] Maybe my memory is off but from my recollection UNC and UVA regularly run 10 man. As Anish mentions "The Valkyrian Ride" for UVA too much. I don't think ND does nearly as much, but their attack unit really gets after it on the ride. Don't think Duke does either. It's a calculated risk these teams take, and usually once you burn them a few times or can break it reliably then teams will back off. I didn't think they handled it terribly but it's something you have to keep working on every week and develop countermeasures for each strategy that the opponent throws. Getting the ball out and up quick on turnovers, having quick middies stay low or really work back to the ball, exchanging the backside attacker over the midline for a middie, or firing that long shot with backup, are some of the standard techniques to counter. I do think there were some bad reads of passes last night where an easier pass was there but a more difficult pass was attempted, or as others have mentioned the attempt at a one man clear through 3 defenders right in front of the box when there is plenty of time on the clock and a roll-back or cross field pass is there. Had to catch this one on replay and it was a chaotic one. The ecstasy (1st Q) and agony (2nd Q) were something and made for an entertaining read of the game thread after the fact. I didn't think they played a great game by a long stretch yet were able to beat a scary opponent convincingly. That counts for something. This offense is going to give opponents PTSD. When they are on they are on. I do get concerned that sometimes there is a bit too much urgency to score right away, or to make flashy play when the easy play is right there. Definitely an off night from a shooting perspective (even with a few gems mixed in - Hiltz and Leo snipes, Kellogg cannon). Joey had 3-4 shots where he seemed to rush and not take the extra step or two for a better angle, but then buried one basically from GLE, so...Hiltz had a real nice scoring game but I worry about the turnovers with him. You could see the potential with Leo last year when he was starting to demand the LSM towards the end of the year. As others have noted he looks like a legit star this year. Defense was much more of a mixed bag. Alot of unsettled goals for 'Gate, and the 2-3 head-scratchers that feel like they shouldn't happen with a high level D1 unit: No one defending the ball at X on a restart, Col inexplicably hanging out on crease to double when his man was adjacent to the ball and caught and ripped. I was firmly in the Olexxo at close camp and I suspect (hope) that we will see that sooner than later. I don't know if you can go against an ACC or Maryland (or Hop) attack unit without having your best 3 defensive players on the field at all times. Fig is as advertised. Has that John Lade look to him where he is a little on the small side but has fantastic foot/stick work and you just don't worry about his assignment, at least so far. I've been impressed with the SSDM play so far through these two games. Rice looks stronger and faster, and Spallina has been impressive in the time he has gotten. Trujillo has held his own. Stevens looked a step slow for me in the times I saw him but could definitely hold his own in transition. Feel terrible for Clary if what we suspect is true, and it was a dirty play. I thought he could've been a good option this year, and I generally prefer someone moving from LSM or close to SSDM than an offensive player. Next up. Couldn't be more impressed with the face-off unit so far. Some of those clean wins yesterday brought a tear to my eye. Will be a big step up starting with MD but keep us around 50% against the elite FOGO's and we will be in great shape. Can't be 20% in games against the ACC. I think we all can be happy with the start so far, despite some moments of frustration. Get some rest, get some more work in against Manhattan, and roll into MD week with momentum. That will be a tremendous test and a great game. LGO. [/QUOTE]

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