Hopkins Gameday...

[GoSU96]

Things to think about.

Put up 13 without Thompson, Deere not closing, and a cobbled together 2nd line.

Closed out the game without their best close defense.

McCool had his best game. Mullen adjusted and dominated in the second half

 

[FloridaCuse]

 

[OttosDad]

Staudt had to of grown up a big Cuse fan

 

[DoctahLexus]

FYI Gait says he expects Thomson back "in a couple weeks" after the "out for a while" line. 19 days until we play UVA on the road. Hopefully he is back for that one.

 

[PhatOrange]

people on the board wanted Thomson replaced and maybe now are re-thinking that.

Anderson in my mind has huge potential but I don't think he's ready for the primetime. Have to also consider what his skill set is. Hes not going to operate in and around the crease which is where Thomson and now Deere work. If you play Anderson who's working inside? I like Hiltz right where he is.

Deere is a sophomore and just got his first substantial playing time and it was against Hopkins. Not Bonnie's. I'd be a little patient here and give him a minute to settle in. His work on GBs can't be understated. A few were important possessions and were tough. He took some checks I couldn't believe and he didn't flinch. I'll roll with that type of toughness all day long. Not worried about his ability to finish.

 

[DoctahLexus]

people on the board wanted Thompson replaced and I think maybe are now re-thinking that.

Anderson in my mind has huge potential but I don't think he's ready for the primetime. Have to also consider what his skill set is. Hes not going to operate in and around the crease which is where Thompson and now Deere work. If you play Anderson who's working inside? I like Hiltz right where he is.

Deere is a sophomore and just got his first substantial playing time and it was against Hopkins. Not Bonnie's. I'd be a little patient here and give him a minute to settle in. His work on GBs can't be understated. A few were important possessions and were tough. He took some checks I couldn't believe and he didn't flinch. I'll roll with this type of toughness all day long. Not worried about his ability to finish.

He has a little case of the finishing yips right now, not too different from Thomson this time last year. He is putting himself in the right spots off ball to make the plays, and I think he will bounce back from this stretch and start putting the ball away again soon. Agree that we should give him more time. Literally the only play of his I had a major problem with was the lazy btb pass when we were 2 man up in the first quarter. Cant be casual like that on a crucial man up that could have lead to multiple goals if played the right way. He actually got the gb on the ride after, but the refs called an insanely weak slash on Leo.

Speaking of refs, that unsportsmanlike call on Deere in the 4th was one of the weakest I have ever seen. Guys are always giving a little push for one reason or another after a goal. To call it there is a complete and total ref show, and Carc was right to call it out. He should have just done nothing but he also did not do enough to receive a flag, so I do not fault him too much. Refs loved the attention from the big crowd.

 

[Powellfan]

people on the board wanted Thompson replaced and I think maybe are now re-thinking that.

Anderson in my mind has huge potential but I don't think he's ready for the primetime. Have to also consider what his skill set is. Hes not going to operate in and around the crease which is where Thompson and now Deere work. If you play Anderson who's working inside? I like Hiltz right where he is.

Deere is a sophomore and just got his first substantial playing time and it was against Hopkins. Not Bonnie's. I'd be a little patient here and give him a minute to settle in. His work on GBs can't be understated. A few were important possessions and were tough. He took some checks I couldn't believe and he didn't flinch. I'll roll with this type of toughness all day long. Not worried about his ability to finish.

I tend to agree with this. I think for the Manhattan game the staff has two options - 1) split reps between Deere and Anderson and see who comes out on top 2) give it to one guy and hope that their confidence blossoms. I think they'll stick with Deere and let him figure things out.

The offense was functioning well with him in the game and it's not apples to apples of course, but when Anderson got extended run against Utah, things ground to a halt. It's definitely not all his fault given that guys were playing incredibly carelessly. But I think just because a guy doesn't finish with goals and assists, doesn't mean he's not contributing. It's tough because on paper Anderson offers exactly what this offense seems to be missing with his dodging ability, but if he's not properly in the flow of the offense, that stuff doesn't matter much.

Interesting point about where the two players line up - both lefties but vastly different playing styles. Anderson seemed to play as an X attackman against Utah and obviously Deere is an inside finisher. As of now I feel more confident about Deere figuring out his shot (it may just be me, but earlier this season it seemed like he was getting too close to the goalie on his shots and gave himself no angle to finish) than I do about Anderson. Things can change quickly however! Hopefully the keep giving Anderson runs with the second midfield line.

 

[JeremyCuse]

people on the board wanted Thomson replaced and maybe now are re-thinking that.

Anderson in my mind has huge potential but I don't think he's ready for the primetime. Have to also consider what his skill set is. Hes not going to operate in and around the crease which is where Thomson and now Deere work. If you play Anderson who's working inside? I like Hiltz right where he is.

Deere is a sophomore and just got his first substantial playing time and it was against Hopkins. Not Bonnie's. I'd be a little patient here and give him a minute to settle in. His work on GBs can't be understated. A few were important possessions and were tough. He took some checks I couldn't believe and he didn't flinch. I'll roll with that type of toughness all day long. Not worried about his ability to finish.

Thomson has played very well this year, I don't think anyone who follows SU lax would argue that. Him being out is a big loss right now. Still I don't think it changes the concern and issue regarding the lack of an upper level dodging threat on the attack line. Take nothing away from an outstanding win against Hop but they're defense as good as it is, is the exact type that SU feasts on. Very slide happy and extremely quick to slide on most dodges.

The concerns with Deere is that Thomson can do some dodging even though its clearly not his strength, Deere is a pure crease guy who is zero dodging threat at all. If we had an elite X type attackmen he would fit in great but we don't. SU has to have a third attackmen who can draw a pole if the ACC teams and Cornell/Gate can get away with double polling like Hopkins did for 3+ quarters were gonna struggle offensively. I know people have concerns about Anderson which is valid but again he's gotten one half of PT against Utah to date, gotta give him some extended PT to see what he can do. Deere is a very good player but I don't think his skill set is conducive to running with Joey and Hiltz on a starting attack line.

If anything I think SU should rotate these guys in be it every few possessions by quarter or something.

 

[JeremyCuse]

I tend to agree with this. I think for the Manhattan game the staff has two options - 1) split reps between Deere and Anderson and see who comes out on top 2) give it to one guy and hope that their confidence blossoms. I think they'll stick with Deere and let him figure things out.

The offense was functioning well with him in the game and it's not apples to apples of course, but when Anderson got extended run against Utah, things ground to a halt. It's definitely not all his fault given that guys were playing incredibly carelessly. But I think just because a guy doesn't finish with goals and assists, doesn't mean he's not contributing. It's tough because on paper Anderson offers exactly what this offense seems to be missing with his dodging ability, but if he's not properly in the flow of the offense, that stuff doesn't matter much.

Interesting point about where the two players line up - both lefties but vastly different playing styles. Anderson seemed to play as an X attackman against Utah and obviously Deere is an inside finisher. As of now I feel more confident about Deere figuring out his shot (it may just be me, but earlier this season it seemed like he was getting too close to the goalie on his shots and gave himself no angle to finish) than I do about Anderson. Things can change quickly however! Hopefully the keep giving Anderson runs with the second midfield line.

I really hope they go with Option 1 as you outlined. I think its clear Anderson be it this year or next is the future at attack, he has the skill set they desperately need to take that offense from very good to elite. I think he needs some extended time to really get comfortable and ge the feel or flow as you noted. Utah would have been good for that but the guys around him were a mess for most of the 2nd half. I think Deere clearly still needs to play, he can rotate in at attack and also take runs on the 2nd mid line. Also even if they do stick with Deere (the likely outcome with this staff) Anderson has to get some run somewhere, he can't just be MIA again.

My concern is that SU is going to find itself in the Maryland or Denver game redux moving forward where a team is very slow to slide and Deere is being short sticked and were gonna be right back to the same struggles. Be it Deere or Anderson or a 3rd mystery guy that person has to be able to draw a pole at that 3rd spot to open up our 1st line mids to draw two shorties. Whoever can be that guy has to be the starter until Thomson gets back and right now I have major concerns that Deere is that guy.