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Message: [QUOTE="JeremyCuse, post: 4980109, member: 43"] Good post as usual. Was gonna start a new post outlining a few things but think you hit on a few good points and some I'd disagree with slightly. Thought as you noted SU played even with Maryland and probably slightly better after the 1st quarter. Thought SU made a few mistakes down the stretch that you can't afford against a team like Maryland and win ie Giving up that quick faceoff goal after finally getting up 2 goals, the late push (a bad call in my mind) against Riley that led to another goal, losing the last three faceoffs (not a mistake but needed one of those especially one of the last two). All that said Syracuse definitely can argue they should have won the game. I don't think anyone saw Thomson shooting 10% 4 games in but I'm not overly surprised that he's struggling. Finn did a decent amount of damage on the man up unit last year but seemed to struggle for extended periods in 6 on 6 action especially against Peer teams. Finn's a great overall lax player but the concern with him is similar to Marquis at hopkins. Marquis is an unreal box player who I think led the Jr box league in pts 2 years ago and was up there again this past summer, he can't get off the bench at Hopkins. I'm not sure that Finn's elite box game will ever fully transition to the field game. Not giving up on him by any stretch and he's a better player then Marquis but I think the assumption he would be the same field player he is in the box game has unfortunately not come to pass. In regards to what do do with the midfield I am not sure there is an easy answer for SU. Thomson isn't really an attackmen at this level so if your takign him off the 1st midline it's not to play attack so as you noted its going to be the 2nd midline. TO me the current issue for SU offensively is secondary dodging from attack and Thomson on the 1st midline. Neither really has a can't miss answer. I know you mentioned moving Rhoa but he's giving you a major boost on the 2nd line and him with Stevens gives you two dodgint threats to mesh with either Birtwistle or whoever is on that third line. I don't know if its realistic to bump Thomson down full time at this point but if your Gait and March you also just can't cross your fingers and wait for him to hopefully figure it out either. Birtwistle to me is the answer because he can invert if needed, isn't afraid to dodge and has shown he can also rip a shot. Now he can sometimes get a little shot happy but I fully believe if he's taking half of those shots Thomson took Sat, SU probably wins. I think you also have to consider Birtwistle for him on the man up unit as well. Thomson has missed a number of great looks form that mid spot that Birtwistle could occupy and do a lot of damage. Maybe a change up for a game or two gets Thomson back on track but right now it's hard to see him having a lot of success against Army next week and that D the way he's playing. With the attack unit, its clear the unit misses Kirst. I know Mule put up ridiculous numbers the last two years but he really hasn't been much of factor since the opening game against Vermont. SU needs a secondary dodger at attack when Joey is drawing everyone's # pole (he's gonna see another great one next Wednesday). Mule has to be that guy because we know that's not Hiltz's game. Again outside of giving Elijah-Brown some run I am not sure there are really many realistic options for SU here. SU could in theory move Leo but now he's no longer getting a shorty and your opening up a major hole on the 1st midfield. Deere is not a realistic option and probably should have red-shirted. SU seems against Birtwistle playing attack for some reason but he would be the other realistic option. In re-watching some of the game I saw Hiltz dodge a few times but he tried to make a great pass versus rippign a shot, he has to be more involved the offense against better teams. The no look shovel pass is great against Manhattan and Hobart, its not gonna work against Maryland and ND. the other concern with him is he is continuing to turn the ball over at an alarming rate. He had 3 to's on Sat vs 2 shots. That's simply not gonna work, cut it or whatever phrase you wanna use. Thought Joey played pretty well. Maybe 1 or 2 shots he forced but still had 3 pts against Zap and I thought he played within himself again for the most part. He just missed on one of those patented BTB looks. Leo and Rhoa were excellent, both came up huge and Rhoa adding the ability to dodge to his game, wow watch out. Those two are gonna cause a ton of issues for opposing defenses especially when you consider that Thomson and English haven't come close to playing at the levels their capable of. Thought Stevens was a little quiet, had 1 GB and 1 shot. We seem unclear exactly how to use him. 1 gb each the last two games is very unlike him. Wonder if we try and play him 2 way a little bit, to talented to just run the 2nd line. This post is getting a little long so I'll give my thoughts on the defense in a separate post. [/QUOTE]

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