Notre Dame Gameday...

[SUlax88-09]

Great win! Although it’s more based upon who ND was the last 2 years, rather than who they are this year. It’s not our fault, but this year’s ND team is nowhere near as good as the all-time great team they had last year. Regardless, that’s not our problem, and it’s still a great win. Congrats to coach Gait and the team.

The ACC is down this year though, and we may not a get a single team in the Final Four. Has that ever happened?

Maryland, Ohio St, Cornell, and Princeton look really strong this year (Army and Harvard are impressive, too), but there is no dominant team this year, so we have a window to win a chip this year and next year.

McCool has been phenomenal these last 3 games (I know he got lit up by Harvard, but they hit every damn corner with their shots and they just shot lights out against us; props to them). If McCool and Mullen stay this hot and our D continues to be solid, then we can play with anyone in the country! That’s exciting. Finally!

On the offensive side (that’s where we will struggle in the Elite 8 game when we play against a top notch team), we need to keep Anderson on attack, and I would put Hottle on 1st line middie (Rhoa needs to go down; enough is enough with the horrible shots). Where to put Thomson when he gets back is the question?! Playing him at middie last year didn’t work. Spallina played well off ball yesterday, but Thomson is still a better off ball player against the top teams in the country, so I’d still play Thomson over Spallina on attack

Our dodging was great yesterday, including Leo 2 times, Anderson 2 times (1 goal and 1 assist). English, and Hottle. We will have to be able to dodge to beat the best defenses in the country. We don’t have any players that can consistently beat a top notch long pole (maybe Anderson?), so we need to set picks and get players on the field who can beat a top notch SSDM as much as possible (Leo, English, and Hottle; and Anderson can beat their 3rd best long pole), and then have Hiltz and Thomson as our finishers. Spallina’s vision on man-up is great, too. That’s our offensive recipe for success

 

[GoSU96]

Great win! Although it’s more based upon who ND was the last 2 years, rather than who they are this year. It’s not our fault, but this year’s ND team is nowhere near as good as the all-time great team they had last year. Regardless, that’s not our problem, and it’s still a great win. Congrats to coach Gait and the team.

The ACC is down this year though, and we may not a get a single team in the Final Four. Has that ever happened?

Maryland, Ohio St, Cornell, and Princeton look really strong this year (Army and Harvard are impressive, too), but there is no dominant team this year, so we have a window to win a chip this year and next year.

McCool has been phenomenal these last 3 games (I know he got lit up by Harvard, but they hit every damn corner with their shots and they just shot lights out against us; props to them). If McCool and Mullen stay this hot and our D continues to be solid, then we can play with anyone in the country! That’s exciting. Finally!

On the offensive side (that’s where we will struggle in the Elite 8 game when we play against a top notch team), we need to keep Anderson on attack, and I would put Hottle on 1st line middie (Rhoa needs to go down; enough is enough with the horrible shots). Where to put Thomson when he gets back is the question?! Playing him at middie last year didn’t work. Spallina played well off ball yesterday, but Thomson is still a better off ball player against the top teams in the country, so I’d still play Thomson over Spallina on attack

Our dodging was great yesterday, including Leo 2 times, Anderson 2 times (1 goal and 1 assist). English, and Hottle. We will have to be able to dodge to beat the best defenses in the country. We don’t have any players that can consistently beat a top notch long pole (maybe Anderson?), so we need to set picks and get players on the field who can beat a top notch SSDM as much as possible (Leo, English, and Hottle; and Anderson can beat their 3rd best long pole), and then have Hiltz and Thomson as our finishers. Spallina’s vision on man-up is great, too. That’s our offensive recipe for success

Are you saying you’d sit Spillina?

 

[DoctahLexus]

I'm going to give the coaching staff a little slack here that perhaps they felt Anderson wasn't quite ready earlier in the season. Yes, he possesses all the physical skills but earlier in the season he looked uncertain and a little raw. He still needs to work on the ride, but yesterday's performance should give him a ton of confidence going forward. A side note, I think coach March's game plans starting with the Hopkins game have been very good.

Agreed. His lack of experience seemed pretty evident in the early games. Got stripped a couple times by short sticks and seemed tentative off the dodge. Also we have been trying him in spot minutes in a lot of these games. He was even playing for a good portion of the Hopkins game but their quick slide style seemed to be giving him trouble, and we went back to Cordez.

Putting Deere over him in a couple of these recent games is more up for debate, but I totally get why the staff favored Thomson over him in the earlier portion of the season. Thomson was doing his part on the attack line before the injury. He has clear value, even if he is the polar opposite type of attack compared to Anderson. And against teams like Hop with their quick rotations and Colgate with their zone, I get having a more offball oriented guy like Deere out there.

These things are never black and white, especially with a rookie like Anderson. If he was torching longpoles and making all the right decisions from day 1 of practice I doubt he takes so long to see the field in a bigger role. I have some faith that the staff made the choices they did for a reason. Good news is that he has earned his minutes and will not be going anywhere now.

 

[OttosDad]

After going back and watching the highlights I really loved how physical the defense was yesterday, particularly with Taylor. Props to Grace who did a great job on Taylor and even Kuczynski had some moments too all of which I really think they were in Taylors head. After watching him torment us for what feels like a decade, it was nice to see the team actually had a plan to do something about it.

And I certainly will not miss seeing Taylor or another Kavanaugh out there next season for the Irish!

Agreed, our defense was so far inside Taylor’s head. If you go back and watch ND’s 8th goal, Taylor scores WIDE open on the door step. Total miscommunication. He has his back to the goal when he catches, as he turns and shoots he starts falling backwards anticipating he’s gonna get hit in the mouth. When I saw that, I knew he had been neutralized mentally.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[SUlax88-09]

Are you saying you’d sit Spillina?

Yes, I realize how it sounds, but I would. We need 1 right handed finisher, 1 left handed finisher, and 1 dodger. Anderson is our best dodger (our only one on attack), Hiltz is our best left handed finisher (maybe the best in the country), and Thomson is our best right handed finisher (maybe one of the best in the country). So, yes, when Thomson comes back, then I’d sit Spallina. I’d play him on man up though because of his elite passing. Just remember what I wrote when we’re having a hard time scoring again in the Elite 8 game…

 

[orange79]

Yes, I realize how it sounds, but I would. We need 1 right handed finisher, 1 left handed finisher, and 1 dodger. Anderson is our best dodger (our only one on attack), Hiltz is our best left handed finisher (maybe the best in the country), and Thomson is our best right handed finisher (maybe one of the best in the country). So, yes, when Thomson comes back, then I’d sit Spallina. I’d play him on man up though because of his elite passing. Just remember what I wrote when we’re having a hard time scoring again in the Elite 8 game…

 

[LAcuse]

View attachment 250972

 

[DMVCuseLax]

Yes, I realize how it sounds, but I would. We need 1 right handed finisher, 1 left handed finisher, and 1 dodger. Anderson is our best dodger (our only one on attack), Hiltz is our best left handed finisher (maybe the best in the country), and Thomson is our best right handed finisher (maybe one of the best in the country). So, yes, when Thomson comes back, then I’d sit Spallina. I’d play him on man up though because of his elite passing. Just remember what I wrote when we’re having a hard time scoring again in the Elite 8 game…

Give it a rest. Someone got some bad gummies.

 

[DMVCuseLax]

Thomson for McCarthy on 2nd line and let him play first when English needs a break.

 

[Powellfan]

Thomson for McCarthy on 2nd line and let him play first when English needs a break.

I think I’d make Thomson a second liner full time, and use McCarthy for English when he needs a rest. McCarthy is more like for like with English and can carry the ball when he’s out there. Thomson would mesh well with carriers like Cordes and Hottle.

Question for me is who takes crunch time minutes? Seems harsh to leave out Thomson who’s been a starter for three years. If Rhoa keeps struggling I feel like he would need to see less minutes. Just don’t want to destroy his confidence either. Tough decisions ahead.

 

[DMVCuseLax]

I think I’d make Thomson a second liner full time, and use McCarthy for English when he needs a rest. McCarthy is more like for like with English and can carry the ball when he’s out there. Thomson would mesh well with carriers like Cordes and Hottle.

Question for me is who takes crunch time minutes? Seems harsh to leave out Thomson who’s been a starter for three years. If Rhoa keeps struggling I feel like he would need to see less minutes. Just don’t want to destroy his confidence either. Tough decisions ahead.

Very tough but I can guarantee Joey isn’t in the conversation. Lmao

 

[OttosDad]

Feel like if there’s one thing we can all agree on it’s that Anderson needs to be getting significant time at attack. He’s just a difference maker for our offense.

Take away his offensive abilities, just his speed size and hands were valuable in ground ball scrums yesterday.

 

[GoSU96]

Yes, I realize how it sounds, but I would. We need 1 right handed finisher, 1 left handed finisher, and 1 dodger. Anderson is our best dodger (our only one on attack), Hiltz is our best left handed finisher (maybe the best in the country), and Thomson is our best right handed finisher (maybe one of the best in the country). So, yes, when Thomson comes back, then I’d sit Spallina. I’d play him on man up though because of his elite passing. Just remember what I wrote when we’re having a hard time scoring again in the Elite 8 game…

Uh, yeah, that ain’t gonna happen .

 

[JYCUSE12]

Give it a rest. Someone got some bad gummies.

Ultimate troll job, Connor Buczek must have an account on here!!

 

[DoctahLexus]

You have to actively ignore about a zillion plays to think that Hiltz and Spallina are only useful as offball finishers this season. The reason things are working now is because they are also having a serious impact as dodgers and feeders as well. Hiltz has been using his speed to draw slides and find the open man all year, as well as take it to the rack 1v1. Had a very nice assist off the dodge yesterday. Spallina still draws slides taking the body and getting a step when defenders take a wrong approach, and he is without question one of the most skilled feeders in the country. He was close to a couple assists and goals of the dodge yesterday too, along with the great offball plays. Great game from Anderson, but he is not the only reason we were cooking yesterday.

 

[Powellfan]

My worry about Anderson after the first few games was that he was not fitting in with the rest of the offense. He seemed disjointed and a little unsure of himself. Even his goal against Utah, by my recollection, Spallina almost had to yell at him to go to the goal.

That was not the case against Notre Dame. Anderson looked like he had been playing with this offense for years. Two nice assists and a really nice skip pass that should have given him a third. Also, he didn’t force things, he worked within the framework of the offense. He always seemed to know when to take his chances.

Perhaps most impressively, I don’t think he had a turnover yesterday. Given the physicality with which he plays, that’s really something. He switches hands so well, he’s always in control. Here’s hoping he keeps this up!

 

[JeremyCuse]

Feel like if there’s one thing we can all agree on it’s that Anderson needs to be getting significant time at attack. He’s just a difference maker for our offense.

Take away his offensive abilities, just his speed size and hands were valuable in ground ball scrums yesterday.

I do worry this staff may go back to Thomson when healthy. Nothing against Fimn he's been really really good this year but Anderson bring a skillset that simply no other attackmen brings that's currently on the roster. That size speed and most of all dodging ability is a game changer for this offense.

 

[JeremyCuse]

You have to actively ignore about a zillion plays to think that Hiltz and Spallina are only useful as offball finishers this season. The reason things are working now is because they are also having a serious impact as dodgers and feeders as well. Hiltz has been using his speed to draw slides and find the open man all year, as well as take it to the rack 1v1. Had a very nice assist off the dodge yesterday. Spallina still draws slides taking the body and getting a step when defenders take a wrong approach, and he is without question one of the most skilled feeders in the country. He was close to a couple assists and goals of the dodge yesterday too, along with the great offball plays. Great game from Anderson, but he is not the only reason we were cooking yesterday.

Hiltz and Joey have improved as dodgers but having an upper level dodging threat on the field has and will completely open up their games especially for a guy like Joey. It's no coincidence he had a monster game yesterday with Anderson starting. It allowed him to not have to play that X spot behind the cage and try to dodge an elite pole that only a guy like Kirst and maybe 1 or 2 others can beat 1 on 1 occasionally. Instead he got to play all over including off ball, X, GLE, etc. When Spallina can freelance he can be Powell level good, to many times though we've not moved him around and asked him to be QB/dodging Mike Powell, that's not his game.

Hiltz is now drawing essentially a teams 3rd long pole which will open things up more and more as the season goes on. His time and room looks should also go up.

Anderson on the field totally changes how coaches have to game plan and defend Syracuse. Tiffany noted it in his post-game comments last week which were a fascinating listen. That 1st goal against ND was a move we haven't seen in a while from an SU attackmen.

 

[DoctahLexus]

Hiltz and Joey have improved as dodgers but having an upper level dodging threat on the field has and will completely open up their games especially for a guy like Joey. It's no coincidence he had a monster game yesterday with Anderson starting. It allowed him to not have to play that X spot behind the cage and try to dodge an elite pole that only a guy like Kirst and maybe 1 or 2 others can beat 1 on 1 occasionally. Instead he got to play all over including off ball, X, GLE, etc. When Spallina can freelance he can be Powell level good, to many times though we've not moved him around and asked him to be QB/dodging Mike Powell, that's not his game.

Hiltz is now drawing essentially a teams 3rd long pole which will open things up more and more as the season goes on. His time and room looks should also go up.

Anderson on the field totally changes how coaches have to game plan and defend Syracuse. Tiffany noted it in his post-game comments last week which were a fascinating listen. That 1st goal against ND was a move we haven't seen in a while from an SU attackmen.

Dont get me wrong, he has been great and earned his time at attack, but if he is an upper level dodger then so are Hiltz and Spallina. It is an additional upper level dodging threat, not the only one.

Anderson is certainly doing enough to draw the longpole but he is not drawing slides at a rate that much different than what we get out of hiltz and Spallina. He draws slides and attention, but so do the other two. The fact he is getting the type of attention they do is fantastic(!!) but he is not already way ahead of the other guys. Having that third longpole guaranteed on an attack is huge and I doubt we change up the line going forward.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Dont get me wrong, he has been great and earned his time at attack, but if he is an upper level dodger then so are Hiltz and Spallina. It is an additional upper level dodging threat, not the only one.

Anderson is certainly doing enough to draw the longpole but he is not drawing slides at a rate that much different than what we get out of hiltz and Spallina. He draws slides and attention, but so do the other two. The fact he is getting the type of attention they do is fantastic(!!) but he is not already way ahead of the other guys. Having that third longpole guaranteed on an attack is huge and I doubt we change up the line going forward.

Joey and Hiltz are both decent dodgers and have improved the last few years especially Hiltz who wasn't a great dodger when he arrived. But neither are upper level dodgers. Look at the dodge Anderson had for a goal against UVA and then again yesterday.

Those are the type of dodges missing from this offense that Joey and Hiltz can't replicate. Not a shot at them thats not their games. I think both have had outstanding years but Anderson has that ability (not yet fully harnessed) to be an elite D1 dodging attackmen and add an element this O hasn't had in a long time.

The other huge aspect of Anderson at attack is that the days of double polling SU are over. If ND didn't do it with Ramsey nobody is. Anderson certainly isn't better then Joey or Owen right now but he's the perfect addition to this offenses one real weakness. Doesn't mean he won't struggle or that a Denver situation won't happen again but boy this offense has the potential to go from really good/great to elite

 

[DoctahLexus]

Joey and Hiltz are both decent dodgers and have improved the last few years especially Hiltz who wasn't a great dodger when he arrived. But neither are upper level dodgers. Look at the dodge Anderson had for a goal against UVA and then again yesterday.

Those are the type of dodges missing from this offense that Joey and Hiltz can't replicate. Not a shot at them thats not their games. I think both have had outstanding years but Anderson has that ability (not yet fully harnessed) to be an elite D1 dodging attackmen and add an element this O hasn't had in a long time.

The other huge aspect of Anderson at attack is that the days of double polling SU are over. If ND didn't do it with Ramsey nobody is. Anderson certainly isn't better then Joey or Owen right now but he's the perfect addition to this offenses one real weakness. Doesn't mean he won't struggle or that a Denver situation won't happen again but boy this offense has the potential to go from really good/great to elite

Put it this way, I think it would be a pretty bold move to try and short stick Anderson at this point, but it would be an even more bold move to do that with Spallina or Hiltz. They do not dodge in the same way maybe, but it is an equally strong threat, and then you add what they create as passers and you can forget about the short stick.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Put it this way, I think it would be a pretty bold move to try and short stick Anderson at this point, but it would be an even more bold move to do that with Spallina or Hiltz. They do not dodge in the same way maybe, but it is an equally strong threat, and then you add what they create as passers and you can forget about the short stick.

There's no D1 D coordinator with a half a brain whose gonna short Joey or Owen, zero. I doubt anyone would argue different. If it's Finn or Deere then yes even though Finn has punished teams for doing so this year for the most part. Anderson guarantees 100% no one will even try it

 

[DoctahLexus]

There's no D1 D coordinator with a half a brain whose gonna short Joey or Owen, zero. I doubt anyone would argue different. If it's Finn or Deere then yes even though Finn has punished teams for doing so this year for the most part. Anderson guarantees 100% no one will even try it

I agree that we should keep this good thing going and roll with Anderson at attack going forward. His threat off the dodge is too useful. I just don’t think he has necessarily surpassed the other two with the ball in his stick just yet. I think that is not giving Hiltz and Spallina enough credit for what they do off the dodge, despite teams fully planning around them. They are upper level without question.

 

[SULAXAHOLIC]

I’m not anywhere near as high on Anderson as most. He is an option but hasn’t exactly dominated. He has had flashes of showing his dodging abilities but he still isn’t pulling teams top pole or piling up points. If I’m Gait I take a lesson from Desko and rotate the attack the way they did in 09 with Jamieson Desko and Daniello