JeremyCuse
Renowned lacrosse analyst
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Saturday's loss while not unexpected (the blowout certainly was) shows how devastating it was to blow both those games against JHU and Duke. This team at 6-2 right now looks a lot better then 5-3, the team and the staff have really dug themselves a hole that they may not be able to get out of. To make things even worse Duke lost a reeling Carolina team giving up 17 goals and Hopkins after struggling with UMBC during the week got blown out by Rutgers of all teams this past Saturday. Not good.
I've pointed all of the issues I am about to run through but after this three game stretch I think there more apparent then ever.
Syracuse clearly doesn't have the quality depth it had in the glory years or even in the mid to late 2000's. The second mid line continues to be complete black hole despite having one of the biggest if not the biggest roster in Div 1. Syracuse is far from alone in not having much depth but for a program of this stature not to be able to run 2 lines while Denver is running 3 easily with production is scary. The same is true at SSDM, there is simply no depth behind Grimm and Gillis as Ciferi and the kid from Cali #14 have been abysmal this year. With so many midfielders unable to make an impact at O middie we should be moving at least 2 players to SSDM to see if they can make an impact ala Steve Ianzito.
From a personnel standpoint this has not been a good season for Desko. He seems unwilling to bench Evans or Ciferi despite continued poor play. Also despite rave reviews in the fall and pre-season camp its taken a herculean effort to get Paduda even a few draws game despite Ben clearly not being at 100% either physically or perhaps psychologically. We also guys like Cunningham and D'agostino come in and do a pretty good job on D replacing guys but then unable to get back on the field despite continued issues at those positions.
Desko's post game and weekly comments continue to show no sense of urgency or even accountability for that matter. It would be nice if he showed some emotion/anger for a change and really tried to fire the team up. The post game interview sounds like hes recapping a loss in a fall ball game in mid October where 100 people were watching. The lack of accountability also continues to be a sore spot with some fans, rarely here Desko take responsibility for a loss or poor play and by running the same lineup out there week after week there doesn't seem to be any accountability for the players either.
Defensive communication continues to be an absolute disaster. Poor communication, missed slides, late slides, early slides, no slide, failure to remember the scouting report on shooters, thinking you have help when you don't, helping for no reason leaving someone wide open, man down D non existent, abysmal goalie play, we unfortunately have it all. Lelan Rogers turned the D around and had a great run from 08-2013 but its clear the last few years the defense has been a disaster. Don't know if its the players or the scheme but its simply not working. Desko needs to either have a huge adjustment made or he needs to have a difficult discussion with Lelan and look to make a change because this cannot continue, were at the breaking point. Mark Coyle needs to make the Lax team his priority as soon as the season ends and he needs to ensure some changes are made at least internally in regards to scheme or what not.
So where do we go from here?
Like all things there is a potential to turn things around and there is usually a silver lining or two.
The wins against Albany and Army may end up saving this team as both schools are tearing it up and Albany is now back in the top 10. Hope these two keep winning because they are saving our SOS and RPI. UVA beating Hopkins last week and Richmond 9-0 this past Saturday could also turn that into a somewhat quality win, but to early to say that at this point.
The schedule while far from easy the next two games is clearly a step down in talent level and presents a golden opportunity for this team to get back on track. Hobart on Wed will be a difficult game despite the Bart being dominated there last game by St. Joes. Hobart hasn't played since 3/26 and will have had a week and a half to prepare for SU. They have a very good goalie and with the game being at Hobart expect him to stand on his head. Its absolutely critical SU win this game, a loss would be devastating. I should have more on this game later in the week.
For much of Syracuse's tenure under Desko the Orange usually responds when their up against it. Well this team is clearly up against it right now and it needs its veterans to step up. Donahue, Williams, Mullins, Barber, Grimm, Dejoe need to take it to the next level for the next two games.
Piroli is back. It may have been late in the game but Nick Piroli getting some PT was a great sign. I really hope he starts on Wed and the offense can come out firing on all cylinders. Getting Piroli back will push Barber back to the mid line immediately strengthening both units immensely.
Really hoping this team responds on Wed, while the game is on the road in what will be less then ideal conditions, there's not excuse for this team to not be ready after the last three weeks.
I've pointed all of the issues I am about to run through but after this three game stretch I think there more apparent then ever.
Syracuse clearly doesn't have the quality depth it had in the glory years or even in the mid to late 2000's. The second mid line continues to be complete black hole despite having one of the biggest if not the biggest roster in Div 1. Syracuse is far from alone in not having much depth but for a program of this stature not to be able to run 2 lines while Denver is running 3 easily with production is scary. The same is true at SSDM, there is simply no depth behind Grimm and Gillis as Ciferi and the kid from Cali #14 have been abysmal this year. With so many midfielders unable to make an impact at O middie we should be moving at least 2 players to SSDM to see if they can make an impact ala Steve Ianzito.
From a personnel standpoint this has not been a good season for Desko. He seems unwilling to bench Evans or Ciferi despite continued poor play. Also despite rave reviews in the fall and pre-season camp its taken a herculean effort to get Paduda even a few draws game despite Ben clearly not being at 100% either physically or perhaps psychologically. We also guys like Cunningham and D'agostino come in and do a pretty good job on D replacing guys but then unable to get back on the field despite continued issues at those positions.
Desko's post game and weekly comments continue to show no sense of urgency or even accountability for that matter. It would be nice if he showed some emotion/anger for a change and really tried to fire the team up. The post game interview sounds like hes recapping a loss in a fall ball game in mid October where 100 people were watching. The lack of accountability also continues to be a sore spot with some fans, rarely here Desko take responsibility for a loss or poor play and by running the same lineup out there week after week there doesn't seem to be any accountability for the players either.
Defensive communication continues to be an absolute disaster. Poor communication, missed slides, late slides, early slides, no slide, failure to remember the scouting report on shooters, thinking you have help when you don't, helping for no reason leaving someone wide open, man down D non existent, abysmal goalie play, we unfortunately have it all. Lelan Rogers turned the D around and had a great run from 08-2013 but its clear the last few years the defense has been a disaster. Don't know if its the players or the scheme but its simply not working. Desko needs to either have a huge adjustment made or he needs to have a difficult discussion with Lelan and look to make a change because this cannot continue, were at the breaking point. Mark Coyle needs to make the Lax team his priority as soon as the season ends and he needs to ensure some changes are made at least internally in regards to scheme or what not.
So where do we go from here?
Like all things there is a potential to turn things around and there is usually a silver lining or two.
The wins against Albany and Army may end up saving this team as both schools are tearing it up and Albany is now back in the top 10. Hope these two keep winning because they are saving our SOS and RPI. UVA beating Hopkins last week and Richmond 9-0 this past Saturday could also turn that into a somewhat quality win, but to early to say that at this point.
The schedule while far from easy the next two games is clearly a step down in talent level and presents a golden opportunity for this team to get back on track. Hobart on Wed will be a difficult game despite the Bart being dominated there last game by St. Joes. Hobart hasn't played since 3/26 and will have had a week and a half to prepare for SU. They have a very good goalie and with the game being at Hobart expect him to stand on his head. Its absolutely critical SU win this game, a loss would be devastating. I should have more on this game later in the week.
For much of Syracuse's tenure under Desko the Orange usually responds when their up against it. Well this team is clearly up against it right now and it needs its veterans to step up. Donahue, Williams, Mullins, Barber, Grimm, Dejoe need to take it to the next level for the next two games.
Piroli is back. It may have been late in the game but Nick Piroli getting some PT was a great sign. I really hope he starts on Wed and the offense can come out firing on all cylinders. Getting Piroli back will push Barber back to the mid line immediately strengthening both units immensely.
Really hoping this team responds on Wed, while the game is on the road in what will be less then ideal conditions, there's not excuse for this team to not be ready after the last three weeks.
