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Message: [QUOTE="Powellfan, post: 4249337, member: 4819"] This is certainly discouraging to read, for the simple fact that it lines up with a lot of the concerns we've had on this board with what we've seen on the field. Not sure what Gait's deal is, but to be concerned about his sideline demeanor, and then to hear that it's playing out on his actual relationships with his players is a red flag for me. I know you are not going to make everyone on the team happy, especially when you are trying to implement your own system and way of doing things, and everything is amplified during a losing season, but it's still not great to hear. This frankly is a talented team that to me has seriously underperformed. I know they've had injury issues which is no small thing, but that still doesn't excuse the fact that they are about to finish the season with the worst record since the 1970's with losses to very bad Hopkins and Albany teams. Dordevic and Curry are both putting up All American numbers that could contend with first the first team. Phaup has had a really good season despite some frustrating moments and is getting PLL buzz. Kennedy, despite playing out of position is another PLL bound player, Nick Caccamo has the most caused turnovers of any SU defenseman since Nick Mellen was playing. This team has talent which is why this season is so frustrating. I agree with Lexus that I am less worried about the offense going forward - they've had some stinkers this year (the Hopkins game was maybe one of the worst I've seen in many years), but they have pieces. Birtwistle's emergence is really exciting. I think the loss of Curry will be more difficult than people realize, but there are good players coming back next year and really good players incoming in the freshman class. The offense still looks weird to me which makes me worried. They don't move the ball very well but that might change dramatically next year when Hiltz and Spallina are in the lineup. They just simply didn't have a quarterback on the roster, especially once Hiltz went down. We'll just have to wait and see. I didn't get to watch the UVA game but the defense this year is shambolic. I didn't think things could get worse than last year, but they did. Our short sticks simply can't hold up against top half DI teams which causes a very undisciplined group of players to slide like maniacs. Seriously, some of the slides I've seen this year defy logic. I'm not trying to be over the top, but it's incredibly frustrating to watch this defense make the same mistakes over and over and over again. Just look at the game winning goal scored by Cornell a few weeks ago: [MEDIA=twitter]1513721806850510849[/MEDIA] Olexo needlessly slides to help Kennedy, who stumbles a bit while guarding Kirst, so a bit of forgiveness can be given to Saam. But what is Murphy doing here? Besides ball watching? Who is he guarding on this play? No one is guarding Kelleher on this play that's for sure, who just so happens to score the game winning goal. Freeze it on :04 seconds, not a single defender within 10 yards of the shooter. I think Rice is supposed to be guarding him, but in the span of 4 seconds he switches onto two different Cornell players. This is coming out of a timeout too I beleive. I frankly don't know who's to blame for this, but it is dismal. Two simple passes and game over without Cornell having to do much of anything. And it keeps happening! Over and over again I could post this stuff. Maybe it simply is the players, since they weren't much better last year with a different coach, as Caccamo and Rice are the only new players. But at some point doesn't a coach have to change up formations to suit his skill level? The constant sliding and switching just leaves SU defenders lost in the wash. I do feel bad for Petro, he seems like a very likable guy. My understanding is one of his best and worst traits is his loyalty. That's why you've seen guys like Paul Rabil basically forsake their Hopkins fandom after his firing. At the same time many Jays fans complained that he seemed to stick with players who weren't playing well for way too long. I'm not sure thats quite fair a label for him yet, he did insert Caccamo into the lineup after a few games, though I'm not sure why they haven't tried someone other than Murphy at his spot this season. Next year should be interesting with Dwan, who has grown up with Petro as an uncle figure joining the team, and Figurias who he flipped. But adding freshmen to this scheme that just seems so discombobulated makes me really nervous. Hopkins fans also complained that his defense was way too complicated and I have to say I unfortunately agree with them. Hopkins is in a bad way right now but it seems their defense has improved since Petro left, last week's drubbing to Maryland not withstanding. That is concerning as a Syracuse fan. Based on the post above, it sounds like Gait is simply waiting for a new group of players to come in and save him, which is a scary proposition. It's not like he entered the coaching room off the street. I know women's lacrosse is different, I get that, but he was successful - if his aloof approach with the men's team isn't working, it strikes me as odd that it would work with a group of female athletes? Did he just manage to hire really good assistant coaches and let them do most of the work? He has not been ingrained with the men's sport on the college side for many years, which I at the time didn't think was that big of a deal. But I think that must be playing into this on some level, as he hadn't watching tape, he hadn't been recruiting, who knows how many men's lacrosse games he even watched the last few years? Petro as well was out of the game for entire year. I think this must somehow be factoring into recent troubles. Not sure what Gait's plans are for the offseason, but this past year (two years really) has just been so darn weird. Why schedule an incredibly challenging group of teams when you don't have a good assessment of your own team? Lots of things have to change this offseason and hopefully the right ones are made. [/QUOTE]

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