Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="sulax, post: 2528104, member: 6660"] First time starting a thread on this forum, so please take it easy on me! I think the phrase 'You're only as strong as your weakest link' really applies to the SU lacrosse team currently. Although the Hopkins final score is shocking, it was interesting to watch the game over again. The interesting thing about nearly all of the goals scored on us, in which it was an error on our part (vs superior offense), was that the vast majority were scored on our Short Stick D Middies. By my count, Tyler Ford accounted for 5 goals and Murphy accounted for 3 goals (plus Partamian and Schwasnik each both lost their men accounting for goals; a few were scored on Dami but I think the Dom should have stopped 1 of them and the other was a great shot by a great player with his off-hand). I think at least 12 of their 17 goals were done against our SSDMs! Like the Towson playoff game last year, where Gillis got shredded over and over, the SU lacrosse weakest link is our short stick d-middies. I'm sure that's the case for most teams, but for it to be such a glaring weakness on our team and to get exposed over and over is a bit shocking. Hopkins just did a simple pick play behind the cage over and over and over again, so that they could get a switch, and then isolate the player they wanted against the short stick middie they wanted to attack. The pick plays look simple but they're surgical (just like what the Towson did in the playoff game last year and the Maryland playoff game the year before). To lose a game that badly is discouraging, but the good news is that our long stick Defenders actually played a solid game! I actually think we could have had Pat McCabe, Rick Beardsley, and Brandon Mullins out there, and we still may have lost. So, my question to you guys, is what can we do about it?! How about: 1. don't be so quick to switch, unless it's absolutely necessary 2. we have to help out early when our short stick D-middies are getting inverted and being attacked from behind the cage (however, we shouldn't slide too early to slide when they're attacking our long stick defenders) 3. keep Helmer playing with a short stick (I think Dami has the tools be a really good D-middie, so these tough lessons will pay off for him/us later) 4. maybe even switch another long stick defender to short stick d-middie (the loss of Fernandez really hurts us and makes us thin though; anyone hear a confirmation that it is an ACL tear?) (5. On the offensive side, why don't we do more pick plays to free up our best players against their short stick D-middie?! Desko's motion offense works well in man-up, and it worked when we had superior athletes and talent, but those days are done. It's time to start coaching and to get on board with what every other team is doing in order to get an advantage) I do see why some people are encouraged though, especially with the thought of having a few years of Tordevic (and his great feet and great shot with either hand) and Trimboli (and his alley dodge on either side) in the midfield line, Rehfuss' excellent vision and hopefully Staats goal scoring ability in the attack line (we should all pray that Austin Staats comes to SU next year; we need him a lot more than he needs us... and not just for his talent but also to help us in recruiting other native talent; also I wouldn't be surprised if we have great offensive talent riding the pine right now), and having Mellen and Kennedy as lock down defenders. If we can then recruit/get a transfer for the face-off and goalie positions, and improve our SSDMs, who knows, maybe we could be back in the final four pretty soon. Thanks guys [/QUOTE]

Verification: What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?