Johns Hopkins 2020

[51percentcorn]

Did Smith get in?

I personally have no idea but if he didn't it would seem to be pretty big news and the vultures would be circling

Perhaps another defender on the Blue Jays will do a similar (or better) job limiting the damage, but I for one do not feel especially good about it.

There are 17 players with positions indicating they will be carrying longer lacrosse sticks onto the field in 2020. Three of them are knowns - Colwell, Rapine and Reinson - which means you have 14 choices for 1 close defenseman, 1 2nd line LSM and 1 EMO longpole specialist. Foley started as a freshman, Durkin, Lightner, etc. as well - Foley should have been gone anyway as we know - if we can't find adequate replacements amongst 14 players - then there is an unquestioned indictment on recruiting coaching or both.

[HopFan16]

Did Smith get in?

I personally have no idea but if he didn't it would seem to be pretty big news and the vultures would be circling

Perhaps another defender on the Blue Jays will do a similar (or better) job limiting the damage, but I for one do not feel especially good about it.

There are 17 players with positions indicating they will be carrying longer lacrosse sticks onto the field in 2020. Three of them are knowns - Colwell, Rapine and Reinson - which means you have 14 choices for 1 close defenseman, 1 2nd line LSM and 1 EMO longpole specialist. Foley started as a freshman, Durkin, Lightner, etc. as well - Foley should have been gone anyway as we know - if we can't find adequate replacements amongst 14 players - then there is an unquestioned indictment on recruiting coaching or both.

Sure, if you can't find one halfway decent serviceable defenseman out of 17 then that's a disaster on multiple fronts. But we're not talking about replacing Joe Schmo—we're talking about replacing an All-American who, in my view (apparently not yours), did a better than adequate job guarding several of the best attackman in the country. Finding a suitable 3rd close D guy is different from identifying someone who can actually hang with Michael Sowers and Jared Bernhardt. I feel good that at least one of these 17 dudes will contribute as a defensemen—I feel slightly less good about the chances that this someone (whether it's a new guy or Colwell/Rapine steps into the role) can do as well as Foley did in limiting opposing All-American attackmen. Obviously, I hope I'm extremely wrong!

Say, fellas, go take a look at who our newest member is.
Love it when folks say, coaches, players, big shots, don't read this stuff.
Baloney, they're lacrosse people, why wouldn't they? They all do.
Welcome aboard, Q.

You realize that anyone could have registered with that username, right?

[44WeWantMore]

Yup, but only after somebody grabbed ggait.

[jhu06]

One of the college cross guys put out his preseason aa list. I counted about a dozen big ten, slightly less ivy/acc and out of that only 1 jhu guy. We supposedly have 4 top 10 classes on this roster, how is this possible?

https://www.collegecrosse.com/2019/12/9 ... e-lacrosse

[steel_hop]

Maybe I'm going out on a limb here but it wouldn't be a tremendous surprise if most parents of potential recruits (and the recruits themselves, of course) were completely unaware of the contract situation, except for maybe a few exceptions of guys closely tied to JHU or lacrosse. Generally speaking, HS kids are constantly reminded that they shouldn't choose a school based on the coaching staff since there's so much assistant/HC turnover. That being said, it's the kind of thing that should really only be evaluated by a program's commits if the coach eventually got fired... a 'cross that bridge when we come to it' type of situation. High schoolers absolutely adore Petro.

Sure. This is all true but if you don't think opposing coaches don't use his contract status as part of their recruiting pitch for their school, I'm not sure what I can tell you. Is it to the level of negative recruiting like football or basketball. No. But, there is no doubt Petro's contract status is made painfully aware to recruits and their parents. Kids should absolutely pick the school that is best for them and not the coach. But, who you are playing for matters a bunch.

[DMac]

HopFan16 wrote
You realize that anyone could have registered with that username, right?

Yes I do, and I thought about ggait too.
We'll see, thought it might be triggered by Xanders coming aboard.

[DougELax]

One of the college cross guys put out his preseason aa list. I counted about a dozen big ten, slightly less ivy/acc and out of that only 1 jhu guy. We supposedly have 4 top 10 classes on this roster, how is this possible?

https://www.collegecrosse.com/2019/12/9 ... e-lacrosse

Coaching?

[wgdsr]

Maybe I'm going out on a limb here but it wouldn't be a tremendous surprise if most parents of potential recruits (and the recruits themselves, of course) were completely unaware of the contract situation, except for maybe a few exceptions of guys closely tied to JHU or lacrosse. Generally speaking, HS kids are constantly reminded that they shouldn't choose a school based on the coaching staff since there's so much assistant/HC turnover. That being said, it's the kind of thing that should really only be evaluated by a program's commits if the coach eventually got fired... a 'cross that bridge when we come to it' type of situation. High schoolers absolutely adore Petro.

Sure. This is all true but if you don't think opposing coaches don't use his contract status as part of their recruiting pitch for their school, I'm not sure what I can tell you. Is it to the level of negative recruiting like football or basketball. No. But, there is no doubt Petro's contract status is made painfully aware to recruits and their parents. Kids should absolutely pick the school that is best for them and not the coach. But, who you are playing for matters a bunch.

not the first time this has been thrown out on here.
we know this how?

[wgdsr]

One of the college cross guys put out his preseason aa list. I counted about a dozen big ten, slightly less ivy/acc and out of that only 1 jhu guy. We supposedly have 4 top 10 classes on this roster, how is this possible?
https://www.collegecrosse.com/2019/12/9 ... e-lacrosse

Coaching?

maybe because a lot of the picks are edit: questionable, suggesting the writer doesn't know what he's talking about? that said, i don't have any blue jays getting a bump pre-season, either.
zinn?

[molo]

Two UVA first teamers from last year are relegated to second on this list. Wouldn't Aitken, in particular, be on most short lists for MOY? This list also has Scanlan as a middie. I thought he was playing attack at SU.

[molo]

Two UVA first teamers from last year are relegated to second on this list. Wouldn't Aitken, in particular, be on most short lists for MOY? This list also has Scanlan as a middie. I thought he was playing attack at SU.

[HopFan16]

I'd put Aitken first team but it's tough to argue with Salvatore over Conners:

Salvatore: 4.93 GBs, 2.13 CTs per game
Conners: 2.85 GBs, 1.35 CTs per game

Conners more of a threat in transition and plays for the better team but those stats speak for themselves IMO.

This isn't the official USILA list—I don't think they should have to go by last year's results. Those had some mighty questionable selections as well.

As for the Jays—I'm less worried about preseason AA lists (the least important time for such lists) than I am with who on the roster has realistic AA potential. To 06's point, it's probably not many: I think Zinn does...the coaching staff may not. Williams was an honorable mention AA in 2018 so we know he's got that in him. Maybe Prouty? Rapine if he's had a really good offseason? You can maybe make a case for one or two others (other than the freshman, whom we know little about) but anyone else would end up being a pretty big surprise.

[Hopper1]

Two UVA first teamers from last year are relegated to second on this list. Wouldn't Aitken, in particular, be on most short lists for MOY? This list also has Scanlan as a middie. I thought he was playing attack at SU.

I don't understand how Matt Moore keeps getting relegated to honorable mention lists, he looked like the best offensive player at UVA in all the games I watched last year. Am I missing something?

[MDlaxfan76]

Two UVA first teamers from last year are relegated to second on this list. Wouldn't Aitken, in particular, be on most short lists for MOY? This list also has Scanlan as a middie. I thought he was playing attack at SU.

I don't understand how Matt Moore keeps getting relegated to honorable mention lists, he looked like the best offensive player at UVA in all the games I watched last year. Am I missing something?

Seems to me that such lists, snubs included, actually work to Hoos' benefit.

I quite agree about Matt...of course, they also left Kraus off the list.

[primitiveskills]

One of the college cross guys put out his preseason aa list. I counted about a dozen big ten, slightly less ivy/acc and out of that only 1 jhu guy. We supposedly have 4 top 10 classes on this roster, how is this possible?

https://www.collegecrosse.com/2019/12/9 ... e-lacrosse

That 2nd team would beat the first team at least 7 out of 10 times

[stupefied]

I'd put Aitken first team but it's tough to argue with Salvatore over Conners:

Salvatore: 4.93 GBs, 2.13 CTs per game
Conners: 2.85 GBs, 1.35 CTs per game

Conners more of a threat in transition and plays for the better team but those stats speak for themselves IMO.

This isn't the official USILA list—I don't think they should have to go by last year's results. Those had some mighty questionable selections as well.

As for the Jays—I'm less worried about preseason AA lists (the least important time for such lists) than I am with who on the roster has realistic AA potential. To 06's point, it's probably not many: I think Zinn does...the coaching staff may not. Williams was an honorable mention AA in 2018 so we know he's got that in him. Maybe Prouty? Rapine if he's had a really good offseason? You can maybe make a case for one or two others (other than the freshman, whom we know little about) but anyone else would end up being a pretty big surprise.

Different vantage re def/lsm Value of a defenseman shouldn't be measured by who has fancier stats. Its about who has best cover skills, possesses the feet and body to engage and limit scoring whether on or off ball, the best defenders tend to get avoided suppressing stats , larger value in a lsm who covers well and bangs, runs the field, clears the ball, starts the break and creates offensive opportunities, those are dimensions that are game changers

What matters for the season .Rapine is a good close defender. Underrated somewhat because his stats aren't fancy
enuff. Hubler is a good ssdm, he'll have a good year . Williams is certainly a good talent. Epstein be in running for 1st AA over the next three years.
Beating Maryland twice and taking PSU to wire wasn't a mirage. Talent on roster

[Chuckman]

Short Petro interview on LSN:

https://www.ftfnext.com/videos/dave-pie ... ntion-hits

"Summer of soul-searching," fall/winter spent on fundamentals, watching film, fixing defensive issues—sounds eerily similar to the language following the 2017 season. 2018 was a better season, but how much longer can we keep doing this...

More praise for Joey's work ethic and some discussion of his teammates voting him a captain.

A portion of his IMLCA speech was about last season and why it wasnt up to Hopkins standards. His focus would be on going over everything this fall , especially the little things that cost them. That was his main theme for speech , little things that destroy a defense.

My impression after listening to his speech at convention was that the 2019 team didnt put out the effort mentally or physically to win. I am sure that is not what he intended the audience to think but that is what I got out of it. He took responsibility for it as most coaches would.

Apparently this fall the team has been focused on these little things with study of film from last year. Main emphasis was going over approaches, angles,athletic posture, stick arrival, etc, etc, etc. Basically fundamentals in a big way. I enjoyed the speech and its message of " little things" making a different.

[DocBarrister]

Short Petro interview on LSN:

https://www.ftfnext.com/videos/dave-pie ... ntion-hits

"Summer of soul-searching," fall/winter spent on fundamentals, watching film, fixing defensive issues—sounds eerily similar to the language following the 2017 season. 2018 was a better season, but how much longer can we keep doing this...

More praise for Joey's work ethic and some discussion of his teammates voting him a captain.

A portion of his IMLCA speech was about last season and why it wasnt up to Hopkins standards. His focus would be on going over everything this fall , especially the little things that cost them. That was his main theme for speech , little things that destroy a defense.

My impression after listening to his speech at convention was that the 2019 team didnt put out the effort mentally or physically to win. I am sure that is not what he intended the audience to think but that is what I got out of it. He took responsibility for it as most coaches would.

Apparently this fall the team has been focused on these little things with study of film from last year. Main emphasis was going over approaches, angles,athletic posture, stick arrival, etc, etc, etc. Basically fundamentals in a big way. I enjoyed the speech and its message of " little things" making a different.

Good to hear.

The “fundamentals” make a huge difference. Coach John Danowski down at Duke emphasizes fundamentals each pre-season. In the college football world, Charlie Weiss’ Notre Dame teams were plagued by horrible fundamentals (e.g., missed blocks and tackles, poor conditioning) ... a problem that Brian Kelly fixed. I have often wondered whether the Blue Jays’ perennial deficits in GBs were a result of prioritizing complicated defensive schemes over practicing the basics.

Hopkins has lots of talent all over the field. Take care of the fundamentals (which I have not seen the team do in recent seasons, especially on the defensive end), and I think that will go a long way towards returning the Blue Jays to championship weekend.

As for putting the work in ... I have to think one of the main reasons Epstein is a sophomore captain is his work ethic. If everyone works as hard as he does, the Blue Jays will be a tough team to beat.

DocBarrister

[luvlaxlife]

Wow, 3 optimistic posts in a row. Better quick get some negativism and vitriol in here before any burgeoning Hop fans start thinking there are redeeming qualities to the team, university, campus, facilities, etc.

[Sagittarius A*]

Wow, 3 optimistic posts in a row. Better quick get some negativism and vitriol in here before any burgeoning Hop fans start thinking there are redeeming qualities to the team, university, campus, facilities, etc.

The campus, professors, and facilities are all great.
The men’s lacrosse team, not so much.