Re: Johns Hopkins 2020
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2020 7:11 am
Try 1971. Team only won 3 games because Scottie made a decision. No one even thought to question his competency for making it
I will grant you that there are a lot of unknowns—more than usual—but I think we know a bit more than that.
Heck of a face-off guy in his day!
Unless you were one of those poor SOB's at Gallipoli!
They still have Rapine listed as a starter, so take everything with a grain of salt, but they have Reinson staying at LSM and McManus projected as the third close defenseman. Forry is listed at attack.“From the middle of the field on down [to the goalie], not one person’s job was safe when they came back,” Pietramala said. “The fall, the winter and the preseason would be used [for coaches] to come to the conclusion as to which guys would give us the best chance to do the things we expect a Hopkins defense to do.”
“Normally, the [depth chart] writing would be on the wall by now, but I don’t know that to be the case with anyone on our defensive roster,” he added. “What I do know is we are building good depth and everyone is fully engaged. And we’re going to be a better defense for it.”
I think that was just poor wording. I took it to mean that the fall ended with those two still in a competition—not that Darby had already won it.
I have no idea if that will be accurate but if it is, it's better than what the Jays had coming into last year. Tinney, Valis, and Fraser were gone. You were basically left with Concannon, DeSimone, and Baskin/Keogh who had combined for 5 goals their freshman year. So while that's not necessarily a first midfield that will strike fear into the hearts of defenses—it's a better situation than last year. And that's not even considering the possibilities of Forry Smith helping there, an Evan Zinn sophomore leap, a Mabbett/Degnon/Angelus/Murphy emerging, etc. We got to .500 with a worse unit in 2019.
My point is that if Zinn is not a regular with the firsts the staff should exit stage left. My further point is would any of those three be on the first midfield with any other team in the BIG 10? The answer would be no if you're thinking about it.HopFan16 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2020 1:17 pmI have no idea if that will be accurate but if it is, it's better than what the Jays had coming into last year. Tinney, Valis, and Fraser were gone. You were basically left with Concannon, DeSimone, and Baskin/Keogh who had combined for 5 goals their freshman year. So while that's not necessarily a first midfield that will strike fear into the hearts of defenses—it's a better situation than last year. And that's not even considering the possibilities of Forry Smith helping there, an Evan Zinn sophomore leap, a Mabbett/Degnon/Angelus/Murphy emerging, etc. We got to .500 with a worse unit in 2019.
You know my thoughts on Zinn so I won't argue with you there but regarding that second point—Concannon had 26 pts last year (18 goals), he shoots at a pretty good percentage, doesn't turn the ball over much, redshirt senior with a ton of experience who has improved his production every year of his career following 2016 knee injury. Can initiate from up top or invert—he'd be a starting midfielder on several Big Ten teams. It's an attack-driven league as of late, there isn't an overwhelming amount of talent at midfield. It is absolutely no secret whatsoever that the position—on both ends of the field—is not a strength for the Blue Jays headed into 2020, but I do think it's in a better position than it was at the same time last year. Hopefully the reports on DeSimone returning to form are true.flalax22 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2020 1:49 pmMy point is that if Zinn is not a regular with the firsts the staff should exit stage left. My further point is would any of those three be on the first midfield with any other team in the BIG 10? The answer would be no if you're thinking about it.HopFan16 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2020 1:17 pmI have no idea if that will be accurate but if it is, it's better than what the Jays had coming into last year. Tinney, Valis, and Fraser were gone. You were basically left with Concannon, DeSimone, and Baskin/Keogh who had combined for 5 goals their freshman year. So while that's not necessarily a first midfield that will strike fear into the hearts of defenses—it's a better situation than last year. And that's not even considering the possibilities of Forry Smith helping there, an Evan Zinn sophomore leap, a Mabbett/Degnon/Angelus/Murphy emerging, etc. We got to .500 with a worse unit in 2019.
I think the wheels will come off.Wheels wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2020 1:23 pm Not being sarcastic at all about this but you all have handled the Rapine news a lot better than I thought. Either Petro will simplify the defense, the year will start out really rough (Ls in 4 of the first 5 games) but see the defense become really good as the season progresses, or the year will start out rough and the wheels will totally come off. Of those 3 hypotheticals, which do you all see as most likely to occur?
Those Towson and Loyola games are going to be really interesting, as all 3 teams are retooling major parts of their rosters.
Interested in reading your thoughts.
concanon has always been a nice complimentary player, when things are going he'll more than get his, but he'll also disappear. The midfield horses are connor and zinn who really need to let it fly. we've seen athletes like zinn before (hello coppersmith and connor reed, who were great to watch run but were never able to translate enormous athletic gifts beyond that). The third attack spot gets the least attention of any open spot on the roster. Really big opportunity for someone.HopFan16 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2020 2:03 pmYou know my thoughts on Zinn so I won't argue with you there but regarding that second point—Concannon had 26 pts last year (18 goals), he shoots at a pretty good percentage, doesn't turn the ball over much, redshirt senior with a ton of experience who has improved his production every year of his career following 2016 knee injury. Can initiate from up top or invert—he'd be a starting midfielder on several Big Ten teams. It's an attack-driven league as of late, there isn't an overwhelming amount of talent at midfield. It is absolutely no secret whatsoever that the position—on both ends of the field—is not a strength for the Blue Jays headed into 2020, but I do think it's in a better position than it was at the same time last year. Hopefully the reports on DeSimone returning to form are true.flalax22 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2020 1:49 pmMy point is that if Zinn is not a regular with the firsts the staff should exit stage left. My further point is would any of those three be on the first midfield with any other team in the BIG 10? The answer would be no if you're thinking about it.HopFan16 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2020 1:17 pmI have no idea if that will be accurate but if it is, it's better than what the Jays had coming into last year. Tinney, Valis, and Fraser were gone. You were basically left with Concannon, DeSimone, and Baskin/Keogh who had combined for 5 goals their freshman year. So while that's not necessarily a first midfield that will strike fear into the hearts of defenses—it's a better situation than last year. And that's not even considering the possibilities of Forry Smith helping there, an Evan Zinn sophomore leap, a Mabbett/Degnon/Angelus/Murphy emerging, etc. We got to .500 with a worse unit in 2019.
Of note: Concannon scored in 7 straight games before the ND debacle (when no one besides Epstein and Smith did anything). Only turned it over 4 times while shooting well north of 30%. That was as the 4th option at best in the offense. Who knows how many points he'd have in a system like Penn State's, but that's solid production. Not spectacular, but solid. Check out the numbers from some of the first-line middies on other Big Ten teams. Maryland and Michigan only had two guys with more points. Ohio State and Rutgers had just one. He'd easily be a first-line guy on most of these teams. Your underlying implication though is indeed correct—he's not an "alpha." Hopefully Zinn can be that guy.jhu06 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2020 3:56 pmconcanon has always been a nice complimentary player, when things are going he'll more than get his, but he'll also disappear. The midfield horses are connor and zinn who really need to let it fly. we've seen athletes like zinn before (hello coppersmith and connor reed, who were great to watch run but were never able to translate enormous athletic gifts beyond that). The third attack spot gets the least attention of any open spot on the roster. Really big opportunity for someone.HopFan16 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2020 2:03 pmYou know my thoughts on Zinn so I won't argue with you there but regarding that second point—Concannon had 26 pts last year (18 goals), he shoots at a pretty good percentage, doesn't turn the ball over much, redshirt senior with a ton of experience who has improved his production every year of his career following 2016 knee injury. Can initiate from up top or invert—he'd be a starting midfielder on several Big Ten teams. It's an attack-driven league as of late, there isn't an overwhelming amount of talent at midfield. It is absolutely no secret whatsoever that the position—on both ends of the field—is not a strength for the Blue Jays headed into 2020, but I do think it's in a better position than it was at the same time last year. Hopefully the reports on DeSimone returning to form are true.flalax22 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2020 1:49 pmMy point is that if Zinn is not a regular with the firsts the staff should exit stage left. My further point is would any of those three be on the first midfield with any other team in the BIG 10? The answer would be no if you're thinking about it.HopFan16 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2020 1:17 pmI have no idea if that will be accurate but if it is, it's better than what the Jays had coming into last year. Tinney, Valis, and Fraser were gone. You were basically left with Concannon, DeSimone, and Baskin/Keogh who had combined for 5 goals their freshman year. So while that's not necessarily a first midfield that will strike fear into the hearts of defenses—it's a better situation than last year. And that's not even considering the possibilities of Forry Smith helping there, an Evan Zinn sophomore leap, a Mabbett/Degnon/Angelus/Murphy emerging, etc. We got to .500 with a worse unit in 2019.
Hopefully they find the right defensive personnel, but even if they do, the guys on the field have to do in games together. You back to 2009-2011 and clearing was a total disaster. Durkin graduated and enright and kelly for the life of them could never consistently communicate on d and were routinely abused w/the 2 man games.
whatever they figure out that 4 games in 10 days coming off the old acc/princeton schedule is going to be a bear. I don't remember how often they've had back to back mid week games and if that was done intentionally this year for some reason.
Freshman year.GSP wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2020 8:48 pmUnless you were one of those poor SOB's at Gallipoli!