51percentcorn wrote: ↑Mon May 13, 2019 4:34 pm
State of the program IMO
I disagree fairly strongly with HF16 on the lame duck issue - the 2020 class is what - 7/9 months (I can never keep track) from being able to sign NLIs? And that is a class with a couple easily identifiable talents (starting with Grimes and McDermott) - think of the Shays/Corrigans/Tiffanys and other poachers of the world let loose on that class with no news on Petro. And if you want Petro out you need to give the new coach enough time to try to shore up that class. And if you want Nadelin (though I think he made a bad in game mistake at the end of regulation yesterday) this is the year. It's the cheapest you'll ever have to buy out Petro and I have not heard that Nadelin is extended at Towson yet (maybe I missed it). Any body that wants Petro to stay but to get a new defensive coordinator - that idea is not really possible because it would require Petro to fire Dwan (only 2 paid assistants) which is Never going to happen.
Now players - I will try to stick to facts/stats and not really insult anyone personally
Goalie - projected grade - C-
Incumbent did not play well - especially on long range shots - was replaced after 1st qtr of NCAA first round for only time of the year
Replacement fared OK for 3 quarters - bigger - left handed
Freshmen (DNP) and Incoming recruit
Conclusion - low level of experience at the most important position
Close Defense - projected grade C+/B- (if Foley returns) - overall some athleticism - not terrific on ground balls (save Foley's 1 game against Maryland) - troubles may be related to having to cover for SSDMs
If Foley returns - Petro in particular would have the issue of no excuses - 3 seniors - 3 years of playing together - if there is selfishness (Petro's favorite word)/poor play who is to blame? Also raises the issue of replacing every member of close D in 2021
6 other returning (theoretically) players with little to no experience -
Brandon Shure played on man down in 8 games but must have been replaced for some others - junior - garnered 1 gb as only stat
5 Recruits - Some are held in some regard - Rodgers is Hopkins lone Xanders' 5 star and Jaronski gets some high marks -some of these names may eventually play LSM - Jaronski is described as big/versatile
Conclusion: If Foley returns high level of experience - would seem little room under current regime for any returning player to gain experience
If Foley does not return - no clear cut lead to replace him especially among returning players
Long Stick Midfield Defense - Projected Grade D+/C-
Little apparent depth - need demonstration of increased presence on the wings - ground ball pick-ups - on ball defense
Conclusion - Beyond Reinson and Blondell - whom?
SSDM - Project Grade D/D+
One known incumbent - may have to rely on some freshmen - Coulter returning?
Conclusion: Many unknowns - current incumbent is listed at 5'10" 200 lbs - may benefit from shedding some lbs to improve quickness
Some comments in recruiting land that incoming 2 or 3 players could land at SSDM
Offensive Midfield - Projected Grade C-/C
There are several question marks here - Is Concannon returning? Was Zinn happy with his role i.e. no transfer portal? Does this years midfield lose 1 or more to the attack and whom? Smith/DeSimone/Concannon/Keogh/Baskin - this assumes Concannon and Zinn return and Zinn goes to the first mid-field and Smith departs for the vacated attack spot.
1st Mid-field - DeSimone/Zinn/Concannon - junior soph senior
2nd Mid-field - Keogh/Baskin/Cattoni - junior junior soph
DeSimone has to regain his speed and quickness and his shooting confidence - at 5'11" 185/190 lbs is better than 200 - can't have a first midfielder with 4 goals and 11% shooting
This still leaves the All Airport threesome of sophomores - Lily/Mabbett/Degnon - looking for work - I think one of them is really going to have to make a huge leap to crack the line-up for playing time if everybody returns - Degnon 3 games 0 stats - Lily 6 games 1 shot 1 TO Mabbett 1 Goal 2 shots 1 ground ball
Still have issue of only 1 mid-fielder taller than 6 ft on the top 2 lines if my line-ups are anywhere near accurate - Keogh and Baskin were more than neutralized by the Notre Dame SSDMs - it's a fact that our offensive middies get pushed around
Conclusion: Any hope has to be pinned on Zinn making the leap/DeSimone recovering his mojo and the munchkins still developing along - little apparent help in the 2019 class - more in 2020
Attack - Projected Grade B+
Epstein/Williams/Smith - that's a fine attack - soph/senior/senior - Smith's shooting efficiency will work well with Epstein and Williams - Williams obviously needs to improve on 26% shooting - I thought maybe Carc's most insightful comment last night was around Williams and overhand 3/4 shooting vs side-arm - accuracy seems to dip way down on the sidewinders
No returning depth - though Baskin/Keogh can be emergency depth
Shilling - another smaller player - used on EMO
5 attack recruits? Murphy/Krampf/Chauvette/Angelus/Cohen
4 of the attack recruits are small - e.g. Chauvette 5'10" 165 Cohen 5'9" 160
5? Really??
Face-offs - Projected Grade B/B+
Prouty at 57% and M. Narewski at 51% in their first real seasons of action give reason for optimism - wing play and ground balls need to improved
Hopkins likely won the clamp more than 50% of the time last night - absolutely abused after that