LaxPower Back-Up Stick

random observer wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 6:18 pm

molo wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 5:53 pm To go back to the mid to attack/attack to mid issue, Matt Moore of UVA started his college career as a middie and moved to attack although he has been known of late to take a run or two out of the box.

Moore is another one of those guys like DeSimone who was projected to be a middle in college, but really was always more of an attackman. He played a good deal of it in high school, and thus it was a much easier transition. Bernhardt somewhat fits this bill too; unlike other #1s like Chanenchuk and Kelly who were closer to pure middies but stayed on the field full-time (although Kelly played some attack early in high school as well if I recall), Bernhardt was always a guy who was a bit of a tweener who was as comfortable down low as up top.

jrn19 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 6:21 pm

random observer wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 6:18 pm

molo wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 5:53 pm To go back to the mid to attack/attack to mid issue, Matt Moore of UVA started his college career as a middie and moved to attack although he has been known of late to take a run or two out of the box.

Moore is another one of those guys like DeSimone who was projected to be a middle in college, but really was always more of an attackman. He played a good deal of it in high school, and thus it was a much easier transition. Bernhardt somewhat fits this bill too; unlike other #1s like Chanenchuk and Kelly who were closer to pure middies but stayed on the field full-time (although Kelly played some attack early in high school as well if I recall), Bernhardt was always a guy who was a bit of a tweener who was as comfortable down low as up top.

Bernhardt played midfield his freshmen year but he was a high school attackmen who only played midfield because Maryland had 3 starters returning at attack. He’s a true attackmen.

random observer wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 6:57 pm

jrn19 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 6:21 pm

random observer wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 6:18 pm

molo wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 5:53 pm To go back to the mid to attack/attack to mid issue, Matt Moore of UVA started his college career as a middie and moved to attack although he has been known of late to take a run or two out of the box.

Moore is another one of those guys like DeSimone who was projected to be a middle in college, but really was always more of an attackman. He played a good deal of it in high school, and thus it was a much easier transition. Bernhardt somewhat fits this bill too; unlike other #1s like Chanenchuk and Kelly who were closer to pure middies but stayed on the field full-time (although Kelly played some attack early in high school as well if I recall), Bernhardt was always a guy who was a bit of a tweener who was as comfortable down low as up top.

Bernhardt played midfield his freshmen year but he was a high school attackmen who only played midfield because Maryland had 3 starters returning at attack. He’s a true attackmen.

Precisely my point. He's another guy like DeSimone and Moore who played attack in high school but was pegged by recruiters to be a midfielder. All three of them have played some before college (Desimone and Moore as underclassmen in high school, Bernhardt on the U19 team), but they weren't converting back to attack so much as going back to the position they had played most of their life. Of the three, DeSimone seemed least comfortable playing midfield.

MDlaxfan76 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 4:48 pm But that period has passed and now we're on to a period of transfers...Putting aside the Covid effect, I'm thinking that for every Chris Gray and Michael Sowers, there are going to be some downsides of over activity in that arena as well...but I haven't given it as much thought.

smoova wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 7:39 pm

MDlaxfan76 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 4:48 pm But that period has passed and now we're on to a period of transfers...Putting aside the Covid effect, I'm thinking that for every Chris Gray and Michael Sowers, there are going to be some downsides of over activity in that arena as well...but I haven't given it as much thought.

2022/2023/2024 high school players are keenly aware of which schools are active in the transfer market.

wgdsr wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:15 pm

smoova wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 7:39 pm

MDlaxfan76 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 4:48 pm But that period has passed and now we're on to a period of transfers...Putting aside the Covid effect, I'm thinking that for every Chris Gray and Michael Sowers, there are going to be some downsides of over activity in that arena as well...but I haven't given it as much thought.

2022/2023/2024 high school players are keenly aware of which schools are active in the transfer market.

stop already. if anyone can't play and compete, it hardly matters.

wgdsr wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:15 pm

smoova wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 7:39 pm

MDlaxfan76 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 4:48 pm But that period has passed and now we're on to a period of transfers...Putting aside the Covid effect, I'm thinking that for every Chris Gray and Michael Sowers, there are going to be some downsides of over activity in that arena as well...but I haven't given it as much thought.

2022/2023/2024 high school players are keenly aware of which schools are active in the transfer market.

stop already. if anyone can't play and compete, it hardly matters.

51percentcorn wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 8:10 am Reaction to a couple of things:
- On the analysis of the Michigan goals - the final backbreaker was not Clay - it was McCurry - his second career goal Cotter said - and it certainly could have been saved
- On the attack vs. middie thing - I imagine it is quite true that more high school attackmen have become mid-fielders in college - there are more positions on the roster - easier to break in the line-up - and certainly in my time at Hopkins we had one the all time greats convert as Brendan Schneck was an insane attackman at Navy and played attack for the first couple games at Hop. My point is the type of player helps dictate how successful that transition will be and yes the amount of talent the player has. Matt Moore is 6'2" and listed at 200 lbs and is of course dripping with talent. He also was not a classic X attackman. That combo can play anywhere - much easier IMO - then recent Hop middies such as Concannon (5'5"), Keogh (5'9"), Baskin (5'8"), Angelus (5'7") - all of them essentially listed at 165 lbs. Even DeSimone is probably not 5'11" and is no longer 195. Then there is the point that most of these players were x attackmen. They played behind the goal and when they came around GLE the defender (while usually much bigger) was often not as quick and could be exploited. Now they are facing the goal in much more space often finding themselves against players just as fast and quick as they are - e.g. Tarafenko. And that type of attackman is typically practicing his angle shots,close in fakes etc. They often - not saying always - do not carry howitzers marauding as lacrosse sticks. Therefore, they are not necessarily big threats from range. And the other main point is one of them is fine - you don't need or probably want 5 or 6 of them. That's the real question - how did Hopkins end up with - counting Baskin/Keogh/Angelus in their natural position - with 14 possible attackmen?
- Similar to my point above - I guess DeSimone played some middie in high school - probably his first 2 years - maybe again as a way to get a talented player on the field BUT his TOP 5 ranking/High School AA/UA AA - the things some all love so much - were born primarily out of his play as an X attackman his junior and senior years
- I imagine O'Canada's point about the DeSimone move is related to moving Epstein out of the X position - that's the only thing that makes sense. Otherwise - 17 goals/28 points/50 shot % and only 9 turnovers on this team speaks for itself

primitiveskills wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 11:14 am

51percentcorn wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 8:10 am Reaction to a couple of things:
- On the analysis of the Michigan goals - the final backbreaker was not Clay - it was McCurry - his second career goal Cotter said - and it certainly could have been saved
- On the attack vs. middie thing - I imagine it is quite true that more high school attackmen have become mid-fielders in college - there are more positions on the roster - easier to break in the line-up - and certainly in my time at Hopkins we had one the all time greats convert as Brendan Schneck was an insane attackman at Navy and played attack for the first couple games at Hop. My point is the type of player helps dictate how successful that transition will be and yes the amount of talent the player has. Matt Moore is 6'2" and listed at 200 lbs and is of course dripping with talent. He also was not a classic X attackman. That combo can play anywhere - much easier IMO - then recent Hop middies such as Concannon (5'5"), Keogh (5'9"), Baskin (5'8"), Angelus (5'7") - all of them essentially listed at 165 lbs. Even DeSimone is probably not 5'11" and is no longer 195. Then there is the point that most of these players were x attackmen. They played behind the goal and when they came around GLE the defender (while usually much bigger) was often not as quick and could be exploited. Now they are facing the goal in much more space often finding themselves against players just as fast and quick as they are - e.g. Tarafenko. And that type of attackman is typically practicing his angle shots,close in fakes etc. They often - not saying always - do not carry howitzers marauding as lacrosse sticks. Therefore, they are not necessarily big threats from range. And the other main point is one of them is fine - you don't need or probably want 5 or 6 of them. That's the real question - how did Hopkins end up with - counting Baskin/Keogh/Angelus in their natural position - with 14 possible attackmen?
- Similar to my point above - I guess DeSimone played some middie in high school - probably his first 2 years - maybe again as a way to get a talented player on the field BUT his TOP 5 ranking/High School AA/UA AA - the things some all love so much - were born primarily out of his play as an X attackman his junior and senior years
- I imagine O'Canada's point about the DeSimone move is related to moving Epstein out of the X position - that's the only thing that makes sense. Otherwise - 17 goals/28 points/50 shot % and only 9 turnovers on this team speaks for itself

Agree with this 100% as far as the A to M (and vice versa) transition. The specific issue we have had is trying to convert players with a typical X skillset (all the guys you've named, all of whom played mostly from X in HS) to middies who operate from up top. A completely different physical and stick skill set is required, and there are very few guys who can make that specific transition.

jhu06 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 9:32 am Ty Xanders @tyxanders @DartmouthMLAX goalie Danny Hincks entered the portal as a grad student following the '22 season, per a source. Thriving as the Big Green's starter (8.2 GAA, 63.4% in 2020) after coming in as IL's 7th-ranked goalie recruit, the 6'5 junior will have two years of eligibility left.

UVA, UNC, and Duke presumably have their own kids on the current roster, coming in next fall. They can't have 80 person rosters. Let the games begin.

In case Ivy kids or any other male eligible to play lacrosse next spring are reading this, which they are probably not, Hopkins fields an average of 23 players a game and right now for 2022 I would argue that we have exactly 1 player on our current roster (Epstein) who is 100 percent guaranteed to play next year and maybe a few others (narewski, delaney, reinson, deso, grimes, fernandez, szulak) who could also be in a lineup.

ohmilax34 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 11:41 am

primitiveskills wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 11:14 am

51percentcorn wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 8:10 am Reaction to a couple of things:
- On the analysis of the Michigan goals - the final backbreaker was not Clay - it was McCurry - his second career goal Cotter said - and it certainly could have been saved
- On the attack vs. middie thing - I imagine it is quite true that more high school attackmen have become mid-fielders in college - there are more positions on the roster - easier to break in the line-up - and certainly in my time at Hopkins we had one the all time greats convert as Brendan Schneck was an insane attackman at Navy and played attack for the first couple games at Hop. My point is the type of player helps dictate how successful that transition will be and yes the amount of talent the player has. Matt Moore is 6'2" and listed at 200 lbs and is of course dripping with talent. He also was not a classic X attackman. That combo can play anywhere - much easier IMO - then recent Hop middies such as Concannon (5'5"), Keogh (5'9"), Baskin (5'8"), Angelus (5'7") - all of them essentially listed at 165 lbs. Even DeSimone is probably not 5'11" and is no longer 195. Then there is the point that most of these players were x attackmen. They played behind the goal and when they came around GLE the defender (while usually much bigger) was often not as quick and could be exploited. Now they are facing the goal in much more space often finding themselves against players just as fast and quick as they are - e.g. Tarafenko. And that type of attackman is typically practicing his angle shots,close in fakes etc. They often - not saying always - do not carry howitzers marauding as lacrosse sticks. Therefore, they are not necessarily big threats from range. And the other main point is one of them is fine - you don't need or probably want 5 or 6 of them. That's the real question - how did Hopkins end up with - counting Baskin/Keogh/Angelus in their natural position - with 14 possible attackmen?
- Similar to my point above - I guess DeSimone played some middie in high school - probably his first 2 years - maybe again as a way to get a talented player on the field BUT his TOP 5 ranking/High School AA/UA AA - the things some all love so much - were born primarily out of his play as an X attackman his junior and senior years
- I imagine O'Canada's point about the DeSimone move is related to moving Epstein out of the X position - that's the only thing that makes sense. Otherwise - 17 goals/28 points/50 shot % and only 9 turnovers on this team speaks for itself

Agree with this 100% as far as the A to M (and vice versa) transition. The specific issue we have had is trying to convert players with a typical X skillset (all the guys you've named, all of whom played mostly from X in HS) to middies who operate from up top. A completely different physical and stick skill set is required, and there are very few guys who can make that specific transition.

I think 51%corn nailed what you just said.

Chitown wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 2:08 pm Peter Millman sent his weekly update to "Supporters of Blue Jay Lacrosse".

So far I like him and think that he was too quickly criticized here. No Fall or Winter practice. One week of practice before the Ohio State game. An inherited squad of 60+ players. A lot to deal with. The Coaches are finding their way and are open about stumbles.

Here is a bit of his update:

"We need to get better, no excuses. We are losing games that we should win. Changes need to be made or we will continue down this path. Practices are getting more competitive as we search for that breakthrough...

As a staff, we have juggled player combinations too much, especially on the offensive end. This has led to some hesitation from the players and some inconsistency in their play. We are past the midpoint of the season and we need to start settling into our best lineup and help those players develop in their roles..."

nyjay wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 5:12 pm Some interesting comments from PM in US Lax magazine:

“We’re trying to figure out the right combo,” Milliman said. “We’re still trying to mix things up. We’re trying to find guys who are playing consistently well and making good decisions, guys that are not costing us opportunities, guys that are helping us.”

“It’s a pretty simple formula,” Milliman said. “I’ve been coaching offense this way for a while. I think coach [John Grant Jr.] is very similar in that regard. It’s not so much derived from guys who can be quote-unquote playmakers, it’s guys that are not hurting us. Just keep the ball moving. We’re not throwing the ball very well, so guys aren’t catching great passes, and when they do get good passes, they’re not catching them well. When they do have opportunities, we don’t shoot well. It’s three pretty big areas. It’s not anything that we have to redraw our Xs and Os.”

Not entirely sure how I feel about these comments, the tone of which is frankly pretty negative and consistent with the statements he made about Epstein. Certainly seems like PM feels like a guys are making too many mistakes. Obviously, the offense isn't playing well, but does it really seem like that's primarily because guys aren't throwing and catching well? I'm just a guy on the internet, but it's really hard for me to see exactly what this offense is supposed to be. Maybe guys are making mistakes that we don't see because they don't really understand the system yet, but I actually do have some questions about the x's and o's. I guess I should watch some Cornell games from the last couple years. Hopefully, the system doesn't require a Jeff Teat to be successful.