LaxPower Back-Up Stick

NovaHound wrote: ↑Fri Jan 10, 2020 6:50 pm Houndace - Some good comments all around. I've figured it out. "Trust in Toomey". Sorry guys, please no acronyms, this is a family friendly Board. I think Shaffer did a decent job in the Fall for the time he got and I hope we don't get on a Goalie Merry-Go-Round like UVA went through. It's tough on those boys. If Toomey looks for a change we can cross that bridge when we get there. Right now I suspect the Defense will be focused on the present and trying to figure out how to play well together. They've got to build some chemistry because there are two new positions in play - losing Stover and Volante opens up those two spots. Current poles are very athletic, lanky, but young. Railey, McNulty and Johnson are the old hands (did I miss someone) and Railey has only played one full season. McNulty will be the workhorse. Wyers and Hughes (injured last year) have each played one season. Who knows how good this unit will be? And yes, you should be able to throw LeBlanc, Middleton and James into the mix. The defenders know what each one is capable of doing and I believe it will be a strength by season's end. Right now I think the Poles help the goalie; last year it was Stover helping the poles.

NovaHound wrote: ↑Thu Jan 09, 2020 8:32 pm Wow - good chatter on LP. Like to see the Hound fans providing some thoughts. I'll address a few things. Forgot about Higgins. Was probably to busy responding to reflect and think but some of the responses made me do some research. I like data and it can tell you a few things, or not....

MDLAX Fan - You're right. Sorry about confusing you - it happens. I confuse a lot people. I did mean that Swindell's importance to the team is similar to Conrad's importance to UVA, albeit Conrad was an AA for the Nat'l Champs, and what Swindell means to the team reminds me of what Conrad meant to UVA - a two way workhorse. Let's see if I can back this up with metrics.

Throwing out Conrad's Junior season because he only played 5 games.

Points. Ground Balls. Turnovers. Caused Turnovers
Conrad, Senior. 49 95 27. 11
Conrad, Soph. 28. 63. 14. 10

Swindell, Junior 15. 42. 14. 3. (look at the jump in GB's from his prior season).
Swindell, Soph. 9. 9. 6. 0

Scanlon. 58. 23. 26. 2

Drapeau, Senior. 50. 31. 15. 4

I threw in Drapeau's Senior stats and Scanlon's stats just to see if it shows anything. I'd be interested in opinions. I like where this is heading for Swindell. He's a dang good player and it's an upward trajectory! Offensively he would need to increase his production significantly to be in the ballpark with Conrad, but heck, even if he is in the parking lot next to the stadium that's close enough for me. Someone mentioned to me that last year he was in the defensive huddle during games and this past fall he was in the offense huddle. I'm not sure if that is correct or not but if it is true it's got to mean something.

Ditto on Milhouse - he's got Jets for legs. I also think Razanka and Raba step up in big ways this season.

NovaHound wrote: ↑Fri Jan 10, 2020 6:50 pm Houndace - Some good comments all around. I've figured it out. "Trust in Toomey". Sorry guys, please no acronyms, this is a family friendly Board. I think Shaffer did a decent job in the Fall for the time he got and I hope we don't get on a Goalie Merry-Go-Round like UVA went through. It's tough on those boys. If Toomey looks for a change we can cross that bridge when we get there. Right now I suspect the Defense will be focused on the present and trying to figure out how to play well together. They've got to build some chemistry because there are two new positions in play - losing Stover and Volante opens up those two spots. Current poles are very athletic, lanky, but young. Railey, McNulty and Johnson are the old hands (did I miss someone) and Railey has only played one full season. McNulty will be the workhorse. Wyers and Hughes (injured last year) have each played one season. Who knows how good this unit will be? And yes, you should be able to throw LeBlanc, Middleton and James into the mix. The defenders know what each one is capable of doing and I believe it will be a strength by season's end. Right now I think the Poles help the goalie; last year it was Stover helping the poles.

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Sat Jan 11, 2020 10:07 am

NovaHound wrote: ↑Fri Jan 10, 2020 6:50 pm Houndace - Some good comments all around. I've figured it out. "Trust in Toomey". Sorry guys, please no acronyms, this is a family friendly Board. I think Shaffer did a decent job in the Fall for the time he got and I hope we don't get on a Goalie Merry-Go-Round like UVA went through. It's tough on those boys. If Toomey looks for a change we can cross that bridge when we get there. Right now I suspect the Defense will be focused on the present and trying to figure out how to play well together. They've got to build some chemistry because there are two new positions in play - losing Stover and Volante opens up those two spots. Current poles are very athletic, lanky, but young. Railey, McNulty and Johnson are the old hands (did I miss someone) and Railey has only played one full season. McNulty will be the workhorse. Wyers and Hughes (injured last year) have each played one season. Who knows how good this unit will be? And yes, you should be able to throw LeBlanc, Middleton and James into the mix. The defenders know what each one is capable of doing and I believe it will be a strength by season's end. Right now I think the Poles help the goalie; last year it was Stover helping the poles.

We literally have a surplus of D1 starting defensemen. Hughes and Wyers would start anywhere in the country, as would Railey and Johnson. The freshman Weiss is a total animal.

I have not seen many mentions of Najee Taylor here. When you see him on any unit this spring, tell me it doesn't look like everyone else is standing still while he runs north-south. Possibly the singly fastest D1 player.

bam1972 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 11, 2020 11:32 am What do the first two midfield lines look like they will be?

Same with starting attack?

loyola11 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 11, 2020 12:09 pm

bam1972 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 11, 2020 11:32 am What do the first two midfield lines look like they will be?

Same with starting attack?

IMO, Middies in no particular order, from what is saw at Villinova last fall, i think all will see plenty of play time
Middies
Swindell
Devaraux
Wigley
Cox
Cain
Seay
James
Bateman

Attack in order
Lindley
Olmstead
Kamish/Poitras/Raba
Pridemor

NovaHound wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2020 12:41 pm Thanks for posting Houndace.

I did not know Loyola ranked 4th in Man Down defense last year. That's impressive. 42nd in Caused Turnovers. Hopefully they will improve on that stat.

NovaHound wrote: ↑Thu Jan 09, 2020 8:32 pmWow - good chatter on LP. Like to see the Hound fans providing some thought...

Matnum PI wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2020 3:50 pm I'll need to go through my posts/e-mails to find out who but one of you animals within this thread gave me a tip about Bateman for my fantasy league and... I'm starting to question this tip. To be fair, he performed in HS. It's not like I picked him blindly. But this guy was saying that during preseason play (last season), he was doing some serious damage. Anyway, if I don't figure out who it was, I'll just blame anyone with the word "hound" in their username. Or, better, someone get this Bateman kid on the field!

houndace1 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2020 11:26 am https://www.uslaxmagazine.com/college/m ... loyola-men

also worth nothing that freshmen GK Teitelbaum was sidelined in the fall due to injury. If this injury persists then we really only have two active Goalies since Whitaker is out as well. Thus, if this were the case then Shafer and Tabor are the Goalies left.