LaxPower Back-Up Stick

AreaLax wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 2:23 pm On to the next year

Seniors/Grad Students: 16
Departing; Bernhardt/Grill/Holden/Brown /Miller
Returning confirmed: Wisnauskas
Unknown status : Fairman/Shockey/Rahill/Puglise/A DeMaio/Morris/Martellucci/A Smith/Higgins/Trucksess

Junior - 7
Cope/Geppert/Long/J Smith/Coffman/Brandau/Makar

Sophomore - 17
N DeMaio/Koop/Calderone/Sawyer/Sherrer/Gibbons/McNaney/Duff/Whalen/Maltz/Siracusa/
Brennan/Roche/Burlace /Wynne/Ridley/Wierman

Freshmen - 9
Malever /Goforth/Koras/Wicks/Kelly/Zappitello/Redd/Marshall/McDonald

Incoming Class by Position - 14:
2 D: Schritzer/Burlace (brother already on the team)
4 A: Whittier/Spanos/Erkas/Koras (brother already on the team)
1 G: Schmidt
1 FO: Keethler
6 M: Kolar/Holmes/Beacham/Davidson/Tucker/ Trader(also a football commit)

Transfer -
Incoming : rumor of two possibilities on the offense side
Outgoing : 1 rumored

jrn19 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 1:07 pm

Henpecked wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 12:56 pm I apologize for interrupting this absolutely riveting battle of wits.

I am really interested to see what Tillman is going to do with this squad next year. Maybe it is too early to begin this discussion, but this team has a TON of talent returning and a TON of talent coming in.

The Terps are losing some big-time impact players this year including Griffin Brown, Jared Bernhardt, Eric Holden and Nick Grill. But they've also got a bunch of seniors that have been granted an extra year. That would include Puglise, Fairman, Wisnauskas, Higgins, Morris, Shockey, Smith, DeMaio, Rahill, Martelucci, Trucksess.

From a good news perspective Tillman had a very manageable roster of just 49 players. Should all of these seniors decide to return (I can't imagine Morris would with the glut of goalie talent in front of him) for a 5th year, the Terps roster would balloon to 59 players with the 14 incoming frosh, which includes EIGHT 4/5 star recruits.

AND, Tillman has never shied away from transfers (There are 8 transfers on this year's team - Brown - Colgate, Wisnauskus - Syracuse, Holden- Hobart, Grill - Marquette, Higgins - Cleveland State, Trucksess - Lehigh, Brandau - Gtown and Burlace - Yale).

Who do the Terps turn to in order to fill in for the departing 4. I could see them moving Kyle Long to attack, or perhaps Malever to replace Bernhardt. But does Tillman hit up the transfer portal to fill this gap and keep Long at middie and Malever as a back-up attackman?

I am sure that Keegan Khan is an intriguing solution for Bernhardt. Does Tillman look at Khan's teammate Owen Prybylski to fill in for Grill?

Lots of questions for 2022. But I would imagine Tillman will be extremely judicious in his use of the portal. Great incoming class and lots of returning impact players. There is no way he extends the roster to 59 players.

I imagine we see a natural roster attrition that always occurs and means it doesn’t get up to 59. And then like we saw last year there will be former 4/5 star who don’t have an obvious path to playing time who choose to go elsewhere. Just how it goes.

Assuming as the smoke has blown that DeMaio doesn’t take his 6th year but Fairman does, and that Donville is coming in you see I think Fairman-Long-Donville as your 1st midfield. There’s a lot of advantages to running Long out of the box and getting him matched up on a short stick that he can exploit or drawing a slide from a pole on a mismatch.

Then Malever-Maltz-Wisnauskas at attack with Malever at X. Obviously there’s some rumors around Khan. I don’t think they need him per se with how Malever played as a freshman, but based on what they did at the end of the championship with Malever at attack there is an appetite for more dodging down low and you get Malever-Khan-Wisnauskas. But again that’s dependent on Khan transferring and while I’ve heard some smoke in that regard I can’t say it’s for sure.

I think as for defense we don’t see any transfers. Wouldn’t say for sure; but if Rahill returns you have him and Makar back and then Schirtzer coming in as a 5-star off a post grad year so he’s older. Zapitello got time as the year went on and played well. Also Colin Burlace as a near 5-star at close. They have a lot of depth at pole right now that means they’ll plug someone internally in there.

I expect we see one more attack/midfielder in addition to Donville and then probably a FOGO. I think that’s the most pressing need in the portal to find. And then from there you see natural attrition or other guys enter the portal when they see a spot hasn’t lined up and you get a roster of maybe 54-55 as opposed to 59.

keno in reno wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 5:52 pm The #1 2022 topic of discussion: who gets #1? There are many potential and deserving candidates.

Makar- based on pure awesomeness, he deserves #1. He's better at his position than anyone on the team, and he'll be in the running for national dpoy next year. Deserved to be 1st team AA this year. Is a defenseman even eligible for the mythical #1? We'll see.

Wisnauskas- just a great Terp career. Seems to lead more by example, which is fine. His production may decline with the loss of the Jared-led opponent team meetings at the crease which gave him great looks outside, but he's improved every year

Bubba- another great, long Terp career. Seems like an awesome, charismatic culture-establishing leader. His ability to play a bunch of defense this postseason should not be underappreciated. Losing Higgins was an understated huge hole to fill, and Bubba showed his great athleticism to play both ways against the best offenses in the country. His production could go up with the loss of Jared, as he will be relied upon to finish better after his strong moves get him good looks.

Pugliese or Smith- no idea if they're coming back, but they have been warriors on d for the past 3-4 years. Coffman could deserve it too, but he's just a normal 4th year senior. Man, this was a great ssdm group.

The topic came up yesterday with some people who know how the decision gets made. Wearing the #1 means you have to be a vocal leader. It means you have to do all of the press. You have to do all of the off-field stuff.

ObxTerpFan wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 7:42 pm Any word on Benson's contract status ?
I hope it's a lay up that he comes back but I wonder if any other school in need of a great offensive coordinator might sniff around ?

AreaLax wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 7:46 pm

ObxTerpFan wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 7:42 pm Any word on Benson's contract status ?
I hope it's a lay up that he comes back but I wonder if any other school in need of a great offensive coordinator might sniff around ?

My understanding is he staying and that “Interim” title was a way get him on staff without going thru the normal hiring process.

NYterp09 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 7:51 pm

AreaLax wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 7:46 pm

ObxTerpFan wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 7:42 pm Any word on Benson's contract status ?
I hope it's a lay up that he comes back but I wonder if any other school in need of a great offensive coordinator might sniff around ?

My understanding is he staying and that “Interim” title was a way get him on staff without going thru the normal hiring process.

Don’t they have to open the position again since there are strict rules for hiring state employees?

Wheels wrote: ↑Fri Jun 04, 2021 9:21 pm

HopFan16 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 04, 2021 6:43 pm Interesting Grant is in the portal, but his twin brother, Connor, is not. (Yet?) Grant has played more of the two. UNC sure seems like as good a guess as any.

In order of my curiosity about where they land, I'd go:

1. Lully
2. Khan (Maryland fans think they're getting him)
3. Donville (Maryland fans also think they're getting him)
4. Madronic
5. Murphy
6. Trippi
7. Morin
8. Rock
9. Bartolo
10. Mack/Buckanavage

Not sure about Khan, although he was high on Maryland coming out of high school. Hearing he wants to go somewhere where not only can he win but can play behind the goal at X. Not sure exactly if that latter part would work at Maryland. Heard that every B1G school reached out to Khan, as did UVA, UNC, and Duke.

Have heard Donville is a good bet to end up in College Park.

Some exits in College Park coming soon.

AreaLax wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 8:16 am From the transfer portal thread:

Wheels wrote: ↑Fri Jun 04, 2021 9:21 pm

HopFan16 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 04, 2021 6:43 pm Interesting Grant is in the portal, but his twin brother, Connor, is not. (Yet?) Grant has played more of the two. UNC sure seems like as good a guess as any.

In order of my curiosity about where they land, I'd go:

1. Lully
2. Khan (Maryland fans think they're getting him)
3. Donville (Maryland fans also think they're getting him)
4. Madronic
5. Murphy
6. Trippi
7. Morin
8. Rock
9. Bartolo
10. Mack/Buckanavage

Not sure about Khan, although he was high on Maryland coming out of high school. Hearing he wants to go somewhere where not only can he win but can play behind the goal at X. Not sure exactly if that latter part would work at Maryland. Heard that every B1G school reached out to Khan, as did UVA, UNC, and Duke.

Have heard Donville is a good bet to end up in College Park.

Some exits in College Park coming soon.

Seahawk wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 10:16 am Once Fairman and A DeMaio make their decision to stay or go, I think the underclass guys will make decisions on whether they are blocked for another year. I’m sure Brennan is looking to return healthy and ready for a larger role. Adding to that would be incoming transfers if they would be perceived to block an underclass guy for another year. Maryland has tons of talent on offense and less so on defense and FO. That’s where I would focus any incoming guys.

Wheels wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 11:19 am

Seahawk wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 10:16 am Once Fairman and A DeMaio make their decision to stay or go, I think the underclass guys will make decisions on whether they are blocked for another year. I’m sure Brennan is looking to return healthy and ready for a larger role. Adding to that would be incoming transfers if they would be perceived to block an underclass guy for another year. Maryland has tons of talent on offense and less so on defense and FO. That’s where I would focus any incoming guys.

Tills talked a lot this year about how he's transformed his thinking on offense where nothing is scripted at all. It makes the Terps too difficult to scout (something Fiefs and Danowski specifically mentioned in their post-game pressers). If you have Bubba, Logan, Kyle, Maltz, and Malever back (and Malever got runs at attack in the title game), you need one more guy in that top 6. If it's Donville at the MF, that's not exactly a bad top 6. Brennan and Jake Smith come back from injury, and you add Koras on a second MF line, and again, you have a pretty damn good 2nd line.

If Rahill comes back with all 4 shorties, you're looking a pretty phenomenal group on defense already. Ajax got a lot of time at LSM, and maybe be can down to close. I don't think Geppert does because he showed legit All-American play at LSM. Sherrer was also really good at LSM. Redd got some run in the Duke game, too. Shirtzer could come in and play right away at close, too. He has a rep as a takeaway defender. The Terps had their most caused TOs in a season since 2012.

jrn19 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 12:41 pm

Wheels wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 11:19 am

Seahawk wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 10:16 am Once Fairman and A DeMaio make their decision to stay or go, I think the underclass guys will make decisions on whether they are blocked for another year. I’m sure Brennan is looking to return healthy and ready for a larger role. Adding to that would be incoming transfers if they would be perceived to block an underclass guy for another year. Maryland has tons of talent on offense and less so on defense and FO. That’s where I would focus any incoming guys.

Tills talked a lot this year about how he's transformed his thinking on offense where nothing is scripted at all. It makes the Terps too difficult to scout (something Fiefs and Danowski specifically mentioned in their post-game pressers). If you have Bubba, Logan, Kyle, Maltz, and Malever back (and Malever got runs at attack in the title game), you need one more guy in that top 6. If it's Donville at the MF, that's not exactly a bad top 6. Brennan and Jake Smith come back from injury, and you add Koras on a second MF line, and again, you have a pretty damn good 2nd line.

If Rahill comes back with all 4 shorties, you're looking a pretty phenomenal group on defense already. Ajax got a lot of time at LSM, and maybe be can down to close. I don't think Geppert does because he showed legit All-American play at LSM. Sherrer was also really good at LSM. Redd got some run in the Duke game, too. Shirtzer could come in and play right away at close, too. He has a rep as a takeaway defender. The Terps had their most caused TOs in a season since 2012.

Yeah with the 4 shorties back, Makar as a 1st Teamer, Rahill back as a multi-year starter, depth at LSM with Geppert and Sherrer, plus former blue chips in Zappitello and Burlace who showed flashes and a 5-star in Schirtzer and a near one in Younger Burlace ready to come in, there’s a lot of talent and depth on the defensive side imo. Don’t think there’s less talent there than on offense at all.

Faceoffs are the question. I do think they need to find an adjustment there. If something materializes in the portal I would 1000% jump on it. If not, maybe a coaching move of some kind of hopefully this Keethler kid coming in is a diamond in the rough. It’s just unacceptable to be 48% on faceoffs tbh. There’s so many good ones out there and we’ve been deficient there amongst high level competition dating back to 2017.