Upcoming Season

[HOF2013]

Frustrating that Lacrosse never posts much on FB or Twitter!

Based on last year we are not predicted to finish in top 25-30 it looks like.    Now that the season is only a little more than a month away, any thoughts??

 

Edited January 13, 2020 by HOF2013

[AlbanyFan2018]

I think last year was the type of season that most "pundits" think the typical mid-major, American East team is going to put up more often than not, especially after the graduation of probably the best Albany class ever. I said it before that last season, IMO was a perfect storm of losing that sort of class, bigger coaching changes than anyone was willing to admit, less than stellar upperclass leadership last year, a couple of key guys banged up more than advertised, and oh year major Tehoka drama.

After an amazing run, I am not sure Marr knew how to deal with the sudden adversity and most of the season seemed like a panic, and as I said after fall ball if you saw the games last fall they were a great prediction of what would happen, and if you saw the games against Penn and Army it was already a much different team starting with Tehoka. He was very fit, more of a leader.I am expecting a much different and great season from him. The only disappoint was Patterson's injury and him being off the field most of the fall. I have no update on how he is doing, but I was led to believe that he will be ready when the boys get back on campus this week.

We alway hear about the incoming freshmen class, but this one is a good one and could rival the 2018 graduating class. If and it will be a big IF, the coaches are willing to take a few possible early lumps, there are 4-6 freshmen who could be impact players. There will be obvious freshmen ups and downs, but I hope the coaches play the long game and start working them in for a late season run.

Face off situation has to improve. If not better, there at least has to be some sort of developmental plan.

I think the defense could be much smarter. I am not saying the best guys were not playing last year, but how they played as a unit was not very good. I saw big strides from Tanner Hay in the fall, Kunz will be the #1 pole, and the 3rd starting spot will probably go to Filiposwki, but I need to see more out of him for a team defensive standpoint. His physical skills are very good. The biggest improvement will be at LSM. This new freshmen will blow you away. He should be the starter, but will probably split time with Barrow or Filipowski depending on what they do. Kozar and Weathersby are nipping at the heals at close. Regardless how it plays out this will be the biggest and strongest close D unit Albany has probably ever fielded. The recent weakness has been smaller d mids getting beat on alley dodges. We have several big freshmen who played a lot in the fall who look like Adam Osika sort of bodies. That is a big transition for freshmen, but there are a lot of options.

Assuming Patterson shows up 100% or close to it, and rejuvenated Tehoka, the offense will be much better which really was the big disappointment last year. The big question will be middie offensive production. That is the wild card to me on the offensive side of the ball.

This fall was much better than last fall.  I think there is a lot more hunger than last year, and no drama coming into the season. I think if the team grows over the course of the season that they can regain the AE automatic bid and make it to the tournament, but it isn't a team that can get an at large bid. I think the big jump is over the next 2-3 seasons.

 

[AlbanyFan2018]

1 hour ago, HOF2013 said:

Frustrating that Lacrosse never posts much on FB or Twitter!

Based on last year we are not predicted to finish in top 25-30 it looks like.    Now that the season is only a little more than a month away, any thoughts??

 

Oh and I agree the athletic department and lacrosse program are awful on social media.

[dslyank]

Looking at the roster, my very early thoughts:  like football UA is going to surprise a lot of people. IMHO last year an anomaly. Perfect storm:  head coach and offensive coordinator off @ FILA much of time, defensive coach @ llc; not to mention graduations, transfers, injuries and other personnel issues. But IMHO the single biggest issue is the team was unable to adjust their style to the new 80 second clock {and all of the previous mentioned storms contributed to this.} Being a fast paced team already, I think UA did not realize the clock would require much adjusting too. But as we saw (at least I did) the clock brought subtleties which seemed to help slower paced teams disproportionately.

Like hof I've been frustrated with the lack of posts; but maybe it will help UA fly under the radar? Last year a lot of hype may have also contributed to the storm. So I'll stay on the cautious side top 15;  top 10 not out of the question.

[dslyank]

18 minutes ago, AlbanyFan2018 said:

This fall was much better than last fall.  I think there is a lot more hunger than last year, and no drama coming into the season. I think if the team grows over the course of the season that they can regain the AE automatic bid and make it to the tournament, but it isn't a team that can get an at large bid. I think the big jump is over the next 2-3 seasons.

2018 NICE assessment. I was writing mine at the same time as you; and funny to see us both using the word "storm". Pretty much agree with all you said, but being optimistic about "at large" if everything clicks.

[dslyank]

30 minutes ago, AlbanyFan2018 said:

The biggest improvement will be at LSM. This new freshmen will blow you away.

Name??? if you can.

[AlbanyFan2018]

55 minutes ago, dslyank said:

Name??? if you can.

Piseno - got some love from the pundits very late in the recruiting cycles. Kid has an unbelievable motor and a big time stick. He will remind you of an even more athletic Troy Reh. Time will tell if he becomes an offensive threat at Troy was his last two years.

[HOF2013]

13 hours ago, AlbanyFan2018 said:

I think last year was the type of season that most "pundits" think the typical mid-major, American East team is going to put up more often than not, especially after the graduation of probably the best Albany class ever. I said it before that last season, IMO was a perfect storm of losing that sort of class, bigger coaching changes than anyone was willing to admit, less than stellar upperclass leadership last year, a couple of key guys banged up more than advertised, and oh year major Tehoka drama.

After an amazing run, I am not sure Marr knew how to deal with the sudden adversity and most of the season seemed like a panic, and as I said after fall ball if you saw the games last fall they were a great prediction of what would happen, and if you saw the games against Penn and Army it was already a much different team starting with Tehoka. He was very fit, more of a leader.I am expecting a much different and great season from him. The only disappoint was Patterson's injury and him being off the field most of the fall. I have no update on how he is doing, but I was led to believe that he will be ready when the boys get back on campus this week.

We alway hear about the incoming freshmen class, but this one is a good one and could rival the 2018 graduating class. If and it will be a big IF, the coaches are willing to take a few possible early lumps, there are 4-6 freshmen who could be impact players. There will be obvious freshmen ups and downs, but I hope the coaches play the long game and start working them in for a late season run.

Face off situation has to improve. If not better, there at least has to be some sort of developmental plan.

I think the defense could be much smarter. I am not saying the best guys were not playing last year, but how they played as a unit was not very good. I saw big strides from Tanner Hay in the fall, Kunz will be the #1 pole, and the 3rd starting spot will probably go to Filiposwki, but I need to see more out of him for a team defensive standpoint. His physical skills are very good. The biggest improvement will be at LSM. This new freshmen will blow you away. He should be the starter, but will probably split time with Barrow or Filipowski depending on what they do. Kozar and Weathersby are nipping at the heals at close. Regardless how it plays out this will be the biggest and strongest close D unit Albany has probably ever fielded. The recent weakness has been smaller d mids getting beat on alley dodges. We have several big freshmen who played a lot in the fall who look like Adam Osika sort of bodies. That is a big transition for freshmen, but there are a lot of options.

Assuming Patterson shows up 100% or close to it, and rejuvenated Tehoka, the offense will be much better which really was the big disappointment last year. The big question will be middie offensive production. That is the wild card to me on the offensive side of the ball.

This fall was much better than last fall.  I think there is a lot more hunger than last year, and no drama coming into the season. I think if the team grows over the course of the season that they can regain the AE automatic bid and make it to the tournament, but it isn't a team that can get an at large bid. I think the big jump is over the next 2-3 seasons.

 

Awesome evaluations.  In the fall I am all Football and am not into it as much as you.  Good to have you there for the rest of us.  I cannot wait...

[HOF2013]

11 hours ago, AlbanyFan2018 said:

Piseno - got some love from the pundits very late in the recruiting cycles. Kid has an unbelievable motor and a big time stick. He will remind you of an even more athletic Troy Reh. Time will tell if he becomes an offensive threat at Troy was his last two years.

He is listed on the roster as a RS!!!!  There are only 2 of them BTW.

Edited January 14, 2020 by HOF2013

[AlbanyFan2018]

7 hours ago, HOF2013 said:

He is listed on the roster as a RS!!!!  There are only 2 of them BTW.

That is a mistake. Unless there is something I don't know about he is a true, incoming freshmen.

Of the freshmen, he is definitely the most ready to make an impact on day one. I probably should have said a more physical version of Troy Reh than more athletic, but probably a bit more athletic as well. It definitely improves the physical nature in the middle of the field. However, the two guys who could move the needle the most for the team if they mature will be LaPietro and Fingar. We have had some tough as nail defensive middies, but most of them were undersized. They both have nice size and athleticism which will improve the middle of the field as well.

Hogg started in the fall when Paterson didn't play and shows quite a bit of promise as well. 

[HOF2013]

1 hour ago, AlbanyFan2018 said:

That is a mistake. Unless there is something I don't know about he is a true, incoming freshmen.

Of the freshmen, he is definitely the most ready to make an impact on day one. I probably should have said a more physical version of Troy Reh than more athletic, but probably a bit more athletic as well. It definitely improves the physical nature in the middle of the field. However, the two guys who could move the needle the most for the team if they mature will be LaPietro and Fingar. We have had some tough as nail defensive middies, but most of them were undersized. They both have nice size and athleticism which will improve the middle of the field as well.

Hogg started in the fall when Paterson didn't play and shows quite a bit of promise as well. 

One thing I was surprised about Piseno when I put his video up last year was his size.  Not very tall but obviously aggressive.  I am hoping a couple of the BIG Middies and LS D players really step up.

[AlbanyFan2018]

He isn't a big guy, but plays big, and to be a disruptive LSM you don't necessarily need size, but just someone who can mark a teams most athletic midfielder and shut him down. I think he and Barrow will be a nice combination, and depending on what they do with Hay and Filipowski (I think they will be two of the starting close defenders) there are a lot more options this year on defense. I think the starters will be Kunz, Hay, and Filipowski.

I didn't like the man down unit last year. We had some of our most physically limited guys playing on it.

Penn has a guy who was a freshmen last year who is the same size as Piseno who the recruiters were crazy about and who did have a solid freshmen year. Piseno out played him during the fall game. 

[HOF2013]

What about Swingruber, Sands, Pepe, Weathersby, Runkle, Peterson, Hixon-Mills on D?  How have they looked?  How are the other kids at Middie shaping up?  How are the Freshman on Attack?   Is Jones looking good?  How about the freshman?  Altimari is still on the team - any improvement?  

Edited January 14, 2020 by HOF2013

[AlbanyFan2018]

24 minutes ago, HOF2013 said:

What about Swingruber, Sands, Pepe, Weathersby, Runkle, Peterson, Hixon-Mills on D?  How have they looked?  How are the other kids at Middie shaping up?  How are the Freshman on Attack?   Is Jones looking good?  How about the freshman?  Altimari is still on the team - any improvement?  

I haven't seen some of them play so can't add too much on some of those guys.

A lot of the freshmen attack guys were not dressed for the fall game so no first hand knowledge of Skidders and Noah. Hogg will probably see the field, but assuming Patterson is good to go you have Tehoka, Patterson, Yunker, Laffin, and Casey as proven incumbents. 

Sands and Swingruber were hurt and I don't know if they opted to take a red shirt year or not. I was excited to see Hixon-Mills play in the fall, but he wasn't there. I did hear he may be taking a red shirt year, but I don't have any idea if it is an injury or what so I don't expect we will see him this year. I didn't know anything about Pepe, but he is a really big kid. As far as him and the other freshmen poles (unless they are worked into the man up ) I don't think any of them will see the field except for mop up time. They all looked good, but there is just too much upper class depth. I don't see any of them in the top 5-6 at this point.

The face off situation still seems to be helter skelter. Jones did a good job against Army, but he had his usual couple of plays where he would win the draw and lose it one way or another. as far as I know Altamari is still on the team, but he didn't get many chances in the fall games. The freshmen won a couple against Army, but at least in October he did not look like a better option right now than either Altamari or Jones. Against Penn who has a really good FOGO, our normal guys got smoked and we went straight to the long poles for most of the game. The best two options there are Weathersby and Piseno. My guess they would lean towards Piseno if he is going to stay on the field to play LSM rather than subbing Weathersby off since I don't believe he will start at close.

This is how I see the starters if everyone is healthy.

 

Attack - Tehoka, Patterson, Yunker

Middie - John, Burgmaster, Casey

Dmiddie - Schwab, Goldsmith

LSM - Piseno, Barrow

Defense - Filipowski, Hay, Kunz

Goalie - Siekierski 

FOGO - Jones

The attack rotation will be interesting. Laffin seems to have settled into a man up up, but has a great handle on the crease and is one of the best shooters. Casey has size, but doesn't alway play big. I'm not sure how they get the best guys on the field, but there is more depth at attack, and I think Ron John plays that 4th attachment out of the box.

Then you have guys like Davis Diamond who has had some great moments, and Hogg who played and played well in the fall game. McComber is still a bit of a mystery and seems like the odd man out.

At middle you also have Ashton Bradley, and the two freshmen I mentioned LaPietro and Fingar.

I feel pretty confident in my defensive starters and then Kozar and Weathersby in some order are probably the 4th/5th guys. They both played well in the fall games. Out of the five guys I mentioned I am not sure what is the best combination, because it isn't always the best three on ball guys you want on the field since you spend most of your time playing off ball. IMO the glaring defensive weakness has been team defense and sliding. While I think I have the starters right, I am not sure that is the best team defensive combination.

 

[HOF2013]

Good read and good interview with Coach Marr

https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/ualbany-s-jakob-patterson-is-il-s-america-east-preseason-player-of-the-year/55782

Edited January 15, 2020 by HOF2013