Coach Flip Naumburg's Journal

Sunday, August 13, 2006

SUNDAY RANT

OKAY SMART GUY, WHAT KIND OF TEAM WE GOT HERE?

If I have been so mentally active formulating the plan, then who are we (CSU lacrosse) likely to be then? What sort of team are we building? There is no need to be cryptic is there?

Of course I can’t fully predict the mix, but I have some theories that are hopefully at least partly based on logic. I will use these as points A to start from. For example, no matter who does or who does not return, it would seem that we will have offensive numbers. In my kind of coach speak that means we are returning several players that can run and catch at the same time. Some hopefully will be able to think and chew gum simultaneously as well.

GUNS AND RUNSES

When we have the ball this year I would say that I do not want us to be an obvious "RUN AND GUN" type of team. We have been described as that many times in the past. I think it sort of means that as a team you always push for the potential fast breaks, even when you don't have it. and that you never see a shot you don’t take. Really, that ain’t me, babe.

I think I have not really thought of us as run and gun, at least for the last couple of years. I have in fact had it in mind for quite a long while to build a more team involved offense, one based on beliefs that dovetail and mesh with our defensive philosophy and with some predictable mechanics. This includes making simple and good choices as an individual player. The process will not be just starting up, it has in fact already been going on.

I DO sincerely believe in at least 1/2 of that ‘run and gun’ thing, and that would be the RUN half. In general terms you can’t run enough as far as I can figure, especially without the ball in your stick.

KILL THEM WITH KINDNESS WHENEVER YOU CAN

I have never liked GUNS and GUNNING all that much you see, so the whole gun as your first choice is not what I want as much as I crave that old one on none with the opposing non-goalie. What I mean by that is to take everything, including the goalie out of our way. I more prefer breaking you down defensively with our overall basics on offense.

Then, on offense phase II we also let our snipers snipe here and there. There is nothing wrong with hitching a ride on a star powered player for a short distance. I also think we have some (<one) of that kind of player. I do not want for us to have to depend on individual talent alone, however. That will never be my plan. It is always the collective bargaining goals that turn me on.

My preferred overall 3-point approach to attacking the 'other side' would also include me/us in the back conjuring up a bunch of useable guerilla-style, team warfare tactics to lob into the fray here and there. These would always be little things that fit or even come from our players.

I want our team to be the ever expanding universe part of evolution, and not just the big bang section.

IT IS ACTUALLY ALL VERY SCIENTIFIC

So theory number one is that we should be able to field a functioning offense. We will have some pre-built experience in some crucial areas of the scoring game, like off ball movement for example. I can draw on what we did and those who did it right from the beginning of fall. We have started to build some of that into our history finally as well.

Our seemingly deep offensive talent and potential means to me that if we coaches can coach at all, we should also be able to concoct a defense to match, no matter how difficult finding that right solution might at first seem. Experimentation will be key to the eventual chemistry that is required.

Any way you look at it, however, defense is where we will start, and from where we have always leapt. Nothing will be new there, and pressure defense will be, well, the point that I will pressure and push the most.

I want us to continue to be aggressive on defense, but that is not a flashing headline.

THE UNCOLA NUT

It is noteworthy (to me) that what was once made in the seventies from the what they dubbed the "Uncola Nut" (7-UP) is now in the new millennium (the same exact stuff) made from only "All Natural Ingredients". It is still 7-UP I think. Thirty something years have come and gone, but I think both of those ingredients are still the same things, and that is sugar. I kid, but I do it for segway purposes.....

Well, the sugar we look like we are brewing into the 2007-UP CSU lacrosse is a fleet of sweet middies. At least that is my hope.

MARRIED TO THE MOB

I don’t usually think that much about overall midfield expectations this early, so me doing that is new. That midfield mojo element comes from a complicated bunch of goo to be sure. There are variables that take time to read and to find out how to use right for the most part.

I do think I could easily get ‘married to the midfield’ this year if they work and become even a small part of what I semi-expect. The prospects of tactology are exciting when the other team is not sure who to cover first or the closest. That's the potential I see. Anything I can do to neutralize all that whole modern day match up stuff without extra effort is good and fun as far as I am concerned.

This year it is my intention to geometrically grab, territorialize and or terrorize the middle of the field in more facets of the game than we ever have before. I want to own the ground, and close the deal a million times (be physical with body) while we are at it. I think I have always had this goal of 'owning' middle field real estate, but majorly the idea lived in my mind as a defensive one. Now I think it is evolving for me into something more balanced, more like a one-two punch.

In the midfield we will have something OLD (experienced mids). It is likely something or a few things or people will be NEW (freshmen, etc.). I’m sure we will have someone or two things BORROWED (transfers), but sadly and for sure we will no longer have anything BUE.

We’ll see if they (2007) collectively catch the team's 2006 black garter, or if maybe we won’t have enough balls to go around. My hope is for the former and to leave the black hole of the latter for other teams.

The black will be retired by the way, and that will be the color of our year of VINDICATION, and it will belong only to 2006 for now.

HOLD ON FESTER

Don’t forget we are lousy on face-offs. One limping step at a time, Coach.

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