Coach Cottle Working to Improve Offense
Published on May 15, 2014 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Chesapeake Bayhawks News Release
Annapolis, MD - Dave Cottle has a well-earned reputation as one of the brightest offensive minds in the game of lacrosse. Cottle was responsible for numerous offensive innovations during a sterling career as a Division I Head Coach at Loyola (1983-2001) and Maryland (2002-2010).
Now Head Coach for the Chesapeake Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse, Cottle has been working overtime this week and digging deep into his bag of tricks in order to solve the offensive woes of his current team heading into a home game against the Florida Launch.
Chesapeake has scored 27 goals in three games so far this season and the offensive struggles are the primary reason why the club has a 1-2 record. "Scoring nine goals a game is unacceptable. You are not going to win many games in this league doing that," Cottle said matter-of-factly this week.
In the wake of a 12-7 loss at Charlotte last Saturday night, Cottle said Chesapeake was lacking chemistry on offense and said it was incumbent on the coaching staff to find ways to get the unit working more cohesively.
"I think there are some things we can do schematically to create more space on offense," Cottle said during the MLL teleconference this week. "There are other things we can do better that have nothing to do with Xs and Os. We need to move the ball better and we need to dodge harder and more successfully."
Chesapeake was one of the highest-scoring teams in Major League Lacrosse en route to capturing consecutive championships in 2012 and 2013. Cottle said the Bayhawks need to get back to scoring in the teens when they host the Launch on Saturday night (7 p.m.) at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Attackman Brendan Mundorf, a former MLL Most Valuable Player in his first season with the Bayhawks, leads the team in scoring with 10 points on six goals and four assists. Matt Mackrides, who returned to midfield last Saturday after starting the first couple games on attack, has six points on the strength of five goals. Attackman Ben Rubeor, who has been a consistent scorer during his five seasons with the franchise, has contributed three goals and two assists.
Cottle said Chesapeake needs more production out of its offensive midfield as Steven Brooks, Michael Kimmel and Kyle Dixon have combined for three goals. Peet Poillon, acquired during the offseason via trade with Charlotte, made his first appearance for the Bayhawks last Saturday and provided a spark with two goals.
"Right now, we're having a difficult time creating our own shot out of the midfield," Cottle said. "A point of emphasis this week in practice will be working on how to fix that problem."
Poillon, who has been unavailable due to his commitments as an assistant coach at Hobart, now has 100 goals in six professional seasons and has shown the ability to put up big numbers. The former UMBC standout totaled 41 points for Chesapeake in 2010 and 40 in 2012 while with Denver.
"Peet is a dangerous dodger with a quick release and has shown he can go off and score four or five goals in a game," Cottle said.
Attackman Drew Westervelt, Chesapeake's leading scorer in 2013 with 54 points, rejoined the team last Saturday night after missing two games due to his commitments with the Colorado Mammoth of the indoor professional National Lacrosse League. Westervelt scored one goal against Charlotte and Cottle expects the 6-foot-5 gunslinger to put up big numbers once he re-acclimates to the outdoor game.
Chesapeake is also anxiously awaiting the arrival of midfielder Joe Walters, one of the most potent offensive midfielders in MLL. Walters, a four-time All-Star who led the league with 26 assists and also scored 22 goals last season, is still playing for the Rochester Knighthawks in the NLL East Division finals.
"Joe Walters is a great passer and shooter who creates space and opportunities for others. Joe will help a lot when we get him back, but for now we have to do better with who we have," Cottle said.
Florida, a relocated franchise formerly known as the Hamilton Nationals, improved its record to 2-1 by nipping Ohio, 10-9, last Saturday. Casey Powell, who helped Chesapeake capture its second straight MLL championship in 2013, is leading the Launch in scoring with 10 goals.
"We're still coming together, still trying to figure out the pieces on offense," said Florida Head Coach Stan Ross, who played for Cottle at Loyola. "We're continuing to tinker and make adjustments and what we need more than anything is practice. A lot of our players live closer to Annapolis than Boca Raton so we should have a full squad at practice on Friday night for the first time this season."
Cottle is concerned about the overall size of Florida, which also features the 2013 MLL Offensive Player of the Year in midfielder Kevin Crowley. "Florida has some big attackmen and middies, but fortunately we have some big, strong defensemen. We probably match up better with their size than some other teams in the league," Cottle said.
Standout defensive midfielder Jeff Reynolds is expected to play on Saturday after missing the Charlotte game with a leg injury. Offensive midfielder Ben Hunt remains on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
The Bayhawks 2014 Season Tickets are now available and can be purchased over the phone by calling the box office 866-99-HAWKS (42957). Visit us at www.thebayhawks.com for the full schedule. This season, the Bayhawks and Lexus are giving away an ES350 to one lucky Season Ticket Holder at the last game of the season. Every Season Ticket purchased will amount to one entry into the giveaway.
2014 Home Schedule May 17th vs. Florida Launch 7:00 PM May 31st vs. Ohio Machine 7:00 PM June 14th vs. Boston Cannons 7:30 PM July 17th vs. Rochester Rattlers 7:00 PM July 31st vs. Denver Outlaws 7:30 PM August 9th vs. Charlotte Hounds 7:00 PM.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from May 15, 2014
- Coach Cottle Working to Improve Offense - Chesapeake Bayhawks
- CHSAA Boys Lacrosse Championship Matchups Announced; Outlaws Face Rochester - Denver Outlaws
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