Outlaws Quotes
Published on July 24, 2013 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Denver Outlaws News Release
Below is a transcript from Denver Outlaws Head Coach Jim Stagnitta's Week 12 MLL Media Conference Call on Wednesday, July 24. The Outlaws' Week 12 game notes can be downloaded from the team website.
Head Coach Jim Stagnitta
On whether he is thinking about a possible undefeated season "You can't help but think that. We are sitting here at 11-0, and you talk to the players about limiting some of their playing time, or rotating and I get the same answer back, âCoach we want to compete, we want to win.' So it's a fine line and a happy medium between keeping guys fresh and keeping them game ready. You can't help but think about going undefeated. It's not about going undefeated, honestly, we really have approached every game one week at a time, and you'll hear the players say it because it's been something that we felt is important. Regardless of what we are going to be doing with the approach of our lineup, our goal is to win that game. If we can continue to do that and go along the same lines that we've been, there is a shot. Is it our ultimate goal, like I've said over and over again, no, it's not as important at this time if we win the next game; it's about winning the last game. If we are able to maintain this momentum, that'd be great."
On gameplanning to defend Casey Powell, who was added to the Bayhawks lineup last week. "We play against guys like that every week. They added Casey to their lineup and it certainly makes it in some ways more potent, but again one guy doesn't make up a team, it's not going to change the way we approach it. We may try to do some different things anyway just because we have three games left, and it's someone we may very well see at the end of the year. We don't look at it and say that we need to do something special to stop Casey. We look at it as a talented team that has won a lot of games with or without Casey Powell. Obviously he's a talented player and he's someone that you have to pay attention to, but at this point in the season you can't alter everything you do for one player. One of the things we've been able to do as games progress is that we've been able to make adjustments that are necessary matchup wise, based on guys have better days than other guys. So we will be prepared and ready to make adjustments as necessary."
On his plans for the roster over the next few weeks "I wouldn't read into it too far because things happen. If we bring someone else in, it's mostly to (fill a spot). There's also an opportunity because you get to dress an extra person at the finals. We need to figure out if that's going to be a faceoff guy or if it's going to be a midfielder. We have a couple decisions to make for that last spot. We are going to be tinkering things, (Stephen) Robarge is back, Anthony (Kelly) is a big guy who has been playing a lot of games, so you may see some platoon faceoff stuff going down the stretch. Again we are still going at it week by week.
"Everybody asks this question, I've never gone into a game at any level and prepared not to win, nor have any of these guys. It's a difficult task, and concept for any of us to walk into a game and say this doesn't really matter, and we are just going to go and we are going to go through the motions or we aren't going to play our guys. They want to be there, they want to be at the game, they want to be with their teammates, they have a great thing going. None of this is as cut and dry or as simple as a yes we are going to do this or a no. We are going to walk a fine line here and try to make the decisions that are in the best interest of the players, and program, and best interest of having an opportunity to win a championship."
On going after the No. 1 playoff seed "I don't think it matters and I honestly mean that. I don't know if any of those next three teams, if you line up next to them, they're all good, they're all talented. It maybe gives you an extra two hours rest, which didn't do a lot for us last year anyway. It's not going to overcome injuries, or playing banged up just plain being tired. I don't think it matters but I can tell you we are going to go out and try to win the game on Saturday."
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