The Boston Cannons finished the season in disappointing fashion, I am sure something that would be verified by their players. The attack dominant offense could not find enough in the tank to make it to the playoffs for a run at the title. Points were heavily in favor of their attack, which needed balance from their midfield. The defense and goal did not show their usual strengths either. The mid season turmoil subsided, but what it pointed out is that the Cannons were missing pieces to be successful.
Attack:
Could have their been a more relied upon position for a team than the attack was for Boston? Even Paul Rabil had his run at attack during games this past season. The starting attack of Boyle, Manny, and Buchanan had 47 goals and 40 assists on the season. A good balance when you look at it, but the attack needed a strong presence from the midfield to help pad their stats. Boyle played quarterback as per usual. Manny had more assists as a professional than he might have had his whole career at UMass. Buchanan had 10 assists along with 20 goals (including one two pointer). The assist total for the group needs to be higher. Individual dodging to the cage and not being asked to move the ball more leads defenses to not slide. Thus, if the person with the ball cannot get to the cage continually, the offense sputters.
Midfield:
The midfield always starts with Rabil. Unfortunately, as widely reported, injuries plagued him all season. Good luck with surgery, but hopefully this will make for fewer trips to the training room. Mike Stone produced well for the Cannons, accumulating 25 goals and 9 assists on the season. Berger was a welcome addition to the Cannons at the trade deadline. Complimentary scoring was a need for the Cannons. Poskay’s 27 goals were another solid contribution to the Cannon’s needs.
Here is the problem with the Cannon’s midfield core: weren’t most of the team’s midfielders attackmen prior to this season? Yes. Let’s go through the list:
Berger: Played attack in his stints with other teams. With the logjam down low, Berger ran in the midfield. It will take some time to get the full contributions from Berger in Tucker’s offense.
Rabil: Played attack some during the course of the season. He is the most dominant midfielder in the world, so a less injured Rabil in 2014 will be huge for the Cannons.
Stone: Produced well for the Cannons, so no need to analyze his production further.
Poskay: Matt Poskay and Will Manny are fighting for the same role in the Cannons’ Attack. Finishing the offenses production will be the role that both are fighting for in 2014. Can both play in the Cannon’s offense? Yes, but I think that Manny will need to move to the midfield with his speed. It definitely is a match up problem for opponents having Poskay up top at midfield, but so is Manny.
Heim/Flint/Bowes/Smalley/Adams: This group needs to produce more for the Boston Cannon’s to be successful. The longstick midfield group of Farrell, Sweeney, Ricci, Pages, and Ratliff may have produced the same goal totals than the second field did in 2013. Sweeney is a close defender for the Cannons, but his production is included here because he came into the league after a successful college career in the LSM role and he is still a forward thinking defensive player.
Here is the important point to cover before me move down to the close defense, that the Cannons have a stable of defensive midfielders on their roster (or had on their roster) from top to bottom. In order for the team to move forward with more success, maybe the team needs to sure up the backline without having
Defense:
Mitch Belisle and Kyle Sweeney are the mainstays on the backline for the Cannons and have been for a good while at this point. Belisle is the anchor in the back because Sweeny will move up field any chance he can. The Cannons could start by drafting, or getting via free agency, defensemen that will look to shut down the opposition than to get up field for their own stats/
Jordan Burke carried the majority of the workload in 2013 and will again in 2014. The Cannons need to build from the backline forward. Transition players like their stable of LSMs are not going to get the job done in the MLL. There are no real enforcers back there to protect the net and Burke has to deal with that personally. Players are no afraid to run to the cage full tilt because there is no protection for him.
That being said, Burke needs to be better as well.
Conclusion:
John Tucker will be able to teach a team game to the 2014 Cannons. Will he have all the pieces though to be successful? The offense is there, but the defense needs to iron out its wrinkles to better the team overall.
The success of the past is a trade, free agency acquisition, or a draft pick away. The clock is ticking for the Cannons.
