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Post by JB Southpaw on Oct 13, 2014 8:30:06 GMT -5
From Avatar's FB page:
"Looks like, for the fourth consecutive year, I will be heading into the next volleyball season with a different partner. (I get around) Nick the Quick is going to play next year with Theo, which means my next few months are going to be spent trying to figure out my next move. Exciting stuff."
So, Nick having played with both chose Theo.
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Post by njvball11 on Oct 13, 2014 9:46:39 GMT -5
It begs the ongoing question - Rogers headed for retirement or a new project?
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Post by JB Southpaw on Oct 13, 2014 9:57:29 GMT -5
I know I'm in the minority of being a fan of Todd's, I do hope he takes on a new project. Someone young like Page, or Tony C. Would like to hear GLM thoughts on player fits.
but the bigger question is where Ryan goes?
He is clearly in the top 4 bigs (Phil, Jake & bourne)
Jennings would be the established player, but not sure how much he wants to go international with the kids.
Mayer isn't going anywhere.
I'd like him to get a bigger def. player, I think having a player with a larger hitting window (similar to what Casey did for him) takes some of the pressure off his setting.
I think young players will be lining up to play with him.
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Post by njvball11 on Oct 13, 2014 10:06:19 GMT -5
I'm also a fan or Todd's and def. would like to see him put a couple more seasons under his belt before he hangs it up. Just seems like a lot of the time he doesn't have the enthusiasm to be out there anymore.
I don't think Ryan will have a problem finding a partner at all. I thought he and Lucena made a good team since Nick could counteract any shortcomings from Ryan with his speed. Jennings was lined up to play with him last season before Nick stepped in so I wonder if that may stick this season. But I agree, Ryan needs a very specific playing style from his partner and it will be interesting to see who he picks up.
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Post by digdugg on Oct 13, 2014 11:29:17 GMT -5
I hope Ryan does not pick Casey Jennings because he left him at the alter last year. I love Casey but he will get served relentlessly and Ryan's setting for Jennings offense (at this point in his career) will not be good. Quite frankly, after watching Jennings/Casebeer all year, I am not sure Jennings has the level offense required to win tournaments anymore. His offense is definitely a step down from Lucena and Lucena struggled at times with Ryan's setting. I agree w/ JB, he needs a bigger defender who has a larger side out window. That begs the question - who is biggest right side defense or a blocker that can transition to defend? Casebeer, Crabb & Bourne are the obviosu picks but how about a guy like Russ Marchewka - can he transition to defense? or Bates? We always think of him as a blocker but he has split block and is big. Mackenzie played pretty well at Hunington?
I think going to an up and comer like Hawk Hatcher or an established defensive player like Jennings is a mistake. Whatever he does, don't pick Will Montgomery who seems to pull way better than his level partners for reasons I cannot fathom...
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Post by guest2 on Oct 13, 2014 11:55:06 GMT -5
Hatcher is not an up and comer. He's a nice player who will be in qualifiers his whole life because he is too small and limited athletically to side out effectively. Basically a less talented Will Montgomery.
I think Nick is letting his emotions control here. Ryan is better than Theo. I would think the default player for Ryan here is John Mayer, who just got a huge gift dropped in his lap.
If I were Ryan I would try Casey P first, then try to get Bourne to play defense. If that doesnt work, I think Mayer is probably the best option. Jennings is 57 years old and cant bring it at the top level every week.
One option, and a guy who should be on the phone offering Ryan his first born child, is Adrian. If there is an out of the box choice other than Casebeer or Bourne playing D, its Adrian.
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Post by JB Southpaw on Oct 13, 2014 12:03:59 GMT -5
Hatcher is not an up and comer. He's a nice player who will be in qualifiers his whole life because he is too small and limited athletically to side out effectively. Basically a less talented Will Montgomery. I think Nick is letting his emotions control here. Ryan is better than Theo. I would think the default player for Ryan here is John Mayer, who just got a huge gift dropped in his lap. If I were Ryan I would try Casey P first, then try to get Bourne to play defense. If that doesnt work, I think Mayer is probably the best option. Jennings is 57 years old and cant bring it at the top level every week. One option, and a guy who should be on the phone offering Ryan his first born child, is Adrian. If there is an out of the box choice other than Casebeer or Bourne playing D, its Adrian. It's hard for me to see Casey or Tri leaving their current situations except for Phil. Ryan and Adrian can't play international. Does Mayer want to play a full schedule of FIVB? Not sure he is quite dynamic enough to play with Ryan. Brad set pretty well. I personally would love to see him play with Casebeer or Crabb and get Dodd to coach. |
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Post by digdugg on Oct 13, 2014 12:37:33 GMT -5
Can you imagine how pissed jennings would be if he and casebeer partnered. First, you say ye to hen no for 2014 then you grab my partner for 2015...
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Post by guest2 on Oct 13, 2014 13:21:13 GMT -5
I forgot Crabb. Excellent point JB (as always). Assuming Tri and Casey wont leave partners, and I agree that they wont, Trevor is probably the best long term choice. I think Mayer would be the best in the short term, maybe 6-8 tournies or so for Trevor to get up to international and defense playing speed, but by the end of the year, Trevor/Ryan would be a handful.
I wonder too if Ryan's susceptibility to injury may be a factor in Nick's dumping of him. I think Adrian would be eligible to play for the US (he may not want to play internationally though)
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Post by klazk on Oct 13, 2014 15:17:26 GMT -5
A lot of this is may come down to points and how the US determines the 4th teams for 2015 (i.e. are they going to do country quotas again or not). Ryan has to pick someone with enough points to get him into the top 3 if possible to avoid the US country quotas and qualifier. But that is going to be hard to do considering Brunner has far more FIVB points currently than any of the remaining US defenders. The biggest beneficiaries of this may end up being Gibb/Patterson - who would have been the 4th team, but might end up as the 3rd team to start 2015. So the year end NORCECAs and Opens could go a long way to determining who Ryan picks up and what the teams look like at the beginning of 2015. As of today, Crabb has 168 points, so I don't think Ryan will go that route he can't get to the #3 spot and they are going to do country quotas and he thinks Crabb gives him the best shot to wins those.
I don't normally do speculation and this is a pretty crazy one, but I wonder if the Lucena/Brunner reuniting could have been planned all along. As in "Hey Theo, why don't you go get some FIVB points with Todd this year, while I go play with Ryan, get automatic main draws and make some money. Then let's get back together for a run at Rio in 2015."
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Post by JB Southpaw on Oct 13, 2014 15:27:49 GMT -5
A lot of this is may come down to points and how the US determines the 4th teams for 2015 (i.e. are they going to do country quotas again or not). Ryan has to pick someone with enough points to get him into the top 3 if possible to avoid the US country quotas and qualifier. But that is going to be hard to do considering Brunner has far more FIVB points currently than any of the remaining US defenders. The biggest beneficiaries of this may end up being Gibb/Patterson - who would have been the 4th team, but might end up as the 3rd team to start 2015. So the year end NORCECAs and Opens could go a long way to determining who Ryan picks up and what the teams look like at the beginning of 2015. As of today, Crabb has 168 points, so I don't think Ryan will go that route he can't get to the #3 spot and they are going to do country quotas and he thinks Crabb gives him the best shot to wins those. I don't normally do speculation and this is a pretty crazy one, but I wonder if the Lucena/Brunner reuniting could have been planned all along. As in "Hey Theo, why don't you go get some FIVB points with Todd this year, while I go play with Ryan, get automatic main draws and make some money. Then let's get back together for a run at Rio in 2015." Right now, both Crabb & Casebeer are listed in the Arg. Open later this month. Crabb w/ Adam Roberts & Casebeer with Wonder Will M. Theo is set to play in the Qatar Open with Will M. Crabb and Roberts too. |
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Post by actionjackson1 on Oct 13, 2014 18:53:28 GMT -5
It all depends on if Casey is wiling to drop Jake. I dont think that its crazy to consider casey leaving jake to play with ryan. Ryan has improved so much since they last played together and they have awesome chemistry. In the past there hasnt been as much swapping with players going back to their old partners like with nick and theo. When you throw tri bourne into the mix, I could see ryan playing with tri or casey playing with tri
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Post by donnyb on Oct 13, 2014 20:48:35 GMT -5
I think Ryan had for better the last year and may only get better as rio gets closer where gibb internationally hasn't did well this year. Gibb can't get any better by rio can he? I think the 3 interesting guys are tri Patterson and Ryan.
Let's throw this in the pot, what about Phil leaving Sean? Maybe Phil and Patterson?? I have been saying that for a year.
Phil and Patterson
Ryan and tri
2016 rio???
Nick and brunner the 3 team.
What about gibb and Hyden? Old guys battling out there. Love them 2 but man it's hard to say they will make it 2 more years at a super high level
Nick want make it I don't think unless brunner gets way better and carries nick. Nick is solid and probably sides out better with brunners setting but by 2016 he will need some help. 6'1" just is not gonna cut it as much as I hate to say that being a Florida guy.
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Post by JB Southpaw on Oct 14, 2014 9:05:32 GMT -5
I think Ryan had for better the last year and may only get better as rio gets closer where gibb internationally hasn't did well this year. Gibb can't get any better by rio can he? I think the 3 interesting guys are tri Patterson and Ryan. Let's throw this in the pot, what about Phil leaving Sean? Maybe Phil and Patterson?? I have been saying that for a year. Phil and Patterson Ryan and tri 2016 rio??? Nick and brunner the 3 team. What about gibb and Hyden? Old guys battling out there. Love them 2 but man it's hard to say they will make it 2 more years at a super high level Nick want make it I don't think unless brunner gets way better and carries nick. Nick is solid and probably sides out better with brunners setting but by 2016 he will need some help. 6'1" just is not gonna cut it as much as I hate to say that being a Florida guy. I wouldn't mind Phil and Casey. Would be the best setting team in the world probably. I can't see Tri leaving his situation for anyone other than Casey P or Phil unless Hyden retires. Don't forget about Slick either. He is worthy of a top 5 team spot with a chance to move up. |
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Post by butteryhands on Oct 14, 2014 9:44:00 GMT -5
It is a big leap of faith to believe Tri is able to make the jump to full time back defender. Not to mention to do it well enough to be a world class team. I also don't necessarily agree that Ryan is a better player than Theo. Theo's overall game is way more consistent and he gets just as many blocks.
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