NLL Insider

ND14 · #1 02-12-2008, 05:52 PM

Ok, Cousins is good. But does anybody else think Tutka is going waaay overboard with his weekly Cousins love-rant?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Tutka

Cousins brings intensity, skill, speed, leadership, work ethic, amazing 1v1 defending and yet again, a scoring touch when needed. Cousins is easily the best defender in the league right now and personally, the MVP nod can really only either go to him or Colorado’s Gavin Prout at this point.

He also has him at #2 in this week's player rankings.

Quote:

Best defender in the league that gives Minny a ton of options on the press

For a guy that 'gives a ton of options' on transition, 2 assists in 6 games isn't a heck of a lot. A goal a game is respectable, as is 31 loose balls (which is 5th on his team). And yes, he's a good defender. But does anybody actually think that he's a candidate for league MVP? That he's even Minnesota's MVP? That he's the best defender in the league? That he's even clearly top 5?

I'd like to hear from Minnesota fans in particular. Has Cousins been more valuable than Ward, Secore, Point and Patterson?

RP=BA · #2 02-12-2008, 07:19 PM

Ya I've noticed this too, i really like Tuts and think he does the best job of anybody on insider, but this is a little overboard. Merrill had 4 assists in transition in one game vs Minny, Cousins has 2 all year. On the flip side though the guy is clutch, 2GWG's both in OT is impressive. He's NOT the 2nd best player in the league and probably is the 2nd best defender in the league behing Merrill too (although im biased i'll admit). Watching the Jax v Swarm game sunday, Minny's MVP was easily Point, he kept them in it to even give Cousins the chance to win it in OT

Zeboim · #3 02-12-2008, 11:32 PM

Uhhh.... Cousins is a good defensive player - a top ten D guy imho, maybe top 5.

BUT, when SJ played Minny, Cousins was burned by Zywicki in two one-on-one matchups. Zywicki is not known for his dodging ability, so either he has gotten that MUCH better (and should be higher on the player ranking list), or Cousins isn't *that* great.

I have season tickets to the Lumberjax and think that Brodie Merrill gets a lot of hype, but deserves it all. Brodie can change games and how others play. I watched Langtry back down from him several times when he had Merrill one-on-one against him and Langtry doesn't back down from anyone else that I've seen. Brodie is more active off-ball too. B also plays great team defense. Brodie is a dominating player.

So, don't know what's up with Tutka and Cousins... Maybe Cousins has bought him lunch on more than one occasion???

BigLog · #4 02-13-2008, 02:13 AM

After three seasons here in PDX aside from his ground ball numbers and hustle I can't help but feel that Brodie is over-hyped at his position. He's not a great defender or efficient goal getter, yet he still get's ranked very high. What am I not seeing that Tutka does?

heather8875 · #5 02-13-2008, 05:34 AM

Cousins is a great guy. He's our captain and a wonderful leader. I'm not sure I'd give him the team MVP though - but then again, it would be hard to choose an MVP because so many of the guys are contributing so much. Point, Secore, Ward, Pollock, to name a few...

Corporal · #6 02-13-2008, 09:26 AM

Like Ryan has told me "Defense wins Championships". He is definitely the inspirational leader of the team and Captain Clutch gets the big goal. He plays both ends of the floor well. Last year he got 14g 9a. With him, Sharp, Ross and Biers (who should be returning in 2-3 weeks), the Swarm have the best transition in the league. So I like Tutka's ranking and that makes Tutka a great lacrosse mind in book.

However, Ryan Ward should be number one in importance. All you need to know why this is to look at this game:

Rochester 19 Minnesota 9 - April 7, 2007

That was the first game Ward missed as a member of the Swarm and watching the team play without its point man running the offense was horrific.

I pray for Ward's health every night so I don't have to watch a game like that ever again for the Swarm.

BARKS DAWG · #7 02-13-2008, 09:53 AM

I do like Ryan Ward

thegreenbastard · #8 02-13-2008, 12:33 PM

well first off tutka didnt say he was great in transition he said he gives them a ton of options on the PRESS, thats defense! Cousins knows his role. goes out every game and puts it all on the line. tough as nails, never quits and knows when to jump in and join the rush. sure he gets beat everyso often, everyone does, but its how you recover from it that makes him such a great defender. MVP? maybe sure Point, Wardo, Seeks, or patterson could win, but why not throw 50's name in the hat!

dougm · #9 12-30-2008, 01:30 PM

defense is all about the unit, and who directs the unit. the stick skills in the nll are too good to defend one-on-one especially when you get picked off like crazy. in my judgement, a top defender has great close cover skills but has the leadership and vision to direct his mates to switch, set the defense, and watch for the play behind and in front of the ball. basically, my top nll defender would have the floor sense of a josh sanderson but on the backend.
cousins just might be all that.

WINGNUT90 · #10 12-30-2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BARKS DAWG

I do like Ryan Ward

I didn t when he was here , but then again he was learning from 66,42 90,&8

Crabman19 · #11 12-30-2008, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WINGNUT90

I didn t when he was here , but then again he was learning from 66,42 90,&8

He was a rookie under a crappy coach and those guys you listed weren't exactly keen to spread the ball around. Best thing to happen for him was to leave Philly. How is Nadeleen doing these days?

Hollywood42 · #12 12-30-2008, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crabman19

He was a rookie under a crappy coach and those guys you listed weren't exactly keen to spread the ball around. Best thing to happen for him was to leave Philly. How is Nadeleen doing these days?

pretty good
unless you missed it #29 Shawn Nadelen, Philadelphia Wings

Crabman19 · #13 12-30-2008, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hollywood42

pretty good
unless you missed it #29 Shawn Nadelen, Philadelphia Wings

thats great, Hwood, I didn't miss it. Thanks.

Hollywood42 · #14 12-30-2008, 02:30 PM

then i dont know what your sarcasms for
sean is a great defensemen and one of the tops in the league
why single him out

Crabman19 · #15 12-30-2008, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hollywood42

then i dont know what your sarcasms for
sean is a great defensemen and one of the tops in the league
why single him out

never mind, I know he is a good defender.

dtj · #16 12-30-2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hollywood42

then i dont know what your sarcasms for
sean is a great defensemen and one of the tops in the league
why single him out

Because he was who was traded for Ward.

Hollywood42 · #17 12-30-2008, 03:54 PM

yea i know
we cleared it up
no harm no foul

CW7 · #18 12-30-2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dougm

defense is all about the unit, and who directs the unit. the stick skills in the nll are too good to defend one-on-one especially when you get picked off like crazy. in my judgement, a top defender has great close cover skills but has the leadership and vision to direct his mates to switch, set the defense, and watch for the play behind and in front of the ball. basically, my top nll defender would have the floor sense of a josh sanderson but on the backend.
cousins just might be all that.

dougm, you hit the nail right on the head. Every team has to have a General on defence who anchors all the other defender/transition players. Would agree that Cousins is one of them. However, when a player gets a rep as being the best it sticks and Tutka is one writer that has his favourites he promotes, whether there are better players in a particular season. To me Tutka often does not represent a true review of the NLL, basically stuck on teams in the east. This does not mean I don't enjoy reading his articles, just my observation.

Having watched all of the teams, here would are the key Generals on each of the teams. I will leave out Boston for now.

Buffalo - Chris White
Calgary - Andrew McBride
Colorado - J. Gallant
Edmonton - Chris McElroy
Minnesota - Ryan Cousins
New York - Jarett Park
Philadelphia - Taylor Wray
Portland - Pat Jones
Rochester - Steve Toll
San Jose - Eric Martin
Toronto - Cam Woods

ND14 · #19 12-31-2008, 04:19 AM

Heh... totally forgot about this thread.

I was just thinking about this the other day actually when looking through Tutka's top 50 list. I wonder where Cousins will end up...

Edit: Ah, I see at #11. That's not so bad, but still a little high for me. I'd take Ratcliff or Kelusky or Snider over Cousins easily.