Best head for defense lacrosse. Best Lacrosse Heads for Defense: Top Picks for Defenders and LSMs

What are the best lacrosse heads for defensive players. How do defensive lacrosse heads differ from offensive ones. Which features should defenders look for in a lacrosse head. What are the top-rated lacrosse heads for LSM players.

Understanding Defensive Lacrosse Heads: Key Features and Benefits

Defensive lacrosse heads play a crucial role in a player’s performance on the field. Unlike offensive heads, defensive heads are designed with specific features to enhance checking, intercepting passes, and maintaining possession. Let’s explore the key characteristics that set defensive lacrosse heads apart:

• Wider face shape for increased ball control and interception
• Stiffer construction to withstand aggressive checking
• Reinforced sidewalls for durability during physical play
• Deeper pocket for secure ball retention
• Heavier weight for added power in checks and clears

These features combine to create a head that excels in defensive situations, allowing players to dominate their opponents and maintain control of the game.

Top 5 Lacrosse Heads for Defensive Players

When it comes to choosing the best lacrosse head for defensive play, several options stand out from the competition. Here are our top picks for defensive players:

1. Maverik Tank 2
2. STX Hammer Omega
3. StringKing Mark 2D
4. ECD Rebel Defense
5. Under Armour Command Low

Each of these heads offers unique advantages for defensive players, combining durability, control, and performance. Let’s take a closer look at what makes these options stand out.

Maverik Tank 2: The Ultimate Defensive Powerhouse

The Maverik Tank 2 is a popular choice among defensive players for its exceptional strength and versatility. What makes this head a top contender for defenders? The Tank 2 features a wide face shape that excels at intercepting passes and scooping ground balls. Its reinforced sidewalls provide excellent durability, even under the most intense checking situations. The head’s stiff construction allows for powerful checks without compromising control.

STX Hammer Omega: Precision and Power Combined

STX has long been a trusted name in lacrosse equipment, and the Hammer Omega lives up to that reputation. This head is designed with a unique face shape that balances ball control with checking power. The Hammer Omega’s Enduraform plastic construction ensures long-lasting performance, even in the most demanding games. Its carefully engineered scoop design facilitates smooth ground ball pickups, a crucial skill for any defender.

StringKing Mark 2D: Innovative Design for Modern Defenders

The StringKing Mark 2D represents a new generation of defensive lacrosse heads. Its innovative design incorporates advanced materials and engineering to create a head that’s both lightweight and incredibly strong. The Mark 2D’s sidewall design allows for a variety of stringing options, giving players the flexibility to customize their pocket for optimal performance. This head’s balance of weight and strength makes it an excellent choice for players who need to transition quickly between defense and offense.

LSM-Specific Lacrosse Heads: Balancing Defense and Transition

Long Stick Midfielders (LSMs) require lacrosse heads that can handle both defensive responsibilities and quick transitions to offense. What features should LSM players look for in a lacrosse head?

• Lighter weight compared to pure defensive heads
• Moderate face shape for versatility in all areas of the field
• Durable construction to withstand defensive play
• Scoop design that facilitates ground ball pickups
• Stringing options that allow for both defensive and offensive setups

With these features in mind, let’s explore some of the best lacrosse heads specifically designed for LSM players.

ECD Rebel Defense: Versatility for the Modern LSM

The ECD Rebel Defense is a popular choice among LSM players due to its excellent balance of defensive capabilities and offensive potential. How does this head cater to the unique needs of LSMs? The Rebel Defense features a face shape that’s wide enough for effective checking but not so wide that it hinders quick stick skills. Its reinforced sidewalls provide the durability needed for defensive play, while the head’s overall design allows for smooth transitions to offense when needed.

Under Armour Command Low: Precision and Control

Under Armour’s Command Low offers LSM players a head that excels in both defensive and transition play. This head’s low profile design provides excellent ball control, crucial for LSMs who need to maintain possession while moving up the field. The Command Low’s stiff construction ensures durability during defensive play, while its moderate weight allows for quick stick movements in transition situations.

Stringing Considerations for Defensive Lacrosse Heads

The way a defensive lacrosse head is strung can significantly impact its performance on the field. What stringing techniques and patterns work best for defensive players? Here are some key considerations:

• Deeper pockets for increased ball security during checks
• Mid to high pocket placement for quick releases on clears
• Tighter channel for improved accuracy on long passes
• Use of heavy-duty mesh or traditional leathers for durability
• Incorporation of shooting strings for added control on long passes

Defensive players should experiment with different stringing setups to find the optimal balance between ball retention, quick releases, and overall control.

Maintaining and Caring for Your Defensive Lacrosse Head

Proper maintenance of your defensive lacrosse head is crucial for ensuring its longevity and optimal performance. How can players keep their heads in top condition throughout the season?

1. Regularly inspect for cracks or damage, especially after intense games
2. Clean the head and pocket after each use to remove dirt and debris
3. Store the stick in a cool, dry place to prevent warping
4. Avoid leaving the stick in hot cars or direct sunlight for extended periods
5. Restring or adjust the pocket as needed to maintain optimal performance

By following these maintenance tips, players can ensure their defensive lacrosse heads remain in peak condition, game after game.

Adapting Your Defensive Head to Your Playing Style

While certain lacrosse heads are designed specifically for defensive play, it’s important to remember that personal preference and playing style also play a significant role in head selection. How can defenders choose a head that complements their unique approach to the game?

• Consider your checking style: aggressive checkers may prefer stiffer heads, while finesse players might opt for more flexible options
• Evaluate your role on clears: players who frequently transition to offense might choose lighter heads for quicker movements
• Assess your ground ball technique: some players prefer wider scoops, while others favor narrower designs for precision
• Think about your stick skills: players with advanced stick handling might choose heads that allow for more intricate stringing patterns

By carefully considering these factors, defenders can select a head that not only performs well in general defensive situations but also enhances their individual strengths on the field.

The Future of Defensive Lacrosse Head Design

As lacrosse equipment technology continues to evolve, what can we expect to see in future defensive head designs? Several trends are emerging that may shape the next generation of defensive lacrosse heads:

• Integration of advanced materials for improved strength-to-weight ratios
• Implementation of computer-aided design for optimized face shapes and sidewall structures
• Development of customizable heads that can be fine-tuned to individual player preferences
• Incorporation of smart technologies for performance tracking and analysis
• Exploration of sustainable materials and manufacturing processes

These advancements promise to push the boundaries of what’s possible in defensive lacrosse head design, potentially revolutionizing how defenders approach the game.

The Role of Player Feedback in Head Development

Equipment manufacturers are increasingly turning to player feedback to inform their design processes. How does this collaboration between players and designers impact the evolution of defensive lacrosse heads? By incorporating real-world experiences and insights from defensive players at all levels, manufacturers can create heads that address specific on-field challenges and preferences. This player-centric approach leads to more refined and effective designs that truly meet the needs of modern defenders.

Balancing Innovation with Regulation

As new technologies emerge in lacrosse head design, how do equipment regulations keep pace with innovation? Lacrosse governing bodies must carefully balance the desire for advancement with the need to maintain fair play and safety standards. This ongoing dialogue between manufacturers, players, and regulators ensures that defensive lacrosse heads continue to evolve while adhering to the sport’s established rules and traditions.

In conclusion, the world of defensive lacrosse heads is constantly evolving, with new designs and technologies emerging to meet the ever-changing demands of the game. By understanding the key features of defensive heads, exploring top options for both defenders and LSMs, and staying informed about maintenance and future trends, players can make informed decisions to enhance their performance on the field. Whether you’re a seasoned defender or an aspiring LSM, choosing the right lacrosse head is a crucial step in maximizing your potential and dominating the defensive end of the field.

Shore Sports Network/Jeep Store Football Top 10 for Nov. 2, 2021

I’ve thought a lot about this edition of The Jeep Store/Shore Sports Network Top 10, probably more than I’ve ever had to in my 17 years covering Shore Conference football. Ever since Friday night’s games concluded, I knew this was going to be difficult.

I crunched some numbers, went through all the scenarios, garnered several outside opinions, and more. It started to become a bit existential, which is to say maybe I was overthinking things. My approach for ranking teams in all the sports I cover comes down to who is currently playing the best. Head-to-head results obviously play a major part in that, but sometimes they can’t make the decision completely. That is the case in separating Donovan Catholic, Rumson-Fair Haven, and Red Bank Catholic.

Those three are clearly the top three teams in the Shore Conference. The order isn’t nearly as easy to figure out. They’ve all defeated each other, so the head-to-head argument goes out the window. Then you start looking at things like point differential, power points, strength of schedule, etc., and it gets even more muddled. Sometimes it comes down to simply trusting your judgment and your eyes.

Heading into Week 10, the team playing the best football in the Shore Conference is Donovan Catholic, which is the new No. 1 team in the SSN Top 10 entering the NJSIAA state playoffs. The Griffins took down RBC, 28-7 in Week 9, to hand the Caseys their first loss and it was a more-or-less dominant victory over a team that looked it may not lose at all this season.

The deciding factors were how well the Griffins have looked over the last month and the most recent results between the three teams. Rumson-Fair Haven does own a 14-0 win over Donovan Catholic from Week 2, but in Week 7, RBC won 21-14 over Rumson and then last week Donovan Catholic beat RBC by three touchdowns.

Judging by my Twitter mentions and my email inbox, there are some people who believe Donovan Catholic should be disqualified from being the No. 1 team in the Shore because the Griffins had to forfeit three wins for the use of an ineligible player. I’ve made my opinion clear on that, but here goes again.

Donovan’s use of an ineligible player was explained as an administrative error, and after researching the facts I believe that is clearly what it is. The player who saw the field erroneously had zero impact on any of Donovan’s first four games, so while a lot of people are dying on the hill that the Griffins cheated and should continue to be punished, I’m sorry but I just don’t agree with you. This wasn’t a team knowingly playing a star player who contributed to victories (which has happened in the past in the Shore). That would be a different story completely.

The Griffins record is officially 5-4 but they are 8-1 on the field. The three games they forfeited were wins of 54-14, 34-13, and 35-0. I am not going to further punish the players, who did nothing wrong and have been excellent on the field.

It’s important to remind everyone that this is NOT the final Top 10. Even though teams go in separate directions for the postseason and it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison, the playoffs absolutely matter. The team that finishes No. 1 in the final Top 10 will be the one with the best overall body of the work, the team that has the best overall season and the team we feel is No. 1 based on everything from September to December. That could very well be Donovan Catholic, but it could certainly still be Rumson or RBC. Heck, another team could go on a championship run and change the entire narrative. Stranger things have happened.

While the matter of who is No. 1 is the big topic, there is also a new team in the Top 10 plus some movement in the bottom half. The playoffs are here with a total of 25 Shore Conference teams having qualified. There is still a lot of football to be played.

1. Donovan Catholic (*5-4, 8-1 on the field). Last week: No. 3

Senior running back Nunes Bukula IV ran for 156 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, including a 52-yard, game-icing touchdown run with 3:03 left in the game, as the Griffins went into Count Basie Field and dealt Red Bank Catholic a 28-7 defeat to run their on-field winning streak to seven games and take over as the No. 1 team in the Shore. Bukula also had a 7-yard touchdown run, senior quarterback Jalin Butler ran for 75 yards and a touchdown and senior wide receiver Kyree Drake ran for a 13-yard touchdown. The defense was outstanding in holding a high-octane RBC offense off the board until late in the fourth quarter. Donovan now embarks on its playoff quest as the No. 8 seed in the Non-Public A bracket. If the Griffins win their first game they will face top-seeded and undefeated Bergen Catholic, which is the No. 1 team in New Jersey, in the second round Next game: Friday vs. Notre Dame (4-4) in the Non-Public A first round.

2. Red Bank Catholic (8-1). Last week: No. 1

Senior quarterback Alex Brown threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to junior wideout Robert Stolfa but that was the only score the Caseys could muster in a 28-7 loss to Donovan Catholic that dropped them from the ranks of the unbeaten and from the top spot in the Top 10. RBC drops just one spot to No. 2 because of their recent head-to-head victory over Rumson-Fair Haven, however. The Caseys were seeded No. 2 in the Non-Public B playoffs. Next game: Friday, Nov. 12 vs. Morris Catholic (4-5) in the Non-Public B quarterfinals.

3. Rumson-Fair Haven (7-1). Last week: No. 2

It does look like Rumson got short-strawed here, dropping one spot to No. 3 after a 43-6 demolition of Long Branch, which was ranked No. 6 and undefeated heading into the game. But in keeping consistent with using the most recent results to sort through the muck, Rumson’s Week 7 loss to RBC has them coming in behind the Caseys this week. Senior running back Geoff Schroeder rushed for a career-high 262 yards and four touchdowns, senior quarterback Coiln Kennedy ran for a touchdown, and senior running back Dan Garvey also ran for a touchdown. No matter their ranking here, the Bulldogs are a superb team who can still make their case for No. 1 in the final Top 10. They are the top seed in the Central Jersey Group 3 bracket and will begin their journey for sectional title No. 7 on Friday night at Borden Stadium. Next game: Friday vs. Oakcrest (3-5) in the Central Jersey Group 3 quarterfinals.

4. Middletown South (6-1). Last week: No. 4

Senior running back Dan Primiano ran for 193 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries while senior defensive end Jack Latore and sophomore linebacker Colin Gallagher led a suffocating defensive effort as the Eagles blanked Lacey, 34-0, to improve to 6-1. Latore had 11 tackles with three tackles for loss and half a sack, and Gallagher made eight tackles with 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss. Sopohmore running back Donovan Summey added 89 yard rushing and two touchdowns on eight carries and senior quarterback Tom Schork ran for 64 yards on four carries. Defensive backs Tyler Carey and Jake Czwakiel each had interceptions. Middletown South is the No. 2 seed in the North 2, Group 4 bracket. The Eagles’ 10 sectional titles are the second-most in Shore Conference history. Next game: Friday vs. North Hunterdon (5-4) in the North 2, Group 4 quarterfinals.

5. Wall (5-3). Last week: No. 5

The Crimson Knights scored 28 unanswered points in the second half to run past St. John Vianney, 34-13, for their third straight win entering the playoffs. Senior quarterback Jake Davis ran for 161 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries and senior running back Matt Dollive ran for 98 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Senior wide receiver Jackson Coan added a touchdown run. Senior linebacker Charlie Sasso led the defensive effort with 13 total tackles, a tackle for loss, and a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown. It has been an up and down season for Wall but the opportunity is in front of them to make it another special year. They are seeded second in the South Jersey Group 3 playoffs. Next game: Friday vs. Hopewell Valley (5-3) in the South Jersey Group 3 quarterfinals.

6. Manalapan (6-2). Last week: No. 7

The Braves move up one spot after a 28-0 win over Central Regional. Junior wide receiver/defensive back Alex Dille caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Mike Heckel and also returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown. Senior running back Elijah Marquez had two touchdown runs, including a 50-yarder in the fourth quarter. After a tough 2020 season, Manalapan has bounced back as a championship contender once again. The Braves are the No. 2 seed in the South Jersey Group 5 bracket. Next game: Friday vs. Edison (6-3) in the South Jersey Group 5 quarterfinals.

7. Manasquan (6-2). Last week: No. 9

The Warriors move up two spots in the rankings thanks to a 28-0 win over Asbury Park. Junior quarterback Brett Patten threw touchdown passes to Matt O’Donnell and Patrick Woodford and also ran for 70 yards and atouchdown. Junior running back Jhamier Howard ran for 73 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries and Woodford ran for 72 yards on 12 carries. The path will not be easy but Manasquan will take the field this Saturday to start its pursuit of state title No. 13. Next game: Saturday vs. Holmdel (3-5) in the Central Jersey Group 3 quarterfinals.

8. Point Boro (7-1). Last week: No. 10

Sophomore fullback Jake Croce ran for 186 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries and made 11 tackles on defense as the Panthers defeated Middletown North, 20-12, for a solid road win that has them jumping up two spots this week. Senior quarterback Charlie Vitale and junior fullback Tyler Gordon also had touchdown runs while sophomore running back Matt Oliphant ran for 43 yards and also had a critical 77-yard punt down to the Middletown North 1-yard line late in the game. Sophomor nose guard Charlie Davison totaled a team-high 14 tackles and Gordon added 12 to lead the defense. Point Boro is the No. 1 seed in the South Jersey Group 2 bracket. Next game: Friday vs. Monmouth Regional (6-3) in the South Jersey Group 2 quarterfinals.

9. Long Branch (6-1). Last week: No. 6 

A blocked punt touchdown by Shamar Williams accounted for Long Branch’s only points as the Green Wave tumble three spots after a lopsided 43-6 loss to Rumson-Fair Haven. Long Branch has to regroup quickly as it prepares to face a familiar foe in the first round of the playoffs. Next game: Saturday vs. Freehold (5-4) in the South Jersey Group 4 quarterfinals.

10. Toms River North (5-3). Last week: not ranked

The Mariners enter the rankings after a 17-0 shutout of Southern Regional, which was ranked No. 8 last week. Sophomore quarterback Micah Ford continued his excellent season with 190 yards rushing and a touchdown on 24 carries plus over 100 yards passing and a touchdown. Sophomore wide receiver Tareq Concil caught three passes for 105 yards and a touchdown and the defense held Southern standout running back Jaiden Brown to just 59 yards rushing. The Mariners are a very young team that has steadily improved this season and they will try to ride that momentum into the playoffs. Next game: Friday vs. East Brunswick (8-1) in the South Jersey Group 5 quarterfinals.

Dropped out: Southern (No. 8 last week)

Keep an eye on:

Raritan (4-4)

Central (6-3)

Middletown North (5-3)

Shore (6-2)

Colts Neck (5-3)

Lacey (5-3)

Freehold (5-4)

Archive

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Week 1

Preseason

Here Are The Richest Towns In Each State

Just saying the names of these towns immediately conjures up images of grand mansions, luxury cars, and ritzy restaurants. Read on to see which town in your home state took the title of the richest location and which place had the highest median income in the country. Who knows—your hometown might even be on this list.

No. 4 Ducks Head To Seattle For Rivalry Showdown

Story Links

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  Oregon Game Notes – Washington




• 
  Game 9 Organizational Chart

#4 Oregon Ducks (7-1, 4-1 Pac-12)

CFP/AP/Coaches Rank: 4/7/7

Head Coach: Mario Cristobal (Miami, 1993)

Record at Oregon: 32-11 (4th Season)

Career Record: 59-58 (10th Season)

Washington Huskies (4-4, 3-2 Pac-12)

CFP/AP/Coaches Rank: NR/NR/NR

Head Coach: Jimmy Lake (Eastern Washington, 2000)

Record at Washington: 7-5 (2nd Season)

Career Record: Same

TV – ABC

Play-by-Play: Mark Jones

Analyst: Robert Griffin III

Sideline: Quint Kessenich

Radio – Oregon Sports Network

Local: KUJZ-FM 95.3 (Eugene) | KFXX-AM 1080 (Portland)

Sirius: 133 | XM: 197

Play-by-Play: Jerry Allen

Analyst: Mike Jorgensen

Sideline: Joey McMurry

Pre-Game Show: Terry Jonz

Numbers to Know

3 – Travis Dye is one of only three FBS players to lead their team in both rushing yards (609) and receptions (24). 
4 – Oregon came in at No. 4 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, cracking the top five for the first time since 2014.
36.1 – Oregon is No. 1 in the Pac-12 and No. 23 in the FBS with 36.1 points per game after scoring a season-high 52 vs. Colorado.
77.8 – The Ducks are tied for second in the nation this season with TDs on 77.78% of their red zone opportunities (28-of-36).
308.8 – Anthony Brown led the Pac-12 during the month of October with 308.8 yards of total offense per game.  

Did You Know?

Oregon is 15-1 under Mario Cristobal when rushing for more than 200 yards after racking up 256 on the ground vs. Colorado.

Series History – Oregon vs. Washington

All-Time: Washington leads, 60-47-5

In Seattle: Washington leads, 30-20-2

Current Streak: Oregon W2

Last Meeting: Oregon won, 35-31 (10/19/19, in Seattle)

Most points scored by Oregon: 58 (1973)

Most points scored by Washington: 70 (2016)

Largest margin of victory by Oregon: 58 (1973)

Largest margin of victory by Washington: 66 (1974)

TEAM NOTES

At A Glance

Oregon will travel to Seattle this Saturday for a showdown against Pac-12 North rival Washington at Husky Stadium. At 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Pac-12 play, the Ducks earned the No. 4 spot in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season released on Tuesday. This will be the first meeting between Oregon and Washington since 2019 after last season’s game was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols within the Huskies program. Oregon has won the last two meetings against the Huskies, and 14 of the last 16. 

Ducks In The CFP Rankings

» The lone Pac-12 team currently in the CFP top 25.

» First time in the top four of the initial CFP rankings.

» First CFP top-five ranking since 2014, and seventh overall.

» 12th time in the CFP top 10, and 21st in the top 25. 

A Win Would…

» Be Oregon’s 15th in the last 17 meetings with Washington.

» Be Oregon’s seventh in the last eight games against Washington in Seattle.

» Mark the 14th time in school history that Oregon has won at least eight of its first nine games. 

Nail-Biters

Oregon is among the best in the FBS at winning tight games, coming through in clutch situations on both sides of the ball to win four games decided by seven points or less. The Ducks are one of just six teams in the country that have won at least four games by a touchdown or less and one of only three in the Power 5 (Oklahoma – 5, Kentucky – 4). It’s also the first time since 2009 that an Oregon team has won at least four one-possession games in a season. 

Winning The Turnover Battle

Through eight games, Oregon has been one of the best teams in the FBS when it comes to winning the turnover battle, sitting in a tie for ninth nationally with a plus-8 turnover margin. The Ducks are also tied for ninth in turnover margin per game at +1.00 while the Ducks’ 16 takeaways are tied for 16th most in the FBS. Oregon has won or finished tied in the turnover battle five times, winning each of those games.  

Fresh Faces

Oregon has played 19 members of its highly-touted 2021 recruiting class in the first eight games. Additionally, four true freshmen have earned a start this year (Terrance Ferguson, Keith Brown, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Jeffrey Bassa). The Ducks have played 40 total freshmen. 

True freshmen to play in 2021: Jeffrey Bassa, Isaiah Brevard, Keith Brown, Brandon Buckner, Byron Cardwell, Daymon David, Jaylin Davies, Avante Dickerson, Terrance Ferguson, Troy Franklin, Moliki Matavao, Seven McGee, Jabril McNeill, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Kingsley Suamataia, Ty Thompson,  Dont’e Thornton, Terrell Tilmon and Keanu Williams.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

What Can Brown Do For You
Anthony Brown has made big plays with his arm and his legs while leading the Ducks to a 7-1 start to the season. Brown has thrown 10 touchdown passes to go along with six rushing TDs, and he ranks third in the Pac-12 with 270.3 yards of total offense per game. Brown has been especially effective over the last three games, setting season highs in passing yards each time out and completing 75.5 percent of his passes (74-of-98) for 847 yards and four touchdowns during that span. Brown led all Pac-12 quarterbacks during the month of October in completion percentage (71.0) and total offense per game (308.8). 

» Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award top 10 finalist

» No. 3 in the Pac-12 with 2,162 yards of total offense. 

» Tied for 1st among Pac-12 QBs with six rushing touchdowns.

» Five games with at least 200 yards passing and 35 rushing.

» Rushed for a career-high 85 yards and a TD in win at UCLA.

Career Day For AB
Anthony Brown played the best statistical game of his career in Oregon’s 52-29 win over Colorado, completing 25-of-31 passes for a career-high 307 yards and three touchdowns. Brown’s stellar 80.6 completion percentage shattered his previous career best, and he surpassed 300 passing yards for the first time as a Duck and second time in his career. 

» First UO QB to complete at least 80 percent of his passes in a game since Justin Herbert on Nov. 2, 2019.

» Started the game 9-for-9 for 100 yards and a TD. 

» Added 38 rushing yards to finish with 345 yards of total offense.

Feature Back
Travis Dye is arguably the biggest key to Oregon’s offense this season, especially after fellow back CJ Verdell went down with a season-ending injury on Oct. 2. Dye rushed for a season-high 145 yards on 19 carries on Oct. 15 vs. Cal – UO’s first game following Verdell’s injury – and he ranks fourth in the Pac-12 with 76.13 rushing yards per game. One of four current Pac-12 players with more than 2,000 career rushing yards, Dye’s ascension as Oregon’s primary ball carrier has accelerated his rise up the all-time rushing charts. Dye entered the UO career top 10 in rushing yards during the California game, and he currently sits in 10th all-time with 2,449 yards.

» Needs 97 rushing yards to move into ninth on Oregon’s career rushing list.

» Five career games with 100-plus rushing yards; UO is 5-0 when Dye rushes for 100-plus.

» Third among active Pac-12 players and 10th in the Power 5 in career rushing.

26 Can Do It All

A dynamic runner, Travis Dye has also been a huge weapon for the Ducks as a receiver out of the backfield. Dye leads the Ducks with 24 receptions for 264 yards, making him one of only three players in the FBS to lead his team in both rushing yards and catches. Dye has been heavily involved in the passing game over the last four games, recording 20 receptions for 223 yards during that span after making five catches for a season-high 75 yards on Saturday vs. Colorado. Dye added 73 receiving yards on a career-best seven catches against Cal to go along with his season-high 145 rushing yards, and is the only FBS running back this year and the first Pac-12 player since Christian McCaffrey in 2016 to have at least 140 rushing and 70 receiving yards in a game. Dye ranks third in the Pac-12 this season with 109.1 total yards from scimmage per game and is one of just six players in the conference averaging over 100 scrimmage yards per contest.

FBS players to lead their team in both rushing yards and receptions

Tyler Badie – Missouri (989 rushing yards, 40 receptions)
Travis Dye – Oregon (609 rushing yards, 24 receptions)

Deuce Vaughn – Kansas State (704 rushing yards, 32 receptions)

TDs For TD

Travus Dye has shown a knack for finding the end zone this season, leading the Pac-12 with 11 total touchdowns entering Saturday’s game in Seattle. Dye is tied for the Pac-12 lead with 10 rushing touchdowns, including seven on the ground and eight total in the last three games. Dye rushed for a career-high four touchdowns in Oregon’s win at UCLA, becoming the first Oregon player since Verdell in 2018 and just the fourth since 2000 to have four scores on the ground in a game. Dye’s four touchdowns came on four consecutive carries, setting a new NCAA record in the process. Dye followed that performance with two rushing touchdowns and his first receiving touchdown of the season vs. Colorado, scoring a rushing and receiving TD in the same game for the first time in his career. Dye also scored multiple touchdowns in back-to-back games for the first time, and Oregon improved to 14-1 all-time when Dye finds the end zone. The Norco, Calif., native owns 22 career touchdowns (15 rushing, 7 receiving). 

Williams Heating Up
Devon Williams has emerged as one of the go-to targets in the passing game over the last few weeks, currently leading the team with 290 receiving yards Williams has caught 14 passes for 242 yards and a TD over the last three games, leading the team in receiving yards in each of the last two contests. He has finished with at least 60 receiving yards in each of the last three games while setting season-highs in receiving yards each of the last three times out. 

» 14 of his 18 receptions have gone for first downs, including all five of his catches against Colorado.

» Hauled in five catches for 95 yards, highlighted by a 25-yard TD in the Colorado game.

Pro-Duck-Tive Duo
Jaylon Redd and Johnny Johnson III are among the most experienced wide receiver pairs in the FBS. They have combined for the third most career receiving TDs of any Power 5 duo – and the most in the Pac-12 – with 31. Johnson and Redd are also second among Pac-12 duos with 3,276 career receiving yards led by Johnson, whose 1,872 receiving yards is second among active players in the conference.

Climbing The Reception Rankings

Senior wide receivers Jaylon Redd and Johnny Johnson III look to continue climbing Oregon’s career receptions list during their final collegiate seasons in 2021. Johnson cracked the top 10 list in career receptions at Oregon in the Colorado game, and now has 135 catches while Redd is 13th with 129 career receptions.

» To move into ninth on Oregon’s receptions list, Johnson needs 10 catches.

» Johnson is 15 catches away from 150 in his career while Redd is 21 away. Seven WRs in UO history have reached that mark.

» Johnson is also 177 receiving yards away from cracking the Oregon top 10 list for career receiving yards. 

Line ‘Em Up Anywhere

Versatility on the offensive line has been one of the keys to Oregon’s offensive success. Six linemen have taken snaps at multiple positions along the offensive line, led by Dawson Jaramillo, who has played four different positions, and Jackson Powers-Johnson, who has taken snaps at three spots. Additionally, five players have started at multiple positions during the year while the Ducks have used six different starting offensive line combinations and 19 different groups overall. 

Ground And Pound

Oregon’s offense has been paced by a consistent ground attack over the first two months of the season. The Ducks are second in the Pac-12 and 25th nationally with 204.9 rushing yards per game and have gone over the 200-yard mark four times. Travis Dye is fourth in the Pac-12 in rushing yards per game (76.1) while Anthony Brown is third among QBs in the league in yards per game on the ground (45.6). Dye, CJ Verdell and Byron Cardwell have each run for 100 yards in a game this year, making Oregon one of five Power 5 teams to have three different players reach the century mark in a game this year.

» Leading the conference and tied for sixth nationally with 25 rushing TDs.

» 15-1 under head coach Mario Cristobal when rushing for at least 200 yards and 9-0 when reaching 250 yards. 

» Scored five TDs on the ground at UCLA, the most rushing TDs by an Oregon team since Nov. 23, 2018 at Oregon State. 

» Ran for 269 yards in a week two win at Ohio State – the most by a team against the Buckeyes in Ohio Stadium since 2014.

Thriving On Third Down

Oregon has been efficient on third downs over the last two games, combining to go 14-of-19 in third-down situations during the UCLA and Colorado games. The Ducks converted on 12 consecutive third-down attempts between the UCLA and Colorado games, succeeding on their final seven against the Bruins before coming up with first downs on their first five attempts against the Buffaloes. 

» Second in the conference and 10th nationally, converting 49.0 percent of third downs.

» Went 7-for-9 on third-down conversions in the win at UCLA, before finishing 7-of-10 against Colorado.

» Of the 14 third-down conversions in the last two games, seven have been through the air, and seven have been via run. 

» Tied for third in the FBS with three-and-outs on just 10.1 percent of drives. 

DEFENSIVE NOTES

Game Wrecker

Named a first-team preseason All-American by eight different outlets, Kayvon Thibodeaux has wreaked havoc in opposing backfields in his career as a Duck. An FWAA second-team All-American in 2020, Thibodeaux has recorded 16.0 sacks and 31.0 TFLs in 27 career games at Oregon. He is fourth among Power 5 players in TFLs since the start of 2019 with 31.0 after recording a career-high 4.5 at UCLA on Oct. 23. Thibodeaux leads Oregon with four sacks and 7.5 TFLs this season despite missing two-and-a-half games due to injury, seeing limited action vs. Arizona and missing the first half vs. Cal.  

» Bednarik Award semifinalist

» Tied for fourth in the Pac-12 with 7.5 TFLs and tied for fifth with 4.0 sacks.

» Fourth-highest pass rush grade nationally among edge defenders according to PFF (92.0). 

» 27 total quarterback pressures, 18 hurries and five QB hits, according to PFF.

Superb Sewell

Linebacker Noah Sewell has proved himself as one of the best defensive players in the conference. Sewell is fourth in the Pac-12 and third nationally among freshmen with a team-high 69 tackles – 20 more than any other Duck. He has made 57 tackles over the last six games, including 42 in the last four home games (10 vs. Stony Brook, 14 vs. Arizona, 12 vs. California, 6 vs. Colorado). He owns the highest grade among Pac-12 linebackers and is 16th in the FBS in pass rushing situations according to PFF (86.2).

» Butkus Award semifinalist (first in program history).

» One of two Pac-12 players with at least 60 tackles and three sacks on the season.

» Second among Ducks in both tackles for loss (6.5) and sacks (3.0).

» Has finished at least tied for the team lead in tackles five times, all in the last six games. 

» Made at least four stops in all 15 career games, and five-plus in his last 13. 

» Set a career-high with 14 stops against Arizona. 

» Three double-digit tackle performances this season, and four in his career. 

Back-End Playmaker

A third-year starter in the UO secondary, Verone McKinley III has proven to be one of the best playmakers in the FBS in 2021. He’s tied for second nationally with four interceptions after coming away with a pick in three straight games in September. McKinley is also third on the team with 46 total tackles this season. The 2019 FWAA Freshman All-American is tied for eighth among active FBS players with nine career interceptions and is one of just two third-year players with at least nine picks. 

» Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist

» First Duck with an interception in three straight games since Erick Dargan in 2012.

» Two INTs vs. Stony Brook, the second multi-interception game of his career. 

» Game-sealing interception in Oregon’s historic win at then-No. 3 Ohio State.

» Five of his nine career interceptions have come in the red zone. 

» Three interceptions away from cracking the UO all-time top 10. 

» Has already matched his career-high with 46 tackles this season. 

The Wright Stuff

A preseason first-team All-Pac-12 selection, Mykael Wright has continued to put up strong numbers in his third collegiate season. Wright is second on the team with 49 tackles (35 solo) and also has an interception, three TFLs, a forced fumble and four pass breakups. Wright has recorded five or more tackles in seven of the eight games, highlighted by a career-high 10 stops in the win at Ohio State. He has also finished at least tied for the team lead in tackles in a game twice, making a team high in stops against the Buckeyes and the last time out vs. Colorado. 

» First among Pac-12 cornerbacks and tied for second among all DBs in the league with 49 tackles. 

» Came away with second career INT during the Arizona win. 

» One of four Pac-12 DBs with at least 40 tackles and three TFLs on the season.

Turning Up The Pressure

Oregon has gotten significant contributions from a number of players along its defensive front to compliment consensus preseason All-American Kayvon Thibodeaux. Sophomore BBrandon Dorlus leads all Pac-12 interior defensive linemen and is third on the team with 5.5 TFLs, while freshman Bradyn Swinson is tied for second on the team and 10th in the conference with three sacks. Additionally, freshman Treven Ma’ae has added a pair of TFLs and 1.5 sacks while freshman Keyon Ware-Hudson has three tackles for loss and half a sack to go along with four QB hurries. 

» Dorlus leads the team with 30 QB pressures and owns an 80.7 pass-rushing grade according to Pro Football Focus.

» Junior Popo Aumavae is the second-highest graded Pac-12 interior defensive lineman (77.0) while Dorlus is fourth (75.3) according to PFF. 

DJ Crank It Up

Since taking over the starting role at one of the cornerback spots, sophomore DJ James has shown the ability to make plays defending both the pass and the run. He has 22 tackles over the last five games while coming away with a pair of interceptions and breaking up two passes. James picked off two passes in the win at UCLA, including one to seal the game with under a minute to play in addition to recording a career-high eight stops. James is fifth on the team with 28 stops on the year despite playing in one fewer game than the four players ahead of him.

» One of eight FBS players to have multiple interceptions and at least eight tackles in a game. 

» First on the team with a tackling grade of 83.0 and has missed just one tackle all season according to Pro Football Focus.

» Has allowed 18 receptions on 38 targets according to PFF. 

Bassa Stepping Up

True freshman Jeffrey Bassa has delivered some strong play since taking over the starting role at inside linebacker. Bassa made his third consecutive start at inside linebacker in the win over Colorado, finishing tied for the team lead with six stops while recording 1.5 TFLs. Bassa has set or matched a season high in tackles in each of the last three contests, making 15 tackles and 2.0 TFLs  during that stretch.

» Moved from safety to inside linebacker prior to the Ohio State game. 

» Made six tackles and recorded 0.5 TFLs in the win at UCLA.

Making Stops In Crunch Time

The Oregon defense has made numerous big stops late in games in the seven wins. The Ducks have forced six turnovers in the fourth quarter in addition to turning opponents over on downs three times. UO has forced a fourth-quarter turnover in five of the seven wins and came up with a fourth-down stop with two seconds remaining in the win over California. 

» Forced a fumble and came up with a fourth-down stop in the fourth quarter in the sesaon opening win vs. Fresno State.

» Sealed wins at Ohio State and UCLA with interceptions in the final two minutes of each game.

» Stopped Cal on fourth-and-goal on the two-yard line with two seconds left. 

Run Stuffers

The Oregon defense has been stout against the run all season, currently leading the Pac-12 allowing just 3.5 yards per rush. The Ducks have held six of their eight opponents under their season average in rushing yards, doing so in each of the last three games. Oregon is also third in the conference allowing 131.6 yards per game on the ground while sitting in a tie for second in the league with nine rushing TDs given up. 

» Tied for fifth nationally with just four runs of at least 20 yards given up.

» Oregon has not allowed a run of 20 yards or more in the last three games. 

» One of two Pac-12 teams to not allow a 100-yard rusher (Arizona State). 

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

Kicking It Into Gear

Sophomore kicker Camden Lewis has made a significant contribution to Oregon’s special teams in handling both placekicking and kickoff duties. He is the only Pac-12 kicker and one of just eight in the FBS still perfect on the season (minimum five attempts). Lewis has put the ball in the end zone for a touchback on 26 of his 54 kickoff attempts. His eight straight made field goals to start the year is also the longest streak of his career. Lewis’ numbers show a drastic improvement from his first two seasons as a Duck, as his touchback percentage of 48.1 percent is nearly double what it was from 2019 to 2020 (26 percent). 

» Current streak of eight straight made FGs is the longest by an Oregon kicker since Aidan Schneider in 2015 (9 straight).

» 49-yard FG vs. California was the longest by a UO kicker since Matt Evensen hit a 52-yarder on Oct. 25, 2008.

Snee GIves Ducks Defense An Edge

Sophomore punter Tom Snee has proven to be a weapon, giving the Ducks’ defense a number of advantages in field position through eight games. The Australia native has pinned 11 of his 24 punts inside the 20 yard-line, and has been named to the Ray Guy Award Ray’s 8 list twice this season.

» Each of his last four punts have either gone for more than 50 yards or been pinned inside the 20, highlighted by two kicks of 50-plus yards vs. Caliifornia.

» Boomed a career-long 57-yard punt at Stanford.

Cody Roscoe’s growth at defensive end

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Against Liberty with under four minutes left, defensive end Cody Roscoe forced Flames quarterback Malik Willis to step up in the pocket. With the offensive lineman distracted by a linebacker blitz, Roscoe found space, hit Willis from behind and slapped the quarterback’s throwing arm to jar the ball loose.

Roscoe’s strip sack led to a game-winning field goal and SU’s third win of the year, but his process was the same as always: beat the offensive lineman and get to the quarterback.

“On every snap, I’m gonna attack and go at you,” Roscoe said. “And I can feel like I can win against a guy. It’s not necessarily finesse or speed, it’s just a constant motor every snap.”

Roscoe’s sack against Liberty was just one of his Atlantic Coast Conference-leading eight this season. On Oct. 19, Roscoe was named an AP midseason All-American. But two years ago, before transferring to SU, Roscoe was playing in the Football Championship Series at McNeese State University in Louisiana. Out of high school, he was a lightly-recruited, undersized defensive end — and an oversized linebacker — with no Football Bowl Subdivision offers. Roscoe grew from the No. 2,851-ranked recruit in his class into one of the nation’s top defensive ends.

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“I don’t think many guys saw him playing at Syracuse and being as productive as he is now,” said Carlos Perez, Roscoe’s defensive ends coach at McNeese State.

When Perez first saw Roscoe at a high school showcase at Texas Southern University, his size didn’t “stick out,” he said. At 5-foot-11 and 236 pounds, Roscoe was built like a linebacker, but not quick enough to be a good one, McNeese State assistant Lark Hebert said. He lacked the arm length of most defensive ends, but his strength, motor and ability to “get off” at the line of scrimmage stood out, Perez said.

When Perez first saw Roscoe after his sophomore year at Heights (Texas) High School, head coach Stephen Dixon had recently moved him from middle linebacker to defensive end. Dixon, a former defensive lineman, said he noticed whenever he sent Roscoe on linebacker blitzes, he showed a quick get off and had “natural instincts” as a pass rusher. Dixon said he felt Roscoe’s best chance at playing in college was as a defensive end.

“I was really, crazy upset,” Roscoe said. “When he switched me off (from linebacker to defensive end), I said ‘No way.’ I felt like I thought he was messing up my future. I wasn’t gonna be able to go to college. I thought nobody was gonna pick me up.”

But Dixon showed Roscoe his favorite moves, including a side-to-side “jab step move” which misdirected offensive linemen using a swim, rip or dip move to get space. Roscoe worked daily on his takeoff while focusing on where to look while attacking offensive lineman. He also took note of how deep quarterbacks dropped back, all because he “had to get to the quarterback.”

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“Cody would come off the ball and the offensive lineman wouldn’t know whether he was going inside or outside and man,” Dixon said. “Before you know it he’s in the back of your freaking head.”

In his first season playing defensive end, Roscoe recorded 10 sacks in 10 games and earned first-team All-District honors. Then as a senior, Roscoe had 22 sacks — one of highest numbers in the state of Texas — and he was named first-team All-State. But the big colleges didn’t come. They saw Roscoe as not being tall enough or fast enough, Dixon said, and he wasn’t the “prototypical” defensive lineman.

Roscoe landed at McNeese State, and before his first game against Stephen F. Austin State University, Roscoe endured “the worst week of practice” in his career as McNeese State coaches helped him adjust to an elevated level of play. Roscoe responded with a strip sack, an interception and five tackles.

“To this day, I feel like that was the best game I’ve ever had in my life,” Roscoe said. “I don’t feel like I can ever match that type of statline since I played that game.”

Perez said Roscoe was on the field before practices and in between classes working on technique. Perez and Roscoe looked at recent games to “break down every inch,” Perez said. Then-McNeese State head coach Lance Guidry said Roscoe studied offensive linemen from opposing teams to see if they were late getting out of their stance to exploit them in the upcoming games.

Roscoe also worked with Perez on extending his arms to gain separation against offensive lineman, Hebert said. He was constantly looking for more pass rush moves, Herbert said, and one included a “long arm” move where Roscoe would jab the offensive lineman with his arm to create separation for himself.

I still have a lot to prove to myself and to the people that thought I couldn’t be here, so I still have a long way to go

Cody Roscoe, Syracuse defensive end

Guidry said Roscoe worked closely with fellow defensive end Chris Livings. The two lineman stayed on the field to work on different ways of using their hands while rushing, how they could get offensive lineman’s hands off of them and how they could get through to the quarterback once the O-lineman “opened up the gate.”

“If you were working with them and you didn’t work, I mean you stood out like a sore thumb because (Roscoe and Livings) just got after it,” Hebert said.

At first, Roscoe focused on getting to the quarterback for a sack, but McNeese State coaches told him they needed him to stop the run, too. Hebert worked with Roscoe on zone-read plays, where the quarterback either keeps the ball or hands it off to the running back based on what the defensive end does. Hebert and Roscoe would do an “eyes drill” so Roscoe could locate the ball. The two did the drill so many times that Roscoe was rarely confused by fakes, Hebert said.

After the 2019 season, Roscoe transferred to Syracuse. Roscoe, in addition to adjusting to ACC competition after playing for three years in the FCS, had to adjust to SU’s 3-3-5 defense as he said that he had played in 4-2-5 schemes throughout his career. SU’s defense has a lot more stunts and crosses as opposed to playing in mostly one-on-one situations like he had in high school and at McNeese State, Roscoe said.

When he played in a 4-2-5 in high school, Roscoe said he always stood up instead of starting in a three-point stance because it was more comfortable — it allowed him to see the whole field, along with the offense’s formations and shifts. But at Syracuse, Roscoe has rushed out of three- and four-point stances. Now in his second year, he said he’s learned the system.

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Roscoe also matched his body to the new defense, he said. Last year he thought he had to be “really heavy” to play in the 3-3-5 defense, and was around 268 pounds — the heaviest he had ever been in his life, he said.

“After the season I just told myself I didn’t wanna be at that point ever again,” Roscoe said. “I wanted to get back down to a comfortable weight that I feel like I can fly around and just be chaotic when I’m on the field.”

Now, Roscoe said he is about 10 pounds lighter, and he’s changed his eating habits and focused more on flexibility. He worked with his trainer at home on single leg exercises so he could change directions quickly and become more explosive.

The results have shown for Roscoe through nine games. Last year, he had just two sacks and 20 tackles in 11 games. This year, he already has 39 tackles and eight sacks. On Saturday against Boston College, he had one of his strongest games of the season, recording five tackles and splitting a sack with Kingsley Jonathan.

When his mom told him that he was named a midseason All-American two weeks ago, Roscoe responded with, “What are you talking about?” The player who barely cracked the top-3,000 players in his class four years ago didn’t know the midseason honor existed. But now, it’s just another step on his road to proving he can be “as good as anybody in the country.”

“I still have a lot to prove to myself and to the people that thought I couldn’t be here, so I still have a long way to go,” Roscoe said.

Published on October 31, 2021 at 11:26 pm

Contact Connor: [email protected]

Season’s Final Road Trip Sends Mountain Hawks To Bucknell Saturday

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Football
11/2/2021 1:25:00 PM

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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Two teams still looking for their first Patriot League victory this fall meet at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium Saturday as Lehigh travels to Bucknell for its final road game of the season. In the last two weeks the Mountain Hawks turned in their best offensive performance of the year at Fordham and then their best statistical defensive performance of the year against Holy Cross, but were unable to come away with a victory. Last week, Lehigh battled within 14-12 of Holy Cross after three quarters following a touchdown pass from sophomore Dante Perri to Jalen Burbage, but two fourth quarter Mountain Hawk miscues allowed the Crusaders to capitalize on short fields as Holy Cross prevailed 31-12. Bucknell has won just once this season and is coming off of its fourth straight league loss, 33-10 at Colgate last weekend.
 
One week after Lehigh’s offense had its best game of the season at Fordham, the Mountain Hawks’ defense enjoyed its best performance of the year against Holy Cross. Lehigh allowed a season-low 233 yards, while setting season highs with seven tackles for loss, four sacks and two takeaways. The Mountain Hawks allowed held a Crusader team averaging a league-best 210.7 rushing yards per game coming into the game to just 78 yards on the ground. Junior safety TyGee Leach tied a career high with nine tackles to lead the defense while adding 1.5 tackles for loss and half a sack. Senior Nate Norris added seven tackles and a fumble recovery. Sophomore Liam McIntyre had two of Lehigh’s four sacks and classmate LaTreil Wimberly had his first career interception. During the spring season, Lehigh ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense.
 
The Lehigh defense received a boost against Holy Cross with the return of fifth-year linebacker Pete Haffner, who missed five games due to injury. Haffner is a two-year captain, a three-year starter and a two-time second team All-Patriot League selection. He has appeared in 35 career games with 202 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and two interceptions. Haffner led Lehigh with 28 tackles and three tackles for loss in the spring season and added a fumble recovery against Holy Cross. He opened his fifth season by leading Lehigh with 11 tackles, while adding 1.5 tackles for loss and half a sack against Villanova. Haffner is also accomplished academically where he is a three-time Academic All-Patriot League honoree and two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection.
 
In this era of offensive football, the numbers indicate that the Lehigh-Bucknell game could turn into another defensive battle. The Mountain Hawks and Bison are ranked at the bottom of the Patriot League in both scoring offense and total offense. In the spring, these teams combined for just 429 yards of offense and six points in Bucknell’s 6-0 victory at Goodman Stadium. The Apr. 3 game in Bethlehem marked the first Lehigh game in which neither team scored a touchdown since Oct. 9, 1976, when Lehigh lost 3-0… to Bucknell.
 
Much like last week’s game with Holy Cross, there are a number of connections between the coaching staffs at Lehigh and Bucknell. Most notably, Lehigh head coach Tom Gilmore and Bucknell head coach Dave Cecchini served as defensive and offensive coordinators together at Lehigh from 2000-2002, first under Kevin Higgins, and then Pete Lembo. They led their respective units on Patriot League championship teams in 2000 and 2001. Defensive coordinator Mike Kashurba coached at Bucknell in 2012 and 2013. On the Bison side, Cecchini is a former All-America receiver for the Brown and White. His staff includes former Lehigh team captain and assistant coach Matt Ford ’16. Assistant coaches Jason Miran, Isaac Collins and Vinny Giacalone have all enjoyed stints at Lehigh during their coaching careers.
 
Bucknell brings a 1-7 overall record and 0-4 Patriot League mark into Saturday’s game. The Bison defeated Cornell on Oct. 2 for their lone win this season but have since dropped four straight league games, including a 33-10 setback at Colgate last week. Bucknell won the Patriot League South Division in the spring season and lost to Holy Cross in the championship game. The Bison have used four different quarterbacks this season with sophomore Nick Semptimphelter and freshman Nick Grady sharing time as of late. Jared Cooper is the top rusher, while Damian Harris and Dominic Lyles have been Bucknell’s top receivers. Defensively, the Bison are led by linebacker Ben Allen (52 tackles, 3.0 TFL), and defensive backs Brent Jackson (51 tackles, 1.5 TFL), and Jonathan Searcy (51 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT).
 
Lehigh has played Bucknell more times than any opponent other than rival Lafayette.  The Mountain Hawks and Bison meet for the 85th time with Lehigh holding a 48-33-3 advantage. Lehigh has won 19 of the last 23 games, winning 15 straight before back-to-back Bucknell wins in 2013 and 2014. The Bison’s other two wins during that time frame have come during the last two seasons.
 
Saturday’s game kicks off just after 1 p.m. from Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in Lewisburg, Pa. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with audio coverage on Fox Sports Radio 1230/1320 AM and 94.7 FM Allentown and LVFoxSports.com beginning at noon.
 
Lehigh will play final two games at Goodman Stadium, beginning with a visit from Georgetown next Saturday on Salute to Service Day, presented by Weis Markets. Game time is set for noon. The Mountain Hawks will close out the regular season on Nov. 20 when they host Lafayette in #Rivalry157.
 
 

 
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season. 
 

Football Notebook: Historic Night For Pimpleton

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KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Central Michigan football coach Jim McElwain calls Kalil Pimpleton the heart and soul of his team.
 
You can call him the sparkplug too.
 
Pimpleton ignited the Chippewas with a pair of dazzling punt returns for touchdowns on Wednesday, sparking CMU to an emotional 42-30 victory over archrival Western Michigan at the Broncos’ Waldo Stadium.
 
Pimpleton’s first return covered 70 yards and it drew CMU to 14-7 midway through the second quarter. After he caught an 11-yard touchdown pass to tie the game with just 1:06 left in the first half, he outdid himself a minute later.
 
Pimpleton took a Western punt at the CMU 3-yard line and bolted 97 yards to put the Chippewas ahead for good, 21-14, with just 3 seconds left in the half.
 
His performance will go down as one of the very best in the storied history of the Battle for the Cannon Trophy between the Chippewas and their bitter rivals some 133 miles to the southwest.
 
“There’s a lot of people that don’t know (Pimpleton) as a person and I promise that this is the hardest-working guy that I’ve ever met in my life,” CMU linebacker Troy Brown said. “Being his roommate, being his teammate, being his brother, he helped me adopt some type of work ethic as far as putting in the work, putting in the extra time.
 
“I see that guy making plays like this waking up. It was no surprise to me.”
 
Pimpleton finished with 281 all-purpose yards. He returned three punts for 166 yards and caught five passes for 115.
 
He said he told his teammates on the punt return unit earlier in the week to give him 3 seconds.
 
“I just mean get their guy, at least stop his feet for at least three seconds or be in front of your man for at least three seconds,” Pimpleton said. “That’s all I need.
 
“All of them – I want to shout out the whole punt return team for taking what I told them and really believing it and going out there and executing.”
 
Pimpleton’s first punt return was CMU’s first for a TD since Antonio Brown’s 73-yarder against Eastern Michigan in 2009.
 
When Pimpleton crossed the goal line with his second, it marked the first time that CMU had returned two punts for a TD in a game since it became a Division I program in 1975.
 
The 97-yarder is the longest punt return in program history, surpassing Central Michigan Athletics Hall of Famer Jim Podoley’s 90-yarder in 1953 against Northern Iowa.
 
Happy Return
Junior running back Darius Bracy returned to the Chippewa lineup in Wednesday’s game and touched the ball just once.
 
But he made a major impact.
 
Lined up in the wildcat formation, Bracy took the center snap and took a couple steps toward the line of scrimmage, stopped, leaped, and tossed to tight end Joel Wilson for an 11-yard touchdown with 7:31 remaining.
 
It came on third-down-and-6 and it extended CMU’s lead to 42-24.
 
It was the first career pass for Bracy, a converted defensive back who missed CMU’s last five games with an injury.
 
“That’s one that we’ve carried and obviously when he was out we had to put it on the shelf,” said McElwain, who credited offensive coordinator/quarterback coach Kevin Barbay for calling the play. “There are certain plays you carry throughout the year and you work them, work them, work them (in practice).
 
“It was a great call obviously by coach Barbay. I thought our staff did a fantastic job preparing for this ballgame and putting our kids in the right positions to make plays and that was just one of them.”
 
Feelin’ good
McElwain said the victory was particularly satisfying after the Chippewas had lost three in a row to the Broncos. He took over the CMU program in 2019 and the Chippewas lost, 31-15, in Kalamazoo in his first season and 52-44 last season in Mount Pleasant.
 
McElwain said earlier this week that he was “embarrassed” by those two losses.
 
“Those last two years they beat the living tar out of us,” he said. “It was hard to swallow. Sometimes you get beat and that’s OK. But when you get embarrassed like we did the last couple years against these guys, (tonight) felt good. We’re missing a bunch of guys too and there were a bunch of guys who stepped up. I was proud of them.”
 
Sweet Lew
CMU running back Lew Nichols posted his fourth straight 100-yard rushing performance with 163 and two touchdowns on 26 carries. He upped his season total to 1,082 yards and seven TDs. Four of those scores have come in the Chippewas’ last two games.
 
He also has 211 receiving yards on 31 catches this season.
 
Rebounding
The Chippewas found themselves in a 14-0 deficit early in the second quarter. Western Michigan scored on two of its first three possessions, driving 80 yards in 15 plays on its first and going 68 in 12 on its third.
 
The Chippewa defense didn’t completely stop the Broncos through the remainder of the game. But by the time Western scored its third TD of the night, the Chippewas were in front and never relinquished the lead.
 
That was, obviously, due to the heroics of Pimpleton and the CMU offense, which found its footing as the game wore on. But it was also due to a defense that bore down and tightened up.
 
“Once we came out and started playing more aggressive, we became more comfortable as a defense and more confident as a whole,” linebacker Troy Brown said. “Once we figured that out, we kind of picked it up.”
 
The Chippewas forced three turnovers, one an interception by Brown that put the exclamation point on the win with under a minute to play. Another was a fumble, recovered by linebacker George Douglas, early in the fourth quarter with the Broncos at CMU’s 36-yard line and CMU leading 35-24.
 
CMU’s next possession ended with Bracy’s TD toss to Wilson.
 
Containment
The Chippewa defense surrendered its share of big plays, but the majority of those came in the second half after CMU had built – and maintained – a two-score lead.
 
“We had a great plan going in and what it really boils down to is doing your job,” McElwain said, adding that early in the game, when Western found sustained success on offense, “We had guys out of their fits, not taking care of their gaps, not being down when they should be down.
 
“They dinked and dunked; they threw the hitches and this and that. But for the most part we kept it in front of us. Give the credit to our defensive staff and our kids for executing the plan.”
 
The Broncos finished with 445 yards to the Chippewas’ 389 and ran 80 plays to CMU’s 52.
 
Defense
Brown led the Chippewa defense with nine tackles, while safety Gage Kreski and cornerback Donte Kent added eight apiece.
 
CMU had three sacks, two by John Wesley Whiteside, among six tackles for loss.
 
The nine stops were a season high for Brown, a junior and a two-time All-MAC First Teamer who had missed CMU’s last two games with an injury. The interception was his first of the season and the fifth of his career.
 
D-Rich
CMU quarterback Daniel Richardson completed 10 of his 18 pass attempts for 230 yards and one TD, giving him 15 on the year against just two interceptions.
 
His numbers were not dazzling, but to McElwain, that mattered little.
 
“One of the things we talk about is that statistics mean absolutely nothing at the quarterback position,” McElwain said. “It’s about winning football games, and at the quarterback position you’re measured on your wins, and I think this was a good one for him.”
 
Where They Stand
The Chippewas are 5-4, 3-2 MAC. They are in a three-way tie for second place in the MAC West with Ball State and Eastern Michigan, one game behind Northern Illinois (4-1). The Huskies lost to East-leading Kent State, 52-47, on Wednesday.
 
The Golden Flashes, 5-4, 4-1, come to Kelly/Shorts on Wednesday, Nov. 10.
 
CMU is not out of the running for the MAC West title, but for the Chippewas to earn a berth in the MAC Championship Game they would almost certainly have to win all three of their remaining games and NIU would have to lose at least two of its last three.
 
 

Patriot League Football Notebook presented by TIAA (Week 10)

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Patriot League Football Notebook presented by TIAA (Week 10) (.PDF)
 
HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN TO PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL GAMES THIS WEEK
The week ten schedule features three important League games on Saturday. The day kicks off with Holy Cross hosting Lafayette in an important League game at Fitton Field. Live coverage begins on ESPN+ at 12:30 p.m. Fordham also travels to Georgetown with a 12:30 p.m. kickoff at Cooper Field on ESPN+. Lehigh travels to Bucknell for a 1 p.m. game at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The Mountain Hawks – Bison matchup will be available on ESPN+ with audio available on WVLY 100.9 FM and Fox Sports Radio Lehigh Valley 1320/1230 AM. Home Patriot League games can be viewed internationally at https://patriotleague.org/watch.
 
FORDHAM’S JAMES CONWAY SELECTED TO JERRY RICE AWARD WATCH LIST
Fordham freshman linebacker James Conway was selected to the Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award Watch List. Now in its 11th season, the Rice Award is presented to the national freshman of the year in the FCS. Conway, the reigning GEICO Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week and a three-time League rookie of the week, is among the League and FCS leaders in tackles per game (12.13) and forced fumbles per game (0.50).
 
COLGATE’S GRUBER TIES LEAGUE SINGLE-SEASON AND CAREER KICKOFF RETURN RECORD
Colgate senior defensive back/return specialist Will Gruber has returned kickoffs for touchdowns in consecutive weeks, tying the Patriot League single-season and career kickoff return for touchdown record with two. The back-to-back Patriot League GEICO Special Teams Player of the Week first struck with a 100-yard return for a score at Cornell on Oct. 15. Against Holy Cross on Oct. 23, he scored on a 99-yard return. Gruber joins 10 Patriot League football student-athletes in a tie for the career record. He has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in a single season, joining Bucknell’s Dante Ross (2004) and Lafayette’s Matt Smalley. He is also tied for the FCS lead with two kickoff returns for touchdowns this season.
 
RAMS’ KOKOSIOULIS AMONG FCS TD RECEPTIONS LEADERS
Fordham Sr. WR Fotis Kokosioulis caught three touchdown passes in the Rams’ 66-21 victory over Bucknell (10.16) and has reached the end zone five times in the last three games. He is tied for second in the FCS with nine touchdown catches in Fordham’s eight games this season. Junior teammate Dequece Carter is tied for sixth in the FCS with eight touchdown receptions. Former Lehigh standout and current Bucknell Head Coach Dave Cecchini holds the Patriot League’s single-season touchdown record with 15.
FCS TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS LEADERS
1. Jalyn Witcher, Presbyterian, 10
2. Fotis Kokosioulis, Fordham, 9
2. BJ Byrd, Morehead St., 9
2. Taylor Grimes, UIW, 9
2. Landon Lenoir, Southern Ill., 9
 
FOUR PATRIOT LEAGUERS AMONG FCS TACKLES LEADERS
Four Patriot League defensive players rank among the FCS top-20 leaders in tackles, led by Fordham freshman linebacker James Conway, who posted a career-high 22 tackles vs. Lehigh (Oct. 23).  Holy Cross junior linebacker Jacob Dobbs has recorded double-digit tackles in five games and is fourth in the nation. Lafayette junior linebacker Marco Olivas (10.5) and Georgetown senior linebacker Justin Fonteneaux (9.7) are 12th and 17th, respectively.
FCS TACKLES PER GAME LEADERS
1. James Conway, Fordham, 12.1
4. Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross, 11.1
12. Marco Olivas, Lafayette, 10.5
17. Justin Fonteneaux, Georgetown, 9.7
 
DEMORAT AMONG FCSs BEST AT FINDING THE END ZONE
Fordham senior quarterback Tim DeMorat threw for 401 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Rams over Lehigh on Oct. 23, one week after tying a Rams’ single-game record with six touchdown passes against Bucknell. He moved to 11th in League history in passing yards (7,724) and climbed to ninth in the FCS this season in passing yards per game (296.0). He has also had a knack for leading his receivers into the end zone, ranking fifth in the nation in touchdown passes, with 24 through eight games. DeMorat is responsible for 20.2 points per game, the fifth-best in the FCS.
PASSING TOUCHDOWNS
1. Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington, 30
2. Ren Hefley, Presbyterian, 28
3. Cole Kelley, Southeastern La., 28
4. Cameron Ward, UIW, 26
5. Tim DeMorat, Fordham, 24
 
SLUKA AMONG FCS RUSHING TOUCHDOWN LEADERS
Three Holy Cross sophomore quarterback Matthew Sluka, the defending Patriot League Rookie of the Year, is tied for eighth in the FCS with 10 rushing touchdowns in eight games this season. He rushed for two fourth-quarter scores against Lehigh (Oct. 30).
 
LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS (3-5, 2-1 PL) AT HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS (6-2, 3-0 PL)
Fitton Field/Worcester, Mass.          12:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+/Spectrum News 1): PxP – Tim McKone; Analyst – Jorge Bannister
Series History: Lafayette and Holy Cross meet for the 35th time in series history, with the Leopards holding an 18-16 advantage. The Leopards and Crusaders met for the first time in 1986, a 38-14 win for Holy Cross. The Crusaders are 6-4 against Lafayette since 2010, though the Leopards were victorious in the last meeting between the two teams in 2019.
Last Meeting: (Nov. 9, 2019) – The Leopards’ defense forced five turnovers, and QB Keegan Shoemaker threw touchdown passes to WR Julian Spigner and WR Julius Young in Lafayette’s 23-20 win over Holy Cross at Fitton Field. LB Major Jordan led Lafayette with eight tackles, 3.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks and a fumble recovery, while LB Ryan Dickens forced two fumbles. Holy Cross QB Connor Degenhardt completed 19-of-26 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns, and an interception. LB Jacob Dobs led the Crusaders’ defense with six tackles, 2.0 TFLs and 1.5 sacks.
 
FORDHAM RAMS (5-3, 3-0 PL) AT GEORGETOWN HOYAS (2-5, 1-3 PL)
Cooper Field/Washington, D.C.       12:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Jeremy Huber; Analyst – Jo’el Kimpela
RADIO BROADCAST (WFUVSports.org): PxP – Nick DeLuca; Analyst – Alex Wolz
Series History: Fordham and Georgetown meet for the 67th time in series history, with the Rams holding a 40-23-3 advantage. The Hoyas and Rams met for the first time in 1889 in a 6-4 Fordham win. Fordham has won seven of the last eight meetings between the two programs, including a 30-27 victory in Washington, D.C. in 2019.
Last Meeting: (Oct. 12, 2019) – Fordham QB Tim DeMorat threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to WR Fotis Kokosioulis with 17 seconds remaining in the game to lift the Rams to a 30-27 victory over Georgetown at Cooper Field. DeMorat threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns, while RB Zach Davis rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. LB Glenn Cunningham finished with nine tackles, 3.5 TFLs and two forced fumbles for the Rams’ defense. Georgetown QB Gunther Johnson completed 13-of-17 passes for 280 yards and rushed for 81 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. Hoyas’ WR Michael Dereus had four catches for 149 yards, while WR Joshua Tomas had seven catches for 131 yards. LB Justin Fonteneaux finished with 13 tackles, one forced fumble and an interception to lead GU’s defense.
  
LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS (0-8, 0-3 PL) AT BUCKNELL BISON (2-6, 0-3 PL)
Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium/Lewisburg, Pa.              1 p.m. (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Doug Birdsong; PxP – Kevin Herr
RADIO BROADCAST (WVLY 100.9 The Valley): PxP – Doug Birdsong; PxP – Kevin Herr
RADIO BROADCAST (Fox Sports Lehigh Valley 1230/1320 AM): PxP – Matt Kerr; Analysts – Jim Guzzo and Matt Markus
Series History: Lehigh and Bucknell meet for the 85th time in series history, with the Mountain Hawks holding a 48-33-3 advantage. Lehigh has won 19 of the last 23 games between the two long-time rivals, though the Bison have won the last two meetings.
Last Meeting: (April 3, 2021) – Bucknell PK Ethan Torres connected on a pair of field goals and the Bison defense stifled Lehigh on their way to a 6-0 victory to clinch the South Division title and a spot in the Patriot League Football Championship Game. Bucknell’s defense held Lehigh to 190 yards of total offense and recorded five sacks, including two from DL Mike Bright Jr. Lehigh QB Cross Wilkinson completed 17-of-28 passes for 167 yards, and LB Pete Haffner had a game-high 11 tackles for the Mountain Hawks.
 
PATRIOT LEAGUE GEICO FOOTBAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
PATRIOT LEAGUE GEICO FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Julius Young, Lafayette, Jr., WR, Houston, Texas/Episcopal
*Young posted career highs with nine catches and 150 yards, and a touchdown to help the Leopards erase a 17-0 deficit in their 24-23 win at Georgetown.
*His 47-yard touchdown reception is the second-longest of his career and the team’s fourth-longest reception of the season.
*Young is the first Lafayette student-athlete since 2019 to total 150 or more receiving yards in a game.
 
PATRIOT LEAGUE GEICO FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Malik Hamm, Lafayette, Sr., DL, Baltimore, Md./City College
*Hamm made a game-high eight tackles and finished with a season-high 2.5 sacks in Lafayette’s 24-23 comeback victory at Georgetown.
*His 2.5-sack performance was the second-highest single-game total for the three-time All-Patriot League defensive lineman.
*He also recorded two quarterback hurries, while helping the Leopards’ defense hold GU  to 77 rushing yards.
 
PATRIOT LEAGUE GEICO FOOTBALL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Derek Ng, Holy Cross, Sr., PK, Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman
*Ng connected on a 50-yard field goal, the longest in the Patriot League this season and the second-longest in Holy Cross history in the Crusaders’ 31-12 win over Lehigh.
*He also connected on all four of his PAT attempts in addition to registering two touchbacks on six kickoff attempts.
*Ng also has the longest field goal in program history, a 51-yarder at Lehigh during the spring 2021 season.
 
PATRIOT LEAGUE GEICO FOOTBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Michael Brescia, Colgate, Fr., QB, Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central
*Brescia completed 13-of-15 passes for 162 yards and rushed for 75 yards and two touchdowns to lead Colgate to a 33-10 win over Bucknell.
*The Hinsdale, Ill. native completed 86.7 percent of his pass attempts and rushed for 5.8 yards per carry in his first collegiate start.
*He has scored five touchdowns in the last five games to lead Colgate in scoring this season.
 
 
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.
 

Week 10 Opponent Scouting Report: Wisconsin

As we head into the Wisconsin week, the Scarlet Knights are right about where most fans thought they would be. Outside of a missed opportunity against Northwestern, Rutgers with four wins, needs two victories over the remaining four games to become bowl eligible.

But securing one of those two wins this Saturday is going to be a tall order. Wisconsin (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) is playing its best ball of the season, having won four straight games after losing three of its first four games.

Wisconsin is a good team, plain and simple. The running game is well, typically Wisconsin with an offensive line that is big, experienced and at times dominant. Spearheading the running game is Braelon Allen who at 6’ 2”, 238 pounds is a punishing north-south runner, the type that always seems to be featured in the Badgers offense. Allen is averaging 6.8 yards per carry while Chez Mellusi leads the team with 158 carries and 740 yards. Wisconsin’s wide receivers are led by Danny Davis, Kendric Pryor, and tight end Jake Ferguson. The tight end room is thin as Clay Cundiff is out for the season and tight ends Cam Large and Hayden Rucci are already listed as “out” for Saturday’s game. The offensive line is huge, averaging 6-5 and 312 pounds per lineman.

The Badgers are led by sophomore quarterback Graham Mertz who so far this season has thrown three TD passes with seven interceptions. His overall passing rating is 39.0 ranking 106th in the country.

The Badger defense has been elite. “One of the hottest teams in the Big Ten, and the best defense in America,” coach Greg Schiano said. “It’s quite a challenge. We’re looking forward to it.”

Since losing to Michigan, the Badgers have allowed a combined 34-points, including back-to-back wins over ranked Purdue and Iowa. The Badgers have fielded a top-ten (seventh) defense nationally in seven of the last eight seasons. The Badgers are currently No. 1 nationally in total and rush defense, No. 5 against the pass and No. 8 in scoring defense, allowing just 17-points per game.

There are no glaring weaknesses for Wisconsin, although their passing game is just serviceable. The defense is strong from front to back with a stout defensive line, mobile linebackers, and a strong backside of the defense. The Scarlet Knights will be facing a difficult challege this Saturday.

News & Notes

• Rutgers and Wisconsin have played three times with Wisconsin winning all three meetings..
• The Badgers have lost seven players to the transfer portal this season, the most in the FBS as of Monday afternoon.
• The weather forecast according to AccuWeather for Saturday’s game is 56° and cloudy.
• Wisconsin is currently a 13-point favorite after an opening line of -11 earlier in the week.

90,000 Announcement of the upcoming season in the Metropolitan

NHL staff writer Vasily Osipov presents the announcement of the Metropolitan division for the 2014-15 season.

DIVISION METROPOLITAN

Last season, the “Devils” lacked the depth of the squad and goalkeeper stability. The team was in a fever all year, and good segments alternated with clearly failed ones. Especially awful “New Jersey” proved to be in the performance of the shootout, losing all 13 series.Living legend Martin Broder and Corey Schneider, who came to the team, fought unsuccessfully for the right to be the first number of the team. As a result, Broder had 39 matches and showed the worst statistics in his more than 20-year career. And the main scorer of the team was the second 40-year-old hockey player of the team, Jaromir Jagr.

Statistics of the Season

GOAL: 24 | PAS: 43 | GLASSES: 67
THROWS: 231 | +/-: 16

The team’s coaching staff did not hesitate with changes, and in the offseason the team was joined by snipers Mike Camalieri and Martin Gavlat.The unfading “dinosaur” Jagr also extended the contract for one more year. If Schneider can settle into No. 1 and forward Mike Ryder wakes up from the hibernation in which he spent last season, the Devils will have a small chance of competing for their last two playoff spots.

OURS: Having bought out the contract of the defender Anton Volchenkov, “Devils” for the first time in many years will start the season without a single Russian in the squad.

Last season was a year of great change for the Blue Coats.The team not only moved to another division, but also changed the Western “conference of death” to a lighter Eastern one. As a result, “Columbus” not only managed to break into the playoffs, but also pretty worn the nerves of the venerable “Pittsburgh Penguins”, winning the first match of the Stanley Cup in the history of the club.

GOALTENDER – BLUE JACKETS

STATISTICS: 32-20-5
PSHSR: 2.38 | % OB: 0.923

The Blue Jackets have lost a reliable defender, a homebody Nikita Nikitin, who has moved to the Neftyanniki camp from Edmonton.Also left the striker RJ Amberger, who was replaced by the prickly Scott Hartnell, who can both get under the skin of an opponent and complete the attack of his team with a scored goal. Columbus are counting heavily on the progress of Ryan Johansen and Ryan Murray’s young growth.

OUR: The main hope of the Blue Coats is the goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovsky, who for two years in the team became one of the best goalkeepers in the NHL. His performance will largely determine whether Columbus can make the playoffs again and win more than two matches.Center forward Artem Anisimov has noticeably increased in defensive actions and is gradually becoming one of the leaders of the team. I hope the burden of responsibility will benefit the Yaroslavl citizen. Veteran defender Fyodor Tyutin lost his longtime partner Nikitin. Despite a slight decline last season, he ranks among the team’s top two defensive pairs and has yet to say his last word.

The Rangers have quickly adopted the system of head coach Alain Vigneau who joined the team ahead of last season.To the surprise of many experts, who did not believe that the “blue shirts” would be able to make the playoffs, they reached the Stanley Cup final for the first time in twenty years, where they lost to the Los Angeles Kings. The team’s success was largely based on the well-coordinated team play and the highest level demonstrated by the team’s goalkeeper Henrik Lundqvist.

GOALKEEPER – RANGERS

STATISTICS: 33-24-5
PSHSR: 2.36 | % OB: 0.920

In the summer, the Rangers’ management bought the contract of the highly paid but not very productive Brad Richards, as well as forwards Benoit Puglio, Brian Boyle and the brute Dan Carsillo.They have been replaced by seasoned defender Dan Boyle, who will surely be the playmaker for the majority, as well as three power plan strikers Lee Stempnyak, Tanner Glass and Ryan Malone. However, as in several previous seasons, the Rangers’ success will largely depend on the performance of the Swedish goalkeeper Henrik Lundqvist, who was the main reason for the team’s entry into the Stanley Cup final.

OURS: After the exchange of Artyom Anisimov to the Columbus Blue Jackets a few years ago, the “blue-shirts” feel a certain indifference to hockey players from Russia.

“Islanders” have failed the next season, only occasionally reminding a team that can claim to be something more than the role of a noteworthy outsider. The main blow to the team was a severe knee injury sustained by team captain John Tavares at the Sochi Olympics. After that, the Islanders simply stopped playing.

Statistics of the Season

GOAL: 9 | PAS: 11 | GLASSES: 20
THROWS: 91 | +/-: -4

In the offseason, the team’s general manager Garth Snow got down to business, distributing generous contracts to several players at once, including the Slovak goalkeeper Jan GalakYu as well as former Toronto Maple Leafs partners Mikhail Grabowski and Nikolay Kulemin, who, along with Tavares and Kyle Okposo, who significantly improved, are called upon to become the attacking core of the team.However, without changes on the coaching bridge and in the chair of the general manager, the Islanders’ prospects in the coming season are very far from bright.

OURS: After the veteran goalkeeper Evgeny Nabokov left for Tampa, only Nikolai Kulemin remained in the Ostrovityan camp, having signed a four-year contract with the team. Playing in a link with longtime partner Grabovsky should help the Russian to reveal his attacking potential, which he has more than demonstrated, speaking during the lockout for Metallurg Magnitogorsk in conjunction with Evgeny Malkin.

Last season “The Pilots” started cheerfully. After the first three (lost) matches, the head of head coach Peter Lavioletta flew. The former “policeman” Craig Berubi, who replaced him, tightened the screws and saved the banked ship from sinking to the bottom of the standings. As a result, “Philadelphia”, showing power hockey in the best traditions of “hooligans from the high road” of the 70s era, managed to take third place in the Metropolitan division and get into the playoffs, where in the first round they lost to their sworn enemies from “New York Rangers “.

Statistics of the Season

GOAL: 28 | PAS: 58 | GLASSES: 86
THROWS: 223 | +/-: 7

Who came in the offseason to the post of general manager Ron Hextall did not make serious changes in the composition, only exchanging fan favorite Scott Hartnell in the Columbus Blue Jackets for the hard worker RJ Amberger. “Pilots” also lost their leading defender Kimmo Timmonen for an indefinite period, who was found to have a blood clot in a vessel.Without strengthening the composition of the “Flyers” it remains to hope that their leaders Claude Giroud and Vincent Lecavalier will come up to the new season fully armed, otherwise the road to the playoffs for “Philadelphia” will be slippery and bumpy.

OURS: This season, the “Pilots” playing in a forceful manner will do without players with a Russian passport.

“Stolichnye” rolled down the last season, like on a sled down a hill, from the winners of their division to the team that did not make the playoffs.Now the former Adam Oates forgot to tell his guys how to play as equal suckers. This resulted in a general 23rd place at the end of the season in a 5-on-5 game and an incredible minus 35 utility rate for the best NHL sniper Alexander Ovechkin. No wonder that the patience of the owner of the team, Ted Leonsis, came to an end, and the head flew not only of Oates, but also of Capitals general manager George McPhee, who spent 17 years in office. The new coach of the team was the master of defensive style Barry Trotz, who for 16 years squeezed everything and even more out of the stunted “Nashville”, sometimes pulling an openly mediocre team to the playoffs.

Statistics of the Season

GOAL: 51 | PAS: 28 | GLASSES: 79
THROWS: 386 | +/-: -35

The team’s new general manager, Brian McLellan, embarked on a major restructuring of the squad right away, signing long-term deals with former Pittsburgh Penguins defenders Brooks Orpick and Matt Niskanen in hopes of reinforcing the often leaky defense last season. Also for this purpose were signed “laborers” Tim Kennedy and Chris Newbury.At the same time, the losses of “Stolichnye” cannot be called too significant. Belarusian Mikhail Grabowski and Slovak Yaroslav Galak, who lost the competition to Braden Holtby, left for the New York Islanders. It is not known how the strict Trotz Ovechkin will fit into the system, but if the new coach manages to straighten the game in equal compositions, the Capitals have every chance of returning to the Stanley Cup.

OUR: It is not known how Ovechkin and Yevgeny Kuznetsov, who often play on “clean” pucks, will perceive the possible defensive functions proposed by Trotz.The previous two mentors quickly realized that this venture would not lead to anything good. In any case, two striking attackers will be in charge of all the attacking actions of the “Capital”. Defender Dmitry Orlov will have to try very hard to gain a foothold in the squad, especially after the arrival of two expensive veterans, Orpik and Niskanen, to the team.

Once again, the dream of the muscular “Penguins” about winning the next Stanley Cup has turned into zilch. Leading the second round series 3-1 with the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh fell apart like a house of cards.After that, the patience of the owners of the club finally snapped, and general manager Ray Shero and head coach Dan Bilesma were removed from their seats.

Statistics of the Season

GOAL: 23 | PAS: 49 | GLASSES: 72
THROWS: 191 | +/-: 10

The venerable Jim Rutherford, who came to Shero’s place, immediately slashed off his shoulder, hiring the trainer-pharmacist Mike Johnston and staging a summer sale of “Penguins”. Leaving the team was one of the main goalscorer James Neal, defenders Matt Niskanen, Derek Engelland and Brooks Orpik, second-line forward Jussi Jokinen, as well as security officials Tanner Glass, Joe Vitale and Lee Stepmnyak.From the newcomers can be distinguished except that written off from the Buffalo Sabers, Christian Ehrhoff, as well as the reserve goalkeeper of Arizona Coyotes, Thomas Greiss, designed to replace the main gatekeeper of the team, Marc-André Fleury. Pittsburgh will be a dark horse this season. And if, God forbid, at least one of the club’s superstars breaks, nothing good will shine for the “Penguins”.

OURS: Evgeny Malkin probably scratches his head in bewilderment, trying to guess who will become his link partners.The possibility is not excluded that one of the best forwards in the world will have to drag the “Penguins” on his powerful shoulders in the event of another injury to the gradually becoming crystal Sidney Crosby.

After an unsuccessful last season, former assistant to the famous Mike Babcock, Bill Peters, came to the coaching bridge of the Hurricanes, who has a lot of work to do so that the potential Carolina could compete for a place in the playoffs. Indeed, a team that includes such cool hockey players as brothers Eric and Jordan Staal, Jeff Skinner and Alexander Semin is simply obliged to do this.

Statistics of the Season

GOAL: 22 | PAS: 20 | GLASSES: 42
THROWS: 210 | +/-: 1

In the offseason, however, the Hurricanes chose not to make major line-up changes, hiring only former team player Tim Gleason and striker Jay McClement. But even if the Hurricanes fail another season, the consolation prize could be Super Junior Connor McDavid, who will surely be the No. 1 draft pick in 2015.

OURS: Having healed his injuries and decided to tie the knot this summer, Alexander Semin should become Carolina’s main scorer if he can avoid new injuries and does not blow away under pressure from the press and fans. In conjunction with Eric Staal, the Siberian may well return to indicators of 30 goals per season or more, which has not happened to him since the 2009-10 season. For goalkeeper Anton Khudobin, last season was by far the best of his career. This time, the guard of the gates of the Russian national team will again have to compete for the right to be the first number of “Hurricanes” with veteran Cam Ward, which the progressing Khudobin is quite capable of.

Varlamov stopped Boston again – another victory and will advance to the next round – NHL Entertainment – Blogs

40 saves!

While the teams in the Canadian division take turns sweeping each other, in the East, showdowns are raging between Boston and Long Island.

Islanders and Boston preach the best defensive schemes in the league, but today the defense matrix failed – 9 goals for two, and the Isles generally scored 5 goals with 19 shots.

The Islanders had only two critical chances per game, one expected goal in equal squads, but they won anyway – the magic of Trinity and excellent execution worked.There are questions for Tuukka Rusk – as the Bruins head coach said, he was changed because he was not ready.

Rusk might well have helped out in Barzel’s first goal.

Yes, and on the fourth, there are questions.

Boston’s minority squad weren’t like themselves today – the Islanders scored three goals in four tries, and that made the difference.

The Mishkas should be given their due – despite the difference in the score, they managed to organize an assault and scored twice in the third period.Still, Brad Marschand would hit an empty net, and life against the tight defenses of the Islanders would be easier.

The assault on Boston ran into Semyon Varlamov – he made 16 saves during the period and helped the team keep the lead. In general, he very successfully entered the game during the series – he makes a lot of saves, and in some moments Semyon is helped by luck (“Boston” two matches in a row do not hit the empty net at close range).

Boston’s head coach criticized the referees at a press conference.

“I think they are selling us the tale that this is not the New York Islanders, but the New York Saints (Saints). They play hard and right, but so do we. And when we are removed, then they are not – I do not know why this is happening.

Maybe we need to be more demonstrative at such moments, but this is not about us. We just hoped that the judges would see violations. I’m not saying that every whistle against us is shitty, it’s not true.

But there are exactly the same moments against us.They also need to be punished for this. They do a great job selling this fairy tale that they are clean. Believe me, they have as many violations as we do. Just whistle it. This is very frustrating.

Judge the game the way you see it, stop listening to external influences (after the fourth game the judges criticized Barry Troz – Sports.ru) and do it right. I don’t think the judges were great tonight. I’m not going to lie to you. They are good judges, but tonight they seemed to be disconnected at some point. “

Of course, there is no referee’s conspiracy in favor of the Islanders, the referees’ mistakes openly interfere with both teams – Boston today for some reason forgave Ritchie for hitting the head, but spotted Sean Curali’s stick. The Islanders also fall under the lack of a single line of refereeing – in recent matches the referees did not notice a couple of episodes of dangerous play with a high stick, and then any hints of an opponent’s delay began to whistle and hunted down blows with a stick.

This spoils the impression of the series, because Boston and Islanders play excellent hockey, and Semyon Varlamov in wall mode can finish everything in the next match – if the Islanders come out, then they will most likely face a new round of battle with monster from Florida.

Date

June 8, 01.30, TD Garden

1: 0 – 2
Pastrnyak (Marshand, McAvoy)

1: 1 – 19
Barzel (Eberle, Dobson)

1: 2 – 25
Palmieri (Leddy, Bailey)

2: 2 – 28
Marshand (McAvoy, Pastrnyak)

2: 3 – 35
Bailey (Beauvilliers, Pajot)

2: 4 – 37
Eberle (Dobson, Barzel)

2: 5 – 42
Nelson (Pelek, Beauvilliers)

3: 5 – 44
Pastrnyak (Bergeron, McAvoy)

4: 5 – 55
Kreichi (Reilly, Smith)

Goalkeepers : Rask 12/16, Swyman 2/3 – Varlamov 40/44.

Photo: REUTERS / Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Hockey Cap

When buying a hockey player’s main weapon – a hockey stick, you must have noticed that a plastic piece is inserted into the “stick” from above – a plug.

For many of you, for sure, it was often lost during games and training, someone simply does not take it out and does not attach any importance to it – after all, with a plug or without it, the quality of the club does not change at all, exactly like the sensations from tool management.

This raises the question, why is this plug needed?

Some people think that it saves the gaiters from wear and tear, and perhaps there is something in this – the edges of the club without the cap are sharp enough, and they can easily wipe the palm of the playing gloves. But the plug is not there because of the wear of the leggings, although the direction of thought is correct – the plug really saves. To understand who is saving and from what, let’s turn to … the rules of the game of hockey.

Rule 38 – STICK / ROAD PLAYER.

5. There must be a special protective cap at the end of the stick. If the cap of a metal or plastic hockey stick comes off or falls off, the hockey stick will be considered a dangerous piece of equipment.

So, in fact, why do we need this very plug so that the club is not considered a dangerous piece of equipment.

But what is the danger of a golf club without a protective cap?

Digging around on the Internet, you can find stories where hockey players were injured by this very end of the hockey stick.A simple example: in a fight near the board, the upper end of the stick hits the hockey player in the eye.

Remember the theory of arm wear due to sharp edges?

So, it’s even scary to imagine what these sharp edges can do with the thin skin of the eyelid. The dissection will be guaranteed, if not more. This is exactly what can happen with the blow of this end of the club into any unprotected area of ​​the body – instead of the usual bruise, the hockey player will receive a cut and dissection. After all, hockey rules, like any others, are not written just like that, out of the head, but on the basis of vast experience.

Well, now you have an understanding of why you need such a seemingly insignificant element of hockey equipment, like a plug. We think that everyone understood perfectly well that you should not neglect this element, because you can inflict an unpleasant injury not only on your opponent, but also on yourself.

90,000 Batting Helmet

This article is about the helmets worn in baseball and softball. For batting and safety helmets in cricket see helmet (cricket) MLB batting one ear flap, 2011

Youth batting with double eyelet, 2015

Softball Helmet with Face Mask, 2016

A Batting Helmet is worn by batters in baseball or softball games. It is designed to protect the batter’s head from erroneous punches thrown by the pitcher. A dough that is “tarnished,” due to an unintentional wild pitch or a deliberate attempt by the pitcher to hit him or her, can be seriously or even fatally injured.

Early Concepts (1905-1920s)

In 1905, Mogridge ^[1] created the first primitive protective headgear and received Patent # 780899 for “head protection”.This first attempt at a batting helmet is said to have looked like an “inflatable boxing glove that wrapped around the head of a striker.” ^[2] Roger Bresnahan, a Hall of Fame catcher who was wounded in a blow to the head with a bat, developed a leather helmet in 1908, which he began to use. ^[1] Helmets were not so much helmets as ear protectors. They did not protect the head of the dough itself, but rather protected the ear and temple area. He also developed an aluminum protector for the back of his head covered with artificial hair, but it is unknown if it was ever used in the field. ^[3]

In 1908 the Chicago White Sox stop Freddie The parent wore some kind of headdress and the Chicago Cubs ‘first baseman-manager Frank Chance did the same in 1913, although Chance’s headdress was’ little more than a sponge wrapped in a bandage. ” ^[2] In 1914, minor league member Joe Bosk, playing for Utica Bluff, wore a protector after being badly injured when he was hit on the head with a bat in 1911. ^[4]

Despite the fatal beating of Ray Chapman in 1920, protective headgear was still rarely used in the Major Leagues.That year, a syndicated news article alleged that several baseball executives, including New York Giants Secretary Frank McQuaid, were trying to demand the use of batting helmets. The article also argued that helmets were not popular with players. ^[5] The first known case of a manager releasing head protectors to his players on a large scale was the Philadelphia Phillies’ business manager Pat Moran who gifted his players with cork pillow hats in 1921. ^[2] Connie Mack, manager of the Philadelphia Athletics, expressed his support for protective headgear in 1921. ^[6]

Interest revived (1930-1950s)

Concept drawing of a batting helmet from 1920. In the same year, MLB player Ray Chapman received a fatal blow to the head with a cue ball.

In 1936, Willie Wells, a Negro League player, passed out after being kicked in the temple. Ignoring the doctor’s advice, Willie Wells donned a modified construction helmet the next day as protective gear in the game. ^[7]

Following Mickey Cochrane induction into the Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame on May 25, 1937, on the pitch at the New York Yankees’ pitcher Bump Hadley, there was a strong call for helmet testing. ^[8] Cochrane himself has officially stated that players must be “absolutely” required to wear protective helmets. ^[2]

Just one week after Cochrane’s injury, June 1, 1937, the Cleveland Indians and the Philadelphia Athletics became the first teams to test helmets using leather and polo helmets, respectively.The managers of both teams decided to use the batting workout as a trial run for the use of helmets on their players before the game between the two teams. Although there is evidence of image ^[8] As for polo helmets worn during training, there is no evidence of their being used or worn in play. The first documented team to use helmets in the game was the Des Moines Demons from the Western League. ^[2] They also used polo helmets, but the idea did not catch on as they only wore helmets for one game.

The first professional baseball league to fully adopt a baseball helmet was the International League, which was what happened in 1939, when the list of official equipment used began to include “protective cap or helmet”. Buster Mills was the first league player to use the helmet. ^[2]

The idea of ​​making helmets a necessary part of Major League Baseball was discussed by National League officials at a meeting in 1940 MLB All-Star Game in Chicago. Ford Frick, president of the National League, showed off the helmet he designed in the hopes that the league would accept it.Frick told The Associated Press “[Batting helmet] was the only thing I knew we could prevent head injuries and the only way to get players to wear them was to make it a league rule.” ^[9] Although he was not accepted by the National League at this meeting, Jackie Hayes became the first player to wear a helmet in the game on August 22, 1940. ^[2]

Los Angeles sports writer Bob Hunter modeling a new baseball helmet in 1939. The design of the helmet is similar to headphones and is worn over a baseball cap.

In 1941, the National League adopted the helmet designed by George Bennett. Johns Hopkins University neurosurgeon for use by all teams during spring training. On March 8, 1941, the Brooklyn Dodgers announced that team players would wear helmets during regular season games. On April 26, 1941, the Washington Senators joined the Dodgers as the only two teams to fully adopt the batting helmet for regular season use. The New York Giants on June 6 and the Chicago Cubs on June 24 also joined the roster of teams that have fully switched to wearing helmets during games. ^[2]

While many thought this would be a time when support was strong enough to be widespread, tradition won out again, and it wasn’t until 1953 that the Pittsburgh Pirates ordered their players to wear helmets. ^[2] Helmet Required by Pittsburgh Chief Executive Officer Branch Ricky (former CEO and President of the Dodgers) was created by Charlie Mewes and was based on the helmets used by miners. Shortly thereafter, Ottawa Citizen wrote that “Major League clubs are showing great interest in the new type of plastic protective caps that have recently been introduced to the market.”This became even more common when on August 1, 1954, Joe Adcock, Milwaukee Braves’ first base, was hit in the head with tar. He was wearing a helmet, and although he was taken off the field on a stretcher, he was not injured as his helmet took the brunt of the shock and had a noticeable dent. ^[2]

In the early 1950s, the Little League of Baseball’s governing body required the use of protective headgear for all players when playing. In 1956, the National League followed suit and required all players on all teams to wear helmets.After Little League Baseball announced the best helmet for all players, the American League adopted a rule on March 1, 1958 that all players were required to wear helmets. ^[2] However, although unlike the NHL at the same time helmets were widespread, it was not until December 1970 ^[10] that Major League Baseball mandated the strictly mandatory use of a batting helmet for all batsmen. However, experienced players were given the opportunity to choose whether to wear a helmet or not, as they were inherited from the rules.The last Major League player to not wear a helmet when hitting the ball was Bob Montgomery, who last played for the Boston Red Sox in 1979 ^[1] Incidentally, the NHL finally made helmets mandatory that same year, with a similar caveat. about the grandfather for veteran players.

Modifications (1960-2000)

In 1960, Jim Lemon became the first player to wear the new Minor League helmet in a Major League game. These helmets were made with ears on both sides and were capable of withstanding a ball traveling at speeds of up to 120 mph (190 km / h).A month later, Jimmy Pearsall became the second player to wear a helmet in the Major Leagues.

In 1961, when the helmet was worn widely in Major League Baseball, the change began.

On 23 July 1961 Earl Betty was hit in the face with a cue ball, breaking a bone, and 10 days later returned to the field with an improvised ear cushion to protect the injured area, although he only wore it for one game because he complained of difficulties with vision while wearing. ^[2] Tony Oliva also wore an impromptu face guard during batting training, as did the Twins.Jimmy Hall at the 1965 World Series. ^[11]

In 1964, the Phyllis family Tony Gonzalez was the first to wear a batting helmet with a molded ear piece. Earflaps were improvised before. Gonzalez was in the top ten of the league in terms of hitting the field, and a special helmet was designed for him. ^[12] Shortly thereafter, Major League Baseball began using a preformed pinna helmet. ^[11]

Ron Santo was also one of the first to wear earflaps at the Major League level, after returning to service after his left cheekbone was broken in 1966.Although earflaps were common at the amateur baseball level, they slowly gained popularity at the professional level. Some batsmen felt that watching the earpiece out of the corner of their eye was distracting. Tony Conillaro was wearing a helmet without an earpiece when he was seriously injured on the field in August 1967.

In the 1970 season, Brooks Robinson began using a batting helmet with an earpiece. He found that the brim of the helmet, in addition to the earpiece, limited his visibility, so he hacksawed and removed most of the brim.Robinson will wear a modified helmet for the rest of his career. ^[13]

Robert Crowe was a plastic and reconstructive surgeon working for the Atlanta Braves in the 1970s when he invented a device that could protect returning players from facial injuries. He named it “C-Flap” after his last name and what he defended – his cheeks. The device could be attached to the headphones of a standard helmet for added protection. The device only became mainstream decades later, and in the meantime, players tried different things for the same purpose.For example, in 1978, Pirates Dave Parker wore a hockey mask by a plate after breaking his cheek and jaw bones in a house collision with a plate. ^[14] It only lasted one game and Parker then attempted to use a helmet with a two-bar soccer face mask attached to it. ^[14] He also tried a helmet with another football face mask, the Dungard 210 face mask screwed into his helmet.

Jack Clark of the San Francisco Giants photographed in 1983.That same year, MLB ordered hitters to wear at least one ear protector on a batting helmet, like the one Clark wears.

Other notable players using a modified helmet without a C-flap include: Gary Renicke (1979), Ellis Valentine (1980), Charlie Hayes (1994), and Otis Nixon (1998). The first known player to wear a C-flap was Oakland A’s catcher Terry Steinbach after breaking an orbital bone from an ugly pre-game incident in May 1988.Steinbach underwent facial surgery and returned to duty after about a month with a C-Flap. Other players will be monitoring the use of the C-flaps, including David Justice, Kevin Seitzer, Mike Devereaux, Marlon Bird, Chase Headley, and Jason Hayward. Hayward was the first player to wear a C-flap permanently (2013) after a face injury, and Yadier Molina (2016) was the first player to wear a C-flap permanently to prevent a face injury where there was none before. …

In 1979, after applying resin to his face, requiring 25 stitches, Baltimore Orioles player Gary Renicke wore a modified helmet with an attached football helmet mask. According to Renicke, Orioles coaches removed the facemask from the helmet of Baltimore Colts quarterback Bert Jones and attached to a batting helmet. Renicke wore a modified helmet until 1981. ^[15]

In 1983, it became compulsory for new players to wear a helmet with at least one earpiece. ^[16] Players who were grandfathers could, if desired, wear a helmet without headphones.In major leagues, players can wear helmets with two earpieces; however, this is not required. Tim Raines was the last player to wear a headless helmet during the 2002 season. His flapless Florida Marlins helmet is currently in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Gary Gaetti, who retired in 2000, plus Ozzy Smith and Tim Wallach, who both retired in 1996, also wore flapless helmets until retirement. ^[17] Julio Franco, who retired from baseball in May 2008, was the last active player to be allowed to wear a helmet without flaps, but chose to wear a helmet with an earpiece throughout his career.Some players, mostly shift strikers, also choose to wear double-ear helmets when playing. Players to do this include Willie McGee, Terry Pendleton, Chuck Knoblauch, Shane Victorino, Orlando Hudson, Chin Soo Chu, Trot Nixon, and Jed Lowry (all of them hitters). ^[18]

Recent developments (2000 to present)

Jason Hayward wears a helmet with a protective cover during the 2016 game. Hayward began wearing the guard after being punched in the face with tar, causing him to break his jaw.

April 8, 2004, which is celebrated in Atlanta as “Hank Aaron Day” because it is Hank Aaron’s 30th Anniversary Record 715th home run, Braves stop Raphael Furkal came to the plate in the sixth inning with a headless helmet as a tribute to Hank Aaron who played his entire career in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and therefore did not wear a helmet with an earpiece during his playing career. … Judge Bill Welke made him get one with a valve. ^[13]

In 2005, Major League Baseball tested a new batting helmet for the first time in nearly three decades.At the All-Star in Detroit, players were seen wearing a new “molded crown” helmet with side vents, rear vents and large earholes. ^[19] Most of the players are now wearing these new helmets, but some of them by Ryan Howard stayed with the old style.

The flapless helmet is still used in baseball. Trappers often wear a flapless helmet along with a face mask to protect the head while receiving pitches. Occasionally other players besides catchers will wear a helmet without headphones while playing in a defensive position in the field.This is usually done by a player with a higher risk of head injury. One example is a former major league player. John Olerud, who began to do so after undergoing emergency surgery for cerebral aneurysm while visiting Washington State University. A previous example was Richie Allen, who decided to wear a helmet in the field after at least one incident in which they were hit by objects thrown by fans. ^[1]

Major League bats / bats and ball boys / ball girls must wear a helmet and not a cap when performing their duties on the playing field.They are allowed to use a helmet without a flap for this purpose, and many do so.

Following the death of 2007 Tulsa Drillers first base coach Mike Kulbau after hitting the ball with a bat, there is debate over whether base coaches should wear helmets. Following the Oakland Athletics’ incident, Rene Lahemann decided to put on the helmet in his third base coaching position.

In 2008, MLB coaches were required to wear helmets on the field. Bo Porter, former Atlanta Braves coach, is photographed wearing a field helmet in 2015.

Following the 2007 season, Major League Baseball required coaches to wear helmets starting in the 2008 season. ^[20] although some coaches, such as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Larry Bova, disagreed with the decision. ^[21]

In 2009, Major League Baseball decided to take action to protect players from an increasing number of concussions and head injuries. ^[22] Rawlings released the S100 baseball helmet, named for its impact properties. He was able to withstand the impact of a baseball flying at a speed of 100 miles per hour (160 km / h) from a distance of 2 feet (0.6 m). ^[23] Other baseball helmets in use must only withstand a blow at 70 mph (110 km / h) from 2 feet (0.6 m). ^[24] The first Major League player to wear this helmet while playing was a Canadian. Ryan Dempster, pitcher with the Chicago Cubs. ^[22] The new helmet didn’t catch on because the players said it made them look like dummies. Some players, including Mets third baseman David Wright, decided to use the helmet while hitting. ^[23]

In 2013, under the new MLB-MLBPA collective agreement, MLB players were required to wear new Rawlings S100 Pro Comp. ^[25]

In 2018, several Major League Baseball players, including Mike Trout and Bryce Harper, began wearing the C-flap, an earmold device that covers the jaw invented by Markwort. The C-flap quickly gained popularity throughout Major League Baseball, and now batting helmet manufacturers such as Rawlings and Easton have begun producing helmets with a built-in earmold extension that mimics the C-flap.

On May 28, 2018, Philadelphia Phillies slugger Rhys Hoskins broke his jaw when he fouled on his own face against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hoskins, 25, had a choice: skip four to six weeks, or return 10 days later on the disabled list with C-flaps on either side for full armament. Hoskins decided to return early with a double C-flap, and just 12 days later, Hoskins returned from the disabled list. ^{[ citation needed ]}

Currently, all leagues prior to Minor League Baseball require the use of a batting helmet with two headphones, with the exception of some amateur leagues in the state (such as the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association). ^{a b s d e 0 9000 9000 936 9036 9036 9036 9036 9036 9036 9036 9036 hours i j k l about} Ball in search of history 9000 March 2011 “This season MLB players will introduce the new Rawlings S100 Pro Comp ™ Helmet” PRNewswire , April 2012

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