Comments on: getting defensive http://www.homermcfanboy.com/2009/03/10/getting-defensive/ One-stop shopping for completely biased opinions and half truths about the sports franchises of our nation's capital. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:53:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ben http://www.homermcfanboy.com/2009/03/10/getting-defensive/comment-page-1/#comment-3612 Ben Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:23:10 +0000 http://www.homermcfanboy.com/?p=250#comment-3612 Of course nothing is wrong with that, I think we can all agree with that sentiment. What I'm saying is wrong, however, is suggesting he's our worst defenseman due to his (albeit troublesome) flaw. When you take the whole, he's miles ahead of Jurcina, Erskine and Morrisson. Of course nothing is wrong with that, I think we can all agree with that sentiment. What I’m saying is wrong, however, is suggesting he’s our worst defenseman due to his (albeit troublesome) flaw. When you take the whole, he’s miles ahead of Jurcina, Erskine and Morrisson.

]]> By: Dave at Caps News Network http://www.homermcfanboy.com/2009/03/10/getting-defensive/comment-page-1/#comment-3608 Dave at Caps News Network Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:00:38 +0000 http://www.homermcfanboy.com/?p=250#comment-3608 it's not so much the desire for Schultz to turn into a headhunter out there. far from it. it's that when he has the NATURAL opportunity to use his considerable size and strength, he should. he's like the kid in 6th grade that got a big growth spurt and doesn't want to hurt the smaller kids around him so he shies away from contact. i love his other skills, which statistically one has a hard time arguing with. he just needs to step up his physical game, that's all. what's wrong with wanting a complete player? it’s not so much the desire for Schultz to turn into a headhunter out there. far from it. it’s that when he has the NATURAL opportunity to use his considerable size and strength, he should.

he’s like the kid in 6th grade that got a big growth spurt and doesn’t want to hurt the smaller kids around him so he shies away from contact.

i love his other skills, which statistically one has a hard time arguing with. he just needs to step up his physical game, that’s all. what’s wrong with wanting a complete player?

]]> By: Krol2 http://www.homermcfanboy.com/2009/03/10/getting-defensive/comment-page-1/#comment-3579 Krol2 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:50:21 +0000 http://www.homermcfanboy.com/?p=250#comment-3579 I'd like to start with a smart player and build him up too. And if you were smart you'd go after the man standing in your crease instead of watching the puck slide by you and do nothing. They wanted all those guys for Pronger? Yikes. I’d like to start with a smart player and build him up too. And if you were smart you’d go after the man standing in your crease instead of watching the puck slide by you and do nothing.

They wanted all those guys for Pronger? Yikes.

]]> By: Ben http://www.homermcfanboy.com/2009/03/10/getting-defensive/comment-page-1/#comment-3578 Ben Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:23:26 +0000 http://www.homermcfanboy.com/?p=250#comment-3578 Well of course I'd like a Scott Stevens or a Rod Langway, but what team doesn't want a hard-nosed Hall of Fame blueliner? Those guys are once-in-a-while special, and we have that on the offensive side of the puck. So for now, McPhee has to make do with cost effective, effective players. For the numbers (and I strongly suggest you head to the Japers' link) Schultz qualifies as just that. Jurcina and Erskine, not so much. Yes, I agree, Schultz's lack of physicality can be maddening at times, but he has yet to fill out his frame, which is enormous. Strength and power come in time and he's only 23! I'd rather start with a smart player and have him build up the physical game than a reckless head hunter with no defensive sense try to figure it out. Well of course I’d like a Scott Stevens or a Rod Langway, but what team doesn’t want a hard-nosed Hall of Fame blueliner? Those guys are once-in-a-while special, and we have that on the offensive side of the puck.

So for now, McPhee has to make do with cost effective, effective players. For the numbers (and I strongly suggest you head to the Japers’ link) Schultz qualifies as just that. Jurcina and Erskine, not so much.

Yes, I agree, Schultz’s lack of physicality can be maddening at times, but he has yet to fill out his frame, which is enormous. Strength and power come in time and he’s only 23! I’d rather start with a smart player and have him build up the physical game than a reckless head hunter with no defensive sense try to figure it out.

]]> By: b murf http://www.homermcfanboy.com/2009/03/10/getting-defensive/comment-page-1/#comment-3577 b murf Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:04:10 +0000 http://www.homermcfanboy.com/?p=250#comment-3577 Ben, first of all, thanks for checking in. We always love to get feedback - even if it's to call us morons. We grew up loving rough and tough defenders like Rod Langway and Scott Stevens, so Jeff Schultz shying away from guys half his size pains us. Like we said, he's still young and his game is still evolving, but we'd love to have enough depth to have given him more time in Hershey to grow. You mention him on the penalty kill, but all I ever notice is Schultz failing to clear the puck ojt of the zone. Lift some weights, for god's sake! We're not in love with Erskine or Schultz. We'd rather have Alzner and a veteran from the trade deadline. Ben, first of all, thanks for checking in. We always love to get feedback – even if it’s to call us morons. We grew up loving rough and tough defenders like Rod Langway and Scott Stevens, so Jeff Schultz shying away from guys half his size pains us. Like we said, he’s still young and his game is still evolving, but we’d love to have enough depth to have given him more time in Hershey to grow. You mention him on the penalty kill, but all I ever notice is Schultz failing to clear the puck ojt of the zone. Lift some weights, for god’s sake!

We’re not in love with Erskine or Schultz. We’d rather have Alzner and a veteran from the trade deadline.

]]> By: Ben http://www.homermcfanboy.com/2009/03/10/getting-defensive/comment-page-1/#comment-3576 Ben Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:33:00 +0000 http://www.homermcfanboy.com/?p=250#comment-3576 And right on cue: http://www.japersrink.com/2009/3/10/782480/defending-sarge-from-the-s And right on cue:

http://www.japersrink.com/2009/3/10/782480/defending-sarge-from-the-s

]]> By: Ben http://www.homermcfanboy.com/2009/03/10/getting-defensive/comment-page-1/#comment-3574 Ben Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:01:44 +0000 http://www.homermcfanboy.com/?p=250#comment-3574 Oh boy, et tu, Murph? Schultz is by far the best of the 3 "sub-par" defensemen you mentioned, and it's not even close. I won't bore you with the statistics (head to Japer's Rink for that), but I'm coming to his defense here. Just because he is big, and doesn't hit, people think he sucks. He is a highly effective poke-checker, has very good stick skills, makes smart decisions and crisp passes with the puck, never takes penalties and besides Poti is our best penalty killing d-man. He had a phenomenal game against Pittsburgh Sunday, completely shutting down Malkin. Jurcina and Erskine on the other hand constantly make bone-headed decisions, flub the pick, take silly penalties, etc. They hit occasionally, so fans think they're just the bees knees. But hitting alone does not a solid defenseman make. Consider this: Erskine has 6 takeaways all season. Alex Semin had 6 against the Pens on Sunday. Bottom line is that, while we all agree that physical element is sometimes lacking from our D-Corps, just because Erskine and Jurcina do it better than Schultz do not make them more effective overall. Oh boy, et tu, Murph? Schultz is by far the best of the 3 “sub-par” defensemen you mentioned, and it’s not even close. I won’t bore you with the statistics (head to Japer’s Rink for that), but I’m coming to his defense here. Just because he is big, and doesn’t hit, people think he sucks. He is a highly effective poke-checker, has very good stick skills, makes smart decisions and crisp passes with the puck, never takes penalties and besides Poti is our best penalty killing d-man. He had a phenomenal game against Pittsburgh Sunday, completely shutting down Malkin.

Jurcina and Erskine on the other hand constantly make bone-headed decisions, flub the pick, take silly penalties, etc. They hit occasionally, so fans think they’re just the bees knees. But hitting alone does not a solid defenseman make. Consider this: Erskine has 6 takeaways all season. Alex Semin had 6 against the Pens on Sunday.

Bottom line is that, while we all agree that physical element is sometimes lacking from our D-Corps, just because Erskine and Jurcina do it better than Schultz do not make them more effective overall.

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