Why do the Rush suck each and every year?

[Beerfish]

I know we have some ardent lacrosse fans on here. I am not a big follower but do hear Gregor talking with the Gm and or coach over the last few years. Each year the conversion is exactly the same. New players signed or traded for, team is going to be much improved and then they fall flat on their faces.

A team history record of 33-71 and just one winning year. Why are they so terrible year after year?

[Section N]

Re: Why do the Rush suck each and every year?

Poor player management, nobody wants to play here.

Look at the huge trade that failed this year.

Brodie Merrill to Philadelphia for Marco Ianucci - Ianucci did not report to the Rush, and in turn, they did not receive any compensation from the NLL or the Wings.

They then traded the rights to Ianucci to Washington, for Paul Rabil. Again, Rabil did not report to the Rush. No compensation, no help, again.

[Beerfish]

Re: Why do the Rush suck each and every year?

Yeah I heard them talking about Rabil and that they were trying to trade him now. I would say F em. Sit out for ever and never play lacrosse again. I know these guys do not make big coin but an actual pro league where they make any money is a step up. If you don't want to act like a pro hit the bricks.

[Section N]

Re: Why do the Rush suck each and every year?

Another reason players don't want to come here, to be honest, is Mr. Bruce Urban. The team only practices once a week, prior to their games on the weekend. All but 2 or 3 players are being flown in for every game. Not the best formula for team success....

[Inquiring Mind]

Re: Why do the Rush suck each and every year?

I can understand why players wouldn't report... the maxed out salary for veterans is less than 28K (rookie max is less than 9K, and sophmore max is 12K), even "franchise players" top out at 34K a year.

This isn't even like minor league soccer when a guy could at least make a living (though, that seems to be quickly coming to an end too). If you already live in the area of the team it's one thing, and not a bad little bonus to work a few nights and weekends over the winter/spring... but if you have a career and/or family and get traded to the other-side of the country, you're sure as hell not up-rooting your family and career, and the commute probably isn't worth it either.

[Rids]

Re: Why do the Rush suck each and every year?

Another reason players don't want to come here, to be honest, is Mr. Bruce Urban. The team only practices once a week, prior to their games on the weekend. All but 2 or 3 players are being flown in for every game. Not the best formula for team success....

NLL rules limit the number of practices per team to once a week. Most teams are fly in players, nobody wants to live in Rochester. 95% of the league has a second job back home that they commute to and from. Even in the summer they fly in for a series of games east-west so they can get eligibility for the playoff run to the Mann Cup.

[gizmo fan 2]

Re: Why do the Rush suck each and every year?

I think a lot of it has to do with coaching and systems (most of the coach/GMs have not found the players to fit their systems and/or failed to design their offensive systems around their players)...and the fact that the Rush have ALWAYS struggled to score goals.

We have never had a real top-notch offensive star...Iannucci would've been the first really big-name guy.

Lack of chemistry doesn't help...most of our guys haven't played for more than a year (if that) together in the NLL, and many don't play together in summer ball either. When they blow up the roster seemingly every season (or two at most) it's hard to figure out everyone's role.

Calgary, on the other hand, had almost half their team together (for a while) in summer ball in BC, and most of those guys have been Roughnecks for four or five years. Inserting one guy (last year's super-rookie Dickson) into an established core is a lot easier.

The right mix of guys (passers, shooters, and diggers/low crease guys) helps too...the closest we've ever got was in 2010. Right now, we have too many guys who pass first, and not enough guys who are willing to get dirty and penetrate into the middle and take some punishment.

The losing is certainly getting to me, though...there will have to be major change to get me to renew my season tickets next year. They also have to figure out how to beat Calgary (5-19 all time, have lost 7 straight and 14 of the last 16) if they are ever going to be considered a legitimate contender in this league.

[PDO]

Re: Why do the Rush suck each and every year?

It's a great sport. It's fun to play and it's fun to watch.

It needs exposure in an awful way. The league desperately needs the players to be making enough that it can be a full time job... simply because of the problems we're seeing with the Rush acquiring players.

Absolutely bush that the league won't compensate them for it though.

[Rids]

Re: Why do the Rush suck each and every year?

Two edged sword. Salaries can't be too high or the team isn't viable. The NLL is even more of a gate driven league than the CFL. General expectation from my time involved in the league was that a team needs a minimum average attendance between 8,000 and 9,000 to break even. The League as a whole is only averaging about 9500.

Still the Rush have a good trio to build an offense around. Loved Zach Greer's time at Duke, the kid was a stud until the scandal. Greer, Williams and Evans should be able to rack up 10 goals a game just between them.

------------

Just pulled up Edmonton's average attendance and for the six years leading into this season they have an average of 9,009. I can't imagine they have a lot of spare cash to pay more than a couple guys near the max.

[Section N]

Re: Why do the Rush suck each and every year?

NLL rules limit the number of practices per team to once a week. Most teams are fly in players, nobody wants to live in Rochester. 95% of the league has a second job back home that they commute to and from. Even in the summer they fly in for a series of games east-west so they can get eligibility for the playoff run to the Mann Cup.

Good to know. Doesn't stop teams that have players living in their respective cities to "shoot around" together at any time though....

[Section N]

Re: Why do the Rush suck each and every year?

I think a lot of it has to do with coaching and systems (most of the coach/GMs have not found the players to fit their systems and/or failed to design their offensive systems around their players)...and the fact that the Rush have ALWAYS struggled to score goals.

We have never had a real top-notch offensive star...Iannucci would've been the first really big-name guy.

Lack of chemistry doesn't help...most of our guys haven't played for more than a year (if that) together in the NLL, and many don't play together in summer ball either. When they blow up the roster seemingly every season (or two at most) it's hard to figure out everyone's role.

Calgary, on the other hand, had almost half their team together (for a while) in summer ball in BC, and most of those guys have been Roughnecks for four or five years. Inserting one guy (last year's super-rookie Dickson) into an established core is a lot easier.

The right mix of guys (passers, shooters, and diggers/low crease guys) helps too...the closest we've ever got was in 2010. Right now, we have too many guys who pass first, and not enough guys who are willing to get dirty and penetrate into the middle and take some punishment.

The losing is certainly getting to me, though...there will have to be major change to get me to renew my season tickets next year. They also have to figure out how to beat Calgary (5-19 all time, have lost 7 straight and 14 of the last 16) if they are ever going to be considered a legitimate contender in this league.

Good post GF2. Hit the nail on the head.

[Rids]

Re: Why do the Rush suck each and every year?

Good to know. Doesn't stop teams that have players living in their respective cities to "shoot around" together at any time though....

True but all the teams that have purchased living space for their players so they could live in town have folded. Teams that have over half their roster living in town would be the exception to the rule.

With such a short season there really isn't an incentive for the player to move to a city that they'll only be playing in for 12 weeks. Once the NLL season ends players head to other leagues, even the guys playing MLL in the summer over CLA aren't making a living wage between the two and must supplement it with sponsorships and camps. The CLA has amateur rules that forbids paying players although everyone knows it happens. Those "premium gas" players get some special treatment.

[Muley69]

Re: Why do the Rush suck each and every year?

They are afflicted with the Edmonton Curse