Final Record and Result: 7-3, lost to Whipsnakes in Semifinals
Draft Picks: 1.6, 2.6, 3.6, 4.6
Notable Free Agents:
Trevor Baptiste, F/O
Chet Comizio, SSDM
John Geppert, LSM/D
Ronan Jacoby, M
Myles Jones, M
Danny Logan, SSDM
Logan McGovern, A/M
Dylan Molloy, A
Koby Smith, LSM
Tim Troutner, G
Chase Yager, SSDM
SEASON RECAP
The Atlas announced in week one that 2024 was not going to be a repeat of 2023. They blitzed the Cannons 19-12, and the Bulls won their next four games in a row.
Thanks to absolute dominance and some very lopsided early scores, the Atlas built such a significant edge in score differential and overall record, that the one seed seemed like a foregone conclusion. Jeff Teat was at the forefront of their success. He set the league scoring record about midway through the season, and ended up with 64 points this year, the first 60, or even 50, point season since the PLL launched. Teat of course led the league in goals and assists, was one of two players with over 400 touches, one of two players with over 300 passes. He was involved all the time and made the Atlas go all the time.
New York was excellent at blitzing opponents early, then leaning on Trevor Baptiste to keep the possession advantage their way, playing a much improved :32 offense to keep opponents playing from behind. The Atlas have a player up for every individual positional award the PLL gives, along with Coach of the Year for Mike Pressler and three players for rookie of the year.
Tyler Carpenter went from 4th round pick to LSM of the Year finalist. Liam Entenmann’s debut saw him go over 80% for most of the game, dipping into the 70s in the game’s final minutes. Connor Shellenberger seamlessly took over for Chris Gray on the righty attack spot, thriving as a secondary option after years as the top offensive player at UVA. The semifinal loss was a surprise for the Atlas, who clearly were the best team in the league on paper this year, but the game isn’t played on paper.
As scary as it is to think, this was a year for the Atlas ahead of schedule. They had eight first or second year players in starting roles (Adler, Carpenter, Comizio, Dickson, Entenmann, Makar, Shellenberger, Stevens), to say nothing of their young role players like McGovern, Cormier, and Rezanka. The Atlas announced that they are really good, and they aren’t going anywhere.
OFFSEASON PLAN
The Atlas have, since the PLL launched, been a rollercoaster. Year one, they go 5-5 in the regular season. In the bubble, they go 1-4. Year three in Ben Rubeor’s first year, they go 6-3. Year four, Rubeor’s second year, they go 6-4. 2023, the first year under Mike Pressler, they go 2-8, and then this year, 7-3. It’s all over the map. Pressler looked much more comfortable this year, and has talked about serving more as a GM and steward of the team, trusting his coordinators and leaders. Keeping those leaders in place is the top of the list for the Atlas this offseason. The two captains, and arguably the two most important players on the team, are free agents. Trevor Baptiste and Danny Logan signings, preferably long term, should be the top priority for the Atlas.
The Atlas have some interesting choices everywhere else. Their core players are all locked up. The starting attack and defense are back, their top LSM and goalie were rookies this year. The top SSDM pair hitting free agency is really the only point of concern.
Ronan Jacoby and Logan McGovern may draw interest from other clubs after what they showed on offense this year. If they do, the opportunity to be a 19 man regular could be enticing. But that’s really the question for the Atlas this offseason. What do we want to do to build depth behind our stars? Can we keep the guys who may want to go somewhere where they can play every weekend, because we know they fit the locker room?
The growth this team showed this year, and the success they had from the coaching staff to on the field, is a sign that running it back is the way to go for New York.
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