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Maryland Whipsnakes attackman Matt Rambo

A three-step blueprint for elevating Whipsnakes’ talented offense

By Adam Lamberti | Jul 15, 2024

While the Maryland Whipsnakes rank second in the league in scores per game with 12.8 per game, this offense isn’t fully unlocked yet.

Here are three things the Whipsnakes offense needs to do to reach its full potential in the second half of the season:

1. Get Tucker Dordevic back (and fully healthy)

I’m a firm believer that a lot of issues with this Whipsnakes offense will go away once Tucker Dordevic returns to the lineup. The 2023 Rookie of the Year is a top-shelf midfielder in the league. He can beat you off the dribble with both straight-line speed and sudden change of direction. He can dodge anywhere on the field and can shoot it with both hands. He was one of the best two-point shooters last year with five two-pointers.

While Dordevic is indeed a top midfielder when healthy, head coach Jim Stagnitta knows that it’ll take time for him to shake off some rust.

“Our expectations have to be realistic,” Stagnitta said. “Tucker hasn’t played [all season]. But that being said, you have to account for him either way.”

So perhaps the most valuable thing Dordevic will bring when he returns is his presence, as he could draw the opposition's pole and free up other players to have better matchups.

“You can’t short-stick one of our attackmen, which has been an issue for us all the way up to the first couple games this year,” Stagnitta said. “I think we are settling on a lineup that gives us a chance to be pretty dynamic.”

2. Matt Rambo’s role needs to keep evolving

With emerging ball-carriers in Levi Anderson and TJ Malone, Matt Rambo doesn’t need to have the ball in his stick at all times to generate offense.

Rambo has more turnovers (14) than points (11) this season, and while he’s still a capable dodger and will maintain his starting attack spot, we are starting to see some shifts in his play style.

“He’s taken on a little bit of a different role,” Stagnitta said. “We’ve got him to move a little bit more, he had one goal off a cut, had another great opportunity later in the game off a cut off-ball.”

A great quality of Rambo’s is that he draws immediate attention when he bodies into his defender, resulting in quick double teams.

However, the Whipsnakes haven’t executed well after the double team and have turned the ball over too often on it.

“He’s got to recognize and realize he and Zed [Williams] both fall into the same category,” Stagnitta said. “People come to them right away, which is great, but it only creates offense if they do the second part of that and move the ball to the next guy.”

I’ll reiterate that I think Rambo is still a quality attacker, but with the weapons now around him, he’s going to be more of an off-ball presence as he lets Williams, Malone, Dordevic and Anderson initiate most of the offense.

“It’s not easy to change roles at this point in your career,” Stagnitta said. “In order to play in this league for a long time, your game has to continue to evolve, and you have to find other ways to help the team, and that’s something he’s working on.”

3. Continue building the rookies' confidence

Malone has been one of the top rookies in the league. The X attacker leads the team in points with 17 and has been a fantastic complement to Williams and Rambo.

Along with continuing to get him touches, Stagnitta had high praise for Anderson, as well.

Anderson could be the eventual “heir apparent” to Rambo at lefty attack, according to Stagnitta. After playing some attack in the Whipsnakes’ last game against the Utah Archers, Anderson will slot back down to midfield.

“We needed to be more dynamic at the midfield, and he’s got great eyes while he’s dodging and he’s kind of a nightmare of a matchup, so I think that’s where you’re going to see a lot more of him going forward,” Stagnitta said. “He’s better at midfield. He’s just a handful, so big and strong, runs the field so well.”

Additionally, rookies Adam Poitras and Jack Koras have contributed immediately, an encouraging sign given the overhaul of the team.

“I’m very excited and optimistic about what our potential is,” Stagnitta said. “I can’t think of any other team in the league that’s playing five rookies in important positions, so there’s going to be some growing pains.

"But as I’ve said over and over again, it was time for this team to turn over a little bit, and we’re right in the middle of that, but if we can find some success while we are doing this, that’s a bonus, and I do think we have the ability to do that.”

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