The Carolina Chaos have struggled on offense all season, averaging just 10.5 scores a game. They are looking everywhere in the lineup for production -- and, despite the poor scoring numbers, have been getting help from different areas. 

A major piece in the offense is the transition game with short-stick defensive midfielders Ian MacKay and Zach Geddes. 

MacKay has been a factor in the Chaos transition game since joining the team four years ago and does damage with Josh Byrne. 

During the Chaos’s win over the Maryland Whipsnakes last Friday, Byrne broke down what he needed MacKay to do in transition to score a goal. 

Here’s the mic’d-up moment and the goal it produced:

“Look for slips, especially when Matt Dunn is under. The shorty a lot of times wants to support him getting under and then you can go.” - Josh Byrne

The mic’d up moment that led to Ian MacKay’s goal on Friday: pic.twitter.com/pq2aq2unWA

— Hayden Lewis (@15haydenlewis) July 23, 2024

Byrne has taken on a different role in the Chaos offense this season, working as the orchestrator from various areas on the field. The change has helped the four-time All-Star to notch 10 assists – two away from his single-season career high. 

Byrne and MacKay's long history together has helped create high-level chemistry in their transition game. Multiple times throughout their careers, they have used screens in transition to create offense for Byrne.  

Here’s a moment from earlier this season against the California Redwoods:

Josh Byrne and Ian MacKay creating offense through transition is essential for the Chaos offense.

Can’t leave Byrne matched with a shorty for even a sliver of time. pic.twitter.com/IEYF7NEgiC

— Hayden Lewis (@15haydenlewis) July 23, 2024

The ball works to Byrne, who allows MacKay to set a pick. Byrne uses the screen as bait to get the short-stick matchup before toe-dragging and scoring a beautiful goal. 

Byrne and MacKay also worked their two-man game to perfection a couple of times against the Utah Archers. 

This is what can happen when Josh Byrne gets topside: pic.twitter.com/vTodbKBRkS

— Hayden Lewis (@15haydenlewis) July 23, 2024

Not many guys can work topside from a screen, bully their way through a defense and toss a casual behind-the-back shot like Byrne. 

Getting topside is usually the goal for Byrne so he can find space to free his hands for a shot. This year, the approach has changed to allow for more passing. However, this goal from 2022 showcases what Byrne loves to do when he can trap attackmen on defense with MacKay:

The Byrne-MacKay two-man game works real well against former attackmen who get trapped on defense.

Here’s another great execution: pic.twitter.com/hYOZPDvmq8

— Hayden Lewis (@15haydenlewis) July 23, 2024

MacKay knows he has an attackman trapped, so he stays out longer on offense to allow the Chaos to set their offense. From there, Byrne attacks the MacKay pick because he sees the defender's numbers, which is a green light to go full bore topside. 

Byrne’s offensive awareness created this goal against the Archers and helps create goals in most games. 

Chaos head coach and general manager Andy Towers knows the importance of SSDMs in Carolina’s offensive scheme. 

“We need to be able to score not just in six-on-six and in extra man, we need to be able to score in transition,” Towers said after Carolina’s 10-9 overtime win over the Whipsnakes. “Any goal-scoring that we can get from any of the defenders, let alone the short sticks or the poles, is just going to make it easier for us.”

The Chaos need to continue to rely on production from MacKay and other defenders like Geddes to help their offense -- which ranks second-to-last in the PLL in scores per game -- find more success. 

With three straight conference games on tap and a playoff push in the making, the Chaos will need the goals to continue to flow.