Cannons LC acquires Jake Froccaro from Chaos LC
By Joe Keegan
PLL Analyst
Jan 19, 2022
Shortly after off-season trade window opened yesterday, Chaos LC agreed to send 2019 All-Pro midfielder Jake Froccaro to Cannons LC.
In return, Chaos LC receives attackman Andrew Kew and the Cannons’ 2023 third round draft pick (if Cannons appear in the 2022 Championship, that becomes a second round pick).
Jake Froccaro to Cannons LC
A change of scenery for Froccaro was inevitable. He’d been a healthy scratch since August 1st. Chaos clicked with Ryan Smith and Wes Berg on the righty side. Going all-in on a box-on-a-field offense left Froccaro (and Sergio Salcido and Connor Fields and Myles Jones before him) out of the lineup.
Froccaro is a throwback, two-handed midfielder. Only nine players since 2015 have hit a 2-pointer with each hand: Paul Rabil, Kyle Harrison, Joe LoCascio, Peter Baum, Ryan Brown, John Ranagan, Steven Brooks, John Glesener… and Froccaro. That range – either initiating the offense or at the end of the rainbow while Lyle Thompson and Stephen Rehfuss are dodging – will plug into offensive coordinator Sean Kirwan’s scheme perfectly.
“I’ve always been a big Jake Froccaro fan. I followed his career closely at Villanova,” said Cannons LC head coach and GM Sean Quirk. “He’s a gritty, two-way midfielder. Especially with Paul [Rabil] retiring, we needed a player like Jake.”
When Froccaro plays defense – either by design or after being “trapped” – he’s a threat to turn defense into offense. If you defend his 2-point look, he’ll direct traffic and find a trailing teammate.
Jake Froccaro leads the fast break, directs traffic, and finds Jarrod Neumann for a 2-pointer.@Simple__Jake pic.twitter.com/coGUz8i9Ep
— PLL Highlights (@PLLHighlight) January 19, 2022
If you leave him with time-and-room, he’ll make you pay from beyond the arc. The 2021 fastest shot winner is most dangerous before the dust settles. With :42 or more on the shot clock, Froccaro has shot 41.7% from deep; once the defense settles, he has shot 8.7%.
Jake Froccaro scores a 2-pointer on the fast break.@Simple__Jake pic.twitter.com/WOMOI43LvX
— PLL Highlights (@PLLHighlight) January 19, 2022
That two-way versatility could be an X-factor in 2022 if Froccaro plays an Ian MacKay-esque role. At the very least, it’ll help the Cannons eliminate transition going in the opposite direction.
“In this league it’s always beneficial to have guys who can play different roles,” said Quirk.
Andrew Kew to Chaos LC
Kew dominated the MLL in 2020. But he had trouble finding time alongside Shayne Jackson with the Cannons; now he’ll be competing for a spot on Chaos’s crowded lefty side.
Josh Byrne, Mac O’Keefe, Chris Cloutier, Kyle Jackson, Tanner Cook, and Kew all bring different skill sets to the lefty side. Kew, mostly used as an interior finisher in ‘21, can make plays as an initiator. This backhand shot is too casual for someone drawing a triple team.
Kew on the @PLLChaos lefty side with Josh Byrne, Mac O’Keefe, Chris Cloutier, Kyle Jackson, and Tanner Cook?!
— Joe Keegan (@joekeegs) January 19, 2022
Training camp is gonna be fun. pic.twitter.com/KasiJYt1MH
Chaos LC head coach and GM Andy Towers found a scheme that works -- two- and three-man games on the wings -- and has since imported personnel to match it. Kew, a native of Oakville, Ontario, has the stick skills and the passport to operate in offensive coordinator Matt Panetta's scheme.
"We have guys who are out there who are 'attackmen' and 'midfielders' so to speak," said Towers. "But the way that we really structure our eight offensive players going into games is, okay, who are our four righties and who are our four lefties?"
On the right-hand side, Curtis Dickson and Challen Rogers were recently activated from the Unavailable to Travel list. They'll join Dhane Smith, Chase Fraser, Wes Berg, and Ryan Smith.
"We've created a left-handed army -- as well as a right-handed army on the other side. And that's our goal: Try to acquire the best players that fit our scheme the best," said Towers.
