Originally posted by IUP24
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It leads me to wonder if that explains why Howlett has been recruiting more athletic players in the past few years. If the system itself is no longer enough to shock teams (like it seemed to be in that run of years when they won 3 straight regional titles), then you need to recruit more than just "system players." Thinking back over Crutch's teams in the early part of this run, he rarely had guys with the athletic ability and one-on-one, beat-your-man ability of guys like Robinson & McKinney. Yes, there were some--Alex Falk, Corey Pelle, Cedric Harris--but it does seem like Crutch relied on the system working (and therefore simply needed to find guys who fit the system). Guys like Wolosinczuk, Morrow, Shetzer, Fortney, Grossenbacher, etc. were perfect for Crutch's system. But those were not guys who could win a one-on-one battle with a defender if the system had been frustrated. I'm just spitballing a bit here, but it certainly seems as though Howlett recognizes the need to rely not merely on the system. System first, which will win most games. But in a game where the system is being frustrated, it becomes more possible that a guy like Robinson can take over the game by getting in the lane and causing havoc of his own. I wonder if that is Howlett's answer to the fact that the top teams in the region are no longer fearing the system. Again, just spitballing a bit.
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