🤔 BILL BELICHICK...PLL COACH?

Could you imagine a PLL head coach with EIGHT Super Bowl rings?

If you follow the NFL, you probably know that New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has a soft spot for lacrosse players. But a recent profile in GQ Sports shines new light on the possibility of him one day making the leap from professional football to coach in the PLL.

“My hunch is that, if he does stop coaching football, he’s going to start coaching or giving back to lacrosse again with his spare time,” Paul Rabil told the magazine. “You better bet that [brother and co-founder Michael Rabil] and I would go to him and make a big offer. He could tell us to go kick rocks, or maybe we’d bring him on as an advisor.”

Rabil isn’t the only one speculating that Belichick could end up on a PLL sideline in a coaching capacity. Newly named UNC defensive coordinator Dave Pietramala, a close friend of Belichick’s, agrees with Rabil’s notion.

“I know he really appreciates and values the leadership that Paul has shown in creating the PLL,” Pietramala said, via GQ Sports. “It wouldn’t surprise me one day if he was on the sideline.”

Belichick has made multiple appearances during PLL broadcasts and was in attendance for the league’s inaugural season opener at Gillette Stadium back in 2019.

When asked specifically about the possibility of becoming a lacrosse coach, Belichick went into press conference mode.

“I can’t answer hypothetical questions,” he told GQ Sports.

What do you think: Will Belichick eventually coach a team in the PLL? Let us know by voting in the poll below.

🏹 Archers All Alone on Top

With a 19-18 win over the Waterdogs last weekend, the Archers now stand alone atop the PLL with a 5-1 record.

The Archers have the No. 3 offense in the league in terms of total scores (82) and currently have the lowest scores against average in the PLL (11.3). A lot of that defensive success is due to the emergence of second-year goalie Brett Dobson, who leads the league in total saves (82) and has stopped 56.9 percent of the shots he’s faced.

It also helps to have a defender like Graeme Hossack as your enforcer…

Another area where the Archers are dominating is at the face-off. Rookie Mike Sisselberger trails only Trevor Baptiste with a 75.0 percent win rate, and the Archers’ offense has adapted well to the 32-second shot clock.

The Archers are rolling, and they haven’t really needed much out of Grant Ament. The former Attackman of the Year ran through the box as a midfielder last weekend and only has six points in four games played. Tom Schreiber, Mac O’Keefe and Connor Fields have been the top three offensive playmakers this season.

Next up for the Archers is a game against Atlas in Baltimore on Saturday.

🔥 Cannons’ Success Ignites Debate

The Cannons are riding a four-game winning streak, after winning just four games over the past two seasons combined. This raises an interesting question…

Are the Cannons better without Lyle Thompson?

“Doogs” — host of a Barstool podcast called The Crease Dive — was brave enough to make the case in a recent episode…

The Cannons are definitely better on offense in 2023 than they were in 2022. In fact, they currently have the No. 1 offense in the league with 87 total scores and a team shooting percentage of 32.8 percent. As a result, their +16 score differential is the best in the PLL.

That said, Thompson’s absence is far from the only difference on this year’s Cannons roster. New head coach Brian Holman completely rebuilt the team in free agency. His son, Marcus Holman, currently leads the PLL with 28 total points. Matt Kavanagh, a trade acquisition, is also having a resurgent year.

Second-year pro Asher Nolting has stepped up this season and ranks second in the PLL with 26 points. Midfielders Ryan Drenner, Chris Aslanian, Jonathan Donville and rookie Matt Campbell all have at least 14 points.

The Cannons offense is definitely more balanced, efficient and productive this season. But the scientific method tells us that you can’t change multiple variables and draw a definitive conclusion. Thompson sitting out is one of many differences for this team year over year.

👀 With The First Pick…

While the Archers and Cannons are riding high, the Chrome are sinking fast. After dropping a fifth straight game last weekend, they now sit at 1-5 with a -16 score differential.

Time is running out for the Chrome to turn things around this season. With an 85.3 percent chance to claim the first-overall pick, it may be wise to turn one eye toward the 2024 PLL Draft.

The Chrome’s biggest problem is on offense. They rank dead last in the league with 54 total scores through six games, making them the only team averaging less than 10 scores per game.

The good news for Chrome is that next year’s draft is loaded with offensive talent, namely reigning Tewaaraton Award winner and MVP of Team USA Brennan O’Neill. Is the Duke standout a lock to wear a Chrome uniform next summer? Other options might include Notre Dame’s Pat Kavanagh and Virginia’s Connor Shellenberger.

Tanking is for losers, but any of those three guys would really help Chrome rebuild for the future…

📺 PLL Broadcast Info

The PLL is headed to Baltimore this weekend. Here’s when and where you can watch the action (Eastern Time):

Saturday, July 29
3 p.m. — Archers vs. Atlas (ABC)
5:30 p.m. — Whipsnakes vs. Chrome (ESPN+)

Sunday, July 30
1 p.m. — Redwoods vs. Chaos (ABC)
3:30 p.m. — Waterdogs vs. Cannons (ESPN+)