Gary Gait is the X factor for the Colorado Mammoth: He’s the new head coach the team is learning to live with and the star player it is learning to live without.
When the National Lacrosse League team opens its fourth season Friday at 7 p.m. against the Philadelphia Wings at the Pepsi Center, Gait’s prints will be all over the proceedings – and not just because his No. 22 jersey will be retired that night.
Coming off a disappointing 8-8 season, Gait has made major changes on defense, transition and offense, and general manager Steve Govett has altered the personnel, bringing nine newcomers onto the 23-man roster.
“The most important thing we did in the offseason was beef up the defense,” Govett said. “Gary’s philosophy is to be tougher and meaner and make the Pepsi Center a tougher place to play.”
Along with adding veteran Rich Catton to a defensive crew that includes all-star Pat Coyle and Jamie Hanford, Gait installed a packed scheme since retiring April 22 as the NLL’s all-time point leader (1,091) and replacing Jamie Batley as coach on June 18.
“I know it sounds pretty obvious, but we were too spread out, where this year we’re packing it in,” Coyle said. “If someone gets beat on the left side, the right side is pretty close by to help. Before, we were so far away.”
When Coyle was asked about the origin of the changes, he said: “It’s Gary. It is his show, and I like it. It suits a guy like me. I’m not as fast as I used to be and I never was fast to begin with, so I think it’s better for us. We almost make a wall, saying, ‘OK, get by us.’
“So we’re going to challenge teams to shoot from the outside, and I’m pretty confident Gee (Nash) can take care of us.”
Goaltender Nash, an exceptional outlet passer, is also part of Gait’s higher-risk transition game. Instead of returning to the bench when their defensive shift is over, Gait wants players making the transition from defense to offense by rushing up the floor, seeking easy scoring opportunities.
“Traditionally, one or two players transition the ball up the floor,” Gait said. “We’re going to take the restrictions off that and allow whoever’s there to take a look at opportunities and transition the ball up, whether it’s a breakaway or 2-on-1 or 3-on-2.”
In some cases, players will cherry pick; that is, race toward the offensive end as soon as they see teammates trapping for a steal or as soon as a shot is launched. The gamble lies in the missed steal or the shot that is rebounded by the offense.
“We have to be prepared to be down a guy if we don’t come up with the possession,” Gait said.
When the steals are made or Nash makes the save and a stellar outlet pass, Gait’s plans will best utilize his speediest defenders, Jay Jalbert and Scott Stapleford; his fastest forwards, Josh Sims and Nick Carlson; and exceptional finishers Gavin Prout and Dan Stroup.
Jalbert, 28, the NLL’s top scoring defenseman last season with 18 goals and 22 assists, is poised to move from all-star to all-pro, according to Gait.
“He looks phenomenal,” Gait said.
Jalbert said: “Being a guy who likes to push it and make things happen, playing for a guy like Gary is great. He’s never going to tell you to slow down. Or that it is not the right time. He’s going to let you play.”
Even the risks don’t concern Jalbert.
“There’s going to be times they might burn us, but overall I think it’s excellent,” he said. “We’re going to get a ton of goals. We’ve got better athletes than any team in the league.”
When the transition doesn’t yield an immediate goal, the half-floor offense will take over. Since Govett’s attempts to acquire first team all-pro left-handers Colin Doyle and John Tavares failed, the left-handed scoring needed to replace Gait, Del Halladay and Randy Daly has been left in the hands of rookies Steve Voituk and Dan Carey, and Chris Gill, a veteran who scored 53 goals for Vancouver in 2002.
“We feel very comfortable with the guys we have,” said Govett, who was surprised to get Gill and see Carey and Voituk mesh so quickly.
Voituk, 27, is returning to the game for the first time since 2001, when he played at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Penn.
“He’s certainly rusty, but he came to camp with impressive skills,” Govett said.
Assistant captain Hanford, the NLL’s reigning face-off percentage leader, sees invention out of necessity.
“You obviously could never replace Gary, but it’ll be different with the ball banging around more,” he said. “We’ll get opportunities.”
