Men's Lacrosse

Bobby Tait excels in role as man-down specialist for Syracuse

Frankie Prijatel | Photo Editor

Bobby Tait hasn't cracked the starting lineup for Syracuse but plays a pivotal role as its man-down specialist.

Bobby Tait knows that only a handful of players will find a prominent role on a team like Syracuse.

The lanky defender stands at 6 feet, 5 inches and weighs 216 pounds, but his physical frame isn’t enough to crack the Orange’s starting back line. When a defender gets sent to the penalty box, though, SU needs size, speed and a high lacrosse IQ to make up for its man disadvantage.

Enter Tait, who’s found a less-heralded niche as Syracuse’s (9-2, 2-2 Atlantic Coast) primary man-down specialist.

“I’ve been doing it for a few years now and it’s just kind of been always the way,” Tait said. “It’s just kind of my role on the team and I’m glad to fill that role.”

It’s a specialty position that requires pinpoint anticipation of what another team’s man-up unit will do. That entails studying film throughout the week and identifying which players have which tendencies on the opponent’s man-up.



Add the ability to quickly rotate from open man to open man, disrupt passing lanes and adjust to different kinds of man-down defenses. The physical and tactical arsenal Tait possesses has found him a home on a unit that ranks 13th in the country, and first in the ACC in goals allowed per man-down disadvantage.

“I think him having that extra range and having good knowledge, good preparation of what other teams like to do…” head coach John Desko said. “He’s got a great wingspan, which helps to knock down balls and get your stick in the passing lane.”

SU has five or six guys who can serve as a defender on a man down, assistant coach Lelan Rogers said. He named short-stick midfielder Tom Grimm, long-stick midfielders Peter Macartney and Scott Firman, as well as starting defenders Brandon Mullins, Jay McDermott and Sean Young.

But all six have primary roles that aren’t on the man-down defense.

“So I think probably most of them would probably call him the specialist,” Rogers said of Tait.

The redshirt junior has played in all 11 games this year and his only stat is two ground balls. In 21 games played prior to this season, Tait has amassed eight ground balls and only one caused turnover.

The title of man-down specialist certainly isn’t a glamorous one, especially on the stat sheet, but that doesn’t stop Tait from opening eyes outside of the box score.

“If you come to any practice, you see Bobby, he’s always picking off passes,” Rogers said. “The great thing about Bobby is he’s got great length. He’s our tallest defenseman, you put a stick in his hand with his 6-foot-5 frame and put a pole in his hand, it obviously covers a lot of ground.”

On the man-down defense, a number of different formations can be used to counter a man-up offense. A rotation style, five-man zone, four-man zone with a lock-eyed crease or a defense which puts a short stick or a long pole on the perimeter to lock someone down were all on Rogers’ list.

During the week, Rogers and volunteer assistant Steve Scaramuzzino help the man-down defense extensively scout the upcoming opponent’s man-up offense. That means knowing which personnel is going to be where for another team, which players will move where off the ball and which ones pose shooting threats from short and long distances.

“It’s a lot of just being in the right place at the right time and knowing the rotation,” Tait said. “Obviously having one less guy, you’re going to have to cover two at a lot of points.”

It’s hardly a simple role despite the fact it’s technically not even an official title.

Tait remains a “defender,” but the responsibility he undertakes is much more complex.

Said Rogers: “He’s really the quintessential man-down guy, if you would.”





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