Tryout season is here. As the Minnesota Wind Chill look to solidify their 2023 roster, they are facing a few critical questions that can determine the course of the entire season that lies ahead. With major player movements happening within the team, division and the league as a whole, here are a few key points to follow as practices begin and we turn the corner on a new AUDL season.
1. Can the Defense Have a Repeat Performance?
Was it just a fluke? Or does Minnesota seriously have a defense to reckon with? While they consistently provide one of the best defenses in the league, particularly in terms of blocks, the 2022 season was by far one of their most productive seasons as a comprehensive unit. The Wind Chill’s D-line scored every third defensive point played. This was a massive part of their success last year, and it was built around players who could generate turnovers and then quickly use a set of offensive skills to score. Fortunately for the Wind Chill, the core of their defense will be returning. Players like Dylan DeClerck, Bret Bergmeier, Brandon Matis and Tristan Van De Moortele were an instrumental part to this team’s defense, not to mention new additions of Abe Coffin and Sam Ward. And with the expected return of Colin Berry and Jimmy Kittlesen — who both suffered from injuries last year — paired with players like Marty Adams and Paul Krenik, the team’s defense is looking dominating yet again, at least on paper.
But strategies are shifting across the league, and opponents may be more aware of Minnesota’s defensive makeup. It will be interesting to see how Minnesota attacks on defense this season. How will teams like the Union navigate Minnesota’s defensive waters? (In particular, without Pawel Janas?) Furthermore, the Chill’s offense needs some beefing up, and some vital players who made an impact on the D-Line last year, like Abe Coffin, may find more opportunities to assist in an offensive role this year. Overall, the key components are still there to help solidify Minnesota as one of the league's best defenses. But it is too soon to tell if the exact makeup will stay steady, or if roles will be utilized in different ways.
2. Where Does Abe Coffin Play?
Abe Coffin. The man who is constantly talked about on our blogs and podcast. Minnesota’s All-Star and the AUDL’s poster child for pulls and aesthetics. What the heck does the team do with him this year?
Here’s the thing about Abe: he’s an offensive-aligned player. Only in 2022 with the Chill did he begin to shift toward a defensive role, where he assisted with pulling and the break point counterattack. He was one of the most successful players in the league at forcing turns and leading the charge in scoring on a defensive point. Abe’s hybrid role has earned him league-wide recognition where he has now built a reputation as the guy who pulls, the hybrid handler-turned-defender.
Now the Wind Chill are stuck with a strange dilemma: does he play offense or defense?
With his and his team’s immense success on defense last year, it makes sense to keep that going. If it ain’t broke, right? But the team’s diminishing O-line and need for a few more pillars at the helm on the other side of the disc makes me wonder: does he slot back into his natural position? My prediction, with absolutely no help whatsoever from a comment on YouTube, is that he returns to offense, if only temporarily (but maybe longer than that).
This is probably going to eventually turn into a much larger podcast discussion or series of articles, but Abe is a case study that I believe will turn into a pioneering example of the future of ultimate. Players like Abe, whose offensive prowess and defensive adaptability turn them into well-rounded two-way players, are going to become the standard in the game. Just as utility players in baseball are much more (and, in a way, less) desirable to a team thanks to their versatility, the Abe Coffins of the world are going to slowly transform the sport.
So, this year? The Wind Chill have some discovery and discussion to hold regarding the talents of Coffin. It is a nice problem to have, and I don’t think there is a totally wrong answer. I think it makes a lot of sense for him to go back to O-line, seeing as how the team is bringing back some key defenders again. But if Minnesota signs another cutter, or if their handler set turns out to be just fine, then why not copy and paste their 2022 defensive strategy into this year?
3. Who Slots In As Playmaker?
At this point, it has been talked about multiple times in a variety of mediums and channels, but it bears some discussion here, too. Andrew Roy was one of the Wind Chill’s key quarterbacks, in a sense larger than being able to work his way down the field with a disc in his hands. He led the team offensively, making plays and stepping up as a true leader that most football quarterbacks are seen as. Now that Roy has moved back out to Washington, D.C. and joined the Breeze, the question Minnesota faces is: what now?
Let’s not kid ourselves, either. Minnesota is by no means lacking in handler talent. In fact, they might even click more stylistically, looking deep and moving the disc in bigger plays than before. A-Roy’s handling strategy played more toward a swing-heavy, almost dribbling style of play. That worked well, sure, but the team is made up of some major handler talent who can send the disc 40+ yards without thinking about it. This is the year that Josh Klane and Tony Poletto become an absolute unit in the backfield, calling plays and trusting their cutters (who are more than capable and willing to go deep and layout) for long throws.
What I’m mostly interested in is how will the team function with a new playmaker at the helm. Actually, I suppose I’m more interested in who that individual will be. My instincts say Klane, the veteran. But I wonder if Poletto or — more interestingly — Will Brandt become the primary quarterback, who calls plays and directs cutters. I’m not totally aware of the dynamic of these guys and how they go about their handling, but Brandt said himself that he is looking to step into a new role this year. Don’t be surprised if he makes a name for himself this season.
The 2023 Season Is Just Around the Corner
At the end of the day, the Wind Chill need to bulk up their offense, and without sacrificing their defensive success. Whether that means transferring players over from another role, or signing a player or two before the season starts, something needs to change if they want to make it onto the Championship Weekend field. The team is set up in a nice position that allows them some helpful flexibility if need be. Right now, everything is kind of in limbo until practices really get going and the season kicks off.
In the mean time, be sure to sign up for the latest news and updates from Wind Chill Talk, where we’ll keep our ears to the ground for any big (or small) news. Plus, we have exclusive giveaways (discs and tickets!) for our subscribers coming up in the next few months. The 2023 season is going to be exciting, and is only a few months away! We can’t wait to see where this year takes us.
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