Every great championship matchup features two of the most notable, best teams in any given league. By no accident, it is almost always the case that these big games pit an unstoppable force against an unmovable object: a powerhouse offense versus a staunch defense. In the 2022 World Series, the Astros had one of the best pitching rotations in the game, and they took down the Phillies who threw defense out the door to make room for thunderous home plate production. The Miami Heat’s defense butted heads with a strong Denver Nuggets’ offense, and even the Kansas City Chiefs brought a strong offense to a more defensively aligned Philadelphia Eagles team.
And who can forget the 2022 AUDL Championships, when we saw a defensive-aligned Union take on the Empire’s incredible offense? Across all sports, the final two teams are almost always known for a specific aspect of the game, an identifying factor that earned them a spot on the world stage.
The Wind Chill aren’t exactly known for being leaders among the league in anything this season.
In years past, Minnesota has been lauded for their defensive prowess. They have historically been a defense-heavy team which, despite never having made a Championship Weekend appearance thus far, has generally worked out really well for them. As recently as 2022, the Wind Chill were one of the best teams in the AUDL in forcing turnovers and then scoring a defensive point immediately after.
The 2023 season is well underway and currently, the Chill sit in the top third or half of the league in just about every category; their highest ranking is #7, which is in the form of completion percentage and D-line conversion percentage. They are flying under the radar in the league, blowing out some opponents and being completely shut down by others. It feels as though this is a team that is experiencing some serious feast or famine in terms of production, and their reliance on their depth due to roster inconsistency has prevented them from really unleashing their potential on offense or defense.
If the Wind Chill want to really stand out and have a real shot at being crowned AUDL Champions in 2023, they’re going to have to find their identity.
Falling Back on Defense
It is no secret that the Wind Chill generally find their strengths on defense. Through a combination of playing in windy conditions, applying pressure on cutters, and generating blocks, the Wind Chill’s defense often finds itself with possession of the disc. And when that happens, they score. Especially in 2022, they consistently were ranked among the top teams in blocks, break points and opponent turnovers; the Chill’s defense showed a surprisingly strong offensive play style, and it worked out really well.
So why not lean into that reputation again in 2023?
While there has been reshuffling of players and roles, the core of Minnesota’s defense has remained the same. Led by Dylan DeClerck and Jimmy Kittlesen, they have only reinforced their turnover-generating, break-securing capabilities. Through the additions of Tanner Barcus, Sam Berglund, Cameron Lacy, and Will Casperson, the defense is seemingly stronger than ever. Plus, breakout seasons for Bert Bergmeier and Mickey Walsh only add to the recipe of a dominating defense.
But why haven’t they seen the same success as last season?
The most obvious departure from the Minnesota defense is Abe Coffin, who was switched back to his more traditional offensive role as an O-line handler this season. Thanks to the pulling rules — as well as the addition of some strong D-line handlers — Coffin’s talents were predicted to be more effective on offense. This has totally backfired on Ben Feldman and the rest of the Chill. Despite not “needing” his pulls anymore, Coffin may very well be better suited to flexing back to lead the team’s D-line again. With 13 blocks alone last year, he clearly helped in slowing down opponents’ offensive drives. Plus, he racked up 20 assists and 6 goals, thanks largely in part to his riskier, lower-pressure style of play he felt he had.
“I usually approached it a little more loosely,” Coffin said about his approach on defense in an interview with Wind Chill Talk. “I could take a little bit riskier shots, because offense doesn’t want to play defense on a turn.”
The team has 82 blocks so far on the season, whereas they had 104 blocks at this point in 2022. Their break percentage is down, and while they have some really strong players on the field, they may simply just need that veteran leader making plays and bringing an energy back to defense. I don’t know if Abe Coffin is the antidote to a struggling Wind Chill D-line, but it certainly couldn’t hurt. He can teach some of these younger guys the ropes and be a strong presence for opposing offenses.
Leaning into what they have known historically would give the Wind Chill a confident identity, something they can look at and say, “Yeah, we’re those guys. We’re the unmovable object.”
Is Offense the Way to Go?
On the other side of the disc, it wouldn’t be terrible to see the offense step up, either.
Holds in ultimate are so critical to securing a win. In their two losses this season, the Wind Chill have struggled to hold. Compared to last season, their turnover rate is elevated and their hold percentage is down. Offense can’t seem to find receivers in the end zone, despite having a relatively successful huck rate and completion rate. They can move the disc, just not into the end zone.
The Wind Chill are still very middle of the road in any of these stats. If they want to remain competitive, they have to clean up their game and solidify their approach.
They had such huge potential of a strong offense going into this season. With Coffin switching to the O-line, Josh Klane anchoring the back field with Will Brandt by his side, throwing to receivers like Quinn Snider and B-Von, they had names that should make any defense shudder. Minnesota even got a chance to really flex their depth this season, especially early on with a few players out for college seasons or other reasons. Marco Dregni, Jordan Taylor, and Tristan Van de Moortele all have stepped up and filled in, not just bridging some talent gaps but really making a name for themselves, earning top spots as starters and players to watch throughout the season.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I fear that the Wind Chill’s reliance on their depth due to inconsistency week-to-week has hurt them.
Solidifying a strong offensive roster could really elevate the performance of this team and make them stand out in the Central Division and beyond. The talent is there without a doubt, they just need to fine-tune it and use it to their advantage. It was clear that the Chill were looking to bolster their offense and make that a part of their identity this season. They were aggressive in replacing Andrew Roy, Cole Jurek, Tony Poletto, and Rocco Linehan. But the turnover and shuffling clearly mixed something up among the team.
If they can nail down rotations and give players consistent roles, Minnesota can be among the best offenses in the AUDL. Looking at the Empire, whose offense is unstoppable, they maintain consistent numbers and know who is going to be where at any given point in a game. Even the Union are a tough team to break — something that the Wind Chill have struggled with in recent seasons. Minnesota can see this same kind of success if they find ways to hold onto the disc. Utilizing Jason Tschida and Will Brandt in more strategic roles to patiently work the disc upfield before striking deep would identify the Chill as savvy and clever. Adjusting on the fly and finding ways to break zones or eliminate handler pressure would paint the team as offensive trains, letting nothing get in their way.
I can’t help but nod to the Minnesota Strike, who executed these kinds of strategies with near perfection in 2023. They didn’t only rely on Robyn Fennig; Rachel Johnson, Gerene Taylor, and Sarah Meckstroth (among others) found ways to tire out their handler defenders before finding someone deep. The entire team had a large toolbelt they could turn to if they were caught in a trap or needed to switch something up. Fennig instilled a confidence in the Strike that enabled them to look deep, but before they could, they had to earn a spot on the field.
If the Wind Chill want to make their identity offense, then they should, and they should lean into it. The talent is there, the execution and patience just need to follow.
Keys to Unlocking Their Potential
Regardless of whatever the Wind Chill decide, they need to be consistent with it and lean into it. They have been carried by their depth up to this point, and it is time to lock in and stop flirting with different roles. Having the ability to switch players occasionally is never a bad thing, and utility players in ultimate are extremely necessary. However, as they make a final push to playoffs, the Wind Chill can’t be content with being right in the middle of the pack in any given category.
After all, it is rare for a middle-of-the-pack team to win a championship.
The Chill need to solidify their strategy, play to their strengths, and own what they are good at. At this point in the season, I think their defense has just been waiting to be unleashed. They know how to play defense, momentum is much easier to gain when you can score multiple break points in a row like the Chill do, and adding Coffin would really just reunify Minnesota’s classic approach.
When you look at this Minnesota Wind Chill team, you can’t exactly say with confidence “Oh yeah, their zone is impossible to break,” or “Their handler set punishes any mistakes downfield.” They are doing too much to be too good on both sides of the disc, and as a result, they are having an identity crisis. As the wise Ron Swanson once said, “Never half ass two things. Whole ass one thing.”
What will the Wind Chill whole ass the rest of this season?
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