Chess Not Checkers
The hosts of *The Runout* dive deep into a chaotic and revealing week in professional lacrosse, dissecting the Denver Outlaws' shocking loss of Jeff Teat and the ripple effects across the league. They argue that the Outlaws' recent 16-9 win over the New York Atlas—despite missing key players—was not a fluke but a sign of a team adapting under pressure, with standout performances from Brennan O'Neal and Wiz Bernhardt. The episode becomes a masterclass in roster strategy, as they critique the Utah Archers' baffling decision to draft Aiden McGuire, a short stick defensive midfielder, as a number one pick and deploy him as an offensive weapon, calling it a 'square peg in a round hole.' The conversation pivots to the controversial waiver claim of Matt Rambo by the Atlas, a move the hosts call illogical given his recent track record as a healthy scratch. They also praise the Denver Outlaws' savvy trade of Ryan Craddock for a 2027 first-round pick, calling it a 'free' asset that could hurt a division rival. The episode culminates in a passionate defense of the WLL, which the hosts declare the most exciting and streamlined version of lacrosse, despite its one-game-per-week schedule. They lament the scheduling chaos that leaves teams like the Charging without games for over a month, calling it a 'boneheaded' decision that undermines momentum.
The Denver Outlaws' 16-9 win over the Atlas was a sign of resilience, not luck, proving they can adapt without Jeff Teat.
Utah Archers' decision to deploy short stick defensive midfielder Aiden McGuire as an offensive player is a 'square peg in a round hole' strategy that doesn't make sense.
Matt Rambo's waiver claim by the Atlas is illogical—eight healthy scratches in the last year and a half doesn't justify a roster spot.
The Denver Outlaws' trade of Ryan Craddock for a 2027 first-round pick was a free move that hurts a division rival and costs nothing.
The WLL is the most exciting version of lacrosse—fast, streamlined, and high-stakes—despite its one-game-per-week schedule.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Opening Banter & Weekend Recap
The hosts kick off with light banter about their personal weekends, including Brandon’s nature photography at a camping trip and Neil’s reflections on the Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup win. They touch on the Colorado Avalanche’s injury woes and the emotional weight of not having a championship win to remember.
Denver Outlaws’ Resilience Without Jeff Teat
“Once they settled in and were like, okay, we can beat this team off immediately with the first step every time. I mean, JB10 literally beat his matchup every time.”
Utah Archers’ Positional Chaos
“I just don’t get it. They’re going to have to really kind of go through and figure out like, okay, this set of guys needs to play but then outside of – inside of those lineups, who's playing attack?”
Matt Rambo’s Waiver Claim: A Mystery
“He's been a healthy scratch eight times in the last season and a half... What 14 games? He's been a healthy scratch eight, eight of those games.”
Denver Outlaws’ Smarter Trade Strategy
“It cost them two phone calls. So I don't care who they draft because at the very least, guess what you did? You hurt, potentially, an in-conference rival.”
“I posted earlier this week that I think the WLL is to women's lacrosse, probably even more so what the PLL is to men's lacrosse. I think it is faster, it's more streamlined, it's easier to understand. For me, it's just better.”
“So it's a combination of things, but it's like once they settled in and were like, okay, we can beat this team off immediately with the first step every time. I mean, JB10 literally beat his matchup every time.”
“And I just I think they're going to have to really kind of go through and figure out like, okay, this set of guys needs to play but then outside of inside of those lineups, who's playing attack?”
Hosts
denver outlaws
other
brandon hooten
person
new york atlas
other
utah archers
other
neil barrett
person
maryland whipsnakes
other
brennan o'neal
person
wiz bernhardt
person
carolina chaos
other
jeff teat
person
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