Cognitive Ultimate II

During a game on Wednesday night I was matched up against a teammate of mine from Hustle. I was primarily cutting out of the vertical stack and getting the disc on the open side. After the point he asked me if I had any advice regarding in cuts. He noticed that I kept making quick first steps and misdirection or after taking him out, I would consistently get open by coming back under. I initially only responded by saying that it was extremely hard to guard against a cut that takes you out and then gets stopped on a dime to come under. Albiet true, it is an effective cut for a receiver, I think it is slightly more complicated and the defender has more recourse than it just being a tough cut to guard against.

After having some time to think about it on my way to Columbus later that night, I had a chance to come up with some meaningful advice. Here's the e-mail I sent him with only a slight addition (I'm specifically referencing quick fakes after a misdirection and under cuts that come after a hard out cut.):

- Use position to give yourself the most advantage you can. Regardless, offense ALWAYS has the advantage, but you can use your body to close that gap. Keep your weight over your feet; don't let your body weight completely shift to one side and get off balance. Stay on your toes and move your torso with him rather than throwing your weight to one side to compensate for a fake. Square your shoulders to the defender, playing him tight on the hip. When he comes to cut under, put yourself in his path so he has to go through you to come under. Beat him to the open space that he wants to get to and seal off his cut. You can turn your hips and sprint in the lane once you've established that position and he's picked up steam. Also, when he starts his cut, if he decides to go deep, your body is still squared up so that you can sprint upfield. Be smart with body position and don't give the offense player what he wants or let him go to the open space (without a fight at least).

- Always expect a cut. When your guy is in the stack don't take a few seconds and relax. A lot of time in the stack people take a little time off, and that's when someone can beat them easy on an under cut. Stay in their pocket at all times and be ready. When someone takes you deep and then cuts under, it is extremely difficult to guard, but being in their pocket and ready for that gives you the best shot at guarding it.

- Lay out. If you have to give them a step under to seal off the deep cut, make them think twice about throwing it to your man with a lay out. Even if you don't get the D, making them recognize that you're going to lay out for the disc always makes the thrower hesitant. Getting horizontal is a big equalizer if you are behind a step or two. It is very effective physically and psychologically.

These are a few of the things you should be focused on when your man is cutting. There are many more components to man defense like position after a huck, marking, etc. but taking it piece by piece is beneficial for learning and/or improving a broader skill.

I'll post about the other side of this topic later on and discuss some finer points to cutting as a cognitive ultimate skill.