PHOTO BY: DON MENNIG
BY SHAGGY SHRAGIS
Disaster in Delco as the Phoenix fell to the visiting Carolina Flyers 18-15, bringing the overall record to 3-2 for the season. Philly started strong with 5 straight holds, but an errant Nate Long throw to Sam Grossberg would result in a turnover on the goal line with just 8 seconds left, leading to the first Flyers break of the game. That buzzer beater kicked off a 6-0 run for Carolina, as Philly would not score until the final six seconds of the second quarter.
This game was a tricky set of circumstances for Philadelphia, whose offense continues to be average, while the defense has struggled in back to back outings. Faced with another daunting deep game the Hotbird D once again folded, allowing Carolina to convert on seven of nice huck attempts, just one game removed from a nine of 10 performance from the New York Empire. The Phoenix D had no answer for Jacob Fairfax, who ended the day with 408 receiving yards and four goals. They also struggled to pressure Alan Laviolette during the first three quarters. The all star handler finished the game with nine assists.
There were some bright spots for an otherwise beleaguered defense which converted two of just six break opportunities. Rookie Max Tran won man of the match, with two layout blocks and an assist. If Max Tran can be an effective handler defender it shores up one of the holes developing on the D line. As for the deep defense, it may be a more schematic shift than a personnel one.
Since 2022, Philadelphia has mostly run a force middle scheme, switching the mark as the disc is swung back and forth across the field. The goal is to limit hucks by forcing hucks to go over the stack, a more difficult proposition, and therefore rely on the downfield defense to eventually generate a turn when given enough opportunity. This was an excellent strategy in 2022 and in 2023, when the Philly D-line was one of the stingiest deep units in the league. Last season, Philadelphia was one of the worst teams in the league at huck defense. The difference may have come from the transition to a new disc. Rather than turn over in the wind, the new disc holds its angle far more effectively, making it easier to throw cross field hucks. Now, downfield defenders are overtaxed, having to guard underneath cuts against a mark that is perpetually open side, without the benefit of a more difficult deep game.
Whatever the case, Philadelphia has just five days to figure it out before going on the road for a doubleheader against two of the most impressive deep games in the Association. The Phoenix play Montreal this Friday, and follow it up at Boston on Saturday. The Royal are undefeated at home, with wins against New York and DC, while Boston has yet to lose a game all season. This is the toughest weekend of the season for Philly, who finds themselves in a two game skid after starting out 3-0. Montreal throws the third most hucks per game of any team in 2025, and is completing them at a prodigious 73.68% clip. Boston throws fewer hucks, but plays much slower, and as a result has approximately 40% of their scores this season generated from a huck completion, one of the highest numbers in the league.
Montreal dropped two games to Boston by a significant margin, and lost 22-20 at New York at the beginning of May, but the Canadian squad has been a different beast at home — all three losses were on the road — with a higher completion percentage, better huck rate and a significantly more aggressive defense. In their first three road games Montreal forced 28 break chances while they have forced 26 in the two home games. Their Break Percentage — D line scores divided by D line points — is just 12% on the road, but has catapulted to 28.5% at home. The Royal have traditionally had one of the best home field advantages in the league, with a ravenous French Canadian crowd and sequestered deep in a different country, and that same trend holds true in the 2025 season.
One Royal weakness that hasn’t improved is the red zone defense, where they are consistently allowing above an 80% red zone conversion rate to opponents, the second worst in the league. That is good news for the Phoenix, who have the third worst red zone offense in the UFA, with just a 66% conversion rate on red zone opportunities. Philadelphia has yet to score on 80% in the red zone in any game. It is a crucial test for the Phoenix, who will likely need to win both Montreal games to guarantee a playoff berth.
Having to play Boston, one of just three undefeated teams remaining in the 2025 season, one day later is a tall ordeal. While red zone defense is a weakness for Montreal, Boston sports the third best red zone defense of any team in the league, allowing opponents to score just 68.75% of red zone possessions. Philadelphia needs to figure out their red zone offense against a soft Montreal defense, or else it will be a very long Saturday evening against the Glory.
One solution could just be consistency. Philadelphia has yet to field the same starting seven players on offense in any game this season, with Sam Grossberg missing the first game due to collegiate obligations, and a combination of Will Tober, Matt Hanna and Greg Martin all missing time in the following weeks. Determining offensive personnel should go a long way towards practicing the reps needed to execute short yardage offense more effectively.
With DC and New York dropping games against Montreal and Toronto respectively, this becomes an important road trip for Philadelphia. If they can win just one of these two games, they are well positioned to push for playoff contention, particularly with home games against Montreal and DC still on the schedule. Losing both would put the Phoenix in a difficult hole to dig themselves out of, as they still play Boston, New York, and DC. Hopefully the Hotbirds can continue their hot streak against Montreal, a team they have beaten four straight times in Canada. Stream live on WatchUFA.tv to see how it all plays out this weekend.
