Jesse Bernhardt Out for Chrome: Who Steps In?
Headed into week three of the PLL season the Chrome LC will be without one of its captains and defensive leaders, Jesse Bernhardt. The four-time All-Star and current Team USA member will miss this week’s game while on paternity leave. While his presence on the field and in the locker room will be sorely missed, we now have the rare opportunity to see a new face start down low for the Chrome. Head Coach Tim Soudan has two primary options to fill the void.
Option One – Grill Bumps Down
Nick Grill is thought to be a future starter down low for the Chrome but with the current veteran talent he’s primarily played an LSM role. With Bernhardt out we could see Grill bump down to close defense which would open an LSM spot. Grill is an excellent one-on-one cover guy and when given the opportunity he has the ability to push transition and be a threat in the clearing game.
Moving Grill would open a spot at LSM which would likely give us our first glimpse of Troy Hettinger or John Geppert, both rookies. Geppert was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Maryland and is a high IQ player with a ton of pedigree. He finished his collegiate career with 10 goals, eight assists, 136 groundballs and 47 caused turnovers, alongside 2nd team All-American honors.
