NLL Insider

Some had him as their MVP last year and pretty much everyone had him as the best tender in 08.

That of course being Toronto Rock starting keep, Bob Watson, who at the age of 38, had maybe his best ever season in the NLL.

Watson’s performance last winter was also a great example of why you can’t always just judge keepers in this sport based on their stats alone.

They’re nice to have, but what stat registered the amount of momentum shifting (or stalling) saves Watson routinely made last year when he was hung out to dry? What stat registered the confidence Watson gave to the rest of the team when they knew they could maybe let it all hang out a little more cuz Watson had things on lockdown at the other end of the floor? What stat registered how many second and third stops Watson made while the opposition was parked on his crease and trying to bury what shoulda been sure things?

For the people simply drooling at a tender’s digits versus the games they throw-down in today’s fast paced, in your face style of lacrosse, are completely missing out on what it means to be a top keeper in the NLL today.

With that said however, outside of his win-loss record, Whipper’s numbers weren’t too shabby. His 10.34 GAA was only topped by Chris Levis and Kenny Montour, who played substantially fewer minutes than Watson’s 812.

His .786 save percentage was fifth best in the league, but second best behind keepers that played more than 500 minutes, trailing only Anthony Cosmo’s .795.

Most that have followed the sport over the past ten years feel Watson is playing sharper and more clutch now than when he was winning Cups with the Rock several seasons back.

The 12-year vet will be relied on this winter more-so than maybe ever before. With Mike Poulin in Boston and Mike Attwood, who’s played just 114 minutes of pro ball since first entering the league in 2005, backing up one of the most high profile keeper spots in lacrosse, an injury to Watson could be pretty devastating to Toronto’s high hopes this season.

Is there a player, runner or tender, out there now that means more to their club than Watson does to the Rock? What happens to Toronto  if Watson has a season ending injury? It looks like Rochester may have even patched up the loss of John Grant to a certain extent, could the same be said for the Rock with Watson on the shelf for an extended period?

Interesting fact: Those new to the game probably don’t know that Watson first broke into the NLL/MILL back in 1996 with the Baltimore Thunder, which also included Canadians Chris Gill and Rob Williams on their roster. All three players joined the Ontario Raiders two years later. Previous to winning his three keeper of the year nods, Watson backed up American tender JJ Pearl in that lone season in Baltimore, posting less than impressive numbers with a 17.24 GAA and .668 save percentage. During that same 1996 season, Dallas Eliuk and Steve Dietrich were voted onto the league’s All-Pro First and Second Team respectively.

Does Watson belong in the NLL Insider Top 50? Hit the boards and let us know what your Top 50 looks like heading into the 2009 NLL season…

#50 Matt Roik, San Jose Stealth
#49 Jon Sullivan, Minnesota Swarm
#48 Billy Dee Smith, Buffalo Bandits
#47 Steve Toll, Rochester Knighthawks
#46 Jarett Park, New York Titans
#45 Bruce Murray, Colorado Mammoth
#44 Shawn Evans, Rochester Knighthawks
#43 Peter Lough, Toronto Rock
#42 Matt Vinc, New York Titans
#41 Jeff Shattler, Calgary Roughnecks
#40 Craig Point, Minnesota Swarm
#39 Scott Ranger, Calgary Roughnecks
#38 Brian Langtry, Colorado Mammoth
#37 Sean Pollock, Minnesota Swarm
#36 Jake Bergey, Boston Blazers
#35 Pat O’Toole, Rochester Knighthawks
#34 Kyle Sweeney, Philadelphia Wings
#33 Luke Wiles, Toronto Rock
#32 Ryan Boyle, New York Titans
#31 Chris White, Buffalo Bandits
#30 Jordan Hall, New York Titans
#29 Shawn Nadelen, Philadelphia Wings
#28 Cam Woods, Toronto Rock
#27 Mike Accursi, Buffalo Bandits
#26 Dan Carey, Colorado Mammoth
#25 Pat Maddalena, New York Titans
#24 Andy Secore, Edmonton Rush
#23 Ryan Ward, Minnesota Swarm
#22 Tracey Kelusky, Calgary Roughnecks
#21 Josh Sanderson, Calgary Roughnecks
#20 Shawn Williams, Rochester Knighthawks
#19 Blaine Manning, Toronto Rock
#18 Nick Patterson, Minnesota Swarm
#17 Eric Martin, San Jose Stealth
#16 Scott Evans, Rochester Knighthawks
#15 Scott Self, Edmonton Rush
#14 Anthony Cosmo, Boston Blazers
#13 Geoff Snider, Philadelphia Wings
#12 Lewis Ratcliff, Toronto Rock
#11 Ryan Cousins, Minnesota Swarm
#10 Brodie Merrill, Portland Lumberjax
#09 Bob Watson, Toronto Rock

Hit this link for NLL Insider’s Top 50 archive and keep checkin’ back every week as we countdown the top 50 best in the pro game, with #1 being named just before the NLL season kicks off.

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