If you listen to coaches/management/evaluators long enough, you’ll hear plenty of talk about “problem-solving” and “problem-solvers.”
Everyone seems to want players who are good problem-solvers.
I want problem creators and problem preventers.
Problem Preventers
Problem preventers are my preferred defensemen.
The problem solvers, while great and valuable, would be better off finding ways to defend less in the first place! Problem solvers are noisy and noticeable right away. The preventer’s talent tends to whisper due to problems failing to pop up or quietly and quickly kill threats.
For example… a defender who gaps up well to take away the pass option and force a less desirable play for the offense.
Or squashes space in spots where players traditionally wouldn’t expect them.
Problem Creators
Offensive problem creators ask questions of the defense and put defenders in difficult spots. They force defenders to make decisions, often while having two solutions available. Whatever the defender chooses, they have the solution ready to go.
You can often spot problem creators because defenders are put in awkward spots where they are not comfortable or are caught in no-man’s land. Within both of those situations, there are offensive opportunities.
For example… a forward moves into space and forces the defender to ask, “Do I stay low to guard the net or go out high?”
What other situations can you come up with?
Further Reading