[BrendanB]

I would recommend your team focus on picking up a ball from the floor and being able to put it back on the floor.

You are more valuable as an assist partner than a catching partner which is dependent on a partner who can throw the ball accurately and you being able to line up in a specific spot each and every time. Being in the perfect world match where both you and a partner can carry out a catch consistently like that will be very slim!

If you can just pickup from the floor and put it back down you should also be able to score in the 1 point goal (so you can get points on your own!). Also remember that three assists in the low goal is 31 points and three assists in the high goal is only 40 points. A triple assist in the low goal made up of only three robots with drivebases and ground pickups can be EXTREMELY lethal if all three can do it fast. The bottom of that goal is 7in from the ground and the lowest your bumpers can be mounted at is a height of 7in as well (bumper zone is 2in-10in and your bumper is 5in tall).

It is very easy to move forward with making an open cage on the top of your robot that can help you catch a ball and then with your collector spit it back out to the floor or goal.

You still have PLENTY of time but get the ball pickup working then get some driver practice and lots of it. Its great that you have an experienced driver but every year there are new challenges so you can't just throw him on the field and hope he'll pickup a ball with ease (I remember back to 2008 when we had 40in balls no it wasn't easy at first).

Good luck and if you need any help, feel free to PM me!