The 2007 season has already been filled with a number of injuries to key players for MLS Western Conference-leading FC Dallas. The list includes forwards Kenny Cooper, out until September with a broken right tibia, Roberto Mina, who could be lost for the season with a knee injury, and center back Adrian Serioux, who has yet to play for the Hoops since being traded to FCD in November and undergoing knee surgery in February.
But it hasn't all been doom and gloom for FCD and head coach Steve Morrow. One bright spot has been defender Drew Moor, who has played all 1,170 minutes for the Hoops so far this year, the only member of the FCD roster to do so.
Moor, who is in his third year and was a first-round pick in the 2005 SuperDraft after a solid career at Indiana University, has primarily played right back this year but has also seen time at center back, where he spent much of the 2006 season.
"In my first year, I was used as a utility guy," Moor said. "I came on in the midfield at the end of a lot of games and also got some starts at center and right back. That has helped me develop over the least few years and as a right back this year.
"We've had some injuries in the back and that's a big reason why I have played every minute. Clarence (Goodson) would have also but he's been unlucky with a few injuries. It feels good to be on the field every minute."
In Saturday's 3-1 win against the Los Angeles Galaxy, Moor converted a late-game header into his first goal of 2007 and second of his MLS career. The strike was nominated for Sierra Mist Goal of the Week. Getting forward is something Moor would like to do more of when the opportunities present themselves.
"When it presents itself, yes (I would like to get forward more)," he said. "My main role is to close out the right side defensively. In some games, I've done a good job of that and not such a good job in others. I need to be one of the main options on the right side when opportunity presents itself."
Morrow has also taken notice of Moor's durability this season.
"I think he's done a good job at right back," Morrow said. "He's getting more comfortable at that position and I want to continue to work with it. He's had his ups and downs as well."
Two weeks ago, Moor had his toughest game of the year in a 2-1 loss at Houston. In the second half, he thought he had heard a whistle signaling that Dynamo forward Joseph Ngwenya was offside, but there wasn't any such call and Ngwenya scored what proved to be the game-winner just after the break. But Moor bounced back against L.A. with a solid performance and turned in another solid showing in Thursday's 1-0 win at Real Salt Lake.
"He was very disappointed with himself after the Houston game," Morrow said. "We sat and watched the video and he was down for a few days after that. It's not often that you see Drew have a bad second half like he did against Houston."
Since Moor has spent the bulk of the 2007 campaign playing on the right side, a completely new position, that means he has earned some serious on-the-job-training in the back four for FCD this year.
"I'm feeling more and more comfortable (on the right)," Moor said. "There are times in games where I don't feel that comfortable, but that will happen to any outside back. I'm just as comfortable there as I am at center back because I've been playing there so much this year. We're not as deep and I'll play wherever Steve (Morrow) moves me."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
