The life of a professional soccer player is filled with ups and downs on an almost daily basis. For FC Dallas defender Drew Moor, 2007 was maybe filled with more highs and lows than he would care to repeat.
On one hand, Moor delivered a career-high two goals and also played 2,495 minutes, another career benchmark. In the summer, he made his debut for the U.S. national team when he played at Copa America. However, the Dallas native also spent the entire season going back and forth between the right side and the center of the Hoops back line.
"I was never really settled as a right back and bounced between there and center back. For most of the season, I was out wide but I never really got into a comfortable groove like I would have wanted to. In the season before, I was very comfortable at center back and had taken to that position pretty well. So, it wasn't an easy season for me," Moor said.
"Overall, I wasn't disappointed since I got to go to Copa America and had a great experience there. I hope to still be on the radar with Coach (Bob) Bradley and the national team. I played a lot of minutes and can't complain about that. Despite a disappointing ending in the playoffs, I thought it was a very good season and something we hope to build off in the next couple of years."
Moor was the sixth overall pick by FCD in the 2005 SuperDraft. He played in 20 games as a rookie, nine of those starts. That total jumped to 27 games in 2006 when Moor claimed a starting spot as a center back early in the year and never looked back. He also had one goal and one assist. Now, heading into his fourth season in the league, he realizes this is a crucial time in his development as a professional.
"I want to become more of a leader back there. We lost Clarence Goodson in the expansion draft (to San Jose) and right now, we're looking for a leader," Moor said. "I'm going to put a lot of pressure on myself to become that player. I will dedicate myself in the offseason and in preseason to really becoming a voice back there.
"For a lot of guys, it's something that comes naturally and it does for me. I want it to be something that I can get in a comfortable position of doing. It will take time but I'm looking forward to it. I think that I will take well to it."
Moor admits that he had to take some time off after FCD returned from Trinidad and Tobago in early December but is now ready to roll with his offseason regimen.
"I was just at the stadium (last) Thursday doing my first workout since we came back from Trinidad. I took about a week off after we got back to relax and let my body recover a little bit. I felt a little bit worthless but that's nice every once in a while," he said. "I was up there doing some cardio and some lifting. I'm just trying to stay in decent shape for the next few weeks and at the end of this month, will start really getting back into my fitness leading up to when preseason starts."
While many of his teammates travel in the offseason, Moor will confine his travels to the Lone Star State. He even passed on an invitation to see his alma mater, Indiana, play in a bowl game later this month in Phoenix.
"A couple of guys have asked me if I'm going (to their bowl game) but I'm probably not," Moor said. "I will watch it and it will be interesting to see how they do. I really don't have a lot of trips planned. I'm kind of a homebody since all of my family is here. I plan on being around. I help coach my high school (Episcopal School of Dallas) varsity team and they take trips to Austin and San Antonio in January. So, I will go with them there and help coach them down there. I plan on staying around and working here."
By the time 2008 rolls around, Moor will most assuredly be part of the starting FCD backline. The only question is whether it will be as a right back or central defender. Goodson, FCD's 2007 defender of the year, was picked by San Jose in the expansion draft and is out of the fold.
The Hoops also picked up the option on right back Bobby Rhine, FCD's longest-tenured player having been with the club since 1999. Should Moor play in the middle, he could be joined by Aaron Pitchkolan, a versatile player who performed well in 16 games last year.
Alex Yi, a 6-foot-3 back in his fourth year is another possibility. He was rock solid in 15 games last year but had a number of injuries shorten his year. Then again, it could be Adrian Serioux, who performed better at defensive midfield than at center back after returning from knee surgery.
Still, FCD head coach Steve Morrow is possibly far from finished tinkering with his roster and could bring in a new defender or two. With a pair of picks in the top eight of next month's SuperDraft, the Hoops could move one of those for a solid center back or possibly even pick one up in the draft.
"Each year, guys feel more comfortable with the daily grind of being a professional soccer player," Moor said. "Going from my third into my fourth season, it's an important time for me. I just look to solidify a spot in the back for Dallas. Whether it's in the middle or out wide, I just want to become more comfortable back there.
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
