E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Dane Richards had a plan when he was drafted by the New York Red Bulls in January. It was to gain experience on the reserve team and hopefully do well enough there to earn some minutes on the first team. But preseason sports hernia surgery to Markus Schopp gave the rookie from Clemson an opportunity at instant minutes and he's flourished.
Schopp is just about at full fitness, having played an hour for the Red Bulls reserves Sunday against Columbus. But with how well Richards has played in the first seven matches of his professional career, it's going to be hard for the Austrian to get back into the starting XI.
"I give that credit to my hard work and the hard work of my team and coaching staff," said Richards, who has three caps for the Jamaican national team. "They tell me to be confident and relax and when I'm comfortable on and off the field, there is no problem to adjust."
Richards' biggest attribute is his blinding speed up the right flank. Just ask Columbus defender Rusty Pierce, who was frustrated enough attempting to keep up with Richards to get a yellow card Saturday night.
"I'm a big believer in flank play and he can stretch teams and he's aggressive," Red Bulls boss Bruce Arena said. "If teams have to back off him, it allows him a chance to receive the ball and run at them. If they play him tight, they have to be concerned with the space behind him. He's been pretty dangerous to date."
Richards, who scored his first MLS goal May 5 at Real Salt Lake, set up the Red Bulls' critical first goal last Saturday night against the Crew. He kicked into gear down the right flank, played a give-and-go with Juan Pablo Angel and served a ball to the far post where John Wolyniec tapped it in.
"He's using his ability. He knows what he's good at and so do we," Clint Mathis said. "He's got great speed and, day in and day out, he's getting better with his feet and that's only going to help us out. I think he's done an excellent job this year."
Richards has learned a lot from the veterans on the Red Bulls, particularly midfielder Dema Kovalenko, who he shares an apartment with. Kovalenko said the key to Richards' success is keeping it simple.
"Nobody can really keep up with him," he said. "You play him a good ball, he gets behind [the defense] and then its the job of the forwards and outside midfielders to get in the box, because he's going to serve the ball in. He's been very good for us."
Although Richards has only played seven regular season games, Arena said he's already played more soccer than he did in one season at Clemson, where he had 11 goals and nine assists last year, earning second team All-American honors.
"He's dragging a little bit and we see that often when these players try to make the transition from the collegiate to the professional ranks," Arena said. "He'll get his legs back a little more. Even though you see him flying around out there, I don't think he's at full speed right now."
After beating Columbus 4-0 on Saturday night, the Red Bulls will meet Eastern Conference foe Chicago for the first time this season at Giants Stadium this Thursday. The artificial surface, often a complaint of opposing teams at the Meadowlands, will be replaced by natural grass because of a pair of international friendlies over the course of four days.
Defender Hunter Freeman is out with a sprained left ankle, which means that the Kovalenko experiment at right back might be extended for a second consecutive game. Goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus has been downgraded to doubtful while captain Claudio Reyna is questionable; both missed the last two matches. Despite those injuries, the Red Bulls have a league-high five clean sheets in seven games and are third behind New England and FC Dallas in the league standings.
"The guys are doing well," Arena said of the back line. "I think, in particular, Jeff Parke has been playing well and Carlos Mendes is solid."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
