D.C. United won the Supporters' Shield for best regular-season performance in MLS last year, and with a veteran-laden squad built for short-term success, expectations are just as high entering 2008.
So while club officials clearly believe that their immediate roster needs are best met on the international market, United was elated to pick up three promising prospects -- players the club believes are significantly underrated -- in this year's SuperDraft at the Baltimore Convention Center. Andrew Jacobson, Ryan Cordeiro and Tony Schmitz will hardly be expected to jump into the starting XI this season, but the Black-and-Red have seen enough to believe that one or all of them might become the club's 'next diamond in the rough' find.
"Whether it's via the draft or trades, you're always looking to add some young Americans that have an impact," said head coach Tom Soehn. "You're always looking to restock and make sure you got a couple guys who can step in and start for you. I guess time will tell with these guys."
A University of California (Berkeley) product, Jacobson is a tall, technically sound central midfielder who United officials believe holds talent worthy of the first round, despite the fact that he was still available when the club finally made its first pick in the latter stages of the second round.
"We were pretty excited to see him fall that far. There were a lot of qualities that we thought fit not only our team, but also the way the league goes," said Soehn. "He's got a good soccer brain, he's got big feet for a big guy and he's a strong physical presence."
Meanwhile, UConn's Cordeiro impressed Soehn and general manager Dave Kasper with energetic performances at the adidas MLS Player Combine that reminded them of another raw wing talent who blossomed under their tutelage after being drafted in 2004.
"Cordeiro showed us some pretty good signs at the Combine of being that Josh Gros type of player who can get up and down the line. He works hard and can get some service in," said Kasper.
Gros is sitting out the 2008 campaign due to the lingering effects of head injuries that might yet end his career prematurely. But his success story was clearly on United minds as draft day played out. The club values its training ground and locker room environment and believes that it can bring out the best in the right type of young domestic player.
"Look at what we did with Josh Gros several years ago," said Kasper. "He's a guy that slipped under everyone's radar, but we saw qualities in Josh that said, 'this is a guy that's got the potential to be an everyday player in our league.' That's what we really quite frankly see in all three of our draft picks."
Creighton University's Schmitz was not even invited to the combine, but D.C. saw enough in the Nebraskan to make him their final pick.
"We've scouted him. It's a guy that we think in our system, in time can work," said Soehn. "I think he's probably the most versatile of all the guys we've drafted."
United's overall approach stands in stark contrast to many of their MLS counterparts who seek quick returns from their SuperDraft selections, especially in a year when standout prospects are few. For the four-time MLS Cup champions, a draft pick is merely an invitation.
"It doesn't really matter where they're picked. It's an opportunity, and what they do with it, it's up to them," said Soehn.
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
