FRISCO, Texas - In January's MLS SuperDraft, FC Dallas had a total of six picks - one in the first round, three in the second, one in the third and two in the fourth. Five of those players remain with the team today and judging from their play with the Hoops reserves, they are coming along pretty well in their adjustment to professional soccer.
Hoops assistant coach Marco Ferruzzi, who coaches the FCD reserves with fellow assistant Oscar Pareja, thinks the group is adjusting well to the rigors of being professional players.
"We're very happy with our draft and everybody we brought in," he said. "We have a lot of potential in the whole group. They're adapting well and we're pretty pleased."
Midfielder Dax McCarty was the sixth overall pick. The 19-year-old played two seasons at North Carolina and was the fifth first-round pick out of the Tar Heels program in the last decade.
The Generation adidas player was one of two FCD players, along with Blake Wagner, selected in April to participate in the U.S. under-20 national team's camp, which was held in Argentina. McCarty had a goal in the USA's first of three games.
With the FCD reserves, McCarty currently has two goals and one assist. He has started in three of their four games and continues to develop. His adjustment to MLS remains ongoing.
"The (difference) in speed of play is like night and day," he said. "You have to be much more fit and in shape (in MLS), especially in Dallas because this weather kills you. It's also speed of thought. You have to be able to think ahead of your opponents. If you can do that, you should be all right."
McCarty said he felt that playing with the reserves also gave him an advantage in his April stint with the U.S. U-20 team.
"The guys (on the reserves) are maybe technically and tactically better than the ones in college," he said. "Making the jump to MLS has helped me improve my game. It always makes you think a little bit quicker and definitely prepares you for international competition."
Fellow ACC product Justin Moore, a defender from Clemson, was a second-round selection (15th overall). He has started four reserve games in 2006, and like McCarty, continues getting acclimated to MLS.
"That (increased speed of the game) is one thing (I'm adjusting to)," he said. "Positioning as a right back is another. The better midfielders in this league can clip it in behind and if you're not in the right position, can get a breakaway. Speed is definitely something I need to adapt to."
Wagner went three spots below Moore at 18th overall. Originally slated to play at Maryland, he instead opted to join MLS as a Generation adidas player. He was a member of the U.S. team that played in the 2005 U-20 World Cup. Making the jump to the professional ranks means addressing several areas of his game.
"For me, it's been a combination of strength and speed," he said. "Everyone (in MLS) is much bigger and they play much faster. You have to get your mind right every day that everything is going to be quicker and faster. You have to be mentally tough too."
Forward Dominic Oduro was the 22nd overall pick for the Hoops. A native of Ghana, he had spent the previous two seasons at Virginia Commonwealth, where in 2004 and 2005, he was named player of the year in the Colonial Athletic Association.
Oduro has played in four reserve division games so far in 2006 and has three goals and one assist. His recent hat trick against New England was the first in FCD reserve history. Like his fellow draft picks, Dominic has noticed a big difference between college and pro soccer.
"The players (in MLS) are bigger and the play is really fast," he said. "The speed work is important. The professional level is very fast and you have to be sharp. As a rookie, I'm not expecting to make it all at one time but think I'm making great progress and am really proud of myself."
After a solid career between the posts at Ohio State, Ray Burse Jr. went 30th overall. In three reserve games this year, he has allowed an average of 1.33 goals per contest and comes off his first clean sheet of the year, which came against New England.
Burse was also the backup to first-team starter Dario Sala for the first five games of 2006. He returns to that role with Jeff Cassar out for four weeks with a torn right quadriceps. Ray spent the last two summers training with the Columbus Crew and admits that has helped his transition to MLS.
"I think my main preparation (for MLS) was training with the Crew in a professional setting," he said. "Being with those guys the last two summers, I kind of knew what to expect coming in here and it's helped my transition."
Burse said the professional game is all about intensity.
"The biggest adjustments for me have been keeping intensity high every day and trying to better myself day in and day out so I can eventually be on the level of Dario (Sala) and Jeff (Cassar)," he said.
Midfielder Michael Dello-Russo was the team's first pick in the fourth round (42nd overall). In his senior year at Maryland, he captained the NCAA College Cup champions, starting in all 25 of the Terps' matches. So far in 2006, he has played in every minute of all five of FCD's reserve games.
Like his fellow draftees, Dello-Russo also notices how much quicker the pro game is.
"At any level you get to, that is the first thing that goes up is the speed," he said. "You get used to it pretty quick. If you don't, you won't survive out here."
Defender Marcos Charras, who is the Hoops' most recent addition, joining the club in April, is also progressing well. He has seen time in three reserve games so far in 2006 and is looking more and more comfortable on the field each week.
Pareja likes what the young Argentinean has shown thus far.
"He is still trying to learn the system, the language and how to read the game in MLS," he said. "That is something that for the foreigners, takes time. He's coming along well and is improving. He realizes that here in the United States, the regimen is different and is very demanding."
This group of young players might not make their presence felt with the FCD first team this season, but judging from their performance so far in 2006 in the reserve division, their time is coming. Not only are the Hoops very deep on the first team, but they also have a wealth of talent in their reserves as well. The current group of youngsters is a testament to that.
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
