WASHINGTON ā Heading into Sundayās matchup with the Colorado Rapids (7 pm, GalavisiĆ³n), D.C. United have a dizzying array of back line questions to answer.
With Dejan Jakovic suspended after picking up a red card last Saturday in a 2-1 loss against New England, Perry Kitchen on international duty with the US U-20s and right back Jed Zayner listed as questionable, three-quarters of their ideal starting defense may be unavailable.
Thatās not a huge concern for coach Ben Olsen.
āWe feel comfortable with whoever weāre going to put out there and itāll be a good test,ā he said.
[inline_node:332381]Depending on Zaynerās availability, rookie Chris Korb is the top candidate to start again on the right, and the same can be said for Rodrigo Brasesco in central defense. Daniel Woolard, signed during the offseason, has impressed in camp though mostly at left back.
Olsen said he's comfortable that thereās enough versatility back there to cope with some of the absences.
āWe have several backs that have, throughout their career, played different spots,ā he said. āItās a nice luxury to have when you have a couple guys out.ā
No matter who is out there, it will be a challenge for the back line, especially having to contain Coloradoās forward duo of Omar Cummings and Conor Casey ā should they both start on Sunday. Casey has been hobbled with a calf injury, while Cummings was away on international duty with Jamaica this past week.
Left back Marc Burch isnāt concerned about the high rate of turnover on the back line hampering the defensive effort.
āWeāve been switching in and out since the beginning of the season, so I think that no matter who we put there, we have a good idea how to play with each other,ā he said. āSome guys might be out of position this weekend, but the concept of what weāre going to do is all the same.ā
In the face of the high rate of change, one plus to the situation is the presence of goalie/coach Pat Onstad. The 43-year-oldās experience is invaluable in helping the team keep its shape, and he isnāt afraid to bark orders from the ānet.
āPatās very vocal and he keeps us all together, keeps us in line and heās saying the right things all the time ā sometimes goalies donāt always say the right things,ā Burch said.
While the focus of a defensive effort is always on the back line, Olsen was also adamant that itās also the responsibility of the other 10 guys on the field to play defense ā starting up top with the forwards and going all the way to the back.
āItās still a group,ā he said. āItās still 10 guys out there, working together to defend.ā