TUKWILA — Talking about Brad Evans, Seattle Sounders coach Sigi Schmid announced that his team captain would make his debut as a goalkeeper in 2018.
Schmid was joking. Probably.
We have to include the word “probably” in any conversation about Evans and his role on the team, because throughout his career, the versatile midfielder-turned-defender has played just about everywhere for the Sounders at one point or another.
But with the Sounder having a need at center back — they were unsettled there last year, using a combination of Djimi Traore, who is now retired, Zach Scott and a few others next to Chad Marshall — and with Evans desiring to shed his “Jack of all trades, master of none” label, Seattle’s coaches and Evans agreed to a new experiment.
Evans’ natural position is that of a box-to-box center midfielder, but he has also played as an outside midfielder, at right back and filled in on occasion at other spots. He is now one of Seattle’s two starting center backs, along with Marshall, taking on a new position nine seasons into his MLS career.
Few players have the ability, let alone the willingness, to take on a new position just shy of their 30th birthday, but for Evans, a chance to play one position and try to own a role was worth the risk. As valuable as Evans’ versatility has been over the years for Seattle, he felt it has kept him from playing his best, particularly last year when he was switching from midfield to right back with the Sounders and the U.S. national team. So while it was originally Schmid’s idea to move Evans in order to fill a need, it’s a change the Sounders’ captain is embracing.
“I told them, if I play there, I want to play one position, that’s what I want to do this year,” Evans said. “I’m not tired of moving around, but it creates inconsistency when you’re moving around so much. It’s great to be consistent at the position you’re playing, even if it is multiple positions, but when I play in midfield, I want to score goals and get assists, and that doesn’t happen until you become comfortable in a position.
“I was bouncing around last year between defense, offense, multiple positions, and I just never found that rhythm that I had in years prior. So I told them that if I do play this position, I want to play one and do the best I can at it.”
And while the season is just one game old, the early returns are encouraging for Seattle and for Evans. He played well in Seattle’s 3-0 seasons-opening victory over New England, making only one obvious mistake while using his instincts to anticipate and cut off a few potentially dangerous passes and winning the type of aerial duals that position requires.
If Evans, a player talented enough to start at multiple midfield positions, and to get call-ups from the US national team, can assimilate well to center back, that would be a big boost for the Sounders, who gave up a franchise-worst 50 goals last season.
One thing that has helped Evans is being partnered with Marshall, a three-time MLS defender of the year winner, including last season. After playing as the right center back last year, Marshall moved left to make Evans’ transition easier, and more importantly, he has helped teach Evans some tricks of the trade while also putting his mind at ease.
“Just knowing that he knows exactly what he’s doing in every situation, I don’t have to worry about the guy next to me,” Evans said. “That part of it, worrying about, is he making the right decision, is he not, it’s completely out of my mind. The only thing I need to worry about is what I’m doing and listening to him. It has made the transition a lot easier.”
Evans, Marshall and the rest of Seattle’s defense will be tested against San Jose Saturday night when they face former league MVP Chris Wondolowski, who has scored 86 goals over the past five seasons. But with Evans making an impressive transition to a new job, the Sounders are confident their defense can put up another strong performance.
“It’s cool to see since the start of preseason how much he has grown at the position and how well he played on Sunday,” Marshall said. “It’s incredible what he can do. You can pretty much plug him at — he says 11, I’ll say 10 — positions on the field, and he’ll do the job well. It’s a testament to the type of player he is.”
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com
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