Jay Heaps. Photo/Kari Heistad
New England Revolution coach Jay Heaps is treading very unfamiliar waters.
His club is off to one of their trademark slow starts to the season, having accrued a measly record of 1-2-7 for 10 points, which places them just outside playoff contention on goal differential.
Never have the Revolution failed to win just once through the first 10 matches of a season. But it’s the way the Revs are accruing mediocre results and forfeiting points that is both striking and concerning.
So far, the Revolution have surrendered 16 goals, which is tied for the second-most in the league.
The Revolution haven’t conceded that many goals through the first 10 games of a season since 2009, when they allowed 17 (6 of which came in a blowout loss to Real Salt Lake on April 25 of that year).
Taking away that poor result, the next most recent season in which the Revolution conceded at least 16 goals through this point came in 2002, when they were scored upon 22 times. When it comes to this statistic, 2002 is as bad as it gets.
Back to Heaps: he was a veteran, Major League Soccer defender before he was a coach. As a player, Heaps was a driven and passionate member of the Revs’ back line from 2001-09, mostly playing at full back and often finding times to move forward and join into the attack.
That mentality as a player has informed Heaps’ tactics as a coach: since he took over for Steve Nicol in 2012, the Revolution have been an attack-minded team with a set of players that collectively help out on defense.
And Heaps’ fingerprints have been all over what the Revolution have accomplished defensively in recent years.
Captain Jose Goncalves, whom Heaps scouted and acquired from FC Sion, was named the league’s Defender of the Year in 2013. Andrew Farrell, who is capable of playing either right back or center back, was picked first overall by the Revolution in the 2013 MLS Superdraft – the first time they ever held the opening selection.
Also in 2013, the Revolution conceded the fewest goals in the Eastern Conference by season’s end (38), which was also tied for second-fewest in the league.
And finally, this season’s poor start is atypical because the Revolution don’t usually concede this many goals. Not counting this year, teams coached by Heaps average 10.5 goals against through the first 10 matches.
Following Saturday evening’s disappointing 2-2 draw with Orlando at Gillette Stadium, Heaps noted that his side have to be better at defending crosses.
He also backed London Woodberry, who was caught off-guard when Orlando’s Carlos Rivas snuck up behind him and poked a feed into the net for a last-ditch equalizer.
It turns out, however, that Woodberry was at fault. He even said so later in the locker room.
There’s a defensive error on most goals, whether it’s related to positioning, marking, or technique. And oftentimes, allowing a goal is tied to unforced errors as a result of losing focus.
Mistakes happen, but getting back to defending in its rawest form – where markers remain alert and vigilant and the entire back line remains on cue – is a key remedy.
Heaps did that for years as a well-established MLS player. And, as he’s shown during his time as coach, he can impart that same mentality and tactical understanding to his team.
Time is already of the essence, though. Nearly one third of the season has past and the Revolution can’t leave their problems at the back unchecked forever.
If you want to reach Julian email him at julianccardillo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @juliancardillo
