FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Jay Heaps constantly preaches the importance of depth, and that depth will be put to the test on Saturday afternoon when the New England Revolution hosts the Montreal Impact in their 2015 home opener at Gillette Stadium (3 p.m. ET on Comcast SportsNet New England).
Changes are necessary along the backline with center back Jose Goncalves suspended and right back Kevin Alston hobbled by a right hamstring injury, but Heaps sees the situation as an opportunity for others to prove they deserve increased playing time.
“Guys have to step up,” he said. “Opportunities are few, so when they get that chance, they’ve got to take it. We’re going to have guys getting that opportunity.”
Darrius Barnes, Jeremy Hall and London Woodberry all have experience playing right back, while Barnes and Woodberry also have the versatility to play in the middle, giving Heaps multiple options as he assembles his backline this week.
Barnes, who replaced Alston in the 59th minute of last weekend’s loss to New York City FC and slid centrally when Goncalves was ejected seven minutes later, seems the most likely candidate to partner Andrew Farrell in central defense given his experience.
“Hopefully, if my number’s called this week, I’m able to step in,” said Barnes. “[It could be] anywhere along the backline; I’m not sure what Jay’s plan is going into the weekend. I’ve just got to go into the week preparing as if I’m going to play and be ready to step in and do a job.
“That’s what I’m here for – to go in and compete. That’s all you can ask for as a player is an opportunity to go in and play, and hopefully reward the coach for that decision.”
Hall saw extensive time at right back this preseason and, like Barnes, has more than 100 MLS appearances under his belt, while Woodberry also boasts experience playing on an MLS backline.
Regardless of how Heaps opts to shape his defense on Saturday, the Revs will be looking to tighten up at home after conceding five goals through their first two matches on the road.
“Any time you step on the field, you want to get a zero,” Barnes said. “If you can do that, you always keep your team in the game and you always have a chance to win coming into the 90th minute. That’s something that we want to do here at home.”
