When Ray Gaddis was selected in the second round of 2012 MLS SuperDraft, it’s fair to say the expectations weren’t the highest for the West Virginia product to make immediate contributions.
After all, the year prior the Union had allowed just 36 goals during the course of the season – second best in MLS, only behind eventual champ L.A. Galaxy – and later round success stories were hard to find in the history of the league.
But the typically overlooked 5-foot-9 fullback wound up starting 17 games that year. Fast forward a few years and Gaddis has already amassed 109 career starts, fourth most in Union history, including a stretch of 54 consecutive starts that spread out over three seasons.
Now in 2016, with Maurice Edu moving back to the midfield, Gaddis is longest-tenured defender on the team and will certainly be looked at as a leader for head coach Jim Curtin’s rebuilt defense.
“Coach Curtin had a conversation with me last season, and this season, about being a leader,” Gaddis, now 26, said. “I consider myself a leader so it’s no different, but now you have to step up even more when your captain goes into the middle of the field – and I know Maurice is going to be on me as well.”
Gaddis will likely anchor a defensive group with quite a few draft picks – Josh Yaro, Keegan Rosenberry and perhaps Taylor Washington – as well as three with limited professional experience – Richie Marquez, Anderson and Ken Tribbett. Along with fellow fullback Fabinho, Gaddis will have to be dependable both on-and-off the field this year for the Union to be successful.
Part of that new defense is because the Union are likely to be switching playing styles in 2016. With up to six new defenders, Curtin has not been coy about the team looking to play out of the back a little more. The Union have struggled in possession each of the last two years and have made a conscious effort to add ball-playing defenders.
“We have to be a lot more clinical,” Gaddis said about the defense. “Because if you make a mistake, they’re right at the goal. But it’s good to be on the ball a lot more. It shows the confidence the coaching staff has with the back line and the players that are here.”
Certainly part of the storyline this year for Gaddis is the addition of Rosenberry, a right back from Georgetown. Selected at No. 3, it seems possible the rookie could push Gaddis for playing time. But it’s a welcome addition, as are all of the young guys.
“It helps blossom our team,” Gaddis said. “They were drafted high for a reason. I think it’s going to help everybody and will help our team get better. They’re quality players.”
Either way, Gaddis’ versatility certainly will help. After playing on the left side for most of the beginning of his career, he was able to move to his more natural right side in 2015. While he’s looking forward to a full season at right back, he said he’ll be able to make any switch if called upon.
“For me, the biggest thing is to win games,” Gaddis said. “If you win games, you put yourself in a position to do other great things. Those three years playing on the left side helped me grow as a player and work on my left foot. Wherever the coach wants to play me, I’m ready to play. I just want to go out there and win games and play hard.”
This is the fourth installment of the 2016 Philadelphia Union season preview. All month at PhiladelphiaUnion.com, we'll be breaking down what lies ahead with the season less than one month away. This week, we're looking at the Union's defense with a complete positional breakdown on Friday. What's on your mind for Ray Gaddis and the 2016 season?
