SEATTLE - At Wednesday's year-end media availability event at The NINETY, one phrase kept bubbling to the top: what if?
Speaking with members of the media, Sounders FC defender Brad Evans echoed the sentiments of his teammates and head coach Sigi Schmid, noting that the squad can't dwell on how the season ended, but that "we're still reeling" after falling short of the Western Conference Finals.
"You have to put your head down and have a short memory," said the 30-year-old captain, who has been with the Sounders since the team's first year in MLS in 2009.
Despite weeks of struggling to find positive results - a period the MLS veteran described as having a "couple highs, couple lows" - the Rave Green found themselves in the playoffs for a seventh-consecutive year.
Evans now heads into his 10th season in MLS after what could arguably be called one of the most challenging of his career. Playing most of his MLS career as a midfielder, Evans was slotted into the Sounders central defense alongside Chad Marshall. The switch, often referred to as an experiment by head coach Sigi Schmid, lasted most of the season. With the summer signing of Panamanian captain Román Torres, Evans found himself sliding forward and being moved yet again. When Torres suffered a season-ending injury on the road in San Jose, Evans was shifted back to the defense, where he played the remaining weeks next to both Marshall and Zach Scott.
The moves between the midfield and defense did take a toll on Evans' ability to find consistency in his game this season.
"It's the gift and the curse of being versatile," Evans said. "Is it nice to have a rhythm and be consistent and play one position? Of course."
With Torres recovering from surgery, there will be competition for the two center back spots, but Evans said he's spending the offseason improving both his strength and speed on the turn to continue developing the skill set he needs to retain his position in 2016.
"I want to come back as center back. I know that's what I want to do. I have to do my best to not give them any reason to change that or change my mind about that."
With the short offseason in front of him, Evans said there's plenty of room to make adjustments heading into the new year and that the healthy competition will give the Sounders the best chance at capturing the elusive MLS Cup.
"Everywhere can be improved. That's how we have to approach it," he said. "It keeps guys on their toes."
