Unheralded Scott earning keep in Seattle
Little-known defender taking advantage of opportunity, sticking in lineup
In the process, he's managed to win over the notoriously demanding Sigi Schmid.
"Sometimes things bounce right for you," Schmid said. "With Nate Sturgis taking a knock early on, Zach got the opportunity to play. The team did well so we continue to play him."
For most of training camp, Schmid wasn't sold on the unremarkable Scott. A veteran of the USL Sounders and an alumnus of nearby Gonzaga University, Scott toiled in practice for two months without any indication of an MLS contract, much less a starting spot.
Sounders FC only announced his signing on March 16, three days before they opened their season against the New York Red Bulls. And despite the presence of Patrick Ianni, Tyson Wahl, draft pick Evan Brown, and a recovering Sturgis, it was Scott who got the starting nod against New York. His task: to team up with Sebastien Le Toux on the defensive left side and stay in front of the speedy Dane Richards.
Scott succeeded, earning a measure of praise from his hard-to-please coach.
"For Zach Scott, (since it was) his first time out (I) tried to keep the assignment simple because that helps when you're playing your first game," Schmid said after the game. "I knew the adrenaline would be there for him and the effort was there."
Reading between the lines of that quote gives one a sense of Schmid's early level of confidence in his first-year MLS defender. Hint: it wasn't great. But as Scott continues to battle and Seattle continues to play solid defense as a unit, Schmid is warming to his left back.
"Zach's a good pro. He knew he was going to get an opportunity at left back so he worked a lot on his left foot to improve that part of his game," Schmid said. "He's a consummate pro in that regard.
"He's very steady and he's going to fight for you. When there are duels in the back, he's going to be very intense about that and his concentration levels are very good."
Those statements give a hint as to what makes the defender successful. What Scott lacks in natural athletic ability and polish, he has made up for with willingness and work ethic. It's these latter qualities he credits for his roster spot.
"I knew the longer I stayed around, the better impression I would make," Scott said. "I forced myself never to feel comfortable. I tried to go into each day working as hard as I could and never coming out of the day feeling like it was a great day. I knew the next day would have to be great as well."
Knowing he had his work cut out for him in Major League Soccer, Scott embarked on a strenuous two-month training regiment after the 2008 season. One of the areas he focused on improving was his touch.
Back in his native Hawaii, Scott made sure he touched the ball once every day, even if he wasn't doing any fitness work that day. Local clubs and high school teams also allowed Scott to play with them to stay sharp.
The improvement shows. Schmid deploys Scott on one side of the defense, while the more adventurous James Riley will get forward on the other side. Scott can get forward on occasion, but for the most part Schmid wants Scott to slide in alongside Tyrone Marshall and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado. Along the way, he's developed a good understanding with his center backs.
"Zach is a pretty aggressive defender," said Marshall. "There's that tenaciousness in the back -- you need that.
"(He brings) a little calmness, as well. It helps in a pressure situation; he's been there so he knows how to handle it. We've been solid in the back. It took a pretty brilliant goal to beat us (against Kansas City)."
That being said, Scott knows his position is not safe. Sturgis is healthy again and playing a substitute's role, while the club is auditioning Wahl on the outside. Even Ianni is getting a look at the right back position. Going forward, both coach and player know that Scott must keep the focus he showed in training camp. As Schmid is so fond of saying, Scott knows the moment he stops to pat himself on the back is the moment he will get passed.
Andrew Winner is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
