Daley Q&A: Fall Training Recap, Team Preview, Potential Spring Season
12/3/2020 11:10:00 AM | Men's Soccer, Features
University of Michigan men's soccer head coach Chaka Daley spoke with MGoBlue.com to recap the fall training regimen and previews the team ahead of a potential spring season.
Q: First off, Coach Daley, what were your overall thoughts on the fall?
A: Given all the challenges that COVID-19 presents -- testing, acclimatization, the fact that our student-athletes were off for a number of months -- I thought the fall was very positive. First and foremost, we were able to get back to playing the game we love. We also got an opportunity, which we rarely have, to do some things within the group. Typically in a fall sport, you have seniors and freshmen, and they don't know each other that well. Those seniors, they're gone after only a few months. This year was great for connectivity internally within our group.
Physically, tactically and technically, we watched a lot more and observed individuals grow. We had a 14-week period, and we tried to make it as competitive as possible. For guys that love to compete, it's not easy looking at the same faces for that long. They love putting on the uniform and playing against all challengers. That being said, there were noticeable jumps.
Q: In some ways, did the fall give you a unique opportunity to focus on things you might not otherwise have had time to do over the course of a normal fall season?
A: Yes and no. Typically our spring season is developmental, a time to grow for those who didn't get an opportunity to play or for those individuals who are at one level trying to get to another. This year, we flip-flopped it.
We broke out the season into three segments. The first, when we returned, was a return-to-play phase. Then it was about the fundamentals. Finally, it was the competitive phase with small-sided tournaments and large-sided games. We made it a routine so they had something to look forward to: playing on the game field, under the lights, with uniforms on.
Q: Who were some of the student-athletes that really stood out this fall?
A: You start with the sophomores. You'd typically see jumps with them anyway. Guys like Harry Pithers, Evan Rasmussen, Derick Broche, Inaki Rodriguez. From their freshman year to this year, they've taken physical jumps and have matured. We look for those guys to be competitive within the group for many years to come.
You look at the freshmen, all of whom took jumps from where they started to where they ended. Coming into an incredibly difficult situation, there was nerves, there was uncertainty. But for the maturity they showed, I commend the entire class for doing a tremendous job in adverse circumstances.
And then you look at the guys who are the pillars of our team: Marc Ybarra, Umar Farouk Osman, Jackson Ragen, Carlos Tellez, Kevin Buca and others. Those guys came back physically ready to compete and they showed the rest of the group what it is to compete day-in and day-out. As a result, it was sink-or-swim. Everybody else had no choice but to keep up. They set a tremendous standard.
Q: The team lost a lot of offensive production from last year in the form of Jack Hallahan and Nebojsa Popovic. How do you replace them?
A: A team is greater than the sum of its parts. Jack was definitely a special player, him and Francis (Atuahene) probably being the two best in our tenure. Our entire group has grown as a whole, however. I think Inaki has some of the same qualities that made those guys different. Bryce (Blevins) has different qualities. So does Quin (Rogers). It'll be more of a committee within the group. Certainly Evan and Derick will absolutely add value. It may look different. We may be more ball-dominant but not as dangerous in those one-on-one moments. Our hope is that offensively, we are more technically astute, tactically grittier and stronger, and that our style of play can carry more games.
Q: You also have a transfer in Cameron Martin. His stats from two years at the University of San Francisco don't jump off the page, but you think he can be a difference-maker.
A: As a team who tries to play soccer the right way, Cameron is a real technician, for lack of a better word. He's got a very high soccer IQ. An intelligent player, a great fit. Every environment is different, for sure, but we're hopeful he's going to compliment our group centrally or in wide areas. We feel he's the kind of player who can be successful in our conference and nationally.
Q: What about goalkeeping? Owen Finnerty came on strong toward the end of last season and had a trial-by-fire run in the postseason. He is part of a pretty deep group of keepers.
A: We really like our goalkeeping core. It was extremely competitive this fall, and we expect that'll continue when we come back in January. There isn't a forgone conclusion as to who our No. 1 keeper is. Owen had the benefit of playing some games late last season because of the injury to Andrew (Verdi). That gave him great confidence. Jacob (Nunner) has been with us for a while, and Ethan (Wood) and Jamis (Fite) are freshmen who come from really soccer-astute environments. Whoever wins the job will absolutely have deserved it and will propel us forward within the spine of the team.
One other thing I'd say on this: our goalkeeping the past few years has benefitted from some great team defending. I don't think we faced many shots or had as many saves to make, though our keepers stepped up to make those saves more often than not. The guys in our back line know what it takes to play against the best in the country, but they also know what our shortcomings are and where we need to grow.
Finnerty
Q: Can you talk about the leadership shown by your seniors and what they have provided to the team?
A: They came back prepared despite knowing the chances of playing might be 50-50. None of them were ill-prepared. They set the tone on day one. On top of that, they've shown a great deal of maturity on how to be responsible with COVID-19. To be that unselfish at the back end of their careers, some guys could have found jobs, graduated or moved on altogether. The uncertainty was greatest for them because they knew they may not have had another go at it.
I will say that the majority of them are seriously entertaining the prospect of returning next fall. Things can change, obviously, but it shows their loyalty that they want to come back and represent Michigan one more time. One thing you're concerned with when you're on a run like this is that to create a standard like the other top programs have, you can't take anything for granted and you can't get complacent with your approach. Last year's home runs don't win you games this year. They're hungry for more, which is great.
Q: Lastly, looking ahead to a potential spring season, whatever form that takes, what excites you about this team?
A: We've had a couple special individuals, and while I think we have some players that are different and unique in their style, the level of player at each position is exciting. It's also exciting to have competition, in my opinion, at every spot on the team. There are probably seven spots where we're thinking, 'Man, there's 14 guys we could choose from.' If you're good enough, you're old enough. We're not prejudice to age. The best guy is going to play.
The evolution of the group is also exciting. We have balance and we have depth. We could play a couple different ways because of it, but only games and competition against others will give us those answers. Whenever we line up to play, it'll have been 15-16 months since our last game, maybe more. We have to be ready when the time comes to the best of our ability. There's no blueprint for what we're going through. You have to handle it day-by-day.
