And then we picked Kenney Bertz.

[Knave]

Maryland Profile: http://umterps.collegesports.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/bertz_kenney00.html

[DCU]

Well, that's not inspiring. He was putrid at the combine. I suppose he'll play a fair amount in the reserves. Would've rather seen us go for Harvey. He at least had a chance to play.

I'm more interested in DC's Boswell signings than this pick. Who will Piotr unearth this year? And what the f' was up with Drew Helm? We could use him.

[Knave]

Helm apparently wasn't draft eligible. Don't know exactly why.

[gocaps]

Forget the combine. The kid can play, and was excellent in the late season and NCAA tournament games until he got hurt in the quarters. As I said in the other thread, his greatest strengths really are intangible - he knows where to position himself and how to work with his teammates. None of those things are highlighted at a thrown-together combine, especially for a center back.

Plus, he's the Marco Etcheverry of throw-ins. I'm not kidding - they're a serious weapon - presuming there's someone tall in the box to win the ball.

[Lowecifer]

Will we have a "When will we finally score off a throw-in" pool?

:D

[DutchFootballRulez]

I'm surprised we don't have one already.

[scarshins]

Pro teams very rarely use the long throw. Very, very rarely.

[lmarie5]

Pro teams very rarely use the long throw. Very, very rarely.

Didn't SJ have a defender with a pretty good throw, a couple years ago? Can't remember his name, but those throws turned out to be a good weapon for them. Maybe "the long throw" into the box everytime doesn't work for pros (like us - we'd need someone with some actual height), but it has its place if you've got a guy who CAN throw long and you figure out how to use it.

[Cweedchop]

Pro teams very rarely use the long throw. Very, very rarely.

I think that might have to do with the fact that not that many players possess that unique ability.

If used properly, it can be a devastating weapon.

As mentioned earlier, from anywhere from 30 yards in, it could be used the same as a corner.

Additionally, having a long throw can catch defenders off guard. Having a guy like Jamil Walker anticipating a long throw and speeding past a defender who probably doesn't think a player can huff a ball that long can be quite deadly.

Granted, once the word gets out about Bertz' long throws, most defenders will play accordingly.

[Detective40oz]

I remember we got scored on directly off a throw in this past season. Nick Rimando staring off into space, defender staring off into space as throw in goes into box, header right past Nick and into the net. It was rather embarassing, but still a score off a long throw.

[gocaps]

I remember we got scored on directly off a throw in this past season. Nick Rimando staring off into space, defender staring off into space as throw in goes into box, header right past Nick and into the net. It was rather embarassing, but still a score off a long throw.
That was the Crew, last game of the season, wasn't it?

[scarshins]

I don't like long throws, so I'm biased.

Think of it this way- how difficult it can be to score from a corner, we know about that. Then take away the kick and substitute a slower, more lofted, more limited range service. Maybe pros don't use it because it doesn't work. Also it can expose a team to the counterattack.

Or, maybe there is a code. The throw rule was intended to keep the restart short with a high amount of possession. Maybe the pros are just looking out for the integrity of the game.

[Riz]

Pro teams very rarely use the long throw. Very, very rarely.

They do if they have Gary Neville on their team. ;)

In all seriousness though, if you have someone with any sort of heading ability, long throws can be deadly. As a caveat, I'm a huge fan of long throws and I hate hate HATE short corners. :D

[scarshins]

Funny, I like short corners (as a spectator)...you never know what might happen.

[Riz]

Funny, I like short corners (as a spectator)...you never know what might happen.

I prefer long corners, I guess in part because I love a good diving header goal.

To each his or her own I suppose. :)

[gocaps]

In all seriousness though, if you have someone with any sort of heading ability, long throws can be deadly. As a caveat, I'm a huge fan of long throws and I hate hate HATE short corners. :D
Agreed - the problem for DC may be less the throws than the height of the recipients in the box!

We keep talking about throws in the box, but one underappreciated aspect of Bertz's throwing ability is that he can set something else up because more defenders will have to crowd into the box to defend a possible deep throw. A longish hard throw down the sidelines to a streaking flank player could be even more effective than a floater into the box, and Bertz understands this and uses it.

Imagine a speedy Justin Moose outsprinting a defender and taking a 20 yard throw from Bertz in a dangerous crossing position.

[Sanguine]

When we add a name like Bertz, it makes me even more sad that Earnie is gone. :o

[ursula]

When we add a name like Bertz, it makes me even more sad that Earnie is gone. :o

Oooohhhhhh!

With a line like that you're not just hitting for average, you're swinging for the fences!

[jason1551]

Going over the pre-draft info, I went over Buzz's rankings to determine how well we did in picking up some of the top rated talent. Bertz, despite being available in the fourth round, was ranked pretty high on his site (#8):

http://www.3rddegree.net/thirdindex.cfm?page=article&show=1070

[uniteo]

I don't like long throws, so I'm biased.



how will you feel when McBride flicks in an Onyewu throw-in this summer? Gooch can launch 'em.