As we sail into the latter half of the 2022 USL season, Detroit City FC continues to be the league’s most pleasant surprise. At the time of writing, the expansion side is tied for fourth in the Eastern Conference, 11 points clear of the playoff cutoff with multiple games in hand on eighth-placed FC Tulsa.
My own playoff odds have Detroit with an 87% chance of making the postseason, up from 28% as we entered week one in the Spring. The initial skepticism in my modeling arose because Detroit's roster was largely without experience in the USL Championship. Indeed, about 65% of Le Rouge's minutes to date belong to players in that category. I didn't necessarily buy into the "NISA All-Stars" critique that many people levied against the club, but I subjectively had DCFC outside of the playoff field.
Detroit has surprised for numerous reasons, and one NISA holdover has been particularly vital: Connor Rutz. The native Michigander joined the organization in 2020, proving to be a solid piece across multiple successful NISA campaigns. In DCFC's final such season, Rutz tallied five goals in 16 appearances. He was re-signed early in the roster-building process as Trevor James forged his expansion squad, and anyone who's seen Rutz in action in the James system should understand why.
Even though the player’s impact has been massive, his underlying statistics are underwhelming. Detroit's #11 rates in the bottom echelon of attacking midfield players in terms of almost every passing and creation metric. His low conversion rate and low expected goals tally, even compared to pure midfielders, paint the picture of someone who hasn’t driven effective offense. Though Rutz is above water in terms of his defensive actions and excels in terms of progressive passing, one could come away with the perception that he isn't anything special.
That dismissal of Rutz's impact couldn't be further from the truth, and his unique role in the DCFC system subverts traditional counting numbers. Indeed, #11 is so great because of his positioning and movement. Those factors do, however, appear in his on-off splits. Simply, an “on-off split” compares how someone’s team fared with a player on the field compared to the time when that player is off. Detroit is slightly better with Rutz in the lineup, helping to yield a Goals Above Replacement number ranking Rutz around the top third of USL players.
What defines Connor Rutz within Detroit's tactical style? Trevor James employs a 3-5-2 shape, one more accurately described as a 5-3-2 in defense and a 3-4-1-2 in attack. #11 is the pivot in the midfield that floats between lines, the “1” in that attacking formation. He's a box-to-box number eight when Le Rouge are off the ball, but he bursts forward as a late-arriving forward when DCFC are in possession. His movement and sense of timing are crucial, and his forward passing as he transitions from the middle into the attack are the key to this side's counterattacking success.
These contributions pop in the video. In the clip below, Rutz drops low to create a midfield trio. His defense discipline allows Maxi Rodriguez (#21) to get aggressive on the close, leading to an interception. This is only possible because of the solidity and backup leant by Rutz. From there, Detroit progresses into the final third, and #11 joins the move to pick up possession in the hole. He links cleanly with a teammate, and although the move dies, Rutz is crucial at every step.
Here, the unsung star nabs the winner against Las Vegas in a tough road matchup. To start, Rutz drives from end to end with the ball at his feet. He holds up the tempo of his run, allowing a slew of DCFC players to join the party. Both wingbacks spring forth, and Rutz stays central to dictate. He works it wide to the right-sided Michael Bryant (#12), whose cross is recovered by the left-leaning Deklan Wynne (#20). When Wynne puts in another ball, Rutz is there with the towering header to score.
What stands out in the clips? Rutz has an innate sense of pace and tempo, seen with his snap-decision distribution at the top of the box as well as the smart manner in which his ball carriage integrates the wingbacks. His run before the winning header is similarly timely. In defense, Rutz's presence bolsters the unit and enables Detroit to press with their preferred level of aggression. Indeed, #11 is tireless at that end, constantly tracking back, only to burst forward when the moment arises. If it isn't clear, there's hardly a smarter player in the USL.
Given the news of Devon Amoo-Mensah's surgery this week and Detroit's generally thin roster, it would be easy for the doubters to find new reasons to criticize this team. I understand the worries, and I recognize that the issues are in some ways legitimate, but DCFC is too well-coached and talented to fall out of the upper echelons of the Eastern Conference. No one better defines that persistence and success than Connor Rutz. Between his work rate, tactical nous, and movement, Rutz makes this club’s tactics tick, and he’s a huge reason why Le Rouge are here to stay.
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