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The Colorado Rapids kept up their busy offseason on Sunday by acquiring fullback Eric Miller from the Montreal Impact in exchange for a 2018 first round SuperDraft pick and an undisclosed sum of general allocation money.
Miller, who turned 23 last month, had appeared in 33 games across all competitions for the Impact over the past two seasons, primarily at right back. The fifth overall pick of the 2014 SuperDraft can also play at left back, and has seen time at both spots for the US U-23s, with whom he's a regular. Miller has also been to several full national team camps, including last month's winter camp in Carson, Calif., but is yet to make his full national team debut.
The Rapids continue to overhaul a roster that badly needed work after last year's last-place finish in the Western Conference. In addition to Miller they've acquired Philadelphia Union Homegrown Zach Pfeffer, Seattle midfielders Marco Pappa and Micheal Azira, and D.C. United attacker Conor Doyle from within the league this winter, while picking up Trinidad & Tobago international defender Mekeil Williams and DP attacker Shkelzen Gashi from overseas.
Miller fills an obvious need, and should compete with fellow youngster Marlon Hairston for the starting role at right back, or perhaps split time with veteran Marc Burch at left back.
Colorado head coach Pablo Mastroeni indicated on last Thursday's ExtraTime Radio (embedded above) that the team will maintain the 4-2-3-1 formation they used in 2014 and 2015, but hope to be able to get out on the attack and possess the ball more. That should play to Miller's strengths as an attack-minded fullback.
