How Julian Gressel changed Tata Martino’s tactical plan

“Who did we end up taking with the other first round pick?”

I heard this often following Atlanta’s selection of Julian Gressel with the 8th pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. Our other first round pick, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, was the “prize player” and the one many thought would have the bigger impact this early in the season. But Miles Robinson, a physical CB who is a promising prospect, was taken second and hasn’t seen the field in league play. Gressel, on the other hand, has started each of first-placed Atlanta’s three league matches having seemingly forced out veteran CM Chris McCann. Why did this happen? Gressel played an attacking role in college, so how is he replacing a…