In years past, D.C. United defender Taylor Kemp had established himself as a solid starting option at left back. Last year, Oscar Pareja went so far as to call him one of the best fullbacks in MLS after drawing up a gameplan that relied heavily on keeping him from getting involved. In 2015 and 2016 Kemp managed two straight seasons with 6 assists, good totals for any MLS fullback, and borderline elite totals in a league where left back always seems to be a problem.
2017 didn’t go as well, which is an extremely common theme for United’s players.