With the acquisitions of English midfielder Jack Price and Mexican wing back Edgar Castillo, the Rapids are filling out the positional needs they have to deploy in a radically different formation this year from what their fans are used to seeing.
There are three key components to the philosophy behind the team’s switch from a traditional four-man back line to a 3-5-2: Playing with three center backs rather than two, supporting them with two wing backs who are attackers but possess defensive skills to assist in the back, and the use of two strikers instead of one.