Demar Phillips increased his playing time with Real Salt Lake in 2016 by 11 games and 801 minutes over his debut 2015 season. In those 29 games, he was able to get five ticks for himself in the assist column (second most on the team), along with 9 shots as well. For this performance, he’s earned himself #9 in the Writer’s Ratings (6.93) and #12 in the Community Ratings (6.76).
The switch from the 4-4-2 to the 4-3-3 may have been a positive one for a player like Phillips simply because he has the attributes to fit the mold of an overlapping, attacking back which is so crucial in the new formation.