Houston Dynamo defenders - 2023 report card
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
With the Dynamo season now over we’ll be reviewing the season by looking at how each player performed in 2023. Today we will focus on the defensive group that had an excellent year.
Franco Escobar: A
2023 in review
Franco Escobar was one of the best players for the Dynamo in 2023. The Argentine is a hungry player that leaves everything on the field. Not sure whose credit it is necessarily, but Escobar kept himself out of trouble even when things got heated a few times. Franco is a passionate plater, and while he received 13 yellows through the season, he never saw red. He was close a few times. Franco played in 28 games, accumulating a good amount of strong defensive plays, and even scored 2 goals.
Looking ahead
Roster moves are being made in the offseason, but Escobar should be poised to be in the starting lineup in 2024. He is under contract and holds an option for 2025. Now, whether he plays right back or continues as the left back in Ben Olsen’s system, that will be the big question heading into the season.
Brad Smith: C+
2023 in review
Brad Smith was picked up as Adam Lundkvist’s replacement before the Swede was traded away to Austin FC. Brad was nursing a serious knee injury that saw him not get back into action until late April for the Dynamo against Inter Miami. Ben Olsen and his staff slowly brought Smith back into action as he regained fitness and more importantly regained confidence. Smith scored a banger in a thrashing against Portland that ended in a 5-0 Houston win.
Looking ahead
Smith has the potential to see more minutes with the club in several roles. Left back, wingback and even left wing, are positions that Smith can excel in. The club really needs a spark in the attack, and while Brad isn’t a flashy attacking player, he knows how to exploit the wide game and knock in crosses. The question would be, who will he look to connect in front with?
Ethan Bartlow: B
2023 in review
Ethan Bartlow took a set forward in 2023, starting in 21 of 27 games that he played in. Like most of the defensive group here, Bartlow helped the team earn double digit clean sheets. Ethan played clean football in 2023, maintaining a passing percentage of 82%, winning over 55% of duels disputed, and intercepting 13 balls. Bartlow is a good safety net for the Dynamo.
Looking ahead
In October, the Houston Dynamo extended the contract for Ethan. His contract extension would go through the 2025 MLS regular season with a club option for 2026. Bartlow is a solid player and will likely start on the bench, behind Erik Sviatchenko as the starting right center back in the depth chart.
Daniel Steres: B+
2023 in review
Daniel Steres, for me at least, resembles what a team player should be. He was asked to play roles that he had never played in, and he excelled. Ben Olsen played Steres as a right back, and apart from the first game or two, he looked sharp in a role he had never played before. Then Olsen decided to play him as the left back, and to everyone’s surprise, he once again looked comfortable playing in an unfamiliar position. Eventually, he would mostly stay on the bench towards the end of the season, but not before playing in 26 games, scoring 2 goals and adding 2 assists.
Looking ahead
At this point, the veteran defender will likely see a backup role with the team, but a player like him with the ability to plug in anywhere gives him value on the team sheet. Steres has a contract with the club for 2024 plus a club option for 2025. He is one of the team’s underrated players, in my opinion.
Teenage Hadebe: C+
2023 in review
Teenage Hadebe was once again one of the fun players to watch in 2023. Teenage is always happy and smiling, even with the tough season that he endured. Teenage broke his leg early in the season and missed about 3 months due to it. He played in 12 regular season games and in a couple of USOC matches. Hadebe was in a contract year, and it was tough for him to make a case for the team to keep his services in 2024.
Looking ahead
Again, Teenage was one of the highest paid players in the squad in 2023. Holding a Designated Player spot, it was difficult to see Teenage to comeback with a new contract that made sense for both him and the Dynamo. Hadebe will be missed by the fan base.
Tate Schmitt: C
2023 in review
Tate Schmitt came out of nowhere and took over the left back role at the beginning of the season. Tate scored the first goal of the year for the Houston Dynamo against Cincinnati in Week 1. Schmitt’s story of perseverance was a feel-good story, but of course every story has plot twists. Five games into the regular season, Tate suffered an ugly injury that would sideline him the rest of the year.
Looking ahead
His outstanding performance before the injury was enough for the Dynamo to give him another opportunity in 2024, by picking up his option. It might take him time to get back into the fold, but we are rooting for him.
Mujeeb Murana: D
2023 in review
Mujeeb Murana’s year seemed promising after signing a homegrown contract with the Dynamo for the 2023 season, with options to extend until 2025. Unfortunately, for Mujeeb, he was unable to break into the first team, seeing most of his playing with under Kenny Bundy’s Dynamo 2. Murana did make his professional debut with the first team during the USOC competition. Mujeeb played the full 90 minutes in the wins over Kansas City and Minnesota during the championship run.
Looking ahead
Murana saw his 2024 contract option declined by the club at the end of the season. His name will be grouped along other Houston homegrowns who’ve seen the same fate. Murana has the skill set to compete at a high level, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he signs with another MLS team looking for depth or makes a move to the USL.
Griffin Dorsey: A
2023 in review
What an absolute beast Griffin Dorsey has been since arriving to the Houston Dynamo, but he had himself a year in 2023. Dorsey displaced a natural right back in Franco Escobar, to left back, and took over the starting role. He struggled in his first start of the season against New England and was relegated to the bench until Leagues Cup. Then he blossomed into to a dangerous player in Olsen’s system. Dorsey scored a few bangers from outside of the 18-yard box and a memorable goal to help beat Inter Miami in the USOC final.
Looking ahead
Dorsey was out of contract with the Dynamo at the end of the 2023 season. His outstanding performance during the season made Griffin a must re-sign for the fanbase. The Dynamo reached an agreement with Dorsey this week on a new contract through the 2025 MLS season with a club option for 2026. Dorsey will likely feature once more in the starting lineup, if his impressive work rate continues.
Erik Sviatchenko: A
2023 in review
Erik Sviatchenko was brought in to reinforce the defensive line alongside Teenage Hadebe. There were questions about Sviatchenko’s durability as the veteran has gathered plenty of wear and tear during his long-playing career. Erik was able to acclimate to the Houston heat and make an instant impact. Sviatchenko appeared in 17 regular season games and used his experience to command the defensive line in 2023. Erik played the entire 90 minutes of the USOC final as well.
Looking ahead
Erik will now be the building block of the defense, leaving no doubt that he will be a starter in 2024. Sviatchenko holds an option for 2025 and will hope to stay out of the training room to extend his stay in Houston.
Chase Gasper: D
2023 in review
Chase Gasper was brought into the club to address the left back role. Chase saw very limited action with the first team and didn’t look great in those minutes. Gasper might be remembered by the red card against Sporting Kansas City in the US Open Cup competition, which almost jeopardized the tournament for the Dynamo. Chase appeared in 5 regular season games for the club, playing in 210 minutes in total.
Looking ahead
Gasper is part of the roster going into the 2024 season. He has shown plenty of potential in the past, but at this point in his career he finds himself as the third option left back for the Dynamo. We will see if that is the case soon enough.
Micael: A
2023 in review
Micael was yet another hit for general manager Pat Onstad in 2023. The Brazilian had performed well with Dynamo 2 and in his debut with the Dynamo last season. The gamble of exercising the purchase option on his loan was worth taking. Micael stepped in when Teenage Hadebe went down with a leg injury and just took over the starting role. He had an awful game in Leagues Cup against Charlotte, but like a professional, shook it off and went back into grinding the rest of the season.
Looking ahead
Micael is under contract with Houston through the 2024 season with club options for 2025 and 2026. If the young defender can continue to be a rock on defense this coming season, then Houston could once again find themselves in the postseason mix again. However, at just 23-years of age, if a team from abroad comes asking for the Brazilian defender, it would make sense to cash in on the youngster too.
