In the post-match press conference followingChris Pontius' hat trick against New York, D.C. United head coach Ben Olsensaid his midfielder-turned-forward was "still new at the position"and that the 24-year-old's movement off the ball "can get a lot better".
Just six days later, Olsen was singing a rather different tune.
"Today is the first time I really realizedhe can play forward," said the Black-and-Red's second-year coach after D.C.'s win over Houston on Sunday. "He's going to learn the positionvery quickly."
Olsen's sharp turn on Pontius' forwardprospects begs an obvious question: How is the young Californian getting sogood – so quickly - at a position he's hardly played as a professional?
"It's Josh Wolff," Pontius said whenasked to explain his sudden success up top. "His resume speaks for itself. He's very knowledgeable and he'sconstantly helping me."
Wolff's resume does speak for itself, butearlier this year United added an important line to the former U.S.international's CV. Just a daybefore the club's MLS opener, it was announced that Wolff would serve as aplayer/assistant coach for the 2012 season. The move was really little more than a formality - much likea coach, the veteran forward had already made a habit of addressing the teamduring training sessions - but it did provide Wolff a more obvious platformfrom which to reach D.C.'s younger players.
"He's a guy who everyone respects and heknows how to talk to players," Pontius added. "He knows how to get across to a person in the rightway. In a way that ismotivational, but he is also getting his point across."
Most of what Wolff is sharing with Pontius istactical. When to make runs andwhere to look for space against certain defenses are common topics when thepair discuss the forward position. But there are other lessons as well. Early in the year, when Pontius was struggling for playingtime while finalizing his recovery from a broken leg, Wolff had a clear messagefor his young pupil.
"Even though he wasn't starting I kept[telling him] that the last thing to come back from an injury isconfidence," Wolff recalled from San Jose as D.C. prepares for a showdownagainst the Earthquakes on Wednesday night. "He got his first [goal] in New England and he's justtaken off. At this point hisconfidence is flying. He'sstarting to see things easier and quicker."
Four goals and an assist in just 271 minute oftime as a forward so far this season is proof enough of Wolff's impact on theyoung striker. It's also evidencethat Pontius' future - both with D.C. United and perhaps beyond - may no longerbe out on the wing.
"Holding the ball and connecting with the midfield and helpingout defensively will hopefully come in time," said Wolff, cataloguing thelong list of areas where he believes Pontius still has room to grow as a forward. "That's the stuff that will enablehim to move on to the next level.
"If he can get those things going, combined with his goal-scoringprowess, he'll certainly have a real lead-in to - hopefully - some internationalgames down the road."
