John Brooks may be a beast in the air, but I highlight why I think his passing from defense is the reason he is the #USMNT first-choice center back.— USMNT Historian ๐บ๐ธ (@usmnt_historian) May 13, 2020
Found on @Chasingacup ๐๐๐๐https://t.co/kYGTMo357n
Here is a compilation of those passes. pic.twitter.com/FQbgr0Q8dD
Originally posted to Chasingacup.com
John Brooks is the rock at the center of defense for the United States National Team. The center-back's presence goes unnoticed as he stands 6-foot-4 and that height is used to win just under 70 percent aerial duels this season — good for sixth-best among Bundesliga center-backs. It's not just his talent in the air that should make him one of the first names on Gregg Berhalter's teamsheet, but his ability to pass and dictate plays from the back.
The passing numbers for Brooks in the Bundesliga this season don't jump off the page. He has played just 16 out of 25 league matches, mostly due to a hamstring injury. In those matches, he has completed 81.6 percent of his passes, including 79.8 percent of passes over 25 yards. He has had 38 passes into the final third and 57 progressive passes, which ranks in the meaty part of the bell curve among Bundesliga defenders.
It is not his numbers in the league that will make the difference for the USA, but his range of passing and the ability to pick out players in different parts of the field. Brooks lines up on the left side of the center-back pairing (by the way, his most popular partner in a back-four is Geoff Cameron with 10 partnerships), which allows him to spray passes with his left foot to different areas of the field. One of his better passes is to the right-back streaking down the opposite flank, which in these two is to DeAndre Yedlin.
Brooks can also pick out passes in the middle of the field. When he carries the ball in toward the left-back, space can open in the middle of the park. Brooks can pick out this pass, which in this highlight, leads to a two-touch pass for a chance at a cross.
Brooks can find players with passes toward the left side of the field. This pass to Jorge Villafaรฑa splits three defenders and finds his full-back in plenty of space to make a cross.
This pass to Gyasi Zardis on the left flank gives the winger a chance to attack in basically a 2v2 scenario.
Not only does he have a decent array of passes, but Brooks isn’t afraid to run past forward to start an attack on his own. He has scored three senior national team goals and this one sticks out as his best — based on skill and not the moment. Brooks makes the tackle and start the odd-man break. He plays the simple pass into Michael Bradley’s feet once the pressure comes. He continues his run and is in the right spot for the Yedlin cross.
This move puts Jozy Altidore in a chance to drive at the center backs in front of him with options on either side.
In an article published Dec 2018 right around when USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter was hired, Berhalter saw Brooks play for Wolfsburg and said, "He was active, he was winning balls and he was dominant as a center-back. He had some good moments of very quick passing, breaking lines, very firm balls on the ground, very accurate passes.”
Berhalter wants to develop play out of the back with different spells of possession to lure opponents out of positions before exploiting with quick, line-breaking passes. Brooks can be a big help in that. Outside of his ability to win balls in the air and break up play, he can pick passes based on what the defense is presenting. One or two of his passes could be the difference in results. He can release the opposite side full-back into a dangerous area for a cross and can find central midfielders checking into space.
With modern football needing more central defenders to keep the ball and complete accurate passes instead of launching the ball up the field, Brooks is the sort of commanding presence needed to help the USA win matches. He wins headers and tackles, but also keeps the ball under pressure and can pick passes to start the attack.
