The Colorado Rapids’ problem is largely a lack of good depth

Unfortunately, the Rapids appear to have forgotten the secret ingredient that got them where they were last year: depth. This Rapids team is in clear need of at least two or three new names ASAP, and the window to pick them up is closing very quickly. The help isn't necessarily needed in the Starting XI, though adding a big name like Jermaine Jones or something would certainly not hurt the team at all. (This is especially true considering it's Nick Labrocca, likely the weakest link on Pablo Mastroeni's most frequent preferred XI, who would be the one upgraded there.)

It's more prudent, however, for the Rapids to consider adding some extra players of Labrocca's caliber, the type who could start, but would act mostly as good depth for the team in times of need. I probably don't need to point out to you that most of Colorado's worst performances this season have come in times of injury and squad rotation. The 3-1 loss to Chivas, the 0-0 draw against Chicago and the 3-0 loss to the Revolution are the first ones that spring to mind. All three of those matches were ones against teams in horrible form that saw the Rapids snap streaks by playing mostly B-team squads, which couldn't hold their own.

Despite that, there seems to be a general air about the team of the roster currently being good enough. While it's true that the Starting XI is fantastic — how could it not be with names like Brown, Powers, Sanchez, Irwin, Klute, Jose Mari and Moor in it? — there is a steep, steep drop in potential right after that, and that's where the Rapids are ignoring their second biggest flaw as a team. (The first biggest is, obviously, the hilariously bad finishing that the Rapids have been plagued with every single year since 2011.)

It's abundantly clear from watching this team that moves need to be made if a charge for the playoffs is going to gain much steam through an abysmal schedule in August and September. It doesn't need to be Mix Diskerud or Jermaine Jones (again though, won't complain) but we've seen too many collapses by the team's bench players and B-team to be convinced that this is truly an MLS Cup-caliber side in the year 2014, which I think we can all agree is something that we were expecting there to be a chance to be.

A very deep team was the secret behind Oscar Pareja's playoff push in 2013. It might be the secret weapon that can get Pablo to the big show as well, assuming the team is willing to add some assets.