Forward step for Dempsey

Clint Dempsey came to the Revolution this year with simple expectations for a first-round pick. Learn the system, work his way up, and find a niche subbing at midfield. A nice, easy rookie season.

"Coming in, you want to see yourself do well, but you have to be realistic," Dempsey said. "I thought it was going to be hard to work my way into the lineup."

Those plans changed quickly when midfielder Shalrie Joseph broke his nose at Los Angeles in New England's season opener. Dempsey subbed in that game, but Joseph had to sit out the next match as well.

Suddenly, the 21-year-old from Nacogdoches, Texas, had been thrust into the starting lineup. He's been there since, and he'll be there today when the Revolution play the Columbus Crew at Gillette Stadium.

"You can't say enough about his contribution so far," coach Steve Nicol said. "Shalrie has been a mainstay for us for a year and a half, and for a rookie to follow his bit so well, you have to applaud him."

Nicol said there's a good possibility Dempsey will make his second start at forward today after starting at midfield for seven games. In his first game at forward, a 3-2 win at Kansas City Wednesday, he helped the team snap out of an offensive slump (in four games, it had scored just one goal). On both the tying and winning goals -- each scored by Brian Noonan -- Dempsey fired shots off goalkeeper Tony Meola that bounded to Noonan.

Not a bad forward debut for Dempsey, who had barely played the position since middle school. Versatile enough to play at all midfield spots -- he played center and attacking midfield at Furman and played outside on the Under-20 national team -- Dempsey appears capable up top, too.

"It's no good being bad at several positions," Nicol said. "Clint plays a lot of them, and he plays them all well."

By changing positions, Dempsey made his second smooth transition this season. As the youngest player on the Revolution, Dempsey had to face the pressure that comes with being the eighth selection of the MLS SuperDraft.

"I was intimidated," he said. "I had heard about all these guys, and they're like, `Who are you? What can you do to help our team?' That's what I thought they were thinking. It made me nervous and anxious."

The nerves started to fade as the season wore on. He took advice from Joe-Max Moore and Steve Ralston and was grateful for pick-me-ups Carlos Llamosa gave him on tough days.

Away from the field, he adjusted easily. He said he doesn't miss home, just his family. He goes bass fishing with Ralston and bowls with Richie Baker and Luke Vercollone. Having never lived north of the Mason-Dixon line, he is getting used to New England's unpredictable climate.

But the nerves didn't disappear. In his first appearance, he passed the ball as quickly as he received it. He was still jittery until scoring his first goal, in a 1-1 tie against the MetroStars April 26.

"That was the turning point for me," Dempsey said. "It's kind of like, `I'm here now. I can play with these guys.' It was just pressure being released. I've been rolling with it ever since."

With his goal came confidence, and with confidence came aggressiveness. He picked up yellow cards for hard tackles in back-to-back games, which pleased Nicol. After all, what good is a sturdy 6-foot-1-inch, 170-pound frame if you don't throw it around?

"He tackles hard," Ralston said. "I wouldn't want to play against him."

"Coming in, you've got to show people you want it just as bad as they do," Dempsey said. "I make it a point to win challenges because I'm a pretty big guy. You want opponents to know you're there."

By turning a teammate's broken nose into a lucky break, Dempsey has been there -- on an MLS field at age 21 -- all season.

"I've been blessed to get an opportunity and to do well when I got in," Dempsey said. "That was my chance, and I just took advantage of it. It's been a great experience."