Sheanon Williams is in a tough spot.

Finally recovered from a hamstring injury he suffered during the preseason, the Dynamo defender could be inserted into the lineup any week now. In a perfect world, it would be because he has performed well in training.

The Dynamo have been far from perfect.

Williams might find himself on the pitch for kickoff in Columbus, Ohio, this week, but the reasoning would be at least partly because of the inconsistent performance of the back line.

Although the first five games brought only one victory, the Dynamo were mostly satisfied with how they had been playing. After a 4-1 disaster against the LA Galaxy on Friday, however, coach Owen Coyle promised there would be changes.

"You want to play but not because the team isn't doing well," said Williams, who started 12 games for the Dynamo at right back last year after being traded. "You want to be playing because you're there to make the team better. Hopefully whatever changes come our way will be positive and the team will pick up and get going."

The defense had its moments. The back line of DaMarcus Beasley, David Horst, Raul Rodriguez and Jalil Anibaba and goalkeeper Joe Willis shut out FC Dallas and did not allow a goal against Seattle until the game's final play.

At Vancouver, the only goal the Dynamo conceded came on a penalty kick that MLS eventually ruled should not have been a penalty.

When the back line has been bad, though, it has been glaring. It conceded three goals to New England in the opener and four goals to the New York Red Bulls two weeks later. It took Friday's folly against the Galaxy for the mood to change.

Coyle and several players said after the game the goals they conceded were soft, and Coyle hinted that the first thing to change would be the defense.

In training Tuesday, the team did a defensive-focused 4-on-4 drill in which the defenders were mixed and matched after every other play as if the coaches were looking for the right combination.

"There are other boys there looking for a chance," Coyle said Friday. "They'll get a chance. When they get the jersey, it is up to each and every one to keep that jersey."

Whomever wears the jerseys Saturday likely will be faced with a tall task. Columbus Crew SC had not won before last weekend's 3-2 triumph over New York City FC. Columbus, which won the Eastern Conference last year, is feeling strong and will have its home fans behind it.

The Dynamo are in a weird situation, too. There are plenty of games left in the season, but they cannot afford to fall much further behind in the standings. This week, they are in last place in the West, six points below the red line.

The only way they'll be able to rise is by shoring up the defense.

"We need to get things sorted out as quickly as possible and get things back under control," Williams said. "We know (last week's performance) is not acceptable. We have to quickly forget about it and move forward."

Corey Roepken is a freelance writer.