Everything was new for Johann Smith as he made his FC Edmonton debut.

New league, new teammates, even a new position: left fullback.

A new beginning that quickly turned into a rude awakening for the defender.

Smith was on the pitch when the Jacksonville Armada scored a record 12 seconds into the Eddies’ 2015 North American Soccer League opener. He was out there when Jacksonville made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute, and it was Smith’s mark that headed home the ball to give the Armada a 3-0 lead just before half.

When the team returned for the second half, Smith had been substituted out. He would only play two more matches for the rest of the spring season.

What a difference a few months make.

While the Eddies have been making strides in standings, Smith has been doing the same on the pitch. Once stapled to the bench, the 28-year-old American has evolved into an adept left back who has started all but one game during the fall season.

“I didn’t have the best start to the season in the first game,” Smith said. “A little bit anxious, a little nervy, being in a new position and everything, so i think I’ve settled in quite well.”

As the Eddies have shrunk their goals against average from 2.20 in the spring season to a meager 0.86 in the fall, Smith has emerged as a critical part of FCE’s back line anchored by captain Albert Watson. After playing 204 minutes in the entire spring campaign, Smith has thus far logged 1,138 during the fall season, second only to Watson among non-goalkeepers on the Eddies.

“I don’t think twice about playing Johann Smith on the team,” said Eddies coach Colin Miller.

“He let himself down in the first game against Jacksonville, and partly my fault as well because I’d thrown him in there ... but since then we’ve continued to work on him at left back and the lad has done really well so we’re really happy.”

Smith, who has been playing professionally since 2006 with stops around the world, had limited experience at left back when he joined the Eddies this winter, but Miller saw Smith’s potential at that position given the defender is naturally left-footed. He’s also lightning quick, having clocked 10.5 in the 100 metres during high school a decade ago.

“He has what I call English Premier League pace,” Miller said. “There’s areas of his games that he’ll gave to continue to work on - being cleaner in possession, decision-making, playing quicker - but from a defensive point of view he’s done a great job playing against some very good wingers in our league.”

Never one for self-doubt, the affable Smith became immersed in the intricacies of left back, soaking up knowledge from Miller, who was a defender as a player, and using off days to work on his skills.

“I”m implementing all kinds of different ideas, talking to different people and I’m taking different ideas from everybody and I’m using that to get better at the position,” Smith said. “So I might work on my footwork one day, I might work on my long balls one day, I might work on my heading one day. I’m just trying to put the prices together so I really can become the complete product and help the team out as much as possible.”

With six matches remaining, the Eddies are only two points out of a post-season berth. They’re having fun playing the beautiful game, just as the affable Smith is playing left fullback.

“I was sort of entrenched into playing one way and I thought that was the only way that I can play,” he said.

“But now that I’ve been studying the position I see the beauty and I love it.”