



This piece is part of our “State of the Team” series, previewing each MLS squad ahead of the 2020 season. Read the other teams’ stories here.



Robin Fraser stood in the middle of the field at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium, a whistle in one hand while shading his eyes from brilliant sunshine with the other. He was guiding his Colorado Rapids through a preseason pressing drill — one side learning to deploy the press, the other how to break it — blowing his whistle whenever he wanted to elaborate on a certain teaching point.



Which, on this recent weekday morning, was often.



Pass, pass, pass, then a long ball over the top toward an open, streaking runner. Peep.



“You have to help each other,” Fraser shouted. “You have to work as a unit.”



Play resumes out on the wing, with the ball funneling toward the center of the field. Peep.



“The key...