FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The last time we attempted to decode U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann's depth chart, it proved to be an impossible task. This was right after the Americans' dreadful showing at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and back then there were far more questions than answers. Klinsmann likes to keep people -- his own players included -- guessing. But back then, even simple queries were anything but. Now, we know a lot more.
Brad Guzan is the starter in goal, and Tim Howard is the No. 2. DaMarcus Beasley hasn't played his last game with the U.S. after all; in fact, Klinsmann says now that if the popular left back is healthy, he'll start against Mexico in next month's all-important Confederations Cup playoff in Pasadena, California.
We know Fabian Johnson is Klinsmann's preferred left back. We know that Jermaine Jones' experience is "needed" against El Tri. We also know that with the games that matter (the 2018 World Cup cycle begins a month after the Mexico game), the U.S. bench has gotten shorter, which is why we're going three-deep at every position and not four, as was the case five months ago.
Still, Tuesday's 4-1 spanking by Brazil did leave us with unknowns, particularly in the midfield, where there appears to be no obvious choice at defensive midfielder if all of Klinsmann's first-choice players are healthy and available. Given the number of players who are either still out injured or haven't reached full fitness yet after recovering from injury -- like Beasley and Johnson -- that's no guarantee, either.
Nonetheless, a snapshot of who fits in where heading into that Oct. 10 tilt has definitely emerged. "We have a clear picture about the Mexico game," Klinsmann said after Tuesday's defeat.
Here's an educated guess -- based on Klinsmann's words and actions over the national team's just-concluded September camp -- at what that snapshot looks like.
Note that while our Russia Board projects how the team will line up three years from now at the World Cup, the depth chart offers a snapshot of where many of those 2018 hopefuls are right now. We'll continue to update the depth chart throughout the 2018 World Cup cycle, so keep an eye out for who rises and drops. And let us know your thoughts by getting involved in the discussion via Twitter at #USMNTDepthChart.
Target striker: Jozy Altidore
For all the grief he gets from U.S. fans, Altidore's hold-up play, ability to occupy defenders and vast experience remain unmatched at his position in the U.S. player pool. But for the 25-year-old to be effective against Mexico, he'll have to regain more of the fitness he lost after suffering a hamstring injury in May. The coach is optimistic. "Jozy in four weeks from now will be much fitter," Klinsmann said.
2. Bobby Wood - Wood got the start against Peru and came off the bench versus Brazil, but didn't get many chances to score. Still, he's strong, hardworking and proved in June wins at the Netherlands and Germany that he can score against top-end foes.
3. Jordan Morris - The Stanford junior made a second-half cameo against Brazil. The question facing Klinsmann is whether to have the youngster on the bench against El Tri next month, or in the starting lineup for the U.S. U-23s in Olympic qualifying.
Support striker: Clint Dempsey
Dempsey is still far and away the Americans' biggest threat to score. Like Altidore, he's coming off a hamstring injury that sidelined him almost all of August. And like Altidore, his heath and presence in the lineup next month is imperative if the U.S. is to beat El Tri. "We have the hope that Clint is there, that Jozy is on a different [fitness] level," Klinsmann said. "If you have these two up front then they're a threat all the time."
2. Aron Johannsson - Johannsson didn't see much action in the two September games, but don't read too much into that. "Aron was a bit beaten up when he came into camp in Washington when he came in," said the coach. "That's why he was not that much on the field."
3. Chris Wondolowski - The San Jose Earthquakes striker wasn't named to the squad this month, but his experience and team-first attitude won't be overlooked by Klinsmann next month.
Right midfield: Alejandro Bedoya
The Bedoya-as-a defensive-midfielder experiment failed miserably against Brazil. But given DeAndre Yedlin's struggles on the flank against the five-time world champions, expect the France-based vet to reclaim his usual spot on the outside, with Yedlin providing speed off the bench.
2. DeAndre Yedlin - Although he's played more international games than any U.S. player since the 2014 World Cup, the 22-year-old remains a work in progress. Yedlin's speed is all-world, but his decision-making and defensive abilities are still suspect at times, making it unlikely that he'll start if Klinsmann has his full contingent of players available.
3. Graham Zusi - The Sporting Kansas City man wasn't called in this month and seems like a long shot to receive an invite unless injuries open the door.
Attacking midfield: Michael Bradley
Etch this one in stone. For while Bradley is significantly more responsible defensively than Jones and therefore a safer choice to sit deep against Mexico if Klinsmann opts to play sans a dedicated No. 6 in front of his back line, the coach has shown no willingness to move Bradley -- who, in fairness, can pull the strings in midfield better than any other American -- out of the advanced role he's occupied for well over a year.
2. Dempsey - If for some reason Bradley isn't available -- a nightmare scenario for the U.S., to be sure -- then Dempsey is the clear-cut favorite to slide into the midfield whether Klinsmann plays with one forward or two.
3. Mix Diskerud - Klinsmann has used Diskerud in a deeper role recently, but the 24-year-old can play higher up (a position he's better suited to, anyway) in a pinch.
Left midfield: Gyasi Zardes
Zardes has emerged as a key player for the U.S. since making his first appearance in the first game of 2015. Heading into the Mexico tilt, he's played more minutes this year for the national team than anyone other than Bradley. He's still raw. He still has room to improve on both sides of the ball. But his speed and fearlessness have turned him into a safe bet to start at the Rose Bowl. Said Klinsmann following the Peru match: "I feel comfortable with him towards Mexico, absolutely."
2. Alfredo Morales - Morales isn't a winger, but he's often been used wide on the left over the past year, both in his limited minutes with the U.S. and for Bundesliga club Ingolstadt.
3. Joe Corona - Despite being called in, Corona didn't feature in either of the past two games. However, he's been in fine form this season for Liga MX side Veracruz.
Holding midfield: Jermaine Jones
Still far from full fitness following a pair of hernia surgeries, it shouldn't have come as a shock to anyone that the 33-year-old Jones hit a wall against Brazil after a better-than-expected showing last week. Now, he has a month to get up to speed. He's a near lock to be in the lineup in Pasadena either way.
2. Kyle Beckerman - Had the dreadlocked destroyer not been dealing with a nagging injury, he'd have been part of the September games.
3. Danny Williams - The German-American scored a terrific goal in Foxborough, and he could have a major role to play if Jones and Beckerman both encounter setbacks over the next four weeks.
Right back: Fabian Johnson
Johnson is perhaps the most talented player in the U.S. pool, and Klinsmann has made no bones about how important he will be to the cause in California -- and how crucial it is for him to be available after injuring his calf playing for Borussia Monchengladbach last month. "There is no doubt about it that we need Fabian Johnson as a right back," Klinsmann said. "The messages so far are positive coming out of Monchengladbach, [but] you never know."
2. Geoff Cameron - Klinsmann called the penalty Cameron was whistled for against Neymar early in the second half on Tuesday "a simple mistake." But the versatile Stoke City defender is still the Americans' best option out wide if Johnson can't go.
3. Michael Orozco - Orozco started against both Peru and Brazil, but was badly beaten on the Selacao's third goal.
Right center back: Ventura Alvarado
After entering as a halftime substitute against the Peruvians, the Gold Cup starter was back in the lineup for the second match. On a rough night for the hosts, the Club America regular mostly acquitted himself adequately. More to the point, he appears to have the full confidence of the coach. "I think we have center backs that we really believe in," Klinsmann said, referring to Alvarado and fellow youngster John Brooks.
2. Orozco - The 29-year-old plays in the middle for Tijuana, and got the nod there over Gonzalez and Cameron against Brazil.
3. Omar Gonzalez - Gonzalez made an error that was punished against Peru, but it seems harsh to hold that against him in light of how those ahead of him performed in the next match.
Left center back: John Brooks
The rangy, left-footed Brooks is a genuine talent. But having never played against Mexico, does the 22-year-old have the experience necessary to succeed in that do-or-die game? Klinsmann seems to think he does, which is why he sat Brooks, who missed Sunday's training with a muscle injury, out against Brazil as a precaution. "We didn't want to risk anything, because that's not the time right now to risk a guy and get him injured again," Klinsmann said.
2. Matt Besler - A year after starting every game for the U.S. at the World Cup, Besler was left off the Gold Cup roster. But he was beyond solid in 30 minutes of action against Peru before being allowed to return to Sporting Kansas City for a midweek MLS game.
3. Alvarado - With Brooks sidelined and Besler absent, Alvarado manned this spot against Brazil.
Left back: DaMarcus Beasley
Upon calling him out of international retirement in June, Klinsmann made it clear that because no other left back made the position his own during the veteran's short-lived break, Beasley was still needed by his country. Last week, the coach followed up by saying, unequivocally, that the four-time World Cup vet would start against Mexico if he has recovered from the calf injury that kept him out of the September games.
2. Tim Ream - Perhaps no player raised his status more this month than Ream, who is now in line to start against Mexico if Beasley is unable to participate.
3. Greg Garza - Garza's stock has dropped considerably of late, and he wouldn't have been summoned for the latest camp had Beasley been healthy. But with Brek Shea (groin) still out, he remains in the mix for now.
Goalkeeper: Brad Guzan
Simply put, it's now Guzan's job to lose. And after serving as Howard's understudy at the past two World Cups, the Aston Villa keeper -- who turned 31 on Wednesday -- has shown no signs that he's going to give it up any time soon.
2. Tim Howard - For the first time in almost a decade, Howard -- who has been brilliant for Everton early this Premier League season -- isn't the U.S. starter.
3. Nick Rimando - Klinsmann cleared up the pecking order between the pipes in his recent interview with the Washington Post: "There are two big stars and Nick Rimando is always the backup because he gives 100 percent seriousness and is a team guy," he said.