Real Salt Lake: Players smile for the cameras and plan to smile this season, too

As much fun as he had relaxing in his native Colorado this offseason, Real Salt Lake defender Nat Borchers said it was good to be back in the company of his mates with the official start of training camp this week.

"It's nice to get back in the swing of things," Borchers said. "You miss this group of guys, it's a fun group, a lot of banter and good conversations going on, you want to know how everyone's doing and get back to business."

RSL midfielder Will Johnson prefers to call it unfinished business. Johnson openly admits he's still bitter about how the 2008 season came to a disheartening end in last year's Western Conference final. He can't wait to get back to the playoffs, but he also knows first things first — media day.

A two-month preseason chalked full of countless hours of running and fighting for roster spots can't realistically begin without a good photo shoot.

A day after kicking off the 2009 preseason with individual physicals, RSL's players and coaches gathered at Rio Tinto Stadium for media day. In addition to various photo shoots for the media guide and other promotional and marketing needs, they also chatted with the local media about increased expectations in 2009 following last year's surprising playoff run.

"Now we expect to be good," midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. "We can only take steps forward now."

Coach Jason Kreis reiterated that message when he reminded everyone that RSL's record was only 10-10-10 last year and it qualified for the playoffs on the final day of the regular season. His goal in 2009 is pretty simple, "we need to be winning on a consistent basis."

Kreis is hopeful his stringently detailed preseason itinerary produces that consistency.

Well before RSL opens the regular season against the expansion Seattle Sounders on March 28, it will take three preseason trips over the next two months. It will play nearly 10 preseason games during training stints in California, Florida and North Carolina all with the goal of having the team ready to compete from opening day.

"If we can come together a little bit sooner and turn those ties into wins and those losses into ties, I think we'll sit a little more comfortable," keeper Nick Rimando said. "Last year was a little last minute getting into the playoffs, and we don't want to be in that position again this year."