Sounders enter 2016 trying to match rivals to the south

SEATTLE (AP) - For all the ways the Seattle Sounders have helped redefine Major League Soccer since their arrival, they are no longer the standard bearers in this corner of the country.

A three-hour's drive south is now where the example lies after Portland won the MLS Cup last season. With the Cup the one trophy missing from the Sounders' franchise resume and the Timbers the current holders, the Sounders now have even more motivation to reach the top of the MLS.

Seattle is a team in transition heading into Sunday's season opener against Sporting Kansas City. The Sounders are no longer as old and slow as they were at the end of last season when they were knocked from the playoffs by FC Dallas, but there are significant questions heading into the new season, beginning with the need to replace the productivity of striker Obafemi Martins after his surprising late decision to move to China.

"We believe we have a lot of really good players," Seattle general manager Garth Lagerwey said. "Might we look different than last year? Yeah. But can we be successful with the team we have? We believe we can."

There are questions about Clint Dempsey's future, with the initial contract he signed in 2013, when he made the move from England back to the United States, expiring after the season. There are concerns about the durability of defensive midfielder Osvaldo Alonso, who remains one of the best in the league at his position when healthy but has broken down at critical times in past seasons. And whether young American star Jordan Morris can live up to the hype after signing with Seattle and passing up opportunities in Europe.

"You've got to continue where you are. We still have a good group of players and it's about everybody stepping up and making sure they want to be in that starting 11 and still want to do great things here," Dempsey said.

Here's what to watch this season for the Sounders:

THE JORDAN RULES: Morris was the biggest American signing by MLS in the offseason as his hometown club was able to keep him from taking offers overseas. He was originally set to be in a four-man rotation, but the departure of Martins has drastically increased the role the youngster will take.

That increased role also brings pressure to produce.

"I have a lot I want to improve on while I'm here, and if I stayed here my whole career, it wouldn't be a bad thing at all," Morris said.

ROMAN RETURN: Seattle's best midseason signing last year was the acquisition of Panamanian center back Roman Torres. But Seattle never saw the full impact after Torres suffered a season-ending knee injury in just his fourth match with the Sounders. He is still a few months from returning, but when he does, Seattle's back line will pick up a needed addition and could free Brad Evans to move elsewhere on the field.

FALL INTO FORMATION: The signing of Morris and the presence of Dempsey, Martins and Nelson Valdez left Seattle with a glut of strikers. Even with Martins leaving, the Sounders are still likely to play with three forwards often this season. The 4-3-3 formation is a break from what coach Sigi Schmid has done in the past, but he tries to maximize the talent he has up front. Morris likely will play wide, with Valdez doing the majority of the work holding play at the top of the formation and Dempsey drawn back toward midfield slightly and serving as the point man for the new look.

DEUCE IS WILD: Dempsey's contract situation will linger until clarity is provided one way or another. He's still one of the most recognizable American stars and capable of being one of the most effective goal scorers in MLS. But he also turns 33 shortly after the start of the season, and Seattle made a point this past offseason of trying to get younger.