Highly Offensive: How Designated Players Have Influenced the MLS

MLS instituted the Designated Player rule in 2007 to help gin up the offense and, as a result, interest in the league. Since it went into effect, all but one (Red Bull goalie Frank Rost) of the 41 designated players were either midfielders or forwards. 

Whether DPs have influenced fan interest is hard to determine, but there's no doubt the likes of Beckham, Marquez and Henry have boosted scoring in the league. It hasn't happened overnight. From 2008 to 2010, the numbers were pretty flat. DPs had a hand in about 15 percent of the league goals.

Last year, however, not only did the total number of league goals increase 34 percent over 2010, DPs either scored or assisted on 26 percent of them, a suggestion that MLS is also getting better quality players from abroad. Here's the chart: 

Season	No. of DPs	DP Goals	DP Assists	MLS Goals	DP% of Goals	DP% of Goals+Assists
2007	6	24	17	518	5	8
2008	8	47	39	591	8	15
2009	9	50	31	571	9	14
2010	16	46	42	591	8	15
2011	25	141	62	791	18	26

With Portland signing the Scottish Premier League's all-time scoring leader, Kris Boyd, plus the Galaxy getting Keane and Beckham back, resigning Edson Buddle and extending Juninho's loan, the impact of DPs on MLS offenses should continue to intensify in 2012.