The Call of Duty League implemented major changes heading into the 2021 season, perhaps none more impactful than a move back to traditional 4 vs 4 gameplay. Dating back to its origins, Call of Duty esports has always been played with four players per team. Fans and players alike seem to prefer the 4 vs 4 format. Regardless of where you stand on the topic, one thing is for certain: the change significantly impacted the pro-player landscape.
Franchises were immediately faced with a difficult decision at the onset of the season. With a minimum of one player to drop and roster moves to ponder, many players were left without an organization. In addition to players not finding a home in the CDL, many top players have found their way to the bench this season. Of all the talents stuck on the sidelines, they stand out the most:
Huke the nuke
When the Dallas Empire announced that they would be moving Cuyler “Huke” Garland from their starting roster to the bench, many fans were left puzzled by the sudden decision. Not only have the Empire been a top three team this season, but Huke led Dallas in overall KD (1.05) before being dropped.
Read more: Call Of Duty esports desperately needs the return of search & destroy snipers
Huke is a player with one of the highest ceilings in the league. It is safe to say he would walk his way into just about any CDL roster at the moment. Whether Dallas made the correct long-term call remains to be seen. Dallas have played one series without Huke as of now and it did not look encouraging: Toronto Ultra swept them 3-0 in week one of Stage 3.
The move is truly baffling given Huke’s reputation as the posterboy of the franchise dating back to the Envy days. Two things are for certain. First, Tyler “FeLo” Johnson will be dealing with the immense pressure that comes with having to fill Huke’s shoes. Second, you can bet that Huke will not remain on the bench for long. Given his recent success, young age and vast potential, rival CDL teams would be foolish not to reach out to Dallas.
No Zinni no winni?
Toronto Ultra proved that even controversial roster moves can work to perfection if calculated correctly. After Anthony “Methodz” Zinni was dropped to the bench earlier this season, many fans questioned the decision. This gave birth to the infamous “No Zinni No Winni” axiom.
Although the change did not produce immediate results, Toronto exceeded all expectations by winning the second Major of the year. Toronto took out Dallas Empire and Atlanta Faze along the way. Although Methodz was far from deserving of being benched, the move worked in large part due to the incredible pay of Jamie “Insight” Craven. If these two didn’t share similar roles, Methodz might still have been playing on the starting roster.
So where does Methodz go from here? This certainly isn’t the end of the road for the AR player. His performances alone are enough to get him back on a starting roster. Once you factor in his stature as someone beloved by the Call of Duty community, Methodz is without a doubt an appealing addition to most rosters. Methodz can help teams grow on and off the battlefield. His gameplay and devout legion of fans would be a huge coup for several organizations.
For example, Methodz would be a fantastic fit for the Florida Mutineers. Adding Methodz in place of the recently acquired Colt “Havok” McLendon would allow Joseph “Owakening” Conley to return to his preferred Sub role. With Methodz and Cesar “Skyz” Bueno running AR’s and Owakening and Travis “Neptune” McCloud playing Sub roles, this Florida team could return to being a frightening sight for opponents.
Vivid the warrior
There’s no denying that the LA Guerrillas earned a statement win after dropping star player Reece “Vivid” Drost. A 3-0 sweep of the Paris Legion in which new recruit Martin “Cheen” Chino posted an overall KD of 1.36 certainly inspires confidence. Of course, we can’t overlook that the win came against the second-to-last team in the standings. Los Angeles have yet to feel the void created by Vivid’s absence, although it’s hard to imagine they’re better off in the long run.
Time and time again Vivid has proven himself as someone who can make big plays for his team. Vivid’s Search and Destroy ability is top tier, evidenced by a first blood percentage of 17.3. This is good enough for 7th best in the league.
Most people consider Vivid’s Search and Destroy ability as the strongest aspect of his game. Therefore, it is astonishing to discover that Vivid is the league leader in average Hardpoint damage with 4,822. Keep in mind that Vivid is a Sub player and nine of the top ten in this category are AR players.
His raw talent and playmaking ability would be an asset to many teams across the CDL. Whether Vivid’s move to the bench arose as a result of poor chemistry with teammates or a specific role issue is up for debate. What we do know is Vivid will be eager to prove the doubters wrong.
Vivid would make an excellent addition to a Seattle Surge side that is underperforming as of late. In addition, they’ve looked particularly abysmal at Search and Destroy. Vivid could slot in for Daniel “Loony” Loza who has the lowest KD on the team and one of the worst Search and Destroy KD’s in the CDL.
Competition has been fierce this season. Organizations have been forced to make difficult decisions due to limited roster spots. Expect to see some serious star power emerge from spots on the bench into leading roles as the season continues to unfold.
