Is Brandon Flowers Necessary For the Chargers?
By Sam Kweon
Sep 30, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Matthews (24) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Brandon Flowers (24) in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. San Diego won the game 37-20. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
The San Diego Chargers created quite a stir when they signed Pro-Bowler Brandon Flowers. It was reported that many teams wanted him, but thankfully the Bolts snatched him away before anyone else did.
But there is still a concern about this signing. There is no doubt that Flowers is wanted in San Diego. The question is: Is Brandon Flowers needed on the Chargers’ roster?
We all know that Flowers came “cheap.” But the fact is that even before he came to the Bolts, the CB position was in pretty good shape.
The Chargers had a decent #1 CB in Shareece Wright. Wright is coming off of a strong season, especially towards the end, and it looks like the former 3rd round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft is starting to figure it out.
Jason Verrett, this years 25th pick, is extremely talented with undeniable coverage and an amazing knack for play-making. Although his height is questioned at times (5’10), Verrett is out there to prove the haters that size isn’t everything.
The depth is also there. Richard Marshall started some games last season when needed and did a decent job. Promising cornerbacks in Steve Williams and Brandon Ghee could also step in.
So those are reasons why Flowers may not be necessary in 2014, but there are also plenty of arguments of why he is.
“He is an instant upgrade to the Chargers secondary,” Ernie Padaon has said in one of his previous article. Ernie couldn’t have been more correct.
“He is an instant upgrade to the Chargers secondary,” Chargers writer Ernie Padaon
The former Virginia Tech Hokie has the athleticism to play a handful of positions. From a perimeter to nickel CB, he is a versatile athlete that could step in at crucial times in any position when needed. Flowers also has averaged 62 tackles per season during his time in the NFL. Last season, he had 68 tackles in just 13 regular-season starts. He is a fundamental and sure tackler.
Also, what do players like Richard Sherman, Joe Haden and Darrelle Revis have in common? They all have the quick awareness skills that allow them to react to a play quickly. Brandon Flowers also possesses that trait. He is able to read plays quickly and react to them, which is why he is so successful at tackling.
Let’s go back to the contract.
Source: Brandon Flowers deal with Chargers is worth up to $5M. $1.5M to sign, $1.5M base salary (guaranteed) & up to $2M via incentives.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 24, 2014
In order to earn that full $2M in incentives, Flowers needs to play 92.5% of the Chargers D snaps & team must advance to AFC Championship.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 24, 2014
How did Tom Telesco do it? He was able to get a Pro Bowl CB to come to his team for $5M or less. For this kind of money, it is definitely worth a shot. Remember, this isn’t a Derek Cox-like corner coming in. Flowers is a proven veteran with only a few question marks on his resume.
Conclusion: Fans will disagree with me, but Brandon Flowers isn’t necessary. If I was the GM would I have signed him? Of course for $5M but all the talk about how Flowers is absolutely needed on the Bolts is not true.
Is Brandon Flowers a necessity?