LA Chargers’ keys to be a winning team: 3. Cornerbacks playing up to expectations
The cornerbacks are one of the most important positions on the LA Chargers in 2020 when it comes to playing up to expectations. If the cornerbacks play as fans are hoping and expecting they will, then the defense is going to be one of the best in the league.
However, if they don’t, then things could fall apart quickly for the Chargers. They could still have a good defense, but if they are going to be a winning team, they need a great defense.
And unfortunately, out of any position group on the entire roster, I am most-worried about the cornerbacks letting the team down and not playing up to expectations.
There are some red flags that I would consider heading into 2020. First is that new signing Chris Harris posted the worst numbers of his career last season and is on the wrong side of 30. He could improve in a better system, but he probably won’t be the Harris of old and absolutely could still regress.
Casey Hayward has not seen that type of regression yet but he too is on the wrong side of 30 and we have seen how quickly cornerbacks (such as Darrell Revis) can regress in this league.
I am higher than most on Michael Davis but the other outside corner position already has its question marks and Desmond King is going off of an awful year in pass-coverage after an All-Pro season.
The most convincing thing to me that shows that the Chargers know that this could happen is the fact that the team including an opt-out after this season in Harris’ contract. They know that a further regression is a possibility.