Chargers News: Secondary Ready To Make A Splash
The San Diego Chargers look to have a much improved secondary on paper after a flurry of off-season moves. Re-signing star corner Brandon Flowers was the main priority for the Chargers’ secondary and they did just that signing him to a 4 year $36 million contract in March.
But the Chargers, plagued by poor cornerback depth and inconsistent play the past couple seasons, needed to find some guys to play behind Flowers and second year player Jason Verrett.
The Chargers then went after San Diego native Jimmy Wilson. Wilson played at Point Loma High School in San Diego and spent the first four years of his career with the Miami Dolphins. His versatility will be key for the Chargers as he spend time playing corner, slot defender and also safety.
He will be competing for one of the starting jobs with Jahleel Addae at safety. He’s a strong, physical player who will come up and make big hits. If he doesn’t start, he will still have an important role playing all over the Chargers’ secondary.
The Chargers also nabbed former first round pick, cornerback Patrick Robinson. The former NO Saint looks to give the Chargers a ball-hawk at the corner position, something they haven’t had in a while. The Chargers have had just 18 interceptions combined the past two season, an area where I see huge improvements in 2015.
Jason Verrett has had a strong off-season after his promising rookie campaign was cut short by a season ending shoulder injury. The TCU product has caught the eye of one Chargers leader, Philip Rivers.
Rivers thinks he has the potential to be one of the few elite corners in the league. He had 19 tackles and one interception last season. The interception also sealed the victory for the Bolts over the Raiders. If Verrett can stay healthy all season, look out because the Chargers’ secondary, and defense as a whole, will be much improved.
That brings us to the leader of the secondary, Eric Weddle. It’s been a rocky off-season for the Chargers and Weddle, but whatever happens, he will be on the field for the 2015 season.
All he did last year was record 114 tackles, 8 pass breakups and 1 interception on the way to his third Pro Bowl. He will be looked upon again to lead this improved defensive back group for the Chargers.
The last piece of the puzzle in what the Chargers hope is a dynamic secondary group was acquired through the draft. With their third round pick the Chargers surprised a lot of people and took Craig Mager out of Texas State.
Mager will be able to learn under Flowers, Weddle and the rest of the veteran group on D. He’s rough around the edges but is a great athlete who is ready to hit anything that moves. He might even be able to learn the safety position and be a replacement if Weddle is not resigned.
The kid is hungry to work hard and has been dreaming of this opportunity. He was raised by his mother Cathy, a single mom, but sadly she passed away in 2007 when he was just 15. He has raised his younger sisters and everything he does and works for, is for his family. I’m glad he is now part of the Chargers family.
The secondary should be a much improved unit heading into the 2015 season. With veteran depth complimented by young guns ready to prove themselves, the Bolts DB’s will look to anchor a scary Chargers’ defense.
Bolt Up!
Nick was born and raised in San Diego where he became a Chargers and Padres fan, attending numerous home games throughout the years with his dad. He then went on to attend college at the University of Arizona. There he earned his degree in marketing and now lives in San Francisco where he dreams of the the sunny beaches of San Diego. Bear Down.