Brian Flores Landed His Player. Does Brian Flores Need to Share His Player?
Brian Flores wanted Isaiah Rodgers. In the end, Brian Flores landed Isaiah Rodgers.
The issue that’s now in front of the Vikings is that other coaches want help from Mr. Rodgers, too. More specifically, special teams coordinator Matt Daniels believes that the starting corner is capable of being a difference-maker when it comes to the third phase of the game. Any chance that the team’s CB2 – at least per the current outlook – can simultaneously be the K1, as well?
Brian Flores, Isaiah Rodgers, & The Returner Debate
Standing at 5’10” and weighing 176 pounds, Rodgers isn’t going to win any strong-man competitions in the NFL. Where he can win, though, is with his speed. The former Colt and Eagle is blazing fast, capable of running below a 4.3 forty (per a piece on the Colts’ website).
Generally speaking, football coaches want to put dynamic playmakers into green grass. The idea is a simple one: let an athlete be an athlete. If someone is unbelievably fast – as is the case with Rodgers – then look for a way to let that skill set shine.
Lining him up as a running back and asking him to slam into massive defensive tackles makes no sense. Lining him up as a kickoff returner makes quite a bit more sense. In that scenario, Rodgers will get the chance to fire up his speed as he ventures into plenty of open room where he can make tacklers miss.
It’s clear that Rodgers has had success in the past returning kicks. What hasn’t been quite as clear has been Brian Flores’ perspective on the matter with the Vikings. Would the DC be open to one of his starting corners taking on such a risky role?
Yes, there’s a greater chance of injury due to the high-speed collisions, but then there’s just the added layer of exhaustion that comes from the increased workload.
I asked Flores at his Saturday press conference about his view of the risk/reward nature of the issue: “I think this time of year, it’s so early. Everybody’s on the depth chart.” The DC continues to note each coach’s desire to have the “best players” available for each phase, suggesting that each coach – Kevin O’Connell, Matt Daniels, and himself — is naturally going to want the most talented options for their own phase.
He continues: “Look, I started, my career started on special teams so that phase is near and dear to me, so I understand how valuable a returner” can be. Shortly thereafter, Flores says that “at the end” the team’s main leaders will “put [their] heads together” to make a final determination.
“The focus won’t just be on one person, it’s who else can do this? What’s the entire makeup of the team?” Flores further explains. “And if the best thing is for [Isaiah] Rodgers for our team, then I’ll be all for it.”
In his NFL career, Rodgers has had the chance to bring 69 kickoff returns back. He picked up 1,870 yards, working out to an average of 27.1 yards per return. Pretty healthy, all things considered, especially since he has brought one return back for a score.
Something to note is that Rodgers has never been a full-time corner. Can he juggle being the top option at a pair of spots?
If all goes to plan, Isaiah Rodgers is going to be a starting corner. Recently, he offered a brash prediction, noting that he’s looking to snag 15 interceptions so that even if he falls short, he’ll still finish with 10 interceptions. Rodgers, in other words, isn’t lacking for ambition.
What remains to be seen is if his ambition brings him outside of the Brian Flores defense, putting in work for Matt Daniels on special teams as a returner. If so, then Rodgers’ speed will be put on display from within another venue, opening the possibility of an even greater impact for the free-agent who signed for a pair of seasons for just beyond $11 million.
Rodgers is 27 and has been in the NFL since getting scooped up at No. 211 in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
You must be logged in to post a comment.