The San Diego Chargers backfield is going to look a little different in 2012.  Not only will Ryan Matthews be getting more looks throughout the year but they will also be without goal line work horse Mike Tolbert, who has left the Chargers through free agency to the Carolina Panthers.

Essentially, the Chargers were in need of some fire power on offense as they also lost a favorite receiving target of Phillip Rivers, Vincent Jackson, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency.

Needless to say, any and all help on the offensive end is being welcomed in San Diego.

Luckily for the Chargers, there was still plenty of options on the open market and they managed to lock one up before they missed out on another opportunity.  

Ronnie Brown, who spent most of his career being the featured back in Miami and last season behind LeSean McCoy in Philadelphia, has signed a contract to play for the San Diego Chargers in 2012. Brown wasn’t the most successful as an Eagle, but he showed glimpses of what he showed in Miami: explosiveness, electricity and skill that few backs can match.

In Brown, the Chargers have the secondary running option they love to have. In the last two seasons, San Diego has lost Darren Sproles and now Tolbert, both of whom were crucial components to the Charger offensive attack.  Now that Brown will be able to spell Matthews when needed, Rivers has the option to rest his arm on first and second down situations, something he loves to have the option of.

One crucial element to the addition of Brown, as opposed to a bigger running back, is that Tolbert was the primary short-yardage and goal line option in the running game. With two smaller, speedy running backs, the Chargers may opt for quick roll outs to hit Antonio Gates or Malcolm Floyd as opposed to running the ball, somewhat making the offense one dimensional.

However, the addition of Brown provides some addition short-yardage passing options for Rivers, who has been known defer to those out of the backfield when under pressure from the defense.

The addition of Ronnie Brown has its ups and downs, but overall, his presence will be a game changer for the 2012 Chargers.

-Nathan Giese