Flowers cherishes Super shot
FOXBORO — Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers is an accomplished second-year pro nobody saw coming.
Flowers, a fourth-round pick out of Arkansas, appeared in one regular season game as a rookie in 2015 without registering a tackle or an assist. He spent 10 games on the inactive list and graduated to injured reserve for the playoffs, not that anybody noticed.
The cruel experience of being the forgotten man on the Patriots roster inspired Flowers to get noticed by coach Bill Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia in training camp.
Guess he accomplished that mission, as Flowers will make his 10th start of the season and third in the playoffs when the Patriots take on the NFC champion Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI on Feb. 5 in Houston.
“It is pretty big for me, and I guess you could say that after last year with me always being on the outside looking in,” said Flowers. “It made me want to come back and prepare myself and allow myself to contribute and produce for my team and go out play with my brothers.
“It is definitely a totally different feeling this year and I’m blessed to have this opportunity to come out play the last game of the season with my brothers.”
Flowers played behind Jabaal Sheard at the front end of the campaign and made his first career start at home against the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 13.
Flowers made it to the top of the depth chart at right end by getting to the quarterback. The 6-foot2, 265-pound edge rusher led the Patriots defense with seven sacks.
Flowers had three games with two sacks that went along with 14 quarterback hits and two fumble recoveries. Flowers will be locked in on Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan, who was named AllPro and is the leading candidate for the MVP award that will be announced on Feb. 4.
“He is not one to make a lot of mistakes, but if you can let him feel a little pressure and get back there in his face and make him uneasy and make him watch the rush instead of the guys down field,” said Flowers. “You can’t just go for sacks, you have to get hits on him and have guys around him when he is trying to throw and trying to release. He is going to feel that (pass rush) and we have to make him fear that and get back there to him.”
Ryan was the central figure in the NFL’s most potent scoring offense in the regular season. The Falcons averaged 33.8 points per game in the regular season and have averaged 40 points in two home playoff wins against Seattle (36-20) and Green Bay (44-21).
“It is one of the best offenses we are going to face with explosive guys on the outside and explosive guys in the running back position and a very talented quarterback,” said Flowers.
“It is a very complete offense and the offensive line has been doing an unbelievable job in the run game and in pass protection. It is going to be the best offense we’ve faced and we have to bring our ‘A’ game.”
‘I’m blessed to have this opportunity to come out play the last game of the season with my brothers.’ — TREY FLOWERS (right) On playing in Super Bowl LI