NCT: Dombrowski is no stopgap
Robin Miller
By SCOTT BAIR - sb...@nctimes.com | Posted: Wednesday, January 6, 2010
6:30 pm
SAN DIEGO ---- Chargers coach Norv Turner formally named Brandyn
Dombrowski the starting right tackle for the playoffs in Monday's press
conference. Thing is, nobody told Dombrowski.
"Really?" he said. "Huh. That's great."
Dombrowski, who was expected to be a longtime backup, played his way
into a permanent starting gig despite the acquisition of veteran tackle
Jon Runyan.
While Runyan saw extended action last week against Washington, the
former stopgap solution has held onto the playing time received after
Jeromey Clary went down with an ankle injury Nov. 22 at Denver.
"That was a big thing for me," Dombrowski said. "You never know how
you'll perform under pressure until you're put into that situation. To
tell you the truth, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to do it at first. But
I just poured effort into technique each and every week, and eventually
I came around. It's been a great experience."
Such news should have been a big moment for the second-year pro out of
San Diego State, but it was received with a shrug.
"All I can do is keep trying to get better," Dombrowski said. "Even it
went the other way and I got replaced in the starting lineup, my work
ethic and my routine wouldn't change a bit. My only focus is on getting
better. That won't ever change."
Dombrowski's emergence and Runyan's steady improvement has given the
Chargers unexpected depth at tackle, a luxury the team didn't have early
in the season.
"It just gives you a good feeling to know that if we had an issue that
we are in good shape in all our positions," Turner said. "If we had
someone have to come out of a game, I'm confident that we could go in at
any of the five offensive line positions and handle anything that might
come up."
It was uncertain how Runyan would handle a backup role, but Turner said
the veteran has fallen in line.
"Jon has been great," Turner said. "Jon is a pro, and I think he's
enjoying being part of this team. Playing yesterday, playing the week
before gets you to feel more of a part of it. He's fit in great with our
offensive line and he's helped Dombrowski a great deal."
Weddle, Hester back
Free safety Eric Weddle and fullback Jacob Hester returned to practice
on Wednesday after sitting out last week's activities with injuries.
Weddle re-strained a knee ligament on Christmas night at Tennessee
during his return from a two-game layoff with the same injury. But rest
leading up to the Washington game helped his knee heal and allowed him
to return to practice.
"There's some lingering soreness, but I don't feel like it's going to be
any problem getting back to 100 percent by game week," Weddle said. "The
extra week really helped. I probably shouldn't have finished that
Tennessee game, but I sucked it up and played for that No. 2 seed."
Hester injured a shoulder against the Titans, but has recovered fully
from his ailment.
"Fortunately we were in a position to rest people," Hester said. "The
time off has really helped, but I'm glad I was able to return for the
bye week practices. It'll allow me to get my timing back before we start
game-planning next week."
Outside linebacker Shawne Merriman (plantar fasciitis), receiver Legedu
Naanee (foot) and receiver Vincent Jackson (Achilles') and defensive
lineman Antonio Garay (hamstring) missed practice, but are expected to
participate in some capacity this week.
Playoff game sold out
The Chargers' divisional playoff game at Qualcomm Stadium has been sold
out. Individual game tickets never went on sale, as every ticket was
snatched up by current or future season-ticket holders.
The tickets went fast for the Jan. 17 matchup against New England,
Cincinnati or the New York Jets, but the Chargers held a few back for
fans who want purchase 2010 season tickets.
badlands420
> "All I can do is keep trying to get better," Dombrowski said.
I think it's to Norv's credit that our players always emphasize this point.
You hear it over and over again from different guys, but it doesn't come off
like a cliche. Even Rivers says it about himself every interview I
hear/read, and that dude's an MVP candidate.