Chargers’ depth showing up early
Running back Donald Brown and linebacker Kavell Conner were signed in March.
Center Rich Ohrnberger was re-signed in April.
Add the draft picks and undrafted rookies in May with cornerback Brandon Flowers in June, along with other veteran signings, and the Chargers walked away this offseason believing they’d become a deeper team.
No need for belief anymore. There is proof.
“Unfortunately but fortunately,” quarterback Philip Rivers said. “Fortunately, we have that depth. Unfortunately, it’s happened so early.”
The team will carry on Sunday missing another starter. Brown prepares to handle the bulk of Ryan Mathews’ workload, as he’s sidelined with a knee sprain. This comes one week after Ohrnberger stepped in for Nick Hardwick (neck, injured reserve). Offseason moves from General Manager Tom Telesco and his staff are paying early dividends.
In Sunday’s win over Seattle, the Chargers scored a touchdown off a fumble Conner forced during a second-quarter kickoff. Safety Darrell Stuckey, the man who recovered, was among the in-house veterans the team re-signed in March prior to the start of free agency. Cornerback-turned-safety Richard Marshall, re-signed to a one-year deal in March, rarely left the field in place of injured safety Jahleel Addae (hamstring).
Brown finished the game for Mathews. First-round draft pick Jason Verrett started for Flowers, and Ohrnberger filled in for Hardwick about as seamlessly as could be expected.
Experience, for most, was on their side.
Ohrnberger made his sixth career start. He also acquired playoff experience last season, working the majority of the Chargers’ playoff win in Cincinnati.
“There is definitely a benefit to having experienced depth,” Ohrnberger said Wednesday. “A lot of the (reserve) guys have played football at a high level in this league. It helps to have guys around who can handle expectations when their number is called. Donald was a load carrier for Indy, and he’s here now doing what he did there. It’s just another Sunday for him. With Ryan down with what he’s got, we’re going to need to lean on him some more, and he’s ready for that challenge.”
It seems that way.
In 2013, the Chargers signed a veteran running back in free agency. Danny Woodhead acclimated quickly, picking up the new system and gaining Rivers’ trust. Something similar has happened with Brown.
His transition has been promising.
Brown doesn’t say a whole lot, but Rivers can tell he is locked in.
“Donald’s a super, super, super pro,” Rivers said. “He often finds little intricacies in the plan and asks me questions about them that I may not even have thought of. ‘Hey, on this route, it looks like this. Are you sure you don’t want me on that? Hey, if we change this pass route or this protection ...’ He’s so into it. Obviously, he had a heck of a time in Indy, and he’s been good for us here early in the year.”
Other reserves are waiting their turn.
Wide receiver Dontrelle Inman, formerly of the CFL, was signed in January. He was inactive Week 1 but, for the first time in his career, was active Sunday, taking four snaps on special teams.
He stays after every practice, working when many are showering.
“I’m not trying to predict anything by all means,” Inman said, “but in order to have a championship team, you have to have depth. No matter what you do, sometimes in a championship, ‘this guy’ has to play, and you still have to have a great team. ...
“Prepare as a starter. Prepare the same way Malcom (Floyd), Eddie (Royal), Keenan (Allen) and (Seyi Ajirotutu) prepare. We all prepare the same way. You never know when your number is called.”
So far, the Chargers’ depth is answering.
