Green working diligently to win spot at left guard

Since the recent retirement of All-Pro left guard Kris Dielman, many San Diego Chargers fans have been hoping his replacement will be found in this month's NFL draft. As of late, Stanford's David DeCastro has been the fan base's favorite prospect for the 18th overall pick in the first round, and Georgia's Cordy Glenn has also received a ton of love. Some are hoping for San Diego general manager A.J. Smith to select Miami of Ohio's Brandon Brooks or Iowa State's Kelechi Osemele in the second round. But, in spite of what most Chargers fans are clamoring for, the team's starting left guard is very likely on the roster already.

In today's edition of U-T San Diego, Kevin Acee, now a sports columnist, writes that 2009 fourth-round pick Tyronne Green is working his tail off to win the starting spot at left guard. Green has been training rigorously at former NFL player LeCharles Bentley's O-line Academy in Cleveland, Ohio. According to Acee, Green has made a lot of progress over the last few months.

It doesn’t take but a few seconds to see that what Green is doing here could be as significant to the Chargers offensive line as last month’s re-signing of center Nick Hardwick and left tackle Jared Gaither.

Green no longer has man, um, breasts. Strenuous workouts five or six days a week and a meal plan that has eliminated bread and ice cream and replaced lasagna and French fries with cabbage and chicken dissolved half his stomach. Where there was dough, there is now definition.

“I’m not going to lie,” Green said, smiling and beginning to primp. “I walk past the mirror, and I’m like ‘Looking good.’ ”

It’s startling. He weighs 318 pounds, seven pounds lighter than he was at season’s end and some 25 pounds lighter than when he arrived in training camp last July.

“Frankly, he was fat when he got here,” said LeCharles Bentley, the former Pro Bowl center who now runs the O-Line Academy here. “He was out of shape. He looked like crap. My emphasis was getting his body together so all his natural ability can shine.”

Norv Turner’s jaw will drop when he sees Green on April 23, the first day of organized offseason workouts at Chargers Park. Offensive line coach Hal Hunter will do a double-take for sure.

“I think it could be a little surprising when I get back,” Green said. “I talk to the coaches and it’s almost like a little skepticism. … I understand, because of what I’ve done over the past few years. I haven’t given them reason to think anything else. I’m a step way ahead of where I was last year. I can build on this up until the season. This is a great foundation.”

Green just turned 26 last Friday, and he's started 15 games over the last two years, eight of which came last season. It would be a huge plus for the Chargers if he were to become the long-term answer at left guard, as they would love to address other needs with their premium picks two weeks from now. A number of undrafted free agents, including Dielman, have excelled at the offensive guard position in the NFL, so it's not out of the question that Green, who played his college ball at Auburn, is still capable of turning into an elite blocker. It's good to see he's now dedicated to reaching his full potential.

“Had Tyronne stayed on the path he’d been on, he probably would have disappointed a lot of people,” Bentley said. “A guy like Dielman is very difficult to replace. … That’s why you have guys like Tyronne on your roster. You hope one day the light comes on and he can be a player like Dielman. Had he stayed on the path he was on, it wouldn’t happen.

“For him, to go from where he was to where he’s at … it’s going to show in his performance.”

If Smith doesn't pick an offensive guard early in this month's draft, let's hope the faith he shows in Green pays off for 2012 and beyond.