Pinnock ready for his chance to replace Neal

By: MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Thursday, December 13, 2007 10:40 PM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- If LaDainian Tomlinson isn't concerned over the loss of Pro Bowl fullback Lorenzo Neal, why should anybody else be?

Neal underwent surgery for a broken right fibula earlier this week, and Tomlinson - the NFL's third-leading rusher - has given an endorsement to replacement Andrew Pinnock, saying the effects of losing Neal will be minimally felt.

"He's the same kind of physical presence that Lorenzo brings," Tomlinson said earlier this week. "He's a guy that actually is a little bit heavier than Lorenzo so he can get in there and bang heads as well."

The 5-foot-10, 250-pound Pinnock is at the top of the depth chart for the first time in his five-year NFL career. It's an opportunity that he has been craving.

"I feel as if every week, when I'm practicing against the defense, I treat it as if it's a real situation and as if I was with the starting offense just to prepare me for this moment," Pinnock said.

"Unfortunately, it happened the way it happened. I have all the respect for Lorenzo. I believe that he made me a better fullback, just watching everything he does."

Pinnock, 27, threw the block that freed Tomlinson on the game-winning 16-yard overtime touchdown run in last Sunday's victory over Tennessee. Yet Pinnock never intended to be an NFL fullback.

He rushed for 1,852 yards and 27 career touchdowns at South Carolina. It was after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2003 draft by the Chargers that he realized playing fullback and special teams was his way to stick in the NFL.

"When I got here, I figured out, 'OK, my role is a fullback. Fullback first, occasionally a halfback,'" said Pinnock, "and I felt like I needed to learn how to be a better fullback.

"Although I was behind Lorenzo for five years, it was almost the best situation for me to learn how to be a fullback and be a pro and to prepare and be ready for Sundays."

Taking notice

Tight end Antonio Gates definitely took notice of the contest Dallas' Jason Witten had against Detroit last Sunday. Witten caught 15 passes for 138 yards.

Yet he's intelligent enough not to predict a similar performance for himself.

"I just try to go out and contribute," said Gates, fighting through a sore back and hip. "I can't have expectations for what kind of game I'll have. Obviously, my main focus right now is getting healthy and being on the field.

"Witten is a real good tight end. He had a huge game. There will be games like that. You can't judge another players' performance because we don't know the circumstances or the situations."

Et cetera

Darren Sproles said he's recovered from the knee injury that sidelined him against Tennessee and will return kickoffs and punts against Detroit. ... TE Antonio Gates is a Detroit native so he's looking forward to playing against the Lions. "Needless to say, it's always fun to play against your hometown," Gates said. "It's always fun to play against a team you watched growing up. As a youngster, I was always watching the Lions when Barry Sanders and Herman Moore were playing."

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