Exclusive Interview: Rookie OT Tyler Luellen

SDBoltReport.com's Michael Kranzler continues to churn out interviews with Chargers rookies, this time catching up with Tyler Luellen. The massive tackle talks about making the leap from a spread offense, keeping in shape year-round and dealing with the hairy aspects of life in the trenches. Find out what else he has to say in this Q&A.

Click here for the "Insiders only" portion of this interview, where Luellen talks about his father's Multiple Sclerosis, his experiences with Coach Gary Pinkel in Missouri, and his tutoring sessions with Marcus McNeill.

Michael Kranzler: You didn’t cut your hair your senior year until your team lost a game. Is there any chance of you doing something like that in the NFL?

Tyler Luellen: [Laughing] Oh wow, well, I’m starting a new era. I just shaved a Mohawk into my head last week, so I’m sporting the Mohawk right now.

MK: You also competed in basketball and track while in high school. How did playing those sports in the off-season help you in terms of football?

TL: I would say the overall aspect of being in shape year-round. Going straight from football to basketball, you’re continuously running and you’re keeping in shape. When I got to track, it was year-round workouts.

MK: You were injured several times while at Missouri. What do you need to do in order to stay healthy in the NFL?

TL: I need to continue to do rehab and continue to work hard in the weight room to make sure my muscles and joints are as strong as they can be to take the beating that’s the NFL.

MK: What do you like to do in your free time?

TL: Oh, shoot, right now we just hang out in our free time. I’m probably going to hit the beach later because the weather is nice.

MK: What is your biggest strength on the field?

TL: Right now, I would probably say my vision. Being able to pick up this new offense is different, comparing the defenses in the NFL with those in college. One of my strengths in college was being able to read defenses, and now I’m trying to convert that to read NFL defenses.

MK: What aspect of your game do you need to improve upon most in order to have a good shot at making this team?

TL: I would have to say that my biggest problem is learning a whole new offense in a short amount of time because the spread offense is not run in the NFL. That’s the biggest thing that I’ve noticed so far, that I have to completely wipe my mind of the spread offense and how its run and get my playbook and learn how a real pro-style offense is run.

Click here for the "Insiders only" portion of this interview, where Luellen talks about his father's Multiple Sclerosis, his experiences with Coach Gary Pinkel in Missouri, and his tutoring sessions with Marcus McNeill.