Winston Justice's inside observations

Eagles starting right tackle Winston Justice will write a weekly column for the Daily News to provide his insights into the team. His columns will usually run Wednesdays, beginning next week.

Have a question for Winston? Send your question along with your name and hometown to dnsports@phillynews.com. Winston will answer the best of those submitted in future columns.

I LIVE DREAMS DAILY. It is indeed an incredible privilege and honor to play this sport, which every boy imagines and hopes to play someday. But if I have learned anything about this league, it is that it is much bigger than me. There is always a bigger picture.

Fans are forever defining things through the frame of one game. In our defeat to the Raiders, people said we were through. After we beat the Giants, they said we were unstoppable. You win some, you lose some. But most of all, you learn.

I grew up a lot here in Philadelphia. I came out of USC early. Drafted by the Eagles in 2006, I was the youngest guy on my team the first year. And I had a lot of learning to do, physically and most importantly mentally, as my wife will attest to the latter. And as they say, "Growing up ain't easy."

Most would say I am a quiet guy. Speak little, observe much. But it's not the outside that defines a man. His heart, his character, his ability to get up when he's down - to work when no one is looking, these are all measures of a man. And I am striving every day to grow, learn and work harder in every aspect of my life.

This week, we are busy preparing for Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers. A lot more goes into it than just getting on the field or showing up on Sundays. We spend almost 4 hours a day in meetings with our line coach going over film, studying plays and learning the opponent's defense.

It is going to be a challenge this week for the offensive line as a unit and for the offense as a whole. The Chargers run a 3-4 defense, but they move personnel around a lot trying to confuse their opponent's offensive line. The defense is pretty much anchored by the two outside linebackers, so it's up to the tackles to set the pace for the o-line.

Our offensive line is building more camaraderie each and every day. I think we are becoming better workmates, as well as better friends, and more and more it's beginning to show up on the field. As a team, the Eagles need to have a back-to-the-wall mentality but, at the same time, stay loose and poised.

The one thing about playing on offense is that I'm so wrapped up and focused on the opponent's defense each week that I rarely get to see the offense of the other team that much. However, I do watch enough "SportsCenter" to know the Chargers have a very explosive unit with Philip Rivers at quarterback and some explosive running backs. Our team is just set on bringing home a win after the emotional loss against the Cowboys Sunday.

This Chargers game is a little extra significant for me because, having grown up in Southern California, it is actually the closest thing I have to a hometown field. It will be great to play in that Southern Cal weather again. Too bad I won't have time to catch a few waves and surf on Saturday. Nothing better than bringing home a win in my home state. *