Charger Notebook : Miami Center Provides Imposing All-Pro Target

How imposing is Miami Dolphin All-Pro center Dwight Stephenson?

“He put the Refrigerator (William Perry) down five or six times and made him look like a rag doll,” Charger rookie nose tackle Terry Unrein said. “Dwight has super long arms and quick hands. This guy is not a center. He’s a running back.”

Starting nose guard Chuck Ehin and Unrein will take turns against Stephenson in the season opener between the Chargers and Dolphins Sunday in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

“We have to give him different looks and play with his mind because that’s what he’ll do with us,” Ehin said.

Unrein makes his National Football League regular-season debut against one of the best in the business.

“It’s a big challenge for me,” Unrein said. “I’ll find out if I’m an NFL player or just an average rookie.”

Fortunately for Unrein, it will be a two-man effort Sunday.

“We have a big advantage because Chuck and I will be coming in and out and we’ll be fresh,” Unrein said. “We each have some different things we plan to use on him.”

Ehin and Unrein agree they will need every edge possible to get by Stephenson for a better shot at quarterback Dan Marino.

“He (Stephenson) has quick hands, good balance, he’s a smart player, he’s technically perfect on the run and he’s a good pass protector,” Ehin said.

Said Unrein: “I was always astounded by how fast he was. But I never studied him like I have been recently. You have to watch a lot of film to find things he does wrong.”

Charger Notes

The Chargers announced Thursday that the local blackout for Sunday’s season-opener has been lifted. The game will be televised in San Diego on KCST-TV (Channel 39) at 1 p.m. “Too bad it’s not on national TV,” said Charger Coach Don Coryell. “We’ve (San Diego and Miami) had such great games.”