Bears defense focuses on containing Owens
By Larry Mayer
http://www.chicagobears.com
LAKE FOREST, Ill. – When Terrell Owens last visited Soldier Field as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004, he celebrated a touchdown by doing sit-ups in the end zone.
While Bears defenders are generally amused by the star receiver’s creativity, they’re determined to keep Owens from scoring when he returns Sunday night with the Dallas Cowboys.
“We’re entertainers,” said defensive tackle Tommie Harris. “He can do all his antics. I don’t take it personally. The defense has to stop him from doing it. Keep him out of the end zone and he won’t do it. If he gets in there, he can go do whatever he wants to do.”
“If you make a play, I guess you’ve earned the right to do your dance or do whatever you do after you make a play,” said middle linebacker Brian Urlacher. “If we don’t want him to do it, we should stop him [from scoring]. That’s the easy solution to it right there.”
In two games this season, Owens has caught eight passes for 184 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was fined $7,500 by the NFL for mocking the New England Patriots’ spying scandal last Sunday when he pretended to operate a video camera after scoring a TD against the Miami Dolphins.
“He’s good,” said defensive end Alex Brown. “I think a lot of stuff gets blown out of proportion. It’s all in fun. I honest think the guy loves the game and he wants to have fun.”
“If I get a pick I might get up and dance too,” said cornerback Charles Tillman. “That’s just how it is. You can’t take that personal. That’s just him having fun. That’s the sport, that’s the love of the game.”
Love him or hate him, Owens has been at the epicenter of action when he’s faced the Bears. In 2000, he set an NFL record by catching 20 passes for 283 yards and 1 TD in a 17-0 victory.
The following season, Mike Brown intercepted a pass over the middle that deflected off Owens and returned it for a touchdown to cap a miraculous 37-31 comeback victory in overtime.
With Urlacher about to deliver a big hit, Owens appeared to pull up as the pass arrived. The 6-3, 218-pound receiver later accused 49ers coach Steve Mariucci of being too conservative after San Francisco had built a big lead because Mariucci didn’t want to embarrass Bears coach Dick Jauron, a close friend.
Owens then caught seven passes for 112 yards in a 49-7 rout of the Bears in the 2003 season opener in San Francisco before scoring his second career TD against Chicago the following year in Philadelphia’s 19-9 victory at Soldier Field.
“All I remember about that game is that was the one where he was doing the sit-ups in the end zone,” said linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer. “Hopefully we won’t get to see any touchdown celebrations from him.”
Although Owens normally expresses himself in the end zone, he doesn’t typically engage in too much banter with members of the opposing defense.
“He doesn’t do too much trash-talking,” said nickel back Ricky Manning Jr. “Unless you throw it at him—then he’s not going to back down from it. But he goes out there and he plays hard.
“He’s going to play hard play-in and play-out, so we’ve just got to match his intensity. That’s what we plan on doing—matching his intensity and not giving up any big catches or big plays.”
Health update: Defensive tackle Darwin Walker (quad) on Saturday was added to the injury report as questionable, meaning that there’s a 50 percent chance he’ll play Sunday night.
Walker made his first start last Sunday in place of the injured Dusty Dvoracek at nose tackle, registering four tackles in the Bears’ 20-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
http://www.chicagobears.com
LAKE FOREST, Ill. – When Terrell Owens last visited Soldier Field as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004, he celebrated a touchdown by doing sit-ups in the end zone.
While Bears defenders are generally amused by the star receiver’s creativity, they’re determined to keep Owens from scoring when he returns Sunday night with the Dallas Cowboys.
“We’re entertainers,” said defensive tackle Tommie Harris. “He can do all his antics. I don’t take it personally. The defense has to stop him from doing it. Keep him out of the end zone and he won’t do it. If he gets in there, he can go do whatever he wants to do.”
“If you make a play, I guess you’ve earned the right to do your dance or do whatever you do after you make a play,” said middle linebacker Brian Urlacher. “If we don’t want him to do it, we should stop him [from scoring]. That’s the easy solution to it right there.”
In two games this season, Owens has caught eight passes for 184 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was fined $7,500 by the NFL for mocking the New England Patriots’ spying scandal last Sunday when he pretended to operate a video camera after scoring a TD against the Miami Dolphins.
“He’s good,” said defensive end Alex Brown. “I think a lot of stuff gets blown out of proportion. It’s all in fun. I honest think the guy loves the game and he wants to have fun.”
“If I get a pick I might get up and dance too,” said cornerback Charles Tillman. “That’s just how it is. You can’t take that personal. That’s just him having fun. That’s the sport, that’s the love of the game.”
Love him or hate him, Owens has been at the epicenter of action when he’s faced the Bears. In 2000, he set an NFL record by catching 20 passes for 283 yards and 1 TD in a 17-0 victory.
The following season, Mike Brown intercepted a pass over the middle that deflected off Owens and returned it for a touchdown to cap a miraculous 37-31 comeback victory in overtime.
With Urlacher about to deliver a big hit, Owens appeared to pull up as the pass arrived. The 6-3, 218-pound receiver later accused 49ers coach Steve Mariucci of being too conservative after San Francisco had built a big lead because Mariucci didn’t want to embarrass Bears coach Dick Jauron, a close friend.
Owens then caught seven passes for 112 yards in a 49-7 rout of the Bears in the 2003 season opener in San Francisco before scoring his second career TD against Chicago the following year in Philadelphia’s 19-9 victory at Soldier Field.
“All I remember about that game is that was the one where he was doing the sit-ups in the end zone,” said linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer. “Hopefully we won’t get to see any touchdown celebrations from him.”
Although Owens normally expresses himself in the end zone, he doesn’t typically engage in too much banter with members of the opposing defense.
“He doesn’t do too much trash-talking,” said nickel back Ricky Manning Jr. “Unless you throw it at him—then he’s not going to back down from it. But he goes out there and he plays hard.
“He’s going to play hard play-in and play-out, so we’ve just got to match his intensity. That’s what we plan on doing—matching his intensity and not giving up any big catches or big plays.”
Health update: Defensive tackle Darwin Walker (quad) on Saturday was added to the injury report as questionable, meaning that there’s a 50 percent chance he’ll play Sunday night.
Walker made his first start last Sunday in place of the injured Dusty Dvoracek at nose tackle, registering four tackles in the Bears’ 20-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:30 PM
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