Rams hope they can pre-empt T.O. show
Belleville News-Democrat
September 29, 2007
St. Louis Rams wide receiver Torry Holt sees Terrell Owen's post-touchdown antics as a source of motivation for the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver.
'I think it's something that continues to motivate T.O. and continues to help him play at a high level,' Holt said. 'His thing is, and I've heard him say it before, he works hard all week and when he gets to Sunday, it's his time to shine and celebrate and have a good time. He definitely showcases that.'
Holt said the Rams need to keep Owens from scoring any touchdowns Sunday at Texas Stadium to they prevent him from doing something outlandish.
'In order to stop him from doing that, we need to shut him down and stop him from getting in the end zone,' Holt said. 'Over the last four or five years, it's been tough to do that.
'I think he'll continue to score, he'll continue to celebrate. Hopefully, it won't be that much against us on Sunday.'
Owens' touchdown celebrations are infamous.
In 2002, he pulled a 'Sharpie' marker out of his sock after catching a touchdown pass on Monday Night Football. He proceeded to autograph the ball and hand it to his financial adviser sitting in an end zone luxury suite rented by Shawn Springs, the cornerback he had just beaten on the play.
In 2004, Owens openly mocked Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis by performing the middle linebacker's trademark celebration dance after a touchdown.
This season against Miami, Owens used a football to simulate a camera as he made fun of New England's spy scandal. Owens received a $7,500 fine from the NFL for using the ball as a prop in his celebration.
'Being a showboat and his antics, that's part of the game,' Rams cornerback Lenny Walls said. 'If he wants to do that and get the fines, that's his money.
'When it comes down to football, you know he is going to be competing and trying to help his team win.'
Owens' showboating sometimes overshadows his ability as a receiver. He has 16 receptions for 329 yards and three touchdowns already this season.
'I see a guy that is just a phenomenal talent, in phenomenal shape,' Holt said of Owens, who will turn 34 later this season. 'I am hoping and praying that when I'm that age I can continue to play at the level he is playing at. He is outstanding to watch on film, does a pretty good job with his routes.
'We all know when he gets the ball in his hands, he just turns into the 'Incredible Hulk.' It's a treat to watch and play on the football field with him, and I am really looking forward to seeing our guys defend him on Sunday.'
Walls and fellow Rams cornerback Ron Bartell will have the task of covering Owens on Sunday.
'I think Owens is a tough matchup for anybody from a Pro Bowler to a first-year starter,' Rams coach Scott Linehan said. 'Whoever it is, we have to give that person help, and we have to believe that person can hold up.
'They've covered guys in this league who are pretty good. I know they are up for the challenge.'
The Rams are hoping 6-foot-4 Walls and the 6-foot-1 Bartell have the size to match up more favorably against the 6-foot-3, 218-pound Owens.
'I think we're both big guys, we both can run,' Walls said. 'T.O. has some deceptive speed. He can be physical, too. He'll see a lot of man-to-man coverage.
'I'll be in his face when I'm covering him. It's not like I'll be 13 to 14 yards off.'
Walls grew up in San Francisco rooting for Owens when he played for the 49ers.
'I'm not a fan this week, but I was a 'Niner fan growing up,' Walls said. 'I think I was in junior high school when he came into the league.'
Rams linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa said he expects Owens to be doing plenty of trash-talking Sunday.
'He's always talking to the cornerbacks and making comments, but I'm talking to my cornerbacks, too, saying, 'Don't listen to what he has to say,'' Tinoisamoa said. 'If he is doing really good, you are going to hear a lot from him.
'When he is not doing good, you don't hear from him. Then maybe his own teammates might hear from him.'
Rams defensive tackle La'Roi Glover said Owens is most dangerous after he gets the ball in his hands.
'He is a heck of a ballplayer who is very good at yards after the catch,' Glover said of Owens, who is averaging 20.6 yards per reception this season. 'He catches the ball, makes a guy miss and then makes another guy miss. That's how he creates his big plays.'
Asked if he had a favorite among Owens' touchdown celebrations, Glover said, 'No, not really.'
But, after being reminded of how Owens was blindsided by the Cowboys' George Teague after celebrating a touchdown by running to midfield of Texas Stadium and posing on the star logo in a game in 2000, Glover smiled and said, 'That's my favorite.'
September 29, 2007
St. Louis Rams wide receiver Torry Holt sees Terrell Owen's post-touchdown antics as a source of motivation for the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver.
'I think it's something that continues to motivate T.O. and continues to help him play at a high level,' Holt said. 'His thing is, and I've heard him say it before, he works hard all week and when he gets to Sunday, it's his time to shine and celebrate and have a good time. He definitely showcases that.'
Holt said the Rams need to keep Owens from scoring any touchdowns Sunday at Texas Stadium to they prevent him from doing something outlandish.
'In order to stop him from doing that, we need to shut him down and stop him from getting in the end zone,' Holt said. 'Over the last four or five years, it's been tough to do that.
'I think he'll continue to score, he'll continue to celebrate. Hopefully, it won't be that much against us on Sunday.'
Owens' touchdown celebrations are infamous.
In 2002, he pulled a 'Sharpie' marker out of his sock after catching a touchdown pass on Monday Night Football. He proceeded to autograph the ball and hand it to his financial adviser sitting in an end zone luxury suite rented by Shawn Springs, the cornerback he had just beaten on the play.
In 2004, Owens openly mocked Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis by performing the middle linebacker's trademark celebration dance after a touchdown.
This season against Miami, Owens used a football to simulate a camera as he made fun of New England's spy scandal. Owens received a $7,500 fine from the NFL for using the ball as a prop in his celebration.
'Being a showboat and his antics, that's part of the game,' Rams cornerback Lenny Walls said. 'If he wants to do that and get the fines, that's his money.
'When it comes down to football, you know he is going to be competing and trying to help his team win.'
Owens' showboating sometimes overshadows his ability as a receiver. He has 16 receptions for 329 yards and three touchdowns already this season.
'I see a guy that is just a phenomenal talent, in phenomenal shape,' Holt said of Owens, who will turn 34 later this season. 'I am hoping and praying that when I'm that age I can continue to play at the level he is playing at. He is outstanding to watch on film, does a pretty good job with his routes.
'We all know when he gets the ball in his hands, he just turns into the 'Incredible Hulk.' It's a treat to watch and play on the football field with him, and I am really looking forward to seeing our guys defend him on Sunday.'
Walls and fellow Rams cornerback Ron Bartell will have the task of covering Owens on Sunday.
'I think Owens is a tough matchup for anybody from a Pro Bowler to a first-year starter,' Rams coach Scott Linehan said. 'Whoever it is, we have to give that person help, and we have to believe that person can hold up.
'They've covered guys in this league who are pretty good. I know they are up for the challenge.'
The Rams are hoping 6-foot-4 Walls and the 6-foot-1 Bartell have the size to match up more favorably against the 6-foot-3, 218-pound Owens.
'I think we're both big guys, we both can run,' Walls said. 'T.O. has some deceptive speed. He can be physical, too. He'll see a lot of man-to-man coverage.
'I'll be in his face when I'm covering him. It's not like I'll be 13 to 14 yards off.'
Walls grew up in San Francisco rooting for Owens when he played for the 49ers.
'I'm not a fan this week, but I was a 'Niner fan growing up,' Walls said. 'I think I was in junior high school when he came into the league.'
Rams linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa said he expects Owens to be doing plenty of trash-talking Sunday.
'He's always talking to the cornerbacks and making comments, but I'm talking to my cornerbacks, too, saying, 'Don't listen to what he has to say,'' Tinoisamoa said. 'If he is doing really good, you are going to hear a lot from him.
'When he is not doing good, you don't hear from him. Then maybe his own teammates might hear from him.'
Rams defensive tackle La'Roi Glover said Owens is most dangerous after he gets the ball in his hands.
'He is a heck of a ballplayer who is very good at yards after the catch,' Glover said of Owens, who is averaging 20.6 yards per reception this season. 'He catches the ball, makes a guy miss and then makes another guy miss. That's how he creates his big plays.'
Asked if he had a favorite among Owens' touchdown celebrations, Glover said, 'No, not really.'
But, after being reminded of how Owens was blindsided by the Cowboys' George Teague after celebrating a touchdown by running to midfield of Texas Stadium and posing on the star logo in a game in 2000, Glover smiled and said, 'That's my favorite.'
posted by The Gryphon at 10:18 AM
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