Stopping the real T.O. a tall order
Dolphins notebook: Stopping the real T.O. a tall order
By Jackie Friedman
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
DAVIE - Terrell Owens presents such a threat to opposing defenses that the Dolphins have two players wearing the notorious No. 81 at practice in preparation for Sunday's game against Dallas.
Chandler Williams and Kerry Reed, the practice squad's two receivers, who are both barely 6 feet, have the duty of preparing the Dolphins' secondary for one of the NFL's elite receivers, though they don't really size up.
"Being that T.O. is all of 6-foot-3, 220 [pounds], I know I can't be him," Williams said. "I think that I did a pretty good job being Santana [Moss] and [Antwaan] Randle El last week because I have the same quickness. But I look at it as the coaches have confidence in me, 5-foot-10, 180, to go in and get the defensive backs ready for the game. I'm trying to give my best T.O. impersonation I can."
Coach Cam Cameron admitted, however, that any amount of practice may not be enough to stop Owens, who had three catches for 87 yards and two TDs in last week's 45-35 victory against the Giants.
"In the game, you double him, you get help over the top, you try everything you can, but that's why you respect great players so much," Cameron said. "If a guy like that has a great game, you realize that the team that week did everything they could to stop him, and he had a great game anyway."
Safety Renaldo Hill joked that he prepared for Owens' arrival by taking dance classes, in an attempt to match the star's end-zone charades. But humor aside, Hill said it's a matter of tracking Owens' every move while maintaining the team's defensive scheme.
"We know he's going to get his touches," Hill said. "We need to be prepared for different alignments he's going to be running. You can anticipate him going over the top, but there are other routes he runs and that he can be explosive at."
Owens has never played against the Dolphins in South Florida.
In one career game against the Dolphins while he was with the 49ers, Owens caught four passes for 43 yards on Dec. 16, 2001.
WHO'S BACK THERE?
For the second consecutive day, tailback Jesse Chatman did not practice and is questionable for Sunday's game, though Cameron remains optimistic.
"We anticipate Jesse playing, and if he's not, Ronnie [Brown] will take more of the load," Cameron said.
Cameron touted a two-back system early on and might look for rookie tailback Lorenzo Booker or Patrick Cobbs to take some carries if Chatman is absent.
"If they call on me I'll be ready. That's my job," Booker said.
Cobbs relayed similar sentiments.
"I get to see J.T. [Jason Taylor], Zach [Thomas], Vonnie [Holliday] every play," Cobbs said of practice. "That was my role [on scout team], and seeing those guys every day, you know it's not going to be a big adjustment in the real game."
C IS FOR CAPTAIN
This season NFL teams were given the option to let their captains wear a C on their jerseys. Voted in by their Dolphins teammates, kicker JayFeely, Thomas, Taylor and quarterback Trent Green are all sporting a C.
"Now everybody knows it, besides going out for the coin toss, having it on the uniform," Green said.
By Jackie Friedman
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
DAVIE - Terrell Owens presents such a threat to opposing defenses that the Dolphins have two players wearing the notorious No. 81 at practice in preparation for Sunday's game against Dallas.
Chandler Williams and Kerry Reed, the practice squad's two receivers, who are both barely 6 feet, have the duty of preparing the Dolphins' secondary for one of the NFL's elite receivers, though they don't really size up.
"Being that T.O. is all of 6-foot-3, 220 [pounds], I know I can't be him," Williams said. "I think that I did a pretty good job being Santana [Moss] and [Antwaan] Randle El last week because I have the same quickness. But I look at it as the coaches have confidence in me, 5-foot-10, 180, to go in and get the defensive backs ready for the game. I'm trying to give my best T.O. impersonation I can."
Coach Cam Cameron admitted, however, that any amount of practice may not be enough to stop Owens, who had three catches for 87 yards and two TDs in last week's 45-35 victory against the Giants.
"In the game, you double him, you get help over the top, you try everything you can, but that's why you respect great players so much," Cameron said. "If a guy like that has a great game, you realize that the team that week did everything they could to stop him, and he had a great game anyway."
Safety Renaldo Hill joked that he prepared for Owens' arrival by taking dance classes, in an attempt to match the star's end-zone charades. But humor aside, Hill said it's a matter of tracking Owens' every move while maintaining the team's defensive scheme.
"We know he's going to get his touches," Hill said. "We need to be prepared for different alignments he's going to be running. You can anticipate him going over the top, but there are other routes he runs and that he can be explosive at."
Owens has never played against the Dolphins in South Florida.
In one career game against the Dolphins while he was with the 49ers, Owens caught four passes for 43 yards on Dec. 16, 2001.
WHO'S BACK THERE?
For the second consecutive day, tailback Jesse Chatman did not practice and is questionable for Sunday's game, though Cameron remains optimistic.
"We anticipate Jesse playing, and if he's not, Ronnie [Brown] will take more of the load," Cameron said.
Cameron touted a two-back system early on and might look for rookie tailback Lorenzo Booker or Patrick Cobbs to take some carries if Chatman is absent.
"If they call on me I'll be ready. That's my job," Booker said.
Cobbs relayed similar sentiments.
"I get to see J.T. [Jason Taylor], Zach [Thomas], Vonnie [Holliday] every play," Cobbs said of practice. "That was my role [on scout team], and seeing those guys every day, you know it's not going to be a big adjustment in the real game."
C IS FOR CAPTAIN
This season NFL teams were given the option to let their captains wear a C on their jerseys. Voted in by their Dolphins teammates, kicker JayFeely, Thomas, Taylor and quarterback Trent Green are all sporting a C.
"Now everybody knows it, besides going out for the coin toss, having it on the uniform," Green said.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:25 AM
<< Home