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Bears wonder if numbers lie with Romo
September 21, 2007
BY GENE CHAMERLAIN Staff writer
The numbers say Tony Romo is the second-best quarterback in the NFL.
The Bears aren't so sure about the undrafted former Eastern Illinois star.
"I don't know," defensive end Adewale Ogunleye said. "I just know that he's the guy we're facing this week. I think we're going to try to do what we do best. He is a good quarterback, he does things well, but he has some weapons that make him look really, really good with T.O. (Terrell Owens) and those running backs and the tight end and, too, when they get Terry Glenn back. He has some weapons with him that make him look really good."
Romo's passer rating of 119.3 this season is second only to New England's Tom Brady (134.2) among quarterbacks with at least 25 pass attempts. Romo is tops in the NFC.
"I'm not trying to take anything away from him, but if you say (the Colts') Peyton Manning's a star and you say Romo's a star, I don't agree with you on that," Bears defensive end Alex Brown said. "I don't think they're in the same class. But no doubt he's good."
It's Romo's mobility and ability to make plays throwing outside the pocket that separate him from other quarterbacks.
"He kind of reminds me of a young Brett Favre, just in the way he creates plays and he makes things happen," Bears cornerback Charles Tillman said. "And he definitely can sling it in the hole. He makes some incredible throws that most quarterbacks probably wouldn't do. He's done it. He's a daredevil. So far, he's been good at it, so you definitely have to respect what he can do and what kind of throws he can make."
The Bears point out they match up well with mobile quarterbacks, and have had success in recent years against Favre, Michael Vick, Alex Smith and Daunte Culpepper (prior to Culpepper's knee injury).
"We've got 11 guys on defense who can pretty much run with anyone in this league, I think, especially a quarterback," middle linebacker Brian Urlacher said. "We've got a lot of guys who are pretty athletic, take good angles and get to the football. We swarm; we get so many guys to the football."
The idea would be to keep Romo from feeling comfortable with a heavy pass rush. Romo has played extensively in just 14 NFL games.
"Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer -I think they're viewed as the best in the league and they can get rattled from time to time," Brown said. "Anybody can be rattled."
Reaching out
Guard Roberto Garza spent much of Thursday's open locker room session doing an interview in Spanish with a Spanish-language TV network as part of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Garza said the NFL is becoming far more popular in the Hispanic community.
"I know when I wanted to start playing, my mom had no idea," Garza said. "She said it was too violent and she didn't want me playing. Luckily, she changed her mind.
"I think they're becoming more knowledgeable and I think that's helping them understand the game and follow it more."
Successful novice
Defensive lineman Israel Idonije, who scored a team high 28 points in special-teams grades last week, never played special teams until joining the NFL.
He's found conditioning the key for someone 6-foot-6, 275 pounds.
"I just think you have to make sure your body's ready to do all this; it's a lot of running," he said. "For me I have to make sure I'm able to last four quarters running down on kickoffs, especially when we have high-scoring games and it's kickoff, kickoff, kickoff."
Injury update
Tight end Greg Olsen went through another full practice in pads without a problem from the knee he sprained. Brown (ankle), defensive tackle Tommie Harris (hamstring), center Olin Kreutz (ankle), cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. (back) and punter Brad Maynard (sore groin) had limited participation in Thursday's practice.
Quick hits
Rookie defensive end Dan Bazuin, who is out for the season, underwent successful knee surgery and is beginning his rehab. ... All alcohol sales in the seating bowl of Soldier Field will end at halftime Sunday night, team officials announced. Parking lots surrounding Soldier Field for the game will not open until 3:15 p.m. Gates open at 5:15 p.m.
September 21, 2007
BY GENE CHAMERLAIN Staff writer
The numbers say Tony Romo is the second-best quarterback in the NFL.
The Bears aren't so sure about the undrafted former Eastern Illinois star.
"I don't know," defensive end Adewale Ogunleye said. "I just know that he's the guy we're facing this week. I think we're going to try to do what we do best. He is a good quarterback, he does things well, but he has some weapons that make him look really, really good with T.O. (Terrell Owens) and those running backs and the tight end and, too, when they get Terry Glenn back. He has some weapons with him that make him look really good."
Romo's passer rating of 119.3 this season is second only to New England's Tom Brady (134.2) among quarterbacks with at least 25 pass attempts. Romo is tops in the NFC.
"I'm not trying to take anything away from him, but if you say (the Colts') Peyton Manning's a star and you say Romo's a star, I don't agree with you on that," Bears defensive end Alex Brown said. "I don't think they're in the same class. But no doubt he's good."
It's Romo's mobility and ability to make plays throwing outside the pocket that separate him from other quarterbacks.
"He kind of reminds me of a young Brett Favre, just in the way he creates plays and he makes things happen," Bears cornerback Charles Tillman said. "And he definitely can sling it in the hole. He makes some incredible throws that most quarterbacks probably wouldn't do. He's done it. He's a daredevil. So far, he's been good at it, so you definitely have to respect what he can do and what kind of throws he can make."
The Bears point out they match up well with mobile quarterbacks, and have had success in recent years against Favre, Michael Vick, Alex Smith and Daunte Culpepper (prior to Culpepper's knee injury).
"We've got 11 guys on defense who can pretty much run with anyone in this league, I think, especially a quarterback," middle linebacker Brian Urlacher said. "We've got a lot of guys who are pretty athletic, take good angles and get to the football. We swarm; we get so many guys to the football."
The idea would be to keep Romo from feeling comfortable with a heavy pass rush. Romo has played extensively in just 14 NFL games.
"Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer -I think they're viewed as the best in the league and they can get rattled from time to time," Brown said. "Anybody can be rattled."
Reaching out
Guard Roberto Garza spent much of Thursday's open locker room session doing an interview in Spanish with a Spanish-language TV network as part of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Garza said the NFL is becoming far more popular in the Hispanic community.
"I know when I wanted to start playing, my mom had no idea," Garza said. "She said it was too violent and she didn't want me playing. Luckily, she changed her mind.
"I think they're becoming more knowledgeable and I think that's helping them understand the game and follow it more."
Successful novice
Defensive lineman Israel Idonije, who scored a team high 28 points in special-teams grades last week, never played special teams until joining the NFL.
He's found conditioning the key for someone 6-foot-6, 275 pounds.
"I just think you have to make sure your body's ready to do all this; it's a lot of running," he said. "For me I have to make sure I'm able to last four quarters running down on kickoffs, especially when we have high-scoring games and it's kickoff, kickoff, kickoff."
Injury update
Tight end Greg Olsen went through another full practice in pads without a problem from the knee he sprained. Brown (ankle), defensive tackle Tommie Harris (hamstring), center Olin Kreutz (ankle), cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. (back) and punter Brad Maynard (sore groin) had limited participation in Thursday's practice.
Quick hits
Rookie defensive end Dan Bazuin, who is out for the season, underwent successful knee surgery and is beginning his rehab. ... All alcohol sales in the seating bowl of Soldier Field will end at halftime Sunday night, team officials announced. Parking lots surrounding Soldier Field for the game will not open until 3:15 p.m. Gates open at 5:15 p.m.
