theogt
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Terrell Owens compared to Michael Irvin
November 21, 2007, 8:31 pm
Filed under: 2007 NFL Season
Over the years, I’ve heard Terrell Owens compared to Michael Irvin. And for the longest time I thought that was unfair to Michael.
The one area in which the comparison was always apt was their work ethic. Both receivers were real go-getters in practice and the weight room – whatever it took to improve, they went after it with a passion. I’ve always respected that.
Both guys also did great things on the field, but Michael was something Owens wasn’t — a great teammate. Michael never would have said the things Owens said about Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb and others. Michael wasn’t a saint, but he was as good of a teammate as I ever had.
There was a big difference on the field, too. Whether it was in San Francisco, Philadelphia or even Dallas last year, there were numerous occasions when T.O. was not thrown to in single coverage. It was the strangest thing. When I played with Michael, if a pass was on and there was one defender on him, I usually threw it to him. That’s what we did with a great receiver. But Owens, despite similar skills, often was ignored.
This year is different for T.O. The Cowboys have a new offensive coordinator, Jason Garrett, who was my backup in Dallas. He is using Owens the same way we used Michael, moving him around as the X receiver, finding ways to get him open and make big plays. If Owens is in single coverage – and sometimes when he isn’t — Tony Romo is finding him more often than not. Owens has 50 catches for 855 yards and eight touchdowns, and he’s on pace for the most total yards and yards per catch in his 12-year career.
The T.O. sideshow? Nowhere to be found. Maybe it’s the way Garrett has made him the focal point of the offense. Maybe it’s his connection with Romo. Maybe he’s feeling the love from Wade Phillips after not really clicking with Bill Parcells. Whatever the reasons, Owens seems to be at peace. According to everyone I talk to, Owens has been a better teammate than ever before. And the results on the field speak for themselves.
Will it last? With Owens, it’s ridiculous to speculate. But at least for now, the comparisons with Michael Irvin are as fair as they’ve ever been.
November 21, 2007, 8:31 pm
Filed under: 2007 NFL Season
Over the years, I’ve heard Terrell Owens compared to Michael Irvin. And for the longest time I thought that was unfair to Michael.
The one area in which the comparison was always apt was their work ethic. Both receivers were real go-getters in practice and the weight room – whatever it took to improve, they went after it with a passion. I’ve always respected that.
Both guys also did great things on the field, but Michael was something Owens wasn’t — a great teammate. Michael never would have said the things Owens said about Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb and others. Michael wasn’t a saint, but he was as good of a teammate as I ever had.
There was a big difference on the field, too. Whether it was in San Francisco, Philadelphia or even Dallas last year, there were numerous occasions when T.O. was not thrown to in single coverage. It was the strangest thing. When I played with Michael, if a pass was on and there was one defender on him, I usually threw it to him. That’s what we did with a great receiver. But Owens, despite similar skills, often was ignored.
This year is different for T.O. The Cowboys have a new offensive coordinator, Jason Garrett, who was my backup in Dallas. He is using Owens the same way we used Michael, moving him around as the X receiver, finding ways to get him open and make big plays. If Owens is in single coverage – and sometimes when he isn’t — Tony Romo is finding him more often than not. Owens has 50 catches for 855 yards and eight touchdowns, and he’s on pace for the most total yards and yards per catch in his 12-year career.
The T.O. sideshow? Nowhere to be found. Maybe it’s the way Garrett has made him the focal point of the offense. Maybe it’s his connection with Romo. Maybe he’s feeling the love from Wade Phillips after not really clicking with Bill Parcells. Whatever the reasons, Owens seems to be at peace. According to everyone I talk to, Owens has been a better teammate than ever before. And the results on the field speak for themselves.
Will it last? With Owens, it’s ridiculous to speculate. But at least for now, the comparisons with Michael Irvin are as fair as they’ve ever been.
