By Mark Malone
Special to ESPN.com
Given what defensive coordinator Monte Kiffen does with the Tampa Bay defense you aren't going to see a lot of one-on-one matchups against Terrell Owens. The mistake the Giants made last week was believing that Jason Sehorn could match up with him one-on-one.
The Bucs believe their front four can get pressure on the quarterback and allow the other seven to play coverage, and they do that well. They keep things in front of them and make hits, punishing people in hopes of causing turnovers. Tampa is going to make San Francisco work for scores, hoping that in the process they can create a turnover or force a penalty that will kill the drive. That's the high-percentage way to play T.O., and given the Bucs' personnel I think they are capable of doing that successfully.
With his height, strength and speed Owens might be the best wide receiver in football, and nobody is going to stay with him very long. But when you look at the Tampa Bay pass rush with the year Simeon Rice is having, Warren Sapp on the inside and the fact that the Buccaneers have the most valuable defensive player in the league in linebacker Derrick Brooks, they have the full package. They are capable of playing the run with the front seven without dropping safeties down, so they can go ahead and play coverage and because of that they have a shot at at least containing Owens.
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By Mark Schlereth
Special to ESPN.com
Terrell Owens is going to get open and catch some balls against Tampa Bay. He has a tight end-type physique combined with the speed and grace of a wide receiver, and that gives him an advantage. Bucs corners Ronde Barber and Brian Kelly have been big-time this year, combining for 10 interceptions, but they have been aided by an incredible pass rush.
Owens is far bigger than both Barber and Kelly and will be able to push them around and get off the ball easily, and San Francisco will motion him around to get him away from press coverage so he can do that. If the 49ers do that and also find a way to neutralize the rush Simeon Rice and Warren Sapp, then T.O. will have a big day.
Another thing Owens will have to continue to do is run with the ball after the catch. He is not only physical enough to get off the line of scrimmage and fast enough to run away from defenders, he can also break tackles. San Francisco's first play from scrimmage last week was a 10-yard completion that turned into a 76-yard touchdown when a defensive back and linebacker missed tackles.
Teams try to get physical with Owens and separate him from the ball when he catches it, but often those attempted knock-outs result in him bouncing off tacklers. If the big hitters in the Tampa Bay secondary try to KO Owens and forget to wrap him up after the catch it could be a long day.
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Divisional Playoffs
