Ask David HaughThe Tribune's Bears writer answers reader questions every week during the season
October 12, 2006, 7:28 PM CDT
Nowhere in the 96 pages of the S.L. Parker book, can be found instructions on how to play cornerback in the NFL. Charles Tillman feels much more equipped to do his job after reading\nParker's self-help book in the off-season at the suggestion of a friend.
Tillman was open to any and all suggestions after his tangled feet became\nthe symbol of the Bears' playoff collapse against Carolina, especially\nadvice on the effects of pressure on performance.
"At 211 degrees, the water's hot and at 212, water boils and you get\nsteam and with that steam you can power a locomotive -– meaning that extra\ndegree is so huge,'' Tillman said in front of his locker as if he were\nreading the book jacket in a place with dim lighting that served café lattes.
"If you apply that your job as a reporter, photographer, Christian,\npastor, parent (or cornerback),'' Tillman said. "That one extra degree\ncan make you much more successful.''
It's a big week for Bears cornerbacks Tillman and Nathan Vasher. If Arizona\nhopes to keep Monday night's game close, the Cardinals will need monster\ngames from receivers Anquan Boldin, the NFL's seventh-ranked receiver,\nand Bryant Johnson, an underrated No. 2 option.
The trap comes in thinking the loss of Larry Fitzgerald will render Arizona's\npassing game useless. It doesn't.
Tillman gets that. There have been isolated plays this season where Tillman\nhas not played the ball well or when he has lost a step in coverage. But\noverall the fourth-year player facing a season pivotal to his Bears future\nhas played better than his critics would suggest and maintained the confidence\nevery cornerback needs.
He has learned a lot since Steve Smith twisted him around like a pretzel\nlast January, and some of the most important lessons came from pages that were not in the Bears playbook
"212: The Extra Degree,'' can be found instructions on how to play cornerback in the NFL.But Charles Tillman feels much more equipped to do his job after reading Parker's self-help book in the off-season at the suggestion of a friend. Tillman was open to any and all suggestions after his tangled feet became the symbol of the Bears' playoff collapse against Carolina, especially advice on the effects of pressure on performance.
"At 211 degrees, the water's hot and at 212, water boils and you get steam and with that steam you can power a locomotive -– meaning that extra degree is so huge,'' Tillman said in front of his locker as if he were reading the book jacket in a place with dim lighting that served café lattes."
If you apply that your job as a reporter, photographer, Christian, pastor, parent (or cornerback),'' Tillman said. "That one extra degree can make you much more successful.''It's a big week for Bears cornerbacks Tillman and Nathan Vasher.
If Arizona hopes to keep Monday night's game close, the Cardinals will need monster games from receivers Anquan Boldin, the NFL's seventh-ranked receiver, and Bryant Johnson, an underrated No. 2 option.The trap comes in thinking the loss of Larry Fitzgerald will render Arizona's passing game useless. It doesn't.Tillman gets that.
There have been isolated plays this season where Tillman has not played the ball well or when he has lost a step in coverage. But overall the fourth-year player facing a season pivotal to his Bears future has played better than his critics would suggest and maintained the confidence every cornerback needs.He has learned a lot since Steve Smith twisted him around like a pretzel last January, and some of the most important lessons came from pages that were not in the Bears playbook.
"I'm more patient about things, I see the big picture, and I think\nI've matured a little bit more,'' Tillman said.
That seemed obvious as Tillman moved on to recommend a book on parenting. Yet when Bears fans ask about the defense, his name is consistently among\nthe first mentioned.
It may take an entire season for Tillman to answer those questions. It\nwill take much less time to answer yours.
"I'm more patient about things, I see the big picture, and I think I've matured a little bit more,'' Tillman said.That seemed obvious as Tillman moved on to recommend a book on parenting. Yet when Bears fans ask about the defense, his name is consistently among the first mentioned.It may take an entire season for Tillman to answer those questions. It will take much less time to answer yours.
