Charles "Peanut" Tillman: Preaux Career

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LAKE FOREST, Ill. - The Bears continued to fill needs early in the draft, bolstering their secondary and special teams by selecting Louisiana defensive back Charles Tillman in Round 2 with the 35th overall pick.

The 6-1, 207-pounder is a durable corner with good size, adequate speed, good hands and range. Tillman is also a physical, collision tackler with good character and leadership skills.

Tillman will add depth in the secondary and compete with Todd McMillon and Roosevelt Williams to be the third cornerback behind starters R.W. McQuarters and Jerry Azumah.

"I don't like to get high on rookies, but I think this guy has a chance to come in and help us," said Bears defensive coordinator Greg Blache.

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ChicagoBears.com
By Larry Mayer
Senior Writer

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Windy City bound
Tillman looking forward to first Bears’ mini-camp.

LOUISIANA La. — Outside of Charles Tillman’s immediate family and closest friends, the man happiest about the Louisiana football standout’s selection on Saturday’s first day of the NFL Draft may have been Chris Ballard.

He’s the area scout for the Chicago Bears, and more than likely the man who convinced the Bears organization to make Tillman a surprisingly-high second-round selection.

“He was the guy that was pubbing me and pulling for me,” Tillman said Monday as he prepared to head north for the Windy City. “He told me that I had to go up there and do well, because his job was on the line.”

Ballard probably doesn’t have much to fear, since he figured out what Ragin’ Cajun fans have known for a while — Charles Tillman is (a) something special, and (b) one of the best-kept secrets in college football.

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South Louisiana Publishing
Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com

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Tillman agrees to five-year contract

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. - The Bears will practice with a full complement of players for the first time Monday morning after second-round draft pick Charles Tillman agreed to a five-year contract late Saturday night.

The 6-1, 196-pounder will compete for the third cornerback position with Roosevelt Williams and Todd McMillon behind starters R.W. McQuarters and Jerry Azumah. Defensive coordinator Greg Blache has said that finding a reliable player to man that position is his most pressing concern in training camp.

Tillman registered 12 career interceptions as a four-year starter at Louisiana, where he was a two-time all-Sun Belt Conference selection and earned all-America honors as a senior. Last season he recorded a career-high 100 tackles and also blocked three punts.

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By Larry Mayer
Senior Writer
July 26, 2003

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LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- When Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman heard one of the coaches wanted to see him, the rookie was sure he was in trouble.

"I was like, `Ohhh, what did I do? I did something wrong," Tillman said.

Actually, he's been doing a lot right lately. So much so that, three games into his NFL career, Tillman has earned himself a start. That's why defensive backs coach Vance Bedford wanted to chat with Tillman before practice Wednesday -- to tell him he'd be starting Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.

It's a huge honor for the rookie. And an equally huge challenge.

"It's Tim Brown and Jerry Rice, it doesn't get any better than that," Tillman said. "It's the NFL, the best in the world. That's what I should expect. That's why I'm here, to go against the best."

Hillman was a second-round pick from the University of Louisiana, where he had 12 career interceptions and six fumble recoveries. Defensive coordinator Greg Blache said earlier this year that he could see Tillman starting some time this season. Most, including Tillman, figured it would be later in the season.

But at 0-3, the Bears are struggling on defense -- and everywhere else, for that matter -- and Blache and coach ~~~~ Jauron are trying to shake things up. Jerry Azumah has struggled in his role as the starting right corner, and Blache and Jauron like what they've seen so far from Tillman.

"He's a kid we think may be a playmaker, and what we're trying to do is get more guys that can make plays on the field," Blache said of Tillman. "Everybody makes mistakes. The problem we have is our margin of error is so small that when we make a mistake, it's devastating, because we can't overcome it because we don't make the (big) plays.

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[Turbine]

Congratulations Peanut.

Way to go holding Jerry Rice to a season low 3 receptions.

Not bad for yourself a season high 6 tackles, 3 solo, and a pass deflection.

We knew you could do it. Geaux Cajuns

[Turbine]

One week after his first start, ex-Cajun returns to state.

LOUISIANA La. — Charles Tillman couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity.

The former University o Louisiana standout earned his first starting assignment at cornerback for the Chicago Bears last Sunday, just four games into his National Football League career.

Getting that early chance was impressive.

Also, the game was at home in Soldier Field and the Bears were hosting the AFC Champion Oakland Raiders, and that made it all the more enjoyable.

Then when Chicago earned its first victory of the season, 24-21, on a last-second 48-yard Paul Edinger field goal, the day was complete.

“It was pretty exciting,” Tillman said Friday while strolling in downtown Chicago. “I was going against Jerry Rice in my first career start. It was an honor to cover him. I had been watching him since I was a little kid.

“The man’s still got it. He’s a hard worker, and he’s still got the moves and stuff at age 40.”

For a split second, Tillman was slightly in awe of the situation. But that didn’t last long.

“After the first play, it was OK,” Tillman said. “I was in the game already. It was time to go ahead and play.

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

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Return to Louisiana not happy one for, Tillman

NEW ORLEANS — Charles Tillman knew he would be a target of the New Orleans Saints passing game on Sunday in his second NFL start at cornerback for the Chicago Bears.

He wasn't counting on a pair of pass interference calls that came his way, but that too can be part of being a rookie.

"It’s expected,” the former UL Lafayette star said after the Saints held off the Bears 20-13 in the Superdome.

“My coach told me, ‘Welcome to the NFL.’ But you can’t complain about it or you’ll get fined. Maybe when I get a couple of PBU’s (passes broken up) or interceptions, I’ll get more respect.

“It’s bogus, but you can’t complain.”

The Saints had missed a 38-yard field goal on their first possession, then took over at their 20 after Chicago’s first punt of the day.

Quarterback Aaron Brooks aimed a deep pass on first down to Jerome Pathon, who was well covered by Tillman.

Tillman actually made a better adjustment to the ball than Pathon and nearly had an interception as the two athletes locked arms in stride. But when the ball fell away, incomplete, it was accompanied by an official’s flag and the Saints were beneficiaries of a 48-yard call to the Bears’ 32.

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[CDeb]

I missed the first interference call, but the second one was definitely bogus. He arrived at the same time as the football.

But Bruce is giving him too much credit on the pass breakup on the deep ball to Horn. The ball was already on the way to the turf by the time Tillman's hands arrived. Horn dropped it.

[NewsCopy]

Just a week ago, Charles Tillman tried to rationalize his disappointment and frustrations. In the last month, the Chicago Bears cornerback had repeatedly been flagged for pass interference and convinced himself that he's being picked on just because he's a rookie.

That's OK, he told himself.

"It's cool. I really can't complain about it," Tillman said following the Bears' loss to New Orleans in Week 6. "When I break up a couple of passes or get some interceptions, I'll get the respect then."

Seven days later, the Louisiana-Lafayette alumnus had a different perspective.

With the game on the line and Chicago trying to keep the Seattle Seahawks out of field goal range, Tillman was flagged for a questionable pass interference call against Koren Robinson with 1:04 left in regulation. On the very next play, Seattle running back Shaun Alexander scored on a 25-yard run to give the Seahawks a 24-17 victory.

"A dumb call, a bad call, a horrible call," an obviously emotional Tillman said on Sunday. "You can't play that play no better than that."

Not according to the referees. And based on the officials' tendency to throw their yellow flags at his expense, Tillman has no other choice but to defend the plays better.

"I know I get the rookie treatment, but sometimes they have to let us play," Tillman told the Daily Southtown. "I think we're the only secondary in the NFL where the officials won't let us play."

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October 27th, 2003, 04:58 am #20

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