Charles "Peanut" Tillman: Preaux Career

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LAKE FOREST, Ill. - With the Bears set to open a stadium dedicated to the memory of soldiers, rookie defensive back Charles Tillman on Monday was thinking about a soldier.

In the locker room at Halas Hall, Tillman circulated a poster of support for teammates' autographs, which he planned to send to Baghdad and his father's friend Mark Anderson.

"He was like an uncle to me," Tillman said. "It's hot, they're fighting. Maybe this will boost up their morale a little bit."

Anderson, who was in Saddam Hussein's palace last week, is in the same unit as Terry McMillon, the brother of Bears cornerback Todd McMillon. Tillman has spoken to Anderson by phone several times, as recently as last week.

"He came to all my high school games, all my college games, but he didn't get to come to my draft party because he was over in Iraq," Tillman said.

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BY GENE CHAMBERLAIN
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

[NewsCopy]

Q&A with Charles Tillman

As the son of an Army sergeant, Charles Tillman attended 11 different schools from kindergarten through high school, but it took him just four games to find a home as a starting cornerback in the Bears' secondary.

In just 10 NFL games, Tillman has already faced a medley of the NFL's top receivers - the 49ers' Terrell Owens; the Vikings' Randy Moss; the Raiders' Jerry Rice and Tim Brown; the Packers' Donald Driver; the Saints' Joe Horn; the Seahawks' Koren Robinson; the Chargers' David Boston; and the Rams' Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce.

This week, Tillman, who leads the Bears with 3 interceptions, will face the Broncos' Rod Smith, who has exceeded 1,000 receiving yards in six straight seasons and has 302 catches the past three seasons.

Q. Who's the fastest receiver you've faced this season?

A. Probably Randy Moss.

Q. Who's the best route runner?

A. Probably Torry Holt.

Q. Best hands?

A. Jerry Rice.

Q. Best all-around receiver?

A. Rod Smith. We've only played them in preseason, but looking at him on film this week, he runs, he catches, he blocks. He's got good speed, he's got good speed out of his breaks, he runs good routes.

Q. Which receiver do you own?

A. Awww, y'all trying to get me in trouble. I don't want to answer that one. That's causing too much controversy. I'm not going to say I own anybody.

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By Bob LeGere Daily Herald Sports Writer

[BrilesBall]

Man this kid is one heckuva player...he should be getting as much props if not more than Jake D


Wow what a game vs Denver

[CajunCall]

Ever since I saw the video of him practicing by himself I knew he would make it in the NFL.

[NewsCopy]

Bears rookie cornerback Charles Tillman broke up the Denver Broncos' last-gasp heave downfield Sunday.

Even if Tillman hadn't gotten his hands on it and Denver scored, the game was over.

But it was fitting Tillman batted the ball down and made the last play because he made them all day in Denver.

Jake Plummer & Co. had to have nightmares about Tillman when they went to sleep Sunday night.

Coach Take-a-Knee takes a lot of criticism – deservedly so – for doing his job poorly.

General manager Jerry Angelo has taken heat for some of his personnel decisions.

Somehow, the Bears looked like an NFL-caliber team Sunday, and Take-a-Knee and Angelo deserve credit for one of the big reasons why: Tillman.

He was everywhere in the Bears' 19-10 win against the Broncos. He blanketed Rod Smith. He leveled Ed McCaffrey. He sacked Jake Plummer.

Tillman was the best player on the Bears' defense Sunday. Better than the beloved Brian Urlacher.

Tillman was the Bears' second-round pick – 35th overall – out of Louisiana in the 2003 NFL draft.

When his name was announced as the Bears' selection, a lot of Bears fans were scratching their head and saying, "Who?"

Credit Angelo for finding Tillman and spending a second-round pick on him. Pat Coach Take-a-Knee on the back for inserting Tillman into the starting lineup before the Bears' fourth game of the season against Oakland.

Things were rough for Tillman early on. He was flagged for some critical pass interference penalties. He compounded that problem by whining about the officiating.

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* Jason Schaumburg is sports editor for the Northwest Herald. He can be reached at (815) 526-4527 or via e-mail at jschaumburg@nwherald.com

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In the bag: Cornerback Charles Tillman and safety Bobby Gray both registered their first NFL sacks Sunday.

Tillman dropped Denver quarterback Jake Plummer for a loss of three yards early in the fourth quarter. The rookie second-round pick raced past Plummer, then retreated and tracked him down, nearly causing a fumble.

"I think I got a little bit of coach (Richard) Dent in me," Tillman joked. "I tried to dip my shoulder. I got by him and I tried to strip it, but he tucked the ball in. But it was a good sack. My first sack, it felt pretty good."

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[CrewChief]

Originally posted by CajunCall
Ever since I saw the video of him practicing by himself I knew he would make it in the NFL.

Was this on the news?

[CajunCall]

Originally posted by CrewChief
Was this on the news?

It might have been on the news, but I saw it here. In fact it was probably one of the first things I remember seeing after I registered on this sight, he was practicing by himself at the swamp. I don't know if it is still here I did a search and can't find it. They probably still have it somewhere and could reshow it if you ask.

[Turbine]

Makes sense you would remember CajunCall it was a month after you registered.

It is still here, click the link below

Tillman Getting ready for hULa Bowl

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Instant impact: Rookie cornerback Charles Tillman continues to establish himself as one of the top defensive rookies in the NFL.

He was second on the team with 6 solo tackles Sunday, and he had his first NFL sack. It was Tillman who was draped all over Broncos holder Micah Knorr when he attempted a pass after he bobbled the snap on a field-goal attempt with 3:52 left in the game.

"He's making some plays," defensive coordinator Greg Blache said of Tillman, who leads the team with 3 interceptions.

"If he continues to come, the sky's the limit for him. He's blessed with a lot of talent, and he's got the demeanor to handle it. He's got a lot of poise for a young kid."

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By Bob LeGere Daily Herald Sports Writer

[NewsCopy]

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Not too long ago it seemed like Brian Urlacher and Mike Brown made every big play for the Bears defense, but that's no longer the case.

Cornerbacks Jerry Azumah and Charles Tillman are emerging as impact players, a development that has helped resurrect a unit that struggled early in the season.

Since Azumah and Tillman became a starting tandem Oct. 26 in Detroit, the Bears have permitted an average of 13.6 points per game after yielding an average of 29.3 points in their six previous contests.

The young cornerbacks both made huge plays in Sunday's stunning 19-10 upset win at Denver, the Bears' first victory over a team with a winning record this season.

Tillman, 22, registered six tackles including his first NFL sack when he dropped quarterback Jake Plummer early in the fourth quarter. Azumah, 26, averaged 38.7 yards on three kickoff returns, had four tackles and saved a touchdown by breaking up a pass late in the game.

Tillman, a second-round pick from Louisiana-Lafayette, has started since the fourth week of the season. The 6-1, 196-pounder leads the Bears with three interceptions, all in the last five games.

"He's making some plays," said defensive coordinator Greg Blache. "He's a fine young player. He's made some real big plays for us.

"If he continues to come, the sky's the limit for him. He's been blessed with a lot of talent and he's got the demeanor to handle it. He's got a lot of poise for a young kid."

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By Larry Mayer