Catching on

Owens continuing to emerge as topflight receiver

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Posted: Thursday January 07, 1999 02:30 PM

Young says he never considered not going back to Owens AP

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- Steve Young knew better than to give up on Terrell Owens.

"He can drop five, 10 balls in a row and I don't care. He's going to get the next one," Young said. "He was ready for the next ball. It [losing faith in Owens] didn't even go through my mind."

In this case, the "next ball" was a 25-yard touchdown pass with three seconds remaining that put the San Francisco 49ers (13-4) into Saturday's NFC divisional playoff at Atlanta (14-2).

"I think I was in awe," fellow receiver Jerry Rice said. "When Steve threw the ball down there, I saw Terrell go up and it was like the world just stopped for a second. I'm sure that catch is going to go down, just like the one that Dwight Clark caught. It couldn't happen to a better guy. This guy, he works hard and he's been very productive."

Before Young threaded the pass between three defenders, and before Owens made the leaping goal-line grab in traffic in Sunday's 30-27 wild-card win over Green Bay, the third-year receiver struggled through a horrific outing.

It was stunning because Owens had excelled throughout the regular season, teaming with Rice and J.J. Stokes to form a daunting triple threat at wide receiver.

However, Owens fumbled after his first catch and he also dropped four passes, including one that would have given San Francisco a crucial first down in the final minutes.

"I just think it was nerves," receivers coach Larry Kirksey said. "He was trying so hard to make something happen every time he touched the ball. Because of that, he was knocking the ball down a couple times."

Owens agreed he made the mistake of trying too hard.

"I think I was just too hyped for the game," said Owens, who during the regular season had 67 receptions for 1,097 yards and 14 touchdowns, all personal bests.

"It was a game I'd been thinking about since last year, when we lost to them in the NFC championship. It's kind of ironic because last year, I left the field crying and this year I still left the field crying.

"It was enjoyable. I've celebrated long enough. It's time to get that out of my mind. It's hard to get rid of the thought with all that happened, with the media and the replays, but my focus, our focus, is on the Falcons now."

Certainly, Owens has the attention of the Falcons, who beat San Francisco 31-19 in the most recent meeting between the teams.

"He's that guy they've been looking for to be the John Taylor, where you can't focus so much on Rice," Falcons safety Eugene Robinson said. "But that passing game has three bona fide receivers. The thing that makes it go is Steve Young."

Rice, meanwhile, has been bothered for the last several weeks by a partially torn ligament in his right knee. Rice, who missed most of last season with two serious injuries to his left knee, said he still expects to play even though he appears to lack some of his explosiveness.

"I feel like I've been in rehabilitation for a year and a half," said Rice, who banged the right knee Nov. 15 on the artificial turf at the Georgia Dome. "It's something that really has slowed me down a lot, but don't tell them that.

"But I'm going to line up, yes, and hopefully the soreness is gone and I can just go out and have some fun."

 

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