Tribal Warfare
12-27-2010, 01:05 AM
Berry ices it with his interception return for TD (http://www.kansascity.com/2010/12/26/2543609/berry-ices-it-with-his-interception.html)
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
Chiefs rookie safety Eric Berry knew what it was like to serve as a team captain. But scoring his first NFL touchdown was a whole new experience.
And he loved it.
Berry, the Chiefs’ first-round draft pick, put Kansas City’s 34-14 victory over Tennessee out of reach just before halftime Sunday when he intercepted Kerry Collins’ pass with less than a minute to go in the first half.
Berry broke two tackles and weaved his way past another three Titans on his way to a 54-yard touchdown return that gave the Chiefs a 31-7 lead at halftime.
“The pressure from the defensive line kind of forced the throw, and right after they got the pressure, they just turned around and started blocking,” Berry said. “They turned into the greatest blockers I’ve ever seen. I just followed them. … I dove into the end zone, and I couldn’t really do anything because my teammates were so happy, I just celebrated with them.
“They were kind of messing with me. I got tackled by the holder at Denver (while returning a missed field goal), so I had to get in there.”
Berry’s fourth interception of the season was part of a defensive effort that held the Titans to 270 yards and limited Chris Johnson, the NFL’s fourth-leading rusher, to 58 yards.
Berry had four tackles, including dropping Johnson for a 1-yard loss, and he also broke up one pass.
“The big plan was to stop the run and make sure that Chris Johnson didn’t get outside and wasn’t able to use his feet,” Berry said. “We tried to shut him down early and force them to pass. I think it worked out pretty good.”
Before the game, the coaching staff also designated Berry as one of six team captains for the game. The players elect five captains, and the coaches appoint a sixth captain for each game.
“Generally, it’s been giving guys an opportunity to get in front of their teammates and help lead the team,” Chiefs coach Todd Haley said. “We haven’t had a young guy, and we’ve already told them they’re not rookies anymore. They’ve got enough experience under their belts that we’ve taken that label off them.”
Berry, like six of the Chiefs’ seven draft picks, served as a captain in college, and it was fitting that the coaches chose Sunday’s game to tap Berry, who played at the University of Tennessee.
He knew the folks back in Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis would be watching him play against the Titans.
“Everybody texted me and told me they would be watching,” Berry said. “A lot of Vols fans are Titans fans, so they were still pulling for their Titans, but they wanted me to do good.
“It was definitely an honor to be a captain. But that’s nothing new. I’m just excited about the win. I’m excited how our team came together. When it was time to get down and go to work, we did it.”
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
Chiefs rookie safety Eric Berry knew what it was like to serve as a team captain. But scoring his first NFL touchdown was a whole new experience.
And he loved it.
Berry, the Chiefs’ first-round draft pick, put Kansas City’s 34-14 victory over Tennessee out of reach just before halftime Sunday when he intercepted Kerry Collins’ pass with less than a minute to go in the first half.
Berry broke two tackles and weaved his way past another three Titans on his way to a 54-yard touchdown return that gave the Chiefs a 31-7 lead at halftime.
“The pressure from the defensive line kind of forced the throw, and right after they got the pressure, they just turned around and started blocking,” Berry said. “They turned into the greatest blockers I’ve ever seen. I just followed them. … I dove into the end zone, and I couldn’t really do anything because my teammates were so happy, I just celebrated with them.
“They were kind of messing with me. I got tackled by the holder at Denver (while returning a missed field goal), so I had to get in there.”
Berry’s fourth interception of the season was part of a defensive effort that held the Titans to 270 yards and limited Chris Johnson, the NFL’s fourth-leading rusher, to 58 yards.
Berry had four tackles, including dropping Johnson for a 1-yard loss, and he also broke up one pass.
“The big plan was to stop the run and make sure that Chris Johnson didn’t get outside and wasn’t able to use his feet,” Berry said. “We tried to shut him down early and force them to pass. I think it worked out pretty good.”
Before the game, the coaching staff also designated Berry as one of six team captains for the game. The players elect five captains, and the coaches appoint a sixth captain for each game.
“Generally, it’s been giving guys an opportunity to get in front of their teammates and help lead the team,” Chiefs coach Todd Haley said. “We haven’t had a young guy, and we’ve already told them they’re not rookies anymore. They’ve got enough experience under their belts that we’ve taken that label off them.”
Berry, like six of the Chiefs’ seven draft picks, served as a captain in college, and it was fitting that the coaches chose Sunday’s game to tap Berry, who played at the University of Tennessee.
He knew the folks back in Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis would be watching him play against the Titans.
“Everybody texted me and told me they would be watching,” Berry said. “A lot of Vols fans are Titans fans, so they were still pulling for their Titans, but they wanted me to do good.
“It was definitely an honor to be a captain. But that’s nothing new. I’m just excited about the win. I’m excited how our team came together. When it was time to get down and go to work, we did it.”