Nov. 14--The assignment: Controlling Rams punt returner Tavon Austin
Austin's measurables: 5-foot-8, 176 pounds.
Assigned: Bears punter Pat O'Donnell and gunners Josh Bellamy and Sherrick McManis.
Notable numbers: Austin has averaged 10.1 yards on his 16 punt returns, including a 75-yard touchdown burst in the season opener. ... O'Donnell's 46.2-yard average ranks 16th in the NFL.
Scouting report: The Bears punt team has been solid much of the season but is most remembered for three blown plays -- a 64-yard trick return by Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman in Week 3, a 30-yard gain on a Lions fake punt in Week 6 and a 65-yard return touchdown by Vikings veteran Marcus Sherels in Week 8. Austin, with three career return TDs, presents problems with his elite agility and top-end speed. Defending the diminutive bottle rocket will first require laser focus from O'Donnell, who will need to be precise if asked to kick directionally. He'll also need to afford his coverage team ample time to get upfield. The Bears likely will push to funnel Austin inside, needing the whole coverage team to then aggressively flow to the ball.
Word from within: "He has everything. Elite speed. Quickness. You just have to find ways to keep him bottled in. For me, I have to do everything I can to keep him from getting outside. He's a home-run guy. So this becomes an 11-man job." -- Bellamy
