Toeaina settles down, settles in along D-line
good to see big toe getting media props..
Toeaina settles down, settles in along D-line
By TOM MUSICK - tmusick@nwherald.com
LAKE FOREST – Bears defensive tackle Matt Toeaina spends most of his weeks studying film of opposing players such as Aaron Rodgers, Tony Romo and Donovan McNabb.
This week, Toeaina will take advantage of the Bears’ break in the schedule to watch programming of a much different variety. He and his wife have a daughter who will turn 2 years old next month and another baby on the way.
“We watch a lot of Nick Jr.,” Toeaina said with a smile Thursday before leaving Halas Hall for a three-day weekend. “My daughter’s a big fan of ‘Yo Gabba Gabba.’ ”
Life has changed dramatically for Toeaina on and off of the field since the Bears signed him as a rookie off the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad in 2007. He has become a husband, a father and an NFL starter.
Few would have predicted that his job promotion would come so soon.
Toeaina, 26, replaced three-time Pro Bowl selection Tommie Harris as the Bears’ starting defensive tackle in Week 3 against Green Bay and has held a firm grip on the job since. The 6-foot-2, 308-pound defensive tackle from American Samoa has started five consecutive games after appearing in only five games in the previous three seasons.
“Everything’s starting to feel more natural,” Toeaina said. “I’m getting more comfortable playing with the guys on defense. We feel like we have a long way to go as far as developing into a top defense in this league.”
That could be bad news for opposing offenses.
The Bears’ defense has climbed to No. 5 in the NFL, thanks to star-caliber performances from Pro Bowl talents such as Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs and Julius Peppers. Consistent contributions from players such as Toeaina, Anthony Adams and Israel Idonije on the defensive line also have helped the Bears to keep scores close despite a wobbly offense.
Toeaina has played three-technique defensive tackle and nose tackle this season, logging 13 tackles and two pass break-ups.
A few months ago, no guarantees existed that Toeaina would make the 53-man roster. The former practice-squad member appeared in one game for the Bears in each of the previous two seasons and was inactive for 30 others.
In retrospect, Toeaina is grateful that he wasn’t handed a starting job as a 22-year-old straight out of college.
“For me, being on the practice squad and being in a reserve role definitely made me more hungry,” said Toeaina, who played for four seasons at Oregon. “With that hunger and that desire to be on the field, it kind of pushed me hard during the offseason to prepare for training camp and to prove to the coaches that I’m capable of being up every week.”
Teammates have come to admire Toeaina for his attitude and work ethic.
“He’s definitely a success story,” said Adams, whose family has become close with Toeaina and his wife during couples’ Bible study. “He’s a hard worker. Doesn’t say much. He just comes out to work every day. He asks a lot of questions about different blocking schemes and stuff like that, and then he goes out on the field and just works.”
All of that hard work has started to pay dividends. As a starter, Toeaina has been able to focus solely on each week’s opponent instead of wondering whether he will be in uniform or on the inactive list during game days.
Yet Toeaina is not content with merely being a starter. His next goal is to drop the “–ter” but to keep the “star.”
“I want to be just as reliable as Urlacher and Briggs and ‘Pep,’ ” Toeaina said. “I want to be that guy you can count on for any down and distance.
“This is pretty much like my rookie year right now. I’m trying to establish myself as one of the premier players in this league.”
