Promotion
Canadian Atogwe picks off Favre twice

Canadian Atogwe picks off Favre twice

By Nick Wagoner

By Nick Wagoner Senior Writer, St. Louis Rams

In a season in which Oshiomogho Atogwe has made a habit of making drive-killing interceptions, none were as meaningful or important as the pair he made Sunday against the Packers.

Atogwe intercepted legendary Packers quarterback Brett Favre twice to help put the icing on his finest season as a pro.

“Brett Favre is arguably one of the best quarterbacks to play this game,” Atogwe said. “He’s very smart. He knows the game inside and out.”

What Favre didn’t know was that the Rams had an emerging free safety in the secondary ready to continue his season long announcement that he has the type of potential that could one day land him a trip to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl.

Atogwe’s two interceptions gave him seven on the season, tying him with Seattle ’s Marcus Trufant for the NFC lead in that category. He trails only San Diego ’s Antonio Cromartie for the league lead in that statistic with two games to play.

“They gave us some looks that we actually hadn’t studied for,” Favre said. “Their defense is a high risk, high reward type of defense and opportunistic.”

In fact, Atogwe’s opportunities presented themselves to him earlier in the week, not on the field but in the film room.

Atogwe noticed a tendency in Favre that took him toward the sideline for a number of deep routes. When Favre looked to throw the deep ball Sunday, he tossed floaters down the sidelines.

On both occasions, Atogwe anticipated the play, hurried to the sideline and made the catch to secure the turnover. Both plays prevented long gains and killed potential scoring opportunities for the Packers.

“I caught a little tendency that I knew they liked to do and it played out,” Atogwe said. “I was fortunate it played out in the game. A lot of times things you see in the game happen the way it does on film so it actually worked out this week for me.”

After the second interception, Atogwe and Favre crossed paths and Favre gave Atogwe the highest of compliments, especially coming from one of the league’s all time greats.

“He basically slapped my hand and I slapped his hand and he said ‘Good play, good play,’” Atogwe said. “Brett Favre is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play in this game so it’s an honor for me to be able to receive an interception from him. I have been watching him play my whole life so I was excited to get one and to get two is truly a blessing.”

Personal Info:

Born Oshiomogho Isaac Atogwe in Windsor, Ontario, Canada…name is pronounced OH-shim-ago uh-TOG-way…all-Canadian, all-Ontario, and all-Academic as senior at W.F. Herman Secondary School in Windsor…two-year starter at running back and cornerback, named league’s Defensive MVP as senior, also earning all-city honors as running back…member of Stanford track team in 2001 and 2002...participated in sprints and jumps...best marks in 2002 included 22-10 in the long jump…parents of Nigerian descent…single…resides in St. Charles, Mo.