ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, September 26, 1996 TAG: 9609260062
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: ASHBURN
SOURCE: Associated Press
``I only have one pair that still fit me,'' said Rich Owens, flashing his big-toothed, near-permanent smile. ``I didn't find any.''
It's not hard to explain Owens' wardrobe problems. Last year, he showed up as a skinny rookie from Lehigh, labeled by Washington Redskins general manager Charley Casserly as a quick-footed, ``fun pick'' project who was worth taking in the fifth round because he might amount to something someday.
Someday is here. Eight-to-10 meals a day and a load of weightlifting later, Owens has put on 35 pounds and has four sacks in four games as the starting right end for a revived Redskins defense.
``He's got a better feel for the game,'' defensive coordinator Ron Lynn said. ``When he's got it, he's got more of the `Boom!' He knows he's got it, and the burst is there. He didn't know quite when to do that before.''
It was Lynn who first pegged Owens, an avid collector of comic books, as ``Richie Redskin'' during a team meeting last year because ``he came to work with a smile on his face and enjoys what he does.''
Indeed, when meeting Owens for the first time, it's almost hard to believe he could be mean enough to be an NFL lineman. Make no mistake, though, he's no pushover.
This week, for example, he stuck up for himself when others pointed out that all four of his sacks can be attributed to dogged work by newly acquired tackle Sean Gilbert, who attracts double teams and forces the action Owens' way. As Gilbert's legend grows, it seems as if he's done everything except pick up Owens and set him beside the quarterback.
``To listen to some people, you think that's what he did,'' Owens said. ``I attribute some of it [to Gilbert], but to be honest, I'm a player just like he is. I did provide a little bit of push to get to the quarterback, you know.''
But, as coach Norv Turner points out, Owens would not have four sacks - and the Redskins wouldn't have the No. 1 scoring defense in the NFL - without Gilbert.
``[Richie] is a lot better,'' Turner said. ``But obviously that whole group is benefiting from Sean's presence.''
When Owens was drafted, he was 6-foot-6 and weighed 245 pounds. The Redskins immediately gave him one mandate: Gain weight.
``It was very difficult,'' Owens said. ``I love to eat now, but at the time I had to make myself eat a lot. You force yourself, you walk around, you're tired, you feel like you're bloated, swollen up all the time. It gets to be a real chore. A lot of people say `You can eat whatever you want, that must be great.' But it was really tiring.''
There was no specific diet. Owens didn't eat pizza all the time, nor Brussels sprouts, just ``normal food'' that went hand-in-hand with his work in the weight room.
The weightlifting, however, came to an abrupt halt when he broke an arm in an exhibition game and missed the first six games of the regular season.
``That hurt me bad,'' Owens said. ``Because I enjoy working out, and I enjoy seeing my body change from weightlifting.''
His arm healed, Owens got his first sack in Week 12 and added two more after he became a starter in Week 14. Spilling over into this season, that makes seven sacks and seven starts in his past nine games.
Now in the 275-280 pound range, Owens is about as big as he can get without sacrificing his best attribute, his quickness. While realizing he can't rely on raw talent forever, Owens boldly estimates he's already reached about 75 percent of his potential.
``I'm past 50, but I still know I'm not where I want to be.''
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: STEPHANIE KLEIN-DAVIS/Staff. 1. Rich Owens has put on 35by CNBpounds and has four sacks in four games as the starting right end
for the Redskins defense. color. 2. (headshot) Owens. KEYWORDS: FOOTBALL