Opponents reluctant to challenge Ike Taylor

[tony hipchest]

great article on ike showing he is becomming a great shut down cb. im still amazed how many people in the past failed to see his potential and looked at him as a bum.

of course people dont realize how complex it is to learn lebeaus defense. once you learn that, you can master any in the league.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_591733.html

This season, teams have been trying to avoid Taylor by throwing fewer passes to his side of the field.

In the Baltimore game this past Monday night, receiver Derrick Mason had eight receptions for 137 yards against the Steelers. However, only two of Mason's catches came against Taylor, for a total of 19 yards.
...

"If it's man, it's man. If it's zone, it's zone," said Taylor, a four-year starter. "It depends on coach LeBeau and what he calls. Coach LeBeau can pretty much call anything. Our coaching staff feels like if they've got to make those throws, they're not going to make them all the time. If they've got to make those throws every time, we'll take our chances."

...

Through the Steelers' first four games, opposing receivers have caught 15 of 29 passes in Taylor's area for a total of 153 yards. Nine of those incompletions were on third-down plays.

On 14 other occasions, Taylor jammed receivers, forcing them to change their routes.

...

"(Houston's) Andre Johnson had 10 receptions against the Steelers, but he only had three receptions against Taylor," Thomas said. "(Cleveland's) Braylon Edwards only had two receptions for 25 yards against Taylor. Three times he jammed Edwards at the line of scrimmage. On seven pass plays against Philadelphia, he re-routed receivers a total of four times, and they completed three passes against him for 33 yards."

[GBMelBlount]

Through the Steelers' first four games, opposing receivers have caught 15 of 29 passes in Taylor's area for a total of 153 yards.

I agree Tony. Taylor is incredibly gifted with a ton of upside. In 2005 he actually allowed a similar completion percentage in his "area" as mentioned above, but for the entire season! Hopefully 2006 was simply an anomaly and he finally gets the props he deserves as well as a trip to the pro bowl....

[The Duke]

But KC Joyner disagrees

[fansince'76]

Originally Posted by The Duke

But KC Joyner disagrees

Yep, his "metrics" aren't good enough.

[MACH1]

I just wish he could catch a lil better.

[stlrtruck]

Originally Posted by MACH1

I just wish he could catch a lil better.

Well, then he'd be a WR....come one Mach...everyone knows the rule. Players that can catch the ball play offense, those that can't play defense

[SCSTILLER]

Originally Posted by GBMelBlount

I agree Tony. Taylor is incredibly gifted with a ton of upside. In 2005 he actually allowed a similar completion percentage in his "area" as mentioned above, but for the entire season! Hopefully 2006 was simply an anomaly and he finally gets the props he deserves as well as a trip to the pro bowl....

He didn't play all that bad in '06, I think he was more of a scapegoat for Cowher that year. Good article, didn't realize it that I haven't heard Taylors name too much this year by the announcers, and that is a good thing. Hopefully a couple of INT's are in the cards if teams do decide to test him.

[fansince'76]

Originally Posted by SCSTILLER

He didn't play all that bad in '06, I think he was more of a scapegoat for Cowher that year.

Couldn't agree more with the "scapegoat" part. The entire team (with about the only exception being Willie, who also called the rest of them out on it) pretty much sleepwalked through the '06 season. A year to forget.

[7/39/43]

Taylor is a bum and will always be to me
overated caught sleeping alot
trade him

[Blitzburgh_Fever]

Originally Posted by 7/39/43

Taylor is a bum and will always be to me
overated caught sleeping alot
trade him

Well that pretty much says that...

I really think we have something special with Taylor + McFadden + Polamalu. Polamalu constantly puts hmself in position for a takeover, McFadden breaks on the ball and has seemingly soft hands, and Taylor just prevents a receiver from getting open.