Ike Taylor

Did that get Drizzbob's attention?

From an article at: http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/nfl-pittsburgh-steelers-news/2015/1/7/7506847/pittsburgh-or-bust-for-ike-taylor


As far as the Steelers organization, it doesn't have to be with the cleats anymore. I can be in the office. I can be at the bottom and work my way up. I can be an assistant. I don't mind working my way from the bottom up."

Ike has gotten a lot of criticism (and justifiably so), but anyone this loyal to an organization and its' ownership gets my respect.

Hell, half the people I know aren't this loyal to their spouses.

Thanks for being a loyal Steeler, Ike.

I can respect his loyalty also. I just hope he retires from the game. Make him a scout or something.

That article tells me that he realizes his best days are behind him and even though he doesn't want to hang up the cleats, he realizes that it might be time to do so.

SteelersYak wrote:

That article tells me that he realizes his best days are behind him and even though he doesn't want to hang up the cleats, he realizes that it might be time to do so.

I'll go a step further. His statements tell me he knows he's done playing. I loved watching this guy play, but as a friend just told me yesterday (on a non-football related subject), "time waits on no one".

What is he gonna teach players? How to hold jerseys? How to PI receivers? How NOT to catch interceptions? Or how to get burnt on 20+ yard passing plays?

Joey Porter and Carnell Lake he is not.

Drizztbob wrote:

What is he gonna teach players?  How to hold jerseys?  How to PI receivers?  How NOT to catch interceptions?  Or how to get burnt on 20+ yard passing plays?

As the old saying go: those who can't do, teach.

Hahaha

Drizztbob wrote:

What is he gonna teach players?  How to hold jerseys?  How to PI receivers?  How NOT to catch interceptions?  Or how to get burnt on 20+ yard passing plays?

Joey Porter and Carnell Lake he is not.

A few years ago, very few, if any QBs threw Ike's way and before he started losing a step and holding jerseys, he was a premiere corner in the league that never got mentioned amongst all the show boaters in the league.

Now Drizz, I'll agree with you, his best days are behind him and he certainly did cost us some free yardage this year. However, he wasn't the only one.

With ALL THAT being said, I do believe he can help coach some of these younger guys in technique and performance.

stlrtruck wrote:

A few years ago, very few, if any QBs threw Ike's way and before he started losing a step and holding jerseys, he was a premiere corner in the league that never got mentioned amongst all the show boaters in the league.

As I'm sure you know, I totally agree. In my opinion, Ike has been the most underappreciated Steelers player in recent memory. Most of that was due to his inability to catch the ball. But when it came to coverage, he was among the elite CBs in the league.

Here's a sampling of what I mean:

Quote :

Steelers’ Ike Taylor Shuts Them Down

By Matt Pawlikowski

Since donning the black and gold Taylor has recorded 535 tackles (10 this year), 438 of them solo. He also has four fumble recoveries and 13 interceptions, which has been the only knock on him during his career and more than likely kept him from being mentioned with the top corners in the game such as Darrelle Revis.

The irony is that last year, Taylor led all corners, including Revis in defending the pass.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/10/09/steelers-ike-taylor-shuts-them-down/

Quote :

Steelers CB Taylor still driven by Pro Bowl berth

By Mark Kaboly

One of the must-have traits for an NFL cornerback is impeccable timing.

When it comes to the Steelers' Ike Taylor, there are few in the league who can measure up to his physicality, run support and, most of all, his ability and willingness to guard the best receiver on a weekly basis.

But Taylor could work on his timing a little bit.

Taylor has put together back-to-back Pro Bowl-caliber seasons, but what he's remembered for is Tim Tebow picking him apart in the 2011 wild-card loss to Denver and Matt Hasselbeck doing the same last year in an embarrassing loss to Tennessee.

Both were on national television, and both seem to sully Taylor's otherwise impressive résumé.

“What I say to that is 11 years,” Taylor said. “Regular people don't even have day-to-day jobs for 11 years let alone playing in the NFL. They are going to say what they are going to say, but look at the tape.”

The tape is revealing.

Taylor allowed only 30 receptions last year before having his streak of 135 consecutive games snapped by a broken ankle; eight of those came against Tennessee. After the Titans breakdown, Taylor allowed only six receptions over his final seven games.

When Taylor gave up 204 yards to the Broncos, including the game-clinching 80-yarder to Demaryius Thomas in overtime, he had allowed an unheard of 28 yards per game during the regular season.

“I know a lot of guys in this league respect Ike,” cornerback William Gay said. “When a receiver gets on the field and sees No. 24, he knows what time it is.”

Taylor's reputation likely should be better across the league because he does what only a handful of cornerbacks do, and that's follow the best receiver wherever he goes. Taylor's been doing it since midway through the 2005 season, when he was assigned to Cincinnati's Chad Johnson and held him to four receptions and no touchdowns.

“Not too many guys do that,” Gay said. “Guys just want to play left or right. Ike can play right, left, slot. Wherever that No. 1 receiver goes, he's going. If he is in the backfield, he's going to play linebacker.”

Eight years later, Taylor still gets the top assignment every week and wouldn't want it any other way.

Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/4496030-74/taylor-bowl-league#ixzz3OLEDCSIi
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook[/b]

Drizztbob wrote:

What is he gonna teach players?  How to hold jerseys?  How to PI receivers?  How NOT to catch interceptions?  Or how to get burnt on 20+ yard passing plays?

Joey Porter and Carnell Lake he is not.

Agreed

Now listen, I give Ike a hard time, because more often than not, he deserves it. Does that mean in his 11 seasons he didn't have a good one? Of course not. I think 2008 was probably his best. And even in certain games like last year against AJ Green, he showed up and made a difference. But again, more often than not, I see him getting beat up all over the field and the reason he is unappreciated is because most other people can see it too.

the problem with ike is he has been finished for about 3 to 4 years now. once upon a time ike was one of the best at his position. ive always said that if ike could just have caught the damn ball he would have been HOF bound

I think with the changing of the guard of a DC, Ike will either be done or slide way down on the depth chart.

vasteeler wrote:

the problem with ike is he has been finished for about 3 to 4 years now. once upon a time ike was one of the best at his position. ive always said that if ike could just have caught the damn ball he would have been HOF bound

Spot on post, va. I agree with everything you said, except maybe the HOF part. It's difficult to speculate on that, but if he could have picked off some passes here and there, there's no doubt he would have been a pro bowl corner. You're right that he really slipped about 3 years ago. But from his third season through 2011, he was one of the best cover corners in the league.

In 2005, Chad Johnson (Ochostinko) was one of the best receivers in the league. He had a list where he'd check off the corners who couldn't cover him. Could any corner cover him? He checked off "No" six times until the Bengals faced the Steelers. And a young Ike Taylor shut him down.

Johnson's comment after the game: "I came into this game thinking it was going to be easy. But he did a great job on me."

Here's the important thing to take away from that game:

Quote :

And in a rare decision by Cowher and defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, they told Taylor, who starts at left corner, to follow Johnson to whatever side of the field he lined up. Left side or right, it didn't matter. It's believed that's the first time Cowher has used that strategy since future Hall of Famer Rod Woodson played for the Steelers.

http://www.timesonline.com/taylor-s-play-speaks-volumes/article_df267ae1-4341-543a-a43d-45a53d6db7e0.html

Throughout his career, Taylor didn't just play a position. He followed the other team's best receiver all over the field. Usually, one-on-one with little or no safety help. Because of how well Ike covered his receiver, that allowed Troy to roam and do what he did best. If Ike was weak in coverage, Troy would have had to play more of a traditional safety role.

Did Ike have bad games? Of course. Even the very best corners have the occasional bad game. But more times than not, Ike shut down the best receivers in the league. Later in his career he lost a step, but he was still asked to do what he did in his prime. As a result, he got beat far more frequently. But is that Ike's fault, or is that LeBeau's fault for not changing the scheme?

Here's a good article by Mark Kaboly from 2011: http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_759038.html#axzz3OcZ5XbJM

Here's an excerpt from that article:

Quote :

What makes Taylor unique is that he covers the other team's top receiver no matter where that player lines up. And Taylor usually is playing press-man coverage with no help.

That alone makes Steelers safety Ryan Clark think Taylor is better than the preeminent shutdown corner in the league, Nnamdi Asomugha, and should be mentioned in the same breath as the Jets' Darrelle Revis.

"Nnamdi's stats compared to Ike's stats over the past three years aren't even close when it comes to production," Clark said. "It is about perception. Nnamdi wasn't playing cover-zero every play in Oakland, but you would think that because that's the perception."

Perception is a funny thing. And sometimes perception doesn't match reality. From an article I posted earlier:

Quote :

The irony is that last year, Taylor led all corners, including Revis in defending the pass.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/10/09/steelers-ike-taylor-shuts-them-down/

There's no debate that Ike lost a step about 3 or 4 years ago and probably should have retired a year ago. And there's no debate that Ike has hands of stone. As Ryan Clark said: "The thing that keeps him from being mentioned with those guys is just catching the ball," Clark said.

But there should be no debate that throughout most of his career, Ike was one of the top shutdown corners in the league.

Arguably.

Well Drizz, this is likely our last hurrah in the Great Ike Debate, so we might as well keep beating the horse to make sure it's dead.

In 2011, Wes Welker was on pace to break NFL records for receptions and receiving yards. Ike all but shut him down, holding him to 6 catches for 39 yards. After the game in the locker room, this is what Ryan Clark had to say:

Quote :

"There's a man you should be talking to," Clark said, nodding in Taylor's direction. "I know people talk about 'Revis Island' and all that stuff, but Ike does it every week, takes on the other teams' best receivers, and shuts them down. And you never hear anything about it, right? But the guy is one of the best (cornerbacks) in the league, and maybe it's time people realized that."

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/15927892/a-lot-to-ike-steelers-taylor-shuts-down-welker-in-win

More from the same article:

Quote :

Cursed with notably poor hands -- Taylor routinely drops four or five would-be interceptions annually, it seems -- the former Louisiana-Lafayette star has just 11 pickoffs in 99 career starts. Only once in his career has Taylor, chosen in the fourth round of the 2003 draft, managed more than two interceptions. Five times, he has had either one or zero interceptions in a year.

But his value goes way beyond getting the ball in his hands, and that was never more evident on Sunday afternoon. Sometimes because of mundane statistics, or the galaxy of stars on the Pittsburgh defense, Taylor's contributions get lost. They are never lost, though, on the people who matter most.

"Believe me, if he had all those interceptions, people would be talking more about him," said LeBeau, who for years has touted Taylor's play and regarded him as a true "shutdown" cornerback. "But that's OK. We know how good he is."

An interesting take by the Trib's John Harris from 2011 ...

Quote :

Harris: Among CBs, it's easy to like Ike

By John Harris

He's considered the best. Well, at least until common sense takes over.

Unrestricted free-agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha is a pretty good football player. A former first-round draft pick, he's considered a lockdown corner because of his ability to prevent opposing receivers from catching the ball.

But you know what ... Asomugha may not be as good as advertised.

This offseason, Asomugha has been touted as the class of unrestricted free-agent corners. He's rangy, fast and plays his position with aplomb.

Asomugha is definitely talented. But he has an aversion to contact in a physical sport, recording only 19 tackles in 14 games last season. (He missed two games because of injury.) That's an embarrassing stat for someone who ranks among the best at this position.

Asomugha, who didn't have an interception in 2010, was paid $15 million by the Oakland Raiders. That made him the highest-paid corner in the NFL, but also the most overpaid corner when compared with Ike Taylor, another unrestricted free agent.

"He's not quite a specialist like (Oakland kicker) Sebastian Janikowski, but he is kind of a specialist," said Jerry McDonald, who covers the Raiders for the Oakland Tribune. "He has one special skill. He's great at covering receivers. In the grand scheme of things, it's not changing things. They still gave up 29 touchdown passes with him. The Raiders totally realize that. That's why they weren't going to sign him back."

According to the numbers, Taylor was a more complete cornerback than Asomugha last season, as well as throughout their respective eight-year careers.

Taylor and Asomugha are perfect foils. They were selected in the same draft, so their body of work is nearly identical. Taylor, who turned 31 in May, is a year older than Asomugha, who turns 30 in July.

Taylor recorded 66 tackles and two interceptions in 2010. He had 11 passes defended to Asomugha's six.

Overall, Taylor has 481 tackles, 99 passes defended and 11 interceptions in 125 career games with the Steelers. Asomugha has 310 tackles, 54 passes defended and 11 interceptions in 122 career games.

Taylor and Asomugha were selected in the 2003 draft. Asomugha was the No. 31 overall pick; Taylor went in the fourth round, No. 125 overall.

Statistically, Taylor is a better player than Asomugha, despite earning half as much in 2010. And that doesn't include Taylor starting in three Super Bowls -- winning two -- and playing in four AFC Championship Games.

Asomugha has never played in a playoff game. In fact, he's never played on a team with a winning record.

If a team seeks a talented free-agent cornerback who can also bring a winning attitude to the locker room, Taylor, not Asomugha, is your man.

"(New York Jets cornerback) Darrelle Revis can do it all. But I'd take Taylor over Asomugha because of his physicality," said Scouting Services Inc. chief Dave-Te' Thomas, who consults with NFL teams on the draft and potential free agents. "He should be wearing No. 55 on his jersey. He loves that element where he can punish people.''

Don't assume that Asomugha will set the salary scale for free-agent cornerbacks when the lockout is lifted. If his asking price is in the neighborhood of $15 million per season -- even if he signs for $12 million or $13 million per season -- Taylor should be worth at least that much.

Taylor has a better resume than Asomugha, who was the least-targeted cornerback in the league the past two seasons.

However, Asomugha's ability to play stifling pass defense doesn't override the fact that he doesn't do much else. He doesn't come up and force the run like Taylor does. Hall of Fame defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau labeled Taylor the best tackling cornerback in the league. Asomugha doesn't defend both sides of the field or play on special teams like Taylor does.

http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_741941.html#axzz3OmJe7As3

I'm interested to see what Ike's role will be next year. I'm betting he will be with the Steelers but in what capacity? Who knows.

SteelersYak wrote:

I'm interested to see what Ike's role will be next year.  I'm betting he will be with the Steelers but in what capacity?  Who knows.

Just the way he spoke about his teammates and the opposition over the course of his career, he seems to have an eye for talent. Send the man to the scouting department!

I posed this on Twitter and no one said as a player... it was either an alumni or a coach.

So @kirklandrules, you're saying he can catch.... just when he does it's talent and not a ball...

SteelersYak wrote:

So @kirklandrules, you're saying he can catch.... just when he does it's talent and not a ball...

Or maybe he will "intercept" talented players before the opposition can pick them up. Wow, that's pretty lame.

My Dad wears that button when he comes to see me because it pisses me off so much. Meanwhile, he hates Ike too.

Drizztbob wrote:

My Dad wears that button when he comes to see me because it pisses me off so much.  Meanwhile, he hates Ike too.

Gotta love a dad who will get your goat, just for the sake of getting your goat.

stlrtruck wrote:

Drizztbob wrote:

My Dad wears that button when he comes to see me because it pisses me off so much.  Meanwhile, he hates Ike too.

Gotta love a dad who will get your goat, just for the sake of getting your goat.

After we lost to the Browns, none of my friends who are Browns fans said a word. But my dad called me up to razz me. And he's a Raiders fan.