Taylor weighs in on Denver loss

By Ralph N. Paulk, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Ike Taylor still feels the pain of the AFC wild-card loss to Denver at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

The Steelers' high-priced, shutdown cornerback can't dismiss the image of Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas catching a Tim Tebow pass, then sprinting toward the end zone on the first play from scrimmage in overtime Sunday.

Taylor has watched the play time and again. It's an inescapable nightmare.

"Unfortunately, one of my worst games of the year came at the wrong time," he said Wednesday on TribLive Radio. "I reflect back and think of me being highly upset after the game."

Taylor shunned reporters afterward, in part, because he didn't want to make excuses, he said.

"It was a terrible game, for sure," he said. "Will it be the last? I don't know. But you have to shake it off."

Taylor has been the target of criticism and finger-pointing. Thomas finished with seven receptions for a 204 yards — including an 80-yard touchdown that ousted the Steelers from the postseason.

"Just knowing how hard we worked to get to that moment, then everything happened on one play," Taylor said. "It hurt. It still hurts.

"But you have to move on. For me, that's getting back at it."

Taylor has returned to his Orlando, Fla., home to prepare for next season, bitterly disappointed that one of his best seasons didn't net a single playoff victory.

"This was probably the second-best season I've had since I started in 2005," he said. "I say that because people have noticed more of what I do. I told myself I was going to take some time off, but I'm back in the gym.

"As a professional, you never want to go out like that. But you know there are going to be days like that. You don't know when it's coming. For the most part, it happens.

"I remember the play, but it happened so fast, it's like '(Wow), the season is over.' "

Read more: Steelers CB Taylor weighs in on Denver loss - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_776218.html#ixzz1jDpcr7HD
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I know I can't speak for the entire Steeler Nation, but let it go, Ike!!! Come back strong next year.
Way too many fans were pinning that loss solely on Ike's shoulders.

In Ike we trust. He's a great shut down corner.

He still has things to work on, like turning his head around - locating the ball - and actually catching it instead of just knocking it down.

But I digress, he's a good corner and compliments Troy's talents.

hes not the only one that screwed up on that particular play

Ike didn't have half his team with him against Denver, and that's something that hasn't really happened all year. It's a different game when players you've developed chemistry with aren't out their, and things don't become any easier.

I really wish Ike would quit blaming himself and that some of the fans would quit using him as a scapegoat.

Technically, we shouldn't have been in the OT position in the first place against the Broncs. There were so many other key plays that contributed to the loss. I still can't get the image out of my mind when I saw Heath Miller wide open (no Bronco within a mile of him) and Ben threw into double coverage which I believe was intercepted or incomplete.

I wonder what he means when he says "will it be the last - I don't know"? Is his contract up?

vasteeler wrote:

hes not the only one that screwed up on that particular play

Nope.

We never should have been in OT.

Ben gets sacked. We don't attempt the FG. James Farrior calls tails, but heads comes up. The Broncos score a TD on the 1st play of OT. In that order. Man, the pure "luck" of this team had been bad all year.

It wasn't Ike's fault... Not sure WHY, but we sold out to the run on that play and got burned. That particular D should have never been called in the first place IMO. But when you look back, we should have never been in OT in the first place. You can point the finger to many things in that game. I know I can....

drizze99 wrote:

That particular D should have never been called in the first place IMO.

Exactly. After the game, Tomlin said if they had it to do over again, they'd run the same defense. Well, the Patriots didn't try to defend the Broncos' offense like we did, and they had a much different result.

Wallace108 wrote:

drizze99 wrote:

That particular D should have never been called in the first place IMO.

Exactly. After the game, Tomlin said if they had it to do over again, they'd run the same defense. Well, the Patriots didn't try to defend the Broncos' offense like we did, and they had a much different result.

that's because they have a better coach imo

fer69 wrote:

Wallace108 wrote:

drizze99 wrote:

That particular D should have never been called in the first place IMO.

Exactly. After the game, Tomlin said if they had it to do over again, they'd run the same defense. Well, the Patriots didn't try to defend the Broncos' offense like we did, and they had a much different result.

that's because they have a better coach imo

Thank god you said imo, or you'd get ass raped by some angry fans. Or showered with support and agreement. No, wait, this isn't SF.

Tomlin made some iffy decisions this season, but he's been our coach for a while now, and he's been pretty good. The last thing i'd do is throw him in the fire, although I do agree there's a lot of coaches out their this year that made better decisions, and those who are better all around. We'll see how he does next year. I'm hoping he gives us SEVEN reasons to love him

bayz101 wrote:

fer69 wrote:

Wallace108 wrote:

drizze99 wrote:

That particular D should have never been called in the first place IMO.

Exactly. After the game, Tomlin said if they had it to do over again, they'd run the same defense. Well, the Patriots didn't try to defend the Broncos' offense like we did, and they had a much different result.

that's because they have a better coach imo

Thank god you said imo, or you'd get ass raped by some angry fans. Or showered with support and agreement. No, wait, this isn't SF.

Tomlin made some iffy decisions this season, but he's been our coach for a while now, and he's been pretty good. The last thing i'd do is throw him in the fire, although I do agree there's a lot of coaches out their this year that made better decisions, and those who are better all around. We'll see how he does next year. I'm hoping he gives us SEVEN reasons to love him

There are Steelers fan out there who still aren't sold on Tomlin. I'm not one of them, but I think this would make for a fun offseason debate.

vasteeler wrote:

hes not the only one that screwed up on that particular play

You're right and I respect him for taking the blame for a bad game. That says a lot about his character.