All the Ike Taylor criticism is misguided

By Mark Kaboly

I call it a lazy narrative.

And that’s what it has become when it comes to talking about cornerback Ike Taylor.

Sure, the veteran didn’t have the best of seasons in 2013. He called it a so-so year when he showed up to organized team activities during the spring.

So-so doesn’t mean bad, and it surely doesn’t mean terrible.

When Taylor was allowed to stay on just the right side of the defense and not follow around the opponent’s best receiver for the final five games last year, he was a lot better than so-so. He was good.

But Pro Football Focus – a popular analytical website – ranked Taylor as the 13th worst cornerback in the NFL last year and that skews the thinking of a lot.

I’ll let you in on a secret: Pro Football Focus’ grading system is severely flawed.

Taylor received bad marks against Detroit and Baltimore when he “allowed” Torrey Smith and Calvin Johnson long touchdown receptions. Those long touchdowns passes ultimately turned out not to be Taylor’s fault.

In both instances, Taylor was expecting safety help inside when there wasn’t any.

Those are just two examples. Surely there are more

According to the same website, Taylor had games of limiting receivers to 47, 39, 65, 14 and 71 yards to end the season, but we conveniently leave that out.

Read more: http://blog.triblive.com/steel-mill/2014/07/27/kaboly-all-the-ike-taylor-criticism-is-misguided/#ixzz38h8RwHZi
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I don't care...I know who's name I scream at the TV every Sunday for all the wrong reasons.

Ok, Drizz, I couldn't find the original thread where we talked about how many times we called out Ike vs. other defensive players.

So from what I can remember a day later, I believe I yelled at Ike about 4 times, maybe 5. A couple for holding calls, one for the dropped INT in the endzone, and the very next play where he got beat to the outside.

However, I also yelled at Timmons, Allen, and all the crap with the openings in the center of the field (which weren't related to Ike)

LOL. Fair enough Truck. Good on you for keeping your word. Wally?

(I can't comment in full yet as I have yet to watch the full game)

Obviously.......

If Ike would have caught that INT yesterday, it would have forgave a lot of the other mistakes he made. Instead, he magnified them.

SteelersYak wrote:

If Ike would have caught that INT yesterday, it would have forgave a lot of the other mistakes he made.  Instead, he magnified them.

Definitely, and the fact that it was in his bread basket makes it even worse

mrcrash wrote:

Obviously.......

Hah!  What a snarky little comment.  What I DID see are the errors I mentioned in the game ball/goats thread.  Don't need to watch the whole game to get the jist of that.

Drizztbob wrote:

LOL.  Fair enough Truck.  Good on you for keeping your word.  Wally?

(I can't comment in full yet as I have yet to watch the full game)

To be honest, I generally don't yell at specific players during a game. I get excited and vocal when we're doing well, but I generally don't get too vocal or upset when we're doing poorly. I used to get really worked up during games. Not anymore, unless it's in celebration. When something bad happens, I just shake my head and let it go. It's an attitude I adopted a number of years ago, and it has kept me healthier and sane.

As for Ike's performance, there's no argument that he made a few boneheaded plays. But I can't single him out in comparison with the rest of the defense. In the first half, Ike played just as well as everyone else. In the second half, he played just as poorly as everyone else. Every member of the defense deserved to get yelled at in the second half.

But since we were to focus only on Ike, I think we can put a check in your "hate Ike" column for the first game.

Wallace108 wrote:

To be honest, I generally don't yell at specific players during a game. I get excited and vocal when we're doing well, but I generally don't get too vocal or upset when we're doing poorly.

From the moment we spiked the ball after the throw to Wheaton until the kick hit the net I was crouching, with hands on my face saying "Please, please, please, please Suisham, please please" on repeat.

I think most of the criticism if Ike Taylor is warranted.

His best asset has always been speed. If anything he could keep up with the other team's best receiver. He was one of the fastest corners in the league, and always has (and still does) keep himself in impeccable shape. However, staying in shape doesn't mean you stay fast.

He's never had great technique. He's always been a handsy corner. He's lost some of that speed, he's using his hands even more...and the NFL has emphasized calling that stuff. Having hands made of bricks doesn't help when he does step in front of a pass.

Honestly, I think William Gay is a better corner than Ike is right now.

Tom_the_Torch wrote:

I think most of the criticism if Ike Taylor is warranted.

His best asset has always been speed. If anything he could keep up with the other team's best receiver. He was one of the fastest corners in the league, and always has (and still does) keep himself in impeccable shape. However, staying in shape doesn't mean you stay fast.

He's never had great technique. He's always been a handsy corner. He's lost some of that speed, he's using his hands even more...and the NFL has emphasized calling that stuff. Having hands made of bricks doesn't help when he does step in front of a pass.

Honestly, I think William Gay is a better corner than Ike is right now.

My defense of Ike (in other threads) has been over his entire career, not his current talent level. There's no question that he's lost a step (or two). And the new rules certainly don't help him. As much as I have supported him, even I don't want to see him starting for us beyond this season.

As for Gay, he's good in the role he plays. When he's had the chance to be a starter, it never worked out. He can catch better than Ike ... I'll give you that. Then again, WE can probably catch better than Ike.

Wally and Truck...let's hope I don't scream Ike!! at this game tonight too much. The Ravens fans around me might think I have converted...

Drizztbob wrote:

Wally and Truck...let's hope I don't scream Ike!! at this game tonight too much.  The Ravens fans around me might think I have converted...

I'll be looking for the "We hate Ike" sign in the crowd.

I really hope he gets an INT tonight so you can say you were there to see it. Crazy thought, I know.

If Ike Taylor gets an INT tonight, I personally won't wage war against him on this site anymore...




Well maybe for just a month.

Wallace108 wrote:

Drizztbob wrote:

Wally and Truck...let's hope I don't scream Ike!! at this game tonight too much.  The Ravens fans around me might think I have converted...

I'll be looking for the "We hate Ike" sign in the crowd.

I really hope he gets an INT tonight so you can say you were there to see it. Crazy thought, I know.

Not only an INT, but returns it for a TD too.

Be even better if it was the only score of the game

Ok, didn't have one call against Ike (could it have been because you were at the game).
However, there were several against Shazier as well as Allen that sat me up in my chair. Unfortunately, I couldn't yell because the child was in bed.

Ike was one of the few bright spots tonight.