hawaiiansteel
09-23-2011, 02:29 AM
Ike Island? Taylor covers as good as any
Posted: Thursday, September 22, 2011
By Mike Bires mbires@timesonline.com
http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/timesonline.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/60/4602bd01-95f1-517f-a68d-3346501b49d6/4e7bfc4e408c7.preview-300.jpg
Steelers defensive back Ike Taylor hasn't been feeling the heat too much season as most offenses haven't even bothered to throw his way.
PITTSBURGH — Ike Taylor is starting to get an appreciation for what Darrelle Revis goes through each week.
The Aliquippa native patrols “Revis Island” so well for the New York Jets that opposing quarterbacks don’t even dare to throw in his direction.
Taylor, the Steelers’ best cover cornerback, is getting the same kind of respect.
In the first two games of the season, only seven passes have been thrown to wide receivers guarded by Taylor. Only one of those passes was caught (Seattle’s Mike Williams for a 9-yard gain last week).
“I don’t know, some games you’re going to have more action than others,” Taylor said. “I know for sure I will have a lot of action this week.”
That’s because the Steelers (1-1) are playing Indianapolis (0-2) on Sunday night.
With William Gay starting again at one cornerback spot while Bryant McFadden continues to deal with a sore hamstring, Taylor will be assigned to watch Reggie Wayne. Wherever the Colts’ top receiver lines up, Taylor will follow.
Wayne, who’s racked up more receptions and receiving yards than any other wideout since 2004, has played in the past five Pro Bowls.
Taylor, a starter since the 2005 season, has yet to make it to the NFL’s all-star game but several of his teammates, as well as defensive coordinator D!ck LeBeau, believe Taylor is just as good as any of the corners who do receive Pro Bowl recognition.
“He’s one of them,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. “Ike’s fast. He’s big. He’s strong. He really makes it tough for us at practice. It’s good for our receivers and me to be able to go against him. He’s a very good player — one of the best.”
“I don’t vote, but Ike’s a Pro Bowl corner to me,” LeBeau said.
On one hand, Taylor concedes that his low interception totals over the years have hurt his chances earning Pro Bowl honors. He only has 1l career interceptions. By comparison, Revis picked off 14 passes in his first three years as a pro (2007-2009).
But Taylor is quick to point out that last year, Revis and Nnamdi Asomugha, then of Oakland, made the AFC Pro Bowl roster even though neither had an interception.
“I would love that on my resume,” Taylor said of his desire to make it to the Pro Bowl. “I’m going to get it. I just don’t know when.”
“We subscribe to the theory that if you can’t get it, make sure the other guy doesn’t,” LeBeau said. “Ike does a pretty good job of that. I do think that if he had more interceptions, he’d be going over there to Hawaii (for the Pro Bowl).”
http://www.timesonline.com/sports/local ... 5c80f.html (http://www.timesonline.com/sports/local_sports/ike-island-taylor-covers-as-good-as-any/article_ac6e87a8-811d-572d-a7d4-deaca0e5c80f.html)
Posted: Thursday, September 22, 2011
By Mike Bires mbires@timesonline.com
http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/timesonline.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/60/4602bd01-95f1-517f-a68d-3346501b49d6/4e7bfc4e408c7.preview-300.jpg
Steelers defensive back Ike Taylor hasn't been feeling the heat too much season as most offenses haven't even bothered to throw his way.
PITTSBURGH — Ike Taylor is starting to get an appreciation for what Darrelle Revis goes through each week.
The Aliquippa native patrols “Revis Island” so well for the New York Jets that opposing quarterbacks don’t even dare to throw in his direction.
Taylor, the Steelers’ best cover cornerback, is getting the same kind of respect.
In the first two games of the season, only seven passes have been thrown to wide receivers guarded by Taylor. Only one of those passes was caught (Seattle’s Mike Williams for a 9-yard gain last week).
“I don’t know, some games you’re going to have more action than others,” Taylor said. “I know for sure I will have a lot of action this week.”
That’s because the Steelers (1-1) are playing Indianapolis (0-2) on Sunday night.
With William Gay starting again at one cornerback spot while Bryant McFadden continues to deal with a sore hamstring, Taylor will be assigned to watch Reggie Wayne. Wherever the Colts’ top receiver lines up, Taylor will follow.
Wayne, who’s racked up more receptions and receiving yards than any other wideout since 2004, has played in the past five Pro Bowls.
Taylor, a starter since the 2005 season, has yet to make it to the NFL’s all-star game but several of his teammates, as well as defensive coordinator D!ck LeBeau, believe Taylor is just as good as any of the corners who do receive Pro Bowl recognition.
“He’s one of them,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. “Ike’s fast. He’s big. He’s strong. He really makes it tough for us at practice. It’s good for our receivers and me to be able to go against him. He’s a very good player — one of the best.”
“I don’t vote, but Ike’s a Pro Bowl corner to me,” LeBeau said.
On one hand, Taylor concedes that his low interception totals over the years have hurt his chances earning Pro Bowl honors. He only has 1l career interceptions. By comparison, Revis picked off 14 passes in his first three years as a pro (2007-2009).
But Taylor is quick to point out that last year, Revis and Nnamdi Asomugha, then of Oakland, made the AFC Pro Bowl roster even though neither had an interception.
“I would love that on my resume,” Taylor said of his desire to make it to the Pro Bowl. “I’m going to get it. I just don’t know when.”
“We subscribe to the theory that if you can’t get it, make sure the other guy doesn’t,” LeBeau said. “Ike does a pretty good job of that. I do think that if he had more interceptions, he’d be going over there to Hawaii (for the Pro Bowl).”
http://www.timesonline.com/sports/local ... 5c80f.html (http://www.timesonline.com/sports/local_sports/ike-island-taylor-covers-as-good-as-any/article_ac6e87a8-811d-572d-a7d4-deaca0e5c80f.html)