Before you crucify Ike Taylor, think about his season

[BlitzburghRockCity]

I wrote an article about this on the homepage this evening after reading excerpts from his Ike Taylor show on TribLive Radio. I think we can all agree that Ike is the best corner on this team, hands down. As you'll see in the stats below his year was one that was outstanding overall. Still there are some that are calling for his head on a platter after that game and the Cincy game earlier this year. Ask yourself though, how would the Steelers secondary have been without him in 2011?


Ike Taylor headed home this week after the devastating loss the Steelers suffered in overtime to the Broncos. He still called in to do his weekly "Ike Taylor Show" on TribLive Radio (http://sportstalk.triblive.com). Some key thoughts that came out of Ike's show today were tweeted by the Trib's Mark Kaboly (https://twitter.com/#%21/MarkKaboly_Trib). Before you read on though just remember before you start calling for Ike's head on a platter because of this game or that game, think about what the Steelers secondary would have been like without him this season.

Ike: They crucified Jesus so you know that they would do same to me. HAHAHAA.
It wasn't a good time to have your worst game of the year.
As a professional, you don't want to go out like that. You know days like that are coming.
http://www.steeleraddicts.com/blog/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gifI take a lot of pride in what I do. As bad as I feel, I have great people around me.
This was the second best season since 2005.
You know you are going to get the critiscism. That comes along with being successful.
I take a lot of pride in what I do. As bad as I feel, I have great people around me.
I'm getting nothing but love from my twitter followers.
Ike told his son "daddy had a bad game.
He ended his show by saying: You have your good days, you have your bad days.
If you look at his stats this year, with the exception of Demaryius Thomas and AJ Green; Ike Taylor shut down every receiver he played against.

Ike Taylor’s 2011 season by receiver
A.J. Green, Cincinnati 6-87 yards, TD
Demaryius Thomas, Denver 4-204 yards, TD
Wes Welker, New England 4-23 yards
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona 3-58 yards
Brandon Lloyd, St. Louis 3-39 yards
Anquan Boldin, Baltimore 3-35 yards
Andre Johnson, Houston 3-23 yards
Michael Crabtree, SF 3-23 yards
Jonathan Baldwin, KC 2-26 yards
Nate Washington, Tenn 2-11 yards
Dwayne Bowe, KC 1-25 yards
Mohamed Massaquoi, Clev 1-25 yards
Rob Housler, Arizona 1-20 yards
Steve Breaston, KC 1-18 yards
Jason Hill, Jacksonville 1-18 yards, TD
Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis 1-11 yards
Deion Branch, New England 1-10 yards
Josh Cribbs, Cleveland 1-10 yards
Mike Williams, Seattle 1-9 yards
Damian Williams, Tennessee 1-8 yards
Mike Thomas, Jacksonville 1-3 yards
Torrey Smith, Baltimore 1-2 yards
Pierre Garcon, Indianapolis 1-(-2) yards
46 catches 686 yds. 3 TD's.

[K Train]

eh, cant crucify him....but he got raped by bebe, who realistically has high end TE speed for a WR after his foot surgery....im kinda embarrassed for him. Second year guy who really isnt THAT good of a WR really took ike to school

[North Steel]

You lose as a team, you win as a team.:helmet:

[Callax]

only 1 receiver had over 100yds receiving

only 3 wrs had over 50 yards unfortunately, the worst game he had all year....

[BlitzburghRockCity]

Ike Taylor still feels the pain of the AFC wild-card loss to Denver at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_776218.html#ixzz1jFarJVGQ)

(http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_776218.html#ixzz1jFarJVGQ)
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.' "
Taylor, who signed a four-year contract prior to training camp, said the loss to the heavy-underdog Broncos was as painful as any he has experienced during his nine-year career.


"For me, this is worse than losing the Super Bowl," Taylor said. "I take a lot of pride in what I do. As bad as I feel, I have great people around me. Even on Twitter, I've been getting lot of support."


Taylor rejected suggestions that the lack of a pass rush enabled Tebow to throw for a career-high 316 yards and average more than 30 yards per completion. But it put added pressure on Taylor and William Gay.
"If you don't get Tim on the ground, he's going to make his plays," Taylor said. "He is a running back who can throw the ball. He did what he had to do to help his team win the game.


"We didn't play our best game on defense. They played good enough to beat us."
Taylor refused to criticize defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, who called for a scheme on the game-winning play that put 10 defenders near the line of scrimmage. As a result, safety Ryan Mundy, who replaced Ryan Clark in the starting lineup, wasn't in position to prevent the big play.


"Whatever they call, I'll roll with it," Taylor said. "I would never make an excuse. I'm behind Coach LeBeau all the way."

[TampaSteelGirl]

You lose as a team, you win as a team.:helmet:

My thoughts exactly!

[LatrobePA]

Ike stunk the joint up!

[Raleigh Steel]

lebeau probably used the arians approach to calling defense. if something isn't working stick with it! if your player isn't having a good day, don't adjust to put him in better situations. let's just keep putting 10 in the box but don't bring any pressure, because we sure don't want that vaunted tebow option to burn us.

i hope IKE is stinging from this loss, even though it wasn't entirely his fault...he should be more than motivated next season.

[JShare86]

I love Ike but him and our other DBS need to stop covering with their backs to the QB. Get your head around and make a play on the ball. Him and Gay can stick wit anyone but neither of them have any ball skills or awareness

[Real Deal Steel]

only 1 receiver had over 100yds receiving

only 3 wrs had over 50 yards unfortunately, the worst game he had all year....

It's not a coincidence that when Ryan Clark wasn't there, the secondary got torched. Clark stablized things.

[Goodfrom55]

Ike is still the man, and I don't judge a man by his last game or performance.

Note to coach Lake: PLEASE TEACH THE DB'S TO LOOK BACK FOR THE BALL WHEN BALL IS IN THE AIR ON LONG PASSES. Otherwise, great job this season.

[Real Deal Steel]

Why Rod Woodson isn't coaching our DB's is still a mystery to me. Watching him over in Oakland bothers me big time.