PoppaPoe33

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_464673.html

Taylor presents dilemma

By Joe Starkey
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, August 4, 2006


Ike Taylor won't allow a contract impasse to divert his eyes from the prize -- the prize being a recognized spot among the NFL's elite cover men.
Taylor took a large step in that direction last season, his first as a full-time starter.

"I want to be one of the guys that people talk about," Taylor says. "You know, 'Ike Taylor, he's come a long ways, so now we can put him down as a shut-down, lock-down corner.' I still got question marks out there, like, 'Can he do it?' I'm trying to answer all those question marks.' "

So are the Steelers, who, like a defensive back breaking on a ball, face a critical decision in negotiations with Taylor:

Should they go for broke or hang back and wait?

Taylor, 26, can become an unrestricted free agent after this season. He is currently on a one-year, $1.57 million deal he signed as a restricted free agent. By offering him an upgraded tender, the Steelers made it so another team would have had to offer a first-round draft pick as compensation for signing Taylor...



-I like Ike, but he's not one of the elite corners yet. He has the talent, but seems inconsistant. I think the cornerback position is the Steelers weakness on their defense, even though it's not that weak compared to other teams. Hopefully Ike and the other DB's step up next season, because it will make the Steeler's defense pretty nasty.

*fixed*

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Professor

I like ike too, I think given his talent size and age he could easily be a top corner in this league.

btw, poppa, we can't post the whole article, so just an excerpt and your take will suffice.

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K Train

Ike covers very well on the best WR, especially Chad Johnson who has never scored on him. He should be able to make a pro bowl run this year. After Harrison burned him 80 yards he plays like the best corners in the league and has made huge strides in becoming an elite DB. Bryant Mcfadden is something special and will have a big year, he has single handedly saved game in the end agaisnt jacksonville forcing OT, and he fought with everything he had to break up Reggie Waynes pass in the playoffs.

Blitzburgh Steelers

I think they pretty much have to resign Ike, unless he has ridiculous demands. He will be one of the best corners in the league next year, and already was close to being a shut down corner this last season as it was. McFadden will be even better than Taylor though IMO. He was making huge plays, in huge games last year as a rookie....he's going to be really special. If we can get both of those guys at CB, the best SS in the game (Troy) and if one of our FS's turns into a good player we could have a top defensive backfield, which we haven't had since the mid 90s.

K Train

Yea dont count deshea townsend out hes damn good and experience is big, mcfadden will challenge him for playing time, but the steelers are stacked at db with Taylor, Mcfadden, Townsend, Coclough, Clark, polamalu, smith, Carter, and logan. this year should be good, but taylor might have big demands next year.

Blitzburgh Steelers

Well, we disagree there. As far as I'm concerned, we have 3 good, proven DBs. Ike, Bryant and Troy. Tyrone is good, but idk how good he'll be at FS....he's a personal favorite of mine cause I've hung out with him before when he was with the Vikings....but he's more of a SS and idk how well he'd be at playing a role other than a run stuffing, hard hitting SS. I've never liked Townsend as a player. Coclough I'm waiting for him to do something, but so far nothing at all. Someone said he's looking good in camp though for once. Logan is average at best. Clark I haven't seen, but from all accounts he sounds like a guy who will be adequate but nothing special. Smith's a rookie, so again hard telling what he'll be...I'm hoping he'll be a stud in a year or 2...or better yet even this year sometime.

I expect McFadden to be the starter opposite Taylor, not in competition with Townsend for playing time.

K Train

By in competition with townsend i more meant him taking playing time away from him. And your wrong about clark, he did in washington for sean taylor what Hope did for Polamalu...letting him do his own thing. Anthony Smith is a rookie but will play some situational times like polamalu did as a rookie, hes a hard hitting, aggressive, very sure tackler. Coclough is great at KR, and nickelback, again situational things. Anyway my point is all of thse guys are capable of being the guy next to polamalu, but i give early season starting to Clark and Carter, carter knows the defense, and clark is learning fast so these to play while Smith learns.

Blitzburgh Steelers

Ok, fair enough, you have your opinion, I have mine. I still don't think that Clark is anything special, and the reports from training camp haven't indicated otherwise yet either. It actually sounds like Tyrone is getting most of the reps with the 1st team at FS. I've heard it speculated that if Coclough doesn't actually do something, his tenure in Pittsburgh could be short lived. I personally am still waiting for him to show something good, and to be a good nickel or dimeback for us. I was really hoping we'd get Jason Allen or Antonio Cromartie this year in the draft and stick them at FS....they have good size, great speed, and great coverage skills...they went way too high though, and hard telling if they would've taken them if they were available or not anyway.

K Train

Cromartie now there an idea, i cant believe he went in the first round. I was hoping they would mabey pick up Darnell Bing from USC, or even Ko Simpson, they were considered first or second round talents and they slipped to the 4th or 5th rounds. The only problem i see with Carter is his size, he might be to small to play full time.

The good thing about the steelers and Dick Lebeaus defense is the make nobodys into stars.

K Train

"Ike Taylor, 26, can become an unrestricted free agent after this season. He is currently on a one-year, $1.57 million deal he signed as a restricted free agent. By offering him an upgraded tender, the Steelers made it so another team would have had to offer a first-round draft pick as compensation for signing Taylor. According to Taylor's agent, Scott Smith, the sides have been discussing a long-term deal that would keep Taylor in Pittsburgh through the prime years of his career. Not surprisingly, the sticking point is money."

Posted August 04, by Ben Maller

"CB Ike Taylor and running back Willie Parker, who will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season, are the only players the Steelers would like to sign before the end of camp. But the team has had few contract discussions with either player. The club has a policy of not negotiating contracts once the regular season begins unless it is close to a deal with a player."

Posted August 04, by Ben Maller
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-I thought this was interesting, it seems like he wants to stay and a deal could still be worked out as soon as this offseason.