Cornerback Ike Taylor was named the AFC's Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Seattle. Taylor had five tackles, four pass defenses and an interception.
PITTSBURGH - Ike Taylor is used to being forced to prove himself.
This season, Taylor is proving to be a perfect fit for the Steelers.
Sunday against Seattle, Taylor recorded five tackles, defended four passes and made a critical interception at the end of the first half that killed any momentum the Seahawks had in Pittsburgh's 21-0 victory.
For his efforts, Taylor, who leads the Steelers with two interceptions, was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Taylor has been a big part of the Steelers' 4-1 start to this season. And along the way, he's answered any lingering questions about his ability.
A former walk-on at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Taylor didn't play in his first two seasons there before seeing time as a running back. He spent his final season with the Ragin Cajuns at cornerback, showing enough promise for the Steelers to use a fourth-round draft pick on Taylor in 2003.
"I've always had to prove myself, whether it be in college or here in the pros," said Taylor. "That's just the way it has been."
Many questioned the selection of the 6-1, 191-pound Taylor, wondering how a player who could only start one season at a low-level Division I program was going to play for the Steelers.
But Taylor eventually broke into the team's starting lineup in 2005, playing well enough that the Steelers rewarded him with a five-year, $22-million contract prior to the 2006 season.
The rest of the story
By F. Dale Lolley, Staff writer
dlolley@observer-reporter.com
I got a response from Ike today with the facemeike.com question.
Heres what I said...
I got a response today that saidMy question is this,
Is there a reason you never mention your college when your asked to do your
introductions on TV? In Lafayette, we desperately want a true reason to
support you, but some of us feel that when other players mention their
college, and you say New Orleans and Swaggin, Its a slap in the face of your
supporters who followed you in college as well.
I cant tell if thats sincere or not, but I certainly will be watching his next monday/sunday/thursday night game to see what he says when he introduces himself.From Ike: I'll work on it. Thanks
Tuffguy
Tuffguy _you said "Lafayette" Ike is going to repeat "Lafayette"
Well, when phrased in the idea of "It feels like a slap in the face" it isn't accusatory, its more of an acknowledgment of why its upsetting to people who supported him in college. I don't think that it was taken that way, because if it was, I doubt I would have gotten a response at all.
Tuffguy
There are currently 16 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 16 guests)