Tracking the Preaux Career of Ike Taylor

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LOUISIANA La. — Charles Tillman and Ivan Taylor will be keeping the phone lines clear next weekend.

The two University of Louisiana defensive backs have been impressive enough in postseason workouts to improve their stock and make it likely that they’ll both be selected in the NFL Draft.

For Tillman, the call could come as early as the second round. Taylor, meanwhile, has climbed from possible free agent status to a late-round project.

“Both of them went over to the Hula Bowl and played really well,” Ragin’ Cajun assistant head coach Gary Bartel said. “They opened some eyes wide with that.

“Charles went to the Combine and just blew them away. Every team in the league has been through here to work him out. Secondary coaches, defensive coordinators and some head coaches have been here.

“They like Peanut (Tillman) because he’s versatile. He can play cornerback or safety, or he could be that corner in the nickel and dime packages because he’s got great size and can match up with the bigger wide receivers.

“I’m still sticking to the third round, but he could jump up into the second round.”

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South Louisiana Publishing
Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[Rebel02]

Taylor was the Steelers 4th round pick at #125. Great news for him because several media outlets had him going later in the draft. Good luck Ivan.

[Cajun1997]

I think in a couple of years people will say he should have gone higher

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LOUISIANA La. — Ivan Taylor is used to closing on wide receivers, arriving just in time to break up a pass, pick it off or make the receiver pay for a reception.

Taylor closed so fast on the NFL Draft that he almost squeezed into the first day of selections.

As it is, the UL Lafayette cornerback was chosen in the fourth round — Sunday’s opening round of the second day — by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“They called and said they liked me, and that they were about to pick me,” Taylor said. “They said they liked my character, liked me as a person and liked what I did on the field.

“I’m looking forward to a long NFL career with the Steelers.”

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South Louisiana Publsihing
Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

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Cornerback
University of Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
6:00.3-191
Gretna, Louisiana

Hard hitter with above average muscle definition, quickness and balance…Has a good feel for the ball, maintaining eye contact on the receiver while tracking the ball in flight…

Has the explosive burst to quickly recover…

Shows good knee bend and a smooth and easy turning motion coming out of his backpedal…

Makes proper zone adjustments and anticipates the quarterback’s moves well…

Gets a sharp break on the ball and times his jumps perfectly to combat the receiver for the pass…Very flexible in his hip turn and has strength in his legs to go low and jolt ball carriers when stepping up to fill rush lanes…

Type of player that initiates contact, rather than wait for the play to develop…

Compensates for a lack of experience with his raw athletic ability, quickness and ball anticipation skills to maintain leverage…

Blessed with exceptional speed…Also excels on special teams, adding another dimension to his game as a breakaway threat as a kickoff returner…

Takes on blocks with aggression, doing a nice job of using his hands to defeat combo blocks…

Called by many one of the finest athletes in college football, Ivan made the transition from offense to the defensive backfield as a senior…

Always known for his “team first” attitude, he quickly adapted to his new role, despite showing great promise late in his junior campaign as a tailback…

Only played two seasons of collegiate football, but managed to record 49 tackles (37 solos) with eight pass deflections and two forced fumbles on defense, adding 323 yards and three touchdowns on 70 carries (4.6 avg) and 125 yards on 18 receptions (6.9 avg) on offense and gained 490 yards on 27 kickoff returns (18.1 avg).

2002 SEASON
Super Sleeper Team and All-Sunbelt Conference second-team selection by The NFL Draft Report…

Featured on ESPN’s College Game Day Show…Moved into the starting lineup at right cornerback…Recorded 46 tackles (34 solos) with eight pass deflections and two forced fumbles…

Did not allow an opponent to catch a pass in four games…

Returned nine kickoffs for 210 yards (23.3 avg).

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Steelers.com

[Bigcurtman]

Hi all. I am a Steeler fan, and was curious if anyone here knew of any pics of Taylor avaliable online? From games perhaps? I am searched in vain. Thanks in advance.

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Taylor gets 3-year deal

The Steelers got off to a fast start in one phase of the game this year when they signed two of their draft choices yesterday, representing 40 percent of their five-man class of 2003.

Cornerback Ike Taylor, their fourth-round pick, and fullback J.T. Wall, their seventh-rounder, signed three-year contracts. They were only the sixth and seventh draft choices in the league to sign, and the Steelers joined Carolina and Kansas City as the only NFL teams with more than one pick under contract.

Taylor's deal is worth $1,185,000 and Wall's is worth $940,000. Each will receive the minimum annual salaries the next three seasons of $225,000, $305,000 and $380,000. Taylor, the only fourth-round NFL choice to sign, also received a signing bonus of $275,500. Wall's bonus is $30,000.

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By Ed Bouchette
Post-Gazette Sports Writer
ebouchette@post-gazette.com

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IKE TAYLOR'S NFL KICK OFF RETURN YARDAGE

Date	Opp	KOR	Yds	Avg	Lg	TD
Sep. 07	Bal	2	29	14.5	16	0
Sep. 14	KC	2	43	21.5	27	0
Sep. 21	Cin	1	40	40	40	0
Sep. 28	Ten	2	28	14	17	0
Oct. 05	Cle	4	124	31	53	0
Oct. 12	Den	0	0	0	0	0
Oct. 26	StL	6	145	24.2	42	0

The source of the stats

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PITTSBURGH - Rookie Ike Taylor has been playing football since he was five years old. He remembers his days with his youth football team - the Cougar Cubs - when he didn't even have the right shoes to wear.

But even then, even that early on, he knew that football would be in his future.

“I was five years old when I started playing football,” said Taylor. “I was playing tight end with church shoes and socks on. I didn’t have any cleats. I bought some the last two games. I was playing tight end in church shoes.


Ike Taylor could be seeing more playing time.
“I always thought I would make it this far. It always was in my mind. I always told my family I would be playing in the NFL. I stuck with it and kept grinding and it worked out so far.”

Taylor still feels like that kid in church shoes when he plays. He has an enthusiasm for the game that can be seen whenever he is on the special teams units. He flies around, always trying to make a play.

"Once I am on the field I feel like I am a kid," said Taylor. "But I have to take care of business. I feel like an older kid in a big body just taking care of business on the field."

He might start seeing more playing time very soon. Deshea Townsend will replace Dewayne Washington at right cornerback in the starting lineup. That could mean more playing time for Taylor in situational defenses.

Until that does happen, he is enjoying his role on the special teams units he is a part of.

“It’s fun. It’s giving 110 percent,” said Taylor. “It’s going full-speed, you and the other guy one-on-one and may the best man win. Every time I get on the field on special teams I am saying to myself I have to make a big play. That’s all I am saying, make a big play because that play can turn the game around for us or help us win. That’s what I want to do.”

Taylor's road to the NFL was not a glamorous one. In high school he played wherever he was needed, and that included defensive end. He admits most guys had a major size advantage on him, ut he had 18 sacks, not bad at all.

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By Teresa Varley
Steelers.com

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http://scout.theinsiders.com/a.z?s=3...9629&refid=400

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On the outside, rookie Ike Taylor takes good news in the stride of a veteran cornerback

On the outside, rookie Ike Taylor takes good news in the stride of a veteran cornerback. That's how he acted when his coach told him Wednesday he was promoted to play in all of the Steelers pass defenses this week.

"I'm trying to keep my composure," said Taylor, 23. "I'm trying to act like a vet, like I've been doing this."

And how would he be if he weren't trying so hard not to show emotion?

"Jumping up and down like a little kid," Taylor said.

If Taylor can play well enough in the nickel and dime defenses, he will have teammates, coaches and front office men jumping up and down like little kids. With the Steelers dying for some good play at cornerback, they turned to Taylor and veteran Deshea Townsend.

Coach Bill Cowher benched veteran right cornerback Dewayne Washington in all defenses and promoted Townsend from No. 3 corner to starter. Taylor moves up in the nickel and dime and has a chance to show everyone the Steelers made a brilliant move when they drafted him in the fourth round last April from Louisiana.

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Ed Bouchette

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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http://www.post-gazette.com/steelers...eele1106p2.asp