Ike Taylor: Pro Bowl Worthy?

Posted on December 29, 2010 by adam

I don’t care about the AFC and NFC Pro Bowl Rosters, mainly because I don’t watch the game, and also because half of these guys will back out before it’s even time to play. There’s also the hope that any and all Steelers players invited won’t be in it because they’re getting ready for another, bigger, far more important game (Brian Billick once called it Festivus Maximus).

That said, Maurkice Pouncey, James Harrison and Troy Polamalu were all worthy of their invites to the game, but I’m still a little surprised Ike Taylor didn’t get a call.

Outside of the offensive line, and maybe Bruce Arians, no other aspect of the 2010 Steelers has been more scrutinized than their secondary. I still argue it’s not anywhere near as bad as its reputation, and one of the reasons for that has been the play of Taylor.

There’s nothing eye-popping about his raw stats (two picks, one sack, 10 pass defenses). But that’s not always the sign of a poor cornerback play. The idea, of course, is to not allow receivers to catch the ball — or have the ball thrown their direction — and take them out of the play, something Taylor has done all season. The Steelers rarely use him to “shadow” the other teams top guy, and as of Week 15, Football Outsiders had the Steelers defense ranked in the top-five against both No. 1 and No. 2 wide receivers, and I can’t imagine the job they did on Jimmy Clausen on Thursday night made those ratings drop.

I think we would all like to see him catch more passes that bounce off of his hands (or face mask), but other than that, there’s not much to complain about with Ike’s play this season.

A couple of questions to kick around on Wednesday…

1) Bigger Pro Bowl Snub: Ike Taylor or Mike Wallace?

2) If they can’t sign both, is Ike Taylor a more important signing than LaMarr Woodley?

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  2. Formula Still Exists for Steelers to Win 7th Super Bowl Title
  3. The 2010 Steelers Are Very Good, But Are they Super Bowl Material?
  4. Peter King Predicts Steelers Will Win Super Bowl
  5. Aaron Smith Reportedly Done For Year, Diminishing Steelers Super Bowl Hopes?
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  • JCRODRIGUEZ

    I totally agree with you, our secondary is punished in the public perception forum because of the system that Coach LeBeau deploys, and also Ike gets outshined by Troy (who wouldn’t?) who gets all the attention from the TV announcers that follows mainly the football, kickass hairdos and shiny objects.

    Answer 1. None of the above. Timmons is, by far, the biggest miss on the Pro Bowl roster.

    Answer 2. Short term, Ike, long term Wodley.

    • drinkingclub

      JCRODRIGUEZ,

      I have to disagree. If Ike had the skills LeBeau would find ways to use them. I like Ike, but it isn’t the system holding him back.

  • Anonymous

    There is a bright side here. Ike in the Pro Bowl would have become more expensive to sign.

  • Pygge9

    Mr. Rodriguez, I concur- Timmons is a WAY bigger snub- Leads the #1 Run Defense in the NFL in tackles and shuts down the Chris Johnson’s and Ray Rice’s of the league….

  • http://www.google.com/profiles/100857546184516732260 Dr Obvious

    1)Wallace. By any metric statistically valid metric (that doesn’t include yards/catch), he’s a top WR.

    2)No idea. Above my pay grade. Glad I don’t have to figure it out.

  • http://www.google.com/profiles/100857546184516732260 Dr Obvious

    1)Wallace. By any metric statistically valid metric (that doesn’t include yards/catch), he’s a top WR.

    2)No idea. Above my pay grade. Glad I don’t have to figure it out.

  • larrypickett1

    Who do you think is faster? Ike Taylor or Mike Wallace? Check out this video.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX3dvuIB9GY

    I think you will be suprised at the answer…

  • http://www.steelerslounge.com/ ryan

    Larry,

    Good stuff. Just tweeted this.

  • Bewolff

    The Steelers secondary is the weakest part of the team, if not second only to the special teams (return coverage). When we have lost games, it has been because of the secondary. Ike Taylor would be the second best player in most strong team’s secondaries.

  • Randy Steele

    I noticed that every talking head on sports radio today introduced their show with…

    “I don’t care a bit about the Pro Bowl and pay no attention to it whatsoever. It’s a total waste of time. That said, (home team player) got totally shafted by the voters. This is an outrage…”

  • drinkingclub

    Wallace should have made the pro bowl.
    And Woodley is the more important signing.

    I like Ike, but I think guys like Ike are a dime a dozen.

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