Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor is entering his 11th season in the league, and apparently he\’s still learning a thing or two from defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau during OTA practices.
“I was just sitting there talking to Coach LeBeau at one of the OTAs, and we was like, \’Ike you got it; you just don\’t trust your ability sometimes,\’ Taylor said Tuesday on Trib Live Radio. “That\’s what he told me. I was like dang; I thought I was good, but if I could trust my ability, I could be great.”
Taylor was then asked by host John Harris to further explain and clarify what LeBeau was trying to tell him.
“When you see it, go for it,” said Taylor. “You see the play. You know the play. You\’re so instinctive. You played 11 years, man, go for it. Go for that play.”
Throughout the years, Taylor has developed the reputation of being a cornerback with hands made of stone, and he said LeBeau told him the problem wasn\’t with his hands, that instead the problem is he doesn\’t trust his ability.
While LeBeau\’s words of wisdom to Taylor will most likely never show up on a motivational poster, I do believe that Taylor has become a victim over the years of trying too hard at times. Especially when it comes to making interceptions. Putting it plain and simple: Taylor fights the football.
Sometimes it is the little words of wisdom that can make a good player, better. Taylor knows the Steelers defense inside and out and there isn\’t a soul that will question his conditioning. Sure, he has had his moments over the years, but there isn\’t a cornerback in the league that hasn\’t. Outside of not having the interception numbers, Taylor has been solid for several seasons now, and he shows no signs of slowing down at 33 years of age.
After being present for the Steelers first OTA session last week, Taylor chose not to attend this week because he had some business that needed to be taken care of back home in Orlando, Florida. Taylor did say, however, that he will be back in Pittsburgh soon, and we can only speculate that when he returns he\’ll be working on trusting his ability more in practice.
