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Steelers like Ike: CB up to challenge
And more often than not, Taylor has held his own following those great receivers all over the field.
On Sunday, he'll get his first look at the receiver considered the next big thing in the NFL, Detroit's Calvin Johnson, when the Steelers (2-2) play the Lions (1-3) at Ford Field.
"We were just watching film of him and coach called him an alien," said Taylor. "That's right, too. This guy is 6-5, 230 pounds and he runs a 4.3 40. It looks like he's from another planet,"
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"If this guy played somewhere other than Detroit, everybody would know about him," said Steelers safety Ryan Clark. "He's a beast."
And the 6-1, Taylor will draw the unenviable task of following Johnson wherever he lines up on the field.
"He's always game for those challenges," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said of Taylor. "He and I usually have funny exchanges early in the week when he comes and asks for those premium matchups. That's what the great ones at that position and the ones that desire to be great at that position, that's the mentality that they have.
"He didn't wait until Wednesday to ask about that matchup this week. He doesn't take it lightly, we don't take it lightly. We know what that guy's capable of. We're not going to send him over there to stop Calvin Johnson. He's going to have some help in different forms and fashion, but that's just the nature of the game."
The question for the Steelers defense will be who's throwing Johnson the football.
Rookie Matthew Stafford, the top pick in this year's draft, started Detroit's first four games but suffered a knee injury in a loss last week against Chicago and has yet to practice this week.
That means veteran Daunte Culpepper will likely get the start for the Lions at quarterback.
"We'd rather see Stafford," Steelers linebacker James Farrior admitted. "You'd always rather face the less-experienced guy."
Lately, however, it hasn't matter who the Steelers have faced at quarterback - at least in the fourth quarter.
Pittsburgh has allowed 48 points in the fourth quarter and 30 in the other three quarters combined.
"Chicago, Cincinnati, you tell me what big play they made on those drives? What amazing things did they do? There's nothing that anyone's doing to us," Clark said. "We just need to make some stops."
Slowing Johnson will be part of that.
"He's their big-play guy," said Clark. "You see him catch slants or hooks, break a tackle and take it the whole way. He's a guy we've got to get on the ground."
Odds and end zones
Linebacker Andre Frazier (shoulder) and guard Chris Kemoeatu (ankle) returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday after sitting out Wednesday. ... Safety Troy Polamalu (knee) was also limited for the Steelers, while tight end David Johnson (ankle) and running back Willie Parker (toe) remain out.
