Miami Safety 'Taylor'-Made For Redskins
By Gary Fitzgerald
Redskins.com
April 26, 2004
Everywhere Joe Gibbs went this offseason, somebody was putting in a good word for Sean Taylor.
First it was at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis; Gibbs met with Miami (Fla.) defensive lineman Vince Wilfork in a one-on-one interview.
Said Gibbs: "I asked him, 'Tell me about some of the other guys on the football team.' He just volunteered 'Sean Taylor.' That made an impression on me."
Taylor was a unanimous All-America first-team selection in 2003. (Photo courtesy of University of Miami)
After running back Clinton Portis joined the Redskins, Gibbs had another former Miami Hurricane in his ear, encouraging him to draft Taylor.
"The best way to find out how good a person is? You ask his teammates," Gibbs said. "Every chance I get, I always do that. And I think it's a tribute to Sean that his teammates think a lot of him."
Taylor, the Redskins' fifth-overall selection in the first round of Saturday's NFL Draft, was introduced to some new teammates in Washington on Monday. During an introductory press conference on Monday morning, Taylor said he was excited to come to a Redskins organization that has a lot of history and tradition. It's similar to what he experience at Miami.
"At Miami, a lot of the players come back to share their experiences with the young guys, to give a little inspiration so that others can one day make it to this level," Taylor said. "I'm leaving the University of Miami and coming right into another tradition, with all the great coaches and players surrounding the organization.
"We have Laveranues Coles, LaVar Arrington, Fred Smoot--we have a lot of veterans. I'm a young guy trying to come in here to earn my stripes. Hopefully I'll contribute and help us win some games. I'll help out any way I can."
At 6-2 and 231 pounds, Taylor is an imposing figure on the field. He brings a unique combination of size, speed and strength and should allow assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams plenty of flexibility in attacking offenses.
Taylor is expected to play free safety for the Redskins, Williams said. He'll be used both in coverage and as a blitzer.
Said Taylor: "I can be moved anywhere--I can go out and cover in the slot and play one-on-one with a receiver, or I can come up and tackle," Taylor said. "I can do a lot of things that help a team at safety. Whatever is asked of me to do, I'll do it."
At Miami, Taylor was most often used in coverage. The scheme allowed him to rack up impressive interception totals at Miami--his 14 career interceptions (including 10 last season) ranks fourth all-time, behind only Fred Marion, Bennie Blades and Ed Reed.
Taylor has molded his style of play after those great Miami safeties and he has adopted their approach to football. Working out and studying game film has become an integral part of his game.
"The faster you recognize a play, the faster you can jump on it," he said. "That's how great plays happen. When I'm just playing off my instincts, and seeing how a play happens before it actually happens, it helps my game."
For now, Taylor is getting accustomed to his new surroundings. He'll have to make a quick transition. The Redskins will hold their second mini-camp this weekend, April 30-May 2, at the team's training facility in Ashburn, Va. (Note: the mini-camp is closed to the public.)
"When I came for a visit, I loved it here," he said. "It's a great situation with a great coach, someone who has three Super Bowls and is trying to get another one. And there are a lot of great players here and it's a great community. I can't wait to get started."
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