Taylor: 'Intimidation Factor' On Defense

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Sean Taylor has developed a reputation for punishing hits on the football field--and it’s a reputation that has served him well.

On Sept. 19, offensive coordinators and players alike watched Taylor level wide receiver Patrick Crayton on Monday Night Football, jarring the ball from his hands and forcing an incomplete pass late in the game.

Assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams has noted that offenses are often avoiding throwing in Taylor’s direction now.

"He has a tendency to make people look at where he is because of his presence," Williams said. "Good safeties play in a legal, aggressive way. Even when you do complete a ball in his area, he tries to lay a hard hit on you."

Taylor is coming off what some have called his best game as a Redskin.

In the Redskins’ 17-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals, Taylor logged six tackles, an interception and a forced fumble.

"I could have had two or three interceptions," Taylor said after the game. "I left a few interceptions on the field, but it’s all right."

Late in the fourth quarter, on a 4th-and-2 play, Taylor tackled running back J.J. Arrington short of the first down. It was a key play in the Redskins’ win.

Discussing the play, Taylor said: "We had an alert. Pierson [Prioleau] looked back at me and called out the read and that gave me a little jump on it. Everybody just stayed inside their blocks. I was able to come up and stop him."

Approaching the end of his second NFL season, Taylor is continuing to develop into the dominant player many had predicted he would be when the Redskins selected him with the fifth overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft.

Taylor has logged 58 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles in 13 games.

Perhaps it is in reading and reacting to the offensive set that Taylor has improved the most. He is able to work within the scheme while recognizing the flow of the offensive play.

"A lot of times, everything is not going to be always drawn up how it should be," he said. "Everybody’s not always going to be in the right spot. But as long as you recognize the play and cover up--and that’s what safeties are supposed to do, put a lid on top of the defense--you’ll be in position to make a play."

For a receiver, that usually means a jarring hit from Taylor is on the way.

Said Williams: "Playing good pass defense is an intimidation factor. If you want the ball inside the numbers on us, our safeties are very aggressive. Our guys will rock you--not just Sean. Those hits do go on film. We like the fact that those hits are on film when other teams have to get ready to play us."