Doesn't sound like a bust or poor-man's Pittman to me . . .
10/26/2006
Pats' defense to key on Taylor
By:Michael Parente , Journal Register News Service
FOXBORO - Chester Taylor has practically done everything for the Vikings on offense this season except throw the ball to himself.
Watch out - that might be his next trick.
The fifth-year running back from Toledo has 137 of Minnesota's 167 carries and has also caught a team-high 21 of quarterback Brad Johnson's 122 completions. Of the Vikings' 363 offensive snaps this season, Taylor has touched the ball 158 times, which averages to 44 percent, so there's a good chance it's heading in his direction if he's on the field.
"He's pretty much had all the carries on the team," Patriots defensive end Jarvis Green said Wednesday. "What's the next guy have? Fourteen carries? We know he's going to get the ball and we know we're going to have to stop him."
No one has been able to contain Taylor since the beginning of October. He rushed for 165 yards in last weekend's win at Seattle, including a 95-yard touchdown, and finished with 123 yards on Oct. 8 against Detroit. The Vikings lost the only two games in which he didn't rush for at least 88 yards. The Patriots - ranked sixth in the league in run defense - will try to limit his production Monday night at the Metrodome.
"He's a hell of a runner," Green said. "We've seen him on film. He can move his feet. On that 95-yard run, he was the fastest guy on the field when he broke out. Nobody could catch him. We know what we're going against and we know, in order to be successful as a defense, everyone has to do his job first."
Taylor is in his first year with the Vikings after spending four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens as a backup behind Jamal Lewis. Minnesota signed him to a four-year, $14.1 million contract in March and made him the focal point of the offense under first-year head coach and former Philadelphia coordinator Brad Childress. The Eagles surpassed 5,000 yards four times and were ranked among the league's top 10 in offense twice during Childress' tenure from 2002 to 2005.
The Vikings were attracted to Taylor because of his versatility and potential to fit into their West-Coast offense. The 5-foot-11, 213-pound running back caught 105 passes in four years with the Ravens and averaged 4.3 yards per carry.
Asked to characterize Taylor's strengths, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said, "Pretty much everything." He's often described as a powerful back with the ability to break tackles and pick up tough yards on third down, but don't underestimate his speed. He outran the Seahawks' entire defense on his 95-yard touchdown last weekend - his second rushing touchdown of the season.
"Anybody that questions his speed should look at that run against Seattle," Belichick said. "They couldn't catch him. They had 70 yards to run him down when he finally broke through.
"He's got good speed and run vision. He sees the holes well and has good patience behind the line of scrimmage. He's a good receiver in the backfield. He's got soft hands and catches the ball well. You see him catch a lot of balls around his knees or ankles and he makes it look easy. He hardly slows down."
In addition to being the featured back and working in a system designed to emphasize his versatility, Taylor has also benefited from running behind a strong offensive line anchored by four-time Pro Bowl center Matt Birk, left tackle Bryant McKinnie and former Seattle guard Steve Hutchinson.
"I think you judge how good an offensive line is based on where the running back ranks among the league leaders in rushing. Taylor's up there," Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi said. "I'm sure he would give credit to the offensive line first and foremost and I think they do deserve credit because they've got guys like Hutchinson, McKinnie and Birk - players that have been around for a while. When you watch them on film, they really are great players.
"They don't just try to block you or look to see if the running back is going to the line. They do a good job on the second level on defensive backs and linebackers. That's a tribute to their athletic ability. They're able to stay with those guys down the field."
Hutchinson - a three-time Pro-Bowler - and McKinnie play together on the left side of the line and weigh 656 pounds combined. They're regarded as one of the best guard-tackle combos in the NFL.
"There's not too much going on defensively over there," Belichick said. "When you watch the end-zone film from behind the Minnesota offense, it's hard to see the defensive players. McKinnie and Hutchinson cover them up pretty good."
"They're doing a good job," Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel said. "The back trusts those guys to get their blocks and you can see it in their blocking schemes. He's giving those guys a chance to do their job and he's running behind them."
The Patriots have already gone up against Denver's Tatum Bell, Buffalo's Willis McGahee and Rudi Johnson of the Cincinnati Bengals with mixed results. Taylor might be the most difficult challenge they'll face for the remainder of the season. He can run up the middle or to the outside and his soft hands make him a weapon in the passing game. Don't be surprised if he lines up behind center on Monday night.
"He does a good job on the inside and outside runs and he's got some speed," Belichick said. "He's got some quickness and power and he can push the pile. He's good around the goal-line. He's a good back."
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=...53135&rfi=6
FYI - Taylor is one player discussed quite at length 
I stashed him on my roster last year and elected to keep him as one of my 4 players heading into the season. CT has been a nice pick up esp since JL has been in the TOILET this year
