Darrell Taylor

[oldhawkfan]

Anybody think this guy has a chance of making the team? Certainly hasn’t lived up to his early billing or draft status. I keyed in on him quite a few times in the last game against Tennessee. He has a noticeable split second slow reaction time at the snap of the ball. When the ball is snapped and the rest of the defense begins the play, Taylor is just a split second slower in starting than the rest of the defenders around him. He also didn’t show any fire, enthusiasm or general play making abilities when I specifically watched him. He’s definitely one guy that I’m looking as a fairly certain cut.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

He absolutely has a chance the team. But he's gonna' be my "surprise cuts" choice when the thread comes out.

 

[oldhawkfan]

He absolutely has a chance the team. But he's gonna' be my "surprise cuts" choice when the thread comes out.

I’d be surprised if he isn’t cut.

 

[Rat]

If he doesn't do something soon, his Seahawks "highlight" will be running out onto the field to block in the middle of a play.

Taylor is the Christine Michael of defensive ends: all speed, absolutely no instincts. I'll bet Schneider is hoping that everyone forgot when he said they would have taken him in the first round if Jordyn Brooks hadn't been available. Sorry John, I remember.

 

[jeremiah]

He absolutely has a chance the team. But he's gonna' be my "surprise cuts" choice when the thread comes out.

He needs to get to the practice squad. Maybe someone should test his hearing and sight? For smoking the blunts?

 

[MORGULON]

If he doesn't do something soon, his Seahawks "highlight" will be running out onto the field to block in the middle of a play.

Taylor is the Christine Michael of defensive ends: all speed, absolutely no instincts. I'll bet Schneider is hoping that everyone forgot when he said they would have taken him in the first round if Jordyn Brooks hadn't been available. Sorry John, I remember.

Damn.

I really wanted to blame this on Grandpa Pete

 

[jeremiah]

If he doesn't do something soon, his Seahawks "highlight" will be running out onto the field to block in the middle of a play.

Taylor is the Christine Michael of defensive ends: all speed, absolutely no instincts. I'll bet Schneider is hoping that everyone forgot when he said they would have taken him in the first round if Jordyn Brooks hadn't been available. Sorry John, I remember.

That would be sad, but you can't coach the physical. The right motivation and firm hand CAN change a person from lackadaisical to a MONSTER on the field. Like JJ Watt. He was just about an afterthought for the draft, but he made himself into a powerhouse, looks like he taught his brother too. DE whisperer JJ WATT... Special coach.

 

[jeremiah]

Damn.

I really wanted to blame this on Grandpa Pete

Might be something to this

 

[Rat]

That would be sad, but you can't coach the physical. The right motivation and firm hand CAN change a person from lackadaisical to a MONSTER on the field. Like JJ Watt. He was just about an afterthought for the draft, but he made himself into a powerhouse, looks like he taught his brother too. DE whisperer JJ WATT... Special coach.

Watt went with the 11th pick of his draft and was a productive college player (36.5 tackles for loss over his two seasons at Wisconsin) who was viewed as extremely high-effort. There was never anything lackadaisical about him.

 

[jeremiah]

Mea Culpa, maxima mea culpa. It just seemed like he came from nowhere. That's what I get. 2011, I began my divorce. It ended with her emptying my bank accounts and leaving me with a house payment, and no backup. I was distracted. I had to go back and look, I actually went from maximum TV coverage, to limited to antenna. Western slope on a hill in Kitsap county.... NOT conducive to anything but channel 13 and some small channels like PBS et al. I lost a lot of time there. Picked it back up around fall of 2013. Instead of lots of football, it was lots of work, beer and chasing women...lol

 

[Rat]

That sounds like my exact story, but ten years later lol.

 

[IndyHawk]

Damn.

I really wanted to blame this on Grandpa Pete

You can .. I do "We'll make it work!" Pete told JS to draft him.
JS was not making all the picks, I'm sure of it.

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

I’m kind of thinking it depends on Sheriff. Bro, seems to be decent at everything, can pash-rush, set the edge, gap fill, looks like an OLB/MLB tweener. Taylor is a glorified DE sure with length and speed but can’t defend the run.

My thinking is the moment they signed Conner Williams, they more or less put Taylor on the block. Trade or Chopping.

 

[jammerhawk]

I think he's already being shopped around the league a bit and this 2nd round pick may turn into a 6th or worse.

Taylor is a one trick pony who is fast off the edge but then often just gets shoved aside he does get home occasionally and has a good record for sacks over he 4 seasons although his first didn't involve him playing a down. He is truly a liability defending against the run.

 

[CouchLogic]

Fffffuuuu...

I didn't know he was still here. That's probably not a good sign, lol.

 

[LeveeBreak]

I was going to post something on Taylor earlier...glad you got it going.

In some ways, he reminds me of Adams. He has a very special gift of athleticism, but struggles to control it. Coming off the ball, especially if he has space, he flashes his speed and it is impressive. But his sonar and hand skills don't quite follow suite. He can bring pressure and if the QB breaks the pocket, he can do some damage. But if he locks in and the QB is in the pocket, not a good % of making an impact. Add that he's injured a lot...I think he will be either traded for a conditional pick or cut.

Which means he probably starts week 1.

 

[keasley45]

I think Taylor's future depends on how well he clicks with his coaches. Talent doesnt detenrine success. Motivation can be an elusive thing. For whatever reason, the dude fell of a cliff last year. But similar to Diggs, he also seemed entirely disengaged. Some players chekced out last year. I think he was one of them. Is he an all around player at the position, ewually adept at rush as he is at stuff and pursuit? No. Hes tailored to the speed rush. But i dont think he was as bad as he showed in 24.

Might be wrong, but i wouldnt be surprised if he got back on the horse and had a decent season.

New HC. New DC. New message. New vibe.

 

[Appyhawk]

If Hall keeps coming on Taylor will be forgotten.

 

[cymatica]

If he doesn't do something soon, his Seahawks "highlight" will be running out onto the field to block in the middle of a play.

Lol, I forgot about that. Boneheaded play of the year award

 

[bileever]

Wait a minute--let's get real. Darrell Taylor has real value. In 2022, he had 9.5 sacks, 8 TFLs and 13 QB hits. Last year, he wasn't as good, but he still had 5.5 sacks and 7 TFLs.

The knock on him has been his run defense. But everything I've seen this year seems to indicate that he's gotten a lot better. Among defensive linemen, he's third on the team in PFF run defense behind Derrick Hall and Byron Murphy. Maybe it's a better scheme or better coaching, but it's been better.

We're paying him $3.1 million, and you're not going to find a player who can get you 9.5 sacks for anything close to that price. He might not be an every down player, but he has real value to this team.

Our outside LBs are going to be Nwosu, Mafe, Hall and Taylor. I'd be very surprised if he's cut.