Taylor aims to grow in role with Esks’ D
EDMONTON Watching from the ground as the receiver you were covering runs for an 80-yard touchdown isn’t the best scenario that can play out for a newcomer in Edmonton Eskimos training camp.
But things could have turned worse for Nicholas Taylor.
After all, he was able to balance the bad with the good, coming up with an interception and Edmonton’s lone sack, both against Matt Nichols, on the way to Friday’s 3313 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to close out their pre-season schedule.
“I just wanted to come out here and show that I could run around and play,” said Taylor, a five-foot-10, 165-pound native of Hollywood, Fla. “I’ve been two years in the league and just coming off an injury last year, so it sucked for me last year just going through that and never getting my confidence back and not performing up to my liking like I should have for Ottawa.”
On Feb. 14, Taylor reunited with former Redblacks assistant general manager Brock Sunderland, who now calls the shots for the Eskimos and didn’t hesitate to bring the former Florida International basketball player into the green and gold fold as a free agent.
“Brock brought me in to have another opportunity just to show what I can do and be the best I can be,” Taylor said.
So, while he was one of a host of new faces suiting up for the Eskimos on Friday, coming up against the Bombers first-team offence was nothing new for the coverage linebacker, who earned 62 tackles, an interception, a touchdown and a forced fumble in 17 games in the nation’s capital.
“That’s true, there wasn’t a lot of experience,” Taylor said of the defensive crew that Edmonton dressed. Only three projected starters were brought on the road trip. “But this group of guys is one of the best who aren’t experienced that I’ve seen come into the CFL.
“I usually see guys who take a while to handle the waggle and stuff like that, but this group has been phenomenal with just taking it in and learning and processing everything. And they’re already talented, so now as they game (more), they ’ll be better and better.”
Taylor said there is room for improvement in his own game, as well, even if he couldn’t have draped up any better coverage on Bombers receiver Myles White on the long touchdown.
“That was me,” Taylor said, shouldering full blame. “I had him under control, I saw the ball and was hoping to pick it. Then I said, ‘Let me just be safe and knock it down,’ and I actually hit the ball into his hands.”
Sure, it was only a pre-season game and the result don’t matter in the standings, and it wasn’t even televised, but the play is still going to be tough for Taylor to live down.
“That’s my guy, Mitch White’s brother,” Taylor said. “I played with Mitch in Ottawa, where we won a championship together, so it’s just a little ribbing at me right now in the group chat. I gave up a lucky one, I actually hit it in his hands.”