Countdown to Kickoff: Fred Taylor - Steelers vs. Jaguars

The extended, podcast-only version of Pride of the Jaguars running back Fred Taylor interview with senior reporter J.P. Shadrick on Countdown to Kickoff on the Jaguars Radio Network.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Countdown to Kickoff rolls along as the Jaguars host the
Pittsburgh Steelers in week eleven, a one o'clock kick time.
Every week in this program, we visit with pride of
the Jaguars running back Fred Taylor. What's up? Fred? JP Man?
Just happy to be uh, be a part of this
thing again. Hopefully we'll get a win in the process.

(00:20):
It will be a tough one. Today, the Pittsburgh Steelers
are nine and oh undefeated, the only undefeated team in
the NFL. Well, before we get into this matchup today,
let's talk a little bit about your history against the Steelers.
We touched on this in the postgame show last week
a bit. You've had some big games against the Steelers
in your past. Would you consider them the biggest rival

(00:41):
for you? Close to the Titans? Where do they sit
in the rankings? You know, again, as I mentioned the
Stiller is just uh, they brought something out of you.
You know, they always brought out of me the same
letter level of competitive fire as as the Titans did.
Early in my career, we were in the same division

(01:03):
and I had two opportunities to face those guys, and
I would always get myself fired and geared up ready
for those challenges with with the Titans. I'm still upset
to this day. The closest opportunity I had to make
it to the super Bowl was taken away by the Titans.
So for that reason, you know, I'm still pissed at

(01:24):
the Titans to this day. But I guess to answer
your question, JP, I put them on the same level. Man,
I have to put them on the same level. You know,
you try to dissect who's the go Payton or Tom Brady,
you know, Michael Jordan or Lebron James. These guys in
my head and my brain, they feel the same hatred,

(01:46):
you know, for a team. Even just watching them, I
get upset when our guys don't beat them to this day. Story,
but that's what being a fanatic is all about, right,
So it still is right there, correct answers by the way,
or Tom Brady and Michael Jordan's Hey do see see
That's what I'm saying. So everybody has their opinion. On

(02:09):
my left shoulder is saying, Fred, it's the Titans. The
little guy on my right is saying, no, man, it's
the Steelers. So I mean, you know, you weigh it
how you weigh it, you deal with it. Fred Taylor
with his front of the Jaguars running back Let's get
to this game today and the Jaguars offensive matchup against
the Steelers defense. Shake Lewton's third career start. Brandon Lender

(02:32):
is going to be back in the lineup. That's good news.
It's a front seven that if they have a lead,
especially if a couple of scores, look out because they
can get home on the quarterback. And this is a
great challenge this week for the Jaguars offensive Live. Yeah,
it's it's not enough to to to have to go
against the J. J. Watt twice a year. Now you

(02:52):
gotta deal with his younger brother, T. J. Watt. By
what I'm looking at here, he has nine sacks uh
in nine games, so I mean a sack of game.
He's a sacking machine. Uh. And then they have to
deal with Vince Williams, you know, on the other side,
who has three sacks on the other side over there. So,
I mean, the Stealers have always been known for their defense.

(03:14):
That's why for me, they were a team that you know,
I always wanted to get after. You know, I just
admired playing those guys. But it's gonna be a tough challenge.
But looking at them, you know, I'm just looking at
going back looking at their schedule. If you take the
Ravens out and then the Titans, those were their too
closest games, and everybody else has been bad teams, you know,

(03:36):
but some of those games have been close games against
bad teams. So, I mean, they're beautiful, but they are
a team that if you let them get up pot
I mean, if you get down, uh, and they get
up on you, they can build long day for you.
You mentioned the nine sacks for what he also has
fourteen tackles for loss and twenty eight quarterback hits. That's

(03:57):
a league high pressure. It is pressure for sure, and
uh a challenge this week for the Jaguars offensive line
against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Let's continue our conversation about this game,
Fred on the other side here Jaguars defense against Big
Ben and all the weapons on that other side. Ben's
been at this for a long time. You're not going

(04:18):
to surprise Ben Roethlisberger, much like last week Aaron Rodgers.
You're not gonna surprise him much either. So what's the
approach with Big Ben? They have the running game to
go with the passing game and everything combined on offense.
I mean that the big Ben, he's been a staple
in Pittsburgh for years, goes back to my playing days.
You know. Uh, I don't know how Jaguar Nation feels about.

(04:40):
You know, we had opportunity to draft a big fellow.
But he's been what he's been. He's still tough, he's
still out there grinding along and he's getting it done. Uh.
You know, in years past, you would see have Ben Roethlisberger,
who would have a game their interceptions right about now,
you know, but Ben twenty two touchdowns, the four interceptions,
He's been sacked ten times, so he has QB rating

(05:02):
of one oh three late in his career. That's what
you would consider having a great season. You know. That's
pretty much where Aaron Rodgers was close to just a
week ago before we faced the charges. And they have
James Conner, you know, a guy who's who's a great
running back. He actually pushed another great running back out
of town. And let's not forget about ju Ju Smith.

(05:24):
You know, he's a guy who's hard, hard to guard
out there. But they received a receiving corps with Claypool,
Deante Johnson. They brought in Eric Ebram so, I mean
they have a lot more weapons around Big Ben than
they've had in the past. So it's a hell of
a challenge for the defense, to say the less. This
is probably as good as offense that they from a

(05:46):
position standpoint that they faced all year. But the good
thing for me, J P the way they played Green
Bay a week ago. They were up for the task
and I hope they're not deflated today when they faced
the Stillers and Uh. If they can get out there
and show that same effort as they did a week ago,
I think they'll be okay. Just be in the fight,

(06:08):
that's all I'm asking them. Be in the fight. And
if we get lucky enough to pull it out and
walk away with a victory, then that's just icing on
the cake. Fred Taylor prior to the Jaguars running back
with us every week on countdown to kickoff, We'll catch
you in the post game, Fred, can I say what
a victory you can? I think you just did well.

(06:28):
They fought last week. JP man, Uh, I'm gonna give
him an opportunity. It still to play a lot of
close m and I know they can be beatable at times,
so let's go with a dove I see you then,
when we return the final word before kickoff with head
coach Doug Barone the Jaguars and the Steelers at one o'clock.
Let's just countdown to kickoff on Jaguars Radio.