LSU safety Curtis Taylor was expected to be one of the premier defensive backs in the country following LSU’s 2007 national championship season.Taylor’s 54 tackles and three interceptions as a junior had NFL scouts eagerly awaiting his senior year.But like most of LSU’s 2008 defense, Taylor unfortunately struggled. In 2008, Taylor managed just 43 tackles and two interceptions. That decrease in production has Taylor projected to be selected somewhere in the sixth or seventh round of this weekend’s NFL draft.”I really thought Curtis could be one of the top safeties selected,” said NFL draft analyst Mike Detillier. “He just didn’t play well as a senior.”Detillier said the biggest area of concern for Taylor at the next level is his pass coverage.”He really, really struggled [playing man coverage] against receivers,” Detillier said. “At times he seemed confused about the assignments.”Shane Smith, Taylor’s coach at Franklinton High School, said Taylor’s biggest strengths are his 6-foot-2-inch, 210-pound frame and his physical style of play.”Physically, when you look at [Taylor], he is one of the most imposing safeties there is in the draft,” Smith said. “But he needs to play with that mentality as well.”Taylor did make a solid case for himself as an NFL-caliber player at the NFL Scouting Combine and at LSU Pro Day. At the combine, Taylor bench pressed 225 pounds 13 times and had a vertical jump of 37.5 inches. He also posted a 4.49 40-yard dash at LSU’s Pro Day. But Taylor’s 2008 shoulder injury is another question NFL teams are looking into prior to the draft.Detillier said he does not believe the injury will have much impact on Taylor’s draft stock because of the intensity of the physical given at the combine.”[At the combine] there isn’t a body part on you they haven’t looked at,” Detillier said. “That is the most extensive physical you will ever go through. [Teams] would know all about his shoulder right off the bat.”Taylor’s great character and hard work ethic are keeping him on many team’s draft boards.”He maybe worked harder when he committed to LSU than when he was a freshman [in high school],” Smith said. “And that says a lot. Sometimes guys can get complacent. But I didn’t see that in high school, and I don’t feel the NFL guys will see that either.”Smith said Taylor’s family has told him Taylor went to Detroit last week to work out for the Lions.Other teams have contacted Franklinton’s coaches and shown interest in Taylor, including the New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos.Taylor is expected to contribute mainly on special teams early in his professional career.”When you’re not an early round pick, and you’re not a quarterback, you have to be able to play special teams,” Detillier said. “Your best friend becomes the special teams coach if you’re a late round pick. How quickly he [gets playing time at safety] will be sorted out.”
 
 
 
—-Contact Rob Landry at [email protected]