Packers waiting for Graham’s breakout game

GREEN BAY – At his current pace, Green Bay Packers tight end Jimmy Graham will finish the season with 64 catches for 676 yards and four touchdowns.

His reception total would set a franchise record for tight ends.

Given his perceived lack of impact on the 2-1-1 Packers, that would come as a huge surprise, especially given the production of predecessors such as Jermichael Finley, Mark Chmura, Bubba Franks, Jackie Harris and Paul Coffman.

But when the Packers signed Graham to a three-year deal that would pay him $13 million in 2018, they had their eye on his New Orleans Saints numbers when he averaged 10 touchdowns a season from 2010-’14.

At some point, coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers expect Graham to have a breakout game, but both said they are not worried that his numbers aren’t off the charts.

“I think teams are so much more aggressive in taking a guy away today,” McCarthy said of the most recent eras. “Look at

Ten game at 6:30 p.m. Saturday against visiting Nebraska No. 1 in the nation in rushing yards per game (157.0), bolstered in part by three runs of 30 yards or longer in nonconference play.

His per-carry average of 6.2 yards is below the mark of 7.2 he had through four games last season, however.

Settle’s goal during the lengthy video review was to show Taylor that too often this season he has tried to do too much and must show more patience behind his blockers.

“I tried to calm him down and help him relax,” Settle said. “We went back and watched some of the runs from last season.

“I said: ‘Where is this guy?’ “I wanted him to see it. He is thinking too much. That guy last year was just playing ball and letting the game come to him.

“It is right there in living color. We went to work last week and started correcting it. So far, I like where he is right now.”

Taylor rushed 25 times for 113 yards, an average of 4.5 per carry, in the 28-17 victory at Iowa. Yet Settle saw several plays on which Taylor prematurely broke off his run track, went away from his blocking and got minimal gains as a result.

Two plays stood out.

The first came on the second offensive play of the game, on second and 3 from the UW 32.

The play was designed to be run to the left behind tackle Jon Dietzen, tight end Logan Bruss and fullback Alec Ingold.

Dietzen and Bruss executed their blocks and Ingold swept around the left end looking for a defender.

Taylor inexplicably cut to the middle almost immediately after taking the handoff from Alex Hornibrook, however, and ran into two unblocked defenders.

He gained 1 yard.

The last example came on UW’s game-winning touchdown drive in the final quarter.

UW faced second and 6 from the Hawkeyes’ 38.

The Badgers deployed three wide receivers, one tight end and one back and lined up in a shotgun formation, with Taylor to the left of Hornibrook.

Center Jason Erdmann pulled to the right after the snap.

Tight end Jake Ferguson, lined up on a wing to the right, helped seal the

edge. The two wide receivers on the right side, A.J. Taylor and Kendric Pryor, engaged defensive backs downfield.

But Taylor again quickly cut back to the middle after getting the ball, into two unblocked defenders.

He again gained 1 yard.

Had he followed his blockers, both plays could have been big hits.

“In that game, he was trying to do too much,” Settle said. “We have spoken about it. He didn’t score against them last year and he was bound and determined to score against them this year.

“So he kind of went off on a tangent and didn’t wait for things to open up. He didn’t trust his keys.

“With a young guy you’ve got to talk with him and try to make him understand: ‘What if you would have done what you were coached to do on this play?’ ”

Taylor acknowledged the importance of trusting his blockers and staying on the designed track if possible.

“If you go off on tangents you better take it for 40 yards or for six (points),” he said. “That doesn’t happen too often in Division I football.

“You’ve got to trust the run fits. The big hits will come. It is definitely tough. If you see something – Coach Settle always talks about trusting your eyes, trusting your ability – you should take it.”

Taylor rushed 25 times for 249 yards and two touchdowns in UW’s 3817 victory over Nebraska last season.

The key run was a 75-yard score with 1 minute 9 seconds left in the first half, just 11 seconds after Nebraska pulled within 10-7.

Taylor swept to the right and popped through a seam created by the blocks of center Tyler Biadasz and right guard Beau Benzschawel. Once past the line of scrimmage, Taylor used his speed to outrun several defenders to the end zone.

The blocking was excellent and Taylor stayed on his run track.

“Me and the O-line were definitely on the same page that entire game,” Taylor said. “Blocks were amazing that game. We’re going in there trying to fit guys up, stay on guys.”

Nebraska is allowing an average of 236.5 rushing yards per game in its two Big Ten games.

Those numbers don’t matter to Settle. What matters is that Taylor relaxes and trusts his blocking. That point was made clear during the off week.

“We were making sure he understands what we’re trying to do an then grow on from there,” Settle said. “That is our thing, take that next step.”