Wisconsin Football: Jonathan Taylor set to make noise in passing game

This season, Wisconsin Badgers’ football star Jonathan Taylor is out to prove that he can be a weapon in the team’s passing game.

When it comes to Jonathan Taylor’s ability as a running back, he really doesn’t have much more that he needs to prove. Since putting on the Wisconsin Badgers uniform as a true freshman, he has been absolutely dominant.

During his freshman season, Taylor would rush for 1,977 yards, breaking Adrian Peterson’s single-season FBS rushing record while also finishing sixth in Heisman voting. Then last season he would somehow eclipse those numbers and rush for 2,194 yards along with 16 touchdowns. Taylor was also named an All-American and would win the Doak Walker Award in 2018.

Now entering what is likely his final season with the Wisconsin Badgers before he heads to the NFL, Taylor is out to prove that he can be an every down running back and specifically, that he can make an impact in the passing game.

As big of an impact that Taylor has made in the Badgers’ rushing attack, he has been almost non-existent in the passing game. Over his two seasons, he has totaled only 16 receptions and zero touchdowns through the air.

There are a number of factors for Taylor’s lack of attempts in the passing game, some of which include that he just hasn’t been ready. Running backs coach John Settle has said that Taylor needs to become more reliable with catching the ball as well as with his blocking assignments. There has also been the play of Garrett Groshek on third downs and simply, Taylor just needs some rest here and there.

However, as we look ahead to the 2019 football season, Taylor has been hard at work this offseason with all of the nuances that come with being a pass-catching running back. As the 2018 season progressed, Settle had said that Taylor greatly improved as a pass blocker.

This summer, Taylor worked on being more precise with his route running, as well as developing his route tree, while also spending plenty of time improving his catching ability and his overall knowledge of the position.

In an interview with The Athletic, Settle mentioned trying to get Taylor 50 catches this season, and while that may be a lofty goal, even if Taylor can get half of that, it is going to be a major improvement for both him and this Wisconsin Badgers team.

If we look at former Badger running back Melvin Gordon, he would total only three receptions over his first two full seasons at Wisconsin. However, during his final season, he would haul in 19 passes, three of which went for touchdowns. Now in the NFL, Gordon plays an integral role in the L.A. Chargers passing attack.

Taylor has put in the work and hopefully we see it translate over to the football field once the season begins as it did for Gordon. If Taylor can prove to be a reliable option in the passing game, it is not only going to boost his draft stock come next April, but it is going to make this Badgers’ offense that much better.