Green bay – patrick taylor is going to start looking at the clock when his eyes aren’t on the field in front of him.
The green bay packers running back should have a quick fix, something taylor didn’t do before last week. Taylor had a chance to complete a positive play against the kansas city chiefs twice the week before. Taylor had to step out of bounds with 1 minute, 16 seconds remaining in the half and ran toward the right sideline.
The packers had one timeout. Taylor hopped out of a tackle at the line of scrimmage, allowing him to reach the sideline for what would have been a 4-yard run. Taylor turned back toward the inside of the field for an extra yard rather than stepping out. The clock kept ticking. Taylor was given another eighteen seconds to love. He ran into the open field for 24 yards before heading back to the right sideline.
Taylor slowed down inbounds instead of battling for the sideline with less than 50 seconds left. seventeen more seconds passed before the chiefs called a timeout, allowing them to better defend their offense. Taylor said, “your coach preaches for extra yards as a running back.” It’s impossible not to stay inbounds and fight for extra yards, but you’ve got to get out of bounds there in situations like this one, which has about 24 seconds left. “on the packers final drive of the first half, the clock wasn’t an issue.” Love was sacked on third down, forcing a punt.
Taylor had the same opportunity against the new york giants on monday night when he took a checkdown from love with 33 seconds left in the first half. Taylor had free access to the sideline during two timeouts for the packers. Taylor had the misfortune of not going out of bounds right in front of matt lafleur, but instead he cut back toward the middle of the field, gaining only 3 more yards but forcing the packers to call a timeout. The coach let his running back hear it on the sideline before he screamed in disbelief. Whatever lafleur said on the sideline, his message seems to have stuck. Taylor said, “it’s just a lack of concentration.” “many people are unaware of the situation.
Taylor said he’s coached to prioritize yards over time in the majority of cases, but that happens late in half when time is of the essence. Taylor said it’s better to run for more yards if 90 seconds remain and his team still has timeouts. He said that it changes in a minute. Taylor acknowledged that when the seconds tick down, he needs to stop the clock. For him to make the wrong call three times in the last two games put a damper on what otherwise might have been a positive contribution to the packers offense. Taylor’s 24-yard run against the chiefs was the longest in his career. His 81 yards against the chiefs and giants were the most he’s had in a row.taylor didn’t seem to be gratified by either result. Taylor said, “me, i’m my biggest self-critic.” “i’m really strict on myself,” he says.
It definitely overshadowed those good runs and those good plays in the chiefs game and in this past giants game as i made those bad plays. I’m the hardest on myself, because i’m the hardest on myself. I know the coaches were really harsh on me in those situations, but i’m going to be my biggest critic. Taylor hasn’t been juggling the clock between games, focusing on his responsibilities for the upcoming game.
The lack of awareness is evident, but he expects it to diminish. He’ll know where to look when he’s on the field late in sunday’s first half against the tampa bay buccaneers. Taylor said, “i think it’s going a step further.” “before the play is called, or while you’re in the huddle, running back, you look up at the scoreboard and see the clock. You’re like, “hey, i should get the ball right here,” you’re saying. “having that awareness to look at the clock.”
