MADISON – Tailback Jonathan Taylor has played 27 games at Wisconsin.

He has 622 “touches” in those games. That includes 606 carries, for a combined 4,171 yards.

He has just 16 receptions, however, for 155 yards.

As dangerous as Taylor is running between the tackles or sweeping around end behind his blockers, imagine the 5-foot-11, 219-pound sprinter getting the ball on the edges of the defense, already with space to maneuver.

“Obviously, that is something a lot of people have been harsh on J.T. about,” fellow tailback Garrett Groshek said after practice on Wednesday. “And he’ll be the first one to tell you that has been absent from his game.”

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Taylor worked diligently before his sophomore season to improve his receiving skills. The results were negligible, however. He finished with eight catches for 95 yards as a freshman and finished with eight catches for 69 yards as a sophomore.

Taylor’s biggest issue appeared to be his inability to consistently catch the ball cleanly. Taylor on Wednesday noted part of the problem was that he wasn’t always certain about his assignment.

“When you don’t really know your assignment you’re hesitant,” he said. “You’re not able to play fast. When you’re able to play fast you can go out there and cut it loose. You’re a lot more natural and it comes easily.”

Taylor has been working on the JUGS machine often during camp and appears to be catching the ball more cleanly in drills and 11-on-11 segments.

“Being able to continuously get reps and continue to work on it…this is the time to do it,” Taylor said. “This is the time to ask questions and get the reps, different looks. This is the perfect time to be able to perfect that craft.”

Groshek added: “You can see it making a difference.”

Taylor has also been working with and seeking advice from Groshek, who had 24 catches for 163 yards and a touchdown last season. Grohsek, who played quarterback in high school and during his redshirt year at UW, served as the team's primary third-down back last season because of his abilities as a receiver and pass-blocker.

“Him coming in, quarterback position, I feel that is one of his strengths,” Taylor said. “He knows the offense inside and out. He sees the big picture. It comes easily to him.

“So ever since I got up here I’m always picking his brain on runs, passes…he has been a great tool for me since I’ve been here.”

The staff has used the early part of camp to experiment with Taylor and Groshek on the field together.

“The sky the limit,” Groshek said. “It is going to be hard to take him off the field.”

Extra points

Collin Larsh in the spring appeared to be a more accurate kicker than Zach Hintze, who has handled kickoffs the last two seasons. But Hintze showed again Wednesday he could be a weapon on field-goal attempts, even if used only on longer kicks. Seconds after Larsh hit a 49-yard attempt, Hintze made a 50-yard kick that appeared as if it would have been good from 55 to 60 yards…

Defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk (left arm) was held out again Wednesday.

Jack Dunn, Aron Cruickshank and Danny Davis worked on punt returns Wednesday.