The reason I think Graham's blocking is average is because in 2005 he had 40 successful blocks out of 51 attempts, a percentage of 78.6%, which was 21st among all TEs. When Graham had the Pointof Attack or Key Block in a running play in 2005, the plays averaged 4.5 yards per attempt, which ranked 24th among Tight Ends. In comparison, Heath Miller, the rookie for the Steelers, had 91 successful blocks out of 110, a success rate of 82.7%, 10th in the league, and when he was the Point of Attack blocker or delivered a Key block, the RB averagd 6 yards per attempt. Kyle Brady: 83.5%, 5.4; Kris Mangum: 82.9%, 6.0; Tuman 82.5%, 5.1; etc.
Several arguments could be made in Graham's defence: (1) he was nicked up last year; (2) the Pats running backs were sub-par; (3) The statistics I offer are inaccurate. To these I would answer (1) True, but he still wasn't a killer blocker. I have sympathy for his injury, but being nicked up is part of the game, and all players experience it. (2) Even if the Pats Rbs were sub-par, that doesn't explain why he finished 21st in successful blocks, which have little to do with the Rbs behind him. Willie Parker and Bettis weren't great either. And (3) I drew the stats from the much maligned KC Joyner. If you feel he is not credible than so be it. He put the time and effort in to accumulate the numbers, and I find that impressive. In the end, I believe Graham is a solid NFL blocker, but not the elite POA blocker that that we want to think he is. He showed good signs, flashes of blocking greatness in 2004, but hasn't been consistent since, probably due to his shoulder injury and maybe other reasons. Hopefully he proves the numbers wrong and emerges as a dominator. There's nothing I would like better than a monster POA blocker leading Maroney and Dillon.