GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Jermichael Finley believes he's ready to take his game to the next level, but there's one issue standing in the way of that happening for the Packers' talented young tight end: a lack of chemistry with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Finley admits he struggled getting on the same page last season with the league's MVP.

"I'm not blaming it on my offseason, but me and the QB didn't have chemistry," Finley said this week after a Packers OTA practice. "The routes were off sometimes, and that'll mess with your head when the ball comes."

Finley led Green Bay in drops with 12, the most among NFL tight ends. With his 55 receptions last season, that put Finley's drop rate at 17.91 percent. According to ProFootballFocus.com, the only player in the league with a higher drop rate was Cleveland Browns rookie wide receiver Greg Little.

Despite the drops, Finley is an elite athlete who just turned 25 and appears to have the ability to become a dominating force on offense. It was with that in mind that the Packers gave Finley a two-year, $15 million extension this offseason.

"Catching comes second-nature to me," Finley said. "All I've got to do is focus a little bit more. I know I can catch the ball. I know I'm going to catch the ball this year for sure I'm going to catch it.

"I feel like I've been playing like a robot lately. I just need to get out there and freestyle it: Play fast, not count my steps, not worrying about how the defense is playing me or what the defense is doing and just 'do me.' If I do me, it can take my game to the next level.

"That's where I struggle. I get out there and think too much. If you go out there with too much on your head, it can mess up your game."

Finley missed the majority of Green Bay's Super-Bowl winning year in 2010 after suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 5.During his 2011contract year, Finley wanted to have a healthy season to prove that his knees wouldn't be an issue moving forward, but those lingering thoughts did have a negative effect on his play.

"Every time somebody got around my legs, I was like, Watch out,' " Finley said. "I was thinking about that next injury. I can say it was because of the injury last year, for sure.

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