The Dynasty

Not to sure about this. I think this game plan for the TE's will be focused more on Hernandez. I think Gronk will be very valuable and used often when the Pats get in the red zone though.

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"It is what it is" -Bill Belichick

"...as the head coach I can kind of do whatever I want. If I want to coach the punters, I can go coach the punters. If I want to watch the offensive guards, I can watch the offensive guards." - Bill Belichick

Jackson 2

Different opponents call for different personnel utilization due to match-ups. Simple as that and nothing else, in my opinion, needs to be read into it.

TheFreshnessQ

Happy no one thinks he's being lazy.

I'm going to go with the bad couple games option, as he is a rookie, and up until now has performed better then many expected, or at least I expected.

Tyler.Durden

Just a victim of game planning, no reason to be concerned

Modest

Played for the best match up- that simple.

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signbabybrady

Really nice to look at that..........what a draft!!

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peterforpats

he's fine. i trust BB and the coaches to use him when the situation calls for it. it is what the pats are all about- situational football that changes better and faster than any other team. i believe thats why they can win with rookies , cast-offs from other teams, and so-called second tier players- face it, the pats have the best head coach in football-now and maybe of all time.

IllegalContact

The pats needed to be more physical against the steelers.

don't think its the rookie wall, but spacing their game time a bit will have the rookies be fresher come playoff time.

serifyn

Relax, Hernandez isn't going to drop off the face of the planet after a couple drops, in Cleveland before the Steelers game he had 2 Touchdowns and had one of his best games of the year, they released randy moss because they have faith in players like Hernandez.

The Patriots struck gold in this draft in their 2 tight ends enough so that they can totally change the face of the offense. Hernandez is a tight end with the skillset of a wideout, he cannot be covered by a linebacker, so he creates a mismatch for teams who dont have alot of secondary depth.

However, the gameplan against the Steelers was to use both tight ends as pass blockers and force their rush linebackers to turn into pass defenders as they would sneak out of the back like gronkowski, welker would be double covered and branch would draw his own coverage, BJGE could also block or be a pass-catching option which you saw, in the end, this combination of unlikely pass catchers neutralized the steelers pass rush and blitz.

against the colts, Tom Brady will be able to hear the what is going on around him better, and he will have the comfort in the pocket he always plays better at home because of this and i expect a bigger role for hernandez.

The Brandon Five

I think I just came.