AzPatsFan

I think that Belichick has been trying to implement this Offense for about four years or more. Ever since he drafted Watson, and Thomas and then signed the Jets blocking TE in 2006, I would argue. Seemingly his recipe called for a blocking TE, a complete TE, and a receiving TE, just like what he has now with Alge, Gronk and Hernandez.

What does Belichick think that great benefits are of the these multiple TEs Offense? It is obvious created an awesome ball-control Offense, and created a scoring dynamo. But What makes it so prolific? What is making it so difficult to defend?

Discuss, please...

ctpatsfan77

Other folks will be able to elaborate more, but I can sum it up with three concepts:

(1) Mismatches. GRONK and Hernandez create all sorts of problems for opposing defenses: they have some sort of advantage on virtually every defender who might try to go against them one-on-ione.

(2) Reading defenses. By moving the TEs around, the Patriots can force the defense to declare itself, which makes it much easier for TFB to figure out which mismatch he wants to exploit.

(3) Unpredictability. With GRONK especially, they can use him as an extra blocker in the run game (he's opened quite a few nice holes) or in the passing game, or they can send him downfield to exploit potential holes in the defense.

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alvinnf

Two TE's is the best way to make a Defense show their hand. You balance out and see what their intent is. From there you just move forward and stay a step ahead by finding matchups through personnel. Having three good TE's is really a matchup nightmare for a defense. Now Gronk and Alge are the perfect blocking and pass catching duo. Gronk a little better recieving and Alge better in protection. Both are legit threats in the passing game. I don't care how many balls or how often Alge has been used as a reciever. He is a legit pass catching TE. Add in Hernandez an you have trouble. You can max protect or attack the defense on either side of the formation with your inline TE all while demanding a mismatch against your hybrid TE Hernandez. This offense is really hard to stop, really hard. You need matchup corners, a LB who can run to protect the underneath in bot the run and the passing game. You got inline TE's who are challenging for a S to cover and a hybrid TE who can be used to isolate the safety or the fifth DB, take your pick. Oh yeah, I forgot the run game benefits too.
Yeah he's been looking for these TE's for a while. He also has the luxury of having all the other complimentary parts, and a franchise QB. Good times, old paradigm.

xmarkd400x

I think you look at it this way: for every offensive personnel goruping there is usually a defensive personnel grouping. If the O brings in heavy, the D counteracts with heavy. If the O brings in 5 wide, the D brings in the nickle or dime package.

What the Pats can do, especially with Gronk, is get the D to put in one package and run the opposite kind of play. For example, the Pats could bring in a package of Crumpler, Gronkowski, Hernandez, Green-Ellis, and Branch (3 TE, WR, RB) and the defense would bring in their run-stopping package. Then lets say the offense lines up with 2 TE right, 1 TE left, 1 WR left, and one RB back, that is a power run formation. The defense will likely have a power run D in based on the personnel and think power run based on the formation. Then, let's say the Pats see a good matchup and want to pass. There are 4 pretty good pass catchers on the field (all skill positions minus Green-Ellis) and one average pass catcher on the field (Green-Ellis). You can now pass out of a running group against a running group.

That's how you win matchups.

patsfan13

This is the sort of O BB wanted when Graham and Watson were drafted in the first round of the draft, D Thomas was meant to provide the pass catcher that Graham and Watson never developed into. BB seems to have hot Gold with Hernandez and Gronk (like to see Alge around for a few more years too).

The previous posters are correct in their comments on what the multiple TE's (if good enough) bring to the table. I would generalize it even more what BB wants most of all is flexibility. Ideally he wants to have the ability to have the personnel groupings to put any sort of game plan in place, to attack your weakness. We can be even better next year (if Tate develops enough).


Want to Spread the Field? Welker, Tate, Branch, Heranadez and Edleman say hi, Want to go big with 3 TE + Welker with BJGE. If you play a base run the ball, Want to go big? Mismatch with Gronk or Hernandez on a LB or S. BB can look at the opposition and have the ability to put groupings on the field to suit whatever game plan he feels is best for that week. Dictate to the opposition. rather than having to react to a bad matchup. Of course TB is the perfect triggerman to orchestrate this sort of O.

Now with a young we can (we hope) have the same sort of flexibility to do the same on the D. Great time to be a Pats fans

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"Some guys play in all-star games, some guys don't. I don't know who picks all those all-star teams. In all honesty, I don't know who picks the combine, for that matter," Belichick said. "How does (Miami-Ohio offensive lineman Brandon) Brooks not get invited to the combine? How did Vollmer not get invited to the combine? I don't know. We can't really worry about that. We just have to try to evaluate them the best we can."

Sciz

The craziest thing about this offense is how versatile it can be. With Welker, Branch, Hernandez, Gronkowski, and Woodhead, the Pats can literally run everything from 5-wide to a 2 TE singleback set.

I asked one Jets fan on another forum how he'd defend against the Pats, assuming that Welker, Branch, Hernandez, Gronkowski, and Woodhead are the players in the huddle. His response was to go to a dime package, with one deep safety, man coverage underneath with a DB on each of the eligible receivers, 2 DL, and 3 LBs.

My response: two TE set, inside trap play to Woodhead. Five OL and 2 TEs blocking 2 DL, 3 LBs, and 4 DBs. Get two guys on the ground or running themselves out of the play, and that's an easy TD.

Fencer

BB is big on versatility. Most famously, he wants OLBs who can rush or cover passes, and DEs who can stand stout against a double team while pressuring a QB if less effectively blocked. He also really likes RBs who can be split wide as receivers.

So the versatility of the TEs fits right in.

The toughest thing is finding players big enough to bang with the big guys, fast/quick enough to run with the little ones, and smart/passionate as well.

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DarrylS

One component not mentioned is that you need all of these guys to be reasonably bright and focused, along with a very smart quarterback who can read defenses..

So much happens in this O when Brady is making reads on the D and changing the offensive sets...

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convertedpatsfan

Great points. Just wanted to add onto the flexibility portion as well. Even within the 2 TE grouping, there is incredible alignment flexibility with Gronk and Hernandez. Both can split out wide to change the 2 TE look into a 3 WR look. We've seen Hernandez in the backfield as a fullback. We've seen him as a WR, and sometimes even running the ball on end-arounds. How many TEs do you see running that play?

So even within the same group, you can create multiple alignments. The defense may have the right personnel out there to deal with it, until suddenly Gronk splits out wide, and suddenly you wish you had another safety out there instead of a LB.

PATSYLICIOUS

The earlier posts hit the nail on the head. Then you toss in a guy like Danny Woodhead who can catch, has great vision too as a ball carrier, and is adequate in blitz pickup... along with WR's who are solid run blockers, the versatility of each player in this offense makes it a matchup nightmare.

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