Third Tight End thread

[memento]

Watch out for some goal line touchdowns this season from the newest Olineman. The problem is Brady keeps scoring from 15yds out.

[brady199]

What about Dane Fletcher?

[lawrence welker]

Originally Posted by brady199

What about Dane Fletcher?

What about Jon Bon Jovi? Didn't he declare???

[patsfaninpa]

I mentioned in a thread earlier in the week this might be a formation we use regardless of injuries. It gets another great blocker on the field. Makes the play-action threat real. I think we'll see more of it. And, I think we'll throw to our wr's out of it too.

[Fencer]

Solder would, I hope, be a more effective blocker than Lesser Gronk.

I believe Lesser Gronk has also picked up a couple of penalties already, although those may have been on Greater Gronk instead.

However, I presume Lesser Gronk is somewhat more of a threat to catch a pass than Solder is.

[Fencer]

TE Dan Gronkowski -- 19 of 71
TE Nate Solder -- 18 of 71

&

1 WR/3 TE/1 RB -- 18 of 71

From Offensive snaps: Gronk leads way - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston and Positional groupings: All about TEs - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Well, it's pretty clear who plays TE in the base 3-TE set.

That said, who are the WR options? Slater only got 4 snaps total this time.

[Fencer]

Also, who's the first reserve for that set if somebody gets hurt? With one exception, the package uses all the TEs and tackles, so injury is a situation that could easily arise.

My first answer, then, is Hernandez.

[NordicVoyager]

I noticed Solder several times on the field, almost always after the play was done. Does anyone have a summary of how he lined up as TE on those 18 plays? I am also curious about what percentage of the plays were runs (especially in 4Q when the focus was on running the ball and putting the game away).

[BlitzFritz]

Guys,

I love the Gronk - fest as much as the next guy!

BUT

Gronk 2 does not look that huge. And he has one false start per game so far. My sense is that he is fodder and a fill in.

I would prefer to see Crumpler devestating people once he is recovered.

(I did find it interesting to see Solder as a TE. However, he is more than likely going to need to play tackle for large chunks of the season).

What do others think?

-- FRITZ

[jmt57]

Why Solder at TE was effective - New England Patriots Blog - espnBoston

"The Chargers have a very good defensive front. They have outstanding guys on the end of the line [at outside linebacker] with [Travis] LaBoy, [Shaun] Phillips and [Antwan] Barnes, so just having another guy out there to handle them or another guy on the wing with Dan Gronkowski just puts a little more presence on those positions," coach Bill Belichick explained.

Here is how the Patriots' production broke down out of the Solder power package:

Runs: 14 for 63 yards, TD
Passes: 3 of 3 for 41 yards

On one snap, the Chargers were penalized for a neutral zone infraction.

The package was used seven times in the first half, and 11 times in the second half. In the second half, it helped the Patriots impose their will on the Chargers on the final touchdown drive.