What About Holding Gronk Out of the 1st Half?

[shmessy]

Look, I'm sure folks will attack this, but what about holding Gronk out of the first half?

Many who have been there have said this week that players can stiffen up during the extra long halftime at the SB. They said this is a bigger problem for players playing with injuries.

Why not have him ready to go balls to the wall in the 2nd half for crunch time? It would be a nice injection of energy for our offense and would switch things up and keep NYG's D off balance.

 

[hovis]

No. .

 

[serifyn]

just play him, if you can get production out of him great, if you have to replace him in the second half, it is what it is.

 

[robbomango]

http://gifsoup.com/

 

[reflexblue]

Off to the practice squad..... It had occurred to me though, he be as fresh as a Daisy

 

[BlueThunder]

hmmm...I was thinking the same thing...

As long as the Giants didn't pull out ahead by double digits.

Use Vollmer at RT and have Solder as the blocking TE....

There are still plenty of targets with Wes,Branch,Hernandez,Ocho,Woody, BJGE, Faulk...plus wearing down the Giants D for a half and Gronk in fresh might be a HUGE advantage..

BB thinks outside the box, and this could be something he might employ..:rocker:

 

[Betterthanmost]

Look, I'm sure folks will attack this, but what about holding Gronk out of the first half?

Many who have been there have said this week that players can stiffen up during the extra long halftime at the SB. They said this is a bigger problem for players playing with injuries.

Why not have him ready to go balls to the wall in the 2nd half for crunch time? It would be a nice injection of energy for our offense and would switch things up and keep NYG's D off balance.

Sound reasonable to me. Two or even three different game plan for this game.
I have thought about holding him out to as I think they will be going for his ankle in the early stages.
If you can, add a poll and lets see.

 

[Halifax_Pats_Fan]

BB seemed optomistic re: 87 today...said he had a pretty good practice in a limited capacity..

 

[shmessy]

BB seemed optomistic re: 87 today...said he had a pretty good practice in a limited capacity..

Note one key thing from that practice report from the pool reporter:

When did Gronk first show up on the field at the practice yesterday?

AFTER the 31 minute halftime simulation.

It could be a coincidence.

 

[Ring 6]

It doesnt make sense to not him because his anke might tighten up at halftime.
Your way best case we get a half out of him.
If he starts the game we still get a half out of him, but also can get the second half too.
Its not like there is a 100% chance he can't play in the 2nd half if he plays in the first.
Your argument is like saying something might happen this month that I need money for so I'm going to wait until next month to pay my bills.

 

[PlainOldEd]

Gronk is going to play well all game.

 

[sevengables_2207]

I can see where you are coming from with this, but I do not think it is a good idea.

IMO, the team would want their best players out there as much as the game plan dictates in the most important game of the season. Gronk is an integral part of the team's offensive system, and should be featured to the level of his capabilities each game.

Furthermore, ankle sprains will often loosen up during the duration of physical activity. That means early on, Gronk might have issues getting comfortable before finally finding a groove later on, as ankle acclimates to the movements it is asked to perform.

Holding him out till the second half might limit his effectiveness until late in the game... if at all.

Quick aside: I have often heard/read about Freeney's ankle injury a few years ago in the SB cited in relation with Gronk's. People seem to think that the overdrawn half-time festivities will hamper Gronk as it did Freeney.

I deem it folly to assume this will happen with Gronk, as his physiology is not the exact same as Freeney's. Moreover, I predict that the Patriots training staff will be working diligently during the intermission to keep Gronk's ankle as spry as can be so as to mitigate any re-tightening the period of inactivity may induce.

 

[BelichickFan]

It doesnt make sense to not him because his anke might tighten up at halftime.
Your way best case we get a half out of him.
If he starts the game we still get a half out of him, but also can get the second half too.
Its not like there is a 100% chance he can't play in the 2nd half if he plays in the first.
Your argument is like saying something might happen this month that I need money for so I'm going to wait until next month to pay my bills.

Yep. shmessy is taking a possible negative of him only being able to play one half and guaranteeing it.

One thing about Freeney and his ineffectiveness in his second half, he needs his ankle for cutting and turning a lot more than Gronk, a lot of whose actions are straight forward and back - not that there's no cutting but he can power block, run an out or a slant with minimal cutting compared to what Freeney does.

 

[FortressX]

I heard Merril Hoge talking about Gronk this early A.M. on the radio.
He had one of these and he said he felt stronger in the second half.
He said Pats fans shouldn't worry if Gronk starts out slow.
He could still finish strong.

 

[Uncle Rico]

... I have often heard/read about Freeney's ankle injury a few years ago in the SB cited in relation with Gronk's. People seem to think that the overdrawn half-time festivities will hamper Gronk as it did Freeney.

I deem it folly to assume this will happen with Gronk, as his physiology is not the exact same as Freeney's. Moreover, I predict that the Patriots training staff will be working diligently during the intermission to keep Gronk's ankle as spry as can be so as to mitigate any re-tightening the period of inactivity may induce.

This is exactly what I was thinking. Gotta be a way to keep an ankle loose during a break. Plus, if you wait til the second half: Isn't the ankle just getting tighter by the second?

 

[brdmaverick]

http://gifsoup.com/

What he said.

 

[brdmaverick]

While we hope the Giants have three-and-outs, let's not forget that Gronkowski won't exactly be playing defense. Will and extended halftime really be that much different than Gronk standing on the sidelines watching the defense play?

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I think Bill held Welker out of the 1st quarter a few years ago because of punishment,didn't work out so well in that game.

I'll pass on this idea

If Rob is free from extreme pain you let him play,if not you sit him and take your chances with more Branch and Hernandez.

 

[sevengables_2207]

This is exactly what I was thinking. Gotta be a way to keep an ankle loose during a break. Plus, if you wait til the second half: Isn't the ankle just getting tighter by the second?

Good point. If, hypothetically, they hold him out until the second half, we can conjecture that the trainers will be working it until the game restarts, but even then, it will likely take some time for the ankle to warm up to the stress placed upon it by the hip/knee/ankle joints. By that time, if it comes at all, it may be too late for Gronk to have much of an impact.

 

[Salva135]

Excellent idea, sitting our best offensive weapon until we find ourselves down huge at the half, and THEN put him in and hope we can play catch up. Where do people get these ideas? :confused2:

How about this: we start him, go up by 4 touchdowns at the half, and then let him sit out and chill during most of the rest of the game? I can work with that...