Could the Pats Feature a Four Tight End Formation?

[BBass]

I'm not so sure Shiancoe is going to be on the opening day roster but I could see something like this long term should Ballard return.

New England Patriots: Could the Pats Feature a Four Tight End Formation? | Bleacher Report

 

[Joker]

show me this 4 Tight End formation...

 

[BBass]

show me this 4 Tight End formation...

Joker are you joking? Read the link.

 

[Creative Username]

Joker are you joking? Read the link.

Pshh no... Joker is completely serious!
wait a minute...

 

[Dingleberry]

I suspect we are going to see quite a bit of 3 TE formations. And 4 TE's are intriguing once in a while.

What does a D do? Respect those passing threats with a nickel or dime, and they run it with the big bodies in there. Play the run, and good luck covering those TE's with LB's.

 

[Joker]

I read the article...correct me if I'm wrong but splitting out a TE means that player is a split end or slot receiver, which would mean Welker is off the field. Putting a TE at fullback means there is a fullback on the field being manned by someone with TE skills.

when someone says "a four TE formation" I interpret that to mean four TE's along the line, since that is where the TE plays...when Herno plays in the backfield he's an H back, not a TE...same as when he splits out wide, he's a WR..

 

[Dingleberry]

I read the article...correct me if I'm wrong but splitting out a TE means that player is a split end or slot receiver, which would mean Welker is off the field. Putting a TE at fullback means there is a fullback on the field being manned by someone with TE skills.

when someone says "a four TE formation" I interpret that to mean four TE's along the line, since that is where the TE plays...when Herno plays in the backfield he's an H back, not a TE...same as when he splits out wide, he's a WR..

I think the point is the adjustments the offense can make at the line with 4 TE's in there.

Can go jumbo with a RB and one of the TE's at FB.

Can spread the 4 TE's out with a WR to some degree. Hell, can even motion Hernandez back to HB and run it if the D has sold out to the pass.

Because of the versatility of these 4 TE's, the offense can be a nightmare for opposing D's.

 

[ausbacker]

show me this 4 Tight End formation...

Only because you asked so kindly...

 

[Creative Username]

I think the point is the adjustments the offense can make at the line with 4 TE's in there.

Can go jumbo with a RB and one of the TE's at FB.

Can spread the 4 TE's out with a WR to some degree. Hell, can even motion Hernandez back to HB and run it if the D has sold out to the pass.

Because of the versatility of these 4 TE's, the offense can be a nightmare for opposing D's.

Yeah... I can see it now. Hernandez in at RB, Fells at FB, and Gronk and Shiancoe bunched to the right, Play action to Hernandez who runs a wheel route while Fells blocks... But it's GRONK down the seam for the easy TD as he runs into the endzone with a safety and linebacker trying to tackle him!

 

[Joker]

Excuse me C.U., but right now I got other "ends" on my mind.....

 

[Creative Username]

Excuse me C.U., but right now I got other "ends" on my mind.....

yeah... I was writing that as it was being posted. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to form a coherent sentence.
Your distraction is understandable.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

What would this formation be called? THE BIG CAT - a tribute to the wild-cat?

 

[PP2]

Because of the versatility of these 4 TE's, the offense can be a nightmare for opposing D's.

Maybe in the red zone, but because there's no speed or deep threat, you can cheat the defense quite a bit against this personnel such as reducing your line, play an extra backer in the nickel or dime, etc.

 

[Ring 6]

I read the article...correct me if I'm wrong but splitting out a TE means that player is a split end or slot receiver, which would mean Welker is off the field. Putting a TE at fullback means there is a fullback on the field being manned by someone with TE skills.

when someone says "a four TE formation" I interpret that to mean four TE's along the line, since that is where the TE plays...when Herno plays in the backfield he's an H back, not a TE...same as when he splits out wide, he's a WR..

I figured it meant double TE with a TE type player tight on the wing on each side.
That would be very easy to defend.

 

[Ring 6]

Yeah... I can see it now. Hernandez in at RB, Fells at FB, and Gronk and Shiancoe bunched to the right, Play action to Hernandez who runs a wheel route while Fells blocks... But it's GRONK down the seam for the easy TD as he runs into the endzone with a safety and linebacker trying to tackle him!

Why would that be different than any line up at all running Gronk down the seam on play action? Other than less respect for the play action because a TE is playing tailback?
Not sure what you feel you gained by formation here.

 

[xlcjw72]

Why would that be different than any line up at all running Gronk down the seam on play action? Other than less respect for the play action because a TE is playing tailback?
Not sure what you feel you gained by formation here.

Football is all about miss matches, if i see a 5'10 190 guy on gronk im throwing to him all day

 

[Frezo]

In all of the threads that were either started or high jacked that asked, "What do they do if Lloyd or Welker go down?", not one person suggested they simply run a 4 TE set and all will be fine. The suggestion is now that they purposefully put Lloyd or Welker, or both, on the bench and replace them with TEs.

The Bleacher Report dude ends his :blahblah: with:

However, it could be the four-tight end formation that causes the most confusion for opposing defenses, and it could be the most unstoppable formation in the National Football League.

Fells caught all of 19 passes last year, Shiancoe can't get on the field and Silvestro hasn't played a real game yet. Gronk and Ahern are awesome TEs, but they are not awesome wideouts.

 

[BBass]

I read the article...correct me if I'm wrong but splitting out a TE means that player is a split end or slot receiver, which would mean Welker is off the field. Putting a TE at fullback means there is a fullback on the field being manned by someone with TE skills.

when someone says "a four TE formation" I interpret that to mean four TE's along the line, since that is where the TE plays...when Herno plays in the backfield he's an H back, not a TE...same as when he splits out wide, he's a WR..

All joking aside Joker, I just wanted to share the article because I found it to be interesting.

I do not think where a player lines up changes the player that they are. Gronk is still 6'6 270lbs whether he is on the line or split out wide. He can run 10 yards and stand there against any CB in the league and Brady can just throw it high and the CB doesn't have a chance. That is where the mismatch is and the basis of the article and concept offered.

 

[BBass]

In all of the threads that were either started or high jacked that asked, "What do they do if Lloyd or Welker go down?", not one person suggested they simply run a 4 TE set and all will be fine. The suggestion is now that they purposefully put Lloyd or Welker, or both, on the bench and replace them with TEs.

The Bleacher Report dude ends his :blahblah: with:

However, it could be the four-tight end formation that causes the most confusion for opposing defenses, and it could be the most unstoppable formation in the National Football League.

Fells caught all of 19 passes last year, Shiancoe can't get on the field and Silvestro hasn't played a real game yet. Gronk and Ahern are awesome TEs, but they are not awesome wideouts.

So your first statement is ridiculous,

1. The article clearly say you could run the set with 1 WR. So you are not taking both Welker and Lloyd off the field. Your taking a RB off the field which we do consistently already.
2. Lloyd and Welker come off the field sometimes anyway. They do not play every single offensive snap of the season.
3. Nobody is saying to run this set all the time the article say could the Pats feature a 4 TE set? Yes they could feature it in different situations and in different variations.

How that article read in your mind that we should bench Lloyd and Welker or use this set in an injury situation is really beyond me but I am sorry that you viewed it at that level.

 

[Frezo]

So your first statement is ridiculous,

1. The article clearly say you could run the set with 1 WR. So you are not taking both Welker and Lloyd off the field. Your taking a RB off the field which we do consistently already.
2. Lloyd and Welker come off the field sometimes anyway. They do not play every single offensive snap of the season.
3. Nobody is saying to run this set all the time the article say could the Pats feature a 4 TE set? Yes they could feature it in different situations and in different variations.

How that article read in your mind that we should bench Lloyd and Welker or use this set in an injury situation is really beyond me but I am sorry that you viewed it at that level.

No. I said Lloyd or Welker. Your're the one saying that I only said Lloyd and Welker. Why wouldn't a team want to run what, could be the most unstoppable formation in the National Football League all of the time? It's so silly.