Hernandez factor and how it hurt the Pats tonight

[MoneyFX]

Hernandez was injured and because of that, Gronk would get all of the attention and he wouldn't be available in the red zone as a target. That is important because he is obviously Brady's favorite red zone target. The Patriots could have put the ball in the endzone maybe a few more times tonight which would have given them a bigger margin instead of the field goals. Welker was still a threat in the middle of the field in Hernando's absence but doesn't present as a good red zone target like both of the TEs.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Hernandez was injured and because of that, Gronk would get all of the attention and he wouldn't be available in the red zone as a target. That is important because he is obviously Brady's favorite red zone target. The Patriots could have put the ball in the endzone maybe a few more times tonight which would have given them a bigger margin instead of the field goals. Welker was still a threat in the middle of the field in Hernando's absence but doesn't present as a good red zone target like both of the TEs.

What are your thoughts?

I've seen Gronk make plenty of catches in double coverage, particularly in the red zone. I don't think Hernandez' absence is as big a difference as you suggest. The lack of confidence in Gronk, or the McDaniels playcalling appears to be the bigger problem here.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I was going to make a similar thread.

It's no coincidence that until Hernandez comes back,Gronk will be double covered by a corner and a safety over the top.

Gronk and Hernandez are devastating for any DC when both are out there but it becomes tough when one of the other is out.

Expect Gronk to be a shallow of himself until Aaron returns......it must be up to Lloyd and Welker to take over the void.

Gronk might have been one of the biggest interests in every DCs mind when figuring out how to stop a guy like this......so far the film study has paid off.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Welker and lloyd both had 100 yards tonight...even if hernandez was in..i see the same outcome and same ****ty calls being called

 

[Sciz]

Gronk was mugged all night. A lot of it was legal, some of it was not.

It's just really frustrating that when the Pats finally get the outside guy to complement the 2 TEs, one of the TEs goes down.

 

[MoneyFX]

Welker and lloyd both had 100 yards tonight...even if hernandez was in..i see the same outcome and same ****ty calls being called

Ravens were lucky Hernandez didn't play. Brady could have had 3-4 TDs tonight

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Gronk might have been one of the biggest interests in every DCs mind when figuring out how to stop a guy like this......so far the film study has paid off.

Except that it hasn't worked out that way in practice.

Here are GRONK's stat lines for the four games Hernandez has missed previously:

2010
@BUF, Week 16: 4-54-2
v. MIA, Week 17: 6-102-1

2011
@BUF, Week 3: 7-109-2
@OAK, Week 4: 1-15-0

 

[Alfred]

We scored 30 points without Hernandez and should have been enough to win. Unfortunately, our secondary was poor but, even with that, as much as I hate to say it, the officials truly made the final difference in this one. One never likes to say officials caused a loss, and I hate doing it, but in this case I am making an exception. Chalk this one up to officials who were intimidated by the home crowd in the final minutes of the game.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Except that it hasn't worked out that way in practice.

Here are GRONK's stat lines for the four games Hernandez has missed previously:

2010
@BUF, Week 16: 4-54-2
v. MIA, Week 17: 6-102-1

2011
@BUF, Week 3: 7-109-2
@OAK, Week 4: 1-15-0

Teams are getting smarter about the kid and getting better on game planning.

If the team wants the old Gronk back out destroying secondaries they need to run the ball a bit more and keep defenses guessing.

 

[MoneyFX]

Teams are getting smarter about the kid and getting better on game planning.

If the team wants the old Gronk back out destroying secondaries they need to run the ball a bit more and keep defenses guessing.

Great point. The run game has been so ineffective, the LBs/DBs can just focus on Gronk knowing that the Pats aren't gonna run it with confidence. If they can get the run going, that'll suck up all the LBs in the box and Gronk can be Gronk.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Great point. The run game has been so ineffective, the LBs/DBs can just focus on Gronk knowing that the Pats aren't gonna run it with confidence. If they can get the run going, that'll suck up all the LBs in the box and Gronk can be Gronk.

Thats where we need to see if Vereen can get out of the ice bath and onto the field to help with a running game where Woodhead causes no concerns for defenses.

I am afraid if he can't then it's time to draft another back to compliment Ridley who will be a star in this league if they use his talents more often and get him a partner for a double headed ground attack

Where would the Texans be if they didn't have Foster and Tate to help out with Johnson,Walters and that devastating offense in Houston?

If the Pats are going to win another championship they will need that ground game to compliment the pass and the have at least one more RB who is capable of shredding defenses......then Gronk can run amok in secondaries with or without Hernandez playing.

 

[andrewgarrr]

Thats where we need to see if Vereen can get out of the ice bath and onto the field to help with a running game where Woodhead causes no concerns for defenses.

I am afraid if he can't then it's time to draft another back to compliment Ridley who will be a star in this league if they use his talents more often and get him a partner for a double headed ground attack

Where would the Texans be if they didn't have Foster and Tate to help out with Johnson,Walters and that devastating offense in Houston?

If the Pats are going to win another championship they will need that ground game to compliment the pass and the have at least one more RB who is capable of shredding defenses......then Gronk can run amok in secondaries with or without Hernandez playing.

That or get some pressure on the QB... Pass rush wasn't very good tonight.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

That or get some pressure on the QB... Pass rush wasn't very good tonight.

Hard to get a good pass rush when you're being held on every play.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

That or get some pressure on the QB... Pass rush wasn't very good tonight.

The premise of my post wasn't about this games goats but about Gronk this year so far.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Hard to get a good pass rush when you're being held on every play.

While that may have happened a lot tonight...do you really think the Pats OL played clean or more likely did the same since everyone was getting away with it?

There were Pats likely holding as well in the trenches.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

Thats where we need to see if Vereen can get out of the ice bath and onto the field to help with a running game where Woodhead causes no concerns for defenses.

Which makes me wonder why Woody was out there so much tonight. Why are they not using Ridley more?

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Which makes me wonder why Woody was out there so much tonight. Why are they not using Ridley more?

Because they plan on trading Woodhead by Oct. 30th and are showcasing him to obtain a high draft pick

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

Because they plan on trading Woodhead by Oct. 30th and are showcasing him to obtain a high draft pick

wait, I thought that was the plan with Welker?

 

[ATippett56]

Because they plan on trading Woodhead by Oct. 30th and are showcasing him to obtain a high draft pick

I'm still waiting for that 2013 NFL draft pick for Brian Hoyer.

Bueller ... Bueller ... Anyone?

 

[ATippett56]

What are your thoughts?

The New England Patriots offense scored 30 points tonight and not once turned over the football while playing on the road in a hostile environment. Seriously, the standard to which the New England Patriots offense to be held to on the PatsFans message board is perfection. Simply ridiculous.

Meanwhile, the New England Patriots defense gets a free pass with excuses abound.