Expect a Big Day From Gronk...Here's why

[RobertWeathers]

gronk doesn't have to be that important......he just brings something to the table that the pats didn't have in the last game.....

they won't be putting a DB on gronk as long as henrnadez is out there, too.....

the texans defense is simply weakest in the worst possible spot right now......short middle is going to kill them........it all kind of caves in from there

if I was the texans, I would strictly play nickle and make the pats running game beat me with what I can defend from there.

this ain't the bengals......every target the pats have goes into the middle short save lloyd

as for slowing watt? simple pump fakes gets him into the air.....mix in some hurry up and he will be begging to get off of the field

I have a funny feeling deion branch is going to figure prominently in this game.....I think he's another one who will get ignored and burn them for it

Yep. Let's say they play the Pats ala 2010 NYJ. Flood the middle of the field. Win the 1:1s on the line, send 3-5 lineman, blitz a few times and totally befuddle TB. Differences....

LLoyd > Branch
Ridley > BJGE
2012 AH > 2010 hurt AH
2012 Gronk > 2010 Gronk

Line is better. Depth is better, etc.

We've seen the 2012 offense get slowed down for sure and with TOs, 4 man pass rush, this offense can be slowed down.

I think the key is McDaniels. He needs to be patient, attack and if the run game is there, then run the damn ball.

 

[RodThePat]

Yep. Let's say they play the Pats ala 2010 NYJ. Flood the middle of the field. Win the 1:1s on the line, send 3-5 lineman, blitz a few times and totally befuddle TB. Differences....

LLoyd > Branch
Ridley > BJGE
2012 AH > 2010 hurt AH
2012 Gronk > 2011 Gronk

Line is better. Depth is better, etc.

What really screwed us in that game was being unable to run when the Jets had 5+ DBs on the field. With the personnel we have today, I believe they'd be able to hurt the Jets on the ground every single time they attempted to play the pass exclusively.

 

[Mack Herron]

The big unknown is health. On offense, will we get a one-armed or two-armed Gronk? Is he only a receiving threat or will he be able to block as well? (The last time we saw him his left arm dangled and he was not a great blocker.) The latter will determine his versatility and is key to his impact.

 

[SeymourTrophies]

It would be great to have a healthy Gronk who can block and catch close to his standards, but we need the receiver more than we need the blocker with Illinii Mike and Fells on the roster. A competent pass catcher keeps the coverage honest.

Against the fish, Gronk just looked gassed. Not being able to work out due to the nature of the injury will do that to you.

 

[patfanken]

A couple of comments on the comments:

1. We should be concerned about Gronk's one armed performance in the Miami game 2 weeks ago.

2. OTOH it was 2 weeks ago, and even in the Miami game he didn't seem to favor his arm in the passing game.

3. What Gronk brings to the game far exceeds his impact on the Pats passing game.

a. Assuming 2 more weeks of healing, his affect on the running game will be considerable.

b. Because of the health problems of the Texan ILB position, I fully expect to see them in a nickle D most of the time, daring the Pats to run the ball. And I fully expect, with Gronk on the field, the Pats to take the Texans up on that challenge. It SHOULD be a big day for the Pats RB's. I fully expect the total to exceed 150 yds

Bottom Line: Yes it WILL be a big day for Gronk, even if it doesn't show up in the receiving stats.

 

[The Gr8est]

What really screwed us in that game was being unable to run when the Jets had 5+ DBs on the field. With the personnel we have today, I believe they'd be able to hurt the Jets on the ground every single time they attempted to play the pass exclusively.

Sitting out Wes in the opening drive, unforced errors like Harris' pick, dropping catchable passes, and dealing with injury faking Rats dropping all over the field had an effect too.

 

[patchick]

the texans defense is simply weakest in the worst possible spot right now......short middle is going to kill them........

IMO this is the whole key to this rematch. I fully expect the Texans to play better than last time overall. But if Gronkowski is anywhere near full strength, this offense is pretty much a perfect storm bearing down on their weakest link.

 

[BelizePats]

An early and often dose of Ridley running the ball will set up the play action, which should in turn open up big chunks of the middle of the field.
My only concern here is McDaniels losing patience with the run too early.

 

[RayClay]

Expect a Big Day From Gronk...Here's why


....because he's Gronk!

Thread/......

Just kidding. great analysis. sure plays to our strength.

..and, as noted, we've got the running game to more than keep them honest.

 

[PP2]

If Joseph is on Gronk, Gronk will have a big day. Way too small. Joseph will more likely be on Hernandez.

If I am not mistaken, Philips runs either his base or dime (three safeties). I believe that with the dime, Philips will have a safety bracket Gronk on top, but you still need someone on the underneath to cut off intermediate routes or just to bracket, and Joseph is their best man in that regard.

 

[mayoclinic]

the texans defense is simply weakest in the worst possible spot right now......short middle is going to kill them....this ain't the bengals......every target the pats have goes into the middle short save lloyd....it all kind of caves in from there

IMO this is the whole key to this rematch. I fully expect the Texans to play better than last time overall. But if Gronkowski is anywhere near full strength, this offense is pretty much a perfect storm bearing down on their weakest link.

if I was the texans, I would strictly play nickle and make the pats running game beat me with what I can defend from there.

An early and often dose of Ridley running the ball will set up the play action, which should in turn open up big chunks of the middle of the field. My only concern here is McDaniels losing patience with the run too early.

What Gronk brings to the game far exceeds his impact on the Pats passing game.

a. Assuming 2 more weeks of healing, his affect on the running game will be considerable.

b. Because of the health problems of the Texan ILB position, I fully expect to see them in a nickle D most of the time, daring the Pats to run the ball. And I fully expect, with Gronk on the field, the Pats to take the Texans up on that challenge. It SHOULD be a big day for the Pats RB's. I fully expect the total to exceed 150 yds

Bottom Line: Yes it WILL be a big day for Gronk, even if it doesn't show up in the receiving stats.

Lots of good thoughts here:

- The Texans' defense is perfectly suited for the Pats' intermediate passing attack over the middle, as that is their weakest part.

- If they try to go dime (remember, the Texans haven't really played nickel, they've gone from base to dime) and clog the field, it opens things up for the Pats to run it down their throats, especially with Gronk in the game as a dual threat.

- Conversely, if the Pats can establish the run and set up play action, it makes it that much harder for the Texans to cover the middle of the field, and they will get shredded.

The most likely way it will get screwed up is not by the Texans' D, which simply can't match up, but either by a) poor execution or b) impatience on the part of the coaching staff, not establishing the run, and trying to force the ball into tight coverage.

 

[VrabelJr]

In our first match up with Houston I cited this very reason as to why we would win. Their ILBs just don't stand a chance. That said, Glover Quin has done a fine job helping them out against TEs. Something to look for is Quin vs Gronkowski with help from a CB occasionly.

 

[VrabelJr]

Also, a really interesting wrinkle from our first matchup was our use of the play action. We had a few plays where we got the entire defense moving to one side of the field and then we would throw to the opposite side or the middle. For some reason I don't expect to see that again but I'm sure Houston is thinking about it.

 

[PP2]

Also, a really interesting wrinkle from our first matchup was our use of the play action. We had a few plays where we got the entire defense moving to one side of the field and then we would throw to the opposite side or the middle. For some reason I don't expect to see that again but I'm sure Houston is thinking about it.

That's the stretch play which is actually a staple of Houston's offense as Schaub disguises the play-action so well. I was pretty surprised to see us use it against them. Pretty ballsy, rub-your-nose-in-it sort of move.

 

[Kontradiction]

That's the stretch play which is actually a staple of Houston's offense as Schaub disguises the play-action so well. I was pretty surprised to see us use it against them. Pretty ballsy, rub-your-nose-in-it sort of move.

I called that before the game. I really wanted to see us give them a taste of their own medicine. When we did, it usually went for either a score or big yardage.

 

[sevengables_2207]

Hopefully, Gronk can go full tilt on all cylinders. Having him back to help open holes in the running game will be huge... especially if the Patriots jump out to an early lead.