Tight End Production for 2015

Would I be insane to think that we could see 2000+ yards and 30 touchdowns from this group? Constant mumblings about Gronk looking like he can break the single-season record of 23, Chandler should be very prominently featured in the RZ and this will be the first time he's ever had A.) ANY level of competency at the QB position, B.) Mostly pass first offense, and C.) An All-World partner at TE

I say we see:
Gronkowski - 90/1,200/21 (24 would be so sweet though but I need to be a LITTLE more"realistic", right?)
Chandler - 60/800/9

The VAST majority of our passing TDs have come from the TE position since 2010 and that shouldn't change any for 2015 with this duo with the RB corps generally contributing another 12-20 TD's.

And Jake Bequette.

Not unrealistic at all and lol about Bequette. He's been getting good press in camp..

Looks like a good group

Another month and x days until the long wait is over and we get to see all this on the field... it's starting to feel real.

Reports are that we'll know "sooner than later" whether Brady plays or sits. There's upside if he sits - we see more of JAG and he gets more real-life game experience. Obviously there's upside if he plays.

Need back-to-back SBs again. For right now will settle for "on to Pittsburgh."

I'd like to see the 2 te set used a little more than it was last year. I am no way saying go back to 2010 when it was the dominant formation. I just like the idea of constantly switching it up and getting the personal mismatches to abuse the opponent. Evidently they did a great job with personal last season (Super Bowl Champions) but it's going to be nice watching The jumbo package of Gronkowski, Chandler and Dobson if he can keep improving. That's a lot of big targets right there.

Patriot Missile said:

I'd like to see the 2 te set used a little more than it was last year. I am no way saying go back to 2010 when it was the dominant formation. I just like the idea of constantly switching it up and getting the personal mismatches to abuse the opponent. Evidently they did a great job with personal last season (Super Bowl Champions) but it's going to be nice watching The jumbo package of Gronkowski, Chandler and Dobson if he can keep improving. That's a lot of big targets right there.

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I think it could once again be the dominant formation:

JE - LaFell - Gronk - Chandler - Blount/White(?)

Would not be surprised to see that formation 60% of the time, especially during the hurry up/no huddle which I hope we feature prominently again. That's a very strong run and pass personnel group right there.

Both TE can play inline or spread out, and if one or both need a breather, both DA and AD are having very strong camps by all accounts to go to a traditional WR based Spread Offense.

strngplyr said:

Would I be insane to think that we could see 2000+ yards and 30 touchdowns from this group? Constant mumblings about Gronk looking like he can break the single-season record of 23, Chandler should be very prominently featured in the RZ and this will be the first time he's ever had A.) ANY level of competency at the QB position, B.) Mostly pass first offense, and C.) An All-World partner at TE

I say we see:
Gronkowski - 90/1,200/21 (24 would be so sweet though but I need to be a LITTLE more"realistic", right?)
Chandler - 60/800/9

The VAST majority of our passing TDs have come from the TE position since 2010 and that shouldn't change any for 2015 with this duo with the RB corps generally contributing another 12-20 TD's.

And Jake Bequette.

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The Patriots already had one of the top Red Zone scoring offenses last year. Can't imagine what it will be this year with the addition of two quality TE's.

Tony2046 said:

The Patriots already had one of the top Red Zone scoring offenses last year. Can't imagine what it will be this year with the addition of two quality TE's.

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2? Oh yeah, Bequette.

strngplyr said:

I think it could once again be the dominant formation:

JE - LaFell - Gronk - Chandler - Blount/White(?)

Would not be surprised to see that formation 60% of the time, especially during the hurry up/no huddle which I hope we feature prominently again. That's a very strong run and pass personnel group right there.

Both TE can play inline or spread out, and if one or both need a breather, both DA and AD are having very strong camps by all accounts to go to a traditional WR based Spread Offense.

Click to expand...

One thing about the hurry up is that it leaves less time for the defense to rest. If the Pats can have long sustained drives while controlling or burning time off the clock, the defense will be better rested and have less cover responsibilities during the game.. That and having the big front 7 rested might be lead to a better pass rush throughout the game.

Not sure if that's how it will work out but something I have been thinking about.

Folks...it'll be multiple formations and multiple personal groups.

If healthy, Gronk, JE11 and LaFell will get ~80/1000/10 each. That's the big three.

Not sure expecting big numbers from players lower on the depth chart makes sense.

Tony2046 said:

One thing about the hurry up is that it leaves less time for the defense to rest. If the Pats can have long sustained drives while controlling or burning time off the clock, the defense will be better rested and have less cover responsibilities during the game.. That and having the big front 7 rested might be lead to a better ass rush throughout the game.

Not sure if that's how it will work out but something I have been thinking about.

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I hope we don't have an ass rush, much rather our players pass rush while they're on the field!

I like a combination of No-Huddle and Hurry Up offense, just because you don't huddle doesn't mean that you're required to snap the ball quickly, traps the defense in a favorable personnel grouping due to threat of the snap. No substitutions.

And if you're scoring, the defense should still get plenty of time to rest between XP, kickoff, the 3 or 4 commercial breaks they'll find ways to throw in, etc. Just can't run a hurry-up and fail to score, that's your own defenses worst nightmare.

strngplyr said:

I hope we don't have an ass rush, much rather our players pass rush while they're on the field!

I like a combination of No-Huddle and Hurry Up offense, just because you don't huddle doesn't mean that you're required to snap the ball quickly, traps the defense in a favorable personnel grouping due to threat of the snap. No substitutions.

And if you're scoring, the defense should still get plenty of time to rest between XP, kickoff, the 3 or 4 commercial breaks they'll find ways to throw in, etc. Just can't run a hurry-up and fail to score, that's your own defenses worst nightmare.

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What's the substitution rule the refs used during the Ravens game? Is it that the defense can only get enough time to substitute players when the offense has changed personnel ?

robertweathers said:

Folks...it'll be multiple donations and multiple personal groups.

If healthy, Gronk, JE11 and LaFell will get ~80/1000/10 each. That's the big three.

Not sure expecting big numbers from players lower on the depth chart makes sense.

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I think the battle may actually be DA vs SC. Nothing against DA, he became one of my favorites after his resurgance in the playoffs and we may not win vs BAL or SEA without some of his "heroics", but I think most of us would want SC to win that battle for a few reasons. We made the 2TE/2WR/1RB package one of the deadliest in the league (please, no pun), it's versatility can be unmatched with the correct personnel.

If SC can create separation from the teams 2nd or 3rd best TE cover guys then the ball should absolutely go his way, and go his way often. Gronk will be beating the #1 cover guys like a drum and Edelman and LaFell should both post numbers around the 1,000 yard mark, but guys like Edelman and Welker are NEVER the TD machines in our offense, at least not while 6'6 and 6'7 TEs are taking up all of the space on the smallest part of the field.

Vereens receiving numbers probably won't be picked up by another back either, based on what's on the roster right now and what we've heard from camp. Those numbers will most likely be distributed out evenly elsewhere.

I think, offensive line permitting, there is no reason that we shouldn't have around 4500+ yards through the air, I can also easily see the majority of it split between 4 guys. Those 4 guys will be determined by SC vs DA dictating the offensive formation used most actively (or SC vs LaFell if DA manages to pass him with a strong camp while he recovers).

Brady6 said:

I think the hype surrounding Scott Chandler is overblown on this board. Chandler is an average tight end who can as a starter playing 80% of his teams snaps never produced more than 655 yards and 6 touchdowns in a season. Now he is going to be a backup and play in some 2 TE formations.

Expecting Gronkowski to catch 21 or even 24 touchdowns is extreme, he had 17 in 2012 and that was in an offense with Hernandez who may be a huge POS who destroyed his life, but he was a significantly better player than Chandler.

I think a realistic goal for the TEs would be 1600 yards 18 touchdowns.

There are 3 players who will see the field basically every time, Edelman, Gronkowski, and LaFell. The rest of the Chandler, Amendola, and Dobson group will be used in different packages, but I do not think any of them will see the field more than 45% of the team’s snaps. I consider that when projecting at their production.

2 TE = Edelman, Gronkowski, LaFell, Chandler
3 WR = Edelman, Gronkowski, LaFell, Amendola
Big 3 WR = Edelman, Gronkowski, Dobson, LaFell

In my opinion, if Amendola plays well as he did against the Ravens and Seahawks in the playoffs he will be on the field the most reps.

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I agree he's probably overhyped, by myself included, but I think he's a better player than 655 and 6 TDs in our offense. Just as LaFell was. Going from Newton/Clausen or Fitzpatrick/EJ/Orton to Brady and having Edelman and Gronk stealing attention of the defense helps anyone.

Edit: I also don't think a 2 TD and 145 yard improvement over his best campaigns is asking that much. You're most likely correct on Gronk TD predictions though, but I wouldn't call anything an impossible accomplishment for Gronk.

Tony2046 said:

What's the substitution rule the refs used during the Ravens game? Is it that the defense can only get enough time to substitute players when the offense has changed personnel ?

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Roughly speaking, the rule is "If the offense makes substitutions, the defense has to have a reasonable amount of time to substitute, too."

Tony2046 said:

What's the substitution rule the refs used during the Ravens game? Is it that the defense can only get enough time to substitute players when the offense has changed personnel ?

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Different rules, those were eligible/ineligible formations that the Ravens players and coaches didn't understand. Perfectly legal outside of the Solder TD reception in the Colts game.

If the Offense substitutes the Defense must be given a chance to do so before play resumes. That's why we were penalized (incorrectly) on the 4th down Special Teams swap, the refs apparently didn't think being set for like 6 seconds was long enough.

strngplyr said:

I agree he's probably overhyped, by myself included, but I think he's a better player than 655 and 6 TDs in our offense. Just as LaFell was. Going from Newton/Clausen or Fitzpatrick/EJ/Orton to Brady and having Edelman and Gronk stealing attention of the defense helps anyone.

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If Chandler was doing ok with a QB in the AFCE (not named Brady), he can do better with a QB naamed Brady. Though, I agree it's more a matter of begin able to get an opportunity (as the players mentioned Gronk/Edleman/LaFell will certainly get their fair share).

Regardless, he offense is elite and Brady, given a good OL, will keep our offense in the top 5 for a significant number of good/qualified stats.