Anyone else think Gronk was flexed-out wide way too often vs NYJ today?

So, were you guys seeing what I was seeing? Cause it just seemed the like Patriots were perfectly content to line up Gronk out wide, let Revis man-up on him, and essentially not even bother to mix it up, thus leaving Gronk neutralized....aside from the final drive, or so, where the Pats really relied on him (and moved him all around the field to create mismatches), and looked much better on O. Why so late to mix it up?

Granted, we see Gronk flexed out often, but today's approach -- for the first 3 Quarters -- was especially tame, based on what I noticed. Typically, putting Gronk out wide is done to cause a mismatch where a LB has to cover him outside the numbers. Or if there's a CB on him, it might indicate zone; or you'll motion him inside and force the D to choose if they want to keep a CB on him over the middle, if it's man. NE really didn't try any of this for the first 3 Quarters. It's like they were perfectly fine with Revis blanketing him outside the numbers, and didn't really try to do anything. I found it odd.

Anyway, late in the 4th Q, it really seemed like they tried to get Gronk back into the game. They motioned him inside (and caused Revis to be assigned to someone else), they simply lined him up off-tackle, or they'd line him up out wide, but on the other side of the field, where Revis wasn't located (to see if it's zone maybe)?

Why were they so late with their approach? It helped the offense in spades when Gronk was being moved around. Was it an attempt to keep Gronk healthy, while still using him as somewhat of a decoy to occupy Revis, maybe?

Looked like they where playing it safe with Gronk.

The Jets D line are complete scumbag cheap shot artists. A proven turd of a human being like Sheljerk would definitely attempt to cripple the Gronk with illegal shots at the knees.

No



And what's up with these type of questions? Gronk's flexed too much. They should have gone for two instead of taking the tying XP.........

One loss to the Jets and people are going batshit crazy.

gronk should be more involved.
4 catches for the greatest tight end wont cut it!

Hmm good question.

One could argue the game plan was to see if Gronk could beat Revis one on one and take what was there when the situation arose.

On the other had, you could say they were trying to preserve Gronk's body, as he didn't have to mix it up with Linebackers and Safeties, as we all know Revis is a finesse guy.

I would like to have seen more plays drawn up for him but, eh, oh well. Season is not over, our main weaopns are healthy, and we have a cupcake opponent next, which means we can win whilst resting key players.

I am just glad that we ended the with gronk healthy. He made some great 4th down catches. The first one looked like the defender could have rolled onto gronks ankle but the scary one was the second conversion because the defender could have went low so I appreciate him tackling with proper form. Just be glad we still have him and we already have a bye.

Angelpats said:

I am just glad that we ended the with gronk healthy. He made some great 4th down catches. The first one looked like the defender could have rolled onto gronks ankle but the scary one was the second conversion because the defender could have went low so I appreciate him tackling with proper form. Just be glad we still have him and we already have a bye.

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Yea I remember seeing the replay of that 4th and 9 Gronk catch and applauding the Jets safety for tackling at Gronk's waist/upper thigh area, as opposed to his knees, which many others would've done.

TBR said:

Yea I remember seeing the replay of that 4th and 9 Gronk catch and applauding the Jets safety for tackling at Gronk's waist/upper thigh area, as opposed to his knees, which many others would've done.

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Same here.

I'm gonna pick nits here and say that defender turned sideways and was trying to go low, so maybe he was there too late to cheap shot him, but if he wasn't good on him. I hate this mantra that you HAVE to go after guys legs these days, as it's demonstrably false.

I have felt he"s been flexed wide way too often this year. I know they like the size advantage on a db but his speed is nullified and he struggles to catch some of those balls. I also believe it diminishes his catch radius.

Defenses either have to show their hand or Gronk basically gets a free release off the line (which the jets weren't giving him when he lined up in the traditional place).

Either way, I'm on to Miami.

Brady did not look at any of his other targets once.
It was Martin Gronk and White.
Why did we cut Hankerson to activate a jag like he was going to do something he was out for a handful of snaps and didnt see one pass.

Th3Birdman said:

Hmm good question.

One could argue the game plan was to see if Gronk could beat Revis one on one and take what was there when the situation arose.

On the other had, you could say they were trying to preserve Gronk's body, as he didn't have to mix it up with Linebackers and Safeties, as we all know Revis is a finesse guy.

I would like to have seen more plays drawn up for him but, eh, oh well. Season is not over, our main weaopns are healthy, and we have a cupcake opponent next, which means we can win whilst resting key players.

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So you're saying there was a plan?

You know, I was somewhat surprised by this as well. After all, we all pretty much know that whomever has Revis covering them is taken out of the play.

I was surprised at times to see that person as Gronk on the outside.......BUT (big but here) they would usually change that before the ball is snapped. So I would see Gronk on the outside (and think to myself 'what are tehy doing') and then see him motion in. At which point Revis woudl drop off him onto someone else.

Joker said:

The Jets D line are complete scumbag cheap shot artists. A proven turd of a human being like Sheljerk

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******** that the refs looked the other way when he clearly taunted Brady after a sack.

They also missed the taunting call on the other jests sack when the guy did the throat slit.

But they had the eye sight of a hawk on Butler's ticky tack call where the jests would have had to punt from their 26 and Pats would have had the ball with 1:20 to go and 2 TOs.

Just hilarious that they can throw the flag on Butler, yet when ass**** marshall puts two hands on Harmon's back and extends they refuse to throw a flag.

ChrisR2223 said:

Why did we cut Hankerson to activate a jag like he was going to do something he was out for a handful of snaps and didnt see one pass.

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You act like that jag Hankerson was going to see anymore time than Harper did.

JMC00 said:

******** that the refs looked the other way when he clearly taunted Brady after a sack.

They also missed the taunting call on the other jests sack when the guy did the throat slit.

But they had the eye sight of a hawk on Butler's ticky tack call where the jests would have had to punt from their 26 and Pats would have had the ball with 1:20 to go and 2 TOs.

Just hilarious that they can throw the flag on Butler, yet when ******* marshall puts two hands on Harmon's back and extends they refuse to throw a flag.

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The Jets use opi like they know it will never be called! Look at Decker's touchdown the receiver in the slot on the other side drives the db 3 yards into the end zone , Decker did the same thing in the game at NE.

Deus Irae said:

No



And what's up with these type of questions? Gronk's flexed too much. They should have gone for two instead of taking the tying XP.........

One loss to the Jets and people are going batshit crazy.

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Had the Jets fumbled the opening kickoff in OT and we had recovered it in the endzone, all of the strategies, formations, and coaching decisions yesterday would have been above reproach.

I will say, though, that the one thing very concerning: we probably have one of the worst short-yardage running games in the NFL. Yes, we have some injuries. Yes, the Jets d-line is among the league's best. That doesn't change the fact that we have a serious problem there. 3rd/4th and a foot, and we are going out of shotgun because that's our best percentage. That was my only takeaway from the game, a confirmation of how bad this problem is.

Me thinks we are starting to overthink this a tad too much..

Gronk was our only deep threat... LaFell was hurt, Martin and White are essentially used in the short game..

It has more to do with available players and how to use them, not a lot of luxury with the choices the Pats had..

It's not how he was lined up and more that Brady did not look his way very often. Every time Brady threw to him, Gronk came through. Given who we have right now, I don't understand why Gronk is not the first read on every play, at least until teams show they can stop him.