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Joe Gill of Boston Sports Then and Now wonders if the rookie tight ends could be the next Ben Coates and Dallas Clark:
Power & Agility: Patriots Young Tight Ends Impress
Power & Agility: Patriots Young Tight Ends Impress
Gronk is a perfect mix of power and agility. At 6'6" 264 lbs, he has the size and surprisingly the quickness to break free across the middle and in the red zone( 3 touchdowns in three preason games). Ironicallly, he wears the same number, #87 as the last Patriots player to dominate his position, Ben Coates. Both players are physical beasts that overmatch their defensive foes.
What Gronk has in pure physical freakishness, Aaron Hernandez has in shiftiness and "Dallas Clark" headiness. He is able to slice up the middle of the field which will have defenses thinking twice about focusing solely on Wes Welker.
Could Hernandez be the Pats' Dallas Clark? The Connecticut native played at the University of Florida and benefited from having Tim Tebow has his quarterback. As a junior, Hernandez was awarded the John Mackey award for the nation's best tight end. His stat line that year was quite impressive with 68 receptions for 850 yards and five touchdowns.
There is no doubt that Hernan can perform in a high octane offense like the one in New England.