2015 Patriots Player Preview Series: TE Rob Gronkowski
As we begin the final stretch before training camp, here’s a daily look at some Patriots on the roster where we’ll individually preview them heading into the 2015 season. Today’s edition, Patriots tight end, Rob Gronkowski.
In 2014 the Patriots needed one key player healthy for the whole season to make sure they finally had what it took to win their fourth championship.
Fortunately, after two seasons of battling injuries, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski had his best season since 2011 and by the time it ended his team hoisted the Lombardi Trophy after beating the Seahawks in Arizona.
It’s been a long time since he hasn’t spent an offseason trying to bounce back from an injury, and the good news is he’s been able to spend this offseason focusing on preparing for 2015.
 Gronkowski was a beast in 2014 for the Patriots. (USA TODAY Images) |
2014 RECAP:
Coming back from offseason knee surgery, Gronkowski got off to a slow start in 2014, but by midseason he hit his stride and finished with his second-highest career total ever, catching 82 passes for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He got stronger as the season went on, and during the postseason finished fourth in the NFL in both receptions and yards, catching 16 passes for 204 yards and was tied with Danny Amendola and Dallas' Terrance Williams for the NFL lead in touchdown receptions with three.
But overall his presence on the field created match-up nightmares and it opened up the Patriots' passing game, with New England outscoring opponents 108-62 during the postseason. He's a difference-maker on the field, and having him healthy for the playoffs clearly was one of the big reasons the Patriots won it all in 2014.
DID YOU KNOW?:
Gronkowski was absolutely unstoppable down in the red zone in 2014, finishing with 13 catches, 12 of which were first downs along with 11 touchdowns. He also hit an NFL milestone after becoming just the first tight end in NFL history to score 10 or more receiving touchdowns in four seasons.
Gronkowski also eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in a season for the second time in his career, and is now one of nine tight ends in NFL history with two 1,000-yard receiving seasons and the only Patriots tight end to achieve that feat.
He also became the first tight end in NFL history to catch at least 10 touchdowns in four separate seasons.
2015 OUTLOOK:
Now that he’s healthy, there’s plenty of reasons to believe Gronkowski could be headed for his best year yet as the veteran heads into his sixth NFL season. His most productive campaign was back in 2011 when he caught a career high 17 touchdowns and set the NFL record for most touchdowns by a tight end in a season.
He may eclipse that total this season, and he'll be joined by free agent tight end Scott Chandler, with the two expected to create some match-up nightmares for opposing teams in the coming year.
Another healthy season for Gronkowski should set New England up for another productive year. He’s already on his way to becoming one of the best to ever play his position and 2015 should be another terrific chapter of his already incredible career.
