gronk!

[captain insano]

 

[venecol]

That's f*kin awesome. I don't understand why Brady hardly throws those high balls where he has to jump to catch it anymore. Nobody but Gronk can catch those balls. I'd love to see him score 2 TDs in the SB.

 

[Tuck]

Man his mobility is not what it was. hopefully he can get it back next year.

 

[RIpats88]

I think the patriots simply are/were preserving him this year. I mean you saw the Miami game where he looked like a beast. Then they utilized him mainly as a blocker the next games.

Then against KC when he was needed brady went to him on critical 3rd downs and he looked like Gronk of old. Expecting a big game from him in the superbowl. Edelman as well.

 

[BTTA]

Regardless of how they played him this year, he still isn't moving anything like he used to. The burst seems to be gone.

I'd love to see him have a monster game next week, get the MVP, and retire on his own terms.

 

[sambam94]

do people not see what is clearly in front of them? Gronk has lost a lot of his burst and speed. That's the difference from getting open and not being open. Brady does not throw to receivers who are not open. He can still make plays, but they will be contested..like the long pass that was actually under thrown that he reached back for. If the DB had turned sooner, it wouldn't have been a reception.

 

[neckroll#14]

i wonder if the loss of burst coincides with his adoption of the TB12 method... its one thing for a plodding, non-athletic, immobile QB to quit lifting, work on 'flexibility', and how to be tackled without being hurt. Not sure its a great regimen for a tight-end wrecking ball who used to drag 5 would-be tacklers 15 yards after initial contact...

 

[Star56]

I just read an analysis of Gronk using speed metrics. He has NOT slowed down. His mean speed is higher than last year. His top speed is a little off its max but not significantly.

 

[Uptown]

Simple:

Gronk isn’t the “dominant Gronk” of old (blocking notwithstanding). The coaching staff is obviously aware of this.
However, NE is a situational football team. They use him situationally.

 

[Dr Pain]

The refs have killed him. There is uncalled PI against him all the time and if he is physical at all he is called for offensive PI unlike any other player in the league

 

[RobertWeathers]

Yea there is no doubt he doesn't have that initial burst and power like he used to. Could be attributed to a variety of reasons (less muscle mass, age, wear n tear, undisclosed injury).

One thing is clear. He is still a dominant blocker in the run and pass game and can make a catch there and there. He still has good feet quickness, decent speed so hes able to establish the right blocking angle so no issues there.

If he is "healthy" he is still incredibly valuable to this offense- especially if we think Sony and RB2 and the overall ground game will showcased even more next year.

Maybe they change Gronk's contract and make the incentives more team-based? For example, Team scores 30ppg or the offense runs for 2400 yards on the ground, Gronk gets $.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I just read an analysis of Gronk using speed metrics. He has NOT slowed down. His mean speed is higher than last year. His top speed is a little off its max but not significantly.

Yea but if we use his draft measureables as previous benchmarks, I'd be shocked if he scored as high on the agility and 10yd dash drills. I'd be willing to bet once an athlete is approaching 30, its quite common.

Dates: 03/27/10 03/12-ProDay
Height: 6062
Weight: 264
40 Yrd Dash: 4.68
20 Yrd Dash: 2.68
10 Yrd Dash: 1.58 225 Lb. Bench Reps:
Vertical Jump: 33 1/2
Broad Jump: 09'11"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.47
3-Cone Drill: 7.18

 

[VectorPrime]

Man his mobility is not what it was. hopefully he can get it back next year.

He won’t be playing football next year.

 

[Tuck]

He won’t be playing football next year.

Have you talked to him about that?

 

[venecol]

I just read an analysis of Gronk using speed metrics. He has NOT slowed down. His mean speed is higher than last year. His top speed is a little off its max but not significantly.

Link?

 

[venecol]

i wonder if the loss of burst coincides with his adoption of the TB12 method... its one thing for a plodding, non-athletic, immobile QB to quit lifting, work on 'flexibility', and how to be tackled without being hurt. Not sure its a great regimen for a tight-end wrecking ball who used to drag 5 would-be tacklers 15 yards after initial contact...

I don't agree, on TB, he seems more mobile than before. He seems to move around the pocket much better. Granted he's not fast but his game is to stay in the pocket, fortunately for us.

 

[scout]

The guy has got to be considered by the Rams. Who do that team have that will cover him one on one? Double team him leaving other receivers open? He is still one of the best TE at blocking. Plus, the two weeks of rest is good.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

The guy has got to be considered by the Rams. Who do that team have that will cover him one on one? Double team him leaving other receivers open? He is still one of the best TE at blocking. Plus, the two weeks of rest is good.

He's still a problem. I wouldn't put many Safeties on him 1-1 (especially with rest) and if they put Talib on him, as some have suggested, they have no good CB (Peters sucks this year) left for the WR. The Rams have played more zone lately which fixes the "who covers who" problem; but it doesn't fix the problem that Brady has been killing zones.