Using Gronk's Blocking Dominance to Ask a Question: How Are Our TE's Helping Our OL?

[Vindicate]

EDIT - Clearly I buried the intent of my post, and that's my fault. I've edited the title to help direct a little better. I'll also straight up post my question in this first line. Choose to read the context if you'd like below. The bigger question at hand, and I kinda buried it is (my fault) is: how important is TE blocking the success of an OL? How well does our current TE unit block? Alongside a competent OL, are we missing strong, blocking TE's?

With a lot of discussion this off-season - and quite frankly, for quite a few years now - being around the performance of the OL, I felt compelled to ask a question today after watching this video:

For those who don't wanna follow it, it's a highlight reel of Gronk's top BLOCKS.

I understand how silly it sounds to put "unsung hero" next to Gronk's name. Now I'd never accuse a Patriots fan of dismissing Gronk. We all know better than those pesky Chiefs fans that it ain't just receiving for which your Tight End is responsible. And this is where we all see the miles and miles distance between Gronk and Kelce really open up. We're better than every fanbase at analyzing the game, we know this . But... Is it possible that we reaped unlike any other team because of his insane blocking ability? So much so that we don't understand how much we miss it, even if we think we do?

Just like Brady's processing time was bar-none, masking some issues at OL, did Gronk's presence even heavily mask those issues more?

To bring it to the current day: how do we see our current TE's in relation to blocking and the OL? I'm not here to argue that Gronk would fix our woes. Far from it. But I guess my question - as a fan that's still always barely grasping at the surface of X's and O's - is this: how do our current TE's like Henry perform in blocking? What would you like to see changed? Do we need better blocking from our TE's? What role should they play in helping open up our offense, both on the pass and run?

Those blocks truly are insane. Blowing defenders out their shoes. One on one with KHALIL MACK with decisive victory. And this is all coming from a freak ass player that could also catch everything thrown at him.

I'll stop there. Thoughts?

 

[signbabybrady]

He was so good and still underrated I like the take.

 

[Pape]

It is difficult to say that the best ever to play the position is under rated / an unsung hero... he was literally the go to guy for years.

 

[Huckleberry1]

No. 1st ballot Hall of Famers aren’t unsung.

 

[Vindicate]

It is difficult to say that the best ever to play the position is under rated / an unsung hero... he was literally the go to guy for years.

I think you're correct - I wouldn't say he didn't get his fair share, but I think in analyzing football as a whole, blocking can get overlooked big time.

The bigger question at hand, and I kinda buried it is (my fault) is: how important is TE blocking the success of an OL? How well does our current TE unit block? Alongside a competent OL, are we missing strong, blocking TE's?

 

[Vindicate]

No. 1st ballot Hall of Famers aren’t unsung.

Refer to the post I just made - I'm using Gronk as an example to ask questions about our current team.

And if we want to entertain Gronk being unsung: how integral was he in helping forge Sony Michel's career year?

 

[Pape]

The bigger question at hand, and I kinda buried it is (my fault) is: how important is TE blocking the success of an OL? How well does our current TE unit block? Alongside a competent OL, are we missing strong, blocking TE's?

that's a very good question - Blocking is a big part of the game, and to have a tight end who can block well is an immeasurable asset... Back in 2017/2018, i routinely hammered on Dwayne Allen... said in as much "blocking tight ends are a dime a dozen"... I was very derisive about what he brought to the table... After Allen left and we went into a tight end black hole, I had to rethink it and realized just how important a quality blocking TE can be ...

the phrase should be "blocking tight ends are a dime a dozen, but quality blocking tight ends are worth their weight in gold"

 

[State]

Who’s our Y TE now? Who’s also a bona fide receiving threat.

Having him helps a McDaniels offense more than is commonly realized.

 

[RobertWeathers]

With a lot of discussion this off-season - and quite frankly, for quite a few years now - being around the performance of the OL, I felt compelled to ask a question today after watching this video:

For those who don't wanna follow it, it's a highlight reel of Gronk's top BLOCKS.

I understand how silly it sounds to put "unsung hero" next to Gronk's name. Now I'd never accuse a Patriots fan of dismissing Gronk. We all know better than those pesky Chiefs fans that it ain't just receiving for which your Tight End is responsible. And this is where we all see the miles and miles distance between Gronk and Kelce really open up. We're better than every fanbase at analyzing the game, we know this . But... Is it possible that we reaped unlike any other team because of his insane blocking ability? So much so that we don't understand how much we miss it, even if we think we do?

Just like Brady's processing time was bar-none, masking some issues at OL, did Gronk's presence even heavily mask those issues more?

To bring it to the current day: how do we see our current TE's in relation to blocking and the OL? I'm not here to argue that Gronk would fix our woes. Far from it. But I guess my question - as a fan that's still always barely grasping at the surface of X's and O's - is this: how do our current TE's like Henry perform in blocking? What would you like to see changed? Do we need better blocking from our TE's? What role should they play in helping open up our offense, both on the pass and run?

Those blocks truly are insane. Blowing defenders out their shoes. One on one with KHALIL MACK with decisive victory. And this is all coming from a freak ass player that could also catch everything thrown at him.

I'll stop there. Thoughts?

I dunno. To me, Gronk has already received a ton of credit for his run & pass blocking (and deservedly so). He was elite at both.

It's unsung maybe because too many NFL fans care about stats and fantasy points and not what makes plays and teams successful.

 

[farn]

By 2018, he wasn’t as feared as he had been as a receiver. BB decided they were going to be a run & D team and they went all the way. Always thought Gronk was unsung that year. He wanted to win, accepted becoming less of a passing feature and put on a blocking display.

 

[Triumph]

It is difficult to say that the best ever to play the position is under rated / an unsung hero... he was literally the go to guy for years.

When available.

 

[Vindicate]

I dunno. To me, Gronk has already received a ton of credit for his run & pass blocking (and deservedly so). He was elite at both.

It's unsung maybe because too many NFL fans care about stats and fantasy points and not what makes plays and teams successful.

I'm considering renaming the thread because clearly people aren't wading through and seeing the question/lead I buried lmao:

In my response to Pape, who said the same:

I think you're correct - I wouldn't say he didn't get his fair share, but I think in analyzing football as a whole, blocking can get overlooked big time.

The bigger question at hand, and I kinda buried it is (my fault) is: how important is TE blocking the success of an OL? How well does our current TE unit block? Alongside a competent OL, are we missing strong, blocking TE's?

 

[RobertWeathers]

I'm considering renaming the thread because clearly people aren't wading through and seeing the question/lead I buried lmao:

In my response to Pape, who said the same:

I think you're correct - I wouldn't say he didn't get his fair share, but I think in analyzing football as a whole, blocking can get overlooked big time.

All good. We could read better as well.

The bigger question at hand, and I kinda buried it is (my fault) is: how important is TE blocking the success of an OL?

Depends on scheme. Running the football, yes. If its a 5 wide not really as long as they can pass block.

How well does our current TE unit block?

Not very. HH is ok pass block. Run block nope.

Alongside a competent OL, are we missing strong, blocking TE's?

For me, too early to say we are "missing" a blocking TE but based on some of their pickups they want one.

 

[Vindicate]

By 2018, he wasn’t as feared as he had been as a receiver. BB decided they were going to be a run & D team and they went all the way. Always thought Gronk was unsung that year. He wanted to win, accepted becoming less of a passing feature and put on a blocking display.

This is somewhat what I tried to get at, in order to lead into the question I buried about our current OL/TE's. I think that, even as a first-ballot HoF'er, Gronk's blocking was something very few teams have ever had at the TE position, let alone his pass catching. Given how badly we want our run game and OL to hum along, it makes Gronk's dominance even more obvious.

 

[Vindicate]

All good. We could read better as well.

Depends on scheme. Running the football, yes. If its a 5 wide not really as long as they can pass block.

Not very. HH is ok pass block. Run block nope.

For me, too early to say we are "missing" a blocking TE but based on some of their pickups they want one.

Does our scheme traditionally rely on this? Or was this a Gronk feature? It seems like Bill always liked really solid TE's , but I'm not knowledgeable to analyze to what degree they were relied on/what fashion. I know the Raven's offense when Jackson had his first breakout year required three very solid TE's (iirc), which is a rather unique and expensive offense to run. But it seems a little more nuanced with our team, or am I off-base?

Also I rarely read an entire post if the thread title is a question so I have no idea why I expected others to do so when I originally posted it lmao, my fault.

 

[Vindicate]

Who’s our Y TE now? Who’s also a bona fide receiving threat.

Having him helps a McDaniels offense more than is commonly realized.

Say more, if you don't mind. Why McDaniels' specifically?

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Dippre has the size and strength to be a strong blocker - Jaheim Bell is more a receiver type.

Patriots Undrafted Free Agent Stands Out With Niche Talent

A niche skill is predicted to help an undrafted free agent sleeper shine for the New England Patriots, tight end CJ Dippre.

heavy.com

 

[State]

Having a legit run blocking TE, not try hard beach boy types like Henry and Hooper, puts unique pressure on a defense. If the TE can also be a legit catcher. Why is obvious.

Gotta worry about the run first and foremost. That opens up the field.

Remember Gronk running free on seam routes? Year after year?

It gives an offense a super power.

 

[State]

CJ Dippre has solid chance to make the roster. And next year attention in the draft on TEs needs to be directed just as LT was this year.

 

[stinkypete]

Gronk was the best all-purpose TE ever to play the game. So, yes, of course.

Gronk was only one piece of the puzzle, though. Develin was also a huge piece of that dominant run game. And, when it all came together in the 2018 playoffs, Dwayne Allen was a big piece as a blocking TE.

All 3 were gone by 2019, as were Soldier, Brown, and Andrews (for a year). It’s no surprise the whole thing fell apart.

Virtually every McDaniels offense has made heavy use of FBs and blocking TEs. Even the spread attack of 2007 featured Heath Evans and Kyle Brady prominently.

Precedent suggests that Lampe and Dippre are built for a role in this offense. The final 53 will be telling. If one of both don’t make the roster, it could signal a bigger shift in the McDaniels offense, as we know it.