Can anyone on our roster play the red-zone TE like Vrabel did?

[PATRlOT]

Just wondering, now that Gronk is out it's believed that our red-zone offense might take a hit.

Could we expect to see a guy like Solder take snaps at TE close to the goal-line?

Chandler Jones?

Would be interesting to see someone play the role that Mike Vrabel did several times

 

[Jackson 2]

No........

 

[manxman2601]

Just wondering, now that Gronk is out it's believed that our red-zone offense might take a hit.

Could we expect to see a guy like Solder take snaps at TE close to the goal-line?

Chandler Jones?

Would be interesting to see someone play the role that Mike Vrabel did several times

Well they've already used Mulligan there so I wouldn't look much beyond him.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

The only significantly-sized defensive player I can think of who very likely has exceptional hands would be Nate Ebner. You have to have good hands to play rugby at a world-class level, I'd think.

Nate Ebner Total Rugby - YouTube

 

[Sciz]

Solder, but they probably wouldn't do that at least until Cannon is back.

 

[PATRlOT]

No........

We already tried using Solder against the Bengals when we were Gronk-less.

Thanks for your incredible contribution to the thread though.

 

[Jackson 2]

We already tried using Solder against the Bengals when we were Gronk-less.

Thanks for your incredible contribution to the thread though.

I wasn't trying to be a smartass about it. You asked if anyone could do it like Vrabel. My answer was an honest one. Sure someone can undoubtedly try it, but highly unlikely to do it like Vrabel.

 

[PatsFan2]

Thats why we need Thomkins and Dobson back for the Fades and Back Shoulder throws, Brady was throwing those better when they were healthy and coming around.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Didn't they try it once with Dane Fletcher, too?

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Ninkovich. He played some TE at Purdue and even caught a few TD passes from Kyle Orton.....

 

[Wheelman]

We already tried using Solder against the Bengals when we were Gronk-less.

Thanks for your incredible contribution to the thread though.

For what it's worth, we used Solder last season on a play action fake on the goal line against the Dolphins in Miami. He was wide open but Donald Thomas couldn't pick up his block. Brady ended up getting sacked but he was turning his head to the left for Solder as he was probably his last read.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

We tried Solder once, Once!

 

[Gwedd]

Ninkovich. He played some TE at Purdue and even caught a few TD passes from Kyle Orton.....

This would be my choice. Ninkovich has the speed and athleticism to do this, plus he's shown he can catch the ball.

I'd have no hesitation in using him in the Vrabel Role for either a TD attempt, or a 2-point conversion attempt.

 

[ewg_gestalt]

Didn't they try it once with Dane Fletcher, too?

Sort of. Brady did try to throw to him when he was lined up at fullback back in 2011.

 

[Nehalem]

Ryan Mallet is listed as 6-6 and 245 pounds. Perhaps some kind of "Hammer package"?:rocker:

 

[RayClay]

Ninkovich. He played some TE at Purdue and even caught a few TD passes from Kyle Orton.....

Really? I pick him then. He has the guts of a Vrabel if anyone does.

 

[lurker1965]

Little know fact: Mike Mulligan plays linebacker in short yardage and goal line.

 

[TruthSeeker]

The only significantly-sized defensive player I can think of who very likely has exceptional hands would be Nate Ebner. You have to have good hands to play rugby at a world-class level, I'd think.

Nate Ebner Total Rugby - YouTube

That video also shows what a good tackle looks like. Ebner learned the fundamentals of tackling while playing Rugby. Too bad most pros can't learn the fundamentals of tackling playing FOOTBALL.

 

[Fencer]

What made Vrabel so good was skill in hand combat at getting off the line. Beyond that he had good hands and acceptable speed. That skill was of course closely related to his skill at jamming TEs on the line when he played defense.

If anybody on our current roster were as good as Vrabel at jamming TEs, I imagine fewer TEs would have such big games against us. Still, Ninkovich is the obvious analog to Vrabel.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Why not try Jake Bequette ? It's not like he's doing anything else. He's 6'4" 265.

Realistically though, Jamie Collins has good hands and is a great athlete, made some INTs in college as a safety and LB, and had some YAC ability.

Southern Miss vs ECU - Jamie Collins 97-yard Pick 6 - YouTube