Matt Bowen: How do you stop NE's TEs?

[patchick]

Watching the Patriots offense today in the 35-21 win over the Chargers, I started to think about how I would game plan New England—and I still can’t figure it out. Why? Because of the TE position.

Is there a game plan to stop Brady and the Patriots? | National Football Post

I guess this is what BB was dreaming of with Graham and Watson...and Brady and Baker and Smith and...

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Is there a game plan to stop Brady and the Patriots? | National Football Post

I guess this is what BB was dreaming of with Graham and Watson...and Brady and Baker and Smith and...

Well, they can be injured , but, other than that, it's choosing death by smurf.

 

[Dufflebagz]

Easy, you find kryptonite and Gronk becomes powerless.

 

[Patspsycho]

I always like reading Bowen from NFP, he knows his X's and O's.

 

[onegameatatime]

These two guys are making the 2010 draft look good all by themselves.

 

[livinginthe past]

Nice article - interesting analysis of the conundrum that defenses face when facing the 'Gronknandez'.

Having these two guys on the field has brough a natural balance to playcalling aswell - Lawfirms TD last night was partly the result of an excellent Gronk run block.

Hrenandez reminds me of a Vince Jackson type - athletic and able to elevate to the ball at the top of its arc - but even better YAC ability.

 

[randomk1]

Need 3rd Gronk. Explode universe.







credit to jets fans

 

[FalconHeavy]

Need 3rd Gronk. Explode universe

credit to jets fans

It may really happen the rate at which we are piling on injuries. Can he play safety

 

[Betterthanmost]

I love our TEs, but I just wish they will go down like Branch. They have a thing or two to learn from Branch to avoid unnecessary contact. Hernandez has taken so vicious hits these last two games.

 

[Banjo]

It's such a great system. I'm surprised other teams haven't tried copying the two TE set that NE plays. Might take another year...

 

[randomk1]

I love our TEs, but I just wish they will go down like Branch. They have a thing or two to learn from Branch to avoid unnecessary contact. Hernandez has taken so vicious hits these last two games.

That is called youth. They feel strong,fast and invincible.

Everytime Hernandez catches the ball he is looking to make guys miss.

Everythime Gronk catches the ball he is looking to bulldoze forward.

 

[Calciumee]

Easy, you find kryptonite and Gronk becomes powerless.

I heard he eats it for breakfast!

 

[Lansdowne]

The biggest mistake the NFL made was letting the Patriots get their hands on both of these guys. Gronk and Hernandez are going to dominate the position for the next 10 years or so!

 

[NEPatriot]

It's such a great system. I'm surprised other teams haven't tried copying the two TE set that NE plays. Might take another year...

A lot of teams are using 2 TE sets. They just don't have the personnel that we do.

 

[PushnPencils]

I think the model the Jets showed in the playoffs would do it. Pressure Brady and choke off the short to intermediate routes. Force us to try to beat you with the run or deep ball.

The Jets are still built to beat us.

 

[Jack Handy]

The jets have not looked good yet. Really want to see them play against a SD caliber team to get a feel for what they can do.

 

[ivanvamp]

I think the model the Jets showed in the playoffs would do it. Pressure Brady and choke off the short to intermediate routes. Force us to try to beat you with the run or deep ball.

The Jets are still built to beat us.

I agree. I still think NE is the overall better team, but the Jets do seem to have a bead on the Pats.

The only way to choke off the short/intermediate routes, though, is to have guys quick enough to cover Gronk/Hernandez/Branch/Ocho/Welker. That means putting extra DBs on the field to cover the TEs. You cannot hope that Bart Scott will stay with Hernandez.

So the antidote to what the Jets will put out there is to absolutely hammer the crap out of them on the ground with BJGE and Ridley. You want to put a 210 pound safety on Gronk? Fine. We'll line up and let Gronk road grade you into the turf on a sweep. You see the block Gronk had on BJGE's TD run yesterday? Holy cow.

The problem is that the Jets have built their team to stop NE's passing game and the Pats probably will still insist on throwing it 40 times a game against them. Why not just bury them with the run until they are forced to bring in some more beef, and then when they do that, *THEN* you spread them out with Gronk/Hernandez.

 

[Patspsycho]

I agree. I still think NE is the overall better team, but the Jets do seem to have a bead on the Pats.

The only way to choke off the short/intermediate routes, though, is to have guys quick enough to cover Gronk/Hernandez/Branch/Ocho/Welker. That means putting extra DBs on the field to cover the TEs. You cannot hope that Bart Scott will stay with Hernandez.

So the antidote to what the Jets will put out there is to absolutely hammer the crap out of them on the ground with BJGE and Ridley. You want to put a 210 pound safety on Gronk? Fine. We'll line up and let Gronk road grade you into the turf on a sweep. You see the block Gronk had on BJGE's TD run yesterday? Holy cow.

The problem is that the Jets have built their team to stop NE's passing game and the Pats probably will still insist on throwing it 40 times a game against them. Why not just bury them with the run until they are forced to bring in some more beef, and then when they do that, *THEN* you spread them out with Gronk/Hernandez.

That is what I have been trying to say lately, and is also why I have a problem with the playcalling. The start we have been getting off to is similar to '07 and '10, and we know how both seasons ended.

 

[Kid~Brady]

You can't stop these 2 tight ends.

 

[ivanvamp]

That is what I have been trying to say lately, and is also why I have a problem with the playcalling. The start we have been getting off to is similar to '07 and '10, and we know how both seasons ended.

I hear you. I said at the end of last season how much this team needed to develop a monster running game and many people tried to laugh me off this board. I'm telling you (though with you I'm apparently preaching to the choir) there will come a day when Brady is off and they'll need to run for 180 yds in order to win. And if they either can't do it or insist on throwing a million times in that particular game, they're going to lose. And it just might happen in a playoff game.

This team has all the tools to be able to win any way possible. You want a low scoring, grind it out game? We can do it with BJGE, Woodhead, and Ridley running all day behind our massive line and two TEs. You want a high scoring shootout? Fine, we'll spread you out and throw 45 times for 450 yds.

They have the tools to do it; I'm just not sure they have the will to do it. Seems like all they want to do is have an unbalanced attack, very pass-heavy.

So far, can't complain about the results. But there'll come a day when that won't work.