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Patriots Offense Now Has to Move on From Aaron Hernandez
By: Ian Logue
The release of Aaron Hernandez is definitely yet another challenge the New England Patriots will have to overcome heading into training camp....
After the recent news that tight end Rob Gronkowski will reportedly start the preseason on the physically unable to perform list, Wednesday's release of Aaron Hernandez and subsequent murder charge put an end to what had been an incredibly potent tight end duo for New England.
From a football standpoint, it's disappointing considering the promise and potential he's shown since being drafted with Gronkowski back in 2010. Obviously we know the team is in transition at the wide receiver position and the hope had seemed to be centered around the fact they had both Gronkowski and Hernandez to build from. Both players were extended last season with long-term deals and they've both been explosive in this offense.
If Gronkowski isn't ready in time for the start of the regular season, with Hernandez now permanently out of the mix Tom Brady now finds himself facing the task of trying to break in an entirely new group of players in the passing game to start the year.
Offensively the tough part about losing Hernandez is the fact he was such a versatile and explosive player and he had another productive year last season despite only appearing in 10 games. As we know he was moved around quite a bit and was targeted frequently on short passing routes, with 32 of his 51 receptions last season having come between 1-10 yards.
On short throws to the right side he and Wes Welker were the ones who dominated Brady's attention attacking that side of the field. Overall Brady completed 106 passes to that area, with Welker catching 33 passes for 315 yards, while Hernandez had 22 for 196 yards. That accounts for 52% of those completions by Brady and when you factor in the next closest player, who was Brandon Lloyd with 14 grabs and 144 yards, followed by Danny Woodhead (10 catches for 146 yards), that percentage rises even higher to 75%. That's a significant amount of production that will need to be replaced this season.
By: Ian Logue
The release of Aaron Hernandez is definitely yet another challenge the New England Patriots will have to overcome heading into training camp....
After the recent news that tight end Rob Gronkowski will reportedly start the preseason on the physically unable to perform list, Wednesday's release of Aaron Hernandez and subsequent murder charge put an end to what had been an incredibly potent tight end duo for New England.
From a football standpoint, it's disappointing considering the promise and potential he's shown since being drafted with Gronkowski back in 2010. Obviously we know the team is in transition at the wide receiver position and the hope had seemed to be centered around the fact they had both Gronkowski and Hernandez to build from. Both players were extended last season with long-term deals and they've both been explosive in this offense.
If Gronkowski isn't ready in time for the start of the regular season, with Hernandez now permanently out of the mix Tom Brady now finds himself facing the task of trying to break in an entirely new group of players in the passing game to start the year.
Offensively the tough part about losing Hernandez is the fact he was such a versatile and explosive player and he had another productive year last season despite only appearing in 10 games. As we know he was moved around quite a bit and was targeted frequently on short passing routes, with 32 of his 51 receptions last season having come between 1-10 yards.
On short throws to the right side he and Wes Welker were the ones who dominated Brady's attention attacking that side of the field. Overall Brady completed 106 passes to that area, with Welker catching 33 passes for 315 yards, while Hernandez had 22 for 196 yards. That accounts for 52% of those completions by Brady and when you factor in the next closest player, who was Brandon Lloyd with 14 grabs and 144 yards, followed by Danny Woodhead (10 catches for 146 yards), that percentage rises even higher to 75%. That's a significant amount of production that will need to be replaced this season.
