Rob Gronkowski = Jason Witten Clone

[sbpatfan]

Oh come on. The amount of koolaid in this thread is unreal.

I love Gronk and he does look like a star in the making but to even compare him to the greatest tight end of the last decade is just going too far too soon.

To suggest his ceiling is higher is just ludicrous at this early stage.

I've posted this before, but I'll do it again...

Rookie Years

Tony Gonzalez
16 Games
33 Receptions, 368 yards, 2 TDs

Antonio Gates
15 Games
23 Receptions, 389 yards, 2 TDs

Jason Witten
15 Games
35 Receptions, 347 yards, 1 TD

Vernon Davis
10 Games
20 Receptions, 265 yards, 3 TDs

Rob Gronkowski
13 Games
31 Receptions, 365 yards, 7 TDs

 

[eagle eye]

I've posted this before, but I'll do it again...

Rookie Years

Tony Gonzalez
16 Games
33 Receptions, 368 yards, 2 TDs

Antonio Gates
15 Games
23 Receptions, 389 yards, 2 TDs

Jason Witten
15 Games
35 Receptions, 347 yards, 1 TD

Vernon Davis
10 Games
20 Receptions, 265 yards, 3 TDs

Rob Gronkowski
13 Games
31 Receptions, 365 yards, 7 TDs

And I could talk to you about Freddie Jones, Cameron Cleeland, Randy McMichael, Doug Jolley and Alex Smith. They all had good rookie seasons but never had outstanding careers.

 

[sieglo]

And I could talk to you about Freddie Jones, Cameron Cleeland, Randy McMichael, Doug Jolley and Alex Smith. They all had good rookie seasons but never had outstanding careers.

They also didn't have TFB throwing the ball to them.

 

[Professor Frink]

I don't think the numbers quite do it justice the impact he is having on the offense. If you like at the past 5 weeks, when the offense has really hit its stride, Gronk has played more snaps then any other skill position player (except maybe Welker). I'm not saying he is the sole reason or anything, but his contributions in the running game, as a reciever, and as a pass protector have been huge.

 

[PatsFan2]

And I could talk to you about Freddie Jones, Cameron Cleeland, Randy McMichael, Doug Jolley and Alex Smith. They all had good rookie seasons but never had outstanding careers.

None of those guys were Good Blockers...Gronk is already leagues ahead of them in that department.

 

[Brady2Welker]

Doesn't matter, Gronkowski and Brady got traded to the Bengals today.


Listen to 0:25 of that Video, ROFL. This offense is the antithesis of the Bengals.

 

[NewFeep]

This is a fun thread to read but I gotta give props to Alge Crumpler for quietly leading by example.........

 

[IllegalContact]

The pats were lucky to get Gronkowski......if it weren't for his back injury, he would have been the first TE off the board and likely gone in the middle of the first round. There was a fair amount of medical risk with drafting Gronkowski at the time. Just imagine what he would be if he actually played football in 2009

 

[jmt57]

Gronk is a better blocker than Heap or Witten hope to be.

I see a reincarnation of Mark Bavaro. Great blocker. Great pass catcher. Tough as nails.

You don't happen to be "Jim Fitz of Cape Cod", do you?

Gronkowski has a little Bavaro in him - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

"I'd say there are some similarities," Belichick answered. "Good size, blocking, receiving, a little bit of the same body type and playing style."

Asked if Gronkowski might get the edge from an athletic standpoint, Belichick said: "Mark is pretty athletic. I'd say they are similar."

While the style of play might be similar, Belichick said it's too early to put any young player in Bavaro's class. After all, Gronkowski and fellow rookie Aaron Hernandez have not yet played 20 regular-season games.

 

[JackBauer]

I've posted this before, but I'll do it again...

Rookie Years

Tony Gonzalez
16 Games
33 Receptions, 368 yards, 2 TDs

Antonio Gates
15 Games
23 Receptions, 389 yards, 2 TDs

Jason Witten
15 Games
35 Receptions, 347 yards, 1 TD

Vernon Davis
10 Games
20 Receptions, 265 yards, 3 TDs

Rob Gronkowski
13 Games
31 Receptions, 365 yards, 7 TDs

In that case, you should post:

Aaron Hernandez
45 receptions, 563 yards, 6 TDs

That's more receptions, yards, and touchdowns than Dallas Clark had in any of his first four seasons. Of course, this season could be an aberration, or we may find ourselves in a situation very soon in which the Patriots have two of the best tight ends in the NFL.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

That's more receptions, yards, and touchdowns than Dallas Clark had in any of his first four seasons. Of course, this season could be an aberration, or we may find ourselves in a situation very soon in which the Patriots have two of the best tight ends in the NFL.

As I pointed out preseason, one fantasy guide ranked the Pats' TE unit as the best in the AFC. And remember at that point they (GRONK, Hernandez, and Crumpler) had played ZERO games as Patriots.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Good item from Reiss re: Gronkowski and Mark Bavaro.

Gronkowski has a little Bavaro in him - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

"I'd say there are some similarities," Belichick answered. "Good size, blocking, receiving, a little bit of the same body type and playing style."

Asked if Gronkowski might get the edge from an athletic standpoint, Belichick said: "Mark is pretty athletic. I'd say they are similar

BB's respect for Bavaro shines through:

"That's a little stretch to compare anybody [at that stage of their career] to Bavaro," he said. "Bavaro had a great career. He played against some of the all-time greats -- Reggie White twice a year, and White is playing 6-technique head up on the tight end and you really don't get any help. That's a pretty big assignment. I think I'd be reluctant to put anybody in Mark Bavaro's class.

 

[jaychamp]

And I could talk to you about Freddie Jones, Cameron Cleeland, Randy McMichael, Doug Jolley and Alex Smith. They all had good rookie seasons but never had outstanding careers.

Forget stats and trust your eyes. If you can't see how special these guys are then you're not watching.

 

[JFK]

The way things look. Gronks yards would be the same next season as long as Hernandez is on the team and we have the same scheme. its not as if he is transiting to the #1 TE. He is essentially the #1 TE.

 

[PatsFan2]

Gronk has two things you can't teach...Size and Speed.

 

[DaBruinz]

Gronk is a better blocker than Heap or Witten hope to be.

I see a reincarnation of Mark Bavaro. Great blocker. Great pass catcher. Tough as nails.

I have to agree with you on this.. He reminds me more of Bavaro than he does either Heap or Witten..

 

[Betterthanmost]

I just want to say this but don't know where would be appropriate.
Has anyone seen the NBC Gronk player's intro? He looks angry in the way he says University of Arizona.

 

[ALP]

I've posted this before, but I'll do it again...

Rookie Years

Tony Gonzalez
16 Games
33 Receptions, 368 yards, 2 TDs

Antonio Gates
15 Games
23 Receptions, 389 yards, 2 TDs

Jason Witten
15 Games
35 Receptions, 347 yards, 1 TD

Vernon Davis
10 Games
20 Receptions, 265 yards, 3 TDs

Rob Gronkowski
13 Games
31 Receptions, 365 yards, 7 TDs

would love to see Gronk do amazing, and i believe his minimum is quite high, but from those stats you can tell just how special gates really was....most yards, almost least receptions, that ypc is incredible, and outshines EVERYONE on that list

 

[Kasmir]

In that case, you should post:

Aaron Hernandez
45 receptions, 563 yards, 6 TDs

That's more receptions, yards, and touchdowns than Dallas Clark had in any of his first four seasons. Of course, this season could be an aberration, or we may find ourselves in a situation very soon in which the Patriots have two of the best tight ends in the NFL.

I really can't decide which of these two guys I like more. Gronkowski could be the prototype of an NFL TE, but Hernandez is a freakish mismatch problem. Watching that CB bounce off him last Sunday night was just effin great...

 

[BritPat]

I'm just personally delighted that BB seems to have refound his love for the TE - we're a much better team for it.

The thing about most teams is that they use only one TE primarily for receiving - if you combine the Twin TErrors you get 77 receptions, 953 yards and 13 TD's.

That is phenomenal production. Even more so from two rookies. Be in no doubt, these two are special.