Gronkowski Is That Good

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Saturday, January 24, 2015

Matt LaPan, GoLocal Sports Reporter

Rob Gronkowski is the leading candidate to be name the NFL Comeback Player of the Year following an incredible 2014 season. Gronkowski spent his season working his way back form a torn ACL that he suffered late in the 2013 season. If you ask Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane, however, Gronkowski is not quite the dominant player that many think he is.

Trash Talk

"I actually don't think he's that good," Lane said in a locker room interview on Thursday. "He's OK. He does have a big body. But from what I've seen on tape, he doesn't like you putting your hands on him. So if we put our hands on him and shake him up a little bit, he won't catch that many balls."

Lane continued by saying, "Yeah, but that's always our key every week, putting our hands on the receivers. It's definitely an issue with him from watching tape. 

“I’m good no matter who's lined up there. But [the Patriots] try to do things like line a bunch of ineligible guys out there to get you confused. We have a plan for it."

Tough Cover

While Gronkowski does have far less success when he is jammed on the line of scrimmage, the Patriots have been effecting to get him free releases. The Patriots have lined up Gronkowski as a wide receiver, where he would likely face a smaller cornerback. They have also used him stacked, or solo in the slot. While Gronkowski would face a jam in the slot, likely from Lane, it is where he has had a great deal of success in 2014. 

The Patriots will likely use Gronkowski on, or at, the line of scrimmage. Whether lined up as an inline blocker or off the line of scrimmage, Gronkowski is a dual threat on the line. He is a dominant blocker for a tight end and does a great job getting getting a free, or nearly free release when lined up on the line. This also allows the Patriots to use Gronkowski in motion, creating favorable matchups and free releases, this is where he has the most success.

Gronkowski in the Super Bowl

Gronkowski comes into Super Bowl XLIX fully healthy for the first time in his career. Gronkowski played in 15 games in 2014, hauling in 82 receptions for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns. Gronkowski added 10 receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns in the postseason. Gronkowski converted seven of his receptions for first downs. Gronkowski, along with San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, became the first tight end to have four seasons of 10 or more touchdowns in a career. Gronkowski did it in just his 5th seasons in the NFL.

Gronkowski was also one of two players to be named a unanimous member of the NFL All-Pro team along with J.J. Watt.

While the stats and sentiment around the NFL go against Lane’s statement, Gronkowski met the comments with little resistance. "Everyone's entitled to their own opinion," Gronkowski said when asked about Lane’s comments. "They've got a great defense overall. We've got to be worried about their whole defense. We've got to be sure we practice hard, prepare hard all week so we're ready to roll."

It is not known if Gronkowski will be covered by Lane or by Richard Sherman or Kam Chancellor when the Patriots and Seahawks meet in the Super Bowl, it is clear that he creates a matchup problem. The only question is if Lane’s comments will will ignite a fire under the already motivated Gronkowski, or if it will get in his head and help the Seahawks defense?

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