Bills vs. Patriots: Buffalo Must Contain Rob Gronkowski

by Brian Galliford on Sep 23, 2011 11:01 AM EDT in Buffalo Bills News

Last season, as a rookie out of Arizona, New England Patriots tight end (and Williamsville, NY native) Rob Gronkowski torched the Buffalo Bills to the tune of seven receptions, 97 yards and three touchdowns as the Pats swept the Bills. That all transpired before Gronkowski emerged as the best young tight end prospect in the NFL.

Through two games, Gronkowski ranks sixth amongst tight ends in receptions (10), third in yardage (172) and is tied with one Scott Chandler for first with three touchdowns. Coupled with Aaron Hernandez - who will reportedly miss Week 3 with a knee injury - Gronkowski has helped re-shape what the Patriots do offensively.

"Gronkowski and Hernandez have completely changed the Patriots' offensive scheme," says Greg Knopping of PatsPulpit.com. "Gronkowski, at nearly 6'7" and 265 pounds, is the do-it-all 'traditional' tight end. He's a force to be reckoned with in the red zone (13 touchdowns in his first 18 NFL games), he's an excellent in-line blocker that has helped revamp the Patriots running game, and he is still able to get down field and stretch opposing defenses."

As Chandler has proven with the Bills this season, a tight end with height and length can add an entirely different dimension to an offense. Gronkowski provides that for the Patriots - it's why he's such a potent red zone target - but really is the complete package, able to do everything asked of him to a high level on the football field.

Right now, it's not Wes Welker that is the driving force of the Patriots' passing offense behind Tom Brady - it's Gronkowski. Buffalo's defense has some coverage players that they'll work against Gronkowski - Bryan Scott, Nick Barnett and George Wilson chief among them - but none are particularly strong matchups for the Bills. It's imperative that the Bills slow down Gronkowski's torrid pace, particularly in the red zone, so expect lots of zone coverages and plenty of attention from Buffalo's secondary.

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go bills!

Hi, I'm Jim Kelly for the Mancuso Family of Dealerships.

by captainStros on Sep 23, 2011 11:03 AM EDT reply actions

Get after Brady

The key will be to get after the quarterback and then maybe he tosses a duck into the zone coverage. God I hope the Bills win!

by B Tones on Sep 23, 2011 11:09 AM EDT reply actions

I’ll keep repeating this until game day but this must be a physical football game for the Bills – they need to come out acting like the Raiders trying to punish their receivers.

Gronk x 2 must get jammed by Kelsay or whomever. Also, Welker needs to get jammed by Williams – i’m intrigued by that matchup.

If D-Flo and McKelvin can jam Ocho and Branch then we’ll be fine – especially Ocho – one of the knocks against him is he has issues fighting off the jam.

This is an offense that’s predicated by timing and getting the ball out quickly – disrupting those pass patterns early is imperative and from what i’ve heard after reading some commentary I think our defense knows that. Play aggressive

11 years of losing has taught me just a smidge of humility. - k8

by J2 on Sep 23, 2011 11:23 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Agree completely

If we play 7-10 yards off the ball like we did against OAK we are going to have to put up 50 points to be in this game. Need to knock these guys off their routes early and often.

by mikefaro on Sep 23, 2011 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Gronk x 2 must get jammed by Kelsay or whomever. Also, Welker needs to get jammed by Williams – i’m intrigued by that matchup.

The pure size and stength of the Bills OLB’s is the key here. Their ability to get out in Pass coverage might not be there, but their ability to hit GronkX2, push, hold, scrap and claw with take its effect over the course of 60 Minutes. Slowing Gronk down and making him work for everything is key. Without Hernandez, The Pats are down to 2 TE’s, fatigue will and has to play a factor in this ball game.

Brady is going to do what he does, In the Superbowl in which everyone thought Brady got shut down he still went 30-48, with 266 yds and a TD , and NO INT"S. So regardless of what pressure we can get on him he will still be his efficient self. Limiting the other weapons/assets the Patriots have is the key.

I persoanlly thin we are going to see a ton of Danny Woodhead, who shredded us last year aswell.

"Big Gulps Eh, Well See ya later" - Lloyd Christmas
" You Gus ready To Let The Dogs Out" "What?" " you Know, Who Let the dogs out rough rough rogh rough" - Zack Galifinakis - The Hangover

by PaullyPforPrez on Sep 23, 2011 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Totally agree on Woodhead

I’m expecting 12-15 carries from him, mostly on draws and other runs out of the spread. He’s going to be such a tough matchup in the pass game too, as the Pats have routinely killed us with screens over the years.

I really want to start him in fantasy, but just can’t. Luckily I can play a couple of good RB’s ahead of him in Rice and Mathews or I’d almost have to go with him this week.

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Sep 23, 2011 1:07 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I’m considering starting him. He’s that football good.

"Go check on the ribs!"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Sep 23, 2011 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Rec'd

All good points. The pressure shifts to the pats o-line if the receivers are fighting through the jam. Beady loves the underneath stuff and we have to disrupt that element of the game plan to have any chance of getting to Brady and slowing them down.

I have low expectations. But high hopes.

by greysquirrel on Sep 23, 2011 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Agree on the jams

With Brady and his ridiculous accuracy, it might not make a difference, but you know what? This defense needs to try anything to disrupt their timing. Florence is solid at jamming receivers but McKelvin just stinks at it. Most of the time he doesn’t even try, instead letting his man get a clean release off the line. Its infuruating to watch. If this team wants to get more physical, that’s a good place to start.

Disrupting the timing could theoretically allow our non-existent pass rush to get a little pressure, especially up the gut. Again, it won’t hurt to try.

I can’t even fathom how well Brady is playing. Fitz had been excellent so far, but friggin Brady has thrown for TWICE as many yards already. Just sickening.

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Sep 23, 2011 1:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

"Welker needs to get jammed by Williams"

Watching Wes Welker get jammed by KYLE Williams would be AWESOME!

"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep you mouth shut." – Ernest Hemingway

by Bogeyman on Sep 23, 2011 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Gronkowski #2 was cut today

"WE PROTECT AND LIVE FOR THE HONOR OF RIDING IN THE WAGON BLASTER" -abayarde

by BuffaloBlueBlood on Sep 23, 2011 5:14 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

We should sign him

just to annoy Belichick!

The user formerly known as "PaperBagHeads."

"Nick Barnett is everywhere. He is behind you right now." -- Munchausen

by ChuckBuffInFlo on Sep 24, 2011 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

I find the idea of a Pats guy telling us about Gronkowski just a bit ironic.

Check out buddynixon.com for more of my work.

by cjf4 on Sep 23, 2011 11:30 AM EDT reply actions

Why cant we have chandler cover him?

by Feedjasper on Sep 23, 2011 11:32 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Best comment all day

Nice work.

by Doctor Huge Pecs on Sep 23, 2011 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the two biggest challenges to solving the patriots offense are YAC and TE’s.

In years past we have not had the kind of skilled linebacker that could succesfully cover a TE. A strong reason for this is because the linebacker can only keep up with the TE for so long. We dont need to sack brady 7 times (wouldn’t that be nice), but we do need to get him out of the pocket or for him to release early. Barnett can keep up with Gronkowski and then some but not if brady can wait 3 extra seconds for gronkowski to outrun him

Let’s be honest, we are going to give up completions to Brady, everyone will. Where welker excels is when he runs underneath routes and can out run linebackers and the sort. We need to have these receivers tackled when they catch the ball. I would love to see how much of bradys yardage is YAC for the season. If anyone could get that stat it would be interesting.

by BuffSoldier86 on Sep 23, 2011 12:13 PM EDT reply actions

It's both Gronkowskis this Sunday, right?

"Go check on the ribs!"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Sep 23, 2011 12:17 PM EDT reply actions

Yes, though Da Gronk is...

…suffering a sore hamstring so we may see more of Edelman than Dan Gronkowski

by PineWoodsBillsFan on Sep 23, 2011 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

You definitely will now.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Sep 24, 2011 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Bryan Scott is probably going to get a lot of action in this game. The key will probably be handling the running game with Scott at ILB.

by Pistol on Sep 23, 2011 1:04 PM EDT reply actions

Bryan Scott is probably going to get a lot of action in this game.

Bow-chica-wow-wow

"Go check on the ribs!"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Sep 23, 2011 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

you have the sense of humor of an eight year old.

Check out buddynixon.com for more of my work.

by cjf4 on Sep 23, 2011 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

You make that sound like a bad thing

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Sep 23, 2011 2:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

it’s not a good thing…

Check out buddynixon.com for more of my work.

by cjf4 on Sep 23, 2011 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Says who?

If you can’t have some fun and enjoy yourself, then what’s the point?

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Sep 24, 2011 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions

you have the sense of humor of an eight year old.

After not making the playoffs since “99” some (included myself) have been reduced to a sense a humor of the insane or a 8 year old on occasion…

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."

-- John Wooden

by Goose22 on Sep 23, 2011 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions