While all those aspects have actually contributed to suspicion that well ever see peak-level Gronk on the field again, theres also plenty of reasons to get thrilled about what the well-rested and now-healthy tight end can do for the Buccaneers offense. Whether hes removed from the development in an one-on-one isolation path, beating linebackers up the joint, or staying in to obstruct in the run video game, even a slightly-less-than-vintage performance from the 31-year-old tight end could pay enormous dividends for Tom Brady and Tampa Bay. And if he really does look like the player he was in his prime, as Bruce Arians recently said, Gronkowski might be the linchpin piece to his new offense. Heres a look at how the four-time All-Pro could put the Buccaneers over the top in 2020.
Tom Brady was searching for a modification of surroundings, so like any well-to-do Northeasterner nearing retirement, he set his sights on Florida. It was a stunning development when the six-time Super Bowl winner left the Patriots for the Buccaneers in March. It became clear Tampa Bay was having a minute when he was joined by the freshly unretired tight end Rob Gronkowski. Today, The Ringer is breaking down all things Bucs, from Bradys learning curve with a new group to the terrific Gronk revival, and whether a moribund franchise can reanimate itself with Brady at the helm.
Perhaps its the product of a strange, completely unmatched NFL offseason, but I discover it odd that Rob Gronkowskis go back to football isnt a bigger story. Approved, it has been over two years since weve seen the completely functional variation of Gronk on the arena– an unstoppable playmaker who damaged challenger gameplans week in and week out and made All-Pro honors in 2017– so theres plenty of recency bias at play. Gronkowski appeared like a shell of his normal self during the 2018 season as he fought ankle and back injuries, and those ailments– along with the laundry list of injuries he sustained in his profession– surely contributed to his choice to retire from football in 2019. The photos of Gronk looking shockingly svelte throughout his year off are probably stuck in front of mind for a great deal of individuals, too.
A Red-Zone Boost
Gronkowski has played 11-plus games in 7 of his nine seasons in the league therefore far, and hes scored eight-plus goals in 6 of those 7 seasons. His injury-marred 2018 is the just significant outlier season for Gronk, who found paydirt simply three times in 13 games that year. His goal amounts to from anything near to “complete” seasons, though, look like this (he played in simply 7 games in 2013 and eight video games in 2016):.
With a COVID-shortened offseason and an absence of reps in training camp, Tampa Bay may look to restrict Gronks snaps and relieve him back into the action, at least until he gets his sea legs in the Buccaneers offense. That concept was backed by NBCs Peter King, who assumed following a recent journey to the groups training school that Gronkowski will play behind both Howard and trustworthy veteran Cameron Brate. King did suggest, however, that the Buccaneers could utilize Gronk heavily in the red zone. That kind of specialized function– possibly even a specific package of plays that would feature Gronk as an inequality developer inside the 20-yard line– seems like a rational way for the veteran tight end to make his mark to start the season.
For many NFL players, touchdowns are unreliable. Touchdowns are reasonably rare incidents in the NFL so their overalls tend to vary enormously year over year; and its typically simply about impossible to anticipate the number of times any offered gamer will discover himself in the end zone in an offered season. Gronkowski, however, has been a pretty distinct case because area for the majority of his remarkable career.
The big unknown heading into the season is just how huge of a function Gronkowski will play in the groups new-look offense. With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in the mix, plus a previous first-rounder in tight end O.J. Howard, whos trying to find a bounce-back year, there are a great deal of mouths to feed in the teams passing game. The truth that the Buccaneers managed to lure Gronkowski out of retirement and traded a fourth-round pick to acquire him implies that Arians pictures a significant role for the tight end. Gronkowskis $9.3 million cap hit this year, which ranks fourth among all NFL tight ends, strongly suggests the same.
2010: 10 goals in 16 games.
2011: 17 touchdowns in 16 video games.
2012: 11 goals in 11 video games.
2014: 12 touchdowns in 15 video games.
2015: 11 touchdowns in 15 video games.
2017: 8 touchdowns in 14 games.
With Gronk on the field, it ought to be tough for opposing defenses to anticipate whether the Bucs will run or pass. He may require a couple of video games worth of full-contact reps to discover his groove as a blocker, however throughout his nine-year profession, hes been an elite blocking tight end who has graded in the leading 7 in run blocking or pass blocking 6 times, per PFF. His capability to run an ideal fade path on one play and bull-doze a defensive end or linebacker out of the play as a run blocker on the next is what has constantly set Gronkowski apart from his peers.
This ludicrous one-handed, twirling grab might be the most impressive play of Gronks profession. He showed body control, concentration, and balance as he spun around to snag the ball for the rating.
At his peak, Gronk was among the most dominant gamers in the NFL, and hell decrease as one of the finest tight ends of all time, despite what he does this season. In 9 seasons in the league, Gronkowski has actually been Pro Football Focuss top-graded tight end (min 100 snaps) six times (in 2011, and every season from 2013 through 2017), adding second- and third-place finishes in 2012 and 2010, respectively. He ranked 14th in 2018, though, a drop-off that can be attributed to a prevalence of injuries that made it tough for Gronk to merely move the field.
Merely put: The dude is good. Like, extremely good. And accounts from Buccaneers camp paint a photo of a man whos all set to get back to dominating near the end zone.
Hes running quickly again. Hes got excellent body control. Some of the things– the tightness that I saw at the end of his career with all the injuries– it looks like its gone.”.
Gronkowski has actually proven time and again that hes a premiere huge play threat, no matter where he lines up. From 2015 to 2017, Gronk led all players in yards per catch. Looking back at his tape from the past few seasons, there were so many plays on which he just outran smaller sized, apparently quicker opponents.
Costs Belichick on Gronkowski: “Lot of plays, Rob runs to the sideline and hes more ecstatic about a block he made than a catch he made.”– Oliver Thomas (@OliverBThomas) November 13, 2015.
Whether hes opening up a huge hole for his running back or keeping Brady on his feet for an extra half-beat so he can complete a pass, its constantly been clear that Gronk will give his best effort in every aspect of the position. Tampa Bay had an anemic run video game in 2019, ending up 24th in backyards (1521 ), connected for 27th in lawns per effort (3.7 ), and middle of the pack in rushing goals (15 ). Gronks skill as a blocker need to help the Buccaneers accomplish more balance, which would take some pressure off of Brady and the passing attack to bring the offense week in and week out.
Gronk doesnt just obstruct due to the fact that hes asked to obstruct, though. As Bill Belichick as soon as recounted, he revels in controling the man in front of him.
Gronks a specialist ball tracker, efficient in looking up over his shoulder to see the ball into his hands, even when a protector is curtained all over him.
Big Plays Over the Middle of the Field.
While all those aspects have actually contributed to hesitation that well ever see peak-level Gronk on the field once again, theres likewise plenty of factors to get delighted about what the well-rested and now-healthy tight end can do for the Buccaneers offense. That type of specialized function– maybe even a specific bundle of plays that would include Gronk as a mismatch developer inside the 20-yard line– seems like a sensible method for the veteran tight end to make his mark to start the season.
While Gronks tool set makes him a natural suitable for specialized red-zone looks, I anticipate the team to get him included almost all over else on the field as the season chugs along. Gronkowski has always been one of Bradys many trusted go-to guys, whether hes running paths on the outdoors or streaking up the joint. In fact, Bradys profession passer score of 129.6 on tosses to Gronk is the very best for any quarterback-to-receiver duo that Pro Football Focus has ever tracked.
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Theres no guarantee, obviously, that a year away from football is enough to transform Gronk back into the dominant gamer he was throughout his prime. But hes still just 31 years old (simply 5 months older than Travis Kelce, by the way), and has an excellent possibility to jump-start his career in Tampa Bay. The variety of results for the three-time Super Bowl champion is definitely pretty broad, but as we head into whats shaping up to be maybe the weirdest NFL season ever, it wouldnt feel at all weird to me if Gronkowski regains his previous achievement.
Zooming out a bit to provide more context, Gronks 79 getting touchdowns is tops among all gamers because he was drafted by the Patriots in 2010– and that consists of a number of injury-shortened projects and the 2019 season, which he missed out on altogether.
Today, The Ringer is breaking down all things Bucs, from Bradys knowing curve with a brand-new team to the fantastic Gronk revival, and whether a moribund franchise can resurrect itself with Brady at the helm.
A Boon in the Run Game.
He has a natural feel for positioning himself in the end zone, understands how to separate late, and, most importantly, has huge, dependable mitts to reel the ball in.
Putting It All Together.
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His injury-marred 2018 is the just significant outlier season for Gronk, who found paydirt simply three times in 13 video games that year. At his peak, Gronk was one of the most dominant gamers in the NFL, and hell go down as one of the finest tight ends of all time, regardless of what he does this season.
Theres no genuine mystery as to how Gronk has actually handled such constant goal totals, though: For beginners, hes either bigger, quicker, or stronger (or all 3) than just about everybody teams line up across from him. Second, hes had the advantage of having fun with a quarterback who trusts him entirely, and Bradys never hesitated to feed the big tight end in and around completion zone. Third, and this is a slightly less appreciated part of Gronks video game, is that hes simply naturally graceful and extraordinarily knowledgeable when the ball is in the air. Hes a master in jump ball situations, when he can toss his weight around and utilize his length to box out or go right through defenders for the ball.
Gronkowskis ability to line up anywhere in the development and run paths should can be found in useful for Buccaneers play caller Byron Leftwich, who can utilize the flexible tight end to exploit inequalities downfield.
