Patriots Lose Gronk
Added on Nov 19, 2012 by Scott in
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Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski posted his best game of 2012 yesterday when he torched the Colts with seven catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Unfortunately for him and the Pats offense, Gronk could miss the remainder of the regular season with a broken forearm. He underwent surgery earlier today and is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks.
Losing Gronkowski is a major blow to the Patriots vaunted vertical attack. Fellow tight end Aaron Hernandez has missed six games due to a lingering ankle issue. It’s not known when Hernandez will return to the lineup, but it should be sooner than later given the void at tight end.
Visanthe Shiancoe will likely see increased snaps, although the biggest benefactors could end up being Julian Edelman and Danny Woodhead. Both are excellent receivers/runners adept at changing positions and roles on a moment’s notice. Bill Belichick will likely utilize them in creative ways to offset Gronkowski’s absence.
Unlike previous seasons, the Patriots are not one-dimensional on offense. They rank first in scoring and total yards, but a portion of that success can be attributed to the fifth best running game in the league. With trips to New York and Miami next on the schedule, a strong ground game might be all that’s needed to secure victories. However, in Weeks 14 and 15, New England will face its two toughest opponents when they host Houston and travel to San Francisco. Needless to say, not having Gronk available in those games will make the challenge of winning much more difficult.
Gronkowski’s 10 touchdowns leads the team and is tied for the league high with Cincinnati’s A.J. Green. He has been a veritable touchdown machine in his two-plus seasons with 37 scores in only 42 career games. Gronk is the rare player at his position capable of being a force all over the field as well as dominating as a run blocker. With the exception of New Orleans’ Jimmy Graham, no one comes close to matching his speed and power.
Will the Pats miss his production? Yes. Will they suffer without him? Maybe, maybe not. Belichick is a master when it comes to overcoming adversity, so odds are he’ll make the necessary adjustments to keep the offense churning.
