Since entering the NFL in 2010, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski – affectionately known as “Gronk” – has taken up the mantle from Tony Gonzalez in continuing to redefine the position. Thanks to the pioneering Gonzalez and the superhuman Gronk, the position previously associated with blocking and check-down catches is now often looked at as the dynamic centerpiece of an efficient offense. With 42 touchdown receptions in less than four full seasons, the athletic, tank-like Gronk has already become one of the game’s most explosive offensive weapons and is undoubtedly well on his way to taking Gonzalez’s place as the best offensive tight end in history. However, during the last couple of seasons, there’s been just one one thing holding him back: injuries.
Despite his enormous, seemingly indestructible 6-foot-6, 265-pound frame, Gronkowski has suffered a slew of unfortunate and untimely injuries over the past few years, including a broken forearm, an infected forearm, a back issue that required surgery earlier this year and as of last week, a torn ACL and MCL that will once again prematurely end his season.
While the Pats have had to deal with Gronkowski’s injury woes before, this latest setback could be the most devastating, considering the Patriots’ high-powered offense was just starting to find its rhythm with him back at his usual spot along the offensive line during the last seven games.
With Gronk out of action for the first six games of 2013 while still recovering from back and forearm injuries, the Patriots offense sputtered, averaging just 20.8 points per game. Unsurprisingly, when Tom Brady’s favorite unmissable target returned, the Pats saw increased production on the scoreboard, racking up 32 points per game over the last seven. Even more noticeable was the team’s improvement in the red zone, as the Pats went from nine touchdowns in 22 trips (40.9 percent) without Gronk, to 19 touchdowns in 28 trips (67.9 percent) with their beastly scoring machine.
Putting the numbers aside, Gronkowski’s mere presence on the field is almost an unmeasurable advantage for the Patriots. His rare combination of speed, size and pass-catching ability not only creates match-up nightmares for any opponent who dares line up across from him, but he also draws defenders and attention away from other Patriot receivers, opening up opportunities for the likes of Danny Amendola and and Julian Edelman.
Of course, all NFL fans—especially New England fans—understand the value a one-of-a-kind player like Gronkowski possesses. Considering the 10-3 Patriots are faced with venturing into the postseason without their offensive juggernaut, the real question now is: Can New England still win the 2014 Super Bowl?
For a team that has won three such titles in the past 12 years, confidence is always in large supply no matter who is in the lineup. The morning following the injury, New England’s unflappable leader, Tom Brady told WEEI’s Dennis & Callahan he believed in the players who were still healthy and that the Pats could still win without Gronk by making the necessary adjustments going forward.
“You just have to find a different formula. That’s the important part,” Brady said. “Gronk provides a certain margin of error because of how talented a player he is. The other guys play different roles for us. Those roles are going to have to just shift, kind of what we did on the last two drives of the game. We ended up going four wide receivers at points. (At) different points, we had more with [James] Develin and [Matthew] Mulligan on the field. We’re going to have to make due. Whatever the combinations are, if Gronk’s not out there, then we have to try to figure those out.”
Obviously, there’s really no way to replace Gronk or his production, especially at tight end where the next man up will likely be either Michael Hoomanawanui (10 catches in 2013) or Matthew Mulligan (two catches in 2013). However, as Brady stressed, that’s not really the plan. The team—as it did during the first six weeks of the season—will have to make due without Gronk and adjust as best they can. Some players are even looking at the situation optimistically; as a time that will force playmakers from other positions to step up, like rookie receiver Josh Boyce, who nabbed three catches for 49 yards in New England’s incredible comeback win over the Cleveland Browns last week.
“It’s definitely good for guys to get experience,” Edelman told The Boston Globe earlier this week. “That’s how you learn the most in this league, and they’ve done well with it. Josh [Boyce] did a great job yesterday going in and doing things he hasn’t done, and being able to adapt when things are going crazy.”
Some other positive news for this year’s group of Pats is that—as opposed to some recent years—New England has a strong running game it may be able to lean on when needed. Ranking 13th in the league entering this weekend’s bout with the Miami Dolphins, the Patriots ground game boasts four capable rushers in Stevan Ridley, Brandon Bolden, LaGarrette Blount and a newly healthy Shane Vereen—who also demonstrated his worth in the pass game last week with 153 yards receiving on 12 catches.
Many will also point to the Patriots’ ability to persevere through injuries as a reason why the Pats can still win it all this season. Not only did the Patriots win five of their six games without Gronk this year, but they’ve also maintained one of the AFC’s best records without Vince Wilfork, Jerod Mayo, Tommy Kelly, Sebastian Vollmer, Aqib Talib, Alfonzo Dennard, Amendola and Vereen for much of the season.
However, it’s safe to say that the game-changing Gronk is more valuable than many of those aforementioned players combined. Still, coach Bill Belichick is confident his team can take on this latest challenge, considering all his Pats have already overcome. Here’s what Belichick told the Globe about his 2013 squad:
“Very tough-minded and determined group that, even though at times the deck has been stacked against us or it’s been things that we’ve had to overcome, they haven’t ever made any excuses or tried to back down from the challenge. The attitude, the ability to go out there and fight and persevere and deal with whatever the circumstances are and not really get too fazed by it, but just try to deal with it, has been very impressive by the entire team this year.”
Of course, Brady and Belichick have reason to be confident, considering they won all three of their titles before Gronk even came into the league. With different leading receivers, rushers and tacklers, Brady and Belichick have remained the only real constants in New England’s past 12 years of success. That fact will comfort many who are still holding out hope for a New England Super Bowl win this year, but there’s no doubt that living without Gronk will present the Pats with the tallest and most treacherous mountain they’ve ever attempted to climb.
