"Replacing" Gronk

[Saints Rest]

One game in to the season, post-Gronk, and I thought that it would be worth discussing the Patriot offense going forward.

Here is Mike Reiss's column showing offensive snaps and his analysis.
http://www.espn.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4798158/lighter-defensive-load-could-help-patriots-defense-as-ravens-await (ignore the headline and scroll down to see the discussion of offense). Here is what he said about the TEs:

TIGHT END

Martellus Bennett -- 54

Cameron Fleming -- 12

Matt Lengel -- 10

Bennett is playing through ankle and shoulder injuries, which has slowed him down. The two-tight-end package wasn’t a big part of the attack, as the Patriots tapped fullback James Develin in more two-back sets as part of how the offense reinvented itself without Rob Gronkowski. Lengel didn’t play until the second half.​

My own personal impressions:

• It seemed to me that we saw a lot more 2 RB sets, maybe even some 3 RB sets?? The combos of which 2 RB's had some variety as well with Develin seeing time with all three other RB's (I think). There must have been something in the Rams' containment tendencies that the coaches picked up on, as both Blount (on his TD run) and Lewis at a couple times, made hay bouncing runs to the outside after starting up the middle.
• Bennett wasn't much of a factor, in fact, as some have noted in the Game Ball Thread, it might have been his worst game as a Pat. I never even noticed Lengel, but the NYC Fox feed switched to another game when it went to 26-3.
• Interesting to see Hogan and Mitchell each get more snaps than either Edelman or Amendola. I'm shocked that Hogan is listed as 2" taller than Mitchell.
• The balance and mix of play-calling seemed really good. As I mentioned elsewhere, the Rams seemed to blow up every WR screen.

Other thoughts on what we saw and what we are likely to see going forward, especially considering they are down to really only 3 WR's and one TE for the near future? Keshawn Martin is a FA with experience int eh Pats system; I don't see much else out there.

 

[tims4wins]

I believe Dobson is also a free agent

Edit: and to answer your question, not to sound too much like BB, but I am guessing it will shift week to week. We may see heavy pony some weeks, may see heavy Fleming some weeks. Depends on opponent / game plan

 

[Stitch01]

Martin is an interesting name. No idea what shape he's in, last was on the SF roster where he was replaced by old friend Chris Harper. The Pats thought enough of him to extend his contract last year. Provides experience at punt returner and the Pats ran 9 plays of 4 WR against the Rams (0 YTD) so, at least last week, that was part of how the Pats wanted to play in a post-Gronk world.

 

[Dr. Gonzo]

Not sure how severe the Jordan Richards knee injury is but he could be put on IR if they wanted to promote Lucien or White from the practice squad.

How many 4 WR sets typically are run on average by the Pats? Where would someone find that information? Is the nine plays they ran yesterday typical this year?

 

[tims4wins]

Pretty sure the (0 YTD) meant zero 4 WR plays this year to date

 

[Stitch01]

Yeah Reiss said they hadn't used 4 WR all year, but havent checked that.

 

[Dr. Gonzo]

My brain went to yards to date for some reason.

I've definitely seen 4 wide but that has been with either Gronk or Bennett split out so it doesn't count.

 

[wiffleballhero]

What do we see from Lengel going forward?

In the SSS of hopefully three remaining games can he be effective? He seems to be able to run his routes, catch the ball and he is built like a tank. So all of that seems good.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

I think Lengel is almost purely a blocking TE. He may catch the occasional pass a la Hooman when the defense essentially ignores him but he isn't a legitimate threat. This is a guy with 33 career college catches at a small program. If he wasn't a receiving threat at Eastern Kentucky he isn't bothering NFL defenses.

The upcoming draft is very deep at TE. If we can't resign Marty, I can see us grabbing one.

 

[Super Nomario]

I think Lengel is almost purely a blocking TE. He may catch the occasional pass a la Hooman when the defense essentially ignores him but he isn't a legitimate threat. This is a guy with 33 career college catches at a small program. If he wasn't a receiving threat at Eastern Kentucky he isn't bothering NFL defenses.

The upcoming draft is very deep at TE. If we can't resign Marty, I can see us grabbing one.

Even if we do re-sign Bennett. He turns 30 in a couple months, so he shouldn't be seen as a long-term solution, and obviously we don't know what the future holds with Gronk.

 

[JohnnyK]

I think Lengel is almost purely a blocking TE.

They might employ him like that but his draft profile lists setting the edge and staying engaged as a blocker as his biggest weaknesses and being a tall target with massive catch radius as a strength. So I don't know if keeping him as a blocking tight end makes sense.

 

[tims4wins]

Even if we do re-sign Bennett. He turns 30 in a couple months, so he shouldn't be seen as a long-term solution, and obviously we don't know what the future holds with Gronk.

Not to go totally off-topic, but is there such a thing as a long-term solution in the NFL aside from the QB position? Maybe OL?

 

[BaseballJones]

Even if we do re-sign Bennett. He turns 30 in a couple months, so he shouldn't be seen as a long-term solution, and obviously we don't know what the future holds with Gronk.

I agree. For some odd reason, I was rewatching the first half of the 2012 AFC divisional matchup between the Pats and the Tebow Broncos and Gronk and Hernandez together were just destroying the Broncos defense. Love me some quality tight ends. Bennett isn't a young man anymore. Gronk has taken some real abuse. Both are still great, great players, but I'd love it if they could add another young stud to groom as the next great Patriots' TE.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Even if we do re-sign Bennett. He turns 30 in a couple months, so he shouldn't be seen as a long-term solution, and obviously we don't know what the future holds with Gronk.

I think it decreases the odds of using a relatively high pick on the position but I agree overall. It's such a key position for the offense.