Blocking With Gronk
May 18th, 2020
With the addition of Rob Gronkowski, has any team ever had as many talented tight ends as the Bucs?
Shoot, the way Antony Auclair blocks he could be a starter for someone but may only see snaps on special teams this year.
Joe went to the Boston Globe to read stories on Gronk coming to the Bucs and found interesting lines from Tara Sullivan.
Gronkowski was a football unicorn, capable of transforming himself into an extra offensive lineman and blocking like a road grader one week, then coming back the next to revert to the pass-catching behemoth who could move his tree-like physique with the grace of a ballerina.
Yes, the future Hall of Fame tight end has a long history of injuries. It’s why he retired. The guy’s body was just beat up.
Now we all know Cam Brate isn’t a blocker. He can sure catch and catch touchdowns, but blocking? Nah.
O.J. Howard was asked to block a lot last year and struggled most of the time. One might even say Howard was misused. Joe isn’t sure Howard, despite being a very talented guy, is a physical guy. In Joe’s eyes, if you are not physical, you can’t be a strong blocker.
With the drafting of first-round pick Tristan Wirfs and the trade for Gronk, all of a sudden the Bucs offensive line went from average to good.
(Yes, Joe knows folks habitually kvetch about the line. Joe swears, unless there are five pancake blocks — like this — on every play, folks just won’t be satisfied.)
So might the Bucs use Gronk more as a blocker since he’s the best blocker of the top three tight ends? And perhaps Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians might use Gronk primarily in red zone offense and let Brate and Howard do the bulk of the pass receiving from the tight end position?
May 18th, 2020 at 8:13 am
The Buc’s didn’t spend 10 million on Gronk to let Brate and Howard do the bulk of the pass receiving from the tight end position?
May 18th, 2020 at 8:19 am
When the OJ detractors check the stats….Some will be VERY surprised…..
May 18th, 2020 at 8:28 am
I’m still skeptical that Gronk has much left physically. I do however like the signing, even with the salary because (1) it’s not my money, (2) football is an entertainment business, and signing two future HoF players generated quite a buzz of excitement nationally for the Bucs (something that hasn’t happened in quite awhile!), (3) because of the buzz the Bucs got a good number of primetime TV games…again something that hasn’t happened in awhile, (4) at worst he’ll make a great decoy for the first few games, at best he’ll stay healthy and make my opening statement a line of B.S., and (5) it gives use several opportunities to see pix of his smokin’ hot girlfriend on this site!
May 18th, 2020 at 8:34 am
The “real” question, is how many games will it take the sheep to “realize” that the Bucs did not get a pro bowl TE but just a “reality” star??????? How many games to figure out he can not run anymore and does not have the heart to be an effective blocker anymore?????????
Some of the sheep will say next offseason, that ” he just needs to be in year two of ole stale biscuit’s offense”!!!!!!!!!!!!
“This is the no excuses of no-excuses years”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s time to herd the sheep, and put them back in the pen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 18th, 2020 at 8:43 am
How Gronk is physically remains to be seen, regardless if eL bucco thinks he knows all.
I initially thought OJ could break out with Brady but he hasn’t shown anything so far.
The Gronk signing might be good. A security blanket for Brady.
It should be good as a coach on the field helping all the receivers understand things Brady is looking for.
Remember, the Buccaneers didn’t go out to sign Gronk, Brady brought it up to Bruce Arians and instigated the whole thing
May 18th, 2020 at 8:54 am
gronk = brady’s grunt
? ? ?
May 18th, 2020 at 9:24 am
Why can’t be both? He can block and catch I don’t see how this isn’t anything but a positive. We can actually KEEP DEFENSES GUESSING. Imagine that.
May 18th, 2020 at 10:07 am
I couldn’t even read the article. Had a hard time taking my eyes off Gronk’s girl friend. What a piece of Arse. Mean that in the nicest way. Keep digging up those pics Joe.
May 18th, 2020 at 10:10 am
Love it Joe! Nice image in the link. Dierdorf and Dobler leading the way for Terry Metcalf at the old Busch Stadium. Ah, the memories…..
May 18th, 2020 at 10:12 am
Actually, that’s two nice images!!
May 18th, 2020 at 10:27 am
Gronk’s blocking is definitely going to be key. It will keep Brady upright and also open up holes for the run game and allow us to have a good play action game. I see Gronk as a blocker first and a short to intermediate receiving threat next. I do believe giving OJ the opportunity to get down the seam more often will be the best use of his talent and allow him to be the receiving threat he is capable of being without having to do much blocking, which he hasn’t been that at. Maximize your players talent.
May 18th, 2020 at 11:24 am
I’m cautiously optimistic but his health/wear & tear is definitely a concern.
We are taking big risks in general with father time lol but f*ck it man. Right now with this pandemic it’s probably the worst time to try and rebuild a team anyway even if you had no faith in anything we are doing.
With the draft likely becoming the biggest crapshoot ever next year due to the lack of a season potentially / tape to study players to see how they are developing + the weird vibes of trying to instill a new coach/staff/culture when people can’t hang out – it’d be a really terrible time to blow anything up and try to rebuild.
Might as well go all in for a few years. If it works out we’ll have reset the culture / rebuilt the D / and can draft the future at QB.
If it doesn’t work out we blow it all up – after the pandemic and all this crap is over.
It is what it is. I accept this fate lol. GO BUCS
May 18th, 2020 at 11:53 am
Joe that picture is funny as hell……….I didn’t watch much more then Wirfs highlights but what I did notice was that he lives to finish every play which usually ends with him plopping on whoever is in his way……It’s been a little while since we seen that kind of tenacity at the tackle position(Penn?).
I think he’s gonna make a difference in the toughness and physicality Dept. Lining him up next to Auclair or Gronk I think we finnaly got one side to run behind this year…..How bout Gronk/Wirfs with VitaV playing FB in short yards plowing right between them? That might be money in the back!!!
May 18th, 2020 at 2:34 pm
I’m not worried about his injuries save for one. His body has had a year off…he has trained like a fiend…when you see him in a bathing suit he doesn’t look that large…he’s tall and muscular but not a beast just very athletic.
His body should be fine it’s his noggin I worry about. Remember the last guy we signed who had concussion issues….I forget his name…I’m not even sure if he ever saw the field.
Gronk is one good noggin hit away from a long timeout in concussion protocol.
Now here is a question. Is there any doubt that Sleazy Sean Payton’s boys will be looking for a head shot?
May 18th, 2020 at 2:38 pm
BTW How do we feel about deliberate head hunting?
If it’s OK to cheap shot a player is it not also ok to cheap shot a coach?
Would it have been wrong during the bountygate year for NO if an opposing coach had gathered a few players with a plan for running out of bounds that included a player perhaps losing physical control and “accidentally” trucking Payton in the hopes of sending him to the hospital so he could no longer have input into the game? Would that be wrong? Just askin’?
May 18th, 2020 at 4:01 pm
I day we break paytons leg again…it was the highlight of that game..i hate that dude
May 18th, 2020 at 8:52 pm
I have a buddy who is an Iowa alum. His sister is married to a former Iowa Offensive lineman. They watch every game. Dude says Wirfs is one of the NASTIEST OL ever to play for Iowa
THAT is some GOOD sh!t to hear to me!