“I Can Just Go Out There And Do It”
March 22nd, 2021
Prediction.
Bucs foot-rubbing, car-littering tight end Rob Gronkowski is confident he can be a better player at 32 than he was at 31.
And that’s because he now knows Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians’ offense inside and out and what is expected of him.
However, his numbers don’t back up his claims.
Gronk said he felt better and more in-tune with the offense midway through the season. But his game log on Pro-Football-Reference.com shows he had more targets and catches earlier in the season.
“I’d say halfway through the season I felt like I was very comfortable,” Gronk said of his first season with the Bucs after a year of retirement from the NFL. “As far as knowing the whole entire process, knowing the plays and feeling good out there on the field, it all came together about halfway through.
“It just felt good too when everything starts clicking like that. Like when I break the huddle I don’t even have to think about the play. I can just go out there and do it.”
Gronk only had one game with four or more catches in the second half of the season. That was in October against the Chiefs when he had six catches for 106 yards receiving, his best output of the season.
In the first eight games, Gronk had four with four or more catches.
Joe knows Gronk later in the season was used more for blocking, so the fact he had to know the entire playbook as a result may be what he was referring to.
Still, Gronk expects even more production this season now that he knows the Arians’ offense and equally important, is healthy, which he wasn’t with the Belicheats.
“So I am definitely looking forward to this year,” Gronk said. “Just going out there and just doing it. Not thinking about the play… knowing the play like it’s in the back of my mind like it’s second nature. That’s going to make the season just that much better already knowing the playbook.”
Any time a guy as talented as Gronk says he can improve, Joe believes that just makes the Bucs’ dangerous offense all the more lethal.
March 22nd, 2021 at 3:12 pm
Go get them Gronk
March 22nd, 2021 at 3:27 pm
Get AB on board, then I’ll buy in to the more lethal offense.
March 22nd, 2021 at 3:33 pm
Agreed about bringing back AB, but the O should be more lethal with the simple fact that Tom won’t have to look at his forearm to remember the play. More prepared Tom means more “Oh Sh!ts” from the opponent.
March 22nd, 2021 at 3:44 pm
It seems like he got more looks/catches later in the season. Maybe because it was during clutch 3rd downs. Can’t wait for Week 1 !
March 22nd, 2021 at 3:45 pm
I think the lower targets in the second half of the season was more on Brady becoming more comfortable with the other targets, plus the addition of Brown, more than anything to do with Gronk.
March 22nd, 2021 at 3:54 pm
Probably went to more 3 WR sets with Gronk blocking with AB on the roster….
Gronk is the kind of player who makes big plays when you need him…..it’s not the number of targets….it’s when and how effective that counts….
March 22nd, 2021 at 3:57 pm
He may not be the best free agent we signed, but he’s damn sure my favorite. I cannot wait for the season to begin.
March 22nd, 2021 at 4:03 pm
This is good news!
March 22nd, 2021 at 4:52 pm
How can you not like this guy?! He’s great…and teammates love him. When a clutch catch is needed…to win a key game ( including the Super Bowl of course )…he’ll be there. And he more than holds his own as a blocker…oftentimes is dominant.
March 22nd, 2021 at 4:53 pm
“I would love to go to Tampa,” [Gerald] McCoy said. “I’m in the winning phase. Not looking for a huge contract, I’m looking for the best situation where I can experience winning before I’m done. So for my free agent pick, or whoever picks me, the goal is for it to be mutual they are in a win-now situation.”
Sign him as depth! He deserves to win a title after being the best player on the team for a decade and having no one around him.
March 22nd, 2021 at 4:54 pm
Jaymiss Pick6 Again Says
“Get AB on board, then I’ll buy in to the more lethal offense.”
I would take Larry Fitsgerald over AB.
March 22nd, 2021 at 5:23 pm
BB AB has obvious chemistry with Brady why would you want Fitzgerald over him?
March 22nd, 2021 at 5:37 pm
The Bonz rooting for a McCoy Reunion is reason enough to absolutely forbid it. Not to mention the countless other reasons. I can’t imagine Arians would ever sign off on it. Licht no doubt learned his lesson as well.
March 22nd, 2021 at 6:33 pm
I the entire offense will improve. The line got better and better. And we’ve heard every receiver talk about getting better and more in sync and learning from Brady. The offense as a whole got better as they came to terms with their identity of running and utilizing the play action.
Now they have an off-season together and everyone coming back
(except may playoff Lenny and AB)
35 points per game!
March 22nd, 2021 at 6:52 pm
@Buccaneer Bonzai Says
Sign “McCoy” as depth!
Getting Gerald McCoy on the team now only makes sense if he has value.
The fact that he is sitting at home probably suggests his value is pretty low.
Also, remember the dynamics. I think Bowles never felt like he was a good fit for his defensive line. So even if McCoy might have value to some team in the league, his value to Bucs might be non existent.
Also…. Larry Fitzgerald > Antonio Brown in history of football.
However, last year Antonio Brown > Larry Fitzgerald last year.
For the same reason if I would want one on the Buc’s it would be the guy who could contribute more.
But maybe if we win 3 superbowls in a row, we can attempt to do the reunion tour and try to get old guys and old players back on the team.
March 22nd, 2021 at 7:41 pm
What Tampabaybucfan said…
March 22nd, 2021 at 10:50 pm
I’d sign McCoy for depth. He had no talent on the D line to help him for years and I bet he has enough left to be in the rotation for a year.