“His Workload Can Go Up In Games”
September 15th, 2021
Like he did during most of his New England years, Rob Gronkowski played 75 percent of the Buccaneers’ offensive snaps last season.
The difference was that Gronk lasted an entire season. It was the first full campaign of his Hall of Fame career — at 31 years old.
Bucco Bruce Arians was on his team-sponsored radio show last night crowing about how Gronk was among several players that came back to the club this summer in better shape than they’ve been in years.
“So his workload can go up in games,” Arians said of Gronk.
After hearing that, it’s no surprise that Gronk played 88 percent of the snaps on Thursday with Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard rarely sniffing the field.
Considering Arians’ words about Gronk, and Antonio Brown looking re-born physically and mentally, and it’s hard to imagine the Bucs running nearly as many two-tight end sets as they did last season.
Joe just hopes the Bucs aren’t too intoxicated by the new/old Gronk and remember they need him most in January and February.
September 15th, 2021 at 11:25 am
Yeah, I hope Arians doesn’t overdo it with the workload. Gronk looks physically imposing but he has sustained a series of ongoing injuries that have prematurely ended multiple seasons, or taken him out for part multiple seasons. This dates back to his days in college, which impacted his draft status.
September 15th, 2021 at 11:41 am
Gonkzilla! Full-time, or part-time, either way I’ll take it. This player balls out every snap he plays. I know everything is analytics now, but really is there a stat that correlates snaps to production? If so my money says Gronk leads the league on that one. No wonder Brady trusts I’m. I do too.
LFG Bucs!
September 15th, 2021 at 11:57 am
A lineman can’t run routes ALL game! 🙂
September 15th, 2021 at 12:26 pm
Work Brate into the mix. He was so good in the playoffs.
September 15th, 2021 at 12:31 pm
Be careful with gronk. I was plesently surprised by his performance, but it’s week one. The goal is to have him healthy and fresh for the playoffs. You have more than enough at TE. There’s no need to run him into the ground. Ideally you want him to have no more than 65-70% of the snaps. Brate and Howard are good enough. If gronk continues to play 88% of the time, he won’t finish the season
September 15th, 2021 at 2:13 pm
Too many weapons to overload one player. Mix it up until you can’t. It’s all about the end result.
September 15th, 2021 at 2:29 pm
Yeah, I think think they really need to balance the snaps and get some of the younger guys more involved. We need the stars available for the playoffs, so let’s be smart about their workload.
September 15th, 2021 at 3:16 pm
Ride him until the wheels off if you’re only winning games by 2 points. He’s only 31 years old and make $10M/year.
If we were blowing teams out by 20 if would be a different story. We could have easily lost Game #1.
No “SAVING” anyone for the playoffs unless you’re easily beating other teams or there might not be a playoffs.
September 15th, 2021 at 5:09 pm
Makes sense to rest Gronk with a big lead. Don’t remember a big lead last game. Gronk and Godwin saved saved the game.
September 16th, 2021 at 12:36 pm
There definitely needs to be a good balance….. The Gronk I saw last Thursday makes our team unstoppable….. but we need him healthy come playoffs.
September 16th, 2021 at 4:00 pm
I can see AB and Gronk getting 10 tds each this year if they keep this play up.