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Gronk was usually their number 1 large receiver…pats always had fast little slot receivers, Edelman, welker and amandola, he was the a nightmare matchup, but not bc defenses were busy covering other players..it’s bc he was just a monster on his own…they would double him on Defense…
@@DNReacts TEs like Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham literally expanded the endzones with their size and athleticism, and their value is irreplaceable in the red zone. Huge guys with incredible hands and the ability to make huge plays. Of course it also helps that these guys had two of the greatest QBs of all time (Gronk with Brady and Graham with Brees)
Historically, there were tight ends that were basically just extra offensive linemen and then tight ends who were basically only effective at catching passes (this is changing in the modern game to a degree). Gronk was S tier elite at both
Gronk was an unbelievable blocker, that just doesn't make as many highlight reels. That seam route that he ran so many times was one of the most awesome plays in football, and I don't even like the Pats. 😂
As a life long NFL fan I just want to say bravo fellas. You guys have really gotten a great grasp on the game in a short time. Excited to see the 2023 Season. LFG Chargers ⚡️
My thoughts exactly. There are many times where I can see D has done his homework. If you continue to watch and learn, I promise you will see why this is the greatest game on the planet for a spectator.
New to the channel through watching Derrick Henry video and I love how you guys don’t over talk the video, and when you do stop the video it’s not a whole series 🙄 love this!!! Straight to the video and out of there 🔥🔥🔥🔥 #SUBBED
TEs are the bridge between offensive tackle and wide receiver in nearly every sense. Most are around 6'4" 240, just by my estimation. They all can carry their body types differently and utilize it differently.
I feel like it would be good to put the amount of Super Bowls the top teams have won in perspective so you guys know who the Man U/Liverpool/Arsenals of the NFL are. I won't include NFL titles from the pre-Super Bowl era for simplicity. The Patriots and Steelers are tied at the top with 6 Championships each. Next up come the Cowboys and 49ers, both with 5. Then there are the Giants and Packers tied with 4. Washington, the Raiders, the Broncos and the Chiefs have 3. The rest of the league has 2 or fewer, with 12 teams never winning a single Super Bowl. Anyway, I just figured that would give you guys context whenever a highlight reel says "The Patriots just won their 6th Championship" or whatever so you'll know if that's a lot or not 😂
Gronkowski also went on to play with Brady on the Buccaneers and added more numbers after this video came out. He was also one of the best run blocking tight ends of all time. They are reciver/lineman hybrids, Gronkowski skills as a receiver just out shined his blocking highlights.
Saw this in the comments Tristan, absolutely crazy! We’ll have to come back and review this story too. He was incredible in these highlights for sure. Thanks for the comment, appreciate it
Arguably the best BLOCKING tight end ever! that's the stuff you don't see unless commentators focus on it. He was 6'6" and 265 pounds. What made him stand out was how he could move at that size. The closest comparison has been Travis Kelce, who's really a wide receiver. But various players of note have gone on record saying that as a blocker, Kelce was not in the same league as Gronk. In that Super Bowl win against the Rams, for examplel (the one near the end of the reel where Gronk caught the long pass down to the two), Gronk spent the entire game blocking Aaron Donald...who's considered possibly the best defensive lineman of all time. Gronk was such a gift to us all.
TBH, I don't know if Kelce is a good comparison, since Kelce's blocking is... eh. IMHO, Kittle or Goedert might be a better comparison.. not in terms of talent, but just in terms of being completely all-around the whole package. Although, that catch in the playoff game against the Cowboys last hear definitely had echos of Gronk in it, lmao.
Yes, Gronk was also a great blocking Tight End. They don't mention it much in this video because blocking doesn't typically make for very exciting highlights. If you search something like "Gronk run blocking" there are a few videos our there showing the other side of his game.
Gronk is the greatest te of all time. He’s also one of the funniest personalities in the nfl which is surprising because bill belichick coaches his players to be competent. He was the face of the team and the nfl for years. I had so much fun watching him, Tom, and Jules tearing up teams when I was just a little kid ❤️
This is great, and I 100% get the personality 😂 could see it shining through on these clips. Seemed like such a character. Thanks for the comment, really appreciate it
Gronk was one of the best receiving tight ends of all time, but he was also the best blocking tight end as well. Guys like Kelce are great they just don’t affect the game as much as Gronk did.
Gronk also suffered several injuries during his career that forced him to miss quite a few games. You might notice the brace on his arm and knee as a result. If he stayed as healthy as one can in the NFL his stats would be even more impressive, which is a scary thought.
That whole one year in Tampa whirlwind is worth it’s own video to add supplemental context to Gronk, Brady, and a bunch of other vets that came together for one year to change an entire organization
Heard about this in the comments, absolutely crazy! Definitely something we’ll look to return to and cover that part of his story. Thanks for the info and comment, really appreciate it 🙏
For the "are most tight ends built like that?" question... yes and no. 6'6, 265 is certainly big for a tight end, but not unheard of. The average is probably somewhere around 6'4, 250. I think what makes Gronkowski different is that in addition to his hands, body control, etc., is that he's the quintessential example at the position (either TE or WR) of using raw power to break tackles. Even if he's listed at 6'6, 265 he's one of those guys that just feels bigger than that because of his lumbering running style, and physical nature. It's very much a man among boys thing. He was also a mauler blocking. If there's a knock on him (which is nitpicking because he's probably the best tight end of all time) is that he got banged up A LOT and missed a lot of time with injuries, which isn't too surprising considering how much he looks for contact. But he'd always just come back and produce, he's by far the best red zone threat in TE history (catching touchdowns closer in to the end zone). This video didn't show it but he came out of retirement to win another Super Bowl with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay. If you compare him to someone like Travis Kelce (who most consider second best TE alongside Gronkowski, as well as some arguing the best), he's 6'5, 255, so not much smaller, but they play completely different games. Kelce uses his smarts and route running quite a bit more to produce, his calling card is finding soft pockets in zone coverage.
Tight ends are generally a slight downsize from an offensive tackle, with the hands and speed and agility of a wide receiver. Pretty much right in the middle of the two roles and honestly one of the most underrated positions
Underrated... and underpaid. I've half jokingly said many times if I was an NFL GM, I'd rather have a Kelce and a Kittle over a Tyreek Hill (who makes more than both TEs combined) and just say to the OC, "you got two elite TEs, figure it out". Pretty much what the Packers seem to be aiming to do this year with the two rookies, Love, and the two RBs, lmao.
Gronk was a fantastic blocking TE but most casual fans don’t consider blocking to be highlight material so it wasn’t shown. He truly was a complete TE, capable of doing anything you would want a TE to do.
10:58 - “I don’t know if he’ll ever see this” My best friend just happens to know not only Rob but the whole Gronk family. My friend met the brother Gordy when he was playing Independant Baseball for Lake Erie Crushers (near Cleveland). From there, he became god friends with Gordy, when the Gronk family comes to Cle, my friend’s fam & Gronks usually meet & go out somewhere. I’ll forward this vid to my friend to forward to Gordy & Gronk…… sooo who knows💁 ya might actually see a comment 😜
They usually don’t show blocks for highlights unless we’re looking at Offensive Linemen but Gronk was MAN amongst boys when it came to blocking. He’s got to be one of the biggest Cheat Codes not only in Madden games but in real life. The video didn’t show it but he followed Brady to the Buccaneers and got his 4 and last Super Bowl ring. I think he was a few Touchdowns and yards shy of 10,000 receiving yards and 100 Touchdowns
Excellent TE only if he was injured less he would’ve had a longer career. Check out Tony Gonzalez (played 17 seasons missed only 2 games jus as a beast as well)
Can you guys react to Brian Dawkins also known as weapon X. One of the hardest hitting safeties of all time. Second recommendation is night train lane, he doesn’t have much highlights though because he played in the 50’s
Gronk took a lot of pride in his blocking. A lot of hybrid TEs are about the catching, not the blocking. Gronk was about whatever the play called for. In the Seahawks superbowl, the Pats prepped for that play.
Tight ends must block like linemen on most plays, and catch passes like wide receivers on pass plays. Therefore, they are always bigger than wide receivers because of the need for them to block defensive linemen a lot.
he was the best blocking TE in the league as well. His lack of durability is a real issue when comparing him to Kelce or the other all time greats. However, when healthy, Gronk is the best TE ever because none of the others were close to him as a blocker.
They don't show his blocking higlights but that ability is part of what makes him so great. Even at his older age, he was basically a 6th lineman for the Buccs in their super bowl run, pretty much erasing guys like chase young
Thanks Jack, we’ll come back for his blocking as a huge favourite part of the game for us! Thanks for the comment, really appreciate it. Have a great day 🙏
Gronk! What a legend. Love and appreciated by all football fans, not just Patriot and Buc fans. He personally ruined many Sunday's for me and that superbowl win against the Seahawks is still too painful to watch. ♠
And two years later, he and Brady did it again, with Tampa Bay. There will never be another Gronk. He WAS the best blocking tight end ever: Kelce is no comparison.
One of the most fun players to watch, not even a Patriots fan. This video doesn't go far enough to show that he also went to Tampa Bay with Tom Brady and won another Superbowl! You guys will like Travis Kelce if you're enjoying Tight Ends!
Heard about this in the comments (Tampa), absolutely crazy! Definitely something we’ll look to return to and cover that part of his story. Thanks for the info and comment, really appreciate it 🙏
Thank you for the comment and the suggestion, really appreciate this, will check it’s on the watch list. We run regular polls on our Discord for all members to have a say in what videos we do next if you’re not already on there 🙏
I have loved watching Gronk! He is so amazing! Off the field he's pretty wild too. Loves to have a good time. I think most tight ends are big. The good ones. They are used to block as well as receive!
Thanks for the info and comment Mark, really appreciate it! Could definitely tell from these highlights what a character he was one and off the pitch! Loved this one
Great job, guys. Gronk was the best blocking TE also. That's where he is separate from guys like Travis Kelce, Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates IMO (all Hall of Fame quality TEs). Although, nothing compares to him careening through an opposing secondary like a runaway train. I was at the game where he was throwing Bears players around at the beginning of the video. Quite impressive in person. Watching him signing autographs at Training Camp was fun too. He was as affable and jovial as you'd expect....and up close you really get to see how BIG he is, more informative than just seeing stats. Unicorn.
Hey, thanks for this. We have completed a reaction of Justin Field’s 2022 Season Highlights. Unfortunately the NFL blocked 🚫 the reaction and we cannot upload to UA-cam. We have added it to our Patreon where there’s a ton of content we’re unable to put on UA-cam.
QB: top tier arm (obviously), 99% taller than 6’3. 80% of them aren’t fast or super athletic. RB: most of them short around 5’10-6’2 (obviously short comparing to nfl athletes not normal ppl), strong upper body or fast and shifty Wr: tall and fast Te: hybrid between lineman’s and wr (not massively big like gronk mostly)
GRONK SPIKE! Yes, this is the Superbowl where the Seahawks just had to hand the ball to Marshawn Lynch. In terms of build, yes, Gronk is the ideal TE build, but 6'6 265 is tough to come by. Sometimes Forwards (6'6ish, thick for rebounding) in College Basketball who cant make it to the NBA, but have great hands, with a similar build, will be recruited by NFT teams, invited to try out as a TE. Sometimes these basketball players try to make this transition on their own too. Gronk in his prime was unstoppable. They don't show as much of his blocking, but he was an absolute bulldozer. Love the reaction.
I mean, I understand giving context for the Super Bowl XLIX highlight. But also, can we not? (Love your vids - painful memories for 'Hawks fans though)
Some added context to Gronk: He came into the NFL with a bad back that he had already had surgeries on. While in the NFL, he further fucked up his back, neck, blew out a knew, destroyed an ankle, broke his forearm multiple times *hence the robotic arm brace in his later years*... and even with ALL of those injuries, Gronk was STILL the most dominant TE to ever play the game. It's scary to think how good he would have been if he had ever been truly 100% healthy. Oh, and it's hard to put into highlight clips of Gronk: but not only was he an insanely talented TE at catching the ball/moving with it after the catch, his blocking was on the same level as offensive linemen. Gronk would absolutely manhandle guys in the run game, having him blocking LB's and DB's truly just wasn't fair. It's part of the reason I'll always scream about Gronk being the best TE ever, his blocking was seriously underappreciated during his career.
Gronk was the best at both receiving AND blocking of all time. The nfl just doesn't view blocking as highlight worthy but he was extremely important in that part of the game too.
Gronk was 6'6" and 267lbs and JJ Watt was 6'6" 295lbs, so JJ wins. But of course they played different positions in the pros--but you may be interested in know that JJ played tight end initially in college at Central Michigan before transferring to Wisconsin to then be moved to the defensive line.
I am not a Patriots fan by a long shot - I couldn't stand them when they reigned on top of the league two decades straight. But this Gronk guy is hands down the very best all around true TE in the history of the sport when he's 100% healthy & in a rhythm with Tom Brady. Once Rob Gronkowski is in the zone and fully able to beat any coverage or any DB you throw at him as a defensive coordinator, there is NOTHING you can do to stop him! Almost Jordan-like once you see him go full GRONK and destroy tacklers in the pass game or block thier facemasks into the ground as an in line extra blocker for max protection or a pull from the guards on a designed run. Bill Belichick has been blessed to get to coach Moss, Gronk, and Brady after he was the only NFL head coach that truly believed in the three of them as seriously injured medical red flag (Gronk at U of Arizona)/an unheralded 6th round draft pick (Brady as a 3rd stringer from U of Michigan/ an uninspired purposely drug test failing All pro veteran bouncing around free agency seeking a 3rd long term contract for anywhere who'll pay it (Moss and his no haircut phase the years he basically took off work cadillacing as a Raider) We are all privileged to get to see a bad ass football player like this dude was who's still young and can still play but won't since Gronk's has nothing else to prove. Put him in the HOF early I say!!!
Gronkowski is an anomaly of tight ends. He's unavailably the best recirving TE. Even better than Travis kelce. And he is debatably the best blocking tight end also.
At his peak nobody was ever better. Gronk could block a defensive lineman one-on-one, release, sprint past linebackers and safeties, and bowl over anyone who tried to tackle him. He had the best catch radius for a tight end, and maybe a receiver, that I've ever seen, excepting Randy Moss and Calvin Johnson. He was amazingly surehanded and before his injuries slowed him down, a phenomenal open-field runner. Gronk at his peak was the best to ever play the position--although I think Travis Kelce may have the more accomplished legacy, if you look at the full body of work, by the time his career winds down.
5:00 - What's worse is that, at the beginning of his career, they would play 2-tight-end sets and the other tight end was a similarly fast, strong, and great catching Aaron Hernandez. You could NOT cover both, or in some cases, either of them. Hernandez is a super tragic story though. Connecticut kid made good but the fame went to his head and he never got rid of the bad influences in his life or his personal demons from a troubled childhood. He and some of his buddies wound up murdering a former friend and he was convicted of the murder and sentenced to life in prison where he wound up committing suicide. Very sad. 6:07 - This was the "give the damn ball to Marshawn" Super Bowl. After a miraculous catch from Russell Wilson to Jermaine Kearse to get the defending champion Seahawks to 1st and Goal from the 5 with just over a minute remaining and down 4, they ran the ball with Marshawn to get the ball down to the 1. The entire universe knew that he should get the ball again even if the Patriots knew it was coming but the Seahawks offensive coordinator called a pass to a quick slant route underneath the coverage and the head coach did not veto the play (meaning he could have said, "Fuck it. Run the damn ball," but did not). The cornerback covering the receiver, Malcom Butler, saw what was happening, jumped the route and beat his man to the ball and intercepted it to seal the game. This actually wasn't the worst play call given that the Patriots put a bunch of their big linemen on the field (a goal line package as it's called) to defend against the run and the play called for the slot receiver to set a pick on his defender to open up the lane for the pass which he did. Still, shoulda probably run it. 10:50 - These days, yes, most tight ends are built similarly; both tall and strong. However, he was a little bit taller and a LOT stronger. I do want to mention since they were talking about his possible retirement after only his 7th season is that, as good and as long (by NFL standards) as his career was, Gronk was banged up a lot with injuries to all sorts of different body parts. Catching passes over the middle of an NFL field will do that to a guy over 11 years. 12:07 - This was actually Patrick Mahomes' FIRST season as a starter. He has actually led the Chiefs to the AFC Championship game EVERY year since he became a starter in 2018. 12:55 - He really is a big "dumb" goofball. Seems very friendly and is DEFINITELY very funny but can't underestimate his football IQ. You can't last that long in the league or with Tom Brady and Bill Bellichick without knowing ball. This video might be old. He did retire after that Super Bowl against the Rams and took a year off but when Brady went to play for the Buccs, Brady convinced him to come out of retirement to join him and they won another Super Bowl together in 2020-21 beating the defending champions Mahomes and the Chiefs in the process. They played again together for one more year this time losing in the Divisional Round to the eventual champion Rams. 14:17 - He was also a great blocker but blocking doesn't usually get the highlights unless that's all you do like a center, guard, or tackle. If you want to see highlights from a tight end who is a great pass catcher but LIVES for a good block, check out this video of George Kittle of the 49ers...ua-cam.com/video/jDI1FegtWpo/v-deo.html ...also a bit of a character. Definitely the greatest tight end of the 2010's. Didn't last as long as Tony Gonzalez, Shannon Sharpe, or Antonio Gates and might get a run from them or Travis Kelce or George Kittle of those still playing for GOAT conversations but he sure won a hell of a lot and he'll be in the Hall of Fame in no time.
Lifelong Pats fan here. Yes, Gronk was a pass catching TE. In the redzone (20 yards and in), he was unstoppable. He caught so many TDs off fades, back shoulders, corner routes, dig routes, hit the goal line and turn, you name it. He has so many plays where he's hit and just drags a guy for 5 extra yards, which is so huge in football. As the years went on, Gronk got more injuries and didn't have the same speed. What excelled his career was his run blocking. He could hit anyone on the defense and push them back. It didnt matter if it was a D-lineman, linebacker, DB, all were bullied. Gronk is a top 5 all-time pass catching TE. But what makes him the best IMO, is he was the best run blocker TE. As a defense, you had to account for him, no matter what the play was, run, pass, and heaven help you if play action has been working.
You want to know who’s bigger. Time to check out the top MLB player, Aaron Judge. He’s 6’7” and weighs in at 282 pounds. He’s an agile right/center fielder with a arm no one runs on.
If you are this big and can catch, you will be a tight end. Then there's this guy. Wide receiver hands with excellent athleticism, all with being a really large big dude.
Dude grew up in Buffalo Bills territory and haunted our organization for years. He was taken 43rd overall in the draft. Right before he was picked the Bills took Torell Troup with the 42nd pick. Troup was out of the NFL after 3 seasons, and well, you see what Gronk did.
This highlight compilation doesn't show it and only really focuses on the receiving aspect of his game. Although his most legendary block throwing Lorenzo Alexander "out of the club" was featured at 7:05. But Gronk was also one of the best blocking tight ends ever. Huge, powerful, and just crazy enough to hit people with reckless regard. He Was a matchup nightmare for defenses. Too fast for linebackers, too big and strong for DBs to cover. Was double teamed constantly and still set receiving records for TEs. Those Patriot teams with him and Aaron Hernandez both playing tight end(before Aaron Hernandez went to jail for murdering someone 😞) were unstoppable. If defenses went too small to guard against the pass the Patriots would run it down their throats behind Gronk. If they put the big bodies out to stop that, Gronk would feast on the linebackers in coverage. If a defense ever got caught in a particularly bad defensive personnel package, Tom Brady would instantly start using No-Huddle to prevent them from substituting and exploit that weakness relentlessly.
Late to the party, but in case you haven't been updated, Gronk was often the best blocking TE in the NFL during his career along with being an unstoppable receiver and ball carrier. This is what makes him the GOAT TE. The lack of blocking highlights is more a function of him having the most receiving/open field running highlights of any other TE in NFL history than him being a subpar blocker.
The typical Tight End is a big brawny guy who isn't very skilled, and mostly just good at blocking. Basically a grunt who occasionally is used in short yardage situations for a catch or two a game. For a TE to also be a good receiver and an offensive weapon is uncommon. That's why TE's like Gronk, Shannon Sharpe, Antonio Gates, and even Keith Jackson back in the day are special.
The biggest threat in a tight end's arsenal today is size. That is usually what makes them so difficult to cover, regardless of the player that a defense wants to try and take him out with. Defensive backs may have the speed an athleticism to handle modern tight ends, but they can't hope to deal with the size and wing span of players that may have six inches in height and who knows how much more in wingspan over them. Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham are both 6'6, as are Jason Witten, Marcedes Lewis and Kyle Rudolph. Heath Miller and Jeremy Shockey are 6'5. Chicago's Kellen Davis is 6'7. An average NFL safety is a little over 6'0" tall, and most linebackers will be giving up a few inches in height to those players. They are inherently big targets with a catch radius that defenders can't match, and accurate quarterbacks can take advantage of. The size of a modern day tight end is an obvious advantage in the passing game, but it also prevents teams from simply trying to shut them down with their most athletic coverage defenders, because those players are usually smaller and more nimble, but can't hold up at the point of attack against 250lb-pound tight ends. That is what makes Gronkowski such a weapon. Teams can't simply play him as a wide receiver and put their most athletic defensive back on him, because he is just as capable of lining up in tight to the line of scrimmage and blocking straight ahead, driving a smaller defensive back off the line and out of the play. The best tight ends aren't just tall and long, but they have bulk and strength to go with that, enough weight to be a factor blocking at the line against linebackers and defensive linemen, making them more than a match for defensive backs and forcing teams into a matchup dilemma.
I'm sure other people have answered these questions, but just in case: 6:05 That was indeed the Malcolm Butler game. The Seahawks had 3 downs and all they had to do was hand the ball to Marshawn Lynch and let him gain 1 yard. The play shown immediately before was the game-losing interception they threw instead. 10:50 Gronk is an exceptional blocker for a TE, which can be a HUGE asset since it basically allows the offense to be equally effective running and passing out of the same formation. If you have 1 blocking TE and 1 receiving TE, it's pretty easy for the opposing defense to know what kind of play to expect before you even snap the ball. Unfortunately the Patriots never really had a quality running game to capitalize on that. 11:07 His size is pretty typical for a TE. What makes Gronk special is that even the great TEs usually specialize in either being fast/agile receivers with great hands, or big bruisers who are good at blocking and hard to tackle once they have the ball. Gronk is one of the few to be legitimately great at both. As you correctly point out at 2:16, it probably didn't hurt that Tom Brady was the one throwing him the ball...
You should check out a vid of his blocks. He was a Beast He also went with Tom to Tampa and won a superbowl like it was no big deal Dude was the most fun and funniest player off the field for sure
Heard about this in the comments, absolutely crazy! Definitely something we’ll look to return to and cover that part of his story. Thanks for the info and comment, really appreciate it 🙏
The thing with Gronk was, he was too big to be defended by a DB, but he was too athletic to be defended by a LB. And he had great natural athletic sense for executing plays. Also he came back from some outrageous injuries and could still performed with excellence. I hate the Patriots, I hate Brady, I hate Belichik, but I love Gronk, he was a real one.
Note on that seahawks superbowl, yes that was the iconic, "they shouldve ran the ball" game lol. Im a patriots fan, so it may seem biased, but as a football fan also, that pass play that the seahawks ran, works 95% of the time. Its whats called a "pick play". Essentially they line up 2 receivers on one side of the field. When the ball is snapped, the innermost receiver runs up to the defender, and "sets a pick". So without illegally holding him, the receiver creates a blockage with himself and the defender. This blockage allows the outermost receiver to run inside that blockage, cutting off himself from the defender, becoming wide open. For a small amount of yardage, it ALMOST always works. Malcolm butler is the defender who caught the interception, but the true MVP was the other defender, brandon browner, who recognized the pick play immediately, and instructed malcom on what to do, and how to defend it. On top of all that, the patriot's defense practiced that specific play at least twice with every single one of their defenders. Its really comes down to the preperation of the patriots defense at the time. Side note, with all that being said, if i remember correctly, it was only 2nd down, meaning they couldve actually ran marshawn two more times, and i seriously doubt we woudlve stopped that. Although dont'a hightower did straight up lay marshawn out on the first down run play to him, and maybe that influenced pete Carroll's decision to attempt the pick play. Sorry for the long comment, but I've been defending the patriots supposed "lucky" win over the seahwaks for years 😂😂 Loved the reaction, and love seeing people from other countries getting seriously interested in american football.
Quick edit: hey everybody don't forget to like the video like I did until just now. original reply below Gronkowski is an inch (2-3 cm) taller than J.J. Watt but Watt weighs 20 lbs (9 kg) more -- which makes a certain amount of sense, since Watt's position requires more power vs. Gronkowski's being more speed. re. the ball bouncing back up and hitting you in the face, the shape of an american football actually makes that rather unlikely that you'd get a straight bounce like that, but I *have* seen it happen in basketball. at 6:30 You have the correct super bowl, it was this one (per a quick google search; I don't remember that year very well.) At 7:40 the really impressive bit here is the situation -- it's fourth and 10, meaning they have to get at least ten yards on that play or the other team gets the ball -- and with them having only one timeout and about 90 seconds left on the clock, the game would almost certainly be over. Instead they set themselves up for the resulting touchdown and nearly tie the game. Gronkowski doesn't tackle much -- he's an offensive player now -- but he does block on running plays. It's just that those don't make the highlight reel because he's not the one with the ball. He's about average size for a tight end -- offensive linemen are typically similar height but weigh more, because they aren't trying to run with the ball and avoid tackles so speed is less of a priority. Notably this video seems to have come out before his unretirement to join Brady with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And Gronk is definitely likeable. There's a photo shoot he did for sports illustrated where he's holding a kitten and he has this look on his face like he's never seen a kitten before and he is just in awe of this tiny creature in his hands; he somehow comes off as being almost as adorable as the kitten.
Tight ends usually come in two flavors, blocking and receiving. Gronk was the only TE I've seen who was dominant as a blocker and receiver. Look at the size of his hands.
The Marshawn Lynch no-handoff gets blown way out of proportion. The odds of throwing an interception on a 1 yard slant are no worse than Marshawn fumbling if they'd handed off to him. It was poorly executed, but there's no guarantee that a handoff wins it with any more certainty.
someone also crunched the numbers and found that through out that season, Seattle had more success throwing it when that close then they did handing it off to Marshawn Lynch. I think it was like a 70% success rate when throwing verses a 35% success rate when handing off.
You asked about TE's being built like Gronk. At the time he was a unicorn. A true one of a kind. Every team in the league is chasing the archetype of Gronk now. Literally going to basketball games and scouting athletes to play tight end even. There are many copies now, but none are as good as he was. That is REALLY saying something as well because I'd argue that 3-4 of the best 5 tightends to ever play are playing now or in the last 5 years. Gronk is the best to ever do it and he came out of nowhere. Brady helped obviously.
Gronk is one of the best tight ends of all time. What wont be talked about is how New England tried to change the nfl when Gronk got drafted. New England found another tight end in that same draft named Aaron Hernandez in the same draft as Gronk. So while other teams were spreading out with extra wide receivers on the field, New England was was using both these tight ends as matchup nightmares. In 2011, gronk had 90 catches for 1327 and 17 tds. Aaron had 79 catches for 910 yds and 7 tds. Its too bad aaron off field stuff because they almost changed the NFL offenses and how defenses would react to the change.
The highlights don't show it well, but Gronk was a fantastic blocker in fact, one of the best TE blockers ever. He truly could be utilized as a 6th OL when needed, and his blocking downfield helping other receivers was very destructive.
Gronk was more built like an Offensive Lineman. Heck one year the patriots did a trick play where they threw the ball to OL Nate Solder, and through out the play everyone was convinced it was Gronk, not Nate, running the ball.
Spoiler alert....Groningen is 6'7 so yeah he's bigger than Watt. Also Gronk is the greatest Tight Endvof all time, if you're wondering how good he is. He was an elite blocker as well.....he would still be in the league destroying everyone but what the video didnt show is that Gronk had one if the most injury riddled career of all time
Before Gronk, there weren't many Tight Ends built like him, but after? Pfft. There are so many baby gronks in college and the NFL because they saw the damage a big TE can do
What makes Bill Belichick the greatest NFL coach is rhat he adapts his schemes according to his personnel. He's run a 2 TE offese with Gronk and the player never to be named. He's aired it out with Moss Gronk and Wes Welker in the slot. He's run offenses where the running game was just short passes to the RB out of the backfield. He's had a lot of players in his 23 year in NE.
Whenever you’re feeling up to some deeper videos about coaching and scheme, I’d recommend looking into that Rams game you saw Gronk in. This one would be my recommendation. ua-cam.com/video/Z0eqNPiXgmk/v-deo.html
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Gronk was usually their number 1 large receiver…pats always had fast little slot receivers, Edelman, welker and amandola, he was the a nightmare matchup, but not bc defenses were busy covering other players..it’s bc he was just a monster on his own…they would double him on Defense…
@@BigHurt84 Thanks Mendy, really appreciate the comment 🙏
You guys should check out Shannon Sharpe!
@@DNReacts TEs like Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham literally expanded the endzones with their size and athleticism, and their value is irreplaceable in the red zone. Huge guys with incredible hands and the ability to make huge plays. Of course it also helps that these guys had two of the greatest QBs of all time (Gronk with Brady and Graham with Brees)
Y’all should start trying to learn several of the teams and conferences in the p5 in cfb
Historically, there were tight ends that were basically just extra offensive linemen and then tight ends who were basically only effective at catching passes (this is changing in the modern game to a degree). Gronk was S tier elite at both
Thanks for the context and comment John, really appreciate it! Loved these highlights of Gronk
Gronk was an unbelievable blocker, that just doesn't make as many highlight reels. That seam route that he ran so many times was one of the most awesome plays in football, and I don't even like the Pats. 😂
So were gates Gonzalez and kelce
@@derekhambleton4746 kelce dont block lmao
As a life long NFL fan I just want to say bravo fellas. You guys have really gotten a great grasp on the game in a short time. Excited to see the 2023 Season. LFG Chargers ⚡️
Thanks Kyle, we really do appreciate it 🙏 Thanks for the comment and onwards towards the 2023 Season. We can’t wait 🍻
@@DNReacts Do you guys have a favorite team you want to follow?
My thoughts exactly. There are many times where I can see D has done his homework. If you continue to watch and learn, I promise you will see why this is the greatest game on the planet for a spectator.
New to the channel through watching Derrick Henry video and I love how you guys don’t over talk the video, and when you do stop the video it’s not a whole series 🙄 love this!!!
Straight to the video and out of there 🔥🔥🔥🔥
#SUBBED
Thank you, really appreciate your support. Welcome to the channel 🤝
TEs are the bridge between offensive tackle and wide receiver in nearly every sense. Most are around 6'4" 240, just by my estimation. They all can carry their body types differently and utilize it differently.
Appreciate the info 🙏🏼
Yeah that’s the Super Bowl that they did it hand it off to Lynch and Russel threw the game ending INT.
I feel like it would be good to put the amount of Super Bowls the top teams have won in perspective so you guys know who the Man U/Liverpool/Arsenals of the NFL are. I won't include NFL titles from the pre-Super Bowl era for simplicity. The Patriots and Steelers are tied at the top with 6 Championships each. Next up come the Cowboys and 49ers, both with 5. Then there are the Giants and Packers tied with 4. Washington, the Raiders, the Broncos and the Chiefs have 3. The rest of the league has 2 or fewer, with 12 teams never winning a single Super Bowl. Anyway, I just figured that would give you guys context whenever a highlight reel says "The Patriots just won their 6th Championship" or whatever so you'll know if that's a lot or not 😂
You should do Drew Brees
Have got him on the list, think he’s possibly in one of the Discord polls at the moment too.
you did see gronk blocking...
he was blocking on the game winning TD vs KC and the game winning TD vs LA,,,
Gronkowski also went on to play with Brady on the Buccaneers and added more numbers after this video came out. He was also one of the best run blocking tight ends of all time. They are reciver/lineman hybrids, Gronkowski skills as a receiver just out shined his blocking highlights.
Saw this in the comments Tristan, absolutely crazy! We’ll have to come back and review this story too. He was incredible in these highlights for sure. Thanks for the comment, appreciate it
I was gonna comment this glad someone beat me to it haha
@@DNReacts ua-cam.com/video/UsGZIH2V-Fw/v-deo.html
Full breakdown of Gronk as a blocker.
That was Christmas for us in Tampa. What a treat to have those 2 for a couple of seasons.
@@DNReacts gronk always said he'd never play with another qb and he was a man of his word
Arguably the best BLOCKING tight end ever! that's the stuff you don't see unless commentators focus on it. He was 6'6" and 265 pounds. What made him stand out was how he could move at that size. The closest comparison has been Travis Kelce, who's really a wide receiver. But various players of note have gone on record saying that as a blocker, Kelce was not in the same league as Gronk. In that Super Bowl win against the Rams, for examplel (the one near the end of the reel where Gronk caught the long pass down to the two), Gronk spent the entire game blocking Aaron Donald...who's considered possibly the best defensive lineman of all time. Gronk was such a gift to us all.
Great comment Michael, thanks for this. Great reading stuff like this about Gronk, really puts it all into perspective. Appreciate the comment 🙏
TBH, I don't know if Kelce is a good comparison, since Kelce's blocking is... eh. IMHO, Kittle or Goedert might be a better comparison.. not in terms of talent, but just in terms of being completely all-around the whole package. Although, that catch in the playoff game against the Cowboys last hear definitely had echos of Gronk in it, lmao.
I mean Kyle Brady was probably the best blocking TE of the past 30 years, but Gronk is the best combining blocking and receiving
@@dpw140 I'm actually not familiar with him. TBH, the only one I can think of that was popular for that was Mercedes Lewis. Was he better?
@@DNReacts And I appreciate yours; thanks!
Yes, Gronk was also a great blocking Tight End. They don't mention it much in this video because blocking doesn't typically make for very exciting highlights. If you search something like "Gronk run blocking" there are a few videos our there showing the other side of his game.
Thanks Steve, really appreciate the comment and makes perfect sense. We’ll give this a search to see this side of his game too
His blocking ability is what makes him in clear GOAT at TE. No other ATG TE comes close to him as a blocker.
Gronk is the greatest te of all time. He’s also one of the funniest personalities in the nfl which is surprising because bill belichick coaches his players to be competent. He was the face of the team and the nfl for years. I had so much fun watching him, Tom, and Jules tearing up teams when I was just a little kid ❤️
This is great, and I 100% get the personality 😂 could see it shining through on these clips. Seemed like such a character. Thanks for the comment, really appreciate it
He's also ineligible for USAA insurance coverage, but I'll be darned if he isn't making millions if dollars figuring that out...
I’d argue Kelce but Gronks a close second
I’d say Gronk is top 5 but greatest is kindve a hot take… Tony G is prolly the greatest, and Kelce is slowly creeping up on that too
@@TC.Tylerr I don’t think they are as truly unstoppable as prime Gronk
Gronk was one of the best receiving tight ends of all time, but he was also the best blocking tight end as well. Guys like Kelce are great they just don’t affect the game as much as Gronk did.
Love this Chris! Thank you for the comment. We really appreciate it 🙏
Gronk also suffered several injuries during his career that forced him to miss quite a few games. You might notice the brace on his arm and knee as a result. If he stayed as healthy as one can in the NFL his stats would be even more impressive, which is a scary thought.
That whole one year in Tampa whirlwind is worth it’s own video to add supplemental context to Gronk, Brady, and a bunch of other vets that came together for one year to change an entire organization
Heard about this in the comments, absolutely crazy! Definitely something we’ll look to return to and cover that part of his story. Thanks for the info and comment, really appreciate it 🙏
For the "are most tight ends built like that?" question... yes and no. 6'6, 265 is certainly big for a tight end, but not unheard of. The average is probably somewhere around 6'4, 250. I think what makes Gronkowski different is that in addition to his hands, body control, etc., is that he's the quintessential example at the position (either TE or WR) of using raw power to break tackles. Even if he's listed at 6'6, 265 he's one of those guys that just feels bigger than that because of his lumbering running style, and physical nature. It's very much a man among boys thing. He was also a mauler blocking.
If there's a knock on him (which is nitpicking because he's probably the best tight end of all time) is that he got banged up A LOT and missed a lot of time with injuries, which isn't too surprising considering how much he looks for contact. But he'd always just come back and produce, he's by far the best red zone threat in TE history (catching touchdowns closer in to the end zone). This video didn't show it but he came out of retirement to win another Super Bowl with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay.
If you compare him to someone like Travis Kelce (who most consider second best TE alongside Gronkowski, as well as some arguing the best), he's 6'5, 255, so not much smaller, but they play completely different games. Kelce uses his smarts and route running quite a bit more to produce, his calling card is finding soft pockets in zone coverage.
Tight ends are generally a slight downsize from an offensive tackle, with the hands and speed and agility of a wide receiver. Pretty much right in the middle of the two roles and honestly one of the most underrated positions
Thanks for this context Sean, makes a lot of sense. Really appreciate it 🙏
TE and FB need more respect
Underrated... and underpaid. I've half jokingly said many times if I was an NFL GM, I'd rather have a Kelce and a Kittle over a Tyreek Hill (who makes more than both TEs combined) and just say to the OC, "you got two elite TEs, figure it out". Pretty much what the Packers seem to be aiming to do this year with the two rookies, Love, and the two RBs, lmao.
@@ultrahotwings9738 100%
You guys got it again! Tight ends are generally 6’4”+ and 250lbs+ Gronk was huge even for a TE though about 6’7” 270! Massive lad
Wow, yes, that is massive, and definitely massive for a TE. Really appreciate the info and comment Ethan 🙏
@@DNReacts He was huge, but had great speed as well. A nightmare as a blocker and receiver. It's rare to have that combination.
@@DNReacts You asked about JJ Watt. He's 2 inches shorter and 20 lb more. Very similar builds, just large dudes.
Gronk was a fantastic blocking TE but most casual fans don’t consider blocking to be highlight material so it wasn’t shown. He truly was a complete TE, capable of doing anything you would want a TE to do.
Makes perfect sense Alex, thank you for posting this comment, really appreciate it!
Tony Gonzalez is another all time great tight end you should check out
Thanks C M, will check we’ve got him on the list. Should jump on our Discord if you haven’t already, got a thread set up just for NFL requests too 🙏
10:58 - “I don’t know if he’ll ever see this”
My best friend just happens to know not only Rob but the whole Gronk family. My friend met the brother Gordy when he was playing Independant Baseball for Lake Erie Crushers (near Cleveland). From there, he became god friends with Gordy, when the Gronk family comes to Cle, my friend’s fam & Gronks usually meet & go out somewhere.
I’ll forward this vid to my friend to forward to Gordy & Gronk…… sooo who knows💁 ya might actually see a comment 😜
I can’t even begin to tell you how insane this would be! 🔥 I won’t get my hopes up but this would be a wow moment if it happened
They usually don’t show blocks for highlights unless we’re looking at Offensive Linemen but Gronk was MAN amongst boys when it came to blocking. He’s got to be one of the biggest Cheat Codes not only in Madden games but in real life. The video didn’t show it but he followed Brady to the Buccaneers and got his 4 and last Super Bowl ring. I think he was a few Touchdowns and yards shy of 10,000 receiving yards and 100 Touchdowns
Excellent TE only if he was injured less he would’ve had a longer career. Check out Tony Gonzalez (played 17 seasons missed only 2 games jus as a beast as well)
Closing on in 20k! Keep up the great content, guys!
Thank you, we really appreciate your support and the comment 🙏
Can you guys react to Brian Dawkins also known as weapon X. One of the hardest hitting safeties of all time. Second recommendation is night train lane, he doesn’t have much highlights though because he played in the 50’s
Gronk took a lot of pride in his blocking. A lot of hybrid TEs are about the catching, not the blocking. Gronk was about whatever the play called for.
In the Seahawks superbowl, the Pats prepped for that play.
Tight ends must block like linemen on most plays, and catch passes like wide receivers on pass plays. Therefore, they are always bigger than wide receivers because of the need for them to block defensive linemen a lot.
Someone once said Gronk is the best Te in arguably history but if he wanted to he could gain 30 pounds and be an all pro tackle
he was the best blocking TE in the league as well. His lack of durability is a real issue when comparing him to Kelce or the other all time greats. However, when healthy, Gronk is the best TE ever because none of the others were close to him as a blocker.
Thanks for this context William, makes complete sense, really appreciate the comment
They don't show his blocking higlights but that ability is part of what makes him so great. Even at his older age, he was basically a 6th lineman for the Buccs in their super bowl run, pretty much erasing guys like chase young
Thanks Jack, we’ll come back for his blocking as a huge favourite part of the game for us! Thanks for the comment, really appreciate it. Have a great day 🙏
@@DNReacts
ua-cam.com/video/UsGZIH2V-Fw/v-deo.html
Was not expecting this upload holy moly, big ups to you guys, love content as always 🔥
Thank you so much, really appreciate it 🔥 Hope you enjoy. Have a good day bud.
@@DNReacts same its 2am in nz and I don't mind watching it now 😂🫡
The crazy part was Gronk was an amazing blocker and receiver most dominat TE in his prime and he retired by 31 so young
Shame he retired so young, but looks like he had a fantastic career. Thanks for the comment Matthew, we really appreciate it 🙏
Gronk! What a legend. Love and appreciated by all football fans, not just Patriot and Buc fans. He personally ruined many Sunday's for me and that superbowl win against the Seahawks is still too painful to watch. ♠
I also find it painful to watch even as an impartial viewer! Thanks for the comment, have a great day 🙏
Gronk was a great blocker.
Other tight ends to check out Travis Kelce, George Kittle ,Tony Gonzalez , and from way back , Mike Ditka and John Mackey
Thanks Rodney, will check we’ve got these on our radar on the watch list. Have a great day 🙏
George kittle is probably the best blocking te but they probably won't show blocking in a highlight video
His reels usually do show blocking. Just off the top of my head the youtube video 'Kittle the Joker' does have some blocking
And two years later, he and Brady did it again, with Tampa Bay. There will never be another Gronk. He WAS the best blocking tight end ever: Kelce is no comparison.
You should take a look at the other side of the spectrum to a feisty small receiver, I can’t recommend Steve Smith Sr enough
Seen his name, definitely have got him on our list. Thank you for the suggestion, really appreciate the comment.
Ah, New England's big dumb monster. One of the best I've ever seen.
Love this, he was a beast! Really appreciate the comment 🙏
One of the most fun players to watch, not even a Patriots fan. This video doesn't go far enough to show that he also went to Tampa Bay with Tom Brady and won another Superbowl! You guys will like Travis Kelce if you're enjoying Tight Ends!
Heard about this in the comments (Tampa), absolutely crazy! Definitely something we’ll look to return to and cover that part of his story. Thanks for the info and comment, really appreciate it 🙏
Btw this vid is from before he came out of retirement and caught two tds in another superbowl victory.
Just seen this in the comments Zach, absolutely incredible stuff! We’ll have to follow up on that too. Thanks for the info and comment 🙏
If you want to see a blocking tight end who is an absolute monster as well, you should watch George kittle.
Thank you for the comment and the suggestion, really appreciate this, will check it’s on the watch list. We run regular polls on our Discord for all members to have a say in what videos we do next if you’re not already on there 🙏
Easily one of the top 5 tight ends in NFL history. Many argue he was the best of all time.
Not a bad accolade to be associated with 🔥
Gronk is one of the greatest blocking tight ends in NFL history!
Love this! Hard to disagree having seen these highlights! 🙏
I have loved watching Gronk! He is so amazing! Off the field he's pretty wild too. Loves to have a good time. I think most tight ends are big. The good ones. They are used to block as well as receive!
Thanks for the info and comment Mark, really appreciate it! Could definitely tell from these highlights what a character he was one and off the pitch! Loved this one
Man seeing yalls growth in understanding Football is amazing. Cant help but smile watching
Thanks James, love seeing this, really appreciate the support 🙏
Oh btw he came out of retirement and won another in Tampa..
Wow, okay, didn’t know that, that’s incredible, thanks for letting us know Seth 🙏
Great job, guys. Gronk was the best blocking TE also. That's where he is separate from guys like Travis Kelce, Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates IMO (all Hall of Fame quality TEs). Although, nothing compares to him careening through an opposing secondary like a runaway train. I was at the game where he was throwing Bears players around at the beginning of the video. Quite impressive in person. Watching him signing autographs at Training Camp was fun too. He was as affable and jovial as you'd expect....and up close you really get to see how BIG he is, more informative than just seeing stats. Unicorn.
Thank you! Really appreciate the comment 😊
Front came out of retirement for I think 1 or two seasons and joined up with Brady again on the Buccaneers. I think they won one more together.
Saw this mentioned in the comments, absolutely insane! We’ll have to come back to it to follow up. Thanks for the comment 🙏
Gronk was Randy Moss but 100 pounds heavier and four inches taller
Gotta do Justin fields season highlights
Hey, thanks for this. We have completed a reaction of Justin Field’s 2022 Season Highlights. Unfortunately the NFL blocked 🚫 the reaction and we cannot upload to UA-cam. We have added it to our Patreon where there’s a ton of content we’re unable to put on UA-cam.
The Philly Super Bowl was the one that Belichick coughed up. Defense sucked. Brady threw for over 500 yards.
Imagine...for 4 years an offense with Brady, Gronk, and Randy Moss... yea that happened.
Go watch the 2020 Superbowl! It was the final superbowl victory for both Tom Brady and Gronk! They where both incredible in the game too!
Greatest TE of all time and probably the greatest TE name of all time. Gronkowski is just such a perfect name for that position.
Gronk is probably the best blocking TE ever (aside from maybe strictly blocking te’s)
QB: top tier arm (obviously), 99% taller than 6’3. 80% of them aren’t fast or super athletic.
RB: most of them short around 5’10-6’2 (obviously short comparing to nfl athletes not normal ppl), strong upper body or fast and shifty
Wr: tall and fast
Te: hybrid between lineman’s and wr (not massively big like gronk mostly)
Love y’all keep up. Love y’all perspective and innocence towards excellence
GRONK SPIKE! Yes, this is the Superbowl where the Seahawks just had to hand the ball to Marshawn Lynch. In terms of build, yes, Gronk is the ideal TE build, but 6'6 265 is tough to come by. Sometimes Forwards (6'6ish, thick for rebounding) in College Basketball who cant make it to the NBA, but have great hands, with a similar build, will be recruited by NFT teams, invited to try out as a TE. Sometimes these basketball players try to make this transition on their own too. Gronk in his prime was unstoppable. They don't show as much of his blocking, but he was an absolute bulldozer. Love the reaction.
I mean, I understand giving context for the Super Bowl XLIX highlight. But also, can we not? (Love your vids - painful memories for 'Hawks fans though)
Some added context to Gronk: He came into the NFL with a bad back that he had already had surgeries on. While in the NFL, he further fucked up his back, neck, blew out a knew, destroyed an ankle, broke his forearm multiple times *hence the robotic arm brace in his later years*... and even with ALL of those injuries, Gronk was STILL the most dominant TE to ever play the game. It's scary to think how good he would have been if he had ever been truly 100% healthy.
Oh, and it's hard to put into highlight clips of Gronk: but not only was he an insanely talented TE at catching the ball/moving with it after the catch, his blocking was on the same level as offensive linemen. Gronk would absolutely manhandle guys in the run game, having him blocking LB's and DB's truly just wasn't fair. It's part of the reason I'll always scream about Gronk being the best TE ever, his blocking was seriously underappreciated during his career.
Gronk was the best at both receiving AND blocking of all time. The nfl just doesn't view blocking as highlight worthy but he was extremely important in that part of the game too.
To answer you're question he's the best blocking Te in history & also all around he's the greatest Te in NFL history!!!!
Gronk was 6'6" and 267lbs and JJ Watt was 6'6" 295lbs, so JJ wins. But of course they played different positions in the pros--but you may be interested in know that JJ played tight end initially in college at Central Michigan before transferring to Wisconsin to then be moved to the defensive line.
I am not a Patriots fan by a long shot - I couldn't stand them when they reigned on top of the league two decades straight. But this Gronk guy is hands down the very best all around true TE in the history of the sport when he's 100% healthy & in a rhythm with Tom Brady. Once Rob Gronkowski is in the zone and fully able to beat any coverage or any DB you throw at him as a defensive coordinator, there is NOTHING you can do to stop him! Almost Jordan-like once you see him go full GRONK and destroy tacklers in the pass game or block thier facemasks into the ground as an in line extra blocker for max protection or a pull from the guards on a designed run. Bill Belichick has been blessed to get to coach Moss, Gronk, and Brady after he was the only NFL head coach that truly believed in the three of them as seriously injured medical red flag (Gronk at U of Arizona)/an unheralded 6th round draft pick (Brady as a 3rd stringer from U of Michigan/ an uninspired purposely drug test failing All pro veteran bouncing around free agency seeking a 3rd long term contract for anywhere who'll pay it (Moss and his no haircut phase the years he basically took off work cadillacing as a Raider) We are all privileged to get to see a bad ass football player like this dude was who's still young and can still play but won't since Gronk's has nothing else to prove. Put him in the HOF early I say!!!
Humans aren't typically built like gronk....and even though u don't see it ,he was a great blocking TE
Gronkowski is an anomaly of tight ends. He's unavailably the best recirving TE. Even better than Travis kelce. And he is debatably the best blocking tight end also.
At his peak nobody was ever better. Gronk could block a defensive lineman one-on-one, release, sprint past linebackers and safeties, and bowl over anyone who tried to tackle him. He had the best catch radius for a tight end, and maybe a receiver, that I've ever seen, excepting Randy Moss and Calvin Johnson. He was amazingly surehanded and before his injuries slowed him down, a phenomenal open-field runner. Gronk at his peak was the best to ever play the position--although I think Travis Kelce may have the more accomplished legacy, if you look at the full body of work, by the time his career winds down.
TEs block on Runs. Theres specialiat TEs. Some only block some are pass catchers primarily.
Any good TE is built similar to Gronk.
5:00 - What's worse is that, at the beginning of his career, they would play 2-tight-end sets and the other tight end was a similarly fast, strong, and great catching Aaron Hernandez. You could NOT cover both, or in some cases, either of them. Hernandez is a super tragic story though. Connecticut kid made good but the fame went to his head and he never got rid of the bad influences in his life or his personal demons from a troubled childhood. He and some of his buddies wound up murdering a former friend and he was convicted of the murder and sentenced to life in prison where he wound up committing suicide. Very sad.
6:07 - This was the "give the damn ball to Marshawn" Super Bowl. After a miraculous catch from Russell Wilson to Jermaine Kearse to get the defending champion Seahawks to 1st and Goal from the 5 with just over a minute remaining and down 4, they ran the ball with Marshawn to get the ball down to the 1. The entire universe knew that he should get the ball again even if the Patriots knew it was coming but the Seahawks offensive coordinator called a pass to a quick slant route underneath the coverage and the head coach did not veto the play (meaning he could have said, "Fuck it. Run the damn ball," but did not). The cornerback covering the receiver, Malcom Butler, saw what was happening, jumped the route and beat his man to the ball and intercepted it to seal the game. This actually wasn't the worst play call given that the Patriots put a bunch of their big linemen on the field (a goal line package as it's called) to defend against the run and the play called for the slot receiver to set a pick on his defender to open up the lane for the pass which he did. Still, shoulda probably run it.
10:50 - These days, yes, most tight ends are built similarly; both tall and strong. However, he was a little bit taller and a LOT stronger. I do want to mention since they were talking about his possible retirement after only his 7th season is that, as good and as long (by NFL standards) as his career was, Gronk was banged up a lot with injuries to all sorts of different body parts. Catching passes over the middle of an NFL field will do that to a guy over 11 years.
12:07 - This was actually Patrick Mahomes' FIRST season as a starter. He has actually led the Chiefs to the AFC Championship game EVERY year since he became a starter in 2018.
12:55 - He really is a big "dumb" goofball. Seems very friendly and is DEFINITELY very funny but can't underestimate his football IQ. You can't last that long in the league or with Tom Brady and Bill Bellichick without knowing ball.
This video might be old. He did retire after that Super Bowl against the Rams and took a year off but when Brady went to play for the Buccs, Brady convinced him to come out of retirement to join him and they won another Super Bowl together in 2020-21 beating the defending champions Mahomes and the Chiefs in the process. They played again together for one more year this time losing in the Divisional Round to the eventual champion Rams.
14:17 - He was also a great blocker but blocking doesn't usually get the highlights unless that's all you do like a center, guard, or tackle. If you want to see highlights from a tight end who is a great pass catcher but LIVES for a good block, check out this video of George Kittle of the 49ers...ua-cam.com/video/jDI1FegtWpo/v-deo.html ...also a bit of a character.
Definitely the greatest tight end of the 2010's. Didn't last as long as Tony Gonzalez, Shannon Sharpe, or Antonio Gates and might get a run from them or Travis Kelce or George Kittle of those still playing for GOAT conversations but he sure won a hell of a lot and he'll be in the Hall of Fame in no time.
Lifelong Pats fan here. Yes, Gronk was a pass catching TE. In the redzone (20 yards and in), he was unstoppable. He caught so many TDs off fades, back shoulders, corner routes, dig routes, hit the goal line and turn, you name it. He has so many plays where he's hit and just drags a guy for 5 extra yards, which is so huge in football.
As the years went on, Gronk got more injuries and didn't have the same speed. What excelled his career was his run blocking. He could hit anyone on the defense and push them back. It didnt matter if it was a D-lineman, linebacker, DB, all were bullied.
Gronk is a top 5 all-time pass catching TE. But what makes him the best IMO, is he was the best run blocker TE. As a defense, you had to account for him, no matter what the play was, run, pass, and heaven help you if play action has been working.
You want to know who’s bigger. Time to check out the top MLB player, Aaron Judge. He’s 6’7” and weighs in at 282 pounds. He’s an agile right/center fielder with a arm no one runs on.
If you are this big and can catch, you will be a tight end. Then there's this guy. Wide receiver hands with excellent athleticism, all with being a really large big dude.
Dude grew up in Buffalo Bills territory and haunted our organization for years. He was taken 43rd overall in the draft. Right before he was picked the Bills took Torell Troup with the 42nd pick. Troup was out of the NFL after 3 seasons, and well, you see what Gronk did.
Certain Madden games NFL on the game systems don't even have gronk a pickable player
This highlight compilation doesn't show it and only really focuses on the receiving aspect of his game. Although his most legendary block throwing Lorenzo Alexander "out of the club" was featured at 7:05.
But Gronk was also one of the best blocking tight ends ever. Huge, powerful, and just crazy enough to hit people with reckless regard.
He Was a matchup nightmare for defenses. Too fast for linebackers, too big and strong for DBs to cover. Was double teamed constantly and still set receiving records for TEs.
Those Patriot teams with him and Aaron Hernandez both playing tight end(before Aaron Hernandez went to jail for murdering someone 😞) were unstoppable.
If defenses went too small to guard against the pass the Patriots would run it down their throats behind Gronk. If they put the big bodies out to stop that, Gronk would feast on the linebackers in coverage.
If a defense ever got caught in a particularly bad defensive personnel package, Tom Brady would instantly start using No-Huddle to prevent them from substituting and exploit that weakness relentlessly.
Matchup nightmare. Too big for a defensive back, too fast for a linebacker, plus the soft hands.
Late to the party, but in case you haven't been updated, Gronk was often the best blocking TE in the NFL during his career along with being an unstoppable receiver and ball carrier. This is what makes him the GOAT TE. The lack of blocking highlights is more a function of him having the most receiving/open field running highlights of any other TE in NFL history than him being a subpar blocker.
The typical Tight End is a big brawny guy who isn't very skilled, and mostly just good at blocking. Basically a grunt who occasionally is used in short yardage situations for a catch or two a game. For a TE to also be a good receiver and an offensive weapon is uncommon. That's why TE's like Gronk, Shannon Sharpe, Antonio Gates, and even Keith Jackson back in the day are special.
The biggest threat in a tight end's arsenal today is size. That is usually what makes them so difficult to cover, regardless of the player that a defense wants to try and take him out with.
Defensive backs may have the speed an athleticism to handle modern tight ends, but they can't hope to deal with the size and wing span of players that may have six inches in height and who knows how much more in wingspan over them.
Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham are both 6'6, as are Jason Witten, Marcedes Lewis and Kyle Rudolph. Heath Miller and Jeremy Shockey are 6'5. Chicago's Kellen Davis is 6'7.
An average NFL safety is a little over 6'0" tall, and most linebackers will be giving up a few inches in height to those players. They are inherently big targets with a catch radius that defenders can't match, and accurate quarterbacks can take advantage of.
The size of a modern day tight end is an obvious advantage in the passing game, but it also prevents teams from simply trying to shut them down with their most athletic coverage defenders, because those players are usually smaller and more nimble, but can't hold up at the point of attack against 250lb-pound tight ends.
That is what makes Gronkowski such a weapon.
Teams can't simply play him as a wide receiver and put their most athletic defensive back on him, because he is just as capable of lining up in tight to the line of scrimmage and blocking straight ahead, driving a smaller defensive back off the line and out of the play.
The best tight ends aren't just tall and long, but they have bulk and strength to go with that, enough weight to be a factor blocking at the line against linebackers and defensive linemen, making them more than a match for defensive backs and forcing teams into a matchup dilemma.
If you want to see unbelievable hands from a wide receiver. Check out Larry Fitzgerald. Could have the greasy hands ever.
I'm actually surprised that it didn't show gronk on the bucs during the super bowl
I'm sure other people have answered these questions, but just in case:
6:05 That was indeed the Malcolm Butler game. The Seahawks had 3 downs and all they had to do was hand the ball to Marshawn Lynch and let him gain 1 yard. The play shown immediately before was the game-losing interception they threw instead.
10:50 Gronk is an exceptional blocker for a TE, which can be a HUGE asset since it basically allows the offense to be equally effective running and passing out of the same formation. If you have 1 blocking TE and 1 receiving TE, it's pretty easy for the opposing defense to know what kind of play to expect before you even snap the ball. Unfortunately the Patriots never really had a quality running game to capitalize on that.
11:07 His size is pretty typical for a TE. What makes Gronk special is that even the great TEs usually specialize in either being fast/agile receivers with great hands, or big bruisers who are good at blocking and hard to tackle once they have the ball. Gronk is one of the few to be legitimately great at both.
As you correctly point out at 2:16, it probably didn't hurt that Tom Brady was the one throwing him the ball...
You should check out a vid of his blocks. He was a Beast
He also went with Tom to Tampa and won a superbowl like it was no big deal
Dude was the most fun and funniest player off the field for sure
Heard about this in the comments, absolutely crazy! Definitely something we’ll look to return to and cover that part of his story. Thanks for the info and comment, really appreciate it 🙏
The thing with Gronk was, he was too big to be defended by a DB, but he was too athletic to be defended by a LB. And he had great natural athletic sense for executing plays. Also he came back from some outrageous injuries and could still performed with excellence. I hate the Patriots, I hate Brady, I hate Belichik, but I love Gronk, he was a real one.
Note on that seahawks superbowl, yes that was the iconic, "they shouldve ran the ball" game lol. Im a patriots fan, so it may seem biased, but as a football fan also, that pass play that the seahawks ran, works 95% of the time. Its whats called a "pick play". Essentially they line up 2 receivers on one side of the field. When the ball is snapped, the innermost receiver runs up to the defender, and "sets a pick". So without illegally holding him, the receiver creates a blockage with himself and the defender. This blockage allows the outermost receiver to run inside that blockage, cutting off himself from the defender, becoming wide open. For a small amount of yardage, it ALMOST always works. Malcolm butler is the defender who caught the interception, but the true MVP was the other defender, brandon browner, who recognized the pick play immediately, and instructed malcom on what to do, and how to defend it. On top of all that, the patriot's defense practiced that specific play at least twice with every single one of their defenders. Its really comes down to the preperation of the patriots defense at the time.
Side note, with all that being said, if i remember correctly, it was only 2nd down, meaning they couldve actually ran marshawn two more times, and i seriously doubt we woudlve stopped that. Although dont'a hightower did straight up lay marshawn out on the first down run play to him, and maybe that influenced pete Carroll's decision to attempt the pick play.
Sorry for the long comment, but I've been defending the patriots supposed "lucky" win over the seahwaks for years 😂😂
Loved the reaction, and love seeing people from other countries getting seriously interested in american football.
Quick edit: hey everybody don't forget to like the video like I did until just now. original reply below
Gronkowski is an inch (2-3 cm) taller than J.J. Watt but Watt weighs 20 lbs (9 kg) more -- which makes a certain amount of sense, since Watt's position requires more power vs. Gronkowski's being more speed.
re. the ball bouncing back up and hitting you in the face, the shape of an american football actually makes that rather unlikely that you'd get a straight bounce like that, but I *have* seen it happen in basketball.
at 6:30 You have the correct super bowl, it was this one (per a quick google search; I don't remember that year very well.)
At 7:40 the really impressive bit here is the situation -- it's fourth and 10, meaning they have to get at least ten yards on that play or the other team gets the ball -- and with them having only one timeout and about 90 seconds left on the clock, the game would almost certainly be over. Instead they set themselves up for the resulting touchdown and nearly tie the game.
Gronkowski doesn't tackle much -- he's an offensive player now -- but he does block on running plays. It's just that those don't make the highlight reel because he's not the one with the ball. He's about average size for a tight end -- offensive linemen are typically similar height but weigh more, because they aren't trying to run with the ball and avoid tackles so speed is less of a priority.
Notably this video seems to have come out before his unretirement to join Brady with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And Gronk is definitely likeable. There's a photo shoot he did for sports illustrated where he's holding a kitten and he has this look on his face like he's never seen a kitten before and he is just in awe of this tiny creature in his hands; he somehow comes off as being almost as adorable as the kitten.
Tight ends usually come in two flavors, blocking and receiving. Gronk was the only TE I've seen who was dominant as a blocker and receiver. Look at the size of his hands.
The Marshawn Lynch no-handoff gets blown way out of proportion. The odds of throwing an interception on a 1 yard slant are no worse than Marshawn fumbling if they'd handed off to him. It was poorly executed, but there's no guarantee that a handoff wins it with any more certainty.
Does make sense, appreciate the comment, thanks for posting. Have a great day 🙏
someone also crunched the numbers and found that through out that season, Seattle had more success throwing it when that close then they did handing it off to Marshawn Lynch. I think it was like a 70% success rate when throwing verses a 35% success rate when handing off.
You asked about TE's being built like Gronk. At the time he was a unicorn. A true one of a kind. Every team in the league is chasing the archetype of Gronk now. Literally going to basketball games and scouting athletes to play tight end even. There are many copies now, but none are as good as he was. That is REALLY saying something as well because I'd argue that 3-4 of the best 5 tightends to ever play are playing now or in the last 5 years. Gronk is the best to ever do it and he came out of nowhere. Brady helped obviously.
Gronk is one of the best tight ends of all time. What wont be talked about is how New England tried to change the nfl when Gronk got drafted.
New England found another tight end in that same draft named Aaron Hernandez in the same draft as Gronk. So while other teams were spreading out with extra wide receivers on the field, New England was was using both these tight ends as matchup nightmares.
In 2011, gronk had 90 catches for 1327 and 17 tds. Aaron had 79 catches for 910 yds and 7 tds. Its too bad aaron off field stuff because they almost changed the NFL offenses and how defenses would react to the change.
You guys should look at James Harrison Jerome Bettis and Ben Roethlisberger
The highlights don't show it well, but Gronk was a fantastic blocker in fact, one of the best TE blockers ever. He truly could be utilized as a 6th OL when needed, and his blocking downfield helping other receivers was very destructive.
Gronk was more built like an Offensive Lineman. Heck one year the patriots did a trick play where they threw the ball to OL Nate Solder, and through out the play everyone was convinced it was Gronk, not Nate, running the ball.
Spoiler alert....Groningen is 6'7 so yeah he's bigger than Watt.
Also Gronk is the greatest Tight Endvof all time, if you're wondering how good he is. He was an elite blocker as well.....he would still be in the league destroying everyone but what the video didnt show is that Gronk had one if the most injury riddled career of all time
Just one more short clip of Gronk's epic off-field persona. Says it all: ua-cam.com/users/shortssPDb9GsVEaY?feature=share
Before Gronk, there weren't many Tight Ends built like him, but after? Pfft. There are so many baby gronks in college and the NFL because they saw the damage a big TE can do
What makes Bill Belichick the greatest NFL coach is rhat he adapts his schemes according to his personnel. He's run a 2 TE offese with Gronk and the player never to be named. He's aired it out with Moss Gronk and Wes Welker in the slot. He's run offenses where the running game was just short passes to the RB out of the backfield. He's had a lot of players in his 23 year in NE.
Whenever you’re feeling up to some deeper videos about coaching and scheme, I’d recommend looking into that Rams game you saw Gronk in. This one would be my recommendation. ua-cam.com/video/Z0eqNPiXgmk/v-deo.html