By John Sarianides
The success of the tight end position in the Patriots offense in recent years has rested on the health of Rob Gronkowski. If Gronkowski is healthy, the Patriots are virtually unstoppable offensively.
Gronkowski only played in eight games last season thanks to a herniated disk in his back. The injury isn’t career threatening but it will impact Gronkowski in terms of how he plays the position moving forward.
The Patriots like to play in 12 personnel (2 TE’s, 2 WR’s, 1 RB) a lot. That is why it was some what surprising that they allowed Martellus Bennett to leave in free agency this off-season.
They replaced Bennett with Dwayne Allen whom they acquired from the Colts. Allen is not the match up player Bennett is in the passing game but he is a better blocker.
Third tight end Matt Lengel returns and the Patriots traded for James O’Shaughnessy in April.
Here is our tight end preview.
Rob Gronkowski, 6-6 265, Arizona, 8th Season: We all know what Gronk can do on the field. He is a match up nightmare for defenses because he can line up in different spots in a formation and create mismatches for the Patriots.
Defensive coordinators have tried a variety of different coverages to defend Gronk through the years. From bracketing him to re-routing him at the line of scrimmage, defenses have had a hard time defending Gronkowski.
Injuries have always been the issue with Gronkowski. If he is healthy, he is the greatest tight end in the history of the game.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case in the past and it has negatively affected the Patriots offense. The Patriots did however prove last season that they can win without Gronkowski and they are better positioned to win without him this season should he get hurt again.
If Gronkowski stays healthy this season, he could have a monster year statistically. He will get more single coverage and he will take advantage of it.
Dwayne Allen, 6-3 255, Clemson, 6th Season: Allen will serve as the second tight end and as an insurance policy in the event Rob Gronkowski gets hurt again.
Allen will not generate the match ups that Martellus Bennett did for the Patriots in the passing game but he is a saavy route runner who knows how to work the middle of the field and get open.
Allen struggled in OTA’s so it is imperative that he has a good camp and get comfortable in the Patriots system. He will be counted on to not only be a good blocker on the backside of running plays but to contribute as a receiver as well.
Matt Lengel, 6-7 262, Eastern Kentucky, 2nd Season: Lengel did a good job in spot duty last season as the second tight end after Gronkowski went down with a back injury.
He is not overly athletic but Lengel can detach from a formation and create a one on one match up, especially in the red zone.
Lengel doesn’t have special teams value so he will need to beat out James O’Shaughnessy for the third tight spot. That is assuming the Patriots carry three tight ends. They may not given the number of receivers on the roster.
James O’Shaughnessy, 6-4 245, Illinois State, 3rd Season: O’Shaughnessy was acquired by the Patriots on draft weekend. He is more of a move tight end than a traditional tight end.
O’Shaughnessy is undersized so he can’t play in line as much. He will be used more as a wing and in the slot . Don’t be surprised if he is used in the backfield as well as a lead blocker.
O’Shaughnessy will need to play special teams in order to make this team. Bill Belichick likes Matt Lengel but he and his staff might have a tough decision to make if O’Shaughnessy proves he can play special teams.