Solving the Gronk problem – A Think Piece
This is something that has bothered me for a while.
It is an annual problem that Gronk is going to get injured. Whether it is a broken arm, a snapped ACL, or a recurring back injury or whatever, it is almost a certainty that he will miss time. Don’t get me wrong, I commend him for playing hard, and injuries happen. He looks like a beast out there and when he gets loose it’s one of the most exciting plays in football. The problem is, every time he gets tackled, I have to hold my breath. EVERY TIME. At the end of the day I just want him available when it matters and where it matters most. (I would have 2 more rings right now if he didn’t miss the 2007 and 2011 Superbowls).
In breaking down the tape, I’ve found he mostly gets hurt one of two ways:
1. He is running a seam route and gets cut in half by a safety. Like this:
2. He gets loose, runs through the defense and falls awkwardly with a defender hanging off of him. Like this:
Think about it. He is elite at gaining separation and catching balls with those Mickey Mouse hands. Use him only for short yardage – ‘gotta have it’ – type situations.
I realize we lose a ton of what makes Gronk special, but is it worth it if we don’t have him when it matters most?
What do you think? Leave your opinions in the comments!
