Last season the Patriots drafted a pair of TE’s after losing Ben Watson in free agency. Just when everyone thought they had Coach Bill Belichick figured out, he changed up the Patriots offense, going from a quick strike Brady to Moss attack plan to a read and exploit the matchup….thrown it underneath….dink and dunk team. The Patriots threw it much less in 2010 but were more effective in the passing game.  

I compared the 09 Patriots to the 2010.

09: 466 rush attempts          592 pass attempts      6^th in scoring

10: 454 rush attempts          507 pass attempts      1^st in scoring

Rob Gronkowski VS Aaron Hernandez is our faceoff as we ask, which TE in New England is the TE for you to draft?

If I am drafting a TE from the Patriots, I am looking at Rob Gronkowski. I think he is the most complete TE on their roster. Let’s not forget this kid came out of Arizona early and sat out a year with back surgery. All reports are the back did not cause him any problems last year, although it was reported that the November 7^th game VS Cleveland was the first game where everything clicked for Rob. Prior to that game his first 7 game totals were 10 catches, 130 yds and 3TD’s, the next 9 games, 32 catches, 416 yds and 7 TD’s with an amazing 71% of his pass targets caught. QB Tom Brady had found a new weapon on offense.

Gronkowski is also a great blocking TE, standing 6’6” 265lbs and runs a 4.65 40 yd dash, no matter the position they put him in, he is valuable. He can block and chip on pass rushers and because of his size, speed and soft hands, he requires attention from both the LB’s and safeties which allows other Patriots players to roam with more freedom, another facet of players games not talked about, any player that requires double teaming of defensive players means there is one less pass rusher, one less player to tackle a RB or one less player in coverage on receivers. Gronkowski is the complete, 3 down TE on that squad; you want the players you draft on the field as much as possible.

Hernandez Is The TE To Own: by Frank Corapi

There is little doubt that statistically “the Gronk” out produced Hernandez last year, especially in the red zone. Let’s take a quick look at their stat lines for 2010:

Gronkowski     42 rec.           546 yds.         10 TDs

Hernandez       45 rec.           563 yds.          6  TDs

If you would ask most FF owners who had more catches and yards last year, VERY FEW would say Hernandez. Gronkowski had some high profile (nationally televised) TD catches and a monster game against Pittsburgh at Heinz Field. I won’t even talk about the 47 rushing yards Hernandez “racked up” on his 3 attempts. His numbers will go up and up while I don’t think the Gronk will have another 10 TD season for the rest of his career. While I like the Gronk, Hernandez is a WR in the body of a TE and can be used all over the field. In  fact, Hernandez can be someone who actually stretches the field for the Pats down the middle where he is a mismatch for any linebacker or safety. Hernandez had a hip problem last year which did limit him in some games, but surgery in February should have him at 100% this year. Hernandez is very smooth with great athleticism, speed, hands and football smarts. Gronkowski simply does not have the athletic ability to really be the kind of weapon Hernandez can be and, with a year under his belt in their offense, is better able to understand what he needs to do when lining up at different spots (something the Gronk didn’t have to learn) on the field. Hernandez is only 6’1” and 245 lbs., so he is not the blocker Gronkowski is, but he will be used more as an H-Back and 3^rd WR and be far more involved in the passing game. While the Gronk is blocking, Hernandez will be hauling in skinny posts from Brady and moving up draft boards all over.

Watch out for Hernandez this year as his ceiling is much higher than Gronkowski. In a dynasty league, Hernandez is even more valuable.

What do you think?