The Patriots Will be Less Dependent on Gronk in 2013

Recent Patriots draft pick Aaron Dobson

The Patriots offense ranked number three overall in red zone scoring percentage at 67%. This number went significantly down in the AFC Championship game against the Ravens as the Patriots went just one-of-four or 25%. Most people attribute this to the injury to Rob Gronkowski, who is the Patriots best red zone scorer. To be an effective red zone scorer, it usually means you have good size and strength. This advantage in size allows you to stretch for the ball, go up for the ball at its highest point and box out defenders.

I think the biggest problem with that theory is: what if Gronkowski gets hurt again? This team already relies on Tom Brady too much, but to be so dependent on Rob Gronkowski isn’t healthy either; it’s a formula for disaster.

The dependence on Brady is understandable as there is a lack of great quarterbacks in the league and the ones that are great are being paid somewhere to be great and no team has enough money to pay two starting caliber quarterbacks. In the case of the quarterback, there isn’t enough talent NFL-wide, but in the case of red zone scorers, there has always been a surplus. The fact that the Patriots hedge all their bets on a player that coming out of the draft had injury concerns and a player that has yet to play a full NFL season seems crazy to me.

The Patriots obviously see this dependence on Gronkowski as an issue too because they picked up two players this offseason who may be able to contribute in the red zone. Draft pick Aaron Dobson and the recently acquired LeGarrette Blount. Though the stats aren’t necessarily supporting this theory, Blount certainly is built like a horse and seems to fit the part of a goal line finisher in this league. Blount is 6’0 and 247 pounds and has surprising quickness.

  video highlight of Blount last season with the Bucs:



Blount’s first two seasons in the league, he rushed for 1,788 yards and 11 touchdowns. Blount got less touches in 2012 due, seemingly, to a fumbling issue he had in his first two years having three fumbles each season. You can’t fumble the ball three times a season and be an effective red zone scorer. The good news is fumbling issues can be corrected through coaching.

Aaron Dobson hasn’t yet played an NFL game, but due to his length he is born to be an effective red zone scorer as well. In 2011, 6’3 210 pound Dobson peaked with 12 receiving touchdowns.

The fade route is something that played very little role in the red zone this past season for the Patriots, but Dobson could prove to be that kind of a wide out. The defense could usually lock down on the tight ends for the Patriots and make it so that Brady had limited options, but now with these two new targets Brady can find the most favorable match-ups.

Josh Brown
@TitleTownTalkSB