3 Problems a Gronk Return Will Fix

1. Red Zone Woes

After leading the league last year with a 70% touchdown rate in the Red Zone, the Patriots have so far managed a dismal 35% rate. The only thing separating them from last in the NFL is Blaine Gabbert and the Jaguars.

Enter Gronk, whose numbers do the talking. The big tight end has caught 38 touchdowns in only 43 career games. He has the most red zone TDs (29) of any player since he entered the league in 2010. He also has caught 69% of his team-high 58 red zone targets since 2010.

If that doesn't convince you, check out Tom Brady's stats with and without Gronk. With him, Brady has completed 60.9% of his passes for a gaudy 70-3 TD/INT rate and a healthy 89.9 total QBR. Without him, those numbers drop sharply to 50.8%, 16-2 and 49.2.

Gronk's return gives Brady a badly needed go-to guy in the red zone; a guy who will step up and consistently make plays. However, his presence on the field should also open things up for his teammates, as Gronk will be the focal point of any red zone defense facing the Pats. Secondary targets like Kenbrell Thompkins and Julian Edelman could start getting more favorable matchups to exploit with Gronk occupying opposing safeties.


2. Running Game

The Patriots rushing attack hasn't been terrible, but it hasn't been quite as effective as many had envisioned after last year's success.

Enter Gronk, who has been one of the best blocking tight end's in the league his entire career. Of course, Gronk's blocking should be monitored, as he wasn't able to lift for much of the summer due to a myriad of surgeries and rehab. However, even if there's a drop off in his blocking, it will likely be from "dominant" to merely "very good". Gronk might be a little skinnier this season, but he's still around 265 pounds of muscle and attitude. There's also the factor that Gronk hasn't really been able to hit anyone since November. I'm sure he's looking forward to getting after it in the running game.

Gronk's presence on the field will also create some schematic advantages for the running game. Defenses have to respect the possibility of Gronk attacking the seam on play action whenever he's in the game. This could force some nickel and dime looks, creating lighter fronts for the big, bruising backfield of LeGarrette Blount, hopefully Stevan Ridley and Brandon Bolden to exploit. A lot of the Pat's success in the run game last year came by dictating personnel this way, and a Gronk return should bring that dynamic back to the offense.

3. Brady's Overall Comfort Level

After five weeks of throwing to Julian Edelman and a bunch of rookies learning on the fly, Brady gets back one of the best and most reliable weapons in the league. There's no way to quantify just how much Brady's confidence should improve knowing he has a playmaker like Gronk out there.

Without Wes Welker, Danny Woodhead or Amendola, Brady has lacked a consistent safety valve to bail him out of trouble. Gronk provides that while also being a big play threat capable of stretching the field on seam routes. His return, coupled with the (hopefully) improving health of Amendola, will also serve to make Kenbrell Thompkins, Aaron Dobson and Julian Edelman third and fourth options, a role that much better suits their ability. None of those guys should be first or second options, as they were forced to be in the first month of the season, but they certainly are good enough to contribute as complimentary players. Thompkins and Edelman particularly should be able to exploit matchups against team's nickel and dime corners. The less Brady is reliant on rookies to carry the passing game, the higher Brady's comfort level (and level of play) should be.

Unfortunately, even Gronk can't cure all that ails the Patriots. Stay tuned tomorrow for 3 problems that a Gronk return won't fix.