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Colts to face Rob Gronkowski after struggling against tight ends this season
Topic Started: Nov 17 2014, 01:40 AM (66 Views)
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INDIANAPOLIS -- It started in the preseason http://www.officialfootballpanthers.com/DRAKE-NEVIS-JERSEY-CHEAP.html with New Orleans' Jimmy Graham. It carried into the regular season with Denver’s Julius Thomas in Week 1. Philadelphia’s Zach Ertz in Week 2. Baltimore’s Owen Daniels in Week 5. Pittsburgh’s Heath Miller in Week 8.

Do you see the pattern?

All those players are tight ends, and all have had success against the Indianapolis Colts this season.

Next up: New England’s Rob Gronkowski.

Gronkowski is quarterback Tom Brady's favorite target. He leads the team in receptions (49) and yards (663) and is third in touchdowns with eight.

"We’ve had some guys we faced earlier this season that have hurt us, so obviously it’s one of the things that we spent a great deal of time on when you look at yourself and do some self-scout," Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. "We’ve got to figure out a way to slow him down. He’s obviously a game-wrecker and playing extremely well. He’s hurt us in the past; he’s hurt everybody. He’s a great player, and we’ve got to find a way to slow him down."

Gronkowski is a matchup nightmare. He’s 6-foot-6, 265 pounds, too quick for most linebackers and too strong for safeties. He had seven catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns the last time he faced the Colts in 2012.

Indianapolis has been using linebackers on tight ends with little success this season. In their three losses, the Colts gave up a combined 14 catches for 302 yards and four touchdowns to Thomas, Ertz and Miller. The enforced illegal contact rule outside of the five yards from the line of scrimmage makes it even tougher on the defense.

"(Gronkowski) is a big guy, able to move, he’s pretty strong and can run all the routes," said Colts linebacker Jerrell Freeman, who will likely get the first shot at defending the tight end. "He’s a top three (tight end). You can put him anywhere in there. He has it all. He’s a great player."

Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson said Brady deserves Ed Dickson Womens Jersey a lot of credit for what Gronkowski has been able to accomplish.

"I think it’s Brady," Jackson. "He makes it all go. Including Gronk. He’s a guy that can get the ball into tight windows. Gronk, he can run, but he’s not running past a defensive back. He has great hands. His wingspan is pretty wide. So Brady, anytime he can get the ball anywhere near him -- and if you don’t have your eyes on the ball, you can have him covered up pretty well, but if you don’t locate the ball it’s hard to defend him. Those two work really well together."

Freeman added that you can't strictly key in on Gronkowski, because Brady will look to try to exploit the defense elsewhere.

What about putting demoted safety LaRon Landry on Gronkowski?

A thought like that causes immediate flashbacks to Week 1 when Landry lined up on the outside to defend Thomas. Thomas put a fake on Landry, causing him to stumble, leaving Thomas wide open for an easy touchdown from Peyton Manning.

"You can go small, take a linebacker out, play a nickel defense, if you will, if you decide to play that personnel group that way and try to find your http://www.officialfootballpanthers.com/RYAN-KALIL-JERSEY-CHEAP.html best matchup from a coverage standpoint on those guys; then you’re not going to be as good against the run," Pagano said. "So you’ve got to figure out a way to find a balance, try to find a way to where you can be balanced, you can stop the run and also match up well with however you decide to cover them. You’ve got to mix things up."
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