Pats lose Gronk for 4-6 weeks

[Yawkey Way]

The thing with losing Gronk is that he does a lot of different things in the offense compared to a guy like Hernandez. Usually the Pats like to have both guys on the field and predominantly run this kind of Hi-Lo type deal, where Gronk goes up the seam or over the middle and Hernandez works underneath. It takes care of the linebackers/safeties and allows Welker to usually face just man to man in the slot and Lloyd goes man to man on the outside. Without Gronk, teams can just clog the middle of the field against New England.

I think we'll see the Jets play a really strong game this week against New England because they can do a lot of the things which stopped the previous McDaniels-led offense, before Gronk and Hernandez got here. Put Cromartie on Welker in the slot, man up on the outside, and bring some pressure up the middle at Brady. Especially if Hernandez isn't in, the Patriots lose a huge chunk of their playbook. They've been known to reinvent themselves quite often, so I think the big key will be getting Logan Mankins and Dan Connolly back healthy so New England can run the ball while they wait for Gronk and Hernandez to recover.

[Mogriffjr]

The thing with losing Gronk is that he does a lot of different things in the offense compared to a guy like Hernandez. Usually the Pats like to have both guys on the field and predominantly run this kind of Hi-Lo type deal, where Gronk goes up the seam or over the middle and Hernandez works underneath. It takes care of the linebackers/safeties and allows Welker to usually face just man to man in the slot and Lloyd goes man to man on the outside. Without Gronk, teams can just clog the middle of the field against New England.

I think we'll see the Jets play a really strong game this week against New England because they can do a lot of the things which stopped the previous McDaniels-led offense, before Gronk and Hernandez got here. Put Cromartie on Welker in the slot, man up on the outside, and bring some pressure up the middle at Brady. Especially if Hernandez isn't in, the Patriots lose a huge chunk of their playbook. They've been known to reinvent themselves quite often, so I think the big key will be getting Logan Mankins and Dan Connolly back healthy so New England can run the ball while they wait for Gronk and Hernandez to recover.

You likely won't see Cro on Welker much...he struggles with those shifty WR's (had small troubles with Amendola last week)...expect to see one of our midget CB's try to cover Welker...

[Yawkey Way]

IIRC, they had their 5th stringer on Welker in the first matchup and it was a mixed bag. I just assumed that with Revis out, not having to worry about Gronk, that they'd focus mostly on Welker. Cro on Lloyd would be a great duel though.