Hernandez likely to be even bigger weapon with Gronkowski hurting
|
|
| Gronkowski and Hernandez 'both love to laugh, have fun, and we're great friends.' (Getty Images) |
INDIANAPOLIS -- The time was training camp this past summer when it began to click. That's how Aaron Hernandez remembers it. Training camp.
That's when the coaching staff saw the potential of tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez working together. There was no grand revelation. A moment here, a catch there, and a gigantic think bubble appeared over the heads of the Patriots coaching staff. They saw something few did: two young players, two young giant players, unconventional because of their size, could potentially be the centrifuge of the passing game.
One player at the tight end position? That's been done for decades. Now there were going to be two wreaking havoc. Funny how football works. A vague notion at training camp turns into two players who combined for more total receiving yards alone than the Jaguars' entire passing offense.
"We started to get comfortable with playing with each other, and coaches started understanding how they could use us to make mismatches versus the opposing defense," Hernandez remembered about training camp.
| More on Super Bowl XLVI |
| Related links |
|
| Super Bowl RapidReports |
| NFL coverage on the go |
Gronkowski would go on to emerge as the bigger star. We all know about Gronk. We know he's a chiseled beast. What sometimes gets lost is there are two excellent Patriots tight ends. It isn't just Gronk and the other guy.
This isn't a story about the revitalization of the tight end position. That's been done and will be done again. No, this is a story about Hernandez. He's almost the forgotten part of the dynamic duo.
How critical? After the Patriots demolished Denver in the divisional round the future Hall of Fame cornerback, Champ Bailey, was almost awestruck by Hernandez. "I don't think Aaron Hernandez gets the credit he deserves," Bailey told the New York Post. "Gronkowski has the numbers, but Hernandez runs routes just as well as any tight end in the game."
Indeed, Hernandez has never been a more vital piece to the Patriots than now, at the team's most critical moment. It's likely Gronkowski will either not play or be limited in the Super Bowl. If that's the case, Hernandez might by default become the most important player on the offense not named Brady.
In some ways Hernandez is a more fluid and dynamic player than Gronkowski. He's so athletic he was used at running back during the playoffs, and so far in the postseason he has 11 catches for 121 yards and a touchdown. He's been a dynamic offensive force.
"On the field, he's more of a physical monster and is huge and hard to bring down and a blocker," said Hernandez, "and I'm more agile and I try to use my quickness instead of just being physical with people. Off the field, we're a lot alike. He's a little more into the media, but we're both outgoing. We both love to laugh, have fun, and we're great friends."
Who is Hernandez? The answer is complicated. At the University of Florida he established himself as one of the best tight ends in the nation. Scouts drooled over him, with many having Hernandez slotted in the second round and some even saying he was low first rounder. It was reported that Hernandez allegedly failed several marijuana tests (he admitted to one failed test) and as a result he was picked by New England in the fourth round.
Patriots officials say that Hernandez has been the consummate professional since joining the team after those alleged failed tests and a college career that was, well, pretty wild. He's settled in as one of the sport's best players at the position and seems to be a solid example of someone who was once a borderline screw-up but has since grown up. Being around the likes of Tom Brady will help do that.
The Giants will take Hernandez seriously, but not as seriously as if the duo was in the game. If there's no Gronkowski my guess is the Giants will focus more on Welker and the wide receivers. This could allow Hernandez to bust loose.
And escape from Gronk's shadow to form a rep of his own.
