Patriots’ Tight End Duo has Potential to Terrorize Defenses

By David Austin Bumpus 10/13/15

The Patriots have been notorious over the last five years for their tight end combinations, specifically starting when they drafted Rob Gronkowski in 2010.

Whether it was Aaron Hernandez from 2010 to 2013 or Tim Wright in last season’s Super Bowl run, the team has used Gronkowski’s talent to open the door for second strings to attack defenses.

Between Hernandez’s versatility as a speedy, reliable tight end, and Wright’s surprise success working with Brady last year, the Patriots have been blessed with great talent that just hasn’t been able to stick around.

This year, the Patriots’ tight end of choice is Scott Chandler, who has contributed to new goal line formations that have given the team’s first three opponents fits in the red zone.

So far, the team has utilized both players well in the red zone, spreading out the offense and giving both the chance to get open in the end zone.

Brady has targeted Gronkowski 28 times so far this season, with 16 catches for 308 yards. His average of close to 20 yards a catch is the third highest of players with at least 10 catches. He has the NFL’s fifth-highest receiving yards per game average and he’s tied for second in receiving touchdowns.

On the other side, Chandler has been targeted eight times and is currently sixth on the team with six catches for 49 yards and one touchdown. However, he is ranked 14th on the team with about 33 offensive snaps per game.

Chandler has been a factor in some formations and cross routes lined up next to Gronkowski, and the combination has proven to be successful so far. On the goal line, the team has lined Chandler up in the backfield as a fullback, with Gronkowski on the line of scrimmage. From there, Tom Brady motions for the duo to go towards the left side of the field as receivers, and the move has wreaked havoc on defenses so far, combining for three touchdowns so far.

However, outside of the goal line, the Patriots haven’t utilized this motion enough.  if they put them on the field together more over time, it will spread out the offense even more and create more separation for Gronkowski and other weapons like Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola.

If the offense can take advantage of these versatile targets together in the middle of the field, there’s no telling what this already powerful offense could do to defenses over the next three months.