Much of the talk at the Under Armour Performance Center this week has centered around just exactly how the Ravens hope to contain Patriots’ tight end Rob Gronkowski.
The 6-6, 265-pound “Gronk” has been a nightmare for opposing defenses for the past five seasons and the Ravens defense will certainly have their hands full on Saturday in the Divisional Playoff.
Sure, the Ravens hope for the same success they’ve had against other tight ends this season in the division but none can remotely be compared to a healthy Gronkowski. Gronk played in all but one game this season, missing only Week 17 as the Pats had already clinched the number one seed.
“He is unique in the sense that he’s so big and so fast,” John Harbaugh said following practice on Tuesday. “He has a unique ability to beat coverage, and there really are not too many matchups you can put on him, zone or man.
“I guess you could bracket him and put him in a vice, kind of like you do on punt, but he’s just a big, strong, fast guy. He has great hands. He’s tough. He’s very unique.”
Unique indeed.
It remains to be seen if the Ravens opt to match safety Will Hill against him much like they did in Week 12 against the New Orleans Saints’ Jimmy Graham. Hill played admirably, allowing Graham six receptions and 47 yards – but, the big tight end did find the end zone for two touchdowns.
The defense and John Harbaugh certainly won’t concede to Gronk by any means. They’re not accepting that “he will get his,” so to speak.
“No. Absolutely not. We have to stop everybody,” Harbs said.
“If you do that, they’ll just go up and down the field with the one player.”
Gronkowski finished fourth among his position in receiving this season, hauling in 82 passes for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns.
If past history indicates anything, containing Gronkowski has been a task the Ravens are up to.
His career numbers against the Ravens defense don’t scare anyone. In fact he’s only played three times (’10, ’11, ’12) against Baltimore, recording eight total receptions for 132 yards and zero touchdowns.
Still, this certainly isn’t the same Baltimore secondary as in years past, and defensive coordinator Dean Pees will need another stellar game plan.
One area for concern in covering Gronk is the all too important red zone.
Of Gronkowski’s 82 receptions this season, 11 have come from inside an opponents’ 19-yard line resulting in nine touchdowns.
Pees’ unit has defended that area well all season, yet Pees understands the challenge that lies ahead.
“The biggest thing with Rob is the fact that he’s just so big and can body you up,” Pees remarked after practice on Wednesday. “It’s like running a seam route; it’s not like [Greg] Olson from Carolina running a seam route who runs like a doggone defensive back. The problem with him in a seam route is he’s so big, Tom is going to put it up over your head and let him go get it.
“That’s always going to be the problem. We just have to do a good job of staying over the top of all those guys and not letting them body us up. He’s a guy that if you contact him downfield, he’s generally going to win, because he’s going to knock down a 190-pound guy as big as he is. There’s a way to play him, and we have to do a great job of doing that.”
The Ravens defense certainly respects Gronk but by no means should you confuse respect with being afraid. It’s not in this team’s blood to fear anyone – especially with a shot at an AFC Championship at stake.
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