Giants vs. Patriots: Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez Are Changing the Game

The numbers quite frankly, are staggering.

The quick development and production levels, are beyond staggering.

In 2011, New England Patriots Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez were two of the Top Five most statistically productive receiving tight ends.

Gronkowski finished the regular season with 1,327 yards, 17 touchdowns, 90 receptions and averaged 14.7 yards per catch. Hernandez on the other hand, was about as good as a secondary target can get and he still outperformed a lot of primary players throughout the league.

With 910 yards on 79 receptions and scoring seven touchdowns, Hernandez averaged 11.5 yards per catch despite only playing in 14 regular season games.

Together, these numbers combine for 2,237 receiving yards, 22 touchdowns and 169 receptions.

At first glance when thinking about how the game is played, knowing that those stats are coming from two second-year tight ends is remarkable. On the Patriots offense, that accounts for almost 43 percent of Tom Brady's passing yards and just over 56 percent of his touchdown passes.

Perhaps an article by Dan Ventura of the Boston Herald sums up these two with a quote from former Baltimore Ravens head coach Brian Billick:

"

I think Rob Gronkowski is a transformational figure at the tight end because of the size, athleticism, the speed and the ability to catch the ball, Billick said. Aaron Hernandez is more the H-back, throw him in the backfield or out like a wide receiver.

But they do give you options. If teams use a nickel package, I’m gonna run the ball down your throat. If they put in their big people, I’m gonna throw the ball on every down.

"

And Billick simply hit the nail on the head.

Before the 2011 NFL season, most teams had just one overly dominant tight end. Some that come to mind are Shannon Sharpe of the Denver Broncos, and current guys like Vernon Davis of the San Francisco 49ers and Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints.

Thing is, all those tight ends were not complemented with another player of the same position who matched their ability. Usually it was a stout No. 1 receiver, and that is still the main look in most offenses.

But with Gronk and Hernandez just as athletic as any receiver, faster than linebackers and bigger than defensive backs, defenses are immediately at a disadvantage.

Plus, both can run-block very well—as proven by New England's dominance in the trenches against one of the league's best run defenses, the Ravens. Having Gronk and Hernandez lined up basically gives the Patriots a seven-man offensive line but also a four-receiver set.

Both can chip-block a defensive end to help the offensive tackle, then take on a linebacker one-on-one to create a lane for the running back or delay their release on a route by providing another chip-block, which then gives Tom Brady more time in the pocket.

And as we know, providing Brady with that extra 0.5 or one extra second to dissect a defense is all the future Hall of Famer needs. 

Now for defenses to figure out how to limit the production of one or both tight ends, it simply comes down to playing physical for 60 minutes. Anyone not blitzing Brady must jam Gronk and Hernandez at the line of scrimmage and if either make a catch, consistent gang tackling to bring as much pain as possible.

In short, it's about wearing each guy down with numbers because one or two defenders making a tackler won't cut it. However, if a defense can have three or four guys smacking them on every reception, then yards after the catch (YAC) will significantly decrease.

And based on how New England's offense works, it's like the modified West Coast offense—not deep balls, but short, quick passes to let the skills guys make plays. Still, it's about hitting receivers between the zones while in stride and/or just as the window in man coverage opens up.

Preventing YAC is how you stop the Patriots, so being physical with Gronk and Hernandez and getting numerous players in on every single tackle will limit their production.

Otherwise, it's going to be a long day.

John Rozum on Twitter.