Rob Gronkowski Dominant with or Without the Football

Rob Gronkowski lives in his own world, a magical place that New England Patriots fans get to visit for sixty odd minutes each Sunday. Tom Brady likes to go there as well, as he noted to announcer Dan Fouts after New England's 41-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins (via Ben Volin of The Boston Globe):

"

Brady to Fouts and Eagle on his relationship with Gronk: "He's in a different world. You have to go to that world with him at times."

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) December 15, 2014"

Gronkowski catches the ball very well, but his impact isn't limited to when he is the target of Brady's passes. His blocking is well-known, but his ability to affect the game in other ways is remarkable. Here are three plays where Gronkowski was the primary force in giving the Patriots an advantage.

Shortly after a Duron Harmon interception gave them a short field, the Patriots offense set up shop on third down just a few yards shy of the end zone. New England sets up with "12" personnel, but it's with a small wrinkle. They have Gronkowski split outside the numbers.

Safety Reshad Jones lines up directly behind his cornerback, effectively taking away the fade. The cornerback is responsible for inside contain. If everything goes right for Miami, Gronkowski isn't getting the ball. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, he doesn't need it.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

One second after the snap of the ball, Brady hands off to Shane Vereen. 

Brandon LaFell seals off the edge, and the contain is too late arriving to stop Vereen from scoring. Why? With the football in Vereen's hands, neither defensive back has even looked into the backfield. The duo of Dolphins is still locked on Gronkowski as he dances at the line of scrimmage.

Just the threat of a fade pattern to Gronkowski was enough to occupy two Miami defenders and win the numbers game for New England. Vereen gets the stats, but that touchdown isn't scored with Michael Hoomanawanui split out wide.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

The result of the second play isn't as good as the first—it is only an incomplete pass—but it again shows the attention given to Gronkowski by opposing defenses.

As Gronkowski runs a deep in-breaking route, he draws the attention of three defensive backs. One is keeping a watchful eye from a deep third, while two safeties break on his trajectory.

All this attention on one tight end leaves Brian Tyms singled on the outside. He gains inside leverage on his man and has a step as the ball reaches him. Brady's throw is a few inches off, however, leaving the ball to fall harmlessly to the turf.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

If NFL teams are going to give that much attention to Gronkowski, they are going to have to pray that happens again. If they don't respect Gronkowski, however, the repercussions will be swift.

Gronkowski finally got involved in catching the ball in the second half. The Patriots were lined up in "21" personnel, giving a run-heavy look to the Dolphins. They mixed it up, however, by splitting fullback James Develin out wide.

Brady faked the handoff and came up looking for his tight end. Gronkowski, who lined up as an inline "Y" tight end, was given a clean release off the line and was covered only by a doe-eyed linebacker. Gronkowski quickly overcomes the cushion, gets over the top and hauls in a 35-yard catch. Simplicity.

As NFL teams are finding out, this is Gronkowski's world. Your only choice is who gets to spike the ball.