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Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski ‘Not That Good’ According to Jeremy Lane

By Paul Novak

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UPDATE: Pete Carroll was asked about Lane’s comments and said that if Lane doesn’t think that Rob Gronkowski is very good, then he hasn’t watched enough film.

"Jeremy just hasn’t watched film yet. – Pete Carroll"

Just ten days before the Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 49 and the bulletin board material starts to come out.

Seahawks nickel cornerback Jeremy Lane was asked his opinion on what makes Rob Gronkowski such a great tight end. After a pause, Lane stated that he doesn’t really believe that the Patriots’ tight end is all that great.

"I actually don’t think he’s that good,” Lane said. “He’s OK. He does have a big body. But from what I’ve seen on tape, he doesn’t like you putting your hands on him. So if we put our hands on him and shake him up a little bit, he won’t catch that many balls. – Jeremy Lane"

I’m personally not very sure what to take from this. One point of view is that Seattle’s defense is a very confident bunch, and a statement such as this shouldn’t be all that surprising. Richard Sherman thrives off of such remarks and getting a mental edge on his opponents.

Lane is no Sherman, however.

Gronk finished the 2014 regular season with 82 receptions and over 1,100 yards receiving. Add twelve touchdowns to that and you easily have one of the best tight ends in the NFL reading your quote and wanting to prove you wrong.

They key to stopping, or at least slowing Gronk down would be to hit him at the line of scrimmage. That’s easier said than done when you consider the three-time All-Pro is 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds. A tight end with that size and talent could do some real damage in the middle of the football field, even against a top ranked secondary such as Seattle’s.

"Yeah, but that’s always our key every week, putting our hands on the receivers,” Lane said. “It’s definitely an issue with him from watching tape."

Gronkowski does line up in the slot fairly often so Lane will find himself matched up with the man he’s talking smack about.

"I’m good no matter who’s lined up there,” Lane said. “But [the Patriots] try to do things like line a bunch of ineligible guys out there to get you confused. We have a plan for it."

Luckily the Seahawks have someone who in my opinion matches up with Gronkowski better than anyone else in the league.

Kam Chancellor.

We’ve seen the hits that Chancellor has dealt to bigger tight ends such as the 49ers’ Vernon Davis. Chancellor possesses the size of a linebacker, but the coverage and speed of a safety. This rare combination makes him the perfect man to slow down Tom Brady‘s favorite target on Super Bowl Sunday.

The two big bodies will undoubtedly collide on the field on Sunday when the Seahawks look to win their second consecutive Super Bowl and establish themselves as the new dynasty in the NFL.

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