By Derek Hanson
There’s little argument that Houston Texans lineman J.J. Watt is the most dominating defensive force in football. On the offensive side of the ball, however, that distinction may very well go to New England Patriots tight end, Rob Gronkowski.
Perhaps no one is more aware of the damage that “The Incredible Gronk” can do than Pittsburgh Steeler Ryan Shazier. The second-year linebacker will have the unenviable task of trying to contain Gronkowski during the NFL’s opening game on Thursday Night. When asked about his tall assignment, Shazier had the following to say to reporters: “You just have to jam him up a little bit, mess with his timing. If you mess up their timing, they are really time-oriented. You have to mess up their timing and get in his face with pressure, then I feel we can slow him down a little bit.”
Shazier and Pro Bowler Lawrence Timmons will likely share the load at inside linebacker and be primarily responsible for covering Gronkowski on Thursday. However, as all too many defenses found out last season, it doesn’t take a single person to shut down Gronk. It takes a village. Safety Mike Mitchell plans on coming to his linebackers’ aid against Gronkowski and continuing the theme of physicality. “He has success when people don’t put their hands on him,” added Mitchell.
With the Patriots’ receiving corps depleted due to an injury to Brandon LaFell and their running game weakened by a LeGarrette Blount suspension, the Steelers defense may be able to key in on Gronkowski. Still, being physical with the behemoth tight end is easier said than done. The reason Gronkowski has totaled an impressive 54 touchdowns in his 65 regular-season NFL games is that he has the size and strength to punish his defenders right back. If there’s any doubt, the Steelers can ask Jacksonville Jaguars safety Sergio Brown, who was famously thrown “out of the club” by Gronkowski as a member of the Indianapolis Colts in Week 11 of last season.
After an offseason spent celebrating a Super Bowl championship, sippin’ on Dunkin Ice, playing The Feud, and creating a new hot sauce, Gronkowski will no doubt be ready to return his focus to football on Thursday night. The question is, will the Pittsburgh Steelers be ready to stop him?
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