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Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Early Comparisons can have a negative impact.

A decade ago, the Patriots had probably the greatest tight end tandem in NFL history, with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. For a couple of seasons, they made the Patriots offense almost unstoppable due to their contrasting play styles.

Gronkowski was an inline blocker that over his Patriots career, could be lined up on the line, out wide or in the backfield. His blocking was often under appreciated due to his pass catching abilities. He was a bully.

Hernandez wasn't as good on the line, although he could line up there. Hernandez was more of a move tight end that could also play the H-back / fullback position really well. Hernandez was dangerous from the slot but he was also dangerous in the backfield. Hernandez was the ultimate mismatch.

In 2021 the Patriots signed two elite tight ends. And thoughts went back to Gronk and Hernandez for the entire fanbase. Those tight ends were Hunter Henry, and Jonnu Smith. Henry has always been a receiving tight end and Smith appeared to be more of a well rounded guy. So like many, I assumed we had Henry to replace Hernandez, and Smith to replace Gronkowski.

Since the signing, people in the fanbase, and in the media have been saying Smith is the second coming of Hernandez, that Smith will do everything that Hernandez did. That's great but it left me with a big question. And I am sure it left others asking it as well.

Henry is a lesser blocker than Smith, and if Smith is the Hernandez of the two, who is the Gronkowski because it's not Henry? And thus what the hell is Henry, An oversized receiver? That's the problem with making comparisons to legends. They are too quickly thrown out and aren't always capable of living up to unreasonable expectations.

If neither guy can do what Gronk does, even if they're not as good, than the Patriots might have a good tight end group but they don't have anything near the historical duo of a decade ago. And fans are going to be sorely disappointed when they see it on the field because they're going to be expecting that duo.

Henry will get the blunt of the blame because if the media has declared Smith Hernandez, then Henry must be the same inline blocking style pass catching tight end that Gronkowski was. 

Once again, living in the past may have a negative impact on the team. We saw what media and fan criticism towards Cyrus Jones did to his confidence due to his inability to field a punt early in his Patriots career. How's the negativity going to effect the two tight ends when the fan base turns on them for not being the Dynamic Duo?

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