Another red zone TD for Gronkowski
September, 2, 2010
9/02/10
11:55
PM ET
By
Mike Reiss | ESPNBoston.com
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Another week, another red zone touchdown for rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski.
The 6-foot-6, 265-pounder looks like he is becoming one of Tom Brady's top targets inside the 20, an area of inconsistency for the Patriots last season. After a stellar 14-yard catch-and-drag touchdown last week, Gronkowski had a 5-yard scoring grab in Thursday night's preseason finale against the Giants.
After the game, Gronkowski touched on building an early rapport with Brady.
"You need a good relationship and chemistry with your quarterback," Gronkowski said. "I feel like I need to feel out the quarterback throwing the ball, and of course, the quarterback needs to feel out how I run my routes with my type of speed and everything."
Gronkowski and Brady didn't seem to be on the same page on the play before the 5-yard touchdown. After a Brady incomplete pass, the quarterback looked like he gestured in Gronkowski's direction, presumably telling him to finish his route.
Gronkowski responded accordingly, coming back strong the next play.
In the locker room after the game, the second-round draft choice was asked about his comfort level in the offense.
"Going into camp with the team, having all the preseason games, having all the practices, of course I feel a lot more comfortable," Gronkowski said.
The 6-foot-6, 265-pounder looks like he is becoming one of Tom Brady's top targets inside the 20, an area of inconsistency for the Patriots last season. After a stellar 14-yard catch-and-drag touchdown last week, Gronkowski had a 5-yard scoring grab in Thursday night's preseason finale against the Giants.
After the game, Gronkowski touched on building an early rapport with Brady.
"You need a good relationship and chemistry with your quarterback," Gronkowski said. "I feel like I need to feel out the quarterback throwing the ball, and of course, the quarterback needs to feel out how I run my routes with my type of speed and everything."
Gronkowski and Brady didn't seem to be on the same page on the play before the 5-yard touchdown. After a Brady incomplete pass, the quarterback looked like he gestured in Gronkowski's direction, presumably telling him to finish his route.
Gronkowski responded accordingly, coming back strong the next play.
In the locker room after the game, the second-round draft choice was asked about his comfort level in the offense.
"Going into camp with the team, having all the preseason games, having all the practices, of course I feel a lot more comfortable," Gronkowski said.
Mike Reiss
Patriots reporter, ESPNBoston.com- Covered Patriots since 1997
- Blogging on Pats since 2004
- Joined ESPNBoston.com in 2009
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Mike Reiss
Mike Reiss first started covering the Patriots in 1997 with the team's official newspaper, Patriots Football Weekly, before moving on to the MetroWest Daily News in his hometown of Framingham. From 2005 to 2009, he covered the Patriots for The Boston Globe, while also writing on the NFL. He started his popular Patriots blog in 2004. Send any questions or comments for Mike to his mailbag. Follow him on Twitter here.
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