"The thing that's impressive about Rob and Aaron, they're very bright, instinctive football players,'' Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien said. "They were able to pick up our system right away. And they each have very, very unique talents. To be able to copy what they do, though, I would say is much easier said than done."
It's a good time to be a tight end in the NFL. Rule changes outlawing hits on defenseless receivers and preventing contact beyond 5 yards of the line of scrimmage have made the middle of the field a fertile place for big, fast, athletic guys to catch passes.
A record 11 tight ends had 60 or more receptions this season.
"When you've got athletic tight ends like Rob, me, [the Saints'] Jimmy Graham, [the 49ers'] Vernon Davis and the like, who do you really put on them?" said Hernandez, who caught 79 passes this season and also has lined up as a running back. He's got eight carries for 70 yards in the Patriots' two playoff wins.
"It's tough if you put a linebacker on them because they're a little too fast for a linebacker. If you put a corner or safety on them, they're a little too small. You've got to have that one person who is like a tight end on defense. Like a safety, but more athletic than a safety and more physical than a corner. So it's tough to guard a tight end."
And if you've got two of them like the Patriots do, it's really, really tough.
"The biggest problem is matchups,'' Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said. "If you take Gronkowski away, then Hernandez is open. If you try and take Hernandez away, then Gronkowski is available. If you somehow can take both of them away, then [slot receiver Wes] Welker's open. And [Deion] Branch."
