Factoid
The Patriots have Rob Gronkowski, who scored 18 TDs last year – the most ever by a tight end. But the other player they have at that position, Aaron Hernandez, also has considerable value.
Hernandez plays essentially full time. He’s a mobile, pass-catching threat. And they use him a lot around the goal line.
About a week ago, I posted some stats about Hernandez’s receiving stats inside the 10. Look at the figures below, which show the number of pass attempts inside the 5 (yep, we look at a lot of different stats around here).
When the Patriots were inside the 5 last year, they threw 12 passes in Hernandez’s direction. In the last 10 years, only one player – Larry Fitzgerald in 2008 – has been targeted more often in that part of the field.
BUSY INSIDE THE 5
Players with 8-plus pass attempts inside the 5 in the last 10 years:
No Att Year
7 13 2008 WR Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. (7 TDs)
8 12 2004 WR Randy Moss, Minn. (8)
7 12 2007 WR Marques Colston, N.O. (6)
5 12 2011 TE Aaron Hernandez, N.E. (4)
5 12 2008 TE Tony Gonzalez, K.C. (5)
1 12 2006 WR Chris Chambers, Mia. (1)
8 11 2008 WR Anquan Boldin, Ariz. (6)
6 11 2010 WR Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. (4)
5 11 2004 WR Derrick Mason, Tenn. (4)
6 10 2011 TE Jimmy Graham, N.O. (6)
5 10 2009 WR Reggie Wayne, Ind. (4)
5 10 2007 WR Braylon Edwards, Clev. (5)
4 10 2009 TE Greg Olsen, Chi. (4)
3 10 2008 WR Dwayne Bowe, K.C. (3)
3 10 2003 WR Randy Moss, Minn. (2)
7 9 2007 WR Randy Moss, N.E. (6)
7 9 2006 WR Marvin Harrison, Ind. (7)
6 9 2004 TE Jeremy Shockey, NYG (5)
5 9 2002 WR Marvin Harrison, ind (5)
4 9 2006 WR Reggie Wayne, Ind. (4)
3 9 2008 WR Braylon Edwards, Clev. (3)
2 9 2002 WR Randy Moss, Minn. (2)
7 8 2002 WR Hines Ward, Pitt. (7)
5 8 2011 WR Calvin Johnson, Det. (5)
4 8 2010 WR Miles Austin, Dall. (4)
4 8 2009 WR Randy Moss, N.E. (4)
4 8 2002 WR Eric Moulds, Buff. (4)
4 8 2002 WR Peerless Price, Buff. (4)
3 8 2008 WR Bryant Johnson, S.F. (3)
3 8 2004 WR Reggie Wayne, Ind. (3)
2 8 2010 WR Chad Ochocinco, Cin. (2)
1 8 2004 WR Eric Moulds, Buff. (1)
1 8 2002 WR Mikhael Ricks, Det. (1)
0 8 2011 WR Brandon Marshall, Mia. (0)
0 8 2011 TE Marcedes Lewis, Jac. (0)
—Ian Allan
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