Grantland: Gronk vs Watt

fun read, gronk is my favorite non-texans player.. was reading the mallet thread on r/pats, they were basically talking about how jj could lose 30 pounds and be gronkowski, while gronk could put on 30 pounds and be jj... gronk has never lined up at de tho..

 

Creepy read.

So much obsession with Gronk!

 

I read this and while we will never know, I feel people are underestimating jjs athleticism.

I'd like to see a skills challenge between them. Race, jump, catching etc. I wouldn't be surprised if jj wins in a race and jumping. Heck mayb even close in catching.

 

At least they (pats fans) were honest that Gronk would get hurt trying to bet him... he definitely is the difference between them being a Super Bowl contender and simply a good/playoff team.

 

Does anyone else think the mailbag is so stupid

 

From a human perspective, Watt is scarier. He's a freak athlete. From a football perspective, Gronk changes everything from a team when he is healthy. The only player scarier on the offensive side of the ball was a prime Randy Moss running up a sideline with his hand up calling for the ball.

 

Stupid

Put gronk on a team that doesn't have a HOF QB and he won't produce what he does with the Patriots.

Put Watt on a team with a chitty D-line (oh he's already on one) and he'll still produce at the same level

no hate on Gronk though he's a beast

 

Gronk is great, but between the ears, JJ is far ahead him.

 

lol the tags are great..bears, beasts.

watt is the undertaker.

 

I think this works one way, but not the other. I don't think Gronk could put on 30 pounds and do what JJ has done.

 

Watt is on pace to be the best defensive lineman ever. Maybe even best defender ever.

Is Gronk gonna be the best TE ever?

 

both guys are the best at their positions at the professional level, its tough to say either could just stop what theyve been doing and excel at the others position.

 

Gronk already holds the greatest single season TD reception record and is the best current TE... only other competition is Tony Gonzalez.

 

Graham had 16 TDs

 

Graham is soft. You can get in his head with a big hit.

 

Gronk had 17...

51 in 60 games.

Graham...

48 in 72 games.

 

So, pretty close.

 

It is tough, but there is the fact that JJ Watt has a history of playing Tight End and it's not something new to him. Being a top athletic TE doesn't qualify you to be a DE by any means (picture Jimmy Graham at DE).

Does Gronk have enough history playing a defensive position that learning all of the footwork, technique, opponent tendencies, etc etc wouldn't be an extremely difficult challenge?

I just feel like there's much more complexity on the defensive side besides just lining up and throwing people out of the way.

I realize this is all just for fun. Just throwing out some counterpoints to all of the Gronk love.