Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Locked On Patriots March 29, 2019 - Gronk Top 10 and Schiano Exits Stage Left

Episode Date: March 29, 2019

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Hey there everybody, welcome on into a Friday installment of the Lockdown Patriots podcast. Mark Schofield back here in the big chair for today, Friday, March 29th, 2019. Closer to the end of March, closer to the draft, all sorts of fun and exciting stuff going on. We got a lot to get to today. Before we do that though, your usual reminder to follow me on Twitter at Mark Schofield. Check out the work at places like InsideThePylon.com, Pro Football Weekly, The Score, Matt Waldman's Rookie Scouting Portfolio, a trio of SB Nation websites, including Big Blue View, Pat's Pulpit, and Bleeding Green Nation. Now, let's put it this way. I sometimes chat with listeners to the show via the Twitter machine, online, offline, things like that, and had a conversation with one such listener. And

the basis of the conversation was this. Thank God, thank God the Patriots won Super Bowl 53. Because if you could imagine what things would have felt like had they lost Super Bowl 53 right now, Friday today would have been a very dark day in New England. Why? Well, first the week begins. Remember how this week began. This time last week, we were learning that Rob Gronkowski was retiring. That goes down basically Sunday night. But then on Friday, well, Thursday night, we get the news that Greg Sciano, defensive coordinator, will not be joining the team after all. Basically, in sort of a small statement, he releases a statement that says that he is going to spend time on his faith and his family. That is basically the statement that comes out from

Greg Sciano. This is not the result of any one event, but rather a realization that I need to spend more time on my faith and family. I don't want to look back years from now and wish I had done things differently. Therefore, I am taking time away from the game to recalibrate my priorities. And the Patriots basically released a statement. Well, Bill Belichick released a statement. I respect Greg Sciano greatly and appreciate his contributions to our staff and team. He is a friend who we support completely. And there was sort of some news on Thursday night.

Ian Rappaport of the NFL Network saying that it was a private family matter that caused Sciano to sort of step away. Now, in his statement, he says it wasn't one thing, but it does seem like there is something going on family-wise. We don't know what it is. We don't want to speculate what it is, but we do want to wish Coach Shiano and his family all the best. Hopefully, there is nothing serious going on or anything like that. What does this mean for the New England Patriots defensively? Well, if you look at their staff right now as currently constituted, the person who is the longest tenured member of the defensive staff is none other than, drumroll please, I don't have the drumroll button here, but it's Steve Belichick. Because Brian Flores, when he left, he's kind of taken some people with him. A matter of fact, if you go to the Patriots website right now,

coaching staff, head coach, Bill Belichick. Offense, you've got Josh McDaniels, Dante Skarniecki, Ivan Fiers, Nick Caley. Defense, Steve Belichick. Offense, you've got Josh McDaniels, Dante Skarniecki, Ivan Fiers, Nick Caley. Defense, Steve Belichick. That is it. They haven't even added Gerard Mayo yet. So this leads us to some questions. Now, I doubt that they're going to have Gerard Mayo come in and be the defensive play caller.

I doubt that they're going to turn that over to Steve Belichick. Two things could happen here. One, you basically get Bill Belichick, defensive coordinator. Or two, Brett Blima, former college head coach, Wisconsin, Arkansas, maybe he sort of becomes the de facto sort of head coach or at least defensive coordinator in name only type with working with Belichick. That would probably be the move. But it's been an interesting week or so

here for the New England Patriots. Kicking off with the Gronk retirement and now Shiano stepping away. So it's a tumultuous time to say the least. But as I said in that private conversation, look, thankfully the New England Patriots won Super Bowl 53 because had they lost, ooh nelly, fun times would be had by all. But life will go on up next we're going to close out

Gronk Week with some memories some great moments of Gronk and I'm going to have my top 10 Gronk countdown top 10 Gronk moments that is ahead on this quick and easy Friday installment of the Locked on Patriots podcast Mark Schofield back

with you now going to quickly close out the week close out Gronk Week, close out today's show with sort of a countdown of my top 10 Gronk moments but before we do that I want to fire off some Gronk moments as dropped in by you got a couple via the Twitter machine

first Todd Mallett who is at mallett underscore Todd follow-l-l-e-t-t underscore Todd follow him on the Twitter machine thanks for giving the old shout out my favorite Gronk

moment would have to have been when he was at Wrestlemania and laid out Jinder Mahal him dancing to the Superbowl media night

this year is a very close second hashtag 87 to Canton 2024 Todd thanks for chiming in as far as the Wrestlemania thing goes,

you might not have to wait long. You might not have to wait long until you see something like that again. Just this week, he was at a WWE slash USO event here in the Washington, D.C. area. It's not as good as the coaches photo we saw this week from the owners meeting,

but it's one of those photos where you've got a big smiling Gronk in the background some veterans you've got john stewart formerly of the daily show there tremendous photo the wwe day is coming i think with todd thanks for the shout out the other one via twitter davey b at battle b-a-t-L-E, for USA. Again, give Davey the old follow. Favorite Gronkowski moment, November 21st, 2011, against the Chiefs when he flips into the end zone for his second touchdown, and I was there. Fantastic recall on that.

That was one of those he landed hard on his slash neck, slash upper body. One of those where you're like, oh, I hope he gets up. And he does, and he's okay. The reckless abandon with which he played the position one of the facets of Gronkowski that will live on long past his time in the National Football League we of course got a ton via the Locked On Patriots Slack channel let's see here Ian, my favorite Gronk memory was his monster game against Washington on 2011. It was my first year in DC, my wife's first live Patriots game, 160 yards, two touchdowns, setting the record for TDs in a season by a tight end. But the highlight was that

insane 50-yard catch and run, diving catch, getting up, dragging guys, breaking tackles, dancing along the sideline. The entire stadium was in shock. Even the Washington fans around us were in awe and just laughing in disbelief. Not many people in the history of the game had the ability to pull that off, and it exemplified his greatness. I was at that game too. I was sitting in the end zone, standing in the end zone, one of those party areas. I will admit, I spent a little bit more time at the bar that day

than watching the game. That's a story for another time. But yeah, that catch and run, that game against Washington was just fantastic. Calvin S. via the Lockdown Patriots Slack channel. The one-handed catch against the Broncos, the touchdown last year against the Bills in December, the stiff arm against the Chiefs defensive back this year

where he disregarded him like a stray gnat. If I had to pick one play, though, that play Ian mentioned where he toe-tapped around the sideline against the Redskins when everybody thought he was out of bounds, he was something we'll never see again. Andy Likens via the Locked On Patriots Slack channel. Not one specific play, but a play call. The fearlessness that he displayed

when running the seam route and turning back to receive the ball. You don't see that last lawn of the NFL when tacklers would bounce off of him. Excuse me. He was devastated after the catch when tacklers would bounce off of him or Gronk would execute a perfect sidestep.

Most dangerous play and player in the NFL. John Lemarockus, our great friend John Lemaracus. My favorite memory of Gronk is when you look up Wamblock in the encyclopedia you see Gronk as the featured entry. I can't tell you how many times I've seen it and laughed with joy, but I can't think of a specific greatest Wamblock

moment. Huzifa Patel via the Locked On Patriots Slack channel. Favorite Gronk memory. His touchdown where he refused to be tackled and throwing Sergio Brown out of the club in the 2014 Sunday Night Game at Indy. Only Patriots game I've seen live. Dude

was angry and just imposed his will. Was wearing my white Gronk jersey which made it better somehow. Next memory comes to us from Jim Reynolds via the Locked on Patriots Slack channel. The one-handed stab against Denver is my favorite Gronk play. Fearless down the middle and even had Brady asking,

how in the heck did you catch that? To me, that play illustrates everything about Gronkowski. Open off the line, fearless down the middle, catch radius that defies logic, and incredibly soft hands for such an imposing figure. Other memory, Ricky Keeler via the Locked on Patriots Slack channel. I would say from my Gronk memories that he seemed to be the king of the shoestring catch. Went back and watched some highlights and he would make the impossible look so easy.

That brings us to my countdown, my top 10 Gronk moments. I know you were all waiting with bated breath. Here we go, so easy. That brings us to my countdown, my top 10 Gronk moments. I know you were all waiting with bated breath. Here we go. Number 10, Super Bowl XLIX, the touchdown catch on the go route along the right sideline before halftime. They flex him out, Y-ISO, get the matchup they want against the linebacker. They needed that touchdown before the half, and they got it thanks to that. Number 9, the Broncos one-hander.

We've mentioned it earlier. I've talked about it a lot. That's just 9 for me, which tells you how great this guy was. Number eight, Super Bowl 52 against the Eagles. If they win that game, he's your MVP. Nine catches for 116 and two touchdowns and a loss. A tremendous effort for him. And he drew DPI on the Hail Mary in the end zone that i will go to my grave believe in that number seven this year the stiff arm against ron parker this is more of a this one example of what he could do as a ball carrier but tremendous on that play just shoving him basically out the club in the open field with that right hand. Number six, the Broncos AFC championship game. Again, if they win that game, he's your MVP. He had a huge contest in that game.

Number five, the Steelers game, regular season, two years ago, the 2017 season, the Gronkowski drive at the end of it, just 26-26-16, and then the two-point conversion flexing over Sean Davis, another Gronk moment. Number four, the Redskins catch and run TD, as we the two-point conversion, flexing over Sean Davis. Another Gronk moment. Number four, the Redskins catch-and-run TD, as we talked about. Huge game, huge play, just incredulous stuff. Number three, the Colts game in 2014, throwing Sergio Brown out the club. The catch-and-run touchdown, dancing on the sideline, vintage Gronkowski all over the field.

Number two, let's go to the beginning, the draft. He gets drafted in the second round. He goes nuts, throws the helmet on. He's dancing with his family and friends. You knew who he kind of was at that moment. You didn't know how good he was on the field. You had an idea if you looked at some of the stuff in Arizona, but you kind of had an idea this is somebody that loved the game. Number one for me, and it might be it for everybody, how he ends. The two catches, start on the drive, basically end in the drive. Two biggest offensive plays of Super Bowl 53.

The seam route, like Andy Likens talked about, the route that kind of defined his career, making the impossible catch look easy. I talked about it earlier this week. You saw that ball in the air. You saw three defenders. You knew he was still going to come down with it, and he did. And that's going to be the memory that he will leave us all with.

Not as it could have been, gray ghost style, on the sidelines, head down, dejected, injured, hurt, wearing a hoodie in street clothes. No, he goes out on top. He goes out making the catch in the game to deliver another Super Bowl. That's how I'll remember him. I bet that's how you'll remember him too. That will do it for this week.

That will do it for today. I will be back Monday. I've got a ton of mock drafts from all of you already. Send in some more. I'm excited to dive into those. It's been a fun week. That will do it for today. I will be back Monday. I've got a ton of mock drafts from all of you already. Send in some more. I'm excited to dive into those. It's been a fun week. Been a fun Gronk week. But now look, we are on to 2019. Back to the mock drafts on Monday.

Have a great weekend, everybody. And keep it locked right here to me, Mark Schofield and Locked on Patriots. Thank you.