Some would surely scoff, such as Chuck Bednarik, the NFL’s last full-time two-way player. Or Gordie Lockbaum, the former two-way star at Holy Cross who finished third in the 1987 Heisman Trophy race. But the Patriots, especially lately, have been squeezing every last drop of versatility out of their roster, experimenting with position changes and formations, all in the name of doing what’s best for the team.
With the Patriots a win away from playing in the Super Bowl for the seventh time in franchise history, it seems to be working.
“Our coaches just know how to move people around and get them in situations that make it very hard on the [opposition],’’ said Hernandez. “There’s a lot of players that are very versatile, but our coaches do a great job of moving us, especially me, putting us in different positions.’’
Take Hernandez, for instance. At 6 feet 1 inch, 245 pounds, he’s smaller than the average NFL tight end, his natural position. But his speed and athleticism are traits that more and more modern tight ends now possess, so he’s being used in more creative ways, and not just setting up to the left or right of a tackle, expected to mostly block.
Against Denver in last Saturday’s 45-10 playoff win, Hernandez lined up behind Brady - where you’d typically find a fullback - on the Patriots’ first offensive play. On the same drive he lined up in the slot, as a flanker, in the traditional tight end spot, and as a tailback, taking a handoff from Brady and running 43 yards, setting up the first Patriots touchdown. It wasn’t a random experiment. He led the team in rushing against the Broncos, gaining 61 yards on five carries, and caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Brady, one of his four receptions for 55 yards.
This guy is a tight end? Says who?
