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Roster Rundown
Gronkowski Up-And-Down As Rookie
Josh Ellis
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
(Editor's Note: Throughout the off-season, DallasCowboys.com staff writers will take a closer look at the roster, analyzing players' impact last season and how each fits into the team's 2011 plans. Today's featured player is fullback Chris Gronkowski.)
Name: Chris Gronkowski
Position: Fullback
Height/Weight: 6-2, 245
Experience: One Season
College: Arizona
Key stat: Gronkowski brought a little extra wrinkle to the offense by catching seven passes in 2010, just two less than his predecessor Deon Anderson had in his entire three-year run with the Cowboys. He totaled 35 yards and scored one touchdown through the air.
Contract Status: Signed through 2012
2010 Impact: Though his position has only a limited role in Jason Garrett's system, Gronkowski did improve as his rookie season progressed, according to coaches. He had an advantage over Anderson in the early going, as the four-year veteran went into camp with an offseason gun charge hanging over his head, along with an injury history. When Anderson was hurt early, the team decided to hand his job to Gronkowski, who also had the dual role of attempting to replace third tight end John Phillips. He had his early struggles in both jobs, often lacking punch as a run blocker and occasionally being confused or overmatched in pass protection, most notably the blown assignment in the Giants game which allowed Tony Romo to take the hit that would end his season. He was inactive twice in the first half of the year, but the team stuck with him, and he registered eight starts.
Where He Fits: It's conceivable the Cowboys could keep looking for a fullback, particularly for a more punishing run blocker, because they'll have a healthy H-back in John Phillips next season, which would take the ball out of Gronkowski's hands more often than not. However, Gronkowski has plenty of believers in the organization, and will get a legitimate shot to make the team again in training camp.
Writers' Analysis:
Josh Ellis: In many ways, little mistakes like the ones that Gronkowski struggled with were the story of the 2010 Cowboys, who, in retrospect, relied too often on rookies, practice squad call-ups and undrafted players. Though those players may figure things out with some seasoning, they do have growing pains such as those the Cowboys' young fullback dealt with from time to time.
Rob Phillips: Too bad for Gronkowski. The most significant memory from his rookie season will be the missed block that ended Tony Romo's season on Oct. 25. A costly rookie mistake, but one that can't be made as long as a fullback is trusted to carry out an assignment. Considering that Gronkowski was more of a tight end in college, his blocking needs improvement, and we saw some of that during the season. He does provide pass-catching skills that Deon Anderson couldn't, though, making him an actual offensive threat out of the backfield.
Gronkowski Up-And-Down As Rookie
Josh Ellis
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
(Editor's Note: Throughout the off-season, DallasCowboys.com staff writers will take a closer look at the roster, analyzing players' impact last season and how each fits into the team's 2011 plans. Today's featured player is fullback Chris Gronkowski.)
Name: Chris Gronkowski
Position: Fullback
Height/Weight: 6-2, 245
Experience: One Season
College: Arizona
Key stat: Gronkowski brought a little extra wrinkle to the offense by catching seven passes in 2010, just two less than his predecessor Deon Anderson had in his entire three-year run with the Cowboys. He totaled 35 yards and scored one touchdown through the air.
Contract Status: Signed through 2012
2010 Impact: Though his position has only a limited role in Jason Garrett's system, Gronkowski did improve as his rookie season progressed, according to coaches. He had an advantage over Anderson in the early going, as the four-year veteran went into camp with an offseason gun charge hanging over his head, along with an injury history. When Anderson was hurt early, the team decided to hand his job to Gronkowski, who also had the dual role of attempting to replace third tight end John Phillips. He had his early struggles in both jobs, often lacking punch as a run blocker and occasionally being confused or overmatched in pass protection, most notably the blown assignment in the Giants game which allowed Tony Romo to take the hit that would end his season. He was inactive twice in the first half of the year, but the team stuck with him, and he registered eight starts.
Where He Fits: It's conceivable the Cowboys could keep looking for a fullback, particularly for a more punishing run blocker, because they'll have a healthy H-back in John Phillips next season, which would take the ball out of Gronkowski's hands more often than not. However, Gronkowski has plenty of believers in the organization, and will get a legitimate shot to make the team again in training camp.
Writers' Analysis:
Josh Ellis: In many ways, little mistakes like the ones that Gronkowski struggled with were the story of the 2010 Cowboys, who, in retrospect, relied too often on rookies, practice squad call-ups and undrafted players. Though those players may figure things out with some seasoning, they do have growing pains such as those the Cowboys' young fullback dealt with from time to time.
Rob Phillips: Too bad for Gronkowski. The most significant memory from his rookie season will be the missed block that ended Tony Romo's season on Oct. 25. A costly rookie mistake, but one that can't be made as long as a fullback is trusted to carry out an assignment. Considering that Gronkowski was more of a tight end in college, his blocking needs improvement, and we saw some of that during the season. He does provide pass-catching skills that Deon Anderson couldn't, though, making him an actual offensive threat out of the backfield.