If it was up to Bill Belichick, wide receivers and tight ends would receive just as many fantasy points for their blocking prowess as their receiving skills.
Belichick went into great detail Friday morning on the importance of blocking by receivers and tight ends. It’s not about fantasy stats for the New England Patriots head coach.
“Those guys have done a great job — Danny (Amendola), Julian (Edelman) and now (Brandon) LaFell back, those guys have blocked really well for us all year on runs, passes, split screens, scramble plays, things like that,” Belichick told reporters. “They’ve really competed well, they’ve helped us get a lot of extra yards. And they block for each other, so they helped on (Rob) Gronkowski’s touchdown pass, block by the receiver helped spring him and vice versa. Rob’s blocked well for them, but I think that’s really an under appreciated part of their job — tight ends and receivers.
“Again, it’s all about the stat sheet and you know, fantasy catches or whatever, however that stuff works, but those guys go out there and compete every play, and that helps a lot of other guys. That means a lot to our football game.”
When when Belichick is done coaching, maybe he can concentrate on piling up some fantasy catches on “Snapface.” Belichick also revealed his complete lack of interest in midseason report cards this week.
Blocking isn’t an easy task for receivers, who usually have to choose one player to block among various options in the secondary. They also have to make sure they’re not blocking a player from behind, because a block in the back carries a 10-yard penalty.
“A lot of it is desire, a lot of it’s leverage,” Belichick said. “A lot of it’s technique, playing with a good base, getting your pad level down on contact, having your head in the proper location, things like that.”
Gronkowski, Edelman and Amendola helped spring running back LeGarrette Blount for a 21-yard run against the Washington Redskins on Sunday by sealing off the edge.
Belichick said Sunday he would put Gronkowski’s blocking “up there with (Mark) Bavaro” among tight ends he’s coached. That’s high praise from the head coach, who noted the former New York Giants tight end used to block Hall of Fame pass rusher Reggie White 1-on-1.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
