Rob Gronkowski is a 6'6, 265-pound tight end with freakish athleticism and glue-laced hands who looks like he was designed in an underground laboratory to give NFL defensive coordinators matchup nightmares. But that doesn't seem to bother Seattle Seahawks nickel cornerback Jeremy Lane, who will have to cover Gronkowski at times during the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XLIX: Seahawks CB says Rob Gronkowski isn’t ‘that good’
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“I actually don’t think he’s that good,” Lane told ESPN. “He’s OK. He does have a big body. But from what I’ve seen on tape, he doesn’t like you putting your hands on him. So if we put our hands on him and shake him up a little bit, he won’t catch that many balls.”
Jamming a guy who outweighs him by 85 pounds could be a tall task for Lane, who’s allowed quarterbacks to complete 67.7 percent of their passes into his coverage and has just two pass breakups this year. But the Seahawks certainly have a physical, aggressive secondary, so expect Gronk to take some shots coming off the line.
“Yeah, that’s always our key every week, putting our hands on the receivers,” Lane said. “It’s definitely an issue with him from watching tape.”
Not many strategies have worked for slowing down Gronkowski: he racked up 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns in the regular season, and has added 136 yards and two touchdowns in two playoff games.
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