Allen now in tight spot
With ‘better grasp,’ steps up for Gronk
PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK
FOXBORO — The size16 hooves aren’t exactly fillable, literally or figuratively.
But now, much more so than in Week 5, tight end Dwayne Allen is more capable of picking up Rob Gronkowski’s slack.
“Rob has huge shoes to fill, and it’s going to take everyone collectively to fill those shoes,” Allen said.
Gronkowski couldn’t play in Week 5 against the Buccaneers due to a thigh contusion. At that point, it seemed like an opportunity for Allen to break out, but he wasn’t targeted with a single pass, which was a microcosm of his challenging start.
Allen, who was acquired from the Colts in an offseason trade, had a tough time earning Tom Brady’s trust over the summer. Brady was then 0-of-6 while targeting Allen in the first four weeks, and the quarterback never looked his way from Weeks 5-8.
Allen has since become a complementary figure in the offense, recording five receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown in the past four weeks.
“As Tom likes to say, everything builds on top of each other from offseason to spring training, etc. etc., the same way the season is building,” Allen said. “I’m better equipped physically, mentally (now compared to Week 5). I have a better grasp of the offense now.”
Gronkowski leads the Patriots with 55 receptions and seven touchdowns, and he is second to Brandin Cooks with 849 yards. So it’d be crazy to think anyone could replicate Gronk’s production during his one-game suspension Monday against the Dolphins, but Allen knows he can be a piece of that complicated puzzle.
If it comes in a blocking capacity, that’s important, too. Allen’s blocking has also improved over the past month.
“Just understanding and coming to grasp the different ways I can impact a game,” Allen said of his progression. “It’s not always in the stat column, but there are certain things that I can do within our game play, within the things we do well, to make sure the team is successful.”
Allen, at 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds, will make sure to stay within himself. Like anyone else without Gronkowski-sized feet, he’d look out of place in his shoes anyway.
“There are some things, the Lord just didn’t bless me with 6-foot-6, running 4-whatever he’s running, and you guys were able to see some of the catches that he made on Sunday,” Allen said. “That’s just Rob being Rob right there, but I’ll continue to practice hard. As much as I can, I definitely take from his game and add to mine.”
Brady good to go
Unless Brady has a torn ACL (he doesn’t) or the Patriots are coached by Ben McAdoo (they aren’t), there’s no reason to be concerned over the quarterback’s availability Monday against Miami.
Brady will indeed play, according to a source. That’s not a revelation by any stretch of the imagination, but it reaffirmed the obvious belief. To further that notion, the Patriots would have signed another quarterback to pair with Brian Hoyer if there had been any concern over Brady’s availability.
Brady missed practice yesterday, marking the first time this season the 40-yearold has missed back-to-back workouts. However, the Patriots have four practices this week due to the Monday game, so Brady opted for an extra day of treatment on his Achilles and should theoretically return to the field today. That would give him two full practices before the game, which was also the case in the previous two weeks when he sat out the Wednesday workout.
Defensive end Deatrich Wise also missed the first two practices of the week due to a minor foot injury, but the Pats believed yesterday the rookie still had a good chance to play Monday.
Solder honored
Nate Solder is the Patriots nominee for the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
The award honors players for their community service in addition to excellence on the field. Three finalists will be named next month, and the winner will
be announced the day before the Super Bowl.
The league will donate $500k to charity in the winner’s name, and $250k to a charity of his choice . . . .
The Patriots are prepared for another chippy, physical meeting with the Dolphins.
“Always, it’s a division foe so they’re going to be ready to play,” safety Duron Harmon said. “We’re going to be ready to play, and the way the game played out the last time, I’m sure they’re going to be ready to go. We’ve just got to be able to match their intensity because it’s a (Dolphins) home game Monday night. It’s going to be real rowdy in there and I can’t wait.”