Covering Gronk a tall task

Covering Gronk a tall task

FOXBORO — Rob Gronkowski is only human, but he plays like something more than that on Sundays.

The 6-foot-6, 254-pound tight end looks almost superhuman. How else can you explain Gronk’s ability to toss aside NFL players like it was nothing? Even Julian Edelman compared him to an eighth grader playing with second graders a week ago.

You can’t simply cover Gronk with one player. It rarely works. Cornerbacks are too small. Linebackers are too slow. Even safeties can’t keep up or struggle to deal with his monstrous wingspan.

That’s part of the reason why Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan playfully said this week that in order for someone to cover Gronkowski one-on-one they’d have to be a monster themselves. Something straight out of a movie. Someone who could scale the Empire State Building.

“We’re not going to ask one guy to cover him,” Ryan said. “Yeah, he’d have to look like King Kong.”

But could King Kong actually stop Gronk? Well, on Thursday it was a hot debate.

Devin McCourty, who has covered the tight end in practice, wasn’t going to say that he could cover Gronkowski one-on-one, and he thinks the gigantic ape would have problems.

“He has a lot of touchdowns in this league,” McCourty said. “I don’t know. I think King Kong would probably struggle, too.”

When Gronkowski was pressed on the issue, and told about Ryan’s comments, he smiled and didn’t hold back.

“Like I said, I’ve got to prepare for everyone whenever game time comes,” Gronkowski said. “Just got to go out to practice and prepare for anyone at anytime.”

Whether that be King Kong — who when we last checked wasn’t on the Bills roster — or another safety/linebacker combination, Ryan typically throws a variety of different looks at Gronkowski.

Last season, he caught six of 10 passes for 31 yards (tied for a season low) and a touchdown in Week 15. Before that, he caught five of 10 passes for 68 yards in Week Seven. In 2013, Ryan’s defense wilted as Gronkowski caught eight of 17 passes for 114 yards.

When asked how Ryan defenses have attacked him in the past, the tight end said, “Spin the wheel and see what’s out there. You’ve got to expect anything, from zone to man to blitz zero to dropping into coverage. With his defenses, you’ve always got to be prepared and always got to be ready for any situation because he always has his players prepared well.”

Nevertheless, Gronkowski said he was confident that he could catch a touchdown pass on King Kong.

“I hope so. Yeah,” he said.

The deal looks done

The Patriots trade for Keshawn Martin appears to have come together.

According to the Houston Chronicle, the Patriots are sending a fifth-round pick to Houston for Martin and a sixth-round selection.

That type of compensation isn’t surprising considering the way the Patriots do business. Last year, the Patriots made a similar deal giving up a fifth-round pick to Tampa Bay in exchange for Jonathan Casillas and a sixth-round pick. They also traded a sixth-round pick to Tennessee for Akeem Ayers and a seventh-round pick.

In 2013, the Patriots also traded a fifth-rounder to Philadelphia for Isaac Sopoaga and a sixth.

It’s a good deal for the Pats. They get a wide receiver to help with depth and someone who can also alleviate Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola of return duties. But if Martin doesn’t work out, it’s not like the Patriots gave up a lot.

In the end, their fifth-round pick will likely be at the end of the round. It’s possible that Houston’s sixth-round selection isn’t that far down, which would mean the Patriots simply traded down for the player.

For example, in last year’s trade with the Buccaneers, Tampa Bay got the Patriots’ fifth-round pick, No. 168, and the Patriots still had the second pick in the sixth round. Add in compensation picks and the Pats traded down nine spots for Casillas.

The Patriots still have at least another move to make as they have to clear a roster spot for Martin.

Same as usual

It’s business as usual for Scott Chandler this week, even though a matchup with his former teammates is right around the corner. Buffalo will always mean a lot to the tight end, but on Thursday he said he’s focused on the task at hand and not his reunion.

“I think I’m just trying to approach it like every other week,” Chandler said. “I’m really excited to be here in New England and just going about my business doing my job.”

For four seasons, 2007-2010, Chandler struggled to make it in the NFL. He appeared in 10 games total in different stints in San Diego, Dallas and with the New York Giants. But when he signed with Buffalo in December 2010, his fortunes started to change.

Over the past five years, Chandler developed into a serviceable tight end, catching 182 passes for 2,120 yards and 17 touchdowns. Sunday’s Week Two matchup will be his first time in Ralph Wilson Stadium since signing with the Patriots in March.

Chandler said he hasn’t done much reflecting.

“I think that that’s something that maybe when I’m done playing I’ll think about more,” Chandler said. “Right now, like I said, I’m just focused on doing what I can do to help the Patriots win on Sunday.”

Easley still not seen

Dominique Easley missed his third practice in a row on Thursday.

The defensive tackle hasn’t been seen since suffering a hip pointer in last week’s opening drive against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also missed practices on Monday and Wednesday. At this point, it would seem unlikely that the second-year player would be available for Sunday’s game against the Bills.

The Patriots still have four true defensive tackles on the roster with Sealver Siliga, Alan Branch, Malcom Brown and Khyri Thornton. Last week, they also used Geneo Grissom on the inside when Easley went down.

The Patriots’ practice report didn’t change on Thursday. Easley was still listed as being out with a hip injury. The only player who was limited was Ryan Wendell. The center/guard is listed on the injury report with an illness and he told The Providence Journal he’s trying to fight through it.

“Yeah. I had a little bit of an illness. Just trying to get through that,” Wendell said.

Tavon Wilson (quad), Trey Flowers (knee) and Travaris Cadet (hamstring) were listed on the injury report, but they were full participants in practice Thursday.

Mark Daniels writes for the Providence Journal of GateHouse News Service.