The Denver Broncos will have a handful Sunday when they take on the New England Patriots and their dominant tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Slowing down Gronk - who's coming off a divisional-round game in which he racked up seven receptions for 83 yards and two touchdowns - means limiting his YAC yards with effective tackling. Broncos cornerback Chris Harris says you have to go low on the big receiver.
"You gotta hit him low, man - hit him in his knees," Harris said on ESPN on Tuesday. "That's the best chance you have of hitting him."
In the Broncos' Week 12 win over the Patriots, Gronkowski injured his knee on a hit by safety Darian Stewart. After staying down on the field in agony, Gronk was carted off the field but avoided a serious injury.
He is still hobbled by the knee injury, taking hits gingerly since the play. But Harris' comments seem more of a realistic approach to stopping a dominant player rather than a threat.
"You gotta take his legs out or hold on and wait for everybody, wait for the gang to come on and gang tackle him," Harris clarified, hoping to avoid any bulletin-board material for the Patriots.
