Chandler Talk on Replacing Gronkowski

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“I think Rob is a very unique player,” he explained, “and it would be difficult for anybody to come in and do the same exact things that Rob does in any capacity,” he explained. “I think that we have some guys in the skilled group that we try to put in positions where we feel like those are things that they do well, whether that be the receivers, the tight ends or the running backs.

“And if it’s not something where we feel comfortable with them or they don’t feel comfortable doing it, then we’re going to try to do as many things that fit the personnel we have on a week-to-week basis as we can. Rob certainly has a broad spectrum of things that he allows us to do, and other players have different unique skill sets that we try to utilize as well.”

Chandler, who measures in at 6-foot-7, is a large target who showed up twice in crucial situations last weekend, making two catches for 32 yards in New England’s final drive of regulation to help set up a game-tying field goal by Stephen Gostkowski.

Over the course of the season, however, Chandler has had some trouble securing the football as he’s been credited with five drops on 33 targets. That, coupled with injuries to the offensive line that have led to the Patriots using blocking tight end Michael Williams more frequently in six of the 10 games in which both players were active, may have led to a diminished role for Chandler in the Patriots offense.

After being waived by Dallas, Chandler was signed by the Buffalo Bills on December 2, 2010. On September 11, 2011, Chandler made his first career start against theKansas City Chiefs, recording 5 catches for 63 yards and 2 touchdowns. He appeared in 14 games (9 starts), registering 38 receptions for 389 yards and tying a team record for a tight end with 6 receiving touchdowns in a season (Pete Metzelaars – 1992 and Jay Riemersma – 1998). The next year he played in 15 games (3 starts), posting 43 receptions for 571 yards and 6 touchdowns. In 2013, he played in 16 games (7 starts), leading the team with 53 receptions and 655 receiving yards. In 2014, he played 16 games (5 starts), recording 47 receptions for 497 yards and 3 touchdowns. In the same season, he became the first Bills tight end to surpass 100 receiving yards since Pete Metzelaars in 1992 and became the fourth tight end in franchise history to reach 150 career receptions. He was released on March 11, 2015.

But now, with Gronkowski and receivers Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman dealing with injuries, Chandler should be in line for more work. Thus far this season, he has made 19 catches for 198 yards and three scores, putting him on pace to make 29 catches for about 400 yards this season.

There were some who expected Chandler to produce more statistically after a strong training camp during which it appeared as though he and Brady developed good chemistry, especially in the red zone. But he said he has not been discouraged by his usage or his production.

“I think that my whole goal coming here was to be a part of a winning team,” he said. “So far we’ve been pretty successful. I’d like to see us continue to be successful. That’s always been my goal.”

Indeed, while the success of the Patriots offense may rely in part on Chandler upping his on-the-field output, after four seasons with the Bills and without a playoff appearance, he’s concerned with just one set of numbers.

“I think being where I’m at in my career and having been where I was,” he said, “10-1 is the only stat that matters. I’m pretty excited about that.”