How is Hightower doing?

[MrNathanDrake]

Ive been on vacation and only caught week 1 of pre-season.

Can anyone give an update on how Hightower has been doing in preseason?

 

[stcjones]

Ive been on vacation and only caught week 1 of pre-season.

Can anyone give an update on how Hightower has been doing in preseason?

He played mostly in the first two preseason games (saints,eagles) and was absolutely brilliant. Has a eye for the ball that you just can't teach. He excelled in both run stuffing (several huge hits on opposing RB's) and pass coverage in flat. He has a motor like Tedy Bruschi (not putting him in that category yet but similiar fire in the gut as Tedy) The guy is the real deal from what I have seen and am really looking forward to watching him and Chandler Jones terrorize QB's and RB's this year.......

 

[BradyMossWelker]

Awesome.

10 char

 

[condon84]

Looks like a rookie with potential. Made some nice plays filling the hole and meeting the ball carrier on some, but also out of position on other plays.

 

[Joey007]

Long vacation, there.

He's been pretty solid, hasn't made huge flashes but overall has done pretty well.

Jones has been the one who's really stood out of this draft class, though.

Oh, yeah, and there's this guy named Nate Ebner who's looked pretty solid. :rocker:

 

[strngplyr]

Looks like a rookie with potential. Made some nice plays filling the hole and meeting the ball carrier on some, but also out of position on other plays.

This. He looks like a rookie. But he's flashed some great potential. Jones has looked like a vet in most of his playing time though, I think both are going to do some awesome things and have a pretty immediate impact for us.

 

[condon84]

This. He looks like a rookie. But he's flashed some great potential. Jones has looked like a vet in most of his playing time though, I think both are going to do some awesome things and have a pretty immediate impact for us.

+1

Most surprising thing about Jones has been his consistency when he's been out there. Looks strong against the run, and consistent push when he rushes the QB.

Speaking of surprising rookie LBs, did anyone see Keuchly play for the Panthers in the preseason? He looks great. He knows how to sniff out the ball carrier in traffic and always seems to avoid getting blocked.

 

[Kontradiction]

From what I saw, he was still thinking too much instead of reacting. That's what landed him out of position on some plays. But he's on the right track and should be able to fully grasp the defense this season. It should be sooner rather than later as well due to the fact that he has extensive experience in a similar system at Alabama.

 

[Danger Zone]

Would it be rude or derailing of me to ask how the football guru's feel Tavon Wilson is doing?

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Long vacation, there.

not really the last 3 games were in a 10 day span IIRC

 

[UK_Pat37]

He played mostly in the first two preseason games (saints,eagles) and was absolutely brilliant. Has a eye for the ball that you just can't teach. He excelled in both run stuffing (several huge hits on opposing RB's) and pass coverage in flat. He has a motor like Tedy Bruschi (not putting him in that category yet but similiar fire in the gut as Tedy) The guy is the real deal from what I have seen and am really looking forward to watching him and Chandler Jones terrorize QB's and RB's this year.......

Look below...

Looks like a rookie with potential. Made some nice plays filling the hole and meeting the ball carrier on some, but also out of position on other plays.

This is the more accurate description. He's been decent but has made some rookie mistakes. Another one I would add is I've seen him overwhelmed at the point of attack and struggling to get off his block. He needs to get his pad level lower and use that upper body strength to shed.

 

[Sicilian]

Would it be rude or derailing of me to ask how the football guru's feel Tavon Wilson is doing?

I'm no guru, but I'll give you my opinion anyway From what I've seen, he's been holding his own very well. He seems to be a sure tackler and is usually around the ball if not in good coverage. The secondary in general has been hard to really evaluate because the parts have been moving around so much, but he definitely looks like he belongs. He'll probably be the first backup S when Chung is healthy, and he'll get plenty of snaps regardless in the big nickel.

 

[patchick]

I'm no guru, but I'll give you my opinion anyway From what I've seen, he's been holding his own very well. He seems to be a sure tackler and is usually around the ball if not in good coverage. The secondary in general has been hard to really evaluate because the parts have been moving around so much, but he definitely looks like he belongs. He'll probably be the first backup S when Chung is healthy, and he'll get plenty of snaps regardless in the big nickel.

Agreed. IMO the new safety group has settled the whole secondary down, and Wilson's been a big part of that. They've thrown a lot of different roles at him and he always seems to be in the right place and playing fundamentally sound. I don't expect him to make a lot of highlight-reel plays, but does look like a guy who should have a long NFL career as the invaluable glue that makes the defense stick together.

Or to put it another way, the polar opposite of Brandon Meriweather.

 

[Kontradiction]

I'm no guru, but I'll give you my opinion anyway From what I've seen, he's been holding his own very well. He seems to be a sure tackler and is usually around the ball if not in good coverage. The secondary in general has been hard to really evaluate because the parts have been moving around so much, but he definitely looks like he belongs. He'll probably be the first backup S when Chung is healthy, and he'll get plenty of snaps regardless in the big nickel.

Had a nice pass break up of (I believe) Ramses Barden in the first half the other night. The only thing I wish he would have done to improve that was the clean Barden out. He had a nice open shot and an opportunity to jack Barden up. But still, I'll take the pass break-up.

 

[Kontradiction]

Agreed. IMO the new safety group has settled the whole secondary down, and Wilson's been a big part of that. They've thrown a lot of different roles at him and he always seems to be in the right place and playing fundamentally sound. I don't expect him to make a lot of highlight-reel plays, but does look like a guy who should have a long NFL career as the invaluable glue that makes the defense stick together.

Or to put it another way, the polar opposite of Brandon Meriweather.

IMO, we should wait until that safety group faces an actual starting group of WR's in a regular season game before we say that with any sort of confidence. Remember that the defense, and the pass defense specifically, looked like a machine last pre-season only to see it become the second worst pass defense of all time during the regular season.

 

[Joey007]

not really the last 3 games were in a 10 day span IIRC

Oh, that's true. I really hope we don't get a schedule like that again.

 

[patchick]

IMO, we should wait until that safety group faces an actual starting group of WR's in a regular season game before we say that with any sort of confidence. Remember that the defense, and the pass defense specifically, looked like a machine last pre-season only to see it become the second worst pass defense of all time during the regular season.

Can't argue with that. Just feeling optimistic because of the coordinated and orderly look out there, and the total lack of cuts and additions in the secondary to this point.

 

[Marqui]

IMO, we should wait until that safety group faces an actual starting group of WR's in a regular season game before we say that with any sort of confidence. Remember that the defense, and the pass defense specifically, looked like a machine last pre-season only to see it become the second worst pass defense of all time during the regular season.

You must have missed the Lions game.

 

[Kontradiction]

You must have missed the Lions game.

No, I didn't That game was a sign for how things were going to go, at least defensively, for the season. But the offense looked like garbage in that game as well and rebounded pretty nicely for the regular season. That game, too, signifies that you can't take much from the preseason.