Why is everyone bad mouthing Dont'a Hightower?

Sciz said:

David is better at a position that doesn't exist in a Belichick defense. If you want to argue David > Hightower, then you also have to argue for a different defensive scheme. While I'm sure there's a valid argument to be made there, it's far beyond the scope of the David/Hightower comparisons.

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Educate me. Why can't David play OLB in our scheme? Because he doesn't weigh enough to reach an arbitrary requirement? David defends the run at a high level(check out his TFL), plays the pass to a high level, and above all has great instincts. Hightower's instincts are nonexistent.

If BB passed on a beast of a LB because their was "no position for him", then he messed up. David is better than Hightower in every aspect of playing linebacker.

Yes, I'll know the answer. "He's an undersized Tampa-2 OLB" I say bologna. He'd be great in any system. Some prospects are just special football players and should be drafted regardless. David would be a top 15 pick in a 2012 redraft.

patsfanincleveland said:

Please note the complete intelligence of this post.

Why is this so hard to grasp?`

Besides, Hightower is now in a position to perform absent Mayo, Vince, and Kelly.

If Lavonte David was the answer after watching Hightower vs Carolina.......why exactly did Tampa get blown out by Carolina?

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We lost against the Panthers but for what it worth I think Lavonte David has had a terrific game in defeat, the same could not be said for Hightower.

David – had 12 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss and 1 QB hit against the Panthers.
Hightower – had 4 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 tackles for a loss and 0 QB hits against the Panthers.

Sciz said:

David is better at a position that doesn't exist in a Belichick defense. If you want to argue David > Hightower, then you also have to argue for a different defensive scheme. While I'm sure there's a valid argument to be made there, it's far beyond the scope of the David/Hightower comparisons.

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Indeed...considering that Dont'a is playing at such a high level in Bill's D i'm sure David would struggle with the scheme change. I mean he's only an all-pro in normal circumstances.

patsfanincleveland said:

Please note the complete intelligence of this post.

Why is this so hard to grasp?`

Besides, Hightower is now in a position to perform absent Mayo, Vince, and Kelly.

If Lavonte David was the answer after watching Hightower vs Carolina.......why exactly did Tampa get blown out by Carolina?

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What's your point exactly? Tampa got blown out and David obviously sucks? Nvm that you already mentioned that you haven't seen or head a thing about him before this thread.

Wilfork has been the anchor for some pretty goddamn ****ty defenses. It still doesn't take anything away from him as a player.

patsinthesnow said:

Educate me. Why can't David play OLB in our scheme? Because he doesn't weigh enough to reach an arbitrary requirement? David defends the run at a high level(check out his TFL), plays the pass to a high level, and above all has great instincts. Hightower's instincts are nonexistent.

If BB passed on a beast of a LB because their was "no position for him", then he messed up. David is better than Hightower in every aspect of playing linebacker.

Yes, I'll know the answer. "He's an undersized Tampa-2 OLB" I say bologna. He'd be great in any system. Some prospects are just special football players and should be drafted regardless. David would be a top 15 pick in a 2012 redraft.

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David is 6’1 233 pounds per his combine results; Jerod Mayo is 6’1 242 pounds per his combine results. If players don’t fit our scheme by 9 pounds we need to consider being a little more diverse.

David would have exceled in New England, he and Mayo would have given Willis and Bowman a run for their money as the best LB tandem in the NFL. In hindsight we would have been better off with David than Hightower that is undisputable at this juncture in my opinion, David is a 3 down who is excellent in coverage, had we made that selection we likely would not have had to use our 1 pick this year on a player like Jamie Collins. At this point though it water under the bridge so we can hope for Hightower to improve or we can hope for Greg Schiano to screw up and trade us David for a 4th round draft pick.

The fact that some people in this thread are arguing the merits of linebacker play based on the final result of games is so bat**** crazy that it reminds me as to why I seldom post in this board anymore.

If you think Dont'a Hightower is on the same stratosphere and Lavonte David as a player at this point in their respective careers, you either watch nothing but Patriots games, or know jack **** about football.

Sciz said:

David is better at a position that doesn't exist in a Belichick defense. If you want to argue David > Hightower, then you also have to argue for a different defensive scheme. While I'm sure there's a valid argument to be made there, it's far beyond the scope of the David/Hightower comparisons.

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I am going to go out on a limb and say Belichick could have made it work with Lavonte David….

Lavonte David named NFC defensive player of the week | ProFootballTalk

patsfanincleveland said:

Please note the complete intelligence of this post.

Why is this so hard to grasp?`

Besides, Hightower is now in a position to perform absent Mayo, Vince, and Kelly.

If Lavonte David was the answer after watching Hightower vs Carolina.......why exactly did Tampa get blown out by Carolina?

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David in 11 games this season has:

• 70 solo tackles
• 5 sacks
• 1 forced fumbe
• 2 interceptions
• 6 pass defends
• 12 run stuffs

In Donta Hightower’s 25 career games he has:

• 73 solo tackles
• 5 sacks
• 0 forced fumbles
• 0 interceptions
• 4 pass defends
• 8 run stuffs

How is it even open to debate who this team would have been better of selecting if they had the opportunity to draft over again? Unfortunately the NFL does not offer a redraft so we have to hope for Hightower to develop into a more dynamic playmaker. In fairness David appears to be very special and many teams missed on him not just us.

So why are we comparing Hightower to a 6'1" 233 lb guy again? He could play strong safety here if he wanted.

We don't have anyone at LB to compare him to except Collins who is a bit faster, better 3 cone (7.10 to 7.28) and is 6'3" 250.

Always happy to see an undersized guy get a chance to shine on a crappy team, but it's time for the playoffs soon. For us, at least.

RayClay said:

So why are we comparing Hightower to a 6'1" 233 lb guy again? He could play strong safety here if he wanted.

We don't have anyone at LB to compare him to except Collins who is a bit faster, better 3 cone (7.10 to 7.28) and is 6'3" 250.

Always happy to see an undersized guy get a chance to shine on a crappy team, but it's time for the playoffs soon. For us, at least.

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We can compare him to Hightower. He's better at setting the edge, better at rushing the passer, better at defending the run, and better at defending the pass.

It's just a goofy sentiment we can't compare players that both play OLB because one is smaller than the other. Can we not compare Russell Wilson to QBs above 6'2"?

By the way, I'm mostly just stating it was dumb for all teams to pass on the kid. The 2012 draft was a success with Jones/Dennard and I hope Hightower becomes a player. However, David should of been drafted instead of Tavon Wilson, regardless of just drafting Hightower, as a BPA.

patsinthesnow said:

We can compare him to Hightower. He's better at setting the edge, better at rushing the passer, better at defending the run, and better at defending the pass.

It's just a goofy sentiment we can't compare players that both play OLB because one is smaller than the other.

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You can do whatever you want. They aren't remotely the same type of player. He would be a strong safety on this team, or hybrid, if you will.

No one is stopping anyone from finding players on teams going nowhere and drooling over their stats.

Why would someone compare Hightower to David? they are not the same. We can compare a banana to a apple but its stupid so we dont do it.

Besides, David is just a special player.

Brady6 said:

David in 11 games this season has:

• 70 solo tackles
• 5 sacks
• 1 forced fumbe
• 2 interceptions
• 6 pass defends
• 12 run stuffs

In Donta Hightower’s 25 career games he has:

• 73 solo tackles
• 5 sacks
• 0 forced fumbles
• 0 interceptions
• 4 pass defends
• 8 run stuffs

How is it even open to debate who this team would have been better of selecting if they had the opportunity to draft over again? Unfortunately the NFL does not offer a redraft so we have to hope for Hightower to develop into a more dynamic playmaker. In fairness David appears to be very special and many teams missed on him not just us.

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Tampa Bay 3-8
New England 8-3

Where is the debate?

Hey why not go get Clay Matthews...for years patsfans.com has said he's a special player.......that Green Bay defense is really special.

Seriously, when is patsfans.com ever going to smarten up?

You may like the guy but to so easily assume he shows up with Mayo/ Wilfork/Kelly gone and "dominates" is absurd.

If he is such a difference maker......why did Carolina blow them out? Shouldn't difference makers actually like....make...a difference?

Yeah, the guy makes some plays on one of the worst teams in football....when he's not causing penalties that directly cost some games.

Brady6 said:

We lost against the Panthers but for what it worth I think Lavonte David has had a terrific game in defeat, the same could not be said for Hightower.

David – had 12 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss and 1 QB hit against the Panthers.
Hightower – had 4 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 tackles for a loss and 0 QB hits against the Panthers.

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............and Tampa Bay got blown out.

patsfanincleveland said:

Tampa Bay 3-8
New England 8-3

Where is the debate?

Hey why not go get Clay Matthews...for years patsfans.com has said he's a special player.......that Green Bay defense is really special.

Seriously, when is patsfans.com ever going to smarten up?

You may like the guy but to so easily assume he shows up with Mayo/ Wilfork/Kelly gone and "dominates" is absurd.

If he is such a difference maker......why did Carolina blow them out? Shouldn't difference makers actually like....make...a difference?

Yeah, the guy makes some plays on one of the worst teams in football....when he's not causing penalties that directly cost some games.

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What do the records of the teams even matter? Last game the NE D played better with Hightower out of the starting lineup for christ's sake so let's make the 8-3 sound a little bit less about him.

RayClay said:

You can do whatever you want. They aren't remotely the same type of player. He would be a strong safety on this team, or hybrid, if you will.

No one is stopping anyone from finding players on teams going nowhere and drooling over their stats.

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Well...he would be a better strong safety than Hightower that's for sure.

randomk1 said:

What do the records of the teams even matter?

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lol.............

hightower is a big OLB big a nuff to play 3-4 OLD or 4-3 DE not the same player and OLB's in the bucs system are more like MLB's so compare Lavonte David to mayo and he his numbers wont look as good

RayClay said:

You can do whatever you want. They aren't remotely the same type of player. He would be a strong safety on this team, or hybrid, if you will.

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So what you’re telling me is all these years we’ve been drafting safeties all we really had to do was have Jerod Mayo lose 9 pounds?

randomk1 said:

What do the records of the teams even matter? Last game the NE D played better with Hightower out of the starting lineup for christ's sake so let's make the 8-3 sound a little bit less about him.

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The record means something to some because some feel the purpose of all of this is to win games.

Apparently you don't.

You're the one looking at a different type of player from some 3-8 team who is best known for a stupid penalty that cost a game.....and extrapolating it to an 8-3 team who has a different type of player thrust into another role which was not envisioned because of extra ordinary injury circumstances.....and you think that would solve something.

This thread seems to base this problem on the Carolina game.....so then why exactly did your "difference maker" like make zero difference when they played Carolina?

Tampa gave up 31 points....forced zero turnovers.......got run over on the ground......and was unsuccessful on 3rd and 4th down......and this was at home.

Do you know this? Ever bothered to inquire? Why doesn't it matter?

That's quite a success.....in your book I guess.

This is another example of patsfans.com falling in love with some guy and making these stupid extrapolations based on circumstances where the most similar comparison is even worse.