"Making the Leap": Jamie Collins

Hightower will shine at MLB. He's been playing out of position for the past 2 seasons and still did a damn good job.

doesntmatter1 said:

Now I believe expectations on Easley should be lowered. For years league wide, rookie dt usually do not have the strength of nfl veterans. I somewhat expect Chris Jones and even Vellano to be ahead of him considering they have had an entire offseason to get bigger and stronger.

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Just a quick nitpick here. Easley has never relied on pure power as a pass rusher. As a matter of fact, that he doesn't rely on pure power is the reason why he's somewhat of a liability against the run. As a pass rusher, Easley has relied on one of the more explosive first steps I've ever seen on top of moves to shed blocks.

Other than that, though, excellent post.

MrNathanDrake said:

Hightower will shine at MLB. He's been playing out of position for the past 2 seasons and still did a damn good job.

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Playing the Mike is probably what is best for Hightower as a LB. The team can hide him there in coverage and he's free to come up and make plays on the run as well as blitz the A and B gaps, if needed. I still think his best use is at the 5-tech, though.

doesntmatter1 said:

From day one I have seen Hightower and Ninko as virtually the same player. Hightower is slightly more athletic and is a better open field tackler due to his longer arms. Even though Ninko showed pretty good lb skills, coverage in particular, he still settled in at de and that is where I believe Hightower will eventually make a name for himself at.

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KontradictioN said:

Playing the Mike is probably what is best for Hightower as a LB. The team can hide him there in coverage and he's free to come up and make plays on the run as well as blitz the A and B gaps, if needed. I still think his best use is at the 5-tech, though.

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I personally think that Hightower is best suited as a 4-3 LDE who can also play Mike in base formations. Although he has more pure linear speed than Ninkovich, I still worry about his ability to man up on TEs and RBs as a SAM LB - I think Collins is much better suited to that role. I also worry a bit about his range as a 4-3 MLB, but I think that Collins and Mayo can probably compensate for that.

Joker said:

these ADHD crybaby screeds are ridiculous. The Pats suck because they go 12-4 but get killed in the playoffs by Denver. This because BB doesn't play rooks full time. No mention of the TOTAL LOSS of interior defensive all pro linemen, all pro linebackers, all pro/all world TE, rookie WR's knocked out for the season because they get killed.

No, play Buchanan and we beat Denver and win the bowl!!! It's like some space alien just landed, watched a half a quarter of football and now wants to be world leader. The preseason can't get here fast enough.

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In fact, adding to the point, losing those players on defense /required/ playing a bunch of rooks and the Denver games was at least partly the result.

[QUOTE="



Of course, what's the fun in being a fan if you don't know more than the coach. Boring just agreeing with the coach all the time. [/QUOTE]

Great...I'll stay bored watching AFC East championships and 5 trips to the Super bowl the last ten or so years and YOU keep disagreeing and find some other team that's going 6-10 but does all the "exciting" things YOU suggest.

Who said suggest anything? Or back teams going 6-10? Its been 10 years and counting since our last championship trophy. And anything less than a super bowl win is boring because it means the season ended with getting our butts kicked. I know that's spoiled and sounds bad but Toms window is closing. Besides that's what this board is for. Expressing ourselves,its a discussion. Applauding everything bill does won't make for much to discuss.

Joker said:

[QUOTE="





Great...I'll stay bored watching AFC East championships and 5 trips to the Super bowl the last ten or so years and YOU keep disagreeing and find some other team that's going 6-10 but does all the "exciting" things YOU suggest.

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doesntmatter1 said:

Now I believe expectations on Easley should be lowered. For years league wide, rookie dt usually do not have the strength of nfl veterans. I somewhat expect Chris Jones and even Vellano to be ahead of him considering they have had an entire offseason to get bigger and stronger.

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I always try to have realistic expectations regarding rookie picks, but Easley may be able to contribute more than we initially thought, particularly by the end of the year when the games are most important.

As far as Joe Vellano--I will be shocked if he makes the squad to be completely honest with you. He served his purpose to some degree last season, but the circumstances are much different, at least at the moment with better talent and significantly less injuries.

mayoclinic said:

I personally think that Hightower is best suited as a 4-3 LDE who can also play Mike in base formations. Although he has more pure linear speed than Ninkovich, I still worry about his ability to man up on TEs and RBs as a SAM LB - I think Collins is much better suited to that role. I also worry a bit about his range as a 4-3 MLB, but I think that Collins and Mayo can probably compensate for that.

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Part of me has the same concern for Hightowers lateral speed but 2 things make up for that.

1) As you said, Collins and Mayo
2) Hightowers ability to diagnose plays quickly. At Alabama he trusted his eyes a lot more than what we saw in his rookie year and even early last season. Playing him in the middle wear I believe he belongs allows him to blitz the A gaps more effectively, drop into a more natural, comfortable zone and effectively watch plays develop in front of him. He doesn't have to be a "first one to the play, sideline to sideline" Mike in this defense but rather more of a "when I arrive the play is most certainly over/smartest player on the field" type of Mike.

PatFanCraig said:

Who said suggest anything? Or back teams going 6-10? Its been 10 years and counting since our last championship trophy. And anything less than a super bowl win is boring because it means the season ended with getting our butts kicked. I know that's spoiled and sounds bad but Toms window is closing. Besides that's what this board is for. Expressing ourselves,its a discussion. Applauding everything bill does won't make for much to discuss.

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I had a great time being "bored" from 1961 to 2001. I still get excited as all hell at regular season games.THAT makes me inferior to you because you assume I "APPLAUD" everything Belichick does? That's funny, I gripe about all kinds of things to do with the Patriots like everybody else but I guess you missed that in your haste to slam my life as a Patriots fan because the Pats haven't won the Super Bowl in ten years. Well, listen to me. I will still be a Patriots fan as long as I live and if they never win another Super Bowl I will DIE a Patriots fan.

You? You can do what you want, it's a free country.

Calm down dude. I never said you agree with everything. I don't know you well enough for that assumption or even think the thought.

no way hightower will ever be great in coverage........i dont think he will ever be a great pass rusher.......i hope he has the smarts and instincts and technique to become a bruschi/ninko versatile type......and i hope that the modern pass happy nfl wont diminish that too much

just my opinion