Donta Hightower

While the play of him tossing Charles Clay was impressive It wasn't new to him. In college I have seen him standing still and stop and ragdoll a charging Guard or FB. You had to catch it in the game because highlights just show tackles. I knew how powerful Hightower is. He is as big as DTs just not the bulked up frame. At 270-275 I would bet he is more stout than Vellano. I said Hightower is a bust in coverage which limits him as a LB. But he actually covers OK for how big he is. He plays at 270-275 and that's trying to keep his weight down to play LB. If he actually tried to bulk up he would be 290-300 very easily. He would likely weigh over 280 if he didn't try keeping his weight at LB size because he struggles keeping his hulking DT sized frame to 270-275. If he bulked to 290-300 he would retain most of his athleticism and would be a freak at near 300 and still run at least a 4.75. Most of all he would be very stout as a 3-4 DE and do to olineman what he did to Clay. My opinion he would be quite a package of power and athleticism if he bulked up some to play 3-4 DE. He would be much ,ore stout than Vellano. Just an idea

What do you think he needs to get his body fat percentage down to in order to cover TE's better?

For what it is worth, Greg Bedard said Hightower was the best player on the field for the Pats on Sunday.

Rob0729 said:

For what it is worth, Greg Bedard said Hightower was the best player on the field for the Pats on Sunday.

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That would explain why we got blown out by Miami. If Hightower's our best player on the field then some thing's very, very wrong.

KontradictioN said:

What do you think he needs to get his body fat percentage down to in order to cover TE's better?

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He is a big dude it doesn't matter what his body fat is. If Wilfork or Arthur Jones slimmed down, do you think they could cover RBs or do you think covering RBs TEs and even WRs still wouldn't be their thing

PatFanCraig said:

He is a big dude it doesn't matter what his body fat is. If Wilfork or Arthur Jones slimmed down, do you think they could cover RBs or do you think covering RBs TEs and even WRs still wouldn't be their thing

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I think they would have a better chance if they got down to 3% body fat.

LOL It may help but would you put them on Shady McCoy like you would a prototype sized LB like Willis, Kendricks, Wagner, or cj mosley

I never realized how string Hightower was until this game...the 34 DE option mat work...I sure woukd I like hightower there more than jones

People forget, the only reason we were able to have Hightower on the field was because we played Chandler Jones at 3-4 DE. Otherwise, Jones would be at OLB and Hightower would be on the bench.

Hightower wouldn't work as a 3-4 DE. His arms are 32 1/2 inches. Jones' arms are 35 1/2 inches.

many DTs and 3-4 DEs have excelled with 32" arms like Society,Atkins. However Vrabel that is likely true that Chandler played out of position so Hightower could play unless They moved Hightower to ilb. Chandler Jones is is a long lean quick edge rusher, he is not as good at DT. Bill finally drafted a good edge rusher and he is lining him up at DT practically

PatFanCraig said:

LOL It may help but would you put them on Shady McCoy like you would a prototype sized LB like Willis, Kendricks, Wagner, or cj mosley

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In Belichick's 225 regular season games with the Pats and 2-3 "off the line" starting LBs per game, there have been a total of 11 starts by LBs under 244 pounds. Each of those 4 guys you just mentioned is between 238 and 241. In the context of a Belichick defense, you need to get rid of this idea that linebackers are supposed to be 240 pounds. That's not how he has done it, and probably not how he ever will.

VrabelJr said:

People forget, the only reason we were able to have Hightower on the field was because we played Chandler Jones at 3-4 DE. Otherwise, Jones would be at OLB and Hightower would be on the bench.

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Based solely on Sunday's game, Hightower would have deserved to be on the field over Ninkovich. On most of the nickel snaps in the game, that's exactly what happened.

I really think that we should start to try Hightower more as our 4-3 LE. He could rush from both 2 point and 3 point stance and should be able to hold the outside. I like Ninkovich. But I think that Hightower could be better.

What I liked about our 3-4 against Miami was how we used Hightower. It really played to his strengths. The problem is that it plays against so many other on our defense that I just don't see it working.

Disagree with @VrabelJr that the only reason we got Hightower on the field is because Jones played end. I think that Hightower could make the case to start over Ninkovich both as a 3-4 OLB and as a 4-3 end. If we go with this 34 then I could see Jones as right OLB and Hightower as left OLB.

I love Hightower as a 3-4 OLB. That's the positions I always thought he fit best at since he was drafted.

Marqui said:

I love Hightower as a 3-4 OLB. That's the positions I always thought he fit best at since he was drafted.

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In theory I have no problem with shoehorning talent like Jones, Hightower and Ninkovich into a 2-jobs-for-3-guys rotation at 3-4 OLB. But if we do that, the talent on the 3-4 DL is pretty limited.

Fencer said:

In theory I have no problem with shoehorning talent like Jones, Hightower and Ninkovich into a 2-jobs-for-3-guys rotation at 3-4 OLB. But if we do that, the talent on the 3-4 DL is pretty limited.

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It's better than Hightower in coverage in a 4-3.

cameron wake must have 60 inch arms.

#talking about arm length is stupid.

Marinlik said:

I really think that we should start to try Hightower more as our 4-3 LE. He could rush from both 2 point and 3 point stance and should be able to hold the outside. I like Ninkovich. But I think that Hightower could be better.

What I liked about our 3-4 against Miami was how we used Hightower. It really played to his strengths. The problem is that it plays against so many other on our defense that I just don't see it working.

Disagree with @VrabelJr that the only reason we got Hightower on the field is because Jones played end. I think that Hightower could make the case to start over Ninkovich both as a 3-4 OLB and as a 4-3 end. If we go with this 34 then I could see Jones as right OLB and Hightower as left OLB.

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I've been advocated having Hightower move down and split reps with Nink for a couple of years now. I don't think we should be aligned in the 34 at all. The LB's we have work fine for it, but we're short on DL to run it. That's the reason the Pats moved to the 4-3 in the first place. They kept trying to rotate bodies in at DE for the 3-4 like Gerard Warren and it wasn't working. Ask Shonn Greene after he pretended to go to sleep in our end zone in January of 2011. But, for the 4-3, we would have an abundance of DL. Hightower can rotate in and out with Nink, Jones, and Easley (if he lines up at the 5-tech) and do what he does best: pin his ears back and go after the quarterback. He also showed the ability to set the edge this weekend. I would love to see him line up there.

chasa said:

cameron wake must have 60 inch arms.

#talking about arm length is stupid.

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Yes because a stat that's very important to the DE position is stupid.

You know what is smart though? Blaming Brady's bad play on slapping Gronk's helmet. Reaaaal smart.

VrabelJr said:

Yes because a stat that's very important to the DE position is stupid.

You know what is smart though? Blaming Brady's bad play on slapping Gronk's helmet. Reaaaal smart.

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you know what other stat is important? Height on Qb's but Brees and Wilson seem to be doing just fine, and flutie, if i'm not mistaken, had a hell of a career.