Hightower’s assignment was to get the defense in place, which in accordance with Bill Belichick and coordinator Matt Patricia’s game plan meant disguising their intentions every down.
He was the quarterback, creating all the deception at the line of scrimmage so Manning couldn’t tell where the third and fourth rushers were coming from, particularly on passing downs.
Given how well the defense played during the Pats’ 43-21 rout, and how much Manning struggled, it was a masterful job by the third-year player, who has taken over the role of play-caller with the season-ending injury to linebacker Jerod Mayo.
“I think he’s taken full responsibility for everything,” safety Devin McCourty said of Hightower yesterday. “It’s kind of his defense now just as far as being confident out there with everything he has in his back pocket as far as making calls, game plan stuff. . . . I think he’s got valuable experience when he’s not out there with Mayo.”
Hightower said it couldn’t have gone any better after a tough week trying to get everyone on the same page.
“To be able to do it as well as we did it . . . the first day of practice was a little shaky because it demanded so much more communication,” he said. “But we came out and did what we wanted to do. We gave him all those different looks. It definitely was a team effort all the way around from the D-line to the secondary. Everybody just played really well and understood the game plan to the best.”
Hightower acknowledged that if he was given the same assignment last year, he might not have been able to pull it off. He’s just so much more comfortable in the role. He said it’s the best he’s felt with the defense.
“Last year was a little overwhelming,” he admitted. “I wasn’t a young guy, but second year, with this complex and complicated defense, making the calls, trying to get everyone lined up, it was tough. But this year, since I’ve had that experience, it’s a lot easier.”
