Game Day Thread Official Pre Game Thread- Pats @ Dolphins

[Patjew]

I’m saying he played 9 but the style of play caused him to take the beating of 15 years compared to a typical lb.

Aha… you shouldn’t have said that because I actually believed it was 15. I need to get a better calendar.

So, those 9 years went by fast!

 

[patfanken]

I think Hightower is routinely underrated in the league. College champion and 3 time NFL champion. Superman goal line stop in the Seahawks Superbowl and they don't come back in the Falcons Superbowl unless he comes up ultra clutch with the Matt Ryan strip fumble at exactly the right time. Hightower is on my all time Patriots list. The guy is so good even when his total stats aren't eye popping.

if they need to upgrade then get rid of crappy sieve Bentley. The vets have been playing well.

I'm not so sure about that. I've been a huge fan of Hightower over the years. But I've felt very disappointed with his performance this year. There have been too many games where he has seemed to disappear. For a guy who can play in the middle or on the edge you'd think he'd be around the ball all the time....and he hasn't. When he came back lighter and hopefully quicker I thought he'd have a big year. He hasn't.

I'm not sure what his contract situation is beyond this seasson, but he's certainly NOT playing at $10MM level. I'm not sure he's playing at a 2 million doller level. It could be that he's done. Ten years is a long time to be hanging your head against that wall. OR maybe he will show us another year of his playoff magic. Hope is a wonderful thing. Hopefully McGrone and Perkins can resupply our aging LB corps next season.

I'm guessing Hightower and Collinx won't be on the team next season. KVN should be back as he's had a decent year thus far.

 

[Jim Beankie]

Dolphins can’t run the ball.

That's what a lot of people were saying coming into the last Dolphins game last year (where they were pretty much close to last in rushing also), but surprise surprise 250 yds.

 

[Jim Beankie]

I’m saying he played 9 but the style of play caused him to take the beating of 15 years compared to a typical lb.

*8 years (with Covid opt-out), but with 16 playoff games, there's your 9 in spirit.

Edit: I was wrong - massive brain fart.

 

[patfanken]

Bentley should be a reserve. I’d love to see Bill get a true East West LB.

That is who they hope they got when they drafted McGrone. IIRC he's back practicing with the team, but I doubt we will see him this.year. But hopefully with a full off season and TC we will get that "true East West LB".

 

[Ring 6]

*8 years (with Covid opt-out), but with 16 playoff games, there's your 9 in spirit.

No this is his 9th season playing. 2012-2019 = 8. This year is 9.

 

[Mack Herron]

 

[patfanken]

let's not forget that along with those 2 TD passes, he also had a couple of drops. Still a work in progress.

 

[Ring 6]

I'm not so sure about that. I've been a huge fan of Hightower over the years. But I've felt very disappointed with his performance this year. There have been too many games where he has seemed to disappear. For a guy who can play in the middle or on the edge you'd think he'd be around the ball all the time....and he hasn't. When he came back lighter and hopefully quicker I thought he'd have a big year. He hasn't.

I'm not sure what his contract situation is beyond this seasson, but he's certainly NOT playing at $10MM level. I'm not sure he's playing at a 2 million doller level. It could be that he's done. Ten years is a long time to be hanging your head against that wall. OR maybe he will show us another year of his playoff magic. Hope is a wonderful thing. Hopefully McGrone and Perkins can resupply our aging LB corps next season.

I'm guessing Hightower and Collinx won't be on the team next season. KVN should be back as he's had a decent year thus far.

Hightower may be the most underrated Patriot of the BB era. A guy who can be as effective at DE as Mike and who plays everything in between at a star level. His versatility and usage is as legendary as it is overlooked. If Belichick had made him a 34 OLB day 1 and left him there he would be considered Von Miller. If he made him a 43 MLB in a system that keeps blockers off him he’d be Urlacher. Instead BB used all of his attributes and built a scheme around all of the things having a Hightower allows you to do.
We invented the nickel base and having Hightower in the middle is mostly how it worked.
It’s a shame he doesn’t get the appreciation he earned

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

Hightower may be the most underrated Patriot of the BB era. A guy who can be as effective at DE as Mike and who plays everything in between at a star level. His versatility and usage is as legendary as it is overlooked. If Belichick had made him a 34 OLB day 1 and left him there he would be considered Von Miller. If he made him a 43 MLB in a system that keeps blockers off him he’d be Urlacher. Instead BB used all of his attributes and built a scheme around all of the things having a Hightower allows you to do.
We invented the nickel base and having Hightower in the middle is mostly how it worked.
It’s a shame he doesn’t get the appreciation he earned

i agree with most your part except your last sentence. The issues posters are talking about are his current performances after the opt out season he just looks done to me. I hope if he retires he gets some coaching job or whatever job within the pats

 

[PScottman]

Weird....I was wondering if they would....no idea why though

Social distancing.

 

[TheRainMaker]

That's what a lot of people were saying coming into the last Dolphins game last year (where they were pretty much close to last in rushing also), but surprise surprise 250 yds.

Yup, I remember that.

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

Yup, I remember that.

Unfortunately*

 

[PScottman]

I'm not so sure about that. I've been a huge fan of Hightower over the years. But I've felt very disappointed with his performance this year. There have been too many games where he has seemed to disappear. For a guy who can play in the middle or on the edge you'd think he'd be around the ball all the time....and he hasn't. When he came back lighter and hopefully quicker I thought he'd have a big year. He hasn't.

I'm not sure what his contract situation is beyond this seasson, but he's certainly NOT playing at $10MM level. I'm not sure he's playing at a 2 million doller level. It could be that he's done. Ten years is a long time to be hanging your head against that wall. OR maybe he will show us another year of his playoff magic. Hope is a wonderful thing. Hopefully McGrone and Perkins can resupply our aging LB corps next season.

I'm guessing Hightower and Collinx won't be on the team next season. KVN should be back as he's had a decent year thus far.

The crux of the discussion is probably whether the Patriots approach to LBs stays the same (larger/stonger vs lighter/quicker).

They got High with the 25th pick...about similar to where they likely pick this year so that's a definitive possibility to try and snatch someone with similar measureables as those level attributes all in one dude (large, strong and fast) drop precipitously after the first round.

But there's also a FS hole (although I could really see them sliding either Mills or Williams there), a likely #1 CB hole (hope springs eternal but someone's gonna give JCJ $22m per), and for many here at least a #1 WR hole.

Can't fill em all with one pick.

 

[Patjew]

If that’s the case then why would they deactivate Harry last week?

I can’t wait to see him tomorrow for his “great blocking.”

 

[DropKickFlutie]

I'm not so sure about that. I've been a huge fan of Hightower over the years. But I've felt very disappointed with his performance this year. There have been too many games where he has seemed to disappear. For a guy who can play in the middle or on the edge you'd think he'd be around the ball all the time....and he hasn't. When he came back lighter and hopefully quicker I thought he'd have a big year. He hasn't.

I'm not sure what his contract situation is beyond this seasson, but he's certainly NOT playing at $10MM level. I'm not sure he's playing at a 2 million doller level. It could be that he's done. Ten years is a long time to be hanging your head against that wall. OR maybe he will show us another year of his playoff magic. Hope is a wonderful thing. Hopefully McGrone and Perkins can resupply our aging LB corps next season.

I'm guessing Hightower and Collinx won't be on the team next season. KVN should be back as he's had a decent year thus far.

I hear ya. Open to specific film if someone has it but I've been assigning most of the crappy run defense blame on Godchaux and Bentley. I've seen way too many times Bentley whiffed entirely or Godchaux got destroyed.

I think the team has an interesting situation where the LB vets are pretty good but Bentley is terrible and expensive Godchaux is not the answer. I actually think the best LB grouping now is Judon and Van Not outside, with Collins and Hightower both inside.

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

The crux of the discussion is probably whether the Patriots approach to LBs stays the same (larger/stonger vs lighter/quicker).

They got High with the 25th pick...about similar to where they likely pick this year so that's a definitive possibility to try and snatch someone with similar measureables as those level attributes all in one dude (large, strong and fast) drop precipitously after the first round.

But there's also a FS hole (although I could really see them sliding either Mills or Williams there), a likely #1 CB hole (hope springs eternal but someone's gonna give JCJ $22m per), and for many here at least a #1 WR hole.

Can't fill em all with one pick.

Honest Question. What makes you think Williams could replace Dmc at FS? He isn't even a lock on the roster, next season as well imo

 

[Hyped]

IMO, this is the end of the line for:

James White, Hoyer, Hightower, McCourty, Guy, Collins, and Slater.

Some due to retirement...others due to $$$/performance nexuses.

Man, these guys have given us a lot of great football.....I am gonna need a new jersey next year and I think Shaq Mason would be the longest tenured Patriot remaining after all of the above guys...

 

[Ross12]

It might just be a game plan thing. Might be a more run-focused week so they don't feel they need an Agholor backup, and if they unexpectedly do, they'll just roll the dice with Harry, who they'll already be using as a blocker.

Just a guess though.

 

[Ross12]

IMO, this is the end of the line for:

James White, Hoyer, Hightower, McCourty, Guy, Collins, and Slater.

Some due to retirement...others due to $$$/performance nexuses.

Man, these guys have given us a lot of great football.....I am gonna need a new jersey next year and I think Shaq Mason would be the longest tenured Patriot remaining after all of the above guys...

Kind of hoping White comes back. I expected him to leave last year but the market was messed up so it made sense for him to stay another year. Then he gets hurt. What team is gonna give him a payday coming off an injury? His best bet might be another 1-year deal in NE, though in 2023 free agency he'll be 31...