Pats Will Depend On Jones, Hightower Making Jump In Year 2

[PatsFans.com Article]

Pats Will Depend On Jones, Hightower Making Jump In Year 2
By: Steve Balestrieri

Through the first 10 games 6 sacks, 15 hurries, 12 knockdowns, 33 total pressures, and 7 runs for a loss....

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[Rob0729]

If Jones didn't get hurt, he would have likely been the DROY or at least a strong candidate for it. I hope he is spending his offseason improving his rushing skills a bit because, although a lot more versatile than advertised as a draft prospect, he still was somewhat limited on his pass rush repertoire. He basically got to the passer on skill and power alone much of the time. A bit more polish and he could be a dominant pass rusher.

 

[NEPettyOfficer72]

Yes, Chandler Jones was easily headed to 10 sacks if he did not get hurt and with a year under his belt, improved health in addition to honing in on his pass rush skills during the off season, even perhaps as a standing-up edge end guy as well we could have two superstars .. that already have superstar potential. The same thing can be said about Don'ta Hightower, although I think it will take a little longer with him.

 

[NewFeep]

I'm not in the least bit worried about either Jones or Hightower having good second years........... Lemme see what Bequette can do after a essentially a red-shirt year!

 

[tonyto3690]

Chandler is a future regular at pro-bowl. Wouldn't surprise to see him become an All Pro. Stud.

Hightower I'm not nearly as high on. I think he'll top out as a good starter. Not a liability by any means, but he really didn't make any sense to me as a pick. If we were playing 34 and didn't have Spikes I would have loved the pick, but with Spikes and Mayo AND playing 43 it really doesn't make sense to have 3 ILB playing LB in a 43. Mayo can pass a 43 LB but Spikes really can't and Hightower isn't much better a fit.

Hope he comes into camp 20 pounds lighter at around 250 with some more speed but I'd be surprised.

 

[ausbacker]

Chandler is a future regular at pro-bowl. Wouldn't surprise to see him become an All Pro. Stud.

Hightower I'm not nearly as high on. I think he'll top out as a good starter. Not a liability by any means, but he really didn't make any sense to me as a pick. If we were playing 34 and didn't have Spikes I would have loved the pick, but with Spikes and Mayo AND playing 43 it really doesn't make sense to have 3 ILB playing LB in a 43. Mayo can pass a 43 LB but Spikes really can't and Hightower isn't much better a fit.

Hope he comes into camp 20 pounds lighter at around 250 with some more speed but I'd be surprised.

It's quite amazing that I'm almost of the opposite side on every opinion you put forward. I happen to think that Jones is going to be a very good player but Hightower is going to be a special player. As the season progressed, he started to show those signs.

 

[Shockt327]

Hightower and Ninkovich need to swap positions. Nink needs to be a LB; he can take on the TE and do a much better job in coverage. But, Hightower is more physical, can hold his ground; so I really think he's a tweener who can rush the passer too. I want him at DE.

 

[Whorod]

I think Hightower can be even better than Chandler. He just needs to find his position in this defense. Guy has silly strength.

 

[tonyto3690]

It's quite amazing that I'm almost of the opposite side on every opinion you put forward. I happen to think that Jones is going to be a very good player but Hightower is going to be a special player. As the season progressed, he started to show those signs.

I think he'll be good, but in the 43 scheme he is extremely limited in how good he'll be. I think he'd be a monster as a 34 ILB, but that's obviously not what we're running.

He got benched in non base-sets in favor of Spikes in the playoffs. That tells me all I need to know about where he's at and his potential as a 43 LB.

 

[Nunchucks]

Chandler is a future regular at pro-bowl. Wouldn't surprise to see him become an All Pro. Stud.

Hightower I'm not nearly as high on. I think he'll top out as a good starter. Not a liability by any means, but he really didn't make any sense to me as a pick. If we were playing 34 and didn't have Spikes I would have loved the pick, but with Spikes and Mayo AND playing 43 it really doesn't make sense to have 3 ILB playing LB in a 43. Mayo can pass a 43 LB but Spikes really can't and Hightower isn't much better a fit.

Hope he comes into camp 20 pounds lighter at around 250 with some more speed but I'd be surprised.

Hightower could be Spikes replacement and the Patriots pick up somebody else to play OLB. Heck maybe it is Ninkovich, Hightower and Mayo as the starting 3 LBs and Spikes walks. I ain't thrilled with the idea, Spikes is very good at what he does, but he is also limited.