donta hightower

It’s surprising how Hightower’s rookie year went virtually unnoticed. He immediately added toughness, athleticism and playmaking ability to New England’s front seven. Hightower also got better as the year went on. He started 13 games for the Patriots and had seven games with at least five tackles. Hightower was unusually steady for a rookie linebacker. He didn’t make many mental errors, and also showed a knack for blitzing, as evidenced by his four sacks. Another year under Bill Belichick’s tutelage will only make Hightower a bigger force. Playing next to linebacker Jerod Mayo and behind defensive lineman Vince Wilfork will only make Hightower a better player in Year 2.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/its-surprising-how-hightowers-rookie-year-went/

The biggest thing is [Hightower] knows the defense, and we expect him to,” safety Devin McCourty said. “I don’t even look at him like a rookie anymore. When he’s on the field, you talk to him just like he’s a veteran linebacker out there. He really has, I think, turned into a veteran on this defense.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-donta-hightower/

“I can’t speak for (Jerod) Mayo and Spikes, but from my standpoint, I’ve just got to do what I was coached,” Hightower said. “I made one mistake and tried to correct it on different techniques and things that didn’t work that I should have known wouldn’t work. But after talking to (linebackers) coach (Pepper) Johnson and looking up to Mayo and Spikes, them talking to me on the sideline and all through this week, they’ve been in my corner. “I definitely feel like this week was a big improvement for me. Whenever I have those two guys and Pepper Johnson in my corner, I can only go up. Those guys have really helped me a lot this week.”

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I definitely feel honored to be able to wear this number,” Hightower said. “I haven’t spoken to Tedy yet about it, but I’ve read that he didn’t want it to be retired and he hoped another linebacker would come in and be able to wear this number and be able to play as well. Hopefully I’ll be able to live up to the hype of that.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/i-definitely-feel-honored-to-be-able-to-wear-this/

“I’m going with the same mindset that I always have, which is to go in and be dominant, and be accountable to my teammates, and do what I have to do get off the field and whatever I have to do to get the victory,” Hightower said.

“It’s football and I’m a student of the game,” Hightower said. “It’s something I’m very passionate about, so each day I wake up and I’m blessed to be able to do something I love and to be able to make a living off of it. Football is my life, so I’m definitely glad that I’m blessed to be where I’m at.”

https://www.patspropaganda.com/im-going-with-the-same-mindset-that-i-always/

Dont’a Hightower was pegged as a do-almost-anything linebacker when the Patriots drafted him in April, including performing as a blitzer and pass defender. He looked comfortable doing both, nearly de-cleating running back Brandon Bolden on a re-route, and timing up a blitz as if he knew the offense’s snap count.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/donta-hightower-was-pegged-as-a/

Already, word inside Gillette Stadium is that Hightower is showcasing a veteran’s know-how and a let’s-get-to-work attitude. That’s no surprise. He comes to New England from Alabama, where former Bill Belichick assistant Nick Saban is the coach, and has already said it has made the transition smoother than it might have been elsewhere. Hightower fits in any defensive scheme, and Belichick has already compared his football smarts to Mayo’s, and his versatility to Mike Vrabel’s. When Belichick talks like that, as he did on SiriusXM NFL Radio in April, you know he’s excited about the possibilities.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/already-word-inside-gillette-stadium-is-that/