New England Patriots: Will the real Dont’a Hightower please show up
New England Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower has been a shell of himself through the first three weeks of the season. It’s time for him to get back to his All-Pro ways.
To say the New England Patriots defense has been a disappointment the last couple of weeks would be an understatement. What’s more concerning is that one of the team’s best defensive players has been one of their weakest.
First off, Patriots fans know what kind of value Dont’a Hightower adds to the team when he is healthy and going full speed. Not only is he one of the more consistent players on defense, he is a big-play game changer who defines the kind of player Bill Belichick yearns.
The only downside to Hightower is his health issues which may be influencing his lack of effectiveness so far this season.
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Although the team’s defensive performance has put Hightower’s play into the spotlight, his lack of speed on the field has highlighted a possible problem that may limit the Alabama alum from being the player we all know him to be.
If in face he has lost a step due to some chronic issue, it may be time to re-define his role and find a spot where he could be most effective. That could be playing along the defensive line as a defensive end. Kind of like a Willie McGinest role, where he can step back into coverage every now and then.
That is, however, if he has really lost a step or is just building himself back after missing half of the 2017 NFL season.
That would be the hope. Former New England Patriots executive Mike Lombardi feels it’s the former.
Appearing on The Ringer’s GM Street podcast, Lombardi shared his observations about what is ailing the Patriots this season. Dont’a Hightower is one of the topics he addressed:
"“I think what new England needs to do is top playing [Dont’a] Hightower at linebacker and just make him a defensive end because when he’s at linebacker they are really slow. They need to play him down at defensive end. Just make him a nickel rusher. Put his hand in the dirt and make him a nickel rusher because that is the only thing they are going to be able to get out of him. They are not going to be able to get space plays and they have to get faster guys on the field on defense.”"
Although a big harsh, Lombardi may be onto something if in fact Dont’a Hightower has slowed down. The part where I disagree is just making him a nickel rusher because that limits how much he would be on the field.
Another problem is that the Patriots would have to find linebackers to fill that void. With rookie Ja’Whaun Bentley going on IR, it is more difficult to move Hightower to the kind of role Lombardi is talking about.
Whatever the team ends up doing with Dont’a Hightower (short of trading him) he has to find a way to be eruptive. This team need the Hightower we all have come rely on (when healthy) to show up and be effective in whatever role.
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When that happens, perhaps the New England Patriots defense will start to show some improvement on all levels of the field. In summary, it just may start with Dont’a Hightower in a difference way than we are all used to.