Dont'a Hightower

[K Train]

Originally Posted by bhaarat316

Hightower's flaws and lack of athletic ability is hidden in that defense. Just like McClain's was. With the bigger D line in front of him, it helps him. He doesn't have to be in coverage as long, doesn't consistently face OL at second level.




Great tackler, stonewalls guys, and doesn't let tackles be broken.

Can shed blocks if its a RB, if OL gets hands on him, its over.

Is it me or is there something strange with the way he runs?

IF he goes to the steelers he will have the same exact benefits to hide his flaws...which isnt a bad thing to me, plus his skill set compliments timmons very well imo.

Keisel has become a master of the 5 tech, hood blows but heyward showed a lot of beast mode last year...he stacks up olinemen and arm tackles RBs like its no big deal. we do have some question at NT but hampton is likely to be able to play some part way into the season, steve mcclendon has done ok as a filler, ive ALWAYS loved al woods, its do or die for him he cant be raw forever, and they may bring back anthony gray. I would love to get hightower and chapman in 1 and 2.

i find it really difficult to predict what the steelers want to do this year. We have holes at guard, NT, and MLB....but also WR could be a need with wallaces situation, RB too, OLB too....so its pretty tough. They have shown considerable interest in hightower though and i think he would be a great fit and give the steelers the best LB corps in the league (by a lot actually, harrison/timmons/hightower/woodley could be legendary)

[brat316]

Look at the few other videos i posted.

He is not solid is coverage, but he is at his best blitzing. Seems better suited on the outside then inside.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by bhaarat316

Can shed blocks if its a RB, if OL gets hands on him, its over.

Can you name three other LBs in this draft that shed blocks better than Hightower? You can't, and that's a weak putdown of Hightower. Guys like Kendricks look like middle schoolers taking on o-linemen compared to Hightower.

Personally, I think he became more fluid and comfortable as last season went along. Some people forget just how serious his knee injury in 2009 was. He tore his ACL, MCL, and meniscus all in one blow. Getting back 100% to the way you were before an injury like that can take years. He clearly wasn't the same guy in 2010, and for a lot of this past season I think he was still kind of working back on how to become completely comfortable again and not play with that knee in his mind.

[jojo]

He showed tremendous improvement after his sophomore rehab in a med redshirt yr. caused by a cheap shot at his knee at Arkansas. That injury cost him a yr. & his decision to return as a sr. paid off, he was voted most improved defensive player on a national championship team that featured Barron, Upshaw, & Kirkpatrick.

He had to prove he could play at the next level & he has.

[Sloopy]

Originally Posted by Echoes

Can you name three other LBs in this draft that shed blocks better than Hightower? You can't, and that's a weak putdown of Hightower. Guys like Kendricks look like middle schoolers taking on o-linemen compared to Hightower.

Personally, I think he became more fluid and comfortable as last season went along. Some people forget just how serious his knee injury in 2009 was. He tore his ACL, MCL, and meniscus all in one blow. Getting back 100% to the way you were before an injury like that can take years. He clearly wasn't the same guy in 2010, and for a lot of this past season I think he was still kind of working back on how to become completely comfortable again and not play with that knee in his mind.

I think you guys are misunderstanding the argument here (well at least my argument).

Hightower is a 2nd round pick... that ISN'T bad for an ILB. The fact is that the only ILB who really go in round one are guys who can drop back into coverage and/or blitz the QB.

Hightower is a solid LB and I don't think that anyone (at least I don't) would disagree that this man will be a good ILB in the NFL. Unfortunately he doesn't excel in pass coverage or blitzing the QB.

He has been mocked in round one because Taze fell out of round one. I don't think that it is impossible that he goes in round one as teams may not want to miss out on him but I would consider that a reach as he is a 2nd round talent.

[Thefudge]

My room mate is a Bama fan so as a result I watched everyone of their games except for Kent State. He IMO is going to be better than Amad Brooks was as a rookie and continue his upward slope. He plays physical, he was 2 year captain IIRC and he is extremely well coached. IMO he is as polished for his role in the pros as Kuechley.

[Babylon]

Originally Posted by Thefudge

My room mate is a Bama fan so as a result I watched everyone of their games except for Kent State. He IMO is going to be better than Amad Brooks was as a rookie and continue his upward slope. He plays physical, he was 2 year captain IIRC and he is extremely well coached. IMO he is as polished for his role in the pros as Kuechley.

Not sure if you reversed the teams they were playing for that you'd say that. For me Kuechly is the better guy in pass coverage for todays cover 2 defenses, Hightower better at getting to the QB.

Seattle as has been mentioned with both these guys i think would lean towards Hightower. They drafted Carpenter out of Bama much too early and wouldnt surprise me if they did it again.

[Mr. Goosemahn]

The thing with Hightower is that if he plays in a 3-4 defense, he could play all three downs if used right. As others have said, he's a great blitzer, so if you're going to blitz on a passing down there's no need to take him out of the game, keep him in there and have him blitz from either inside or outside.

If the Steelers were to take him, it'd be an ideal situation, IMO. Inside on first two downs, focusing on the run (which he is pretty good at) and then blitz on third, together with Harrison and Woodley.

I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't too high on him because he just seemed slow to the ball to me, but he's grown on me as of late.