If the Patriots’ Tuesday practice showcased anything, it was that their linebackers are not to be overlooked. In the full-padded practice, the linebacking trio of Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, and Dont’a Hightower made it known that their SEC style of play is coming north.
After a season that was constantly in flux due to injury and inconsistency, a rotating door opened at linebacker. Mayo notched the most starts with 13, followed by Spikes and Gary Guyton (now with Miami) with six, and Dane Fletcher with five. Tracy White, Jeff Tarpinian, and Niko Koutouvides all started one game, respectively.
Rob Ninkovich was the sole 16-game starter last season but is moving from linebacker to defensive end for New England’s now predominant 4-3 alignment.
To help with position gain its footing, the organization added veteran Bobby Carpenter and rookie Dont’a Hightower.
A former first-round pick, Carpenter signed with New England early in the offseason and has quickly shown his versatility and desire. When asked about playing alongside Mayo, Carpenter noted, “From afar I’ve always admired his game, but you know he’s a very intelligent player and I’ve picked up a lot from him. [He’s] a highly competitive guy and I look forward to playing with him.”
Carpenter wasn’t the only person noting Mayo’s presence. First-year defensive coordinator Matt Patricia also spoke of the linebacker in typical New England form, “Jerod is an excellent player. He’s a great role model for our team. He’s a leader of our team. But like everybody, he’s out here just trying to improve every day and make himself better and obviously we’re all just trying to make this team better.”
Hightower, a former Alabama star, comes from a pro-style defense run by Nick Saban, a former Bill Belichick assistant. With Hightower presumably starting in 2012, he rounds out a linebacking corps loaded with SEC talent — as Mayo is a former Tennessee Volunteer and Spikes a former Florida Gator. And that SEC tenacity was on display Tuesday as all three lined up together with the first team defense.
Because of the shift from 3-4 alignment to 4-3, Mayo moves to the weak side, which allows him to use his athletic ability more and potentially silence the critics who cite him as consistent (he’s led the team in tackles the past four years) yet not a playmaker.
The move is already leading to big plays in practice. During a goal line drill, Tom Brady handed the ball to second-year back Stevan Ridley who, after shimmying past the first few defenders bounced the ball outside to the left pylon. With the defense coming in, Ridley dove over the top only to be met by an airborne Jerod Mayo. In a cracking hit, Ridley was stopped just shy of the goal line.
With Mayo now shifted outside, that leaves the middle to be manned by Spikes. Just as he played at Florida, Spikes has flown around the field and made some big hits along the way (just ask now-teammate Jake Ballard). But for all the aggressiveness and energy he brings to the field, Spikes has had trouble staying on it as a knee injury cost him eight games last season and he was suspended for four games as a rookie in 2010.
Now seemingly recovered and motivated, Spikes has been bringing that high motor and instinctive style of play to the practice field.
During a full 11-on-11 drill, Spikes read a play from beginning to end. Brady, checked down a pass to Ridley on the left side and as he went to turn up the field, was met by a full speed Spikes who blew him up in the backfield.
Hightower, or as onlooking fans have marveled “a heat seeking missile,” has been a player of focus this camp. Aside from being a rookie and front-runner for a starting spot, the Patriots traded up in the first round to get him, usually a very un-Patriot thing to do in April.
Coach Belichick noted the ability of Hightower and his role in New England. “Dont’a obviously comes from a real good program. He’s done a lot of different things, did a lot of different things at Alabama. He played primarily, a little bit outside, and played some defensive end in some of their nickel four-man line things,” Belichick said.
And when asked about how quickly they would bring him along in regards to different positions in his rookie season, Belichick continued to say, “He’s a smart kid and he definitely understands football and football concepts — that comes quickly to him so that’s a good thing. It just instinctually comes to him, so that can cover up for maybe not knowing exactly precisely what the exact assignment is but just being able to figure it out.”
Hightower has consistently been a force in the backfield during practice and has been showing the New England fans how SEC football is played. The Southeastern Conference is lauded as the premier conference in college football for their speed, strength, and tenacity, and Hightower is SEC football incarnate, leaving fans giddy for the season to start.
In practice on Tuesday, this three-headed monster made it clear — this is a new season, a new unit, and a new defense.
By Nathan Rickard
