Dont’a Hightower Becoming a Dominant Chess Piece for Patriots Defense

September 24, 2014   ·   James Christensen   ·   Jump to comments


In the black and white game of chess, placing your most powerful pieces in the middle of the board—with adequate protection, of course—leads to success. A piece like Dont'a Hightower has been able to strike to all areas of the board. He has taken the fight to the other side, attacking the opposing material with reckless abandon. He also is in position to retreat to protect his own territory.
In short, Hightower has been a nightmare not just for the black and white of the Oakland Raiders, but the purple and gold of the Minnesota Vikings and the teal and orange of the Miami Dolphins. Don't expect opposing offenses to wake up anytime soon if Hightower continues to play at an All-Pro level.
If you think that Hightower as an All-Pro might be overselling the 2012 first-round pick, you may be surprised. Hightower is the top-rated player on the Patriots defense, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and takes the top spot in their inside linebacke...

Read Complete Article at Bleacher Report - NFL
Article is property of BleacherReport.com