Jerod Mayo is trying to create a pipeline.
He wants Dont’a Hightower to follow in his footsteps into coaching. The New England Patriots linebacker room has produced a few NFL and college coaches – notably Mayo, who is New England’s inside linebackers coach, and Mike Vrabel, the head coach of the Tennessee Titans. Mayo has little doubt that Hightower could someday make the transition.
“Hightower is one of our smartest guys on the field, whether you’re talking offense, defense or special teams,” Mayo told Patriots Wire on Monday. “He knows the game of football. Anytime he’s out there, he’s playing fast. You think about the depth and the versatility of all our guys that can play outside and inside. We can definitely give him a break on some of these snaps. So when he’s out there, he can play 100%.”
He added: “I’m already in his ear about coaching. If anyone can do it, it’s Hightower. He knows the X’s and O’s. He was at Alabama. He knows the scheme — the 3-4 spacing. He an overall just smart guy. He’s a leader on and off the field.”
Mayo’s relationship with Hightower has evolved since they were teammates in 2015. There seems to be a level of mentorship and mutual respect.
“We’re always talking X’s and O’s, kind of like how I did with Matty P (former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia). He was my coach,” Mayo said. “(Hightower) is always asking questions and I appreciate that. He’s an overall smart guy and a hard worker.”
What’s Hightower’s leadership style like?
“He’s not really a big rah-rah guy,” Mayo said. “He leads through his actions. Every day he’s working on his craft, working on the fundamentals. … The younger guys see that, and they try to emulate him.”
Hightower is a captain and he relays the play call in the huddle. He’s in the middle of one of the best defenses in history, which frankly looks smarter and more versatile than any defense of Bill Belichick’s past. And perhaps that’s thanks, in part, to Hightower, who has led the linebackers (a.k.a. The Boogeymen) to significant success as run defenders, pass-rushers and in coverage.
