Even during training camp this year, [Dont'a] Hightower was open about preferring to have the play-calling duties shifted elsewhere. If the job of an NFL linebacker wasn’t hard enough ‒ with the constant chasing down of ball carriers, shadowing of tight ends and backs in coverage and pressuring quarterbacks ‒ adding in the duties of the defensive signal caller only complicates matters.
The defensive signal caller is responsible for much more than simply relaying the defensive call from the sideline to his teammates. Much like a quarterback, the man with the green dot will engage in a pre-snap game of chess, making sure all the pieces in front of him are in the correct places (e.g., setting the defensive alignment) as well as communicating with the secondary. Using film study and opponent tendencies to his advantage, he must be able to adjust the defensive front or line stunt, or call a blitz on the fly based on particular offensive formations and alignments. In addition, he has to be able to decipher and react to any pre-snap motion and/or suspected audibles that may have placed the defense in a vulnerable spot (e.g., a motioning tight end may force change in coverage, linebacker progressions, and/or pass rush lanes).
Now, imagine doing all the above within 25 seconds (and most of the pre-snap adjustments/reactions happen in the last 12 seconds) and top that off with the actual down to be played once the ball is snapped. It’s easy to see why a then-second-year player had his share of struggles.
This year’s transition to the middle has been a slightly different story. Continue Reading.
Once again, Dont'a Hightower is back in the middle of the defense after replacing Jerod Mayo as the signal caller. After struggling in the same role at times a year ago, how has the linebacker feared with the transition so far this season? Click here to find out.