IC I'm FAR from an expert at any of this but what I do know is that Hightower started for Nick Saban as a freshman and ultimately captained one of the best defenses in the history of college football this past season.

Hightower is at his best playing downhill similar to former Steeler ILB's Kendrell Bell and Levon Kirkland...who could also cover before ballooning up to 280. Most games I watched, Hightower moved down to a LDE position and rushed the passer on 3rd down or simply barrelled through the middle the way Bell used to do. Regardless, Hightower was a 3 down player for Saban's 3-4 defense which is a close to an NFL defense that there is. He and the rest of the Bama front 7 completely shut down LSU's vaunted rushing attack in the Natl title game.

BUT to your point IC, against while a very high scoring Arkansas team that was passing all over the yard in the 2nd half playing catch up you can see Hightower in the youtube video below in coverage against backs and chasing down wrs. I'm not saying it's Hightowers strong suit but he's done it. Bama had an elite secondary to be truthful they didn't really need him in coverage anyway.

I know you're not a fan IC but I admit to being blind by my SEC loyalty being friends with Bama fans. I like the kid and I hope he's a Steeler.

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"You seem angry, Drama."
"I've always been, Billy. Only now, I'm drunk too."

I know Lawrence Timmons is supposed to be able to do all of those things, but how well does he really do them? He's been beaten by back and TE's plenty.

Get Timmons into the role that I believe suits him best in the Mack spot and draft yourself some Mr Zach Brown down the line a bit....Jon Martin or Zeb Sanders have to be considered realistic possibilities IMO

On a separate thought process I also believe that with the run on big Dlinemen that will take place in RD1 that you will see the likes of Upshaw and Kuechly falling to within 1.24 range

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They are a bunch of fuckers

no, but neither can Timmons or any other ILB.

What Hightower CAN do is throw offensive linemen around like ragdolls and annihilate the middle of the offensive line on a fire x

we're doing in reverse @ ILB what we used to do at CB. We're forgetting their primary purpose

for the longest time, we had a bunch of tackling CBs that couldn't cover. Now we're trying to get coverage LBs who can't tackle.

newsflash. Snack is gone. Timmons can't get off a block from a TE without getting washed out of a play. We are going to get ANNIHILATED up the middle next season if we don't put some beef in the middle of that defense. For the love of Christ, Chief, and chocolate chip cookies, we need to do SOMETHING to maximize our borderline wasted $50 million and 1.15 investment. Hightower is that guy.

We already know that Tomlin doesn't trust Timmons to run the defense. Saban trusted Hightower to run his defense. Saban didn't take him off the field, and we all saw how woefully pathetic and overmatched Timmons was when he went outside. hightower immediately upgrades 3 positions

1. SILB
2. WILB (by being a "mobile space eater" to defeat blockers for our little bonus baby)
3. backup OLB for when Woodley or Harrison go down

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Sarge, that's why I wouldn't be shocked if they think of Ivy or even Sylvester as a fallback position. Those guys don't have the beef Hightower has... but I think they could play downhill and enhance Timmons' ability to use his skills.

It's entirely possible that one of those guys grows into that role on this D.

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"Joe Flacco is the best QB in football."-- Ray Rice

thanks for the responses guys

I guess my take is I'm less worried about a LB ragdolling OG's anymore since its not 1985 any longer

I think most teams are much less worried about giving up a 3 yard run on 1st down than a 12 yard swing pass to a RB

you can play run defense with gap control and various schematic things. You can't play man coverage with someone that can't play man coverage

Not sure if Hightower can do it, but if he can't play 3 downs, he shouldn't be the pick in R1

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Colbert on the #Steelers RB situation: "Where we were in running game last year was indicative in the talent at the position.''

I'd take Isaiah Pead just for his name.

At least we'd get a good laugh out of a crucial fumble.

I'll say this, with a name like that, he's probably a tough son of a bitch.

It's becoming as obvious as the sun rising in the East that 1.24 is Hightower.

I do NOT want a S in the second round unless some obvious BPA situation. I am happy with Troy and Clark and the backups for now.

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Hightower seems to be the consensus pick at #24, that means he'll go earlier

If he's gone I think the name you'll hear will be Glenn.

1. LG Glenn
2.ILB R. Lewis
3.RG B. Brooks
4.RB R. Hillman
5.NT Hicks
6a S Winston Guy Jr.
6b.CB T Gipson
7.LB K Williams

ILB R. Lewis? isn't he like 200 years old and already playing for an nfl team?

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This post consists solely of the opinions of the author, and should in no way, shape or form be interpreted as an assertion of fact.