Dont'a Hightower: Defense has 'to hold each other to a higher standard'

FOXBOROUGH — Dont’a Hightower bottom-lined it Monday afternoon.

The veteran linebacker, who returned to the field on Sunday for the first time in two weeks, was asked following meetings at Gillette Stadium how the Patriots' defense can improve.

“Obviously there are things we have to work on,” he said. “Communication is one of them. Execution is also one of them. Obviously, there are a lot of things we have to work on, communication being one of them.

“It’s just accountability. I, myself, and the other 11, 12 guys … whatever guys are out there, it’s on them to do. It’s all of us. We have to hold each other to a higher standard than that. That starts today,” he added. “We know where we have to be at and what we have to do. The time is now. There’s no more next week or any other (stuff). We have to get going.”

Hightower, who has been on the edge instead of the middle when he’s been on the field this year, no longer has the coach-to-player communication system in his helmet. Instead, that job has fallen to Kyle Van Noy, who has played in the middle for the bulk of the first four games. But even without the green dot on his helmet, Hightower says his role hasn’t changed all that dramatically.

“As far as the green dot goes, that’s just getting a call from (defensive coordinator Matt Patricia),” he said. “That’s not communication. That’s just like in practice. Communication is on the field. It’s post-snap and pre-snap. The green dot has nothing to do with communication.

“I’m not getting the call, so obviously, I’m not the quarterback (of the defense),” Hightower added. “But it’s still football. If I see something — an alert, a check or something, I’m going to do something or (Devin McCourty) is going to do something. The green dot is nothing but the green dot.”

Hightower expressed confidence that the defense can improve, saying he “absolutely” believes that things will get better. But it begins with the small things.

“That’s where it starts — the small things matter,” he said. “The big plays and all that stuff, it’s easy for guys to see that, but it’s the small things that matter: Getting a little extra pressure on the quarterback. That extra knock back on the line of scrimmage. That extra knock back on the center. That quick jam on the line of scrimmage.

“All the little things matter right now, and I think what we need to do and start doing is start is start going at it like that. Don’t take anything for granted. Appreciate every little thing and be knowledgeable of each small detail. I think we’ll start from there and see where it goes.”