Patriots notebook: Dont'a Hightower defends David Harris

FOXBOROUGH — You want to know why David Harris is on the Patriots’ roster despite only playing seven defensive snaps through five games? Let Dont’a Hightower explain.

On Thursday, Hightower was asked a pair of questions about the impact of Harris on the 2017 New England defense, and he offered a spirited defense of the veteran linebacker.


“(He brings) a lot of knowledge,” Hightower explained after Thursday’s walkthrough. “When I first came into the league I watched a lot of him, and a lot of (Jerod) Mayo before. Then, when I got here and (was) still learning from Mayo, we saw David twice a year so we would always see film on him.

“It’s good to sit down with him,” Hightower added. “We sat down (Thursday) and we talked a lot about football. It’s just great knowing and seeing from a different perspective from a guy who knows and has seen so much and has played great football. To me, (he’s) one of the best linebackers that’s played in the past couple of years. The production has always been there, but he's added so much really just knowledge and a different perspective as far as the defense goes.”

Hightower was asked if Harris would make a good coach.

“Absolutely,” he nodded. “(And) not saying just linebacker coach. I’m saying like defensive coordinator-type stuff.

“If there’s one thing about David, it's that he’s a real smart linebacker. I think that guys here saw that real quick, and appreciate it. He’s helped that other (group) of guys that are coming in, so for him to come in and learn the playbook as well as (helping) the younger guys like (Elandon Roberts) and the second- and third-year guys in the secondary. It really helps to have that extra leadership in the back end.”

Pushing the pace on defense

Both Hightower and veteran safety Devin McCourty acknowledged Thursday that there was a concerted effort to play faster last week against the Bucs. But that was only part of the secret to their defensive success against Tampa Bay.

“I think that was a big part of what was going on,” Hightower said. “Last week was a lot faster and a lot more aggressive. If we were able to communicate and talk and get all of that stuff out of the way then we're able to play faster. It shouldn’t have to come to that. It should be that every play. Like I said, we're building, hopefully. It’s a little later than we'd like to but there's no time like the present.”

“I think our plan now is that it’s not just last Thursday,” McCourty said of the emphasis going forward. “It’s now, ‘This is who we’ve become for the rest of the season,’ and our coaching staff is on us about being aggressive, playing fast. I think after the Carolina game, you come out of a game like that, that’s the only response.

“(Against Tampa Bay), that was good to see guys just coming out with the mentality of we’re going to play fast, we’re going to play hard and if we’re wrong, let’s all be wrong together. And that will make us right.”

Pats add Tye, Reilly to practice squad

Tight end Will Tye became the third player who worked out earlier this week who was added to the Patriots practice squad when New England inked him to a new deal on Thursday. The 25-year-old Tye is a 6-foot-2, 262-pounder who has spent three seasons in the NFL. His best season came in 2016 when he had 48 catches for 395 yards and a touchdown. In addition, the Patriots added 29-year-old linebacker Trevor Reilly. Reilly spent time with New England on the practice squad in 2016 before being signed to the Miami practice squad in December, where he played in two games and one postseason game. The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round draft pick of the Jets in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Utah. He has played in 31 NFL games with 11 total tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and 22 special teams tackles.