FOXBOROUGH -- This will be Dont'a Hightower's ninth season with the Patriots and through a week-plus of training camp practices, one thing is already standing out to him.
The energy in the linebackers room.
“A big swift in generations than in the past," Hightower said Friday following the in-stadium practice. "I think the youngest guy just turned 21 — Cam [McGrone]. Just to hear him say that, I was like, ‘What?’ But, it’s a great room. We have great energy. We have a lot of great leaders. Great vibes in that room. The guys in that room come to work. With some of the older guys and even some of the guys who don’t necessarily know the system as well as me or Kyle [Van Noy], or [Ja'Whaun] Bentley, but the room is great because guys want to learn. It’s not dull, it’s not boring. [Jerod] Mayo does a great job of keeping everyone on their toes.
"It’s one of the more — I would say the room has more energy than in year’s past that I have been around.”
Hightower is the leader of the group, but there's a good amount of experience to go along with second-year player Josh Uche, who has had a great spring, and then newcomer Matt Judon, who seems to be fitting in nicely with his new team.
Clearly, it's a talented front-seven and a talented defense overall, which has Hightower excited for what could be.
“I am," he said. "I think, obviously I feel like we have the right pieces, obviously, with Bill [Belichick] bringing in the guys that he brought back and the way he drafted and stuff. The pieces have been set up for us. It’s really up to us to go out and execute and build that chemistry and that camaraderie and all that good stuff.
"I am excited to be back. I am excited to play with the guys that I have been playing with. It’s been a different journey, but it’s been a fun journey. Like I said before, whether it’s in the linebackers room or the defense, I just feel like this group — there’s a lot of competition and a lot of energy. No matter what it is, whether it’s corn hole, or we’re out here running sprints, a lot of guys are competing. A lot of guys are competing and showing a lot of energy.”
The Patriots are off Saturday before returning to the practice field for another day of training camp Sunday.
