Hightower on leveraging penalty, hailing during field goal against Arizona |
CHICAGO - Special teams took center stage in a way special teams coordinator Richard Hightower did not like in Chicago’s 20-point loss to the Arizona Cardinals when defensive lineman Gervon Dexter was called for leverage on a field goal attempt by the Cardinals, ultimately leading to a touchdown for Arizona.
“Sometimes the action is not the intent and in that moment (the) official deemed the action as leverage when a player (appeared) to be bracing himself. So, what I have to do from a coaching standpoint is I got to make sure that I coach better in that situation when we have guys that are going underneath our defenders and they’re trying to protect themselves (because) health and safety (of) our players is the most important thing to me,” Hightower said. “So, again, I just got to look at that more, which I have and I will and obviously, it’s a critical penalty in the ball game ahead of (the) two minute … We had them maybe for potentially three points and then now (a) four-point (swing) there. So, a field goal into a touchdown. Obviously, I don’t take that light and I don’t sleep well throughout the week when mistakes like that happen. But, we’re looking forward to growing and getting better from it and learning from it.” Chicago’s game against the Cardinals provided another unusual scene on special teams, especially for playing in Arizona - kicking a field goal in hail. Hightower was incredibly proud of the way his unit handled that condition from snapper Scott Daly to holder Tory Taylor to kicker Cairo Santos. Santos was the only Bear who scored against Arizona. “Obviously, the roof was open and we didn’t expect it. I mean, we always expect a little weather, but we didn’t expect it to start hailing right there at that moment of the game when we were getting ready to kick a 53-yarder. But, I can’t say enough about Tory and Cairo and Scott in that situation because Tory knew right away when it started hailing, he went right to the equipment staff and said, ‘Hey, I need my glove.’ The equipment staff was ready. They gave it to him,” Hightower said. “Cairo was poised and for Scott to come out and snap that ball like that, which is really hard to do, (especially) on a longer kick. So, Cairo did a great job in the game. I love the operation there and he’s done a great job of being consistent, being clutch and performing when we need him. So, he kicked all of those field goals last week and I can’t say enough about how well that kid is doing and how much he cares about the team.” Now, Hightower and the rest of the Bears are moving on to their home game against the New England Patriots this coming Sunday (Noon / FOX). New England was always known as a disciplined team under former head coach Bill Belichick. Hightower said that has continued on special teams under new head coach Jerod Mayo. “Got a huge challenge this week on special teams. Historically, the Patriots have always been good there and it’s really no different under Mayo,” Hightower said. “They have a really good return game. They’re covering well. So, it’ll be a good challenge for our guys and we’re excited for the challenge.”
