PATRIOTSFANINPA

I looked at the stats of both starting Cornerbacks and it really seems that Butler has not done that much worse than a CB that many are praising in McCourty.

McCourty has allowed 23 of 35 passes to be completed against him and he has given up 238 Yards

Butler has allowed 26 of 35 passes to be completed against him and he has given up 253 Yards

Is this really that much of a difference that Butler is getting brutalized by Pats fans and McCourty praised for doing well?

I don't understand it,Is there an intangible that Butler is doing that makes him the brunt of the wrath of Pats fans? - as far as pass completions of thier man to man coverage,its a close call from what I see stats wise.

What has McCourty done that brings him to a higher level of satisfaction other than him just being a rookie and Butler a 2nd year player?

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JackBauer

And what, pray tell, is the YPA stat for both corners?

PATRIOTSFANINPA

No idea,didn't find info on it...thats why the question was asked

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CheeseMonkeys

McCourty has just looked a lot better. Less Mental errors and he appears to be a bit more physical. He's also the rook and Darius Butler isn't.

shmessy

Perhaps because McCourty has been thrown in there as a raw rookie and Butler already has a full year under his belt???

Throw in the fact that this McCourty kid has made some crunching tackles in the run game whereas Butler is a pure cover - no pain inducing defender - - they are two very different players.

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"They (Patriots) may be the greatest team ever" - Chris Mortenson, January 18, 2005 on espn.com

PATRIOTSFANINPA

I think that where the brunt of criticism is really all about

Its probably the one year of experience that seperates the two more than a few yards does.

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PATRIOTSFANINPA

Yeah there are some intangibles I think like you said,if you go solely by yards and passes allowed its close but those intangibles and advantage of 1 year experience is the difference I guess.

I still think the Butler deserves another chance in tonight's game against Bess but from what I hear,Arrington will start

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Sicilian

I don't think I've seen a statistic yet that can accurately evaluate a cornerback's (or any defender, really) actual level of play. Their assignments are so varied and intertwined, that sometimes I wonder how exactly they determine that Butler or McCourty was thrown on if it's not a straight man coverage situation. Even in man coverage, did the player have help over the top or not? Things like that make flat numbers like this difficult to use in assessments.

PATRIOTSFANINPA

I concur with that,tough to come to an analogy of individuals when it takes 4 guys to control the back of the defense

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D-Money

Butler has been very dissapointing.I still cant get over the fact at how Braylon Edwards just beat him on that endzone TD.I am not giving up on him but he definetly needs to start playing better!