Prediction re: McCourty

[pencilneckgeek]

Thanks pencilneckgeek! Exactly - Wright has to set that corner. Which is worse, getting knocked off the corner, or cheating inside? I don't see any mention of Wright anywhere. Butler is not McCourty - not a big guy, not going to be as good at tackling (although Wheatley looked great on that naked bootleg). Let's not heap a lot on one guy who cheated inside a bit thinking a corner was going to be set. If that corner is not set, Butler is not going to stop Bush 99 times out of 100. Bush was the 2nd pick in the draft for a reason.

Define worse. Cheating inside: big mental mistake. Not setting the corner: mental mistake, technique deficiency, and/or lack of size. I'm more troubled by the latter long-term, but Butler completely blew his assignment.

 

[JR4]

Butler is making mistakes that probably should have been corrected by
his second year. Not saying he won't be good but he may not be the
best the PATs have.

I believe Devin will be starter. He is a rookie that looks like he has been
here for a year or more. He's a natural and very gifted and has all the
physical tools needed for the job and he's ... smart!

Most Importantly .... He is physical which is what the PATs want.
Tough call but if BB does what's best for the team this may be the
way he goes even in week one. It's who wins the competition not who
has been here the longest.

 

[upstater1]

Define worse. Cheating inside: big mental mistake. Not setting the corner: mental mistake, technique deficiency, and/or lack of size. I'm more troubled by the latter long-term, but Butler completely blew his assignment.

I watched Butler in college. I'm not worried at all about his tackling skills. He's a really good tackler. It hasn't shown in the pros yet because the opportunity hasn't been there, but I have absolutely no misgivings about him tackling a RB/WR in the open field.

 

[upstater1]

Butler is making mistakes that probably should have been corrected by
his second year. Not saying he won't be good but he may not be the
best the PATs have.

I believe Devin will be starter. He is a rookie that looks like he has been
here for a year or more. He's a natural and very gifted and has all the
physical tools needed for the job and he's ... smart!

Most Importantly .... He is physical which is what the PATs want.
Tough call but if BB does what's best for the team this may be the
way he goes even in week one. It's who wins the competition not who
has been here the longest.

The illegal contact call was a penalty/mistake that players make until they retire and are ready for a HallofFame induction. The play was notable because of WHEN it happened, not because of WHAT happened. The WHAT doesn't concern me. I expect Butler will be chucking people regularly 7 yards upfield. It's part of the game. The WHEN is concerning because on a 4th down play, you have to make the opponent make the play. You can't chuck there on 4th down.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Butler is making mistakes that probably should have been corrected by
his second year.

What year is Wright? He should not have known how to set the edge by year 5?

Why the criticism on Butler exclusively? Because Wright was laying on his back and not running after Bush? If Wright had run after Bush there would be a thread about him? It is better to disappear than try to recover?

 

[UofApatsfan]

What year is Wright? He should not have known how to set the edge by year 5?

Why the criticism on Butler exclusively? Because Wright was laying on his back and not running after Bush? If Wright had run after Bush there would be a thread about him? It is better to disappear than try to recover?

Unfortunately it's not a matter of knowing how to set the edge, it's a matter of being good enough to set the edge rather than get sealed off. Wright probably knew what his job was, he just got overpowered.

But yeah, I don't know why Butler got so much criticism for that play. It should have never developed to the point where Butler was the one person in between Bush and a TD. If anything I'd blame James Sanders for being so bad against the run.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

That same slide show praised Hernandez for his play, and in particular for absorbing a "vicious hit" from Randall Gay.

I agree CBs can hit TEs hard on occasion, but still ...

I'm OK with it as long as Roger Goodell doesn't rule it to be a hate crime.

 

[Feep50]

Remember Hank Poteat and the rest of the walkons.... this is a nice thread

Yes, I do indeed! Please never remind me again

 

[patfanken]

McCourty, maybe a very good nickel this year but IMO Butler, maybe the best CB on the team

As I have said from the day he was drafted, he would be a starter on the outside, while Butler would be the slot guy. So you may be right that Butler is the best CB on the team, but he's still better suited to play the slot, while McCourty is better suited to play on the outside.

Its not about who's better. Its about slightly different skill sets.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

You won't see McCourty anywhere near as much as you will Butler this season.

IMO its definately Butler's job to lose

 

[Feep50]

Having a stable of DB's like Bodden, Butler, Wheatley, Wilhite, McQuirky and (insert your binky here) is never a bad thing.......

I see DB and ILB developing into a defensive strength....

Now if BB will just draft 2 or 3 OLB animals next year we'll be cooking with gas..

 

[Ring 6]

You won't see McCourty anywhere near as much as you will Butler this season.

IMO its definately Butler's job to lose

My best guess would be that they each play abou an equal number of snaps.
Contrary to revisionist history, Butler never actually took hold of the starting job last year. I agree he has a leg up, but he was inactive tiwce in the last 4 games of last season when 100% healthy.
The point being Butler needs to have improved over last year to be safe with any role, but I think he has.
At least we have moved past the McCourty may overtake Wilhite as he nickel by the end of the season nonsense.

 

[BlueThunder]

not sure what to think about the quartet of safeties...

I'd like to see more of Brown as he hits like a freight train....Sanders is a BB favorite I believe. Maybe Sergio makes the PS ( If Weiss doesn't grab him )

 

[BradyFTW!]

What year is Wright? He should not have known how to set the edge by year 5?

Why the criticism on Butler exclusively? Because Wright was laying on his back and not running after Bush? If Wright had run after Bush there would be a thread about him? It is better to disappear than try to recover?

That's what I really don't get. I have a hard time faulting a guy for failing to get Reggie Bush 1-one-1 in the open field. He didn't appear to take a great angle, granted, but I'd agree that the real problem was Wright getting absolutely leveled, to the point that he was removed from the play entirely.

 

[Kontradiction]

I have high hopes for McCourty too, but I'm going to curb my enthusiasm here. First, he needs to continue having a good preseason and beat out Wilhite. Only after that can he think about starting at LCB.

 

[TheComeback]

That's what I really don't get. I have a hard time faulting a guy for failing to get Reggie Bush 1-one-1 in the open field. He didn't appear to take a great angle, granted, but I'd agree that the real problem was Wright getting absolutely leveled, to the point that he was removed from the play entirely.

I think the real problem with that play wasn't so much a bad angle as it was Butler not reading the play correctly. If you watch him on that play, you'll see him moving his head around like he's looking for the running back, only to give off a kind of "Oh ****!" vibe when he sees Bush running around the corner.

All in all, it's just an experience thing. Butler looked like a good prospect last year--not as good, IMO, as some have thought, but I think he'll be a solid #2 corner with playmaking ability.

 

[Run DMC]

Well, hate to say I told ya so...
This kid is the 2nd coming of Ty Law. Say hello to our new #1.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Well, hate to say I told ya so...
This kid is the 2nd coming of Ty Law. Say hello to our new #1.

What? Butler played an exceptional game too, against a better WR; I didn't see anything in this game to suggest that McCourty's overtaking Butler anytime soon.

 

[Run DMC]

I saw 159 yards and 7 points that says you're mistaken, amigo.
If you can't see with your own eyes, that McC is superior, I don't know what to tell ya.

 

[The_Riddler]

I saw 159 yards and 7 points that says you're mistaken, amigo.
If you can't see with your own eyes, that McC is superior, I don't know what to tell ya.

McC is ahead of Butler right now hands down.