Darius Butler...what's the story?

[PatsBoy12]

Have We Seen the End of the Butler Era?

Okay, I know the title is ridiculous, as I admittedly did it for some shock value (I couldn't help myself). Nonetheless, I do want to pose some serious questions. What do you all think is going on with the kid right now? What happened to the guy who showed flashes last season that had Patriot Nation excited about what he and the secondary could be coming into the season?

In a few months, he's gone from starter to being buried in the depth chart. He didn't get a single snap against SD and, if I'm not mistaking, not a single snap against Baltimore either. Wilhite is the guy getting nickel work at the moment. In fact, the last time I remember seeing Butler was the Bills game, and even in that game he only got just a few snaps before being yanked.

Again, I know we haven't seen the end of the kid (at least I hope not), but how long do you think before he starts seeing significant action again barring any further injuries? Will he ever materialize and become the game-breaker that NE drafted him to be? He has all the physical tools to be truly special, but he just doesn't seem to have that mental fortitude that an NFL player, especially a corner, should have. What do you all think?

 

[JackBauer]

Re: Have We Seen the End of the Butler Era?

Butler played against SD. Not much, but he played.

 

[mgteich]

Re: Have We Seen the End of the Butler Era?

Butler simply hasn't developed into a better nickel back than Wilhite. Arrington has passed both in the depth chart as a starting corner.

It really makes little difference to me whether Arrington is our corner or whether than role goes to Butler. I would like to see Wheatley healthy so that he could be an option at dime.

There is no way for us to know what the problem is. Butler was projected by most to be a first round talent, and he seemed to develop easonably well last year.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Re: Have We Seen the End of the Butler Era?

Butler played against SD. Not much, but he played.

On what plays? I was looking for him, but maybe I just missed him. Are you talking ST's? I'll probably just have to watch the game again.

Can someone page Reiss and tell him to do the snap count report that he does from time-to-time?

 

[Uncle Rico]

Re: Have We Seen the End of the Butler Era?

On what plays? I was looking for him, but maybe I just missed him. Are you talking ST's? I'll probably just have to watch the game again.

Can someone page Reiss and tell him to do the snap count report that he does from time-to-time?

Reiss tweet from late in the game (can't remember exactly when, but definitely late in the comeback):

Patriots insert Darius Butler in at RCB for this drive. Interesting time to give him his first action of the day

Twitter / Mike Reiss: Patriots insert Darius But ...

 

[PatsBoy12]

Re: Have We Seen the End of the Butler Era?

Reiss tweet from late in the game (can't remember exactly when, but definitely late in the comeback):



Twitter / Mike Reiss: Patriots insert Darius But ...

Thanks, Rico. I definitely missed seeing him.

 

[Marqui]

Re: Have We Seen the End of the Butler Era?

Thanks, Rico. I definitely missed seeing him.

That's kind of a good thing if you think about it.

 

[Calciumee]

Re: Have We Seen the End of the Butler Era?

Thanks, Rico. I definitely missed seeing him.

Usually not a bad thing

 

[upstater1]

Re: Have We Seen the End of the Butler Era?

He's played since the Bills game for sure.

I remember him making a couple key breakups against Davone Bess.

Here, check this out:

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

Re: Have We Seen the End of the Butler Era?

^^ Davone looks like he's enjoying himself

 

[BrianPat]

Re: Have We Seen the End of the Butler Era?

Since he was drafted a year ago, I can't take this question seriously

 

[PatsBoy12]

Re: Have We Seen the End of the Butler Era?

He's played since the Bills game for sure.

I remember him making a couple key breakups against Davone Bess.

Here, check this out:

Ah, good find. I guess he's played so little that I don't even notice him when he is on the field. Nonetheless, we all believed he'd be the starter opposite McCourty, but now I'm questioning where he stands on the roster. Will he be seeing any increased play? What will it take for the kid to get back on the field on a more consistent basis?

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Re: Have We Seen the End of the Butler Era?

What will it take for the kid to get back on the field on a more consistent basis?

For his level of play to be more consistent and the quality of his play to be good...simply put, he has to be a better option than other people on the team. He might have a higher ceiling than Arrington, but he needs to bring it every play (essentially gain the coachs trust = consistency).

 

[upstater1]

Re: Have We Seen the End of the Butler Era?

Two things are happening:

1, teams are not throwing at Arrington for some reason, either because he's draped all over his guy, or because opposing teams haven't clued in yet.

I notice that WHEN they throw at Arrington, he is NEVER in position. He doesn't have the hips or speed to stay with WRs and he can't read them. Butler is an upgrade in this respect.

Yesterday I saw Arrington make his first play on the ball. EVER. First pass deflection. So he could be improving.

Arrington makes Belichick feel safer because he's a hard tackler. I happen to think Butler is a good tackler, and if you look at the stats from the first two games, he made a lot of tackles of the RBs. Arrington was actually not tackling well his first couple of games out there, he was bumbling around. But now he's hitting hard like the special teamer he is. Yesterday was Arrington's best game of the season. I don't know if that's because he was playing a 5th stringer with a name that the announcers could barely pronounce, but I did see him make a play on the ball.

 

[RayClay]

Re: Have We Seen the End of the Butler Era?

On what plays? I was looking for him, but maybe I just missed him. Are you talking ST's? I'll probably just have to watch the game again.

Can someone page Reiss and tell him to do the snap count report that he does from time-to-time?

Actually, Butler made a fine play near the goal line as the receiver caught a two yard pass within the 5 (I think)and Butler just rode him and forced him to the ground short of the goal line. Made me check the jersey number. They later scored, but he saved a touchdown with sheer effort.

BB has a young defense and he's going to move players in and out as he sees fit. None of these guys has earned the benefit of the doubt a vet has.

--- My memory is a little off, but still a nice play, right before the Gates touchdown. Butler had him high with no leverage and clamped on him like a spider dragging him down short of the goal.

(7:59) (Shotgun) 17-P.Rivers pass short middle to 89-S.Ajirotutu to NE 4 for 6 yards (28-D.Butler).

 

[GoWhalers]

Re: Have We Seen the End of the Butler Era?

Two things are happening:

1, teams are not throwing at Arrington for some reason, either because he's draped all over his guy, or because opposing teams haven't clued in yet.

At least against San Diego, the reason they weren't throwing at Arrington was because they found it even easier to throw against Guyton.

I kid, I kid...

 

[Armen Da Pats Fan]

Hurt? Doghouse?

I am surprised he has not gotten more a chance to learn and grow a bit, especially since the defense is finally finding its way now...

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Puzzling to me too

For a CB who was drafted to be the next starting CB for the next decade he is riding the pine and learning NOTHING.

Makes no sense to me at all,If Arrington is better then just go and cut Butler already because Arrington flat out sucks in pass coverage.

I think there is more than meets the eye here,I think there was some words between Butler and BB this season and they were not good words and because of that he got benched this long.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Hurt? Doghouse?

I am surprised he has not gotten more a chance to learn and grow a bit, especially since the defense is finally finding its way now...

My gut tells me he had had a chance to learn and grow and the problem is that he simply hasn't taken advantage and capitalized of them. By being named practice player of the week, maybe he might be catching on.

 

[upstater1]

We get this thread every two days.

Perhaps deservingly so because it's just an enigma.

Remember, Reiss was praising Butler as the workout offseason champion.

Now he's getting practice player awards.

His only transgressions to the visible eye were his struggles in the first couple of weeks, yet he showed signs of being a good CB too. He made a spectacular interception that was overturned because of holding. I thought he deflected a long ball nicely on his first PI call against the Jets, and he stepped in front of Davone Bess for a would be interception (Bess kncoked it away at the last second.

So, solid offseason workouts, hard worker, practice player award, and yet, Belichick plays him 9 plays a game.