Revis has high praise for Butler

[Marinlik]

Here s all I can say about Butler. He is clearly improving throughout the season and looks to be the fastest CB the Patriots have. I think he has more speed than Revis even. Looked like it with a few of his breaks on the ball and ability to recover.

Probably why he was out there on Sanders so much. I think he is a keeper. Which means if the Pats sign Revis which I hope they do. One of the Dennard/Ryan/Arrington are gone. I just don't see them keeping all 6 next year.

Why not? It's a passing league and CBs that can play are valuable. I don't really see a problem in having 6 CBs that can play.

 

[Brady6]

According to Ben Volin, Alfonzo Dennard has been a healthy scratch for the past 2 games.

Volin claims that Malcolm Butler has now passed Dennard on the depth chart. I tend to take what Volin says with a grain of salt, but thought I'd pass it on regardless, since we've been hearing whispers of this now for a week or two:

http://www.patspulpit.com/2014/11/6...s-passed-alfonzo-dennard-patriots-depth-chart

Personally, I think it is more to do with Butler having special teams value and Dennard not. If Browner or Revis were inactive I Dennard would be the CB to step in.

 

[Brady6]

Completely disagree that Arrington is "bottom of the roster depth player." He basically shut down Welker last week and is the best slot corner the Pats have by far. Sure he can have his struggles on the outside, but a player with his skill set is definitely valuable in the NFL today with all of the multi WR sets.

Not a tough task shutting down Welker these days. He is a shell of his former self after the numerous head injuries. Arrington is solid in the slot I agree but I think Revis, Browner, Dennard, and Ryan are all superior CBs to Arrington inside or outside.

 

[doesntmatter1]

Not a tough task shutting down Welker these days. He is a shell of his former self after the numerous head injuries. Arrington is solid in the slot I agree but I think Revis, Browner, Dennard, and Ryan are all superior CBs to Arrington inside or outside.

I got to disagree on this one. Arrington, on the inside, is definitely better than everyone except perhaps Revis and Butler. There is a reason you don't see many quick slants thrown on him. Arrington doesn't have the ball skills of others but he is superior athletically and you rarely see him beat right off the line of scrimmage because of this. He has a pretty good jam and though not the quickest, he might be our fastest corner.

Butler is also showing similar athletic ability to play inside or out as well, but with better ball skills.

 

[Brady6]

Sometimes the problem is not that players regress, but simply that better players become available.

As an example, the reason Edelman's targets went down in 2010 compared to 2009 was not so much because he regressed as a WR, but simply that they had too many other weapons (Moss at the beginning of the season, GRONK and the Prisoner later, Woodhead, Welker, etc.).

I agree but I don't think this is necessarily the case. What matters most is they are able to overcome it and make the team successful either way. However, from my perspective as a fan who in particular enjoys watching youngsters develop it is disappointing when I see these players drop off the map.

 

[RobertWeathers]

huh? He is healthy now. Reason he isn't playing is what i posted earlier

Its all compounded.

Last year he had knee and shoulder injuries.

This year he aggravated his shoulder injury and was less than healthy in September and the early part of October.

I understand that there is speculation that the team is trying to get him accustomed to defending the slot.

If you are not established at your position, not playing and not practicing every day makes you more susceptible to losing your job- which is what has happened and they are trying to find a role for him on the team.