Victor Butler Quietly Eyeing Spencer's Starting Spot

[Hostile]

Some know he is Ware's best friend on the team. He also recently (Pro Bowl last week) did an autograph session for the Arizona Cowboys fan club I am a member of. I didn't make it to that autograph session. However a friend of mine did and he said Butler thinks he will start at SOLB in 2012, but that when he talks about it, he does so quietly as if not to jinx it.

Wondering how you would feel if he does?

 

[Risen Star]

I don't know. The fact that he's been stuck in such a small role since he's been here leads me to believe they don't trust him against the run.

Butler would be my Plan B.

 

[Picksix]

I'd be leery of it, just because I haven't seen him be that good against the run. I think he's a little better pass rusher than Spencer, but overall I don't really see it as an upgrade at this point.

 

[Sasquatch]

If he's ready, why not? Of course, his limited playtime to date suggests that he might not ever be ready to assume the starting spot. I hope he proves otherwise if he gets the chance.

 

[gmoney112]

Eh, I just don't see him as a full-time SOLB but I could be wrong.

I'm one of the few that want to blow the lid off the defense and sign Mario Williams to play across from Ware for the next 4 years.

 

[Hostile]

Miles Austin, Tony Romo, Doug Free, Jason Hatcher.

All guys who did their time on the bench for 2 or more seasons before getting their chance to start. Sometimes, all you need is a real chance.

 

[The Natural]

He cant be worse than Spencer

 

[Risen Star]

Miles Austin, Tony Romo, Doug Free, Jason Hatcher.

All guys who did their time on the bench for 2 or more seasons before getting their chance to start. Sometimes, all you need is a real chance.

That's why he'd be my plan B. I wouldn't totally rule him out from being a good starter but I wouldn't let his presence on the roster stop me from targeting an OLB in FA or early in the draft.

 

[Idgit]

Butler confuses me. I've seen him get trapped inside on a couple of running plays, but, for the most part, he's a playmaker on passing downs, and I have to admit I haven't noticed him being a particular liability out there.

My reservations about him come entirely because the team hasn't pumped him up much, and they haven't been acting like they're grooming him to start. I wish I understood better why. It'd be an interesting topic to hear a scout chime in on, if only we had one who posted here regularly.

SOLB is such an important position, though. We've got to have competition there. If we're kicking Rat out to DE, and if we're serious about bringing in more pressure players, then it's either going to happen at SOLB, at NT if there's an option available to us that can beat occasional double teams, or we have to add a DE we can rotate into a multiple set when we want to get after the passer. I think Victor Butler fits into that equation, but I'd be a lot happier if we had another LB outside we could put into the mix in the event he proves to be a major liability or gets hurt.

 

[Stash]

Miles Austin, Tony Romo, Doug Free, Jason Hatcher.

All guys who did their time on the bench for 2 or more seasons before getting their chance to start. Sometimes, all you need is a real chance.

I'm all for it myself. Anything to get some productivity out of the 2009
draft is good with me.

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

He cant be worse than Spencer

You're right he can't be worse than one of the top LOLB's.

 

[Idgit]

He cant be worse than Spencer

He can be a lot worse. That's the problem.

 

[Dcowboy84]

i can tell you that i love the kids attitude ever since he got on the team.

i remember his rookie year when he was stuck waiting for his school year to be up or whatever that rule is and he had his family simulate players to help him learn the playbook.

he cannot be faulted for lack of effort.

my main concern with him is could he hold up against the run.

he does seem to struggle in that area, but then again most of his snaps were in a pass-rush role so who knows?

i don't think we can go into the season assuming he'll do it though.

 

[RS12]

I'm in the sign Mario Williams camp. I dont think Butler is a better over all player than Spencer or he would have seized the job, or at least gotten alot more snaps.

 

[cowboyschmps3]

he did a good job entering for Ware against New Orleans and some games he seems to rush the passer pretty good , i don't know bout the run stopping though

 

[Eskimo]

I know people keep talking about not creating another hole by not re-signing Spencer but this is a false way of thinking of the problem.

Our incumbent starter at SOLB is a FA so there is a vacancy.

We can choose to fill from within (Butler, Albright), draft (lots of candidates in 1st and 2nd round could be immediate starters - I like Ingram, Irvin, Hightower) or FA. In FA we could try and sign Spencer or someone else.

There is no hole created by not re-signing Spencer. The hole is already there and we have to decide what is the best way to fill it. OLB is supposed to be a playmaker in this defense and Spencer does not fit the bill. I would not give him a premium salary, just a solid starter salary. If we could bring back Spencer at Sensy money than that would make sense so we could focus on improving the DL and DBs. If he costs more than that we are better off looking for a better player to fill that key spot on the defense. I favor the second round of the draft or a trade down into the late first or early second to look for appropriate value. There are a bunch of players I like with low first or high second round grades that can immediately start and this is my preferred option.

As for Butler, he is okay if all else fails. However, I would platoon him with Albright with Butler taking most of the snaps in the nickel and Albright taking most of the snaps in the base defense.

 

[BigDFan5]

I like victor butler but not as a starter I just dont think he could hold up against the run a whole season

 

[Dodger]

If Butler wins the starting job, to me that would mean that Butler has made some progress as a run defender, and if that is the case, I could see Butler easily being a great compliment to Ware on the other side. We already know he can rush the passer. If he has become a 3 down linebacker, I would think that our problem with getting to the QB would become a distant memory.

Yeah, I'd be thrilled if he wins the starting job.

** edit

Of course there is another possibility. I read some time back that the coaches might just go ahead with Butler anyway, even if he's not so good against the run, figuring that his production as a pass rusher would outweigh his weakness as a run defender, and if they had to go with a player that has a major weakness, they'll play the guy who can rush the passer.

Just some writer's opinion I thought was interesting.

 

[burmafrd]

I'm in the sign Mario Williams camp. I dont think Butler is a better over all player than Spencer or he would have seized the job, or at least gotten alot more snaps.

you do notice that unless a starter leaves or gets injured, nothing changes around here.

 

[28 Joker]

If he's ready, why not? Of course, his limited playtime to date suggests that he might not ever be ready to assume the starting spot. I hope he proves otherwise if he gets the chance.

Sasquatch, I agree. They may be better off throwing him in the pool and making him swim. The Cowboys have too many holes (on offense and defense) to be held hostage by this position. How many premium picks are the Cowboys going to waste on this position? I say give him a chance before doing anymore suspect moves.

In fact, the Cowboys might discover the Sasquatch before they correctly draft the complement to Ware.

2005: Burnett
2006 Carpenter
2007 Spencer
2008: Butler and Williams

Finding Bigfoot..Now, that is a great show...Watching Dallas draft SOLBs, not so much...