Views on V Butler, our 4th round pick?

[Bob Sacamano]

Victor Butler = Joey Porter?

both the same size coming out
close to the same in measurables, although Porter had a bit better 40, Butler has him on 10-yard, 3-cone and 20-yard shuttle, Porter has him on the rest
both play with a high-energy

 

[RS12]

Victor Butler = Joey Porter?

both the same size coming out
close to the same in measurables, although Porter had a bit better 40, Butler has him on 10-yard, 3-cone and 20-yard shuttle, Porter has him on the rest
both play with a high-energy

Hope you are right Bob. Nevermind Joey Porter I'll take a 5 or 6 sack a year type. Got turned onto the guy in scintilating 3-0 victory over Pitt in Sunbowl.

 

[BAT]

Sidbury - read a couple of items that he didn't interview well with not only us but a few teams. If you have followed the combine/draft he was really flying up the charts, then come the draft he slides. Mayock stated on Sunday that he couldn't stop the run for anything and that really hurt him.

Butler - don't know anything about him, impressive that he led a major conference in sacks. I don't like Wade as a HC, but he does know LB's, so I trust his thoughts on this player.

Right on the money! This is the reason that I could not understand all the Sidbury love, heck I had to argue for pages as to why Sidbury was the wrong fit for this team since the Cowboys needed a STRONGSIDE OLB not another weakside OLB. Sidbury was not only soft against the run, but he was so raw and he lacked the hard nosed attitude required to succeed on the opposite side of Ware.


Butler may be smaller than Sidbury, but he is tougher and hits harder. Butler has a ST mentality so I can see him adding weight and playing well enough on the strongside. Its only his coverage ability or lack thereof that worries me. He is a former WR, but that does not really mean he will be instinctive or effective dropping back.


The future at our SAM spot might be Brandan Williams. He has the frame (6'4) to get bigger (below average against run now) and the agility (according to Wade) to cover TEs. And his first step is supposed to be devastatingly fast.

 

[Woods]

Right on the money! This is the reason that I could not understand all the Sidbury love, heck I had to argue for pages as to why Sidbury was the wrong fit for this team since the Cowboys needed a STRONGSIDE OLB not another weakside OLB. Sidbury was not only soft against the run, but he was so raw and he lacked the hard nosed attitude required to succeed on the opposite side of Ware.


Butler may be smaller than Sidbury, but he is tougher and hits harder. Butler has a ST mentality so I can see him adding weight and playing well enough on the strongside. Its only his coverage ability or lack thereof that worries me. He is a former WR, but that does not really mean he will be instinctive or effective dropping back.


The future at our SAM spot might be Brandan Williams. He has the frame (6'4) to get bigger (below average against run now) and the agility (according to Wade) to cover TEs. And his first step is supposed to be devastatingly fast.

BAT,

I know this sounds crazy, but according to an article posted by Woody's Girl a day or two ago, Brandon Williams' 10-yard split was equivalent to T New's when he came out of college - I think around 1.5 area.

Also, the Cowboys' scouts having been raving about Brandon Williams' first step.

If B Williams' 10-yard split is anywhere close to 1.5ish, now we know why the Cowboys' scouts were raving.

(As a side note, Jason Williams' 10-yard split was faster than D Ware's, when D Ware came out of college.)

 

[TheBiG Z]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/565145


Here is a short video and some info. on Butler.

 

[31smackdown]

I'm thinking the plan is to have 3 strong pass rushers similar to the situation Wade had when he was in San Diego. Team can usually stop 2, but not 3. Add this guy to Ware and Spencer and it should be a handful with Ratliff and Igor inside.

 

[Verdict]

This is the player bio on Victor Butler. Can someone explain to me how he is expected to fit in here? At 248 lbs he seems too small to be a 3/4 defensive end. His 4.84 40 time seems too slow to be an OLB pass rusher. I assume he could be used as a run stuffer at OLB on goal line packages, but I haven't heard anything about that so far from the Cowboys brass. I cant see him getting that much faster in the 40, so if we keep him you would have to assume he is going to put on 40 lbs and play DE in the 3/4. That sounds like a major project. Can anyone shed some light on the thought process on this pick?
Round 4...#110 (acquired from Bills) Victor Butler DE/LB Oregon State



Height: 6'2"
Weight: 248
College: Oregon State
Conference: Pac 10
Hometown: Rialto, CA
High School: Eisenhower
View Combine Page >>

Combine Results:
40 Yard Dash : 4.84 seconds
Bench Press : 24.0 reps
Vertical Jump : 33.0 inches
Broad Jump : 113.0 inches
3 Cone Drill : 7.21 seconds
20 Yard Shuttle : 4.4 seconds

Overview

An undersized pass-rush specialist with the Beavers, Butler must make the transition to outside linebacker in the NFL. A standout pass rusher who broke out to register 10.5 sacks as a junior despite only starting one game, Butler was first-team All-Pac-10 and tied the single-season sack record at OSU with 12 as a senior and leaves second in school history with 25.5 career sacks. It was his final two games with the Beavers that really have scouts intrigued. Butler earned Sun Bowl MVP after racking up 11 tackles, including five tackles for loss, four sacks and a forced fumble against Pittsburgh and showed surprising fluidity when operating in coverage while at the East-West Shrine Game.

High School

Three-year letterman as receiver, safety, defensive end and kick returner ... Played defensive end only as a senior due to team needs ... Two-time all-league and all-county as a senior.

 

[AdamJT13]

he's one of those guys that get taken much higher than expected every year, and people are not quite sure why, only the team that drafts them knows

Like I said on draft day, I think Butler is a much better prospect for 3-4 teams than for 4-3 teams. If you use a 4-3 defense, you probably wouldn't draft him until the seventh round. But if you use a 3-4, you'd take him in the middle rounds like we did.

I probably would have taken Sidbury, but the Cowboys did their homework on Sidbury and liked Butler better, so we'll see.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Who knows at this point, but I'm thinking B. Williams could be the real gem down the line. He's got a lot of raw ability and still has a lot of growing, both literally and figuratively, to go. He's only 21 and has a lanky frame, so he'll get a lot bigger and stronger as he naturally matures -- besides the work he'll do with Jurazek.

IMO you can get real steals when these guys come out a year earlier than they probably should.

 

[masomenos]

You definitely shouldn't assume that Butler will put on 40 lbs and be a 3-4 DE, he'll be a pass rushing OLB for us. Also, don't put much stock into his 40 time, that doesn't tell you much about a pass rushers potential. From what I recall, Butler actually had a pretty fast 10 yard split and one of his strengths is how quickly he gets off the ball. You can never have enough pass rushers on a team that runs the 3-4 and that's something that Butler does very well. I mean, the kid had 22.5 sacks in the past two seasons and only one of those seasons was as a starter. He definitely has the ability to get after the QB.

 

[masomenos]

IMO you can get real steals when these guys come out a year earlier than they probably should.

Definitely, guys like that and players who fall because of injuries, like Mickens.

 

[Verdict]

Like I said on draft day, I think Butler is a much better prospect for 3-4 teams than for 4-3 teams. If you use a 4-3 defense, you probably wouldn't draft him until the seventh round. But if you use a 3-4, you'd take him in the middle rounds like we did.
I probably would have taken Sidbury, but the Cowboys did their homework on Sidbury and liked Butler better, so we'll see.

His 40 time seems very slow for an outside linebacker, especially for one that is supposed to be a pass rusher. Why wouldn't you want a guy that has a fast first step that runs in the 4.5 range to be an olb. 4.84 sounds almost like a lineman's 40. Is it that his first step is SO FAST that his 40 time is irrelevant?

 

[Arch Stanton]

His 40 time seems very slow for an outside linebacker, especially for one that is supposed to be a pass rusher. Why wouldn't you want a guy that has a fast first step that runs in the 4.5 range to be an olb. 4.84 sounds almost like a lineman's 40. Is it that his first step is SO FAST that his 40 time is irrelevant?

I seem to remember there being a reason for his slow 40 time at the Combine being discussed on The Fan or The Ticket. Can't remember the reason. Then again I could be confused with another player. LOL

 

[SMCowboy]

His 40 time seems very slow for an outside linebacker, especially for one that is supposed to be a pass rusher. Why wouldn't you want a guy that has a fast first step that runs in the 4.5 range to be an olb. 4.84 sounds almost like a lineman's 40. Is it that his first step is SO FAST that his 40 time is irrelevant?

A 40 time is ALWAYS irrelavent with OLB's. When was the last time a OLB had to run 40 yards to get to the QB?

The only thing that matters for an OLB is quickness, and everything I have read including his scouting report says that quickness is his strength.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

His 40 time seems very slow for an outside linebacker, especially for one that is supposed to be a pass rusher. Why wouldn't you want a guy that has a fast first step that runs in the 4.5 range to be an olb. 4.84 sounds almost like a lineman's 40. Is it that his first step is SO FAST that his 40 time is irrelevant?

You would rather have a 4.5 guy, but players big enough to play 34 OLB and still run a 4.5 are as rare as... Demarcus Ware.

Plenty of good pass rushers like Woodley, Terrell Suggs, and Shaun Phillips ran 4.8 or so. IMO sacking the QB is more about power, sensing when and how to get the tackle off balance, and a closing burst than pure speed.

 

[Verdict]

A 40 time is ALWAYS irrelavent with OLB's. When was the last time a OLB had to run 40 yards to get to the QB?

So if he ran a 6.0 second 40 you would still be all about him?

 

[Arch Stanton]

I remember them talking about this now....not sure his proday 40 time was though.

Victor Butler, DE/OLB Oregon State
Posted by Adam Hart April 6, 2009 (4 weeks ago) at 3:03 pm

Victor Butler: 6′2 1/8, 238 lbs

Butler dropped the quarterback 12 times as a senior, including 4 in the Sun Bowl, which helped earn him the game’s MVP award.

He dropped 8 pounds since the NFL Scouting Combine in an effort to quicken up his game, and improved upon all of his numbers at Oregon State’s Pro Day.

Butler is another prospect who has been projected as a fit in at outside linebacker in a 3-4 defensive scheme.

He excels in getting after quarterback, but may need to put the weight back on to fit some teams’ liking, if he is moved to outside linebacker.

Paul Buker of The Oregonian spoke with Butler about his Pro Day workout, which was considerably better than what he did at the combine:

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Like I said on draft day, I think Butler is a much better prospect for 3-4 teams than for 4-3 teams. If you use a 4-3 defense, you probably wouldn't draft him until the seventh round. But if you use a 3-4, you'd take him in the middle rounds like we did.

I probably would have taken Sidbury, but the Cowboys did their homework on Sidbury and liked Butler better, so we'll see.

true Adam, but NFLDS had him as a OLB, and still put a 7th round grade on him

but last year NFLDS had a 7th round grade on DE Bryan Smith from McNeese State, and Philly took him in the 3rd round

if a team likes a pass-rusher enough, they'll take them higher than the average Joe fan will realize, because both Smith and Butler were very productive in the FCS and FBS rushing the passer, respectively

 

[Arch Stanton]

Victor Butler lighter, and faster, on Pro Day ... Broncos will take a closer look
Posted by Paul Buker, The Oregonian March 13, 2009 17:42PM
Categories: Football
FRIDAY ... following Pro Day at Oregon State ...

We focus on Victor Butler, who is being worked out individually in the next few days by the Denver Broncos.

OSU's QB gobbling defensive end - who will likely be asked to play outside linebacker in the NFL - had lost eight pounds since the NFL Combine.

He ran a 4.58 40 at OSU, compared to 4.76 at the Combine.

His vertical jump was 32 ½ inches, compared to 33 at the Combine.

Butler's standing broad jump was 10-1 Friday, compared to 9-5 at the Combine.

There were 23 NFL teams represented at the OSU workout.

Vic trained at Athletes Performance Institute in Tempe, Ariz. after the Sun Bowl, alongside Oregon's Patrick Chung.

I asked Butler if Chung - a highly-regarded safety prospect - took it easy on him about the Civil War game.

"We tried not to bring that up too much,'' said Butler, who on Friday was enjoying the company of his old teammates and his family.

Butler is represented by Momentum Football out of San Antonio, Tex., and the firm was represented at the Pro Day by Troy Asmus.

Asmus said that Butler understands "the work ahead of him'' to have a career in the NFL and thinks Butler can handle switching positions.

While some NFL draft websites have Butler going in the sixth or seventh round, the Momentum Football folks think he could be gone by Round 4.

Butler said Friday he felt like he "put up some pretty good numbers.''

He said Pro Day was much less stressful than the zoo-like atmosphere at the Combine.

"You didn't have all 32 teams there, no coaches, you were with teammates and guys were cracking jokes,'' said Butler. "I mean, you've been training and preparing (for these workouts) for 3-4 months now, so you're as ready as you're going to be.''

Butler got a charge out of seeing the guys he went to war with again. Some of the players hadn't been around each other since the OSU players went their separate ways after the win over Pitt in the Sun Bowl.

He took care to point out that close friend Slade Norris - the unsung defensive end on the OSU team considering how little attention he has been given before the NFL draft - stands a good chance of being drafted, even if the pre-draft analysis indicates Norris will have to go the free agent route.

"He is a phenomenal athlete,'' said Butler, "and he is an even better person. ... I had a lot of teams ask me about him, teams I won't name. ... I've heard nothing but good things about him (from other NFL teams). I think he's a guy that will help someone win games.''

Butler said his family is probably more excited than he is. "They see you grow up from playing Pop Warner, to high school ball, to college, and now they see your dream coming true,'' said Butler.

And about that position switch?

Moving to outside linebacker doesn't phase him.

"Like I said before, I'd play long snapper if it gets me there (to the NFL),'' he said.

"I love a challenge. I mean, I came to Oregon State with zero experience at defensive end, and that turned out OK. ... I'm not saying I'll jump right into it and be another Ray Lewis, but I think with time I've got a chance to be a really good player.''

Butler knows he will never experience the thrill of wearing an Oregon State uniform again, and he's heard that the "fun'' part is over and now it's all business. ... but you know what kind of personality Butler is, and so you won't be surprised to hear that he doesn't buy that "no fun'' stuff for a minute.

It's football, said Butler. "I don't believe the guys in the NFL aren't having fun.''

But he can't help but feel wistful about being an ex-Oregon State player.

"I miss these college guys,'' he said. "I know I'm never going to get to play ball like that again.

"I loved the team I played for - I wouldn't have wanted to play for anybody else, whether it's USC or Florida State - and I love these guys. That's never going to change.''

- PB

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindbeaversbeat/2009/03/victor_butler_lighter_and_fast.html

 

[SMCowboy]

So if he ran a 6.0 second 40 you would still be all about him?

If he is quick, absolutely.....

I don't care if it takes him six DAYS to run the 40. If he is quick that is all that matters. And every scouting report I have seen including those that have him as a 7th round DP say that he is quick. They just says he is to undersized to be a DE, and can not hold up against the run that well.... And in all honesty, I am not to concerned about how well my OLB's hold up against the run, they are not ment to take on linemen in the 3-4. That is why you have 3 300+ pound lineman in the 3-4....