Where is Victor Butler?

[Doomsdayblitz]

*I don't know if Victor Butler played yesterday or not. We didn't get the game in NE Ohio. However, I didn't see his name in the box score, so I'm just assuming here. If he DID play & was ineffective, then please ignore.

I don't get it. Rookie OLB Victor Butler went into the game against the Carolina Panthers for 6 plays during their final drive to try to pull out the game. He was in coverage on 1 play, so that makes only 5 pass rush plays. In those 5 plays, he had 2 sacks, (..and came within a whisker of a 3rd), 1 FF, (which the Cowboys recovered to win the game), and a tackle. Not bad for an entire GAME, let alone 5 plays.

I would say that that kind of production should merit more playing time. Since then, as far as I know, he has not smelled the field since. I could see if starting OLB Anthony Spencer was tearing up the league in sacks, or even QBHs, maybe FFs, but he's not. In fact, he has NO sacks in five GAMES. I believe he is the biggest reason that other teams are double-triple teaming DWare. Our old buddy Greg Ellis is doing quite well in Oakland, despite their record. He has 4 sacks already this year. He was the reason that opposing DCs hesitated using half the backfield to block Ware. They have no such worries now.

Spencer does a fine job in coverage & the run, but that's not why he was taken in the first round. He was taken to rush & SACK quarterbacks. He's not doing that. So, why not let a PROVEN player, who is tied for the team lead in sacks--in only 5 tries--play more in passing situations? His presence would take away some of the attention that DWare has been getting, and put more quickness & speed back into the Dallas pass rush.

 

[Eskimo]

Unproven players who get on the field and show up the starter get relegated to the pine squad for fear of hurting the starting player's feelings. Just watch Austin go back to #3/4 WR when RW11 comes back.

 

[AbeBeta]

Unproven players who get on the field and show up the starter get relegated to the pine squad for fear of hurting the starting player's feelings. Just watch Austin go back to #3/4 WR when RW11 comes back.

Austin should go back to #3. What he has earned is more PT, not the starting job.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

It came out that he overslept and was late for a team meeting last week and was held out either as discipline (accountability!!!) or because the team wondered if he was dependable enough after he did that. That was last week IIRC... Don't know about this week.

But yes, he has to play some, if only to give our starters a rest. Part of these last-minute failures on D are because these guys are gassed.

And the same thing goes for Curtis Johnson. Hopefully after the bye week these guys can get in the games more often.

And BTW, the box may not have shown it, but Spencer was very good yesterday.

 

[Eskimo]

It came out that he overslept and was late for a team meeting last week and was held out either as discipline (accountability!!!) or because the team wondered if he was dependable enough after he did that. That was last week IIRC... Don't know about this week.

But yes, he has to play some, if only to give our starters a rest. Part of these last-minute failures on D are because these guys are gassed.

And the same thing goes for Curtis Johnson. Hopefully after the bye week these guys can get in the games more often.

And BTW, the box may not have shown it, but Spencer was very good yesterday.

I'm not complaining about Spencer's play this season.

I just think Butler should get some snaps in passing situations to give Ware/Spencer some breathers. I'm tired of seeing Ware gassed at the end of the game because he has to play every snap.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I'd hold off on saying teams are double and triple teaming Ware. I haven't seen it. I've seen him get held off by left tackles and even tight ends. I think Spencer has been solid this season. He doesn't have sacks but neither does Ware or neither did Ware until yesterday. All I can say is that its a long season. Funny how on the broadcast I may have misheard the comment but Haley was more worried about Spencer than Ware? Or something along those lines?

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Austin should go back to #3. What he has earned is more PT, not the starting job.

I agree. You should increase his role. Not change it IMO. Not after one game against one of the worst teams in the league. All it takes is one game for Cowboys fans though lol. .People are still screaming for Ogletree to play.

 

[daschoo]

I'd hold off on saying teams are double and triple teaming Ware. I haven't seen it. I've seen him get held off by left tackles and even tight ends. I think Spencer has been solid this season. He doesn't have sacks but neither does Ware or neither did Ware until yesterday. All I can say is that its a long season. Funny how on the broadcast I may have misheard the comment but Haley was more worried about Spencer than Ware? Or something along those lines?

i noticed that as well

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

All I can say is that we have had four teams in a row try to march down the field on us in the waning moments of the game. Three of the four were successful, & either tied or beat us. The only one to be unsuccessful were the Panthers, and Butler was directly responsible.

If you're happy with a pass rush that has allowed that to happen, then you never watched the '65-'85 Cowboys. If they had you behind in the last minute, you were as good as beaten. Funny what you get used to. I, for one, will never be happy with stats like that.

 

[AdamJT13]

Funny how on the broadcast I may have misheard the comment but Haley was more worried about Spencer than Ware? Or something along those lines?

I didn't hear that, but he probably meant that they can focus their effort on blocking Ware, so he'd be worried that Spencer would cause a problem against 1-on-1 blocking on the other side. If that happened, they'd be in trouble, because they'd either have to max protect most of the time or have Cassel be a sitting duck for one or the other.

 

[YosemiteSam]

*I don't know if Victor Butler played yesterday or not. We didn't get the game in NE Ohio. However, I didn't see his name in the box score, so I'm just assuming here. If he DID play & was ineffective, then please ignore.

I don't get it. Rookie OLB Victor Butler went into the game against the Carolina Panthers for 6 plays during their final drive to try to pull out the game. He was in coverage on 1 play, so that makes only 5 pass rush plays. In those 5 plays, he had 2 sacks, (..and came within a whisker of a 3rd), 1 FF, (which the Cowboys recovered to win the game), and a tackle. Not bad for an entire GAME, let alone 5 plays.

I would say that that kind of production should merit more playing time. Since then, as far as I know, he has not smelled the field since. I could see if starting OLB Anthony Spencer was tearing up the league in sacks, or even QBHs, maybe FFs, but he's not. In fact, he has NO sacks in five GAMES. I believe he is the biggest reason that other teams are double-triple teaming DWare. Our old buddy Greg Ellis is doing quite well in Oakland, despite their record. He has 4 sacks already this year. He was the reason that opposing DCs hesitated using half the backfield to block Ware. They have no such worries now.

Spencer does a fine job in coverage & the run, but that's not why he was taken in the first round. He was taken to rush & SACK quarterbacks. He's not doing that. So, why not let a PROVEN player, who is tied for the team lead in sacks--in only 5 tries--play more in passing situations? His presence would take away some of the attention that DWare has been getting, and put more quickness & speed back into the Dallas pass rush.

When Butler went into the Panthers game, the Panthers were not a threat to run the ball. (behind with limited time on the clock) Butler has issue defending the run. If you put him in the game, you expose his side of the dline to the run.

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

When Butler went into the Panthers game, the Panthers were not a threat to run the ball. (behind with limited time on the clock) Butler has issue defending the run. If you put him in the game, you expose his side of the dline to the run.

That's why I suggested putting him in there in more "passing situations". Just like the Chiefs were not a threat to run the ball yesterday on that last drive of regulation. Put your best pass rushers in in those situations.

 

[odog422]

It came out that he overslept and was late for a team meeting last week and was held out either as discipline (accountability!!!) or because the team wondered if he was dependable enough after he did that. That was last week IIRC... Don't know about this week.

But yes, he has to play some, if only to give our starters a rest. Part of these last-minute failures on D are because these guys are gassed.

And the same thing goes for Curtis Johnson. Hopefully after the bye week these guys can get in the games more often.

And BTW, the box may not have shown it, but Spencer was very good yesterday.

Wow, didn't know about that. I thought he had a rep as a hard worker, too. Thanks.

 

[Hook'em#11]

I agree. You should increase his role. Not change it IMO. Not after one game against one of the worst teams in the league. All it takes is one game for Cowboys fans though lol. .People are still screaming for Ogletree to play.

And Crayton has had a couple of years to show something and hasn't. He is mediocre. Switch up Crayton and Austin, Hell, go with more 3 wides and get the playmakers on the field. No one is gonna overtake #11's spot, not with what Dallas gave up for him. And he will continue to be average, like the rest of the WR's.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Is this like one of those where's waldo games?

 

[JustDezIt]

I didn't hear that, but he probably meant that they can focus their effort on blocking Ware, so he'd be worried that Spencer would cause a problem against 1-on-1 blocking on the other side. If that happened, they'd be in trouble, because they'd either have to max protect most of the time or have Cassel be a sitting duck for one or the other.

I believe what was said was that when the announcer's were talkin to Cassel leading up to the game they asked about cowboys players and the first person he mentioned was Spencer.

 

[NextGenBoys]

Austin should go back to #3. What he has earned is more PT, not the starting job.

Agreed.

The Chiefs tackling was atrocious. Let's not put him in Canton yet.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I'm not complaining about Spencer's play this season.

I just think Butler should get some snaps in passing situations to give Ware/Spencer some breathers. I'm tired of seeing Ware gassed at the end of the game because he has to play every snap.

I know, but Cogan kinda was. But sometimes it's hard to get the full picture just from the box score.

And I agree about giving the starting OLBs a breather. We really need Curtis Johnson back... I have a feeling he'd have been first off the bench just because he does have a year of experience in the league and isn't a totally raw rookie.

Wow, didn't know about that. I thought he had a rep as a hard worker, too. Thanks.

Oh, he does, and he is a great, great kid. He just made a mistake.

And I do think they'll work him in more going forward. Besides what he did against Carolina, he's passing the old Parcells test of excelling on special teams first. I don't know what the stats say, but it looks like he's in on every single kickoff return tackle.

 

[JBell]

I saw him get at least one snap.

 

[RealCowboyfan]

*I don't know if Victor Butler played yesterday or not. We didn't get the game in NE Ohio. However, I didn't see his name in the box score, so I'm just assuming here. If he DID play & was ineffective, then please ignore.

I don't get it. Rookie OLB Victor Butler went into the game against the Carolina Panthers for 6 plays during their final drive to try to pull out the game. He was in coverage on 1 play, so that makes only 5 pass rush plays. In those 5 plays, he had 2 sacks, (..and came within a whisker of a 3rd), 1 FF, (which the Cowboys recovered to win the game), and a tackle. Not bad for an entire GAME, let alone 5 plays.

I would say that that kind of production should merit more playing time. Since then, as far as I know, he has not smelled the field since. I could see if starting OLB Anthony Spencer was tearing up the league in sacks, or even QBHs, maybe FFs, but he's not. In fact, he has NO sacks in five GAMES. I believe he is the biggest reason that other teams are double-triple teaming DWare. Our old buddy Greg Ellis is doing quite well in Oakland, despite their record. He has 4 sacks already this year. He was the reason that opposing DCs hesitated using half the backfield to block Ware. They have no such worries now.

Spencer does a fine job in coverage & the run, but that's not why he was taken in the first round. He was taken to rush & SACK quarterbacks. He's not doing that. So, why not let a PROVEN player, who is tied for the team lead in sacks--in only 5 tries--play more in passing situations? His presence would take away some of the attention that DWare has been getting, and put more quickness & speed back into the Dallas pass rush.

I feel the same way that Victor Butler should get some time to get to the Quarterback and make a name for himself. I feel as if it is unfair to have playmakers that can't make plays cause the coaches just believe in letting the high-paid players get most of the playing time.