Darius Butler

Denver placed Warren on injured reserve in September.

CB Darius Butler, Carolina Panthers – I felt New England gave up too early on the athletic Butler. He was promoted to starter for the last three games and has three passes defended this year.

Continue reading "Better Off Without Them"

cover corner for big receivers, is waiting behind Devin McCourty, Leigh Bodden, Kyle Arrington, and Darius Butler. Marcus Cannon slid further back with All-Pro guard Logan Mankins re-signed.

LB Markell Carter has practically no chance at seeing the field as a project out of Central Arkansas. QB Ryan Mallett’s only hope is garbage time in blowouts. DB Malcolm Williams’ best shot is making it on special teams.

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In time someone would emerge as the leader in Bodden’s absence. Most thought it would be Darius Butler, but freelancing and doing his own thang led to Butler being benched while Ivy Leaguer Kyle Arrington worked his way from rookie free agent to starter. 

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and Green Bay took Matthews. 

With the picks New England got for trading down, they took CB Darius Butler and WRs Brandon Tate and Julian Edelman in the 2009 Draft. A year later they used one of the Green Bay picks with a sixth round pick to move up and select TE Rob Gronkowski. 

Continue reading "Which is Better for the Patriots?"

ully Banta-Cain was replaced by rookie Jermaine Cunningham and CB Kyle Arrington was moved ahead of Darius Butler. 

Head coach Bill Belichick wouldn’t say either decision was a benching. Belichick said the team has to improve in all areas and the changes could just be cases of adjusting to match-ups. 

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CB Check-up: You can guarantee that Jets QB Mark Sanchez will be instructed to go after Darius Butler and rookie Devin McCourty instead of constantly throwing to check down receivers. 

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OT Sebastian Vollmer, WR Julian Edelman, CB Darius Butler, LS Jake Ingram and DL Myron Pryor all saw significant time in their rookie year. Expect a bigger contribution from them, as well as S Pat Chung, DL Ron Brace and WR Brandon Tate getting on the field often in 2010. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 1"

Now the starters likely will be second year Darius Butler and rookie Devin McCourty. 

Besides taking a chunk out of the team’s depth, losing Bodden and the experience he could share with the young corners on the team will be costly. The little things Leigh notices during the course of the game that he could share with the youngsters would be invaluable. The insights Bodden would recognize can’t always been seen by the safeties. 

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Who plays opposite of him is up in the air. The favorite has to be Darius Butler after an encouraging rookie season that included three interceptions and a pick six. But first round picks like Devin McCourty aren’t interested in taking a back seat to anyone. The loser becomes the third corner, which still means a lot of significant playing time. Jonathan Wilhite proved he’s not starting material and Terrence Wheatley lags behind because he’s been fragile as a pro. 

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atriots’ need, with 1 not a need and 5 being urgent:Secondary

Shawn Springs, Leigh Bodden, Darius Butler, Jonathan Wilhite, Terrence Wheatley, Brandon Merriweather, Brandon McGowan, Pat Chung, Kyle Arrington, James Sanders

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Terrible. Just plain terrible. 

4. A tip of the hat goes to CB Darius Butler as he had his first career interception return for a touchdown, off a pass that went through the hands of Texans receiver Jacoby Jones. Expectations for Butler next year will be high. 

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He finished with two tackles. 

5. Just as I moaned about the play of CB Jonathan Wilhite, Darius Butler got the start in his place. He was treated like a rookie as Miami constantly tested him. Welcome to the league, Butler. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 13"

Rookie corner back Darius Butler has twice as many interceptions and the same number of passes defended as the third corner. 

Yes we have high standards when it comes to cornerbacks. We were fortunate enough to have Ty Law for his prime years. And he was followed by Asante Samuel’s two years of brilliance. I wasn’t expecting Wilhite or Wheatley to be the next in line, but hoping for the next Jimmy Hitchcock or Tyrone Poole didn’t seem like asking too much. 

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Cornerback – Malcom Jenkins and Vonta Davis were selected in the first round, but Darius Butler has more interceptions than either one. In defense of Davis, he was thrust into a starting role in Miami as injuries plagued the Dolphins secondary. He’s part of a young unit ranked 21st in pass defense. Davis does have a pick-six, though. As do New York Giants’ Bruce Johnson and Indianapolis’ Jacob Lacey. Advantage: Even 

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Defensive linemen Myron Pryor and Ron Brace were part of the rotation in the season opener. Darius Butler and Pat Chung had small roles early, but are getting more and more time. And when LT Matt Light went down, Sebastian Vollmer stepped right in without the offense losing a beat. 

Continue reading "Rookie of the First Half"

They grow up so quick. OT Sebastian Volmner and CB Darius Butler got their first starts of their careers. Butler made the best of it, coming away with his first interception. 

3. Another rookie that got his first taste of the pro life was QB Brian Hoyer. He led a touchdown drive that ended with his first career rush touchdown. 

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corner back and signing Deltha O’Neal), the Pats again addressed the problem area by drafting Darius Butler and signing veterans Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden. 

The results so far: Zero interceptions. 

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Safety Brandon McGowan was a late addition after two rookies, CB Darius Butler and S Pat Chung, were drafted with plans to develop them for down the road. 

While the turnover of the secondary was thorough, it seemed the coaches intended to just tweak the front seven, as if slight adjustments would fix everything. 

Continue reading "Out of Reach"

There is room for improvement, though. Darius Butler’s pass interference set up the Redskins’ first touchdown. It was a costly 23-yard penalty. 

Kevin O’Cut Him – Kevin O’Connell had another chance to establish himself as the unquestioned number two quarterback and failed miserably. He was jittery all night and threw two interceptions. Unless the team knows something about him that we don’t, similar to Matt Cassell last year, I don’t expect O’Connell to make the team. 

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CB Jonathan Wilhite wasn’t beat deep and Darius Butler got an interception to prevent a 2-point conversion. Safetys Tank Williams and Brandon Merriweather blitzed well. 

Pass Rush – Rob Ninkovich got good pressure against second and third units. What will he do against better competition? Tully Banta-Cain and Myron Pryor got a sack each.

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Rookie CB Darius Butler was a returner in college, CB Terrance Wheatley had the dual role as well, and WR Matt Slater was drafted, in part, for his return skills, though he hasn’t done well returning kickoffs. He averaged 14 yards and had two fumbles before the coaching staff pulled Slater off of the return team. Matt might get another chance. 

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Rookie CB Darius Butler was a returner in college, CB Terrance Wheatley had the dual role as well, and WR Matt Slater was drafted, in part, for his return skills, though he hasn’t done well returning kickoffs. He averaged 14 yards and had two fumbles before the coaching staff pulled Slater off of the return team. Matt might get another chance. 

Continue reading "Specialists Wanted"

ings and Leigh Bodden, 2008 draft picks Terrance Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite, and 2009 draft pick Darius Butler. The early favorites probably are the veterans, but the pups will be on heels of Springs and Bodden, angling to snag a role in the secondary. 

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Well actually, CB Darius Butler hasn’t done anything yet. But his agent and the Patriots reached an agreement. And after the contract is faxed back and forth, Butler will sign it and officially become a Patriot. 

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The toughest group to get signed likely will be the four second round picks, DT Ron Brace, CB Darius Butler, S Patrick Chung, and OT Sebastian Vollmer. And ultimately I expect the drafted dozen to all be under contract by the time training camp starts on July 30th.  

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is done, or is Shawn still effective? 

Besides the two veterans New England also drafted CB Darius Butler and safety Patrick Chung. The return of CB Terrence Wheatley from a season-ending wrist injury also makes the battle in the secondary interesting. 

Continue reading "Brady Back, but Patriots Still Not Complete"

A few more new names to associate to old numbers: 

27: Darius Butler - Drafted in the second round, he must had been handed the jersey by Ellis Hobbs as he was traded to Philadelphia on the second day. Hobbs won’t be missed, and I hope Butler will give us better memories of 27 making plays instead of giving up plays. 

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Click here to check out a slideshow Eyeball Test for the prominent New England Patriots rookies.

Continue reading "New England Patriots Rookie Eyeball Test"

And Darius Butler makes the third rookie CB in the last two years to join the team, hopefully he can make some plays.

Other than those two guys we probably won't see much out of the rest at least until 2010. Of course, that's still a good thing. Alot of teams won't see anything out of their draftees at all. At least with Belichick making the picks you trust a couple of them will contribute somewhere down the line.

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And of course New England just drafted Darius Butler. 

But that wasn’t enough as Hobbs was swept out like shards from the broken secondary. 

Truth be told, Hobbs will be missed in the return game. He was a heck of a kickoff returner with three career touchdown returns. But there are enough candidates to replace him, whether Matt Slater, rookie Brandon Tate or someone else wins the job. 

Continue reading "Ellis Hobbs: Addition by Subtraction"

-technique as well and he's more like a Jarvis Green-replacerrather than a Wilfork-replacer.

Darius Butler: Don Banks had us taking him at 23rd overall, a move I wasn't a big fan of, but at 41 I'm excited to get Butler. He's played some receiver as well, not a shocker, he's versatile. Ultimately Butler made Ellis Hobbs expendable and now we're looking at a Shawn Springs - Leigh Bodden - TerrenceWheatley -Jonathan Wilhite - Butler battle this summer. 

Continue reading "Notes on a New England Patriots Draft Weekend"

But half the players are projects. The only player linked to the Pats was CB Darius Butler. The other prospect that could contribute now is DT Ron Brace. Otherwise, I'm not wild about S Patrick Chung and OT Sebastian Vollmer. Chung can hit and play the run, but is a liability in pass coverage. and Vollner sounds like a year or two project for the right side.

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g in his latest mock draft that he has it on good authority that the Patriots love UConn cornerback Darius Butler and will take him at #23 overall.

Banks made a similar call on Mayo last year so I can't really doubt his connections, but of course things get a lot more murky and harder to predict when you're at #23 overall instead of in the top ten. Should another player fall I don't doubt the Patriots would pounce but I think it's probably safe to say that Butler would be the safe bet assuming things unfold as the Pats scouting department thinks they will.

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Some believe Belichick is high on UConn CB Darius Butler. Fine. They take him with the 34th pick. 

Finally the 47th pick. I’ve looked at a few mocks that project at least two rounds and they all say Iowa RB Shonn Greene will be available. It wouldn’t take the whole five minutes to make the thick ball carrier the selection. OK,everybody can go home now. 

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