Deon Butler Scouting Report

by BSD on Jan 13, 2009 10:53 AM EST Comment 49 comments

Deon Butler is apparently turning heads at this week's East/West Shrine game.

Deon Butler(Penn State) was by far the most sudden and explosive player on the East roster. Most of the time the defensive back was reacting to Butler’s break after Butler had already made at least one step out of it. He plays very fast and quick, but still very much under control. Butler is also clearly a natural hands catcher, as evidenced by the ball making the soft “thwip” every time he caught it. Good deep ball tracking, sideline awareness (getting both feet in on an out pattern), and the ability to adjust to errant passes rounded out the skills shown by the most outstanding player in Monday East practice. Butler seems to be on a different level than most of his East teammates – he probably belongs in the Senior Bowl.

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If he ends up a late round pick/free agent

Someone’s going to get a steal. He’s undersized, but he doesn’t drop ANYTHING.

John Madden told me 90% of the game was half-mental...

by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on Jan 13, 2009 10:57 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

He’ll make a nice little possession receiver for someone and have a nice NFL career.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 13, 2009 11:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

bobby engram and joe jurevicius

come to mind.

For the glory

by lionalum05 on Jan 13, 2009 3:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Unlikely - he is the longest of long shots

A 170 lb. receiver who isn’t particularly fast.

If he wants to play over the middle he’ll need another 20 pounds, and that’s what possession receivers do (primarily) in the NFL.

In any given year there are only about a dozen players (at all positions) less than 175 in the NFL.

I see comparisons here to Engram and Chrebet but both those guys play(ed) at 190 lbs.

Comparisons to Jurevicius are ridiculous, he’s half a foot taller and 60 lbs. heavier than Butler – they are completely different players.

by DK Jr. on Jan 14, 2009 12:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Steve Smith (Carolina version)

5’9", 185. He’s not prototypical for what he does either, but I think I’d take him on my team. If Deon finds a coach that’s smart enough to utilize his route running ability, he could very well have a long career as a 2 or 3 receiver. Also 5’9", 185? Wes Welker. Don’t underestimate him just because he’s a bit small- 15 lbs of muscle wouldn’t be that hard to put on. A smart team will utilize him well.

John Madden told me 90% of the game was half-mental...

by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on Jan 14, 2009 1:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If Butler puts on 15 pounds...

and drops his 40 time under 4.4 then he will be similar to Steve Smith.

I’ll believe it when I see it. First, he has to add the 15 pounds which isn’t as easy as you suggest for a 170 pound person. It’s basically increasing body weight by around 10% without loss of agility or body control. Then he has to get faster.

The Welker scenario is closer, as Welker isn’t any faster than Butler. I said Deon would need 20 more pounds, but if you want to say 15 and use Wes Welker as example, I’m interested – let’s analyze what needs to happen. First, Welker has a very specific role, unique in the NFL. He runs underneath routes in front of a defense dropping back to defend Randy Moss and averages about 10.5 yards per catch.

So we are saying Butler needs to:
-put on 15 pounds
-maintain his speed and agility
-get drafted by a team with Randy Moss at WR
-beat out the other dozens of WR with similar size/speed skills for this unique role (including Welker)

And then he’ll be in the same situation as one of the what? 1-3 players that succeed in the NFL at 5-9/10" and less than 190 pounds? If he played at PSU at 185 I’d be intrigued but like I said, he’s got a long road ahead of him. I’m not saying it can’t happen, but I’m reading posters here saying that he’s going to be a steal or projecting him as a great possession receiver along the lines of Bobby Engram, and that’s really stretching it.

by DK Jr. on Jan 14, 2009 1:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Those were just the two guys I could think of off the top of my head

And for a counterpoint- that I’m familiar with- James Hardy was a much more prototypical NFL WR, the Bills took him in the second round…and he had exactly 9 catches in an 14 game season (blew apart his knee). By comparison, if someone takes Deon late, or as a rookie free agent and gets anything out of him (which 9 catches is not hard to beat) he would be a bargain compared to that. I’ve just learned after four years of watching Deon not to doubt him.

John Madden told me 90% of the game was half-mental...

by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on Jan 14, 2009 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that's probably gonna be how it is

just like how it was with college recruiting. No one takes him seriously because of his size, but then he shows up at the camps and shows what he can really do. (Imagine if he had another 2-4 inches on him, without sacrificing his other abilities. He really does have amazing awareness of his surroundings and of what is going on) He likely won’t go early, but will make a contribution wherever he does go (though in the NFL he probably won’t be fast enough to make up for his size disadvantage). Wherever he does go, though, he’ll at least make some people smile and laugh.

by The JuggerNitt on Jan 13, 2009 11:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wayne Chrebet

comes to mind…

PSU Softball

by QBsneak12 on Jan 13, 2009 11:17 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Don Bebee too

" We need MORE cowbell !"

by BlueWhiteLife on Jan 13, 2009 12:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ed McCaffrey

For Denver

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 13, 2009 12:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ed McCaffrey

was like 6’5"…

PSU Softball

by QBsneak12 on Jan 13, 2009 12:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe we're just naming white recievers now?

"They haven't played us yet."

by ReadingRambler on Jan 13, 2009 12:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh

Let’s not go there.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 13, 2009 12:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Joe Jurevicius

Can’t have a white receiver list without Joe…

by IcersGuy on Jan 13, 2009 2:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Steve Largent

is the King of all these types of WRs we are talking about.

PSU Softball

by QBsneak12 on Jan 13, 2009 2:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He's why I took #80 in high school!

--
Mr. Bob Dobalina

by Run Up The Score on Jan 13, 2009 3:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Brain Brennan?

by Spats on Jan 15, 2009 9:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

But he was slow. Ge got by with good hands and precise routes. And it helped having John Elway for your quarterback.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 13, 2009 12:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

how bout Steve Smith?

I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member

by TheMightyErik on Jan 13, 2009 2:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Too crazy.

--
Mr. Bob Dobalina

by Run Up The Score on Jan 13, 2009 3:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Practice makes perfect

…and the ability to adjust to errant passes…

Where would he ever have seen any of those, I wonder?

There is a tractor in the parking lot, West Virginia license EIEIO. Your lights are on.

by leeharvey418 on Jan 13, 2009 12:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure...but either is this guy....

PSU Softball

by QBsneak12 on Jan 13, 2009 12:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I haven't seen a #14 pic for a while

So thank you for ruining my day.

by dawsonPSU10 on Jan 13, 2009 6:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Anyone realize

Not that he’s done anything to contribute but Wow, this guy is the 3rd string QB that is currently 1 game away from the superbowl.

by MrBrianPSU on Jan 14, 2009 4:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought he got cut?!

by millzners on Jan 14, 2009 9:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

http://www.nfl.com/teams/arizonacardinals/roster?team=ARI
Brian St. Pierre is the 3rd string

by millzners on Jan 14, 2009 9:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I stand corrected

by MrBrianPSU on Jan 14, 2009 9:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

#14

Did he even make the practice squad?

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 14, 2009 10:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Did he make the Practice Squad?

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jan 14, 2009 1:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

is this a better pic???

"We are Penn State. We are not normal. We are Legends." - Deon Butler

by Stately NOVA Lion on Jan 14, 2009 1:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How sad that no one seems to care that he is lying there

by letsgopsu on Jan 14, 2009 1:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If your not going to use your brain i'm going to take it from you!

PSU Softball

by QBsneak12 on Jan 14, 2009 2:30 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

After the play

James Laurinaitis helped #98 off the bottom of the pile. And then he was rewarded with half a sack.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 14, 2009 3:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That's because DC-17 was about to come in

And leave in a similar fashion.

by millzners on Jan 14, 2009 3:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

dammit

you beat me to it…..

World F#$king Champions

by psudrozz on Jan 14, 2009 5:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The pass he caught that was called back b/c he was "still in motion"

He darted around USC’s DB’s and safeties and made them look silly trying to catch him. And those are all future NFL prospects.

Butler will be fun to watch in the pros, I pray to Zug he goes to the Titans b/c they need a good receiver and I’d love to see him catch some Kerry Collins passes.

by millzners on Jan 13, 2009 12:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

FWIW

That was a ticky tack call that had nothing to do without how stupid Butler made those guys look on that play.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jan 13, 2009 4:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that's just awesome!

thanks for sharing….

by PSU Jen on Jan 14, 2009 9:06 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

In today's online Sporting News...

they said this (I assume they just got the school wrong):

Deon Butler, WR, UConn. Butler shows quick footwork and runs sharp routes, bursting out of cuts to separate from defenders. He stops and starts quickly. He flashes the hands to make good catches but has dropped a few he should have caught.

Here is the link to the whole issue, but you will probably need to do your own free subscription: http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingnewstoday/20090114/?sub_id=DFpirCOex7RLS&folio=CGI

Born and raised in the shadow of Mount Nittany

by Elihu on Jan 14, 2009 7:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs