Vernon Butler Louisiana Tech DT | Page 4

NYniner85 · 2016-02-06T05:39:27-08:00

he's 6-3 has 34 1/8 inch arms and weights 309 LBs This guy had been creating buzz all week at the Senior bowl and is moving up the boards. I've been watching a lot of tape of him and he could be a steal in the 2nd round! http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/vernon-butler?id=2555243 STRENGTHS Long-armed knee-bender who can play the role of low man at the point of attack. Plays with strong hands and good arm extension and can "peekaboo" both gaps as he reads which hole the running back heads for. Impressive stack and shed timing and power. Able to eat up double teams and keep his linebackers clean when asked to. Excellent athleticism. Can make plays all along the line of scrimmage. If blocker doesn't finish, Butler will work himself back into the play. Able to coordinate hands and feet smoothly and has change of direction and closing burst to become a dominant pass rusher from inside. Can slide from gap to gap as a pass rusher and is a perfect fit for twist-based defense. Generally attacks gaps with forward lean and ability to corner the edge when he has his man beat. Can stutter-step into pass rush to disrupt offensive lineman's timing or generate a speed-to-power bull rush that can severely dent a pocket. Gives consistent effort and plays like a lead dog looking to eat. WEAKNESSES Build is athletic, but a little bit top heavy. Will play with inconsistent base when his pad level gets too high trying to win through the gaps. Will try to outmuscle his opponent when his initial pass rush gets stuck in neutral, rather than use counter moves. For all of his potential and talent, wasn't as productive as NFL scouts are used to. Plays with some wasted energy and motion and needs to work more efficiently. NFL COMPARISON Muhammad Wilkerson BOTTOM LINE Athletic interior lineman with long arms and outstanding athleticism that allows him to work on offensive linemen with a combination of power and quickness. Butler has a raw but diverse skillset as a pass rusher that should excite NFL evaluators who see the potential of what he can be with more coaching and experience. With his effort and defensive ball awareness, his ceiling appears to be high with a chance to become a high-level starter for an odd or even front defense. Here are what some of the scouts are saying: Louisiana Tech DT Vernon Butler "moves like he's 290 pounds", per ESPN's Todd McShay, despite having weighed in at the Senior Bowl at 325. http://www.rotoworld.com/recent/cfb/134623/vernon-butler NFL Media analyst Chase Goodbread believes scouts will "fall in love" with Louisiana Tech DT Vernon Butler. NFL.com's team of draft analysts worked over their favorite Senior Bowl sleepers, with Goodbread latching onto former Bulldog Butler. He noted that "[Butler]'s athletic, powerful, and would have held his own just fine in a Power Five conference." In 2015, the 6-foot-3, 309-pound stalwart registered 50 tackles (10 for loss) and three sacks on his way to picking up All-Conference USA first-team honors. He posted very similar numbers in 2014. It's not impossible to envision Butler cracking the first round if he impresses through the process.http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/134623/vernon-butler http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1999382/vernon-butler COMPARES TO: Johnathan Hankins, New York Giants - Both Hankins and Butler have the quickness and point of attack power to push the pocket to give blockers all they can handle. IN OUR VIEW: Butler lined up all over Louisiana Tech's multiple front, spending most of his time at three- and five-technique spots and moving inside to nose tackle in passing situations. He flashes on tape with the lower-body athleticism and upper-body power to stack blockers and make stops at or behind the line of scrimmage (23.5 tackles for loss as a starter). Butler plays balanced on his feet with coordinated movements, but needs to improve his pad level to better clear single blockers when not squared up. Although he needs to develop his pass rush technique, Butler will appeal to both even and odd fronts with his relentless playing temperament, lateral quickness and power to control the point of attack. Thoughts??

Mar 7, 2016 at 8:46 AM

#46

Heroism
Veteran
Posts: 26,911

A true 5technique that can slide inside and get after the QB as a 3technique in nickel is a rare commodity.
this guy has to be near the top of baalkes big board. Honestly, I would not be surprised one bit if he was the pick at 7. Has the makings of a classic baalke pick.

Mar 7, 2016 at 8:53 AM

#47

KajunNiner
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Posts: 778

No way he gets picked at 7.

Mar 7, 2016 at 9:08 AM

#48

Sims19849ers
Veteran
Posts: 5,419

Originally posted by KajunNiner:
No way he gets picked at 7.

Nobody is expecting that. Late 1st rounder but hopefully there at 37

[ Edited by Sims19849ers on Mar 7, 2016 at 10:30 AM ]

Mar 7, 2016 at 10:27 AM

#49

WRATHman44
Staff
Posts: 16,963

Originally posted by Sims19849ers:

Originally posted by NYniner85:
"Everybody (at the NFL Combine) loved" Louisiana Tech DL Vernon Butler, according to one NFL scout who spoke with Bob McGinn.

However, evaluators seem split on his NFL position. McGinn spoke to one scout who believes Butler is best as a 5-technique and another who said 3-technique and nose. "I'd be a little skittish of him there (late first round)," one evaluator said, stating second-round is more likely. We believe Butler is absolutely worth a first-round pick and Josh Norris ranks him as a top 20 prospect, comparing him to Mo Wilkerson.

His versatility is what will have teams excited. I think he could certainly go in the 1st but DL is deep and one will be there at 37. I hope it's him

I wouldn't mind going back into the first to try and snag Bullard, Butler, or Ogbah. Depending on FA of course (we are signing everyone).

Mar 7, 2016 at 10:29 AM

#50

Sims19849ers
Veteran
Posts: 5,419

Originally posted by WRATHman44:

Originally posted by Sims19849ers:

Originally posted by NYniner85:
"Everybody (at the NFL Combine) loved" Louisiana Tech DL Vernon Butler, according to one NFL scout who spoke with Bob McGinn.

However, evaluators seem split on his NFL position. McGinn spoke to one scout who believes Butler is best as a 5-technique and another who said 3-technique and nose. "I'd be a little skittish of him there (late first round)," one evaluator said, stating second-round is more likely. We believe Butler is absolutely worth a first-round pick and Josh Norris ranks him as a top 20 prospect, comparing him to Mo Wilkerson.

His versatility is what will have teams excited. I think he could certainly go in the 1st but DL is deep and one will be there at 37. I hope it's him

I wouldn't mind going back into the first to try and snag Bullard, Butler, or Ogbah. Depending on FA of course (we are signing everyone).

I would be on board with grabbing either of them. Bullard and Butler are my two favorite DLinemen after Buckner and Ogbah is my favorite pass rusher after or next to Spence. Hopefully we address the Oline in FA and maybe even OLB with Vernon or Irvin

Mar 22, 2016 at 9:59 AM

#51

NYniner85
Veteran
Posts: 119,337

Louisiana Tech DL Vernon Butler has been invited to the 2016 NFL Draft.

It was not disclosed whether Butler has been invited for the first day or beyond, but we think he is a top 20 prospect in this draft class. Butler tested like a bad athlete at the NFL Combine, however, he explains in the link below what went wrong and how it was corrected during the school's Pro Day. Butler displayed success in a variety of alignments, from outside the tackle to shading the center.
Source: The News Star Mar 22 - 12:05 PM

Man a top 20 pick?!

Mar 22, 2016 at 10:02 AM

#52

Sims19849ers
Veteran
Posts: 5,419

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Louisiana Tech DL Vernon Butler has been invited to the 2016 NFL Draft.

It was not disclosed whether Butler has been invited for the first day or beyond, but we think he is a top 20 prospect in this draft class. Butler tested like a bad athlete at the NFL Combine, however, he explains in the link below what went wrong and how it was corrected during the school's Pro Day. Butler displayed success in a variety of alignments, from outside the tackle to shading the center.
Source: The News Star Mar 22 - 12:05 PM

Man a top 20 pick?!

Saw him mocked to the Eagles about a month ago when they still had the 13th pick. But if he is in the top 20, that means another solid DL is dropping. If we grab Buckner at 7, I really don't care about the rest of them until later on like a Reader in the 5th. However, if we don't, that pick at 37 (or a trade up back into the 1st) will be crucial.

Mar 22, 2016 at 10:05 AM

#53

lamontb
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Posts: 33,401

Gonna have to trade back in the 1st to grab this guy.

Mar 22, 2016 at 10:12 AM

#54

Heroism
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Posts: 26,911

Not going to last very long. A guy this big, athletic and strong that can play NT, DE and rush the passer is a rare player.

Apr 6, 2016 at 2:10 AM

#55

tatdwolf49
Veteran
Posts: 3,206

Originally posted by lamontb:
Gonna have to trade back in the 1st to grab this guy.

I'm down with that plan

Apr 6, 2016 at 2:45 AM

#56

NinerSickness
Member
Posts: 8,897

Meh.

Apr 6, 2016 at 2:46 AM

#57

MadDog49er
Hall of Fame
Posts: 19,400

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Louisiana Tech DL Vernon Butler has been invited to the 2016 NFL Draft.

It was not disclosed whether Butler has been invited for the first day or beyond, but we think he is a top 20 prospect in this draft class. Butler tested like a bad athlete at the NFL Combine, however, he explains in the link below what went wrong and how it was corrected during the school's Pro Day. Butler displayed success in a variety of alignments, from outside the tackle to shading the center.
Source: The News Star Mar 22 - 12:05 PM

Man a top 20 pick?!

When they get invited to the combine, it means they are pretty much a top 40 lock. He has a ton of scheme versatility as an interior DL, and also as a jumbo-sized 34 DE. I expect his ceiling to be at 22 with the Texans, who have expressed some interest. Probably will go in that 26-36 range.

Apr 6, 2016 at 4:53 AM

#58

NYniner85
Veteran
Posts: 119,337

Originally posted by MadDog49er:

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Louisiana Tech DL Vernon Butler has been invited to the 2016 NFL Draft.

It was not disclosed whether Butler has been invited for the first day or beyond, but we think he is a top 20 prospect in this draft class. Butler tested like a bad athlete at the NFL Combine, however, he explains in the link below what went wrong and how it was corrected during the school's Pro Day. Butler displayed success in a variety of alignments, from outside the tackle to shading the center.
Source: The News Star Mar 22 - 12:05 PM

Man a top 20 pick?!

When they get invited to the combine, it means they are pretty much a top 40 lock. He has a ton of scheme versatility as an interior DL, and also as a jumbo-sized 34 DE. I expect his ceiling to be at 22 with the Texans, who have expressed some interest. Probably will go in that 26-36 range.

lol why couldn't you have said 26-37 range

Apr 11, 2016 at 3:50 PM

#59

49ersOnMINE
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Posts: 2,375

http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/Source-49ers-have-done-extensive-homework-on-DL-7241827.php

Apr 11, 2016 at 3:52 PM

#60

NYniner85
Veteran
Posts: 119,337

Originally posted by 49ersOnMINE:
http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/Source-49ers-have-done-extensive-homework-on-DL-7241827.php

Love love love this if we trade down this is who I want