Carson Butler, future diamond in the rough?
SI's Don Banks has pegged Carson Butler as one of the top 10 players to watch as possible undrafted FA's who could become legit NFL players (there has to be a more concise way to say that).
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/don_banks/04/07/welker/1…
5. Carson Butler, TE, Michigan -- Only 21, the Wolverines junior opted for the draft in part because his role in Michigan's offense disappeared when head coach Rich Rodriguez brought the spread offense to Ann Arbor. Butler is a bit of a project for a team that can afford to take its time with him, but he's 6-5, 257 pounds, with an arm-span of more than seven feet. His 4.6 speed should also prove tempting, because it's faster than your typical NFL tight end.
I'm not really sure what to think about this, so was curious what other people's reactions were. And I'm not much on the interwebs posting, so my bad if i did this wrong.
Not as bad as Kiper lauding Butler's excellent blocking ability, but he's a freak athlete without the X factor. Maybe like Matt Jones without the love for drugs.
Carson Butler does have a lot of potential if he keep can his attitude in check and maintain a solid work ethic.
and many athletes have failed because they lacked these. If Butler can turn this around, he could be very good. Unfortunately, that is true for a ton of guys whom never played in the NFL.
His role in the offense didn't disappear, unless you count "losing your starting spot to a true freshman because he's already better".
Butler has great physical talent, but didn't seem to want to work at it, because if he worked at it there's no way in hell Koger would have been starting last year. But he was allergic to blocking (LOL KIPER) and never seemed to have the impact he should have, whether the QB was Henne or Threet.
He lost his starting spot because he threw a punch at a Notre Dame player and was already in the doghouse to begin with. I don't think Koger was better.
This theory doesn't make sense.
If he lost his spot because he threw a punch at a ND player, then what did the coaches say? Did they say "Okay, you're really undisciplined so you can't play tight end anymore. But if you want playing time, you can switch to defensive end!"?
If you're in the doghouse and you're not going to play because of it, then they don't switch your position and then give you PT.
Butler is still a freak athlete and i'm sure getting paid wouldn't hurt his motivation.
Just think what kind of college player he could have been if he had gone to OSU.
he cant block worth shit. putting him in at TE is basically laying ur QB out to dry. I think hed be better used as a hybrid WR.
He fought with Carr and then got a second chance when RR showed up, and fought with him. Not only can he not block but he also gets a ton of false-start penalties. He might contribute on special teams in the NFL.
Can't block? False start penalties? Hello, Detroit Lions!