Carolina Panthers select DT Vernon Butler

[Pox 08]

I love the pick.     I envision Butler getting a lot of play time next season.  Between DT rotation and at DE,  when we pull Charles Johnson out the game every few plays to let him rest.   :D

[aussiePanther]

9 minutes ago, KillerKat said:

But we have a few positions where the pick could've become an eventual starter though.

What the actual fug?

(You don't think Butler *could* become an *eventual* starter?)

[KillerKat]

Just now, aussiePanther said:

What the actual fug?

(You don't think Butler *could* become an *eventual* starter?)

Not if we resign Star. Or unless we plan on putting him at DE when CJ leaves? Idk if we would do that though.

[Catufb85]

I've never felt more confident in our front office, HC and GM combo, than these two right here. Gettleman is the fugging man. "Are we gonna draft a Carna? Yeah I think so" with a grin and laugh.

http://m.panthers.com/media-vault/videos/Gettleman-Rivera-Butler-is-going-to-help-us/4ae4cb2c-5f5f-447c-9384-122565f81262

[aussiePanther]

It seems to me that far too many people fail to see the obvious and basic difference between "rotational" and "depth". You need more than 2 DTs on a roster.

 

Also for some reason after seeing it work for three years the idea that you draft true BPA (for your system/schemes) and fill needs in FA seems to be hard to grasp.

 

[gorillamilitia13]

love it. dude seems like he can be come a force in the league.

[Apotheosis]

For most of us this is a nutty football pick. Keep in mind, for Gettleman this is a business pick. This may give him financial leverage going into next year.

[caatfan]

4 minutes ago, Apotheosis said:

for Gettleman this is a business pick.

As in the business of playing football. 

[aussiePanther]

Just now, caatfan said:

As in the business of winning football. 

FTFY

[KB_fan]

8 hours ago, aussiePanther said:

Refer to the snap counts already posted in this thread, Short had too many, Soliai replaces Dwan. Plenty of snaps left for Butler as everyone gets rotated more than last year. Less late game defensive drop-offs as a result.

I think this is a good point.  Look at the snap counts again (I'm assuming these include post-season?  I forget):

Kawann Short — 897

Star Lotulelei — 633

Dwan Edwards — 447

Kyle Love — 343

 

KK played 19 games  (avg. 47 snaps per game)

Star played 17 games  (avg 37 snaps per game)

Dwan played 15 games  (avg 29.8 snaps per game)

Kyle played 18 games (avg 19 snaps per game)

There are usually about 65-70 defensive snaps per game, let's call it 70 for a nice round number.  Multiply by 2 DTs = 140 snaps to go around.  

So we could do something like KK 40 snaps / Butler 30 /   Star 30 /   Soliai / Love 20 each.   Quite a luxury.  Don't know if we'll have roster space to carry 5 DTs, but given that KK slides outside sometimes (I think?) it could work...  Gives us amazing depth.  

Sure, this is perhaps a luxury pick.  But I love that we're good enough that we can do that, that we're free to go BPA.

YES I want a good corner (or two).  YES I want a great offensive weapon (H Henry or Shepard.... or perhaps a RB like Derrick Henry), We probably should grab a safety.  Another pass rusher (DE) seems like it would help.  But I can't be mad at Gettleman being true to who he is and the vision of how he and Ron want to build this football team.  It's exciting.

[XClown1986]

Drafting Vernon Butler is like having a heavyweight fight where one side gets to let two fighters alternate in beating the hell out of the opponent until he doesnt get back up.

[aussiePanther]

5 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

Don't know if we'll have roster space to carry 5 DTs

Same number as last year, Star, Short, Dean, Love, & Cole.

Love may not get dressed every Sunday, maybe.

[aussiePanther]

Stupid phone won't let me change Dean to Dwan in that last comment.

Other thing I wanted to say was that Butler will almost certainly be behind Short, not Star. Although they'll likely both (Short & Butler) be in for obvious passing downs like 3rd & long.

[KB_fan]

Just now, aussiePanther said:

Same number as last year, Star, Short, Dean, Love, & Cole

IIRC We cut Cole about 1 month into the season - I think it was when CJ got hurt and we sent him to short-term IR and replaced him with Jared Allen AND Ryan Delaire..  So, if I'm correct, we started the season with 5 DTs / 4 DEs and then switched to 4 DTs / 5 DEs

Beginning of season:

DT:  KK, Star, Dwan Edwards, Kyle Love, Colin Cole

DE:  CJ, Ealy, Addison, Horton

 

Mid Season:

DT: KK, Star, Edwards, Love

DE:  Allen, Ealy, Addison, Horton, Delaire

 

Late Season

DT:  KK, Star, Edwards, Love

DE:  Allen, CJ, Ealy, Addison, Delaire  (Horton got waived, then brought back to PS)