Darius Butler

I'm a UofL fan. I've seen D. Butler play once live, and 2 other times on Television. Just my impressions: nice hips, a little smallish, don't make too much of him paying offense (UConn just doesn't have much outside offensively) but does have plus ball skills, above average coverage, can play man but size questions on jam, seems like a natural fit for a zone team, would like to see a little better run support for him to realistically fit was PB will want from his corners....reminds me of Justin Miller a few years ago from Clemson who currently plays for NYJ.

 

Darius Butler is a stud. He also plays WR. Kiper's #2 senior CB. Great return man. He would be just the type of ball-hawking corner we need.

 

Butler's got my vote!!!!!!

Are you kidding me, Darius Butler is a steal. I have seen him play quite a bit.
He is just fine vs. big recievers. all of last year he gave up just 1 touchdown and that was well defended. He is an off the chart athlete just ask Mel Kiper, Todd Mc shay and a host of other NFL scouts,GM's and Agents. He plays Reciever because he can,lets remember this is division 1 football. He has 4.3 to 4.2 type speed with a 42 inch vertical,long arms which make up for any smallishness. He is also a very smart,instinctive player who also brings good Character and leadership skills to the team having been a 2-time Team Captain. After the Combine don't be surprised if Darius Butler is the first corner off the board.

 

Can't help thinking he's primarily suited to zone coverage.

 

I'd bet my life he never surpasses vontae or malcolm

 

I know you're high on Davis, but I want to see him run because I don't think he has elite speed and I also think he switches off far too often for my liking. Good player, but he's certainly nowhere close to being the finished article.

 

His own coaches have said that they feel he is not playing near the level he was at last year. He has got the I'm great persona creeping in and he may not be doing the things that got him to this point. I see him relying on talent more and more over being fundamentally sound.

And, he's Vernon Davis' little brother - so that should be noted in case of attitude.

 

I think he's believing his own hype. This won't bode well for him especially given his brother's reputation within league circles.

 

What about the Mizzou transfer to Jackson State, Dominique Johnson? What I can't figure out about him is why he needed to transfer out of Mizzou. He's certainly dominating the Jackson State level, and he's 6'2" and 200+ with 4.40 type speed (if not faster).

I also like Joe Burnett in sort of a Dwight Lowery way.

 

I think there's some terrific mid level corners in this draft. Burnett is certainly one of them. Keenan Lewis, Kevin Akin, Vic Hall, etc.

 

Burnett also has some pretty nice return skills to boot. I know he burned my Hurricanes a few times with those skills in this years game.

 

What is you guys impression of Victor Mach Harris from the VT Hokies? Nice size for a corner 6'0" 196 lbs. with a reported speed of 4.45. Besides the intangibles I have watched him play for the past 3 seasons and he is a physical corner with some nice ball skills, has averaged 4 picks a year.

 

As for Domonique Johnson, it apparently was to do with him joining the fraternity. He says:

I also note that he was suspended a couple of times as a sophomore, but has since gotten engaged and calmed down a bit.

He also ran a 4.38 at the Mizzou Pro Day a year ago but claims to have run a 4.32

 

Sounds like his story checks out a bit. Someone to keep an eye on, definitely.

And Joe Burnett is a highly gifted return man but he's got some genuine skills in the secondary. Game after game I've watched him and he's just out there making plays all the time. Against South Florida I remember watching him, he returned 3 punts for 71 yards, 3 kicks for 135 yards and a TD, he blocked a kick, had a TFL, batted down a couple of passes. Everyone else on UCF in that game I remember was just out there to play UFC and not football, they just wanted to beat down USF because they felt insulted by them and so they got personal foul after personal foul after personal foul. Joe Burnett was the only guy on D that I remember watching and thinking, this guy is playing as passionately as the other guys, but he's also playing FOOTBALL and not street fighting.

Career 13.7 yard punt return average on 90 punt returns, with 3 punt return TDs. Career 30.8 yard kick return average on 21 kick returns, with 2 kick return TDs. 31 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked kick, 11 TFLs, 177 tackles in 45 games. An experienced football player, a passionate play maker.

 

And btw, this coaching staff appears to be dead set against Ginn doing punt returns. Burnett's 13.7 yard career punt return average is not far behind Ginn's 14.1 yard college average, though Ginn's 6 TDs in 64 returns definitely beats Burnett's 3 TDs in 90 returns. Burnett's kick returning has been flat out better than Ginn's college kick returns.

IF they are so dead set against Ginn on PRs...Burnett would be a damn sight better than Davone Bess back there. I have no doubt they will consider PR a need during the off season.

 

I agree.

 

He has three things I like; plant and drive, good hips, ball skills. He's also more than quick enough and can tackle.

 

What round will Burnett go in?

 

Too early to say.

 

Currently I have him in the mid rounds. 3-5.

But like Chris says, a lot can change.

 

I have seen most mock drafts having Victor Macho Harris going in the second round of next years. Would appreciate hearing any of the draft gurus analysis of his play and whether or not he is a potential pick for us?

 

He's big, he's a good tackler, he has decent hips. It'll be interesting to see whether he's targeted by teams playing man or in cover 2 systems as there are certainly some people who believe he's more suited to C2 and when you look at his lack of speed and his ball skills, you can probably see why. He's not a great plant and drive guy and whist he can turn and run, he can be susceptible down the field.

 

Thanks Boomer,

I know colleges can fudge the numbers especially when it comes to 40 times but as of right now the VT site has Macho's 40 time in the 4.4. range which seems pretty quick to me. I do like his size and physical play though. The fact that he actually holds on to an INT does not escape me either.