Scouting Report: WR Deon Butler

[DraftBoy]

Deon Butler-WR-Penn State
http://i.usatoday.net/sports/_photos/2007/10/13/pennstatex.jpg

Height: 5'11
Weight: 168
40: 4.47

Pros:
-Hands
-Durability
-Consistency
-Emotional Leader

Cons:
-Bulk
-Speed
-Work Back to QB
-Blocking

Overall:
Butler is a former walk-on at Penn State who came in with Derrick Williams and Jordan Norwood and they all suffered through a bit of inconsistent QB play for the Lions which hurt them all. Butler himself is scary thin for the NFL at under 170, he will really need to hit the weight room. He needs to work at coming back to the QB when a play breaks down and getting himself open to bail out his QB. Butler however does posses great hands, and has been nothing but consistent at Penn State. He is an emotional leader on the field who is not afraid to show a little something when he makes a big play.

Stats:
2008-47 Catches, 810 Yards, 7 TD
2007-47 Catches, 633 Yards, 4 TD
2006-48 Catches, 637 Yards, 2 TD
2005-37 Catches, 691 Yards, 9 TD
Career-179 Catches, 2771 Yards, 22 TD

Bowl Games:
2008-4 Catches, 97 Yards v. USC
2007-4 Catches 59 Yards, 1 TD v. Texas A&M
2006-3 Catches, 73 yards v. Tennessee
2005-1 Catch, 13 Yards v. FSU

[PECKERWOOD]

Roscoe Parrish?

[DraftBoy]

Roscoe Parrish?

No far more polished coming out that Parrish and not as quick or fast. He's a better WR than that.

[psubills62]

Thanks for posting this! I'd personally rather have Butler than Parrish. He's not really fast or quick, but he gets open because of good route-running. I want Butler or someone like him (Mike Thomas, Jarrett Dillard) to replace Parrish this year.

[treydawg]

I'm not sure why his knock is speed, he's got plenty of it. I'd expect him to run a low 4.4. He had trouble showing up in big games but was stuck with a garbage QB in Morelli. He had a great game against USC in the Rose Bowl. He's a great deep threat...makes over the shoulder catches look easy.

[treydawg]

Also, he checked in at 180+ pounds at the combine, very surprising to me.

[Mitchell55]

Sounds like Laverneus Coles.

[TigerJ]

Thanks for posting this! I'd personally rather have Butler than Parrish. He's not really fast or quick, but he gets open because of good route-running. I want Butler or someone like him (Mike Thomas, Jarrett Dillard) to replace Parrish this year.The impressions we have of players is fascinating. You've obviously watched Butler, being a Penn State guy, and had the impression he wasn't fast or quick. He3 just ran a 4.26 at the combine, probably one of the 5 fastest 40s in the history of the combine, and the second fastest so far this year (by .01 second) Either he's been working hard (and successfully) to increase his speed, or he just didn't use it that much in games.

[treydawg]

The impressions we have of players is fascinating. You've obviously watched Butler, being a Penn State guy, and had the impression he wasn't fast or quick. He3 just ran a 4.26 at the combine, probably one of the 5 fastest 40s in the history of the combine, and the second fastest so far this year (by .01 second) Either he's been working hard (and successfully) to increase his speed, or he just didn't use it that much in games.

I'm not sure what that guy was watching, I'm about as big a PSU fan as you'll find and Butler always had the speed to burn. I think my previous post was pretty spot on.

[LtFinFan66]

4.38 official combine time

[psubills62]

The impressions we have of players is fascinating. You've obviously watched Butler, being a Penn State guy, and had the impression he wasn't fast or quick. He3 just ran a 4.26 at the combine, probably one of the 5 fastest 40s in the history of the combine, and the second fastest so far this year (by .01 second) Either he's been working hard (and successfully) to increase his speed, or he just didn't use it that much in games.

I did get to watch him play a decent amount, but I'll be the first to say that I don't zero in on any players in particular. So I guess he proved me wrong. I'd love to get him in the later rounds, fast 40 or not.

This draft is loaded with guys who could easily replace Parrish, like Butler, Jarrett Dillard, or Mike Thomas. I'd be happy with any of them.

[DraftBoy]

A fast 40 time is not always the same as game speed. While Butler's 40 time is very impressive and a surprise, he has never been considered a burner by any means.