Deon Butler, future #1 receiver in Seattle.

by Joshua Kasparek on Nov 14, 2009 2:44 PM PST

I think sometimes a gift or ability is so subtle, it is often overlooked, or so rare it's hard to not want the flashy more visible abilities as comfort for the "Talent:" argument of your fanbase. It is even a rarer situation to have a shot at a player with rare gifts combined with the flashy ones.

I watched clips of Deon Butler after we picked him on draft day. I was so amazed. Not for his flashy speed or quick 1st to 4th gear acceleration but because he reminded me of someone, Darrell Jackson. Deon Butler had the same natural burst on the snap that left him a step ahead of defensive backs. Darrell Jackson wasn't flashy and didn't have brilliant speed, but his burst off the snap got him open against some of the most talented corners in the league. I think Deon Butler's skill set leaves him with the chance to be a great receiver at the number one spot in that mold. (hold your drops comments)

Darrell Jackson only weighed 194 lbs for most of his career, so the idea that butler needs to be so much bigger to avoid jams is a worry for worry sake. My case and point is the game against the Redskins in the playoffs in 2005. The Redskins wanted to run exclusive press coverage against the Seahawks receivers because they were playing a five man defensive line to stop the invincible run attack. Shawn Springs a big corner and superb athlete at the position could not keep up with Jackson's first move the entire game and only managed to jam him legitimately twice, most times his reactions only allowed him to get one hand on D-jack and then he was always in the trail position by nearly 2 and a half steps.

If you watched Jimmy Smith, Jerry Rice, Torry Holt. They all had this simple great burst off the snap.There are some other factors, but this burst at the snap means he's ahead of every db on most plays. I know it seems too simple, but if Deon Butler can be taught to harness this gift he has a career catching 72-yard slants for touchdowns and chances to set Seahawks receiving records for years to come.

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If Deon Butler does become Seattle's #1 receiver, it will be because he outperformed the current guys on the roster

or they left.

Sam Bradford, future Seattle Seahawk.

by Carl Shinyama on Nov 14, 2009 3:27 PM PST reply actions

and because Seattle has a crew of all #2 receivers.

"Football players are temperamental. That's 90 percent temper and 10 percent mental." - Doug Plank

by Stevo's on Nov 15, 2009 7:24 PM PST up reply actions

IMO

I think that Deon Butler will be everything we were hoping Jordan Kent would turn out to be.

2/3 of the world is covered by water. The rest is covered by Marcus Trufant.

by Chickadee on Nov 14, 2009 3:41 PM PST reply actions

That could be true.

I think the kent move was to try and replace Joe Jurevicious by size causing mismatches with a nice blend of speed. The problem with most big receivers though is that it takes an average of 3.5 seconds for their strides to create enough separation for a throwing window. Even if the kid had run better routes and caught the ball, he could not get open fast enough for a quick strike offense the way butler could. The hope for Butler then is a bit different then Kent.

by Joshua Kasparek on Nov 14, 2009 5:05 PM PST up reply actions

When we drafted him i watched clips of him running past guys

and was really excited. So far i am still hoping to see that unleashed in a game.

by el pato on Nov 14, 2009 4:33 PM PST reply actions

I think he has the ability.... BUT

At his size, it’s more likely he is used in alignments off the LOS to allow him to release.

Bring Your Game, Leave Your Name.

by iverson2169 on Nov 14, 2009 6:10 PM PST reply actions

Butler will replace Deion Branch

and hopefully do MORE than just replace Deion Branch. But I"m not sure if Butler, or Deion, could ever be called #1 WRs.

"Football players are temperamental. That's 90 percent temper and 10 percent mental." - Doug Plank

by Stevo's on Nov 14, 2009 9:22 PM PST reply actions

Could you have said that about D-Jack back when he was drafted in the 3rd round?

by Joshua Kasparek on Nov 15, 2009 12:21 AM PST up reply actions

He was drafted in the 2nd round.

by Brendan Scolari on Nov 16, 2009 1:18 PM PST up reply actions

Nope.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrell_Jackson

by redwolf75 on Nov 16, 2009 3:18 PM PST up reply actions

D-Jack was my favorite player, I wouldn't miss his facts

Here’s my favorite D-Jack fact, of all the 2000 WR he was the only one in the league after 2005. He was also the mast of the fade route when Hass was able to throw it.

by Joshua Kasparek on Nov 16, 2009 3:31 PM PST up reply actions

He was just about my favorite Seahawk while he was here, as well.

Underappreciated. Great interviews.

by jacobstevens on Nov 17, 2009 10:40 PM PST up reply actions

Duh. Branch will get dumped this offseason.

Or they’ll restructure his contract. Same with Kerney.

The demise of the Broncos in '09 is our future. Pray hard.

by Nick Andron on Nov 15, 2009 5:42 PM PST up reply actions

its saying a lot for a skinny 3rd rounder that many scouts didn't believe in.

"Football players are temperamental. That's 90 percent temper and 10 percent mental." - Doug Plank

by Stevo's on Nov 15, 2009 7:22 PM PST up reply actions

also, Butler has a long way to go before becoming as good as Branch Was.

I don’t think he’ll ever be as hard to cover as Branch was before his injuries.

"Football players are temperamental. That's 90 percent temper and 10 percent mental." - Doug Plank

by Stevo's on Nov 15, 2009 7:25 PM PST up reply actions

Butler's most impressive play (to me) today was an incomplete.

He was targeted in the endzone, Hass overthrew and attempted to throw an interception, Butler reached up and broke up the pass preventing the INT. Heads-up play from the rookie.

by thebyron on Nov 15, 2009 6:36 PM PST reply actions

Agreed.

Watching him today, it’s not his initial burst that he needs to master more so than his ability to track the ball and position himself after his initial burst.

Sam Bradford, future Seattle Seahawk.

by Carl Shinyama on Nov 15, 2009 8:29 PM PST up reply actions