Yeti Tackle ~ Vernon Butler ~ Louisiana Tech BullDogs ~ 6036/324
Regarding Yetii
Throughout the FootBall World, Defenses are undergoing Transformational, Revolutionary Change. Old Roles are getting dramatically transformed, and virtually every Front 7 ~ or Front 6!! ~ Defensive Job Description is transitioning into an Hybrid Role where the Defender is asked to excel in multiple Roles and in multiple Fronts.
For that reason, and in order to offer NomenClature that speaks not to archaic, obsolete "Positions", but rather to Skill Sets that accurately reflect the dynamic Changes of the 21st Century Game and the Roles they have spawned, I have undertaken to craft Terminology that is designed to break Skill Sets down as they really are.
Defensive Coordinators have, since Time Immemorial, employed highly creative terminology in devising Defenses and in designating Assignments. In that Spirit, I have admittedly indulged myself considerably in devising the following NomenClature. It is undeniably colorful, but I like to think that there's an underlying Logic, as well:
Yetii ~ Yetis have the Size of Nose Tackles but the WingSpan of Defensive Ends. As such, they are genuine Hybrids, and can conceivably line up anywhere from Tackle to Tackle, across from the Offensive Line.
The Prototype would be somewhere around 6050/325 or so.
Of course, where and how any given Coach chooses to deploy his Players is his Business. Players that I characterize as Yetis may often or even routinely do line up anywhere, on any given Down. My only purpose is simply to identify what I perceive as Skill Sets, to distinguish types, if you will, and perhaps create a universal Point of Reference.
When evaluating Yetii, this is how I break down the Attributes to which I pay most particular attention:
Power: Above all: Core Power. Torso Power is important, but Core Power, from the Knees to the Ribs, is absolutely crucial. All the upper body strength in the world still fails if you can't dig in your heels. But Core Power enables a Defensive Lineman to project Power in the Passing Game and to reject Power in the Running Game.
Agility: Launch Velocity, Acceleration, and above all: Fluidity or Core Agility. Core Agility is even more essential to sustained good Health ~ and to sustained good FootBall ~ than Core Power. The ability to react with Serpentine smoothness is a tremendous asset in all Aspects of the Game, and certainly in the Hand to Hand Combat that characterizes Trench Warfare. All the Power in the World goes only so far if you're stiff and lumbering out there.
Combat Skills: Paw Power, Mechanics ~ Hand Speed & Positioning ~ and of course: Frame.
Intangibles: Processing Speed and Motor. Processing Speed or Diagnostic Velocity is about how quickly and effectively one Reads & Reacts to how the Rapidly Roiling Tactical LandScape effects Blocking Schemes, and Motor is about Endurance and Drive: How much Work has been put into Conditioning, and how it manifests itself.
Run Defense: Power, Agility, Combat Skills, and Processing Speed.
Pass Rush: Power, Agility, and Combat Skills.
Broken down into SubCategories, it'd go something like this:
Power
* Frame ~ Arms, Hands, and above all: WingSpan.
* Field Vision ~ Reacting to the Tactical LandScape: It's all about Angles & Leverage.
* Paw Positioning ~ It's all about Angles & Leverage.
* Paw Persistence ~ RPMs: Activity & Persistence.
* FootWork ~ RPMs: Activity & Persistence.
Agility
* Fluidity, above all things: Core Agility & Flexibility makes everything possible.
* Launch Velocity ~ Speed into Contact off the Snap.
* Acceleration ~ Short Speed or Quickness.
Combat Skills
* Paw Power ~ The Power & Speed of the initial Punch.
* Paw Velocity ~ How active the Hands are.
* Paw Positioning ~ It's all about Angles & Leverage.
* Frame ~ Above all: WingSpan.
Intangibles
* Processing Speed ~ Field Vision. Rapidly Reading & Reacting to the Offense.
* Motor ~ Intensity and Duration.
Run Defense
* Power
* Agility
* Combat Skills
* Processing Speed
Pass Rush
* Power
* Agility
* Combat Skills
For that reason, and in order to offer NomenClature that speaks not to archaic, obsolete "Positions", but rather to Skill Sets that accurately reflect the dynamic Changes of the 21st Century Game and the Roles they have spawned, I have undertaken to craft Terminology that is designed to break Skill Sets down as they really are.
Defensive Coordinators have, since Time Immemorial, employed highly creative terminology in devising Defenses and in designating Assignments. In that Spirit, I have admittedly indulged myself considerably in devising the following NomenClature. It is undeniably colorful, but I like to think that there's an underlying Logic, as well:
Yetii ~ Yetis have the Size of Nose Tackles but the WingSpan of Defensive Ends. As such, they are genuine Hybrids, and can conceivably line up anywhere from Tackle to Tackle, across from the Offensive Line.
The Prototype would be somewhere around 6050/325 or so.
Of course, where and how any given Coach chooses to deploy his Players is his Business. Players that I characterize as Yetis may often or even routinely do line up anywhere, on any given Down. My only purpose is simply to identify what I perceive as Skill Sets, to distinguish types, if you will, and perhaps create a universal Point of Reference.
When evaluating Yetii, this is how I break down the Attributes to which I pay most particular attention:
Power: Above all: Core Power. Torso Power is important, but Core Power, from the Knees to the Ribs, is absolutely crucial. All the upper body strength in the world still fails if you can't dig in your heels. But Core Power enables a Defensive Lineman to project Power in the Passing Game and to reject Power in the Running Game.
Agility: Launch Velocity, Acceleration, and above all: Fluidity or Core Agility. Core Agility is even more essential to sustained good Health ~ and to sustained good FootBall ~ than Core Power. The ability to react with Serpentine smoothness is a tremendous asset in all Aspects of the Game, and certainly in the Hand to Hand Combat that characterizes Trench Warfare. All the Power in the World goes only so far if you're stiff and lumbering out there.
Combat Skills: Paw Power, Mechanics ~ Hand Speed & Positioning ~ and of course: Frame.
Intangibles: Processing Speed and Motor. Processing Speed or Diagnostic Velocity is about how quickly and effectively one Reads & Reacts to how the Rapidly Roiling Tactical LandScape effects Blocking Schemes, and Motor is about Endurance and Drive: How much Work has been put into Conditioning, and how it manifests itself.
Run Defense: Power, Agility, Combat Skills, and Processing Speed.
Pass Rush: Power, Agility, and Combat Skills.
Broken down into SubCategories, it'd go something like this:
Power
* Frame ~ Arms, Hands, and above all: WingSpan.
* Field Vision ~ Reacting to the Tactical LandScape: It's all about Angles & Leverage.
* Paw Positioning ~ It's all about Angles & Leverage.
* Paw Persistence ~ RPMs: Activity & Persistence.
* FootWork ~ RPMs: Activity & Persistence.
Agility
* Fluidity, above all things: Core Agility & Flexibility makes everything possible.
* Launch Velocity ~ Speed into Contact off the Snap.
* Acceleration ~ Short Speed or Quickness.
Combat Skills
* Paw Power ~ The Power & Speed of the initial Punch.
* Paw Velocity ~ How active the Hands are.
* Paw Positioning ~ It's all about Angles & Leverage.
* Frame ~ Above all: WingSpan.
Intangibles
* Processing Speed ~ Field Vision. Rapidly Reading & Reacting to the Offense.
* Motor ~ Intensity and Duration.
Run Defense
* Power
* Agility
* Combat Skills
* Processing Speed
Pass Rush
* Power
* Agility
* Combat Skills
Vernon Butler Scouting Report
Power: Adept. Adequate Core Power. Exceptional Torso Power.
Agility: Impressive. Impressive Launch Velocity, impressive Fluidity, and impressive Acceleration.
Combat Skills: Mediocre, but with enormous Potential. His Mechanics are raw and his Pass Rushing Repertoire is sparse, but he's got an impressive fusion of Power and Agility, and his WingSpan is magnificent.
Intangibles: Competitive. Solid Motor. Adequate Field Vision.
Run Defense: Despite his gargantuan Size, he could be mediocre at The Point of Attack, because his Core Power is only adequate and his Combat Skills are marginal. But if he develops those, he could transform into a genuine Force, as his WingSpan is phenomenal. And he's got the Acceleration to become make Plays In Pursuit. His most intriguing Potential, though, is as a BackField Disruptor, because if he ever develops his Combat Skills to their Potential, he's got the Torso Power, the Speed, the Fluidity, and above all the sprawling WingSpan to become a consistently disruptive Force.
Pass Rush: Likewise, if Butler invests the Time & Training it'll take, and gets good Coaching, his Fusion of Torso Power, Launch Velocity, Fluidity, Acceleration, and that phenomenal WingSpan give him the Potential to transform into a consistently disruptive and destructive Force, against both the Run and the Pass.
Agility: Impressive. Impressive Launch Velocity, impressive Fluidity, and impressive Acceleration.
Combat Skills: Mediocre, but with enormous Potential. His Mechanics are raw and his Pass Rushing Repertoire is sparse, but he's got an impressive fusion of Power and Agility, and his WingSpan is magnificent.
Intangibles: Competitive. Solid Motor. Adequate Field Vision.
Run Defense: Despite his gargantuan Size, he could be mediocre at The Point of Attack, because his Core Power is only adequate and his Combat Skills are marginal. But if he develops those, he could transform into a genuine Force, as his WingSpan is phenomenal. And he's got the Acceleration to become make Plays In Pursuit. His most intriguing Potential, though, is as a BackField Disruptor, because if he ever develops his Combat Skills to their Potential, he's got the Torso Power, the Speed, the Fluidity, and above all the sprawling WingSpan to become a consistently disruptive Force.
Pass Rush: Likewise, if Butler invests the Time & Training it'll take, and gets good Coaching, his Fusion of Torso Power, Launch Velocity, Fluidity, Acceleration, and that phenomenal WingSpan give him the Potential to transform into a consistently disruptive and destructive Force, against both the Run and the Pass.
Vernon Butler Prospectus
Whoever drafts Vernon Butler ~ or drafted him, I should say, and no: I haven't looked, yet!! What Fun would that be?? ~ got themselves a Lottery Ticket. Butler's Potential, as with that of all Trench Warriors, depends above all else on the development of his Combat Skills. And the rawer they are, the higher the Risk involved.
Butler brings marginal Mechanics and a Raw Repertoire to the BattleField, and gives an impression of a competitive but not quite dazzling Motor with equally and adequately moderate Field Vision and Processing Speed.
I don't know who Butler's Coaches have been, and it'd be foolish to draw Conclusions based on that Evidence...but Evidence it is, or perhaps a lack of Evidence ~ Evidence of the kind of persistent Drive and Attention to Detail that sometimes manifests itself in a Prospect exhibiting outstanding Combat Skills and Field Vision.
Mnd you: Butler also brings an adept level of Power and impressive Agility to the BattleField.
But when I crunch the numbers ~ so to speak ~ and multiply superior though not amazing athletic Talent times a lack of compelling Evidence ~ either For or Against, mind you ~ of tremendous Intelligence and Drive, I'm not inclined to extrapolate the Probability of Great Things ~ only the uncertain Potential of them.
That WingSpan, though...That is a Wild Card.
That WingSpan solves a lot of Problems.
There is plenty of Risk, here, to be sure.
But there is also Top 10 Potential.
Grateful Thanks, as always, for the crucial Work done by the folks at Draft BreakDown!!
Butler brings marginal Mechanics and a Raw Repertoire to the BattleField, and gives an impression of a competitive but not quite dazzling Motor with equally and adequately moderate Field Vision and Processing Speed.
I don't know who Butler's Coaches have been, and it'd be foolish to draw Conclusions based on that Evidence...but Evidence it is, or perhaps a lack of Evidence ~ Evidence of the kind of persistent Drive and Attention to Detail that sometimes manifests itself in a Prospect exhibiting outstanding Combat Skills and Field Vision.
Mnd you: Butler also brings an adept level of Power and impressive Agility to the BattleField.
But when I crunch the numbers ~ so to speak ~ and multiply superior though not amazing athletic Talent times a lack of compelling Evidence ~ either For or Against, mind you ~ of tremendous Intelligence and Drive, I'm not inclined to extrapolate the Probability of Great Things ~ only the uncertain Potential of them.
That WingSpan, though...That is a Wild Card.
That WingSpan solves a lot of Problems.
There is plenty of Risk, here, to be sure.
But there is also Top 10 Potential.
Grateful Thanks, as always, for the crucial Work done by the folks at Draft BreakDown!!
Yank Rank: Beast ~ Par Value
| Market Value #30 | Yankee Grade 1st/2nd Round |
Please do Note: This and all Evaluations issued by this Site are produced by a ludicrously unqualified Amateur, privy to not even the tiniest fraction of Coach's Tape, Scouting Expertise, Face to Face Interviewing, Experience, or Inside Information enjoyed by the Professionals. As such, anything put forth is certainly misinformed, euphonious, derivative Tripe, and should be rejected out'f hand and indeed shunned by all men and women of Good Will!! I'm trying to discern Power, Agility, Combat Skills, and far more abstract, esoteric Concepts such as Processing Speed and Motor, and I'm trying to do so based almost entirely on a fascinating fusion of Tape, Combine Numbers, and Pro Days, while trying to attenuate my findings based on Allowances for Competition Level, Scheme, Concept, Context, and, above all: Trajectory!!
None of this is even remotely a Complaint, mind you, but rather a Warning!! Caveat Emptor!!
None of this is even remotely a Complaint, mind you, but rather a Warning!! Caveat Emptor!!
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