What to expect from Malcolm Butler heading into the season

Malcolm Butler celebrates with Darrelle Revis, via NESN

Malcolm Butler emerged throughout preseason and training camp as one of the top cornerbacks on the team, behind only Darrelle Revis. The undrafted rookie out of West Alabama continued to make plays on the field, and earned himself more and more playing time during the preseason, culminating with a starting spot opposite Revis in game three. In most cases, the players who start game three are the players who will start in week one, so expect Butler to start this Sunday.

Butler has certainly earned his spot. He didn't come in with the pedigree of a high draft pick, or even a draft pick at all. He didn't come from a prestigious school, and he certainly doesn't have any physical attributes that stand out. Butler is the type of player Belichick likes. The "do your job" kind of guy. He wont stand out to a casual watcher, but he's been consistent. He hasn't really given up any big plays, and has coupled that with a lot of solid defensive plays.

Butler has outperformed Logan Ryan, and Alfonzo Dennard was hurt for most of the preseason, who was the assumed starter while Brandon Browner served his four game suspension. After the Patriots signed Browner, it was an assumption by just about everyone that he would be starting opposite Revis due to his prior success with the Seahawks "Legion of Boom". However, people forgot the 2012 pro bowler hadn't seen action in over a year due to suspension, and Browner seemed to have a difficult time adjusting to the NFL's new rules in regards to physical play with receivers.

Browner certainly brings a physical element to the defense that has been missing for some time and deserves a roster spot, but if he doesn't step his game up, and Butler continues to perform, don't expect Belichick to just hand Browner the starting job. Belichick doesn't care about pedigree, he plays whoever he believes will be the best player on the field, and right now that player seems to be Butler. Remember what happened when a former number one pick went down early in the 2001 season, and lowly pick number 199 came in to replace him at quarterback? Pick number 199 went on to take over the starting job and the rest is history. That is precisely what I'm talking about when I say Belichick doesn't care about pedigree.

-Brian Thibodeau
@b_thibs34