Patriots defensive tackle Adam Butler was primarily used on third down in his first two seasons with the Patriots, but now is getting more regular playing time. Charles Krupa/Associated Press
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Adam Butler had been a serviceable player on the Patriots’ defensive line through his first two seasons in New England, but like most guys, he wanted a bigger role.
So as the Patriots returned in the spring to begin preparations for the 2019 season, Butler took some initiative. Mostly a role player in his first two seasons – primarily playing on third down and spending time on special teams – Butler expressed to defensive line coach Bret Bielema that he wanted to be a more complete player capable of playing every down.
Butler put in the work to get there, and through six weeks this season, the results have manifested.
Butler has taken his game to a new level and has become an integral part of the defensive line. He’s played more than 50 percent of the Patriots’ defensive snaps, and his excellent play has seemed to at least be partly responsible for the decreased usage of Michael Bennett, who is suspended this week because of a “philosophical disagreement” with Bielema.
“I’m not 100 percent where I want to be,” Butler said. “But you can definitely see I’m getting there.”
Butler credited his surroundings for his improved play, and the “special” people that have come through Foxborough to help him. He named Adrian Clayborne and Trey Flowers, both no longer with the Patriots, and also included current teammates Bennett and Lawrence Guy as those who he has picked up little things from to apply to his game.
Then there’s Coach Bill Belichick, who took something of a chance on Butler as an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt in 2017.
“He’s been a consistent player for us for three years,” Belichick said last week. “Like anybody, he gets better, like we all do with experience and reps and technique and so forth. But, he’s been a solid player for us for three years. …
“It’s been steady. I don’t think it’s been dramatic. It’s been good, it’s consistent, but he’s played a lot of good football for us.”
That goes a long way with Butler, who’s had to work even harder than some for what he’s getting.
“I would say that’s something I’m very proud of,” Butler said of his consistency. “I came in undrafted, but I’ve been able to be consistent and improve my game every year. That’s something I definitely take pride in.”
Bielema, who’s in his second season as the Patriots’ defensive line coach, has watched Butler’s progression as closely as anyone. He explained earlier this week that Butler hasn’t got away from himself, and is more knowledgeable and understanding of what he needs to do in order to make an impact.
That goes for everything – from reading and diagnosing plays to his own techniques. At 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, Butler moves well for his size. Bielema said Butler rarely gets out of position, has good balance and understands his leverage more. Everything seems to be coming together.
“He’s a very intelligent player,” Bielema said. “He uses that Vanderbilt degree every day, if you know what I mean. He truly is a guy that really gets it, understands it, can process it, and the thing this year working with him during the course of a game, he literally understands when things happen literally on the spot. He can come to the sideline, digest what just happened, what they’re trying to do, how we can combat it. …
“The one thing I’ve always tried to stress to Adam is, ‘Be the great you. Don’t try to be something you’re not. Don’t try to be something that’s not in your DNA. Just be good at what you’re good at.’
That’s really what I’ve tried to stress to him and that’s really come out. I don’t know if he ever saw himself as an every down player in the past, and he’s really embraced that role.”
Through six games, Butler has 2.5 sacks, three quarterback hits, 10 tackles and two passes defended.
But the measure of Butler’s true impact could come in what Bielema described as “assists.” That’s not a football statistic, of course, but Bielema said Butler has an ability to draw attention. He can take on double teams and get vertical within gaps, which opens things up for his teammates, and that helps the whole defense.
“I’d say that a lot of the other defensive guys, they would probably tell you they want Adam lining up next to them as much as anybody because he creates that type of play for other people,” Bielema said.
Butler knows he still has a long way to go to be the player he wants to be, but he definitely loves the strides he’s made.
“They definitely feed off me,” Butler said. “That’s a big part of my job is to do that, and a big part of my job is when it opens up for me, to take advantage of the things that come to me, but it makes me want to be here. It makes me happy to know that other guys like to play next to me and they would prefer me to be in there.
“This is an organization that’s going to be part of NFL history forever, you know what I mean? This organization will be talked about for a long time, and to be a part of that is really special.”
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