Rookie Minicamp and Hakeem Butler

[Mojouw]

https://steelersdepot.com/2023/05/former-4th-round-pick-wr-hakeem-butler-invited-to-steelers-rookie-minicamp/

I remember thinking this guy could do well in the NFL if he could just put it all together....former Steelers QB Gradkowski thinks he has...

Assuming he still runs about as well as he did when in came out in 2019....he is a monster size speed dart throw.

[FordFairLane]

I really liked his size and speed coming out of college. Not sure what happened to get him bumped out of the league but he was 2nd in receiving yards and first in TDs in the XFL. Definitely fits what Khan is trying to do. He wants big physical players and Butler is definitely that. Why not bring him in for a free look.

[Dwinsgames]

https://steelersdepot.com/2023/05/former-4th-round-pick-wr-hakeem-butler-invited-to-steelers-rookie-minicamp/

I remember thinking this guy could do well in the NFL if he could just put it all together....former Steelers QB Gradkowski thinks he has...

Assuming he still runs about as well as he did when in came out in 2019....he is a monster size speed dart throw.

their without a doubt is a pattern forming here as the type of guys they are getting eyes on and or rostering

[pczach]

https://steelersdepot.com/2023/05/former-4th-round-pick-wr-hakeem-butler-invited-to-steelers-rookie-minicamp/

I remember thinking this guy could do well in the NFL if he could just put it all together....former Steelers QB Gradkowski thinks he has...

Assuming he still runs about as well as he did when in came out in 2019....he is a monster size speed dart throw.





I really liked him from a physical standpoint. Butler was a physical freak and dominated at the college level, but was undisciplined. He didn't know how to run routes and had a very limited route tree to begin with. He had much to work on. I truly believe he didn't understand the game at all and was just running and they were chucking the ball to him.

If he has learned the game.....If he has learned to read defenses and has also developed his route running and a full understanding of the complicated route trees based on coverage, he has a chance to be a very good receiver. There's just no way for us to know if he has accomplished all of this as we are too far removed from the situation. We will find out come camp.

[ALLD]

He needed to go to a Paul Brown or Steve Walsh boot camp.

[Born2Steel]

I only find 2 NFL games he actually played in and that was with Philly in 2020 or 21. I think his snaps were ST snaps. I do love the size, just sort of hard to get excited yet.

[86WARD]

Camp body and maybe a practice squad guy…maybe.

Remember, there’s gonna be 14 or so receivers on this team when all is said and done for training camp…6-7 of those are just bodies…

[Dwinsgames]

Camp body and maybe a practice squad guy…maybe.

Remember, there’s gonna be 14 or so receivers on this team when all is said and done for training camp…6-7 of those are just bodies…


idk , I can see a path that he over takes some of these guys and maybe even makes the 53 ..I mean sure he will have a lot of work to do but what has the Cody Whites of the world done for us exactly in the 2-3 years he has been here ?

Im all for turning over the bottom of the roster with new faces to see if they can contribute new things

[DesertSteel]

It's just a tryout. Zero risk.

[86WARD]

idk , I can see a path that he over takes some of these guys and maybe even makes the 53 ..I mean sure he will have a lot of work to do but what has the Cody Whites of the world done for us exactly in the 2-3 years he has been here ?

Im all for turning over the bottom of the roster with new faces to see if they can contribute new things

I’d rather see him take Millers spot…

[Mojouw]

Personally, I like the idea. Butler could fill the role o envisioned for Mingo but with no draft cost. If he can’t cut it , no problem he just sticks around long enough to make the practice numbers work and then they can cut him.

It may amount to nothing but it’s the kind of move a well run team makes.

[pczach]

Personally, I like the idea. Butler could fill the role o envisioned for Mingo but with no draft cost. If he can’t cut it , no problem he just sticks around long enough to make the practice numbers work and then they can cut him.

It may amount to nothing but it’s the kind of move a well run team makes.




Exactly. A guy with some physical gifts that looks like he has figured some things out. Big, strong, fast guy that fits what they are trying to do and could possibly fill a role within the offense.

Why not take a look? It costs next to nothing, and I only see potential upside.

[Dwinsgames]

Exactly. A guy with some physical gifts that looks like he has figured some things out. Big, strong, fast guy that fits what they are trying to do and could possibly fill a role within the offense.

Why not take a look? It costs next to nothing, and I only see potential upside.


and most importantly he is now HEALTHY that was part of the reason his stint in the NFL was short lived , he got hit with some nagging shit that slowed his game ...

if he can show up healthy and do the things he was able to do on this tape , I think he is a lock with the teams new mindset BIG and PHYSICAL and guys like White and Miller are up against it in terms of getting paid


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clj3imN1OOE&ab_channel=SimplyAS10

[FordFairLane]

Hakeem Butler - MockDraftable (https://www.mockdraftable.com/player/hakeem-butler)
He will only be 27 in a couple of weeks and you can't teach a guy to be over 6-5, 227lbs, and run a sub 4.5 forty. It is a free look. If he can come in and provide special teams and red zone help how can we go wrong? Boykin didn't provide anything as a pass catcher so if we can get the same or similar level of special teams production and maybe a little something in the way of receiving help why not. Again. Costs nothing to bring him in for a look.

[86WARD]

and most importantly he is now HEALTHY that was part of the reason his stint in the NFL was short lived , he got hit with some nagging shit that slowed his game ...

if he can show up healthy and do the things he was able to do on this tape , I think he is a lock with the teams new mindset BIG and PHYSICAL and guys like White and Miller are up against it in terms of getting paid


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clj3imN1OOE&ab_channel=SimplyAS10

I’m hoping this bumps Miller off the roster. I hate when they hang on to a guy who doesn’t contribute but they keep pumping him up like he “could be” something…

[Dwinsgames]

I’m hoping this bumps Miller off the roster. I hate when they hang on to a guy who doesn’t contribute but they keep pumping him up like he “could be” something…


and that is my point , why hang on to bottom feeders that do not elevate after a couple years ... at the very least swap them for new guys and get new looks , at some point you will strike gold or at least silver but currently we keep getting limestone from most of these guys , we need more so rotate them out and new ones in

[86WARD]

and that is my point , why hang on to bottom feeders that do not elevate after a couple years ... at the very least swap them for new guys and get new looks , at some point you will strike gold or at least silver but currently we keep getting limestone from most of these guys , we need more so rotate them out and new ones in

They’ve been doing it for years…

[DesertSteel]

If I was him, I’d pack on 25 pounds and switch to tight end.

[steelreserve]

For a free test drive, hell yeah. You don't need him to come in and take over the #1 spot, just be more useful than whatever bum is taking up the 53rd spot on the roster. I could see that, or maybe Austin becomes a career IR guy and a spot opens up, or whatever. Who cares - it's free!

[FordFairLane]

For a free test drive, hell yeah. You don't need him to come in and take over the #1 spot, just be more useful than whatever bum is taking up the 53rd spot on the roster. I could see that, or maybe Austin becomes a career IR guy and a spot opens up, or whatever. Who cares - it's free!
That foot injury is a bit worrisome. I wonder if other teams saw that injury and stayed away from drafting him. Hopefully having an entire year to get healthy he will have a strong sophomore season.

[Orion]

and most importantly he is now HEALTHY that was part of the reason his stint in the NFL was short lived , he got hit with some nagging shit that slowed his game ...

if he can show up healthy and do the things he was able to do on this tape , I think he is a lock with the teams new mindset BIG and PHYSICAL and guys like White and Miller are up against it in terms of getting paid


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clj3imN1OOE&ab_channel=SimplyAS10
catching the ball is the same no matter what league or who is throwing it. this dude can catch and looks and plays fast. one thing i found strange in the video is there is but one contested catch and only 2 adjustment catches. the rest were all just on the run perfect thrown ball catches. i'd be more interested to see the ones he didnt catch.

[Dreegking]

Ya. MaYbe bring the QB to camp also.

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Also, he does not look sub 4.5. He’s not. He’s fast enough. But not a blazer.

[pczach]

Ya. MaYbe bring the QB to camp also.

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Also, he does not look sub 4.5. He’s not. He’s fast enough. But not a blazer.



I don't know where you are getting your information. He ran 4.49 at the combine.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ylEPiFGBl0


Here are highlights from his 2018 season for those of you that haven't seen him play or don't know about him.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLz0tEmBg2c

[Dwinsgames]

I don't know where you are getting your information. He ran 4.49 at the combine.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ylEPiFGBl0


Here are highlights from his 2018 season for those of you that haven't seen him play or don't know about him.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLz0tEmBg2c

he's a speed builder , slow powerful start but as he gets moving its more and more fluid as he goes and the speed starts to show up ... he is at 2.71 after the first 20 if you pause the tape .... so without question much faster in the 2nd twenty of the 40

[Dreegking]

I don't know where you are getting your information. He ran 4.49 at the combine.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ylEPiFGBl0

Here are highlights from his 2018 season for those of you that haven't seen him play or don't know about him.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLz0tEmBg2c

lol. My friend…

I do not care what he ran 5 years ago in track pants and while training with a track coach for his starts. while forgetting about football. I look at the game. On the field. Watch how he moves. He’s not slow of course. But he ain’t sun 4.5. Just the eyeballs tell you that.

[pczach]

lol. My friend…

I do not care what he ran 5 years ago in track pants and while training with a track coach for his starts. while forgetting about football. I look at the game. On the field. Watch how he moves. He’s not slow of course. But he ain’t sun 4.5. Just the eyeballs tell you that.




I just posted something informational for you and others to look at that don't know much about Butler. Of course your response is an LOL. :rolleyes:

In case you haven't noticed with your vast football experience and knowledge, every player that ever went to a combine runs the 40 in shorts and trains before the combine to try to get the best time possible......and every single one of those times are accepted as the actual speed of that player.

Also, he's tall and has a more difficult time getting off the line because that's just physics. His football speed is deceptive because of his size. It makes it harder to judge his speed because of the longer strides.

Nobody is claiming he has world-class speed. You are the one making proclamations about Butler not having sub-4.5 speed. I just showed you his combine 40 time from a standing start and electronically timed at 4.49. In case you haven't figured it out yet, 4.49 is sub-4.5 speed. It doesn't get much more official than that.

By the way, I linked a video to his 2018 season, but he tested at the combine in 2019. That was 4 years ago not 5. He is also still 26 years old. He will turn 27 on May 16, so let's not pretend they just picked up a 32 year old receiver that has taken a beating and played nearly 200 games. He still has his physical gifts.

[DesertSteel]

In case you haven't figured it out yet, 4.49 is sub-4.5 speed.
Don't give him complicated math.

[Mojouw]

I just posted something informational for you and others to look at that don't know much about Butler. Of course your response is an LOL. :rolleyes:

In case you haven't noticed with your vast football experience and knowledge, every player that ever went to a combine runs the 40 in shorts and trains before the combine to try to get the best time possible......and every single one of those times are accepted as the actual speed of that player.

Also, he's tall and has a more difficult time getting off the line because that's just physics. His football speed is deceptive because of his size. It makes it harder to judge his speed because of the longer strides.

Nobody is claiming he has world-class speed. You are the one making proclamations about Butler not having sub-4.5 speed. I just showed you his combine 40 time from a standing start and electronically timed at 4.49. In case you haven't figured it out yet, 4.49 is sub-4.5 speed. It doesn't get much more official than that.

By the way, I linked a video to his 2018 season, but he tested at the combine in 2019. That was 4 years ago not 5. He is also still 26 years old. He will turn 27 on May 16, so let's not pretend they just picked up a 32 year old receiver that has taken a beating and played nearly 200 games. He still has his physical gifts.

I think DWins showed it earlier. Butler, like so many large players, has build-up speed. He needs a few yards to get going....but then...

And you have showed highlights and pointed out similar. It is not hard to understand....once school lets out for the afternoon, I am sure we will be enlightened on what sub 4.5 really means....

[pczach]

Don't give him complicated math.





There's nothing that warms the heart more than posting videos or information for people that may not know much about a player, and then getting mocked by some moron.

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I think DWins showed it earlier. Butler, like so many large players, has build-up speed. He needs a few yards to get going....but then...

And you have showed highlights and pointed out similar. It is not hard to understand....once school lets out for the afternoon, I am sure we will be enlightened on what sub 4.5 really means....




That's what I get for just trying to get some knowledge out there.

[Mojouw]

There's nothing that warms the heart more than posting videos or information for people that may not know much about a player, and then getting mocked by some moron.

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That's what I get for just trying to get some knowledge out there.

I can not remember the last time a rookie minicamp invite generated so much contentious posting!

[pczach]

I can not remember the last time a rookie minicamp invite generated so much contentious posting!




Happy to keep things exciting and contentious for you! Even if it wasn't my intention. :chuckle:

[Mojouw]

Happy to keep things exciting and contentious for you! Even if it wasn't my intention. :chuckle:

I appreciate it. Gotta be stuck in front of a screen for 10+ hours a day....may as well enjoy some of it!

https://media.tenor.com/Yq1DIMYvS0EAAAAC/this-is-so-exciting-matheson.gif

[86WARD]

lol. My friend…

I do not care what he ran 5 years ago in track pants and while training with a track coach for his starts. while forgetting about football. I look at the game. On the field. Watch how he moves. He’s not slow of course. But he ain’t sun 4.5. Just the eyeballs tell you that.

I mean you could say that about 95% of the league…maybe more…

[86WARD]

I can not remember the last time a rookie minicamp invite generated so much contentious posting!

https://media1.giphy.com/media/4iKeimY0sahiQReGRh/giphy.gif

[BlackAndGold]

1657011341943767041

https://twitter.com/Steelersdepot/status/1657011341943767041


No Hakeem Butler listed but Omar Khan mentioned his name in a interview yesterday, so not sure why he isn't on the roster. Other XFL try outs are named.

Also former Rams QB Bryce Perkins has been brought in for a try out. I can see him getting signed to compete with Morgan.


UDFA Trevor Downing, C, Iowa State is not listed. Looks like the Steelers chose not to sign him, as they just signed the rest of the UDFA class, excluding Downing.

[BlackAndGold]

Stuff from day one, don't any of you get too excited now. Deep breaths.

https://twitter.com/FarabaughFB/status/1657055691746443268 (https://twitter.com/FarabaughFB/status/1657055691746443268)
1657055691746443268

https://twitter.com/MarkKaboly/status/1657056538911965187
1657056538911965187

https://twitter.com/MarkKaboly/status/1657056054402772993
1657056054402772993

https://twitter.com/rayfitt1/status/1657053146961543169
1657053146961543169

[BlackAndGold]

1657090819529007124

7th rounder rookie Spencer Anderson took snaps at left guard.



Every rookie besides Jones, JPJ and Benton have signed their rookie deals as of right now.

[Born2Steel]

Pete Oliver out of Holy Cross is an interesting one.

[Craic]

Ya. MaYbe bring the QB to camp also.

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Also, he does not look sub 4.5. He’s not. He’s fast enough. But not a blazer.

Trust the clock not the eyes. I played hockey with a kid that looked slower than molasses. In fact, it looked as though he was moving in slow motion. Yet, he was faster than 90 percent of the people on the ice. Butler is tall and every stride covers a lot of ground. So, I agree, he doesn't look ​sub 4.5 but he actually is.

[Mojouw]

Seems like maybe it will not matter....

Butler did not attend rookie minicamp as initially reported and there is still no official notice contract terms between the team and Butler. While, they did announce the CB from the XFL as officially signed.

Makes MojoUW think that maybe Butler found another offer he likes better? Or is considering options? Gotta figure that the "best" WR in an entire minor league might have more than one offer....

Also....I am far too LAZY to look for the actual threads but saw my first XFL or UFL game this weekend. I think it was UFL at the UAB facility and like MAYBE 3 dozen people were there. The broadcast was piping in crowd noise. What a total joke of a league. I realize it was a gorgeous Mother's Day weekend afternoon....but still....there are not more than 20 people that are related to the players on the two teams?

[DesertSteel]

One of the PG columnists opined the Steelers didn't feel it necessary to bring Butler in for that level of camp, but that he would be there later.

[Dwinsgames]

no idea if it is correct or not but I read last night ( somewhere god only knows where ) that Butler could not attend because that xfl season had not yet concluded and contractually he was still bound there ...is that accurate or not I haven't a slightest but it sounded logical enough at the time

[tube517]

no idea if it is correct or not but I read last night ( somewhere god only knows where ) that Butler could not attend because that xfl season had not yet concluded and contractually he was still bound there ...is that accurate or not I haven't a slightest but it sounded logical enough at the timeI read the same thing he should be available for regular OTAs

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

[BlackAndGold]

Butler has been signed.

https://twitter.com/XFL2023/status/1658608493614489603

[pczach]

Here's a short, interesting article about Butler's path back to the NFL. It hasn't been easy.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/i-truly-just-want-a-chance-hakeem-butler-s-unlikely-path-to-the-steelers/ar-AA1bhG68?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=7270e0ea385445ecaa7a65bf89666c2d&ei=91

[FordFairLane]

Here's a short, interesting article about Butler's path back to the NFL. It hasn't been easy.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/i-truly-just-want-a-chance-hakeem-butler-s-unlikely-path-to-the-steelers/ar-AA1bhG68?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=7270e0ea385445ecaa7a65bf89666c2d&ei=91

Great article. I like bringing in guys hungry to make the roster. I think it does something to push the rest of the team. We are pretty deep at WR so having a guy with the talent of Butler and the hunger to make the team should push everyone else to work a little harder. I don't think we keep more than 6 receivers so his best chance is to push Boykin off the team imo. Gunner is probably in competition with Byrd and Anthony Miller. And right now CA3 is inside the bubble but he is a lot of things but indispensable is not one of them.

[Born2Steel]

Just one observation on CA3 since I did get to watch him play for multiple seasons in college. He is small. S-M-ALL. However, he is fast, twitchy, and elusive. He made a lot of highlight reel type plays at the college level. I don’t know if or how he will translate to the NFL though. I do know at the Senior Bowl week he was said to be uncover-able. Last year’s TC was the same story. But we have zero actual snaps vs live NFL competition. I think he is on the outside looking in right now because of his size on this roster. But the unknown with him is still exciting to think about.

[FordFairLane]

Just one observation on CA3 since I did get to watch him play for multiple seasons in college. He is small. S-M-ALL. However, he is fast, twitchy, and elusive. He made a lot of highlight reel type plays at the college level. I don’t know if or how he will translate to the NFL though. I do know at the Senior Bowl week he was said to be uncover-able. Last year’s TC was the same story. But we have zero actual snaps vs live NFL competition. I think he is on the outside looking in right now because of his size on this roster. But the unknown with him is still exciting to think about.
I feel Khan is more of a size receiver guy where Colbert was more about twitch, agility and speed. CA3 not being able to play special teams is probably his biggest hurdle. Maybe he can show some return value this camp. He did return 29 punts in college. 2 for tds. So if he can reprise that role a little he can push Gunner off the team perhaps. But Gunner is a phenomenal special teams tackler so there's that. I can't wait for camp though. Should be very exciting!

[Born2Steel]

I feel Khan is more of a size receiver guy where Colbert was more about twitch, agility and speed. CA3 not being able to play special teams is probably his biggest hurdle. Maybe he can show some return value this camp. He did return 29 punts in college. 2 for tds. So if he can reprise that role a little he can push Gunner off the team perhaps. But Gunner is a phenomenal special teams tackler so there's that. I can't wait for camp though. Should be very exciting!

He has that bug on the windshield vibe.