“#TeamBigWideout” is a movement. At the very least, it’s a preference.
I love the smaller, quicker route-runners or the lid-lifters just as much as the next guy (end of the day, I just like watching players who are good at their respective craft). I keep coming back to 6-3-plus wideouts who generally tower over defensive backs and create mismatches on every snap.
Annually, there are size/speed-freaks that declare for the draft. We’ll never get another Randy Moss. We’ll never get another Calvin Johnson. This we know.
Occasionally, we’ll get the Mike Evan’s to come along.
We thought we had one in Dorial Green-Beckham, but that couldn’t have been further from the truth.
In 2019, I’m fairly confident the big wideout is back, and it’s headline by Iowa State’s Hakeem Butler.
Hakeem Butler’s a “Feldman Freak”, too: pic.twitter.com/BXLuoUzsqJ
— ryan (@StillRyanFive) November 8, 2018
So, he’s a “freak”, which is always a good place to start.
Let’s talk about what else he can do, and why he’s a top three (or five, at worse) wide receiver for 2019.
Natural hands-catcher.
A lot of these “reports” on prospects – whether offensive or defensive players – will read the same. At each position, you want to make sure that they (whether it’s a running back, linebacker, cornerback, or in this case, a wide receiver) checks certain boxes.
I’m no coach nor am I professional scout, but for me, I want my wide receivers to have a confident and consistent set of hands.
I wanted to highlight this play in particular. Butler goes low to help his quarterback out, nearly snagging the rock off the turf. His hands are strong; they’re reliable. This play also illustrates another notable part of Butler’s game: His ability after the catch.
Standing at 6-4, 225 (nearly 6-5, per NFL Draft Scout), he’s obviously a specimen (see above). Moving your frame around, at that size, isn’t necessarily an “easy” task – no matter how athletic you are. Butler, however, is just explosive enough, and efficient in his strides. Here, he’s able to breakaway from the defense. We’ve seen him do this multiple times throughout the season.
This is a good ball by the quarterback, but on top of that, and the hands, I enjoy the over-the-shoulder concentration:
He’s perfected the “Moss Drill”, and that matters.
If you weren’t really following Iowa State football to start the year, or maybe you just didn’t really care to pay attention to Butler, this play certainly put him on everyone’s radar:
We haven’t heard from that defensive back since.
More of the same here, although the embarrassment-level isn’t quite as high here. We still get the strong hands, which is a consistent theme throughout Butler’s game. Also, I’d say he “went up and got it” but when you stand 6-4, you kind of just extend your wings and plays just happen.
Look at him in the red zone, collect six points, and do it again.
If you’ve been following along, connecting the dots here isn’t going to be hard. Butler’s a big-bodied play-maker. You want to take advantage of that, notably in the red area. He thrives there, in case there was any doubt in your minds.
Fade made easy.
This is Butler out of the slot.
This is the 6-4 Butler out of the slot.
This is the 6-4 Butler out of the slot and getting a step or two on the defender for the easy score.
We like big targets at the wide receiver position. We really like big targets that are able to create separation off the line even more so.
Catch me on Twitter: @StillRyanFive
