There are no shortage of ways to manufacture heat on opposing quarterbacks. For the Miami Dolphins under Brian Flores, the team has been a blitz heavy scheme that often crowds the line of scrimmage and creates havoc in opposing protection schemes. Part of the opportunities there stem from getting a numbers advantage or, alternatively, twisting and stunting up front to manipulate offensive line calls.
Enter Adam Butler.
Butler is entering into his first year with the Dolphins in 2021 after getting his start up north with the Patriots. That experience in New England will be valuable — given the coaching tree Brian Flores comes from and the parallels between the pass rush philosophies. Butler has played approximately 450 snaps in any of his first four seasons in the NFL — and on average 300+ of those are pass rush opportunities.
So when you think of Adam Butler, you ought to be thinking about his value in the pass game. Butler’s best role is likely going to be as a role player up front; which he already understands after spending several years in this kind of system.
“When I rush, I’m thinking about the team before I’m thinking about myself. I would consider myself a veteran now at this point. I have my little moves and little things that I’ve done throughout the league, and when I have a chance to execute them, I execute them. But overall, if I need to be in a certain place, or if they need me to be somewhere on a given rush, I’m going to do my best to be in the right position,” said Butler.
Miami will ask Butler to spend some time on the nose — but he’ll be rushing plenty of angles from that alignment. Miami has had a lot of success with their games up front; which call upon Butler to crash or slant hard at the snap and occupy multiple offensive linemen simultaneously. His first step quickness and contact balance helps, but his commitment to setting up pass rushes for others is equally important. And sometimes that will lead to sack production on his own. But others will benefit from Butler’s commitment and understanding of his role in the trenches just as much when it comes to sacking the quarterback.
Miami’s scheme will see to that. But it will work better this year with Butler in the fray; if you’re looking for more proof of value for the new dynamics he’ll bring up front for the Dolphins.