DLs topple rookie wall
Friends Wise, Butler make impact together
FOXBORO — Earlier this season, Patriots defensive linemen Deatrich Wise and Adam Butler proclaimed they would dismiss the rookie wall, which seemed like youthful exuberance and naivety. But they surely followed through.
That was at least a fair prediction, as opposed to years earlier when they were top Texas high school competitors in the shot put and discus. Wise and Butler never would have forecasted being aligned as teammates for the defending Super Bowl champions.
“It’s cool how our stories came back together,” Wise said yesterday in anticipation of the Patriots’ playoff opener against the Titans. “The chemistry that we built over the summer, leading into the season, we kind of knew each others’ playing styles. We’re working off each other on and off the field, going over plays to make sure we knew what we were doing. Playing alongside Adam is pretty fun. It’s like playing with a brother or a childhood friend. I came here not knowing a lot of people, but we knew each other in the past and kind of bonded in camp. It’s cool playing alongside him.”
To be clear, Wise and Butler knew of each other in high school, but they weren’t friends. From a distance, they followed the other’s collegiate football careers as they both committed to the SEC, with Wise at Arkansas and Butler at Vanderbilt, so that led to an easy connection last spring when they arrived for rookie camp.
Wise was a fourth-round pick who was virtually guaranteed to make the 53-man roster, while Butler had to earn his spot as an undrafted free agent. It was apparent by the second week of training camp Butler would be on the team.
But their connection isn’t just some nice story about long-lost acquaintances. More importantly, their performances have been part of the equation that helped the Pats secure home-field advantage in the playoffs, and the duo is justifiably excited to make their postseason debut together.
“I’m just so humbled and thankful,” Butler said. “I am kind of in a little shock, but I’m just thankful. A lot of players around the league have worked extremely hard. For us to actually be here, it’s surreal.”
Wise has been consistent throughout the season, as he recorded at least one disruption (sack, quarterback hit or pressure) in 15-of-16 games. More remarkably, he ranked second to Trey Flowers with 31 disruptions, which would have led the 2016 Patriots despite Flowers, Jabaal Sheard, Rob Ninkovich (after his suspension) and Chris Long all playing a higher percentage of snaps. This season, Wise ranked second with 14 quarterback hits and 12 pressures and third with five sacks.
Wise opened the season as a passing-down specialist, but his role evolved throughout the year. He still wasn’t deterred by any second-half drop-off, and he validated that confidence with two sacks, three quarterback hits and three pressures in his final five games.
“I knew why I was doing what I’m doing,” Wise said. “I knew it was a process, and I trust the process. I know it sounds real cliché, but it’s true — trusting the process, falling in love with what you do every day. The fun thing about playing football is really the grind, going to practice, in the weight room, in the film room and with the coaches helping me out. It’s like a stencil of how I should do it, how the vets do it. I knew if I kept on working, like my dad always said, kept on chipping away, I’ll stay (steady), or maybe even rise when other people may fall. I never believed in the rookie wall. It was all a mindset.”
Butler has played most of his snaps on passing downs, and he finished in a flurry, which was all the more important in a joint effort to replace Alan Branch in the last three games. His ascension can be traced as far back as Week 11, though, as he tallied one sack, two quarterback hits, five pressures and a drawn holding penalty in the last seven games.
Overall, Butler ranked fourth on the Patriots with 13 disruptions and third with nine pressures.
“I would say I’ve definitely improved some since the beginning of the season,” Butler said. “You could say this is my best ball. I really feel like I’m playing my best within what I’m coached to do. I really just go out there, do what I’m coached to do, and I’m just better at it now than I was at the beginning.”
The Patriots are veteranladen, and Wise and Butler are the only two rookies who will need to make a significant impact, barring extenuating circumstances. Unlike many rookies at this time of year, Wise and Butler happen to be playing their best ball.
“I’m really excited,” Wise said. “This is my first time in a playoff system ever, so I’m really excited about this. I’ve seen some of my rookie counterparts, and they’re at home now and it’s kind of like, wow, I’m one of the few who are in the playoffs. I guess it’s time to make the best of it.”