Brown, Big Ben wary of Patriots star cornerback
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Malcolm Butler was a noname rookie when he intercepted a Russell Wilson pass at the goal line in Super Bowl XLIX to secure the fourth Super Bowl title for the Patriots. Two years later, the Patriots cornerback has gone from unknown to one of the best in the NFL. He made the Pro Bowl last season and was named secondteam All Pro this year.
His assignment Sunday will be covering Steelers All Pro receiver Antonio Brown, and the matchup could go a long way toward deciding if the Steelers or Patriots advance to the Super Bowl.
“I have a lot of respect for him,” Brown said. “He is a follow-type corner. He is going to be there. I am excited about having that opportunity.”
Brown has gotten the better of the matchup when they two have squared off the past two times the Steelers played the Patriots. Brown has 15 receptions for 230 yards in those two games — the 2015 opener at Gillette Stadium and the regularseason meeting at Heinz Field in October.
Butler did record one of his four interceptions of the season on a pass that was intended for Brown in the end zone in the game in October. Backup quarterback Landry Jones threw that pass because Ben Roethlisberger was out with an injury.
“He’s a highly competitive guy,” offensive coordinator Todd Haley said. “Technique-wise, he’s so sound. He does a tremendous job with leverage, knowing where he has help and he’s just ultra-competitive to the football.”
Roethlisberger is well aware of Butler’s skills as a playmaker, too. He played against him last season in New England.
“I think that he’s a very, very good corner that I’m going to have to be aware of where he is, and I think that’s as good of a compliment as I can pay someone is that I’m going to keep my eye on him,” Roethlisberger said.
NFL Films broke down Butler’s Super Bowl interception against Seattle that jump-started his career. Butler anticipated the Seahawks would run the play they did, and he jumped the route. It happened because the coaches made sure all of the Patriots corners had a chance to take reps on the exact play in the week leading up to the Super Bowl.
Butler continues to play the same way in his third season. He’ll take calculated chances based on film study, and the Steelers must be aware of their tendencies when he is targeted.
“He covers down the field,” Roethlisberger said. “He’s very quick in underneath stuff. He obviously studies, and I don’t want to say he guesses, but he’s able to jump routes and understand what’s going on. Then his ball skills, when the ball’s in the air he doesn’t panic. He can make a play on it and intercept it and not just bat it away.”
Not missing Gronk
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is on injured reserve and won’t have the opportunity to torture the Steelers secondary again. Gronkowski has specialized in racking up big statistics against the Steelers since he entered the league. In October, when the Patriots played at Heinz Field, Gronkowski had four receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown.
“I’ve got no problem with that,” defensive coordinator Keith Butler said of Gronkowski’s absence from the AFC title game.
Veteran tight end Martellus Bennett, who was signed as a free agent before the season, has been very good in his first season with the Patriots. He had 55 receptions for 701 yards and seven touchdowns, but Butler said the Patriots don’t use him the same way they use Gronkowski.
“Not really,” Butler said. “It’s kind of hard to use a tight end that way. Gronk is kind of unusual, in that he can run, he’s big, he’s smart, he’s strong, he’s fast, he’s physical and he blocks. He’s a great overall tight end. I’m not saying that Bennett is not. I’m just saying that they find other ways to try to score and produce than just the tight end.”
Injury report
• A stomach bug is going around the Steelers. Four players missed practice Wednesday with an illness and more missed practice Thursday, including tight end Ladarius Green.
• Running back Le’Veon Bell has yet to practice this week. He was rested Wednesday and missed practice Thursday for personal reasons.
• Outside linebacker James Harrison did not practice due to shoulder and triceps injuries. He had been a full participant in practice Wednesday.
• Reserve linebacker Vince Williams was limited Thursday with a shoulder injury.