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After a rough start to the 2020 season, cornerback Malcolm Butler has settled down over the course of the past five weeks and is starting to put together arguably his best season with the Tennessee Titans.
According to Pro Football Focus, Butler ranks as the No. 1 cornerback in the NFL over the past five weeks, posting a grade of 83.7. The veteran is one of two Titans corners to crack the top five, as cornerback Breon Borders ranks fifth with a grade of 77.1 in that same span.
Overall, Butler sports a PFF grade of 69.2, which is higher than the 67.1 he had in 2018 and the 65.5 he notched in 2019.
When speaking to the media on Wednesday, Butler, who sits No. 2 in the Pro Bowl voting at cornerback, said he believes that 2020 is his best season with the Titans.
.@Mac_BZ on being No.2 in Pro Bowl fan voting: It feels great (to have folks notice). I am glad to get my career on track. I feel it's my best year with @Titans. "But hopefully we won't be able to attend a Pro Bowl, … because the goal is to make it to the Super Bowl."
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) December 2, 2020
The Titans’ secondary and defense as a whole has been much better of late. The 30-year-old credits the defensive backs being more aggressive and having better communication as the reasons why.
.@Mac_BZ: I feel like we (DBs) were holding back a little bit earlier in year, being conservative. Now we're being more aggressive. Butler said he likes to be physical on defense, enjoys playing man coverage@Titans
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) December 2, 2020
Malcolm Butler said #Titans treating the defense like everyone was new to the system and having more communication with each other has helped the defense turn things around.
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) December 2, 2020
Why weren’t the Titans’ defensive backs more aggressive in coverage from the jump? It appears to be because of coaching, according to Butler.
Asked Malcolm Butler why #Titans waited so long to get more aggressive in coverage. He said he does as coached but they were holding back, being a little bit conservative.
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) December 2, 2020
As far as the Titans’ upcoming opponent is concerned, the Cleveland Browns, Butler says the Titans must “have your big boy pads on this week” thanks to Cleveland’s physical, run-first approach that features an elite duo of backs in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.
.@Mac_BZ: You “gotta have your big boy pads on this week" because the @Browns are physical and they like to run the ball a lot @Titans
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) December 2, 2020
Butler’s resurgence is coming at the right time, with the veteran being a potential cap casualty in 2021.
He’s set to make $14.2 million next season, but the Titans do have an out that would only cost them $4 million in dead cap. What Butler does between now and the end of the season could determine if the Titans stick with him or not.
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