Chances we see Peppers on Offense this week?

Submitted by AZBlue on

While basking in the afterglow of the Defensive UFR, I started thinking this might be the week we see a little JP on offense.  I am thinking this would be done primarily to put stuff on tape that D'Antoni and staff would have to prepare for next week.  My guess would be in a slot/jet-sweep look and/or as a 2nd (or 3rd) RB in the backfield.

Not being an football guru, I am not sure if this is best done by running plays using him so counters to a MSU overreaction could be deployed the next week or using him as a decoy to save his actual usage in those plays for the MSU game itself.  Maybe putting out for the first time vs. MSU would achieve the same results?

Of course they could just wait to add some packages for him during the bye week, but I get the feeling the Jim may take the opportunity to deploy the Peppers - or the threat of Peppers - to mess with our siblings up the road.

DISCUSS  (sorry to take your line Discuss man)

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HarryScarface

October 7th, 2015 at 6:32 PM ^

and then, only if things are looking like we need to break some plays. He'll go in for OSU. That's when you go all in. Although at that point, the playoff picture will be shaping up, so maybe we save him for the playoffs... /s

Harbaugh is much better at this than we are, I'm just going to enjoy the ride.

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MgoHacker

October 7th, 2015 at 6:33 PM ^

Only if Harbaugh wants Peppers out there to mess with them. I think its too soon to put offense on his docket since hes still improving on the defensive side and Harbaugh will likely only use him on offense if they go all in and give him a bunch of plays. He probably wont be able to handle that right now

 

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TheMannis

October 7th, 2015 at 6:34 PM ^

but i have a gut feeling some of the smoke screens (that I know are a check between a run and a pass at the LOS which further cements the stupidity of this thought) will somewhere down the line be used as a throwback to Rudock ala Minnesota 03

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trustBlue

October 7th, 2015 at 6:42 PM ^

Odds seem low. Two weeks ago Peppers told reporters he had not taken any snaps on offense in practice.  So if it plays on offense this week, it would be on extremely limited reps, which doesnt sound like a very Harbaugh thing to do.

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True Blue in CO

October 7th, 2015 at 6:49 PM ^

Harbaugh and the coaching staff will decide when Peppers comes in on offense.  No matter when, certain it will be done in a methodical manner as they seem to do this with all players and situations.  Whether in advance of MSU or OSU, we will be teased with the presence of Peppers in a low stakes situation as a decoy first and then as a real threat in subsequent games.  Looking forward to the surprise.

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turtleboy

October 7th, 2015 at 7:02 PM ^

Honestly I was wondering the same thing. When I saw Chesson take the jet sweep handoff to the house i was all: "woo! Wait, if we're lacking fast athletes in space who are good with ball security, why not our star punt returner?"

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Honk if Ufer M…

October 8th, 2015 at 11:47 AM ^

 

"Peppers said Chesson is the fastest guy on the team so why not run it for Chesson?"

Straight line flat out speed by itself isn't very useful in football. There have been plenty of track star busts in football.

You'd do it with Peppers because not only does he have sprinter speed, but, uh, have you seen him run the ball or not?

He has moves, instincts, quickness, tackle breaking & strength that Jehu doesn't even dream of. No offense.

To be honest I think there is such a glaring need for him on offense this year that it overrides his impact on defense given that the defense would still be great without him or with him in a more limited role this year.

On the other hand if he were floating around on offense between RB, receiver & wildcat/option qb, or just RB or receiver, but most effectively at RB if only one position, and getting 15 to 25 touches a game I think we'd be very, very hard to stop right through the 15th game of the year!

He'd be good for generating an extra 2 to 3 TD's a game either by scoring directly or making TD drives possible with his runs or the attention he takes from the D opening things up for others.

He could do that and still play part time D.

Imagine Drake and Peppers in the same backfield!

Next year won't be a crisis for the offense and he could go back to primarily defense.

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MGoStrength

October 7th, 2015 at 7:02 PM ^

I'm guessing that he gets snaps either before or in the MSU or OSU game, but that those 2 games in particular will see him.  I'm not sure whetner it's better to put him on offense the game before MSU/OSU to force them to prepare for it, but wait until the game to surprise them with it.  But, either way I'd guess he's a part of one or both of those two game plans...or at least I hope he is :)

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tpilews

October 7th, 2015 at 7:06 PM ^

I could have sworn he was out on the field at the end of the Maryland game. Maybe it was just the last couple snaps in victory formation? 

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LSAClassOf2000

October 7th, 2015 at 7:19 PM ^

If I had my way, you probably don't see Peppers this week.

While Northwestern is a tougher test - the toughest one so far - I have to think there are a lot of plays between the most basic formations in Harbaugh's offense and the section of the playbook that uses Peppers on offense. I don't foresee being so in trouble that we feel like we need to go there, if you will. If we see him on offense against MSU (and I don't think he's been taking snaps there lately), I'd much rather it was a surprise, one used in a key situation. 

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gbdub

October 7th, 2015 at 11:44 PM ^

Why do we think Harbaugh is actually holding that much back? Rather, he seems to be adding new things each week. Granted, nothing has been terribly risky, but it seems more like he's evolving and tweaking every week as opposed to "opening the playbook". Maybe "using the next chapter of the playbook" is a better analogy.



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MichiganMAN47

October 7th, 2015 at 7:31 PM ^

If the game is close I think Harbaugh would wait until the second half to spark the offense. Hopefully we don't need him, but I'd love to see him get several plays.

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Moonlight Graham

October 7th, 2015 at 7:33 PM ^

I am fully in the camp of those that have posted he needs to focus on defense and special teams for the rest of the year and not be distracted or put at risk of injury on offense. But it's tempting, especially with Chesson's troubles tracking balls and Drake Harris' limited contributions so far. Maybe have Pep run one of those routes Chesson couldn't haul in and see if he can track the ball down.



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MGoDillon

October 7th, 2015 at 7:40 PM ^

I don't get this mantra that hiding things, for example: not showing packages or plays during easy games, or showing things to make them prepare more, etc. will make it harder for the opponent. I mean, they play defense not matter what right? Just because a certain player is or isn't at a certain position doesn't mean they have to change everything around or something. So maybe they will be thrown off a play or two. I'm hoping that if you plan to win the game that one or two plays that you're unprepared for will make or break the game. You still play defense, you should still be able to stop a play regardless of who the opponent is. Make sense? I just think it's nonsense



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TheCool

October 7th, 2015 at 9:09 PM ^

Just playing defense is not what players at this level do. They have to be prepared to handle adjustments/changes to the offense, assuming there's no huge talent disparity. Typically an offensive adjustment is going to take advantage of a weakness in the defense. So if the defense does just play defense, they'll get exposed. Good coaches take advantage of unprepared/poorly coached teams all the time.

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