Jabrill Peppers discussion.

Submitted by MichiganMan14 on
Let me preface this by stating the obvious. Jabrill Peppers is a transcendent talent and one of the very best in college football. Most have him pegged for the draft as a rsSO leaving 2 years on the table. We've deployed him as a Defensive Weapon this year and he's mostly lined up as an LB. My question is what position does he project at in the league and how does he stack up against the best at that respective position? Dominating college does not always translate into similar success in the league. He's in various spots on draft boards I've seen and while he could certainly go and likely will.....another year at a defined safety position could really do him well in preparation for the NFL. I know that may not be a popular opinion but watching various prospects in this draft it's tough to project how good he is when compared to the elites at those respective positions. I would project him as a Strong Safety personally. Is it far fetched to think another year in Ann Arbor would benefit a player of his caliber before he jumps to the league?
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Mr. Yost

December 29th, 2016 at 4:29 PM ^

Scalding hot takes turned into threads are never a good idea.

Then a block of text with no spacing is another problem.

...I'd guess complaining about downvotes was the third strike for many. Either that or the fact that the title is HORRIBLE.

I don't care how "solid" of a poster you are, you're not going to get away with that on MGoBlog. In general, a cool thought/take that pops in your head...if you just add it to an exisiting thread, you're usually sparking a discussion. But when you make a thread just to share your personal thought and then put "thoughts?" ...you're usually doomed*. 

 

 

*Unless you're DISCUSS Man.

 

DISCUSS

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MichiganMan14

December 29th, 2016 at 5:02 PM ^

Legitimate and valid discussion. Some people on this board haven't mentally graduated high school. All good. Let's find reasons to neg so as to in some way make myself feel better and a poster feel badly. Lol. Let me get a hundred negs so I know it's real......

Joined: 02/21/2012

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Mr. Yost

December 29th, 2016 at 9:47 PM ^

Let it go my man. Trust me, there will be better days.

But "Jabrill Peppers discussion" was never going to go over well unless you had a link to coupons for Kate Upton BJs attached to your OP.

Toss in the formatting and it was doomed from the start.

Check out the MGoFAQ: http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/mgoboard-faq

What should I title my threads?

Please make your thread titles as informative as possible: "Justin Feagin" is bad. "Justin Feagin leaving the team?" is good.

Joined: 07/25/2011

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Mr. Yost

December 29th, 2016 at 9:58 PM ^

...which I wasn't. Just being honest on why your thread is terrible. Here you go. Guarantee it would've ended up better...however, asking whether Peppers should return on this board was always going to get MGoSnark even if you meant well. Because we obviously ALL want him back. So no...he's not ready for the NFL and yes, he should return.

OP Subject: "Jabrill Peppers Highlight Video"

OP Body: "It's a slow week, thought I'd share this highlight video of Peppers. What position do you all think he plays in the NFL? Also, IMO dominating in college doesn't always translate to similar success in the NFL...honest question, do you all actually think he'd benefit from another year in college?"

1st Post Subject: "Embed"

1st Post Body:

 

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MichiganMan14

December 29th, 2016 at 5:06 PM ^

Dude....Stop it. Unless they morph into some type of voucher for gear at the MDen I could really care less. I posted this because it's a very valid discussion. Not for MGoPoints. I haven't paid attention to MgoPoints in years....

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MichiganMan14

December 29th, 2016 at 5:09 PM ^

I put the link in a separate comment because on my galaxy device I cannot avoid the blob text. I didn't want the link to be lost in the text blob so not only was the initial post condensed and separated from the link...it was done so on purpose and for a particular reason.

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MichiganMan14

December 29th, 2016 at 1:21 PM ^

How is his film at safety? Compared to other safeties in the draft obviously. The NFL is NOT going to ask him to do in the league what he did at Michigan. I think it's important and possibly unpopular on the board to point out that we may be skewing his NFL projection based on what WE needed him to do for Michigan. He won't be the best player at 10 different positions on an NFL roster. The question is, will he be the best safety? It's a little concerning having to have him switch gears and now be an NFL safety when he has been a college linebacker for the last year. It's not that seamless of a transition. Not saying he can't do it but it's something to think about.

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canzior

December 29th, 2016 at 1:28 PM ^

what system he's in.   Picture him as a Troy Palomalo type...and the Cards have a safety-sized player at LB as well.   I wonder though, because I wonder what he really could improve on.  I think we all know he's not an exceptional cover guy, so I doubt that would improve very much.  He has the speed and ability to diagnose plays to play deep safety...or you could put him in the box as run support and covering TE's.  I think most GM's are willing to take a chance and figure it out...like FSU's OC said, he allows you to play in a permanent nickel in a league where most snaps are 3 WR or more. 

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Opinion25

December 29th, 2016 at 2:21 PM ^

.... pass coverage; he really needs to improve his pass coverage. I'm not saying that he can't do this in the pros rather than at U-M, just that this is what some NFL scouts have expressed concern about (tho most think that given his athleticism, Football IQ and work ethic, that he will do fine). He has clearly struggled at times, even against TEs, in coverage, but then, this was not something that he was asked to do a lot this past year. In the the NFL, even if he plays SS rather than slot corner, he will need to improve in this regard. 

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Hard-Baughlls

December 29th, 2016 at 3:27 PM ^

It is elite for a hybrid LB, below average for a traditional safety, and bad for a cornerback.

Given his build, I'm not sure how much better it can get.  He is not long and rangy, he's more of a dynamic, explosive type, and while he can change direction with the best of them, he doesn't have the flow or "swivel" you see from elite cover guys like Lewis.  I think he's already too thick a build to get much better at pass coverage as if he could have I assume he already would have improved there, given his football IQ and attention to detail.

I think he would do well as a Polamalu or Mathieu type in the league...with a lower ceiling in coverage, and a higher ceiling as an overall player (lining up at LB, return man, offensive snaps). 

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The Fan in Fargo

December 29th, 2016 at 3:00 PM ^

He may not have had the best displays covering guys but I'd be willing to bet if he stopped adding weight and worked on his flexibility and opening up his hips, he could become one of the best cover corners in the NFL. He bulked up at Michigan from his swift size at Paramus. That might have taken some of his agility away. He'll have the time now to become great at whatever he wants. Money to throw at it and no class schedule to worry about. Some people don't realize just how much you can do when that paycheck starts coming in and you aren't tied up with walking to and from class and all the studying. Not to mention still trying to be a young kid in college and have some fun.

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huntmich

December 29th, 2016 at 5:03 PM ^

A safety with 1 interception might  be a hard sell to NFL scouts. I agree with the sentiment that he could use additional seasoning to be ready to play immediately. But it doesn't matter, as he will probably go in the first half of the first round this year. To not take the money when he can get it would be foolish.

 

But he has also stressed how he has always loved Michigan and wants to be a part of its return to glory. Nothing would be better for that goal than to return for one more year and help lead a push for a B1G title in 2017.

 

But no, not even at my most optimistic do I think he would do that. He can get the money now and get the seasoning he needs with the NFL trainers he will have next year. Godspeed Jabrill!

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MichiganMan14

December 29th, 2016 at 1:17 PM ^

He has an uncanny ability to learn and simply play the game. He is a special teams standout. His passion and exuberance is contagious and would be a benefit to any NFL roster. He is an excellent tackler with a non-stop motor.

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Mongo

December 29th, 2016 at 2:33 PM ^

a nickel / SS / moneybacker in the NFL and maybe punt returner. The team that drafts him will be one that wants to scheme with a rover-type DB and he will deliver in the league for years to come. The dude runs a 4.34 forty and hits like a linebacker, that is like gold in the NFL. My guess he is a late top-10 1st rounder in the $15-20 million contract range, with a big signing bonus ($10+ million). While I would love to have Jabrill back for another year, he has accomplished everything he can at the college level. He needs to go to the NFL and take the money. He has been a great Michigan teammate and we should all be proud to consider him as one of us, a true Michigan Man. Go Jabrill with no regrets and make us even prouder watching you on Sundays. And buy your Mom a new house in your brother's memory - dreams do come true.

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Maynard

December 29th, 2016 at 3:31 PM ^

I think you are on the money. GMs salivate for this kind of talent at the safety/nickel back position. Someone with this type of speed, hitting power, and sure tackling is a can't miss at the next level and I don't see him making it past the top ten. In fact, I think there are three teams in particular who have already shown their cards when it comes to picking him. He will start right away and he will be a Pro Bowler early. He is an even better version of Tyrann Mathieu. He will return punts as he is one of the best ever at not muffing those which are hardest to catch. He needs to go to the NFL and change the lives of those in his family for the better. His stock is high and most likely will never be higher if he has a great game tomorrow.

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CoverZero

December 29th, 2016 at 1:20 PM ^

Moot point.  Peppers is a certain top 10-15 draft pick.  He would be a fool to come back to Michigan.  The money is too great and the risk is too high.  He already missed his Fr. season due to injury. 

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Maynard

December 29th, 2016 at 3:36 PM ^

He won't. And he shouldn't. We all would like it if he did. But that is maybe not in his best interest or that of his family. College has prepared him for his life after and obviously he is ready from a skill level.

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MichiganMan14

December 29th, 2016 at 1:25 PM ^

Also, there are insurance policies for situations like these. I've seen several draft projections that have him outside the top 15 and that is because he has not played his pro position in over a year. Not because he can't play it. That's why despite the likelihood of him coming out....another year at his actual position could stand to benefit him. If not for draft status....preparedness for covering NFL receivers.

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Coach Carr Camp

December 29th, 2016 at 1:41 PM ^

I'm kinda tired of the "there's insurance" getting brought up. Players get insured for instances where they are literally unable to play again. Have a bad injury that keeps you out most of season and drops you 3 rounds in the draft? Sorry, no payout, and thanks for paying what I would imagine is a pretty heafty premium. Not to mention if you are 21 years old and have a career ending injury that prevents you from acheiving your NFL dream, whatever payout you get is going to be a pretty meaningless consolation. Also, that payout, is likely for much less than you would get as an NFL player. Marcus Lattimore is the only player that comes to mind that actually cashed in on one of these, and he got 1.3M. Pretty sure thats less than just his rookie contract would have been if he was first round pick. So saying people need to stop this insurance talk like the player has no risk.  

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MichiganMan14

December 29th, 2016 at 2:02 PM ^

But also guaranteed money in the NFL is precarious in many instances and the league doesn't wait around for you to develop per say. Peppers is a phenomenal player and will likely adapt and be a great NFLer but the scare tactic of rushing all the talent out of college before they even get their degree is also overplayed. The NFL wants all the talents to jump just like the NBA because that's their business. It doesn't mean the the best decision for all of the college talent is to in fact jump.

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grumbler

December 29th, 2016 at 2:17 PM ^

This makes no sense.  THe guaranteed money in the NFL is precarious no matter what he does, so that's a red herrring.  "Per say" isn't a noise with meaning.  Of course the NFL wants the NFL-ready talent to play in the NFL.  That's not a "scare tactic," that's just plain old common sense.

Peppers has pnly so many years of football left.  If he spends anther one of theose at Michigan, he won't spend that year in the NFL, and will lose the millions he would earn that year in the NFL.  That's not even considering the possibility of injury in college if he spent another year there (and no insurnce policy could really compensate for the losses in that case).

The ONLY reason for Peppers to return to Michigan (except almost-foolhardy love for the college game) would be if he thinks that he could increase the value of his initial contract more than he will lose by missing a year of NFL ball.  That seems really unlikely, IMO, but I don't know the calculus well enough to say what he should do in that case.

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Coach Carr Camp

December 29th, 2016 at 4:06 PM ^

What I was referring to, and what I think most people are thinking of when they talk about a player getting insurance, is the NCAA's insurance program, which is only for career ending injuries. Although you are right, players can go to the private market and get whatever they want presuming some insurer will write the policy. 

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