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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Surveillance Doe

December 29th, 2016 at 1:20 PM ^

I don't think it's incorrect to say that he could develop more as a player if he were to come back for another year. In fact, I think he could absolutely dominate if he were to return. Unfortunately for us fans, the relevant question is whether that development is worth the risk of passing up a first-round opportunity. 

Joined: 07/06/2008

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trustBlue

December 29th, 2016 at 1:37 PM ^

The question is not whether or not he can get better - he can and he will continue to improve as a player.  

But what would be the point of waiting another year? To improve from a Top 5-10 pick to a Top 1-3 pick?

The only way Peppers returns is if he loves playing here so much that he is willing to forfeit millions of dollars.

Joined: 04/14/2014

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cletus318

December 29th, 2016 at 3:07 PM ^

At this point, mock drafts are going to be all over the place. There have been mocks that had no QBs going in the first half of the first round, which never holds up. He was always likely to go somewhere between 5 and 15, that's just where the top safety prospects usually go.  That being said, it's not just an issue of this contract. It's also about getting the clock started on getting to your second deal, the one where players really can cash in. That can happen after three years, negating a lot of the difference in salary between going 5 and 15. If you're pretty much assured to go in the first round, and Peppers at this point is, there isn't much of a financial reason to return to school.

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Maynard

December 29th, 2016 at 3:43 PM ^

His draft status has not dropped. He will go inside the top 10. He was never going to go higher than guys at bigger money positions like Garrett. It doesn't work like that. Also, if he comes back and still goes at the same position in the draft, which is likely, he would have just lost one earning year in the NFL since there are only so many earning years available on a body. 

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FatGuyTouchdown

December 29th, 2016 at 9:36 PM ^

ran a 4.24 at the NFL Combine with electronic watches and nearly no margin for error in regard to reporting the score. Jabrill self reported a 4.34 over the summer. I think Jabrill is a much better football player, but Hill isn't just faster than Peppers, he's the fastest man in the NFL. 

Joined: 09/07/2014

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JHendo

December 29th, 2016 at 1:27 PM ^

I'd love to see him come back selfishly, and he strikes me as the kind of guy who might do just that. There's certainly room to hone his talent as he's proven his versatility but can begin to perfect his preferred speciality. However, if he has smart people in his ear, and Harbaugh is a smart guy who knows NFL talent, he'll go pro. Waaay sidenote, sorry, but it's preface, not prefix.

Joined: 10/25/2008

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JHendo

December 29th, 2016 at 6:40 PM ^

That's extremely debatable. In the clause in question, I've established both myself and him as the subject, and I dare say fairly clear based on context that I'm intending the adjective for myself. For it to be "dangling," the clause the adjective is in would need to be devoid of an explicit subject, right? So while it is admitted lazy grammar on my part, with the potential to be confused, I'm not sure it's a dangling participle.

Joined: 10/25/2008

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Go Blue in MN

December 29th, 2016 at 8:37 PM ^

I'll admit I'm not sure whether it is a "dangling participle" or not, but the placing selfishly at the end suggests that it modifies "come back," not "love," and thus relates to Peppers, not you.   Context is about all that saves you, but that's not much of an excuse.  But a +1 for your good-natured response.

Joined: 09/28/2013

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You Only Live Twice

December 29th, 2016 at 1:38 PM ^

Even though the consensus is the point is moot, I give you an upvote for football related content.

Edit:  I wasn't desperate enough to click the link for the barfing RB thread.  I have a weak stomach.

Joined: 09/14/2013

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BoFlex

December 29th, 2016 at 1:53 PM ^

I see Jabrill as a smaller, but faster Kam Chancellor. A Strong Safety that plays in the box a lot, and blows up plays regularly. The only problem is that whatever NFL team drafts him needs a rangy, ballhawking FS like Earl Thomas III to pair with Peppers. Otherwise, it would be too easy to take advantage of Peppers in coverage with a slot reciever, or a pass-catching RB split out wide.

Joined: 05/30/2011

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MichiganMan14

December 29th, 2016 at 4:38 PM ^

A lot of people are hung up on making plays in college as opposed to projecting to make plays in the league. There is no doubt that Jabrill can play at the next level. The question is merely, does another year at his actual position help him prior to declaring? Or does he project so blatantly obvious at Strong Safety that he is a sure shot impact player next season for whoever drafts him?

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The Oracle

December 29th, 2016 at 1:41 PM ^

Peppers is obviously a great athlete, but as football player was truly dynamic only as a kick/punt returner. Otherwise, he was very good, but not incredibly dominating as he often seems to be portrayed here. He was 24th in the NCAA in total tackles for loss, half a tackle ahead of Ben Gedeon, and further down the list in solo tackles for loss. He had one interception. He picked up 167 yards rushing, but over the last half of the season he carried the ball 22 times for 69 yards. Very good and very versatile, but not great or irreplaceable.

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BlueLava009

December 29th, 2016 at 2:21 PM ^

As any coach would tell you Stats aren't the end all be all measuring stick.  Teams literally spend weeks scheming around Jabrill, creating plays/fakes/slants that get Peppers moving one while the play goes the other way.  Gedeon, not so much.  While Peppers stats don't scream Heisman winner, anyone with half a football brain can see he is quite literally a game changer.  How many times did we see him this season run from one side of the field to the other closing off the edge and making a play?  How many times have we seen him break up screens before they get started?  How many times has he attracted a double team while blitzing freeing up another pass rusher to hit the QB…Those plays don't show up in stat books….Further, we are talking one of the best defenses of all time here, not jsut at Michigan but all of college football, what if he was the main guy without Lewis/Taco/Chris/etc.  How many of those guys are going to the pros next year?  Peppers didnt need to be Woodson, quite frankly didnt have the chance to be Woodson due to so many other play makers on Defense...

Irreplaceable, no, Harbaugh/Brown and Co. will replace him, game changing athlete....yes.....

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funkywolve

December 29th, 2016 at 3:05 PM ^

You do realize that just about the entire '97 defense went on to the NFL?  Some of them with long productive careers.  A couple, Renes and Weathers, suffered injuries their first year in the pros and never recovered.  The '97 defense was not even close to being Woodson and a bunch of guys.  There was a ton of talent on that defense too.

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The Oracle

December 29th, 2016 at 4:37 PM ^

Truly great players, like Woodson, make great plays, and there's no scheme that can prevent it from happening. I acknowledge that Peppers was very good. I just think he fell well short of greatness.

Joined: 12/31/2014

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socalwolverine1

December 29th, 2016 at 1:50 PM ^

I love the man, his skillset and his passion for the game. But I can't get the image of Jabril running off in the other direction while J.T. Barrett runs for the winning TD in 2OT out of my head. I'm not blaming Jabril, I'm blaming the scheme that had him chasing some decoy instead of doing exactly what has to be done when playing against the latest mobile QB at Ohio State: someone MUST spy the QB at all times. I hope that lesson is not lost against FSU.

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M-GO-Beek

December 29th, 2016 at 1:59 PM ^

Since it seems it could potentially play a big role in Peppers even just playing this game (as opposed to siting out like others), does anyone have actual details on any insurance policy he has? Who pays for it?  What are the details in which it kicks in (ie does he have to drop to round 2 or does he have to fall further for it come into play)?  How much will get and underwhat circumstances? Thanks

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The Oracle

December 29th, 2016 at 2:20 PM ^

I've been wondering if, while not going full McCaffrey, the coaches might ease the workload a bit on the players who are NFL-bound and give them slightly fewer snaps against FSU, while at the same adding to the experience of the young guys who will be taking their places next season.

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M-GO-Beek

December 29th, 2016 at 2:25 PM ^

It doesn't seem like Harbaugh's MO to do that.  Harbaugh thinks of these games as extra tape for the NFL to evaluate, which is why Ruddock played the whole game last year and kept throwing despite the score.  Maybe Peppers/Lewis get some plays off at the end if it isnt close, but if either has a couple bad plays, I would suspect they and everyone else plays nearly the whole game.  If a surprise youngster gets in, its because Harbaugh thinks he will help the team win the game and they improved alot over the last month's practice.

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tasnyder01

December 29th, 2016 at 4:28 PM ^

Credential establishment: Worked two years in disability insurance (the class of insurance this falls into). That said, I'm not a agent/underwriter, so I don't know everything. There are two sets of possible policies. The most common is through the NCAA, which covers you for a career ending disability. (I don't know how they define "disability" - does it mean you can't work any job, or just as a professional athlete?) The second set/type is through private plans. Lloyds of London is the giant in this category. They can set whatever terms they and Jabrill decide on. It can be "I lose my first round status", "I can't play for two hears", etc. Premiums obviously differ on the plans. Milliman does the math behind this (at least used to), so I'm sure you can also google them. Petersens Intl Underwriters did the sports underwriting here in CA (I worked with them for USC/Cal players in the past, which IS a cool story. Just ask me.) You can google them as well.

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