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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GPCharles

December 29th, 2016 at 2:29 PM ^

If he came back, he would be able to play safety, which I think is his natural position and where he would play in the NFL.

Whatever his decision, I'm ok with it.  However, I am also selfish where M football comes in.

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HateSparty

December 29th, 2016 at 2:40 PM ^

I am of the opinion that he is best off contract by back. He has a few things to develop and could place himself on the top three picks next year. He will leave because the money calls but it is not in his best interest. There has not been a Michigan player who left early that was drafted where they had hoped since Woodson. Willie Henry is the most recent example of why to stay. Closely followed by Lewan on the positive side.



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Maynard

December 29th, 2016 at 3:55 PM ^

Sorry but that just isn't going to happen. He will never place himself in the top 3 picks. And leaving is in his best interest. The NFL values pass rushers, quarterbacks, and OTs for those top 3 type picks. Safeties/nickel back types don't get those large contracts. He will be from 5 to 15 just as everyone has said and no amount of wishing is going to change that. I selfishly would like to see him back next year but he won't be and that is what makes sense.

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MichiganMan14

December 29th, 2016 at 4:47 PM ^

He is very likely a 1st rounder. 5-15? He will have to destroy his pro-day and combine for those slots. The NFL operates off a need base. If these teams don't need a FS/OLB hybrid....they wont draft him. He is a tremendous talent and we all agree but just assuming he's top 5 or top 15 is incorrect. He will need to have a defined role to garnish that type of pick as any team drafting him will have multiple glaring needs to fill. If he knocks his drills out of the park he may be able to convince the scouts of a top 15 pick. Assuming he has it in hand is simply not sound thinking. And yes he does work on special teams. There are a lot of players who housed kickoffs and multiple punt returns in college football this year.

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Maynard

December 29th, 2016 at 7:37 PM ^

I have already outlined below which teams need and/or want him. You are flat out wrong that he will have to destroy his pro day and combine for that. Additionally, I don't give a shit who housed kickoffs and punt returns in college football. It is irrelevant in the sense that just because someone scores on a return does not make them more likely to be drafted higher than Jabril or in any way indicate that said player is better than Peppers. By the way, not all NFL teams draft solely on need. Some draft on best available. 

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MichiganMan14

December 29th, 2016 at 10:34 PM ^

Special teams was brought up because it's used to brighten his star. My point is there are a number of guys who are better at returning kicks than he is so that sell is not as strong in the league. I agree that the NFL drafts on best available. Best available what? Best available at a particular position. The Jack of all trade things worked for us out of necessity. We need him at these spots. An NFL team will need him at SS...a position that he hasn't played in a year and will need to stand out at through combine and drills to ensure a top 15 pick. NFL GMs will love Jabrill as a person because he is an awesome human being. They will draft him on his ability as a SS. Are there better SSs in college football? Legitimate question. Next...how many teams need an SS and where does Peppers rank amongst those guys. That's how one would logically establish his real draft position. If he is a sure shot SS and atop that group before you factor all of his versatility....then top 15 it is. If not....then things get interesting.

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Maynard

December 30th, 2016 at 12:20 AM ^

He will be a Pro Bowl safety in my opinion. And he will do some special teams in the form of punt returns, which he will do well. We can agree to disagree I suppose. I am just giving my opinion and that is he will go in the top 15 and is going to be a great safety/nickel. There have been plenty of football players in the same type of athlete mold who have gone top 15 with versatilityi as their strength. Percy Harvin went 11th as a wide receiver/return specialist but is 5-11 190 lbs. Anyway, we don't have long before we find out how it plays out. But if you think he makes it past 15 I'll have what you're having because that is some good shit apparently.

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UofM Die Hard …

December 29th, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^

he will be back...i think he really wants to beat ohio state and win the B1G and get a chance to win a ship. 

 

I get it, a lot of money on the table, but the NFL is just a meat grinder. Easy for me to say right?

 

I dont know, my fandom is getting in the way here but like Bo said you are just playing for a contract in the NFL, this is the last team you will play for.  If he was projected at RB, boom go, too short of NFL life span...I mean safety he could play for a while...a la Earl Thomas who is just now starting to slow down..kinda..love that guy.  I see him like Earl...the great eraser

 

But I dont know why, my little ol gut says he wants to come back. 

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Michigan4Life

December 29th, 2016 at 3:14 PM ^

Thing is NFL doesn't know what to do with Jabrill as a prospect. He's too tight hipped to play CB and is undersized to play LB. he would need to play in the box S but he lacks experience in coverage. It would take a creative DC to utilize Jabrill and that's the most important thing for him. Wrong DC, he'll be a bust.

Comparing to the Honey Badger doesn't apply to Jabrill because Honey Badger can play CB. If any, he's closer to Denone Bucannon. One negative for Jabrill is the ball skills. He only has one INT to show for it but that's with a caveat that he played LB.

Don't be surprised if Taco Charlton ended up being the first Michigan player drafted in 2017. NFL are much higher on Taco than most realized.



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MichiganMan14

December 29th, 2016 at 4:50 PM ^

Taco is an example of a dominant college player who projects to be dominant at his position in the pros as well. Jabrill is awesome. Just not 100% sold on what he is in the league and if he is going to dominate at that position.....which is what a player who leaves 2 years on the table does.

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JTGoBlue

December 29th, 2016 at 3:32 PM ^

He is not ready for the NFL physically. He is too small to play linebacker, and needs more refinement at safety. He is best served to come back for another year and get his Michigan degree.

Right? I'm right aren't I?



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Maynard

December 29th, 2016 at 4:04 PM ^

Sort of blows my mind how many people on here actually think he is coming back. A lot of other things on here make sense now. He is not coming back folks. We want him to. He isn't. The family doesn't start looking into agents for no reason a year early. His stock is between 5 and 15 in the first round and he has zero chance of getting into the top position or two ever no matter if he won the Heisman Trophy next year. His position is not worthy of that kind of money and NFL owners don't pay it out to those outside of QBs, OTs and pass rushers normally. Also, the guys who are his peers, in talent and from a team leadership perspective (Butt, Lewis, etc.) are headed to the NFL. 

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MichiganMan14

December 29th, 2016 at 4:54 PM ^

The conversation is about his development at primarily safety and whether he is ready to be an impact safety. Posing the question of whether or not another year at his actual position could benefit him is striking some as preposterous when it is fact very legitimate. If it was already in stone...he would have announced or not even played the game like some of his 1st round counterparts. Most all agree he will go.

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TheJuiceman

December 29th, 2016 at 5:15 PM ^

No, it's not crazy to think that. The paradox Jabrill is faced with is, he could use a year to polish his ball skills, footwoork, etc. as DB, as you said SS type, BUT he's projected to go so high that he almost has to leave. I've said it before on here, he is not a LB at the next level. Unless he stinks it up so bad as a safety in an NFL camp that two years and 25 pounds later, he re-emerges as solid NFL OLB, much to our bewilderment (cough cough Cato June). I'm no Phil Steele, but I don't see that happening.  

This is why I like his pro chances better as a full time offensive/special teams player. Trust, if Harbaugh says he's a safety, who tf am I to question his position, but hear me out. Jabrill doesn't really have a position in the league right now. He's a liability in coverage (says this HS DBs coach lol), and he's on the smaller side to be a full time backer, despite the fact that he is one of the most explosive tacklers that I have ever seen.

I guess my point is he's as gifted an offensive player (jets,rockets,bubbles,zone read runs from RB, punt/kick return) as he is a tackler. Therefore, I'd like to see how good he'd be getting the ball 8-12 times a game when it's not so obvious he's getting it. He may get drafted higher as a defensive player, but he would have a more sustainable impact as an offensive player in the NFL IMO. 

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MIMark

December 29th, 2016 at 5:31 PM ^

If I am the Browns GM I draft Peppers first overall and put him at FS. He is such a flexible player that I know I can move him all around the defense and then mix and match my secondary and LBs until I find several lineups that work.

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Maynard

December 29th, 2016 at 5:46 PM ^

If the draft were held with the current order, I think Jabril goes from 4-6 to Jacksonville, Tennesee, or the Jets, or 11, 12, or 14 to the Cardinals, Bills, or Saints, respectively. 

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Hard-Baughlls

December 29th, 2016 at 11:50 PM ^

Just spoke to my cousin who is a relatively good acquaintance of Peppers...a year younger and in the same social circle / frat friends...Before he left to Florida / Orange Bowl Jabrill was 80% - 20% leaning towards the draft. Harbaugh and Jabrill's mom were working to see if he is indeed a top 10 pick and if so he is definitely going.  10-15 he's 90% gone.  If they feel there is a chance he can slip, there is a sliver of hope he may return, but the coaches have advised him to leave if he is a "lottery" - franchise pick - obviously the responsible thing to do.This is hardly news, but just relaying what he told me.  

Also, regarding the OSU game, the players were told not to say anything about the officiating after the Harbaugh tirade, but there remains a feeling within the team that it was reffed "dirty" and the coaches have even validated this sentiment to the players and recruits despite the fact that they are doing the cliche anwers to the media post Manuel's statment. They spent the first week after the game watching film and were even more convinced it was called one way, and they have numerous views showing the final play with Barret short by about half a yard. Not sure why the AD has not released this footage or shared with the media.

 

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big john lives on 67

December 30th, 2016 at 1:23 AM ^

Thanks for supplying the interesting information above.

It has been driving me nuts since the game. Is Manuel pursuing anything behind the scenes to ensure that dirty reffing is avoided in the future?

I hope so. That is the only way that I can accept Manuel's statement.



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Hard-Baughlls

December 30th, 2016 at 9:32 AM ^

or the athletic department.  That's Fort Schembechler level intel to which my cousin is no privy. He only gets the player meetings tidbits by being a hang around. I would be interested in knowing this too as I was not happy with how Manuel buried the whole thing so quickly.

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