Marcus Ray: Jabril Peppers would be Michigan's best Running Back right now

Submitted by Dawkins on
Ray made this comment on Michigan Insider during his weekly Thursday morning interview. They were discussing Habaugh's comments about Peppers potentially being a three-way player.

It was unclear from the comment whether this was simply meant as a compliment toward Peppers, or if he was suggesting that Michigan's RB corps is in trouble. He did also say Ty Isaac could do well this year too.

In any event, this will be a LOOONG season if we're unable to move the ball on the ground effectively.

benjamint1024

August 2nd, 2015 at 8:42 AM ^

Where will he make the most impact? If it is RB than so be it. He should play anywhere he makes an impact. But, he needs to putting in the most time in at his #1strength. In Harbaugh we trust.

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HarbaughorBust

August 3rd, 2015 at 8:14 AM ^

For some, it's hard to grasp the concept that people have friends even family in the football program. Some of those people get to visit practices. Even crazier some of those people talk about how players are doing. Who looks good. Who looks bad. Etc. I got called out when I said there was attrition not announced two weeks ago because Harbaugh comes out and says he doesn't expect any more attrition at the media day. Michigan still hasn't updated the roster. There's a reason. 3 quitters will be announced shortly. ;)

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Mr Miggle

August 2nd, 2015 at 10:01 AM ^

I don't like the idea of using Peppers there part time, even if he might be our best RB. He also might be our best slot, our best CB, our best S, our best gunner and our best returner. He can't do everything and I expect he'll be most valuable on defense. Let him take a few reverses.from the slot. Aside from the actual touches, he'll make a great decoy on offense, something that's hard to do as a RB.

 

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theguy49503

August 2nd, 2015 at 8:42 AM ^

I don't know about all that lol. Marcus was a great football player but is not a great analyst in my opinion. To make this statement is to disregard the horrible o line play

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bluebyyou

August 2nd, 2015 at 8:53 AM ^

I listen to Marcus on The Michigan Insider almost every time he is on....sometimes I agree with his opinions, but other times not so much.

Given the option of being a lock-down defensive back versus a running back, from the standpoint of a long NFL career and having an impact, I think great DB's are worth their weight in gold.  In the NFL, solid running backs are easily obtainable which is why, with rare exception, RB's don't get drafted in the first round.  Wiscy's Gordon was an exception this past season, and lots of people questioned his early selection. 

As good of an athlete as Jabril is, he is not big as RB's go, and RB's tend to take a beating.

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white_pony_rocks

August 2nd, 2015 at 9:01 AM ^

I'll say this again, just like I do every time somebody says something like this, why the fuck do you care about his career in the NFL at this point?  I want a great college player, I couldn't care less if he went first round or how long he played in the league.  Give me Case Keenum over Tom Brady in college any day.

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bluebyyou

August 2nd, 2015 at 9:13 AM ^

Why do I care?  Because I give a shit about the player and his life after Michigan.  Do you not think that most recruits with the ability to play in the NFL consider what position will serve them best in college and at the next level and discuss this with the coaching staff before committing as well as during the time they play for Michigan?

 

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mich_hockey_6

August 2nd, 2015 at 2:22 PM ^

He gets my vote for dumbest fucking comment of the day. What an idiot. People think that because he was made to split time with a quarterback that was obviously inferior, tht Tom Brady wasn't a good college quarterback. Anyone who thinks that is clearly too dumb to be commenting on football. Especially on this blog.

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ClassOf14

August 2nd, 2015 at 12:35 PM ^

Because it's important that you do right by your players too. Jabrill obviously has the talent to go to the NFL, our second and almost as important goal, after the success of the team, should be to get him to the NFL and help him achieve his goals. And why do you think he couldn't be useful to the university after graduating? Look at alumni like Brady, Woodson, and Desmond Howard and how they are great ambassadors for the university. Remember how Jabrill said looking up to Woodson and the possibility of wearing his number was a factor for him committing here? I want recruits 15 years from now to be saying the same thing about Peppers.



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DFW_Michigan_Man

August 2nd, 2015 at 8:46 AM ^

Athlete on the roster and has he potential to be a game greater no matter where he lives up. So it is not surprising that some one would have this opinion. But at this point, it is still potential til it translates to game day!

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michgoblue

August 2nd, 2015 at 8:47 AM ^

I expect Jabrill to play primarily defense, but to also get a handful of reps on offense and return kicks. But, his #1 priority will be defense (a similar split to Woodson).

As for the RB position, there are enough guys on the roster that with decent OL play, one should emerge as a consistent option for a stable, even if unexceptional, ground game.

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MGoGrendel

August 2nd, 2015 at 9:56 AM ^

Running back if IIRC and Michigan was the only school that recruited him for defense (where he played some offense). By contrast, Peppers was primarily defense in HS and, with Ray's comment, would be our running back (playing some defense). Interesting if it turns out this way.

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EGD

August 2nd, 2015 at 11:31 AM ^

I remember reading an old Daily article about Woodson. The gist of it was that when Woodson arrived in 1995, M already had established stars at RB (Biakabatuka) and WR (Toomer, Hayes) but not at CB. So, Woodson tried out for CB, thinking that would give him the best chance of playing as a freshman. Obviously that worked out well for him. But I suspect that if M had needed a RB or WR at that time, Woodson would have played offense instead (and been damn good at it).

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M-Dog

August 2nd, 2015 at 5:07 PM ^

Peppers will play primarily on defense, because that's where he is needed most.  

Even if he can play an "A" game at RB, there are enough other guys that can play a viable "B+" game at RB.  

But on defense, if you lose his "A" game there, you will have to replace it with somebody's "C-" game.

 

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bacon1431

August 2nd, 2015 at 8:49 AM ^

"Brady Hoke just needs more time." - Marcus Ray, November 2014 

I have no idea why he continues to get quoted in media outlets (because he says outrageous things I suppose) as his input has never really been astute. Not that he's necessarily incorrect about this. 

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lilpenny1316

August 2nd, 2015 at 8:55 AM ^

He was on Twitter talking about how much RichRod sucked and their losing in the Fiesta Bowl was proof that he was the wrong coach for us.  Considering how many eggs we have laid in bowl games over the years, he should've known better than to use a bowl game in the new CFP-system for proof that RR sucked.  Bad fit for us?  Maybe.  But man, it's time to stop analyzing the coaches.

Maybe he's better analyzing players.

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trustBlue

August 2nd, 2015 at 4:27 PM ^

Rich Rod never coached in a Fiesta Bowl at Michigan.  The only bowl game RR coached at Michigan was the 2010-11 Gator Bowl vs. Mississippi State in his third year.

We lost that game by 38 points - the worse bowl loss in school history.  That was that last game Rich Rod coached at Michigan.

I don't think Marcus Ray was the only one who was thinking that Rich Rod might not be the right coach for Michigan at that time.  

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rob f

August 2nd, 2015 at 8:52 AM ^

a lot of punishment. I would be hesitant to play Peppers there if we expect him to operate at peak efficiency in the defensive backfield. If we have to convert a DB to RB, why not first try Dymonte Thomas. He played RB in high school and we can afford to lose him from the defensive side more than we can afford to lose Peppers.

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