Peppers getting time at linebacker
247 is reporting that Jabrill Peppers is taking reps at linebacker, in an attempt to possibly shore up weaknesses in that group.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja…
February 29th, 2016 at 5:22 PM ^
His position is Defensive Weapon. (Except, of course, when he is on offense.)
February 29th, 2016 at 5:59 PM ^
February 29th, 2016 at 6:16 PM ^
February 29th, 2016 at 6:49 PM ^
Also, having Jabrill at Linebacker will help out our terrible linebacker situation. Which in turn will help prevent whatever happened against OSU from happening again.
February 29th, 2016 at 6:58 PM ^
The sooner that Khaleke Hudson gets ready to play...the better. He is a pure safety and I expect him to help shore that position up allowing Pepp to move around a bit.
February 29th, 2016 at 8:10 PM ^
He's a bit undersized to play LB on a consistent basis, but he'd be a ferocious sideline to sideline kind of LB that would not be afraid to lay the wood on someone.
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February 29th, 2016 at 9:22 PM ^
has come and he is the destroyer of worlds
February 29th, 2016 at 10:49 PM ^
I actually am not excited about this. Don't get my wrong I see how this is a huge help to the team and I think Peppers would do pretty well in this run and his scheme but it doesn't help Peppers at all.
Peppers will not be a 1st round pick playing in the box 90% of the time. He needs to work on his coverage skills and at playing in deep space (center field, deep half, etc). That is the only area of his game where Peppers is really lacking, pure coverage.
But if he does play a ton of LB I expect him to lead the team in tackle if he plays the entire season. Playing LB will expose him to OL blocking which could beat up a body that isn't huge for a LB.
and I believe he has more than earned those titles, played a lot more in the box than you probably were aware last season.
I am not taking issue with any of your points as to coverage, et. al., but I don't know if I would go so far as to say he will not be a first round draft pick as it is inasmuch as all head coaches and GMs at the next level are aware of how much use Harbaugh is getting from this one player who appears will be adding either 5 or 6 after his name this season to signify the positions he will have played.
In the perfect world, where we had lbers of 'yore, and they are on their way, just not in time to help him, but who knows? Maybe Brown's schemes will help him by maximizing play of backers through his non-conventional methods.
Young man proved virtually unblockable last season and is one of the most fearless football players I've seen. Yes, he absolutely freaked me out at season's beginning, when he would be 10 to 15 yds away from the punt, call for the fair catch and somehow close that distance in about 0.5 seconds to secure the football, saving us valuable yardage. I'd say by week 4 I no longer had the fear that he would end up dropping those by catching them in the manner he did.
And as to the unblockable statement; that was just a thing of beauty watching that young man diagnose and break on the ball at the snap, with offensive blockers hitting nothing but air as he wove through whomever was attempting much like a premier point guard penetrates the lane.
I believe Coach Brown realizes fully what he has with this young man, and if he doesn't I believe his boss will make his aware and although, like you, I would like to see him concentrate on his primary defensive position, while still utilizing him in all manners of the blitz game, I believe they will use him with caution here for the very valid reasons you state, but I cannot imagine any coach - and yes, I do realize some amaze me every year without fail - at the NFL level, not becoming immediately aware, as we all were, as to just what a rare blend of football I.Q. along with the freakish athleticism to act correctly on what he diagnoses.
Remember, we saw all we have seen of this young man in what amount to basically one full year of football. Yes, technically this is his third season, but we know the truth as to that. If it's true, and it has been proven as such, that the greatest improvement in a team takes place from week one to week two, I think we can assume like improvement as to the individual would talke place between seasons one and two. Add in the fact, he's the most gifted player to roam our defensive backfield since 1997, and I cannot foresee the possibility of what you imagine as to a possible change in draft rounds.
And the marriage of Brown and Peppers, the various possibilities of how he may be used (strictly on the defensive side) coming to mind, is just another in a long list of reason's football 2016 is filling me with a level of excitement on par with what I thought would never be duplicated and that was the level of excitement I had just one year ago.
I hope you got paid by the word.
The more he plays linebacker the less he'll play on offense. Particularly at running back.
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Whether in Nickel personnel or base personnel, Michigan's defense will essentially be a 4-3. However, in the nickel package, Peppers will be the SAM. But Michigan has to for the event that the opponent lines up in such a way for as Peppers to actually play tighter to the box (either Michgian misses a personnel change, or someone they consider a receiver lines up at TE, etc; you need to be prepared for everything).
In that way, Peppers will be playing essentially the same role as he did as a nickel last year. Then he may slide back to safety in a base personnel group to get a little more mass up front. That's my guess anyway.
FWIW, I'd guess we'd be in nickel personnel as much or more than base anyway.