LSAClassOf2000

May 23rd, 2013 at 9:01 AM ^

As I recall, and I might be misremembering this, but in an article a few weeks ago, Peppers talked about how Mattison compared him to Charles Woodson quite a bit. I believe he also said that the Michigan staff has discussed using him in offensive packages as well. 

I thought that it was interesting that he reminded you of Reggie Bush, but given the description and the highlight reels that have appeared here, that's really pretty apt. That, and a combination of Reggie Bush and Aeneas Williams (the CB you chose) would be a nice thing to have in the arsenal. 

Thanks for sharing this, Magnus. 

DGDestroys

May 23rd, 2013 at 9:18 AM ^

Here's him talking about Woodson, but only a little offense..

"I definitely want the ball in my hands," Peppers said. "My goal is to win the Heisman as a true freshman. People laugh when I say that, but that's my goal. It is not a dream because a goal is something that you can actually achieve. That's my goal — to win the Heisman as a freshman. I definitely want the ball in my hands, punt return, kick return, even if they allow me to play some offense, I'm all for it."

For Michigan's part, that sounds very similar to the way former Heisman winner Charles Woodson was utilized. That's a point Wolverine defensive coordinator Greg Mattison was sure to make.

"He compared me to (Woodson) a lot actually, but my goal is that I want to be better than Charles Woodson," Peppers said confidently. "I love the way Coach Greg Mattison uses his corners and his scheme. It absolutely fits into my style of play — aggressive (and) fearless. He wants his corners to be fearless. If he wants you to go lockup on an island, you had better lockup on that island. If he wants you to come off the edge, you better come off the edge ready to bring some pain."

MGoStrength

May 23rd, 2013 at 10:55 AM ^

Can the #2 jersey for DBs become similar to the #1 jersey for WRs?  That would be sweet and a nice little lineage if both Woodson and Peppers wore it (making the gigantic assumpion that Peppers winds us close to as good as Woodson).

FreddieMercuryHayes

May 23rd, 2013 at 9:02 AM ^

One small comment: Peppers may not play CB for Paramus, but he did play CB his freshman and sophomore year at Don Bosco where he won national Freshman and Sophomore of the year. So learning that position will not be entirely foreign.

MGoStrength

May 23rd, 2013 at 10:58 AM ^

I'm gonna get bashed for it so whatever, but he basically said he's too cocky...poses to the crowd, jogs into the endzone etc.  Not surprising from a guy that says he wants to be the best of all time.  I still really want him, but think he needs some maturing and don't want to see him showboating at UM.  Now, commence bashing.

BiSB

May 23rd, 2013 at 11:11 AM ^

If you want to say he needs to avoid celebration penalties/getting caught from behind on breakaways/generally showboating, sure. That's a legitimate thing. But by all accounts, this kid is as "mature" as anyone in the class, and has his head on as squarely as anyone you'd care to compare him to.

MGoStrength

May 23rd, 2013 at 11:19 AM ^

I think sometimes he shows some good levelheadedness in terms of how he's going about making his decision, wanting attention for his teammates, and doing his due dilligence.  But, he also shows what seems like a little too egocentric dispositions by saying things like "I want to be the best of all time" etc.  I think he should avoid celebrations, yes, but he should also avoid sounding so boastful in interviews and chose his words more carefully.  I think it's great to be confident on the field, but I'd prefer it come off in a way that is a little more humble.  But, that's just me.

BiSB

May 23rd, 2013 at 11:38 AM ^

He's not saying how good he IS. He's saying how good he WANTS to be. How can you not want someone to embrace that as a goal? There's never really a way to know if someone is a Tate Forcier want-to-be-great-but-don't-want-to-work-hard-for-it kind of kid, but JP is expressing a desire to improve, and is doing so in a frank and respectful manner. I'm cool with that.

In my mind, that's Tiger Woods' very public goal of beating Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 career majors. It isn't to denegrate Jack or his competition, but rather to say that if you want to be the best, you have to embrace the challenge such a mission entails.

MGoStrength

May 23rd, 2013 at 1:55 PM ^

I think goal setting is great, but wanting to be the best ever when you're still in high school is not exactly a quality goal.  I'd prefer to hear him say his goals are to work as hard as he can, to be the best player he can be, be make the most of his ability, be accountable to his teammates, etc...these are goals focused on living up to your own abilities.  He has goals that revolve around being recognized by others like being the best of all time.  I don't think that's a good goal and it's more indicitive of a someone with an external motivating drive.  

 

If you're talking Tiger Woods, look at how he turned out.  He didn't exactly turn out to be the best guy in the world either did he?  And, maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think Tiger was saying that publicly when he was 17 years old.  

 

I like the goals, I like the confidence, I'd just prefer he be more humble in his approach.  Don't get me wrong, he says some things I like.  He mentioned how if kids from his community see him doing well he hopes they will too.  So, he shows up on both sides of the fence there.  But, I'd like to see him a little more like Denard and talk about the team and doing the best he can and less focused on what others think.  But, as you said...agree to disagree.  

M-Wolverine

May 23rd, 2013 at 1:58 PM ^

Of ALL times in your life is when you should be hoping, dreaming, and hopefully working to achieve greatness. I don't really want to be around people who strive to be average.

MGoStrength

May 23rd, 2013 at 2:27 PM ^

I said I wish his goals were focused on living up to the best of his abilities by doing his best every day.  What more can a person do than that?  If his talent is there, and he doesn't get hurt, then doing his best every day to prepare, work hard, have a good attitude, etc. will be the best thing to produce results.  If however, your ultimate goal is to achieve a result versus doing the little things it takes to reach the end goal, then it's very difficult to deal with problems when things don't go according to plan.  It's harder to deal with setbacks, injuries, etc...basically life because life always happens.  But, if your goals are action goals versus results goals you can be happy by knowing you've done all you can and then let the chips fall where they may.  What more can a person do than that?  How is that wanting to be average?  This is the key mindset difference between results oriented and action oriented.

Monocle Smile

May 23rd, 2013 at 3:02 PM ^

Beginning with the end in mind is essential to success. Sure, taking little steps to reach your goal is a goal in itself, but if you don't have a standard set, how do you know if you're going in the right direction or pushing yourself hard enough?

Your username is MGoStrength...if you want to increase your max in any particular lift, do you not quantify a goal? Without quantification, it's easy to increase slightly and say "good enough" or think you're pushing yourself when there's so much more left.

MGoStrength

May 23rd, 2013 at 3:59 PM ^

Since you quoted Stephen Covey I'm assuming you've read the 7 Habits.  And while the key to "begin with the end in mind" is not just to always work harder than you did yesterday, and you must also have a long term vision to what you want to achieve, Covey also suggests creating a personal mission statement.  However, he further cites that you must have private victory and mastery before you can have public mastery.  He suggests you focus your goals and efforts on your "circle of influence" and minimize your "circle of concern".  If your goals are based on end means, results, or what other people think about you then you are focuesd on your "circle of influence".  If your goals are focused on little things like your behavior...things that are totally within your control, then you are focused on your "circle of influence".  Basically you can control how hard you work towards a goal, you cannot however control if you actually win an award or are recognized as the best ever because you can't control how other people think, vote, etc. only how you behave.  So, I think Covey as you quote, would suggest having goals that more focused on what can be controlled, like being the best you can be, versus things that can't be controlled, like being the best ever.

 

And, yes I am a college strength coach.  Whehter it be my own training or my athletes training I am much more concerned with their effort and work towards a goal their their actual result.  Sure I and the team's I work with track numbers like one rep max, but only test them twice per year.  If you get too focused on the result it's easy to use shitty form, add on too much weight, get hurt, etc. in an effort to get a better result.  Ultimatley the end goal again is more about effort and less about results.  If you've put in the effort the results take care of themselves.  And, that doesn't mean you should be ok with losing, but it does mean you shouldn't be afraid of losing.  Losing is OK, not putting forth your best effort is not.  Again is the difference between an action goal/inner focus and a results goal/outer focus.  I think if you look at most sports psych and/or leadership material they promote this psychology.

BiSB

May 23rd, 2013 at 4:23 PM ^

From a pretty wise source on quality cornerback play, what it takes to succeed as an athlete at the highest levels, and fitting in with Michigan football culture:

My favorite thing about [Peppers] is the passion and attitude he plays with, not cocky, but very, very confident, plays with swag and enthusiasm.

~MARLIN FREEKING JACKSON

M-Wolverine

May 23rd, 2013 at 4:43 PM ^

Just so long as you try hard and maybe get close, that's good enough?

You shouldn't be afraid of losing. But you should hate it and do anything possible to avoid it. If anything it sounds like just trying your best is afraid of losing, because you won't set any standards of "winning." As long as you did your best, you won. That's being afraid of losing.

But you have the whole thing off kilter. If you actually achieve you don't do it to get awards, you do it to be the best and the awards and accolades will come. There are no awards handed out for trying hard. If only they gave points for heart.

MGoStrength

May 23rd, 2013 at 5:10 PM ^

We don't assign weights we want them at.  We do have goals, which almost always have some number associated to them, whether it be 1RM numbers, body weight, body comp, etc. but they don't have to make weight.  We allow them to make their own goals.  We question their goals in one-on-one meetings in the offseason, but they make them.  We beleive they are more invested in them when they decide what they want versus when we dictate what weight, strength, quickness, etc. they need to be at.  They know after competing in practice and games and hearing us give them feedback what they need to work on.  That way we hold them accountable for their own goals.  Granted, that's the head coaches philosophy, I didn't come up with it, but I think it has worked well for us.

 

You shouldn't do anything to avoid losing.  You shouldn't cheat.  You shouldn't injur someone or yourself trying to get there.  You shouldn't do anything unethical.  I think it's improtant to remember we are coaching young men, not just trying to get results.  I think you set standards for winning.  But, if you come up short, yet did everything in your power, it's acceptable.  That means the staff probably needs to recruit better kids.  If the kids didn't live up to their ability, it means they weren't working hard enough or focused enough.  Then, it's our job to get 100% out of them.  It's OK to lose.  You can't play with a fear of losing, that's when you make mistakes.  Losing is a part of competition.  Competition is all about doing your best and comparing your skills to someone else or another team.  I think today's society and particularly American culture is too concerned with winning and results and I don't think it's a good thing.  I bet Hoke and the staff would agree that accoutability, character, work ethic, etc. is more important than winning.  That doesn't mean you don't expect to win, but it's not the most improtant thing.

 

What you don't seem to recognize is you have no control over results.  You can't control if the other guy/team.  You can't make a person give you an award.  You can't control refs or calls.  There are too many factors that go into end results that you simply can't impact.  You can only control your behavior.  So you focus your efforts on what you can control and not on what you can't.  And, I believe you get better results that way.  It's that simple

In reply to by MGoStrength

M-Wolverine

May 23rd, 2013 at 8:10 PM ^

Cheating isn't winning, it's cheating, so it's a non-sequitur. And while there are certain things that are as important as winning, you don't really get to do any of them if you don't win too. Because you get fired. Hoke loves it because he gets to mold young men; that's why he's not coaching pros. But you can bet he's competitive, because that's why he's coaching at Michigan and not high school or pee wee. He's not afraid to call last season a shitty season. Because they didn't meet their goals. Every year they set goals of winning championships. That doesn't mean they can control what other teams do. They're just not into moral victories. That's why they're where they're at, and you're where you're at.

MGoStrength

May 23rd, 2013 at 9:35 PM ^

Did you just admit that Hoke thinks winning is not the most important thing?  Well, at least that's one thing we can agree on.  I think winning is critically important as is competitiveness.  I just think you win more when you focus on the things you can control and not what you can't.  Many great coaches feel this way.  Saban would agree I gurantee.  Wooden would agree.  Most leadership texts would agree.  As Lombardi says "winning is not everything - but making the effort to win is."

 

This is what our weight rooms signs say..."attitude and effort" and "commitment"...nothing about winning.

M-Wolverine

May 24th, 2013 at 4:15 PM ^

You REALLY suck at your job.

And if you don't think Nick Saban wasn't working the next day on winning another national championship....you know, setting a goal to be great...no, not great, the best....then you're kidding yourself.

MGoStrength

May 24th, 2013 at 10:01 PM ^

Saban wants to win, but knows he only wins by focusing on the things he can control which is why he is all about systematically following a process that eventually gives you success versus focusing on end results.  In his own words:

 

"concentrate on the steps to success rather than worrying about the result"

M-Wolverine

May 24th, 2013 at 11:13 PM ^

With having those steps as goals and not having any others. He also says things like McCarron “can be maybe the best quarterback in the country next year.” How is that any different than a kid wanting to be the best cornerback? He also tells the team the day after they win that they're not national champions anymore. Sounds like goal setting to me. Big difference in the minutiae of the steps needed to be successful and setting goals that those steps should help you obtain. You claim one should only do the former, not both.

M-Wolverine

May 23rd, 2013 at 3:47 PM ^

Rather than planning to succeed. I don't want someone who's happy with just the best that life gives them. I want someone who's always striving for more, and can always be better.  "Be the best you can be" is for five year olds.  You have to be willing to put in the action and effort to obtain the results, but as was said, you have to have that goal to know when you've obtained them. Just hoping for the best is a loser mentality. And this kid doesn't want a participation trophy. I, for one, like that.

Monocle Smile

May 23rd, 2013 at 3:07 PM ^

Dreaming of conquering Nicklaus' record did not in any way, shape, or form contribute to Tiger Woods' clusterfuck. Linking the enthusiastic athletic dreams of a high school student to a batshit sex scandal is utterly absurd, and that's by far the nicest way I can put it.

BiSB

May 23rd, 2013 at 4:04 PM ^

Okay, NOW I call BS:

He has goals that revolve around being recognized by others like being the best of all time. I don't think that's a good goal and it's more indicitive of a someone with an external motivating drive.

Three things:

  1. Whether YOU think it's a good goal is irrelevant. The thing he is trying to become (i.e. the best thing in the history of things) is inarguably a good thing to be.
  2. EVERYONE uses external motivation. Trying to say that internal motivation is the only "good" motivation is complete crap. Everyone is motivated to impress/prove right/prove wrong/make jealous/make happy/piss off/etc. other people.
  3. You know how people come to be known as the best of all time? By BEING the best of all time.

This kid is at the top of the universe for his age. He wants to project that forward and stay on that track. Whether or not that is realistic, and whether it is boastful, it is very positive.

MGoStrength

May 23rd, 2013 at 10:38 PM ^

You say there's no reasoning with me, yet none of you will give an inch and moderate everything I say as flaimbait or overrated.  Then there's M-Wolverine who is disrespecting me personally by saying my team is fat and "that's why I am where I am" as if I am some failure.  And I'm the one being unreasonable?  Apparently there's only one opinion that is allowed and if you go against it people want to bash you on a personal level and think you're being unreasonable.  I expected more from the board.

M-Wolverine

May 24th, 2013 at 4:13 PM ^

is "Whine like a little bitch." It's "flamebait" by the way. And no one wants to hear you complain about people negging you when you went through the thread and negged everyone who disagreed with you. (I mean, any number of people could have negged me....nobody negged BiSB for responding to you but you). You have no problem disrespecting a high school kid and making grand claims on his psychology, not your professional area, but then get sensitive when someone does it to you? Please. You started disrespecting others when you were telling them that "you just don't understand" and "it's simple" and making grand claims that everyone in the field agrees with you, and anyone else just isn't smart enough to get it. You keep mentioning what you do as if it makes you some kind of expert, so you open yourself up to judgement on what qualifies you to read into the psyche of a teenager you have never met. 

So here's a tip....don't bag on kids you don't know about things you're no expert on and act like anyone who disagrees with you is too stupid to get it, and maybe you won't open yourself up for the like in return. Because there are people on here who know a lot more about philosophy, psychology, and sports on here than you, but they're not waving their e-dick around and trashing recruits.

MGoStrength

May 24th, 2013 at 9:04 PM ^

First off this dialogue began when another poster questioned Magnus on where the criticism was, saying that a scouting report should have both positives and negatives.  I did not initiate the criticism, I was only answering the poster with what Magnus alluded to in his scouting report.  That was not my criticism, it was Magnus'.  Now, I will say that I had criticism for Peppers' disposition in a previous thread.  And, regardless of how you view it, I consider it constructive criticism.  I like the kid, think he's a great talent, think he's intelligent, and hope he ends up at UM.  All of my criticism for him was supported by some other peice of evidence or accepted norm and I precluded all my criticism with the fact that he's young and can change and I am basing this off a small snippet of information...not exactly trashing as you say.  I've said a number of complimentary things about him and only one criticism.

 

All criticism isn't inteded to inflaim.  People should be allowed to give constructive criticism, especially when the criticism is based on accepted norms.  I didn't just come up with this stuff off the top of my head.  I quoted other coaches, authers, etc.  Your criticism at me however was personal and intended to inflaim for no other reason than you don't agree with me and I won't let it go.  The difference in the criticism is one is meant as constructive and the other is meant to be a dick.  

 

So, I really don't care what you want to hear.  I knew the public opinion on the topic and knew I'd get negged, which is fine.  I didn't realize I'd be personally attacked for disagreeing with the public opinion.  The only thing I take offense to is that personal attack.  Give me constructive criticism that is valid and on topic and I'm fine with that.  Make valid claims, cite research, cite expert authors or coaches, etc. that provide a conflicting opinion to mine and I'd appreaciate that discussion.  Do it the way you did and I'll probably call you a dick, which is what you are.  You come off all high and mighty and talk about not trashing people, yet you are the first one to personally trash me.  You hold others to a higher standard than you hold yourself to, try practicing what you preach.

M-Wolverine

May 24th, 2013 at 11:26 PM ^

What they're saying is "I know I'm being an asshole, but I'm going to do it anyway, because I know more than anybody else and really, it's for your own good." I see a difference between trashing a kid because I think I understand how his mind works because I read some quotes on a website and calling a grown man on the Internet a loser for doing so to some kid he's never met. I'll be a dick to that guy all day, every day.

So here's some constructive criticism: if you're going to educate kids and quote debate etiquette, learn how to spell. And regardless of how you view it, I meant that constructively.

MGoStrength

May 25th, 2013 at 2:21 PM ^

I never said any of that.  I'm still boggled by the idea that you think I'm trashing him.  I've said multiple complimentary things about him and provided one constructive criticism.  The only person doing the trashing is you.  Contrary to what you may think coaching, sports psychology, behavior change, education, leadership, philosophy, and motivation are all a part of my profession.  And my curriculum proves it.  Last time I checked they don't give out master's degrees for looking up quotes on the internet.  What is your profession, now?

M-Wolverine

May 25th, 2013 at 11:14 PM ^

But they're basically an entry requirement to work at the University of Michigan.

And maybe one of the other posters calling you out can explain how questioning his character = trashing.

MGoStrength

May 26th, 2013 at 11:02 AM ^

I questioned the focus of his motivation.  Did you watch the Saban video I posted and do you have a comment on his philosophy of what one should focus on for success?  The point Saban makes is the same point I am trying to make as one should focus on actions and behavior and less on results and comparing yourself to others.

ChiBlueBoy

May 23rd, 2013 at 12:00 PM ^

My tendency is to want athletes (and everyone else) to be reverential and humble. My model as a child was Bjorn Borg (yeah, I'm old), and I didn't like Jimmy Connors. But how much of this is really about our fear of standing out? Maybe we're all too cowed (myself included).

Here's my thought: It's okay to celebrate success. It's okay to say, "Hey, I'm pretty good at this," assuming that's accurate. In this case, he IS good, and it's okay that he knows it. As long as the kid is resilient and has the short memory required of a corner, I say, "Good on him. Talk as much as you want, but just make sure you bring the goods."