74polSKA

May 23rd, 2013 at 10:33 AM ^

I had a paladin character, so yeah.  I just automatically think of this movie any time I hear the word.  Stand by Me is on my top 5 childhood movies list.  "Chopper, sick balls" is still one of the best movie lines of all time IMHO.  Then there was this (around the 1 minute mark is the best/worst part)

 

74polSKA

May 23rd, 2013 at 11:31 AM ^

I'm sorry you got negged.  I'm not sorry you spent your formative years doing something more productive with your life than playing RPG's with your unathletic friends like me!  I thought I had died and gone to heaven when my friend Brock got a Commodore 64!  Telengard was the greatest thing since sliced bread.  Man, I am really thankful for that I grew a couple inches and lost like 40 pounds between 6th and 8th grade.

Magnus

May 23rd, 2013 at 9:26 AM ^

I think he would be very good at the nickel position.  If Dymonte Thomas takes over Thomas Gordon's voided spot in 2014, then that would certainly open the door for Peppers to start.  Taylor would be a senior in 2014, so then perhaps Peppers could start at corner as a sophomore.

sundaybluedysunday

May 23rd, 2013 at 9:51 AM ^

IMO, that's the ideal scenario. You rarely want to start true freshman, but you don't really want to start a sophomore without any experience either. The nickel seems like a great way to get both of them on the field for a good number of snaps and take advantage of their otherworldly athleticism, while preparing them for their fulltime safety or cornerback position in the future. And as you mentioned, with Gordon and Taylor graduating when they are, it would really work out.



That being said, someone's going to break their tibia or something because it's football, rendering all of this thought process moot.

Brown Bear

May 23rd, 2013 at 10:39 AM ^

Countess started as freshman and performed quite well so I see no reason why Peppers couldn't do the same. But, the need might(hopefully isn't) not be there to start him at corner as a freshman like Countess did. So it's good we are starting to get to that point as a program.
I'm excited about our secondary in the coming years.

MGoStrength

May 23rd, 2013 at 10:52 AM ^

Countess played CB in high school, apparently Peppers does not.  Agreed he has the ability, but not sure there is a need outside of nickel, and depends on how fast he can learn the position.  It should be quite an athletic backfield.  I dream of Peppers, Westphal, Wilson, and Dymonte in the same backfield.

EGD

May 23rd, 2013 at 11:28 AM ^

Woodson started as a freshman in 1995, even though he played RB in high school and was recruited as a WR.  I don't know specifically who else was on the roster that year for corners, but I'm pretty sure he had to beat out at least one or two decent veterans--though, probably not multi-year starters (as Countess & Taylor will be in 2014).

MGoStrength

May 23rd, 2013 at 1:38 PM ^

It's a little hard to tell but an internet search showed he at least played some defense in high school so I'd assume he played some corner too. 

 

"While in high school, Woodson first began to play on defense, having previously focused on offense. "Once I started playing it, it just started growing on me," he later told the Los Angeles Times. "I liked it a lot. I think it's a lot more aggressive. You have 11 people running to the football, trying to get there at the same time. There's a big celebration after the hit. It's kind of hard to describe."

 

But, I also heard someone else on the board say Peppers played corner at Don Bosco during his first two years of high school.

 

Source:

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3407900636.html

M-Wolverine

May 23rd, 2013 at 1:41 PM ^

And he was Charles Woodson. And he wasn't even really Charles Woodson till after the MSU game. That's when he stopped looking like a talented freshman. He was also beating out Woodrow Hankins and Tyrone Noble.  

EGD

May 23rd, 2013 at 5:24 PM ^

I somehow have no memory of Tyrone Noble, even though I was at M when he played.  But the other day I was watching Wolverine Historian's Youtube of the 1994 ND game, and remember seeing Noble a couple times after making tackles.  Thing is, from just seeing him I thought he was a LB!  Different game back then.

MichFan1997

May 23rd, 2013 at 12:14 PM ^

bored at work, I usually go through what I think might happen with lineups one day. Here's how I think the secondary plays out. Peppers commits on Sunday. This fall, Raymon Taylor and Blake Countess play CB while Jarrod Wilson and Thomas Gordon play safety with Dymonte Thomas holding down the nickel. Courtney Avery is the top DB off the bench.

Then next season, Thomas slides into a safety spot, replacing Gordon. Peppers fills into the spot vacated by Thomas. Wilson, Countess, and Taylor remain in their spots.

Then in 2015, Peppers moves to a CB spot, replacing Taylor. One of the current players then moves into the nickel spot. Maybe Richardson or Ross Douglas takes that spot. Either that, or Peppers remains a nickel and someone else moves into the CB lineup. Lot's of good options for the future though, that's for sure. I'm excited about the secondarys future.

Jehu the Damaja

May 23rd, 2013 at 5:13 PM ^

Is Peppers even an option at safety? I know he plays it in HS, so if needed, I don't see why he couldn't play safety. This seems like a kid you want to have on the field as much as possible, regardless of what class he is. 

Magnus

May 24th, 2013 at 8:19 AM ^

Peppers could play just about any skill position on the field.  Heck, he makes some decent throws, too.  If he came to college to play RB/WR, he could probably even take some direct snaps as a "Wildcat" type of QB.  (I doubt they would do that with a guy playing primarily CB, but you never know...)

Victor Hale II

May 23rd, 2013 at 8:45 AM ^

I thought the same thing as you did in his similarities to Reggie Bush.  Sure he plays a different position, but his size, speed, and fluid movement out on the field, all while blowing by chumps and making them look silly are very reminiscent of Bush.  I've also said he really looks like he could play pretty much any position other than along the lines.  Seems as though you see the same thing.

 

FTR, I am no expert; however, it doesn't take an expert to see that this kid is a rare and special talent on the football field. 

 

/buckled

Space Coyote

May 23rd, 2013 at 12:49 PM ^

Reggie Bush "signs" with the Lions but is mysteriously missing every Saturday. When the media asks why this is, everyone just says "don't worry about it" and slide backwards, disappearing within the hedge.

JohnnyBlue

May 23rd, 2013 at 9:00 AM ^

the crazy thing is the other half dozen guy we have gotten for the secondary also those 2 years aren't a big step back.  2015 could be 1997 level of defence, and the peaces are there to have an offence that actually is as good as the defence will be.

jdon

May 23rd, 2013 at 10:04 AM ^

I hope that our defense can bring PEACE as well...

love,

jdon

 

 

ps.  how crazy will our defenses be going forward?  If we can get our linemen to develop i think we could be better than we've ever been.   Sure, no one will ever be woodson, but the game has changed and with the speed, height, and talent we are putting in the back four/five it is gonna get real around here.