It's official: Jabrill Peppers is the punt return specialist

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

 

Hoke: punt return duties will go to jabrill peppers

— Sam Webb (@SamWebb77) August 22, 2014

Wolverine Devotee

August 22nd, 2014 at 6:40 PM ^

Also...

 

umfan323

August 22nd, 2014 at 7:19 PM ^

I think Hokes personnel decisions are going to hold this tteam back,  I didn't see much of anything from Glasgow in the scrimmage for him to be the starter, haven't even heard much in his pressers about Glasgow.. I think he might be serviceable but he isn't going to be a difference maker like some of the younger guys

In reply to by umfan323

unWavering

August 22nd, 2014 at 7:30 PM ^

A couple things: I think you're an idiot if you really put much stock into who Hoke says is the starter right now. It's pretty clear that who he says is starting changes almost weekly and does not mean much.

Second, you are not at the practices. Hoke is. I'll defer to the guy who sees all of the team practices and is paid millions of dollars to do it.

K-zooBlue

August 22nd, 2014 at 7:41 PM ^

I'll also add that there's so much depth on the defensive side of the ball that the word 'starter' doesn't mean 'the only guy'. There's going to be a LOT of rotation on that side of the ball especially on the line and at DB. Glasgow may 'start' but don't be shocked if there's an even split of snaps.

Magnus

August 22nd, 2014 at 9:31 PM ^

Coaches can be wrong.

Also, Ryan Glasgow made 2 tackles in his extensive playing time last season. 

Players who had equal or more tackles than Ryan Glasgow in 2013:

Devin Gardner, Tom Strobel, Jeremy Jackson, Anthony Capatina, Joe Kerridge, Matt Wile, and Dennis Norfleet (among others)

aiglick

August 22nd, 2014 at 10:50 PM ^

Definitely so but we are getting to the end of Fall Practice. This isn't Spring Practice or the first week of Fall Practice any more. By now I thought they were supposed to have the roster in pen. Maybe that was bunk too. It may not work out well if we are constantly changing things and players don't gel.

Magnus

August 22nd, 2014 at 11:20 PM ^

The lineup is NEVER in pen.

Not only are there injuries and behavior things to consider, but guys are constantly fighting for jobs. On the eve of our season, we have several jobs up for grabs. We also tell our players constantly that the "starting" lineup at the beginning of fall practice is never the starting lineup in week one, and the starting lineup in week one is never the starting lineup by the end of the season.

That's high school, of course, but the same can be said for the NFL and college football, too. David Underwood wasn't the starting running back by the end of the 2004 season. Jack Miller wasn't the starting center by the end of the 2013 season. Taylor Lewan took over the starting left tackle job in the midst of the 2010 season. There are always jobs up for grabs.

In reply to by umfan323

MGoCarolinaBlue

August 22nd, 2014 at 7:35 PM ^

You do realize that Hoke never actually names the real starters but just gives credit to guys that had a good practice, right?  IMO it's a motivational tool, both for the guys who will actually start (don't lose your job) and for the guys who are pushing the starters (keep working hard).



Hoke wouldn't do pressers at all if he wasn't required.  He is 100% confident in the fact that he doesn't need to tell the media a damn thing.  Just like Bo was.

reshp1

August 22nd, 2014 at 11:34 PM ^

Think of it this way, if you're at a bar and Kate Upton happens to start flirting with you because she's pissed at JV and wants to mess with him a bit, is that sad for you? You know you have no chance, she knows it, but a super model flirting with you is still a lot better than not. And unlike you and Kate (no offense), these guys actually do have a shot if they show well in the opportunity they're given. They may not start, but they can make an impression that can move them up the depth chart. Burzinyski did end up in the starting lineup eventually for example. Graham Glasgow and Kovacs also probably got they're first looks on similar motivational moves. They're big boys and understand the situation, but getting an opportunity under suspect pretenses is still getting an opportunity though.

dnak438

August 22nd, 2014 at 6:43 PM ^


Maize and Blue…

August 23rd, 2014 at 8:46 AM ^

Taylor made a lot of tackles last year because his guy caught a lot of balls in front of him and I just don't see him as a press coverage guy.  I think Lewis and Peppers are more suited for the type of D we are allegedly going to play than Blake or Ray.

There has been a lot of talk of Lewis being the best corner to date and this seems like a seniority thing.  Hopefully Ray and Blake have stepped up their game that much that they have surpassed the competition.

LSAClassOf2000

August 22nd, 2014 at 6:52 PM ^

I will not lie - I was there for that in 1991 and again with Woodson in 1997, and I wouldn't mind seeing it again with another generation of Wolverines. I had thought that Peppers was being tested with this duty, and I am glad to see that he will get his shot. It gives me more hope that we might be in for a rather nice ride this season. 

wigeon

August 22nd, 2014 at 11:29 PM ^

negged this?  Keith Jackson is the be all and end all of college football anouncers. All aspire, and none challenge his greatness.

I hope you have a tragic snorkeling accident this weekend.  

 

alum96

August 22nd, 2014 at 7:44 PM ^

Eric Berry only had 6 kick returns his career and 0 punt return.  Not his forte.

Patrick Peterson didn't do them until his junior year (he declared 1 year early)

  • 32 kick returns for a 29.1 yard average, 0 TDs
  • 26 punt returns for a 16.1 yard average, 2 TDs

Another name many remember, Honey Badger only returned punts and had 27 for a 15.6 yard average and 2 TDs his last year at LSU.

Norfleet is averaging 23.5 yard per kick return, with almost no variance btw freshman and sophomore year (23.6 as a fr, 23.5 as a so).  He returned 2 punts as a freshman and 3 as a sophomore but some ball security issues ended that.

Woodson only had a 8.0 average punt return and 1 TD.  But it was 1 important TD.

 

MGoLifer

August 22nd, 2014 at 6:47 PM ^

Starters on the DL doesn't mean much to me; there figures to be a happy rotation. That being said I've heard nothing but good things about Glasgow in fall camp.


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Wolverine Devotee

August 22nd, 2014 at 6:55 PM ^

Norfleet is on track to become the leader in some major career categories for kickoff return specialists.

  • Currently at 75 KORs with Breaston at 81. Norfleet is only a Junior. 
  • Norfleet is second all-time with 1,765 KOR yds. Breaston has 1,993 in first place. Norfleet is avergaing 882.5 yards a year. He'll smash Breaston's record if he keeps his current pace up.