getsome

September 27th, 2016 at 11:05 PM ^

yeah i guess mathieu sort of works given the ability of both to excel in multiple phases and multiple positions.

but if were playing that game and he must be compared to someone, ive always said sean taylor.  peppers has a similar build to taylor or that type frame, plus they share many traits / abilities - incredibly explosive, insane range, amazing tackler, hit like a LB and cover like a DB, nice balls and game changer in the return game or going the other way, etc.  both are just supremely gifted athletes who can do it all, the guys who make other elite athletes look average.

peppers hasnt yet displayed the ed reed / dawkins / polamalu type skill set and unique play at safety, even at the college level (not that he couldnt eventually get there), so id go with taylor based on college game and potential.  sean taylor is prob the craziest athlete i ever played against.  for those who didnt see him at miami, taylor was truly a man among boys like peppers, just a seriously gifted dude.  and peppers can surpass taylor if he settles in at S and stays fairly healthy (though taylors career tragically cut short) - peppers is obviously that good.  glad hes at m!  and look forward to following his progress

Joined: 09/07/2013

MGoPoints: 7386

03 Blue 07

September 28th, 2016 at 1:04 AM ^

I agree. Taylor at Miami was the first thing that came to my mind, too. Taylor was heavier and a bigger hitter (don't judge) but Peppers is faster and more agile. But similar impact- used all over, always must be accounted for. 

Also, I loved watching Sean Taylor play. He was taken from his family and friends far too soon. 

Joined: 07/01/2008

MGoPoints: 3427

TheReal_GR3

September 28th, 2016 at 11:13 AM ^

I do see the Sean Taylor comparison at all. Taylor, RIP, was 6-2 230 pounds. In college Taylor played a ton of deep free safety and posted 14 INT's in two college seasons, 10 his last year in college. He showed better ball skills than Reed, Dawkins or Polamlu. 

I'm sorry but there is no comparison to Taylor, not in size, playing style, not in stats, not even in skill set... None. 

I don't mean to slam you but it's just not there.

Joined: 04/11/2015

MGoPoints: 1125

Mr. Yost

September 28th, 2016 at 12:01 PM ^

He's not a ball hawking FS...so people can eliminate all of those guys right away. Ed Reed, Sean Taylor are in that group.

Polamalu played in the box as a SS. Basically a LB in a the body of a safety, which is Peppers.

However, Polamalu wasn't nearly as dynamic with the ball in his hands, he'd never play RB and WR and return kicks.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

Mr. Yost

September 28th, 2016 at 12:06 PM ^

Same with Ed Reed.

But Peppers can't cover and doesn't play FS at near the level of those guys.

He's an in the box safety...that's where the Polamalu comparison comes in. They both hold the ends and make plays on their half of the field that are unreal. They both can blitz the QB with DE like precision and cause all kinds of havoc.

Then if you have to have them cover backs and TEs, they can do it...Peppers probably a little better. But both are far more suited to fight you in a phone booth. Tight spaces, get them in the box or a compressed field and they're DOMINANT.

Troy just can't touch Peppers offensively or in the return game...that's where Peppers compares to Matheiu more - the versatility.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

Bleedmaizeblue

September 27th, 2016 at 10:00 PM ^

Jabrill Peppers reminds me of Jabrill Peppers. Just like Mike Hart reminded me of Mike Hart. And like Desmond Howard reminds me of Desmond Howard. Why does everyone have an incessant need to compare a player to another?

Joined: 07/11/2013

MGoPoints: 2919

DairyQueen

September 27th, 2016 at 10:17 PM ^

The thing that goes so underrated with Peppers, because his athletic prowess and instincts are so phenomenal, is that he's a super smart individual and a very intelligent human being all around.

That's what compounds his spectacular performance on the field.

Joined: 04/20/2014

MGoPoints: 6642

getsome

September 27th, 2016 at 11:10 PM ^

so true.  combine unique athletic ability with the instincts, work ethic and general IQ and football IQ - thats a devastating package.  all that plus the dude loves the game and can / will spend all day at the team facility in the pros, hes got a pretty darn high ceiling

Joined: 09/07/2013

MGoPoints: 7386

robpollard

September 28th, 2016 at 10:48 AM ^

While "Vai Sikahema" is one of my all-time favorite football names, and an excellent special teams player, he was much shorter and smaller than Peppers. Sikahema also didn't play defense.

He could punch a goal-post, though.

Joined: 06/03/2009

MGoPoints: 13962

robpollard

September 28th, 2016 at 11:00 AM ^

Sean Taylor is really an excellent comparison -- both had great instincts, violent hitters, superior strength, explosive speed.

Taylor had better ball skills (e.g., he was leading the NFL in INTs when he was tragically murdered; he also had 10 INTs his junior year) but that is, in part, b/c he played S instead of LB.

Peppers plays more on offense and special teams (though Taylor did that a bit early in his career) so Peppers may be a better with the ball in hands. But Taylor had enough long INT returns to show he blow by / juke at a high level.


 

Joined: 06/03/2009

MGoPoints: 13962

buckeyejonross

September 28th, 2016 at 11:15 PM ^

Sean Taylor was a free roaming deep coverage safety who picked off 14 passes across two college seasons (10 as a junior). Peppers has moved from corner to safety to linebacker in three years and has 0 career interceptions.

Sean Taylor didn't play offense and didn't return punts (1 career catch, 0 career rushes, 8 career punt returns).

There is absolutely no comparison at all outside of the fact they're both fast and athletic.

Joined: 07/27/2010

MGoPoints: 13808

switch26

September 27th, 2016 at 10:29 PM ^

Didn't someone post his stats compared to Mathieu not long ago? His stats overall were better already after 3 games than Mathieu had in an entire season other than his ints.

Joined: 02/04/2010

MGoPoints: 8309