Peppers: "If offered (#2 jersey), I'm not gonna turn it down"
Very very interesting.
If they offer me the legendary Deuce.. I'm not gonna turn it down. My boy @MoeWays talked some sense into me #ItsABigBlueThang
December 4th, 2013 at 10:33 PM ^
to earn it first. Blake deserves it now.
December 4th, 2013 at 11:17 PM ^
What have you seen out of Blake that he deserves the #2 jersey? He's good...but not great yet. I think you have to be pretty damn good to deserve a jersey a 2 time all american wore.
December 4th, 2013 at 11:47 PM ^
December 4th, 2013 at 11:47 PM ^
Maybe first team all B1G and tied for conference lead in interceptions in second full year of playing after coming off a torn ACL? Or maybe that's just me...
December 5th, 2013 at 10:07 AM ^
YEah, that is just you. Not good enough yet...
December 5th, 2013 at 1:08 PM ^
Yea I agree not even close enough to get that number 2 jersey. When he can shut down an entire half of the field then may be we can talk
December 5th, 2013 at 12:20 AM ^
Peppers will be the highest ranked and hyped recruit for Michigan in a decade. Countess should get the deuce next year, then on to Peppers in '15. Countess has been legit.
December 5th, 2013 at 12:56 AM ^
December 5th, 2013 at 7:35 AM ^
Well, I don't know Blake's situation, but he's going to be a redshirt Junior next year, so it will be his fourth year in college. He could be on the track to graduate after next year and perhaps be on the path to the NFL.
December 5th, 2013 at 10:24 AM ^
Blake is not near good enough to consider leaving a year early for the NFL. I love Blake, but I wouldnt consider him a "lock-down" corner by any means. He may have had 6 picks this year, but he is not on the level of past corners like Marlin Jackson and Leon Hall.
December 5th, 2013 at 10:29 AM ^
Interceptions aren't everything, but Jackson had 3, 3, 2, and 1 interceptions in his career for a total of 9. And that was generally with more talent around him than I think Countess has now. Now, Jackson had the versatility to play safety and was a first round pick, but as a college player, I'm not sure he was that much better than Countess.
December 5th, 2013 at 11:38 AM ^
Marlin Jackson was an All-American.. so yeah, he was pretty good. Once Blake gets in that conversation we can start making comparisons.
December 5th, 2013 at 11:56 AM ^
Nobody's claiming Marlin Jackson wasn't good. But statistically, he and Countess aren't far off. The only year he arguably had better stats than Countess was his sophomore year in 2002, when Jackson had 51 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 3 interceptions (1 TD), and 15 pass breakups. With one game left, Countess has 42 tackles for loss, 2 tackles for loss, 6 interceptions (1 TD), and 4 pass breakups. He tied for #4 nationally in interceptions and was #3 in return yardage. Jackson's junior and senior seasons didn't feature great numbers.
So I'm putting them in the same conversation, whether you think they belong together or not. Just because Marlin Jackson played 10 years and we're nostalgic about him doesn't mean he was automatically better than Countess.
December 5th, 2013 at 3:15 PM ^
its hard to argue corners and safeties by the numbers... since we all know Jackson's junior and senior numbers were down because he wasn't being thrown at...
jdon
December 5th, 2013 at 4:24 PM ^
Countess wasn't thrown at a ton, either.
December 5th, 2013 at 7:12 AM ^
December 5th, 2013 at 8:34 AM ^
Ahh, I always love being reminded of that kid. So much hype. Such a train wreck.
December 5th, 2013 at 9:17 AM ^
Yea, keep changing kids numbers throughout their careers. Why stick with one thing for too long? We should change coaches too.
December 5th, 2013 at 10:32 AM ^
I think Blake should keep wearing 18. If not, then he ought to take 22, as he is reminiscent of one Ty Law.
December 5th, 2013 at 6:17 AM ^
I guess we have to wait for an all-time great player to be an all-time great player as an underclassman and then decide to return for his senior year before we give out the #1 or #2 jerseys...because that happens all the time. Remember when Charles Woodson came back for his senior year?
December 5th, 2013 at 9:42 AM ^
These numbers should be recruiting tools as well as rewards. They also should be tacit inspiration for the wearers not to screw up off the field while representing those numbers.
December 5th, 2013 at 9:09 AM ^
That is the dumbest arguement when we're talking about JERSEY numbers (A.I. "practice" voice)
Just retire the number because chances are...no one is ever going to be Charles Woodson ever again. That's why Charles Woodson was Charles Woodson!!! No one was ever Charles Woodson BEFORE he did what he did.
I wouldn't give a damn if Countess or Peppers wore #2. Hell maybe it'll raise their games.
Doesn't make any sense, but it's been crazy how whoever wears #21 ends up having the best year of his career. We're on one hell of a streak with that number. That said, I really don't care what number guys are wearing...just play better and win championships.
If #2 is going to get Peppers to Michigan, give it to him. Who gives a shit. It doesn't blemish Woodson one bit.
December 5th, 2013 at 11:20 AM ^
And Shawn Crable.........
December 5th, 2013 at 8:20 AM ^
...why? It's a fucking jersey. It's not some mystical Thing for which you need special qualifications. Hell, Vincent Smith wore it for four years. Never heard him complain about "making his own legacy."
December 4th, 2013 at 10:36 PM ^
December 4th, 2013 at 10:37 PM ^
Blake deserves it?? o_O
December 5th, 2013 at 8:54 AM ^
Blake has been very up and down. He makes some great plays ala Marlin Jackson/Leon Hall, but then turns around and gets toasted a few plays later.
Many people will have a perception of Blake being elite because of the INT's, and he is solid indeed, but not elite. He could become elite - he has 2 years left. But in no way is he deserving of the #2 jersey right now.
I do have to say that he at the very least met my expectations (probably slightly exceeded) based on the year he had directly coming off the injury he recovered from. I think he very well may reach that 'elite' status next year. We will have to wait and see.
December 5th, 2013 at 8:56 AM ^
I get the feeling some of you are waiting for a unanimous All-American underclassman to announce a return for his senior year before you're willing to give out the #1 or #2 jersey.
December 5th, 2013 at 11:22 AM ^
Is that too much to ask for? This is Michigan fergodsakes!
December 4th, 2013 at 10:38 PM ^
Everyone could make their own legacies...
Gallon at 10
Gardner at 12 was unique
Funchess at... 18? I think it was 18. That was baller for a TE.
Kovaks at 32 (granted, he only wore 11 for like, 1 game)
... I just think that Peppers should choose whatever jersey number he wants/is available. Like, if he wants to be #13. go for it. make that his legacy. or #20 or #3 or whatever...
And didn't vincent smith wear #2... it isnt a legacy jersey thing is it?
December 4th, 2013 at 10:58 PM ^
December 4th, 2013 at 11:14 PM ^
December 5th, 2013 at 1:57 AM ^
19 was awesome and reminded me of Yzerman. Two negatives with the legacies. Kids can't make their own legacy, and can never live up to those who left them. How are you going to compare Devin Gardner to Tom effing Harmon lol.
December 5th, 2013 at 6:41 AM ^
Stevie Y was a great player but not all Michigan fans root for Detroit teams....
December 5th, 2013 at 12:56 PM ^
I do root for Detroit teams, and I never even made the Yzerman connection. Different sport.
December 4th, 2013 at 10:40 PM ^
Hoke said something like "after Smith, the #2 will go to an elite defensive back"
Peppers said he wants to be BETTER than Woodson. What better way than to take his number and make it his?
December 4th, 2013 at 11:06 PM ^
to honor the past and the present.
How many number could there possibly be for players to make their own? There are only 99.
Michigan is creating a great tradition about how they use their numbers and giving players something to strive for. It's really, really cool and very innovative.
I love it.
December 4th, 2013 at 11:14 PM ^
I hope they make 0 and 00 legal numbers some day.
I think it would look pretty cool.
December 4th, 2013 at 11:25 PM ^
Except it looks identical to the block O
December 5th, 2013 at 1:55 AM ^
December 5th, 2013 at 8:25 AM ^
Details.
December 4th, 2013 at 11:41 PM ^
As did Crable
December 5th, 2013 at 8:26 AM ^
December 5th, 2013 at 1:17 AM ^
I don't understand how this is different than #1 tradition we all love
why is expanding it bad?
December 5th, 2013 at 10:13 AM ^
December 5th, 2013 at 8:26 AM ^
Denard wore 16, so did John Navarre.
Braylon wore 1, AC wore 1, David Terrell wore 1. We don't get them mixed up.
Desmond wore 21, as did Biakabutuka.
Repeat numbers happen, but the legacies remain distinct.
December 5th, 2013 at 1:00 PM ^
And quite a few outstanding OTs have worn #77.
December 4th, 2013 at 10:43 PM ^
but is this really surprising? I mean...why would he turn it down?
December 4th, 2013 at 10:49 PM ^
I can think of several reasons to not want to be singled out like that.