Peppers snowflakes

Submitted by PeteM on

I wanted to share a couple of thoughts on Peppers that I'm not sure were mentioned on the broadcast or on the board before (this is late I know, but we just got back from Florida last night, and posting from my phone wasn't working).

One was that on more than on occasion during a TV timeout or other break Peppers would race onto the field with a water bottle for anyone who needed it.  Maybe that happens all the time but I've never seen an injured player (much less an injured star player) do that.  Also, about half way through the game he totally started trolling Florida's Jalen Tambor (of "we have 11 Jabrill Peppers on our defense" fame) with the gator chomp, which was hilarious.

Anyway, I love Jabrill's enthusiasm (he reminds me a bit of Denard in that way), and the fact that someone with his talent and notoreity is such a team guy. 

MGoBoard
Football

Lie-Cheat-Steal

January 4th, 2016 at 12:15 PM ^

dismantle Iowa in the Rose Bowl and watching McCaffrey run all over them from every position possible, I couldn't help but think Peppers could be the same player if utilized more on offense.

Of course I (insert trust the coaches meme here) but Peppers looks a lot more like Reggie Bush than Charles Woodson to me.  I love him on defense when we play spread teams, but he really isn't the best cover guy and I thing the marginal benefits to the team with him on offense would be greater.

Joined: 10/14/2015

MGoPoints: -97075

funkifyfl

January 4th, 2016 at 4:27 PM ^

No snark intended - what makes you say that? The corrollary to Peppers not being the best cover guy is that he is a tackling savant and Brian always stresses how important a 'space defender' is in the college game. He's an explosive player which certainly shows up when he has the ball in his hand, but is there anything in particular that makes you think he's relatively better at offense than defense? Or, are you merely saying that our need for explosive players on offense exceed those on defense?

 

It could make for an interesting question - aside from Peppers, do we have more explosive players on offense or defense. Offhand, I would say Chesson and Butt are the explosive offensive players, and Glasgow and Lewis are the explosive players on defense. After that, it's different levels of good and a question of depth. Certainly, the central importance of QB plays into this - i.e. if you don't have an amazing QB, it makes sense to surround him with your best weapons. "Explosive" also seems to be merging into "All Conference/All American quality" here, but I digress. 

Joined: 01/21/2011

MGoPoints: 3081

Lie-Cheat-Steal

January 5th, 2016 at 9:16 AM ^

has been that he should continue to play primarily on the defensive side of the ball when we play spread teams, but against more traditional offenses he would only need to be on the field for obvious passing downs and get more play on offense.

He is indeed a great tackler in open space, but as a pure cover guy he often fails to turn his head when the ball is in the air on post and wheel routes.  He doesn't have the polish from the corner position that we see from Lewis or some other lockdown guys.  Obviously this is not his primary position (boundary corner), but my sense is that his role on defense becomes limited if we play a team like MSU, whereas against OSU he will be indespensable, due to the styles of offense.

He is a game breaker with the ball in his hands on offense from the RB or slot position.

Joined: 10/14/2015

MGoPoints: -97075

samdrussBLUE

January 4th, 2016 at 6:47 AM ^

That's about where it ends though in terms of being like Denard. He is much more cocky/confident/outspoken. I loved seeing him bounce around the sideline- may it be the last time I see it without full equipment on.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 01/21/2012

MGoPoints: 18004

Blue Know It

January 4th, 2016 at 12:36 PM ^

Defensive players talk a lot more smack than offensive players IMO. And when you're a QB, the last thing you want to do is talk smack. Don't give the huge guys that are trying to crush you, every play, more motivation to do so.

Joined: 08/05/2014

MGoPoints: 2605

samdrussBLUE

January 4th, 2016 at 7:23 AM ^

Why would guys in street clothes be afforded that luxury? Might as well include the 4th stringers since we know they won't be counted on to play in the game when it matters. It's a matter of principal, keep the phone in the locker room.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 01/21/2012

MGoPoints: 18004

MGoblu8

January 4th, 2016 at 6:49 AM ^

From where I was sitting, it looked like Jabrill was talking, cheering, and even dancing the whole game. Some guys just stand around, but he was congratulating teammates and remained as involved in the game as one can be while wearing a visor and a towel around their neck.

Joined: 08/19/2010

MGoPoints: 7373

Pit2047

January 4th, 2016 at 10:46 AM ^

Yeah I was at the game and he was in the huddle during timeouts encouraging guys whether we were on offense, defense, punt, punt return, kickoff or kickoff return. I think he might have missed a few after it was 38-7 but that's understandable. It really impressed me and I think the rumors of Peppers being a malcontent are greatly exaggerated.

Joined: 06/12/2013

MGoPoints: 4378

stephenrjking

January 4th, 2016 at 11:19 AM ^

I don't know how common those rumors are.

The Peppers I saw looked like and awesome teammate, celebrating with guys when they succeeded and encouraging them at key moments. It would be very, very easy for him to slink around in uniform at the back of the sideline, never visible, just watching and waiting for it to be over. Nobody would have noticed or said anything. That's what a selfish malcontent might do.

Peppers was totally engaged in the game in a positive fashion. I don't know what his off-field life is like, and I do get a bit concerned about that from a personal standpoint, but on-field he appears to be the model teammate, a hyper-competitive super-athlete who loves his teammates, loves the game, and directs boundless energy toward winning. Even better, he actually seems to study the game--he'll fly around to field punts, for example, but he has a lot of good sense about when to fair-catch and when to let it bounce so as not to hurt the team.

Perhaps he's immature off the field, perhaps he's just the subject of unfair rumors, I don't know. Between the grandstands he seems like the greatest guy in the world.

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20143524

Princetonwolverine

January 4th, 2016 at 7:20 AM ^

He certainly reminds me of that video of Denard and Roy at the basketball game or Dakich

supporting his teammates.

Joined: 10/10/2010

MGoPoints: 14174

Wolfman

January 4th, 2016 at 7:47 AM ^

was late in the Bama/MSU game. The game had clearly been decided for awhile. Cameras zoomed in on Bama's sidelines and the nation saw the Heisman trophy winner pointing to Jake Cocker as if to say, "This was you day, Man. You're the reason we won it."  Is pretty obvious that Saban and Jim both emphasize team first, individual accomplishments second.

Joined: 07/23/2008

MGoPoints: 8259

LB

January 4th, 2016 at 1:32 PM ^

Get off your lawn.

Edit: I have reconsidered my position. Peppers might call or text Gary or Walker or someone from the sidelines of the Citrus Bowl during a game where Michigan owned an SEC team. Who'd want to see that happen after all?

Joined: 09/26/2009

MGoPoints: 25573

Farnn

January 4th, 2016 at 8:46 AM ^

Peppers was clearly trying to be a cheerleader with enthusiasm unknown to mankind. I don't know if TV caught it but he was always the first one out to congratulate guys coming off the field, high fives to all even after a kick off. Was great to see his energy for someone held out of the game.

Joined: 07/07/2008

MGoPoints: 12788

M-Dog

January 4th, 2016 at 8:52 AM ^

He has that Mike Hart enthusiasm.  

There was a game once where there was some confusion and we were late getting 11 men on the field for an extra point.  So Mike Hart just ran out and plugged himself into the middle of LOS as time was about to run out, rather than have us take a penalty.  He looked ridiculous out there at 5' 7'' in the line, but it worked.

I could easily see Jabril Peppers doing something like that.

 

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257385

M-Dog

January 4th, 2016 at 10:33 AM ^

There was some kind of procedure issue that caused him to notice and run out there.  Somebody else may remember better than me.

But the cool thing is that he took matters into his own hands and did something about it even though that was not his position group.  He was a total football player.

Jabril strikes me tha same way . . . a total football player.

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257385