Peppers on Offense
How long will it be before we see Peppers take some snaps on offense? Athletic players like Myles Jack and Shaq Thompson are recent examples of successful two way players. Jack was inserted on offense because of injuries, but Shaq Thompson was used because of his superior talent and playmaking ability. After seeing Peppers with the ball in his hands on the kickoff return last night, he is undoubtedly the most gifted playmaker on the roster and has a level of explosiveness that is hard to ignore and should be utlized to its fullest. He looked just as good on that return as he did in his high school highlight films on offense and special teams, and has a natural ability to find the creases in the defense that our current running backs don't have. I don't know whether they should put him at RB or WR or both from time to time, but he plays at another gear. If you couple a playmaker of his ability with a recieving threat like Jake Butt, good things will happen.
Which brings me to another question, given the lack of explosive, game breaking athletes on offense, does he bring more value to Michigan as a full time contributor on offense or defense? How would the defense hold up if he made a switch to the other side of the ball?
September 4th, 2015 at 1:31 PM ^
I want him to get really good on defense first. He played fantastic in the second half but that first half needs work. Once he can go 60 minutes of being a shutdown defensive player, then let's talk offense.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:38 PM ^
That would be a tired defense
September 4th, 2015 at 1:43 PM ^
He did not play fantastic in the second half. He had a couple good plays in the backfield, but his pass coverage is very suspect.
September 4th, 2015 at 2:07 PM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 3:43 PM ^
No it wasn't, and being hyper athletic is not the same thing as playing a "fantastic" second half. Which is what I responded to. But by all means, keep making arguments that have nothing to do with what was said.
September 4th, 2015 at 4:19 PM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 9:07 PM ^
But by all means, keep making arguments that have nothing to do with what was said.
September 5th, 2015 at 12:40 AM ^
September 5th, 2015 at 10:29 AM ^
I'm pretty confident that he will round into form, but I just get a little tired of all of the hype when he hasn't done anything yet. Let the kid cement his own legacy, he's young and will need time to develop.
September 5th, 2015 at 1:18 AM ^
It has its ups and downs, good stretches and (sometimes long) bad ones. Sure, I was disappointed that we didn't come out, play a championship-quality game, and blow Utah into the Great Salt Lake. I understand focusing obsessively on the negatives, because fixing them is how we improve.
But you know, it was ok. It was a first game, on the road, under a new coach, after a tough camp. If you've played any sport, you know that losing a game you wanted badly to win really hurts. But you also know that nothing washes the bad taste out of your mouth better than focusing on the next opponent and working hard to play well enough to win. I'm sure the players and coaches will be ready to resume work by the time they've seen the Utah film and start looking at Oregon State. They'll let it go and move on. We can, too.
September 4th, 2015 at 8:11 PM ^
You're talking about the first.
September 5th, 2015 at 2:30 AM ^
He made fantastic plays in the flat, out on bubble screens, behind the line of scrimmage. I don't care how mediocre you think his pass coverage may have been downfield... Peppers was hands-down the best athlete making the most fantastic plays of the game. If you can't see that, it's time for some new glasses!
I haven't seen open field tackles like that in a long time. Even when he didn't get the tackle, he's the reason several plays were busted. His ability to beat blocks in run support or on bubble screens was uncanny.
You do realize he was wearing #5, yes?
September 5th, 2015 at 3:12 AM ^
Yes, he is a difference maker on D. And we would miss him greatly if he were not there. Which answers the OPs question - he will not leave the D, nor play offense to the point where he diminishes his D performance. His apperences on O will be cameo roles, if any.
September 4th, 2015 at 2:32 PM ^
His game has a lot of room for improvement. I'd hate to see him spend practice time on offense that he should be working on playing DB. Maybe in two years if he's hit the flat part of the learning curve on defense he could start working with the offense a bit.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:33 PM ^
The D would still be fine without him, and he adds something on O that we just don't have with that explosiveness
Put him in an h back (like Urbs h back not ours) role and I don't see how it doesn't yield amazing results.
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September 4th, 2015 at 1:39 PM ^
I'm not sure how fine the defense would be without Peppers. There were at least three times in the second half last night that he shed a block, closed a 5+ yard distance, and made an open-field tackle on a Utah player in space. Not many guys on our team can do that--and the only other ones who might be able to, such as maybe James Ross, can't cover deep or play man on a slot. Having Peppers gives this defense a chance to develop into an elite unit by the middle or end of the season. Without him, it's probably another version of the pretty-good, not-great 2014 unit.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:33 PM ^
He could be a huge threat on flanker screens. But - he already got 74 snaps yesterday. Don't want to wear him out.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:35 PM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 1:38 PM ^
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September 4th, 2015 at 1:40 PM ^
Jesus christ, this. He's a freshman that's an essential part of the defense and special teams. People want him to play offense, coach, and manage equipment too.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:48 PM ^
Equipment managing: Peppers is like Jon Falk...but fast.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:48 PM ^
Well... he was supposed to be better than Adoree Jackson.
Jackson played WR, CB, and was a return specialist as a true freshman.
He was a Freshman All-American and the PAC-12 defensive Freshman of the year.
He had 3 receiving touchdowns, 2 return touchdowns, 50 tackles, and 9 pass break ups.
September 4th, 2015 at 2:07 PM ^
usc is still re-stocking their scholarship count from previous sanctions. There's no real need for Peppers to play in all 3 phrases of the game. Last night he logged 72 snaps. That's plenty.
i'd rather Peppers focus on being an elite DB. The problem with the offense is QB & RB. Our WRs are competent enough.
September 4th, 2015 at 2:15 PM ^
i'd rather Peppers focus on being an elite DB.
Jackson was an elite DB as a freshman, an elite kick returner - and he played a bit of offense.
I'd be happy at this point were Peppers even playing like a good DB. He looks like a very good SS/OLB at this point, but he looks lost trying to actually cover.
The problem with the offense is QB & RB. Our WRs are competent enough.
I agree that WR isn't a big issue - but I wouldn't play Peppers at WR on offense, I'd play him at RB... a spot where we're DESPERATELY in need of ANY playmakers.
September 4th, 2015 at 2:21 PM ^
peppers at RB? When has it been a good idea to moonlight a player at RB? The punishment they take would almost certainly lead to him getting injured.
September 4th, 2015 at 2:51 PM ^
Myles Jack UCLA ( LB and RB.)
In 2013 he was the PAC-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year... and the PAC-12 Defensive Freshman of the year.
James Conner Pitt (DE and RB)
Kevin Pope SMU (LB and RB)
Shaq Thompson Washington (LB and RB)
September 4th, 2015 at 3:13 PM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 5:03 PM ^
It's a real strategy that teams use, and as much as I'd like to have a RB with the athletic ability of Peppers it wouldn't be worth it. He means a LOT to our defense and on offense he'd be punished on every run. Check out their builds:
Myles Jack - 245 lbs
James Connor - 240 lbs
Kevin Pope - 222 lbs
Shaq Thompson - 228 lbs
Jabril Peppers - 205 lbs
He's not built to get a significant amount of carries and then play defense on top of it. These guys are big, he's not.
September 4th, 2015 at 5:24 PM ^
None of the two way players out there gets "significant carries"... if you're going for that, you just move the dude to RB full time.
Myles Jack has had 66 carries in 2 seasons.
Kevin Pope has 54 carries in 3 seasons.
Shaq Thompson has 61 carries in 3 seasons.
I think Peppers could handle the pounding of 20-30 carries per season.
September 5th, 2015 at 8:38 AM ^
you mention is either a LB or DE. I don't want Peppers playing RB, Slot is fine.
September 4th, 2015 at 2:35 PM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 3:34 PM ^
I agree with you Adoree Jackson is the model. Everyone is putting Peppers up with Woodson (which is silly) but Jackson's freshman year has him more in that mode. He was a true 3 way as a freshman. Peppers obv was hurt.
Peppers is now a 2 way player and that is fine. Adoree has more of the quickness to be a CB IMO - Peppers is fast straightline and has wiggle but he looked to struggle in coverage in space. It will be interesting to see if that is his situation or he was just caught up in the moment and needs experience. If that is just his physical limitation then safety makes sense for him long term and you hope he is Eric Berry.
If Adoree Jackson played on the East Coast he'd be getting a lot more hype. Guy was so impressive last year - we actually were recruiting him very hard before Hoke imploded last year. He also wants to try for the Olympics on top of all his football exploits.
September 4th, 2015 at 4:03 PM ^
If Adoree Jackson played on the East Coast he'd be getting a lot more hype. Guy was so impressive last year
Yep.
As a true freshman -
Freshman All-American
PAC-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year
Honorable mention all PAC-12 at CB
5th in the country in yards per kickoff return
3 receiving TDs
2 kickoff return TDs
PAC-12 Long Jump Champion
5th in NCAA Long Jump
4th in the NCAA 4x100m relay
2x All-American in track (LJ and 4x100)
September 5th, 2015 at 3:49 AM ^
September 7th, 2015 at 9:37 AM ^
Adoree struggled in his first game in coverage
Adoree struggled in his first game in coverage as a true freshman.
Peppers struggled in his fourth game in coverage as a redshirt freshman.
I still think Peppers is going to be a great player - but I definitely think he's much more Eric Berry (super athletic SS/OLB) than Woodson/Patrick Peterson.
September 4th, 2015 at 2:32 PM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 4:13 PM ^
you put him in them few plays as a decoy. That's if you are afraid of playing him out. If the defenses get dishonest then they get the horn. Don't forget about the bull out there boys.
September 4th, 2015 at 2:05 PM ^
Thing is, he isn't Adoree Jackson, or Charles Woodson, or Eric Berry. He is Jabrill Peppers.
September 4th, 2015 at 3:35 PM ^
Agree. Now if you could just post that in every Peppers is Charles Woodson thread it would be great.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:48 PM ^
Waterboy too.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:57 PM ^
Can we make him play OLine instead of managing equipment?
September 4th, 2015 at 1:42 PM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 1:41 PM ^
...if he has a small package on offense. Wildcat QB for about 5 snaps to start off.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:54 PM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 3:08 PM ^
"if he has a small package"
September 4th, 2015 at 1:41 PM ^
If they do something like that to start, that would still allow him time to rest and prepare to go out there on D. If he only has to learn five different plays, or one play with various options, that should not be too much to put on his plate.
September 4th, 2015 at 1:46 PM ^
September 4th, 2015 at 1:51 PM ^
Next year it is going to be hard to have Peppers in on offense when O'Korn is the QB.
September 5th, 2015 at 8:35 AM ^
pretty sure they'll change a number if O'Korn wins the job.