What does Peppers need to do to be a legit Heisman contender at season's end?
OK, I'll start off by saying that I don't believe that Peppers will win the Heisman. Lamar Jackson and Christian McCaffrey are going to have video game stats all year as long as they're healthy.
That said, at his current rate of production, I think Peppers is in the top-5 at this point in the season. Consider his current stats:
Tackles - 28 (19 solo)
TFLs - 9.5(!!!), tops in the country
PRs - 8 for 173, 21.6 average (3rd in the country), 1 TD
KRs - 2 for 81, 40.5 average (would be #2 in the country, but not enough to qualify)
2 rushes for 24 yards
I doubt he'll maintain that TFL pace, but I believe he'll end up with 25+ by year's end, along with about 100 total tackles. That easily makes him 1st-team AA.
But if he really wants to make a push for the Heisman and perhaps earn a trip to NYC, I think he'll need at least 3 more non-offensive TDs, another 2-3 on the offense, and 2-3 INTs. Couple that with 10+ wins for the team, and I think he'll be in NYC in December.
Am I wrong?
September 19th, 2016 at 9:54 AM ^
He just got named the Walter Camp national player of the week. That's a good start. That and selling jerseys in Ohio.
September 19th, 2016 at 11:28 AM ^
He should also change his name to Lamar Jackson.
September 19th, 2016 at 4:18 PM ^
I watched that game too and jackson was very impressive but its not like he has this locked up. How many times in the last 10 years has a player rocketed out the gate and fizzled late? Long way to go yet.
September 19th, 2016 at 9:54 AM ^
Unfortunately TFL and sacks won't cut it.
TDs, INTs Runbacks
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September 19th, 2016 at 10:22 AM ^
He needs to go Full Woodson. You ALWAYS go Full Woodson...
September 19th, 2016 at 11:09 AM ^
September 19th, 2016 at 4:58 PM ^
This is actually pretty much the answer. Woodson has laid the blueprint. It will take plays like interceptions, more touchdowns, and adding to his other highlight reel plays to make it.
September 19th, 2016 at 7:43 PM ^
I say he should learn to kick EPs and go FULL HARMON
September 19th, 2016 at 7:43 PM ^
I say he should learn to kick EPs and go FULL HARMON
September 19th, 2016 at 9:55 AM ^
and end the B1G Championship Game with a rose in his teeth.
September 19th, 2016 at 10:00 AM ^
but he can't talk about it until he does it! Also, he needs to help a few people install a basketball hoop, submit some killer tailgate recipes, and cure Urbz of his mental illness
September 19th, 2016 at 11:13 AM ^
September 19th, 2016 at 5:30 PM ^
Dantorino
September 19th, 2016 at 10:17 AM ^
September 19th, 2016 at 10:56 AM ^
A rose would be nice, but this year a peach and/or, uh, a sombrero? would be preferable at the end of the B1G championship game.
September 19th, 2016 at 12:57 PM ^
I would like to immedately see a picture from that dude who put together the Peppers thread with the amazing photoshop edits: Peppers in a sombrero with a rose in his teeth holding two peaches.
September 19th, 2016 at 9:56 AM ^
5 TDs - a rushing, receiving, kick return, punt return, and an interception return.
September 19th, 2016 at 9:59 AM ^
September 19th, 2016 at 10:11 AM ^
Given his role in blitzes, a fumble return could also be in the cards.
September 19th, 2016 at 10:15 AM ^
September 19th, 2016 at 10:48 AM ^
September 19th, 2016 at 11:07 AM ^
September 19th, 2016 at 11:08 AM ^
Is too much of a stretch to consider an INT return on a 2 pt conversion for 2 more points?
September 19th, 2016 at 9:57 AM ^
Have to imagine teams are going to start kicking away from him. I mean, UCF already pretty much did. Colorado decided to go for it, and everybody saw how that worked out. Expect a lot more directional punts and kickoffs that are either touchbacks or short. Going to hurt his return yardage but make for good field position for us more often than not.
September 19th, 2016 at 10:08 AM ^
can't imagine that teams are going to kick to him much longer. He returns every punt 20 yards and every kickoff 30 yards, minimum. The field position generated by Peppers is close to the biggest advantage we have right now. He is a truly spectacular special teams player.
September 19th, 2016 at 10:35 AM ^
If they kick away from him, we'll retain that field position advantage . . . automatically.
September 19th, 2016 at 2:04 PM ^
I think with the pressure on the punters and number of punt blocks that michigan has generated so far this year, makes it difficult for a kid to get directional kicks off. They are just worred about not getting it blocked and asking much more of a kid is a lot. We saw that in the Colorado game when the punter hit the lineman in the back. That pressure makes it diffiuclt for a punter to worry about placing a punt.
September 19th, 2016 at 10:52 AM ^
In all seriousness, how does one actually kick away from Peppers without kicking out of bounds (losing yardage). He's blindingly fast and can catch kicks in a dead sprint.
If he stands in the middle of the field I think he can get most punts even if you're aiming away from him.
No better place to post this I suppose:
September 19th, 2016 at 9:57 AM ^
at least 2 or 3 more P/K return TD's, Score 5 TD's on offense, and not get beat on pass coverage anymore! He needs at least 3 or 4 INT's also!
September 19th, 2016 at 9:58 AM ^
September 19th, 2016 at 10:35 AM ^
Or Barrett. Definitely Barrett.
September 19th, 2016 at 10:00 AM ^
Needs Michigan to go undefeated with a convincing win over OSU and in the B1G championship game. That and all of the stats, advanced analytics, saber metrics, cool tweets.
September 19th, 2016 at 10:01 AM ^
September 19th, 2016 at 10:02 AM ^
"Just Win"
September 19th, 2016 at 10:04 AM ^
It's hard enough for a defensive player to win it, let a lone one who is playing more of a linebacking role. Te'o had 113 tackles with 7 interceptions. Obviously Peppers is way more diverse, but it's still a tough road. Essentially he'd need to have some sort of hybrid Te'o/Woodson season where he has close to 100 tackles, 5ish sacks, force 5ish turnovers with maybe 8 total touchdowns. If he does that, I don't think there's a question he gets invited, but with Jackson and McCaffrey I doubt he wins.
September 19th, 2016 at 10:05 AM ^
September 19th, 2016 at 10:17 AM ^
September 19th, 2016 at 10:33 AM ^
thing at a time. First, the kid needs to just get an imaginary girlfriend and things will just take shape from there. You cannot control true love.
September 19th, 2016 at 11:28 AM ^
I think there are more players in serious contention for the award this year than when Te'o finished second behind Johnny Football and ahead of Collin Klein
September 19th, 2016 at 12:24 PM ^
September 19th, 2016 at 10:03 AM ^
If we lose to MSU or OSU, he has no chance. He won't accumulate the raw stats a QB or RB will to compensate for a loss in the eyes of the Heisman voters.
September 19th, 2016 at 10:06 AM ^
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September 19th, 2016 at 11:08 AM ^
pics of TDs? Or selfies? What kind of pics we talkin here?
September 19th, 2016 at 11:17 AM ^
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September 19th, 2016 at 10:07 AM ^
needs to have Michigan make the playoffs. No chance otherwise for the Heisman since he's primarily a defensive player.
September 19th, 2016 at 10:07 AM ^
and have a gaudy defensive stat, like TFL. I think it's irrelevant where his TDs come from, but he needs more highlight quality TDs. Coming up big in a big game would be nice too.
Most of all, in order to win he needs Michigan to go undefeated. To stay in the conversation, we needs us to have a very good season.
September 19th, 2016 at 12:02 PM ^
September 19th, 2016 at 10:08 AM ^
Winning the Heisman is as much about perception (not sure if that's the best word but I'm going with it) as it is about stats. In other words, RGIII likely won the Heisman because of the Oklahoma game. Cam won it doing what he did at Alabama. Manziel won it by doing what he did at Alabama. You don't have to be on an undefeated team. RGIII and Tebow each won it on 9-3 teams. But you have to have those moments that get everyone around the country talking. A "what the hell did I just see" kind of play or game. It's the reason that a guy like Montee Ball, who broke almost every RB record imaginable back in 2011, loses to RGIII.
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September 19th, 2016 at 10:39 AM ^
That's true. Woodson's TD return against Ohio State (and our win) sealed the deal for him in NYC. Without it he still goes to NYC, but he does not win it.
September 19th, 2016 at 4:27 PM ^
Exactly! And you can lose the heisman just as easily based on a bad/lackluster performance in one of those moments. Jackson has had 1 of those moments against FSU now but it can easily be erased with a dud down the line.