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2019 NFL Draft: Day 1 Discussion

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I look back at the chaos called "ATH Jabril Peppers" and see a divisive player. Often that stemmed from his choice of college, but at the heart of Peppers tepid reception was a player who likely went a round earlier than his talent dictated. There are five or six starting-level strong safeties that made it through last night undrafted. That is why we can look at Peppers as mildly disappointing but above average.
 
I look back at the chaos called "ATH Jabril Peppers" and see a divisive player. Often that stemmed from his choice of college, but at the heart of Peppers tepid reception was a player who likely went a round earlier than his talent dictated. There are five or six starting-level strong safeties that made it through last night undrafted. That is why we can look at Peppers as mildly disappointing but above average.

I strongly disagree. I had Peppers rated in the top 20 of that class, a definite first round talent. I think a lot of other people who do the draft work had him up there as well.

I think the only issue with his perception so far is the atrocious way Gregg Williams used him. You took the best prospect I've ever seen at shutting down anything horizontal near the line of scrimmage... a kid who can blitz and just be a pure weapon for you... and you turned him into a fucking "Angel safety" 20+ yards off the line of scrimmage? To keep with Gregg's choice of language, go fuck yourself.
 
I strongly disagree. I had Peppers rated in the top 20 of that class, a definite first round talent. I think a lot of other people who do the draft work had him up there as well.

I think the only issue with his perception so far is the atrocious way Gregg Williams used him. You took the best prospect I've ever seen at shutting down anything horizontal near the line of scrimmage... a kid who can blitz and just be a pure weapon for you... and you turned him into a fucking "Angel safety" 20+ yards off the line of scrimmage? To keep with Gregg's choice of language, go fuck yourself.

Do you feel Jabril Peppers developed the skills to be scheme flexible for say, Tampa cover 2 defense? Did he develop ball tracking expected to do other things aside from man defense and box safety tackling?

Again, I'm not saying he's a bad player, just over drafted.
 
Do you feel Jabril Peppers developed the skills to be scheme flexible for say, Tampa cover 2 defense? Did he develop ball tracking expected to do other things aside from man defense and box safety tackling?

Again, I'm not saying he's a bad player, just over drafted.

Do I think Peppers is a first round talent at playing cover 2 zone? Definitely not.

But I don't understand why that would be a knock. Putting players in a position to succeed--using players to their strength, that's a coach's job.

Nobody is saying Peyton Manning's a bad QB because he can't run like Vick.
 
Do I think Peppers is a first round talent at playing cover 2 zone? Definitely not.

But I don't understand why that would be a knock. Putting players in a position to succeed--using players to their strength, that's a coach's job.

Nobody is saying Peyton Manning's a bad QB because he can't run like Vick.

My stance on how Peppers was used as a rookie - and feel free to look back at posts from that season if you want - was that Gregg Williams drafted him to be a strong safety but realized he wasn't used as a safety in the professional football sense of the term in college. He played at the second level of the defense like a SAM nickel linebacker.

Gregg Williams was quoted after the draft as having Peppers as "his pick" and he tried to develop his weaknesses by playing him out of his comfort zone as a deep safety. Peppers indeed improved in that capacity, but during the grueling 0-16 season, it was a learning experience. He improved in the back end as the season progressed.

The hot take of course was that Gregg Williams didn't know what he is doing. I stand by the idea that Williams saw talent and since we were a tanking team without a free safety on the roster, he developed one of Peppers' most glaring weaknesses in regular season game action.

Peppers was a better player for it in year two... and a better trade chip in year two. It doesn't change the fact that in 2019 I think the Browns can find an equal value in the third round.

So if you want to punctuate your posts with "go fuck yourself" perhaps slow down and realize there is a well reasoned argument, even if you don't fully agree with it.
 
My stance on how Peppers was used as a rookie - and feel free to look back at posts from that season if you want - was that Gregg Williams drafted him to be a strong safety but realized he wasn't used as a safety in the professional football sense of the term in college. He played at the second level of the defense like a SAM nickel linebacker.

Gregg Williams was quoted after the draft as having Peppers as "his pick" and he tried to develop his weaknesses by playing him out of his comfort zone as a deep safety. Peppers indeed improved in that capacity, but during the grueling 0-16 season, it was a learning experience. He improved in the back end as the season progressed.

The hot take of course was that Gregg Williams didn't know what he is doing. I stand by the idea that Williams saw talent and since we were a tanking team without a free safety on the roster, he developed one of Peppers' most glaring weaknesses in regular season game action.

Peppers was a better player for it in year two... and a better trade chip in year two. It doesn't change the fact that in 2019 I think the Browns can find an equal value in the third round.

So if you want to punctuate your posts with "go fuck yourself" perhaps slow down and realize there is a well reasoned argument, even if you don't fully agree with it.

What does that say about Gregg Williams if Peppers was his pick, and then realized that he wasn't used as a safety in the professional football sense in college? Did the guy do ANY scouting on him?
 
You are not getting a player of Peppers caliber in round 3......

Nor round 2..

Just simply will not happen. Peppers is better than all SS's available in this draft.
 
Who do you think is better or equal to Peppers?

Would like to know so we can look back at this in 2 years.

There are a number of guys who could wind up above average, which is basically the same level as Peppers.

I'm not going to wildly overrate him, or matter of factly state that no safety in the draft could possibly be better.

As that would be dumb...
 
There are a number of guys who could wind up above average, which is basically the same level as Peppers.

I'm not going to wildly overrate him, or matter of factly state that no safety in the draft could possibly be better.

As that would be dumb...

Think Peppers is well on his way to becoming a multiple pro bowl player.

Don't see that anywhere here in round 3.
 
Who do you think is better or equal to Peppers?

Would like to know so we can look back at this in 2 years.

I consider Johnathan Abram, Darnell Savage (both already drafted), Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Nasir Adderley, Will Harris, and Marquise Blair equal to Peppers in development and potential going into the draft.

Others really like Dionte Thompson and Tyler Rapp, I'll give Peppers the edge on those guys. Mind you Peppers after two training camps will likely look better this August than some rookies. Comparing a successful development project to players about to be drafted isn't apples to apples.

This is a good draft for strong safeties in my opinion.
 
Think Peppers is well on his way to becoming a multiple pro bowl player.

Don't see that anywhere here in round 3.

Well he hasn't shown that thus far and just got shipped off to one of the worst franchises in the league.

Best of luck with that, but I'll stick with NOT making silly matter of fact projections like that.
 
Well he hasn't shown that thus far and just got shipped off to one of the worst franchises in the league.

Best of luck with that, but I'll stick with NOT making silly matter of fact projections like that.

That's literally all you do is make projections. :chuckle:
 

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