Kornacki: Peppers At Home in New Linebacker Role
4/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 2, 2016
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Jabrill Peppers was a second team All-America safety in his first full season at Michigan in 2015. He lined up at virtually every position on both sides of the football except the two lines and returned kicks.
You learn to expect the unexpected from Peppers, who would've thrived a half century ago and further back, when players such as the Wolverines' first Heisman Trophy winner, Tom Harmon, starred on offense, defense and even kicked.
Though, few expected Peppers to become a possible Butkus Award candidate, and he might do that in 2016.
Don Brown, the new defensive coordinator, told reporters this week that Peppers spent about 70 percent of his time at the new hybrid linebacker position Brown employed with great success at Boston College. He added that Peppers could increase that percentage of linebacker time when the season begins.
Peppers played sparingly in Friday night's (April 1) intrasquad scrimmage. There was no point in unveiling the subtleties of how Peppers is being used in a game that was carried on the Big Ten Network.
However, Peppers was all smiles while talking about his different position with reporters after the Maize beat the Blue, 14-13, by thwarting a two-point conversion attempt on the game's final play.
"It's not really a new position," said Peppers. "But in his defense, the nickel (back) plays more like a linebacker. But I'm definitely in the box a lot more and blitzing a lot more. He's just trying to get me around the ball and let my instincts and awareness take over."
What does he think of that?
"I love it," said Peppers, who is rugged at 6-1 and 208 pounds, planting powerful hits that defy his size. "I love defense. Wherever he would've put me, it would've made no difference."
Peppers had one tackle in the game, pushing tailback Ty Isaac out of bounds after a 29-yard run early in the second quarter. Peppers didn't bite on the inside fake by Isaac to save a touchdown on that play.
"We kept it very basic today," said Peppers. "But in the fall it will be the same as always as every Michigan defense is -- fast, tenacious and hungry, hustling to the ball, wanting to hit you and get the ball back for the offense.
"It will be the same old same old but a notch up. You know, we've got Coach Brown, one of the best defensive coordinators in the country, if not the best. He had the No. 1 defense last year, and so you'd be a fool not to listen to what he has to say, hone in and buy into his schemes."
Though, there was a brief time when Peppers questioned Brown's proposal.
"I'm not going to lie," said Peppers. "At first, it was kind of frustrating because I wasn't used to it and the reads and pulling with the pulling guards and things like that. But once I got the hang of it, and put the time in in the film room, it just became natural.
"He showed me the tape and said, 'Do you think you can do that?' I said, 'I know I can do that, Coach.' We shared a laugh about that. You'd just be a fool not to listen to him and believe that he has your best interest at heart."
Brown told Peppers that the last three players who have manned that position for him are in the NFL, and he had instant credibility with his new players based on what his defenses accomplished at Boston College.
His Eagles led all major college teams in four defensive categories: total (254.3 yards per game), tackles-for-losses (9.6 per game), third-down opponent success percentage (.241) and first downs allowed (166). They also ranked fourth in scoring defense (15.3), second in rushing defense (82.8 yards) and fifth in pass-efficiency defense (104.66).
Peppers said there was strategy involved in Brown's request for him to play linebacker, adding, "He came to me and said, 'We feel this role will be beneficial to you and to the defense.' He said it can be effective for us because they won't know where I'm lining up. I'm not going to just play linebacker. It's really smart when you think about it."
Last year, when Peppers came into games on offense, opponents couldn't be sure whether he would play receiver, tailback or quarterback.
Next year, they'll be expecting him at linebacker but Peppers could play cornerback or safety as well.
"I'm at the linebacker spot now," Peppers said, "and so it's a whole different world as far as communication and my reads and my keys. But the angle is still the same. Hit the quarterback and get the ball back and run to the ball. You are who you put on tape. That's our identity; that's what we live by."
"For his scheme, it's what's best for the team, and I feel as though it doesn't matter where you put me. I am going to give you 100-percent effort regardless of whether I'm on the line, in the secondary or at linebacker.
"It just comes down to competitiveness and the will to win. That's just how I go about it. I'm a winner. We're all winners, and we all want to win. We'll all do whatever it takes to insure that we win. If that means putting some tricks up our sleeves and moving some guys around, then so be it."
Offensive coordinator Tim Drevno told reporters that Peppers hasn't played offense in the spring, and Peppers said that was done in part because "they didn't want to overload me" while learning a new position. But he anticipates moving back into an offensive role for the regular season.
Peppers has been a quick study at linebacker.
"He's already picked it up," Brown said on Tuesday (March 29). "He's playing at a high level there, so I'm happy with him. From a coverage standpoint, it's everything we expected. I think he's picked up the linebacker pieces of it pretty well as well.
"You expect a lot at that spot, so we're going to get what we expect, there's no question."
Peppers hasn't received Butkus Award attention yet but has been mentioned as a Heisman candidate.
"I don't really think about that," said Peppers. "That's all hype. I just take it one day at a time, one game at a time, one practice at a time.
"I know my abilities, and my coaches know my abilities. I don't really pay attention to the outside. We just keep it all in house and keep everybody working."
WELCOMING GARY
Peppers said it was good to see incoming freshman defensive lineman Rashan Gary at the game. They both played at Paramus (New Jersey) Catholic, and Gary was the consensus No. 1 recruit by national rating services.
"It's always good playing with the Jersey guys, especially guys who went to the same high school," said Peppers. "Everyone knows he's going to help us. He's the No. 1 recruit for a reason. His work ethic and his savvy for the game and love for the game. We're just excited to get the ball rolling for him and all the guys coming in. We have a talented class."
The freshmen not among the seven currently enrolled and practicing were introduced at halftime before an estimated crowd of 35,000 at Michigan Stadium, and Gary was saved for last. He received a standing ovation and raised both arms to acknowledge the fans.
"That's good," Peppers said of the ovation. "He deserves one. He put the time and the work in."
