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Jabrill Peppers question?

  • I am curious why everyone (coaches, recruiting sites, etc) seems to think he is best fit for defensive back and not running back? I know it says "Athlete" but most seem to think DB. I saw him play as a sophomore at Don Bosco and was amazed at his talent. Literally jaw dropping. He reminded me of Lesean McCoy, although a bit faster with a few more moves (yes, hard to believe). I saw his highlight reel from his junior year at Paramus Catholic as well and it was more of the same. I hope to see him live this year as a senior. He obviously has the talent to be an elite cornerback, but I think he is more elite at the running back position. I know if we were lucky enough to have him come here, he would be our best RB option since probably the early 90's with Ki-Jana Carter. And that's not an exaggeration for anyone who has seen him play. Also, I think PSU has more chance here than most on the board seem to think.

    This post was edited by NYC LION on 2/27/2013 at 11:21 AM

    NYC LION ●

  • NYC LION said...

    I am curious why everyone (coaches, recruiting sites, etc) seems to think he is best fit for defensive back. I know it says "Athlete" but most seem to think DB. I saw him play as a sophomore at Don Bosco and was amazed at his talent. Literally jaw dropping. He reminded me of Lesean McCoy, although a bit faster with a few more moves (yes, hard to believe). I saw his highlight reel from his junior year at Paramus Catholic as well and it was more of the same. I hope to see him live this year as a senior. He obviously has the talent to be an elite cornerback, but I think he is more elite at the running back position. I know if we were lucky enough to have him come here, he would be our best RB option since probably the early 90's with Ki-Jana Carter. And that's not an exaggeration for anyone who has seen him play. Also, I think PSU has more chance here than most on the board seem to think.

    So what's the question?

    MTayl72 ●

  • Why is everyone recruiting him as a DB and not RB?

    NYC LION ●

  • NYC LION said...

    Why is everyone recruiting him as a DB and not RB?

    Because where you're best at in HS isn't where you fit best down the road in college and the pros. This us especially true for RBs. He could be a very good RB, most schools think that. But he has the type of skill set to be a truly elite CB, which us more rare.

    MTayl72 ●

  • NYC LION said...

    Why is everyone recruiting him as a DB and not RB?

    Because they think he'd make a better DB than RB.

    PureRockFury ●

  • PureRockFury said...

    Because they think he'd make a better DB than RB.

    Wonder if some school will pitch him the option to "play both ways" so they get his signature, but then do whatever they want with him, a la AA, when he gets there. Our straight shooting staff would never do that and Peppers suggested he can read through the coach-BS (see, e.g. Urbz), so hopefully he doesn't fall for this.

    GRS154 ●

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    psubills62 ●

  • GRS154 said...

    Wonder if some school will pitch him the option to "play both ways" so they get his signature, but then do whatever they want with him, a la AA, when he gets there. Our straight shooting staff would never do that and Peppers suggested he can read through the coach-BS (see, e.g. Urbz), so hopefully he doesn't fall for this.

    You mean like we're doing?

    chasfcd11

  • Let me rephrase this question (I was hoping to get more specific analysis like MTayl does for OL), but in any case, let's assume he chooses Penn State. Let's also assume that as he steps on campus next summer it's clear to Coach O'Brien that Jabrill is his best option at RB and also his best option at DB. Where does BOB play him? Obviously both sides would be great, but more realistically he will have to focus on just one.

    I think the answer has to be to play RB. If you have an electric playmaker that can take it to the endzone on any given play, how do you not give him the ball? As a shutdown corner, he closes one side of the field down -- which is awesome for the defense. However, I think his overall true value to the team is higher as a playmaker with the ball in his hands (given the assumptions above.).

    NYC LION ●

  • You play him where there is the biggest need.

    And, shutdown corners are worth more than running backs.

    BlkShoeCole

  • NYC LION said...

    Let me rephrase this question (I was hoping to get more specific analysis like MTayl does for OL), but in any case, let's assume he chooses Penn State. Let's also assume that as he steps on campus next summer it's clear to Coach O'Brien that Jabrill is his best option at RB and also his best option at DB. Where does BOB play him? Obviously both sides would be great, but more realistically he will have to focus on just one.

    I think the answer has to be to play RB. If you have an electric playmaker that can take it to the endzone on any given play, how do you not give him the ball? As a shutdown corner, he closes one side of the field down -- which is awesome for the defense. However, I think his overall true value to the team is higher as a playmaker with the ball in his hands (given the assumptions above.).

    I think you vastly underrate how game changing a truly elite shut down corner is

    smlion

  • NYC LION said...

    Let me rephrase this question (I was hoping to get more specific analysis like MTayl does for OL), but in any case, let's assume he chooses Penn State. Let's also assume that as he steps on campus next summer it's clear to Coach O'Brien that Jabrill is his best option at RB and also his best option at DB. Where does BOB play him? Obviously both sides would be great, but more realistically he will have to focus on just one.

    I think the answer has to be to play RB. If you have an electric playmaker that can take it to the endzone on any given play, how do you not give him the ball? As a shutdown corner, he closes one side of the field down -- which is awesome for the defense. However, I think his overall true value to the team is higher as a playmaker with the ball in his hands (given the assumptions above.).

    You play him at corner and give him 5-10 snaps a game on offense in special packages.

    PSUfan28

  • smlion said...

    I think you vastly underrate how game changing a truly elite shut down corner is

    I think he posing a positional value question. Maybe even as recent as 10 years ago, football people would have agreed with the OP...you want an elite runner over an elite corner-back. However, the game has changed. Its a passing/spread game and CB has more positional value than RB.

    Running backs might touch the ball 20 to 25 times a game. Especially a player like Peppers (JMO, some one can disagree, but there is no way he is a bellcow that would touch the ball 30+ times a game). He would be part of a rotation (something that OB favors anyway).

    In comparison, an elite shutdown corner is on the field and impacts every defensive play (can contribute as a returner also). With the spread and the evolution to a passing game, it is becoming even more important that you have CBs that can play on an island.

    This post was edited by Lion_in_CBus on 2/27/2013 at 1:04 PM

    Lion_in_CBus

  • Lion_in_CBus said...

    I think he posing a positional value question. Maybe even as recent as 10 years ago, football people would have agreed with the OP...you want an elite runner over an elite corner-back. However, the game has changed. Its a passing/spread game and CB has more positional value than RB.

    Running backs might touch the ball 20 to 25 times a game. Especially a player like Peppers (JMO, some one can disagree, but there is no way he is a bellcow that would touch the ball 30+ times a game). He would be apart of a rotation (something that OB favors anyway).

    In comparison, an elite shutdown corner is on the field and impacts every defensive play (can contribute as a returner also). With the spread and the evolution to a passing game, it is becoming even more important that you have CBs that can play on an island.

    A great oline makes good rbs. To be able to confidently stick a guy out by himself and take the opposing offenses top receiving threat out of the game allows for more aggressive scheming in the box to shut down the run.

    A big time back is great and all but doesn't have nearly the impact a great corner does. Not to mention great rbs are much easier to find than great corners.. much more difficult position, IMO cover corners have the hardest position on the team.

    smlion

  • Shutdown corners go in the top 10 of the NFL draft very often…how often does a top RB go that early?

    RBs are a dime a dozen…Elite CB's are special.

    signature image

    I guess I should warn you, if I turn out to be particularly clear, you've probably misunderstood what I've said.

    psu2013

  • NYC LION said...

    Let me rephrase this question (I was hoping to get more specific analysis like MTayl does for OL),

    I propose a lifetime ban for NYC if RMJ does his own giant thread because of this.

    MTayl72 ●

  • MTayl72 said...

    RMJ does his own giant thread because of this.

    That's a great idea. I agree with you that RMJ should do that.

    PureRockFury ●

  • I think you guys make some great points about positional value. It gets to the crux of the question. And that probably answers my original questions as to why coaches are looking at him at DB, with some more situation based offensive touches. However, the NFL is a pass-happy game where elite CBs are highly valued. In the high school game, elite RBs are much more valued as most teams predominantly run the ball. I think college is a little bit more of a mixed bag. I think it may be wrong to simply assume that because CB's get drafted higher in the NFL, that means they are worth more to a college team's win/loss record than an elite RB. Especially in a run dominated league like the Big Ten. I think it is a more grayish area that is not so black and white, depending on a team's style and schedule they play. Anyway, would be great to actually land him and see how BOB answers the question in reality.

    NYC LION ●

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