GBMWolverine
Fansided

Michigan Football: Jabrill Peppers doesn’t need a position in the NFL

By Michael Moeller

Oct 10, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Matt Alviti (7) is tackled by Michigan Wolverines safety Jabrill Peppers (5) in the fourth quarter at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Matt Alviti (7) is tackled by Michigan Wolverines safety Jabrill Peppers (5) in the fourth quarter at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Former Michigan football player Jabrill Peppers is trying to impress at the NFL combine this week, but does he need a position?

NFL scouts are a lot of things, but most of all, they’re set in their ways. Even as the play on the field in league itself grows more dynamic and fluid, scouts steadfastly maintain that players coming out of college should have a concrete position.

Related Story: 5 most important Michigan football players for 2017

Former Michigan football standout, Jabrill Peppers, of course, hasn’t exactly benefited from that misconception. Jabrill himself, though, doesn’t seem to care

He’s working out with both the linebackers and defensive backs at this week’s NFL combine, so we won’t know his actual numbers for another couple days, but it seems like more than anything, Peppers could help lay bare how useless the combine is.

First off, let’s go to the tape:

Yes, on the one hand those are highlights and he does tend to rely on his athleticism to cover up holes in his coverage game, but on the other hand, holy hell look at those highlights! Part of the reason Peppers has some unresolved problems on the defensive side of the ball is that he was surrounded by fantastic cover men at Michigan football and his main job was to let them do their thing and run around with his hair on fire.

Peppers proven that he’s a quick study; his role changed somewhat drastically between the 2015 and 2016 seasons, and he was actually better in 2016. Another word NFL scouts love? Coachability.

Aside from the highlight reel plays and all around consistent excellence on the field, there are some comps from the NFL that should let GM’s sleep better about their decision to take him in the first round.

Troy Polamalu comes to mind. Polamalu was more of a ballhawk than Peppers might ever be, but if you think about Polamalu that played in an aggressive 3-4 system that allowed him to freelance more than other defensive backs, it starts to make more sense.

Both Peppers and Polamalu could anticipate where plays were going, get there more quickly than anyone else on the field, and then inflict an inordinate amount of pain on the ball carrier. That seems like a valuable skill set for the NFL.

If you look at the dynamic Atlanta Falcons defense, you’ll see a lot of players that are small for their positions but can effectively play two or three. Same goes for the Seahawks (of a few years ago, specifically). Quarterbacks and offenses are so intricate and detail oriented in the NFL that the ability to create chaos and remain unpredictable is essential for modern NFL defenses.

Next: Top 10 Michigan Running Backs of All Time

That is something at which Peppers has proven himself quite adept.

Home/Michigan Football