DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Peppers: a fair evaluation

I think the Browns are pleased with Peppers and Kindred. This thread is not an anti-Kindred thread. Fans have skewered Peppers but he is playing better since Randall came to town. Here are some interesting stats.

Source: Defensive snap count articles from Dawgs by Nature.

I looked around for pass defended or pass breakup stats on the NFL site for both players. None where reported. I know this has been a knock on Peppers and it may be a legitimate one but, some objective evidence would be helpful in making that evaluation.

No, stats don't tell the whole story but they are an indicator that Peppers is doing his job. He hasn't been a liability. I'm hopeful that he AND Kindred will continue to develop.

Wk 1 Pittsburgh:
Kindred Plays 62 74% snaps 1tkl 2asst. (3 total)
Peppers Plays 35 42% 3tkls, 3asst,(6 total) 1fbl rec.

Wk 2 NO
Kindred Plays 41 62% snaps 1 asst. (1 total)
Peppers Plays 36 55 3tkls, 2asst, 1tfl (6 total)

Wk 3 NYJ
Peppers Plays 40 63% snaps 3 tkls, 1asst, (4 total)
Kindred Plays 30 48% 3 asst, (3 total)

I have no issue with Peppers on D. He does his job.

He’s terrible at kick returns. He might get better over time but he’s not the natural returner he seemed like in college.

I'm not a fan of Landry returning kicks. We don't want him hurt.

I suspected that a true FS would make Peppers a little bit better ... and I think that's been the case.

It seems he is better used this year. I, for one, wouldn't want to fiddle around with the success we have so far unless it was like changing personnel in packages for something special. Very pleased with most of the D and the pressure we seem to be able to bring. Makes the last fence tougher, or so it seems.

Kindred is a jag. I never got the hype.

I know you love Peppers. You want a real response or is this just a cheerleader thread?

I think when he made this thread he was looking for this exact type of response.

A fair evaluation would likely involve a few more games... maybe even til end of the season..

But so far, I see improvement. I've said this in another post, but this is the first game I ever came away thinking Peppers did a better job than Kindred on defense.

Special Teams... ehhh.

Seems the D is having some good success so far..Nice to see the team effort on that side of the ball.

Vers, I don't censor other posters. I think Peppers is improving so I said so.

One exception to what you wrote. "Love" is a strong word. Yes, I think he's been evaluated unfairly. But he ain't no Eric Turner.

I can take whatever you have to say. Maybe I learn something from it.

The guy is a first round pick we passed on QB's for. He has been average AT BEST.

Horrible first round pick. Improving, sure.....improving from being absolutely horrendous.

Exactly.

It was nice after the game winning pick seeing Jabrill tell Money Mitch to take the ball to the Dawg Pound. Reward the fans. Jim Donovan even has a clip of him calling it and, as always, did a fantastic job.

There's no doubt Peppers has all the passion one could want.

If you take a snapshot following the 2017 draft then yes, we didn't get Watson and we ended up with Peppers. But at the moment that seems to be a flimsy argument as Watson vs. Mayfield seems to be, at a minimum, equivalent value. It goes without saying that last year Peppers played out of position and as a result played poorly. I can't assign him blame for a coaching decision so he gets an incomplete for 2017 from me.

Is the jury still out? Sure. But based on his play so far, I see improvement. That's what I posted. I didn't feel before I posted and I don't feel now that I need to meet anyone's artificial timeline to state that the player looks better than he did playing in a position that better suits his skill set.

It was very hard to do worse than he did last year.

I think he will get cut next season... He is an horrendous returner...

And no matter what EO says, the Kid can't tackle, he never could,and his instincts field and game awareness are awful.

I think Peppers is playing much better than his rookie season, I hope he stays away from returning kicks and punts though he scares me ...

What EO says is irrelevant, (sorry EO) or anyone else for that matter. Just look at the stat line. He's been more productive as a tackler than Kindred, with fewer reps. Once again, I like Kindred so this isn't Kindred bashing. It's just facts.

IMHO, the biggest change was on the FS position. Kindred is not a super star, but he is clearly better than Peppers, and its a guy that has been improving steadily.

Peppers is living on the hype of being a 1st round pick, he's just terrible, a player lacking discipline and game awareness... ala Collins...

I don't like this type of players, too much risk for litle return.

Clearly, we disagree. I'm fine with that.

Pep is having a solid season this far.

At least your taking the statement in context and with a sense of humor. There was never any disrespect intended.

My disagreement is and remains with rastaplan, you just got caught in the middle.

Peppers is playing much better at his natural SS position than he did at FS. I don't think he is playing at the level he was drafted at but he is steadily getting better. He is good vs the run and stopping TE receivers. He is not so great against faster more agile WRs. Then again most SS are not that great against slot WRs IMHO.

We need them to be let off the chains tomorrow.

We need them to finish the TO’s and get them in the end zone .... I drafted them in every one of my fantasy leagues and they’ve been getting sacks and TO’s but TD’s are what counts ...

They need to finish dang it ... *L* ....

MG needs to play like he did vs Pitt and take the game over .... he’s going up against a rookie LT thats played well so far ... MG has to own him if he’s going to be the stud we think he can be ...

I’m looking for a big game from MG .....

GOOD LUCK MG ... we need u dawg ...

I've never understood why some people seem so against Jabrill Peppers. He's done a really nice job for us in year two, and has clearly improved as the season has progressed.

I think a lot of that can be credited to the improved talent around him, however. The secondary is playing much better, and the pass rush has hit a whole new level. Jabrill, thus far, is a player complimented by the team around him but not one who can transform the team on his own.

He's been very versatile for us, however. He's played free, strong, deep and up on the line. That's what he was drafted for and he's given us that option, which in turn has helped with a lot of the problems this team previously faced: As much heat as Peppers takes, everyone has forgotten how easily tight ends decimated the Browns in previous years. He's also a nifty rusher on the blitz and doing a better job of seeing what he needs to see when back in zone.

He needs to take a next step, however. I see his progress more as getting to the point where he's not a liability and isn't getting consistently beat. However, we need him to get to the point where he's doing more than holding his own. We need him to make plays.

He's still a very young player. Turns 23 in a few days, and is only at the beginning of year two. Plenty of upside to come.

I'm happy with him overall, and it seems the team is pleased too.

Without question, he needs to improve. His pass coverage skills are a liability. He hasn't shown the explosiveness as a returner either. If he gets better in coverage I couldn't care less about his punt returns.

Still, he's shown incremental improvement.

He has improved (not as a returner) .. I do like when he comes up and lays the wood in the run game

After pimping him, it would be just my luck that Jared Cook, the Raider TE shreds Peppers today. Cook has been ball'n out for the Faders. This will be a good matchup to reveal if he's made any strides in pass defense.

I know it. Cook scares me today ... he's had some really nice games to start

We need a new punt returner. Peppers is just not cutting it.

I don't want Laundry back there either. Amos is a dumb coach. He had a bad rep before coming here and I can see why. Our ST unit is horrible.

Yea, it's too much a risk for injury to have Laundry back there.

forget about trying to worry about returns. the negatives outweigh the positives. just kneel/fair catch

Peppers isnt passing the eye test.
he was supposed to be this game changer big play maker out UM
so far hes made 0 zero big time plays this season.
his coverage skills are less than average.what is he really giving to the defense other giving up big plays.?

Hey! I like Amos as much as I like Peppers.

That is so horribly sad. Mister Dorsey, could you look around for a couple of upgrades?

I hated the Peppers pick, but people told me that his sped would make a huge difference, and that he would, at least, be a great return man.

I'm still waiting to see either.

I think peppers and kindred are a solid duo at ss.