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August 15, 2017Playmakers who are versatile across the defensive spectrum are crucial to a Gregg Williams defense. While players like rookie defensive end Myles Garrett, cornerback Joe Haden, and linebackers Jamie Collins and Christian Kirksey will lead the defense during the regular season, rookie safety and do-it-all man Jabrill Peppers will play an important role.
The former Michigan safety is attempting to prove his collegiate ability make plays all over the field will translate for the Browns. On Monday, Peppers had his best practice thus far, which included lighting up wide receiver Rannell Hall as he snagged a tight pass from quarterback Deshone Kizer. Along with the big hit, Peppers added two pass breakups and an interception on three consecutive plays during an end-of-game drill. “Nothing got into them. I don’t think anything got into them. They practiced. I don’t think there is anything spectacular that got into them,” head coach Hue Jackson said. “They are just making plays. Somedays it goes the offense’s way and some days it goes the defense’s way. That is football. That is the way it works.”
For those that may have missed the hit, here’s a video of it:
here's footage of Jabrill Peppers' huge hit on Rannell Hall at practice today, via the Browns pic.twitter.com/Ckf9a0kC9C
— Jordan Zirm (@clevezirm) August 15, 2017
Although Peppers laid the wood on Hall, Jackson said that the rookie wasn’t trying to hurt the wide out and was just trying to make a play. “Yeah, that is football. You don’t want those, but they are going to happen. It is a live period. He was trying to get the ball out. There is no question,” he said. “He wasn’t trying to hurt him. He was trying to tackle him and get him down. Sometimes that is a reflex by players. It is OK.”
Peppers, along with the rest of the rookies, have been impressive in training camp. Jackson not only knows that this class must be good in order for the team to improve, but the more they make plays, the more wins the Browns can rack up in 2017 and beyond. “Outstanding. I am very happy with where we are defensively and where we are going. I am happy in certain spots where we are offensively and where we are going because I have a vision, and I can see where we are headed. Again, you guys can’t,” Jackson said. “I can (laughter), and that is OK. At the same time, watching Jabrill and watching these young players, even watching (TE) David Njoku making a play in the end zone, those are the things I think we possess and can do. That is what the young guys bring to our football team.”
Although he didn’t start the Browns’ first preseason game last Thursday, Peppers will likely be a starter no later than Week 1 of the regular season. His versatility makes him stand out, but his playmaking ability is what makes him dynamic. There’s a reason why he will likely return both kicks and punts for the Browns as well. Add in the fact that there have been murmurs that Peppers may even line up as a wildcat quarterback on offense and his playmaking ability is a difference-maker, something that the Browns utilize. Jackson has realized just that. “He can do some things. If he gets the ball in his hands, he is probably going to score because he has that kind of skill once the ball touches his hands. I was trying to explain to him in that situation, the game is over. Just get down. Yeah, but he was going to score. He was trying to go score. Game over, let’s protect the lead and that’s what we do,” he said. “That is a teaching moment for him. He is growing and getting better every day. There have been questions about if he can play in the post. I think he is showing you he can play anywhere. I think he is a very dynamic player, and I am glad he is here.”
Even before Monday’s practice, Peppers has proven that he can make plays all over the field, whether he does or doesn’t have the ball in his hands and that he is a player who will work his incredibly hard to remain on the field as much as possible. If the Browns are smart, they will use his dynamic playmaking ability as much as they can. The more Peppers is making plays, whether it’s on defense, offense, or special teams, the better chance the Browns have of winning more games.
11 Comments
That would have been penalized. In today’s NFL, that is not good defense.
Frame immediately before hit…
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7928a9cfff373baf949ea388bee0b978f845a7f8af8e46c21217b8a31210326d.png
Frame immediately after hit… the first things to move are each of their helmets.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/08a933b3b25c73cac9e0539c3e58d5103d4caf675969fb1bb985f85d9fb1faa3.png
I think it’s pretty obvious that he’s attempting to hit him with his shoulder, and the helmet contact is incidental.
It may have been called a penalty during a game, but I definitely wouldn’t call it a dirty hit.
Nor would I. 15 yard penalties don’t need to be dirty to be called.
Unless you’re a Steeler. What dirty hit?
Then it’s a damn good thing he isn’t.
Something tells me he would have been, if the HBT hadn’t pulled off trade-o-rama.
It must be something in the water.
Mag207s
Mag208s